St Mary’s Church

on-going Restoration Project

A church has stood here since the 12-13th Century dedicated to St Mary of the Visitation. This present building is at least the third on this site; it is also a Grade II listed building. 

St Mary’s is a living, worshipping community of faith with a long and varied history. In the 19th Century the medieval building was in some disrepair, and it was thought that the church was not large enough. A new church was built on exactly the same site – the congregation moved out while the building was happening! Interestingly many of the older memorials, some dating from the 15th Century, were re-sited in the present building.

This nineteenth century building, in turn, has needed attention in recent years. We are pleased to announce that with help from friends and supporters, we have a complete new roof and we have a clear, bright clock. With continued help and support of friends and other donors we have also completed all the high level repair work to the walls. St Mary’s continues to be a living witness, serving at the heart of this busy community.

After so many years’ neglect the outside looks good; we are now working on getting the inside to look loved and cherished and to repair some of the outside stones and memorials.

Our organ, which was built into St Mary’s in 1876, had some work done on the internal pneumatics in 1894 (all very difficult to get at!) Our present organ tuners took responsibility for the organ in 1951 and through various organists have nurtured and cajoled, loved and cared for the instrument. In recent years it has been having some bad moments: there were notes that wouldn’t play, and stops that came out in your hand. The PCC decided that the time had come to do something about it; they looked at all the options, including abandoning the organ, but voted unanimously to do the work— it was felt that the organ unites us and strengthens us in worship— which cost in the region of £20,000, but is now happily completed. The next project is to improve the heating.

Restoration