St Mary’s Church
This church is part of a Benefice of five churches. These include Fontmell Magna, Ashmore, Sutton Waldron and Iwerne Minster. The Rev David John is the vicar in charge and lives in the Vicarage in Iwerne Minster.
Church History
Parts of St. Mary’s Church date from Norman times, particularly the tower. The main nave was reconstructed around 1600. The north aisle was added later along with the Freke Chapel and the Baker Chapel. Subsidence and rot in the main floor joists meant that a complete new floor was required and so a major reordering was advised by the diocese of Salisbury. This was undertaken in 2012. The mismatching, wood wormed pews were replaced with moveable, stacking pews . A kitchen servery and a toilet and children’s area were also added to give the church as much flexibility as possible.
The organ had a major overhaul in 2018. The bells were removed and retuned in 2015 and a new tenor bell was commissioned in honour of John Houghton, a long serving Tower Captain , so we now have a peel of 6 bells.
Further information can be found on cards in the church together with a book of ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos that document the reordering. Of special note are photos of a beautiful crypt under the floor where the piano now sits. It contained leather and brass coffins belonging to members of the Freke family. These were documented by church archeologists and we were advised to reseal the crypt.
Also of note is the large Freke memorial with links to George Washington and allegedly the ‘stars and stripes’, and stories of the Dorset Clubmen losing a battle on Hambledon Hill and being locked in the church by Oliver Cromwell.
Special Dates
Christmas
We have a spectacular Carol Service usually the Sunday before Christmas at 6pm. It is totally candle lit and we use a screen to provide words and pictures to guide you through the carols and readings. Afterwards we serve mulled wine and mince pies.
Christmas Eve we have a lovely quiet Midnight Holy Communion starting at 11. 30pm.
Christmas Day at 10am is a much more jolly affair for everyone. The children have things to make and join in with but the usual Christmas carols and readings are also included.
Mothering Sunday we have a 10am Informal service with posies for all who would like them and a time for us all to remember our mothers however old we are! The children have things to make for their mums too.
Easter Maundy Thursday we hold a Passover supper in the village hall. This is a reenactment of the Last Supper and includes elements of the Jewish Seder service , a meal and a sharing of bread and wine just as Jesus might have done.
Good Friday we have a simple solemn service in church followed by carrying the large wooden cross up Hambledon Hill to the skyline above the village. We use a modern version of the ‘Stations of the Cross’ as we go. The cross is then positioned with two other crosses and they remain there throughout the Easter period.
Easter Day There is a joyful Parish Communion Service at 1 am. There are activities for the children. All are welcome.
Harvest We have an 11am non communion thanksgiving service. It is informal and often includes contributions from our local food producers such as the farmers, allotment holders, gardeners or bee keepers. The collection is given to the Blandford Foodbank and the Harvest gifts of produce are given to the Nourish shop. The church is especially decorated for Harvest. There follows a Harvest Lunch in the Village Hall. This is a two course meal with a glass of wine or a soft drink. No tickets are required but names should be put on the list at the church a week beforehand. Voluntary donations please and any surplus will go to the Foodbank.
Remembrance Day A special 10am non communion service is held followed by the ‘Act of Remembrance’ silence at the War Memorial in the churchyard.
Service
All are warmly welcomed to services and events held in St. Mary’s. Our normal pattern of service is as follows:
1st Sunday of the Month
9.30. Parish Communion
2nd Sunday of the Month
9.30 Parish Communion
3rd Sunday of the Month
Breakfast at 9 ( see description below)
4th Sunday of the Month
8 am Prayer Book Holy Communion
5th Sunday of the Month
Benefice Service. Please see notices for location.
All are welcome to our Parish Communion services and if you do not wish to partake in Communion you can receive a blessing from the Priest. They follow the liturgy of Common Worship according to the church calendar and there are hymns, readings, prayers and a sermon.
The Breakfast at 9 starts with bacon butties, croissants, toast , juice or hot tea and coffee. This is followed by a short informal service of songs, prayers a reading and a talk. It is especially for all ages and is very appropriate for families. All you need to do is get the children up and dressed and breakfast is done for you! Hopefully you are home by 10 am and able to get the children to their sport’s activities.
8 am Holy Communion is a quiet contemplative service following the 1662 Prayer Book.
The Benefice Services are held in one of the Parish churches and are usually a Sung Eucharist with a Benefice Choir leading the singing. If you are interested in joining the choir please contact the church office for details. This is not a formal robed choir but made up of keen musicians and amateur singers from the area.
Our vicar is the Rev. David John. He lives in Iwerne Minster and has five parishes to look after. Sometimes he takes our services but there is a team of retired clergy who also help. The Rev John Simmons lives in Shroton and usually takes the Festival Services and B@9.
How to arrange a Baptism, a Wedding, a funeral or Burial of Ashes? The Church Office can be contacted by phone or email on 861576 or by email to ivbco@btinernet.com
You can also directly contact a member of the clergy and their details can be found in the Valley Views magazine delivered monthly to every house in the village.
The Tower Captain is Malcolm Trowbridge and if you require bells for a service he can be contacted on mkctrowbridge@gmail.com or phone 07826335473
Our usual organist is James Smith and he can be contacted on hoeymeadjames@gmail.com
Our leading flower arranger is Lizzie Kingsbury and she can give you information about flowers in church. Apart from Advent and Lent, there is always one altar display in church but if you need something special for a funeral or a wedding Lizzie might be able to help. It is worth noting that our Festival flowers are always worth a visit as Lizzie organises a team to make a spectacular show. Her email is lizzie.kingsbury@iCloud.com
How to receive help, friendship, a listening ear, a home visit or Home Communion.
If you would like to contact anyone from the church please phone the church office. Emma will direct you to someone able to help.
Special services
Details will be posted around the village and in Valley Views, the free Benefice publication delivered to every house. The Pews News is printed each week with details of the coming weeks events , services and who is taking them. Copies can be found on the table just inside the church.
There are also weekly home groups in the Benefice. Please ask for further details.
Personnel
Contact for clergy can be found inside Valley Views.
Church Warden
Alexandra Smith
mrsacsmith@gmail.com
Secretary to the PCC
Roger House
Treasurer to the PCC
Tim Kingsbury
tim.kingsbury@me.com
Safeguarding Officer
Roger Snowdon
Contact details in church porch
Bell Captain
Bell Captain
Malcolm Trowbridge mkctrowbridge@gmail.com
Church Office
Rev David John
david.john6@btopenworld.com
Special peels can be arranged through the Bell Captain.
Graveyard
The graveyard is extensive and there is room for burials in the north eastern extension and an area for the burial of ashes beside the main path.
There are complicated regulations about all aspects of the graveyard and a note of these can be found in the church porch. Spaces are allocated to parishioners but some exceptions can be made for those with a significant family or church connection at the discretion of the vicar and the church warden.
Please note that there are also strict laws about the size, shape, wording and overall design of headstones for burials. Ashes must be marked by a flat rectangular stone set into the grass. These must all be agreed with the church office before they are ordered.
How to find a grave.
There is a plan and register of all known graves on the table just inside the church.
If you wish to search church records, please contact the church warden.
Finances
St Mary’s firmly believe in being a generous church. We ensure that at least 10% of funds raised are used for charities. A list of these can be found on the church notice board. We are major supporters of Blandford Food Bank and the Nourish shop. A basket can be found in the church for dried and tinned food donations.
Most recent independently examined accounts can be found on the notice board in the church.
Occasionally we hold concerts and talks in the church to raise money. The acoustics are particularly good in our church and we can offer hot and cold refreshments. We welcome groups to use the church for concerts. We have a quality grand piano.
How to donate
Please contact Tim Kingsbury our treasurer (details above). There is also a card machine just inside the church.
For further information please contact the Church Office on 01258 861 576 or Rev David John (details above).