ABOUT ST. MARY'S
St Mary’s (Grade 1 listed) is situated in a picturesque location among a working fruit and a sheep and cattle farm. It has a simple shape comprising Tower, Nave and Chancel with a porch on the South side. It has one working bell and a pipe organ installed in a gallery at the West end.
Parts of the present church date from the 11th century, but there was a substantial rebuilding in 1220 and many alterations since then including the destruction of the South aisle and sadly the obliteration of the murals on the North wall. A few fragments of medieval glass remain in the South West window.
During the 19th century, the church was in a deplorable state. When Prebendary Frewer at Brede took over the parish in 1896 he wrote that ‘the walls were damp the timbers rotten, the tower unsafe, the floors uneven and mean, the ceiling full of holes, the bells cracked, the windows broken and the font a sixpenny pudding basin.’
The restoration of 1897 changed all that, and the whole life of the parish revived. Today the church is well used and in good order and well supported by the Friends of St Mary’s.
OUR MISSION AIMS
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The promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England.
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Promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, social, evangelical and ecumenical.
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To know Jesus better and make Him better known.
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Facilitating putting faith into practice through prayer, scripture and sacrament.
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Reaching out to the un-churched through the provision of Messy Church.
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Practical support and care for people in the parish, from the youngest to the oldest, irrespective of level of need or ability to pay.
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Providing financial support to those in need and to other organisations with similar objectives.
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Fulfilling the above so that we may enable as many people as possible to worship at our church, and become part of our parish community.
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Involving the community through our Easter, Harvest, Remembrance and Christmas celebrations.
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Maintaining the fabric of the church building as an historic centre and focus of life in the village.