Sadly, this beautiful Church building was the subject of an arson attack on 15th March 2010, which gutted the building.
April 2014 - after 4 years without a church building but with good attendances at services in the Church Hall, the community once again have a church. Thanks are due to many people who have undertaken the work to restore the Church so beautifully. There is now a church that is in many ways just as it was before the fire but which now has good facilities for the present and for the future. It is ideal for both church and community use.
The parish was formed in 1868 and the church was built in 1874 at a cost of £2,500 with seating for 200 people. The building is of stone in the decorated style of the 14th Century, with chancel, nave, south porch, vestry and a western turret with one bell. St. Mary's is unusual having an apse with a south facing altar.
A rectory was built behind the church. This building was sold off in the 1970's and later burned down on May 21st 1978.The parish covers over 7,000 acres and in 1891 the population was over 630 people.
In 1891 a chapel of ease was erected in West Fen. Dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, this small stone building fell into disuse and was demolished in the 1970s.
The lych gate at St. Mary's was erected in 1932. One of the stained glass windows in the church is a memorial to the Revd T.T. Peyton. A small brass plaque commemorates a World War I soldier and in the churchyard are two war graves from the Second World War.
In August 2009 work was completed to provide easy access by the provision of a gently sloping ramp to the church doors.
Inside, there is space for wheelchairs and buggies and a welcome for everyone whatever their age or physical ability.
Since 1968, St. Mary's has not had its own priest, but the parish has been held in plurality, first with St. John's and from 1978 with St. Peter's.
Rectors from 1873 through to 2012
1873-1927 Revd T.T. Peyton M.A.
1928-1968 Revd R.J.P. Peyton-Burberry
1969-1977 Revd F. Andrew and Revd J. Sillitoe
1978-1984 Revd Malcolm Broadhead
1984-1989 Revd Brian Ruddock
1990-1998 Revd David Spencer
2000-2014 Revd Anthony Chandler
2014 Revd Jenny Webb Licensed as Priest in Charge
“If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first at churchmicro@gmail.com so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication. There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page found via the Bookmark list”
You are looking for a small green pot containing a log only so bring your own writing implement. It could hold very small trackables or pathtags.
Well done to Pip_Squeek on the First to Find Accolade