Church of St Mary the Virgin

Parish

The ecclesiastical parish of Whitchurch is part of the Langtree Team Ministry in the Diocese of Oxford. It consists of the villages of Whitchurch-on-Thames and Whitchurch Hill. The team Rector is Kevin Davies and he is assisted by other clergy resident throughout the Langtree area. Our resident priest is Dr Peter Steddon (pictured right) (p.steddon@btopenworld.com; tel 0118 984 3435) who takes most of our weekend services as well as fulfilling his weekday duties as Industrial Chaplain in Oxford. He lives in St Mary’s House which was recently built adjacent to St Mary’s Church, Whitchurch.

The Church, looking from the south
More views of the church are available in the Photo Gallery.

Within the team, Whitchurch has two churches: St Mary’s is beautifully situated by the river, whilst its sister church St John’s is next to the green at Whitchurch Hill. You are warmly invited to attend services at either Church, whatever your denomination. The clergy, choir and congregation alternate between them in accordance with the schedule of services.

A welcome pack for all newcomers to the village is available from Churchwarden Peter Ferguson (peterf@fergie.me.uk; tel 0118 984 1262).

Read Peter’s Letter of Welcome.

Links

Read the latest edition of the bi-monthly Parish Magazine.

The Langtree Team Ministry.
The Oxford Diocese.

There is a History of St Mary’s Church provided by the Langtree Team Ministry.

New Meeting Room

In partnership with the diocese, plans are well advanced for the construction of a new parish meeting room and office in the old stable block next to Rectory Cottage, Whitchurch. This new facility will allow small groups from the whole community to come together in attractive surroundings, as well as providing a venue for church meetings.

Choir

Whitchurch has a proud choral tradition and three sung communion services are a regular part of our schedule every month. We have excellent Walker organs in both our churches and three regular organists to play for us.

Currently we have an adult choir of up to a dozen members including some experienced and fine singers. However beginners are also welcome and whether or not you have sung before please contact us to register your interest. No need to come every week. We welcome regular or irregular members and guest singers (especially men) for feast days and special events. Occasional choir practices and choral concerts are held as required. A reunion of former members is expected in 2010.

Children

Children are welcome at all our services. We do not at present have a children’s choir, but if any are interested please let us know. All Age Worship is an informal service especially suitable for children, who are actively encouraged to make a noise and have fun! These services are held at St John’s at 11 am on every second and fourth Sunday of the month.

Baptisms, Marriages, etc

For information please contact Dr Peter Steddon.

Reflections on St Mary’s

by Richard Hughes, a former Rector of Whitchurch:

'If only these stones could talk' people say. That is the point. They can – if only we can interpret them. John Slatter in his History of Whitchurch published in 1895, says, 'the present structure is quite modern, having been erected in place of an older building'. On any close scrutiny, that is far from being the whole story. Henry Woodyer, an architect very active in Berkshire in the mid-Victorian period, was responsible for the drastic treatment meted out to St Mary's in 1857. Yet, as will become clear, he did not preside over the entire demolition of the earlier building. There are aspects of the church redolent of earlier, quite different times. Nor, indeed, was he the first to refashion the building according to the latest changes in thought and style. Every deviation of mood or fashion has made its impact, every twist or turn of prejudice or theology. To different degrees, Saxon, Norman, Gothic and Georgian, as well as Victorian, are reflected here. The whole has mellowed with the centuries nevertheless, so that the casual visitor will find a typical country church in which nothing, it seems, is too out of place. But so far as the people of Whitchurch are concerned, this is a treasure house, as nowhere else the story of this village writ large. A study of this building and the quite remarkable records which go to elucidate its history provide us indeed with a journey through time, the ever changing ebb and flow of an ancient Thameside parish.

(An extract from St Mary’s Church, Whitchurch-on-Thames – A Journey through Time by Richard Hughes,1998, Rector of Whitchurch, 1979 to 2000.)