Welcome to St Mary’s church in Burton Latimer.
Whatever has brought you to St Mary’s, we pray that you find what you are looking for and you may know God’s blessing on your life today
Our weekly services
Monday – 9am Morning Prayer (Chapter House)
Tuesday – 10.30 am SMUFs (St Mary's Under Fives) at the Guiding Centre Alexandra St
Wednesday – 9.30am Morning Prayer/Holy Communion
Wednesday – 10.30 am - Well Being Café in church
Thursday - 5 pm Evening Prayer (Chapter House)
Friday – 9am Morning Prayer (Chapter House)
Sunday - 8.30am Holy Communion
Sunday - 10.00am Holy Communion
First Sunday of each month: 8.30am BCP Holy Communion and 10am Family Service (all age worship)
Baptism information
If you are interested in being baptised (sometimes called a Christening) or having your child baptised we would be delighted to carry out the service at St Mary’s.
To find out more, we recommend coming to our 10:00 Sunday service and ask to see Carol Sharman our Church Warden, alternatively contact her via email [email protected]
For more information regarding baptisms in the Church of England, visit the website below: www.churchofenglandchristenings.org
Although there is no fee for a baptism, there is a £14 charge for the candle and certificates, which can be paid at the service. If this is an issue for you, please do let us know as there is a bursary available.
Marriage Information
We would be delighted to conduct your marriage service at St Mary’s church. Weddings are a celebration of love and the Bible teaches us that to know love is to know God.
If you are interested in having your wedding at the church, we recommend coming to our 10:00 Sunday service and ask to see Carol Sharman our Church Warden, alternatively contact her via email [email protected] Who will then be in contact with you to arrange a meeting and to help guide you through the process of organising your church wedding.
For an excellent resource that may help answer some of your questions concerning a church wedding see the official Church of England wedding website. www.yourchurchwedding.org
Please note:
– To be married at St Mary’s church either or both parties must live in Burton Latimer. If neither party lives here but you have a connection with our church or town you may still be eligible.
– If one or both of the parties have been married before and their former spouse is still living, we will conduct the ceremony if certain criteria apply.
Funeral Information
A funeral mark’s the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for friends and family to express their grief, to give thanks for the life which has now completed its journey in this world.
We are unable to offer burials at St Mary’s, but memorials and the interment of ashes can be arranged.
For an resource that may help answer some of your questions concerning a church funeral see the official Church of England website: www.churchofenglandfunerals.org
To enquire about funerals please contact Carol Sharman our Church Warden, via email [email protected] or private message us for her tel no.
Contact details:
Churchwardens: Mike Jones, email [email protected] and
Carol Sharman, email [email protected] (weddings, baptisms and funerals)
Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, email: [email protected]
Safeguarding Statement: The parish of Burton Latimer: St Mary the Virgin is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs. The Diocese of Peterborough’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.
The History of the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
The church consists of a tower and spire, north and south aisles, chancel and north porch, all constructed of local stone. The foundations of the church are Norman. The church was dedicated in 1147.
The tower and spire were rebuilt in 1862 and the church itself was restored in 1867. A further major restoration and re-organisation took place in 1969 when the Revd Derek Hole was the Rector.
The tower houses a clock and a fine peal of eight bells. In 2000 a first floor Ringing Chamber was created with the Tower Room located below, designed for use as a crèche during services.
The porch is 15thC with angle buttresses and a pointed and heavily studded door bearing the date 1510. Above the porch entrance is a a statue of the Madonna and Child, presented by the school children in 1921. In the corner is a 13thC font, placed after its discovery forming part of a rockery in the old rectory garden.
The chancel is about 1280. The East window is of 1867 but the side windows are late 13thC. The carved oak reredos, altar and panelling date from 1897 and were designed by Mr Dunstan Powell, grandson of the famous Pugin. The work in the sanctuary is all carved English oak and is in keeping with the screen and other chancel oak work; at either end of the altar is the IHS whilst the Angus Dei fills the middle panel, a beautifully carved canopy for the cross, on either side being two carved panels representing Angels with Thurifers.
The Nave consists of six bays and a half, the tower touching on what would have been the seventh bay westward. The strange nook-shafted respond in the north arcade and the shape of the pier to which it belongs, is evidence of the transept of a cruciform Norman church. To this cruciform Norman church of which no actual feature remains, a south arcade was added still in the 12thC, and of that there are two and a half arches from the west
Above the pillars in the Nave are some almost complete wall paintings, dating from 1600 and originally representing twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament.
There are a series of mural paintings on the north wall that are exceptionally precious examples of mediaeval art, representing the martyrdom of St Catherine. Discovered in the 1860’s under many coats of limewash, experts consider that the work was done by a master of no mean order. These paintings were restored by Professor E W Tristram in 1933 and again by Mrs Eve Baker in 1972.
The rood screen is much restored but is basically 15thC and the present colouring conforms as near as possible with the original.
A nave altar and its platform were installed in 1969; the platform was later extended in the 1990’s.
By the second pillar near the north door is a very rare beautifully carved Elizabethan poor box with three locks dating from the canon of 1603 which ordered the provision of such alms boxes for the relief of the poor of the parish.
The oak chest in the chancel is dated 1629. Until 1992 the chest contained parish archives dating back to the 15thC and registers from 1538. The earliest consisted of a parchment scroll twenty-two feet long by six and a half inches wide. Apart from a few missing years during the Civil Wars the registers are complete from 1538. These records are now housed in the County Record Office. Another item now deposited at the County Record Office is the priceless possession of a Mass book of the 14th century, beautifully illuminated. It contains prayers for a blessing on the staffs and shields of those about to undertake a duel and for those proposing to go on a pilgrimage, together with a mass for the dead and for marriage. This book would have been lost but for the fact that its pages were used to bind the Churchwardens’ account book for 1559. They have been rebound by the British Museum.
On the south side of the church is the Chapter House constructed from local stone in 1984. It is octagonal in shape and is entered through its internal doors.
The fine stained glass in the East window was constructed by Hardmans of Birmingham. The main part of the window includes pictures showing The Arrest in the Garden, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection, The Agony in Gethsemane, The Taunting of Christ and the Way of Cross.
The stained glass window at the east end of the south aisle is a war memorial window to the Great War 1914-18 and shows the royal standard and soldiers asleep at the resurrection.
The stained glass window at the east end of the north aisle is dated 1874 and shows Moses striking water from a rock, Christ with the Samarian woman and the Purifying of Elijah with water. This window is again attributed to Hardmans.
The belfry window is attributed to Clayton & Bell and is dated 1860. It shows the presentation, baptism and the ark.
Article by Margaret Craddock