St Mary's Church homepage

The ecclesiastical parish of Hamstead Marshall has since 1981 been part of a united benefice which also includes Enborne, West Woodhay, Inkpen and Combe. Since 2005 this benefice, and the separate benefice of Kintbury with Avington, have been jointly served by one rector, and they now set up their own website.

St Mary's Church is a medieval building, largely unspoilt by Victorian renovation, standing upon a hill overlooking the river Kennet. The congregation is small but friendly, and welcomes all-comers to services, which are held every Sunday.

The church is open at service times and also at times of special religious significance (as indicated by a "church open today" sign outside). At other times visitors may gain access by contacting one of the churchwardens for a key. The locking-up of the church is greatly regretted, but it was made necessary by a series of burglaries some years ago.

The map below shows the configuration of the original five parishes and Kintbury with Avington (marked with their initial letters), which together occupy the extreme south-west corner of the county.

the team

The post of rector is currently vacant, following the departure of the Rev Julie Ramsbottom. In the interim the senior priest is:

Rev Cathy Pynn (01488 658243)

Hon assistant priest:

Rev Charles Pakenham (01672 540531)

Associate priest:

Rev Caroline Robinson (01635 230073)

Associate priests (part-time):

Rev James Cook (01488 668122)

Associate priest (hon):

Rev Matthew Cookson (01672 871013)

Deacon (hon):

Rev Dr Margaret Yates (01488 658092)

Churchwardens

James Gladstone (01635 44868)

Robin Althaus (01635 524346)

Day-to-day management of St Mary's is the responsibility of the parochial church council, which is elected from a roll of regular church-going parishioners. This roll is maintained by Robin Althaus.

The joint benefices fall within the deanery of Newbury, which in turn comes under the suffragan bishop of Reading. Overall, the church in Hamstead Marshall is administered by the diocese of Oxford. (In 1836 this arrangement replaced the historic affiliation of Hamstead Marshall with the diocese of Salisbury.) For more information on the diocese of Oxford, which also covers Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, see the diocesan website.

Your comments and questions are welcome. Please send an email.