St Mary’s Church
Hamstead Marshall
the benefice
the team
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. The map below
shows the configuration of the original five parishes, Kintbury
and Avington (marked with their initial letters), which
together occupy the extreme south-west corner of the county.
Rector:
Rev Julie Ramsbottom (01635 34427)
Associate priest (part-time):
Rev Cathy Pynn (01488 658243)
Hon assistant priest:
Rev Charles Pakenham (01672 540531)
Associate priest (hon)
Rev Caroline Robinson (01635 230073)
Deacon (hon):
Rev Matthew Cookson (01672 871013)
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.
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 united benefice falls 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.
Copyright Penelope Stokes
2 December 2009