About St Mary's
St Mary’s Church has an active and committed congregation who worship together regularly and who aim to serve the village. There is currently one service a month in Fowlmere, on the 2nd Sunday. On other Sundays we join the other 3 churches in our group in one of the other church buildings (see calendar for details)
Children and families are very welcome in our church. Children’s church is led by a member of the PCC and supported by other parents. It takes place wherever there is a Sunday service in one of our churches.
We encourage families to bring children for baptism, and to remember their baptism anniversaries during family services with lighted candles.
Musical outreach is very important to St Mary’s – in addition to singing at services here, our choir sing at worship held in the other three church buildings in our group. The choir also sing for weddings and singers from other parishes join our choir for the Good Friday service of music. We participate in Diocesan festivals and Archdeaconry events and we host “Come and Sing” events with ACCMS.
The church was built in the 12th Century. The north and south transepts were added in the 14C to create the present cruciform. The central tower, built in stages between 13C & 15C, contains 5 bells that can no longer be pealed. The chancel features a 13C piscina and the Mitchell family tomb & monument dated 1745. There is a beautiful Victorian Te Deum stained glass window and a 15C wooden screen in the chancel.
Annexed to the South Transept there is a modern WC and washbasin suitable for the disabled. The church has an up-to-date sound system including 8 microphone points and 5 wall-mounted speakers. The church can accommodate a congregation of approx. 150 but with extra chairs, at the annual Christmas Carol Service, capacity can be increased to over 200.
A major outstanding project is the interior restoration of the entire church which involves exposing and restoring stonework and repairing / lime-washing the plasterwork. There are also projects to install a stronger guard for the stained glass window in the chancel and to install glass in the North Porch windows to provide protection from bad weather when visitors enter and leave the church.
A detailed survey followed by possible restoration of the prayer panel high on the east wall of the nave is also being undertaken.
Children and Families
Children’s Church
Children are very welcome at St Mary’s. There are Children’s activities during each Sunday morning service in our group.
We start our services by worshipping together, before having our own session of bible stories, crafts and games based on the readings and theme of the main service. We then all come together for the last part of each service.
Children of all ages are very welcome to join us, and parents / carers are welcome to stay for the session if they wish.
Messy Church
On the second Wednesday of most months St Mary’s gets messy!
We meet after school from 3.00 ‘til 4.45pm for a selection of at least 5 messy crafts and activities all based on a bible theme. We share tea and delicious cakes before joining together for the bible story and worship. Children of all ages are welcome with their families.
For more details of Children’s Church and Messy Church please contact Liz Nottage – liz@nottagagriculture.co.uk or just come along!
Fowlmere Regular Services
Rotating around the four churches when there is a fifth Sunday in a month, at the usual worship time for each church. For more details check our calendar.
St Mary's, Fowlmere
St Laurence's, Foxton
All Saints, Shepreth