Week St Mary Church is embarking upon a series of projects to repair and improve the building to keep it fit for the many uses for which the community needs it.

The North Door was recently removed for (grant aided) repairs and will be back soon to be fitted with draught proofing and left in a condition which will enable us to open it and use it as an emergency exit - something which has not been possible within living memory.

We have been very fortunate to have received an anonymous gift sufficient to pay for the installation of glass doors on the outer opening of the main porch entrance. This will also improve the draught proofing of that entrance to retain heat inside in the winter and make the porch a comfortable and attractive place to sit throughout the year.

And finally, we are about to embark upon a major restoration of the church tower which will provide a new roof, repairs to the internal floors, including that under the bell frame, new bird guards to the sound louvres and extensive repointing. We are hoping to pay for this (at a cost of somewhere over £120,000) with grants but will of course be fund raising locally as well. The last time any major capital works were done on our church was 1879 when a nearly derelict building was extensively renovated.

We are hoping that our generation will leave the legacy of an ancient, historic building in good order and fit for modern use for the next 150 years - this will also include future projects such as a new roof which is the next challenge! 

Please contact the churchwardens if you have skills or resources which may help us in this endeavour.

If any local businesses with the appropriate skills and experience wish to receive the tender documents for the tower works  which will be available soon, please contact the churchwardens - Lesley 341221 or Linda 341468 and your details will be passed to the project manager.

St. Mary’s ancient Church stands on the footings of its Norman predecessor in the original St. Mary’s Wyke.

Our GRADE I listed parish church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin and we welcome everyone to use the church and trust that it will be used sensitively and with respect, especially for those who undertake to look after it.

Week St. Mary church is a clean and well-cared for example of a village church, with church services, musical events and the annual craft display adding to the regular use.

The village has many visitors and the church is always visited and praised for its beauty and cleanliness.

It comprises a chancel, nave, and north and south aisles. The north arcade has five four-centred arches, with monolith granite pillars; the south arcade also has five arches, three of which are obtuse pointed, and two obtuse four-centred. The pillars are of Polyphant stone and granite. The entrances are a south porch and a priest's door; the north door is not used. The tower is of granite ashlar; it has three stages and is 99 feet in height, including its pinnacles.

The church, built in 1643, contains six bells which were hung in 1731, and is finished with battlements and crocketed pinnacles which terminate with crosses.

Our GRADE I listed parish Church has a C14 south arcade, C15 aisles, late C15/early C16 porch and tower. Some masonry in the chancel may be C13. Substantially restored 1876 to 1881. The bells were re-hung and repaired in 1887 when the tower was also renovated at a cost of £168. See below for details of the bells.

Please be aware of the guidance regarding memorials and headstones etc within Week St. Mary Churchyard. The full article, as issued by the Diocese of Truro may be read by clicking HERE.

Some may say a landmark for the area as it can be seen for many miles and I am sure many of you look for the tower in the distance driving back towards the Village. We are only custodians of this Grade 1 Listed building during our lifetime and responsible for its upkeep. During last year’s Quinquennial Report (every five years) by a surveyor on the structure and condition of the building it was highlighted that the ENTIRE CHURCH ROOF will need REPLACING within 5 to 8 years. 

This is obviously a VERY costly job to undertake and quite daunting for the PCC to find the money. In order to comply with our Church Insurance, we have to show that preparations are under way to finance the repairs.  The PCC decided at their meeting in September to kick start the ROOF FUND and have set up a RESTRICTED FUND namely for the ROOF with £10,000 which we had from a legacy. 

We will be looking at our options regarding grant funding and hopefully donations to pay for this very big and expensive job which will run into many hundreds of thousands of £s. 

Every £1 counts and if anyone has any ideas to help us on this mammoth project, we would be delighted to hear from you as we will have to do some match funding at the very least. 

Any suggestions or enquiries please contact:  Linda Cobbledick (PCC Secretary) by email:  lincob@gmail.com

There is a donations wall box to the left of the front door and those who wish may make their gifts online to the following bank accounts:

FOR DONATIONS TO THE ROOF FUND.........

NAT WEST BANK: Week St Mary Parochial Church Reserve Account
Sort Code: 53-50-52     Account No: 04177711

It is important to note that during this difficult time, when income will be greatly reduced for a variety of reasons, this church and the Diocese of which it is a part, still has significant ongoing expenses for wages, electricity, oil, insurance and maintenance. Any help that is given will be very gratefully received. Online donations can be made to this account:

FOR GENERAL DONATIONS.......

NAT WEST BANK: Week St Mary Parochial Church Council
Sort Code: 53-50-52     Account No: 04109171

With best wishes from Lesley Booker & Linda Cobbledick (Churchwardens)

For a full list of churches within Stratton Deanery, please click HERE

Clergy

Revd David Saunders

Rector: Bude Coast and Country Benefice

The Rectory, The Glebe, Week St Mary, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6UY

Tel: 07834 459672  •  Email:  rector@bude-coast-benefice.org

Church Wardens

Mrs Lesley Booker - Tel: 01288 341221 •  Email:  lesleymbooker@gmail.com

Mrs Linda Cobbledick - Tel: 01288 341468  •  Email: lincob@gmail.com

Parochial Church Council Secretary

Mrs Linda Cobbledick, Wyke House, Week St. Mary, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6XA

Tel: 01288 341468 • Email: lincob@gmail.com

Treasurer: 
Dick Sowerby, Wentworth House, Week St Mary, Holsworthy, Devon  EX22 6UL

Dioscesan Child Protection Representative

Mrs Sue Dickenson, Ranelagh, Week St. Mary, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6XF