St Mary’s Church, Breamore, Fordingbridge Hampshire SP6 2DF

(Follow signs for Breamore House – the Church is to the right of the entrance to the House)

WELCOME TO ST. MARY’S CHURCH BREAMORE……

You are assured of a very warm welcome at St. Mary’s Church Breamore, whether you come to worship with us, or are visiting the Church for historical interest. The Church is open daily for private prayer.

Below gives an overview of the worship pattern for each month. Please join us!

10:00am First Sunday of the month – Matins (Book of Common Prayer)

10:00am Second Sunday of the month - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)

10:00 am Third Sunday of the month – Morning Prayer (Traditional language)

10:00 am Fourth Sunday of the month - Holy Communion (Common Worship)

Fifth Sunday in the month - Benefice service venue TBA

HISTORY

St Mary’s is one of the most significant churches of Saxon origin in southern England. The current building dates from around 1000 AD, so our prayers join with those which have been offered on this site for more than a thousand years. The original Saxon work comprises the nave with the low central tower, the west part of the chancel and the south transept. Later additions include the 12th Century porch, the 15th Century chancel walls and many altered windows.

The interior of the church is simply and traditionally set out consisting of a chancel and nave with pews, separated by a crossing under the square central tower. Sited on the walls of the crossing are the Hulse family funeral hatchments. They are believed to be the largest collection of hatchments pertaining to a single family in the country. The Hulse family vault can be seen in the churchyard.

CHURCH SERVICES

The Book of Common Prayer is especially valued at Breamore, and our monthly service of Matins (on the first Sunday of each month) and the Service of Holy Communion (on the second Sunday of each month) use the traditional wording from this Prayer Book. Whereas, for our service of Holy Communion (on the fourth Sunday of the month), we use a more contemporary Common Worship Service.

For our Morning Prayer Service (held on the third Sunday of the month), the LCC attempt to arrange a different type of service each month. This includes the Snowdrop and Candlemas Celebration Service in February, a Rogationtide Service in May, a celebration of Lammas in August, a Patronal Festival in September, a Harvest Festival in the October followed by a Harvest lunch, an All-Souls’ Service and a traditional Remembrance Sunday Service in November. This is in addition to our worship during Lent, Holy Week, Easter and at Advent, and of course in December, a very popular Christmas Carol Service usually held on the Sunday before Christmas, leading up to a wonderful service on Christmas Day.

THE CHURCHYARD

The church stands in a lovely churchyard, dominated by an ancient Yew tree, which may well pre-date the Church and still thrives despite its hollow trunk. In the spring the churchyard is a wonderful sight and a beauty to behold, as the snowdrops bloom and cover the ground in a beautiful white carpet. As the snowdrops fade, wild daffodils also known as ‘Lenten Lilies’ bloom, sheltered under the ancient Yew Tree. The churchyard is still used today, and many graves are regularly visited and tended by the loved ones of those buried there.

ACCESSIBILITY

There is ample parking outside the Church gate, and level wheelchair access to the church building with a ramp inside the main door. Families and children are welcome at services and there is a children’s area, with a small toy box at the rear of the church.

OUR MESSAGE TO YOU

Our continuing mission is summarised by the ancient Saxon inscription above the doorway in the chancel, “Here is manifested the Word to thee.”

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS: Click here.