St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church plays a pivotal role in the life of North Marston village. The congregations of St Mary’s Church and the Methodist Church within the village are joined together in Local Ecumenical Partnership and this is reflected in our services, the use of liturgy and hymns.

We are a welcoming and friendly congregation, committed to serve God and share his love with others. We strive to be a community where people feel supported as they explore and deepen their understanding of God on their journey of faith. We play an active role at the heart of our village community and offer many events throughout the year.

In terms of history, the earliest parts of this fine and unusual church were built around 1150, but it owes a great deal of its present glory to it's Rector from 1282 to 1314, John Schorne. He was an Augustinian canon revered for his holiness. After his death, pilgrims flocked to his shrine in the chancel of the church because of miracles said to have been worked by him and the healing power of the water in his Holy Well. Pilgrimages to North Marston became the third most popular in the country and brought huge prosperity: the income to the church, at today’s rates, increased from £500 a year to £2.6 million!

Today, church life includes regular Sunday services (check our website for details) as well as Friday coffee mornings, fortnightly lunches in the Wesley Centre and Messy Church - a friendly, fun and creative session of art and craft, worship and play for families with young children on the second Sunday each month at 4pm at Wesley Centre.