Parochial Church Council

St Mary's Church, Great Bealings

More about St Mary's church

St Mary's Church

We are lucky to have a beautiful church and tower, St Mary's, which dates back to before the Norman invasion, and an active congregation and Parochial Church Council. As from 2020 we are part of a united Benefice with St Mary's, Woodbridge, based on strong historical links, particularly through the Seckford family. We previously belonged to a Benefice of rural parishes with Playford, Culpho and Little Bealings. That grouping remains in the shape of the Fynn-Lark News, the secular community magazine which also publishes details of church services. (It is accessible on-line).The church remains relatively traditional in outlook, while being family-friendly. The churchyard is a dedicated wild-life area, with an observation cabin which doubles up as a protected space for those visiting graves. See the Links page for more...
The Parochial Church Council meets four times a year to discuss all matters pertaining to the continued well being of St Mary’s Church, Great Bealings.

The Parochial Church Council

The Parochial Church Council meets four times a year to discuss all matters pertaining to the continued well being of St Mary's Church, Great Bealings. The Annual Meeting is open to all.

The current members of the PCC are:

Priest in Charge: Rev Nigel Prior, Chairman
Mr Norman Porter, Church Warden and Vice Chairman
Mr Eric Barnett, Secretary
Mr Will Self, Treasurer
Mrs Virginia Porter, Deanery Synod Representative
Ms Jonathan Keer, Electoral Roll Officer
Mr Julian Haywood Smith

NEWS

The PCC has recently completed a £140,000 building programme, including interior decoration, repairs to the stonework, a re-tiling of the North face of the roof, and major repairs to the East wall. Previously basic kitchen facilities were installed, mains water laid on, and an outside toilet/storage block built.

The church is the only public building in the village, so is used for a range of purposes, including talks, concerts, exhibitions, festivals organised by Friends of the Church. The car park is informally leased to the PCC while a significant car park extension to it is similarly leased by Lord Cranworth.

Bealings Plant Sale. This annual fund raiser started around 1990 by Hugh and Monica Philbrick, now held in the Village Hall, provides extremely valuable funding for the parish churches of Great and Little Bealings. It includes an official Raffle. In 2019 some £4000 was raised. Please contact Norman Porter at nhp@rillcott.co.uk if you would like to be involved.

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