Coming Soon

Book Sale on Saturday, 1 October, from 10.00am.  Thousands of volumes together with DVDs, CDs, videos and games.  Refreshments will be available as well.

Consesnsus Vocalis concert on Friday, 7 October, at 7.30pm.  Free entry with a retiring collection and refreshments.

Anniversary of Dedication.  Procession and Sung Mass on Sunday, 23 October, at 10.30am.  Preacher: Fr Darren Smith SSC, General Secretary of the Additional Curates Society.  There will be a drinks reception after Mass.

The Organ

Recently we completed a very successful Organ Project in which £100,000 was raised and a complete renovation of the original 1914 Hill instrument was undertaken.  An Inaugural Recital was given by James O'Donnell, Organist of Westminster Abbey.

For many years St Mary's has sponsored an Organ Scholar scheme and we have been pleased to see our young people make much of the skills they have honed during their time at St Mary's.  Our most recent 'graduate' is presently Organ Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge.  We have a team of enthusiastic organists who play at the Parish Mass and we offer a popular series of summer organ recitals.

Children and Young People

St Mary's Sunday School meets each week during the Parish Mass and is supervised by enthusiastic and experienced leaders.  Summer picnics, Christmas parties, and coach outings to attractions like London Zoo, Legoland and the seaside are also part of our annual programme.  

We have a good relationship with the Shrine at Walsingham and take our youngsters there each year.  Children are prepared for Confirmation during their first year at secondary school.

St Mary's has a Child Protection Policy and all those who come into regular contact with our children and young people have received child protection training and hold a current CRB Clearance.

About the Church

In the words of the Twentieth Century Society, St Mary's is the 'undisputed Meisterwerk' of the well-known architect, Sir Ninian Comper and 'the interior literally brings you to your knees.  Here we have the elements of expansive rood, powerful ciborium, gorgeous painting and gilding and superb stained glass'.

Begun in 1906, the building of the church continued into the 1930s and it has long been a Grade One Listed Building.  The rich decoration of the interior and its palpable atmosphere of devotion and prayer make a great impact on the many visitors that we are pleased to welcome year by year.  John Julius Norwich described St Mary's like this:

'All is confidence and conviction, the work of a man who was not afraid to take one gigantic breath of all he knew about architecture and all he felt about God, and let it all out together in one great bellow of praise.'

Why not come and see for yourself?

Visit Us

St Mary's stands on the corner of Elsden Road and Knox Road and is just a few minutes' walk from the railway station.  There is ample parking in the churchyard and the postcode (for those using satellite navigation) is NN8 1HJ.

The church is not usually open outside of daily service times so in order to avoid disappointment please contact us before making a journey. Telephone Carol Haybyrne on 07759 591673 or Jackie Cartwright on 01933 226197.  Keys are usually available at 30, St Mary's Paddock (adjoining the churchyard), or from the Vicarage, 193 Midland Road.

Please note: there is no disabled access lavatory.

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