St Mary's Church, Longfleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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St Mary's Church
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| 50°43′22″N 1°58′18″W / 50.7227°N 1.9717°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | charismatic evangelical |
| Weekly attendance | ca. 500 |
| Website | www.smlpoole.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II ID: 412520 |
| Architect(s) | Edward Blore |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1830-33 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Longfleet |
| Deanery | Poole and North Bournemouth |
| Archdeaconry | Dorset |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church, also known as SML or SML Poole, is a special church in Longfleet, a part of Poole, in Dorset, England. It is a Church of England parish church. The church is known for being a lively and welcoming place. It is part of the New Wine network, which means it connects with many other churches.
Contents
Where is St Mary's Church Located?
St Mary's Church is easy to find. It sits on the south side of Longfleet Road. This is just above Poole Hospital. The church has a very tall spire. You can see this spire from many miles away. It is a well-known landmark in Poole.
The History of St Mary's Church
When Was St Mary's Church Built?
St Mary's Church was built a long time ago. Construction started in 1830 and finished in 1833. The church was officially opened on September 25, 1833. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches.
Who Designed and Changed the Church?
The first design for the church was by Edward Blore. He was a famous architect. Over the years, the church was changed quite a bit. In 1863, a new part called a chancel was added. This was designed by G. E. Street. Later, in 1884, the tall spire was built. It is 135 feet high! G. R. Crickmay and Son built the spire. William Pearce, a former Mayor of Poole, gave the money for it. More changes happened in 1915. Herbert Kendell of Poole rebuilt parts of the church. Even with all these changes, the church looks great. Its spire is one of Poole's most important sights.
St Mary's Church as a Historic Building
In 1995, St Mary's Church was given a special status. It became a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historic building. It is protected so it can be kept for the future.
How the Parish of Longfleet Began
The area around St Mary's became its own church district, or parish, in 1837. Before that, it was part of Great Canford. The parish boundaries changed again in 1946. St Mary's is still a vicarage. It is part of the Diocese of Salisbury.
St Mary's Church Today
A Vibrant Community Church
Today, St Mary's describes itself as a "vibrant" church. This means it is very active and full of life. It is a large church with people of all ages. The atmosphere inside is informal and welcoming. The church is part of the New Wine Network. It has one of the largest groups of churchgoers in the Diocese of Salisbury.
How St Mary's Helps the Community
St Mary's Church is very involved in its local community. It has many groups and activities. There are Sunday School classes for children. There are also groups for men, women, and young people. The church offers pastoral care, which means looking after people's well-being. It also does outreach work. This includes helping people in the community.
The church works with local groups like Faithworks Wessex. They run projects to help people. For example, "MON£Y MATT£RS" helps people with money management and debt advice. "Befrienders" connects people who need companionship. St Mary's also has strong ties with Longfleet Church of England Primary School.
The Vicar of St Mary's
The current vicar of St Mary's is Reverend Andrew Perry. He became the vicar in 1995. Since then, the church community has grown a lot. It went from about 80 people to around 800. Reverend Perry was also made a canon of Salisbury Cathedral in 2012.
The Church Centre
Building the New Church Centre
In 2011, St Mary's got permission to build a new church centre. This centre was planned to be a place for both the church and the local community. The church centre is on Kingston Road. It is just across Longfleet Road from the church. Work on the new centre started in May 2013. A special pedestrian crossing was also put in place on Longfleet Road.
Opening the New Church Centre
The new church centre was finished in May 2014. It was officially opened on September 23, 2014. The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, attended the celebration. The centre is used regularly by Poole Hospital. Local health charities also use the space.
Church Grafting
Helping Other Churches Grow
In April 2018, St Mary's Church did something special. They sent a new vicar, Reverend Tessa Nisbet, and about 20 church members to other churches. This was called a 'church graft'. They went to St Michael's Church in Hamworthy and St Gabriel's Church in Turlin Moor. The goal was to bring new life to these churches. They wanted to help their groups of churchgoers grow again.
Images for kids
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Poole Hospital and the spire of St Mary's seen across Poole Park Lake
See also
- Longfleet
- List of ecclesiastical works by Edward Blore
- List of church restorations and alterations by G. E. Street
