St Mary's Church, Longfleet facts for kids
St Mary's Church, also known as SML or SML Poole, is a Church of England parish church located in Longfleet, a part of Poole, on the south coast of England. It is known for being an active and welcoming church that is part of the New Wine network. The church describes itself as an evangelical and charismatic church.
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
|
|---|---|
St Mary's Church
|
|
| 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 |
Contents
Where to Find St Mary's
St Mary's Church is on the south side of Longfleet Road. It is just above Poole Hospital. The church has a tall spire that you can see from many miles away. This makes it a well-known landmark in Poole.
History of the Church
St Mary's is a Gothic Revival style church. This means it was built to look like older churches from the Gothic period. Construction began in 1830 and finished in 1833. The church was officially opened on September 25, 1833.
Much of the church's building costs were paid by Lord de Mauley. The first design for the church was made by Edward Blore. Over the years, the church has been changed and added to many times.
In 1863, a chancel (the area around the altar) and an organ room were added. These were designed by G. E. Street. Later, in 1884, a spire was built at the western end of the church. This spire is 135 feet (41 m) tall. It was built by G. R. Crickmay and Son. William Pearce JP, a former Mayor of Poole, gave the money for the spire.
More changes happened in 1915. The nave (the main part of the church where people sit) was rebuilt. New aisles (side passages) and transepts (parts that stick out like arms of a cross) were added. Herbert Kendell of Poole designed these changes.
Even with all these changes, the church looks very good. Its tall tower and spire are important parts of Poole's skyline. In 1995, St Mary's Church was named a Grade II listed building. This means it is a special building that should be protected.
The area around the church, called Longfleet parish, was created in 1837. It was separated from Great Canford. The church has always been a vicarage in the Diocese of Salisbury.
St Mary's Church Today
Today, St Mary's describes itself as a "vibrant" and active church. It is a large church with people of all ages. The atmosphere inside is relaxed and friendly. The church is part of the New Wine Network. It has about 700 people attending, making it the largest church in the Diocese of Salisbury.
The church helps the local community in many ways. It has Sunday School classes for children. There are also groups and activities for men, women, and young people. They offer pastoral care, which means looking after people's well-being. The church also does outreach work to help others.
St Mary's works with local groups like Faithworks Wessex. They run projects such as MON£Y MATT£RS, which helps people with money and debt. They also have Befrienders, a program that connects with people who need companionship. The church has strong ties with Longfleet Church of England Primary School, which used to be across the road.
The current vicar, Rev. Andrew Perry, started at St Mary's in 1995. He has seen the church grow from 80 people to around 800. In 2012, he became a canon of Salisbury Cathedral.
Church Centre
In August 2011, St Mary's got permission to rebuild its church centre. This new centre would be for both the church and the local community. The old church centre was on Kingston Road. The new building work started in May 2013. A pelican crossing (a type of pedestrian crossing) was also put in across Longfleet Road.
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 opening celebration. The centre is often used by Poole Hospital and local health charities.
Church Graft Project
In April 2018, St Mary's (SML) started a special project called a 'church graft'. They sent a new vicar, Rev. Tessa Nisbet, and about 20 church members to two other churches. These were St Michael's Church in Hamworthy and St Gabriel's Church in Turlin Moor. The idea was to bring new energy and life to these churches and help their groups grow again.
Images for kids
-
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
