PLEASE NOTE: The church is now open for prayer & reflection and to visitors on: Tuesdays 10am – 2pm, Wednesdays 10am – 2pm, Thursdays 10am – 12 midday & Saturdays 10am – 2pm. 

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*To view a video of St Mary's Church, taken by Richard Sharp, click HERE.

St Mary's Church, Melton Mowbray

IF you go down to St Mary’s Church today you’re sure of a big surprise…
 
IF you go down to St Mary’s Church today you’ll hardly believe your eyes…
 
Yes, our beautiful Grade I Listed building, parts of which date back to 1170, underwent a dramatic transformation in 2017 and it now looks even more spectacular than ever, thanks to our Re-ordering Project.

The project included levelling the floor to create a step-free environment, putting in under-floor heating throughout, improved lighting, amplification and audio-visual equipment, a servery and storage space, toilets, a glass “air-lock” in the porch, upgrading the organ and adding a new stained-glass window in memory of our major donor, John Plumb.

The new window, made by stained glass artist Derek Hunt in his Limelight Studios in Main Street, Medbourne, is pictured above, and was unveiled at a special Service of Praise and Thanksgiving in the church on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017. 

At St Mary's we have a regular Sunday congregation of well over 150 adults and children, and the number of worshippers is rising. On Sundays, there have been regular services at 8am and 10am, with Choral Evensong with the Choir on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. 

Our services vary in style in the course of the month, so there is sure to be one that meets your needs. We are a friendly, caring and open church community and welcome newcomers.

Our Director of Music, James Gutteridge, is a talented organist and choirmaster. Our choir is comprised of adults and children. If you are interested in singing and music email james_gutteridge@yahoo.co.uk.

In addition to our variety of services, some held in the church and some in Mary's Place, we have a host of social organisations and groups which you are welcome to join.

VISITORS WELCOME!

In the past we have welcomed many thousands of daily visitors to our beautiful church. Many visitors comment on the special atmosphere in St Mary’s, its warmth and the welcome given by our wonderful band of Church Welcomers. On special days we have tours of the Bell Tower! Books on the church are normally available for sale at the back of the church along with a lovely selection of gifts and cards. After visiting our church, do have a cup of tea at Mary's Place Cafe next door.

THE RUNNING OF THE CHURCH

We are kept in good running order by our churchwardens, Ian Neale and Brenda Munton.  

St Mary's District Church Council (the DCC) meets regularly through the year to reflect and discuss on decisions concerning the life and activities of St Mary’s. The DCC is made up of a number of people representing many aspects of St Mary’s life: the clergy, churchwardens & readers, St Mary’s Parish Church Council representatives, St Mary’s Deanery Synod representatives, St Mary’s pastoral assistants and the elected DCC representatives.  

HISTORY and ARCHITECTURE

"Leicestershire's most sophisticated church, even before we go inside." from England's Thousand Best Churches, author Simon Jenkins, published by Penguin Books)

St Mary’s Parish Church, in the centre of the market town of Melton Mowbray, is the largest parish church in the Leicester Diocese. It is certainly the finest. St Mary’s is a grand cruciform church with transepts and a crossing tower. The tower of scrubbed limestone has dominated the town for centuries.

The building dates mainly from the 13th-15th centuries. The stonework in the lowest section of the tower, which has Norman windows, dates from 1170, although there were certainly one or more Anglo-Saxon churches on this site before the Norman one. It is built on a plan more usual for cathedrals and the 100-foot tower dominates the town, and is a rare example of a parish church with aisled transepts (one of only five in the country) a feature usually found only in a cathedral.

The belfry contains ten bells. The earliest bell (No.6) is by John of York dating from the fourteenth century. Most of the rest have been recast. Until 1802 there were only six bells: then two more were added and in 1894 a further two made the total ten. In addition there is a small sanctus bell which dates from the seventeenth century.

The carillon, on which chimes are played twice a day (at 12 noon and 3pm), was restored in 1938. 

Our organ, the Sir Malcolm Sargent Memorial organ, named after our illustrious choirmaster and organist from 1914-1924, has been rebuilt. To find out more about it click HERE. 

*A number of folk have been asking how they can give to the work of St Mary's Church, especially with the Church not being open all the time during the present pandemic and the fact that many people no longer carry cash around with them. This problem is now solved. Please click HERE to find out more.

FIND ST MARY'S CHURCH, MELTON MOWBRAY, LE13 1AE