St Mary's Church, Oxted Open Day

Just behind the Oxted Community Hall is St Mary's Church. It is well worth a visit either before or after you have visited our Flower and Produce Show on Saturday 13 September.

 

 

  Along with many other local churches, St. Mary’s Church, Oxted will be open on Saturday 13 September to welcome participants in the Surrey Churches Preservation Trust sponsored Ride and Stride. The church will open from 9.00am until 6.00pm. Participants in the Ride and Stride will be visiting as many Surrey churches as possible, either on foot or by bicycle,  hoping to raise money by being sponsored. The money raised will be split equally between the Surrey Churches Preservation Trust which gives grants to Surrey churches for essential maintenance work, and the participants’ own church.

     In addition St. Mary’s will be open to welcome all visitors regardless of participation in the sponsored event with a series of activities and displays taking place through the day. These will include the  Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals being put out for perusal, a display of old photographs of St. Mary’s Church, School  and Oxted and displays of some of the activities organised by members of St. Mary’s church. There will also be guided tours up to the top of the church tower from approximately  11.00am and again from approximately 2.00pm and 4.30pm.   At 4.00pm there will be a bell ringing demonstration and the chance to look at the workings of the St. Mary’s tower clock. It must be noted that all tours up to the top of the tower are taken at the person’s own risk as the staircase up to the top is quite steep and narrow. The effort is worth it however as the view over the whole of Oxted from the top of the tower is quite spectacular. 

     Throughout the day members of St. Mary’s  Church including members of the clergy team will be available to answer queries and to show people round the church and refreshments in the form of home-made cakes and tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available – served outside if it is fine or in the tower area if the weather is too cold or wet.

     Do come and visit what is Oxted’s oldest and most historic building --  it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has a wealth of interesting features including many old and artistically interesting stained glass windows, Crusader graves and interesting architecture.

      Entrance is free.

      For more information ‘phone V. Adamson on 01883 714859