Earliest records of our Church date from the thirteenth Century. The Chancel is from this period; the tower, chancel arches, and the nave of four bays are from the fourteenth Century. The tower was rebuilt or altered in the fifteenth Century and the font dates from the sixteenth Century so we are a mix of different Centuries!
Our Church seats approximately 200 in the nave with additional seating in the choir stalls and we are one of the larger churches in the group. We had major works in 2014/2015 including electrical and improvements on our heating.
We have a regular Communion service at 9.00 am on the second Sunday of each month and an Evensong on the fourth Sunday of each month - this is at 6.00 pm in Summer time and moves to 3.00 pm over the Winter. Like other parishes, we also have special services at different times in the Church calendar. You are welcome to any of our services and we would love to see you.
Coming up at Stetchworth:
WORK AT CHURCH: I am very happy to let you know that since the article pubished here in December two of the grant applications have been successful and, together with some generous donations from parishioners for which we are exceedingly grateful, we now have sufficient funding to undertake the work at the church both at the chancel end and the tower. We think that we will not have to close the church while the work is done – the chancel will have to be sealed off but we should be able to use the nave.
CHURCH EVENTS FOR THE YEAR At our recent PCC Meeting we set some of our events for the year – beginning with the Village show on 7th July when we expect to have our usual stalls, going on to our Annual Quiz in October and a Christmas Tree festival in December.
Cambridgeshire Churchyard Conservation Award Scheme: We have just heard that we have been awarded a Bronze award under this scheme. Unstable gravestones: To comply with Health and Safety Regulations, The PCC has now had the older unstable stones (where no relations are now available to tend to them) repaired and stabilised. Thank you to those families who looked after their own family stones. The PCC carries out an annual check on all gravestones. If you are tending a grave please check it from time to time and ensure that it does not develop a 'wobble'. In the closed churchyard, the Parish Council has had unstable gravestone stabilised and some that had been leaning at an angle have been straightened up.
Adopt-a-grave On the same theme, PCC members wondered whether there is anyone in the village with a bit of spare time who might like to look after some of the older graves that have kerbs around and are no longer tended. The surrounding area can be mown but the area within the kerb has to be strimmed or cut with shears separately
Some additional village links which might interest you:
Christmas Tree Festival and BEM Presentation Thank you to everyone that supported this event - it was amazing to see so many people there to support and honour Lily's achievement - some photos below and more on our gallery pages: