Future Events and Services
MORNING PRAYER
Every Tuesday at 9.30am - all welcome.
PRIVATE PRAYER & REFLECTION
The church is open every day from 10am to 4pm.
HOME COMMUNION
If you are unable to go to church and would like to receive Holy Communion at home then please contact Revd Cora Yarrien on 262421 or email revd.cora.yarrien@gmail.com
COFFEE & CHAT
Our next C&C will be on Saturday 20 May from 10am to noon. All welcome.
MAY SERVICES
Coffee at 10.45. Service at 11.15.
7 - Matins to Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles’ III
14 - Holy Communion
21 - Matins
28 - Holy Communion
Church Contacts:-
Team Vicar Revd Cora Yarrien - 262421
Secretary Janet Ranger-Dennis 07752 634773
The Parish Church of West Stafford is dedicated to St. Andrew and was rebuilt in 1640 incorporating elements from its 15th century predecessor. Distinctly Jacobean in character, the interior of the church is much appreciated for its plastered wagon ceiling, the carved rood screen separating nave from chancel and a fine candelabra, gifted by the Gould family in 1713. The chancel, built in 1898 from a design by Ponting, houses the Parish Dower Chest - said to be one of only three of its pattern, the other two being in the Bank of Ireland. Near the altar is a monument to Canon Reginald Southwell Smith, who was invested as rector of West Stafford a year before Queen Victoria acceded to the throne, and “reigned” almost as long as she did, dying in 1898. At the western end there is a gallery decorated by a coat of arms and three bells by Wallis in the late 16th century tower, one dated 1595 and the other two 1620. It is to these three bells that Hardy refers when describing the wedding of Tess to Angel Clare in chapter 33 of “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”: “As they came out of the church the ringers swung the bells off their rests, and a modest peal of three notes broke forth – that limited amount of expression having been deemed sufficient by the church builders for the joys of such a small parish.”