St. Mary's Church Welney
Page good for smart-phones. On PCs/Laptops it may look too large. To reduce press "Ctrl" & "minus" or click "View" then "Zoom out"
Created Feb 2005 last edited: 05/08/26, 13:08
Created Feb 2005 last edited: 05/08/26, 13:08
Introduction
The Parish Church of Welney, officially St. Mary the Virgin but commonly called simply "St. Mary's" is situated on the west side of Main Street, accessed by a bridge over the Old Croft River and surrounded by an extensive churchyard/ graveyard.Appoaching the church from the road, you will see a group of imposing graves and memorials in front of the Chancel and the taller Nave with bellcote/bell turrett, beyond. The main entrance is the south door at the far (west) end (left on photo).
photo from website's archives, source not recorded The church is locked when not in use. If you wish to see inside, come during a service (link below) or on a Thursday morning community drop-in social, 10.00-11.45, and ask the Churchwarden for a tour - and enjoy refreshment afterwards.
Please note
For details of services, weddings and funeralssee the Church's official site: St Mary's Welney at 6FC's
Church and Churchyard site
1849 development and Church Terrace, Ordnance Survey 6" map
c1950. Church Terrace at left, later demolished to build Taymor Place; also trees behind and to the right of the church, later removed.photo: Welney archives, source n/k
Brief history
Built in 1847/48 by Jeremiah Andrews to a design by JC Buckler in typically Victorian Gothic, Early-Englsh, steep-roofed style.It was part of a large development comprising church, school and shoolmaster's house and almshouses for six poor widows, all largely funded by the charity of William Marshall, Welney's generous benefactor.
Two pieces of land for the new Church and almshouses were donated, one by Peter Huddleston and his wife Elizabeth, the other by William Lee.
St.Mary's is the 3rd Church on this site. The Church guidebook says it replaced a small brick mid-16th century Chapel to the south-east, the position confirmed on the Upwell cum Welney Tithe map of 1840 held at Norfolk County Hall nd that was preceded by a 12th century Norman church.
There is more history and a Timeline further down.
In 1907 more land to the west was aquired (paid for by Marshall's Charity) to extend the Churchyard (consecrated June 1908)
In 1986 the Church was given listed grade II* status.
The site today with graveyard extended to the westExterior
The elevations
Facing you on arrival is the front of church which faces just a little north of due east, with bellcote which is actually not atop the front wall, its over the end of the nave.
To the left is the south side and current main entrance.
At the rear, the west door, heating boiler, fuel tank, and shed.
Then round to the north side, with the small door to the original vestry
4 photos above: Peter Cox, Feb 2013, Olympus E-620
December 2009. Whatever the season or weather, the church is a glorious site.
snow photos: Peter Cox, Dec 2009, Olympus E410
Walls and Brickwork
The walls are 'carstone' (red sandstone) blocks, laid in a 'coursed' pattern, where each layer (course) has blocks same height but different lengths, and layers above/below have blocks of a different height.
photo: Peter Cox, Feb 2013, Olympus E-620
A vein of carstone runs through west Nofolk and several quarries mined the material and cut into blocks. Those at St. Mary's may have been supplied from a quarry to the north of Snettisham, carted to the coast, then taken by boat/barge to Kings Lynn thence via the Old Bedford River to Welney.
The end of a long vein of this rock can be seen at the base of the cliff face at the beach at Hunstanton.
photo: Peter Cox, June 2007, Olympus SP55OZ
The walls are supported by butresses every 12ft or so with "ashlar masonary" (smooth fine white stone around carstone) .
"quoins" and "ashlar"
image: source unknown
The windows are also framed with white stone
Altogether a very attractve style.
Doors
There are three doors, different in size and style. I can see no obvious signs of alterations or retro fitting, so assume all original.Photos below not to scale.
North door, trefoiled
|
South door, trefoiled
|
West door, arched
 |
photos: Peter Cox,
Roof
The roof rafters are fixed to the tops of the walls in tradtional fashion and supported by curved trusses supported on wall posts and
A corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal protruding from a wall to support the weight of eg a roof truss or wall post. Often ornately carved. In St. Mary's, not so ornate as some.
Above the rafters are timber planks laid diagonally, and slate tiles.
photo: Peter Cox, May 2010, Olympus E-410
Within the roof area are a number of metal rods, probably of cast iron. Runing across the width are
Rafter ties help resist the outward thrust that rafters exert on the exterior walls. They help keep walls from spreading due to the weight of the roof. A rafter tie forms the bottom chord of a simple triangular roof truss.
and lengthwise are
Wall tie rods pass through a building and are bolted to anchor plates on the outside of the walls, often retro-fitted. Their purpose is to hold the exterior walls from bowing out, a problem with older buildings. The plates stop further movement but not really meant to pull walls back into line.
the latter bolted to anchor plates on the outer gable walls.During 2004-2005, the roof was exensively repaired and insulated. Old slates re-used on south roof; new slates fitted on north side, and both sides of chancel roof and new guttering and downpipes fitted.
2005, re-slating roof; photo: courtesy Dick Fiske, Upwell
diagram of arch-braced roof, image: © Trevor Yorke
"English Churches Explained"
Right, anchor plate, west wall
photo: Peter Cox, Feb 2013, Olympus E-620
Bellcote (Bell turret) and Bell(s)
The Church guidebook says that when built"there were two bells in the bellturret over the chancel arch, one being blank and the other bearing the inscription "John Clarke made by me 1613" There is now only one bell ...... it is not known if it is the one bearing the inscription. ... we have not been able to find out what happened to the other bell, but what is known is that there was only one bell in 1892."The change in the bellcote c1892 after one bell removed:
Left, bellote with two bells c1890; right, rebuilt with one bell since 1892
2-bell photo courtesy: Bill Smith, Upwell; One bell photo: Peter Cox, 2013
The guidebook also says that "during 2004-2005 roof renovations, the bell was removed and sent to Derby for repair". I wonder why the inscription wasn't noted then?
I haven't been able to trace any bell foundries in Derby. The only remaining bell foundry in the UK is John Taylor & Co, Loughborough. Maybe the repairs didn't need a specialist, just an ordinary iron foundry?
With the benefit of a camera with long zoom lens, the inscription mystery has been solved.
The bell in place is inscribed, at top of bell can just be seen "made-me"
photo: Peter Cox, 2013, Olympus
photo: Peter Cox, 2013, Olympus
Bridge over Old Croft River to Church gates
In November 2015 the parapets of the access bridge were demolished prior to rebuilding, giving a very temporary glimpse of the original arch (the river now runs through a concrete pipe).
I don't know whether the bridge is contemporary with the Church or existed previously for access to the earlier buildings. The charity of William Marshall, otherwise known simply as Marshall's Charity, had provision in the original indenture of 1661, to repair the Chapel and bridge leading to it:
"one third part of the rents issues and profits of the said premises should be employed and disposed of for repairing the Chapel of Welney aforesaid also the bridge upon the river or stream thereof for the inhabitants of the said Hamlet to pass over the said bridge to hear divine service and prayers in the Chapel aforesaid"
Church Interior
A conventional layout; nave (main body of the church where the the congregation are seated) with timber gallery above at the west end, a Caen stone font near the main access, the south door, also at the west end. At the east end, a pulpit of Caen stone and vestry accessed from the North door. Beyond the nave is an arch leading into the Chancel with organ and choir stalls. At the far east end is the altar.According to a report in the Wisbech Advertiser in September 1848, the church was
"fitted with open seats capable of holding 400 persons, with a gallery at the west end for 120 children."People, particularly children, were much smaller in those days!
I believe 120 was also the number of pupils the school was designed for.
A pipe organ by the London firm of G.M. Holdich was installed in 1874 with money donated by parishioners, and the tiled reredos below the east window was added in 1887 funded by friends of the Rector, to mark Queen Victoria's 50th anniversary of her reign.
Electricity was installed in 1950 (and a year later an electric organ blower) and (oil-fired) radiator central heating in 1963.
In 1990 a kitchen was built into what had been the south west vestry, and a toilet installed under the stairs in the north west corner. The rearmost nine pews were removed to make room for a meeting area with tables (mostly folding) and stackable chairs.
I believe the font was also moved then, from the aisle to nearer the South door.
east window and reredos
photo: Peter Cox, Sept 2008
choir pews each side of chancel - removed in 1990.
photo from Welney Archives, source n/k
photo of glazed painting showing view from west end of nave towards the Chancel, and old location of font.
photo: Peter Cox, Feb 2013, Olympus E-620
font in current position, just inside south door, a traditional location.
photo: Peter Cox, Oct 2010, Olympus E-410
the Holditch organ
photo: Peter Cox, Sept 2008
Floor plans
Above: An earlier interior layout, possibly the original 1849. Note: reduced-width seating (pews) on north west and south west, position of font, and no organBelow: the layout today following 1991 changes: reduced-width seating mostly gone, font repositioned, organ, WC and kitchen installed, and floor carpeted.
Outside, boiler house, oil tank and shed added
diagrams by Peter Cox, March 2025, amended 2026, using Excel spreadsheet
'Charity' by Thomas Wilmhurst
Chancel arch and east window.
Note 'blind' window above arch, the boards each side & the door.
.
Simon Knott came here in August 2005 as part of his endevour to record all of Norfolk's churches. An extract from his description of St. Mary's :
" The inside is curious, because the church is sinking into the soft Fen soil, more on the south side than the north. As a consequence, the middle of the nave is a good 12 inches higher than the outer walls.
The view east is of a delicious Victorian gothic extravaganza, Thomas Wilmhurst's enamel painting of Joshua Reynold's Charity in the east window, a rich, tiled 1880s sanctuary below. "
(all colour photos Peter Cox, Feb 2013)
On the left, the small door beside the pulpit and boards around arch are explaned below.
east window with painting
looking west from Chancel Arch to gallery. Originally, pews for 400 people plus 120 children in Gallery.
North door
photo: Peter Cox, Feb 2013 Many people wonder why the outer North door at the east end of the Church is so narrow. The reason is that it was a private door just for the priest, not the congregation. It led into a small room, a vestry, where he (yes he, no female priests then) could dress and prepare for the service.
He would then enter the Nave facing the congregation by an even narrower but very tall inner door (see right) to the side of the pulpit. (also see in photo of Chancel Arch above left)
photo: Peter Cox, Aug 2010
Commandments I-IV (1-4)
Decalogue Boards
Each side of the top of the Chancel Arch are what are known as
decalogue means the Ten Commandments.
boards showing the Ten Commandment as decreed for all [Anglican] Churches by Queen Ellizabeth 1st in 1560.Below them are two more boards with the words of the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles Creed, which were often felt to be ‘very fit companions’ for the Commandments.
No doubt very useful too for those who couldn't remember the words - provided they could read!
Commandments V-X (5-10)
the Lord's Prayer
east window with painting
nave
The nave, chancel arch and east window in September 2008. The church had been decorated for a wedding the following day. Note the pews arching up towards the centre as described by Simon Knott above; also the central heating pipes each side of the aisle; and the tablets inset into the side walls commemorating those who died on active service during the two world wars. (There is no war memoral outside).
The Wisbech Advertiser of 1848 described the east window:
"the centre compartment representing Faith, Hope and Charity; the Queen's arms and the arms of East Anglia, with the rose and portcullis .... introduced ... into the two sidelights"Other reports state that the side panels show the Tudor rose for England, the Royal coat of arms, and the portculis symbolising parliament.
The design of the window was by the Rector at the time, Rev'd W.G. Townley, to symbolise the relationship between Church and State.
the Apostles creed
I would appreciate infprmation of what this represents.
Reredos
The tiled reredos (below) was added in 1887 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign show Moses lifting up the serpent to bring healing and striking the rock to find water.Due to movement of the walls, the altar rails became detached and fillets were made by local carpenter Steve Kerr c2004 to bridge the gaps.
| RECTORS | |
| 1848-1862 | Rev Wm Gale Townley |
| 1862-1872 | Rev Wm Hilton Hutchinson |
| 1872-1899 | Rev Ed Russell Wilford |
| 1899-1938 | Rev Herb Hignett Wilford |
| 1938-1940 | Rev Canon Atkins |
| 1940-1957 | Rev A.B. Johnston |
| 1958-1969 | Rev H.J.W. Law |
| 1969-1974 | Rev Wm Tempest Hodgson |
| 1974-1978 | Father Jack Tofts |
| 1979-1981 | Rev Herbert Mountfield |
| 1982-1986 | Rev Anthony Bennett |
| 1986-1990 | Rev David Spencer |
| 1990-1993 | Rev Hugh Gamble Reid |
| 1993-1995 | Interregnum |
| 1995-2003 | Rev Sheila Tooke |
| 2003-2007 | Interregnum |
| 2007-2015 | Rev Kevin Fitzgibbon |
| 2015-xxxx | interregnum |
| 20xx-20xx | ? |
| 20xx-2024 | interregnum |
| 2024- | Rev Canon Dr Mark Collinson |
Timeline
The following table is based largely on detailed notes made in 1998 by the late Ken Sorenson who spent many weeks of research and travelled extensively to various reference libraries.I've made a few additions and updates and noted the sources where known below the table. I knew Ken well and have no doubt of the accuracy of his notes even when sources are not stated.
A similar table is included in the Church information leaflet.
| year | note | |
| c1100 | Norman church built, a small brick edifice near the current entrance gates | |
| 1440 | John Bayker, curate in charge of the "Chapel of St.Mary in Welney, died | 2 |
| 1534 | the Reformation and (first?) foundation of the Church of England | |
| c1550 | Chapel built to the SE of the present Church, where cremation memorials are now situated | |
| 1642 | Records started of Baptisms | |
| 1653 | Records started of Marriages and Burials. | |
| 1846 | Act of Parliament seperated Welney from Upwell St.Peters. The intention seems to have been to split Upwell into three livings (the other being Christchurch) on the death of the then incumbent, Rev.William Gale Townley. |
|
| 1847 | work started on building new Church | |
| 1848 | new Church consecrated | |
| 1862 | Rev Townley died | |
| 1864 | Welney Rectory built | |
| 1874 | Organ installed | |
| 1887 | tiled Reredos installed on east wall below window to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee | |
| 1907 | Churchyard extended. (consecrated 1908) | |
| 1932 | Transfer of advowson from Charles Evelyn Townley to Bishop of Ely. (Previously, Welney had been in the Diocese of Norwich) | |
| 1950 | Electricity installed | |
| 1951 | electric organ blower installed | |
| 1963 | central heating installed | |
| 1970 | 'Pluarlity' of Welney and Christchurch parishes | 5 |
| 1978 | Rectory sold, re-named Marifa Lodge | |
| 1985 | Church rewired and 8 new lamps fitted. | 5 |
| 1990 | nine pews removed from rear of church; font moved to SW corner of nave; SW vestry converted to a kitchen area; toilet installed under stairs | 5 |
| 1995 | 'United Benefice' formed joining Welney and Christchurch with Manea. Major repairs made to St. Mary's | 5 |
| 1997 | sound system installed | 5 |
| 1999 | two choir pews removed from chancel (one from each side) | 5 |
| 2005 | Roof repairs completed. All slates removed; South side of nave re-covered with old slates, north side new slates. Chancel new slates both sides. New gutters and down pipes fitted, and roof insulated. Bell removed for repairs | 5 |
| 2011 | The United Benifice of Welney, Christchurch and Manea, "linked" with the benefice of Doddington with Benwick and Wimblington (formed in 1997) | |
| 2015 | November: parapets rebuilt on access bridge over Old Croft River |
| 1 | The Victoria History of the Counties of England.A History of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely, Vol IV , Ed: R.B.Pugh, 1953 |
| 2 | Upwell - History of a Fenland Village by Richard Jeans, 1987 |
| 3 | An Historical Account of the Ancient Town and Port of Wisbech in the Isle of Ely, in the County of Cambridge and circumjacent Towns and Villages, by William Watson, 1827 |
| 4 | History of the Church in Upwell, G.S.Smith, 1986 |
| 5 | Pauline Aisthorpe (Churchwarden/Benefice Secretary?) |
|
A Curate in the Anglican Church is a deacon or priest who assists the Incumbent [eg Rector] of a parish. Often a Curate will be the
priest-in-charge of a smaller church (a chapelry) within a parish with other Churches including the mother-church where the Rector presides.
| |
| 14xx-1440 | John Bayker # |
| 1819 | Stephen Aldrich |
| 1833 | Alexander Peters Burrell # |
| 1841-1847 | Peregrine Curtois # |
| 1848 | Rev'd J. Clapcott # |
| 1854 | Rev A.W. Roper, * |
| 1938-1940 | Rev Alexander Letrham Rigg # |
# from official Church Guide, 2016
* from White's Directory 1854
Note: this list is far from complete. These are the only names found so far.
The Church today
Since Jan 2020, St. Mary's has been part of the united/linked "Benefice of Six Fen Churches" within the Diocese of Ely. All six share one priest, or Rector, but retain their own identity.The six also share a joint website showing details of all services at each. The website is informative but was diffcult to find; none of the previous links worked and there was no re-direction! Use the link at bottom right of this page. In brief, starting 26th January 2025 services will be held at Welney every fourth Sunday at 3 p.m. for 1 hour. All faiths and denominations welcomed, as are children (there is a play area). In the absence of the Rector, services are conduted by a locum priest or a Churchwarden.
Administration
Is by the Parochial Church Commttee (PCC) comprising the Rector, two Chuchwardens and 5 members of the laity. The Rector is in overall charge but the Churchwardens and PCC members manage the day-to-day running.Parochial Church Committee members:
| Rev Canon Dr Mark Collinson, Rector | Sep 2024 |
| Anthony Gleave, Churchwarden | 2022? |
| Guy Jenkins, Churchwarden | Jan 2024 |
| Laura Gleave | 20xx |
| Allison Terrell | 20xx |
| Marie Jenkins | 20xx-2026 (Resigned) |
| Pauline Ware | 20xx |
| Frances Woods | 20xx |
The Churchwardens stated vision and plans for St. Marys' are to make the Church once again an integral part of the village for the entire community of Welney.
The PCC together with several assistants organise the very popular Thursday morning community drop-in "coffee socials", from 10am till mid-day, in the west end of the Nave. A warm welcome and good selection of freshly baked cakes, accompianied most weeks by Jen playing vintage (1960s-80s) music on the piano.
At the same time during school holidays, youngsters can enjoy a supervised playgroup at the east end of the nave and in the chancel. Meanwhile, mums can indulge in coffee & cake, or do their own thing for a while.
Churchwardens
| 200?-2022 | Pauline M Aisthorpe |
| 2022? | Anthony Gleave |
| Jan 2024 | Guy Jenkins |
Acknowledgements:
Much use has been made of research by the late Ken Sorensen in 1997-98.Old photos from our archives.
Others as noted
Text, design and layout:
Peter Cox, © 2005-25 Welney Website
If you wish to add, correct or disagree with anything, please e-mail webmaster and you comments will be added.
In England, Eccliastical Parishes and the later Civil Parishes are quite different but often confused.
Information about the history of both sorts, the various religious denominations and other local places of worship can be found on the first two links below. The pages have some duplication, but both should be read.
For details of current local Church services, see external link below.
Links (will open in new tab)
The Welney Website