Churchstoke
01588620693
http://www.stnicholaschurchstoke.org.uk

Welcome

Welcome to St Nicholas', Churchstoke!        http://www.stnicholaschurchstoke.org.uk/

Our Vision is to be disciples of Jesus Christ, to grow the Church and extend the Kingdom - for the glory of God and the blessing of our community

Our Worship

      is every Sunday at 10.30am

      is a mix of Bible teaching, prayers, modern songs and well-known hymns

      Holy Communion is the second and fourth Sunday

      Sunday Central is for all ages (third Sunday every month) featuring drama, relaxed and lively worship, with a mix of quiet prayer and activities including big craft construction

Our People

      Revd Carol Whittock, Mission Priest of Churchstoke

      Mr David Jelves, Lay Minister

Our Benefice

     We are part of the OnnyCamlad Group of Parishes (named after two rivers).

Our vicar is Revd Vivienne Hatton

We believe in:

      God the Father, Creator of all things

      Jesus Christ, God the Son, who died on the cross in our place. He rose again, enabling those who believe to rise again to eternal life with God

      God the Holy Spirit, who gives us power to follow Jesus as His disciples

Hyssington Churchstoke
01588 650580
https://sites.google.com/site/hyssingtonisatyn/st-etheldreda-s-church

Short History of the Church

The church, restored in the 1890s, is dedicated to St Etheldreda, a Saxon princess who became an abbess. The first record of a church on the present site is in the 13th century, but it is likely one existed here in late Saxon times. The circular churchyard was perhaps part of the motte and bailey castle which overlooks the church. On Castle Hill there is a fine, and famous, rookery. Adjacent to the Church is the Pinfold which previously had been a farm and an Inn.

Legend of the Bull of Bagbury

Under the church steps, legend has it, lies the miniaturised body of the Bull of Bagbury, which tormented the villagers in the early 19th century. An irascible farmer living at Bagbury Farm was cursed by a witch. His soul took on the form of a bull, which was eventually driven into the church and exorcised by twelve priests. The bull shrank until it could fit into a small box, and was placed under the church step - which has not been moved since. Strange markings on the step are reputed to have been caused by the bull's hoofs.

         

Snead CHURCHSTOKE
01588 650580

This small, picturesque church is uniquely positioned on the banks of the River Camlad and is located in Wales.

Recent archeological investigations have shown that 11th centuary dwellings or buildings formally existed very close to the church. A village of Snead was possibly built with the church in its midst, or perhaps is was built as the Chapel of the Priory founded hereabouts in the 12th centuary by Lord of Montgomery, Robert de Buthlers. The Priory was later moved to Chirbury. 

Not much larger than a chapel, the church has a small belfry, where medieval bells have recently been restored to their positions. The church is surrounded by a small raised churchyard with retaining walls and ditches. This indicates that it is an ancient site where a wooden church may have been built before the first stone building of the 13th/14th century. The churchyard contains several Yew trees, one ancient. The grassland contains many species which indicate that the ground may have been undisturbed for centuries.

A close look at the south wall of the church, where the present entrance is located, shows that there may at one time have been an outdoor preaching platform. This could be attributable to the Augustian monks who founded the Priory, as they were known to preach outdoors. On the north window are two unusual faces carved in stone. Much of the north and west of the church was rebuilt on 1870.

Inside it is mostly undercorated, with bare stone walls. There is a Victorian screen and pulpit (part of which is much older). The Victorian floor tiling remains in good condition. The font, dated 12th century, could have been a relic of the former Priory. This was not originally made as a font, but as a quern - a vesel for corn or liquid with a pouring lip on the edge of the rim.

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