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St Mary’s - The Parish Church of Princes Risborough
There was probably a church on this site in Norman times but the
present building dates mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries.
In 1804 the tower collapsed bringing down the six bells. It was
rebuilt and had a zinc covered wooden spire but the present stone
steeple replaced this in 1908. There are now two small bells dated
1805 and 1861. The south porch was rebuilt in 1868 when major alterations
and restoration work were carried out.
The carved and painted screens behind the altars in the chancel
and south chapel are the work of the artist George Kruger Gray and
were placed in the church in 1916 in memory of a former incumbent.
Also in memory of a former incumbent is the fine east window in
the chancel by Kempe & Tower of 1910. The other stained glass
windows were inserted between 1860 and 1925.
An acknowledgement of 91 years of dedicated service to the ecclesiastical
and parish councils, by the Bailey family, is to be found on the
altar cloth chest at the rear of the church. John Barnard Bailey
was an overseer and Parish Clerk from 1867 until 1894 and then Clerk
of the Parish Council until his death in 1921. His son, Robert,
succeeded him as Clerk in 1921 and served the community until his
death in 1958.
The church is only open to visitors between 2pm & 4pm on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays and on Friday mornings. Services are on
Sundays at 8am, 10am, and 6pm, and on Wednesdays at 10.30am, there
is a nursery service on Fridays at 2pm.
Rev. Paul Fiske. t & f. 01844 344784, www.st-marys.freeserve.co.uk
St Dunstan’s - The Parish Church of Monks Risborough
Of the many interesting features of this medieval church, the two
most historically significant are not apparent to the casual eye,
its site, and the bounds of the parish, which it has served for
almost a thousand years. The settlers, who planted their community
between the Icknield Way along which they had come, and the spring
line watering and heavy clay lands lower down, established a boundary
in Anglo-Saxon times which has persisted to the present day.
Witnessed by royalty and bishops in a Charter dated 903 AD, with
landmarks still identifiable, it is the oldest certified parish
boundary in the country.
Precisely when a church was erected at the parish centre is not
known, but from 993 AD, the land was in the possession of the monks
of Canterbury, and to their interest must be attributed the provision
of a building somewhat grander than might be expected, and its dedication
to one of Canterbury’s most honoured saints. Every age subsequently
has contributed to its embellishment, from the twelfth century ‘Aylesbury’
font, one of several in the area of a unique and beautiful design,
by way of enlargements as the population grew after the Black Death,
through Victorian ‘restoration’ of mercifully limited
effect, to a modern fibre-glass sculpture depicting Dunstan in action
against the Devil.
A window, dedicated to Dunstan, was installed in 1988 as part of
the ‘millennium’ celebration of the year of his death.
There has also been destruction, and the scars left by the iconoclasts
of the Reformation and Civil War are clearly visible, allowing the
visitor to reconstruct in the imagination ‘the occasional
irruption of the ill-tempered world beyond the land at East Risborough
which Aethelfrith granted to his daughter Etheigyth’ (as the
old Charter states) into this quiet, courteous precinct.
Rev. Andrew Meynell t. 01844 342556
St Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church, Princes Risborough
St Teresa’s Church was built in 1937 to a design by the architect,
Giuseppi Rinvolucri of Conway and stands at the junction of the
Aylesbury Road and New Road. Having a distinctive modern Byzantine
style, the church was built in a triangular shape (architecturally
symbolic of the Holy Trinity), with a large central dome surmounted
by a cross.
The interior of the church contrasts sharply with the exterior.
In line with the tradition of Byzantine church architecture the
emphasis is on warm colours and a rich pleasing atmosphere. This
is to convey the effect, to which believers are sensible, that God
has made this dwelling place among his people. The present day parishioners
of St Teresa’s value this quality in their church building
and find that it helps their life of prayer and their sense of being
called as a community to celebrate the immanence of God.
Monsignor Gerald Moorcroft t. 01844 345578
The Methodist Church Worship by the Methodists
has existed in Princes Risborough for nearly two centuries and the
present church with its warm and friendly atmosphere has served
its congregation for more than one hundred years. This church is
the most southerly of thirteen churches in the Aylesbury district
and is under the care of the Rev. Ann Varker of 47 King Edwards
Avenue, Aylesbury. t. 01296 423363
The Baptist Church An official land deed shows
that in 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, the Baptist Church
was established in the town. The church buildings, situated behind
Bell Street with vehicular access from Bell Close, originate from
then although there has been much alteration and extension over
the years.
The Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and
a member of the Evangelical Alliance. It is also part of Churches
Together in Risborough. The Church has a Mission Statement: “We
are here to worship Jesus Christ and obey His teaching, to care
for another and be open to sharing our good news with everyone.”
The church welcomes all age groups and the congregation is friendly
and diverse. There are regular activities for all including Sunday
school and crèche, weekly Home Groups, Prayer Meetings, a
parent and toddler group called Tiddlywinks, a Men’s Group
and special activities for children and young people. Church members
and attendees are involved in many town and community activities.
The church uses DPU to aid worship. Sunday services are at 10.30am
(Family Service) & 6pm (Traditional Service). Further details
visit us at www.risboroughbaptist.org.uk or contact Rev. Adrian
Redfearn at adrian@risboroughbaptist.org.uk
The Risborough Christian Fellowship The Risborough
Christian Fellowship is an Elim Pentecostal church which has churches
world-wide. The style of worship is lively and informal, and the
Fellowship hold their services at 10.30am each Sunday in the Risborough
Community Centre, Wades Park. An evening service also takes place
at 6.30pm at the John Hampden School, Thame. The Church also has
a Christian Bookshop in the High Street, Princes Risborough, where
the church office is based.
Rev Geoff Bleaze t. 01844 344556
Charities A number of charities were endowed in
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to provide annual grants
to local parishioners to ease poverty, to encourage apprenticeships
and to further the education of children.
These charities, Smith’s founded in 1616, Chibnall’s
1646, Pye’s 1733, Meade’s 1783 and Eustace’s 1784,
together with the income from other small pieces of land donated
in the nineteenth century, are administered by the Trustees of the
Princes Risborough and the Monks Risborough Charities.
The nomination of a student to Christ’s Hospital School was
gifted and associated with the Stratton family in 1722. It is administered
by the Rector and PCC of St Mary’s Parish Church.
The Rector and Churchwardens of St Dunstan’s Church, Monks
Risborough are Trustees of Hody’s Charity 1707 (augmented
by Dr. Quarles in 1727), for apprentices and students, under 21
and resident in its ecclesiastical Parish, to enable them to purchase
tools, books, outfits or to pay fees.
There are known to be other organisations having charitable status
within the town and which make grants and donations available to
non-specific applicants.
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Introduction
