ALL SAINTS CHURCH, MINSTEAD
Our church is part of the United Benefice of Lyndhurst, Emery Down and Minstead. See the Benefice website for more information.
SERVICES AT MINSTEAD CHURCH
The main services for March and Easter 2010 at All Saints are:
March 2010
Sun 14 10.30am Mothering Sunday Service
Sun 28 10.30am Palm Sunday Service
April 2010
Thursday 1 11.00am Maundy Thursday Holy Communion (BCP)
Friday 2 2.00pm Good Friday Devotional Hour
Sun 4 10.30am Easter Day Family Communion
The normal monthly pattern is now:
1st Sunday 10.30am Family Holy Communion (rector)
2nd Sunday 6.00pm Evensong (lay team)
3rd Sunday 10.30am Family Service (lay reader)
6.00pm Parish Communion (rector)
4th Sunday 10.30am Service of the Word (lay team)
5th Sunday (if there is one) 10.30am Service of Worship and Music (lay team)
The normal collection at each service goes to the upkeep and ministry of All Saints, Minstead. In addition there is a retiring collection at each service for the 'charity of the month': January - Church Missionary Society, February - Two Saints (for the homeless in Southampton), March - Friends of Fenwick Hospital, April - Mukinge Hospital, Zambia.
History
In the 12th century a Norman Church was built and various additions have since been made. Although the present church building is not mentioned before 1272, the list of Rectors dates from 1279 and parts of the church are definitely of an earlier period. The 17th century three decker pulpit is one of the most interesting features in the church. The lowest 'deck' was used by the Parish Clerk and was entered from the Nave, where he sat and was responsible for saying the 'Amens'. The Parish Clerk today, is responsible for the maintenance of the Parochial Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, but is no longer required to participate in services. The middle and top levels were entered from the Chancel and were used respectively for the reading of the Scriptures and Preaching of the Sermon, as they are today. This type of pulpit is very rare and few examples exist. The Font is possibly Saxon. In 1893 Henry James Abbott, who was doing some gardening, dug it up in the Old Rectory garden. He wheeled it up to the Church in his wheelbarrow and it was placed where it belonged. There are two galleries; the first was for the Church minstrels to play their instruments and the second was possibly for the poor of the Parish or for the children of the Charity School. There are two private pews, one for the occupants of Castle Malwood and the other, which now houses the organ, for Minstead Lodge. The extra long hat pegs were for the accommodation of the tall stovepipe hats that were worn by many men who attended church. There are five bells, the first was cast in the 15th century and is inscribed 'Sancta Maria'. The second is inscribed 'Love God R.B.1604'. The third is inscribed 'In God is my hope 1638 J.H'. The fourth and Fifth were cast in 1980 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and inscribed 'By Subscription'. In the Churchyard is the grave of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Churchwardens
George Dibben, Ivy Cottage Farm, Lyndhurst Road, Minstead, SO43 7FY Telephone 8081 2967 george@dibben.net
Marian Young, Fernhill, Stoney Cross, Lyndhurst, SO43 7GN Telephone 8081 2636 marian.young@lineone.net
Parochial Church Council
PCC Secretary
Michael Clarke, Slufters, Gosport Lane, Lyndhurst, SO43 7BP Telephone: 8028 2595
PCC Treasurer
Yvonne Le Brun, Broadwood, Church Lane, Minstead, SO43 7FY Telephone: 8081 2221
Deanery Synod Representatives
Barry Olorenshaw 8081 2178
Fiona Crosthwaite Eyre 8081 3140
Elected Council Members
Mark Abbott 8028 2562
Anne Ackroyd 01202 523881
Mark Aylen 8028 2334
Hilary Bates 8081 2903
Wendy Cooper 8028 2954
Monica Meek 8081 2280
Andy Osman 8081 3700
Annette Osman 8081 3700
Catherine Wilson 8028 2398
