st alphege

This chapel was formed in 1535 at the east end of the south aisle. Its dedication to St. Antony at that time is surprising. He is regarded as the founder of monasticism and in 1536 an Act for the Suppression of the Lesser Monasteries was passed. By 1540 there were no religious houses left anywhere in England.

This chapel, too, was desecrated and for many years was the pew of the owners of Longdon Hall and Silhill Hall. It was restored in 1953. The reredos and piscina date from the creation of the chapel. The central niche of the reredos probably contained a representation of the Crucifixion with the twelve Apostles on either side and St. Antony in the separate niche on the left. The surrounding decoration contains four faces as well as bosses of foliage.

The altar, however, was reconstructed using an original altar slab found, in pieces, beneath the floor of St. Katherine's Chapel. The incised alabaster slab marked the grave of Thomas Greswold d. 1577, and his three wives. He lived in the Manor House in the High Street. The slab and that of his father Richard were discovered in 1879 beneath the pews. High up in the respond pier is the outside of the blocked Norman window already noted from the nave.

Opposite is an unusual flat headed window which contains good glass by Kempe (dated 1898) showing scenes from the Resurrection. This chapel is the setting for the beautifully decorated Altar of Repose and for the Watch of Prayer on Maundy Thursday.

back to plan

ST ALPHEGE

Sundays

8.00am Holy Eucharist (said)

9.15am Parish Eucharist & Sunday Club (2nd Sunday : All-age Eucharist)

Plus on 4th Sunday 'easy' in OBH rejoining Parish Eucharist at communion

11.00am Sung Eucharist

(traditional language)

6.30pm (except 4th Sunday)

Choral Evensong

6.30pm (4th Sunday)

Congregational Evensong

Plus at 6.00pm (1st Sunday)

‘the space’ – informal parish worship

(in the Oliver Bird Hall)

Weekday Eucharists

Monday 9.30am

Tuesday 9.30am

Wednesday 10.15am

Thursday 10.30am

  1st in month - Healing

  3rd in month - Mothers' Union

  Corporate Eucharist

Saturday 9.30am

Daily Morning Prayer

Mon-Sat 9.00am

(Wednesday 8.30am in term time)

ST HELEN

Sundays

8.00am Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

10.00am Parish Eucharist and Sunday Club 3rd Sunday : All-age worship (non-eucharistic)

6.30pm Evening Worship in Chapel

6.30pm (2nd Sunday) Wholeness and Healing service in Chapel.

Weekday Eucharist

Friday 10.00am

ST MICHAEL

Sundays

10.30am Holy Eucharist and Sunday Club (Sharmans Cross School)

10.30am (2nd Sunday) All-age worship (Sharmans Cross School).

4.30pm (2nd Sunday) Holy Communion (St Michael's Chapel).

Weekday Eucharist

Wednesday 10.00am at Oak Cottage