Westerfield St Mary Magdalene
There was a church here when the Domesday Survey was carried out. Parts of the building date from the Norman period. It now has a modern kitchen and toilet
The church sits at the centre of the village and has a good relationship with all residents, including non-church goers, who support the Church Fete and Gift Day each year.
The church building dates from the 12th century, with later Victorian period additions. Mains water and drainage were added as part of millennium alterations, and it has a small kitchen area and toilet. The church is Grade 1 listed and in good condition.
Tuddenham St Martin
The church sits at the at the centre of the village at the top of a hill, and is a focal point. Festival services, especially at Easter, Remembrance Sunday, and Christmas are very well supported by the wider community.
The bells are rung on the first Sunday of the month.
Witnesham St Mary
St Mary’s is Grade 1 listed and a church has existed on the site since c1208. It was added to in the 14th-16th centuries, restored in Victorian times, and in the late 20th century the vestry was renovated and a digital organ installed.
More recently the church has seen LED lighting and a new AV system added, along with toilets, a servery and the side aisle has been transformed. The overall effect is dazzling!
The congregation has worked with Witnesham Baptist Church for many years and continues to enjoy good relations. A gift day is held each year, and is well supported by the village.
Three villages churches -one community
Westerfield, Tuddenham and Witnesham are ancient villages, and each has a medieval church. Farming is still an important part of rural life, as are the local pubs, and a host of local organisations such as the WI. While many of these clubs and organisations operate on a village basis, the churches manage to work both individually and collectively. We share a Vicar and a ministry team, and through some creative timetabling, we manage to hold a service in each of our three churches every Sunday.
We also do other things together; our upcoming service for pets is a great example, as is our Thanksgiving for Life service, when we remember our departed loved ones. But it’s not just services, sometimes we organise a joint Lent Challenge, joint Christmas sing-alongs, and joint away-days.
The Inspiring Ipswich project, which aims to grow existing congregations as well as create new ones, has been enthusiastically embraced by our churches.