There may only be one church in the parish of Old Alresford, but the church of St. Mary the Virgin has a rich history. Perhaps most significantly, it’s the birthplace of the Mothers’ Union, an organisation that started off with a handful of local people, and has now grown to over 4 million members strong.
St. Mary the Virgin church was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, and according to local tradition, the Saxons, having heavily defeated the Danes, celebrated their victory by erecting the church as a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, there’s no record of this.
Old Alresford Parish is in the Arle Valley Benefice, in the deanery of Alresford. The current Rector is Revd Heather Brearey.
Why Visit Old Alresford Parish?
Old Alresford is known for being the founding place of the Mothers’ Union, and for this reason alone, the parish and church of St Mary the Virgin is worth visiting. Within the church, the south transept, together with a new window, were dedicated to Mary Sumner in 2015.
The church opens to an amazing view over the surrounding countryside, and the walk crossing the churchyard and seats are used by many villagers for prayer and contemplation every day.
St. Mary the Virgin Church
Situated on the edge of the village of Old Alresford, with a spectacular view of fields, watercress beds and trees, as you stand by the west door, St Mary’s is a handsome brick and flint building dating from the 18th century, though there has been a church on the site since the middle of the 7th century.
The public footpath through the churchyard is very well used and many people, both local and those passing through, call in to spend a little time in the church. There are frequent comments in the visitors’ book on the sense of peace and calm felt both in the church and in the churchyard. At this time of year, the churchyard is a carpet of snowdrops. In the last year or so, the number of visitors has grown further because St Mary’s is on the St James’s Way, a pilgrim route from Reading to Southampton.
Inside the church, there is an impressive stone font, octagonal in shape with a carved oak cover, dating from around the early 18th century. There are also a number of memorials, including an Italian marble piece created in memory of Jane, wife of George Brydges Rodney, a British naval officer best known for his commands in the American War of Independence. There’s a replica of this memorial in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Other memorials include that of the Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Lindley, Ambassador to Austria, Greece, Portugal and Japan, and Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union.
St Mary’s Church Today
The church is open daily for visitors and there is a service every Sunday morning. On Wednesday mornings, the Rector says Morning Prayer at 9am and anyone is welcome to join her for this service which lasts about 20 minutes.
St Mary’s has recently acquired a new digital organ which is greatly enhancing the services and there are plans for the addition of a small kitchen and toilet within the church building during the coming year which will be a huge benefit.
St Mary’s aims to be a friendly, welcoming church, offering a mix of traditional and informal services each month as well as providing pastoral care to all in the local community. In 2023, a lunch was held at Old Alresford Place to mark the King’s Coronation which was attended by many in the local community. A coffee morning, held on the first Monday of each month between 10 and 12, in the nearby Christy Hall offers friendship and support to anyone attending.
More information can be found on the Arle Valley Benefice website.
Mary Sumner and the Mothers’ Union
St Mary’s is well known as the birthplace of the Mother’s Union. In 1876, the Mothers’ Union was created by Mary Sumner, the wife of Rev. George Sumner, who was the vicar of Old Alresford parish. Mary wanted to create an organisation for women which would support all mothers as they brought up their children in Christian faith.
The ‘Union of Mothers’, as the group was originally known, started as a local movement, with members promising to give their bodies and souls to Jesus, and helping their children to enter His service. But the idea soon spread, particularly after Mary delivered her first speech in 1885 to women in Portsmouth.
Today, the Mothers’ Union has a membership of over four million and provides life-changing support for families and communities in need, both within the UK and across the globe. Members work to end violence, poverty, and injustice, while offering Christian care and support.
On 9 August 2015, one hundred years after the foundation stone was laid for Mary Sumner House in London, the first headquarters of the Mothers’ Union, a new chapel and window was dedicated to Mary Sumner in St. Mary’s church. Inside the church, you’ll also find a plaque on the wall commemorating her life and achievements, as well as the banner used by the Alresford Deanery branch of the Mothers’ Union.
Each year, a service is held on or around 9 August, Mary Sumner’s birthday, to celebrate the Mothers’ Union. Last year, the service was attended by the Worldwide President who spoke most movingly about the work done by MU members she had recently witnessed to protect young girls from sexual abuse.