St. Mary’s is a small village church situated in the centre of a peaceful village about a mile east of Bridport.

 

There is a Church service every Sunday at St. Mary’s. As a rural church, we try to observe the celebrations associated with the agricultural year. The major Festivals e.g. Christmas, and Civic Services are well attended.

Our lovely church is always open during the day and visitors are encouraged to look around the tranquil churchyard or spend some time reflecting in the church.

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The church has several interesting memorials, one of which relates to a local murder in Victorian times and two which mark the deployment of soldiers in the area during the Second World War.  Each May the church holds a special service to remember the American GI’s based in the village just before D Day and, with the special permission of the American Embassy, the ‘Stars and Stripes’ is flown from the church’s flagpole. The foundations are said to date from 1534 while our font is late 12th Century but the majority of the church was rebuilt in the 19th Century.

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We always welcome children to St. Mary’s and, although there is no regular Sunday activity, they enjoy Mothering Sunday, Crib and Christingle Services and the “Messy Events” which we organise. Many also join in our Carols around the village each year.

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Special services include Baptism, Weddings, Thanksgiving after a Civil Marriage, Thanksgiving for the birth of a child, Renewal of Wedding Vows and Funeral services. We support local and other charities and have close ties to St. Mary’s Primary School, with pupils visiting us each year.

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Many in Walditch support St. Mary ’s Church as “Friends”, opening and closing the building daily, arranging flowers, maintaining the lovely churchyard and attending the social activities we arrange.

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The Hall is leased to the village by the Church and is home to a number of regular activities. Our mission is to be at the heart of our community where some of the recent activities included Pancake Party, Curry Nite and Quiz Evenings, to name but a few.