Welcome to the website for St Mary's Church in Tenby! St Mary’s Church Tenby leads the Rectorial Benefice of Tenby - a collection of churches who strive to serve our local people and also the many thousands who visit us each year. We belong to the Diocese of St Davids in the Church in Wales and we hope people of all backgrounds and traditions will find a warm welcome here.
St Mary's
St Julian's
St Anne's
We recently joined up with the churches of St Julian's and St Annes to form The Tenby Group of Churches. We try to provide a variety of services in styles to suit different tastes, from the formal and traditional through to more modern and youth-orientated worship – always acknowledging our Anglican heritage. We have a strong commitment to children and young people, to pastoral care, to lay ministry and to our strong musical tradition.
Above all we believe that Church life should be enjoyable and exciting, that the Church is a great celebration of God’s love, a celebration into which everyone is invited through Christ’s death and resurrection. Come and join us!
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NEWS & CALENDAR
Read the weekly Pew Leaflet for our latest news and calendar
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TAKE A TOUR OF ST MARY'S
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS UNDER ST. MARY`S
St. Mary`s stands on a Carboniferous Limestone plateau. This hard rock is some 350 million years old. It would have been travelled on by pre historic people who settled, farmed, and possibly buried their dead under these rocks.
The discovery of the four quatrefoils (two on the north side and two on the south side) resulted in a most interesting archaeological find. On the north side there is a burial ground under the Church of an unknown age but could be between Pre- Historic to Medieval. The remains of a rubble stone wall inside part of the existing north wall is probably the remnant of an earlier church; one of several churches likely on this site which pre date the present St. Mary`s. On the south side there are two interesting burial chambers which could possibly be Bronze/Iron Age.
It is of great significance to the history of the Church that we recognise that in the 5thC an early religious building may have stood on this site. It is also significant that a 9thC “oaken” church called St. Brigid`s (Saint for the sick and ill) survived here. The arrival of the Irish Celtic people and missionaries from Ireland was a huge influence on the coming of Christianity to Wales. The cult of St. Brigid spread all over Pembrokeshire, even to the remotest parts of West Wales.
The arrival of the Normans in the 11thC changed everything. Any building on this site would have been modified. BUT in doing so the Normans and later Tudor builders saw the importance of what was underneath their feet and covered and preserved it.
This study is very much a work in progress.
Delyth Williams, St Mary's Historian
FAMILY
The St Mary's family is comprised of a wonderful array of groups who bring so much to our church community.
Click on the buttons below to find out more.
ST MARY'S CHOIR
There has been a robed choir at St Mary’s since 1869 – over 150 years. In 2022 we have a choir of about 20. We are always learning something new, as well as performing old favourites. Our choice of music spans the centuries, from Bach, Tallis and Handel right up to John Rutter and Howard Goodall. We sing at the 10.00 am Eucharist service every week and we vary the Eucharist settings weekly as well as adding an introit, a psalm and a motet.
At the major church festivals the choir plays a big part in enhancing the worship. Christmas, Easter and Harvest are great opportunities for us to sing traditional music and to surprise the congregation with something new.
We are always delighted to welcome new members. Our rehearsals are usually from 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm on Thursdays. If you would like to try singing with us then just come along to one of these rehearsals, or telephone Mark (07476 095185), Judy (01834 843316) or John (01834 843842).
ST MARY'S SOUPERMEN
St Mary’s Soupermen is a group of like-minded men who enjoy a unique camaraderie resulting in many successful events put on for the Church community and beyond. These include several “feasts” such as Harvest Suppers and |Christmas meals. Indeed over the covid period Christa meals were delivered to various household. Other events such as film evenings and religious events have proven very popular. We are in our 13th year and, God willing, will continue to serve the community for a few years yet. If any man wishes to join this band of “marry” men please contact Terry Evans (07796 084003) – you will be very welcome.
ST MARY'S BELL RINGERS
We have 8 change ringing bells here in St Mary's, Tenby, which you can hear being rung usually before services and in celebration of church festivals, royal occasions and weddings. The 8 ‘change ringing’ bells of which 4 were cast in 1789, 3 in 1888 and 1 in 1951. They hang in a tower which is over 800 years old and stands 152 ft tall to the top of the spire Change ringing requires both physical and mental ability. It takes most ringers several years to become sufficiently skilled to ring our bells.
Each bell is given a number, from 1–8, and is rung by a single ringer. A ‘change’ is a sequence of these numbers where each bell rings once. The order or sequence is changed and each bell rings again. St Mary's bells are in the key of F sharp. The smallest 'treble' bell weighs just over four hundredweight, while the largest 'tenor' bell weighs twelve and a half hundred weight.
ST MARY'S, TENBY HAND BELL RINGERS
St Mary’s Handbell group was established over 20 years ago by the late Mr Alec Freeman together with Dr John Harrison who has been our guide and Musical Director from the start. We have around 12 – 15 members in the group who meet in Church House on Wednesday evenings between 7.15 – 9.00pm.
We take part in services and perform in concerts in churches around the local area, as well as charitable concerts in other venues locally to support other organisations. In the summer we entertain visitors in Tudor Square and in the winter, we are busy celebrating Christmas in churches, nursing homes and local hotels who host turkey and tinsel weekends. Our own chosen charity is Ty Hafan and so each year there is usually at least one concert and a coffee morning in support of this worthy cause.
We are always looking for new members. Some musical knowledge (however rusty!) is helpful, but by no means essential. All the music is colour coded, to help those starting from scratch, and many of us began as complete novices.
A warm welcome will be waiting for you.
Just ring Sandy Fryer (01834 844495) or drop in to one of our rehearsals and see what we get up to.
ST MARY'S MOTHERS' UNION
Members of St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union are delighted that meetings are again being held on a regular basis in Church House and that we are able to invite speakers and guests to join us. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 2pm. We begin each meeting with a hymn and a short MU service, during which the MU prayer is always said. The service is followed by a presentation from an invited speaker or by a group activity. Light refreshments are served and everyone enjoys catching up with each other’s news and views.
We continue to offer support to Plant Dewi through the collection box system and with their Baby Bundle project. Clothes and equipment are regularly delivered to the Hwb in Pembroke Dock and generous gifts have been made to this cause by the local Tesco store, via their Charity Coordinator. As always, MU ladies support all church activities and are regularly called upon to provide the magnificent baked goods for which we are famous in the locality! At each meeting members contribute dry and tinned food items for the Pembrokeshire Foodbank and these goods are delivered to their central store in Narberth, from where food is distributed throughout the county. Many MU members also make regular cash donation to support PATCH and the branch which is run in Tenby benefits from goods regularly purchased with these funds. Both of these foodbanks have recently received generous donations from the St. Mary’s Deacon’s Fund.
One of our most recent speakers was Dean Flood, who is the Coordinator of the newly established Home Share scheme. Dean spoke passionately about the situation in Pembrokeshire regarding the rising numbers of homeless people and the way in which Pembrokeshire Care Society is able to give assistance to many individuals who find themselves in need of practical help with housing and accessing the benefits system. Pembrokeshire Care Society has recently received a substantial donation from St. Mary’s as part of the annual Charitable Giving commitment. In the coming autumn session we will be welcoming Shelly from Ty Hafan, David Padfield, who will be speaking about effective communication, and a local PCSO officer, helping us to keep ourselves safe!
The first meeting of the new autumn session of MU will take place on 20th September at 2pm when Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in church by our Rector, Canon Andrew Grace.
Here is a photo from last term when Dean Flood was presented with a cheque via the St. Mary's Charitable Giving for the charity Pembrokeshire Care Society.
FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S
“The Friends”, launched at the Memorial Flower Festival in 2011, is an organisation that aims to draw together individuals, corporate groups and parishes from across the world who wish to support and belong to the mission and ministry of St Mary’s Church.
At St Mary’s we are conscious that we have a wide and extended family far beyond our local worshipping congregation. The residents of Tenby in general have a high regard for St Mary’s as an ancient historic site of great importance, and we receive many visitors from all over Wales and the UK – indeed, from all over the world. Tenby and Pembrokeshire in general attract many visitors on an annual basis, and in particular our magnificent church building, dating back at least 800 years – the largest ancient parish church in Wales – is a focal point for many visitors who return to us year after year, and we want all these – locals and visitors alike - to feel that they belong to our church community and are a part of our mission and witness here.
Anyone can become a member of the Friends of St Mary's. Membership for individuals is £10 per year. Corporate Groups or Parishes are invited to contribute £20 per year. Life Membership for individuals is £100. All members are encouraged to use Gift Aid, with cheques payable to “The Friends of St Mary’s”.
To become a Friend is very simple. Please fill in the form below and send it, with your contribution, to the Rector.
DR JOHN HARRISON TRIBUTE
A message from recently-retired Rector of St. Mary’s, Canon Andrew Grace
Dear All,
I am writing to everyone on my old St Mary’s emailing list – this is the list I would use to send out my pew leaflets to you every week, and to share Roz’s Ramblings with you! In doing this I always felt very close to you all, our Tenby church family, and I’m sure we all need to feel something of that closeness now at this very sad time.
When the news of Dr John’s death came through to us last night Alex and I were devastated, and we still are. It was a terrible blow, leaving us shocked and bewildered, and very very sad.
Apart from my brother, John is the person in my life I have known the longest. In 1973 I went up to university (Aberystwyth), and the first person I met in the music department common room was John. He was 4 years ahead of me, already studying for his doctorate. No doubt he could see how terribly homesick I was, and he took me under his wing. We shared a bag of Nuttall’s Mintoes and shared our passion for Bach and Elgar, and from that day a firm and life-long friendship began. For me John has always been there as a dear friend, and inspiring me with his music and his faith.
But then, that is true for all of us, isn’t it? For St Mary’s, for Tenby, John has always been there, as our friend, and inspiring us with his music. In 1974 he was officially appointed as St Mary’s Organist & Director of Music, though he had been heavily involved in St Mary’s music long before that. And over these last 50+ years he has helped to shape the very character of St Mary’s church family and its worship, and, indeed, of the town of Tenby too. Just as the view of Caldey Island and Goscar Rock and the spire of St Mary’s are all part of the very character and landscape of the town of Tenby, so too in so many ways Dr John was a part of the very fabric of Tenby itself, and he was so proud to have been born within its walls.
A man of absolute integrity, a gentleman, a gentle man, a great sense of humour, kind and caring, totally loyal, a brilliant musician (yet always encouraging young musicians around him), above all a man of deep faith, John will be very greatly missed in our lives, and we can be so grateful to God that he was a big part of us, bringing us so many blessings.
John loved St Mary’s, and how marvellous that he missed just one Sunday at the end – and the Revd Steve tells me he played as usual for a wedding only last week.
John will now be enjoying music that is beyond his wildest dreams – the music of God’s love, and the music of the eternal life with Jesus, John’s Lord and Saviour.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for John.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
God bless you,
Andrew.
The Priest-in-Charge at St. Mary’s Church, Rev. Steve Brett, said: “We were all saddened to learn of the death of our dear friend and church organist Dr John Harrison. I have only been here for a short while, but I had already come to appreciate John’s immense knowledge and value his friendship.”
“John was a vital part of the ministry and life of our church and will be sorely missed by us all. We pray especially for his family as they mourn his loss.”
Dr John Harrison
John, I wonder what you`d have to say
If you were here with us today?
We worked and planned in secret too
A special service just for you.
To celebrate and show we cared
For all your music loved and shared.
Vibrant notes of Sant Saens soar
Over Nimrod`s enigmatic score.
Elgar, Bach and Rutter too.
Yes we know, just not for you!!
We tried so hard to recreate
Musical memories small and great.
Memories of 50 years
But instead there`s sadness, tears.
John, I wonder what you`d have to say
If you were here with us today?
Your kindness care and words of praise
Helped us all our voice to raise.
From Mark and Judy, all the choir,
Thank you John you did inspire.
We know you`re here with us today
Though organ notes no longer play.
Around us, with us, always here.
Loved remembered ever dear.
John ,we`ll sing and do our choral best
Now in our hearts forever rest.
Christine
September 2024
FAREWELL TO ANDREW
Tears and smiles were both in evidence at the two services held in St. Mary’s on
Easter Sunday this year as we gathered to give thanks for the risen Lord , and to say
farewell to our Rector, Andrew Grace.
Andrew has been Rector of St. Mary’s for sixteen years, but many of us first got to
know him when he first came, over 40 years ago as a curate under the then Rector
Dewi Bridges. From the beginning he was approachable and friendly with a good
sense of humour. He took an active role in church life and happily accepted his lot as
the butt of many jokes in the Young Wives’ pantomimes, and we were sorry when he
moved on to new parishes.
So, it was with much pleasure that we welcomed him back as our Rector in 2008. His
ministry at St Mary’s has been an inclusive one, particularly with the inspired
formation of the Soupermen group, leading to many enjoyable social occasions in
Church House complete with the obligatory raffle. Only Andrew could make drawing
a raffle fun ! His love of music has been evident in the many and varied concerts held
in St Mary’s and his support of the Choir and Director of Music, Dr.John Harrison.
But, most significant of all has been the development and nurturing of the Church
family. Sixteen years of joys and sorrows for us all have been shared within this
family and nowhere was this more evident when the pandemic lockdown kept us all
apart. The tangible joy on those first Sundays back was felt by us all especially
Andrew whose welcome was heartfelt.
These sixteen years have seen the re-opening of St. Julian’s, not merely for
weddings, but for many other services, which are always well attended. St. Anne’s
has gone from strength to strength. The introduction of Jeremy, our youth worker, and
the growing popularity of Messy Church, hopefully, will introduce more members to
our church family, and Andrew’s subtle delegation of different roles in church life
should ensure continuity for the future.
Andrew’s support of our local church primary school has also played a large part in
his ministry, and children, teachers and parents alike will miss his school assemblies,
and his lively services in church. His quizzes are legendary, complete with a water
pistol squirt for a wrong answer!
But, all good things come to an end, and so it was, that we came to say goodbye last
Sunday, after an inspirational Holy Week of services, beginning with the magnificent
Palm Sunday parade led by Bishop Dorian and two donkeys, taking us on to the
thought provoking last hour on Good Friday. With nearly 230 in the congregation on
Easter Sunday morning, we celebrated in the sunshine with glorious music and
chocolate eggs. Then came the evening which many of us had been dreading,
Andrew’s last service.
A great deal of care had obviously gone into the planning of it
and there were many high spots, of which Andrew’s seven year old grand-daughter’s
reading was certainly one. . The choir rose to the occasion magnificently and
emotions see-sawed as the Hallelujah Chorus rang out in triumph, then Andrew
relinquishing his vestments brought it home to all that this was the end.
However, on a happier note, everyone moved over to Church House where a
magnificent buffet had been prepared by Mothers’ Union, Soupermen and friends,
and a glass of wine was on hand to toast the future happiness of Andrew and Alex.
Churchwardens Clive and Nicole made a presentation and reflected on Andrew’s time
here at St. Mary’s, remembering in particular the glorious day when the whole church
family came together to celebrate his marriage to Alex. A beautiful poem written and
presented by chorister Christine Kirkby followed, then presentations were also made by St Anne’s Church and by the Titterton triplets representing the youth of the church
and Messy Church.
The formal part of the evening ended, aptly when Andrew’s last
curate Joel was on hand to lead us all in a prayer for a long and happy retirement. The
whole evening was enhanced by music from a string and piano ensemble courtesy of
Mr. and Mrs Michael Carpenter, and everyone was then able to give their personal
good wishes, enjoy the magnificent cake, and echo the message iced on its top:
Thank you, Andrew for 16 marvellous years. You will be much missed.
My dear Friends,
What is it about St Mary’s Tenby? Well, anyone who attended
my last service will have realised that St Mary’s is built on love -
His love, and our love for each other. And that love was
expressed and felt almost tangibly last week in the whole event
of my last service. I felt surrounded and overwhelmed by this
love in a most profound way - the air was thick with it - and this
is what makes endings and partings so difficult and, yes,
terribly painful.
This letter initially comes from my need to write to thank you all
for the huge cheque which Clive presented to me at the “do” on
your behalf - thank you all so much for this, and I am going to
put it away until I can spend it on something very special
indeed. And many thanks too for all the other gifts and cards
and beautiful words I have received. And thank you too for my
beautiful “send-off”.
But above all I am so grateful, and always will be, for the
wonderful privilege of being a part of you and your journey.
And now you are poised for an exciting new chapter, and soon
you will have a new leader. I envy him/her, starting out with
you, getting to know you all, and realising very quickly what a
beautiful church family you are. Go for it. Look after each other.
And be Marvellous for Jesus.
God bless,
Andrew.
Celebrating Advent 2024
It was wonderful to celebrate the start of the church’s new year, and the beginning of Advent, with our service of light and presentation of cheques to our nominated charities.
Some of the charities are national, some local, some we have supported for years, some not quite as long; all are important to us. We give thanks for the stirling work they do year on year, and it is our pleasure to offer what help we can, and show something of the love of Christ in our community.
Congratulations to Revd Steve Brett
Congratulations to Revd Steve Brett who was licensed to his new role on Thursday 4th July 2024.
Steve was licensed by the Bishop as LMA Dean and also to his new Pastoral Area of Tenby, continuing as a Priest-in-Charge within the LMA and United
Benefice of Narberth and Tenby.
Many congratulations Steve and welcome to St Mary's, Tenby!
St Mary's Church Choir in Concert
On Thursday 25 July the choir of St Mary's Church gave a concert to a most appreciative audience. The choir sings an introit and a motet at every Eucharist service and at all the major festivals throughout the year. The concert presented some of their favourites, and included All In the April Evening, God so Loved the World, and Benedictus. The choir is trained and conducted by Mark Thompson and the church organist is Dr John Harrison. The special guest was Wolfie Evans, aged 10, who played two of his Grade 4 examination pieces to great acclaim. During the choir's performance of Laudate Dominum by Mozart, the soloist was Lucy Evans who thrilled the audience with her crystal clear voice.
St Mary's church choir is always looking for new members. If you are interested please speak to any choir member.
Palm Sunday 2024
Take a look at the range of items available for sale inside the church, in aid of the Friends of St Mary's
including a wonderful Calendar and Christmas Cards by Rosamond Oak, also available in the church or by emailing