History of St Mary’s
Learn all about the origin and growth of St Mary’s Ferndown and how it developed in to the church you know and love today!
History of St Mary’s
Learn all about the origin and growth of St Mary’s Ferndown and how it developed in to the church you know and love today!
St Mary’s: 90 years in the building
90 years ago the foundation stone was laid for the current St Mary's Church building. We celebrate all God has done over those years and we look to what he is doing now and all he will do in the future!
'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.' Isaiah 43:19
A church is so much more than a building. It's a people with purpose and a family God invites us into - and you're invited too!
The story of its origin and growth
St Mary’s Church originally began on a site close to the present Church Hall in Church Road. It was a small Mission Hall capable of seating only about fifty people. This satisfied the need at that time for a place of worship serving the newly developing residential district of Ferndown that, although within the Parish of Hampreston, was remote from the Parish Church of All Saints.
By the turn of the century, this Mission Hall had become inadequate and through the generosity of Lady Wimborne, was replaced by the original Church Hall. For over thirty years the Church Hall served as both Church and Infant School, but by 1933 it was too small as a Church for the rapidly increasing population of Ferndown, and the Parochial Church Council launched an appeal for funds to provide a new Church.
The site on which the Church now stands was given in May 1932 by Mrs Lyon who lived at “Dudsway” in Dudsbury Avenue where Dudsbury Court now stands. She had bought the land in 1926, when otherwise a hotel might have been built there.
In 1932 Herbert Kendall Esq. The Diocesan Architect was asked to prepare plans for the new Church reproducing as far as possible the main characteristics of the ancient and beautiful Parish Church of All Saints. The plans were adopted in December 1932, when the estimated cost for the whole building was about £10,000.
By 1933 the sum of £4,000 had been raised which made it possible to construct the Nave as the first stage of the new Church, and in May of that year, a builder’s tender was accepted and work commenced.
On September 25th 1933 the two foundation stones were laid by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend St Clair Donaldson. D.D. and Mrs Lyon of Dudsway, Ferndown, the Honorary Treasurer of the Building Appeal Fund.
The partially completed Nave, which formed the basic part of the Architect’s plan served for two years. There was no vestry accommodation and this had to be provided by temporary wooden structures added to the northeast end of the Nave.
Interesting gifts to this first stage of the Church were a stained glass window representing “Motherhood” from the Mother’s Union and a large bell from the demolished Fordington Church near Dorchester which was first suspended from an outside bracket at the west end of the Nave, but was then placed in the tower. This bell was sold in 1988. The font came from a Church at Totland Bay in the Isle of Wight.
In October 1935 the north and south porches were added to the design of the honorary architect, Mr Austin. The Bishop of Salisbury dedicated these on 24th July 1936. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary (6th May 1935) Mr John Prior planted the Blue Cedar tree (Cedrus Atlantica Glauca) in December 1935.
By 1938 sufficient funds were accumulated, including an interest free loan of £2,000 (to be paid back over ten years), to carry through the second stage of the building, and in December 1938, Mr Austin prepared drawings for the completion of the Chancel and Sanctuary. Building commenced in July 1939 and these new additions were dedicated by the Bishop of Sherborne, on 14th November 1940.
With the outbreak of war in September 1939, all plans for further building were suspended but fund raising activities continued.
For twenty years after the war there was no progress in the completion of the church except for the efforts of friends who, either individually or in groups such as the Choir and the Girls’ Friendly Society, made lasting and beautiful improvements to the furnishings of the church which included the Choir Stalls and Clergy desks, also the oak pews, half of which were given as a memorial to a young man killed in a car accident; these were dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury on May 12th 1957. The Chancel carpets were made by Miss W Warren and her companion Miss Alice Cozens, the last stitch being put in at 4am on the eve of the dedication of the Chancel! The Holy Table was later given as a memorial to Miss Warren who had served as voluntary organist for more than 27 years.
Mrs Lyon left the residue of her property, being approximately £2,000 to the Tower fund. These monies were placed in trust and were invested against the day when the Tower could be built. The restrictions placed on the disposal of the legacy did not allow it to be used for anything other than a Tower and demanded the provision of an external clock in the Tower.
In 1964 the Parochial Church Council determined it to be opportune to build the North Transept and new vestries. This addition to the church meant that the organ, acquired from a Presbyterian Church in Bournemouth, now closed, could be placed in it final home and converted to electric action. The Transept and Vestries were dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Joseph Fison, D.D. at a special evening service on Sunday, 8th May, 1966. The pipe organ was replaced in 2010 by a new Digital Organ.
As the population of Ferndown had increased nearly four-fold since the church was commenced in 1933, and showed signs of continuing growth for many years, the Parochial Church Council took the final step towards completion of the church, some thirty-six years after the laying of the foundation stones.
The Diocesan Architect, J G Morley Esq. F.R.I.C.S. M. Inst. R.A. was commissioned to prepare plans for the Tower and South Transept to follow as closely as possible the original design.
A public appeal was launched by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Joseph Fison D.D. at a Festival of Spring Flowers in 1969 and the result of the appeal, together with the monies in the Tower fund and Building fund, was sufficient for the work to be put in hand. Since many gifts from the appeal were under covenant it was necessary to take up a bridging loan and the Diocese arranged this. It was also decided that the Nave and Chancel should be re-railed and the church re-decorated.
Building began in July 1971 and finished a year later. The Dedication Service was held on Sunday 24th September, and was taken by The Archdeacon of Dorset. The completed church now stands for all to see as a monument to the glory of God and a haven of peaceful prayer and worship for succeeding generations.
The new church hall complex, adjoining the church was built in 1982-83. It provides a large hall, side rooms, a church office, a kitchen, toilets and storage space. This complex is used every day, by church and non-church organisations. In addition a mobile unit, now removed, was installed in the mid 1980’s to house some of the church groups, and the car park was enlarged and tarmac-ed.
In August 1988 the Parish of Hampreston was changed into a ‘benefice’ of two parishes: Ferndown and Hampreston/Stapehill which have an estimated population of 22,000 and 5,000 respectively.
In September 1991 the church choir stalls were moved to allow a platform for a music group, drama etc. The church was re-decorated and re-carpeted throughout. In May 1992, part of St Mary’s congregation started a new church in Parley First School, this was known as Ferndown Community Church.
In September 2002, the existing kitchen was extended and replaced by a new fully fitted stainless steel kitchen and new toilets, at a cost of £183,000. The hall foyer was also refurbished and the electricity supply upgraded at an additional cost of £8,000.
In 2006, Ferndown Community Church re-joined St Mary’s to help create a second All Age Congregation, leading to new growth. The service structure underwent changes again in 2011 and a new all age service, "Breakfast Church" aimed at people on the fringe was launched in October 2013 with great success.
After 15 years of prayer and planning "The Beacon Project" became a physical reality. The vision was to create a place where everyone could come just as they are and receive a warm welcome and enjoy excellent facilities and hospitality. "The Beacon Project" was officially opened by the Bishop of Salisbury on 3rd October 2015 and over 1,000 people celebrated with us as we unveiled our new hall foyer, community cafe, meeting room and office suite. St Mary's now hosts 5 weekly worship services, a huge variety of church and community activities and serves approx 500 people every week in The Beacon Cafe.
In short, the history of the building is a history of God’s faithfulness, and his people being willing to invest in changes that have caused the spread of Christianity in Ferndown. We pray that all our activities, and the building itself, will bring Glory to God and extend the welcome to all that we have received in Christ.
St Mary’s: 90 years in the building
90 years ago the foundation stone was laid for the current St Mary's Church building. We celebrate all God has done over those years and we look to what he is doing now and all he will do in the future!
'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.' Isaiah 43:19
A church is so much more than a building. It's a people with purpose and a family God invites us into - and you're invited too!
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