St. Mary's Church

Very traditional Georgian church, perfect for a wedding.

Manicured And Managed. Lacks Atmosphere. Although It Is A Church It Has Lost Out To The Local People Upmanship Of It........

The Marchioness of Carnarvon rebuilt the church at Avington, she died in 1768 aged just 34 years old before it was finished. From the outside it does not really inspire, being all brick but it's Georgian interior kind of makes up for it, filled with Spanish mahogony box pews and it's light blue painted ceiling, it has a nice feel about it, The Spanish mahogany from which the pews and pulpit are made is said to come from a ship captured in the Armada by the Duke of Effingham. Where the wood had been in the intervening years is not explained.
The Church was open when I visited but I have no idea of the opening times so best contact the Church for details.

Beautiful place!

Beautiful church well worth a vist

Lovely Anglican ‘hamlet’ church exuding peace and tranquility.
Built in 1768-1771 at the behest of the Marchioness of Carnarvon.

The exterior is largely unaltered red brick construction. Interesting high-sided ‘family’ pews, one of which was reserved for Avington Park families, a regular haunt of King Charles II and his infamous mistress, Nell Gwyn!
The pulpit and pews are made of Spanish mahogany rumoured to have been taken from an Armada galleon captured by the Duke of Effingham. All the pews have wall pegs for hanging wigs on.
Do spend a while here!❤️

Across the road you will find the Shelley Family Garden/Vault - resting place of John Shelley, of Avington Park, who died in 1866. He was the brother of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. He acquired Avington Park in 1847-48. The family sold the property in 1951.