|
This simple church was built around 1230 by the monks of the nearby Priory of Hamble-le-Rice to serve scattered farming hamlets. Only the bell turret (late 15th century) and the vestry (1922) are later. Restorations have left most of the fabric unaltered and enlargement was avoided by the building of a new parish church at Netley in 1886. The interior is plain but pleasing.
The Purbeck marble font is about the same age as the church. The broad octagonal bowl is enriched with pointed arch panels, and the supports, one of them in wood, are an odd design.
The well-proportioned chancel arch c.1230 effectively frames the east window.
A memorable event - extracted from 'The London Magazine' 1768:
"On Sunday 17th instant the gallery of Hound church, Near Hamble, Hants, fell down in the time of divine service, when many of the congregation were assembled therein; by which accident several persons had the misfortune to have some of their bones broke, and others were very much bruised, but happily no life was lost. It was occasioned, we hear, by the main beam breaking off short."
The yew tree is four to six hundred years old, possibly much older, the largest in the Eastleigh area and considered to be a very fine and healthy specimen.
The very fine east window (1959) is by Patrick Reyntiens who is probably best known for his collaboration with John Piper on the Baptistry of Coventry Cathedral. The artist considers this to be one of his best works and was very taken with St Mary's as 'a unique little building, intrinsically a powerhouse of spirituality and a venue for private prayer'.
This piscina is in the south wall of the sanctuary and is still used at every service of Holy Communion. In the north wall is an aumbry but there are no signs of it ever having a door. What appears to be a piscina in the south wall of the nave has no drain nor is it suitable for a holy water stoup. Its purpose has baffled all experts!
 |
For the major task of repairing the roof, grant aid was received from English Heritage, the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, and Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust.
It is anticipated that the internal plasterwork will be their next major concern.
St Mary's is still in regular use for services (details are in the porch) and it is also used for burial services in the adjoining Parish Council Cemetery. The Friends also use it for special occasions such as 'Carols by Candlelight'.
If you would like to be involved with the Friends or kept in touch with their activities please contact June Bangs (02380 452252) or the Vicar, the Revd Roy Goodhew (02380 452209).
Hampshire & the Islands Historic Churches Trust
Mrs Lindie Sawtell, 19 St Peters Street, Winchester, Hants SO23 8BU Phone: 023 92 825731