Parish Churches
The Parish consists of the three villages of Chieveley, Winterbourne and Oare.
Each village has its own church:
St. Mary the Virgin St. James the Less St. Bartholomew
Chieveley Winterbourne Oare
Worship
The churchmanship of the parish is middle-of-the-road Anglican, though the churchmanship of the members of the congregation varies widely and like many country parishes we welcome members of all denominations.
Communion is celebrated twice every Sunday except the third Sunday of the month.
Parish Communion (Common Worship, Order One) is celebrated at 9.30am, either at Chieveley or Winterbourne, and we have customised Common Worship Order One books in modern language. We have separate seasonal editions covering the whole of the liturgical year.
There is a strong musical tradition in the parish. Settings for our Common Worship Parish Communion were composed for us by a highly qualified local musician who takes the weekly choir practice at Chieveley.
In addition to the regular Sunday services there is a weekly said Communion Service (Common Worship, Order One) in the Lady Chapel of St. Mary's, Chieveley at 11.00am each Wednesday.
We also hold Patronal Festival Services for each church and special services on certain High Days and Holy Days.
To keep up to date with upcoming services, please go to the Services for the Month at the top right hand corner of this page.
Services
Parish Communion
This service follows the pattern of Order 1 from Common Worship with hymns, readings and a sermon. In Chieveley there is also a Sunday school that operates in the upper rooms during this service. Parents are asked to bring their children up to the Sunday school and they will be brought down to you during the service. This service normally starts at 9.30am.
Holy Communion
This largely follows the 1662 prayer book and is a said service with no sermon. Set in the old but beautiful language of the Prayer Book, there is space for quiet contemplation.
Family Communion
The pattern of the service is derived from Order 1, and is simplified with the aim of making it accessible to all. Younger members of the congregation frequently help with the service. It is positioned between the Parish Communion and the Family Service.
Family Service
This service, which takes place in Chieveley on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 11am, has no communion and follows an informal pattern. The main talk is often given by parishioners with young children taking an active part in the presentations and the singing.
Evensong (Winterbourne)
This service follows the 1662 Prayer Book form and includes a sermon. The singing of the psalm, canticles and hymns is led by the Choir.
Choral Evensong (Chieveley)
This service follows the 1662 Prayer Book form, and the singing of the liturgy is led by the Choir. There is no sermon.
All Age Service (Winterbourne)
This service is similar to the family service at Chieveley. This service is designed with all ages in mind. It takes place on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am.
Matins (Winterbourne)
This service follows the 1662 Prayer Book form and includes a sermon. The singing of the psalm, canticles and hymns is led by the Choir.
Bell Ringers
There are a small but select band of dedicated Bell Ringers who ring before most Sunday services at St. Mary the Virgin Chieveley. Ringing practice takes place on Wednesday evenings 8pm to 9pm. They are a very friendly bunch who are always looking for local people willing to learn a new skill. Just come along to a practice any Wednesday to see what it is all about. All ages welcome.
For more information please contact: church@mychieveley.co.uk
Choir
The Choir meets on Wednesday evenings from 7pm - 8pm under the direction of Choirmaster Michael Evans, and has an enjoyable hour learning music for the various services as well as other musical items. Most choir members attend at least three Sundays during the month, as well as for the other church festivals which take place during the year. New members are very welcome and it is hoped that the number of choir members, currently 14, will increase during the coming year.
For more information please contact: church@mychieveley.co.uk
Junior Choir
We have a thriving junior choir which is open to all children who love to sing. Practices are held on Wednesday evenings during term time from 6.15 - 6.45 pm under the excellent guidance of Mrs Jean Fayle.
For more information please contact: church@mychieveley.co.uk
The Junior Choir are currently taking a winter break and will return after the Easter Holidays.
St. Mary the Virgin, Chieveley
The church is a Grade 2* listed building standing in a well-kept churchyard which is still in use for burials and the interment of ashes. Both the church and churchyard are well cared for by a dedicated band of volunteers.
There has been a church on the site since Saxon times but no trace of it remains. Little more is known of the probably late-Norman church which succeeded it, as the Victorians carried out wholesale ‘improvements', but the 13th century tower and 14th century chancel remain as distinguished architectural features.
St. James the Less, Winterbourne
Winterbourne lies to the south west of Chieveley.
The Chapel of St James the Less stands on an elevated site nearly half a mile from the village. It was founded in the 12th century, and is a mediaeval building, heavily restored in Victorian times, with an 18th century tower.
A major repair programme was completed in 2001, and further work to install a lavatory at the base of the tower and basic kitchen facilities in the north aisle was completed in 2003, making the church a more attractive venue for social events in the absence of a village hall.
Our success in raising nearly £100,000 to fund our recent programme of repairs bears witness to the strength of support the church enjoys in the village.
Oare is a hamlet of some 27 dwellings lying about two miles East of Chieveley.
Oare has been the site of a Christian settlement since Saxon times and it was merged with Chieveley after the evidently important Priory was demolished in Henry VIII's reign. The present chapel of St. Bartholomew was built in 1852 by the then Vicar, the Revd. J. E. Robinson.