St. Mary's Church, Amport

St Mary's Church is in the benefice of Amport, Grateley, Monxton and Quarley. There are no remains of the original church, which was probably built of timber and thatch. The present church was built of knapped flint in the Decorated style during the years 1320 to 1330. It was luckily completed before the Black Death reached the south of England. Amport's priest was one of many who died of the disease during the outbreak of 1348/9.

The advowson of this church was given in 1217 to the Canons of Chichester cathedral by William de St John, son of Adam de Port after whom the village was named, and still remains with Chichester Cathedral. The first record of an incumbent at St Mary's is in the register of Bishop John de Pontoise of Winchester which, as its very first entry in 1282, notes the institution of Thomas de Anne to the vicarage of Anne, as the village was known at that time. The church was extended and considerably restored in 1866 and re-roofed in 1988.

There are more pictures and architectural notes by Astoft (www.astoft.co.uk/amport.htm).

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News

Preparation of a new Electoral Roll in 2013

Once every 6 years the parishes are required to prepare a new Electoral Roll in the months leading up to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting — both new and existing members will need to complete an application form. Notices will go on display and announcements will be made nearer the date of the APCM so please take heed and complete your form then.

Amport - The latest date for enrolment is 4 April and the new Roll will come into operation on 9 April. Forms can be obtained from St Mary's Amport or from Sandra Storey at Pear Tree Cottage.

Grateley - You will find enrolment forms at the back of the church and there is also a box for completed forms in the church: the completion date is 23 March. If you are unable to get to the church please give me a ring and I will bring a form round to you. Judy Wright: 01264 889654 

Being on the Electoral Roll is an important part of being a member of our church. It is our church’s register of electors: by enrolling you become a voting member of the Church of England and so help to ensure that all the councils of the Church – the parochial church council, the deanery synod, the diocesan synod, and the General Synod – are fully representative of its members. Synodical government gives an opportunity for partnerships between bishops, clergy and laity in the life of the Church.

Perhaps you see no need as you have no time to attend meetings. Perhaps you are content to simply come to services. Putting your name on the Electoral Roll will help us to keep those services intact. A coffee shop with no customers will not keep its doors open for very long, neither will a church. Electoral roll returns are one of the key indicators monitored by the national church when allocating clergy across the length and breadth of the UK.

Services in the Four Parishes - February 2012

With the departure of Chris Pettet, we wish to assure churchgoers that the usual services will be held in the four parish churches. The Team Rector, Chris Rankine, has arranged for all our usual programme of services to be covered by himself and the Team Vicar from the Wallops, Vanessa Cole, or by other priests. A programme has been planned up until Easter and the times will be published monthly as usual.

This is an extra load on Chris and Vanessa, when you consider that the team was formed for Chris Pettet to support Chris Rankine in his large parish, rather than the other way round, so please do continue to give them your full support.

There is no news yet on when, or if, Chris will be replaced, as in the best of circumstances it is always a long process. We have started this process by writing to the Bishop to ask for his help and support.
Church Wardens of Amport, Grateley, Monxton and Quarley

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