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The Parish Church of St Andrew, Hurstbourne Priors St Andrew’s Church has been a place of worship for over 1200 years, a lasting witness to the living Lord Jesus Christ. Through the dedication and generosity of the parishioners, past and present, it remains a focus for prayer and worship for the village. There are weekly services (see below), the most popular of which is the Family Service on the second Sunday of each month at 9.30am. As a parish church of the Church of England, we offer the full pastoral services of Baptism, Marriage and Burial, and are an important part of village life. The parish is now in a group (Benefice) with that of Longparish - to the south, a village strung out a road which follows the course of the great chalk stream, the River Test: with St Mary Bourne, up the valley to the north: and the small parish of Woodcott, on the rolling hills in the direction of Newbury. The vicar is Canon Martin Coppen, email: .
A Time Chart of St Andrew’s Church in the parish of Hurstbourne Priors, Diocese of Winchester, England. In recorded history, Hurstbourne is known variously as, Hissaburna, Husseburn, Esseburn(e), Hesseburna Prioris, Hussiborne, Hursbourn(e) Priors, Hurstbourne Priors. William Cobbett, writing in his Rural Rides of November 1825, calls the village Down Husband (Lower Hurstbourne) in contrast to Up Husband, present day Hurstbourne Tarrant at the head of the Bourne Valley. The original parish had the Chapel of Burne (St Mary Bourne) as a ‘chapel of ease’ — a daughter church to provide the opportunity for prayer and preaching for parishioners living in the village some three miles up the valley road from Hurstbourne Priors. The parish of St Mary Bourne was made a separate parish in its own right in 1928. 790 first mention of manor of Hissaburna of the Royal Demesne, in the Saxon Hundred of Evingar 802 charter of Denewulf, Saxon Bishop of Winchester mentions the consecration of the church in this year. 1086 Domesday Survey records Hurstbourne Manor as having six mills - a wealthy place 12th century; Original Saxon Church was rebuilt by the Normans. First record of Hesseburna Prioris 16th century, addition of a north chapel 1574 Oxenbridge Altar Tomb installed 18th century, south transept built for the use of the Portsmouth family (the "Portsmouth Aisle") 1870 present tower built 1906 New organ installed in the chancel, according to the specification of Hubert Parry and Harry Plunket Greene. The choir stalls were also placed in the chancel and pulpit moved to its present position. More information about the Organ. 1989 Organ moved into the Portsmouth Aisle 1999 The six existing bells restored for ringing and two further bells added. 2005 Commissioning of new Baptismal Font to replace present damaged Font Services at St Andrew, Hurstbourne Priors - the usual monthly pattern (from May 2006) First Sunday:
11.00am Matins (Book of Common Prayer) - once a quarter, Holy Communion (Book
of Common Prayer) |
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