St Mary's Church, Longfleet

St Mary's is located on the south side of Longfleet Road, just above Poole Hospital. It has a prominent spire that may be seen for miles around. == History ==

St. Mary's is a Gothic Revival church that was built in the years 1830–33 It built chiefly at the expense of Lord de Mauley and was originally designed by Edward Blore, but has been considerably modified since. The spire was donated by William Pearce JP, a 19th-century Mayor of Poole, who resided at nearby Springfield House. There was further remodelling in 1915 The living was, and still is, a vicarage in the Diocese of Salisbury. Its patron in the 1870s was Sir J. B. Guest, Bart., who owned Canford Manor, now Canford School. == Today ==

St. Mary's describes itself as a "vibrant evangelical charismatic Church" and "a large multi-generational church with an informal atmosphere." The church is part of the New Wine Network and, has a congregation of around 700, which is the largest in the Diocese of Salisbury. The church continues to serve the local community and has several Sunday School classes as well as ministries for men, women, youth, pastoral care, outreach and worship. It is very active and works with local authorities, e.g. through Faithworks Wessex, running projects like MON£Y MATT£RS, a money management and debt advice service, and Befrienders, linking up with people who are in need of companionship. The church also has close links with Longfleet Church of England Primary School, which was formerly opposite on Longfleet Road. The present incumbent, Rev. Andrew Perry, became the vicar of St. Mary's in 1995 and has overseen the church as its community has grown from 80 to around 800. He was installed as a canon of Salisbury Cathedral on 3 July 2012. == Church centre ==

In August 2011, St Mary's was granted planning permission to redevelop its church centre as a facility for the church and local community. The church centre is in Kingston Road, but faces the church itself across Longfleet Road. Work commenced in May 2013 and a pelican crossing over Longfleet Road was installed. The new church centre was completed in May 2014 and officially opened on 23 September 2014 at a celebration attended by the Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam. It is used regularly by Poole Hospital and local health charities. == Church graft ==

In April 2018, SML sent a new vicar, Rev. Tessa Nisbet, and around 20 church members to lead a 'church graft' at St Michael's Church, Hamworthy, and St Gabriel's Church, Turlin Moor, in order to bring a new lease of life to the local community and turn around declining congregations. == Gallery ==

File:Poole, the hospital and Longfleet St. Mary's in semi-silhouette - geograph.org.uk - 1430388.jpg|Poole Hospital and the spire of St Mary's seen across Poole Park Lake == See also ==