A bright future lies ahead

Tina Osgood explores the impact of a legacy that is helping St Mary’s Church in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, to thrive.

Our churches have benefitted from the generosity of parishioners and supporters throughout history, and evidence of this can be seen in every church building. 

This is still the case today, and we are eternally grateful to our remarkable supporters who give their time and donate the essential funds needed to keep our churches open and active.

Some go one step further and continue to support churches for future generations by leaving a gift in their will. These legacies are vital to the Churches Conservation Trust as they enable us to carry out essential work where it is needed. They also create opportunities to enhance our churches for communities and visitors, or to improve facilities so that these buildings can continue to thrive. One such legacy has ensured a bright future for St Mary’s Church in Hartley Wintney.

Nestling amongst the trees of rural Hampshire, St Mary’s served as the parish church from 1234 until 1870, when a new church, St John’s, was built in the 18th-century village of Hartley Row. Since then, St Mary’s has continued to be used for funerals as it is set within a large churchyard next to the parish burial ground. Like most historic buildings, the church has evolved over time, reflecting the ever-changing population. The influence of agriculture, industry, politics, religion, the monarchy and war can be felt within its walls. Originally built by nuns, St Mary’s now consists of a 13th-century nave and chancel, while the transepts and flint tower are 19th-century additions.

The history of Hartley Wintney is evidenced in every corner of the church. Entry to the building is through the impressive, glossy red doors at the base of the relatively new tower, which was added in 1842. Once inside, one is immediately presented with a name carved into the stone on the left-hand side of the medieval door leading to the nave. The name is Israel Woodes(on), who was married in the church in 1667 and died in 1692. He is thought to have been among the craftsmen responsible for restoring the church when it was brought back into use after the Civil War.

Beyond the box pews, the wall to the left displays the remaining fragments of a 13th-century wall painting depicting Pride and the other six deadly sins. This is the first of many wall paintings, including depictions of St Christopher and St George and the Dragon.

The hatchment on the west gallery displays the arms of Catherine Hawley, who died in 1835. To the right are the arms of her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Henry William Toovey Hawley of West Green House. His grandfather, who is also buried at St Mary’s, was Lieutenant General Henry ‘Hangman’ Hawley, famed for defeating Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden. Other notable people who are buried at St Mary’s include Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, Churchill’s closest military advisor during the Second World War. Traces of past parishioners, vicars and community leaders are evident in every direction.

Thanks to the generous support of the local community, the future of St Mary’s has been secured, and it continues to be used and enjoyed today. In 2015, CCT received a significant restricted legacy for St Mary’s, after a devoted member of the Friends of St Mary’s left a generous gift in their will. The Friends worked with CCT to identify the key areas where funds were needed to secure the building, whilst celebrating its past and developing it into a practical space for future use. The legacy, along with other restricted funds, including a generous donation from the Friends of St Mary’s, was used to carry out essential maintenance to the fabric of the building. This involved futureproofing it from the elements and minimising the risk of deterioration, through roofing, re-pointing and drainage work. This was followed by the installation of solar panels at the top of the tower to provide power and electric lighting. Bespoke iron handrails made by a local craftsman were installed in the west gallery, while handmade iron candle lanterns were fitted to the box pews on either side of the aisle. Another new decorative element is a series of beautiful interpretation panels, displayed on easels around the church, which can be enjoyed by visitors to this very special building.

As a result of this generous legacy, church use is no longer restricted to daylight hours because sustainable electricity provides lighting and power for services, events and activities. The wall paintings, inscriptions, hatchments and monuments all come to life under the new lighting, and the interpretation ensures a truly engaging visitor experience. The annual Advent Service is particularly magical, illuminated by the beautiful candlelight from the lanterns. Furthermore, in recent years, evening theatre performances have been added to the calendar – all made possible by this legacy.

If you are considering leaving a legacy to CCT, we would be delighted to discuss this with you. All conversation are treated confidentially. Please contact us by email at supporters@thecct.org.uk or call 0800 206 1463.