St Mary's Church in Hemel Hempstead
We are a friendly, welcoming Church of England Parish rooted in the Modern Catholic tradition of the Church of England, committed to dignified worship, good music and orthodox teaching. You are most welcome to join us at any of our services or activities.
Enjoy the peace and magnificence of St Marys parish church whose matchless spire dominates the Old Town skyline. The church is open to all for private prayer, or just to see inside our beautiful building; or join us for Sunday and weekday services in the Modern Catholic style of the Church of England. And you are always welcome to come for family events and all age activities both traditional and new.
St Mary the Parish Church of Hemel Hempstead (collegiate 1286-1535) in the Diocese of St Albans. The church was built by the Normans of clunch stone and flint with Roman bricks inserted. It is cruciform in style, begun in 1140 and took some 40 years to build, being dedicated to St Mary in 1150 when the Chancel and tower were completed. The building of the Nave and West door followed, both being splendidly preserved examples of Norman architecture of the later decorated period.
The South Porch was added in 14th Century, the North Porch in the 15th Century and the North Vestries in the 19th Century.
Windows and doorways have been inserted at different times. The magnificent fluted leaden spire probably of the early 14th Century is itself 40m (130 feet) high and reaches a total height of almost 61m (200 feet) to the gilded weathervane. Chaucer wrote that “it is a very fair and tall spire covered with lead, which is a great ornament to the town”.
