Page updated - 31 January 2006
Welcome to your Parish Church of St. Andrews
We are located along Bures Road, just past The Five Bells on the way to Sudbury.
St Andrew's Church is an ancient church and has been in existence at least since The Domesday Book 1087. (There is mention of an Anglo Saxon Church which was razed to the ground in existence in the 8th century.) At that time it would have been a rectangular building, with a nave and chancel. The Church was extended by a south aisle being built in the 19th century.
St Andrew's is a grade one listed building and features in one of Thomas Gainsborough's paintings. Indeed, one of St Andrew's claim to fame was that Gainsborough's parents were married in the church.
In St Andrew's Churchyard (which is now closed) there is great history of a community, that of earlier residents of Cornard Magna, or Cornearthe the original Anglo-Saxon name. Often the history of a village and its people can be traced and read in a graveyard along with the Church burial registers. Such information helps relatives in their genealogical research of family history.
During the time of the reformation, St Andrew's Church like many others were stripped of some of its Roman adornments, but there still remains a few artefacts which have significant part to play in the life and worship of the Church today.
The Church is open and staffed on a Sunday afternoon between the hours of 2.00pm-4.00pm. Refreshments are available. We have a printed guide which will enable anyone who would like to visit, to increase their knowledge of some of the history of St Andrew's. All visitors are invited to sit in quiet and drink in the ambiance of centuries of prayer, meditation and reflection which has taken place in this beautiful old church.
Today our church is very active and our worship has its more traditional form whilst we have a special service every month which is non-traditional and non-eucharistic for the families, and people of all ages.
Our aim is to make God's love known and to welcome all who come through our doors, as well as being pastorally involved in our parish in various ways:
Schools: The Vicar visits every school in the parish during term time on a regular basis.
Visiting the bereaved, and lonely: The pastoral team has been set up and resourced to make regular visits to those who are lonely, bereaved, and appreciate the company of church members.
Preparation for Marriage and Weddings Each year we hold Marriage Preparation Weekends where all who are getting married in the parish, whether a civil wedding, or a church wedding, can come and take time out to be alone with their partners and to explore all the issues which help to create and build good marriages.
Marriage Enrichment and Rededication of Marriage Vows: If you have been married for one, two, or twenty two, fifty, or have been married in a registry office, or have been through a crisis and would like your marriage to be enriched, then we do have a marriage enrichment course, offered to all residents in our community. This course will be followed by a special service of Rededication of Marriage Vows.
Special Services of Blessing for married couples: These are for any couple who have been married, whether it is a special anniversary, or a time of significance within the marriage.
Baptisms: These services take place on any Sunday and we welcome all who wish to have their children baptized. A telephone call to the vicar will answer all your enquiries.
Sunday School: We have a Sunday School for children aged 3yrs to 12yrs.which operates in age groups.
Pram Service: This will be held at Poplar Road Drop In Centre.
ST ANDREW'S SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY:
8.00am - Holy Communion, every Sunday morning.
This is BCP Book of Common Prayer which is a said Communion Service and is held in the Chancel, kneeling at the High Altar to receive Communion.
10.00am - Sung Eucharist.
The Order of Service we use for this main parish service is from Common Worship, which is modern language.
During the service the children go to Sunday School, very young children can stay in the church and play in the Kiddies Korner as we have lots of soft noiseless toys, books and crayons. The Sunday School children will return to join their parents for Holy Communion. For parents, children, and others who have not been baptized they will receive a Blessing.
All who worship with us from other churches and receive the sacrament, are welcome to receive the sacrament with us.
10.30am - All Age Worship (a non-traditional style of worship)
This service is for all ages, whether you are a tiny, or an older person with its non-traditional style. It is an enjoyable service with a great deal of participation by all ages.
9.30am - every Wednesday - Holy Communion.
At this service we follow the anniversary of The Saints, and we trace the way Christianity grew and spread worldwide.
All enquiries to The Revd. Jamie Allen on Tel: (01787) 373579 or Visit St. Andrews Website