Welcome to the Church of St Mary’s, Woodnewton
The Parish of Woodnewton is part of the Watersmete Benefice consisting of the villages of Apethorpe, Nassington, Thornhaugh, Wansford, Woodnewton and Yarwell. Rev Jane Tailby is the Vicar of the Benefice. If you wish to contact Jane, she can be contacted at the Vicarage at 34 Station Road in Nassington, or by phone 01780 782271. Friday is her day off.
Services are held at 9.30am on the first 3 Sundays in the month with a said communion service at 8.30am on the 4th Sunday. We welcome weddings and baptisms being held in the church. If you would like to arrange a funeral or wedding, please contact Rev Jane Tailby, see contact page. If you would like to arrange baptism, please contact Jan Downey.
The Village
Woodnewton is a friendly and sociable village and has a population of 450 people. It is made up of the original Main Street, with stone built houses, some dating back to the 17th century, and the Back Lane, which was renamed in the 1970’s, to Orchard Lane. Over the last 40 years, small developments have been built providing extra housing for the elderly and families alike.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the village was mainly agricultural, but now most people commute to work, either to London, or nearby towns and cities. However, there are still some people who run businesses from the village.
A Pottery which is housed in the old Methodist Chapel provides lessons for locals and a recent addition to the life of the village are the art classes run by a resident of Woodnewton.
There is one public house in the village, the White Swan, which offers good food in its cosy dining room.
In the early 1990’s the village lost all its potential meeting places with the closure of the school, pub and Methodist Chapel, so a group of residents got together and with the help of grants and support from Clowns International, raised enough money for a Village Hall to be built in 1992. This is a well-used building, not only for village functions, but by people from the surrounding area too.
Woodnewton Players produce an annual pantomime and village show in the hall, which is well supported by the village. Other organisations within the village consist of a monthly Walking Group, Village History Group and a Running Group.
A Monthly Newsletter, which is Lottery Funded, is available on the village website.
The Church
This is a cruciform church to which a three-bay south nave aisle, with an arch to the transept, was added in the early 13th century. The nave has a 15th-16th century clerestory on the south wall only. The north transept now houses the organ, and its arch is 13th century, and pointed, but the transept itself is a modern rebuild. The south transept arch is late 12th century, and round-headed.
The building is in good order. Plans have been drawn up for a kitchen and toilet facility within the church, which are waiting approval.
Watersmete Benefice 