St Mary

St Mary’s is a beautiful historic church, located next to the former Carew Manor (now Carew Academy) in the equally historic setting of Beddington Park.

The church is home to a number of interesting artefacts, including a Roman lead coffin, fragments of the Norman church, a 12th century font, and tombs for the Carew family. The building was heavily restored in the Victorian times and redecorated in the Arts & Crafts style with stencilled designs, wall and ceiling paintings. It contains a beautiful organ screen designed by William Morris & Co in 1869 and a large, elaborate altarpiece (reredos) depicting the Last Judgement.

St Mary’s is registered as an Inclusive Church, celebrating and affirming every person without discrimination, and is also registered with the Welcoming Project. The church has its own coffee shop The Tower Coffee Shop, located in the western Ttwer of the church. It serves a variety of hot and cold beverages, cakes and ice cream. There is seating available inside and outside.

Between June 2021–June 2023, St Mary's is undertaking a National Lottery Heritage Funded Project: Restoring and Celebrating the Arts and Craftsmanship of St Mary's, Beddington, which aims to undergo important capital repairs on the building and also support the local community through a detailed activities programme centred around the beautiful art and artefacts within the church, and the craftsmanship that went into their creation.