Help conserve and maintain the fabric of
St Mary’s & St Leonard’s as part of historical Wallingford for future generations.
The Friends
Established 1981, the Friends’ main purpose is to support, by fundraising, the work of the Wallingford Parochial Church Council (PCC) in conserving and maintaining the fabric of both churches. Since its inception, the Friends have raised over £200,000 towards this vital repair and restoration work. The Friends do not contribute towards the day-to-day expenses of either church or their running costs. You do not have to be a churchgoer to wish to see these magnificent buildings preserved and protected for future generations. In addition to annual subscriptions, a variety of events, open to all, is held every year to raise additional funds.
Our fundraising activities
01.
Talks programme
Join us when we invite speakers to learn more about our local history and how these churches have evolved in our community.
02.
Concert series
Support concerts in St Mary's and indirectly contribute to flourishing local musicians making the most of these impressive buildings.
03.
Social gatherings
Connect with friends at our social events designed to bring our like-minded community together to support the cause.
04.
Fundraising activities
Support our initiatives through various fundraising events for example our annual duck race.
Why help us?
There are lots of reasons to like churches:
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Did you get married here?
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Were you or your children baptised here?
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Do you attend services at either of the two churches?
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Do you enjoy the music in either church?
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Are you a member of an association that meets in St Mary’s eg choirs, U3A, the Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS)?
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Do you just love old buildings, stained-glass windows etc?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then you could be a Friend! We welcome new members from all walks of life.
St Mary-le-More (St Mary)
St. Mary's is the main Church of England parish church for Wallingford. Part of the town's historical heritage, it has, for centuries, provided a place for worship and important life events – weddings, baptisms, and funerals. It also now serves as an important community space hosting concerts, exhibitions, and local markets. The original building, which is known to have existed by 1077, was rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries. The church you see today was largely rebuilt in 1854 by the Gothic Revival architect David Brandon.
St Leonard’s
Probably known as Holy Trinity the Lesser before the Norman Conquest, St Leonard’s has stood a short distance from the River Thames for at least 1,200 years. Damaged in a Viking raid in 1006 A.D. it was repaired after 1066 but was again heavily damaged in the 1646 Siege of Wallingford in the English Civil War. Repaired once more, the church was reopened for worship in 1704. Finally, it was extended and restored in the Gothic Revival style in 1849, by Henry Hakewill. Highlights include a series of four murals of angels painted by local artist George Dunlop Leslie RA in 1889 and Saxon arches.
Some work carried out with help from the Friends
The charity operates independently of the Parochial Church Council and does not fund the day-to-day running of the church. Since its inception The Friends charity has donated more than £200,000 to Wallingford PCC covering a variety of fabric issues including repairs to both organs, stained glass windows in St Mary’s and both towers as well as the following:
2024
Roof repairs
Replacement of lead in the valley between the roofs of the nave and the south aisle to prevent water ingress which has caused falling plaster and damage to the ceiling and walls.
2017–18
Tower repairs
Significant repairs to stonework, flints and string course were carried out in a major repair project to maintain the tower. The tower is one of Wallingford's town centre landmarks and is thought to date back to c.1653. Everyday a curfew bell still rings shortly before 9pm, an hour later than the rest of the country and a privilegegranted by William the Conqueror in 1069 for allowing his army to cross the Thames in 1066.
2009–10
Reordering of St Mary’s
A major re-ordering in 2010 made the interior into a modern and flexible space, which is used for markets, meetings, and concerts as well as for services. Facilities include good disabled access, toilets and a kitchen/servery, with all seating using chairs. Many original features were preserved and restored during the process.
2012
St Leonard’s Apse cracks
Following regular reviews of the buildings a priority was identifided to seal cracks both inside and outside the apse in St Leonard's to prevent further deterioration and future damage. The apse is the semicircular shape at the end of the chancel, inside are the angel murals mentioned above.
Patron
Judy Dewey
Judy believes that the whole heritage of Wallingford - its Saxon ramparts, its castle, its churches and its ancient buildings - is crucial to the town’s economic future, and she is honoured to have been invited to become Patron of the Friends of St Mary’s and St Leonard’s. Judy was born in Bristol, attending school there, apart from a year in Iowa, USA as a High School Foreign Exchange student. She studied History at Durham University, where she also met her husband, Stuart. She went on to teach in London before moving to Cholsey when appointed Head of History at Didcot Girls’ School. After her two children were born, she worked in adult education for Oxford University Continuing Education Department and the WEA. She was also Chair of Governors at Wallingford School for several years and was also involved with the Friends of Cholsey Church. She and her late husband were founder Secretary and Chairman of The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS) in 1973 and led the team which created the entirely volunteer-run Wallingford Museum in 1981. Judy is still the museum’s Curator. She has always been part of the TWHAS research team and has written various books, newspaper articles and pamphlets on aspects of the history of Wallingford and gives many talks and guided walks.
Join the Friends
The Friends are people like you! They may be members of the local community or people who have moved away. They may be worshippers or simply people who love old buildings and architecture.
There is no set subscription fee. The amount you donate annually is up to you. All donations are valued and gratefully received, whether they are £15 or £200 or anywhere in between.
Get in touch if you would like to help in the upkeeping of these buildings.
Find out more
Go to the Wallingford Team Ministry site to find out more about how the buildings are being used today, when they are open and what's going on.