Serving All: The Wenden Church Project
At the heart of Wendens Ambo stands St Mary the Virgin Church, a Grade I listed medieval landmark that has been a place of worship, gathering and memory for over 900 years. Today, this much-loved building lacks the most basic amenities. There is no toilet, no servery, and limited accessibility, making it difficult to host concerts, coffee mornings, children’s activities, or community events without hardship.
The Serving All project will change that. Following years of consultation, surveys and heritage planning, the Parochial Church Council has secured approvals to install an accessible toilet, a compact servery, and to improve pathways and lighting in line with Historic England’s best practice. Work began on 19 November 2025 and is expected to be completed just after Easter 2026.
The facilities will be located discreetly at the west end of the north aisle—a Victorian addition chosen for its minimal impact on the historic fabric. Works will include limecrete flooring, limestone tiles, and reversible timber partitions, ensuring sustainability and respect for the building’s ancient structure. Drainage will be managed by an environmentally approved interim system, with mains connection planned by Anglian Water before 2030.
This £225,000 project is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about unlocking the church’s potential as a true community hub: a venue for music, social events, children’s activities, village meetings, heritage education, and pastoral care. With modern facilities, St Mary’s can welcome everyone—young and old, whether able-bodied or not—in dignity and comfort.
How you can help
We have raised significant funds through grants and local support, but we need more donations to pay the ever increasing costs. Every contribution brings us closer to transforming St Mary’s into a fully accessible, sustainable, and welcoming space for village life in the 21st century.
👉 Please consider supporting the project at wendenheritage.org.uk.
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