Church Profile

Name of Church: St Mary the Virgin, Ardleigh

Vicar: Father Robert Farrell

Pastoral Assistant: Mrs Claire Scargill

Church Wardens: Mr Robin Hill

Mrs Rita Richman

The church is situated in the centre of the village of Ardleigh which is 5 miles East of Colchester. It is part of a United Benefice with St George the Martyr, Great Bromley, so this means that the two churches share a priest.

We have a regular congregation of about 60 to 70 people at the main service on a Sunday morning and about 10 to 20 people who attend other services on Sundays. The church building at St Mary's was mostly rebuilt in the 1870s although the porch and the tower are very much older. There are 8 bells in the tower which are rung regularly. Inside there is a beautiful painted chancel. Modern facilities have been recently added inside the church so there is now a toilet and small kitchen.

In the parish there are several housechurch groups attended by about 40 of the congregation and there is a Bible Study group which meets regularly. There is a very active club for children on a Sunday morning and also a group for youngsters aged about 11 to 17 meet weekly and attend a Youth Camp each summer.

The church maintains close links with the school; the Pastoral Assistant is Chair of Governors at the school. The children have at least one service in church each term which is also attended by their families. Local clergy helped with assemblies in the school and with church services when the parish was without a vicar. Some members of the church congregation help in the school.