All Saints Church

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Address
Church Lane
Minstead
Hampshire

SO43 7EX
United Kingdom


All Saints Church is part of the United Benefice of Lyndhurst, Emery Down and Minstead.

  • Rector: Rev David Potterton david.potterton@newforestparishes.com or 07468 527820
  • Churchwardens:
    • Mrs Isabel Yeo (023 8028 2724) email Isabel@yeo-family.org.uk
    • Dr Liz Randall (023 8081 1115) email elizrandall@btinternet.com

A NEW PRIEST FOR THE BENEFICE
(the parishes of Lyndhurst and Emery Down and Minstead)

Our new Priest-in-Charge, The Reverend David Potterton was licensed to the benefice on August 21st in a joyful service taken by The Right Reverend Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton.  St Michael and All Angels’ church in Lyndhurst was packed and its bells rang out.

Ahead of the licensing service, Revd. David took part in short services at the two other parish churches in the benefice: All Saints’ Church, Minstead and Christ Church, Emery Down.  The Bishop of Southampton led these services, which included a joyous African chant, and presented Revd. Potterton with the keys to each church.

Afterwards, delicious refreshments in Lyndhurst Community Centre offered people a chance to meet Revd. David and celebrate less formally.

Ordained in 2015, Revd. David has joined the benefice from Romsey Abbey, where he served as its hugely popular Assistant Curate, taking pastoral care of the congregation at a time when the Abbey was without a vicar.

David and his wife Ann have three adult children, all married with seven grandchildren between them.  For the past two years, they have been held hostage in their own home by a very ‘un grown-up’ Tibetan Terrier called ‘Clarrie’!

Revd. David says:

“As Ann and I settle into the vicarage in Lyndhurst, we do so with joyful anticipation as to how God will use us; it’s clear that across this benefice there is a shared confidence of God’s leading and a sense of excitement as we begin ministry here.  Believing in the presence of the Holy Spirit and the purpose of God’s word, I understand my calling to the benefice as simply to take every opportunity to make Christ known with gentleness and humility.”

News

Follow All Saints Church on Facebook and visit the Benefice website for more information.

To get in touch with Minstead Parochial Church Council please contact the Parishes Office via benefice@newforestparishes.com (023 8028 3175).

All Saints History

In the 12th century a Norman Church was built and various additions have since been made. Although the present church building is not mentioned before 1272, the list of Rectors dates from 1279 and parts of the church are definitely of an earlier period.  The 17th century three decker pulpit is one of the most interesting features in the church. The lowest ‘deck’ was used by the Parish Clerk and was entered from the Nave, where he sat and was responsible for saying the ‘Amens’.  The Parish Clerk today is responsible for the maintenance of the Parochial Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, but is no longer required to participate in services.  The middle and top levels were entered from the Chancel and were used respectively for the reading of the Scriptures and Preaching of the Sermon, as they are today. This type of pulpit is very rare and few examples exist.  The Font is possibly Saxon. In 1893 Henry James Abbott, who was doing some gardening, dug it up in the Old Rectory garden. He wheeled it up to the Church in his wheelbarrow and it was placed where it belonged.

Three Tier Pulpit and Saxon Font                               ACD Headstone

Three Tier Pulpit and Saxon Font                                                 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s headstone
 
 
There are two galleries; the first was for the Church minstrels to play their instruments and the second was possibly for the poor of the Parish or for the children of the Charity School.  There are two private pews, one for the occupants of Castle Malwood and the other, which now houses the organ, for Minstead Lodge. The extra long hat pegs were for the accommodation of the tall stovepipe hats that were worn by many men who attended church.There are six bells, the first was cast in the 15th century and is inscribed ‘Sancta Maria’. The second is inscribed ‘Love God R.B.1604’. The third is inscribed ‘In God is my hope 1638 J.H’. The fourth and Fifth were cast in 1980 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and inscribed ‘By Subscription’. Following a successful fund raising effort by the Minstead bell ringers a new treble to augment the ring to six bells was installed in June 2013 and is inscribed ‘Taylors of Loughborough 2013’.
 
A key attraction in the Churchyard is the grave of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

 

 

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