Church of England · Diocese of Ely

Somersham, Woodhurst, Pidley-cum-Fenton & Old Hurst

The smallest church in the benefice

St Peter’s, Old Hurst

St Peter's, Old Hurst, a small stone church with two bells in an open gable, hedges and a churchyard.

Address

Church Street, Old Hurst, PE28 3AF

Open a map

When the building is open

This church’s page. St Peter’s is open at all times for private prayer or simply as a quiet space.

Benefice home page. The home page does not give opening hours for Old Hurst.

Service pattern published on this church’s page

St Peter’s, Old Hurst — church page
WhenTimeWhat
2nd Sunday9:00 amContemporary CommunionThe page says Revd Rob Kean usually takes this service.
4th Sunday10:30 amAll Age serviceDescribed as child-friendly. Other services are taken by Maria Dorman or another member of the ministry team. Changes were to be shown at the top of the church page; none were published there.

Other pages of the old website give a different pattern. Read every published pattern before relying on a time. The diary is on Diary and events.

You are very welcome at any of the services. The church page says any changes to the usual pattern would be shown at the top of that page. No such notice was published in the page text.

Revd Rob Kean, Rector of the benefice, usually takes the 9am communion and also special services such as Harvest Festival and Christmas. Other services are taken by Maria Dorman or another member of the benefice ministry team.

PCC

The page lists the current St Peter’s Parochial Church Council as:

  • Revd Rob Kean (Rector and chair)
  • Dr Nicky Torrance (Churchwarden)
  • George Johnson
  • Maria Dorman (treasurer)
  • Elizabeth Taylor (electoral roll officer)

Churchwarden: Dr Nicky Torrance, 07979 863063, oldhurst_churchwardens@somershamparishes.org.

Fundraising

In order to pay its bills, St Peter’s has held fundraising events during the year, including Burns Night, a BBQ and a coffee morning. The page says other events would be organised, and points people to this page or the Old Hurst Facebook page. It does not give a web address for that Facebook page. The primary thing with the fundraising, the page says, is fun and friendship.

TODO: content needed No link was published for the Old Hurst Facebook page, and no current list of fundraising events was on the page.

The bells

The two bells in the west gable of St Peter’s, Old Hurst

The Church of St Peter in Old Hurst has two bells which are clearly visible from the outside. They are:

  • 22½ ins — cast by James Keene of Woodstock in 1630
  • 23½ ins — inscribed H HVNSTON R WEST C W 1705

The page says that if you look carefully at the picture, the wooden headstock on the right-hand bell is looking a little wonky, and that in 2013 both bells were taken down and repaired.

History and architecture

St Peter’s Old Hurst is the smallest of the churches in the benefice. Right in the middle of the rural village of Old Hurst, the church was possibly built by Ralph Mowin, who is said to have presented it in the reign of Henry II (1154–89). The thickness of the north wall suggests that it is of 12th-century date, but the church was practically rebuilt and slightly lengthened late in the 13th century. A considerable restoration took place in 1868, and the east wall was rebuilt in 1903.

Supporting St Peter’s

The page says the church relies on a small number of people to help pay the bills, and links to a Give A Little campaign. Gift Aid is welcomed.

Support St Peter’s Old Hurst