Ebeneezer Chapel Petworth

St Marys in Petworth has a bit of reputation for being quite a 'high' church. Almost in its shadow is the other end of the scale. The now abandoned Ebeneezer chapel catered for those who like their Christianity a bit less ritualised. It has been long abandoned by the look of it and its position on the main road makes it very inaccessible to all but the very brave.   

Palm Sunday in Petworth

There is a parade in Petworth on Palm Sunday(the Sunday before Easter).

This picture was taken on the corner of Angel Street and Middle Street.

The Petworth Town Band were there to provide the music. I don't know how many towns in the country still have a town band. Petworth is fortunate to have one to provide the atmosphere at events like this.

Petworth has a new vicar

Petworth' has a new vicar, the Rev Tim Wright. He takes over St Mary's Church today, along with St Bartholomew at Egdean today.

He is 55 and married to Deborah with three children.

Hoar Frost Petworth 10th January 2009

On the 10th of January Petworth woke up to hoar frost. This rare event only happens on cold clear nights. Heat losses to the sky cause objects to become colder than the surrounding air and crystals of ice form directly on their surface.

The tree outside St Marys Church.

The graveyard of St Marys Church.

The Shimmings valley. The sun trying to shine through the fog.

Spiders web revealed in Hoar Frost.

St Marys Church Petworth

You can't really miss St Marys on a visit to Petworth as it is on high ground and the tower is visible from many points around the town.  It is particularly nice to approach it up Lombard Street from the Market Square.
Petworth doesn't really have any picturesque churches.  St Marys is arguably the most gruesome of the three, though the catholic church gives it some competition.  An incongruous 1950s tower on a much older building gives a discordant blend of brick and stone.  It probably looked a lot better with the old tower.  I will see if I can discover the reason for the change.
The interior is much more interesting with lots of plaques commemorating local worthies.  The one I find most intriguing is the one to a Victorian organist called George Frederick Handel Turner.  I suppose having been christened with a name like that you really have to become a musician.
Although visually unappealing the sound of the bells is very nice both on Sundays and during the regular practices during the week. 
The other great redeeming feature is that it is a great community centre and facility for local people.  It regularly hosts concerts and events and is one of the main venues for the Petworth Music Festival.