St Mary and St George Church, High Wycombe

St Mary and St George Church (SMG), High Wycombe is a free byzantine style Grade 2 listed church,[1] and is situated in the Diocese of Oxford.[2] The church is notable because of its green copper dome[3] which is considered a landmark in High Wycombe.[4]

St Mary and St George Church, High Wycombe
St Mary and St George Church, High Wycombe
St Mary and St George Church, High Wycombe
Location of St Mary and St George in Buckinghamshire
51°37′58.28″N 0°46′39.71″W
LocationSands and Castlefield, near West Wycombe
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Websitesmgchurch.co.uk
History
DedicationSt Mary and St George
Consecrated1938
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II listed church
Designated28 June 1973
Architect(s)Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington and Trenwith Wills
Architectural typeTextured red brick, copper-covered dome
StyleFree Byzantine
Completed1938 (1938)
Specifications
MaterialsRed brick, copper, cement
Administration
DeaneryWycombe Deanery
ArchdeaconryBuckingham
DioceseDiocese of Oxford

History

The church was built in 1935-1938 by Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington and Trenwith Wills.[4] It is Grade 2* Listed. St Mary & St George has been a centre of Anglo-Catholic worship for most of its history.

The newer adjacent church hall operates as a private day-nursery for Little Cherubs Nursery between Monday and Friday.

Today
A contemporary service at St Mary and St George Church

In 2015 the PCC of St Mary & St George entered into an agreement with the PCC of St Andrew's Church, Hatters Lane, which would see a 'church planting team' sent across to establish a new worshipping community and help to revitalise the ministry and mission of the church.

In 2018, Revd. Jonny Dade was licensed by the Bishop of Buckingham as the Pioneer Minister to St Mary & St George (SMG) with a remit to lead 30 adults and children to plant a new congregation in SMG. The project was supported by the Diocese of Oxford, the Wycombe Deanery and New Wine. In March 2019 the new congregation was launched.

'SMG Church' as it is colloquially known is a community of all ages and with a focus on connecting with its parish area of Sands & Castlefield, which is am ethnically and culturally diverse community and one of the most economically deprived in the county.

The worshipping style of the church is varied, with a traditional Eucharistic service alongside a newer contemporary family gathering with live worship, Bible teaching and ministry. The church partners with Youth for Christ (YFC), One YMCA and New Wine and enjoys an ongoing relationship with St Andrew's, Hatters Lane. In 2019 SMG launched a number of small 'Missional Communities' which each have different areas of focus.

References
  1. "Geograph:: Church of St Mary & St George (C) Des Blenkinsopp". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  2. "Wycombe". Diocese of Oxford. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  3. Stuff, Good. "Church of St Mary and St George, Sands, Buckinghamshire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  4. Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST MARY AND ST GEORGE, Wycombe (1125190)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
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