About St. Mary Magdalen, Sheet
St. Mary Magdalen, Sheet - Our Church building
The Church Building
Some Official data:
Grade II Listed Building: Farnham Road, Petersfield, GU32 2AQ
Classification: Church (Religious)
Listing: ANGLICAN CHURCH 1868-9 by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Nave, chancel, large south-east tower. Early English Transitional style. Coursed rubble with pitched, tiled roof. Tower of 3 stages with stepped angle buttresses and shingled broach spire with clock in base.
Area: 238 Square meters / 0.1 Acres / 0.000 Square miles / .024 Hectares
BAR Survey: Surveyors notes. 10-Jul-1993. In very good condition. East Hampshire District Council.
Sheet Church built on land donated by John Bonham Carter MP of Adhurst St. Mary. was consecrated in 1868 and dedicated to St Mary. The architect was Sir Arthur Blomfield, who was also responsible for the restoration of St. Peter's, Petersfield in 1873. St Mary's was built by Mr Fletcher of Salisbury at a cost of £3,000 raised by local subscription.
The building, in the Early Decorated style of the thirteenth century, is constructed of local stone with Bath stone dressings having a nave (with no aisles), chancel, vestry. tower and steeple with clock and bell. It is a good example of a simple Victorian church typical of its period and style.
The Plan of St. Mary's Church | Around the Church | |
|---|---|---|
 | 1.Banner | Of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath awarded to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon Willis of Tilmore, Sheet previously hanging in Westminster Abbey. |
2. Chancel Arch | Capitals each side of the arch enriched with naturalistic lillies and passion flowers. | |
3. Reredos | Alabaster framed panel of opus sectile depicting two kneeling angels bearing scrolls amid vine branches and ears of corn, installed in 1907. | |
4. East Window | Three single lights and traceries, based on cartoons by Henry Holiday, installed in 1886. | |
5. Organ | Built by Norman and Beard and donated by Phillip and Thomas Tillard in 1913 to replace a harmonium. | |
6. Lighting | Electric lighting was installed in 1937 to replace the gas lighting of 1892. The church was originally lit by oil lamps. | |
7. Font | Simple circular stone font with carvings of Christian emblems around outside rim. | |
8. Kneelers | Designed by Penelope Burn using naturalistic and symbolic themes. | |
9. Tower and Steeple | Built at a cost of £500 by the late Bishop Sumner as a thank offering on his recovery from a protracted illness. | |
10. Clock | The four‑faced clock was financed by public subscription and installed in 1905. | |
11. War Memorial | Previously sited outside the Parish Room across the road, with its Roll of Honour of members of the parish who were killed in both World Wars.
| |
Finance and Work
Parishioners maintain this building at a cost of over £100 a week. Any donation you care to make will be greatly appreciated.
The Parochial Church Council has many other calls on its limited finances, providing pastoral care in the community, giving church aid and many other aspects of Christian service. You may like to help us by becoming a Friend of Sheet Church to assist in looking after the building and grounds ‑ a leaflet about The Friends can be found in the nave of the church.