Tharston Church
Until recent years Tharston had about 350 residents on the Electoral Roll and about 120 properties which are spread over the three parts of the village.
There is a small community at Low Tharston grouped around the old water mill, a mile from there is The Street adjoining which is the church. With a scattering of property in between, a further mile takes us to Chequers Road with another small community.
The end of Chequers Road adjoins Long Stratton and an ever growing development of new houses straddles the parish boundary between Tharston and Long Stratton. In the last few years this has increased the properties in the village by about 200, and, although this has increased the parish population accordingly, those in the new development generally look towards Long Stratton rather than Tharston.
There is a new doctor’s surgery serving this new estate just inside our parish boundary. There is also a small light industrial estate nearby which falls within the Tharston parish. Apart from these more recent developments the parish is wholly rural and includes several farms.
Picton Farm has a growing farm shop business and other than the church is the main place for residents of Tharston to meet.
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Wardens: Peter Beck and Pat Read PCC – The PCC is small, friendly and hardworking.
There is a strong desire for more younger people to take a more active role. Church Building: St Mary's is mainly 14th/15th century; not a very striking or distinguished building, although it stands high in the landscape, but simple and pleasant, with a light interior and some interesting historical monuments. The building has been well cared for but some essential repairs to the roof, chancel and tower are now underway.
The interior has recently been professionally cleaned and redecoration is planned in the near future. The churchyard, thanks to devoted local care in recent years, is extraordinarily attractive. There is a new area of the churchyard with ample space for further burials.
Church Room - The church room which was at one time the village school (long since closed) lies just outside the churchyard. The room is managed by a member of the PCC, Michael, Duffield, and is used for PCC meetings and let for Parish Council and W.I. meetings as well as occasional social gatherings.
The meeting room has an open fireplace, a kitchen and lavatories. All is in decent condition as money has been spent on maintenance in recent years.
The PCC is currently exploring the possibility of sale to the parish council in order to allow the room to be developed for more extensive community use while retaining free use by the church.
Bible Study – Several Members of Tharston Church are part of the Bible Study Group with Tasburgh
Bells: Tharston church bells have been much used in 2004 for teaching new bell-ringers. Paul Carttermole our tower captain and resident of Tharston is the diocesan advisor on bells. The sound of bells is a wonderful, widely heard and recognised symbol of Christian presence in the parish.
WORSHIP AND PRAYER
Finances: We pay our parish share in full thanks to the faithful few who give very generously of their time and money.
WORSHIP AND PRAYER
We worship together on 3 Sundays a month – a popular early morning Holy Communion Service, a Matins service and a late morning Holy Communion service. Although small in number, and broadly traditional in our form of worship, we are alert and appreciative and we sing lustily. Our Easter, Harvest Festival and Christmas Carol Service congregations are always much bigger than the ten or a dozen we normally muster.. In the last two years a children’s party has been run alongside the service of lessons and carols with the children joining the service for worship at the end.
MISSION AND SERVICE
Social Events: The main social events of the year are the Harvest Supper, the Church Fete and church barbeque. Tharston today has no school, no shop, no pub and fundraising events by the church are the only events which draw many villagers together. These are often held by kind invitation at Picton Farm. The church is recognised, even by villagers who seldom attend services, as the real heart of the community .
Children's Events:
There were two highly successful children's events held in 2004; Noah's Ark Musical Morning for Toddlers held by Karen Calver and Jane Rae in Tharston Church Rooms and the Christmas Party also organised by Karen with support from the other churches of the benefice.
