St. Mary the Virgin, Ware is an ancient foundation, mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The present church building is a Grade One listed building standing at the head of the High Street and is attributed to ‘The Fair Maid of Kent’, mother of Henry VII. The gift of the living is with Trinity College, Cambridge, being a part of their foundation, presented to the college by Henry VIII. For a fuller introduction to our building please see the histories available in church or elsewhere on this website.
I hope that you enjoy your visit to our website and that this will encourage you to visit us in person if you are able to do so. You will find the Parish Church open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Alternative visiting times for groups etc. are by arrangement.
We aim to be welcoming and relaxed, should your visit be for quiet private devotion or to join with any of our congregations in formal worship. Our worship is open and friendly, within a catholic tradition. The quality of our choral tradition is of local renown and of some national interest (our choir has deputised at cathedral churches in both the Southern and Northern provinces). We play host to monthly lunchtime music concerts (1st Monday) and to many local and national musicians who have performed and do perform here. Our website has a list of these events.
The Sacramental elements are reserved in our Lady Chapel and are available for the sick as well as anointing in Baptism and Confirmation. Please contact the clergy should you need more information.
- Said Eucharist: Sunday, 8.00 a.m.
- Family Eucharist: Sunday 10.00 a.m.
- Evensong: Sunday 6.30 p.m. (Eucharist second Sunday in the month)
- Eucharist: Wednesday 11.00 a.m.
Revd Derrick Peel
Phone +44 (0) 1920 464817
Lyn Stuart: +44 (0) 1920 462539
officestmarys@btinternet.com
editor@stmaryware.org.uk
The present Incumbent is the Revd. Derrick Peel. He was presented to the living by Trinity College, Cambridge, in 2005. He enjoys quality Church and Classical Music, cooking, travel and theology, not necessarily in that order.
Derrick was first licensed in formal ministry, as a Reader in the Church, in 1971. He later took Holy Orders, being Made Deacon in 1978 and Ordained Priest 1979. His personal ministry has been one of serving in a large Market town with and ancient Parish Church dating back to St. Paulinus (founder of York Minster); Ministry to a large parish, later to become a team of parishes to the South West of Bradford, on the Pennines and incorporating large Urban Priority Areas; Before being invited to the Southern Province, to St. Mary’s, he served for 10 years in Greater Manchester, at the foot of the Pennines. He has incorporated into ministry Hospital Chaplaincy, School Chaplaincy and for 25 years was a ‘Training Incumbent’. He has served on three different Diocesan synods and been a member of the boards of Education in Bradford and Manchester.
