Parwich

St. Peter's church, Parwich

Vicar: The Revd. Christopher Harrison

The Vicarage, Parwich, Ashbourne, DE6 1QD

tel. 01335 390226 or 07973 754165

Parwich Church goes back many centuries, although very little is known about its origins. Some parts of the previous Norman church are to be found in the present building, such as the unusual tympanum and the time-worn heads in the chapel behind the organ. The present building is a good example of the widespread rebuilding of churches which took place in the second half of the nineteenth century, and its prominent spire dominates the village. Our archive pages give much more information about the history of the church and village, as does the Parwich Local History Society website. A pair of windows designed by David Pilkington to commemorate the new millennium, on which are etched the names of all the children in the parish in the year 2000, have recently been installed in the Lady Chapel.

The church today is a thriving centre of community and worship. There is a service every Sunday, as follows:

On the first Sunday of every month there is a service of evensong (Book of Common Prayer) in the church at 6.30 pm.

On the second Sunday in the month there is a communion service (modern language) at 9.30 am.

On the third Sunday at 10.00 am there is a Family Service, which lasts around 40 minutes and is followed by coffee and drinks for the children.

On the fourth Sunday of every month a traditional communion service is held in the church using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, including some of the music of Merbecke.

For current service times click here .

The services at Christmas and Easter and for Harvest Festival and Remembrance Day, are important dates in the village calendar. A lively junior church group meets after school every Monday during term time in the village hall.

The closure of Parwich Methodist Chapel in May 2008 means that from now on Chapel members will worship in Parwich church, both at separate services in the Lady Chapel, and joining with St. Peter's church members for main services. The final service on Sunday 4th May 2008 marked the end of a long era, but should be seen as an opportunity for a new beginning rather than the dying out of Methodism in Parwich.