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St Mary's
St Mary's
Puttenham is a tiny village with an ancient church, which has been well looked after and even boasts underfloor heating.
Puttenham is also renowned for its hospitality, whether that is the glorious afternoon tea served at Choral Evensong, the infamous trifles at the Harvest supper, or the lethal Puttenham punch at the Lessons and Carols.
There is an excellent hall next door to the church which combined with the beautiful medieval church and the idyllic setting makes St Mary’s ideal for weddings.
As a parish we use Puttenham as retreat centre with a full pattern of quiet days through the year
Worship
We celebrate festivals and we have a regular monthly service on the fourth Sunday of each month. It is Evening Prayer BCP followed by an afternoon tea in the church.
Quiet Days
Please see our parish quiet day page for more information.
Finding us
Off the beaten track it is easy to miss St Mary's. We are found at the end of a short lane.
Our address is:
St Mary's Church
Church Lane,
Puttenham, Herts HP23 4PR
Facilities
Underfloor heating
No steps, all on one level
Excellent hall
Good Parking
Toilets in the hall not the church.
Sound enhancement no loop.
History
Puttenham Church is a magnificent medieval building
Little is known about the early history of the village, but by the time of the Norman Conquest we know that Puttenham was a parish in the Hundred of Tring. It was a small but significant community with its own Manor (the footprint of this long lost building can just about be made out looking down at the fields from the church tower). The manor was one of many owned by Leofwin one of Harold's earls. After his death at Hastings it was passed to Odo, Bishop of Bayeaux. Eventually the Manor and advowson was transferred to the Priory at Ashby de La Zouche and they built the church from 13th Century onwards.
The Grade I listed church is built on clay and is in the Aylesbury Vale. Consequently this has meant drainage has been poor and the church has suffered with damp problems. A few years ago, swales, or drainage channels, were cut in the churchyard round the church perimeter to improve drainage This was achieved and in 2017 major restoration works were completed with the new nave floor raised to that of the chancel and new heating and lighting systems installed.
Puttenham is one of the 51 Thankful Villages in England and Wales that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914 to 1918.