The Church of St Mary de Haura

Main Services

The heart of our worshipping life is the celebration of the Eucharist or Holy Communion, the service instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ himself at the Last Supper he held with his disciples, when he commanded them to 'do this in remembrance of him'.

Our principal weekly service is the Sung Eucharist at 11.00 am on Sundays, which is attended by a wide range of parishioners, of all ages. The service lasts a little over an hour, and many members of the congregation stay on for coffee afterwards. Families with children are always welcome: the children have their own Sunday Group meeting in a separate building nearby, but they are present in Church for the beginning and end of the Sung Eucharist. On one Sunday each month the service is specifically a Family Eucharist, somewhat simpler in style, and the children remain in Church for the whole service.

Sunday Evening Services vary from week to week and include traditional Anglican Evensong with singing led by the choir, 'Praise' services with Worship Songs, Healing services, and United services held jointly with members of other Christian churches.

Special Services

There are also many special services held throughout the year, including the annual Shoreham Remembrance Sunday Service, the Town Carol Service on Christmas Eve, an Easter Carol Service, and 'Mystic Rose' labyrinth services.

Weddings

With its beautiful architecture, its fine organ and acoustics, its peal of eight bells, and special flower arrangements, St Mary de Haura makes an outstanding setting for a wedding. We extend a warm welcome to couples who are entitled to marry at St Mary's either because they reside in the parish or because, under the terms of the Church of England Marriage Measure 2008, they have some other 'qualifying connection' which enables them to marry here.

• To identify whether you live in St Mary's parish, please see the official parish boundary map
• Zoom into this map ('+' sign) to view the street name where you live – if it is within the red shaded area, then you are in St Mary's parish

Baptisms

The Norman font at St Mary's, centrally placed under the great tower at the west end of the church, has fine carving on all four sides, and is as old as the church itself. This makes it a memorable setting for Baptisms, which take place during the course of the main 11.00 am Sunday Eucharist, usually at Family Services on the third Sunday of the month, although other Sundays are also possible. We warmly welcome to Baptism the children of those who worship at St Mary's, or reside in the parish of New Shoreham, or have some other 'qualifying connection' with the church.

• To identify whether you live in St Mary's parish, please see the official parish boundary map
• Zoom into this map ('+' sign) to view the street name where you live – if it is within the red shaded area, then you are in St Mary's parish