Benefice of Ropley, Bishop’s Sutton and West Tisted

St Mary Magdalene, West Tisted

West Tisted is a small Parish in the north of Hampshire, within the newly founded South Downs National Park.  It is a small agricultural community as the majority of the village is owned by the Manor Estate. Housing around the nucleus of the village is let to estate workers with some private letting.  The outskirts of the village hub is mainly privately owned.  The village population is a massive 137!  So it is a quiet and peaceful village surrounded by acres of farmland and copse.   The nearest public house and restaurant (The Angel) is a stone’s throw away on the border with the neighbouring village of Privett.

The Churchyard is proud of its 1000 plus year old  Yew Tree – thought by some to be nearer 1300 years old. (see http://www.hampshire-history.com/yew-west-tisted )

The Village no longer has a post office or stores but does boast a Village Hall.  The Church does not form part of the Manor Estate although it sits beside the Manor House.

The Parish Church – St Mary Magdalene

Single-cell early Norman church built between the 11th and 15th centuries, extended eastwards in 1848, to form a new chancel and small north vestry. The porch was given as a gift by Magdalen College, Oxford in 1750. The pulpit is embellished by the shields of Magdalen College, Winchester Diocese and Canterbury.The building is 12th Century and is void of any “mod cons” and has a small congregation once a month for Evensong and is looking also to have Family Friendly Services and Communion Services.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has six members who over the last 20 years have lovingly kept the heart of the church beating.

Meet the Team:

Parochial Church Council

Sue Brown, Jean Laidlaw, Helen and Ted Wood, Elizabeth Holland and Seamus Smith.

Churchwarden

Mr Ted Wood

Ted is retired and is knowledgeable in Health and Safety.

Helen Wood is an ex-Ropley girl whose spiritual path started at the neighbouring Ropley CofE School which was nurtured at the Monkwood Mission Church Sunday School and further at West Tisted, where many of her relatives and ancestors living and departed also took the same path. Helen has had legal and social service experience in local government and is now retired.

Vice – Chair

Mr Ted Wood, husband to Helen, uses his previous professional skills before retirement as Health & Safety Officer and Electoral Roll Officer and supports Helen in her official role.

Secretary/Treasurer

At present these posts are Vacant

Others

Mrs Jean Laidlaw lives in Monkwood and was the local Health Visitor before retirement so she has a wealth of experience and knows many people over the two villages of Ropley and West Tisted. Jean is also one of our Organists.

Mrs Sue Brown has been our Churchwarden in the past. Sue and her husband Frank have lived in the village for over 40 years. Sue makes sure there are flowers in the church.

Mr Frank Brown, husband to Sue, was an ex–serviceman before working for the Manor Estate where he remained until his retirement. Frank is caretaker of the Church and makes sure it is well aired opening and closing the church on a daily basis.

The PCC has just started a monthly Coffee Morning in the Village Hall as a chance for the villagers to come together. This is proving successful. A library has also been started in the church. One Villager said of the Coffee Mornings “It’s been like a breath of fresh air into the Village – just what we needed”

There is a Parish Meeting, and they look after the Village with regard to planning and other official duties as and when required.

St Mary Magdalene Photo Gallery

St Mary Magdalene Gallery

Address:

Note, 800 year old buildings with no occupants do not in general have their own postal address. The nearest Royal Mail postal address to the actual church is West Tisted Manor Estate, West Tisted, Alresford SO24 0HL (the church is next door to the south).

See also Hampshire Churches by John Vigar which contains further images and information.