St. Mary's Church, Portchester

11/06/2026

🌼 Join Us at Portchester Gala! 🌼

If you’re visiting the annual Portchester Gala this Saturday, do pop in to St Mary’s Church — our doors and Tea Room will be open to welcome you.

We’ll have a selection of stalls raising funds for St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Youth, and St Monica’s School in South Africa.

And don’t miss Ron, who’ll be serving up his ever-popular hot dogs and burgers fresh from the BBQ in the church grounds! 🌭🍔

We’d love to see you there — do come and say hello! 💛

06/06/2026

🌿 Join us this Sunday for the first of our new Monthly Picnic's! 🌿

After a rather gloomy day today, we’re pleased to say the forecast is looking much brighter for the weekend! 🌤️

Come along to St Mary’s Church, Portchester for our Monthly Picnic with Sports and Games — a relaxed and joyful time for all ages.

🗓 First Sunday of the month (starting 7th June)
⏰ After the 11:30am service
🥪 Bring your own picnic
⚽ Games & sports for everyone

Whether you come on your own or with family and friends, you’ll be warmly welcomed. It’s a simple chance to share fellowship, laughter, and time outdoors together.

Open to everyone — we would love to see you there! 💛

For more information, please contact Dillon or Ben.

05/06/2026

03/06/2026

St Mary's Church Portchester Ladies Breakfast – June 6th

Join us this Saturday for a relaxed and friendly morning of fellowship, food, and encouragement at our Ladies Breakfast.

🗓 Saturday 6th June
🕘 9:00 – 10:30 AM
📍 Portchester Parish Hall

We’re pleased to let you know that our guest speaker this month will now be PCSO Molly from Hampshire Police. Molly will be sharing about her role in the community, offering insight, practical advice, and an opportunity for conversation.

It’s a lovely chance to connect, enjoy breakfast together, and hear from someone serving right here in our local area.

💛 All women are warmly welcome – why not invite a friend?

We’d love to see you there!

01/06/2026

June is the National Month of Prayer for toddler groups.

Toddler groups offer an amazing space for babies, toddlers and their parents and carers to play, experience a warm welcome and develop a supportive community. They come in all shapes and sizes. They are a place where the love of God can be experienced in so many ways and they are a place where life in all its fullness can be celebrated.

In the UK, on average a child has 1,277 days between birth and starting nursery school education. Together, we want to ‘make them count’ for the children, for their families and for the toddler groups that they attend.

The Christian church as a whole is the leading national provider of parent & toddler groups.

Please hold in your prayers during June all toddler groups but especially for our group St Mary's Lambs.

31/05/2026

St Mary’s Hosts D-Day 82 Remembrance Service

This afternoon, St Mary’s Church was honoured to host our annual D-Day Remembrance Service.

We were privileged to welcome local veterans, Aldermen from Fareham Borough Council, local councillors, and the Mayor of Gosport as we gathered to remember and give thanks. Together, in a deeply moving service, we paid tribute to all who served on D-Day and in the days that followed.

Before the service, we were delighted to witness the Portchester Voluntary Marching Band begin their procession in the historic grounds of the castle, setting a fitting tone for the afternoon.

Following the service, guests shared in fellowship over a lovely afternoon tea, kindly prepared by St Mary’s Tea Room.

We remember with gratitude. We honour with respect. Lest we forget.

30/05/2026

On Sunday we hold our annual service to honour local D-Day veterans.

Some of them have now reached the age of 100 and we realise that one year it will be the last service, so let’s support this while we can.

At that service we will be played in and out by the newly formed Portchester Marching Band (former TS Tenacity) which is being launched today.

We are hoping that several local dignitaries will be present as well as support from the community for our veterans and our musical youngsters.

We welcome all ages who can play or who would like to learn an instrument to come along and meet the band.

27/05/2026

St Mary’s Church Portchester Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)

Where was literally the coolest place to be on Tuesday evening in Portchester? ❄️

Joining the 70+ members of St Mary’s Church who came together for our APCM!

It was a wonderful evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and hope as we looked back on all that God has been doing in our church over the past year, and looked ahead to the exciting journey before us.

From inspiring reports and shared stories to moments of laughter and fellowship, it truly showed the strength and warmth of our church community.

Thank you to everyone who came along, contributed, and continues to support the life of St Mary’s in so many ways.

Here’s to another year of growing together in faith, serving our community, and sharing God’s love. 💙

23/05/2026

Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early Church in the Book of Acts.
Please wear something red if you can.

By coincidence it is also the date in the church calendar when we celebrate the conversion of John and Charles Wesley, whose lives Rev Ian will depart from the usual sermon style and give three different talks which will cover the whole subject:

8.00am "My heart was strangely warmed" (The conversion of John Wesley).

9.30am "I woke, the dungeon flamed with light" (Charles Wesley's conversion and the inspiration behind his hymns)

11.30 The Wesley's Pentecost. Most know about the Aldersgate experience on 24th May 1738, but do you know what happend to them at Fetter Lane on new year's eve that year?

9.30AM PARISH EUCHARIST
All the hymns at today’s services were written by Charles Wesley:

O for a thousand tongues
Come Holy Ghost our hearts inspire
And can it be
O thou who camest from above
Jesu, lover of my soul
Love divine, all loves excelling

11.30AM LATER SERVICE
Songs at today’s service

Send the fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxUGlg0smk&list=PL-LRQMmMMGp1BUpbwueFfWDUP2azjjlN6&index=1

The Creed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzI_FbWTkg&list=PL-LRQMmMMGp1BUpbwueFfWDUP2azjjlN6&index=2

Come Lord Jesus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzI_FbWTkg&list=PL-LRQMmMMGp1BUpbwueFfWDUP2azjjlN6&index=2

Spirit of the living God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzI_FbWTkg&list=PL-LRQMmMMGp1BUpbwueFfWDUP2azjjlN6&index=2

Build your kingdom here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzI_FbWTkg&list=PL-LRQMmMMGp1BUpbwueFfWDUP2azjjlN6&index=2