THE PARISH OF TITCHMARSH

www.titchmarsh.info

Titchmarsh has a population of just over 500, with a good spread of young, middle-aged and retired people. It is a prosperous community, though there is a perceived need for affordable housing for first-time buyers of local origin; furthermore, the shop has only reently been re-opened (run by volunteers), and public transport is described as "poor, and not well supported". There are two public houses which provide natural meeting places for local inhabitants. There is a voluntary aided primary school with a roll of over 60 see http://www.titchmarshprimaryschool.com/ (in addition to 40 children of pre-school age), and the Rector takes regular assemblies in church. A small group of almshouses exists in the village, administered by a charity of which the parish priest is a trustee. The office of the United Church Schools Trust and the United Learning Trust (an independent educational charity) is in the village, and there is a strong connection between the church and the senior management of this trust.

The parish church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, is an imposing fifteenth century building with a particularly striking perpendicular tower (an unusual feature in this county of spires) which dominates the skyline, especially when seen from the main road. A major programme of restoration has been in progress since the early 1990's, including a complete re-roofing, as well as the installation of new heating and sound amplification systems. There is a service every week, the present monthly pattern consisting of three Eucharists (fourwhen there are five Sundays in the month), one Family Service, and one service of Morning Prayer. Congregations vary between 10 and 20 adults, with a dozen children at the Family Service. In 2008 there were five baptisms and six funerals in church, and five weddings took place in 2009. Fund-raising and social events include an annual summer rete; a harvest supper; a bam dance; and a number of concerts in church when refreshments are served. In recent years the parish has paid its share in full and built up its reserves for more work to the church building.