St Mary's
We are a church family with space and a place for everyone. Our love of God is at the heart of who we are as a family. We celebrate the good times together and support each other through difficult times. Our hearts are open wide to welcome young and old and we love to spend time together over a cuppa after our services. If you’re looking for your church family, we’re here and we'd love to get to know you better.
At St Mary's understand that different people access God in different ways. For this reason we have two styles of service on a Sunday. The 9am service is more traditional in style with hymns, a choir and some liturgy and prayers.
The 11am is an informal service with modern worship songs which are band led. There is always prayer and a talk which are aimed at those who prefer more modern styles of service and those who are perhaps coming to explore for the first time.
Currently refreshments are served between the two services from 10am - 11am.
You would be welcome at any of our services. For a schedule of the services and how to get there click here.
Community
We feel it’s important for Christians to be out in the community doing God’s work and for the community feel at home in our church building. Together with Callington Methodist and Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, we run Callington Foodbank. Since Covid 19 many of the events that happened are on pause or have stopped completely whilst we regroup and think how we can best be good members of our community.
History
Christians have been worshipping at St Mary’s for centuries, and we’re blessed with a beautiful church that reflects this. St Mary’s was originally a chapel of ease to St Sampson’s at South Hill, which was the mother church but was consecrated in 1438 for burials after the local miners complained of the distance to South Hill. There are 38 graves and records show 98 people buried here.
St Mary’s is in the centre of Callington and is built of large granite blocks typical of 15th-century architecture, and restorations have preserved this character. Originally there were two aisles, but in 1882 the north aisle was added and houses six ecclesiastic sculptures of famous Christians. St Mary’s stained glass windows are dated between 1875 and 1884. The Romanesque font has been dated as between 1100 and 1130 and is thought to be a remnant of the original Norman chapel documented as being on the site in 1384. The tomb of Sir Robert Willoughby is near the high altar. Dated 1502 it is made of the finest alabaster and considered to be one of the most magnificent in the Westcountry.