Celebrating 800 years of history

The village church of St Margaret of Antioch at Wellow in Hampshire has a milestone birthday this year and villagers are determined not to let the occasion pass without a celebration or two.
Historians reckon the church was consecrated in 1215 which means it is 800 years old this year and there are paintings on the interior walls which are believed to date from this period.
In the 1500s it is recorded that the church swung from Catholic to Protestant and then back to Catholic before settling to its present Anglican followings.
Much later, in 1910 the church grounds became the burial place for Florence Nightingale whose family home was not far away at Embley Park.
Today, Embley Park is the Hampshire Collegiate School which is joining in an ongoing exhibition at the church in March to launch the events to mark the 800 years’ celebration.  The village primary school, Wellow History Society and parishioners will be joining in.
The celebration events include a flower festival in May, a fun run in June, an annual village  lecture in July, a medieval style harvest supper in October and an evening concert in October.

The 800th anniversary service with the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Tim Dakin, will be held at the church on July 26, and an Advent service of light with the Bishop of Southampton, the Rt Rev Jonathan Frost,  to mark the end of the celebrations in November, along with the dedication of a tree.  Vicar of  East and West Wellow is the Rev Chris Pettet.