The Parish of Pangbourne
with Tidmarsh and Sulham
St James the Less : St Laurence : St Nicholas
PTS Parish Churches
We are a Christian community with three beautiful and historic churches in our parish - St James, St Laurence and St Nicholas. Each church lies at the heart of its village and worshipping community and has its own unique features, feel and history.
Services and Activities
Our services enable people to worship together in a variety of ways. Many people participate in the services, leading worship, reading scripture, leading prayers and serving at communion. Coffee is served at the back of the church after services. We hold seasonal and annual services which often fill the church to capacity.
We have some wonderful volunteers who undertake particular tasks including welcomers, readers, coffee rota, cleaning, flowers, churchyard maintenance as well as those who help the pastoral team, prayer chain, Noah's Ark and Tuesday Tea Club.
St James the Less, Pangbourne
The largest of our three churches, built in 1866 and we hold traditional and contemporary worship here as well as events and celebrations. We are open to everyone and all ages are welcome. Seekers of Christian heritage and religion please come and explore. We would like to share our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with you.
History
One of only 26 churches in England dedicated to St James the Less, the present church built in1866 is certainly the second if not the third church on this site. A charter of AD 1175 mentions a Parish Priest, William Chaplain and the parish registers date from 1556. The village is first mentioned in a Saxon charter of AD 844 as Peagingaburnum meaning ‘the streams of Paegas people’. Further information on the history of St James can be found here.
St Laurence Church, Tidmarsh
A historic 12th-century building St Laurence has stood in Tidmarsh for nearly 1,000 years and has a special place in the social, religious and historic heritage of the village.
The church has a small but welcoming congregation of all ages which meets together for services on the first and second Sunday of each month as well as occasional services during Christian festivals.
St Nicholas Church, Sulham
St Nicholas is a place to find peace and solace in the building or on the bench in the churchyard. The church is much loved by locals and visitors alike. Family worship takes place on the third Sunday each month with occasional services and events held in the church throughout the year.
History
A church dedicated to St Nicholas has stood on the ancient site in Sulham for well over a thousand years. In 1832 John Wilder, the third Wilder to hold the benefice, demolished the old Norman church and designed and built a new church, which was consecrated in 1838. The style is early English. The Jacobean pulpit, the font and the chancel steps were transferred from the Norman church and the decoration of the chancel follows the old arrangements.
