St Mary’s is a parish church in the heart of the community. Our life together is centred around our worship which takes place every Sunday and on weekdays. We are an Anglican Church which has witnessed to and served this community for over 800 years. Rooted in the love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, we value the Anglican traditions of thoughtful, exploring faith and building an inclusive community. We are young, old and middling and we hope that everyone will be able to draw closer to God by sharing in our church life. We are an outward looking church that uses our church and its facilities for the enrichment of our community through a wide variety of cultural events. We serve the community by supporting local charities with time and talents and we engage with the wider world by our connections in South Sudan and Zimbabwe.
If you are visiting our website for the first time
we hope that you find what you are looking for.

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Our People

Barnes Team Rector & Associate Priest

Rev’d James Hutchings, Rector

Revd James Hutchings was instituted as Barnes Team Rector and Vicar of St Mary Barnes in July 2019.

He was previously Team Rector of Littleham-cum-Exmouth with Lympstone, and Rural Dean of Aylesbeare, in the Diocese of Exeter. He previously served in other parishes in the same diocese.

He graduated from Exeter University (Economics) and lived in London for 22 years before moving to Devon when he was ordained. He worked in London initially in banking for Barclays and Kleinwort Benson. He then worked in the voluntary sector running the cross-parliamentary Future of Europe Trust and was latterly Regional Director of the Shaw Trust, a national disability charity. Along the way James has been a local councillor and parliamentary candidate. 

His faith grew as an active member of St Leonard Streatham where he was involved in setting up the Spires homelessness centre, and at St Mary Twickenham and he was ordained in 2006.

James is married to Alice, a solicitor who lectured at the College of Law and Guildford  and was Administrator for the Anglican chaplaincy at Exeter University. They have 3 children: Ben, a graphic designer working for a firm of architects in central London; Ollie who works for the online bank Monzo on their recruitment team and Sarah, training to be a primary school teacher.

Alice and James enjoy the opportunities offered in Barnes to go into central London for a variety of culture, and the local environment and amenities in Barnes, notably the Common, the river and the local cafes, pubs & shops, community groups and cinema.  Life has been enriched by the arrival of Maple, a spaniel puppy, in February 2023.

James says “Barnes is a great place to live, and it is stimulating to be at St Mary’s which lies at the heart of that community.  The challenge is to preserve and enhance that sense of community in an inclusive way, as we share the love of God for all as shown to us in Jesus Christ”.

“See, the former things have come to pass and new things I now declare…sing to the Lord a new song” (Isaiah 42:9-10)

Rev’d James Marston, Associate Priest

A former journalist, James was trained for Holy Orders at Westcott House in Cambridge where he studied theology ministry and mission. Ordained deacon in 2019 and priest in 2020, James served his curacy at Aldeburgh on the east coast. James’ interests include liturgy, music and church history as well as community engagement. In his spare time James enjoys museums, current affairs, theatre and history. James will split his role as Associate Priest between St Mary’s Barnes and St Michael & All Angels and looks forward to being part of the worshipping and other communities in Barnes. 

James says ‘To be a priest is many things – not least to be selfless and vulnerable and by doing so to point others towards trusting in God in their lives – no easy task in a world where we habitually eschew the need for the spiritual, dismiss with ease the religious, and worship instead self and materialism. I think we are all spiritual beings, all influenced by the metaphysical and we are all, in the end, God’s creatures – indeed we are interconnected and intertwined by love and God’s grace far more than we are by aeroplane travel or football or having a mortgage, we just don’t often recognise it, largely I think, because belief in God challenges us to change.

Yet to begin see the world in this way removes much of the fear we all experience. To have a faith means to negate fear and live in hope. It is this faith I hope to keep and, maybe even pass on, as I continue my journey.”

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Parochial Church Council

PCC Vision

For the congregation of St Mary’s to celebrate the love of God openly and inclusively, and to grow in faith and numbers and in mission.

PCC Members

Clergy

Rev’d James Hutchings (Rector)
Rev’d James Marston (Associate Priest)


Churchwardens

Fouki Heller (Standing Committee)
Paul Teverson (Standing Committee)


Deanery Synod (retires 2026)

Fouki Heller

ORDINARY MEMBERS

Retiring in 2024
Peter Boyling (Vice Chairman and Standing Committee)
Paul Teverson
Michael Ross-McCall (Hon Treasurer and Standing Committee)

Retiring in 2025
Trisha Hawkins
Alison Macmillan
Helen Faride

Retiring in 2026
Deborah Stewartby
Richard Nickels

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Reports & Meetings

The Annual Report and Review is published for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). It gives detailed information on the day-to-day running of the church, its buildings, finances, and its connection with other churches. It also provides a description of each of our groups, giving contact details.                 Hard copies of the current booklet can be found at the back of the church.

We are extremely grateful to our organisers and members for all their work over the year, which contributes so much to the sense of fellowship which we enjoy at St Mary’s. Many of the groups have individual web pages so please explore the site and find out more of our work locally and within the broader church and community both at home and abroad.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is normally held in May each year. Draft minutes of the most recent meeting, along with earlier minutes, and annual reports can be viewed below.

Annual Reports

2022-2023 Review Report
2021-2022 Review Report
2019-2021 Review Report
2018-2019 Review Report
2017-2018 Review Report
2016-2017 Review Report
2015-2016 Review Report
2014-2015 Review Report
2013-2014 Review  Report 

Quarterly Financial Statements

2022 September
2022 December
2023 March
2023 June
2023 September
2023 December

PCC Minutes

2024       Feb

2023       Feb    March    June   July    Sept    Nov

2022       Feb    March    May   July    Sept    Nov

2021        Feb   March   May   July    Sept   Nov

2020        Feb   March    Apr    June    July   Sept    Oct     Nov

2019         Jan   March   May   July   Oct   Nov

2018         Jan  March   May   July   Oct  Nov

2017         Jan   March   May   July    Oct  Nov

2016         Jan   March   May   July   Oct   Nov

2015         Jan  March June  July  Sept  Oct    Nov  

2014         March  May  July  Sept  Nov

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GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

GDPR

View details of how the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) relates to St Mary’s and read our Privacy Policy 

Safeguarding

Safeguarding

St. Mary’s Barnes is committed to ensuring everyone can worship, learn and work in a safe environment.    

View details, see who the Parish Safeguarding Officers are and link to the Diocese and other safeguarding sites.

Church & Room Hire

 

The church and its rooms can be available for hire for appropriate events, such as concerts, classes and meetings.

Church

St Mary’s Barnes is the oldest building in Barnes and a beautiful mix of ancient and modern architecture. It is a wonderful venue for musical, dramatic, literary or any type of public event. The seating and church furniture can be moved or altered to many different configurations. We have a Steinway grand piano (use at additional cost including tuning) and a professional sound system which can play CDs and connect to MP3 players. There is also a hearing loop. There are built-in lectern microphones and microphones with stands as well as free-roaming radio mics. A large projection screen is available for use. The church can seat 200 people with scope for additional seating for larger audiences.

Melvill Room

The Melvill Room is a ground floor room to the left of the main church. It has a kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities, fridge, microwave oven, tables and seating. It is suitable for hire as a room on its own or as a reception/catering room for events taking place in the church. It has disabled access via its own outside door. There are nearby toilets with baby changing facilities. Church crockery, cutlery and glasses may be used upon request and for an additional fee.

Ellerton Room

The Ellerton Room is a first floor room accessed by a spiral staircase above the Melvill Room. It is very suitable as a meeting or classroom with excellent privacy as it can only be accessed via the staircase door. There are nearby toilets with baby changing facilities. Joint hiring of the Melvill Room and Ellerton Room can be very successful when a combination of hospitality and meeting privacy is needed for your event.

Kitson Room

The Kitson Room is a first floor room located on the right of the main church. It is a large room used each week mainly for choir practice. It is an open room with no external door but is still suitable for meetings if confidentiality is not an issue. It has an electric keyboard which may be used upon request and for an additional fee.

Fill out an enquiry form

Timetable of regular users

Main ChurchMelvill Room (downstairs)Ellerton Room
(upstairs)
Kitson Room
Monday9 - 9.30am Morning Prayer
Tuesday9 - 9.30am Morning Prayer

12.45-2.15pm OKMT Music Trust
Wednesday9 - 9.30am Morning Prayer
Junior Choir & SMB Choir 6.15pm - 9pm
Junior Choir & SMB Choir 6.15pm - 9pm
Thursday9 - 9.30am Morning Prayer
11.15am Quiet Time
Holy Communion
12 - 12.30pm
5-7pm Svoyi Kids (Ukrainian Kids Club)
Friday9 - 9.30am Morning Prayer
Bellringers 6.30pm - 9.15pm
Friday AA Group
12.30 - 3pm
SaturdayBellringers
9.30am - 12.30pm
Coffee Shop
10.30 - 12 noon
Sunday

Please note our cleaner comes on Tuesday mornings for 2 hours and Friday afternoon for 2 hours.

For information on hiring the Kitson Hall

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Coffee Shop

St Mary’s coffee shop is open every Saturday morning from 10.30am to 12.15pm. Join us for home brewed coffee or a welcome cup of tea and a choice of delicious home made cakes. The coffee shop is in the Melvill Room on the left hand side of the main church. All are welcome and the room is easily accessible for those with mobility issues.

The coffee shop is run by a different team of volunteers each week who are raising funds for a charity of their choice. Should you wish to take a turn and raise money in this way for your favourite charity, please email Claire Boyling or ring her on 020 8878 3775.