Welcome to St Andrew's
You will always receive a warm welcome at our friendly services. They are regularly attended by members of the Thursford community and those from neighbouring villages, along with holiday makers staying in the area.
St Andrew's
April 2024 Services
You will find a service every Sunday either at St Andrew's or at one of our sister churches.
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Our services are informal, friendly and welcoming to all.
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St Andrew's as a community hub
The church building, known locally as the St Andrew's Venue, hosts a wide number of community events throughout the year. Details of these you'll find on our events page.
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Coffee and home made cakes are a good example, served every first Saturday of the month.
What to see when you visit
St Andrew's is a surprisingly successful combination of a medieval building updated in the Victorian era. The tower, South Aisle and porch date back to the 15th century. The remainder is Victorian Gothic at its finest, including renowned stained glass, described by Pesvener as some "of the most beautiful of its time in England".
Stained Glass at St Andrew's
Take a walk around the church and you'll find amazing examples of stained glass almost every where you look.
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The East window, over the altar (see above) was designed by Arthur Moore in 1873 and today is his only complete window to have survived.
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The Chancel windows to many are equally fine, depicting St Mary, St Joseph of Arimathaea, St Cecilia and St Chad. They were designed by H.E. Woolridge, another renowned Victorian artist.
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Set in the South Aisle is an unusual panel depicting the Royal Arms of Elizabeth 1. Dated 1579 it is a remarkable survivor from the 16th century.
The New Chad Chapel Window
Dominating the raised Chad Chapel in the North East corner of the church is a stunning new stained glass window, installed in June 2023.
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The design features key images of present day life in this rural community and the local area. Music, flowers, wildlife, traction engines, tractors and other images represent a time capsule of life in this small parish. The new window replaces older plain frosted glazing which had become cracked and was described as “at risk”
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Created by local artists Rose and Keiran Waits BA Hons, stained glass window experts from Driftwood Glass Studio based in Burnham Deepdale, the design was inspired by local parishioners expressing their vision as to what is special about living Thursford today.
The St Andrew's Guide
Make sure you pick up a copy when you visit to learn more about our fascinating church.