A Story of Faith, Frailty, Vision and Perseverance

Why is the 5 July 1928 such an important date for St Marks, West Parley
When the 50th Anniversary of the Building is in 2007?

Over the coming months, leading up to the anniversary commemorations, we will try and tell you the story of how St Marks came to be built, using pictures and maps, the records of the time and how the work is still continuing, to build the parish as a living example of the work of the church.

So why is the 5 July 1928 such an important date? The first record we have of the intention to build a church at West Parley comes from notes of a meeting made by the Parochial Church Council Secretary and dated 5 July 1928. The meeting was probably held the day before, but almost certainly in July 1928.

The meeting discussed what must have been a firm policy of the Parish of All Saints, West Parley to build a church for the growing population of Bournemouth, which they foresaw as spreading northwards. It is almost impossible to visualize today, green fields through which New Road, A347, would eventually run. Look at the map and notice the lack of development in Ensbury. Ferndown, separate and "isolated" from its large and growing neighbour, Bournemouth, to the South. To think of the road from Hurn through Parley Cross and on to Longham as being "the main artery" for the area. The map on the right is from an Ordnance Survey map of 1928. The Church and Rectory are towards the bottom left corner and are coloured in yellow. To download a larger version click on the map (500Kb). This will open the map in a new window. Comparison of this map with todays shows very little change in the immediate vicinity of the Church, for which we give thanks as it allows All Saints to retain its tranquil "old England" charm and environment.

Return to this page and see the story unfold. Make a note for 2007 and join with us in our Thanks to God for providing this parish with the energy and vision to accomplish the building of the new church. In the meantime a copy of the notes and their transcription is given below. Enjoy.

East Dorset Church Extension Scheme Notes on Proposal for securing a Site near Dudsbury The policy of securing a Site for a Church near Dudsbury was decided on by the Committee which published its report about a year ago. owing to the probable growth of population in the neighbourhood of Bournemouth. A suitable site should :- (i) Be in a central position for the area to be served. (ii) Be on a main road, with , if possible, other roads from or near the site leading in different directions through the area. (iv) If possible be given, rather than purchased. A site on the Longham - West Parley Road at Dudsbury, would be suitable, except that the obstacle of the R. Stour (and its often flooded meadows) cuts off a large portion of its natural area to the South. The only other alternative is a site on the New Road. which will probably be the line along which housing development will first come. A position roughly central between Ferndown & W. Parley church is near Mags Barrow on Parley Common, but at present there are no lateral roads. Unfortunately there seems to be no Town Planning Scheme of Wimborne Rural District Council & the neighbourhood is being allowed to grow up hap hazard. The Canford Estate has however

a number of proposed roads mapped out & this plan should be consulted. The new parish would be carved out of Hampreston as well as W Parley & it is highly desirable that the two parishes should work together, although Hampreston is already heavily burdened with the new Ferndown Church. C D Daw Dudsbury 5 July 1928

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Footnote : In 1931 the population of Bournemouth was 116,000, by 1951 it had grown to 145,000
The Sarum Almanack gives the population of the Benefice of West Parley in 1901 as 129 and in 1950 as 490
Figures courtesy of Office of National Statistics and Sarum College Library respectively
Maps courtesy Ordnance Survey

© St Marks West Parley