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THE PARISH OF ST. EDWARD, KING AND PASSION-BEARER, ATHELHAMPTON

feasts of St. Edward: 18 March, 20 June, 3 September

Who was Saint Edward?

Edward lived from c.959 to 978 or 979. He was the great grandson of Alfred the Great, and uncle of Edward the Confessor.

After a short reign he was murdered near the gates to Corfe Castle on 18^th March978/9.  It was thought that his step-mother was implicated, and her son, Ethelred, succeeded Edward.  He is known to history as “the Unready”

Edward was initially buried at Wareham, where many came to visit and pray at his grave, and miracles were reported.

In 980 the body was translated to Shaftesbury Abbey, where it was enshrined in 1001 and Edward was canonised in 1008.  During the Middle Ages, many pilgrims visited the shrine until the Reformation, when it was destroyed and the relics disappeared.

The relics were re-discovered in the ruins of the Abbey in 1931 and are now enshrined in the church of the Orthodox Monastery of St Edward, in Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.

“Men murdered him but God has magnified him.”  Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

 The former village church of Athelhampton, near Puddletown (5 miles east of Dorchester) is owned by the Athelhampton Estate.  Built in 1862, it is associated with Thomas Hardy, who was articled to Hicks of Dorchester, architects of the building.  Closed in the 70’s, and in 1996 it was re-dedicated to St Edward as an Orthodox church.

Parish Priest

Fr David Harris

Poundsgate, Sandleheath, Fordingbridge, Hants SP6 1PG

Tel. 01425 654515                            e-mail frdavid harris@yahoo.com

Readers

Reader Leonard Hollands

Reader Filip Lommaert

Services

The Divine Liturgy:  Every Sunday at 10.00 a.m.

Special Services on Festivals and other occasions as announced

All services are in English

Great and Holy Week 2008

Palm Sunday 20th April:                           10.00 am:        Divine Liturgy
Great and Holy Wednesday 23rd April:      7.30 pm:        Service of Holy Unction
Great and Holy Thursday: 24th April:        10.30 am:       Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Great and Holy Friday 25th April:               7.30 pm:        The Lamentations
Great and Holy Saturday 26th April:           9.00 pm:        The Rush Procession and Paschal Divine Liturgy

NO SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNING 27TH APRIL

Annual events

We hold an Annual Open Day in association with the Village Church Fete, which is held at Athelhampton House on August Bank Holiday Monday.  The church is open to visitors and Fr David and other members are on hand to talk to them about the church, the icons, and the Orthodox Faith.

On the Sunday afternoon before Christmas there is a Traditional Carol Service, which is attended by local people, as well as members of our own congregation.

It is hoped to organise a Pilgrimage to Shaftesbury Abbey, the site of the medieval shrine of St Edward on the Saturday following 20^th June (the anniversary of Edward’s translation)  Further details will be announced in due course

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