THE PARISHES WHICH MAKE THE MANSFIELD DEANERY
On the right are listed the fourteen parishes in the Mansfield Deanery.
Hover over the names for brief details and click on them for more information.
The parishes are very different in character and in their ways of operation, but their Christian message
is the same!
The Parish of Blidworth, about five miles south-east of Mansfield, includes the ancient Church of
St. Mary of the Purification in the original village and, amongst the houses built mainly for the now closed coal mine, the Mission
Church of St. Andrew. Blidworth joins Rainworth (one mile north) in a team ministry.
The Parish of Clipstone, about five miles north-east of Mansfield, comprises the ancient Kings Clipstone, the Newlands/Garibaldi estate in Forest Town
and a growing area of private dwellings, close to the large estate built some 80 years ago with the church of All Saints in its midst.
Situated about two miles east of Mansfield town centre, Forest Town grew rapidly as the now closed coal mines expanded.
Many new houses continue to be built. The Church of St. Alban stands on a busy crossroads a short distance from the shops.
The church of St. Mary the Virgin is 50 years old in 2007, built to serve the people of the huge
Ladybrook estate on the west side of Mansfield. A striking sign on the outside church wall, for all passers-bye to read,
proclaims; "ST. MARY'S CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR YOU"
Built to provide Christian provision for a rapidly expanding post-war Mansfield, particularly the Bull Farm estate, the church of
St. Augustine lies Off Abbott Road on the north-west
side of the town, now sharing its priest with St. Barnabas, Pleasley Hill.
The striking church of St. John the Evangelist, with its steeple visible from miles around, was built on the north side
of Mansfield town centre around 150 years ago. It is one of three Anglican town centre places of worship, following the 'low church' evangelical tradition.
Coming up for its centenary, the church of St. Lawrence Martyr stands less than one mile east of
Mansfield town centre in the midst of diverse housing and close to shops on Newgate Lane and Skerry Hill. The Treasury Parish Centre and
a modern Church Hall help the Parish serve the community.
Consecrated about 110 years ago on the south of Mansfield town centre to serve the growing population St. Mark's Church
follows the high Anglican tradition in its worship, with a strong emphasis on ritual and music. In the Parish, a short distance from the church, is the Stags'
ground (Mansfield Town Football Club).
St. Peter and St. Paul is the original and most central of the three churches in Mansfield town centre, situated a short
walk from the market place, providing a focus of Christian worship for over 800 years. It is notable (and regretfully unusual these days) that generally it is open to the public
for prayer and reflection, and providing a daily opportunity to enjoy this ancient house of God.
The Parish of Oak Tree, predominantly a very large housing estate some two miles east of Mansfield town centre,
does not have a church! That definitely does NOT mean the area lacks a worshipping Christian community, for their Sunday "church" is
the recently opened Oak Tree Leisure Centre, and in the week they meet in a community hall. This is a joint venture with the Methodist Church.
With a history going back to Roman times, the town of Mansfield Woodhouse is situated about two miles north of Mansfield town
centre. The Church of St. Edmund, parts of which are more than seven hundred years old, is close to the modern shops. The large parish
includes the Peafield Community Church (a joint venture with the Methodists, and meeting in a school) and the remote St. Chad's, Pleasley Vale.
Close to the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border about three miles north-west of Mansfield town centre is to be found high above
the Chesterfield Road the church of St. Barnabas, Pleasley Hill, in the midst of the houses, mainly built for the now closed coal pit.
The lines of terraced dwellings are being redeveloped so that the new properties may share the splendour of the recently opened community
centre, situated below the church. Pleasley Hill now shares a priest with St. Augustine, Mansfield.
Originally expanded to provide houses for the now closed coal pit, the large village of Rainworth is situated about four miles
south-east of Mansfield town centre. The fairly modern church of St. Simon and St. Jude stands close to the crossroads at the centre
of the village. The Parishes of Rainworth and Blidworth (one mile south) work together as a team.
About five miles north of Mansfield lies the town of Market Warsop. The magnificent church of St. Peter and St. Paul, listed in the
Domesday book of 1086, is to be found nearly a mile further north in Church Warsop. The Parish is named Warsop with Sookholme because included is
the tiny 11th century church of St. Augustine in the hamlet of Sookholme.
