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St. Mary’s church was built and consecrated
in 1847, although the first vicar was appointed in 1844 when
Wyke became a Church District in its own right. The first organ
was installed in 1866 and prior to that the music was led by two
violins and a cello! The church is situated next to a large,
well kept graveyard as well as an area for the burial of ashes.
In 1993 an impressive church hall was added
which now houses the office of the administrator for all three
churches. All the rooms in the hall are used regularly. Mums and
Toddlers meet three times a week and Brownies weekly during
term-time. Links with the Wyke Step 2 Youth Worker and ‘The
Village’ community group have led to the church being used as a
base for a number of supportive activities for small groups and
individuals (e.g. teenage mums) and for community activities for
children.
In addition, New Horizons operates under
the umbrella of St Mary’s, Wyke and provides care and
befriending for the elderly and housebound. It employs five part
time workers and has a team of volunteers and visitors and
provides a weekly meal and entertainment in a day centre
environment.
There is a team of about ten people
involved in pastoral care at St. Mary’s - each person having a
list of others to look out for, contact and support. There is
also an organised prayer chain for urgent prayer requests.
Wyke has three community primary schools
and we have fairly regular involvement in all of them. The
schools visit the church for curriculum activities and they hold
special Christmas events in the church itself.
The purpose built vicarage is in Wyke,
adjacent to St. Mary’s church. |
