Welcome to St Andrew’s Bredfield
Hello!
Welcome to St Andrew’s, a rural village church set in the heart of the village of Bredfield. I’m Charles and I’m the Rector here at St Andrew’s. Whether you live in the village or local area, visiting or on holiday, looking for a church to settle in or exploring faith, we would be delighted to connect with you.
Have a look around our website to find out more about both St Andrew’s and St John’s Woodbridge, and discover how you can get involved and belong.
As a church family, we seek to ‘discover God and share the love of Jesus’. We are always looking for new ways to serve the community as an expression of our Christian faith and love. If you’d like to be part of that, to find out more, or even just to chat, we’d love to help.
We would love you to join us at any of at our services or other events, and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome if you do. The 14th Century church building and country churchyard shaded by ancient lime trees are also valued as places of quiet prayer and contemplation, and you are always welcome to visit.
We hope you will soon feel part of the family. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Charles and Kate Trefusis
You can click the links below to jump to the appropriate section of this page.
Services
Church Room
Lantern
Groups
History
SERVICES
St Andrew’s is set in the heart of the village of Bredfield, surrounded by an idyllic country churchyard shaded by ancient lime trees. Services take place every Sunday throughout the year
1st Sunday Holy Communion 9:15am
2nd Sunday Service of the Word 9:15am
3rd Sunday Holy Communion 9:15am
4th Sunday Service of the Word 9:15am
5th Sunday Service of the Word 9:15am
The exceptions are our special services – Mothering Sunday, Easter Sunday,Harvest Festival, St Andrew’s Patronal Festival (first Sunday in December) and Christmas Day, all of which take place at 10:00am.
Services are more traditional in style with hymns accompanied on the organ. We welcome all ages at all our services.
We work in partnership as a Benefice with St. John’s, Woodbridge and share a busy ministry team. The team is always ready and willing to talk about individual or family needs and concerns and to discuss baptisms, weddings, funerals and other special services. We regularly welcome members of St. John’s congregations to our services and vice versa.
The church is open every day and our beautiful churchyard is open all the time. We welcome visitors throughout the year.
CHURCH ROOM
Next to the church is our cosy Church Room. This is available for meetings and small gatherings of up to around 25 people throughout the year. Toilets along with tea and coffee making facilities are available. For further information LINK TO CONTACT FORM OR? email churchwardens.bredfIeld@gmail.com
THE LANTERN
There is a regular parish magazine, THE LANTERN, with details of church services and events as well as articles of local interest. Also included are notices of community events in Bredfield and neighbouring villages. You can read the latest edition on the Parish Council website.
BELLS AND BELLRINGERS
St. Andrew’s has a peal of six bells and an enthusiastic team drawn from within Bredfield and neighbouring villages. Guest ringers are always welcome. Practice night is Friday at 7:30pm. If you would like to learn bellringing, please contact churchwardens.brefield@gmail.com for further details.
LIGHTWAVE GROUP
St. Andrews is home to a thriving Lightwave Home group (a traditional home group, but with a practical focus for outreach and mission in Bredfield). The group meets from 7:30pm – 9:00pm on Thursdays and has been the inspiration for community focused activities like a scratch Christmas Choir, a New Years Eve walk, all age Epiphany Party and Coffee and Cake mornings for all ages.
HISTORY
St. Andrew’s is the tallest and one of the oldest buildings in the village. In 1086, at the time of the Domesday survey, the records show that there was a church in Bredfield. It may well have stood on this site. If so, it would mean that Christian worship has taken place here on this spot for over a thousand years. The Church as it is today has been much repaired and restored since the 14th Century, but there are still traces of the medieval building in the fine hammer beam roof, the remains of a rood screen, and the remnants of a holy water stoup by the blocked up south entrance . The church has an unusual Victorian East window dedicated, by his “devoted and sorrowing mother”, to her son who died aged 29. The village war memorial is located near the main entrance to the Church and is the annual focus for the village Remembrance Service.
SHARING
As well as the upkeep of a listed building, St. Andrew’s endeavours to support other organisations/causes by dedicating specific collections as the need arises. Examples include the Royal British Legion (from our Remembrance Sunday service), Disasters Emergency Committee, Christians Against Poverty and Tear fund