Church of St Peter and St Paul
Welcome to the Parish Church of King’s Sutton – the Church of England serving this community.
Who We Are
- The Vicar is Father Matthew Robinson (01295 811364)
- The Church Wardens are Dee Thobourne (01295 811961)
and Dr Douglas Hamilton (01295 812810). - The Treasurer is Dr Douglas Hamilton
- The Choir Master is David Richardson
- The Tower Captain is Dee Thobourne
- The Church Room (Oman Room) for bookings and enquiries please contact Carole Hill (01295 811134)
- The Safeguarding Officer is John Chilver (01296 711974)
What We Do
Our regular services on Sundays are Holy Communion at 08:00, Sung Eucharist at 11:00 and Evensong at 18:00. There are weekday services too. For details, see the parish-church-newsletter-2019-03 the Church Notice Boards and A Variety of Worship booklet which explains the various services held.
The Church is open every day from 08:30 to dusk.
We also engage in mission with the local community and beyond, supporting local and international charities: BYHP, Family Care, The Children’s Society, Christian Aid and USPG – a mission society with a project in Bangladesh.
Young families and children are very welcome and we have Parent and Toddler Worship on alternate Fridays at 09:30 during term-time and a monthly Family Worship at 10:00 on the 4th Sunday of each month.
Concerts and musical events are held throughout the year.
Where We Are
The Church building probably has some Saxon material but the present building was begun in the 12th Century and completed by about 1400. It is Listed Grade 1, and the spire, rising to just under 200 feet, is a notable landmark. Pevsner describes it as “the finest spire in a county of fine spires”.
The church recently had statues installed of our patron saints, Peter and Paul. These are by Peter Ball in memory of Sara Allday.
The huge, irregularly shaped font has associations with Saint Rumbold, who was born here in 662.
Accessibility
The west porch has level access into the church and we have a loop system and large print service books available.
Floodlighting
The building is floodlit each evening until 23:00 but may be sponsored to mark an anniversary or other celebration, in which case it remains lit all night. Contact Stephen Allday on 01295 811473.
The Church Room
Located in the south-west corner of the churchyard, the Church Room is available for hire. It has a small kitchen and disabled toilets and changing facilities for babies, and is suitable for events for up to 30 people. Contact Carole Hill on 01295 811134 for details.
The Church Paper
Published monthly, the Church Paper is distributed to every house in the village. Click here to view the latest and previous editions dating back to February 2013.
The Church website may be found here.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has produced a statement of our purpose, values, and growth plan which can be viewed Here.
Online Information Booklets
The Roman Catholic Parish
Mass is held at 09:00 every Sunday. Contact Fr James Evans on 01295 660592 for details.
King’s Sutton Baptist Church
King’s Sutton Baptist Church has been at the centre of community life since 1846. We would love you to join us on Sunday at 10:30 for praise, worship and learning.
We celebrate Holy Communion on the third Sunday of each month.
MESSY CHURCH – an informal time for families with crafts, celebration and food – is held on the second Sunday of each month at 16:00.
Click here to visit our website for information about the Church together with a full list of activities.
Beginnings
Early church records include “a brief statement of the circumstances which led to the formation of the Particular Baptist Church at King’s Sutton in the County of Northamptonshire on May the 12th 1846”. This statement was written around May 1846 and is as follows:
Nearly 50 years ago, several members of the Baptist Church of Middleton Cheney, residing at King’s Sutton, were desirous of introducing the Gospel to the inhabitants of this village, and Mr George Blake offered his house for preaching. It was therefore registered at the Quarter Sessions in Northampton. Their Minister, Mr Green, was invited to visit them frequently both on the Sabbath and weekdays. After his death several Ministers from Banbury and other places continued to supply the place as before. Among these was Mr Chater, a member of the Church at Middleton, who afterwards became a Missionary to Ceylon. The Congregation increasing, early in the year 1820, a building in the occupation of Mr Blake was bought off Wilkins of Bourton by Mr M Gibbard and delivered into the hands of Trustees at the Court Baron, King’s Sutton and recorded by the Steward of the Court, Mr Beesley of Banbury. This building was fitted up as a place of worship, and registered in the Bishop’s Court at Peterborough, July 21st 1820 by Wm Gates D.Reg: as a regular place of worship in the Baptist Denomination. The application to “Bishop Herbert” for the registration was signed by George Blake, Thomas Blake and George Colgrove, July 10th 1820.
Soon after this “The North Bucks Association” undertook to supply the place, a kind of mixed Independent Church was formed, and Mr Searle who had, for some time, been Minister at Church Lane, Banbury, came to reside here. After his removal, the place was kept open by individuals from the neighbouring Cogregations till the year 1843, when from several painful circumstances the Church was entirely scattered and the whole attendants nearly lost.
At this period the doors of the meeting house were partially closed, having no minister for three months, the congregation scattered and the Sabbath School reduced to one teacher, and only ten scholars. Mr John Simson, a native of this village, who had received his early impressions of piety, under the preaching of the gospel in this place, but had removed to London for many years, heard of their condition and, as he had visited and preached there several times, felt a deep interest in the cause of Religion in his birth place. He was induced by these circumstances to return and reside amongst them as their Minister, early in 1844, since which the school and congregation have greatly revived and so increased in numbers as to make it desirable to build a gallery in the meeting house. This was erected last year at the expense of £30 – to which, several neighbouring congregations have kindly contributed a part. The favourable state of attendance and the general respect shown to the Minister, seemed to warrant the immediate formation of a Christian Church of the Baptist Denomination – Mr Simpson, being for some time convinced of the Scriptural duty of Believer’s Baptism, was himself, with five others of his friends, baptized and received into the Church at Middleton on July 6th 1845 and have been dismissed thence on May 3rd 1846 to form a principal part of this little community on Calvanistic Principles with the practice of open communion only.
- The introductory reading and prayer, Mr Lewis, Independent Minister, Banbury.
- Letters read and Church formed. Mr Price, Middleton.
- Church addressed on mutual duties and privileges by Mr Nunnick of Bloxham.
- Choice of Officers received by Mr Price when Mr John Simson, Pastor, Mr George Blake, Deacon with Prayer.
- Pastor and Deacon addressed by Mr Jordan, Banbury who concluded the service with prayer.
It is also recorded that “The whole of the service was marked by a peculiar manifestation of the divine presence.”
At the time of the formation of the church a Covenant was written and signed.
A Brief History
Under the guidance of Mr Simson the church began to grow. At a meeting in connection with the Sunday School held in July 1845 as many as 150 sat down to tea. The Lord’s supper appears to have been held about every two to three months during this time.
After Mr Simson retired, the Church was without a minister for nearly 12 months. Then the Rev George Tustin of Banbury became the minister in February 1856.
Rev George Tustin
1856-1875
Mr Tustin was aged between 50 and 60 when he began his ministry. He was a plush weaver and continued to live in Banbury and work in his trade throughout his 19 years of ministry. Through all these years and in all kinds of weather he walked from Banbury on the sunday morning and walked back again to Banbury after the evening service. He also walked every alternate Wednesday evening to take the midweek service. He finally resigned the post in April 1875 due to failing health. Mr Tustin died in 1881 and was buried at Middleton Cheney. A memorial service was preached at King’s Sutton.