The Rector is Reverend Georgie Machell who can be contacted via Tel: 01400 230722 or E-Mail: rectoreastloveden19@gmail.com
Honington is part of the East Loveden Group of parishes.
Further detail is available here: East Loveden Churches (link will open in a new window).
St Wilfrid's Church can be seen from all directions when approaching the village due to its location on top of a ridge. Having climbed 'Doctor's Hill' named after a nineteenth century vicar, the church disappears and can be hard to find. A signpost points up a gravel drive leading past the Old Vicarage, behind which the hidden Church can be found.
The Church at Honington was named after Saint Wilfrid (634-709AD), a Benedictine Monk and Bishop of York. The designated feast day of St Wilfrid is the 12th October.
As with many churches, St Wilfrid's was developed over many centuries. Built from local limestone and ironstone, the oldest part of the Church is the Nave, which is supported by large round Norman arches. The wooden roof of the nave, which is five hundred years old, is supported by six angel corbels. High clerestory windows were added at a later date to give more light. A north aisle was added to provide additional seating as the village grew. A chapel was added at the eastern end of the aisle by the Hussey family to commemorate deceased family members.
The tower and unusually long chancel date from the thirteenth century. Several changes were made in the fifteenth century including the pinnacles on top of the tower, the font, at the base of the tower, and the Easter sepulchre non the north side of the chancel. There is evidence throughout the Church of the significant changes that have occurred. An example of this redesign can be seen looking back towards the nave from the chancel where older arches can be seen in the stone work.
These photographs show the different trees and shrubs around the graveyard with headstones that have subsequently been removed. The photograph below shows the original iron gates leading to the Church. If you look carefully you will notice 2 people standing by the south porch. Although there is not enough detail to be certain, the photographs possibly date from around 1900.
St Wilfrid's Church line drawing
St Wilfrid's Church plan
Christmas Eve 2019
Christmas Eve 2019