Who's who?
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Who's Who
Rev. Dr. Mike Archer
Mike Archer is the Rector of St. Mary's, and has been since 2001. Married to Sarah, with teenage children Mims and Sam, faith, family and home are at the centre of his life.
Although his sports career is now in the past - a relief to many - he still loves sport, with England Cricket, LIverpool FC and NFL being particular passions.
He loves being outside, whether walking or running, but is a reluctant conscript in the garden. He loves to read and the Big Bang Theory. As told by his daughter when analysing the film Les Miserables, generally he probably thinks too much about almost everything....
Rev. Catherine Butt
Catherine Butt is part-time Associate Minister, with general pastoral responsibilities and oversight of parish baptisms. Married to Ian, a teacher, she is also Mum to three girls. She likes to read, run, bake, travel, and watch funny TV programmes.
Tim Cutting
Tim Cutting has been employed as Discipleship Pastor, on a temporary contract, since September 2010, covering some staff shortages and other specific church needs. (Currently he works the equivalent of 3 days a week at St Mary’s, the rest of his time being spent at Whaddon Way Church.) His main focus includes assisting with small groups, co-ordinating Alpha courses, mentoring the youth worker and giving direction and support to the men’s ministry. He is also involved in pastoral visiting and occasional leading and speaking at Sunday services. Tim is married to Helen, and they have four children. The family have lived in Milton Keynes since 1993, when Tim was employed as the first schools worker for Bridgebuilder Trust. He served there for 13 years, before joining national charity Mission India in Dec 2006 as their UK Director, until May 2010. Having been born in Suffolk, he is officially a ‘Tractor Boy’ (Ipswich Town FC supporter) but has ‘adopted’ the MK Dons as his second team.
Pat Kerr
Pat Kerr is the youth minister of St Mary's Church. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and lived there for many years before moving around the country gaining valuable experience in his vocation. He learnt his trade as a youth worker at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, where he studied for an Honours degree in Youth and Community work. He has lived in Bletchley for the past 18 months serving and ministering to the young people of this church and community. Youth work is his passion. He loves working alongside young people and supporting them to make positive choices for their lives, while also exploring a deeper relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also loves spending time with his wife, Jenni, taking day trips to theme parks, playing and watching football, spending time with family and friends and belting out the odd song or attempting to dance on computer games.
Jenni Kerr
Jenni Kerr is the children's worker at St. Mary's Church and has been in post since February 2010. She is one of seven children and was brought up in County Tipperary, Ireland, in a small rural town called Nenagh. She has been married to the youth minister Pat since May 2009. Jenni has obtained a degree in Early Childhood Care, Development and Education. Having completed these studies, Jenni greatly recognises the need for children's development in all areas and is passionate about encouraging children in their Christian faith and also encouraging children to think about God and why He is important in their lives. Jenni is passionate about Jesus and loves sharing the Gospel with children through singing, dancing, games and of course what she does best TALKING!!!!
Barry Hampson
Church Warden
Barry is a Chartered Accountant and principal of his own firm. Married to Jenny, they have three daughters and three grandchildren. Away from the office Barry & Jenny have spent the last 10 years restoring a small house in the French countryside which, financial markets permitting, will be their home in retirement – in the meantime they spend as much time there as they can which is just as well given their love of good food and good wine! When time permits they both enjoy watching classic aircraft take to the sky and are members of the Friends of Duxford where they help support restoration work.
Gill Bradley
Church Warden
Gill is married to Colin and has been part of St Mary’s since early 2008 when she moved from South West London to be married to Colin. She is a member of the prayer ministry team, the pastoral care team, is addicted to helping on the Alpha course, and is a Trustee of Streetlight Trust. Gill is working as the HR Coordinator at World Vision and has a heart for children at risk worldwide, and a love of Africa. She loves music (especially live), food, playing games, travel, and being with family and friends, and is a season ticket holder at the MK Dons.
Andrew Walmsley
Licensed Lay Minister
Andrew is a Licensed Lay Ministers (LLM’s) for St Mary’s. After hearing and discerning the call to serve God in a lay capacity he began the formal training for this role and was licensed in November 2010. He has been a member of St Mary’s since moving to Milton Keynes to begin his teaching career. He is married to Rachel and they have two young boys. 
Robin Rowles
Licensed Lay Minister
Robin has been a Licensed Lay Minister at St Marys for 15 years.
Widowed with married children, Robin has a knowledge of pensions, a liking for walking and model railways and is a member of the FaceBook group "I like my music loud". Robin often wishes his sermons could be two way discussions, but that probably isn't practical at St Marys!
Who we are
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Why are we part of St. Mary's
We're passionate about Jesus - about all that He was and is and all that He has done for us and the world.
We aim to encourage and challenge each other to follow Jesus ever more closely.
How?
Offering our whole selves in worship, pleasing God with showing His love and grace in our daily lives.
Encountering God's presence day by day in prayer and study.
Engaging with our local community and our world, from the Food Cupboard to Church on the Green, and from Manila to Sri Lanka.
Seeking to become more fruitful for God at work and at home, at church and in the community, with friends and family, colleagues and those we've yet to meet.
There's a place for you here too.
Contact us
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St. Mary's Church Office
Church Green Road
Bletchley
MK3 6BJ
Tel: 01908 366531
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Church Office is located in the Church Hall at the above address.
Open 9am-12.00pm Monday to Friday.
History of St Mary's
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History of SMB
St Mary's Church stands on the site of the original Norman Church. This church was probably square, with narrow windows, red & gold painted walls, a rush matting floor and possibly a single wooden bench for the elderly or infirm. All that now remains of the original church is the South Doorway, which now serves as the main entrance to our church and which was moved to its current location early in the 14th century.
Over the years a number of modifications to the church were made:
- at the end of the 13th century the chancel was built to its present size
- by 1330 the North East chapel had been added (in memory of Lord Grey who died in 1324)
- in the 15th century the tower was added
- in the mid-19th century stained glass windows were added when prosperity came to Bletchley with the railways
In the church lies the tomb of Lord Richard Grey de Wilton who died circa 1441 at Water Hall and the coffin lid of his ancestor Sir John Grey who died in 1266.
There also lies the Table Tomb in memory of Catherine, wife of Dr Browne Willis a former Rector of St. Mary's . This is dated 1724. This tomb has been moved a number of times through the centuries and currently sits in the chancel.
Other antiques, such as a prayer book from 1634 and a Bible said to have belonged to Charles I are housed at Bucks County records office in Aylesbury.
There have bells in the tower since 1629. There were originally four, but since 1760 there have been eight. They have been recast several times - lastly in 1924.
Like many churches, St. Mary's bears witness to the life and work of God's people through the centuries, with each generation adding its contribution to the building. In recent years, we have transformed the interior of the church into one reflection our understanding of God.
In 1985, the church was reordered. A stone floor was installed with under-floor heating. The new furnishings are lighter (both in tone and weight) and provide flexibility in their arrangement, allowing the interior to adapt to the needs of the church in the present and future. The altar and dais stood in the centre of the church with seating arranged in an arc around it.
In 1996 a major change was made to the interior of the church when a two-storey structure was built within the North East corner of the church. This structure consists of a kitchen, toilets and a new vestry, above which there is an upper room. This upper room is used for meetings in the week and for a crèche on Sunday mornings.
In 2002, we again modified the layout. We re-arranged the interior restoring the aisle and positioning the altar in the chancel at the east end of the nave.
The styles of worship in our church has altered over the years. A Sunday family service at 9:15am & 11 am is our main act of worship. For the early birds amongst us there is a Sunday morning service at 8am, which is more of a traditional service. However, our services blend the best of the old and new, from traditional prayer book, to more freely structured services. We have a main evening service at 7pm which is more contemporary.
We have many children's and young people's activities. We give away 10% of the income the people of St. Mary's give to God while maintaining and improving this mediaeval building. We meet in various groups to study our faith and learn, and to enjoy each other's company. We contribute to the life of the local community through our 'Food Cupboard' where local families in need can be helped. We also support a number of missions abroad.
Find us
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Getting Here
By Car
From A421/Standing Way
Exit A421/Standing Way at Emerson Roundabout. Exit towards Bletchley onto Shenley Road. (Be aware this road has speed bumps)
Turn left at the mini roundabout onto Whaddon Way.
Turn right at the mini roundabout onto Rickley Lane. This road changes name to Church Green Road.
The church can be found at the second left, by the war memorial.
A car park is signposted further on Church Green Road, past the Church Hall.
For any enquiries during the week please come to the church office based at the Church Hall.
By Bus
Bus Routes 7 and 29 have stops near the church. Ask for the Church Green Road/Elmers Park stop.
By Train
The nearest train station is Bletchley.
Leave the station through the main entrance, cross the road and go through the cutway that runs alongside Bletchley Park.
At the end of the path, turn left along Wilton Avenue.
On the right hand side of the Avenue, next to the large building (Wilton Hall) you will find another cutway which leads to the Green.
Follow the path across the Green to find the Church building.