St. Mary's Church Barking
From a document dated 951 we know there was a church here in
Saxon times. This records the gift of the church and lands to the
Abbey of Ely when the young Leofsige, son of an Ealdorman(
Alderman) of Essex and later to become Abbot of Ely, entered the
abbey as a postulant.
The original wooden and thatched church was rebuilt in flint and
stone and over a 200 year period from 1350 it was enlarged by
having north and south aisles and a clerestory added.
Until 1901 St. Mary's was the parish church of both Barking cum
Darmsden and Needham Market, hence its size. A bridle way between
Barking and Needham Market known as the ‘ Causeway 'is a corruption
of corpse way and was the route taken by funeral processions from
Needham. It was last used in 1914.
On 16 December 1869 the corner of the Church tower collapsed.
This is the corner which situates the spiral staircase and
which turns anticlockwise from the bottom. The traditional
arrangement is clockwise and this may have something to do with the
re-building.
Originally there were five bells in the tower. Two were from
1400, two from 1650 and the other undated. In 1911 these five bells
were melted down and cast by Alfred Bowfell of Ipswich into six
bells. They were dedicated on the 21 October 1911 by the Bishop of
Norwich. The clapper from the old tenor bell can be seen in the
bell tower. The lightest bell is always called the treble and the
heaviest the tenor.
The total weight of the bells is 2 tons 6 cwt and 28lb. the
individual weights are:-
|
cwt. |
qrs. |
lb. |
| Treble |
5 |
2 |
0 |
| 2 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
| 3 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
| 4 |
7 |
1 |
14 |
| 5 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
| Tenor |
11 |
1 |
7 |
The Rectory, which is now a private residence, was built by the
Rev. Charles Davy who was appointed to the living at the age sixty
five. It was completed in 1820 at a cost of £4000. In the rectory
grounds are Lebanese cedars planted by Robert Uvedale, an acclaimed
botanist, who was Rector from 1699 to 1723.
John Fairfax who was Rector from 1651 until 1663, was removed
from his position for refusing to conform with the Act of
Uniformity. He served a number of prison sentences and founded the
non-conformist chapel at Needham Market, now the United Reformed
Church.
Contact Numbers:
Church Warden:
Michael Hodgson 
01449 720365
Service Pattern:
1st Sunday 3pm Evening Prayer
2nd Sunday 11.15am Holy Communion
3rd Sunday Family Service rotates through the four parishes
4th Sunday 10.00am Morning Prayer
Please phone for further details
Mystery behind the Royal Coat of Arms
St. Andrew's Church Darmsden
A church has stood on the present site since mediaeval times but
due to subsidence had to be rebuilt in 1880. The church and rectory
were united with Barking which was also the mother church for
Needham Market. Since the latter did not have a graveyard until the
early 1900's many of its more wealthy inhabitants purchased burial
plots in Darmsden.
The cost of re-building the present church, £1500, was paid for
by James Kemplay, QC whose father in law lived at Darmsden Hall. It
was dedicated on the 5 August 1880 and is built in the Decorated
style using whole flints, some of the mediaeval stones can been
seen around the windows. There is a circular window above the west
gable made up of four quatrefoils. The bell which hangs in the bell
-cot at the west gable and weighs 140 pounds, is inscribed ‘Sancta
Maria 1710. Founder, John Goldsmith of Redgrave'. There is a
circular font, behind which there is a bench-cum-seat incorporating
much older woodwork. The beautifully carved screen depicts Saint
Peter with his keys, Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Patron
Saint, Saint Andrew with the cross saltire.
In 1979 a Trust was formed to buy the Church
after it was declared redundant and there was fear that it may be
used for agricultural use. It was eventually purchased for £1000 on
1 February 1983. Services continue to be held there every
month.
Service Pattern:
3rd Sunday each month - 2.30pm
Good Friday Service - Good Friday at 10am
Candlelight Carol Service - Saturday evening approx 1-2 weeks
before Christmas
Contact:Raymond Taylor 
01449 721090
Barking Chapel
(formerly known as
'The Hall of Barking Tye Friends Mission')
History of Barking Chapel
At the start of the twentieth century, a Wilfred Maw often
accompanied by his brother Geoffrey would cycle from Needham Market
to Barking and preach on the Tye. It is reported that many
villagers gathered to listen and eventually regular meetings were
held in the school. There being no non-conformist place of worship
in the village, it was decided to build a meeting house. A piece of
land at the edge of the Tye was given and donations were received
for the building work, which cost £400. A brick built
hall, still in use today was opened in 1903 as the Hall of Barking
Tye Friends' Mission but is more frequently referred to as ‘the
Chapel'.
One of the early Pastors was Philip
Butler. He was not only a poet, artist, he also wrote a
booklet on the Barking Mission and was a farmer who played a major
role in the fight against the payment of tithes to the Church.
Worshippers still use the same hall today, lead by Pastor Graham
Steward.
Barking Chapel - who we are
Barking Chapel is now a free church which holds to the historic
christian faith as revealed in the Bible.
We believe that God's good news is just as relevant today as it
ever was and invite all who do not worship with another local
church already, to join us in discovering what God has to say
today.
Regular activities:
Sunday worship at 11am
Our Sunday services
last around an hour and includes the singing of hymns and prayer.
The main focus of our worship is the reading and preaching of the
Bible.
Women's Fellowship
This group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
from September to June, commencing at 2pm. This is also a time of
worship, followed by an opportunity to chat over a cuppa.
Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday at
7.30pm
This meeting alternates between Barking Chapel and our sister
church at Ringshall. It gives an opportunity for christians to
deepen their relationship with God through prayer and studying the
Bible together.
Jam Club
Why Jam Club? It stands for Jesus and me. It is a club
for children over the age of four and is a fun time which includes
various activities based around a theme from the Bible. From
time to time throughout the year the members of the Jam Club take
part in our Family Service.
Who to contact:
Our Pastor:
Graham Steward 
01449 673529
If you would like the Pastor to visit you, or feel that you can
help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our Church Secretary:
Peter Goodchild:
01449 741406