St Peter and St Paul 

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St Peter and St Paul is a friendly, welcoming Church of England Parish in the heart of the Chilterns. It is the largest of the three churches within our parish and where the majority of our services and events take place

Services 

​Services at all the Churches at all of our church is detailed here, and other events  can be found here.

Location
 

 

We are located off Church Lane in Great Missenden. There is an alternative entrance off Frith Hill which is open on Sundays and for services during the week. 

Parking

There is ample parking at the Church and disabled parking is available close to the entrance. The parking area is usually locked at or after 5.30pm and at dusk if earlier.
Please do not leave anything valuable in your car as there have been a small number of unfortunate incidents in the past.

History

Nobody knows when the first church was built at Great Missenden. There appears to have been one on or near the site of the present church when the Abbey was founded in 1133. 
The current Church building was built during the 14th and 15th centuries and underwent 19th century extensions and restorations. It is located about 300 meters from the old centre of Great Missenden and can be reached from the village by a bridge over the bypass. The site is unusual but not unique. Similar sites can be found within the Chilterns, e.g. at Bledlow, Chesham and Ellesborough.

Architecture


St Peter and St Paul is a spacious church with a wide chancel, nave and north and south aisles. It features transepts and a tower at the western end. Like most ancient churches it is the product of many people's skills and changes in religious thinking over time.

The chancel contains 14th century work with Victorian restorations and, on the north side has a recess for the organ and the vestries. In the chancel, near the altar, is a fine collection of mediaeval floor tiles, likely made in a well-known workshop at nearby Penn.

The 14th century nave arcades are topped by a 15th century clerestory. The south aisle and both transepts contain 15th century windows. The north aisle was rebuilt and widened at the end of the 19th century.

At the west end of the nave is a much restored 12th century font, remarkable for the flowing, floral carving on the four semi-circular faces of its base. The font is one of the so-called 'Aylesbury group', a small collection of ancient fonts found in the local part of Buckinghamshire.

At the top of each nave pillar is a little carved head. These are probably portraits, caricatures even, of local personalities at the time the present nave was built. These candid portraits provide a unique link to all those who have lived and worshipped in Great Missenden over more than 900 years.

Watching over the approach to the church is the bold and strangely asymmetric tower. Sometime after the Reformation in the 16th century, this tower was extended southwards. This resulted in a wall nearly 14 feet thick, and a new belfry was built. Browne Willis states that the tower was altered to accommodate five large bells formerly in the abbey at the foot of the hill. Today, there are eight large bells hung for full circle ringing and one very small 'Sanctus' bell set in a small window high up on the west face of the tower.

Close inspection will reveal that much of the tower is made up from recycled material, including windows, probably from the demolished mediaeval structures of the abbey.
 
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If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you about planning a visit.
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Planning your Visit

New to Church?

Welcome! Whether you've just moved to the area, or have a new interest in our church, we hope that you can find all of the information that you need within our website.
 
Of course, if you have further questions, we welcome you to get in touch.

FAQs and Key Information
   

Where & when does the church meet?

We hold a number of services across the parish:
 
We have a Communion service at St Peter and St Paul Great Missenden at 10am every Sunday. We also hold services at 8am and 6pm each Sunday.
 
Services at Ballinger are generally at 9.30am on the first Sunday of every month, and services at Little Hampden on the second and fourth Sundays at 11:30am with coffee at 11am.
 
Details of all our services can be found on our Services page.
   

What should I expect when I visit the church?

You will be welcomed by the sidespeople who will give you the books you’ll need. They will also be able to answer any questions you may have. There are no set seats, so please sit wherever you feel most comfortable. 
 
The service lasts for one hour and follows the order set out in the booklet.
 
Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the 10am service, where there is plenty of time to meet people and ask any questions you may have.

   
Are there any activities for my children?

We have two Junior Church groups that meet regularly. Head to our Children & Young People page to find out everything you need to know. 
 
We also have an unsupervised crêche area within the Church and your children are welcome to play during the service.
 
Children may stay with their parents at the start of the service, or sit with their friends as we begin our worship. Junior Church usually leaves our main service after we have started our worship with some singing.
   
 

Is there a dress code?

No! Please just be yourself and come dressed in your 'normal' clothes.
 

Do I have to take communion?

It is completely up to you. God's table is open to all. You are welcome to come up for a blessing, or bring your children up for a blessing. Alternatively you can stay in your seat.

 

No, donating is entirely optional. We have a time of offering during each service when a plate is passed around for cash or contactless card donations. There is always a contactless card reader and cash box near the door to the church, or you can donate online. You’re very welcome in church whether you make a donation or not.   

   
Can I get married, Christen my children or have a funeral at the Church?

For more information on marriage, christenings and funerals at our Church please visit the Weddings & Christenings and Funerals pages of our website.
 

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them.

Please feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you may have.