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St Paul's Church
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 0BJ
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Who we are
St Paul's Weymouth is a lively, forward-looking Anglican church in the catholic tradition under the care of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet
We are part of the diocese of Salisbury and the Deanery of Weymouth.
We seek to be missionary and to serve our parish and its people by baptising, celebrating marriages and conducting funerals of those within the parish boundaries (see Map) and by maintaining contact with people through Christmas and Easter Cards and information leaflets and the monthly parish magazine called 'High Tide'. Outreach is the object of S.P.O.T (see SPOT) and our publicity committee. We have a range of activities for people of all ages in the Community Hall (see Community Hall).
We are proud of our Church Aided Primary School with which we maintain close links.
We also seek to provide a welcoming place where God can be worshipped and in which there is an atmosphere which helps people to pray.
Worship at St.Paul's in the catholic tradition of the Church of England.
We are part of the diocese of Salisbury and the Deanery of Weymouth.
We seek to be missionary and to serve our parish and its people by baptising, celebrating marriages and conducting funerals of those within the parish boundaries (see Map) and by maintaining contact with people through Christmas and Easter Cards and information leaflets and the monthly parish magazine called 'High Tide'. Outreach is the object of S.P.O.T (see SPOT) and our publicity committee. We have a range of activities for people of all ages in the Community Hall (see Community Hall).
We are proud of our Church Aided Primary School with which we maintain close links.
We also seek to provide a welcoming place where God can be worshipped and in which there is an atmosphere which helps people to pray.
Worship at St.Paul's in the catholic tradition of the Church of England.
Street Address
Church Pastor
Father Gregory Lipovsky
Parish Priest
58 Abbotsbury Road
Weymouth,
Dorset
DT4 0BJ
United Kingdom
Phone: 01305 771217
Download Parish Priest Father Gregory Lipovsky vCard
Quote of the Day
Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Denomination
Anglican Church
Anglican Churches in Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Anglican Churches in Dorset, United Kingdom
Anglican Churches in United Kingdom
All churches in Weymouth, Dorset
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Social Media
St Paul's Church Weymouth on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Father Gregory Lipovsky
Leader Position:
Parish Priest
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Leader Address:
Tel:
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Leader Bio:
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St Paul's Church Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Lee Garrett
Admin Position:
Parish Administrator
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Mailing Address
Driving Directions to St Paul's Church
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Parking
St Paul's Church Weymouth Service Times
Service times
Sunday
9am - Morning Prayer
9.30am - Low Mass
11am - Low Mass
4pm - Evensong & Benediction
Monday
9am - Low Mass
Tuesday
9am - Morning Prayer
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
6pm - Low Mass
Wednesday
9am - Morning Prayer
10.30pm - Low Mass
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
Thursday
9am - Morning Prayer
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
6pm - Low Mass
Friday
9am - Morning Prayer
10.30pm - Low Mass
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
Saturday
9am - Morning Prayer
9.30am - Low Mass
10am - Holy Rosary
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
COVID-19 Update
DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SERVICE TIMES:
Saturdays: 4pm Mass (Sunday Mass)
Sundays: 10am Mass, 4pm Mass
Wednesdays: 10.30am Mass
Ash Wednesday Masses with imposition of blessed Ashes on Tuesday 16 February at 4pm, and Wednesday 17 February at 10am & 4pm
Stations of the Cross: every Friday in Lent (19 & 26 February, and every Friday in March) at 4pm in church
Holy Rosary every Saturday at 10am, and Bible Group at 4.30pm fortnightly on Wednesdays. Both on Zoom - please, get in touch if you want to join.
Because of COVID restrictions, you must get in touch with the Vicar if you want to attend any of the services. We had to limit the number of people in church. Thank you for your understanding!
Service Times last updated on the 11th of February, 2021
Sunday
9am - Morning Prayer
9.30am - Low Mass
11am - Low Mass
4pm - Evensong & Benediction
Monday
9am - Low Mass
Tuesday
9am - Morning Prayer
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
6pm - Low Mass
Wednesday
9am - Morning Prayer
10.30pm - Low Mass
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
Thursday
9am - Morning Prayer
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
6pm - Low Mass
Friday
9am - Morning Prayer
10.30pm - Low Mass
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
Saturday
9am - Morning Prayer
9.30am - Low Mass
10am - Holy Rosary
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
COVID-19 Update
DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SERVICE TIMES:
Saturdays: 4pm Mass (Sunday Mass)
Sundays: 10am Mass, 4pm Mass
Wednesdays: 10.30am Mass
Ash Wednesday Masses with imposition of blessed Ashes on Tuesday 16 February at 4pm, and Wednesday 17 February at 10am & 4pm
Stations of the Cross: every Friday in Lent (19 & 26 February, and every Friday in March) at 4pm in church
Holy Rosary every Saturday at 10am, and Bible Group at 4.30pm fortnightly on Wednesdays. Both on Zoom - please, get in touch if you want to join.
Because of COVID restrictions, you must get in touch with the Vicar if you want to attend any of the services. We had to limit the number of people in church. Thank you for your understanding!
Service Times last updated on the 11th of February, 2021
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
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Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
St Paul's Church Photo Gallery
St Paul's Church History
1880
The first Chapel
The growing population of Westham needs a place of worship and a school
In 1852 the land to the north of the Backwater, or Radipole Lake as it more commonly known now, was still just farmland and laid within the parish of Wyke Regis. However, by 1880 the population had grown to the extent that Westham became a proper suburb of Weymouth, and the Reverend Pigou, Rector of Wyke Regis, instigated the opening of a school and chapel of ease on the south side of Abbotsbury Road. The Chapel, dedicated to All Saints, seated 200.
Within ten years however, it was obvious that in this rapidly growing suburb the Chapel would soon become inadequate. Indeed, while the population of Westham in 1892 was about 1,500, in 1911 it was 3,954 (in comparison, Holy Trinity had 6,686 residents; St. John’s 4,751; and St. Mary’s Melcombe Regis 6,387).
1892
Father Sydney Lambert
All starts with the compassion and vision of a charismatic priest
The Reverend Sydney Lambert who was curate in charge of the Chapel together with several parishioners held a meeting on April 21st 1892 at Weymouth Guildhall, chaired by the Bishop of Salisbury, to propose the building of a new church for Westham. A site had already been chosen on the opposite side of the road from the existing Chapel and school, and this was secured for the princely sum of £60, and later purchased for £655 (approx. £72,570.00 today).
Father Lambert seems to have been an energetic and charismatic man who inspired others by his enthusiasm and it was due in no small part to him that the new church was built. In 1893, a limited competition was held for architects to send their designs for the church and after careful examination, that of George Fellowes Prynne was selected in favour of two other schemes. Tenders were invited for the construction of the building. Money was raised by public subscription.
1894
Works begin
The growing population of Westham needs a place of worship and a school
By 1894 enough funds had been raised to allow construction to begin, with Mr. W. H. Gooding of Exeter hired as the builder. The foundation stone was laid by the Countess of Hoyos on 9th May 1894. The ceremony was attended by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Weymouth Mayor and Corporation, members of the local clergy and the public. In a cavity hollowed out of the foundation stone is a bottle containing a piece of parchment on which is written the dedication, which concludes with the words: “Here let true faith and fear of God and brotherly love, ever flourish and abound”.
As work progressed, problems emerged with the contractor when it was realised the church could not be completed by the time specified and contracted for. Work was temporarily halted but recommenced when Prynne took over the project himself. As further funds were required before the entire church could be built, the initial agreement was for enough of the building to be built to provide accommodation for 400 persons.
1896
Dedication of the first building
Though not yet completed, the church opens its doors to the public
The contracted work was completed in 1896 and the new church building, dedicated to St. Paul Apostle, was dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Rev. John Wordsworth, on 25th January 1896. It included two bays of the nave, north aisle, south transept, chancel, vestries and organ chamber, along with the permanent foundation of the whole church. A third bay of the nave, at the west end, was also erected as a temporary section. At the time, £5,600 had been spent on the church and land, £1,850 of which had still to be raised. In the following years, the committee continued to raise funds and the debt was reduced to £600 by 1900.
1900
St. Paul’s becomes a Parish
Further funds have been raised, St. Paul's is consecrated and becomes a Parish in 1902
In May 1900, a meeting was held at the Royal Hotel in Weymouth to discuss the proposed consecration of the church and the formation of a separate parish from Wyke Regis. The Bishop of Salisbury offered to consecrate the church on 18th October 1900 if the debt was reduced to £300 by the beginning of that month and if the architect of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners certified St Paul’s was structurally sufficient as a parish church. £450 was successfully raised and the Bishop of Salisbury consecrated the church on St. Luke’s day, 18th October 1900.
Two years later, in 1902 Westham became its own parish, with St Paul’s as the parish church. A side chapel was added to the church in 1903 and all permanent work completed in 1913 with the Baptistery. The baptismal font, the oldest element of the building, is from the 19th century, and it was brought to St. Paul’s in 1932 from its original place, Christ Church, West Fordington (Dorset) when the latter was demolished.
Later additions are the High Altar and gradine (1922), the reredos with mosaics (1922) and the War Memorial (1926). The church has been a Grade II listed building since 1974, with the World War I memorial outside also designated Grade II in 2016.
Stained glass windows - Percy Bacon Bross did seven of the eight Lady Chapel windows, a chancel south window (high up), a north aisle window and lastly the large west window, all between 1908-21. A. O. Hemming & Co. made the missing Lady Chapel window (St. Margaret of Antioch), the windows in the Baptistry and another in the north aisle, in 1936-38. Finally three south aisles windows are by S. Walker of G. Maile & Son, 1948-50.
1955
Vicarages
It takes some time to find the right place for the Vicarage
The Incumbents of the church resided in a house next to the church to the west, in what is now known as the Westwey Hotel at 62 Abbotsbury Road. The desired plot for a vicarage on the eastern side of the church was not readily available, it being occupied by a market garden and a greenhouse, with a small wooden bungalow belonging to James Stagg, one of the first residents of Westham. Persuading the tenant to leave and the interruption of the Second World War meant that the vicarage was not built until 1955.
Vicars
List of the Incumbents of the Parish of St. Paul in Westham (Weymouth)
1902-1906 Fr. Sydney Lambert
1906-1939 Fr. John Martyn Fisher
1939-1957 Fr. Frederic John Colyer
1957-1966 Fr. Henry Maude
1966-1970 Fr. Vernon Thomas
1970-1995 Fr. David John Green
1995-2002 Fr. David Lashbrooke
2003-2019 Fr. Richard Harper
2019-present Fr. Gregory A. Lipovsky
The first Chapel
The growing population of Westham needs a place of worship and a school
In 1852 the land to the north of the Backwater, or Radipole Lake as it more commonly known now, was still just farmland and laid within the parish of Wyke Regis. However, by 1880 the population had grown to the extent that Westham became a proper suburb of Weymouth, and the Reverend Pigou, Rector of Wyke Regis, instigated the opening of a school and chapel of ease on the south side of Abbotsbury Road. The Chapel, dedicated to All Saints, seated 200.
Within ten years however, it was obvious that in this rapidly growing suburb the Chapel would soon become inadequate. Indeed, while the population of Westham in 1892 was about 1,500, in 1911 it was 3,954 (in comparison, Holy Trinity had 6,686 residents; St. John’s 4,751; and St. Mary’s Melcombe Regis 6,387).
1892
Father Sydney Lambert
All starts with the compassion and vision of a charismatic priest
The Reverend Sydney Lambert who was curate in charge of the Chapel together with several parishioners held a meeting on April 21st 1892 at Weymouth Guildhall, chaired by the Bishop of Salisbury, to propose the building of a new church for Westham. A site had already been chosen on the opposite side of the road from the existing Chapel and school, and this was secured for the princely sum of £60, and later purchased for £655 (approx. £72,570.00 today).
Father Lambert seems to have been an energetic and charismatic man who inspired others by his enthusiasm and it was due in no small part to him that the new church was built. In 1893, a limited competition was held for architects to send their designs for the church and after careful examination, that of George Fellowes Prynne was selected in favour of two other schemes. Tenders were invited for the construction of the building. Money was raised by public subscription.
1894
Works begin
The growing population of Westham needs a place of worship and a school
By 1894 enough funds had been raised to allow construction to begin, with Mr. W. H. Gooding of Exeter hired as the builder. The foundation stone was laid by the Countess of Hoyos on 9th May 1894. The ceremony was attended by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Weymouth Mayor and Corporation, members of the local clergy and the public. In a cavity hollowed out of the foundation stone is a bottle containing a piece of parchment on which is written the dedication, which concludes with the words: “Here let true faith and fear of God and brotherly love, ever flourish and abound”.
As work progressed, problems emerged with the contractor when it was realised the church could not be completed by the time specified and contracted for. Work was temporarily halted but recommenced when Prynne took over the project himself. As further funds were required before the entire church could be built, the initial agreement was for enough of the building to be built to provide accommodation for 400 persons.
1896
Dedication of the first building
Though not yet completed, the church opens its doors to the public
The contracted work was completed in 1896 and the new church building, dedicated to St. Paul Apostle, was dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Rev. John Wordsworth, on 25th January 1896. It included two bays of the nave, north aisle, south transept, chancel, vestries and organ chamber, along with the permanent foundation of the whole church. A third bay of the nave, at the west end, was also erected as a temporary section. At the time, £5,600 had been spent on the church and land, £1,850 of which had still to be raised. In the following years, the committee continued to raise funds and the debt was reduced to £600 by 1900.
1900
St. Paul’s becomes a Parish
Further funds have been raised, St. Paul's is consecrated and becomes a Parish in 1902
In May 1900, a meeting was held at the Royal Hotel in Weymouth to discuss the proposed consecration of the church and the formation of a separate parish from Wyke Regis. The Bishop of Salisbury offered to consecrate the church on 18th October 1900 if the debt was reduced to £300 by the beginning of that month and if the architect of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners certified St Paul’s was structurally sufficient as a parish church. £450 was successfully raised and the Bishop of Salisbury consecrated the church on St. Luke’s day, 18th October 1900.
Two years later, in 1902 Westham became its own parish, with St Paul’s as the parish church. A side chapel was added to the church in 1903 and all permanent work completed in 1913 with the Baptistery. The baptismal font, the oldest element of the building, is from the 19th century, and it was brought to St. Paul’s in 1932 from its original place, Christ Church, West Fordington (Dorset) when the latter was demolished.
Later additions are the High Altar and gradine (1922), the reredos with mosaics (1922) and the War Memorial (1926). The church has been a Grade II listed building since 1974, with the World War I memorial outside also designated Grade II in 2016.
Stained glass windows - Percy Bacon Bross did seven of the eight Lady Chapel windows, a chancel south window (high up), a north aisle window and lastly the large west window, all between 1908-21. A. O. Hemming & Co. made the missing Lady Chapel window (St. Margaret of Antioch), the windows in the Baptistry and another in the north aisle, in 1936-38. Finally three south aisles windows are by S. Walker of G. Maile & Son, 1948-50.
1955
Vicarages
It takes some time to find the right place for the Vicarage
The Incumbents of the church resided in a house next to the church to the west, in what is now known as the Westwey Hotel at 62 Abbotsbury Road. The desired plot for a vicarage on the eastern side of the church was not readily available, it being occupied by a market garden and a greenhouse, with a small wooden bungalow belonging to James Stagg, one of the first residents of Westham. Persuading the tenant to leave and the interruption of the Second World War meant that the vicarage was not built until 1955.
Vicars
List of the Incumbents of the Parish of St. Paul in Westham (Weymouth)
1902-1906 Fr. Sydney Lambert
1906-1939 Fr. John Martyn Fisher
1939-1957 Fr. Frederic John Colyer
1957-1966 Fr. Henry Maude
1966-1970 Fr. Vernon Thomas
1970-1995 Fr. David John Green
1995-2002 Fr. David Lashbrooke
2003-2019 Fr. Richard Harper
2019-present Fr. Gregory A. Lipovsky
St Paul's Church Historical Photos
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