Welcome to

The Parish Church of
St Mary de Castro, Leicester

St Mary’s was built around 1107 on the site of an earlier Saxon Church. The church was built as the chapel to the Castle and was established by Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester who founded a college of a dean and twelve secular cannons “to sing mass, and to prayer for the souls of the said founder within the Parish Church of Our Lady”

During the 14th Century the south aisle was added to serve as a parish church.

The church is a Grade I Listed building.

The church in the 21st Century continues to fulfil its role as a Church of England Parish Church.

Church Services

We have two services of Holy Communion each week.

Wednesday 11.00am. Said service using the Book of Common Prayer.
Sunday  11.00am. Parish Mass with Sung service and Sermon – This week’s Service Sheet

Please look in the Upcoming Services and Events for more information

Opening Hours

Church open on Mass days as follows:

  • Sunday 10.00am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 10.30am – 12 noon

In addition to our services on Wednesdays and Sundays we are open to the public at the following times. (Subject to volunteer availability)

  • Monday: 10.30am – 12 noon
  • Tuesday: 12 noon – 2pm
  • Wednesday: 10.30am – 10.55am; 11.30am – 12 noon
  • Thursday: 12 noon – 2pm
  • Friday and Saturday: 12 noon – 4pm
  • Sunday: 10am – 10.55am; 12.15pm – 1pm

Forthcoming Events:

Heritage Sundays 12 noon – 3pm  – June 30th, July 28th, August 25th, October 27th

Saturday 14th September 10am-6pm Ride and Stride

Latest News

Christmas 2024

We have a full month of services, concerts and during December and January. We will also somehow manage to fit in the Christmas Lunch! De Montfort Chamber Choir, Leicester University Chamber Choir and the Leicestershire Chorale will all be joining us to celebrate over Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. We also have our usual Sunday and … Continue reading Christmas 2024

Posted on 12 November 2024

Read Full Article All News

 

Our Worship

St Mary de Castro is a Church of England Parish Church that worships in the Catholic tradition. Central to our community life is the celebration of the Eucharist. Our Liturgy is traditional both in Words and Music.

We are part of the Diocese of Leicester and are under the Spiritual Direction and Guidance of Norman, Bishop of Richborough.

We do not have a resident Parish Priest but are blest to have a group of clergy who officiate at our services. This follows in the founding tradition of the Parish and our designation as a Collegiate Church.

Parish Handbook

 

Safeguarding

Our Safeguarding Policy should be read in the context of the House of Bishops’ policy statement, “Promoting a safer Church,” which the P.C.C. has adopted.
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. This implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.

We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in both paid and voluntary positions with children or vulnerable adults, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation.

We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.

We will seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.

We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

Parish Contacts
Parish Safeguarding Officer: Cheryl Utecht.
Email: utechtc@gmail.com

Church Wardens Chris Phillips and Alan Fletcher. Their contact details are to be found on the Contacts Page.

Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Rachael Spiers , Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
T: 0116 261 5341 M: 0793 081 9279 Rachael.Spiers@Leicestercofe.org

Peter Holloway, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
T: 0116 2615241 M: 07930 887984 peter.holloway@leccofe.org