ST BARTHOLOMEW'S, WATHAM
SERVICE SCHEDULE
GROUP SERVICE
2nd Sunday at 9:30am
All Communion services are for all four congregations of Elmsted, Hastingleigh, Petham and Waltham to worship together. Please do not attend if you are unwell. All are subject to it being considered safe for our church services to continue.
UNITED BENEFICE SERVICE
5th Sunday at 10:30am
When there is a fifth Sunday in the month a 10:30am United Benefice Service will be held at one of the eight churches - please see the Calendar for details. The form of the service is typically either Modern Communion or Morning Prayer.
HISTORY
In the Norman's Domsday Book there is no mention of a church at Waltham prior to the conquest. In 1185 the manor of Waltham was granted to the Knight Templers and for some years after the village was known as Temple or Temple Waltham.
The current church dates from the thirteenth century. The central tower was restored in 1808 but still stands on its original thirteenth century footings. The central tower, between the fourteenth century nave and the chancel, holds a ring of six bells. The four oldest bells were made by Joseph Hatch in the seventeenth century. The gallery at the western end of the nave dates from the eighteenth century.