ST BARTHOLOMEW'S, WATHAM
SERVICE SCHEDULE
GROUP SERVICE
1st Sunday at 9:30am
On the first Sunday of the month a joint group service takes place in rotation at Waltham (January, May and September), Elmsted (February, June and October), Hastingleigh (March, July and November) and Petham (April, August and December)
TRADITIONAL COMMUNION
2nd Sunday at 8:00am
Holy communion service using the traditional Book of Common Prayer liturgy.
MESSY CHURCH
2nd Sunday at 10:00am
On the second Sunday of the month we join with Elmsted and Hastingleigh Churches and hold a Family Service at Bodsham Primary School.
FAMILY COMMUNION
3rd Sunday at 9:30am
Holy communion service using the Common worship liturgy.
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.