St. Andrews Church Tostock.
The Parish Church, dedicated to St.
Andrew is a Grade 1 listed building,
which stands on the eastern outskirts
of the village, set back from the road
by trees. The churchyard is enclosed on the
north side by a flint wall, while on the
south side a cement block wall is the boundary of the recent extension. The land for the extension was given in 1953 by Captain Robert Snare and the wall was built by the men of the parish who gave their time and labour to the church. In 1999 the wall was extensively repaired.
The Domesday Survey in 1086 noted that Tostock had ‘ a church with 12 acres of freeland in alms’. The present building appears to date from the 12th century.
From the appearance of flint work on the south side of the chancel wall, it suggests the possibility of an earlier building on the same site.The building, which we see today, has evolved during the centuries and has undergone many extensions and alterations to make it fit the requirements of the parish according to its needs at the time.The exterior has many interesting features. The tower was constructed in stages, begub in 1350, in the late Decorated style, with both west and north doorways being of the same period. Completion of the battlemented tower can be dated approximately to the 1460s as the oldest bell of the present peal of four dates from that time.
The churchyard is a well kept peaceful place of mature trees and moss encrusted ancient gravestones, contrasting with the neat rows of headstones in the modern extension.
[abstraced from Jeanne O'Reilly - see below].
To read more about the history please consult :
Jeanne O’Reilly, ‘St. Andrew’s Church’. Published by the ‘Tostock Past and Present Society’ Tostock, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9UP.
A few more views of our beautiful church can be seen below.
Services - February and March.
6th February 10am Joint Benefice Communion Norton
12th February 10am Morning Praise
20th February 10am Holy Communion BPC
27th February 10am Morning Prayer BCP
6th March 9.300am Family Communion
13th March 9.30am Holy Communion BCP
20th March 11am Morning Prayer BCP
27th March 11am Family Service
ASH WEDNESDAY – 9th March.
10am Holy Communion – at St Andrew’s Church. Norton.
7.30pm Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes at St Mary’s Church. Pakenham
Services in The Croft.
Monday 14th February at 10am
(Note : 2nd Monday of the month this month only).
Monday 21st March at 10am
This is an informal short service of prayer and praise, with time to chat afterwards over a cup of tea or coffee. All are welcome to come and share fellowship.
St Andrew’s Church Social Events.
Coffee Mornings : 10.30am in Tostock Village Hall 2nd Tuesday every month except July and August ……..
March 8th ; April 12th ; May 10th ; June 14th ; September 13th ; October 11th ; November 8th ; December 13th.
BINGO : 2.30pm Tostock Village Hall.
Last Tuesday of every month except December.
March 29th ; April 26th ; May 31st ; June 28th ; July 26th ; August 30th ; September 27th ; October 25th ; November 29th.
SUMMER GARDEN TEA PARTY.
Tuesday 19th of July at Rookswood, New Road 2.30pm.
HARVEST SUPPER.
Friday 14th October at Tostock Village Hall.
BAZAAR
Saturday 19th November at Tostock Village Hall.
