The Church

Church at Xmas
The Church at Christmas

The Church of the Resurrection was built in 1897 as a chapel of ease to the parish church of St Peter and Paul at Ellesborough. The significance of the church to the village has waxed and waned over the years and for the full history you will need to read Peter Jewell’s excellent history (click here).

By the 1980s Ellesborough Parochial Church Council, which had had the Dunsmore church registered in its name, declared the building to be both redundant and unsafe and the building was advertised for sale. The village became united to oppose the disposal. Beneath the For Sale notice on the church another was posted informing potential buyers of the villagers’ objections. A banner was erected by the pond. Dunsmore demonstrated but also negotiated with the PCC. Terms of a lease were agreed and villager trustees were appointed.

Extensive repair work was carried out, largely by three of the trustees, David Marshall, the late Robbie Robinson and the late Tony Wood, and the building re-wired and pendant lights donated by the late Nobbie Furlonger. Substantial other donations were made by anonymous villagers towards the cost of repairs.

So, for the time being, the little church has been reprieved. Services are mainly Anglican but those of other denominations take place from time to time to reflect the church’s ecumenical nature. Most are led by residents of the village. Several special services are held throughout the year and the tradition of summer festivals has been continued.

The church is managed by local trustees and is self-funding.  A regular series of events support and fund the church, and services are held to mark important holy days in the church calendar.  The Church of the Resurrection also offers ecumenical services, and all are open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliations.

In May, June and July, the church hosts cream teas, offering cakes, cream scones, and other homemade baked goods, provided by Dunsmore residents.  A team of volunteers give their time and energy to running these events.  The cream teas are very popular gatherings, held rain or shine, on the church grounds.  All profits support the Church of the Resurrection.

Church services, officiated by volunteer celebrants from other local area churches, are held at Christmas and Easter and, occasionally, at other times in the year.  The well-attended Harvest Festival is held each September and comprises a service in the church, followed by a supper in the Village Hall.  The much-loved Christmas Carol Service is held on a Sunday evening before Christmas, and the beautifully-decorated church interior is festooned with items made and hung by local family members.

Villagers are sent email notices of all church events, and notices of these proceedings are posted on the notice board on the church grounds.

Church of the Resurrection Trustees:

Chair David Marshall
Secretary Jeni Henderson
Members Mary Thompson
  Tina O’Toole
  Francesca Speed
  Lynne Ladd
Treasurer Paul Speed  (Non-trustee)