St Mary's Church, Longfleet

St. Mary's is a Gothic Revival church that was built in the years 1830–33 It built chiefly at the expense of Lord de Mauley and was originally designed by Edward Blore, but has been considerably modified since. The spire was donated by William Pearce JP, a 19th-century Mayor of Poole, who resided at nearby Springfield House. There was further remodelling in 1915 The living was, and still is, a vicarage in the Diocese of Salisbury. Its patron in the 1870s was Sir J. B. Guest, Bart., who owned Canford Manor, now Canford School.

St. Mary's describes itself as a "vibrant evangelical charismatic Church" and "a large multi-generational church with an informal atmosphere." The church is part of the New Wine Network and, has a congregation of around 700, which is the largest in the Diocese of Salisbury. The church continues to serve the local community and has several Sunday School classes as well as ministries for men, women, youth, pastoral care, outreach and worship. It is very active and works with local authorities, e.g. through Faithworks Wessex, running projects like MON£Y MATT£RS, a money management and debt advice service, and Befrienders, linking up with people who are in need of companionship. The church also…