St Margaret of Antioch's Church,

Linstead

Linstead Parva

Suffolk  IP19 0AD

 

Team Rector: The Revd Dominic Doble

Tel: 01986 948968/07743 554955

Email: dominic.doble@phonecoop.coop

​

Churchwarden: Malcolm Heath

Tel: 01986 785289

Email: mlheath@aol.com

​

​

The two parishes of Linstead Magna and Linstead Parva (these days simply 'Linstead') are the westernmost parishes of the team. Linstead is a typical non-nuclear Suffolk village, a scattering of about 50 households and 120 souls spread over quite a large area. Paradoxically, the very lack of a physical centre means that we have to work that little bit harder to maintain our 'villagedom'. It means, for instance, that it is nearly always possible to identify newcomers and ensure that they are welcomed. We do this with a welcome-pack which is hand delivered. A (secular) village hall enables us to hold social events both church and non-church based (almost always the same people anyway!). We do good barbecues and the Harvest Supper is legendary. In a nutshell, Linstead is small but beautifully formed.

 

St Margaret of Antioch, Linstead Parva, is a small chapel, dating from the early 13th Century, at the extreme eastern end of the parish. It is in good order (for a 13C structure) and, a huge plus point, is relatively easy to heat. It also has rather a good acoustic.

 

• Three services a month, nearly all at 9.30am.

• We alternate a joint service with Chediston, our neighbouring parish to the east.

• The services vary in format, but the default service is BCP Matins.

• Occasional offices usually include a Patronal Festival, held at the village hall and followed by a barbecue.

• On a biennial basis we meet at Church Farm, Linstead Magna and process to the site of St Peter's, our 'lost' church, for an open-air service.

• A lay elder.