A Church With a History of Looking Outwards
St Peter & St Paul has stood at the heart of Fareham for more than a thousand years. Its ancient building tells part of the story, but the more important history is found in the people who worshipped here and the ways they served the town around them.
For generations, this was the parish church for Fareham and the surrounding area. People came here to worship, pray, be baptised, marry, mourn and mark the major moments of life. Yet the church’s influence was never meant to remain within its own walls. As Fareham grew and changed, the Christian community responded by creating new places of worship, caring for local people and developing ministries for those who were not regular members of the congregation.
Planting Holy Trinity in a Growing Town
One of the clearest examples came during the rapid growth of Fareham in the early nineteenth century. The town’s population was increasing, and St Peter & St Paul could no longer serve everyone adequately.
There was also a concern for poorer residents. At the time, many pews in parish churches were rented or reserved by wealthier families, leaving less space for those who could not afford a seat. Lady Jane Thompson, a local benefactor, left money towards building another church where more people could worship.
Holy Trinity Church was consecrated on West Street in 1835, and its new parish was formed from part of the ancient parish of St Peter & St Paul. In modern language, we might describe this as a church plant: a growing town created a new mission need, and a new worshipping community was established in response.
The connection was personal as well as institutional. Holy Trinity’s first minister, the Revd Sir Henry Thompson, had trained for ministry at St Peter & St Paul. The older church was therefore helping to form leaders who would serve new communities elsewhere in Fareham.
Mission Spreads to Funtley
The outward movement continued soon afterwards. Land was acquired in Funtley for a school serving children in what was then an industrial settlement outside the centre of Fareham.
The school building was designed with folding partitions so that its classrooms could be opened into one larger space for Sunday worship. Education and worship were brought together in a place where local families already gathered.
This ministry later developed into St Francis, Funtley, which was formally licensed for public worship in the nineteenth century. The pattern is striking: St Peter & St Paul helped give rise to Holy Trinity, and Holy Trinity helped extend Christian ministry into Funtley.
The mission of one church became the starting point for another.
Serving Fareham in Everyday Ways
Mission beyond the church walls has also happened through quieter, everyday forms of service. In more recent history, St Peter & St Paul supported families through a toddler group, cared for older and housebound people, took Holy Communion into homes and care homes, and supported local organisations including Fareham Basics Bank.
The church’s parish ministry also connected it with people through baptisms, weddings, funerals and pastoral care. Many of those people may never have become regular Sunday worshippers, but the church was still present during important moments in their lives.
A parish profile published in 2013 described the toddler group as thriving and noted that it included families who had first connected with the church through baptism. The church saw this as an opportunity to build relationships, support parents and help children begin to grow in faith.
This is an important part of the church’s history. Christian mission has not only happened through large projects or new buildings. It has happened through faithful relationships, practical care, prayer, hospitality and service.
Responding to a Changing Town
Fareham is changing once again. New homes are being built, new families are arriving and the population is far larger than it was when Holy Trinity was established in 1835.
St Peter & St Paul is now entering another season of revitalisation and church planting. The vision includes rebuilding a growing Christian community in Fareham town centre and, in time, helping establish a new worshipping community in the development at Welborne.
This fits naturally within the church’s history. When Fareham grew in the nineteenth century, St Peter & St Paul helped create new Christian communities. Today, the church is again asking how it can reach people who are not currently part of a congregation.
A History Worth Continuing
St Peter & St Paul’s history is much larger than the story of an old building. It is the story of a Christian community that has worshipped, served, sent leaders, planted churches and cared for the people of Fareham.
The church has not always done this perfectly, and there have undoubtedly been periods of greater and lesser outward focus. Yet the historical pattern is clear. At important moments, the church has looked beyond its existing congregation and responded to the needs of a changing town.
Holy Trinity stands as one of the strongest examples. What began as an effort to make space for more people became a new parish and a lasting Christian presence in another part of Fareham. That mission then reached further into Funtley.
Today’s work of revitalisation therefore continues an older story. The calling remains the same: to worship Jesus, serve the people of Fareham and make space for new generations to discover Christian faith.
Help Us Tell the Story Accurately
This article has been written using the historical information currently available to us. We know that much of the story of St Peter & St Paul is held in local memories, old records and the experiences of people who have been connected with the church over many years.
If you notice anything that is inaccurate, incomplete or needs further explanation, we would be very grateful to hear from you. We also welcome photographs, documents, memories and stories that may help us understand and preserve the history of the church community more fully.
Please contact us if you can help. Email hello@spspfareham.church
