Old Alresford ( or ) is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of Parish (administrative division), administrative parish used for Local government in England, local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below district ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

, England. It is north of the town of

New Alresford New Alresford or simply Alresford ( or ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is northeast of Winchester and southwest of the town of Alton, Hampshire, Alt ...

, northeast of the city of Winchester, and south-west of the town of Alton. In 1851, George Sumner, son of

Charles Richard Sumner Charles Richard Sumner (22 November 179015 August 1874) was a Church of England bishop. Life Charles Sumner was a brother of John Bird Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury. Their father was Robert Sumner and their mother was Hannah Bird, a first c ...

(

Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat ('' cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held '' ex officio'' (except ...

), became

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of the parish. There his wife,

Mary Sumner Mary Sumner (31 December 1828—11 August 1921) was the founder of the Mothers' Union, a worldwide Anglican women's organisation. She is commemorated in a number of provinces of the Anglican Communion on 9 August. Early life Mary Elizabeth ...

, started the

Mothers' Union The Mothers' Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work. Its main ai ...

, now a global organisation of Anglican women. The first meetings were held in the rectory, now a conference centre known as Old Alresford Place. In 1986, following the closure of the village school and post office, The Old Alresford Dramatic Society (T.O.A.D.S.) was founded as a way of bringing the village together. They perform a

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...

in December each year and a Spring Show, usually in May. St Mary the Virgin parish church is a brick building dating from the 1750s. The naval hero

George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB ( bap. 13 February 1718 – 24 May 1792), was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at ...

, is buried in the church. His family seat,

Old Alresford House Old Alresford House is an 18th-century Georgian country house in Old Alresford, Hampshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building. It was built between 1749 and 1751 for Admiral Lord Rodney on a gently sloping south facing site between the ...

, is next to the church. Also in the churchyard is the mausoleum of C. F. G. R. Schwerdt, an art collector, who died in 1939.

Gallery

File:St Mary the Virgin, Old Alresford - geograph.org.uk - 1504074.jpg, The church of St Mary the Virgin File:Schwerdt Mausoleum, Old Alresford 04.JPG, The Schwerdt Mausoleum File:Disused watercress beds Old Alresford (geograph 3436052).jpg, Disused watercress beds at Old Alresford

References

External links

* Villages in Hampshire City of Winchester {{Hampshire-geo-stub