St Mark's Ampfield
St Mark’s Church, Ampfield, “the church in the woods” was consecrated in 1841 due to the efforts of the Revd. John Keble, the famous Tractarian and Vicar of Hursley, and Sir William Heathcote of Hursley Park. Ampfield was one of the earliest churches in the neo-Gothic style, and as such was spared the extremes of ornamentation common later in the century. The organ was given to the parish by the Revd. Vere Awdry, the third incumbent of Ampfield and father of the Revd. W V Awdry, author of the “Thomas the Tank Engine” stories. St Mark’s has some fine Victorian “painted glass” with some interesting dedications.
The structure today is very little altered from the original building except for the addition of the new St Mark’s Room on the north side, erected in 1990-1991 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the church. This extension provides a 25 ft square meeting room with kitchen and toilet facilities and is available for hire.
The churchyard was originally an acre but has been extended several times over the years, and is notable for its specimen trees:- a spectacular cedar close to the east window, a Californian redwood, Wellingtonias, a tulip tree and many others. Some of the older gravestones are interesting, their ornate design being in keeping with the Tractarian ideals of the parish in its early years.