CAPTION: The church has been closed throughout most of 2025 for major restoration work
St Mary’s Church Totnes Celebrates Reopening as a Warm, Welcoming Space for the Community
A special celebration was in order on Sunday 1 February as a church in Devon reopened to the public.
St Mary’s Church, Totnes, has reopened following a 12-month closure for a major £1.5 million renovation and reordering project.
To mark it’s reopening and the new facilities, a day of rededication ceremonies and a special candle lit evening service with the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, was held.
The infra-red heating candeliers are helping the church to reduce it’s carbon footprint
The church congregation and the local community were invited to experience the newly renovated space, which now includes state-of-the-art heating system which uses infra-red heating chandeliers.
The nave area has also been completely renovated with a new floor and more open space.
A servery and accessible toilet has also been installed to make the building more accessible for the community.
The £1.5 million project was raised from personal donations and grant-giving bodies, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Following the major renovations, the church is excited to now open daily, from dawn till dusk, for the local community to find a warm and welcoming space.
The special opening week included a Friends Café on Tuesday 3 February, followed by a lunchtime organ recital by Ian Curror.
On Thursday 5 February a special Unity in Diversity gathering will be held to continue rededicating the space.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, said, “St Mary’s Totnes is already a beautiful church, but what a fabulous reordering was celebrated on Sunday evening with a generously sized new servery, toilet, restored nave with carefully laid tiles (some 2000+ apparently) and much more.
“A congregation of 350+ gathered to mark the re-opening and the themes of inclusion, hospitality and witness were underlined as the candlelight service proceeded.”
The church looks forward to hosting concerts in the new space in March, and music and activities post Easter.
Rev’d Fr Jim Barlow, Vicar of St Mary’s Church in Totnes, said, “I can’t wait for the doors to reopen so we can start worshipping in St Mary’s again and welcoming people in.
“There has been a church on this site for over a thousand years. It is a sacred and special place for many, but the heart of it is always prayer and holding a space for those who enter to encounter God.
“It has been a long year, but now the mission and witness of St Mary’s can resume and grow for both locals and visitors.
“We have lots of activities planned, reflecting our threefold purpose: a space for worship, prayer and silence; a space for enriching lives through music and the arts and a space for sharing stories of our community and its heritage.
The renovations at St Mary’s Church Totnes have also been a huge step forward in reducing the church’s carbon footprint.
The team has been hard at work throughout 2025 to prepare for the reopening
Jim said, “Part of the story is becoming a carbon zero church as we seek ways for church and community to become more resilient and sustainable in the century ahead.”
Emma Kemp, Diocesan Net Zero Carbon Officer, said, “It’s fantastic to see St Mary’s church open again, offering a warm and welcoming space for the local community and visitors alike.
“By replacing the old gas heating system with electric heating powered by a renewable tariff, the church has made huge strides in reducing their carbon footprint.
“As one of the Church of England’s ‘Net Zero Demonstrator Churches’, St Mary’s are keen that other churches benefit from their recent experiences and extensive research into low carbon heating solutions.
“I urge churches in the Diocese to take inspiration from this journey towards net zero and to tap into St Mary’s practical insights on balancing sustainability and comfort in a Grade I listed church.”
All are invited to visit St Mary’s Church in Totnes for a warm welcome, as they reimage it as a hub for local engagement.
To find out more about St Mary’s Church Totnes, click here.
To contact Emma about Net Zero Carbon: email Emma Kemp
