• Beaulieu Abbey Church

    The monastery at Beaulieu was founded in 1204 by King John, and its Abbey Church dedicated to St. Mary in 1246.
  • Exbury Parish Church

    Exbury Parish Church

    Exbury Parish Church is dedicated to St. Katharine of Alexandria, patron saint of the medieval wheelwrights guild.
  • East Boldre Church.

    East Boldre Church

    The Parish of St. Paul, East Boldre lies between the southern boundary of the New Forest and the Beaulieu Estate.
  • Chapel of St. Mary, Bucklers Hard.

    Chapel of St. Mary, Bucklers Hard.

    The attractive village of Bucklers Hard, where wooden ships were built for Nelson's fleet, is about three miles to the south of Beaulieu.

Welcome

The parish of Beaulieu and Exbury and East Boldre in the New Forest lies between the outskirts of Lymington and the communities along Southampton Water, bordering the north shore of the Solent on both sides of the Beaulieu River. This is a beautiful and peaceful part of Hampshire full of bees and butterflies, ponies and pheasants. Here one can surely see the works of God.

From the Rectory Study

Happy New Year, from the actual Rectory!

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter as my family and I have officially moved into the Rectory. 

What a journey this Advent and Christmas season has been—filled with light, joy, laughter, community, and the profound presence of the Spirit.

We began the season with a heartwarming night of carols at the Turfcutter pub. The event was huge fun, raising money for our village school and bringing people together in jolly spirits. This festive atmosphere led beautifully into our Advent carols at Beaulieu Abbey Church, setting the tone for the celebrations that were ahead of us. 

Christmas was marked by multiple services across our parish, each a testament to the love and faith of our communities.

St. Paul's, East Boldre hosted a lively carol service, with young people leading the way. Whilst the Nine Lessons and Carols at Beaulieu Abbey Church was exquisitely traditional and with some particularly marvellous readers, the Abbey was packed. 

St. Katharine's, Exbury, on Christmas Eve morning saw the church full of village life. The singing was truly divine and lifted everyone's spirits.

One of the highlights of the season was the delightful, completely unrehearsed Nativity at 4 pm on Christmas Eve at BAC. Children came dressed as their favourite Nativity characters, creating a joyful chaos that brought smiles to everyone's faces. People travelled from far and wide across the South to join in the celebration and it was wonderful to see so many young people in particular. 

As night fell, we gathered for Midnight Mass, where I had the joy of preaching from the pulpit for the first time. The message was one of hope: a reminder that life and Christmas are not always perfect—and were never meant to be. 

Just as Mary giving birth in a stable was far from ideal. But out of the imperfection...comes truth... comes relationship...comes grace...comes life in all its fullness!!

Now, as we welcome the New Year and embrace the unity of becoming one parish, we look forward with hope and new beginnings. 

As the days grow lighter and as the earth turns back towards the sun, let us hold onto the assurance that we have received the greatest gift of Emmanuel, and that God is with us always. 

Wishing you all a blessed and bright New Year,

Rev'd Catherine 

Church Notices

Single Parish Status

For many years, our parishes (Beaulieu, Exbury, East Boldre) have been linked together into one...

Have you wondered what the colours within a church mean?

Q: What do the different colours of vestments, altars and other hangings in a church mean? A:...

Rector hits the Solent airways

Rector hits the Solent airways. Our new Rector told BBC Radio Solent on October 21 that she...

Our new Rector takes her first services

The new Rector of Beaulieu, the Rev Catherine Cowie, conducted the first services of her...

Beaulieu Abbey Church Opening Times

Beaulieu Abbey Church should be open to the public by these approx times below: Monday 10am...

Scrabble & Tea every Thursday

'Scrabble & Tea' held in the Abbey Church Hall. Anyone is welcome to join us, every Thursday 2pm -...

PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH

The Gospel speaks of welcome for all. Being faithful to this compels us to take with the utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening and responding well where it has.

For information, guidance & resources, please visit www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding. Further information is displayed on the notice boards in the Church porch.

Rector:  Rev Catherine Cowie

Parish Safeguarding Officer: Sophie B.  Email:  safeguardingbeaulieubenefice@gmail.com .

Diocesan Safeguarding Officer: Jackie R 01962 737317.