Although Weeley as a settlment is noted in the Doomsday Book, valued at £19,- and one ounce of gold, the first mention of a church is in a taxation return of 1291. It is likely that a church was built close to Weeley Hall, the Manor of Weeley, where the settlement was at that time. Later of course the heart of the village moved away from these buildings leaving it in the fields as we find it today.

Little is known of that early building but by the 17/18th Century Archdeacon's reports were speaking of inadequate foundations and weeds growing even within the building.  We can assume then that this was a rather primative building and rather out of keeping with the substantial brick tower. General opinoin is that the tower was built early in the reign of King Henry VIII possibly about 1512.

By 1879 a parish meeting decided that the condition of the building was now critical. The Bishop had also apparently made "some very severe remarks concerning the condition of the church" Whilst consideration was given to moving the building nearer to the village the additional costs were prohibitive and it was agreed to rebuild the nave and chancel on the same site.  The old church was used for the last occasion on the 23rd March 1880, and photographs from that time remain on display in the church.  Work proceeded rapidly and on Tuesday 9th August 1881 the consecration of the new church at a service of Holy Communion was led by the Bishop of St Albans.  The rebuilding had cost £3369,-

The first recorded Rector of Weeley is "Nicolas 1194 - 1238. Thomas Toone, Rector in 1517, actually encouraged revolution against Henry VIII as part of the "Pilgrimage of Grace" he couldn't have been considered too dangerous however as he remained Rector till his death in 1547. The Revd. John Tood came to Weeley in 1604 but left to become Bishop of Down and Conner in 1607. His successor  The Revd. James Parkinson was the longest serving he remained as Rector for another 46 years. The Revd. John Marcus Morris (1943-1945) later launched the boys comic "The Eagle".

So St Andrew's Weeley and its Parish Priests have had a varied and interesting past. It remains as the Parish church providing a Christian witness and serving the parish as it has for nearly a thousand years.

To learn more about the church and the Parish of Weeley there is a facinating book "Weeley through the Ages", which was written by the late Don Brown who served the church as a Lay Reader for many years.  The book is available in from the church.