The small church at Walton East bears much evidence of a rather thorough Victorian Period make-over but its origins are much earlier. More remote indeed than the list of recorded incumbents within the church might suggest – Thomas Thomas in 1698. The church was not originally dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, the historian Fenton in his Historical Tours refers to a 13th century document in quoting “eccliam Sti Petri de Waletuna” – a dedication, so it appears, to St.Peter. There is also some reference to a timber structure which speaks of antiquity and the meager resources of a distant age.
Of the reconstruction of more recent times little is currently known but evidence of the patronage of the families of Lloyd and Philips of Pentypark in the parish is very clear. The altar frontals are of a quality rarely to be found in a small parish church whilst the windows are no less than a blessing upon all who enter the building. They illustrate magnificently various episodes in the life of our Lord but there is also the sad evidence that all five North and South facing nave windows commemorate the untimely death of two daughters of the estate.
More recent memories of dedicated service may be found in a plaque recording the incumbency of Canon John Jones Evans 1893-1946; the needlework, in memory of husband and daughter, of the late Evelyn Phillips – a devoted worshipper through the challenging decades of diminishing attendance and a modern stained glass window in memory of Benjamin and Annie Elizabeth Bushell – a long serving churchwarden. Most recent of all is a gift of the latest incumbent Archdeacon Dennis Wight – an image in the Orthodox tradition of Mary and the infant Jesus.
Much more of the history of this church lies buried, it is suspected, in various archives yet to be examined but its continuing and widespread appeal is still to be noted in the visitor’s book. Individuals from as far afield as Japan, New Jersey and Vancouver have recently visited and so shared a little of their families’ past with the worshippers of the present day.