November 2021 News

Colin Dixon, Chairman of Friends of St Mary’s, writes:

Following the years of concentration on the refurbishment of St Mary’s Tower and the installation of the new set of eight bells, the Friends of St Mary’s need some new projects to concentrate its fundraising on.

NEW TOILET FACILITIES

As it happens, there has for many years been an issue that has exercised the Friends of St Mary’s, amongst others, for many years, and that is the lack of toilet facilities at the church. Lisa and Christopher Overton have been very kind to allow the use of the toilet in the Malt House, but it is about time we had one that we do not use on a grace-and-favour basis.

The installation of the toilet will not be a simple matter as the Diocese will not allow a toilet inside or attached to the fabric of the Church, so that means it must go outside in the churchyard. Although we have identified a reasonably suitable place, there are additional complications: the churchyard (because it is a closed churchyard) belongs to the District Council and not to the Church.

Visitors to the cemetery would also benefit from the provision of toilet facilities and the cemetery belongs to the Parish Council. Furthermore, it would not be possible to restrict the use of the toilet so it would be available to walkers and cyclists also.

NEW LANDSCAPING PROJECT

While considering the siting of the toilet facilities, it would be advisable to landscape the churchyard where the old pine trees were removed earlier this year. That area is now distressingly overgrown and needs professional help to get it back into reasonable shape.

A couple of very important projects for FoSM to become involved with in the coming months, if not years. If anyone can offer advice, guidance or help with these projects, especially in the short term by pulling nettles and clearing the brush, then please contact me or Lisa Overton.

NEW SEAT CUSHIONS FOR CHOIR

The Friends have recently contributed towards new seat cushion kits for the Choir in the Church. These cushion kits will be completed by the WI which has also benefited from a legacy from Judy Chancellor.

NEW ROOF ALARM

The Church insurers had required that the Church has an alarm system installed on the roof to deter thieves from stealing the lead. FoSM granted the PCC a contribution of £1375 towards the cost of the roof alarm system which has recently been fitted. This was match-funded by the All Churches Trust which has also donated £1375.

WULFSTAN SUPPER REPORT

The Wulfstan Supper to celebrate the installation of the Wulfstan windows in the Church 10 years ago, hosted by Mark and Fiona Steeds, was a great success, and a good time was had by all. Mark gave a very informative talk on the life and deeds of St Wulfstan, the Hawkesbury Saint.

NOVEMBER SERVICES

7th November (9.30am) – Holy Communion

14th November (10.50am) – Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial

21st November (9.30am) – Morning Praise

28th November (5pm) – Evensong (Advent Sunday)

Join the Livestream Broadcast of the Dedication of the Bells

On Friday 10th September at 1.30pm, the Bishop of Gloucester will visit St Mary’s Hawkesbury for a historic service to dedicate our new ring of eight bells, the restored tower and refurbished vestry.

It will be an exuberant service full of music, with the bells rung both by the new Hawkesbury Bell Ringers and an invited guest band of expert ringers, and singing by the church choir and by the top class from Hawkesbury Primary School.

Wherever you are in the world, you are warmly invited to join us online for the service via this livestream link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs2chovwn7c&feature=youtu.be

Watch St Mary’s New Bells in Action

To celebrate the successful inspection of our magnificent ring of eight bells, James Joynson has made this five-minute video providing a close-up view of the bells as they chime.

As Bell Master for the  Wotton branch of the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Bell Ringers (G&BDABR), James is and responsible for technical aspects of bells and bell ringing training within the Diocese, and has been doing a terrific job training St Mary’s new band of bell ringers, led by Tower Captain Colin Dixon.

New bell ringers are welcome to expand our band – no prior experience necessary – so if you’d like to try your hand at bell ring, please don’t hesitate to email Colin Dixon for more information.