events – Friends of St Mary's Hawkesbury

February 2023 News

Colin Dixon, FOSM Chairman, writes:

The new west gate is now in place and, because it is made of oak, it should last many, many years. The old gate was very old and desperately in need of replacement.

Many thanks to Max Bleaken for sourcing and fitting the gate – it is an excellent job and we are very pleased with it.

The new gate is just one of the many things that the Friends of St Mary’s organises and pays for to keep St Mary’s Church looking wonderful.

The Friends of St Mary’s has only one purpose, and that is to support the church by providing the things that the PCC cannot afford or are displaced by other priorities for the money.

There are still many thanks that need to be paid for, so please join The Friends of St Mary’s, and your subscription will help to keep this beautiful church beautiful.

For details of our next fundraising event, a Festival of Words on Saturday 22nd April, click here.

FEBRUARY SERVICES
Sunday 5th – Holy Communion (9.30am)
Sunday 12th – Evensong (5pm)
Sunday 19th – Family Service on theme of Lent (10.30am)
Sunday 26th – Evensong (5pm)

November is the month of Remembrance which will have a special significance with the horrors of the ongoing war in Ukraine. We will think of their suffering and of those families now living with us in the Parish and separated from their loved ones.

At 7.00pm on Tuesday 2nd November we will celebrate, as usual, All Souls with a simple service remembering those who are no longer with us. Then on Friday 11th November we will have our annual service of Remembrance at 7.30 pm which, this year, coincides with that day in 1918 when all finally went quiet on the Western Front. Both these services deserve your support.

The new family-orientated service will take place at 10.30am on Sunday 20th November when there will be free tea/coffee, croissants etc afterwards. All will be most welcome especially those with young families.

The Parochial Church Council have recently met to consider the re-ordering of the West end of the church, with some or all of the pews possibly being removed at the back of the church. The options will be on display in the church and opposite Hawkesbury Stores for all to see and make comment. Do take the opportunity to express your views on what is your Parish Church of England church.

Some still seem to be unaware that St Mary’s has been open every day since April. It will have been closed for the winter by the time you read this but opened again when the clocks go forward in the Spring. It may also be open at weekends during the winter if the weather allows.

Looking further ahead, make a note in your diaries of the Annual Nine Lessons and Carols on 18 December (after the World Cup Final!) and a family service.

October 2022 News

Colin Dixon, FOSM Chairman, writes:

The Friends of St. Mary’s Pimm’s tent at the Hawkesbury Show went very well and much of the time there was a queue for Pimm’s. The profit from sales at the Show – once again – paid for the trimming of the yew hedges around our Church. The trimming of the yew hedges is a cost that has been borne by the Friends for many, many years.

Well done and thank you to everyone who helped setting up, serving and clearing up afterwards. And a special thanks to all those who bought a Pimm’s on the day. Buy a Pimm’s and trim a yew hedge. If you haven’t seen the newly trimmed yew hedges, you really must, they are looking wonderful at the moment despite a serious lack of water.

If you have been to the Church lately you will see that there is a second hand book stall to raise funds for the Friends of St Mary’s – many thanks to Debbie Young for setting it up. If you have a moment to spare come along and have a browse.

Whilst you are in the Church don’t forget to admire the Jenkinson banners (see photo above) which have recently been rehung in the Chancel. They are looking resplendent after their conservation.

The last few copies of the brief guide to St Mary’s Church are available at the Church at a bargain price of £2, to raise funds for the Friends. It is a very good introduction to the long history of St. Mary’s from the 7th century through to today. It is unusual for a church to have its own saint (Wulfstan – parish priest in 1035) and its own Prime Minister (John Banks Jenkinson – Prime Minister for 17 years)

You can also take away a free copy of “The Hawkesbury Bells” which documents the history of bells in St Mary’s Church and the casting, tuning and installation of the new ring of 8 bells. The booklet is dedicated to Stephanie Appleby, who along with her husband John, was instrumental in bringing bells back to Hawkesbury.

The Friends are currently discussing an evening event to be held on 3rd December in conjunction with the Village Hall. More details will be available next month but put the date in your diary now.

The Committee of the Friends is an eclectic mix of people from
within the Parish of Hawkesbury. However, we have two things in
common we love St Mary’s Church and we are not getting any
younger.

We need new people with new ideas and the ability to carry them
through.

You don’t necessarily need to be religious or go to church to see our church as a wonderful historic icon that would impoverish the Parish if it were to disappear.

If you have a few hours to spare each year and want to see St Mary’s Church remain as a monument of historic and cultural importance in Hawkesbury,please give me a ring or email.

FUTURE EVENTS

The Friends will be entering a Scarecrow in the Scarecrow Trail from 21st to the 31st of October.

There will be an evening event in conjunction with the Village Hall on 3rd December.

Don’t forget the FoSM service of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday 18th December.

The next FoSM AGM followed by choral evensong will be held on 25th June 2023.