Tag: yews

October 2023 News

Read about our recent activities, preview our next events and see how our funds are helping preserve St Mary’s for future generations.

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

The Friends of St Mary’s Pimm’s tent at the Hawkesbury Show is always a big source of revenue for the Friends. Although we do not hold on to the money for long as traditionally – this year is no different – because the money raised at the Show goes immediately on the trimming of the yew hedges in the churchyard.

Tom Hodder and his merry men will have completed the job by the time you read this. The churchyard does look so tidy when the hedges have been neatly trimmed.

It was fortuitous that the weather held fine for the core of the day, only succumbing to rain towards the end of the afternoon. It is always so sad when people’s efforts have been foiled by the weather.

The FOSM Pimm’s tent was busy throughout the afternoon with some hardy souls even staying through the rain shower in the afternoon under the gazebo.

Many thanks to all of our helpers who were rushed off their feet for much of the afternoon.

Thanks also to all of the people who bought Pimm’s. We hope you enjoyed the experience.

NEXT FUNDRAISER:
Gin Jolly (2nd December)

Our next fundraiser, organised jointly with the Village Hall Committee, will be the Gin Jolly on Saturday 2nd December.

This is a gin-tasting experience with expert knowledge and an excellent range of samples provided by 6 O’Clock Gin.

A delicious sharing platter of locally sourced foods will be served during the evening

Not a gin fan? Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss the fun – the bar will be open all evening with the usual selection of drinks.

Tickets cost £18 each and may be bought singly or as a table of ten. If booking more than one ticket, please provide all guests’ names.

Please contact one of the following to book your tickets:

Mike Bendry -07855744148
Jane Stanbridge – 07790 888321
Kate Bashford – 07969 397315

We hope to see you there. The tickets sell out quickly so you will need to buy yours soon!

OCTOBER SERVICES

Sunday 1st (9.30am) Parish Communion

Sunday 8th (6pm) Choral Evensong (Harvest Festival)

Sunday 15th (10am) Family Service (Harvest Festival)

Sunday 22nd (6pm) Evensong

Sunday 29th No service at St Mary’s Hawkesbury – but you’re welcome to join the Benefice Service of Matins with Holy Communion at St Mary’s Sopworth

October News

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

We had a very successful Pimms Tent at the Hawkesbury Show, equalling other years’ profits and boosting FoSM’s depleted coffers after the bells and refurbishments projects at the Church.

THANK YOU, SIR IAN

It is with some sadness that we report that Sir Ian Macfadyen has recently resigned as the Chairman of the Friends and the committee. However despite his resignation he managed to collect almost £1,000 in donations – he should perhaps leave more often!

On that note, Ian will not be leaving FoSM for good because we have just elected him a Vice-President of the Friends for his tremendous work in raising funds for the Church and acting as the Chairman for the past 15 years. Congratulations, Ian, it is well deserved.

From left to right: Sir Ian Macfadyen, the Rev Richard Thomson, Bishop Rachel of Gloucester & Churchwarden Linda Fairney

PIMMS TENT PAYS FOR CLIPPING OF CHURCH YEWS

Our most recent project has been the clipping of the yew hedges around the Church which is an expenditure that FoSM has traditionally taken on . The yews are now looking wonderful and they set off the Church perfectly.

It is fortuitous that the profits made on the Pimms Tent at the Show exactly matches the expenditure on the yew hedge clipping and has done for years. Buy a Pimms and clip a hedge!

In the spring we removed some old and dangerous pine trees that have overshadowed the Church, leaving a clear space and allowing a tremendous amount of additional light into the Church.

WANTED: NETTLE-PULLERS!

However the nettles – identifying a niche in the market – have now overtaken the space released by the trees and need to be removed. We need nettle-pulling volunteers with stout gloves and a stout heart – send me an email at coldix365@gmail.com and we will arrange a foray into the undergrowth.

FUTURE PROJECTS

We have identified a number of potential projects for the future which we could raise funds for and our help is needed even more after the Covid lockdowns and the Church’s depleted earnings. We will be covering them in more detail in later issues.

ST MARY’S NEEDS YOU MORE THAN EVER!

By signing up to the Friends of St Mary’s, you are making a statement that our beautiful Church is worth preserving and keeping it at the heart of the community. To find out more about joining FoSM, click here.

OCTOBER SERVICES

3rd October – 9.30am Holy Communion
10th October – 6pm Harvest Festival Evensong
17th October – 9.30am Morning Praise
24th October – 6pm Evensong

October 2020

Lisa Overton, FOSM Secretary, provides this monthly round-up of news.

It is very cheering to be able to attend services in our lovely church again, and we send sincerest thanks to Vicar Richard, Organist Ben and our Churchwardens for keeping our services going so well. We hope that before too long we may be able to sing once more. Sometimes we may have groaned at trying to heat, clean and maintain our very large parish church, but just as the moment it means that social distancing is no problem.

Tower Restoration Under Way

Many of you will now have seen the “wrapped” tower, visible for miles, which provides essential protection for the stonemasons who will be working their way down the tower walls in the coming weeks. Carrek, our conservation builders, are being tremendously helpful in letting us continue with worship and access to the churchyard and cemetery and we send them many thanks.

church tower from a distance
St Mary’s beneath its temporary veil

(Debbie Young chose the wrapped tower as the theme for her column in this month’s Parish News, which you can read online via her blog here.)

News of the Yews

The churchyard yews have been trimmed and look really magnificent. Many visitors to the valley and the church comment on the size and character of our yews and we should be justly proud of them, even if we don’t have quite as many as Painswick. 

There are many old country tales about yew and its uses, as well as its dangers. Old Jim Harford once told me that rubbing down a horse’s coat with fresh yew just before an agricultural show produced a gleaming coat. Do you have other folklore and tales about yew?

Can You Help?

We need to clear and clean the church gullies in the coming weeks. If anyone has some spare time to help with this on a fine day, it would be a great help. Please contact me if you can offer a hand.

Diary Date: Parochial Church Meeting

The APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) will take place on Sunday 25th October following the service of Evensong. As the clocks go back that day, the service will start at 5pm with the meeting at 5.30pm. 

This Month’s Services

4th October – 9.30am – Holy Communion
7th October – 9.30am – Morning Prayer
11th October – 6pm – Evensong
14th October – 9.30am – Evening Prayer
18th October – 9.30am – Morning Praise
21st October – 9.30am – Morning Prayer
25th October – 5pm – Evensong
28th October – 9.30am – Morning Prayer
2nd November – 6pm – Remembering Our Loved Ones
4th November – 9.30am – Morning Prayer