st mary's old church Archives - Page 4 of 5

April 22, 2015May 7, 2015

Hillhouse Bluebells 2015

Friends of Hillhouse Wood (in conjunction with the Woodland Trust) once again invite you to attend their annual Bluebell Open Day, timed to catch the Bluebells at their best, on Saturday 25th April 2015. Having achieved major media credits in the past few years with The Times (April 2013) saying it was:

A superb springtime wood with a flood of bluebells enhanced by the light created by coppicing of hazels. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear blackbirds and nightingales.

… in an article featuring 30 of the best wild days out in Spring, The Telegraph this year saying:

One of the Top Ten spots to see bluebells in the UK

and then, the BBC featuring the bluebell woods in the BBC2’s show “Great British Garden Revival”, it is really worth a visit.

As ever, Steve Hallam will lead the guided walk, starting at 2pm (weather permitting) from the Old Church to see the bluebells and other spring flowers, butterflies and spring bird life, perhaps including early nightingales.

Maps, nature trail guides and flora and fauna guides can be collected from the Friends’ Information Point at St Mary’s Old Church. Refreshments will be available from the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church.

December 4, 2014December 4, 2014

Carols, Coffee and Wine at St Mary’s Old Church

Carols, Coffee & Wine at St Mary’s Old Church

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are hosting their popular annual Carol Service this year on Sunday 21st December starting at 2:30pm. Ideal timing to get the whole family in the spirit for Christmas.

For those keen to look around the Old Church, or to take out or renew membership of the Friends, Rhys Lloyd, treasurer of the Friends of St. Mary’s Old Church will be at the old church on Thursday 4th, 11th and 18th December from 10 – 11 am. He will be serving coffee and wine and would be pleased to welcome you.

November 27, 2014December 4, 2014

Christmas is Coming

Christmas Events 2014

Will you meet Mary and Joseph on their journey this year?

The churches in West Bergholt and Great Horkesley, as part of their Christmas preparations, are supporting Mary and Joseph on their journey around the villages.

They will be visiting the various West Bergholt Guide, Brownies, Cubs, Beavers and Rainbow packs in the lead up to the Gift and Parade service with the Uniformed organisations on Sunday 7th December at 11.00am. This will take place in the West Bergholt Methodist Church, Chapel Road and all are welcome to come to this celebration service.

Mary and Joseph will also be visiting other groups/organisations that are happy to offer them hospitality. Their itinerary is still being finalised but it is already known that among others they will be visiting:-

Bluebell pre-school,
Christmas tree festival at Great Horkesley,
St. Marys for young people’s activities.

This custom of the figures of Mary and Joseph going on a journey in the local community stems from Mexico where it is known as ‘Posada’. As we welcome the figures of Mary and Joseph we are encouraged to remember those who are homeless and outcast today and to reflect on how we might offer hospitality to others this Christmas. These figures of Mary and Joseph are travelling around West Bergholt and Great Horkesley to remind us of that first Christmas journey to Bethlehem. When they arrived no room could be found for them, except in a stable, but hopefully this year they will receive a warm welcome in the groups that they visit and there will be places for them to stay. They are keeping a diary of their travels which will be available at West Bergholt Methodist Church from their Candlelight Carol service at 6.30pm on 21st December onwards. All are welcome to join us on December 21st.

If your group is interested in having a visit from Mary and Joseph and would like to welcome them please contact Andrew Wilks to arrange this (01206 242511; [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]).

West Bergholt Methodist Church, St Mary’s Church West Bergholt and All Saints and St John’s Churches Great Horkesley.

Other Christmas Events not to miss are:

Christmas Coffee Morning 29th November

West Bergholt Methodist Church are holding a special “Christmas Coffee Morning”on Saturday November 29th from 10.00 to 12.00 in the Church Hall, Chapel Lane. Entrance is free and all are welcome. Coffee, tea, biscuits and mince pies will be available. There will be a variety of stalls including Home made cakes and preserves, books, jigsaws, cards and Christmas wrap, bric-a-brac, mystery parcels and novelty gifts.

Wired Christmas Party 5th December

Being held at St Mary’s Church starting at 7:45pm for Youth Group members.

Gift & Parade Service 7th December

The Gift and Parade service at the Methodist Church on Sunday December 7 at 11.00am led by Rev. Ruth Ridge is one of the Posada events. Gifts of toiletries will be distributed after the service to the Colchester Womens Refuge, the Night Shelter and Beacon House. All are welcome to join in, with the youngsters from the uniformed organisations and their families, for this special young peoples service.

Carol Singing at the Coop 19th December

A group from the Methodist and Anglican churches will be Carol Singing outside the Co-op in Chapel Road from 6.15 to 7.30 on Friday evening December 19th. More voices are always welcome so come and join us if you can for all, or just part, of the time – you will be very welcome.There will be coffee and mince pies available afterwards.

Candlelight Carol Service 21st December

On Sunday December 21 there will be a Candlelight Carol service in the Methodist Church at 6.30pm led by Rev. Ruth Ridge, followed by coffee and mince pies in the hall. All are welcome.

Carol Service at The Old Church 21st December

Starting at 2:30pm.

Crib Service 24th December

Being held at St Mary’s Church, starting at 3pm

Christmas Eve Carol Service 24th December

St Mary’s Church starting at 6:30pm.

Christmas Day Service 25th December

St Mary’s Church starting at 9:30am.

July 14, 2014December 4, 2014

Exhibitions at St Mary’s Old Church

Bluebells Pre-School contributions to the Exhibition — Bluebells Pre-School contributions to the Art Exhibition

St Mary’s are hosting 2 exhibitions in the coming month, one of art by local artists and another staged by the local History Group.

Art Exhibition

Currently being exhibited, are some large paintings which were painted by village resident, John Newman. They were displayed in St. Mary’s Church in New Church Road during West Bergholt’s Open Gardens weekend. The paintings feature gardens that were mentioned in the Bible including the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane. Appropriate verses from the Bible and information about these gardens are displayed alongside the paintings.

There is also some art work created by the children at Bluebells Pre-School. This exhibition will be displayed in the church for the next two weeks.

History Exhibition

The second exhibition is being staged by the West Bergholt History Group to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the start of WW1. This will be a small display from 2nd – 9th August.

April 13, 2014December 4, 2014

Bluebell Open Day & Spring Nature Walk

Spring is here…

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood, in conjunction with Woodland Trust, invite you to join Join Steve Hallam for their annual Bluebell Open Day and Spring Nature Walk. As the Woodland Trust say:

Hillhouse Wood is a mosaic of different woodland types making it particularly interesting. It has two ponds and two streams running through, but volunteers have been busy creating footbridges and drying out the path edges. A carpet of bluebells in Spring.

Starting at the Old Church at 2pm on Saturday 19th April, you will see the bluebells (looking like being a great show this year), and other spring flowers, butterflies and spring bird life, possibly including early nightingales.

You can collect your map, family nature trail, and flora and fauna guide from the Friends’ Information Point, by St Mary’s Old Church. Refreshments are available at St Mary’s Old Church.

September 2, 2013December 4, 2014

Heritage Day at St Mary’s (Old) Church

Heritage of St Mary's Old Church — Heritage at St Mary’s Old Church, West Bergholt

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding a Heritage Day in the Old Church in conjunction with the Churches Conservation Trust between 10am – 4pm on Sunday 15th September.

Heritage walk around

A walk round leaflet costing 50p will tell you more about this old building so come and find out more about the Old Church:

view the Royal Coat of Arms, which was painted over the chancel arch by order of King James 1 (reigned 1603-25) and only discovered in 1986;
examine the massive oak chest which dates from about 1400; and
try the seats in the 18th C gallery.

Other attractions

There will also be:

an exhibition by professional and amateur artists;
Christmas cards of the Old Church for sale; and
Refreshments available

Find out more about the Old Church on our webpage, the location for those unsure is St. Mary’s (Old) Church, Hall Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3DU.

May 7, 2013December 4, 2014

Hear the nightingales sing

Steve Hallam will be leading the ever popular ‘Dawn Chorus’ walk offering a chance to see nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. The walk will be through Hillhouse Wood and will start from the Old Church.

If you haven’t tried this you’ll find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s

varied birdlife.

Please bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch. The walk will go ahead only if weather permits.

April 23, 2013December 4, 2014

Bluebell Open Day & Spring Walk at Hillhouse Wood

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood’s popular Bluebell Oen day and Spring Walk is taking place on Saturday 4th May, a week later than originally intended, due to the wet winter and early spring.

The guided walk will be lead by Steve Hallam, starting outside St. Mary’s Old Church, Hall Road, at 2pm. The Friends’ Information Point, there from 2pm, will also have a supply of maps, nature trails and family quizzes.

Within the church, refreshments will be provided by the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church during the afternoon. In addition, there will also be an art exhibition there.

Bluebell walks at Hillhouse Wood were recently recognized by The Times as one of the top walks through woods in their Weekend Spring Special on 13th April.

Don’t forget to dress appropriately to the weather!

April 15, 2013December 4, 2014

Bluebell Walk in Hillhouse Wood

Following an unseasonably cold March and early April, the Friends of Hillhouse Wood have decided to delay their annual Bluebell Open Day and Spring Nature Walk by one week.

The event will now take place on Saturday 4th May with the guided walk starting from outside St. Mary’s Old Church, Hall Road, at 2pm.

This is a Free Event and all are welcome.

February 17, 2013March 17, 2016

Friends of St Mary’s Old Church – AGM & Illustrated Talk

Exterior view of St Mary's Old Church, West Bergholt — Exterior view of St Mary’s Old Church, West Bergholt

Friends of St Mary’s Old Church will be holding their first AGM on Wednesday 20 February at 7.30pm in the New Church, New Church Road.

The AGM will be followed by an illustrated talk by John Vigar entitled “Churches in Retirement”. John is a Trustee of The Friends of Friendless Churches, which is now the government body for redundant churches in Wales. He also works for The Churches Conservation Trust in England, which makes him the ideal speaker on the subject.

Light refreshments will be served from 7pm.