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Friends Win Marsh Volunteer Award

Friends Win Marsh Volunteer Award

Marsh Volunteer Award Certificate

With the receipt of the Marsh Volunteer Award the Friends of St Mary’s have won rightful recognition for their amazing fundraising efforts.  They received the award at the Churches Conservation Trust‘s National Volunteer Day in London.  The award was because of their efforts raising £10,000 for the Keep the Bell Ringing appeal within six months.  As a result of that contribution, the CCT subsequently raised a further £130,000. Together this allowed the work of repairing the roof and belfry of the Old Church to proceed.

Continue reading “Friends Win Marsh Volunteer Award”
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Open the Archive – History Group Explores Records

Reading the Archive

Reading the ArchiveOpen the Archive

“Archive Night” is the topic of the next History Group meeting taking place in the Orpen Hall on 10th January at 7.30pm.  The meeting will be lead by group chairman, Peter Noakes.

The History Group has a substantial archive which members of the committee have started to discover and evaluate.  At this meeting, the group will use some of the useful information discovered by Barbara Skudder and Jon Lander.  The intent is to review the history and development of West Bergholt.  Much of Jon Lander’s published material is already available on this website, as he said in 1999:

West Bergholt has never been the site of a battle, Queen Elizabeth did not sleep at Bergholt Hall, there are no treaties or charters bearing its name.

People will tell you that nothing much has ever happened in our village, a sleepy little place in the shadow of Colchester. In fact, West Bergholt has a rich and exciting history of its own……

The Group hopes to encourage other interested members to help them appreciate more fully the contents of the archive.  It also hopes that it can be made more generally accessible to the village.  All, members and non-members alike, are very welcome to join the meeting (Members £2 and Visitors £3).

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Support Motor Neurone with Concert Band

Christmas Cracker Concert posterConcert Band Play for Motor Neurone Disease

The West Bergholt Concert Band’s next concert is in support of those suffering Motor Neurone Disease.  Taking place at the church of St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall, it starts at 7:30pm on Saturday 16th December when they promise to give a “Christmas Cracker of a concert, full of Christmas favourites, old & new”.

Music will include: Continue reading “Support Motor Neurone with Concert Band”

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Old Church Update – Ongoing Work and Mulled Wine

Scaffolding around Old ChurchOld Church Update – Mulled Wine & Mince Pies

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church can report that the repair work being carried out at St. Mary’s Old Church is underway. Unfortunately the church will not be open again until the work is finished; this is unlikely to be before mid-January 2018. The Churches Conservation Trust builders have found more decay in the belfry than they had hoped, so they and the architects are deciding on the best way to proceed.

NO Carol Service BUT…

Because of the ongoing building works, the Friends regret there will be NO Carol Service  this Christmas.  They will, however, be holding their usual Mulled Wine and Mince Pies gathering on Saturday 2nd December, 11am – 1pm in the NEW Church Hall. 

As well as the mulled wine, there will be coffee, soft drinks and sausage rolls.  There will also be an opportunity to renew membership of the Friends’ group to help maintain the church and churchyard.  This is just £5 per family.

A new selection of Old Church Christmas cards will also be available to buy, and a display of photographs of the work being done at the Old Church will be on show.

Entrance is free. The Friends hope to see you there!

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Gardens in British Art follows Pakistan Perspective

A typical Garden in Art from 19th Century
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargeant, 1885

Gardens in British Art

The most recent WEA course, Perspectives of Pakistan, is coming to an end and has been well received, read about it below. The new year sees a new course starting led by Sue Pownall.  It will address “Art Appreciation: Gardens in British Art in the 19th & 20th Centuries.”

This course explores how gardens have been Continue reading “Gardens in British Art follows Pakistan Perspective”