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Old Church Candlelit Carols

Join the Friends of St Mary’s at their Candlelit Carol Service

Old Church Candlelit Carol service flyer

Once again the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding a Candlelit Carol Service in the Old Church. The Friends look forward to welcoming you on Sunday 17th December at 2:30 pm.

The service is free and open to all and there’s now dedicated car parking opposite the church.  One of St Mary’s ministers will lead the service & Nicole Long will do the reading.

The Friends are also looking for someone to pump the church organ during the service, so if anyone is interested please contact Nicole Long on 01206 240443

Dress for the weather!

You are reminded that there is no heating, so dress warm, a cushion will also make the service more comfortable.  All are welcome.

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Hillhouse Wood AGM 2023

Images of Hillhouse Wood for AGM 2023 News item

The FoHHW AGM 2023 will be on 13th December

The Friends invite both members and non-members to attend on Wednesday 13th December in the John Lampon Hall at Orpen Hall. Refreshments will be served from 7 pm with the meeting opening at 7:30 pm.

Jonathan Jukes, Woodland trust Officer, will give a talk after the formal business has concluded.

Formal Agenda

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood

29th Annual General Meeting to be held in the John Lampon Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13th December 2023.

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St Marys News – The Winter Wonderland Edition

In this edition St Mary’s looks at Christmas & a Winter Wonderland

After hearing Revd. Heathers Winter Wonderland message this edition includes:

Christmas Message from Revd Heather

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

An AI generated image of a winter wonderland following Revd Heather's description

I have just enjoyed a wonderful weeks break away with my family, including our 10 month old grandson Elyan. Without giving too much away, and inadvertently advertising, our week was spent in Elveden Forest, in a place, I feel sure might be familiar to many people, ideally suited to family holidays.

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Free Christmas Concert with Vocal Zones Choir

Vocal Zones Choir Logo

Free Christmas Concert

As we approach the 1st December, the focus of Vocal Zones Choir is their Free Christmas Concert on 15th December in the lovely St Mary’s Church. As well as the music they hope that you will also enjoy Mulled Wine and Mince Pies!

An AI Generated Image of a Christmas Choir

They have been rehearsing very hard each week and are looking forward to their performance.

They always enjoy this festive event and hope that you will too. Choir director Emma Bishton has selected a variety of carols and Christmas songs for your pleasure, come and enjoy!

Entry is Free.

There will be a raffle with some wonderful prizes but tickets are cash only please.

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Old Church Annual Call to Mulled Wine & Mince Pies

Invitation To Enjoy Music, Mulled Wine & Mince Pies

This coming Sunday, 26th November, the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church invite you to enjoy ‘lunchtime’ Mulled Wine & Mince Pies with them. This is a free event and all are welcome between 11 am – 1 pm in the Old Church on Hall Road (CO6 3DU). This is also an opportunity to view the Mediaeval Paintings.

You might also want to take a winter walk before or after, if so you might want to check this history walk out on this website.

Fundraising

Mediaeval Painting

The Friends would be happy to receive donations, of course. This will help them with the maintenance of the Church and Grounds. In recent years they have received great support from the Churches Conservation Trust who funded significant structural repairs. There still remains, though, much work to be done including expensive conservation costs for the mediaeval paintings.

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Autumn Fruits & Fungus Hunt

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Woods is a Fungus Hunt

Following last months successful Autumn Fruits walk (report below), is the first Fungus Hunt for several years on 25th November.

Ian Rowing will lead the “fungus hunt” to seek out these elusive fungi. He will aim, with the help of those with him, to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. We will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.

The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. Strong boots or wellies should be worn, as we may encounter wet conditions underfoot! To join the walk meet at the Old Church ready to leave at 10 am.

The Autumn Fruits Walk – Steve Hallam Reports

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Warm Welcoming Space for Winter Returns

Warm Welcoming Space is Back

AI Generated Image representing a warm welcoming space with tea coffee & biscuits

The Care Network working with the WI and with support from the Parish Council is planning, once again, to provide a free warm welcoming space this winter. As previously, this will be in the Social Club Meeting Room at the Orpen Hall.

They will take place on Mondays & Fridays between 10 am and 12 noon starting on Friday 27th October.

Tea, coffee and biscuits and free Wi-Fi will be available. In fact, everything is free of charge, no membership or booking and all age groups are welcome. Meet others, come with friends or enjoy a little time alone – the warm space can be whatever you want it to be.

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Autumn Fruits Walk

Find out about local Autumn Fruits

A selection of the autumn fruits you are likely to see on the walk

Steve Hallam will lead a guided walk at Hillhouse Wood on Saturday 23rd September to seek out autumn fruits. Join him and you can expect to learn about local berries, soft fruits, nuts & seeds. He will let you know which ones to eat, and which ones you definitely need to leave alone. You will also hear the folklore associated with them. You can reasonably expect to see around 20 different varieties.

Previous years have revealed a pleasing quantity of late flowers as well. On one recent Autumn Fruits walk, walkers saw hundreds of:

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Vocal Zones ‘End-of-Term’ Update

End-of-Term Summer 2023

Vocal Zones at their Coronation Concert in St Mary's Church features in their 'end-of-term' report.

Vocal Zones Choir looked back on their two concerts at their end-of-term session in July. Jacqui from Vocal Zones reports:

Christmas & Mulled Wine

A big thank you to all those who turned out to support our Christmas concert in December.

Sea of Scarfs & Hats

Unfortunately, the heating system in the church wasn’t working on the evening of the concert. Consequently, as we looked out on our audience, all we could see was a sea of hats, scarfs and coats. We really did appreciate everyone’s support that evening. Regardless of the cold we all had a lovely evening, singing our hearts out to combat the chill and then drinking our mulled wine to keep warm and enjoying our mince pies.

Coronation Concert

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Abbey Road come to the Orpen Hall

Dance to Beatles Tribute Act – Abbey Road

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are hosting a dance with Abbey Road on Saturday 16th September. Tickets will cost £12.50 with doors opening at 7:30pm. Bring your own food & drink.

The money raised from this event with go towards restoring the Mediaeval Paintings found during the church’s redecoration.

There will also be a raffle and a short auction. pc.gov.uk

How to book

You can buy tickets by contacting any of the following:

Penny L – 07940 546646
Penny C – 07941 946410
[email protected]

About Abbey Road

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