News

Sharing Life Trust (SLT) based in Thame, runs a foodbank which covers a large area including the parish of Chalgrove. As the area is rural, many clients are unable to visit the foodbank.  Instead, SLT deliver food parcels to each household. However, due to the cost of living crisis, demand for SLT’s assistance is ever-increasing. St ... St Mary’s Christmas Appeal Read more

Earlier today, Chalgrove Parish Council made the following announcement: “It is with great sadness that we join our community in this period of national mourning following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who died yesterday.  Chalgrove Parish Council would like to express their sincerest condolences and sympathies to all members ... The Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Read more

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Thank you very much to all who visited the Plant Sale in the Village Car Park on Saturday 28th May. We raised a wonderful £878 from the event. Read more

Christmas Appeal Update The pandemic not been easy for any of us, but the evidence suggests that, nationally, the limitations it has placed upon the ability of young people to gather and mix has not been especially good for them.  We are very fortunate as a community to have a good youth club right here ... Christmas Appeal Update Read more

St Mary’s church was filled with enthusiastic delegates for the symposium held on Saturday 16th October, and were rewarded with a day of interesting talks relating to the wall paintings in the church.  After a welcome by the Vicar, Fr Michael, local Actor and history enthusiast took over as our Chairman and introduced our conservator, ... On-site Medieval Wall Paintings Symposium Read more

Support our Striders Three groups of riders and striders took part in this year’s Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust event, which took place on Saturday, 11th September 2021. Lynn and Charles Baker walked in Oxford city.  Patricia Hunt and Bob Heath-Whyte walked 12 miles in our local area and visited 6 churches.  Alan Thompson cycled to ... OHCT Ride and Stride 2021 Read more

The Bells are Back! On Wednesday 1st September, the bellringers met and our bells chimed for the first time since the pandemic started.  There was a short time of reflection and prayer beforehand with Fr Michael, during which thanks were given for our preservation, and prayers were offered in memory of the departed. All of ... The Bells are Back! Read more

Parting Gifts For Revd John We were sad when Rev’d John Anderson announced his retirement, but two members of our congregation came up with a fabulous gift and keepsake to mark the end of John’s time with us. When, in recent years, following the major works to St Mary’s, the Methodist and Church of England ... Parting Gifts Read more

Welcome of Rev’d Stephen Spain and his Family The clergy and congregation of St Mary’s Chalgrove were delighted to welcome Oxford Methodist Circuit on Monday 23rd August at 7.30pm for a service of celebration and welcome for Rev’d Stephen Spain, the new Circuit probationer minister. The Rev’d Peter Powers, the Circuit Superintendent, and Rev’d Helen ... Welcome of Rev’d Stephen Spain and his Family Read more

St Mary’s, Easter Garden On Good Friday Fr Michael wrote Here are a few photos showing the progress on the Church Easter Garden, which is the focus of our public worship this Easter. It is a real community effort. Several classes at the school have been busy decorating stones, as have many members of the ... Easter services Read more

Though we can’t gather as we would like to due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we wanted to have a Posada-inspired activity here in Chalgrove. So, for 26 days (rather than the usual 9), various volunteer ‘innkeepers’ in Chalgrove will be hosting Mary and Joseph (and Donkey) for a night. There will be a prayer for each ... Posada 2020 in Chalgrove Read more

We really appreciated the Harvest floral arrangements that our flower team placed in the Church entrance at the end of September. They were beautiful. Since we reopened in July, our flower team have really gone the extra mile to ensure that the Church is attractively decorated. This has been made more complicated by the 72 ... Harvest Flowers Read more

Support our Striders Four members of our church congregation will be striding out for the OHCT Ride and Stride on Saturday 12th September. Lynn and Charles Baker and Patricia Hunt with Bob Heath-Whyte will all be walking about twelve miles on mostly public footpaths, to visit local churches. They will all start by walking to ... OHCT Ride and Stride 2020 Read more

Pews News is back! This new format newsletter for St Mary’s Chalgrove with St Helen’s Berrick Salome will be issued once or twice monthly, and whereas the old version was circulated in print form, the new version will be circulated electronically. If, however, because of disability or lack of a suitable device, you are unable ... Pews News Read more

We have received a thank you letter from USPG for our donation last year. the full text can be read here Read more

Thank you very much for any money collected in the Water Aid Jars of Change appeal this Lent. I am happy to receive the money collected either dropped off at 27 French Laurence Way or people are welcome to hang onto their Jars for now and give them to me once we get back to ... Water Aid Jars of Change Lent Appeal Read more

The Village Hall was packed with stalls and visitors for the annual St Nick’s Fayre between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 1st December. There were plenty of games to participate in and a chance to have one’s face painted, as well as the usual high quality lunches provided by Jeanette and her team. Raffles and ... St Nick’s Fayre Read more

United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) Information Evening Tuesday, 3rd December 7pm For several years, St Mary’s has supported the work of this charity, which both administers emergency relief and Christian mission in various parts of the world. At the information evening on 3rd December we discussed the various ways in which USPG help ... USPG Information Evening Read more

The afternoon concert on Sunday 22nd September was a great success. Our musicians were Chris Devonport, organ, Faye O’Hara, cornet, Roger Derbyshire, organ, Will Grainger, euphonium, and Alice Derbyshire, flute. They had selected just eight pieces for us which gave them a chance to demonstrate their respective talents and gave us the chance to hear ... Concert for Organ, Flute, Cornet and Euphonium Read more

On Saturday 7th September some 40 members of Oxford Psalmody, led by Edwin Macadam, visited St Mary’s at the beginning of a tour of four churches in our area. Arriving before 10am, they were welcomed with tea and coffee and cake. Accompanied by their own small band of strings and woodwind, they then gave the ... Visit by Oxford Psalmody Read more

“Chalgrove we have a banquet!” was the message, and what an excellent occasion it was, with the theme of the moon landing 50 years ago. The organising team had gone to great lengths to set the atmosphere with illuminated ‘planets’ suspended in strategic places, coloured stars flying across the chancel arch, and bunting for celebration. ... Autumn Banquet Read more

The church was packed for the Induction, Institution and Installation of the Revd Dr Michael J Lakey, as the Vicar of St Mary’s Chalgrove and Rector of St Helen’s Berrick Salome, by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher OBE, on Thursday 1st August. Visitors from Ripon College Cuddesdon and Michael’s previous parishes, ... Licensing of Revd Dr Michael Lakey Read more

The St Mary’s band of bellringers recently gained four new members when Maggie, Faye, Emilia and Jonathan were awarded their certificates of membership of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers. Congratulations to them and to the band for recruiting and bringing on more new recruits! Our photo shows Maggie, Jonathan and Faye with their ... New Bellringers awarded certificates Read more

There was no mistaking whose stall it was as the new banner stood proudly atop our gazebo. And although the weather was dull and cool, giving away free muffins to everyone who accepted the offer helped to add some warmth to the day. As well as handing out leaflets about the forthcoming Art Weeks exhibition ... St Mary’s at the Chalgrove Festival Read more

At a special service in Dorchester Abbey on 16th September, Andrew Davis was enrolled into the Fellowship of Saint Birinus by the Bishop of Dorchester, Bishop Colin. Our picture shows Andrew, third from right with his certificate in front of him, together with other newly admitted Fellows. Andrew tells us that it was a humbling ... The Fellowship of Saint Birinus Read more