News

St Nick’s Fayre, 2024 On Saturday 7th December, we held the St Nick’s Fayre at St Mary’s Church. Stall-holders, volunteers, and visitors all braved the elements on a rainy and windy day to share the pre-Christmas atmosphere, and to meet Santa (and his helper elf). Thank you to everyone who was involved, especially our volunteers, ... St Nick’s Fayre – 7th December 2024 Read more

Thank you to all who contributed, served, helped, and attended this year’s Autumn Banquet! With your help, we raised £1,300 — and had a fabulous time!!   Read more

On Sunday 29th October a quarter peal was rung prior to the Choral Evensong that included the laying up of the Royal British Legion Chalgrove Branch Standard. 1260 Grandsire Doubles Treble – Mary Riglar 2 – Geoffrey Riglar 3 – Gordon Smith 4  – John Tchighianoff 5 – Andrew Davis (Conductor) Tenor – Alan Keen ... Quarter Peal dedicated the Royal British Legion Chalgrove Branch Read more

Heritage Open Days @ St Mary’s Heritage Open Days are organised by the National Trust and take place at venues across the country. This year St Mary’s took part on Saturday 7th September and Sunday 8th September, opening from 10 am to 4pm (Sat) and 11.00am to 4pm (Sun). A short video (11 minutes) about ... Heritage Open Days Read more

On Thursday 15th June, the Friends of St Mary’s hosted partially sighted members of  MyVision Oxfordshire, led by Devante Claridge, and members of Oxford University’s Touch Tours available in their gardens, libraries and museums (GLAM service). The occasion was the launch of the new audio/touch guide to St Mary’s heritage features.  Also present were some ... Touch tour guide “launched” for people with sight loss Read more

We are delighted to announce that the Grand Barrington Bake Off produced a bumper crop of mince pies for distribution to homeless people living around Oxfordshire. The target was 400, and an amazing total of over 520 mince pies were produced.  Well done to everyone who kindly took part.  And, from all of us, well done ... Barrington Bake Off 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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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

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

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

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. ... St Mary’s Autumn Banquet 2019 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