News

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 ... Read more

Since the beginning of October 2020, we have held a short service of Holy Communion at 11am on two Wednesdays each month. This service has provided a socially distanced communion to people who need it. To permit greater distancing, there has been a maximum attendance of 10.  Our next service in this series was due ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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. ... 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, ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Read more