From St Mary’s
Open Church - please join us for our community events in June
Over the recent months we have seen a great deal of change at St Mary’s through the building work and the way we see the church as much more of a community space. The narthex has provided us with a more flexible, usable space and we look forward to showing you around!
Cherish Your Churchyard: We have an amazing churchyard, full of history and beauty, with the most magnificent view creating a wonderful place to sit and ponder. However, you are rarely alone for long due to the constant stream of visitors from all over the world. During the Gardening Club sessions we can spend more time as tour guides than pulling up weeds. Most visitors come to visit the graves linked to the accusations of witchcraft. However, to me, one of the most interesting monuments is to a Jacobite who travelled south with Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Instead of continuing with the army, and almost certain death, he settled in Newchurch. The churchyard is also a haven for wildlife, we are looking at ways to enhance this – adding bug hotels, bat boxes, bird boxes and a hedgehog house.
Cherish your Churchyard Week is a series of events, celebrating our churchyard, during the week of 10th -16th June. The week starts with a Grand Community Set-to and Tidy Up on the Monday, between 6.30 and 8.30 – refreshments will be provided. If you can, please bring your own tools, however, there will be some that you can borrow. Gloves would be a good idea.
St Mary’s School Gardening Club will be taking part during the week. They have already been getting involved by planting wild flowers in plots in the churchyard.
Saturday evening (15th) is Nibbles in the Narthex. This is the Grand Opening of the new narthex, complete with live music from two local bands, The Real Village People and The Roughlee Ruffians.
The Sunday morning 9.30 service, led by Father Paul, will be held outdoors in the churchyard. In the afternoon, from 2.30 onwards, there will be children’s activities, tours of the church and churchyard along with food. It is a great opportunity to have a community gathering.
Recently the church has been closed, apart from for the services, due to the building work. We are aware that people are keen to see the building reopened. This will happen as soon as it can be arranged now the work has been completed. You may have also noticed fenced off areas in the churchyard. These are around unstable graves – work is ongoing to sort them out, however, this should not stop us opening the church. We are looking to have the church and churchyard open from dawn to dusk.
Please come and join us at these events. The church is changing. We look forward to welcoming you.