NEWSFLASH 20th May 2013. 

Service times are included up to Sunday, June 30th, 2013. NEXT SERVICES:  Morning Worship with discussion at 9:30 am on Sunday 26th May at Garsington, and cluster communion at 10 am on Sunday, 2nd June at St Giles Horspath. We are planning to reinstall the bells on Friday, May 31st, but do watch out locally for updates.

YOUNG EXPLOERERS is a chance for teenagers to discuss faith and chill out at the Rectory. The next is at 3:30 pm on Sunday 26th May.

We have a Fete in the vicarage gardens on Saturday afternoon, June 22nd, from 2 pm

The morning worship service on Sunday April 28th contained a historical introduction and discussion on the question, "Is it time to dis-establish the church of England?" . Led by Rev Dr Jonathan Arnold, this was considered to be very helpful. There will be similar sessions at the forthcoming morning worship services on the 4th Sunday of each month; the next are on May 26th and June 23rd. The subjects respectively are Islam, and Paul's letter to the Galatians.

The next Cluster service of the three parishes together will be at St Giles, Horspath on June 2nd, all at 10 am. At this service, Dr Martin Lakey, New Testamanet Tutor at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, will open a sermon series for June on Paul's letter to the Galatians.

SERVERS We are building up a small team of young people to serve at the altar in Garsington and our partner churches of Cuddesdon and Horspath. The team is growing and Molly, Katie, Thomas and Charlie are doing fine. However, there is always space for more. Speak to the vicar, Emma (see "contact us") if interested. 

THINGS ARE HAPPENING at St Mary's! The first phase of our current project is complete. The font has been moved (and looks much more impressive in its new location). The rear pews are back in their old place. The new servery was fully ready for first use on Easter Day. The church bells have been removed and the historic operation was witnessed by a large group of people.  They will be overhauled by Whites of Appleton, and retuned at the foundary in Whitechapel, London where they were made. This was in 1696 for the oldest of them! We are told this place is the country's oldest industry, continuously operating ever since the 1400s. Reinstallation is expected at the end of May / beginning of June, so watch this space for further details.

 St Mary’s Church, Garsington, stands on a raised hilltop site commanding fine views across the Thames Valley towards the Wittenham Clumps.

The wedding scene in "Amazing Grace" was filmed at this church.

The present church has weekly services with regular attendance averaging 30 people. Many more take part in activities such as bell ringing and flower arranging, while the biannual Fête (the last was in June 2012) brings a large number of people working together. Our congregation contains a good spread of ages, ranging from people newly moved in to others who have lived in Garsington for many years. A monthly family communion service is especially oriented towards children and younger families, and the church has strong links with the local church school. Visitors often remark about the friendliness of St Mary’s.
 

St Mary's has embarked on further development, thanks to a generous parishoner's legacy. The work includes an overhaul of the bells and the installation of a small serving area in the church. A repair on the organ pedal-board has already been carried out. In autumn 2010 the interior was redecorated and further restoration of decayed stonework around our windows was completed this summer (2012).

St Mary’s completed in 2007 a buildings restoration project costing over £200,000.

Our Sunday morning service is at 9:30 am and is normally a Parish or Family Communion. The Family Communion is normally on the third Sunday of the month but always check for variations around Christmas, Easter and in August. On the first Sunday in the month, we meet for a joint service at Garsington or one of our cluster partner churches of Cuddesdon and Horspath, so you should check locally (or above) which one is hosting the service. Cluster services normally start at 10 am.

St Mary's has a rota of three capable organists, so the organ is used for music on most Sundays. A choir has been formed across the cluster of our three parishes, directed by Dr Jonathan Arnold. The choir sings at most of our monthly "cluster" services and for special events such as the Carol Service and the occasional festival evensong.

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