Everyone was invited to bring flowers to the church and the names of loved ones to be remembered were read out during the service. The church looked beautiful, filled with flowers and sunlight, and, although a solemn occasion, it was also a joyful celebration of the church and the lives of people important to those in the congregation and those who couldn’t be there in person. The rector gave a lovely, thoughtful sermon and it was especially good to see so many people in attendance from both the village and further afield. After the service, there was a lovely informal get together over coffee at the Anchor – thank you for your warm welcome and warm fire (and the biscuits!).
Drains were cleaned out, grass edges were strimmed, ivy was removed from walls and graves were weeded. Inside the church, the chancel had a 'spring' clean with furniture moved, floors swept and polish deployed.After a very satisfying and convivial couple of hours, coffee and cake, which had been well earned, was served. Many thanks to all those from the village who came and helped, including Slinky the dax!
Sadly, the gulls and terns this year now seem to prefer Scolt Head to the Point. However seals were seen in the water and everyone arrived back at the village hall happy and dry as opposed to cold and wet as they have been for the last two years.Philip Athill greeted everyone and Sarah Penrose, an old friend of Mary's, told everyone assembled that she had not missed a crab supper evening since Mary started them, but no-one could remember quite which year that was! A delicious choice of crab salad or coronation chicken was then served to everyone and afterwards all tucked into a selection of delicious puddings.Heartfelt thanks go to Jimmy and Jane Temple for once again giving us their time and boats and to everyone who helped set up, prepare food and assisted during the evening. Thanks to go to all those wonderful people from near and far who attended whose kindness and generosity helped raise over £2,300 for our beloved church. Thank you all so very much.
Over 80 audience members were treated to a delightfully joyous evening of pitch perfect singing by a hugely talented group of young performers.The church, beautifully illuminated in candlelight, provided the perfect backdrop for several of the choir to express their solo and collective singing talents and included many West End musical favourites, such as Ain't Misbehavin', Blue Moon and West Side Story together with established classics such as Ave Maria Stella (Greig), O For The Wings of a Dove (Mendelssohn) and Nunc Dimittis (Holst). It is such a pleasure to be able to offer our church to such a group to come and sing and to have such a large and appreciative audience for them - a great community event.Huge thanks and appreciation go out to Mark Jones, Director and Head of Chapel Music at Gresham's, Martin Halford and Jack Brown on piano as well as Michelle Wolfe for all her hard work behind the scenes. Thank you also to all those who attended and helped raise over £1,000 to support the upkeep of our wonderful church.
