We are holding a Heritage Open Day from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday 14th September for you to explore our Grade 2* listed church with its unusual nave arcades, interesting monuments and windows. We'll have displays, an exhibition of our historic books and pictures, and an illustrated talk on the church's 800-year history. Discover bell-ringing at a demonstration at midday, and join a tour of the extensive churchyard with its listed chest tombs and war memorial. A programme and timetable for the Day will be available here from August.The Open Day is in association with the national Heritage Open Day organisation - see https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
In 2021 the Church Buildings Council published guidance on ‘Contested Heritage in Cathedrals and Churches’. Historic England has defined contested heritage as objects or places that can be seen as ‘symbols of injustice and a source of great pain for many people’. The CBC guidance focuses particularly on the issue of tangible memorials of people or events connected with racism and slavery. Here at All Saints we believe our mission includes ensuring our church is a place of real welcome and solace for all people. Anyone who enters the building will notice a considerable number of memorials, grand or graceful, marble or brass or glass, fulsome or very simple in wording. Each life remembered will have touched others in some ways. In 2023 we therefore established a small working party, mainly of people who had worked on All Saints’ NADFAS church record and were familiar with the historical background to our memorials, to consider them in the light of the CBC guidance. We soon decided that direct profits from the work of enslaved people were not the only issue we had to face. Many of our memorials echo or reflect in miniature the expansion of Britain overseas, including involvement in trades that we now recognise to be exploitative. Though it is not for us to judge others yet it is our duty to be honest as far as we can. So we have produced a short 16-page booklet outlining some stories that lie behind some of our memorials. Further and deeper study is needed, but we were anxious to keep our account accessible and straightforward. We called our booklet ‘Forgive us our Trespasses’: A fresh look at All Saints’ memorials, and printed copies are available in the church. A digital (PDF) copy with a list of sources is included on the ‘Notice sheets’ page here.
‘Sing for Joy’ takes place in church at 11.00am on the third Wednesday of each month. It welcomes everybody, of any age, from across the village and beyond. Its aim is to lift the spirits and revive the memories and to encourage friendship, through hospitality and a sing-along of popular songs and hymns following seasonal themes. It is especially popular with people affected by dementia and their friends. ‘Sing for Joy’ is free, including refreshments, with a retiring collection, usually for the Alzheimer’s Society. No special musical ability is required, just join in and enjoy. The next meeting will be on 16th October 2024, after a summer break.
From 2nd September you are welcome to fortnightly meetings on Mondays from 10.30am to 12.00 noon to 'explore the Christian faith' in the Orchard Room of the Church Institute. We shall shortly be announcing the next subject we shall be surveying, and the book(s) that will support our discussions so watch this space.Tea or coffee provided. If you'd like to know more please contact Rosemary Whipp or Susan Major via admin@bansteadallsaints.com. Or just turn up! We are an ecumenical group and look forward to meeting people from other Churches.
