A Christmassy All Saints' Church provided the backdrop for the annual Downton Band Christmas Concert. Villagers gathered to enjoy Christmas music old and new, including the medieval "Gaudete", "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" from the 1950s and from 1989 was "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Medley". The Band took requests for Christmas carols from the audience, and everyone joined in these well loved tunes. There was even some lively participation in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"!During the interval, there was the traditional raffle, along with mulled wine and mince pies. A retiring collection was shared between the Band and the upkeep of the Church, and gifts were collected for the women and children at the Women's Refuge.A great time was had by all! We're already looking forward to next year's concert.
In 1605, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, planned to blow up the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament on 5 November, with 36 barrels of gunpowder. This would have killed King James and a large number of the aristocracy. The plot was discovered, and Guy Fawkes was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.In Charlton, we celebrated with a huge bonfire and a wonderful firework display. Afterwards we enjoyed hot dogs, mulled wine, local beer, and of course, a raffle, in the recently refurbished Charlton Barn, by kind permission of Megan & Howard Taylor.The evening was ably run by Adrian Bright, with a large team of volunteers, to whom we are very grateful.Same time next year?
Edith, a very broken up 85 year old French dolly paid us a visit in October. She required the skills of three of our amazing helpers to put her back together: an engineer to make the connections, ceramics painter to tidy her up & our dressmaker to protect her modesty with new knickers and a dress. An interesting thing about French dolls is they have adult faces.
A reminder that 16 October is our next recycling collection day for used blister packs.If you have any packs to recycle and keep out of landfill, please take them to the back of the Church, or leave in the porch. If you are able to make a donation of £1 for every 50 or so packs, that will help our partner, SPURT, to cover the cost of the recycling process.Every little helps, as they say!#ecochurch #charltonallsaints #chalkevalleychurch
