Home Groups were originally set up within St Mary’s as a follow-on from the ALPHA Course and a few have now been running for more than 12 years. There have been changes within the groups, of course; some groups have had to disband and others have grown so big that they have divided into two. There is a great strength of friendship and support – given and received.

Home Groups

St. Mary’s Church is an open church. We try to make sure that the church is open everyday for visitors and for private prayer. Therefore the church is open from 11am to 1pm on Mondays to Saturdays but with extended hours on a Wednesday (market day!), which are 10am to 2pm.

 

Inside church we have a small shop selling Fair Trade goods, cards, gifts and Christian books. At present we have Christmas cards and advent calendars and candles as well.

 

So please do try and drop in; we always say : ‘Your first stop – St. Mary’s Bookshop’

St. Mary’s Bookshop

St. Mary’s is a ‘Fairtrade Church’, which means that we use and promote fairly-traded products. We feel that it is important that producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their crops, enabling them to feed and educate their families. After services and at committee meetings we use Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits.

Fairtrade

We also run a Fairtrade stall in the church, where all manner of Fairtrade foods are available. From muesli to drinking chocolate and from Bombay mix to Geobars, - we cater for all tastes! We can also order gifts from the ‘Traidcraft’ catalogue for you. The stall is available during Bookshop hours – Mon. to Sat. 11am-1pm, (Wed. 10am-2pm).

 

St. Mary’s also helps to promote Fairtrade produce in the town by providing  stalls at local Food Fairs and visiting children’s groups.

In an age where so much is available on a Sunday, and the demands of family life do make church attendance for some rather difficult, the home group is a source of teaching as well as a meeting place with friends. The basis of the groups is Bible study and prayer, the approach varying according to membership. Social events are fitted into the calendar, especially for the groups attended by the younger element. One group did, some years ago, arrange an 8-day holiday tour of the Holy Land!

 

New members are welcomed into groups from time to time. Carol Corney, the Pastoral Care Leader (01630 653137) is always happy to hear from anyone who wishes to join a home group.

St. Mary’s is committed to spreading God’s good news to members of the local community and beyond. To help achieve this the church supports the work of a large number of groups, both wholly church-based and branches of national (and even international!) organisations.

 

Read on for brief details of the Bookshop, Fairtrade outlet, Home Groups, our branch of the Mothers’ Union, St. Mary’s Bell Tower, and our beautiful churchyard and those who maintain it, and don’t forget to watch this page for details of other groups in future...

Homegroup members watch a DVD as part of their ‘Living Faith: Exploring the Essentials of Christianity’ course.

St. Mary’s is blessed with a lovely church garden, with magnificent views over the surrounding countryside, sweeps of beautifully maintained lawn, cheerful borders & several fine trees, including two large & ancient yew trees & some big old hollies. It is a source of peace & enjoyment, not only to the congregation, but to fellow townspeople & many visitors.

 

Mowing all that grass, a job beyond the scope of amateur help, is carried out for us by Ron & Neil Dykes. The remaining parts, keeping the borders neat & colourful & generally sprucing things up a bit from time to time, are undertaken by a small but effective band of volunteers. Further volunteers would, of course, be most welcome!

 

Working parties, lasting about 2 hours, take place on Fridays or Saturdays at roughly 4-6 week intervals from March to October. Much is achieved on these occasions, which are also filled with a great feeling of camaraderie & enjoyment. Anyone who would like to join us, please ring John Corney on 01630 653137.

St. Mary’s Church Garden

Organisations at St. Mary’s