28 Feb 2021 – Leaving Service

Dear friends at St Mary’s,
It’s hard to believe that this day has come and that today’s service is the final one for Steve and I before we move to Shepton Mallet in the coming week. It has been so lovely to share conversations with many of you this week, to be reminded of things from almost 3 years ago which seem much further in the past because of the pandemic year.

We’ll gather some threads together in our worship and celebrate and give thanks for God’s steadfast keeping and hopeful future. It is at least a consolation to be moving knowing that vaccines are plentiful, restrictions will lift before long, and that the spring is coming and the way is opening up for us. For some there are many challenges still and I know you’ll continue to care for each other well and be bold in seeking out the lonesome and struggling in our church family and beyond.


It has been a privilege to serve here at St Mary’s and we’ll miss you very much. We’ve been shaped by your faith, your love and care, your interests, and stories and we look forward to hearing how God continues to build this community through you because each one of you has a significant part to play.

With all love and prayers,
Gill and Steve

Lumen Project Day 91 – The Move Back

Lumen Project Day 91 – The Move Back

It was a great day on Sunday 9th December, what was so special about that day. No special Saints day to celebrate, something better in the eyes of St. Mary’s congregation, it was the Move back into in to the Church building after 3 months of building work.

The work was completed as I have said previously the week before but we needed the time to get the church back in shape. The last post showed some of the members working hard on Monday evening, another session took place on Wednesday during the day, and this gave an opportunity for more members to take part. The jobs included Cleaning returning hymn books, cleaning the floor, vacuuming the carpets and putting back the last of the fittings.

The Sacristans’ were busy preparing the Altar Cloths and cleaning and polishing the alter furnishings. They also had to get prepare everything ready for the procession back at the start of the Sunday Service.

In addition to all this work a team moved in on Saturday to put our Christmas Candle gantries in place in preparation for our Christingle Service on Sunday afternoon, more of that in another posting.

Sunday arrived and we met in the hall as we have since the 10th September, the difference this time was we formed up with all we needed for the service and processed from our temporary home back into the Church proper. It was quite a moving time and we arrived to a bare Altar and dressed it again.

It was a good Service and Mary our organist played for us on our retuned organ.

It was good to be back.

I have tried to show you more what the church looks like now all the scaffolding has been removed and the rain has stopped so a few more photos of the outside of the Church. Also how pleased we are to get back in the main building.

This is not the end of the story. The work does not stop here we have the Soffits and Bargeboards to finish the outside and the floor to be sanded and sealed to finish the inside.

Lumen Project Day 85 – The move back begins

Lumen Project Day 85 – The move back begins

We are two weeks over due for completion but as I said in the last update the building work on the inside has been completed. As we were not sure as to the exact date we could get back in and the need to get things sorted for the Baptism and our Advent Service (See previous posting) we have been a little thin on getting people to help with moving all the furniture back into the church.

Decisions were made on Sunday as too availability and Monday evening was agreed on, all stops pulled out and a great crew turned up and we have got most of the heavy and high jobs done in the church. Still looks a bit of a mess but we will get there by Sunday, when we have another packed day with our move back for the Morning Sung communion Service.  Then at 4pm we have our candle lit Cristingle service.  Come along to these services and see what all the fuss has been about.

Just a thought the builder’s thinks that they removed nearly 60 tons of masonry from the church.

Just a few photographs of the crowed that turned up to clean and get the furniture back in place. Thanks very much to you all.

 

 

Lumen Project  Day 82  – The inside is finished

Lumen Project  Day 82  – The inside is finished

Let me tell you the last pane of glass went in on Wednesday and was in just before our midweek service was about to start. Charles Burge enter the hall and announced that the last pane of glass had been fitted. There was a rousing cheer. Not the quiet preparation you would normally expect for a communion Service.  But an exception after all the years of planning and waiting. There was still a lot of finishing off to be done.

Today is Friday 30th November and the inside of the Church is completed  All the windows are in place and the builders have removed all their protective coverings The Sanctuary Carpet has been cleaned  and now it is up to us to get everything back in place.

The Scaffolding is in the process of being removed  and this we have been told will be completed by Monday. So please watch this space for some Photos of the completed church.

Our First Service in the Church is on Sunday 9th December  we need a bit of time to get everything back in place, as many of the congregation are taking part in the Christchurch Panto tonight and tomorrow night we are limited with helping hands