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“Christmas Crescendo”Saturday 25th November 2023
7:30pm in St Mary’s Church, Upchurch
Entry £10, under 18s free
Our concert will include Missa Pastoritia in F by Karl Kempter - a first performance of this work in the UK! Also, lots of seasonal music with some audience participation.
Please come and join us!
Refreshments will be available at the interval, courtesy of The Friends of St Mary’s.
For more information, contact UCS Secretary Sue Rossiter.
Sue Rossiter
The Remembrance Sunday service was led by Revd. Julian Staniforth and took place in the Church of St Mary the Virgin on November 12th.
The Upchurch uniformed youth organisations paraded from Drakes Hut as the rain eased and formed a guard of honour along the entrance to the south door of the church.
At the service, a very full church remembered all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and subsequent conflicts for this Nation. Eight wreaths were laid in turn in the Lady Chapel. The wreaths were on behalf of the Church, the Mayor of Swale, The Royal Navy Clearance Divers Association, Ferques (our twin village in France*), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and the Upchurch Brownies.
The names of all those on the Upchurch memorial tablets in the Lady Chapel who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and WWII were then read out in the order recorded. At 11.00 hours, the bugler played the Last Post and the two minutes silence was observed.
At the end of the service, the choir led the congregation out to the middle burial ground. Wooden Remembrance crosses were laid at each of the five War Grave Commission graves by past members of the Armed or Civilian services. After the crosses were laid, all those present stood in silent Remembrance on what was a damp and dull morning only brightened by the autumnal foliage. This act concluded with prayers.
It was pleasing to see the village showing poppies on lamp posts, knitted poppies on the church railings and elsewhere. In the cemetery, a blanket of poppies had been erected guarded by two silhouettes of “Tommys” acknowledging the fallen. My Royal British Legion thanks to those responsible for these displays.
*Upchurch Parish Council sends a wreath to Ferques for laying on Armistice Day when the French remember their war dead.
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”
Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser
Christmas Market with Santa at Upchurch Village Hall
Saturday the 9th of December
From 11:00am until 4:30pm
The Christmas Market, organised by the Village Hall Management Committee, is a fundraising event for the St Mary’s Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes will be provided inside the hall by Upchurch WI, with burgers and wraps available from Butlers Butties van outside. Both are donating from their profits to the Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Thanks to Upchurch Parish Council, Santa, in his sleigh with giant reindeer and elves, will be visiting the children at the Village Hall from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.
Last year's Christmas Market was a big success!
Don't miss this excellent village event this year.
Upchurch Matters
The art exhibition opens in St Mary's Church at 10:30am on Friday the 17th of November.
Local artists and sale of works
Tickets are £3 on the door - Children free
Please come along and support this very worthy cause
A JustGiving fundraising page has also been published to help towards the restoration.
Charity Registration No. 606311
Thank you
Elspeth Baecke
Upchurch Poppy Appeal
A team of local volunteers will again be making the annual house-to-house collections in Upchurch between Saturday the 28th of October, and Saturday the 11th of November.
Upchurch Parish Council has displayed poppies on lampposts throughout the village. The knitting group has added poppy crosses and wreaths to the church and post office railings. Two Tommy silhouettes are standing guard in the churchyard with heads bowed on either side of a beautiful display of flowing red poppies with some purple poppies amongst them to remember the animal victims of war. A post box topper is in place again outside the post office. These will remain on display throughout Remembrance Tide.
Remembrance Sunday Parade to the Church
The Remembrance Sunday Service begins at 10:15am on the 12th of November in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch.
The young people of the uniformed sections and their leaders will make their yearly parade from the Scout HQ on the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane to the church.
Leaving at 9:30am, they will march (accompanied by marshals) along Oak Lane and return at 11:30am.
Oficial KCC road closures and restrictions on driving will be in place this year during both the parades to and from the church. Further details are at: https://tinyurl.com/3ccuhfa6
Please be patient during this time.
If you need to drive through the village centre during the parades, please consider using Church Farm Road and Chaffes Lane instead.
Thank you
Wreaths will be laid at the internal war memorial in the Lady Chapel on behalf of the Church, Swale Borough Council, Ferques (our twin village in France), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and Upchurch Brownies.
After the service, crosses will be laid at the five Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves in the churchyard.
A wreath on behalf of all Upchurch residents from the Parish Council has been sent to Ferques for laying at their ceremony on Saturday the 11th of November.
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”
Thanks to Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin - Poppy Appeal Organiser, for the information.
Upchurch Matters
On the 2nd Thursday of each month.
The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church will open its doors again between 2:00pm and 4:30pm on Thursday the 9th of November.
The café serves hot and cold drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savouries with a great snack deal and stories and crafts to entertain the children.
You will receive a warm welcome and be helping us support four Ugandan children through school.
Everybody welcome!
Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team
Saturday 11th November between 10:00am - 11:30am
Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries
Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants
Something for everyone!
Refreshments
Please help support this ancient building - Thank you
🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕
Upchurch Matters
To all who would like a chat.
Since I lost my husband in February, I have realised the importance of getting together to have a chat.
A friendly group of us will be at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course again at 2:00pm on Monday the 13th of November.
Do join us. Just turn up - buy a drink, and come and have a chat in the Poolside Bar.
We meet once a month, but who knows, we may make it a more regular thing.
If you know someone who needs a lift, please let me know, and I will see what I can do. If you drive, why not offer a lift to a friend or a neighbour?
So you know who I am - you may already know me from the foodbank collections, the Rainbow Café or Uplift church.
I look forward to chatting with you all.
Gill Gay
Swale Foodbank Christmas Collections
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Upchurch.
The photo doesn't show the amount of food you provided justice.
There was lots - the shelf behind Georgina and Esther was holding bags that were mostly three deep. You are amazing!
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 1st of November and Wednesday the 6th of December, between 10:30am and 11:30am, when we are hoping to go all out for Christmas. If you could add Christmas treats or go completely Christmas for the next two months, that would be fantastic.
If you are able to provide long-lasting Christmas-type food, for example:
Christmas Pudding
Christmas Cake
Tinned Ham
Christmas Treat Stockings
Tinned Cream
After Eight Mints
Christmas Twiglets and other savoury treats
Biscuits to go with Cheese
Nuts and Crisps
Squash and Drinks
Please bring your items in carrier bags.
We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.
The Salvation Army - Christmas Food Hampers
I attended a meeting between Swale Foodbank and the Salvation Army. There is a big move to bring Christmas to vulnerable families this year.
If you want to drop off something Christmassy at other times, Upchurch's Co-op is kindly receiving your gifts and storing them for me to pick up and take to the right place.
St Mary's / Uplift and UPARA will be making Hampers.
If a group of you would like to put together a hamper, that would be amazing.
A hamper needs 20 or more Christmassy bits, so getting together in a group is a better way of putting a hamper together. If you are able to make up a hamper, I will pick it up. Please let me know Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk
God bless you - it might be getting cold, but with glowing hearts from helping those in need, we will be very warm, and we will help families get through what can be one of the most difficult times of the year.
Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️
Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
The young people of the uniformed sections and their leaders will make their yearly Remembrance Sunday Parade from the Scout HQ on the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane to St Mary's Church on the 12th of November.
Leaving at 9:30am, they will march (accompanied by marshals) from the Recreation Ground along Oak Lane and return at 11:30am.
Please be patient during this time.
If you need to drive through the village centre during the parade, please consider using Church Farm Road and Chaffes Lane instead.
Thank you
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”
Upchurch Matters
Saturday 14th October between 10:00am - 11:30am
Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries
Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants
Something for everyone!
Refreshments
Please help support this ancient building - Thank you
🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕
Upchurch Matters
On the 2nd Thursday of each month.
We enjoyed a fantastic and really busy Rainbow Café in September.
So many of you came and supported us. And the children loved their special snack deals, crafts and stories.
We will be doing it all again on Thursday the 12th of October.
Please join us when we open our doors between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.
You will receive a very warm welcome, and as you eat our delicious cakes and savouries, you will be helping us support four Ugandan children through school.
Everybody welcome!
Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team
Swale Foodbank Collection
Thank you, Upchurch, for your wonderful generosity to Swale Foodbank in September.
We were able to fill 3 trolleys and give £50 in donations.
This month is a special time when the church celebrates and gives thanks for the Harvest and for those who work so hard to provide us with our food.
It's a time to remember how blessed we are, and out of those blessings, we give to those who have little.
You do that month after month, and I thank God for your kindness and generosity.
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 4th of October, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Please bring your items in carrier bags.
We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.
Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️
Dear Upchurch,
Again, your generosity was a delight to behold.
Lots of you dropped off your gifts this month, and we were able to give £50 to the foodbank, which was donated by a few people.
You are a real blessing to those in need. You filled 3 trolleys, and under Rev. Julian's direction, we gave 2 bags away to someone in immediate need.
See the photo above, which also shows the lovely Esther, who runs Swale Foodbank and her colleague.
God bless you all ❤️
I will be collecting your donations for Swale Foodbank again next month at the bus stop opposite the church on Wednesday the 4th of October, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Can I also remind you that the Rainbow Café opens again on Thursday the 14th of September, starting at 2:00pm in St Mary's Church.
We will have delicious cakes, savouries, and the same wonderful kid's snack deal of 5 items for £1.
As before, some of our income will be helping 5 children in Uganda go to school.
Please come and support us - which you will do by eating our delicious wares!
Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Choral Singing Workshop
Saturday 16th September
Join Upchurch Choral Society for a day of choral singing and learn some beautiful music in the wonderful surroundings of our medieval church under the leadership of Vicki Stilwell, a professional soprano, singing teacher and founder member of Sonare
The day will start at 10:00am and finish around 4:00pm. The cost is £10 for UCS members and £12 for non-members. An informal performance of the music learned will be at 3:30pm.
Members of the audience will be charged £2 - thank you.
Parking is available at Holywell School.
All are welcome!
For further details and an application form, contact UCS Secretary Sue Rossiter.
Upchurch Matters
Saturday 9th September between 10:00am - 11:30am
Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries
Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants
Something for everyone!
Refreshments
Please help support this ancient building - Thank you
🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕
Upchurch Matters
Swale Foodbank Collection
Dear Upchurch,
A big thank you to everyone who came along with their generous foodbank donations on Wednesday the 2nd of August
It was a quieter month, but you still gave a good amount to the foodbank.
Thank you for digging deep and sharing God's love with the increasing number of families who find themselves trapped within the spiralling cost of living crisis.
I'm so concerned about how the winter will look for vulnerable people. Thank you for standing with us as we try to make a small difference.
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 6th of September, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Please bring your items in carrier bags.
We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.
Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️
On the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.
Everyone welcome.
Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team
Sonare Choir will perform at St Mary's Church, Upchurch, once again on Sunday the 1st of October 2023 at 7:00pm as part of their new 'My Soul, There Is a Country' concert tour - A joyous celebration of British choral music, steeped in tradition and wonder.
Sonare are a renowned London-based choral quartet bringing sophisticated and accessible choir concerts to the city and far beyond.
After the successes of three concert tours and a debut album, Sonare are poised to embark on their most ambitious project yet:
'My Soul, There Is a Country: The Best of British Choral Music'
The history and heritage of choral music stretches across the ages and from around the world; Great Britain's contribution is essential, stirring and sensational. Sonare's newest programme features unmissable favourites alongside underappreciated gems, with fascinating musical history commentary from the singers themselves.
Sonare Choir.
Whether you're a lover of classical music or you're trying it out for the first time, don’t miss out!
Book your tickets now, with a discount for advance bookings & under 35s, at: www.sonarechoir.com
And if you'd like a taste of what's on offer, click the link and take a listen to an extract from their debut album.
Upchurch Matters
