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The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Upchurch - A Brief History and Guide. |
Our Parish church is over 700 years old during which time much has happened. The guide has been updated this year and reprinted to include photographic illustrations. It will be of interest to all in the Parish and elsewhere.
The guide priced at £2.50 will make an excellent and inexpensive Christmas gift or stocking filler. All money raised from its sale will benefit the charity ‘Friends of St. Mary’s’ whose purpose is to ensure the building exists in 700 years time for the benefit of future generations.
Copies can be obtained from the church or myself. If you would like me to post a copy second class within the UK then please add 50p for p&p.
Gerry Lewin - Chairman of ‘The Friends’
135 Oak Lane, Upchurch ME9 7AY.
Tel: 01634 366113 or Email: lewing135@btinternet.com
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| Click poster to enlarge. |
Dave Candy
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| Click poster to enlarge. |
Dave Candy
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St. Mary's Church Upchurch. |
Sunday 2nd December 9:00 am Our ‘Welcome Communion Service’....slightly less formal than usual, following on from our Back to Church Sunday. Led by our choir, come and enjoy with us, and stay for refreshments after – we’d love to chat with you.
Also on the 2nd at 10:30 am our Uplift All age service in the Village Hall.
Sunday 9th December 9:00 am Our normal Sung Communion Service... refreshments after.
Sunday 16th December No 9:00 am service – but there is our Uplift all age service in the Village Hall.
Also on the 16th at 4:00 pm WE ARE HOLDING OUR INFORMAL CAROL SERVICE! We would love to welcome you, a mixture of carols, stories, Christmas facts, and crackers! Mince pies and punch after!
Also on the 16th we start our Christmas Tree festival, you are invited to supply a Christmas Tree – real, artificial or hand made – any size and it can have lights on if you like! Bring it to the church to help build up our festival of trees! Entirely a fund rasing event for E.L.F. Eliminate Leukemia Fund – a cause close to the hearts of us all. The Church will be open for a time everyday until Christmas to enable everyone to enjoy seeing the display......seasonal refreshments will be served and it will be warm! Come and enjoy, just watch out for poster on opening hours. Also would you like to offer an hour on our rota? Queries ? Our Church Wardens Jill Rothery on: 01634 389530 or Elizabeth Shorthouse on: 01634 364676.
Wednesday 19th December Come Carol Singing! Meet at Upchurch Church for a 6:00 pm. start ....if you’re late, we’ll leave details on the church door. This is also on behalf of E.L.F. - Eliminate Leukemia Fund. Hot Coffee and mince pies in the church after for whoever would like to join us.
Thursday 20th December 9:30 am Holywell School will be holding their Christingle service in the church.
Sunday 23rd December 9:00 am Sung Communion Service with our choir.....we would love you to join us...Christmas refreshments after.
Monday 24th December CHRISTMAS EVE! 5:30 pm Our popular Crib service...come and hear the Christmas story, help us build up the Nativity Scene and sing the carols with us. Surprises for the children.......and the clock will be ticking away!
Then at 7:30 pm our traditional 9 lessons and carols service. Choir led, this centuries old service still attracts so many people to take part.
Tuesday 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY! We will be holding our Christmas Sung Communion Service at 9a.m. and hope to welcome you all! It’s a great way to start Christmas Day and you’ll be home just after 10:00 am!
Sunday 30th December There will not be a service as we are all going to Iwade to share our 6 church benefice service with Revd. Ron Partridge who is retiring the next day! It starts at 10:30am
2013
Sunday 6th January 9:00 am Our ‘Welcome Communion Service’ again, it is slightly less formal, and suitable for everyone!
At 10:30 am in the Village Hall, there will be our Uplift all age service.
Sunday 13th January 9:00 am Sung Communion service with refreshments after.
Sunday 20th January No 9:00 am Service but there will be Uplift all age service in the Village Hall.
Also on the 20th of January at 6:30 pm we will be holding our ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE in the church. For all those who have been bereaved, particularly within the last two years, we invite you all to join us for a candle lit service, in which your loved one’s names are read out and you are invited to light a candle and to receive a candle as well. As the candle lights mount up, we enjoy a huge area of burning candles, a symbol of our love for all those who have gone ahead of us. It is not a mournful service - on the contrary it is full of hope and precious memories. All are invited, just come! Queries? Revd. Jacky on: 01795 842557.
Sunday 27th January 9:00 am Sung Communion service with refreshments after.
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| “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM” |
The total collection in Upchurch in 2012 is above £2,280. Of this amount £709 was collected in business or retail outlets and the pupils and staff of Holywell School donated £53 The house-to-house Poppy Appeal collection in Upchurch was undertaken in all areas of the Parish by thirteen collectors.
St. Mary the Virgin had a large congregation of all ages for the Remembrance Sunday service conducted by Reverend Jacky Davis. Five wreaths were laid below the memorial tablet in the Lady Chapel. Also village school children sang ‘Remember’.
After the service Reverend Davis led the choir, the uniformed youth organisations and the congregation in the autumnal sunshine to the burial ground were wooden crosses were laid at the five war commission graves. We were mindful of current losses and injuries in Afghanistan suffered by our Armed Forces.
The Poppy Appeal makes it possible for the Royal British Legion to help Armed Forces families with £1.7 million each week in direct welfare support – that is £90 million each year, answering more than 165,000 calls for help. This year the Royal British Legion secured a commitment to have the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant written into law - an historic first.
On behalf of the Royal British Legion thank you for your generosity.
For more information visit: The Royal British Legion website Here
Cllr Gerry Lewin - Upchurch Poppy Day Appeal Organiser
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On Wednesday the 28th of November, Upchurch Darby and Joan Club host their annual Christmas Bazaar from 10:00am - 12:00pm at Upchurch Village Hall.
All welcome!
Janet Gilbert
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