Hertingfordbury Parish News: October 2003

St. Mary's Patronal Festival

Over the week-end there was a hum of activity at St Mary's, with a Private View on the Friday night, Arts Day on the Saturday and on the Sunday the annual Open Air Service and Parish Tea Party.

Many people helped to make this a most successful week-end. There were 24 residents in the Parish, who exhibited work in the static exhibition including work in good, photographs, watercolour, oils, computer imaging, glass, cake decoration, cane work, textiles for both clothing, interior decoration and utility, which was of a high standard. Two frames of copies of the paintings of Spencer Gore, buried in the churchyard, who lived at Garth House added a historic dimension to the exhibition. Alex Norris, pianist, played throughout the Private View, making wonderful background music for the event.

On Saturday, in addition to the exhibition, Tony Fewkes' Jubilee Film was shown twice, and much appreciated by all who saw it; there was Maypole Dancing by children from both schools in the Parish, dancing in teams together, having had just two rehearsals with Barbara Clay, a parish resident and teacher at Hertingfordbury School. The children danced well, and obviously enjoyed themselves and it was good to see the two schools involved in the activity together? There was a fine reading from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by Susan Hitch, Alastair Blyth and Michael Ayers, with Jeremy Secker's Macavity, The Mystery Cat, being a particular treat. Tessa Smith accompanied by Chris Benham sang "Piangero la sorte mia" by Handel, Der musensohn by Schubert and A Prayer by Rachmaninov. This was a very accomplished recital.

A beautiful flower arrangement, using sunflowers and flowers with strong yellow/orange colours was arranged by Sue Parsell ready for the Sunday Services. During Saturday, many cyclists visited the church, while undertaking the Diocesan sponsored cycle ride round the churches in the Diocese to raise money for the Bedford and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust, 50% of which is returned to the Parish of the cyclist.

On Sunday, the Open air Service took place, to a smaller congregation than in the past two years, but nevertheless there was a feeling of peace and calm. Jim Thornton played on his keyboard for us once again, which is extraordinarily kind, particularly as we could not find a 'cellist, flautist or trumpeter to play with him as he had asked. (Are there any of these about in the Parish?) All this was followed by the now traditional Parish Tea Party.

Grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the weekend in any way, and to all those who came to the church to support any and each of the events. We can now see the potential in using the church as a secular space as well as for worship, and must work towards finding a mechanism by which some of the pews can be moved easily, to accommodate various uses for which the space created could then become available.

Please note: Although the Hertingfordbury Parish News is produced by St. Mary's PCC, the opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the PCC.