Organ recital on Saturday 12/9/20

The Organ recital originally scheduled for June 6 then changed to 29 August will now take place on Saturday 12 September all being well.

Jonathan Holl will perform a recital on the recently renovated organ of St Mary's church, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the instrument. This performance is sponsored by the Berkshire Organists Association, which supports the work of musicians who bring organ music year by year to churches and to the general public.

The performance will include an eclectic variety of works by English, French and German composers, and will explore the capabilities of the instrument in its present form.

Admission will be free, but there will be a retiring collection, and we hope that you will be generous to support the Berkshire Organists Association and St Marys Church.

This recital will be confirmed after the next round of Government Instructions are issued on 15 August 2020.

Heritage Open Days 12 and 19 September

Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!

The Heritage Open Days for St Mary's church are Saturdays 12 and 19 September from 10am to 4pm.

St Mary’s will be open for visitors to look round the church and, if you wish, join a guided tour – you don’t have to book.

Unfortunately trips up the tower this year are not an option but we hope to have a handbell demonstration on 12 September. We also hope we are able to serve refreshments.

Harvest Supper 10 October

The Harvest supper is scheduled for Saturday 10 October in Popels Hall. Please keep an eye on the websites for the latest information in case there is a change of plan.

Friends of St Mary’s Winkfield AGM (2020)

The Friends' AGM took place on Friday 21 February 2020 at 8pm in Popels Hall.
Lesley Philpot, Chairman

Posted 24/3/17. Church re-wiring and electrics

Friends' funds will be required to help with the much needed re-wiring of the church. This project will be rolled out progressively as funds are available. This is strictly a PCC project, and must be managed by the PCC.

Saturday 7 December 2019: Music and Merriment Christmas Concert in St Mary's Church.

The concert was a great success. A report has now been published.

Wednesday 31 July 2019: We welcomed Huw as the official Vicar of Winkfield!!

This is a Parish event, but equally important to the Friends!

On 31 July 2019, a wonderful service of Collation, Induction and Installation in St Mary’s church, led by the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford established Revd Huw Mordecai as the official Vicar of the Parish of Winkfield, Cranbourne and Chavey Down.

The Crucifer led a procession of the choirs of St Mary’s, St Martin’s and St Peter’s, followed by visiting clergy, Ministry team members, Huw, the Church Wardens, the Bishop and other church dignitaries.

After prayers of Penitence, the Assistant Area Dean announced that Huw had been nominated and had been accepted as Vicar, and then led Huw to the Bishop to be collated and inducted.

The Bishop requested the ministry team to work creatively and faithfully with Huw and asked the congregation to welcome and support him.

Matthew Hemsley ( young church member) gave a reading from Isaiah, and Mary Knight, LLM, gave a reading from St Matthew. The Handbell ringers rang a ‘Meditation on O Valiant Heart’.

Representatives of the church community then presented Huw with the symbols of ministry: a water jug for baptism, the oil of healing, a large Bible, a copy of the Prayer Book and the bread and wine. Huw thanked them all.

The Bishop then asked Huw to affirm his loyalty and he made the Declaration of Assent to the Bishop, and turned to the congregation for the oaths of Allegiance and Canonical Obedience, and then signed them.

The congregation stood while the Bishop read the Deed of Collation, and commended Huw and the Ministry Team to the prayers of the people.

Then the Bishop delivered the Mandate of Induction to the Archdeacon. The Church Wardens led Huw and the Archdeacon to the door of the church where the Church Wardens presented Huw with the keys of all three churches. The Archdeacon then led Huw to his stall in the church.

Now in his official place, Huw led the Prayers of Intercession and gave out the notices – his first as Vicar of the Parish.

At this point in the service the Bishop presented Mary Knight with a certificate for Reader Emeritus and thanked her for all she had done over her thirty plus years as a Licensed Lay Minister. Anne Crewe also took her oath as Church Warden at St Peter’s.

During the final hymn the Crucifer led the procession out to the church path.

After the service many stayed for refreshments and for a celebration of Huw’s 60th birthday, presenting him a birthday present and many cards. The evening ended with a glorious rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.

A personal note from Huw

Huw writes "I was very deeply grateful for all the support I was given in public by those of you who could attend my Collation service, when I officially became Vicar of this Parish. (It’s the more surprising as you’ve seen my rough edges by now, and yet still want me!) At the end of that service I was surprised to receive a birthday present – a Doctor Who money box, and a very generous amount of vouchers for Marks and Spencer. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and to all of you for the support you have given me over the last three years, and especially recent months. I feel very fortunate to work with three such wonderful churches.

Saturday 8 June 2019: Celebratory Organ Concert

The Friends of St Mary’s Winkfield organised this celebratory recital to mark the renovation of St Mary’s organ. The recital was very generously sponsored by members of the Friends of St Mary’s, including ample refreshments after the recital itself, and we would like to offer warmest thanks to these sponsors on behalf of the attendees. Jonathan Holl provided the account that follows.

Following the restoration of the organ by Tarquin Wiggins, David Goode, Organist of Eton College and an international recitalist, came to show us what the organ can do. He chose a varied programme to highlight the tonal colours of the organ. Beginning with Bach, he played the large-scale Prelude and Fugue in E flat – the fugue being on the theme of ‘O God our help in ages past’. Two Chorale Preludes were sandwiched between the Prelude and Fugue. We were all amazed by David’s accomplished technique, with passages of fast semiquavers performed with perfect clarity. He continued with a short piece by the French composer Nicolas de Grigny to show off the Cornet sound on the organ.

David played music composed in the Victorian era, a Chorale Prelude by Parry and two Vesper Voluntaries by Elgar. Between these pieces he played a Chorale Prelude by the Norwegian composer Sven-David Sandström. This was composed as part of the project to complete the Orgelbüchelein, a collection of preludes on ecclesiastical themes that Bach never completed.

The penultimate piece was a playful Scherzo from Louis Vierne’s Symphonie No.1 before Mendelssohn’s Prelude and Fugue in D minor which brought the recital to a dramatic close.

David spoke briefly but with great interest about the programme. We were privileged to have such a renowned organist and everyone marvelled at his virtuosity and musicianship.

Jonathan Holl

Here is a link to the concert programme.

Friday 28 February: 2019 AGM of the Friends of St Mary's Winkfield

The important Annual General Meeting took place on 28/2/18 at Popel's Hall. Reports by the Chairman and the Treasurer shwed that the Friends had had a very successful 2018, and look forward to an equally successful 2019.

A full write-up of the AGM can be found on the AGM page.

Saturday 1 December 2018: Music and Merriment Christmas Concert in St Mary's Church.

The concert took place on Saturday 1/12/18, and was a great success - "It really was a wonderful evening" wrote a mum of a Junior Choir member. A report has now been published.

Many thanks to the kind organisations that supported this fund-raising concert by advertising in the concert handout. They were

• Drayton Boiler Services
• EXTEND EXERCISE
• Tiggywinkles
• MBS book-keeping and payroll services Services

St Mary's organ celebrated its first major performance after its renovation at this concert.

Wednesday 29 August 2018 Family Funday, starting 12:30pm

The 2018 Family Funday took place on Wednesday 29 August from 12:30 pm at Carnation Hall, Chavey Down Road, RG42 7PA

Pipe sponsorship campaign

The pipe sponsorship campaign is now complete and closed, having raised just under £8,500. More details on the organ and the organ appeal pages.

Saturday 12 May 2018 Plant Sale at St Mary's Church

The St Mary's Women's Guild held a second Plant Sale on Saturday 12 May to raise money for St Mary’s Church. Although the weather was disappointing, the event made £1092.50, including some generous donations with Gift Aid. Thank you very much to all who came to support the event, to the many helpers, and to those who donated so kindly to the proceeds. The funds have been sent to the PCC.

Thank you for your support.

Generated 14-Aug-2020 14:15:29