ST MARY THE VIRGIN MENDLESHAM
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Recent News and Events

Christian Aid Week
​was 15 - 21 May

A wonderful result from Mendlesham Parish this year, totalling  
​
£1614.08 (£1516.18 + £98.90 Gift Aid) 
The Coffee Morning at the URC  raised £200,  House-to-House collections in Mendlesham & Mendlesham Green raised £1086.18 and Online donations £230.
Thank you to everyone who supported this worthwhile cause.

​Additional Curates Society
Collection in Lent raised £344.96. Thank you to all who gave.

Thank you

To Sue Palmer who has completely restored the cover for the font in the North Porch in beautiful solid oak.
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The font, which came from the redundant church at Rishangles when it was converted into a house, is said to date from the 16th century. Against the stem in niches are figures in the dress of 1530. It has the symbols of the 4 evangelists (Matthew (angel), Mark (lion), Luke (ox) & John (eagle)) alternating with symbols of Christ’s crucifixion. 
​​The font has been adapted for use as a holy water stoup; when we enter and leave the church building we can make the sign of the Cross on our forehead with the water to remind ourselves of - and renew - our Baptismal commitment.
The restored cover was blessed at the beginning of Parish Mass on Sunday 26 June 2022

HM Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Celebration Event
Friday 3rd June 2022

Friday 3rd June 2022 - an enjoyable afternoon in the south churchyard and church with locally brewed Elizabeth Ale +wine, soft drinks, hot dogs, ice creams, afternoon teas, children's activities and music, including live performance with local vocalist/guitarist Lou Sextey, guitarist Ant Ripley and drummer Chris Elstone and recorded music thanks to the Parish Council PA system manned by Stuart Larkin & Simon Furze.
A magnificent £1,130 profit was made for church funds. Thanks to all who helped and supported.
5th June 2022: 5.00 pm Platinum JubileeThanksgiving Service

Sunday 1st May 2022: May Fiesta

Sunday 9th Jan
Baptism of Our Lord: Plough Sunday

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THANK YOU to our good friends from East Suffolk Morris, who danced in the Mass and afterwards outside the King's Head pub and to Paul, the landlord, for the generous refreshments. You can see some of the dancing on the St Mary the Virgin Mendlesham Facebook page via the link  on our Worship page for Sunday 9th Jan.
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Thank you to all who donated: 
to the Carol Singing collection and ‘Sockbank’ for St MARTIN’S HOUSING TRUST - £355 plus 179 hats, over 100 pairs of socks, 31 pairs of gloves and assorted bedding. Thank you to Graham and Annita for transporting this to Norwich last Sunday, when it was most gratefully receive
d. 
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Thank you to all who gave at the Carol Service and to the Crib appeal for CHRISTIAN AID. Combined total: £568.22 (£510.72 plus £57.50 Gift Aid) and to 
Val for organising the Christian Aid appeal

You can donate online via the Just Giving page by clicking here

Saturday 23rd October
MEMORIAL SERVICE
for all parishioners who died during the pandemic

Click on the image below or go to https://www.facebook.com/stmarysmendlesham  and go to 'live' or 'videos' if it doesn't appear straight away. All video recordings remain available afterwards - click on 'videos'
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 ORDER OF SERVICE (in WORD) (PDF version here)
Coffee & Tea were served after the service
Those who died shortly before or during the pandemic were unable to have a funeral service which all relatives and friends could attend.
 
Those commemorated were:
Val Ager, William Cameron, Frederick (Chas) Charles, Roy Colchester, ​Michael Denny, Eddie Derrick,
Keith Forsdike, David Haines, Anne Herron,
Roger Keeble, Peggy Knock, Fiona MacLean, Diana (Dizzy) Morgan, Russell Pipe, Barbara Pyett,
Gary Robbins, Iris Roshier, James Shave,
Janet Simmons, Betty Tittle, Gordon Tozer & 
​Fr Timothy van Carrapiett
 
They were remembered by name and a candle was lit for each of them.


Thank you

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13th August 2021
Summer Festival (Patronal Festival of the Assumption)

Blessing of beer (Mendlesham's Best Assumption Celebration Edition 2021), Mass (principal celebrant & preacher, the Bishop of Richborough), Procession and Benediction - followed by hot dogs, drinks, and a draw in the South Churchyard and grand firework display to round off the evening. To read more about the festival, click ​here

22nd July 2021
​Holy Confirmation of George, Max and Harry

by the Bishop of Richborough. This was the first occasion after the lockdown that we were able to sing hymns.

11th July 2021
​Max and Harry's Baptism and their and George's First Communion

A very special occasion when two young men, Max and Harry, who have recently become part of our worshipping community, were Baptised during the Parish Mass, when they and another young man, George, received their first Holy Communion. We look forward to their Confirmation on 22nd July. You can see the recording of their Baptism via the link ​here

Good News

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We have just heard that we have been awarded a grant of £500 from the diocesan Growing in God Growth Fund so we can upgrade the livestreaming equipment and infrastructure. We are most grateful to those who awarded this grant as it means we can continue to livestream our worship and the church will have its own equipment rather than relying on members of the congregation to use their own.

Half-century by Eric - and Brian - winding the church clock since 1971

On  Saturday, 23rd Jan, Eric Bauly had been winding the 135 year-old clock on/in Mendlesham church tower for an amazing 50 years. It's the only public clock in the village and one of those things people tend to take for granted,  but whose chimes we would definitely miss if it were to stop. 

Eric's labour of love, which began in 1971 when he was in his early twenties, involves climbing 42 steps in the tower (and, of course, down again) and although for the first 40 or so years that was once a week, in recent years he has done it twice a week. That's because the clock loses 30 seconds a week - sometimes more depending on the weather- and he likes to set it as accurately as possible, so it is quite a commitment. Frequently he can be seen waiting with his watch in hand to check that the chime is spot on. (The bell which is chimed by the clock hammer is the 15 hundredweight tenor bell, which has been in the tower since 1575.) 

Eric's  brother, Brian has been his 'understudy' for all those 50 years when he's been unwell or on holiday etc., and they were presented with tokens of our appreciation at the end of Parish Mass on 24th January.
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Thank you, Eric and Brian; this is quite an achievement!

Thank you....


  1. to Ralph Lambert for the wonderful tree for our church and to Ray Clements and his family of happy helpers for transporting it from Wetheringsett, setting it up and eventually dismantling it.
  2. to Adrian and Liz Palfrey for decorating (and undecorating) it, to Adrian for lighting the outside tree and crib and to Amy Nicholson for arranging the figures.
  3. to all who took part in the ‘Doorstep Carols’ alongside Radio Suffolk.
  4. to Val Arnold for her work throughout the year for Christian Aid and to Graham Baker and Anita Scruby for promoting St Martin’s Housing Trust, Norwich and taking two lots of socks collected in our Sockbank to Norwich.
  5. to Simon Furze and Stuart Larkin for arranging the PA system for the Christmass Eve Carol Service, to Tim Mack for setting up and taking down the Football Club lights and to Hugh Percival for doing the same with the string of lights between the trees. Also to Andy Davey, Michael Rosier, Graham Baker, Anita Scruby, Andrew Fleming and Andrew & Tom Gray for stewarding on that very wet night, which was a wonderful community effort despite far fewer being able to attend because of Covid restrictions and the torrential rain.
  6. to Chris Elstone for livestreaming the Parish Mass each week and the extra services at Christmass.
  7. to the family and friends of Jim Baker who gave a total of £1,143.75 (£915 + £228.75 Gift Aid) to his collection for the Friends of St Mary’s.

Christmass 2020 Charity Appeals for the homeless & destitute

Thank you to all who generously gave money, socks, food or toiletries; to Val for arranging the Christian Aid collection and JustGiving page; Graham & Anita for arranging the St Martin's Housing Trust 'Sockbank' and Andi for arranging that JustGiving page. See below for the results.

St Martin's Housing Trust, Norwich ('Night Shelter')

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The total raised through Just Giving was £155 + £31.25 Gift Aid. The money collected in the churn was £64 
So the grand total to benefit those helped by St Martin's is: 
​£250.25..... as well as the

'Sockbank'

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An amazing total of 271 pairs of socks, plus 6 scarves, 2 hats and a pair of gloves, plus a few assorted clothes have been given for those helped by St Martin's, Norwich. The first 124 pairs of socks were taken by Graham before Christmass so they could be used immediately.

Christian Aid

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Just Giving: £525 plus £101.25 Gift Aid; Churn in church: £110 plus £17.50 Gift Aid.
​So the grand total to benefit those helped by Christian Aid was £753.75

Stowmarket Foodbank

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Despite being able to collect only in 6 months last year because of lockdown, the boxes in St Mary's collected 226 kg of food and toiletries in 2020.

The 2 red boxes are still in place for food and toiletries and will continue to be collected throughout the current lockdown.

Christmass Eve Carol Service 2020

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Just the socially-distanced choir and organist in church, Fr Philip at the entrance to the Holy Cross chapel and a brave, socially distanced congregation in the South churchyard singing in pouring rain. Thanks to Stuart & Simon for arranging the PA system, Andy, Michael, Tom, Andrew, Andrew, Graham and Anita for stewarding, Tim  for setting up the Football club lights and Hugh for loaning and putting up a string of lights by the wall.
It was certainly different from usual and a great community effort - and although short (and very wet), still a  fitting act of worship to mark the beginning of Christmass. It's still available to view on the church Facebook page at 
Carol service - St Mary the Virgin Mendlesham (facebook.com)

Doorstep Carols in conjunction with Radio Suffolk, 16th December 2020

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2020 was the 47th time we sang carols around the streets of the parish, but we couldn't knock on doors and collect for the homeless as usual.
However, thanks to Radio Suffolk's Doorstep Carols, people could tune in, stand on their doorstep - and also join in with the travelling carollers from St Mary's, who toured  Mendlesham with the carols playing on the PA system courtesy of the Parish Council - and to all who gave to the Christmass Appeals for charity either in the churn in church or through the Just Giving pages or donated new socks for the homeless. Thanks to Stuart Larkin for sorting out the sound and to all who came to sing.

Santa Claus' flying visit
13th December 2020

Some members of St Mary's congregation and others in the wider community helped when Fr Christmas, aka Santa Claus  paid a flying visit to Mendlesham and Mendlesham Green in the early evening of Sunday 13th December to bring a little cheer to children and their parents .. all in the spirit of St Nicholas!

Thanks to Stuart for sorting out the sound, and to Santa Claus for giving his valuable time - and to Margo, Anthony, Eric, Graham and Anita for your involvement.
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Remembrance Sunday - 8th November 2020

For the first time we livestreamed to our new Facebook page and the recording remains available. Click on the image below.
Also available on YouTube by clicking here 
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Accompanying Bulletins with the readings and prayers, including the Roll of Honour of all Mendlesham Men who gave their lives in WW1, WW2 and the Korean War, can be downloaded below:

Printable bulletin
08/11/20
Online bulletin
08/11/20


​
There is also an order of Mass here, 

Graham, Shane and Paula's Confirmation - 30th August 2020

This took place at the Parish Mass and we welcomed +Norman, BIshop of Richborough, who preached and Confirmed. Photos show Shane, Paula and Graham with their sponsors, Bishop Norman, Fr Philip and the two churchwardens.

Paula's Baptism, Graham, Shane and Paula's First Communion & Picnic after Mass on the Feast of the Assumption 16th August 2020

Candlemass

Sunday 2nd February
The 9.30 Parish Mass started with the Blessing & Procession of Candles - a symbol of proclaiming Jesus as the Light of the World and spreading that light. During the Mass, the new wrought iron gate to the rood stairs was dedicated   in memory of John Herron.
After Mass the congregation enjoyed a delicious brunch at the back of the church.

Blessing of new gate to rood loft stairs
​

What is a Rood Screen? In mediaeval churches, Rood Screens were used to mark the separation between the nave (the body of the church) and the chancel (where the High altar is situated). The word rood comes from the old English rōd, meaning the Cross of Christ and the rood figures consisted of Jesus on the Cross, with Mary and St John on either side. In our church the original screen and figures were removed at the Reformation, but the original steps leading from the Lady chapel remain. Our Rood figures were restored in 1981 above the chancel arch and for many years I have wanted a beautiful gate primarily for safety reasons. 
​
The restored Rood held a fascination for John Herron for many years, and so the new gate given by his widow Anne, is a fitting memorial.​ 
​
It bears a symbol copied from the South porch – a crowned AMR – standing for Ave Maria Regina – Hail Mary, ​​Queen, and the lock cover has an amusing and fitting rebus (an image like a pun, representing a name) of a heron.
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​John was for many years a faithful member of St Mary’s congregation. It was designed by Philip Orchard, who was present for its dedication, together with Anne Herron and some of her family.
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Plough Sunday

Sunday 12th January
A lively celebration at the start of the new year in this rural parish.

At the 9.30 Sung Mass the Plough was blessed as we asked God's blessing on the land this year. Again we welcomed the East Suffolk Morris Men, who danced during the Mass.
At 11.15 there was a procession of the Plough and Morris Dancing through the village to the King’s Head for more dancing by the Morris men and drinks kindly provided by Paul. Aferwards there was a shared lunch in church.

​Mendlesham Summer Festival

A few photos from our patronal festival Mass of the Assumption of Our Lady on 16th August. Bishop Norman blessed the 10th edition of our own label real ale before Mass and it was sampled afterwards with hot dogs and a magnificent firework display to music. Thanks to John and Becky who donated them and braved a downpour most of the afternoon to set them up! You can watch a YouTube clip below the photos.


​To see photos of other past events, see the Photo Gallery

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  • Home
  • About
  • Worship and Online Resources
    • Previous Online Worship 2021
    • Previous Online Worship 2020
  • What's on
  • Summer Festival + Beer Orders
  • Recent News and Events
  • Who's who
  • Father Philip Writes...This month
    • Previous months this year
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
  • Contact
  • Prayers
  • Donations
  • Links
  • Where we are
  • Bereavement links
  • The church building
  • The 5 Guiding Principles of the House of Bishops
  • Photo Gallery
  • The USAAF 34th Bomb Group Memorial Dedication