The UNPLUGGED! Young Musician’s Fundraising Concert Featuring Paul Turner and local talent of all ages.
This Sunday, 23rd July 6.30pm in Christ Church.
Free entry with retiring collection.
There will be a bar available on arrival and during the interval.
All donations are for Christ Church.
All are welcome – we hope you can join us
#christchurchswindon #livemusic #concert #youngmusicians #swindon
Autumn Fayre 2023 – Book Your Stall Now
Our Response to Concerns about the Beer Festival
Following our 10th annual beer and cider festival we have received a number of concerns on both social media and through direct contact with members of our community.
We want to address these issues and make people aware that we take our site and how well it is respected seriously.
We have been successfully running this event for many years and are aware that some people do not agree with us hosting a beer festival within a church setting. We have to balance the fact of serving our community, encouraging new people into church and fundraising for the future of not just ours but other churches in our deanery. We feel that the benefits far outweigh the small number of negative comments that we receive. See another article on our website as to the reasons why we run a beer festival – https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/2023/05/why-a-beer-festival-in-a-church/
A few years ago, we received a similar concern with regard to people sitting on and around graves. We have therefore already adapted what we do to ensure people are respectful of our site as follows:
In our beer festival wrap-up meeting a couple of weeks ago, we discussed what else we could do to be more respectful. We talked about having additional seating which would encourage people to sit in the areas we want them to. We also talked about roping off more of the areas and introducing even more signage.
I would be very happy to meet with anyone to discuss next year’s event and would love their ideas of what further measures we can implement.
Please do get in touch with any ideas.
Best Wishes
Chris Smith
Christ Church Site Operations Manager
Ben Nevis 27th May 19.24
Scafell 28th May 05.32am
Snowdon 28th May 14:25hrs
As you are aware, our site manager Chris and his friends took part in the 3 peaks challenge over the last weekend in May. Scaling the heights of the highest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Snowdon (Wales).
We are delighted to advise you that they completed the challenge in under 24 hours, 23 hours and 20 minutes to be exact!
They are delighted to have finished and are nearing their sponsorship target for Dementia UK.
Chris will also be taking part in a 100k ultra marathon (Race to the Stones) in one day on 8th July.
Please sponsor him if you can – https://www.justgiving.com/page/clare-smith-1678227120147
As part of our commitment to an overall ecological strategy, we are continuing to implement some key measures, we believe, will promote biodiversity and sustainability in our churchyard and grounds. We use A Rocha, a Christian based organisation to help us to work through ideas that will have the most beneficial impact. So far, we have achieved silver status. The structured approach they advocate, allows us to plan how we might continue to develop our thinking in years to come.
As a guiding principle, we seek to plant native species. Replacing non-native species with native ones to provide food and habitat for local wildlife. We choose plants that are adapted to local climate and soil conditions, which reduces their need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
We have cleared some areas of invasive non-native laurel from the embankment to the North of the car park. Underplanting native shrubs in the UK is an excellent way to create an attractive and biodiverse landscape. Native shrubs provide essential habitat for wildlife and can help to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Shrubs or hedging such as hawthorn and blackthorn can also help to reduce soil erosion and improve water retention, making them great for keeping soil healthy and preventing flooding. Additionally, native shrubs are hardy, meaning they are more likely to survive extreme weather conditions, and require less maintenance than non-native species. By underplanting native shrubs, we can create a lush, colourful, and diverse landscape that is beneficial to both wildlife and the environment.
We also encourage flowers that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial creatures. This will help increase the local pollinator population, which is important for the health of the ecosystem.
We have installed birdhouses across our site: This will provide shelter and nesting sites for local bird species. They will help to control insect populations and encourage diversity. We already have evidence that some are being nested in.
Pyramid orchid
Certain areas of our grass contain rare and at-risk species of grasses and other native wildflowers. Once again, this year, we intend to implement a programme of controlled mowing which, we hope, will encourage the growth and development of these species which in turn will provide nutrients for the soil and shelter for small animals and insects. These areas are not neglected, but deliberately left to grow and seed until later in the summer when they will be carefully mown giving the rarer wildflowers the opportunity to establish next year.
We are also committed to educating ourselves and our wider community about environmental issues aiming to inspire us all to act. We will look to provide resources, host events, and partner with local schools and other interested organizations to promote environmental sustainability.
We believe that by implementing these strategies, our church and its environment can become a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem that supports local wildlife and promotes ecological health.
To talk to us about our grounds, help us with observations or work parties on our site contact us ecogroup@christchurchswindon.co.uk or contact the Parish office on 01793 522832.
Our decision to host the Old Town Beer Festival at Christ Church is rooted in our commitment to fostering community engagement, offering hospitality to all, regardless of race or creed, and providing a space for open dialogue and understanding.
We recognise the importance of connecting with our wider community beyond traditional religious activities. By hosting concerts, festivals and other events on our site, we seek to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that appeals to a wide range of visitors, including those who may not typically engage with religious institutions. These events serve as a bridge between the church and the community, promoting dialogue, understanding, and unity.
We have celebrated 10 years of beer festivals on our site and always seek to ensure that our visitors respect the church and grounds. We employ professional security to remind people of the sensitivities involved and regularly assess how we can improve our organisation and communication.
The church and its grounds are for everyone. Outside of Festival days, we are open every day for visitors to come and remember, reflect, or simply enjoy the quiet atmosphere. For a few days of the year, our grounds host a joyous and vibrant gathering of local people who enjoy local beers, music and meeting friends. We do advertise the events widely so that our community knows what to expect. We don’t receive grants or subsidies from the Anglican church or Government. All the funds needed to keep our church and its work in the community going, are provided by regular donations, legacies and fundraising. Our congregation, Friends and event supporters provide vital funds each year to ensure that the Church is always available for everyone. Whether it be for regular worship, weddings, funerals, christenings, festivals,concerts or just quiet reflection at a loved ones resting place. Events like the Beer and Jazz festivals provide a large portion of our income. Without them and the significant contribution made by the Community Centre itself, we would struggle to survive.
Each year, we meet, following the festival, to discuss how we can improve our organisation and what we could do differently. We hosted more than 1,200 local people to this year’s festival and the vast majority have been very positive about the event. We do take note of those who disagree and do everything that we can to explain what and why we are doing it.
Renewal Choir is a community gospel choir based in Bristol founded by Kim and Vernon Samuels in 2005. There are over 70 choir members ranging from the young to the young at heart. These members represent a multitude of church traditions and non-church backgrounds who love to engage in various civic, festival, community and social events in and around the South West.
The choir has performed at events such as the BBC National Music Day, the Leona Lewis UK Tour in Bristol and Cardiff, on BBC Points West and at the High Sheriff of Bristol’s concert in June 2019. Renewal Choir took part in a collaborative virtual production of ‘O Holy Night’ with the Welsh National Opera Community Chorus in 2020 and toured with the Welsh National Opera in 2022 in Wales and England in a brand new opera – Migrations – in 2022.
Do come along and do invite friends!
Tickets www.oldtownbeerfestival.com / 01793 617237
At our Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 30th April, the following officers were elected:
Churchwardens – Jim D’Avila and Nitin Shinde
Lay members of the Deanery Synod – Anne Grainger and Anthony Slack
Lay members of the Parochial Church Council:
James Davies-Spratt, Ian Farr, Behbood Mozaffari, Paul Ng, Ailsa Palmer, Frances Poel, Alison Tremlett, Genny Williams, Andrew Yeoward.
They will join Sue Clack and Simon Giles who are continuing as PCC members.
Paul Ng has been elected by the PCC as the new Treasurer, succeeding Andrew Yeoward who will step down from the Treasurer role.
Watch Simon’s video telling us all about the upcoming Coronation weekend
‘Songs of Praise ‘service on Sunday 30th April 2023 6.30pm, with the opportunity to join in with some well-loved hymns and experience some new songs as well. Led by the Revd. Rach Collins, Minister of Bath Road Methodist Church in Swindon, with the Vicar of Christ Church, the Revd. Canon Simon Stevenette. Music will be provided by the Christ Church choir and musical director/organist Tim Eyles. The hymns and songs have all been chosen by members of the churches within the Partnership. Come along and have a good sing!
Our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022 are now available. Please follow the link to read them.Hard copies will be available in both Christ Church and St Mary’s from Sunday 23rd April
https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/news-services/annualreport22.pdf
Our Electoral Roll is now on display in both churches – please check your entry and advise the Parish Office ASAP of any anomalies. Our APCM will be held on Sunday 30th April 11.30am in Christ Church