What’s happening at the side of the Church?

2023-08-15T10:57:37+01:00

Visitors to the grounds may have noticed some work being carried out on the North side of the church.

Originally, there was a path linking the West end to the East end thus avoiding visitors to the burial grounds and Memorial Gardens having to do so via the car park.

As part of our plans to improve access, we have decided to re-instate the path.  The newly laid tarmac path will provide level access to the rear of the church by adding a small spur that will make disabled access easier by avoiding the 3 steps that currently link the path.

The work is being carried out by kind donation from a friend of Christ Church. In the future,  we would like to extend the lighting to include the path.

If you would like to support this work with a donation then please contact the parish office on 01793 522832 or christchurchswindon.co.uk

What’s happening at the side of the Church?2023-08-15T10:57:37+01:00

Jubilee Memorial Garden Update

2023-08-09T10:41:42+01:00

We are delighted to have received permission from the Diocesan Faculty Office to continue work on our renovation of the Memorial garden. Work will now begin on removing the two gravestones to the North of the garden so that the path can be extended to the East. This will enable level access to all parts of the area. The stones will be replaced against the Community Centre wall.

Steel edging is being put in place to retain the weed suppressing mulch which will form a level surface for the centre of the garden. Later in the year, fine turf edging will be laid, continuing the edge ( shown above) around the south side of the garden.

Read a summary of our proposals

All the work will be carried out under the close supervision of Ian Handy, our project leader. Our permission states that the works must be completed within 12 months but we are keen to be ready for the Autumn season to allow planting and preparation at the best time of year.

We will minimise any disruption to the plaques whilst the works are carried out but if you have any concerns please come and visit and let us know or contact us, The garden is for everyone and it’s important to us that our visitors understand and are happy with what is being done.

Support the Jubilee Memorial Project with a donation

If you or your family members have any concerns or questions or would like to contribute to the cost of these works, then please contact Carol in the parish office.

You can also contact us via the Parish Office ( 01793 522832)for other ways to donate.

We have a Just Giving Campaign page where you can read more and securely give towards the completion of the project.

Thank you for your support.

Jubilee Memorial Garden Update2023-08-09T10:41:42+01:00

Jubilee Memorial Garden Public Consultation

2023-03-11T14:05:05+00:00

With Spring and warmer weather in our sights, we have now submitted an application to the Church authorities (Diocesan Advisory Committee) for permission to continue with the refurbishment of the former Rose Garden (now the Jubilee Garden).

Following the success of the first phase of the project, the North South Section of the garden, we are keen to start this final phase.

We have worked hard to keep families, who remember loved ones at Christ Church, informed of our plans. You can sign up here to join our Jubilee Memorial Garden Email Update. No major works can be completed without the final permission of the DIocese Consistory Court. This is to protect the heritage and sanctity of church property as well as to ensure that proper public consultation is carried out

As part of this process, our proposals are now subject to a period of 30 days formal public consultation. The formal notice of our intentions and the process by which to comment or question them, are available by clicking the buttons below. You can also request copies of the notice and plans by contacting the parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk (01793 533832) or visiting the church noticeboard.

Formal notice and public comment process
Read a summary of our Proposals

We are also delighted to say that our project team, led by Ian Handy, have been awarded a DAC award for our project to refurbish the former Rose Garden. This recognises the exceptional standard of workmanship.

Read about the Opening Ceremony

Our Gardens for all

Bereavement & Memorials

Our Memory Books

Support the Jubilee Memorial Project with a donation

We have a Just Giving Campaign page where you can read more and securely give towards the completion of the project.

You can also contact us via the Parish Office ( 01793 522832)for other ways to donate.

Thank you for your support.

Jubilee Memorial Garden Public Consultation2023-03-11T14:05:05+00:00

Jubilee Garden Update

2023-02-25T12:56:25+00:00

Over the past couple of week’s, we have been completing some winter maintenance to the grass verge on the South side of the garden. This is to prepare for new fine turf to be laid as soon as the weather permits. This will then continue the turf edge from the North South section creating a more unified and attractive perimeter.

 

We have submitted our draft plan to the Bristol Diocese for their approval and we are expecting an inspection and discussion with them soon. ( Read it here if you have missed it)

To help reassure and let affected families better understand what we are attempting to do with the East West Section of the garden, we will be marking out areas to show the intended access paths and demonstrating proposed ground covering materials. The intention is to enable access, within the garden, to those plaques which previously have been obscured ( and sometimes buried) by weeds and wild growth. We also want to create safe and level access to the garden for our many visitors.

No ashes will be disturbed and plaques are restored as closely as possible to their original positions. Our friendly team will always take the time to explain what is happening. It has always been the case that self planted shrubs are not permitted. This is necessary both to enable us to keep control over the maintenance and management of the garden but also to ensure that all families are treated equally. If you or members of your family have planted rose bushes, then please contact us (01793 522832) with your details. We will be happy to transplant any bushes for you to enable you to take them away.

As Spring approaches, the Jubilee Memorial Garden will start to erupt with colour and new growth. We are fully committed to creating a beautiful, safe and sustainable memorial garden for everyone to enjoy and remember in. If you have any questions, fears or suggestions please contact us parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk (01793 522832) We are always ready to listen.

Jubilee Garden Update2023-02-25T12:56:25+00:00

Jubilee Garden Plans

2023-01-14T13:59:14+00:00

With Spring and warmer weather in our sights, we are preparing a draft submission to the Church authorities for permission to continue with the refurbishment of the former Rose Garden ( now the Jubilee Garden).

Following the success of the first phase of the project, the North South Section of the garden, we are keen to keep momentum in this important work.

All work to the church and its grounds are closely managed by the Dicocesan faculty office which acts as a planning authority. We have submitted proposals for the final section which involves repairing and restoring path and turf edges, creating safe, accessible access to the garden and removing self sown holly trees and shrubs. You can download the draft proposals here.

Support us

The works to create the Jubilee Memorial Garden have been financed by donations from our Community. If you would like to support this project you do so on our Just Giving page here or by contacting the Parish office (01793 522832)

Jubilee Garden Plans2023-01-14T13:59:14+00:00

Our Gardens

2022-12-09T20:05:43+00:00

In our grounds, there are gardens and memorials and these act as a focal point for remembrance and reflection. Over the past couple of years, we have worked hard to create peaceful and beautiful areas in and around the church for those who continue to mourn.

Recently, we noticed an eye catching, splash of colour in our Jubilee Memorial Garden. Whilst, it is a welcome sight on a cold December day, we felt we should use it as a gently reminder that, to be fair to all those visiting the gardens, we do operate some simple rules.

Our gardens form an important part of our bereavement ministry. In the New Year. we hope to continue the development of our Jubilee Memorial Garden.

We aim to have a draft proposal for the project in the next month or so. Our main objectives will be to create safe  level access, reduce maintenance and continue the tidying up begun last year in the North/South part of the garden.

If you would like to talk to us about the garden then contact the parish office 01793 522832 or parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk

Please do not disturb the ground – it can upset other families whose loved ones rest nearby. We do try to keep on top of the weeds and some gentle weeding is always welcomed.

Please do not leave paper cards, plastic decorations or pot plants. They can blow around and soon become untidy.

Cut flowers are welcome. We offer vases for our visitors to use and water is available throughout the site. The vases can safely be pushed into the ground and will keep the flowers fresh for a few days after which our Sexton will remove them.

A tip from our Garden expert – avoid using carnations in your cut flowers – for some reason, members of our local wildlife demolish them within hours. Not sure who the culprits are but they are very partial to carnation!

Our Gardens2022-12-09T20:05:43+00:00

 Pictures for Sale in Aid of Ukraine

2022-11-24T18:40:41+00:00

There is a delightful exhibition of landscape paintings of Derby, Cornwall and more, for sale, in the Community Centre @ Christ Church. You can see some examples below. The artist was Stephen Jacoby, (Daniel Pitt’s uncle). Any money raised will be passed to The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership which supports Ukraine, Ukrainians and others in need. Please ask at the Community Centre office or Parish Office if you would like to buy one or contact Daniel Pitt directly on (01793 521732)

Click a picture below to see a larger image

 Pictures for Sale in Aid of Ukraine2022-11-24T18:40:41+00:00

Eco Church Silver Award

2022-11-02T16:15:12+00:00

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded Silver Award in recognition of our efforts to care for God’s earth in the way that we manage our life at Christ Church with St Mary’s.

We have an eco group who  take a close interest in developing and directing our strategies for protecting God’s earth, helping us to focus on doing what we do in a sustainable and earth friendly way.

The award is an acknowledgement that we are heading in the right direction but we cannot be complacent. If you would like to know more about what we do as a church or what you can do as an individual or family to protect God’s earth then please get in touch.

mailto:ecogroup@Christchurchswindon.co.uk

 

Eco Church Silver Award2022-11-02T16:15:12+00:00

Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden

2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

The beautiful landscaping and garden maintenance in our various gardens is carried out by volunteer workers who work throughout the year to keep our grounds looking great.

Recently, we have noticed that someone has been helpfully weedkilling some areas of fine turf around the Jubilee Memorial Garden.

Thank you to our mysterious gardener, we appreciate your efforts to help us keep the garden looking beautiful, but could you make contact as soon as possible as we need to know what you used to kill the weeds.

This will help us to understand what we need to do this Autumn to repair the turf so it is ready for the new Spring growth.

You can drop us a line on

Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk

or phone the parish office on 01793 522832.

We would be delighted to hear from you.

Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

Draft Design ideas for the Jubilee Garden

2022-07-09T10:25:22+01:00

We have now received further advice from our Garden advisor on ideas for the East-West Section of the Jubilee Memorial Garden. This section presents a number of more complex challenges than the completed one.

The proposals seek to address a number of issues to enable us to create a more beautiful, manageable, and accessible garden.

  • The ground is very stony and full of roots.
  • There are many self seeded weeds and small bushes which, over the years, present a challenge to stop them overwhelming the plaques.
  • As a result, access to the garden has been very difficult, both for visitors and maintenance.
  • The Lime trees cast a lot of shade during the Summer months making the selection of year round planting for colour and interest a challenge.

The two draft ideas below, set out to provide safe, level access to all the areas of the garden, unite the north-south garden with the east -west and provide a place to sit and remember. All plans will  minimise any impact on the plaques which will be restored, as close as possible, to their original positions. As with the north-south section, it will be necessary to temporarily remove them to complete the work. This will be done carefully and methodically.

It is important that all families affected by any of the proposals, understand and accept them so we will be entering a period of consultation and discussion. During this time we welcome all comments , ideas or questions about the project. We currently lack sufficient funds to complete the works and all final ideas must be submitted to Bristol Diocese for permission, so work is unlikley to be agreed or undertaken until late this year at the earliest.

In the meantime, it would be very helpful if everyone takes a look at the draft plans and gives their comments as soon as possible.

You can do this by completing a simple on-line survey

or contacting us Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk  (07885 217077)

Draft Idea 1

Give us your view ( opens a short survey)

Total Views: 475Daily Views: 0

Draft Idea 2

Give us your views ( opens a short survey)

Draft Design ideas for the Jubilee Garden2022-07-09T10:25:22+01:00

Try our Eco Quiz

2022-05-13T15:15:26+01:00

Grass Management at Christ Church

Some of our grass areas are being managed as part of a wider Land Management Plan.They will not be cut until later in the Summer to encourage the development of more, native, wildflower species. The longer grass will, in turn, help our invertebrates, birds and animals by providing valuable food sources and cover.

We understand that some may find the uncut grass unsightly but, as custodians of God’s creation, we feel we must do all we can to protect it and encourage it to flourish.

If you would like to talk to us about our plans, or join our team of volunteers, you can contact us at parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk or via 01793 522832

Try our Eco Quiz2022-05-13T15:15:26+01:00

Christ Church Eco Land Management Plan

2022-05-06T18:07:16+01:00

As part of our response to the need to take more care of God’s planet, we have begun work on a Land Management Plan. Taking advice from a range of local experts and enthusiasts, we have surveyed our Church and Burial grounds, looking for ways to encourage wildlife and plant diversity.

In the process, we have discovered some valuable ancient grassland which we can manage carefully to encourage more native species that will be beneficial to pollinators and other wildlife. This will involve stopping our intensive mowing programme in certain areas, to allow certain species, such as the Cuckoo flower below to establish. It and other native species provide valuable larval food. The careful management of these areas of grass can prevent it from being invaded by more vigorous plants that can overwhelm and replace what is a vital habitat for birds, invertebrates and animals.

In most situations, July is the best time for cutting, with a further cut in September/October often being beneficial. However, cutting times can be varied to suit local conditions. After cutting, it is very important to rake off and remove the clippings. If left on, they can smother delicate plants and increase fertility which encourages rank growth at the expense of wildflowers. If clippings are left to dry for a few days after cutting, flowers can shed any ripe seed and insects are able to make their escape.

 

Cuckoo Flower or Ladies Smock - Janet French

P1000917

Buttercups - Janet French

Bluebell Janet French

Vetch

Vetch - Janet French

pathways1

Pathways are cut to allow access without damaging the plants - Chris Smith

Christ Church Eco Land Management Plan2022-05-06T18:07:16+01:00
Toggle Sliding Bar Area

Listen to our thought for the week

Find your way around

Recent Tweets

Go to Top