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

Alone at Christmas 2022

2023-01-07T15:15:26+00:00

After a gap of 2 years, during which time we provided hampers to those who would be alone at Christmas, we are back to the real thing!

On Christmas day, we provided a 3 course Christmas meal for around 110 people, those who would have otherwise been on their own on Christmas day. Everyone who came along, including the many volunteers, had a wonderful day together. As well as the fantastic food cooked by SImon Giles and his helpers, they enjoyed some carol singing, Christmas quizzes and the Kings speech. This event couldn’t have been possible without more than 100 volunteers who took part both on the day itself and in advance.

So thank you to the setters-up, the taxi drivers, cooks, table hosts, tidier-uppers and to the companies and private individuals who all contributed in their own ways to make the day happen.

We are so grateful for the many community minded people who really helped make the day special for so many. I am proud of what we all achieved to help combat loneliness this Christmas in what was our 5th year. Happy New Year everyone and thank you xx

Alone at Christmas 20222023-01-07T15:15:26+00:00

Support our work in the Community

2023-01-07T14:57:03+00:00

We need your donations, more than ever, to support our work in the community. We don’t receive grants or subsidies from the Anglican church or Government. All the funds needed to keep our church and its work going are provided by regular donations, legacies and fundraising. Our congregation, Friends and supporters provide vital funds each year to ensure that the Church and its grounds are always available – whether it be for regular worship, weddings, funerals christenings, festivals, concerts or just quiet reflection. If you consider yourself part of our Community or value our contribution then please consider supporting us with either a regular donation,one-off gift or legacy.

Our preferred method for receiving, regular, donations is via the Church of England’s Parish Giving Scheme. These can be monthly, quarterly or annual gifts. The scheme manages all the administration of collection, gift aid claims ( if the giver is eligible as a regular tax payer) and greatly improves our cashflow by paying us monthly, as well as reducing our own administration. It’s easy to sign up – you can find our Parish page here on the PGS website

Other ways of Giving

You can also give by credit or debit card at our donation station at the back of church.

Check out our donation page for more ideas.

Support our work in the Community2023-01-07T14:57:03+00:00

Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership

2023-01-07T13:00:29+00:00

The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP) is delighted to announce a post-Christmas initiative, Lights for Ukraine, that appeals to all local people keen to do something to help and support families living through a freezing winter in Ukraine.

At best, most people in Ukraine have only 3 to 4 hours electricity each day. Basic necessities such as lights are a real challenge.Many of us will celebrate Christmas with candles -on the dining room table, in the lounge and on the fireplace -and very lovely they will look too. But when Christmas is over please, please don’t throw the left over candles away . Bring them along to our aid drop off point at The Community Centre, Christ Church in Old Town Swindon.

SHAP will collect every last one and with the help of lots of volunteers will make hundreds of new candles -transport them out to Ukraine in the new year and help the tenacious and resilient Ukrainian people get through an unimaginably tough few months.

Just look at these -used food tins filled with strips of cardboard and covered in wax. Known in Ukraine as Trench Candles and used as a heat and cooking source

All enquiries to SHAP Chair Mike Bowden on 07989 494319

Simon and Mike Bowden were interviewed by BBC Points West on Friday 6th January regarding the ‘Lights for Ukraine’ project, for which we have had a good response. This will be broadcast on Wednesday 11th January – please do watch either live or on catch up if you can.

 

Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership2023-01-07T13:00:29+00:00

Classical Music Concert in aid of Ukraine

2022-12-02T15:14:02+00:00

 

Date: 10th of December, 2022

Place: Christ Church, Swindon

The concert will start at 7.00pm with doors open at 6.30pm.

The program includes works of prominent European and Ukrainian composers from different eras. The compositions will be performed both in solo and in chamber ensembles.

All money raised, including the full price of the ticket, will provide:

1. Orthofix systems for civil Ukrainians, who were injured because of the war

2. Ex-NHS ambulance, loaded with disposable medical supplies eg. bandages, dressings, sanitizers etc. and shipping it over to a hospital in Ukraine.

Buy a ticket

If you cannot come to the concert, then you can make a donation on our website.

Performers:

  • Vira Symchych (Ukraine)
  • Denis Gravina (France)
  • Stefan Bulyha (Ukraine)
  • Alisa Zaika (Ukraine)
  • The Wessex (Swindon, UK)

The Programme:

  1. Shumann: Drei Romanzen op.94
  2. Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances
  3. Alisa Zaika: “Chimaeras”
  4. Skoryk: Melody
  5. Deus Salutis – Welsh hymn-tune (Arr. by G H Jones and Mansel Thomas)
  6. Georgio Susana: Restera La Luce
  7. Trad spiritual: My Lord What a morning
  8. Traditional Irish folk song The Rocky Road to Dublin (Arr. by Martin Eikeset Koren)
  9. Lysenko/Konynsky: Prayer for Ukraine (Arr. by Tom Graff)
Classical Music Concert in aid of Ukraine2022-12-02T15:14:02+00:00

Alone (together)at Christmas

2022-11-26T11:24:16+00:00

For the first time since 2019, I am pleased to confirm that we will be running our Alone at Christmas event again this year, in what will be its 5th year. This will replace the hamper scheme that we have run for the last 2 years.

For those of you that haven’t heard of it before, basically, we invite anyone who will be on their own on Christmas Day to the Community Centre @ Christ Church for a 3 course meal. See our video on the activities page of our website – https://ccccswindon.co.uk/page/activities -for the last one that happened

The event itself runs from 12noon till approx. 3.30pm. As well as the lunch, the day includes Christmas quizzes, singing Carols and concludes with the Kings speech.

This event takes a lot of co-ordinating and, if last years hamper numbers (150) are anything to go by, I anticipate that we will have a lot of lonely people to provide for this year.

Therefore there are quite a few ways in which I need help. I detail all of the roles below (although I may miss something):

PRE EVENT HELP NEEDED

  • General Admin – planning the event, working out logistics, keeping spreadsheet up to date. People happy to be involved in a planning group
  • Help to contact previous attendees on existing database.
  • People to promote the event, through posters, on social media, in local press etc
  • Help to find new attendees
  • Provide donations, be it monetary (preferable) or food items, drinks, Christmas crackers or gifts for the attendees etc.
  • Christmas Eve – volunteers needed to set up the room and wrap up presents
  • Christmas Eve – volunteers to help with food preparation and potentially cooking of the meals.

ON THE DAY

  • Provide transport for people to and from the lunch
  • People to help with the cooking etc – preferred to have people with specific cooking qualifications or experience.
  • Run a table (2 people per table) looking after 6 attendees ensuring that they have a good day, making conversation and helping to deliver their meal/ clear the table.
  • Volunteers to run drinks table
  • Extra people to help with the set down at 4pm

If you feel that you can help with any of the above things, please do get in touch with me. mailto:chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk or 01793 617237

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes

Chris

Alone (together)at Christmas2022-11-26T11:24:16+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

Public Defibrillator installed at the Community Centre

2022-11-02T16:05:02+00:00
Thanks to South Swindon Parish Council and an anonymous donor, Christ Church have received funding of just over £2000 to install a publicly accessible defibrillator on the entrance wall to the Community Centre @ Christ Church.
 
This is a vitally important piece of kit for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest as it can be used to send a shock through the heart which increases the chance of it being restarted.
 
A Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim’s chance of survival increases significantly from around 5% to 75% if they receive good CPR combined with therapy delivered by a Heart Defibrillator within the first 3 minutes after a Cardiac Arrest.
 
For every minute that passes without defibrillation a Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim’s chances of survival decrease by between 10% & 12%. A simple calculation shows that the victim’s likely maximum chance of survival in reality is between 8 & 10 minutes after the Cardiac Arrest occurring. With the current Ambulance target response time of 8 minutes, time is of the absolute essence and acting quickly with appropriate therapy, essential.
 
If someone were to have a cardiac arrest on site that the only possible chance of survival for them is to receive a shock to the heart by use of our new defibrillator.
 
Having a defibrillator on site is a necessity for a site the size of Christ Church with more than 1000 visitors coming through the church, community centre and burial ground each week. Whilst you associate heart attacks with older people, regrettably there are 12 children under the age of 18 that die in the UK each week from Cardiac Arrest and many more young adults.
 
The South Swindon Parish Council donated £1000 through their local community grants scheme. Chris Watt’s, chair of South Swindon Parish Council said ‘we are delighted to be able to support Christ Church to purchase a defibrillator, and in fact we would like to encourage other local community centres to follow suit and do the same. This is a life saving device and you can’t really put a price on someone’s life’.
 
Chris Smith, Community Centre @ Christ Church Centre manager said ‘this is something we have been thinking about for quite a long time now and following a recent first aid course it reminded me how important these devices are. Prior to us getting this device the chance of survival for someone having a cardiac arrest on site was virtually 0%. We have a lot of older people through our site each week and I can’t quite believe how we have never had one until now. I’m so grateful for the funding support that we have received to potentially save someone’s life’.
 
The defibrillator can be used by anyone in the community and is accessible in an emergency by calling 999 for the code to the locked yellow storage box. Whilst training isn’t necessary as you will be talked through how to use it by the emergency services, it is highly recommended that people take a basic first aid course where using a defibrillator is explained and demonstrated.
Public Defibrillator installed at the Community Centre2022-11-02T16:05:02+00:00

Parish Giving Scheme

2022-10-27T23:56:11+01:00

The day to day work done by Christ Church to support our local community is funded by the generosity and commitment of our congregation and friends for which we are very grateful.

We joined the Parish Giving scheme 3 years ago to reduce the administration of our giving and donations, improve our cashflow and free up time for our volunteers to concentrate on doing more with the generosity that we recieve.

The PGS is run by the Church of England and enables our donors to:

  • Give securely to Christ Church with St Mary’s, either monthly, quarterly, or annually via Direct Debit
  • Where eligible,(if you are a UK taxpayer) enhance gifts by 25% by adding Gift Aid to gifts
  • Give anonymously if preferred.
  • The PGS simplifies the giving process for us by making the gift aid claims where applicable and paying our church regularly each month thus improving our cashflow and reducing our administration.

If you would like to support us and our work and would like to know more about the Parish Giving Scheme and how you can donate to us using it, Click here or watch a short video below about how the scheme works.

If you would like to know more or discuss other options for giving to support our work contact our Giving Secretary Stephen Grosvenor (07885 217077) or our Treasurer Andrew Yeoward

Parish Giving Scheme2022-10-27T23:56:11+01:00

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

Condolence

2022-09-09T22:17:01+01:00

The death of Queen Elizabeth II

Please leave your messages of thanksgiving in the book of condolence at the front of church. Further details of a partnership civic service of thanksgiving to follow.
Please join us in praying for all those who mourn including the Royal Family. Please also join us in prayer for King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort.

God save the King

If you cannot join us in church then you can sign the Church of England’s online Condolence book

Condolence2022-09-09T22:17:01+01:00

Sunday Club Shoe box Appeal

2022-08-23T15:31:19+01:00

We are collecting items for the children to pack into shoeboxes later in October on behalf of the charity Linktohope. This is a small charity who will be delivering the shoeboxes to families and the elderly in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. We would be grateful of any donations, from an empty shoebox, a single item, or a completed box. Last date for donations will be Sunday 30 October. Please leave at the parish office Mon-Friday 10am-1pm or pass on to Sue. For further details please visit https://linktohope.co.uk/ or see Sue at coffee on Sundays. You can also email Sue@christchurchswindon.co.uk.

You can see a list of the kind of things that we would like below.

Sunday Club Shoe box Appeal2022-08-23T15:31:19+01:00
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