Wedding of the Year (so far!)

2022-07-16T10:51:14+01:00

It’s a busy year for the Stevenette family.

Last weekend saw the wedding of Thomas Stevenette and Rachel (Rae)Cordon at St Mary’s Attenborough near Nottingham. All the Nottingham church family, choir, bellringers and flower arrangers were there and supported in every way. The Vicar also kindly allowed Simon to officiate so it was a very special time for them all.

Tom and Rae first met at Durham University. Rae is a primary School teacher. The Reception was held at Woolaton Hall and Park in Nottingham.

Their marriage adds a 3rd lovely Mrs Stevenette to the family with Elise, the 4th,future Mrs S, waiting in the wings. She and William are to be married this August.

You can see the family pictured below

From left to right Katy, Robert, Edward, Simon, Tom, Rae, Hugo,Nicola,William and Elise

Cutting the cake

Tom and Nicola

Rae and Tom

The brothers with Rae

Wedding of the Year (so far!)2022-07-16T10:51:14+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)

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Draft Idea 2

Give us your views ( opens a short survey)

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

A Letter from the Stevenette Family

2022-06-10T15:01:09+01:00

John’s funeral and Simon’s compassionate leave

We are enormously grateful for all the love and prayers we have received since John/ Dad’s death on 7th May. We had a wonderful funeral service with Holy Communion at St Leonard’s Sunningwell last Monday. All the family were directly involved in various ways. The only sadness being that Nicola was absent due to having Covid. We are especially grateful to Margaret, Ailsa and Geoff and those behind the scenes who organised such a moving parallel service at Christ Church at the same time. We are deeply touched by your prayers and support which were answered as we were overwhelmed with God’s love, presence, and Resurrection hope.

Bishop Viv has encouraged me to take a fortnight’s compassionate leave, to reflect on all that has happened for us as a family this year. This will be from Friday 17th June- Saturday 2nd July.

Thank you for your understanding. Please continue to remember us in your prayers and to support the Staff Team in all they are doing to cover my absence.

Every blessing

Simon

A Letter from the Stevenette Family2022-06-10T15:01:09+01:00

The Revd John Stevenette

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

 A letter from Simon

My father John died peacefully at Princess Lodge Nursing Home, Swindon on Saturday 7th May at 8.20pm aged 91 years old. Thank you for your support, kindness and prayers especially over the last two and half years whilst my dad was living with us at the Vicarage and after his fall, at the Nursing Home, where he received excellent care.

John was ordained 22nd December 1961. We celebrated his 40th and 50th Ordination anniversaries at Christ Church with friends coming from all the six parishes in which he served during his Stipendiary Ministry.

Mum and Dad retired to Abingdon in 1999 and John was given permission to officiate in the Bristol Diocese. He joined the staff team at Christ Church and regularly led worship across the Swindon Deanery until 2012 when he finally retired. He loved his time ministering here and getting to know you.

His funeral service, with Holy Communion, will take place at St Leonard’s Church, Sunningwell near  Abingdon, where Angela is buried, on Monday 6th June at 12 noon. As with Mum, there will be a parallel service at Christ Church at 12 noon, led by members of the Christ Church staff team for Swindon friends to which all are welcome

Please pass the word around and remember us in your prayers on that day.

The words on John and Angela’s headstone sum up their legacy.

‘Their generosity of spirit knew no bounds’.

As John rests in peace may he rise in glory.

Every blessing and thanks again

Simon

The Revd John Stevenette2022-05-13T15:15:13+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

Annual Report 2021 & APCM

2022-07-11T10:30:18+01:00

The A.P.C.M. is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It is actually two meetings the ‘Vestry Meeting’ when we elect Churchwardens for the coming year and the APCM itself which is the business meeting of the Church – like an AGM. This year’s meeting is to be held on Sunday 24th April at 11.30am in the church.

The meeting is open to those on our Electoral Roll. Those at the meeting appoint PCC members, Deanery Synod representatives and accept the audited Church accounts.

It is also an opportunity to look back at the events of the last year and to look together with anticipation at the vision for the coming year.

As part of the meeting, the Annual Report is produced. This is the record of our financial and pastoral achievements in 2021 and also lays out our vision and strategies for the coming year.

Download the Annual Report here

Annual Report 2021 & APCM2022-07-11T10:30:18+01:00

All you need to know about our Easter Season

2022-04-08T17:14:14+01:00

After the lull of Covid, there is a lot beginning to happen in and around Christ Church.

We remain committed to balancing our Eco strategies with good communications. and so avoid printing unecessary paper where we can.

We have produced a downloadable leaflet on our Services and Events over the Easter Season.

All you need to know about our Easter Season2022-04-08T17:14:14+01:00

The Jubilee Memorial Garden

2022-07-16T12:11:45+01:00

The weather was fine ( but a bit cold!) but we welcomed a good number of families along with our Mayor Cllr Perkins, his wife Abnet, and Sir Robert Buckland our MP to our commissioning event on Sunday. The Mayor and Sir Robert unveiled a beautiful oak sign made by one of our longest-serving congregants, Bernard Oxborrow. It’s worth noting, for posterity, that the oak was sourced from one of our original Baltic oak pews dating back to the 1850’s.

Our newly unveiled sign

The ceremony enabled us to thank the teams of professionals and volunteers whose efforts over the past 18 months have transformed the North-South section into a safer more accessible, and beautiful, managed garden – a fitting memorial to all those remembered there. Particular mention should go to Ian Handy without whose drive and intitiative, this project would not have begun. Also thanks are due to the Friends of Christ Church whose generosity with both time and funds have also been key to its success.

As we move on to planning the final section of the garden, the East-West area, it is vital that we can let as many families know of our plans. To do this we have a new Quarterly Email newsletter to let everyone know what we are planning, why we are doing it, and how they can find out more about it.
Please pass on the email subscription link below to anyone you think would value knowing more about the works to improve our former Rose Garden

Subscribe https://mailchi.mp/c79de914e698/jubilee

We have got this far by the generosity of local people – we still need more help to complete the garden. You can donate to the Memorial Garden using our Just Giving page? or by scanning the QR code below, on your mobile phone.

 

If you are not keen on on-line stuff, you can also give by cash or cheque to our Parish Office c/o Community Centre@Christ Church, Cricklade Street, Swindon SN1 3HB

The Jubilee Memorial Garden2022-07-16T12:11:45+01:00

Mission Giving

2022-04-01T18:07:09+01:00

Mission Giving at Christ Church with St Mary’s

All our Mission Giving today will be shared between Marie Curie and Swindon Food Collective. Both charities work locally to support our community in different ways. Please use a gift aid envelope and mark it with an “M” for mission – the collection will be open for a week from the 3rd April

You can also donate directly to the Swindon Food Collective https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/support-us/donate-funds/

and to Marie Curie https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate or by post to Marie Curie, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 9AB

Mission Giving2022-04-01T18:07:09+01:00

Christ Church Eco Church

2022-03-30T18:20:52+01:00

Our drive to becoming a more eco aware church continues, following our intial award of Bronze certification from the A Rocha organisation.

You can read the latest update from Phil Mansfield who leads our efforts here.

It shows the sort of steps we need to take to improve our efforts to protect and nourish God’s creation.

If you would like to take part in our Eco programme then contact the Parish office and let us know.

Christ Church Eco Church2022-03-30T18:20:52+01:00

Old Town Partnership Confirmation Preparation

2022-03-19T19:49:02+00:00

We are looking forward to our annual Old Town Partnership Confirmation which will be on Sunday 8th May at 10am Bishop Viv, Bishop of Bristol will be confirming, along with Mark and Robert at Bath Road Methodist Church.

We will run a Confirmation preparation group on Sunday evenings from the middle of March. Please remember all the preparations in your prayers that we will see the joy of welcoming new Christians and growing disciples in our community over these coming weeks.

Please speak with Simon or one of the staff team, if you are interested in exploring this possibility. You can also phone the parish office 522832.

Old Town Partnership Confirmation Preparation2022-03-19T19:49:02+00:00

Partnership Lent Study

2022-02-18T16:51:46+00:00
For your diary: The Partnership Lent Study will run for five weeks: March 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and April 5th at Bath Road Methodist Church and begin at 7.30pm and each session will finish by 9.00pm.
It is based on the musical ‘Hamilton’ and is entitled ‘The Room Where it Happens”. The study includes clips from the show that tie in with the themes. The evening will be based around small group discussion.
The themes covered are:
  1. Identity and Belonging.
  2. Ambition and Temptation.
  3. Forgiveness and Redemption.
  4. Love and Sacrifice.
  5. Hope and Courage through Adversity.
Please put these dates in your diary and join us in this exploration of how our faith can impact the world around us.
Partnership Lent Study2022-02-18T16:51:46+00:00
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