YET MORE PICS FROM THE BIG ART DAY

Rose working hard on her painting.


Alison's drawing of the inside of the church

Maureen's window painting.

PICTURES FROM THE BIG ART DAY

Here is Joan showing her lovely watercolour and Maureen engrossed in her painting. Rose's image of the church building. More photos tomorrow

A few pictures to brighten your day

Here are some of the church members chatting at a bring and share lunch and roses in the churchyard.

JUNE AROUND ST ANDREWS

This afternoon is wet and cloudy and it is hard to remember the days we had of sunshine earlier on. Hopefully this will not last long and we will have the hot summer we have been promised!!
I try and go around the church and churchyard on a regular basis taking pictures where I can. With the work on the Tower about to start in July, I thought I would take some pics before the scaffolding goes up!

THE CHURCHYARD IN MAY

Whatever the time of year, there is always something interesting to be seen in the churchyard. The cowparsley and large daises are beautiful at the moment. The roses are just starting to come out and there is an air of peace and tranquility. The oak leaves are pretty and I remember tracing them onto paper as a child.

The LOOSE CHANGE COLLECTION

One of our Tower Appeal Committee - Heather Squires - has been organising a loose change collection in the church. Just a bucket put out for any loose change that people have in their pockets, or collect at home. In the Lent period, this raised over £100 for the Tower Appeal. This loose change collection will continue through the year and we thank those people who contributed and hope that people will support it in the future

How things look different from different angles

Taking photographs around the church and churchyard recently, it occurred to me how different things look from different angles. And you can miss things that have been there all the time that you haven't noticed, even if you have been passing them for years. I am trying to photograph parts of the church that people perhaps dont notice or at least dont see. When I look at the results I am surprised how beautiful things can be - just a small corner or a flower or a gravestone, or parts of the church interior. I guess it's the same with people. You think you know them and then they show themselves in a new light, or surprise you with an idea or part of them that you hadn't seen before. Looking at the wider picture, you might like to come and visit the church and environs sometime - the church community may be different from what you think.

Churchyard Flowers in April

Most of the daffodils have gone now, but the primroses and tree blossom are still around in the churchyard. There's a star=like blue flower which is lovely but I can't name. There are always the few unusual gravestones to look at. I have put up some pictures for you to see. Oops, one of my cat got in there!!!

THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED!

Its been a busy time over Easter in the church with the various activities that go on at this time. Before that, the Barn Dance was held at the Village Centre, but we didnt make a profit on it because of the high cost of hiring the Centre. I would have thought that as this was built for the Village, there should be some limits on when local organisations book this. £400 for an evening seems a lot and I may speak to our local councillor about this and see what can be done for any future bookings. Here are some pics of the evening.

Hello there Kirt in New England USA

Thank you Kirt for your comments.
I have looked out some photographs of the Tower for you but my camera is not good enough to get closeups. When the work is being done I will be getting some photographs taken from the scaffolding. I quote you from the brochure that was sent to every house in Cherry Hinton last year.
'St Andrews Church Cherry Hinton is a Grade 1 listed Building, dating back to circa 1200. The last major work on the Tower was in the reign of Henry VIII.
The Tower is now in urgent need of structural repair - the parapets - made of local stone (quarried nearby) are deteriorating. The cement render is cracked and is allowing water in. Architects have advised that without repair the Tower will become a safety hazard'
Repairing the Tower will be a major architectural project, requiring the services of specialist stonemasons and substantial scaffolding. ' The overall costs are rising annually and are now in the region of £250.000!!

I hope this is enough information for you for the time being, Kirt. Regards to you over the water.

I looked for the last snowdrops..........................

I went to the churchyard looking for the last snowdrops - and they there were in a small clump, soon to be fading away ..................

HAVE YOU SEEN INSIDE OUR BEAUTIFUL CHURCH?

Perhaps some people have not been inside our church to see some of the interesting things and some of the interesting people. I have put up some pictures for your interest of the inside and a picture of some of the servers who assist the vicar during the service. Particularly this morning I noticed the sun streaming in through the stained glass windows which lit up the inside of the church. If anyone would like information on some of the interesting bits inside the church, make a comment and I will find out about it and let you know.

Thank you Laurence dsm

For your kind remarks about some of the blogs.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TOWER APPEAL?

You will know that St Andrews has a problem with funding the repair of its Tower.
Do you think that you have a responsibility with regard to the ancient building in your parish?
How would you feel if it could no longer operate financially? Or that it had to close?
I wonder if anybody feels that our ancient church is important to them and our community.
I think it is very important. It has stood there for centuries, supporting the people in our community and being supported by the people in the community. DO WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED? I think we all probably do, but remember this building belongs to the people in Cherry Hinton - so please use it and support it financially. The Church Centre is available for you to book for your children's party or social event. The church is here for your weddings and baptisms and for the sad times when our loved ones die.
You are, of course, always welcome to the services that are held in Church - details on our website. Or visit the church and churchyard when the church is open.
St Andrews is about welcome and friendship, companionship and community. Dont let that die through lack of financial support for the building.

SO I hope that some of you will read the Blog and decide to help in some way. Through some fundraising activites, through donations, through ideas about where and how we can ensure a regular income so that the church building can be maintained. WE NEED YOUR HELP.
PLEASE LET ME HAVE YOUR COMMENTS!!!!

Churchyard Flowers in Spring

I have been taking my camera around the churchyard over the last few weeks, picking up the small areas of spring flowers. On the days I went, the sun was shining and although it was chilly, there was an air of peace around. There were the last of the snowdrops, daffodils, hyacinths , that small yellow buttercup-type flower (name forgotten) and primroses. The trees were covered in beautiful pink blossom. I have always enjoyed going around churchyards since I was a small child. I used to regularly visit the churchyard where an uncle was buried - walking around, looking at the different sorts of headstones. I was particularly fascinated by the occasional child's gravestone - one of a standing angel was very beautiful. Even as a child, I felt a comforting sense of quiet. The church and churchyard is there for the community to use when people need to find a sense of quiet and peace in their busy lives. Come and visit when you need a space to contemplate.