St Mary’s, St Margarets achieves Eco Church Bronze Award
We’re delighted to announce that St Mary’s Church, St Margarets, has been awarded A Rocha UK’s Eco Church Bronze Award.
Eco Church is a programme that helps churches put care for God’s creation into practice. The award recognises work across five areas of church life: worship and teaching, buildings and energy, land and nature, community and global engagement, and sustainable lifestyles.
After completing the Eco Church survey and meeting the required standard across all five areas, St Mary’s Church has now achieved its Bronze Award.
A huge thank you to Lyn Paddon and Jen Jackson for all their hard work in helping reach this milestone, and to everyone who helps keep the churchyard maintained.
We look forward to continuing to explore how we can care for God’s wonderful world as a church and as a community.
St Mary’s, St Margarets Comes Alive with Art and Community
This summer, St Mary’s Church, St Margarets opened its doors to the community in a rather different way, as the church was transformed into a gallery for our first Summer Miniature Art Exhibition and Silent Auction.
The idea was simple: invite artists to create miniature artworks inspired by the theme of Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets, and then bring those pieces together in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church. What followed was a wonderful celebration of creativity, our local area and, most importantly, community.
The exhibition featured 41 artworks by 13 artists, with a wonderful variety of styles and subjects. Familiar buildings, landscapes and local scenes appeared alongside more imaginative interpretations of the villages, giving visitors plenty to look at and enjoy.
Over the weekend, St Mary’s welcomed over 130 visitors through its doors. People came to admire the artwork, chat with friends and neighbours, enjoy refreshments and take part in the silent auction. It was lovely to see the church being used in a different way and to welcome many people who may not otherwise have visited.
The exhibition also gave visitors the chance to choose their favourite artwork in our People’s Choice Award. Congratulations to Indigo, whose beautiful artwork, ‘Reflections on Lea’, received the most votes. At just 16, and a student of artist Dawn Coulter, Indigo showed great talent and confidence in her chosen medium. The painting’s beautiful setting and masterful use of light on the water clearly captured the imagination of our visitors.
The generosity of everyone involved has also made a real difference to St Mary’s Church. So far to date we have raised a NET figure of £894.76, which will go towards supporting the work and ministry of the church. We hope to have a final total soon. We are hugely grateful to every artist who donated their creativity, to everyone who came along and supported the auction, and to our volunteers who gave their time to welcome visitors and provide refreshments.
Events like this remind us that our churches are not only places for worship, but places where people can meet, share their gifts, enjoy one another’s company and be part of the life of the local community.
We are so thankful to everyone who helped make our first Summer Miniature Art Exhibition such a success, and we hope it will be the first of many opportunities to open St Mary’s doors and bring people together.
Christmas Tree Festival 2024
Once again this year, we held a Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets. We were so pleased that the community got involved again, including some new tree holders this year.
Despite the storms, we had 90 visitors over the weekend who came along to enjoy the beautiful trees. We also had some seasonal refreshments, some craft items for sale, a tombola and activities for the children.
Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to come along and support this weekend. We raised a gross total of £403.78, which will go towards the work and upkeep of the church.
Thank you to all our amazing tree holders and to everyone who came along to help over the weekend.
Christmas Tree Festival 2023
On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December, 2–6pm, we held our Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.
The church looked beautiful all lit up with the trees that had been provided and decorated by local groups and businesses. Powell Funeral Services donated the tree for St Mary’s and Gini Trower from The Wallen Garden kindly loaned us two of her wonderful rooted trees. The amazing nativity scene at the altar, made by Mary Youngman and on loan from Hertford Baptist Church, was much admired by our visitors. We had some delicious cakes, biscuits and mince pies for refreshments; a raffle; a scavenger hunt for the children and some lovely craft items on safe.
The whole event was a brilliant success, with over 130 people coming along to get in the festive spirit over the two afternoons, and we were able to raise over £450. These funds will go towards the upkeep and work of the church.
We would like to thank everyone who helped: organising beforehand, providing and/or decorating trees, making cakes, volunteering as helpers, donating raffle prizes etc. It was a great team effort and we had some lovely feedback from those who came along.
Images: View from outside, Craft Stall, Our Memory Tree, The Three Villages Magazine, The 3 Churches Benefice Wednesday Coffee Morning, St Andrew’s Card-making Group, 1st Stanstead Abbotts Brownies, Age UK, St Andrew’s Primary School, Bobtails Playgroup & Teddy Club, Hoddesdon Ladies Club, Woodland Beavers Colony, St John the Baptist Church, St Mary’s Church, Nativity Scene by Mary Youngman (Hertford Baptist Church).
All Saints’/All Souls’ 2023
To mark All Saints’ and All Souls’ we held two special services: on Wednesday 1st November (All Saints’ Day) at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets and on Sunday 5th November at St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots.
Our All Saints’/All Souls’ Services of remembrance were quiet and reflective services, open to all who have lost a loved one. We were glad to see lots of members of our church family, as well as members of the wider community, coming together.
Rev’d Dr Sarah said, ‘It is privilege to walk with people through the difficult times of loss and grief, and to be there to encourage and bring hope when things seem dark and difficult. Remembering is important, and it is good to look back and see where we have come along the journey and to find God has been with us even when we weren’t sure He was at the time.’
The 3 Churches Foodbank Hub
As many of you will know, the local Foodbank Hub operating out of St Margarets’ Parish Church (St Mary the Virgin) began life in December 2020, after discussions with Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest. Through her links with the schools, the increasing strain on individuals and families during the Pandemic became apparent, and the idea of a local hub delivering to people in the villages was taken up by us as a benefice. We now regularly deliver Foodbank parcels to people in need, many of whom would struggle to get to Hertford or Ware to pick up what they and their families need.
The 3 Churches Foodbank Hub is always in need of donations. When we have specific requests, this will be noted in our News & Notices sheet. Donations can be dropped off on Wednesday morning between 10.30–11.30am at St Margarets Parish Church or to Sue Webb at 8 Miller Lane, Stanstead Abbotts.
Any donations are gratefully received. Thank you for your continued support!
If you have any questions, do get in touch with Lyn Paddon, The 3 Churches Foodbank Manager (07925039723).