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Kings & Queens take over Bedford's annual Christmas Tree Festival
Find Kings & Queens of every kind amongst the 65 trees at Bedford's
Christmas Tree Festival in St Paul's town centre church. The trees are
decorated by local community groups, schools and firms.
Margaret Oakley, Festival Chairman said:
"The 23rd annual event will be bigger than ever with 43 performers
across the five days, from schools, community groups and dancers making
up some 1200 individuals.
Here is the full programme. The performers will entertain visitors
as they wander around this magnificent church. Children will enjoy
spotting royal characters in the trees to win book tokens (1) while
everyone has a chance to vote for their favourite tree (2)."
There are still tickets for the annual Festival Concert on Friday 8
December at 7.30pm with a return of the 'Woburn Piano Trio' (3) playing
pieces by Haydn and Brahms in addition to Christmas favourites such as
'Walking in the Air'. It is a truly memorable evening for concert goers
to enjoy the beautiful trees at night in the majestic setting of St
Paul's. Tickets £20.00 include a glass of wine and mince pie from
www.peoplesfundraising.com/concert-tickets or phone 01234 783181.
The Bedford Pipe Band will lead visitors to the opening of the Festival
by the High Sheriff, Russell Beard. The Mayor, Speaker of the Council
and the Bishop of Bedford will also be in attendance when the first of
the many local choirs will sing.
Help us to raise even more than the £20,000 raised last year. The
Festival requires immense dedication from some 330 volunteers and office
staff to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The Committee is grateful
to the Festival's main sponsor, Jayne Beard Associates (4), and to many
other sponsors, businesses and individuals for helping to raise the much
needed funds which together with income from the Festival will go
equally towards St Paul's work of worship, welcome and the support of
the vulnerable as well as to Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends. This
year their efforts are directed to upgrading a new CT scanner with very
fast action to take dynamic X-Ray pictures of the heart's blood vessels.
Open 6th - 10th December at St Paul's church, St Paul's Sq, Bedford MK40 1SQ
Wednesday - Saturday, open from 10am - 5pm.
Sunday, open from 12pm - 4pm.
Entry £3.00. Under 16 FREE.
Tree Festival Concert - Friday 8th December at 7.30 pm.
Tickets £20.00 include a glass of wine and mince pie.
Margaret Oakley, the Festival Chair is available for interview.
Telephone: 07909 521997 or email
treefestival@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk
Further details available by calling 01234 340163
or visiting
www.facebook.com/bedfordchristmastreefestival
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St Paul's joins Real Living Wage FoundationSt Paul's has signed
up to the Real Living Wage Foundation and is therefore now a Living Wage
employer. In doing so, the church is voluntarily taking steps to ensure
salaries for lower paid members of staff are kept in line with the
Living Wage Foundation recommendations.
The Real Living Wage Foundation was set up
to encourage employers to go above and beyond the statutory obligation
of the minimum wage, and agree to rates of pay for staff which are
sufficient to ensure they have enough to meet current cost of living
expenses, depending on their location. The hourly rates are reviewed
each Autumn and employers then have six months to implement the
increases with their own staff.'
Paying the real living wage has been shown to not only improve the
welfare and motivation of current staff, but also helpful in attracting
new staff to the organisation. |
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For over 20 years, St Paul's in the heart of Bedford has welcomed 1000s
of visitors to the annual Christmas Tree Festival. The event has grown
over that time and now involves more local community groups, schools,
charities and businesses than ever before. This year promises not only
the usual display of more than 60 Christmas trees decorated by local
groups but a full programme of choirs, music and other performances. The
theme for 2023 is 'Kings and Queens'.
There will be a competition for children to find images of famous Kings
and Queens hidden the Christmas trees, along with refreshments and a
raffle.
All money raised from the Festival goes towards funding much needed
equipment for Bedford Hospital and towards keeping St Paul's Church open
for the Bedford and wider community. Entry to the Festival is £3 and
free for children under 16.
Sponsors
Jayne Beard Associates is kindly sponsoring the Festival again in
memory of Jayne Beard, a former Chair of the Bedford Hospital Charity.
The Bedford Christmas Tree Festival Concert (Friday 8 December
7.30pm)
This year's concert will once again be performed by The Woburn Piano
Trio, members of the world-class Philharmonia Orchestra, amid the
evocative setting of St Paul's lit by 60 Christmas trees. The programme
will include Haydn Gypsy Rondo Trio no. 39 and Christmas favourites
including 'Walking in the Air' and 'In the Bleak Midwinter'.
Tickets at £20 can be purchased by calling 01234 783181 or at
peoplesfundraising.com/concert-tickets.
Fizz at the Festival (Wednesday 6 December 6 - 8pm)
Enjoy fizz and canap's at this private viewing of the Christmas trees
with decorations inspired by 'Kings and Queens'. Tickets (£8) can be
purchased by phone 01234 783181 or by emailing
treefestival@stpaulschurchbedford.co.uk
Keep abreast of updates here or through the church
Facebook page or the
festival page. |
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St Paul's Church is awarded 'Major Parish Church' statusSt
Paul's church in the centre of Bedford is celebrating its award as a
Major Parish Church and being granted membership of the Major Churches
Network, in recognition of its importance to the town.
The Major Churches Network is a body set up by the Church of England
which comprises 350 of the largest and most significant churches across
England which are not cathedrals but fulfil many of the same functions
within their communities and includes some of the best loved places of
worship around the UK.
There are strict qualifying criteria to become a member such as being a
building of exceptional significance (often Grade I listed), being open
daily to visitors, to have a role which goes beyond a normal parish
church by fulfilling an important civic and cultural role and by making
an economic contribution to their local area.
St Paul's qualifies in all categories - it is the biggest religious
building in the St Albans Diocese after St Albans Cathedral, the civic
and county church of Bedfordshire, and it plays host to events and
concerts throughout the year. For the past year the new Bedford Visitor
Information Centre - which replaced the old Tourist Information when it
closed - has also been based inside the main body of the church.
Canon Fr Kevin Goss, Vicar of St Paul's said: "We are delighted to
have received this recognition and to have been officially designated a
member of the Major Churches Network. We welcome thousands of visitors
every year and would hope this affiliation will boost the church's
profile further, and in doing do attract more visitors into Bedford."
St Paul's is already a member of
Cathedrals Plus, a body that promotes
cathedrals, abbeys, shrines and major churches which already receive
large numbers of visitors. The church is well-known locally for hosting
the annual Christmas Tree Festival in conjunction with Bedford Hospitals
Charity, attracting around 5000 visitors over the five day event.
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