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St Paul’s Festival and Open Day planned for July 12th
Everyone is invited to the St Paul’s Open Day on Saturday July 12th.
Its doors will be open from 10.00am to 5.00pm for a range of
activities, including a guided tour of the church, tower and ringing
chamber, a lunchtime organ recital and children’s activities.
A café will be running all day, serving fresh coffee, home-made
cakes and other refreshments. A display of church vestments of other
artefacts is also planned.
Guided tour
The church and tower tour starts at 10.30am and will be conducted
by the Bedford Town Guided tour guides and the St Paul’s tower
captain.
The church tour is a fascinating and amusing look into the long and
rich history of St Paul’s in Bedford and will last about an hour.
Following a stop for coffee, a trip up the tower and into the
ringing chamber is part of the same tour and there may be the
opportunity to ring one of the bells. |
The joint tour will be priced at £7.50, payable on the day – no
booking in advance required – but it will be first come first served
with a group size limited to 20 people. Please arrive early to avoid
disappointment!
Hear the organ
Also on the day, why not come and hear the magnificent organ at
our lunchtime organ recital? The recital is part of our normal
Saturday lunchtime series, but with the timing changed from 12.00
and 1.00pm on this occasion. Organist Jake Scicinski, currently
visiting organist at Brentwood Cathedral will be playing a recital
which is free to enter with collection taken on exit.
A number of displays of church artefacts is also planned – more
details will be available nearer the time.
Keep an eye on
our Facebook page for regular updates. |
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Hand-crafted icon mosaic celebrates the work of the Sisters of
St Etheldreda
A stunning mosaic has been installed in a niche outside the east
end of St Paul's Church, Bedford, to celebrate the work of the
Bedford Sisters of St Etheldreda.
The mosaic, created in the tradition of icons, features the The
Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the Christ Child in the loving
relationship shown by the Sisters of St Etheldreda, during the 150
years of running their Bedford children's home.
James Blackstone, the artist of St Dunstan Icons (www.dunstanicons.com)
spent many months creating the mosaic which is formed of tiny
tesserae or pieces of glass from Murano, Venice. The final
composition makes for a unique work of art with its rich colouring
that attracts the eyes of passers-by. The lettering on the mosaic is
the contracted form of the Greek: “Meter Theou”, (Mother of God).
The hope is that people walking through the churchyard will find
a greater sense of peace as they come across the mosaic half hidden
behind rosemary.
The Anglican Sisters of St Etheldreda were active in Bedford
between 1869 and 1984, providing a Sunday School, night schools,
guilds, meetings and an orphanage. For the many children of St
Eths', the icon will be a reminder of the kindness shown by the
Sisters at the Children's Home in Bromham Rd, which was so unlike
the misery experienced by some children in care.
Sister Hazel, at 91 years, is the last surviving of the three
Sisters who ran the Home until its closure and is still a focus for
many who seek her wisdom and friendship at her base in Willen,
Milton Keynes. Being within the Parish of St Paul, the Sisters and
the children enjoyed a close and relationship with its clergy and
people, so it is fitting that the mosaic should be installed in its
gardens, outside the building where it can be enjoyed at all times.
The Bishop of Bedford is to dedicate the icon mosaic on Sunday
15 June at 4 pm. All are welcome to attend.
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We are recruiting!
St Paul's Parish Church is looking for individuals who are
passionate about music and enjoy singing choral works to join us as
we relaunch our Church choir. If you are comfortable reading music,
are able to sing in SATB harmony, and love to sing, we invite you to
get in touch to discuss how you might contribute to the ongoing
musical tradition of Bedford's beautiful civic church.
Commitments would include a weekly one-hour rehearsal (currently
Friday evening), and singing at church services beginning with
Parish Eucharist at 10.15am on Sunday mornings. We already have the
nucleus of an SATB choir who have been singing regularly at
services, but we are looking to grow this into a larger SATB choir
singing on the first Sunday of the month and to increase regular
choral commitments thereafter. As the choir grows, we also aim to
give a musical offering at a Sunday Choral Evensong once per month.
We see the Choir as an important part of the church, not only of our
musical tradition but also of our wider ministry. Whilst as a member
of the choir you do not necessarily have to be of the Christian
faith, it is important to us that you are sympathetic to, and
prepared to take an active part in, the overall ministry of the
church.
If you are interested to find out more,
please contact Revd Anthony Davis or Adam Wright, Organist, via
music@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk. |
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