Social Groups

Mothers' Union

The Mothers Union is a Christian organisation, which promotes the well-being of families world-wide. We try to achieve this by
• developing prayer and spiritual growth in families,
• studying and reflecting on family life and marriage and their place in society,
• giving our members the resources to take practical action to improve conditions for families, either nationally or in their local communities.

Members of Mothers' Union are asked to pursue the following objects:
• To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding.
• To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church.
• To maintain a world-wide fellowship of Christians, united in prayer, worship and service.
• To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.
• To help those whose family life has met with adversity.

The Mothers’ Union in this benefice meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, 7:30 for 7:45pm, in Church House behind St Michael’s. We always start our meetings with prayer, the backbone of the society. Occasionally we are able to arrange a speaker; otherwise we discuss issues supported by the society, such as parenting, literacy, and the Making Poverty History campaign. We try to contribute to projects in the local community, for example: collecting toiletries for young people helped by Night Stop. Our members are also involved in the benefice as servers, sidespeople or flower arrangers.
Being part of the wider Mothers' Union organisation means that we try to attend Deanery and Diocesan services and events.

We do extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to join Mothers' Union. For further information, please contact Nick Finlay. Links to Mothers' Union web sites can be found on the links page.

Ladies Fellowship

St Michael’s Ladies Fellowship meets every other Tuesday in Church House at 2.30pm for an afternoon of Christian fellowship and friendship.

We always start the afternoon with a hymn and a prayer. Sometimes a favourite reading is used. Our programme is varied – quizzes, social get-togethers to share experiences, favourite poems or readings, talks from local ministers, lay readers and charities, slide shows etc. A raffle is held at each meeting. This, together with the small subscription, contribute to the annual donation to St. Michael’s Church and a favourite charity. We also support as many of the church activities as we can.

The Ladies Fellowship year starts in September and runs to May. For the date of the next meeting, please see the diary page.

Tea and Talk

Not everyone is as mobile as they used to be, and may spend a lot of time at home alone, or may be as fit as a fiddle and just want an afternoon out! ‘Tea and Talk’ gives an opportunity to get out and meet friends and have a chat over a cup of tea and a piece of cake or biscuits. The group meets every third Tuesday from 2.30 - 4.30pm in St Mary’s Community Hall. As well as time for a chat, the afternoon will also include a quiz or game, or some music. Folks with a disability can be collected from home and delivered safely back home after the meeting. All are welcome to just turn up or contact Yvonne Newell (01795 472434).

Ladies Breakfast

The aim of the Ladies Breakfast is:-

• to provide an informal get-together for ladies to enjoy a healthy breakfast, friendship and fellowship.

• to create an outreach in the community in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.

We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 8.30 am till 9.30 am.

Place: St Michael's, Church House

We serve varying fruits of the season together with yoghurt, croissants, rolls, butter, low fat margarine, marmalade, jam, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Special diets can be catered for.

The cost of the breakfast is £2.00 per person. Any surplus food is offered at the end and donations are welcome.

There is a varied programme of speakers, some of which come from within the group and others from outside.

See the Diary pages for dates. To book your breakfast please telephone Elizabeth Sabine on 01622 884599.

Functional Groups

St Mary's Music Group

St Mary’s Sacristan's

 Preparation for our services is vital to it's smooth running. A sacristan would ensure that everything required for a communion service is ready and set in the correct place.  If you are nterested in getting invoved in this aspect of serving at St Mary's, please speak to Nick or Anita.

St Michael’s Bellringers

The bellringers at St Michael’s have a tower of eight bells. They ring from plain hunt to (possibly) Cambridge minor.

The regular times for ringing are:

Practice: Monday 20.00 to 21.30 hrs

Sundays: 10.15 hrs.

Entrance to the Tower is via the West Door.

Please contact the Captain if you would like to ring. Beginners are welcome.

Contact details:
Captain: Wendy Dadson 01795 470131. Please make contact before attending as the West Door is kept locked.

St. Michael’s Choir

St. Michael’s Choir’s music ethos is rooted in the Anglican tradition of choral singing. Naturally, styles have evolved over time to meet the needs of our services; where once the choir would have been strictly boys and men, we now have ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls.

Nonetheless, we are still a robed choir, wearing the traditional chorister’s cassock and surplice for services. Our music is wide ranging with composers dating from William Byrd to John Rutter. Although Christmas, Advent and Easter have their special services, we normally sing at the morning service on the first and third Sundays in the month and an evening service on the second Sunday. This is the most traditional, being Choral Evensong with a short Communion service all from the Book of Common Prayer, allowing us to sing music from a cathedral repertoire.

At full strength we number six ladies, nine gentlemen and three children, with extra voices for special occasions. Included in this number are a choirmaster, assistant choirmaster, three organists and a youngster who is learning. We practice weekly on Fridays: children 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. and adults 7.45 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. and there is usually a short rehearsal before each service.

Our Friday practices take place in the tower room vestry and we are pleased to welcome new recruits who enjoy singing in a Christian environment and wish to maintain this valued choral tradition.

St Michael’s Servers

St Michael’s has an enthusiastic band of servers both male and female. They reflect the
middle-of-the road tradition found in this church. Whatever the service, formal or informal, servers are required. For the Eucharist, we use a crucifer and 2 acolytes.

Some 50% of our servers are members of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary.

If you are interested in joining the band of servers please contact the office.

Family/ Children/ Youth Groups

Busy Bees (Parents and Tots)

Play, play and play is our aim along with meeting other Mum's, Dad's Granny's & children.  We meet every Monday in term time in St. Mary's Church & Hall from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. for pre-school children.

There is no cost for your first visit then after that a £1.00 per family covers refreshments for the children (juice & fruit and sometimes cake when we celebrate a birthday) & adults. We also have a craft table every other week and many toys to enjoy. 

We are a very friendly group which gives the children opportunities to socialise and grow in confidence while parents benefit from some adult company in a relaxed environment. We have avariety of toys, including Duplo, play dough, drawing and sticking, and larger toys such as bikes,climbing frame and slide.

Prayers in the Foyer

Is a short open prayer meeting held in St.Mary’s Church Foyer at 9.00am on Thursdays. Prayer support is given for events within the churches and concerns within our community; Prayer is offered for the sick or anxious.
Importantly Prayer in the Foyer provides an Oasis of calm within the busy week, providing an opportunity to listen to what God is saying to us.
Meetings last for 30-40 minutes. Just come along.