Choir
We have an enthusiastic mixed choir of young singers, ladies and men. Numbers vary slightly inevitably as people come and go, but over the years we have always maintained a choir strength in excess of 20. We also have a loyal team of augmenters who are unable to commit themselves to regular attendance but who willingly join us for special occasions or during holiday periods when some regular members are away. Apart from the main festivals of the year, which are always well supported, the primary focus of the choir is the 9.30 Sung Eucharist on Sunday mornings. However, a small choir is always present on Sunday evenings to lead the singing for the BCP Evensong. Choir practices are held every Friday evening (except in August) in the church hall from 7.30 to 8.30. New members are always welcome, and would anyone interested in joining the choir, either full-time or as an augmenter, please contact the Organist and Choirmaster (see Contact Us).
Children’s Church
Our Children’s Church meets most Sunday mornings in the church hall in term time during the 9.30 Sung Eucharist service. We range from babes in arms to 11 year olds. Sessions start in the main church service at 9:30 for about 10 minutes so that the children can gain more of an understanding of their involvement in the church service before moving across to the church hall where children’s church begins, starting with our opening prayer:
Dear Lord
Give us ears that hear your word (cup hand behind ear)
Eyes that see your path (two closed fingers up to eye then move away)
And voices to sing your praises (Hand to mouth then moves away in circular motion)
Give us hearts that are open to your love (fist on heart then move out and open hand)
Hands to do your bidding (pretend to hand out things)
And feet to follow you (walk on spot)
Lord, here I am (arms open wide reaching out and looking up)
Amen
Usually, we take our theme from a Bible story of the day, with a telling of the story, discussion, prayer, games, songs and craft. Sessions are very informal and all are welcome. We are happy for you to visit us. At the end of the session, parents collect their children from the hall and take them across to church to join in communion or a blessing and for the final part of the service. Once a month, there is no separate Children’s Church, but we are involved in the Parish Praise service at St Anne’s School or in church for the whole of the 9.30 service.
The Children’s Church also runs stalls at the church summer fete, the Michaelmas Fayre at St Anne’s School and the Christmas bazaar. We also organise the Nativity play on Christmas Eve in church, and help with Christingle, Parish Praise, Mothering Sunday, the annual Pancake Race and many more church events!
For more details, please contact the Children’s Church Co-ordinator (see Contact Us).
Youth Group
(Temporarily in abeyance)
The Youth Group is open to all young people from the local area aged 11 to 18. It meets on Sunday evenings between 6.45 and 8.30, usually in the church hall but sometimes elsewhere. Emails are sent out each week with an update on where we are next meeting and what we are doing. Some of the members are involved in the church in other ways (for example, members of the choir, servers and helpers in Children’s Church) but you are very welcome even if you never go to church.
Typical activities include:
- Making boxes for operation Christmas Child
- Events to highlight fair trade
- Baking for cake stalls
- Rave in the Nave at Ely Cathedral
- Murder Mystery
- Christmas Party
- Crafty activities
- Trip to Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival in the summer, now at Boughton House, near Kettering
For more details, please contact the Youth Group leader (see Contact Us).
Bell Ringing
The bells are rung on Sunday mornings (9.00 for 9.30 service) and for other feasts and high days in the church’s calendar. There is a quarter peal rung for evening service once a month. The bells are also rung for weddings.
Practices are on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9.00, and on the 1st and 4th Wednesdays at Hemingford Grey. The bellringers are a friendly group who welcome visitors and anyone else who would like to look at the bells or consider learning to ring.
For more details, please contact the Tower Captain (see Contact Us).
Churches Together
Our church is a participating member of ‘Churches Together in Huntingdon and Godmanchester’. Major activities include quarterly meetings, pulpit exchanges, bimonthly men’s and ladies’ breakfasts, Good Friday ‘Walk of Witness’, an ‘Easter Sunrise’ service, Huntingdon Area Money Advice, and a Christmas lunch for the lonely. For a detailed diary see website http://ctihg.org.uk/churches-together-diary. In addition, we join with other churches in Godmanchester in local activities which include Tuesday lunches for senior citizens, the food bank at the Baptist Church, the tea tent on Gala Day and a ‘Worship in the Park’ open air service each July.
Other Activities
The parish has many social/fund-raising events, involving as many members of the congregation as possible. Amongst the many activities are:
- Wives’ Group which meets monthly
- Coffee and biscuits in the church hall after the morning service every Sunday
- Lunches on many special occasions, including a frugal lunch in Lent
- Occasional lunchtime barbecues between late spring and early autumn
- Occasional fish and chip suppers on a Saturday evening
- Annual quiz night
- Summer fete in the vicarage garden
- ‘Jazz in the Vicarage Garden’, an annual event attended by many citizens of the town who are not members of the congregation
- Annual plant sale in the forecourt of Island Hall to coincide with the National Garden Scheme
- Christmas bazaar in the church
Safeguarding
The parish is fully committed to safeguarding all those who attend our worship and the other activities that we offer. We follow the policy of the House of Bishops, ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ (2010), and the Diocese of Ely Policy and Procedures (2011). We seek to create a culture where everyone is included, respected, listened to, and taken seriously. In particular we accept the prime duty of care for children and vulnerable adults. To this end we have appointed a Safeguarding Co-ordinator to ensure that what we do relates to up-to-date policies and procedures supplied by local and national authorities. For more details, please contact him (see Contact Us).