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parents at that time was repeated 10 years later when, as a teenager, she had to choose between returning to Germany with the parents she hardly knew and staying with foster parents in England. Her own experiences drive her to continue to speak out against persecution and injustice happening today.

The service included readings by students from Saffron Walden County High School and the Friends' School as well as hymns and prayers.

A wire cage enclosing a candle provided a stark visual focus and those present came forward to tie a memorial ribbon to the cage as a pledge “With the help of God I will remember, I will speak out”.

The Holocaust Prayer was sung in Hebrew by Lesley Wheeler of the Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue Cambridge and a joint choir of 250 pupils from the primary schools sang “Make me a Channel of your Peace”.

The service concluded with a blessing sung in Hebrew by Lesley Wheeler and spoken by service leader, Revd. Anne Howson.

Click on above photo to see more photos of this service.

DIOCESAN VISION: On Saturday 21st January, a number from this Deanery attended a consultation day about the strategic aims of the Diocese. Find out more on this website: www.transformingpresence.org.uk

JIMMY'S SHELTER CHRISTMAS APPEAL. Great news! We have collected £1,200 (£728.23 of it is giftaided). Thank you very much to all donors. Kathleen Huey

MEN’S WALK - 8 of us enjoyed a lovely 4.5 mile walk in the Chrishall area ending up with a pub lunch at the Red Cow. Thanks to Andrew Pickering for organising the walk.on the 14th Jan.
The next Men’s walk will be on Saturday 10th March We meet at 10am at St Mary’s for a walk in the local countryside followed by lunch in a pub. Contact Jeremy Collingwood 529055 or Mike Watts 502048 for more details. Click here for details of other activities for our Men's Group.

Buildings Project Udate. On 7th December, the DCC agreed to proceed with a Feasibility Study in 2012 to assess how the needs identified with our church and Parish Rooms can be addressed. We will be interviewing prospective architects in January 2012.

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY CHRISTINGLE SERVICE on the 11th December raised £481.11. On behalf of the Society: grateful thanks to all involved in preparation and planning the service. Wonderful support, much appreciated. Eunice Harris.

St Mary's Christmas Fair

10 December 2011

A total of £5,309.24 was raised for church funds. Click here to see what each stall raised. Many thanks to Bill Rose for organising this and for all those who helped and supported this event.

Click here or on the photo on the left to see photos taken by Megan Ridgewell, Katalin Károlyi and Martin Hugall.

Jottings from Jimmy's Autumn 2011

Latest news from Jimmy's Shelter. Click here or on the photo to download Jimmy's Spring Newsletter

Operation Christmas Child – Shoebox Appeal
Thanks to all members of St Mary’s church for supporting this appeal. 150 shoeboxes, packed with love and full of gifts, are now on their way. More boxes will be going from our schools and other churches. More news will follow. Janet Damary Coordinator.
The photo shows 94 of the showboxes being loaded for despatch to the warehouse. Click to enlarge. Click here for more information about Operation Christmas Child organised by Samaritan's Purse.

Confirmation Service - 20th November 2011.

16 candidates from Saffron Walden, Debden and Wimbish were confirmed by the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford. Congratulations to: Marisa Baltrock, Jonathan Brace, Lisa Brown, Emily Downing, Stephen Goddard, David Harris, Sydney Haselton, Emese Ka’rolyi, Julie Lester, Matthew Lester, Fiona Middleton, Hazel O’Brien, Robert Stanton-Stock, Clare Tomlinson (from Saffron Walden), Abigail Thurgood- Buss and Fiona Womack (from Debden & Wimbish). Click hear to listen to Bishop Stephen's awe-inspiring sermon. Click on the photo to enlarge.

High Sheriff’s Justice Service, Sunday, 23rd October at 11.15am. The High Sherriff of Essex, judges, lawyers, the Mayor and Mayoress of Saffron Walden and church dignitaries were among well over 700 people who attended the Justice Service for the County of Essex, held at St Mary’s Saffron Walden on Sunday 23 October. Click on the photos to enlarge.

The service has its origins in the historic custom that before the local Assize Court began to sit, the High Court Judge conducting the Assizes would go to the Cathedral with the High Sherriff and local judges, barristers and court officials to pray for wisdom and humility in his forthcoming task of conducting the trials and sentencing those found guilty. The custom ceased when the Assizes were replaced in 1972 by the Crown Court, which sits permanently all year round, but was revived in Essex in 1974 by the then High Sherriff, Colonel George Judd.

The Rector of St Mary’s the Revd David Tomlinson, introduced the service and welcomed the congregation. Lady Ruggles-Brise and the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, read the lessons during the service. Prayers were led by the Chaplain to the High Sherriff, the Revd Colin Wilson. A moving sermon was given by the Chaplain-General to HM Land Forces, the Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, who stressed the importance of humility and prayer for all in the legal professions. The Bishop of Brentwood, the Rt Revd Thomas MacMahon, and the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Revd Christopher Morgan, also took part in the service and gave the final blessings.

St Mary’s Church choir sang for the service, conducted by Assistant Organist Stephen Penton. Oliver King, Director of Music and Organist, played the organ and Corporal (DMaj) B Ryall from the Band of the Parachute Regiment played the trumpet.

The Office of High Sherriff is over 1000 years old. Since 1258 it has been an annual appointment, made by the Queen on the advice of the Privy Council. Lady Ruggles-Brise is the 831st recorded holder of the office in Essex.

Click here to listen to the sermon preached by the Chaplain-General HM Land Forces, Revd Jonathan Woodhouse.

WOMEN'S OWN met over breakfast on Saturday 22 October for a talk on "My life as Mother and Medic" with Kati Borbely and her family.

Margaret Taylor interviewed Dr. Katalin Borbely, who talked about the role of faith in her life and how it has guided her through the highs and lows since her childhood. Kati worked as an emergency doctor for over 15 years,and then specialised as a general practitioner and as a homeopathic doctor.

Click on the photo on the left to see photos of the event taken by Katalin Károlyi.

1611-2011: THE KING JAMES BIBLE - " The Word and the words" Well over 100 people came to St Mary’s Saffron Walden on Saturday 15 October, to hear a fascinating talk by the priest, author, poet, and musician - the Revd Dr Malcolm Guite, chaplain of Girton College Cambridge.

Dr Guite emphasised how significant it is to Christianity that everyone should be able to hear the Gospel message in their own language, just as on the day of Pentecost, described in the New Testament, when people from all over the Mediterranean world each heard Jesus’ disciples talking in their own tongue. He showed how the rich diversity of different languages gave depth and meaning to the Biblical message, and how the translators had used the varied vocabulary and tones within the English language itself to convey their meaning – how they used words to explain the nature of Jesus, described in St John’s Gospel as the Word of God. He used extracts from the sermons of the seventeenth-century bishop and linguistic scholar Lancelot Andrewes, who had overseen the group translating the first part of the Old Testament, to give stimulating insights into how the translators approached their work.

In a question-and-answer session after the talk Dr Guite discussed issues such as the role of King James in commissioning the 1611 Bible, the use of language to explain religious concepts in the present day, and the different cultural influences upon the Old and New Testament writers.

Saffron Walden and Villages Team Ministry will come into being on 1st January 2012. Full details of the new structure, including the creation of five new parishes and a Team Council, can be found on the PCC and Team Council Page.

Consultations are currently under way on the creation of districts for the daughter churches of Littlebury Green, Little Walden and Sewards End . Full details are available here

Feasibility Study. St Mary's is looking for a suitably qualified architect to carry out a feasibility study to adapt the church buildings and premises to meet our current and anticipated future needs. Click here for futher information.

Tim Hardingham was ordained Deacon at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday 2nd July 2011. The photo shows Tim with his wife Sarah after the service. Tim joins the team at St Mary's Saffron Walden as Assistant Curate. Please remember them in your prayers.

Junior Choir and Bellringers' Floats at the Saffron Walden Carnival 2 July 2011

Click on the above images to enlarge

Ordination of Philip Tarris as Priest

Sunday 26th June 2011 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow. Click on the photo to see Philip with David Tomlinson, who preached, Bishop Christopher, Archdeacon Annette Cooper and the other three ordinands. Please keep Philip in your prayers.

St Mary's Family Picnic 19th June 2011

Click on the photo on the left to see more. Many thanks to Katalin Karolyi for these lovely photos. Click here to read an account of the picnic by Emese Karolyi.

Parish Weekend 13 to 15 May 2011

Click here to see a slideshow of some of the photos taken
during this weekend.

St Mary's Youth Newsletter

Why Easter?  An Easter event for children aged 7 – 11.  St Mary’s Church Parish Rooms, Saturday 23rd April.

Click here or on the photo on the left to see more.

Aftershock Weekend Away February 2011

Click on the photo on the left to find out what happened.

'What's On'

Our new Bishop of Chelmsford visits Saffron Walden

Bishop Stephen Cottrell visited Uttlesford District Council on his recent
trip to Saffron Walden on Thursday 3rd Feburary.
Left to right: The Revd David Tomlinson, Rector of St Mary's Saffron Walden; John Mitchell, Chief Executive of the Council; the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford; and Councillor Jim Ketteridge, Leader of the Council. Bishop Stephen will be leading our Parish Weekend in May.

New additions to our History page - "Burials within our Church".

Click here to visit our History page to see John Read's article in the Saffron Walden Historical Journal No 4 Autumn 2002 on "St Mary's Saffron Walden Burial Registers 1558 - 1892". Over 780 people have been buried inside the church - read John Read's interesting article to find out more. You can also download John Read's full list of burial locations within the church, and see examples of interesting burial locations with the church.

Fundraising for Jimmy's Night Shelter for the Homeless Jan 29/30th 2011

A cup of tea for £1 raised £76	Pam, Lesley & Kathleen's sleepover raised £1,156	Bread and soup lunch raised £183	Henry Brown speaking about Jimmy's

Many thanks to all those who supported our fundraising for Jimmy's Night Shelter on our Homelessness weekend. A total of £1416.50 was raised for Jimmy's. Thank you very much wonderful Church Family and friends for all your support. Kathleen. Click on the above photos to enlarge. More information about Jimmy's can be found at www.jimmyscambridge.org.uk

Holocaust Memorial Day Service 27 January 2011

Recordings of Christmas Services 2010 at St Mary's, including our Advent Carol Service, Service of 9 Lessons and Carols and the 10am Service on Christmas morning.

Click on the quaver icon on the left to listen to recordings of these services.

Carol Singing for Crossroads Care
Tesco 22nd December 2010

'Creative Christmas'
at St James Sewards End
18th December 2010

Christmas Fair 11 December 2010

'A Christmas in Bethlehem'

Many thanks to Bill Rose and to everyone else who helped and supported this event. The net total raised to date was £4,465.18. Click here or on the photo on the left to see more photos of the Fair and to find out how much each stall raised.

Men's Walk Saturday 13th November 2010. 6.8 mile walk around Ashdon. Click on the map to enlarge and to see our route.

Next Men's Walk is on Saturday 8th January. Meet at St Mary’s at 10am for a walk in the local countryside with a stop off for a pub lunch. If you have not joined us before then please consider coming along, or if you are a regular then consider any non Christian friends who you could bring along. Contact Jeremy Collingwood 529055 or Mike Watts 502048 for more details. We meet on the second Saturday of alternate months.

Soul Survivor August 2010 Click on the photos to enlarge

At 10:30am on Wednesday 11th August 10 young people and 5 adults set off from St Mary’s Parish rooms for Soul Survivor 2010. Many hours later we arrived at the Royal Bath and Western showground in Shepton Mallet.
It had been a while since I had been to Soul Survivor myself and for some of our young people it was their first time. It was great to see how much it had grown and this year there were 14,000 people on site. Each day there was a evening and morning meeting where we worshipped and looked at Jesus through the Gospels. The meetings were held in a huge marquee and there was a small overflow tent as they could not fit everyone inside the marquee.
The worship was fantastic and speakers really gave us things to think about. During the rest of the day there were a variety of seminars on themes such as evangelism, the Church as well as separate Christian teaching for boys and girls. There was also the time to relax at a cafe, do artwork in the toolshed or browse the great selection of resources available. In the evening, after the main meeting there was the opportunity to see a film or see a live band.
We all had a great time and it was a brilliant end to my first year, just occasionally sitting and chatting over a hot chocolate under the stars. Special thanks goes to Tracey Nicholls and Helen Nash for organising and doing the cooking that week. We all ate really well and the food was fantastic!

Andy Finn

Blessing of the new Ambulance

The work of St John Ambulance in the Saffron Walden area and elsewhere in the country was celebrated at a service on Sunday 10th October. An ambulance which has been refurbished for the use of Saffron Walden Division of St John Ambulance, with the help of funds generously given by the Saffron Walden Round Table and Lionesses, was blessed. Click on the photos to enlarge.

Saturday 9th October 2010

A record total of £320.35 was raised for choir funds. Many thanks to all those who made and sold these apple pies. Click on the photo to enlarge.

PAULA GRIFFITHS' ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD on Sunday 26th September at St Mary's.

From left to right - The Right Revd Graeme Knowles, previously Bishop of Sodor and Man (ie the Isle of Man) and currently Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, the Right Revd Christopher Morgan, Bishop of Colchester, and the Right Revd Derek Bond, previously Bishop of Bradwell, now an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Chelmsford with Paula Griffiths in front. Click on the photos to enlarge.

Photo on right: from left to right - The Venerable Anette Cooper, Archdeacon of Colchester, The Right Revd Graeme Knowles, previously Bishop of Sodor and Man (ie the Isle of Man) and currently Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Roger Griffiths ( Paula's husband), the Right Revd Christopher Morgan, Bishop of Colchester, the Right Revd Derek Bond, previously Bishop of Bradwell, now an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Chelmsford, the Revd David Tomlinson, Rector of St Mary's, the Right Revd John Samuel, visiting Bishop of Faisalabad Pakistan, with Paula Griffiths in front.

Paula presided for the first time at Choral Eucharist in the evening. Photos taken after the service.

THANK YOU for all the overwhelming support, love, cards and good wishes for my priesting and first Eucharist on 26th September and for making it such a memorable day. Paula

PRESENT FOR PAULA: We are giving a gift to Paula Griffiths to mark her ordination to the priesthood. Donations gratefully received in the parish office over the next couple of weeks. David

Junior Choir sings at the Centenary Celebrations at St John''s Church Little Walden 11 September 2010.

Chick on the photo on the left to enlarge and click here to read an account of the service by a junior chorister.

Click on the above photos to enlarge.

Bradwell Pilgrimage 3rd July 2010

This is a first for St Mary’s, Saffron Walden. Lead by our curate, Revd Anne Howson, a party of 28 of us from St Mary’s set off in a coach at 8.30am on Saturday morning, July 3rd for Bradwell-on-sea.

Our guest Speaker was the Rt Revd John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, who spoke on the pilgrimage theme of “Who is my Neighbour?”

After opening worship outside the church of St Thomas we set off for the chapel of St Peter-on–the-wall. A walk of about two miles, with the last section in silence. During a day filled with sunshine we could enjoy music, singing, teaching, prayer, art, and the company of approximately 2,000 other Christians from across the county; it was an ecumenical event.

More information about the annual pilgrimage: http://www.bradwellchapel.org/sppilgrim.htm Thanks to Eddie Howson for these photos.

ST MARY’S, SAFFRON WALDEN SUMMER FAIR

Saturday 5th June 2010

£2,972 was raised for our church. Click here to see how much each stall made. I should like to thank everyone who helped to make this possible - it was a very enjoyable event, with a great atmosphere. Thank you. Bron Ferland.

More photos to follow.

Director of Music

Thank you to all those who made Andrew Malcolm's final weekend in his post so wonderful.

David

A message from Andrew Malcolm My thanks to all those who joined us for the occasion and who contributed in any way to what was for me a very memorable weekend. The many cards and gifts were quite overwhelming and photographs and book an excellent reminder of many happy years with so many lovely people. It was very moving to see so many faces from the past and so kind of them to make the effort to come to see me finally off the premises ; the choir and the band certainly did me proud!

Best wishes, Andrew

St James' Sewards End
Easter Eggstravaganza
Good Friday 2010.

Click on the photo to see more.

Passover Supper 29 March 2010

About 50 parishioners attended a Passover Supper on the day of Passover, 29th March - full moon, to discover more about the the link between the Jewish Passover and our Christian Last Supper.

Many thanks to Rufus Barnes and Jeremy Collingwood for organising this meal and to those who helped to prepare the food.

You can find out more about this at www.cmj.org.uk.

Recordings of Music at St Mary's

Click on the quaver icon on the left to listen to some or our recorded music.

St Mary's Tinies

It takes place every week during school term-times on Tuesdays from 2-3pm.

Tinies is a short and very informal service in the church, with songs, a Bible story and simple prayers lasting about 20 minutes, is followed by tea and chat, with craft and toys for the children, in the Parish Rooms.

Parish Weekend at Letton Hall 22 to 24 May 2009.

Click on the photo on the left to see more.