Easter at St Mary's
A season of renewal and promise
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Welcome to St Mary's April news and the church's brighter, smarter look. Our first phase of repairs is all but done and we are celebrating.
We still can't grasp the magnitude of the change, especially how wonderful the church looks as you come up from St James's Street. It's a far greater improvement than we anticipated and we feel blessed. Thank you to our friends and neighbours who've dropped in to share the delight with us. It gives Easter, with its themes of redemption and renewal, extra piquancy for us this year. After living under the threat of closure for so many years, we really do feel as though St Mary's has been reborn.
After Easter, our weekly friendship café, Tea & Company, starts back up on Wednesday, 19th April, at 3.30 pm. The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Pete West, will be our special guest, along with some of Brighton College's lovely young musicians. If you'd like to attend the café, or know someone who might enjoy it, please call us on 01273 698601. It's open to all and is entirely free. We're also keen to recruit more volunteer drivers and helpers. Donations towards the cost of the food are appreciated too.
This year Christian Aid Week runs from 14th to 20th May. The 'Week' was started 60 years ago to support Christian Aid's work with refugees in Europe following the Second World War, and in 2017 the focus returns to refugees. On Tuesday, 16th May, we're honoured to be hosting the Sussex celebrations for the Week's Diamond Anniversary. We'll also be doing our own fundraising, including a Christian Aid coffee morning on Friday, 19th May.
In June we'll be starting a new evening service - a half-hour spoken Eucharist on Tuesdays at 6.30 pm using the traditional liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. We're also hoping to increase our occasional offerings of evening prayer and evensong. (Incidentally, if you're a fan of choral evensong, please reserve Sunday, 15th October in your diary when the boy choristers of Chichester Cathedral will be helping us celebrate our 139th birthday.)
May and June are also full of concerts and music, with, we hope, something to suit everyone's tastes. Indeed, our forthcoming events list is too long this month for all the June events to be included. They'll be in next month's newsletter, however, and also on our What's Coming Up page on our website.
On the subject of music, we hope also in May to unveil our new piano, along with news of a fundraising programme to pay for it. But you don't need to wait till then to make a donation towards its cost! If you'd like to hear more lovely music at St Mary's, please consider contributing to the Piano Fund now. Details of how to give are available here. Just be sure to specify that your donation is for the piano.
I wish our Christian friends a blessed and happy Easter, and to everyone, whatever your faith and whatever your interest in St Mary's, we hope you'll feel welcome to visit us during this special time.
Fr Andrew Woodward
Priest-in-charge
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Before and After
As makeovers go, this has to be one of the best! There's a bit of tidying and washing down needed, but it's still nothing short of miraculous. Thank you to the Heritage Lottery Fund, National Churches Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Sussex Historic Churches Trust and all our individual donors and supporters. Thank you too to Historic England, our architects John and Robert at Thomas Ford & Partners, and our contractors Pierra. It's magnificent.
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Bishop Martin at St Mary's on Mothering Sunday
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We were delighted to welcome Bishop Martin of Chichester to St Mary's on Mothering Sunday, 26th March, to rededicate and bless the windows that had been removed for repair in our recent works. Thank you to everyone who came to the service and helped in the rapid depletion of the simnel cake and sherry offerings afterwards. It was a happy occasion.
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Our west-facing windows have been repaired and cleaned and the middle one completely re-leaded. The horrid opaque polycarbonate has gone and is replaced by discreet grilles, and the crumbling Bath stonework has been repaired and in some cases replaced. The windows look wonderful in all lights, but in late afternoon the effect is stunning.
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Kemptown Community Market
There is a special Easter edition of the Kemptown Community Market in our church hall this Saturday, 8th April, from 10.30 am to 4 pm. There's a growing range of foods and small gifts to choose from plus a retro stall from the Sussex Beacon, a charity that provides specialist care and support for people living with HIV and whose services are under threat from budgetary cuts.
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Please support the market if you can, as it has the potential to recreate the sense of a trading community around St Mary's. Wholesale demolition in the 1970s wiped out what was a thriving high street to the east of the church and made the area rather desolate. We need to get something of that high street buzz back and to give local residents shopping choices on their doorstep. Plus we love having visitors to the market drop in to see the church.
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THIS Saturday, 8th April, 6 pm
Free Recital - Bach's Cello Suites
Ivana Peranic, former Principal Cellist of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and Trinity Laban String Ensemble, plays Bach's Cello Suites no. 2 in D Minor and no. 5 in C Minor at St Mary's on Saturday, 8th April, at 6 pm.
This beautiful recital is free, with a retiring collection in aid of a new grand piano for St Mary's. We're very grateful to Ivana for so generously supporting our piano appeal with her exquisite musicianship. Complimentary refreshments afterwards. Wheelchair accessible. Dog friendly!
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Wednesday, 12th April, 4.30 & 7 pm
Come & Sing - Stainer's Crucifixion
It's our annual come-and-sing performance of John Stainer's Easter oratorio, The Crucifixion (1887). With Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks tenor, Mark Beesley bass, Andrew Beaizley at the organ, and conducted by Gregory Moore, our former director of music. If you'd like the join the choir, the rehearsal begins at 4.30 pm. Please bring a score if you have one. The performance is at 7 pm. It's free, with a retiring collection in aid of music at St Mary's. Complimentary refreshments for singers and audience afterwards.
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Holy Week, 10th - 16th April
Easter services and activities
Please join us for one or more of our Easter services and events during Holy Week. The retelling of Christ's passion - his suffering and endurance of the torture of betrayal and crucifixion - and the celebration of his resurrection from the dead are cornerstones of our culture, underpinning two thousand years of literature, music and art.
We welcome everyone, people of all faiths and none, who wish to learn more about what this very special time means for people of Christian heritage and faith.
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Saturdays, 8 & 22 April; 13 May, 10.30 am - Kemptown Community Market
A great mix of foods, crafts and gifts in our church hall. Get along to support this new venture and the producers behind it, and drop in to see us at St Mary's while you're there. More
Saturday, 8 April, 6 pm - Ivana Peranic plays Bach's Cello Suites - FREE
The first of our free recitals for 2017. Ivana Peranic plays Bach's Cello Suites no. 2 in D Minor and no. 5 in C Minor. Free entry, with a retiring collection in aid of our Piano Fund. Complimentary refreshments.
Sunday, 9 April, 10 am - Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is our prelude to Holy Week, and begins with a traditional procession of palms and hymns. The service includes the moving narrative of Christ's Passion from the Gospel of St Matthew. See details of all our Easter services here.
Wednesday, 12 April, 4.30 and 7 pm - Stainer's Crucifixion
Our traditional 'come and sing' performance of John Stainer's oratorio The Crucifixion (1887). Singers are invited to join the choir for rehearsal at 4.30 pm. Please bring a score if you have one. The performance is at 7 pm and entry is free.
Sunday, 16 April, 10 am - Easter Day Sung Eucharist
A highlight of the Christian calendar. A beautiful, joyful service of thanksgiving for the risen Christ that awakens all the senses after the muted weeks of penitence during Lent. Followed by our annual Easter Egg hunt for chocoholics of all ages.
Wednesday, 19 April, 3.30 pm - Tea & Company starts up again
Our friendship cafe returns after the Easter break in a special celebration edition attended by Councillor Pete West, the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, with live music from Brighton College pupils. Run in partnership with Time to Talk Befriending and the Community Service team at Brighton College.
Thursday, 27 April, 4 pm - Young Actors Group New Term
The Young Actors start back in our church hall for a new term of intensive and confidence-boosting drama coaching. Classes for 8-11 years from 4 to 6 pm; for 12-15 years from 6 to 8 pm. More
Saturday, 6 May, 7.30 for 8 pm - Kisses Sweeter than Wine: Celebrating 60s American Folk
Singer-songwriter Lilac Sheer and friends bring their gutsy and original tribute to the American protest songs of the 60s to St Mary's. If good American music means to you Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan... then this is the show for you. Tickets £12/10 available here and sample sounds here.
Sunday, 7 May, 3 pm - Reading Phoenix Choir
A stunningly good choir working their full range of Classical, Jazz and Pop in the special acoustic and atmosphere of St Mary's. A Sunday afternoon treat - with cake! Tickets £10/8 from Brighton Fringe.
Wednesday, 10 May, 7 pm - Brighton College Choral Society Festival Concert
Brighton College Choral Society and Orchestra return to us for a much-anticipated performance of Schubert's Mass in G. Tickets available on the door.
Thursday - Saturday, 11-13 May, 7.30 pm - The Shakespeare Heptet: From Muses to Music
The Shakespeare Heptet’s distinct sound is alluring and wholly contemporary, providing a stunning soundtrack to the sonnets. Beautiful harmonies, compelling rhythms and the melding of 12- and 6-string guitars underscoring Shakespeare’s exquisite poetry. Tickets £10/8 from Brighton Fringe.
Saturday, 27 May, 12 noon - Bike for Life Cycle Maintenance Course
Bruce Jonas is back in the church hall with Level 1 of Bike for Life's comprehensive, three-part cycle maintenance course. Dedicated, hands-on tuition in a small group, with the first class covering all the basics and subsequent classes tackling more specialist knowledge. More
Thursday, 1 June & Friday, 2 June, 7.45 pm - Guilty of Love: Alan Turing Passion
A world premiere from Oxford Music Theatre. The tragic story of Alan Turing told in the form of Christ's Passion. Music and lyrics by Jane Bramwell and Michael Brand. Directed by David Kettle and featuring Resound Male Voices. Tickets £10/8 from Brighton Fringe. Sample music here.
Saturday, 3 June, 7.30 pm - South London Jazz Orchestra: Strike up the Band
They're back! After last year's great gig, the South London Jazz Orchestra return with an all-new set featuring tunes from the golden era of Big Band. Music by Basie, Kenton and Ellington, and - in her centenary year - Ella Fitzgerald. Tickets £10/8 from Brighton Fringe.
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Do you love old buildings?
Could you spare an afternoon or morning a month to keep St Mary’s open for people to visit and learn about its history? An affection for old churches is sufficient qualification – we don’t ask our openers to provide pastoral care or religious support. Just to share our love for the special atmosphere at St Mary’s. If this appeals, we’d love to hear from you.
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Please use our space!
You're welcome to hire the church and church hall for many activities. We host everything from drama workshops and music classes to public meetings and very big concerts. Our rates are affordable and we will always try to accommodate your event if we can. Please see our website for more details about venue hire. |
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Opening times, services and regular activities
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Please contact Fr Andrew Woodward for enquiries about baptisms, weddings, funerals, counselling and confessions on 01273 698601 or info@stmaryschurchbrighton.org.uk.
Monday 9.30 am – 1 pm
9.30 am - Morning Prayer (BCP)
10 am - The Purlers charity knitting group
2.30 pm - Lent study course (till 10 April)
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 8.30 am – 6 pm
8.30 am - Morning Prayer
12.30 pm - Midweek Eucharist
3.30 pm - Tea & Company (from 19 April)
Thursday Closed
Friday 9.30 am – 1 pm
9.30 am - Morning Prayer
10 am - Kemp Town Talks – Free English Class
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday 9 am – 2 pm
10 am - Sung Eucharist
11.15 am - Tea & coffee drop-in
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Our opening times can change depending on the availability of volunteers to staff the church. If you’re making a special trip, please call 01273 698601 in advance to ensure that we’ll be there to meet you.
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