CHICHESTER GALA DAY – 24TH JUNE. The Youth Group entered a float in the parade. see youth group page and photos. |
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| June 22nd - Westbourne Deanery Synod Open Meeting with the Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend John Hind BA. , St Wilfrid's Church and Hall, | |
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The Church was packed - the event was a sellout and the enthusiastic audience were treated to a feast of Russian sacred music by a variety of Russian composers as well as pieces by some Mozart and Schubert. An evening of two halves, the audience enjoyed wine and soft drinks during the interval, and there was a raffle to raise funds for the Friends of Chidham Churches. The second half was in a lighter mood with the singers in Russian costumes and singing a varied programme of traditional Russian folk and popular songs. |
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![]() Olga and Olga |
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Lyra - The Singers |
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....Olga Gousseva - mezzo-soprano is from Siberia . She has been abroad several times giving concerts with chamber ensembles and orchestras. In June 2003 Olga won the International singing competition of Sacred Music in Minsk ( Belorussia ). |
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....Alexandra Vasileva – soprano. Soloist of the Academy for young singers of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint-Petersburg. |
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....Igor Lemesh – baritone. Soloist of the Saint-Petersburg Chamber choir. |
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....Andrey Sysoev – tenor and leader. He won theInternational competition of Sacred Music in Rome in 1995 as the conductor of a chamber choir "SingerBridge". The choir had the honour of an Audience with Pope John Paul II. Now Andrey works as a choirmaster in a vocal-choir studio for young people in St. Petersburg and leads a church choir. |
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Established in 1994 LYRA is a group of professional musicians, aiming to introduce Russian Orthodox musical heritage, as well as traditional Russian folk music, to people taking an interest in their history and culture.The members of the group have varied musical backgrounds: Olga is a mezzo-soprano from Siberia and winner of the 2003 International singer and Sacred music award; Alexandra is a soloist soprano at the Academy for young singers in Saint-Petersburg; Igor sings baritone and is soloist with the Saint-Petersburg Chamber choir and Andrey is tenor and leader. Despite their differences, the group say “they are united by their passion for ensemble singing”. |
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Events in the Churches of St Mary, and St Wilfrid, in the Parish of Chidham.
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Sat June 28 |
‘Sun and Sangria' (we pushed our luck, but the sun shone..) canapes and aperitifs with a mediterranean theme in the vicarage gardens see photos a ‘Friends of Chidham Churches' event |
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April 25th 2008 'Lyra' at St Mary's, Chidham St Mary's was filled - Classical, Sacred and Russian Folk music - brilliant musicians - much enjoyed by all who were there. photos and report . A 'Friends of Chidham Churches' Concert |
'Cool Classics' (a quartet, also known as Casablanca , Squinty McGinty etc etc...,….) Friday Nov 9th, 2007 at St Mary's. A ‘Friends of Chidham Churches' Concert. |
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Sat 27 th October 10.30 – 12.30 at St Wilfrid's: 'Books, Bric-a-brac, Beads& Bakes' In aid of Wateraid Please come along to our our Books, Bric-a-brac, Beads & Bakes ‘ sale at St Wilfrid's on Saturday October 27 th in aid of our charity of the year ‘Wateraid'. If you have any small items of china and glass (not drinking glasses and crockery) or costume jewellery we would be pleased to have them. We would also like some delicious cakes to sell. Most of all please come along for a cup of coffee to support this event. Carol Vigor and Alyzn Johnson |
The Portsmouth Chorus at the Guildhall Wed Dec 12th, 7.30pm A trip is being organised to include transport from St Wilfrid’s Church Car Park leaving at 6.30pm. Back by about 10.30pm. Stalls £6, Grand Circle £8, Coach seat £7. (Children Half Price) Should be fun, and is suitable for children. Get your name on the list on St Mary’s noticeboard. |
Recent Events |
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| 2007 | |
| Nov 9 | |
| Oct 12 | |
| Sept 8 | |
| June 23 | |
| May 12 | |
| Feb 2&3 | |
| 2006 | |
| Dec 10th | |
| Sept 30 | |
| Sept 10 | |
| Sept 9 | |
| July 22 | |
| June 24 | |
| Mar 31 | |
| 2005 | |
| Nov 12 |
| Sponsored ‘Ride and Stride' Saturday 8 September | |
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Nearly thirty people of our parish spent an enjoyable, sunny day travelling by bike or on foot between as many local churches as they could manage. Another seven people sat in St Mary's Church, Chidham to record visitors who were engaged in a similar activity. |
The idea was to raise money, through sponsorship, for the Sussex Historic Churches Trust and our own St Mary's' Church. Last year we raised £704, of which St Mary's received £352, and at present, the participants in this year's event are collecting the funds pledged by their sponsors. When all the money is in, we will let you know how much we raised this time. This event takes place on the second Sunday in September each year and is organised throughout the county by the Sussex Historic Churches Trust. The money raised is split 50/50 between the Trust and the church nominated by each participant. |
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Why not ride or stride next year? |
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Christingle (Sunday 10th December) |
Extra seating had to be drafted in for the Family Christingle service at St. Wilfrid's. |
| -Shirley lead the children in a drama about "light and dark", with all the dark words being ripped up and thrown in the bin! | ||
| -Rod's youth orchestra played a rowsing "Mine eyes have seen the glory.." - and everyone went home with feet tapping and a Christingle! |
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The Christingle has its origins in a Moravian children's service held in a castle in Germany on Christmas Eve in 1747. The bishop conducting the informal service gave each child a lighted candle, tied with a red ribbon, in memory of the Saviour's coming which he said has kindled a flame in each heart which keeps burning "to His joy, and our happiness". Much later, this simple candle was replaced by a more elaborate Christingle which is rich in symbolism. Our modern Christingle consists of: · an orange representing the world · a red ribbon tied round the orange representing the blood of Jesus · fruits and sweets skewered on 4 cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing God's good gifts, the fruits of the earth and the four seasons · a lighted candle pushed into the centre of the orange representing Christ, the light of the world |
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Harvest Thanksgiving |
see photos |
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| Last Saturday, local people did their bit towards raising funds for the upkeep of the historic churches of Sussex, including our own St Mary's in Chidham. | Volunteers manned St Mary's from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm to record the visitors taking part in the Ride and Stride Event. The photo shows June Phillips in the porch of St Mary's. Other recorders were Avril Vale, Rev David Pain, Janet and Ron Dummer, Delph and Cliff Archer. |
| Church supporters of all ages had found sponsors for their attempt to visit as many churches and chapels as possible during daylight hours. They could travel on bike, foot or horse! Everybody enjoyed the exercise in the fresh air on a beautifully sunny day. | ![]() Some keen riders about to set off from St Mary’s Church, Chidham. |
| The event was organised by the Sussex Historic Churches Trust and the money raised will be split 50/50 between the Trust and the church nominated by each participant. We will let you know later how much money was raised. Cliff Archer |
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| ‘RIDE AND STRIDE’ EVENT - A SPLENDID RESULT Do you remember this photo of keen riders about to set off from St Mary’s? They were just some of the many people who were ‘Riding and Striding’ to raise funds for the upkeep of the historic churches of Sussex, including our own St Mary’s in Chidham. The total sum raised in the parish was £704 – a magnificent achievement. Church supporters of all ages had found sponsors for their attempt to visit as many churches and chapels as possible during the day. They could travel on bike, foot or horse! Everybody enjoyed the exercise in the fresh air on a beautifully sunny day. The event was organised by the Sussex Historic Churches Trust and the money raised is split 50/50 between St Mary’s and the Trust, so our church gets £352. Many thanks to all who took part and to their generous sponsors. Cliff Archer |
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July 22: Strawberries and Champagne |
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![]() My raffle ticket is in there somewhere |
![]() ![]() Thanks to Juliet Probert and many others for a lot of hard work putting it all together. |
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Established in 1994 LYRA is a group of professional musicians, aiming to introduce Russian Orthodox musical heritage, as well as traditional Russian folk music, to people taking an interest in their history and culture.