Past Events and Reviews
Here is a brief description of a few recent events at St Mary’s Church. They will give you a flavour of who we are and how you might belong:
Beauty from Chaos: 2018 Summer Flower Festival
Heritage Projects
Thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant a dangerous high-level pinnacle on the northwest side of church was made safe. The grant of £82,100 also allowed us the chance to learn more about stonemasonry and enabled us to welcome a wonderful new stone creature to our collection.
Repairing the Pinnacle
Wednesday 19th July 2017 the pinnacle was brought down and the process of studying the original pinnacle, modelling the new (based on the old) and carving took place
The Beaver
In order to keep the pinnacle secure, a new grotesque / gargoyle was needed to replace the one which had eroded. The stonemason designed a wonderful beaver, reflecting Beverley’s logo and symbolizing the beginning of new works. He is playing a harp in line with the tradition of musical carvings in the building and echoing the sound of running water (Beverley beck)
The pinnacle and the beaver were fixed to church in October 2017 and now the beaver looks proudly down over passers by.
Learning about St Mary’s Church
During October 2017 Matthias (the lovely stonemason) and his team agreed to come into church to run 4 sessions introducing the children to the profession of stonemasonry. We welcomed 120 children from the local primary school who learned a little more about this extraordinary work including:
• Exploring the church and trying to understand the themes and designs in the building
• Sketching a design for their own gargoyles / grotesques
• Moulding the design in self-drying clay
• Having an opportunity to use the stonemason’s tools
If you want to find out more about how St Mary’s was built there is a permanent display of interactive resources…. come and see for yourself
The artwork produced for the Harvest Service
A Glimpse of the Harvest Supper and some of our children’s best dressed vegetables (see below)
Lovely trip to Ripon Cathedral June 2017
Some of the artwork from our Children’s Easter Holiday Club 2017
Together we learned the Greatest Story of all and had a wonderful time
St Mary’s School Bibles
We do all we can to support the Christian ethos of our school and this year through the generosity of church members, we bought beautiful Bibles for all the children in Key Stage 2 (Juniors). Please click on the following links to see some examples of the letters of thanks from children at the school.
Letters school bibles, Letter school Bible 2, Letter school bibles 3
The Fabulous York Waits
Supporting the Christmas Lights Switch On
A Fun Quiz Night
Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club
The children have been having a great time at Holiday Club. They have been uncovering the lost treasures and retelling the stories of Ancora with songs, games, drama, craft, snacks, exploring the Bible and much more!
The story of the fishermen leaving their nets inspired one of our crafts:
Barnabas Musical
A big thank you to Roger Jones and his team for inspiring us with his latest musical about Saul and Barnabas and their mission to Cyprus
Sewerby Hall Visit
We had a fantastic trip to Sewerby Hall. It was lovely to see all the different congregations coming together reminding us they we are all part of the same family. We will be offering more opportunities for people to come together for fun and friendship as well as prayer and bible study.
The Butterfly Service
The Butterfly Service this afternoon was beautiful, hard, powerful whilst offering recognition and healing.
Becky led with quiet compassion and Berry played “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” beautifully, and with gravitas.
The release of the butterflies at the end of the service offered a release from the pain, and the hope of new life, while holding on to meaningful, quiet remembrance.
Learning Together
A fabulous week for St Mary’s school. Over 400 children came to the church to reflect on belonging, forgiveness, sacrifice, valuing diversity, giving, and behaving.
Making the origami fortune teller hiding the Ten Commandments proved to be a major hit- as was the whole day for all the groups.
The behaviour of the pupils of St Mary’s Primary School is exemplary. I can’t wait for the next years ‘Faith week’.
Another beautiful wedding
Congratulations Jim and Liz
SNG – Youth Group
Sunday Night Group just finished- a crazy evening including biscuit painting and a riveting talk on Jelly Babies and Christianity. Brilliant!
Early Music Festival
In the midst of a superb concert at St Mary’s. Over 200 people have gathered in this stunning medieval building, listening to some jewels in the crown of baroque music, courtesy of the Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival.
The Ouverture in A major, composed by Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764) opened the evening. Not familiar with this composer, I was delighted by a witty and delicate play between harpsichord and violin and was surprised by the deceptive depth and energy …of the closing passages.
Next, we were treated to CPE Bach’s Concerto in D Minor. The sheer skill and brilliance of the flute took all my focus throughout this technically demanding piece. Fabulous. Music fit for a King. Very fitting as the notes skipped and danced over the chancel Ceiling of Kings above the heads of the musicians.
Now listening to a selection of the Brandenburg Concertos by JS himself. Drama, tenderness and energy throughout.
St Mary’s medieval statue minstrels are looking on with approval from pride of place at the front at the nave crossing.
Claire West: Artist in Residence
A lovely event where we welcomed Claire to paint in church. Her artwork and skill was a real joy.
New Paths
It was fabulous to be a central location for the New Paths Music Festival – Thanks to Roland and Libby for making it happen. Here is a flavour of what is was all about:
Audiences were treated to Schumann and Brahms at the Minster, a flavour of France at St Mary’s, talks by world experts, world premiere organ music, a moving war commemoration, and a celebration of Shakespeare featuring local actor Richard Avery, who brought his canine colleague onto the stage for ‘Launce and his Dog’! For many the highlight was Saturday’s Opera Gala, for which there was a waiting list.
Founder Roland Deller comments, “I knew the standard would be incredible, but I was blown away by the Opera Gala. We were so lucky to have such world-class singers singing for us, and to hear them so close-up. Everyone was ready for the celebration in the bar afterwards!”
Taking its name from Schumann’s comments on Brahms’s music (‘Neue Bahnen’, or new paths), the festival featured many works by Robert and Clara Schumann and by Brahms: Mary Bevan explored songs by Clara Schumann, Marcus Farnsworth performed an outstanding Dichterliebe, festival chamber musicians played Schumann’s Piano Quartet, and Jamie Campbell and Cara Berridge joined Artistic Director Libby Burgess in Brahms’ B major Piano Trio.
The Germanic thread was also present in the organ recitals, featuring Richard Pinel and Simon Johnson, as well as visiting organ students Anthony Daly, Robbie Carol and Benjamin Newlove. The world premiere was given of the festival’s first commission, a setting by Grayston Ives of Es steh’n vor Gottes Thron (forming part of William Whitehead’s Orgelbüchlein Project), as part of a late-night reflective chorale prelude concert.
A capella group The Queen’s Six gave a further two late night performances: a service of Compline in the Minster, as a time of reflection after the profoundly moving war commemoration concert, and an evening of Barbershop Drinks, as a time of celebration after the Opera Gala (featuring David Butt Philip, Anna Huntley, Alexander Robin Baker and Mary Bevan).
Half of the events were free, and the performers got involved with many areas of the community. The first event of the festival was a packed musical morning for babies and toddlers at Toll Gavel United Church; performers visited Abbeyfield residential home; there were two in-depth masterclasses for music students from The University of Hull; a masterclass for the organ students at Hull City Hall; and a day of violin making at Peter Hall Violins.
Artistic Director Libby Burgess says, “We were over the moon with how well this first festival went. Beverley is a town known for its love of music, but launching a new event is always nerve-wracking, so we were delighted with the turn-out for all of our events: as well as the main daytime and evening concerts, there were over one hundred people at Compline in the Minster at 10pm, and so many people attending the Barbershop Drinks at the East Riding Theatre that we had to move from the bar into the theatre itself!
Easter
What a day yesterday. Starting with a stonkingly amazing Easter Breakfast (Sue and Mark Merryweather are breakfast magicians) and a full church for a joyful Easter Morning Holy Communion, we enjoyed a double helping of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
The day ended with a high energy, full-on Easter Praise service which was amazing. 60 people packed the hall and sang praise with joyful abandon, and after hearing two moving testimonials we left the hall after a full day of praise …and worship exhausted but fully invigorated by God’s Holy Spirit.
St Mary’s is truly blessed with gifted leadership, musicians, traditional and contemporary singers, and a fabulous congregation of all ages and myriad talents. A special thanks to Becky for enabling people to make things happen, and for her seemingly tireless work ethic in leading this extraordinary church.
Lent
Lent Course: The Mystery of Everything
We will be watched the movie ‘The Theory of Everything’ (Stephen Hawkins) and then talked about the themes which emerged. The course explored ways in which the mysteries of the universe and of everyday life can reinvigorate our faith and spiritual journey.
Week 1: The experience of wonder
Week 2: The enigma of weakness
Week 3: The complexity of relationships
Week 4: The encounter with frailty
Week 5: The hope beyond brokenness
It was challenging and thought provoking!
9 lessons and carols
Nine lessons and carols service was amazing and being graced by butterflies dancing amongst the choristers was delightful. 475 grown ups and 27 children enjoyed the choir, carols and lessons.
Confirmation
Confirmation service with the Archbishop of York. Music, laughter tears, joy. A beautiful service of light and life. The breakfast beforehand prepared by the Merryweathers was fabulous
Vanessa’s Deli helps with the Fundraising – May 2015
Pedal Power – April 2015
The Hengate church needs £5m to repair crumbling stone work and restore the 900-year-old building to its former glory.
The latest drive, by Beverley estate agent Leanne Marshall, saw fundraisers cycle 40 miles from York to Beverley last Saturday. Mrs Marshall said: “It was absolutely fantastic. It took us between four and five hours. It was hard work and I threw up twice as I have not done any exercise for quite a while, so it was a personal challenge as well.”
Donations for the challenge are still rolling in but so far the cyclists have raised in the region of £7,500.
Mrs Marshall said: “The total so far, complete with gift aid and donations yet to come, should see us hit the £10,000 mark. “I am absolutely over the moon.” Those joining Mrs Marshall on the day included Beverley and Holderness Conservative candidate Graham Stuart.
The Reverend Becky Lumley, vicar of St Mary’s, also cycled 40 miles on the day on an exercise bike placed in the grounds of the church. Ms Lumley said: “It was hard work and there were a few people with sore bottoms at the Sunday service the next day” “The amount that has been raised is absolutely brilliant.
Making Fabulous Music – April 2015
The vicar of St Mary’s, Becky Lumley, and Beverley Chamber Choir music director Mark Pybus invited people to sing at the 900-year-old building on Saturday 4 April 2015 in a bid to help restore the church to its former glory.
The event allowed singers of all standards learn Stainer’s Crucifixion during the day and perform the Oratorio at 4pm, where they were joined by soloists David Bowden and Kevin Ormond.
It was a great day meeting new people and learning to sing a wonderful piece of music.
The day was led by Mr Pybus, and singers who attend were invited to have lunch with church staff. £2,000 was raised for the church restoration fund.
A fabulous day – thank you.