St Mary's Church Whitton

News and Social Events

Nativity scene from Burne-Jones window

Burne-Jones Cards

Cards showing the Nativity Scene from the Burne-Jones/William Morris window are available throughout the year without a greeting, with proceeds going towards the Tower restoration fund. They are useful as general correspondence cards and can be ordered through Michael Holmes (telephone 01584-890332). Prices are:

up to 50 cards£5.00 per pack of ten
50 to 100 cards£4 per pack
100 cards or more£3.50 per pack

Forthcoming Events

22nd JunePreaching Cross Service10am followed by lunch in the churchyard
28th/29th JuneWhitton in Bloom11am-5.30pm. Tickets £3.50
29th JuneSongs of Praise6.30pm in a Whitton garden
6th JulyAuction of Promises7.30pm at Whitton Farm.
Tickets £10 to inclue supper

Regular Events

Whitton’s congregation is a vibrant and progressive group of like-minded people drawn not only from the village but from the surrounding hamlets of Greete, Hope Bagot, Knowbury, Snitton and Tenbury Wells.

There are two set services a month - Evensong at 6.30pm on the second Sunday, and Holy Communion at 10am on the fourth Sunday - together with other special services throughout the year especially for families of all ages:

  1. Mothering Sunday Communion Service with Simnel Cake, distribution of posies for mothers, and children’s participation
  2. Songs of Praise on the fourth Sunday in June, where the hymns and readings are all chosen by the congregation
  3. Summer service round the ancient medieval preaching cross, followed by lunch in the churchyard

Our services are followed by coffee and, on many special occasions such as weddings, baptisms and anniversaries, by something more substantial from finger buffets to picnic lunches in the churchyard and Parish Lunches at a local restaurant or pub, or hosted by one of the congregation.

wild daffodils around the medieval preaching cross

The PCC Social Committee organises many and varied fund-raising events during the year from the picnic lunches mentioned above to Quiz Nights, Musical Evenings, Open Gardens, Barbeques, Games Evenings, and many others. All within the community at large are welcomed to these events, whether church-goers or not.

To the victor the spoils

Other regular events include a Christmas Concert in the Church, the Daffodil Daze during March or April, and a Pancake Race held on Shrove Tuesday. The picture shows the victor enjoying the spoils! The fully illustrated and exciting story of the 2008 pancake race is on the pancake race page. There is also an annual cricket match against the neighbouring hamlet of Hope Bagot, followed by a barbeque in the evening.

In April 2006. filming took place in the churchyard for BBC Television’s Heaven and Earth Show as part of a feature on the Caring for God’s Acre Scheme.

The Church building itself is seen to be of great importance to this close-knit and caring community and many support it by attending and helping at the fund-raising events.

Photograph of Nativity Scene from Burne-Jones/William Morris window courtesy Richard Tompkins