Archived News - St Marys
Open Gardens - 10 June 2007
Following last year's wonderful day exploring the gardens of Eaton Bray, Edlesborough and Northall it is time to start preparing for this year's event. Once again various garden owners and allotment holders have been kind enough to agree to open their gardens for our delight, with more from Edlesborough than there were last year. The money raised will be shared between Chilterns Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and St Mary's Roof Fund.
Please see Open Gardens 2007 for full details.
Source: St Mary's, Eaton Bray
Christmas fayre at St Mary's
St Mary's Christmas Fayre takes place this Saturday, November 18, between midday and 2pm at Eaton Bray Village Hall, Church Lane.
There is a 50p admission fee which includes a cup of tea or coffee or a soft drink. Ploughmans' lunches will be available. Stalls will include the chocolate tombola, raffle, cake stall, crafts stall, good-as-new toy stall and others.
The proceeds from the fayre will be shared between the St Mary's Roof Fund and the Kagando Hospital Appeal.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 14 November 2006
Eaton Bray choir plan a roof-raising concert
The choristers from St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray are getting ready to hit the high notes, rehearsing for their fund-raising concert for roof repairs at the parish church.
Led by choirmaster and organist David Radwell, the choir will present an evening of inspirational music in St Mary's on Saturday 7 October at 7.30pm.
Popular choral classics such as Mozart's Ave Verum and Thou the Central Orb by Charles Wood, feature in the programme alongside modern pieces by John Rutter and the beautiful duet Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The choir includes over 25 adults and children. And helping the local singers to raise the roof will be some visiting soloists including Emma Radwell who sings with the BBC Symphony Chorus.
The popular local choir, whose Christmas Carol services at Edlesborough and Eaton Bray churches are always packed out, have also roped in some of their musically-talented friends to add some gospel music and instrumental pieces for an excellent and varied evening of music and song.
Vicar of St Mary's, Eaton Bray, Canon Malcolm Grant said: "We are very proud to have a strong and flourishing choir with such a wealth of musical talent.
"St Mary's has an excellent reputation for high standards of music of great quality and I hope the audience will be moved and inspired by the programme."
The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets at £7.50 include wine and savouries. They are available from the box office - telephone (01525) 220 535 - or at the door.
The medieval church of St Mary's is faced with a roof repair bill of over £70,000.
The church is a popular place to visit and is on the South Bedfordshire church heritage trail because of the outstanding quality of its ancient achitecture.
For more information, visit the website www.stmaryseatonbray.org.uk.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 3 October 2006
Follow the history trail
Anyone fascinated by the history of Eaton Bray should make a date to visit the village church this Sunday afternoon.
A talk on the history of the manor of Eaton Bray, covering the period from 1066 until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in the 16th century, is being given as part of the church trail scheme organised by St Mary's.
The talk will include information about Lord of the Manor, Reginald Bray, who was a national figure with connections to St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Afterwards there will be tours of the church to learn more about the building's provenance, at 2.30pm and 4pm.
For more information visit www.stmaryseatonbray.org.uk.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 30 May 2006
Vine Street Six at St Mary's
A capacity audience filled St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray, on Saturday night to enjoy an evening of traditional jazz music played by The Vine Street Six.
Picture: Eileen Bennett
Their lively style of foot tapping popular music of New Orleans during the 1920s and 1930s was enjoyed by all those present.
The event was held to celebrate the close of a successful Church Trail Season which is sponsored by South Beds District Council to encourage more people to visit their local church heritage.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 12 September 2005