News
Please see also the pages for Social Events and for the Winspire Project
Children's Workshop
Discovery Meetings
What is St Michael’s Church all about, then? What is the vision? Who’s who? What goes on? Where could I fit in?
If you have any of these questions, we’ll be trying to answer them at our informal, low-pressure Discovery Meetings.
You’ll get to meet a few key members of our church over drinks and hear a short presentation about our vision and activities: Sunday 24th March at 3.30pm; or Wednesday 3rd April at 8.00pm, both upstairs in the Pastoral Centre for about an hour and a quarter.
If you have any of these questions, we’ll be trying to answer them at our informal, low-pressure Discovery Meetings.
You’ll get to meet a few key members of our church over drinks and hear a short presentation about our vision and activities: Sunday 24th March at 3.30pm; or Wednesday 3rd April at 8.00pm, both upstairs in the Pastoral Centre for about an hour and a quarter.
Church Membership and the Electoral Roll
Every six years, we start again with a fresh electoral (membership) roll. This is the year for a new one, so even if you have been on the roll before you need to get the new form to complete. Membership enables you to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and, if you wish, to stand for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC), to the Deanery Synod or as Churchwarden. Parents who are considering sending a child to Ranelagh School should also be aware that membership of the church roll is a criterion for admission.
To join or to continue as a member, you will need to fill in a new 2019 application form. Please note that if you don’t fill in a new form, you will cease to be a member of St Michael’s Electoral Roll. We are not allowed to automatically transfer your name from the old roll to the new one.
If you regularly worship with us, are baptised and consider yourself a member of the Church of England, you should fill out a form. Any questions, please contact the Electoral Roll Officer, Claire Clay, or one of the churchwardens.
The forms are now available and need to be returned to the Parish Office no later than 4th April.
If you wish you can print off the form below, complete it and bring it along to church.
To join or to continue as a member, you will need to fill in a new 2019 application form. Please note that if you don’t fill in a new form, you will cease to be a member of St Michael’s Electoral Roll. We are not allowed to automatically transfer your name from the old roll to the new one.
If you regularly worship with us, are baptised and consider yourself a member of the Church of England, you should fill out a form. Any questions, please contact the Electoral Roll Officer, Claire Clay, or one of the churchwardens.
The forms are now available and need to be returned to the Parish Office no later than 4th April.
If you wish you can print off the form below, complete it and bring it along to church.
| electoral_roll__membership__form_2019.pdf |
Support for the Children's Society December 2018
In December our charity focus for prayer was the Children’s Society, and we had a very informative and challenging talk from Janet Rogers, who is an official speaker for the Society as well as being one of our assistant organists. See the December Services page.
As usual there were various fundraising efforts on their behalf, which raised a total of £1,088.55 from the following events:
Christingle Service £259.18
Street carol singing £232.32
Pub carol singing by the choir £229.33
Choir carolling at Sandhurst Lodge £116.80
Little Sandhurst Nursery Nativity £82.78
Miscellaneous £168.14
A big thank you to everyone involved!
As usual there were various fundraising efforts on their behalf, which raised a total of £1,088.55 from the following events:
Christingle Service £259.18
Street carol singing £232.32
Pub carol singing by the choir £229.33
Choir carolling at Sandhurst Lodge £116.80
Little Sandhurst Nursery Nativity £82.78
Miscellaneous £168.14
A big thank you to everyone involved!
Bell Repairs September 2018
On the 11th and 12th September 2018 we had the repair and maintenance of the bells at St Michael's carried out by Ian Hasman, a bell hanger from Nicholson Engineering, and David Bradshaw, a volunteer from the Oxford Diocesan Guild, with Cliff and Derek in attendance lending a hand. We are now able to ring all six bells again for the first time in six months and did in time for the wedding on 15th September. The work has been paid for out of St Michael's bell ringers' own fund together with a grant from the Sonning Deanery Branch of the Guild. We were impressed by the expertise and dedication shown by Ian, which included him getting into some very awkward places. It was an enlightening experience working with him.
It is stressed that this is very much interim maintenance and a full restoration is overdue. We are working towards planning for this to happen in three years’ time. The bells will have to be removed, taken to the works for turning through 90 degrees, tuning, the fitting of new clappers, and of new headstocks and then refitting in the tower. The cost of this will be in the region of £40,000 and we shall be actively pursuing all sources of fundraising and grants to meet this objective.
In the meantime we have now reinstated Monday evening practices 7:30pm to 9:00pm and invite new recruits both from within the church and from the wider Sandhurst community to come and learn this 400-year-old traditionally English art, helping to keep it alive for future generations.
It is stressed that this is very much interim maintenance and a full restoration is overdue. We are working towards planning for this to happen in three years’ time. The bells will have to be removed, taken to the works for turning through 90 degrees, tuning, the fitting of new clappers, and of new headstocks and then refitting in the tower. The cost of this will be in the region of £40,000 and we shall be actively pursuing all sources of fundraising and grants to meet this objective.
In the meantime we have now reinstated Monday evening practices 7:30pm to 9:00pm and invite new recruits both from within the church and from the wider Sandhurst community to come and learn this 400-year-old traditionally English art, helping to keep it alive for future generations.
800 years of Christian Worship
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The first mention of a church on our site was in 1220.
To mark eight hundred years of continuous Christian worship on the same site there will be a variety of celebrations. They will start at Michaelmas (29th September) 2019 and will continue until the end of 2020. The celebrations will include a flower festival over the Michaelmas weekend in 2020, as well as several events which utilise the abilities of members of the congregation. . The design shown will be used in a banner to be created for the anniversary. |
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CD By The Choir
The CD by the Choir as below is available at £10.
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Church Guide Book
Our History and Guide booklet was thoroughly revised and expanded in 2017. It is available at the back of church and the parish office for £3.00. This booklet provides a lot of information about our church, both past and present.
A taster of the contents is available on the History pages.
A taster of the contents is available on the History pages.