St Mary’s Church Hemyock, has two days of celebrations during August – the church patronal festival/gift day and a special retirement.
The gift day and festival will take place on Sunday, August 16th.
The congregation have been invited to put forward their favourite hymns with some being sung during the service.
The Rev Vanessa Cole, Rector will lead the service of Holy Communion which starts at 10.30am and will be followed by a celebratory glass of Pimm’s.
During the afternoon the gift day will continue – it costs about £50,000 each year to keep the beautiful village church, more than 900 years old, open.
This includes insurance, heat & light, maintenance and staffing. There are various ways contributions can be gifted from regular giving to leaving a legacy.
Throughout the afternoon refreshments will be available at the church while a quiz and craft stall will keep children busy
Meanwhile, the Rev John Stone has been a church minister for more than 40 years and has decided to “hang up his cassock.”
On his retirement from full-time Ministry at Bampton, John moved to Hemyock where he has been a much-loved member of the Ministry Team of the Upper Culm Valley Benefice of Hemyock with Culm Davy, Clayhidon and Culmstock.
The final service he will take will be at St Mary’s on Sunday, August 23rd, at 10.30am. It will be one of Holy Communion to which all are invited.