Preserving Tradition - - - Embracing Change
Over a weekend blessed with blue skies and sunshine, our Church was host to over 300 visitors who came to witness our “Wedding Dresses through the Decades” display. On approaching the church, a beribboned classic car loaned by volunteers from the County Classics Motor Museum on Saturday and a red MGB by Jaqui Besley on the Sunday, set the mood. Upon entering the west door, gasps of delight could be heard as the impressive display of 22 wedding dresses from 1940 through to present day came into view. They were, indeed, a spectacle; raised on platforms, their beauty enhanced by the church architecture and the diffused glow from the sun through the stained-glass windows, happiness, warmth and nostalgia in the air was palpable.
Each dress was identified by its own name plaque and a photograph taken on the wedding day. Visitors were invited on a journey, following a specially prepared brochure containing a memory from the day, recalled by our blushing brides and their grooms.
The granite pillars of the church were adorned with wall hangings containing individual paper roses, hand-crafted out of vintage book pages by members of the congregation and community. These were mirrored by the pew ends, where vintage hearts also captured the theme of love. Marriage registers dating back to 1710 were available to look through and many were able to see their own entry, having married in the church.
Pausing for a cup of tea and choosing from a selection of delicious cakes, provided by church and community alike, many people stayed for a couple of hours or so and viewed the exhibition more than once – there was so much to look at.
It was widely agreed that the whole weekend was an unqualified success; it raised the sum of £1500 through donations alone and generated a stream of overwhelmingly positive comments about the vision and delivery of the project. We reflect with pride and are hugely thankful and encouraged that we were able to welcome so many new friends into our space and, most importantly, that church and community came together – working side by side to deliver this vision together. This is the way forward …
Wedding Dress Owners
Vintage rose and heart makers & Cake makers (too numerous to mention but incredibly important) including Monkton Evening WI
Church members who acted as Stewards and served refreshments
Izzi Stockton Bridal
Lynne Clements
Jane Robbins of Saltrock, Minehead
Bridgwater &Taunton College
Jason Criddle of Direct Delivery Logistics
Robert & Tim (County Classics Motor Museum)
Jaqui Besley
Georgette van Hoof / Lynne Bates / Jo Griffiths
Annie Suddaby / Colin Ayres
The Minster, Taunton
Bradfords Building Supplies
Monkton Players
Mark & Mary Thomas of Glebe Court
Somerset Heritage Museum
Finishing touches
The rain did not dampen the atmosphere of the evening when Yvette and The Voice of the People Choir graced our chancel steps. However Yvette was suffering from a bout of laryngitis and sadly was unable to to perform. As they say the show must go on and indeed it did. Stepping in at short notice Maythorne (Ian May & Helen Thorne) performed for us a variety of folk songs accompanied at times playing a dulcimer. Thank you Ian & Helen for stepping in.
After the interval where we were treated to wine and nibbles kindly arranged by our supportive fundraisers, act two got underway
with Yvette taking charge of the choir to perform an array of songs. Such enthusiasm, passion and talent radiating throughout the church and very well received and enjoyed by the audience, which I am sure would love to see perform again in the future.
Just to top off a great evening, over £600 was raised for essential maintenance work. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who came and supported the evening , our fundraisers and especially Yvette and The Voice of the People Choir.
Check out Yvette's website to see even more.
Yvette Staelens & The Voice of the People Choir
(Apologies from the cameraman)
We set out on our coach trip to Buckfast Abbey. Nestled in a valley on the edge of Dartmoor, the Abbey is home to a working community of Benedictine monks and is one of the top tourist attractions in the Westcountry.
We enjoyed the extensive grounds as the weather was kind to us – including The Sensory, Physic and award-winning Millennium Gardens and we enjoyed the peace.
The Abbey Church is a centre of musical excellence and hosts choirs and performers from the local area and wider afield. With its dramatic Lantern Ceiling, various art treasures and stunning Blessed Sacrament Chapel depicting a modern interpretation of Christ in stained glass, the church is a haven of peace.
Complementing the religious life of Buckfast Abbey, is the Monastic Way Exhibition. This inter-active attraction gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the monks at Buckfast along with a history of religious communities throughout Europe.
We explored the Abbey shops which have an extensive range of unusual gifts, cards, books, food and drink. Many items are made by monks and nuns across the continent. Also on sale is Buckfast Abbey fudge, hand-made in the monastery kitchens. The Grange Restaurant has Delicious cream teas, home-made lunches, cakes and pastries with the emphasis on locally produced ingredients. The Grange has a glass-covered outside seating area, affording great views of the gardens and the surrounding countryside.
And so after a wonderful relaxing day spent together exploring the Abbey and the grounds we made our way back to our coach and home to Somerset.
We welcome you to our Sunday services, where we come together to worship, take communion at our various weekly services across the month. Stay for refreshments and a chat after the service. For our service schedule click on the picture. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our lovely church costs well over a hundred pounds a day to run, not including maintenance. There are many ways you can donate, whether standing order, join the 100CLUB and contactless pay by card or phone in the church.
For more ways you can donate click on the 100CLUB.
The list is endless and any time, skill, knowledge, fund-raising ideas you can contribute is very much welcome.
Remember two things. Firstly it's volunteering, so any time is apricated, you don't have to clock in or told off if you are late.
Secondly, there is always tea & cake.
See our how you can help page.
As always West Monkton Open Gardens is a wonderful colourful event and it certainly was again this year.
So many cakes to choose from and trust me they were all delicious, not a fan of coffee and walnut but there was none left so I am sure it was as well.
Oh, and the gardens they were just stunning in so many different ways.
Rolling lawns, secluded pathways, secluded spots and tranquil ponds for us all to wonder along, admire and envy. An abundance of colours, smells and wildlife nestled amongst the widest shades of foliage.
Standout architectural plants and ideas for your garden everywhere you looked as well as the views and backdrops complementing our Open Garden volunteer’s hard work.
Bringing the Open Gardens event slightly earlier this year allowed us to see everyone’s beautiful blooming roses, all manor of varieties on display across the gardens. A little less time for our volunteers to fit in all their hard work but ride on lawn mowers look more of a pleasure than a chore and for those of you who met ‘Patrick’ it is a relaxing experience watching the grass get mowed automatically.
So not all back breaking work then.
As always our volunteers did an amazing job, serving gallons of tea and cakes by the plate load, donated plants and flowers to buy, along with homemade jams.
Through the kind generosity and hard work of Max & Vicki, Mark & Mary, Colin & Kate, Clive & Louise and Peter who opened their gardens, along with cake makers, plants and jam donations over £1300 was raised from tickets and donations which is amazing. Thank you to everyone who helped and those who came along to support this years event.
So why not open your garden next year? It would be great to have even more gardens participate and don't be daunted by the hard work, its really just therapy, the overgrown patch you have not got around to sorting is your re-wilding area, you are more than half way there.
I'm opening mine up next year and have a two chance approach when it comes to plants. Flourish or compost heap. We hope to hear from you.
Wiveliscombe Town Band did us proud at our Brass on the Grass event.
Taylor Swift to The Beatles, with movie tunes from Marry Poppins and Jurassic Park amongst more traditional pieces.
The band members entertained us for over an hour and with guests tucking into their picnic and Pimms there was a wonderful atmosphere in the churchyard that afternoon,
with the high note being over £550 was donated.
Thank you to the wonderful Wiveliscombe Town Band, Sally and her team, Jim for hosting and everyone who came and supported the event.
Video of event on our Facebook page.
Encore?
West Monkton Church and The Churchyard have proved again what a great place to stage an event. Stunning surroundings for all manner of musical genres.
If there is a particular event, theme or just a good old fashion sing song, let us know and we will look into it.
The sun came out just as planned for the village BBQ as people arrived early to grab a spot in the churchyard.
With a welcome glass of Pimms to get things going whilst the cooking commenced, villagers mingled, chatted and played skittles.
With head chefs Gary and Mike cooking up tasty burgers and sausages everyone dug in for a afternoon feast.
Thank you to everyone who came along and made it another success for the 2nd year and more importantly you got to know more of your fellow villagers.
Special thanks to Gary & Mike who did an amazing job cooking for so many people along with our greeters, servers and helpers with the event and Rev Jim for the sunshine.
Look forward to seeing you again next year!
Stunning art in a stunning venue
If you missed Somerset Art Weeks at St Augustine's church then take a look below...
West Monkton Church was bursting at the seams with people singing along to their favourite Christmas carols at our annual Carol service.
It was wonderful to see so many people fill the church, lots of new faces, young and old.
Whether reminded of school days singing Away in a manger or We three kings amongst others or those who are reminded of the real meaning of Christmas either way it was so warming to see the church so full at this special time of year.
There was much coming and going around the church on Friday by people preparing their entries for the Christmas Tree Festival. Eighteen Trees were presented for the festival, whilst a further 90-plus occupied every windowsill, nook and cranny.
Later in the afternoon the delicious aroma of mulled wine crept around the building, and everyone started ‘to feel a lot like Christmas’.
As 7.00pm drew near, the lights of the church dimmed, and the sounds of angelic choral singing filled the air. The tree owners, on the stroke of 7.00pm switched on their lights. Wow! The church was transformed.
And then… the magic was shattered by every phone in the place screaming out the siren warning by the government of the Storm Darragh alert. People desperately scrambled into pockets and handbags to switch off their phones. Phew: amidst much laughter, joy in the moment returned – that alert was VERY loud!!
But, with alarms silenced, the magical atmosphere inside the warm church quickly restored, lights twinkled, carols played, mulled wine and mince pies were enjoyed, children found lollipops and chocolate, anxieties dissipated, and everyone enjoyed a rare, shared moment of beauty and peace.
Thank you to all our entrants, Sally's team and the visitors who braved the weather to support a wonderful illuminating event.
The trees receiving the most votes were as follows - Children's category - Won by the Brownies. Winner for the adult entries was the Book Club There were 102 trees hidden in plain sight and if you would like the answers to the Christmas Quiz please contact us.
If you missed it, some of the photos are below.
A reel tree