Church News and Events
The church is active in the community in a variety of ways holding concerts, publishing the village newsletter Village Voice which is delivered to every household in Cuddington, and working closely with the school.
A Church Suppers and othersocial events are held from time to time.
May Madrigals: Monday 4th May
As usual, the Witchert Chorale will be singing madrigals from the top of St. Nicholas’ Church tower on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May.
The singing will start at around 9.45 am and will be followed by further singing in church and refreshments.
This year the Witchert Chorale is being joined by a choir from Germany.
There will be an opportunity to donate to Christian Aid.
Easter Vigil
On Holy Saturday (4th April), St Nicholas Church, Cuddington will be holding an Easter Vigil to which ALL are invited.
Starting at 7:30pm, we gather around the firepit, light the Easter Candle and process through the darkened church to the font where individual candles are lit. Here we renew or think about baptism promises then continue on with music readings and prayers.
This beautiful ancient service usually lasts about an hour and is open to anyone in the Village or beyond.
Palm Sunday Celebration: 29th March
Join us on Palm Sunday (29th March) for Easter crafts and refreshments. From 10.45am there will be Easter themed crafts and activities for all ages. There will also be a short service at 10.00am for those who wish to attend. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Pancake Racing on Shrove Tuesday
St. Nicholas’ Church invites you to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, with Pancake Racing at the Cuddington Playing Fields. All are welcome, both racers and spectators.
Races will start at 2.30 pm and will be for all ages. Please bring your own frying pan.
Tea, coffee, cakes and pancakes will be served.
Angela Sanderson
Welcome to TJ our new Associate Vicar
7.30pm on Wednesday 14th January in St Nicholas' Church. All are welcome.
Rev Tracey Jones (known as TJ) and her husband are moving into the village this week. She joins the clergy team as a part time associate vicar and is looking forward to getting to know everyone.
Dave Bull the Bishop of Buckingham, and other friends and supporters will join us for the service of welcome and licensing on Wednesday at 7.30pm. Do come too.
James Stonham, Churchwarden
£762 raised for Christmas Charities
Thank you to everyone who came, took part and donated at the Christmas services and carol singing where we raised money for Crisis and Tearfund, two charities that we have supported for several years at St Nicholas, Cuddington.
Across the carol singing around the village, and the crib and carol services on Christmas Eve, we raised a total of £762 which has been split between the two charities.
If you would like to learn more about the work of these charities please take a look at their websites:
Many thanks for all of your donations.
Christmas at St Nicholas' Church
All are welcome to join the Christmas celebrations
CHRISTMAS EVE
2pm Crib Service
A family friendly serrvice celebrating the Christmas story
7pm Carols by Candlelight
CHRISTMAS DAY
10am All age family communion
Christmas Crafternoon
Join us for a festive afternoon making decorations, gift tags and last minute presents. Young and old are welcome!
Harvest Service on Sunday 5th October 10am onwards
All are welcome to the Harvest Thanksgiving at St Nicholas'
At 10am, we will be having a short harvest service led by Phil Groves.
Please bring donations for the Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse - see the attached image for what they need most.
After the service, refreshments will be served and there will be activities for all ages from 10:30 - 12pm.
There will be:
- A jam making competition - please bring your jam on the day. Local Chef, Hazle Baker will be our star judge!
- Scarecrow trail around the churchyard
- Apple juice pressing
- Make your own bird feeder
- Autumn wreath and garland making
- Harvest decorations and much more!
Do join us if you can. We would really appreciate baking donations and offers of help for the craft stations. No expertise needed - just enthusiasm!
Christmas at St Nicholas' Church
All are welcome to join the Christmas celebrations
CHRISTMAS EVE
2pm Crib Service
A family friendly serrvice celebrating the Christmas story
7pm Carols by Candlelight
CHRISTMAS DAY
10am All age family communion
Sundays at 10.00 in September
Our services in October will include Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 5th
Sundays at 10.00 in June
All are welcome as we meet each Sunday morning.
The special Fathers' Day event will be held on the Playing Fields
Please support Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid Week has started. The need for funds to alleviate drought and famine in the world's poorest areas is desperate. If you are able to spare cash to donate in the red envelopes it would be great. If you don't have an envelope or find it easier to donate online please use our e envelope:
https://fundraise.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2025/cuddington-bucks-ca-group
On Thursday 15th May everyone is invited to a Bring and Buy Sale in the garden of Wellfield House in Spurt Street. Homemade cakes, plants etc will be on sale and refreshments will be served.
Bells to ring to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
8th May 1945 – VE (Victory in Europe Day). Across the nations people marked the victory with street parties, dancing and singing, and church bells rang out to show gratitude to those who defended our freedom. On Thursday evening from 6.30-7.00 pm.our village bells will join with bells across the country ringing out with the same sense of gratitude.
May Madrigals
As usual, the Witchert Chorale will be singing madrigals from the top of St. Nicholas’ Church tower on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May.
The singing will start at around 9.45 am and will be followed by further singing in church and refreshments. A collection will be taken in aid of Christian Aid.
Church Flowers – Do Come And See Them
As well as bluebells in the woods today, please do come and see the flowers in church for Easter prepared on Saturday by a hard-working team of church flower arrangers.
So please come to the Easter Service on Sunday at 10am – we are very friendly and there will be tea and coffee afterwards.
Or pop into the church – it is open during the day.
Happy Easter to you all.
Mothering Sunday Celebration
10.00am on Sunday 30th March in St Nicholas' Church
All welcome
Sunday Services in March
Mothering Sunday is 30th March.
Our curate Revd. Clare Joyce will be leading the Family Service. It will be her last service in Cuddington, so an opportunity to say thanks and farewell.
Carol Singing this Thursday
Please join us for carol singing round the village from 6-7.30pm. We’ll meet at the playing field end of Bernard Close and work our way round the village to Tyringham Hall where Sherry and Phil have very kindly invited us for refreshments. All donations will go to Crisis and Tearfund.
Please wear hi-viz and bring a torch. Younger children are very welcome but must be fully supervised by an adult at all times.
Sunday Services in December
All are invited to join in the Advent amd Christmas celebrations.
Christmas Events and Services at St Nicholas' Church
All are welcome to join in the Christmas Celebrations
Remembrance Sunday---10th November
All are welcome to join in the Remembrance Sunday events in St Nicholas' church and by the war memorial.
Wedding Bells
Expect a feast of Bellringing at Cuddington church on Saturday 26th October when Katherine Stonham marries Alan Eyles at 1pm. This event brings together two bellringing families as both Katherine’s and Alan’s parents met through ringing and their grandparents rang together in Swindon. Many well respected ringers from Oxford and across the country are coming to the wedding and will want to join in the celebration; so the church bells will ring out from midday and again after the ceremony with their joyful sound.
Big Quiz Night – 16th November
St Nicholas' Church will once again be hosting a "Big Quiz Night" in the Bernard Hall at 7pm on Saturday 16 November, with Angela and Charles Sanderson kindly acting as quiz masters. The event will raise money for Tearfund, who do great work empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty.
The quiz was a great success last year and will no doubt be a lot of fun again. Please invite your friends and make up tables of 6-8, or come on your own and we can put you into teams on the night. Tickets are available now from the Cuddington shop.
You are welcome to bring your own food on the night, while Alan Marsh will be running a bar which you are encouraged to support in order to maximise the amount we can raise for Tearfund.
Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday 16th
All are invited to
Father’s Day Brunch
At the Playing Fields Clubhouse
From 9.30am
Bacon and Sausage and Eggs
Croissants
Mushroom Veggie Option
A short time of worship around 10.30 am.
Organised by St Nicholas' Church
Christian Aid Week in Cuddington
This has started with a burst of energy as some have taken up the challenge to walk, run or cycle 70K in May. If you haven't received a red envelope through your letterbox, you can support them and donate to our total by following this link:
fundraise.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2024/cuddington-bucks-ca-fundraising
We hope the thunderstorms will hold off for our Bring and Buy Sale at Wellfield House, Spurt Street on Thursday afternoon and the Toddler Singing Clothes sale on Friday morning in Church.
May Madrigals from the Witchert Chorale
As usual, the Witchert Chorale will be singing madrigals from the top of St. Nicholas’ Church tower on Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May.
The singing will start at around 9.45 am and will be followed by refreshments. A collection will be taken in aid of Christian Aid.
Sunday Services in March
As ususal we will be having our special services on Mothering Sunday (10th) and Easter Day (31st)
On Good Friday the service - An Hour Before the Cross - will be held in church from 2.00 to 3.00pm.
All are very welcome
Village Carol Singing
Thank you so much to all who came to the Carol Service and supported our village carol singing and donated to homelessness causes so that we have now sent off £588 to Crisis and Tearfund.
Alan Marsh
Thank You to the Carol Singers
A very big thank you to all who came carol singing on Wednesday night around the village – a really good sized crowd and lots of children who enjoyed the event. And a big thank you to Sherry and Phil who so warmly hosted us at Tyringham Hall.
£210.26 was raised to go to Crisis and Tearfund for the alleviation of poverty and distress both at home and abroad.
Alan Marsh
Advent and Christmas Services
There are services for everyboby during December.
All are welcome
Ringing in Remembrance
As usual over this Remembrance weekend we will be ringing the church bells half-muffled.
The funeral of Jackie Hawkins was held in church on Thursday. Jackie was a member of St Nicholas' church for many years and one of our bellringers. There will be special ringing as a thanksgiving for her life on Saturday between 4.00 and 5.00pm.
Quiz Night in Aid of Tearfund
Charles and Angela Sanderson are hosting a Quiz Night on Saturday 14th October, at St. Nicholas’ Church. The event is one of hundreds of similar quiz nights taking place in churches throughout the country, in aid of Tearfund to help empower people to lift themselves out of poverty.
Doors open at 7pm for a 7.15pm start. Tickets are £5 per person and are available from Cuddington Stores or by email to cuddingtonchurchevents@gmail.com.
Please bring your own food or snacks, and drinks will be available in return for a donation.
Give Thanks for The Harvest: Sunday @ 10am
Sunday 24th September @10am in the Church
Come along as we celebrate harvest tomorrow morning with a service for all ages.
All are welcome.
If you would like to contribute, we will be collecting food to take to the local food bank; the following items have been particularly requested:
- Pasta sauces
- Tinned meat/chicken
- Tomato soup
- Long life milk
- Corned beef/tinned ham/tuna
- Microwave rice
Evensong Services in August and September
Dinton Evensong – 13th August at 6.00pm
A traditional Book of Common Prayer service with a choir leading hymns and music.
Hartwell Evensong – 3rd September at 6.00pm
You are invited to the beautiful setting of Hartwell Church for the annual open-air evensong service next to Hartwell Church, in the grounds of Hartwell House Hotel.
Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
Sunday Services in August @ 10.00am
During the holiday month of August our services will be "All Age" with no separate children's activites in the Bernard Hall. All are very welcome.
Flowers in Church for the Coronation
All are invited to come and see the special coronation flower arrangements by Rosemary Bradbury and her team of flower arrangers. The chuch is open everyday between about 9.00 and 4.30.
And join us on Sunday at 10.00am as we come together to worship Jesus, the King of Kings.
What's On In May 2023
In addition to the Sunday services the Annual Church Meeting will be held in chutch on Wednesday 17 th May at 8pm
May Day Madrigals
The Witchert Chorale will again help us to welcome spring by singing May Day madrigals from the top of the church tower.
This year they will be joined by friends from Berlin, the Golgotha Kantorei, a choir with whom they have a long-standing connection.
Come and join us in the churchyard at 9:45am on Monday 1 May, followed by some more singing inside the church and refreshments. A lovely occasion for all the family! Donations requested for Christian Aid.
Easter Messy Church
St. Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington
Thursday 6th April 2.00 - 4.00 pm
- Easter egg hunt
- Easter crafts
- Jewellery making
- Biscuit decorating
- Story telling
- Baby and Toddler zone
- Refreshments provided
News from Palestine
I have just returned from a most interesting visit to Palestine, and will be giving a Talk and Slide Show on the subject on Sunday 16th April at 12.00 noon in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington.
Whilst in Palestine, I spent a day in Jerusalem visiting many of the Holy sites; I completed half a marathon (admittedly at walking pace!), and spent a day in one of the rehabilitation centres funded by Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability (ABCD). The aim of my talk, apart from the slide show itself, is to touch on the current situation in Palestine, and to raise awareness of ABCD and the great work they are doing. All donations to this excellent charity will be hugely appreciated.
Angela Sanderson
Witchert Chorale Concert – This Green and Pleasant Land
Saturday 25th March 7.30 pm
St. Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington HP18 0AP
As the days grow longer and the spring reawakens the countryside, the Witchert Chorale takes its inspiration from England’s Green and Pleasant Land with a concert of music by English composers (and arrangers). As usual, their programme offers a wide variety of music to tempt all ears: everything from penitential music for Lent, including contemplative music by Tallis, to some lovely part-songs by Delius and music by Holst and Elgar and many more.
The concert is in aid of Aylesbury Women’s Aid and the church. Tickets are £12.50 in advance or £15 on the door, with under-16s admitted free. Buy tickets in advance from the Witchert Chorale website (click on the “Buy Tickets” option in the menu bar), or alternatively please phone Ann on 07876 683990 to make your reservation.
What's on in March
5 March Morning Worship in Church with Children's Activities in the Bernard Hall
12 March All Age Communion Sunday
19 March Mothering Sunday All Age Service
26 March Holy Communion and Children's activities in the Bernard Hall
Lent Discussion Group
Fridays 12.00 to 12.45pm in the church
All welcome
Sunday Services in February: at 10.00am
5 February Morning Worship in Church and Children's Activities
12 February All Age Holy Communion Phil Groves
19 February All Age Service
26 February Holy Communion and Children in the Bernard Hall
Carols by Candlelight is back this Christmas Eve @ 7.00pm
St Nicholas Church welcomes you to join the Christmas celebrations.
Christmas Eve
2.00pm Crib Service: for all ages but particularly for families with young children
7.00pm Carols by Candlelight
Christmas Day
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Christmas Celebration for all ages
Cuddington Christmas Trail 2022
The Cuddington Christmas Trail is up and running!
So pick up a trail sheet from the church or print it at home.
There are some wonderful displays to see and hidden carols to find. We hope you all enjoy taking part in the trail.
Don't forget to return your completed forms to the church as there are prizes for correct entries.
We hope to see lots of you out and about enjoying the wonderful displays and a big thank you to those who have offered to put up a display!
Carol Singing around Cuddington on Wednesday
Please join us for carol singing round the village from 6-7.30pm on Wednesday. We’ll meet at the playing field end of Bernard Close and work our way round the village to Tyringham Hall where Sherry and Phil have very kindly invited us for refreshments. All donations will go to Crisis and Tearfund.
(We highly recommend the wearing of hi-viz or similar. Younger children are very welcome but must be fully supervised due to being near the busy roads).
Sing in the Vale Matinee Community Concert
About the Event
Saturday 10 December 2.30 to 4.30pm
We welcome families, friends and neighbours to St. Nicholas on a Saturday afternoon before all the bustle and rush of Christmas.
The concert is called Five Gold Sings because Sing in the Vale Community Choir we have only met up five times for rehearsals! We want to share lesser-known Christmas and folk carols with you as well as invite you to join in for fun (optional).
Refreshments available by donation.
Proceeds will go to Aylesbury Women's Aid.
What's on in December
Sunday 4th at 10am Morning worship in Church with children’s activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 4th at 4pm Deanery Confirmation Service at St Mary’s Haddenham
Saturday 10th at 2.30pm Community Choir Christmas Concert and Sing-Along in church
Sunday 11th at 10am Nativity Play and Gift Service
Sunday 18th at 10am All age Holy Communion
Wednesday 21st Carol singing around the village
Christmas Eve
2pm Crib Service
7pm Carol Service
Christmas Day
8am Said Communion
10am All age Service
Charity Christmas Cards
The Garden Route Children's Trust (The Garden Route Children's Trust – Helping to educate and feed South African children in need (grct.org.uk), for whom I am a trustee, has produced beautiful Christmas cards with 100% of profits going straight to the charity.
There are four designs, A6 in size (10.5 x 14.9cm), printed on high quality textured card and come with a Christmassy red envelope. The message on the inside of each card reads ‘Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year’ and there is a brief explanation of the GRCT on the back of each card.
The cards are priced at £1.25 for 1 or £1 each for 5 or more.
To place an order please email Ali Lewis at mrs.ali.lewis@gmail.com stating how many cards you would like of each design (Rejoice/All is Bright/We Three Kings/Peace on Earth).
Thanks
Ali Lewis
Cuddington Christmas Trail 2022
The Cuddington Christmas trail is back for another year and it looks to be bigger and better than ever!
From Friday 16th December to Monday 2nd January you can pick up a trail sheet from the church and enjoy a wintery walk around the village admiring Christmas window displays. There will be clues to solve and hidden words and letters to find. This year we will have the option of a shorter, simpler trail as well as a longer one to ensure everyone can take part!
There will be a prize draw for correct entries and a prize for the favourite window display.
Trail sheets will be available from the St. Nicholas' Church porch as well as on the village website.
We hope to see lots of you out and about enjoying the wonderful displays and a big thank you to those who have offered to put up a display – we can't wait to see your efforts!
Remembrance Sunday in Cuddington – 13th November
10.00am Service of Remembrance in St Nicholas Church
10.50am (approx) Act of Remembrance and laying of wreaths at the war memorial in the churchyard
All are welcome
November Church Activities
Sunday 6th @10am
Holy Communion and children's activities in the Bernard Hall
Sunday 13th @10am
Remembrance Sunday: All Age Service
@ 10.50 (approx) Remembrance Ceremony and Wreath Laying at the War Memorial
Sunday 20th @10am
Morning worship and children's activities in the Bernard Hall (Nativity Rehearsal)
Sunday 27th @10am
All Age Holy Communion
All are welcome
What's On in October
Sunday, 2 October 10:00 All Age Holy Communion
Sunday, 9 October 10:00 Holy Communion in Church with Children's Activities in the Bernard Hall
Sunday, 16 October 10:00 All Age Service
Sunday, 23 October 10:00 Morning Worship in Church and Children's Activities in the Bernard Hall
Sunday, 30 October 10:00 All Age Service
HM Queen Elizabeth II Book of Condolence
The church will be open every day (9 to 5 approx) for those wanting a quiet place for reflection and prayer.
There is a book of condolence in the side chapel which all are welcome to sign.
What's On in September
Worship for All on Sundays @ 10am
Sunday 4th at 10am All Age Communion
Sunday 11th at 10am Holy Communion with children’s activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 18th at 10am Harvest Festival All Age Harvest Worship
Sunday 25th at 10am Holy Communion with children’s activities in Bernard Hall
If weather fair, the service on 4th September may be held outside in the churchyard
All are welcome
Sunday Services in August
Worship for All on Sundays @ 10am
Sunday 7th at 10am
All Age Communion
Sunday 14th at 10am
All Age Worship
Sunday 21st at 10am
All Age Communion
Sunday 28th at 10am
All Age Worship
A Cool Place
In hot weather the church is often one of the coolest buildings in the village. During the current heatwave it will, as usual, be open for visitors, and all are welcome. While the period of intense heat lasts we will be keeping it open until 9.00pm.
Sunday Services in July
Worship for All on Sundays @ 10am
Sunday 3rd at 10am
All Age Communion
Sunday 10th at 10am
Holy Communion with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 17th at 10am
All Age Worship
Sunday 24th at 10am
All Age Worship (in churchyard if weather fair)
Sunday 31st at 10am
All Age Worship (in churchyard if weather fair)
Jubilee Flowers and Banner in Church
Come and see the wonderful Jubilee Flower Arrangements specially created by Rosemary Bradbury and her team. And the Jubilee Banner made by Angela Sanderson and fellow needle workers.
The church is open for visitors everyday from about 9am to 4.30pm.
What's on in June
Saturday 4th at 12 noon
Jubilee Peal
Pentecost Sunday 5th
At 10am
Jubilee All Age Worship
2.30 to 4pm Jubilee Teas in Church
Sunday 12th at 10am
Holy Communion with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 19th at 10am
All Age Worship
Sunday 26th at 10am
Morning Worship with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
All are welcome
Bring and Buy Sale!
Roll Up, Roll Up for our Bring and Buy Sale on Wednesday with a selection of plants, Childrens Clothes, Books, Bric a Brac and delicious cream teas; all raising money for Christian Aid.
We also have a dismantled 10x12 Greenhouse in need of a new home.
What's on in MAY
Sunday 1st at 10am
All Age Holy Communion
Monday 2nd at 9.45am
Wichert Chorale sing Madrigals
Sunday 8th at 10am
Holy Communion with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Tuesday 10th at 8pm
Annual Church Meeting
Sunday 15th at 10am
All Age Worship
Wednesday 18th 3pm to 6pm at Tyrinham Hall
Christian Aid Bring and Buy Sale
Sunday 22nd at 10am
Morning Worship with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 29th at 10am
All Age Holy Communion
All are welcome
Church Floodlit in Blue and Yellow
On Good Friday and over Easter the church was floodlit in blue and yellow.
That weekend, as we recalled Jesus' death and celebrate his resurrection, we also reflected on the despair of Ukraine and prayed for resurrection and new hope there.
James Stonham, Churchwarden
What's on in April
Sunday 3rd at 10am
Holy Communion with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 10th at 10am
Palm SundayAll Age Worship
Thursday 17th Messy Church at 2.30pm
Friday 18th Good Friday Meditation at 2pm
Sunday 20th at 10am
Easter Sunday All Age Holy Communion
Sunday 24th at 10am
Morning Worship with children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
All are welcome
Services In March 2022
Sunday Services in March
At 10am
Sunday 6th Holy Communion with Children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 13th All Age Holy Communion
Sunday 20th Morning Worship with Children’s Activities in Bernard Hall
Sunday 27th Mothering Sunday: All Age Worship
Please join us.
Church Notice Sheet 27th February
There are a number of different services and activities taking place in St Nicholas’ Church and throughout the Benefice.
We do our best to keep everyone informed and the latest Notice Sheet is available here.
Please let neighbours and friends know about specific events, especially if they don’t have internet access.
Bryony Clark
Services in January and February 2022
Upcoming Sunday Services at 10am
23 January - Morning Worship with Children’s Church in Bernard Hall
30 January - All-Age Morning Worship
6 February - Holy Communion with Children’s Church in Bernard Hall
13 February - All-Age Communion
20 February - Morning Worship with Children’s Church in Bernard Hall
27 February - All-Age Morning Worship
All are welcome.
Carols on the Green on Christmas Eve @ 4.30
4.30 pm Christmas Eve
Carols and Readings around the Christmas Tree on the Green
All are welcome
Rev Cassa Meservy and David Quinn will be leading us in the singing of our favourite Carols.
This will replace both the Crib Service and the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Please bring your own light.
Covid Procedures
If you are attending please take note of the following:
- Everyone is requested to have taken a recent negative LFT if appropriate
- Please maintain good social distancing
All should assess for themselves if the event is appropriate for their individual circumstances
The Christmas Trail
The Christmas Trail is back! From Sunday 19th December to Sunday 2nd January, collect a trail map from the church porch and take part in this year's Christmas Trail.
Around Cuddington there will be an array of Christmas displays in windows and front gardens, all with hidden letters and numbers. Your job is to decipher the hidden Christmas message whilst enjoying the beautiful Christmas decorations. The trail is for both children and adults and is a perfect accompaniment to a winter walk around the village.
Post your entries in the marked box in the church porch and you may be one of the lucky winners. There will be a prize for the best display too so don't forget to vote for your favourite one. We hope you enjoy taking part.
James Stonham
The Remembrance Banner in Church
Remembrance Sunday 14th November
All are welcome to the Remembrance Sunday Service, for people all ages, which will be held in church at 10am on Sunday.
Shortly before 11am there will be an Act of Remembrance by the war memorial in the churchyard, including laying of wreaths, young people planting poppy crosses and a two minute silence.
Church Services on Red Kite Radio
The Wychert Vale church services are being broadcast on Red Kite Radio.
You can listen to the services every Sunday at 12 noon, and can be heard on 107.2 FM, on your smart speaker (say “Play Red Kite Radio from Tune-In”) or online at redkiteradio.com.
Wedding Bells.... at last!
Cuddington bells will ring out at lunchtime on Saturday 5th June to celebrate the Wedding of Kelly and Adam. We hope you enjoy the ringing and we send our Congratulations to the happy couple.
Madrigals at St Nicholas’
Sing a Song of Maytime!
Come and hear the Witchert Chorale singing madrigals in St Nicholas' churchyard in Cuddington on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st May, at 9.30am.
The choir would normally be singing from the tower but Covid-19 restrictions mean they need to be distanced - and the tower is not big enough!
Please observe current guidelines and keep socially distanced in the churchyard, and bring chairs, blankets and your own refreshments should you wish.
There will be a collection in aid of Christian Aid.
Utugi Charity Crossword Competition
As we were unable to hold our annual Quiz Night in February, we are launching a crossword competition to raise funds instead. There are 6 crosswords, 5 based on themes like quiz rounds, eg literature, general knowledge etc. and one final one which is different, and will be sent out at a later date. Closing date to be June 12th. To enter please phone or email Sarah Wood:
sarah.wood@care4free.net, 01844 290214, sending payment of £10, cash, or cheque made out to “The Utugi Street Children Project” to Sarah at 68 Willis Road, Haddenham HP17 8HF. To pay on line please ask Sarah for bank details.
The Utugi Street Children Kenya Project is a charity which was set up in Haddenham in 1998 to build a home for street children in Central Kenya. It has funded the building of a home for up to 90 boys and pays towards the maintenance and staffing, while housing and educating, through school and college, currently 75 boys and young men, who have been rescued from the street, neglect, abuse or other very difficult circumstances, including being orphaned. The annual Quiz Night has been our main fund raiser, and we ask you please to support the charity with this competition instead this year.
Sarah Wood
Toddler Singing
Every Friday morning at 10am and 11am starting from 23rd April 2021.
Sessions include half an hour of singing in the churchyard followed by a story. Places are free but limited and booking is essential using this link.
Please bring a fold up chair or picnic blanket and place it 2m away from other families to ensure social distancing. Feel free to bring your own refreshments snacks and percussion instruments.
Cuddington Easter Trail
St. Nicholas' Church and F4CADS (Friends for Cuddington and Dinton School) are running an Easter Trail around the village starting on Thursday 1st April through to Sunday 18th April. We are hoping to raise funds for the school to help replace play equipment on the infant site.
To take part in the trail, download either the children’s trail sheet or the adults’ one (with slightly harder clues) and try to solve the crossword by finding the 15 displays around the village.
There is a chocolate treat for every participant so please return your completed sheets in an envelope, with a £1 entry fee, to Ali Lewis, Beam Cottage, Lower Church Street (display 9).
Families with children at the school are asked instead to pay via School Gateway and return their trail sheets to school at the start of term.
Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse
Thank you for all your donations for the Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse across 2020, and especially in the run up to Christmas when so many people donated generously. The collection boxes both in the church porch and the village shop were filled constantly with food, treats and essentials. The Vineyard Storehouse are using donations such as ours to continue to provide food for those in need, and at Christmas they also provided around 150 festive hampers.
Many thanks for your support.
Cilla and Christine
Christmas at St Nicholas
We have been very restricted as to what we can put on this Christmas and here is what we have managed to arrange:
Christmas Eve – there will be a static Nativity display in the porch and some Christmas music playing for people to come and see. It will be on view all day from 11.00am – 4.00pm but there will be no access to the church itself. So please come to enjoy the display in your own time in a really safe environment.
There is an online Carol Service for you to follow as well. It features music from the Witchert Chorale with Richard Winicott and Paul Pointer Smith. It also has Tony Hadley singing O Come all ye Faithful. So do enjoy this wonderful part of Christmas in your own time!
On Christmas Day there will be a service in church at 10.00am, but not with Communion as previously planned. It will be led by Phil and will be an opportunity to share the Good News and pray together.
If you intend to come to this service it is most important that you let us know by emailing stnicholascuddington@gmail.com and let us know how many will be in your bubble. If you had already informed us but have now changed your mind then please tell us.
Please do not just turn up, but if you are coming remember all Covid guidelines, especially by bringing a face mask.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas!
Revd Cassa Messervy
Rector for the Wychert Vale Benefice
Today is Advent Sunday, the traditional start of the church’s year, and so is a very appropriate time to give news of the start of a new chapter in the lives of the churches in our benefice.
The churchwardens are pleased to announce that the Revd Cassa Messervy has been formally offered the position of rector of our benefice by the Bishop of Buckingham and has accepted.
Cassa is presently vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Seer Green and Jordans, and Assistant Area Dean, Amersham Deanery.
The date when she will join us is dependent on the availability of the new rectory in Haddenham, hopefully early March. We will keep you updated.
Please remember Cassa and her family in your prayers and also the other candidates who put in much time and commitment in applying but were unsuccessful.
A new phase in the life of our Benefice is beginning which no doubt will be exciting and challenging as God leads us forward.
James Stonham, Churchwarden
Remembrance Poppies
The selection of pictures opposite shows the display of poppies made by children of the village over the arch and on the gate, as well as the wreaths which were laid at the War Memorial on Remebrance Sunday.
NB - click on picture to get a larger view!
Tearfund – The Big Quiz
We are very sorry not to be hosting Tearfund’s The Big Quiz Night this year especially as last year’s was so successful, when we managed to raise over £600 for such a good cause.
The logistics of conducting it online ourselves have proved too challenging but we do want to support the event in several ways by:
- Looking at the Case Study film of Tearfund’s work – “Alaya’s Story”
- Making a donation via our page on JustGiving, and
- Tuning into YouTube on Saturday evening and following the events of the Tearfund team doing the quiz themselves!
So, please click on the JustGiving link above and make a donation and make a note to join the fun on Saturday evening, 14th November at 7.30pm, via YouTube!
The Poppy Banner from St Nicholas' Church
Remembrance Service Online
Sunday 8th November
Remembrance Day is a vital reminder to us as a nation to remember those who gave their lives so we can live in peace and commit ourselves afresh so war is not part of our children’s future.
The big events are cancelled but we have a very special service with a compelling, moving sermon by Rev Ray Pentland who was Chaplain-in-Chief to the RAF and who lives in Aylesbury. He speaks from the heart of what he knows.
Please use this service to commit yourself to the way of peace in memory of those who gave their lives.
Phil Groves,
Associate Rector in the Wychert Vale Benefice
Poppy Craft Arch
Children’s Poppy Craft
A beautiful and moving arrangement of felt poppies covering the arch over the church gate has been installed this afternoon.
The poppies have been made by nearly 30 children from the church and the village and will remain on display throughout the week following Remembrance Sunday.
A big thank you to all involved in putting it together at a time when so much has had to be suspended due to the virus and restrictions on activities.
Remembrance Sunday – Covid-19 Changes
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2020
Because of the continued spread of Covid 19 and the reintroduction throughout England of lockdown and all this entails, sadly, St. Nicholas PCC has decided it must cancel plans for holding the annual Remembrance Service as detailed in the November Village Voice and previously on the website.
However, from 10.45 am representatives of the Parish Council, The Royal British Legion and St Nicholas’ Church will join together to observe the two-minute silence at 11.00am and lay wreaths.
It is suggested that anyone who wishes to pay their respects does so later in the day on their own when the wreaths have already been laid in place.
If you have any questions about Remembrance, please contact: jschramdejong@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 01844-291501
Thank you and stay safe,
Jennifer Schram de Jong
St Nicholas' churchyard
Vandalism in the Churchyard
In recent weeks we have received reports that on several occasions what looks to be deliberate damage has been done to flowers placed by relatives on graves in the chuchyard. This involves pulling off petals or heads of flowers and clearly relatives are very upset.
There is no evidence reported as to who is responsible and this is a very serious and disturbing situation.
Please keep an eye out and if you do have any information could you kindly pass this on to James Stonham, 01844 292221 or james@holymans.co.uk
Outdoor Service at St Nicholas’
This Sunday, 23rd August, we are seeking to cater for people of all ages at our outdoor service at St Nicholas’ church at 10.00am.
There will be some copies of the attached service sheet available, but it would be best if you could print out your own and bring it with you.
All are welcome – individuals and families, just come along!
Please bring your own folding/picnic chairs or blankets to sit on – you are responsible for your own comfort! The church will be open, especially for the use of the toilet – however, if you do foresee that you will want to enter the church you must have a face mask as it will be mandatory to wear one in the church as from tomorrow.
And finally please observe all Government regulations and ensure that you are socially distancing.
Church Reopens to Individuals
We are pleased to say that as from this Saturday, 27th June, St Nicholas’ church will be open for individuals to attend for the purpose of quiet, reflection and prayer.
Although there are many restrictions being lifted in the government’s current round of announcements, any form of gathering or service is still not permitted.
The church will be opened as follows:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9.00am - 4.00pm and Sundays 1.00pm - 4.00pm
The majority of the seating and pews have been sectioned off with ribbon leaving sufficient seating available for individuals to use and keep social distances.
There are Bibles and hymn books available to use but please return them to the box as indicated if you do use them. Please follow the guidelines on the notice board.
Surface areas which are accessible to you will be cleaned after each opening session so please ensure that you limit your movement to these areas only. Please note that the kitchen and toilet areas will remain closed and not accessible.
We are trying to keep the door left ajar so that you only need to push on it to open and enter.
Made it to both peaks!
Massive congratulations to the children (and probably some parents as well!) for the successful climbing of both Mount Everest and Mont Blanc via the stairs!
A grand total of 69,831 steps!
And watch them on the video:-
A great achievement and one that is being recognised by generous donations on Just Giving - if you haven't done so yet please visit the page at:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cuddingtonclimbers
And also see what Phil Groves has written about giving to Christian Aid here.
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Climbing Mount Everest for Christian Aid
Bear and Vic seem to have got in a bit of a muddle!
See article further down for full details of the climb and importantly, in order to sponsor and make your contribution to Christian Aid, go to:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cuddingtonclimbers
See the route in the picture left, and follow the climbers' progress on the website!
Thank you,
Ali Lewis
Christian Aid Week
WANTED SPARE PLANTS!
Vegetables and flowers, seedlings and herbs are needed for our Christian Aid plant sales, either left in Angela’s porch at Wellfield House, Spurt Street, or to Caroline Stonham at Holymans Farmhouse, Off Frog Lane, where you will see a selection for sale from Saturday 2nd onwards; All proceeds to Christian Aid.
Church Goes Blue for the NHS
Tonight, Thursday 16th April, St Nicholas' Church flood lights turned blue in honour of the NHS.
Following the 8.00pm clapping the church gradually became bluer and bluer as darkness fell and the full effect of the floodlights could be seen.
Easter Events
Please note that despite the church itself being closed because of coronavirus there will be the opportunity for you to celebrate Easter Day with others by joining in some of the following:
On Sunday morning the Holy Communion Service is to be found here: https://youtu.be/FjkhsUirpb8
Please see the pdf file here which should be seen in conjunction with the video.
A kids Easter video is also available, click here: https://youtu.be/Q9gCdTFVOyc
Two of our Benefice musicians - David Quinn and Tim Simpson - have chosen their favourite Easter music and have prepared direct links so you can enjoy them too. Click on their names to get each's top 5.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter.
St. Nicholas’ Church Now Closed
It is with great regret, but in line with advice and recommentations from church authorities, that St Nicholas’ church will remain locked during the day.
This will be until events have changed and it becomes safe to re-open. In the meantime we ask you all to follow advice and keep safe.
You are invited to join the online services which are being will be posted on the benefice website www.wychertvale.org
Parenting for Faith
This series of courses will be running from 5th October to 14th March 2020 in Cuddington and Haddenham.
To find out more about this powerful opportunity click here for a leaflet giving all the details.
Also please contact Christine Jackson on
christine.jackson@live.co.uk
Some Highlights of the year so far -
The following pages show some of the key events of 2019
Songs on a Winter’s Night
Join Sing in the Vale Community Choir and friends for a family-friendly concert of seasonal music and acapella harmony at St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington, on Saturday 14th December at 7.30pm.
This is the first time the choir have sung at the church, having sung at the Fête in July, and it promises to be a heart-warming local event for the enjoyment of the village and wider community.
In aid of the Utugi Street Children project.
Tickets are £7.50 each with under 16s free and are available from:
– Caroline Saker (01844 291825)
or on the door this evening.
Tearfund – The Big Quiz
On Saturday 16th November St Nicholas’ Church will be taking part in the Big Quiz Night – a huge multi-venue, nationwide quiz in aid of Tearfund!
So please join us either:
- by bringing a team of 6 to make up a table or
- just come yourself and we will find a team for you!
(but do book your ticket/team in advance!)
and bring your own “Winter Picnic” meal with donations for other refreshments.
Tickets are £5 each and please contact:
Caroline Saker on 01844 291825
Doors open at 7.00pm for a prompt 7.15pm start for the quiz. There will be a break of ½ hour at about 8.00pm for your “Winter Picnic” and a short film on some of Tearfund’s work.
The evening will finish at about 9.30pm
Harvest Hog Roast
St Nicholas’ Church invites you to
A Harvest Hog Roast
At the Playing Fields, Cuddington
5.00pm till late, hotdogs from 5.30pm, Hog roast from 6.00pm
Saturday, 28th September 2019
Prices - £7.50 adults, £5 children, £20 family
Includes entry, hotdog or hog roast, pudding
and Entertainment:
Kids competitions, Games, Live Country Music Duet
Tickets now only available at the event
Big Church Outing – 2019
Join us for the trip to Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford
Saturday 7th September
Coach ticket - £10 per family group
Park entry - Adults £11.50, Children over 3yrs and Concessions £8.00
Book with James on 07981 812190
Messy Church
Sunday 28th July, 4.00pm
Dinton Church
Messy Church at the Seaside!
See panel opposite for more details, but please come and join us!
Contact Phil on 01296 748390 or phil.groves@wychertvale.org
for more information
Open Air Service
Sunday 14th July on the Playing Fields!
Breakfast in the Club from 9.30am
All Age Service at 10.00am
___________________________________
And make a note of some future events:
Sunday 28th July - Messy Church at the Seaside
4.00pm in Dinton Church
Saturday 7th September - Cotswold Wildlife Park outing
Saturday 28th September - Harvest HOGROAST
...........more details on all of these to follow!
Margot’s Last Service in Cuddington
The service this Sunday, 23rd June, will be the last one which Margot will be attending in Cuddington before she and Martin move to their new ministry.
Martin will be leading the service, which will be a Morning Worship at 10.00am in St Nicholas' Church, and Margot will preach.
Everyone is most welcome to attend as part of our farewells to the Hodsons!
House Name Quiz
Thank you to all who took the trouble walking around the lanes of Cuddington peering at the house names to answer this Christian Aid Week quiz.
Most of you cracked the three anagrams but didn’t get some fairly obvious ones!
Congratulations to Michael and Jenny Collins for getting the most correct answers. Click here for answers.
Caroline Stonham
Holymans’ Visit to Cuddington
In 1650 Christopher and Judith Hollyman emigrated to a tobacco plantation in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, USA. The photo is the 1830 house on the site of the original dwelling. Christopher’s ancestors were baptised, married and laid to rest in Cuddington Church, and his grandmother’s family ancestors were a prominent and wealthy Dinton family.
The American side of this family are very excited about their connections to Cuddington and on Sunday 19th May we welcomed a coach of 30 Holymans to the village. They had lunch at The Crown, walked down to the church and then down Lower Church Street to Holymans Farmhouse and Barn. After a brief photo stop they boarded the coach to visit Dinton before having afternoon tea at Hartwell House, an ancestral home of the Lee family.
This was the first trip to UK for many and it was a joy to welcome them to Cuddington.
Mums’ Breakfast
Please save the date for the next Mums’ Breakfast on Saturday 18th May at 9am in Cuddington Church.
The preceding week is Christian Aid week and the focus this year is on reducing maternal deaths, particularly in Africa. Our theme will therefore be “Call the Midwife” and we have Vicki Melton, our very own local midwife, and Anne Groves, who had (almost!) 3 children in Africa, sharing their stories and perspective.
Of course we’ll have the usual yummy continental breakfast!
Bring and Share Lunch
Please come along with some lunch to share on the playing field from 12.00 on Sunday 12th May
Main course is fun and friendship
Kids games for desert!
Maytime Madrigals
Madrigals with the Witchert Chorale, Conducted by David Quinn
Bank Holiday Monday 6th May at 9.30am
St Nicholas Church, Cuddington
Enjoy coffee and refreshments!
Listen to the Witchert Chorale welcome in the month of May with madrigals on the Church Tower!
All welcome – donations for Christian Aid will be collected
Cuddington Easter Geocache Challenge
We have set an Easter egg Geocache challenge for the Easter holidays.
Find the Geocache eggs around the village during the holidays to solve a riddle.
The last clue will be at the Easter Panto on Easter Monday in Cuddington Church at 10.30am.
Prizes will be given out for all solved riddles.
For your first Geocache egg please visit the church (open during the daytime) at any point in the holidays.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The APCM will be held this year in St Nicholas' church at 6.00pm on Sunday 28th April.
This is an important event in the church's calendar and is an opportunity to hear reports on some of the key activities of the church, ask questions and to elect both our church Wardens and members of the Parochial Church Council.
Only those on the Electoral Roll are eligible to vote and the new roll will be in effect for the meeting.
Everyone who has an involvement and interest in the church is encouraged to attend.
Easter Knights Panto!
Come and join us for an Easter Knights Panto!
Hazaar!
The Easter story told as a pantomime by men of the village(s)!
Followed by an Easter egg hunt and refreshments.
Easter Monday @ 10.30am in Cuddington Church
Witchert Chorale
Directed by David Quinn, the Witchert Chorale will be performing “Blow the Wind Southerly” in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington on
Saturday 30th March at 7.30pm.
The choir will sing about sailors and saints and students and drinking, as well the odd nursery rhyme or two, all set to music by Elgar, Grieg, Holst, Poulenc, Rossini and Rutter amongst others. We are delighted to welcome them back again for what promises to be a most enjoyable evening.
Tickets are £12 (concessions £10, U16 free) and available from:
- Blooming Fruity, Haddenham
- Caroline Saker – 01844 291825
- online at www.witchert.org.uk
The concert is in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young)
Margot and Martin to leave the Benefice
It was announced on Sunday morning (27 January) that Margot and Martin Hodson will be moving in the summer to West Oxfordshire to take up a new ministry. The Hodsons have been looking for a way to give more time to their environmental work while keeping their roots in local parish ministry. They will be moving to the Shill Valley and Broadshire Benefice, where Margot will be licensed as half-time Associate Minister in early September. Alongside this post she will be taking up the part-time (self-supporting) role of Theology and Education Director for the John Ray Initiative (JRI). There is more information about their move on their blog here.
It means that our parish and benefice will go into interregnum but there is good time to prepare for this. Margot and Martin will be praying for you for the vacancy period and for the appointment of a new rector for the benefice.
The Hodsons will be really grateful for your prayers as they prepare for the move and will be very sad to leave Wychert Vale. Margot will be taking services in different churches in the benefice through May and June and hopes to have the weekend of 29-30 June as her last official weekend in the benefice.
SIAMS Report
As a Voluntary Aided School, Cuddington and Dinton C of E School is subject to a SIAMS inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools). Historically this used to run in parallel to Ofsted inspections but it now stands separately and effectively examines just how the school’s Christian Vision translates into daily and practical behaviours and results.
The school was inspected at the end of November last year. The result was a very positive “Good” and the Key Findings were:
- The headteacher’s clear Christian vision is key to the school’s success and her strong spiritual leadership is evident in all aspects of school life.
- There is a clear articulation of the Christian vision that enables all members of the school community to work together and support each other well.
- The school’s vision, captured in its caring, nurturing environment, supports vulnerable pupils in their learning very effectively.
- Imaginative collective worship offers everyone the opportunity to engage, whilst allowing the freedom for those of other faiths and none to be present with integrity.
- The school is effective in ensuring that RE expresses the Christian vision, enabling pupils to develop a good knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other world religions.
The full report is available here.
New Year Tea in Clubhouse
You are warmly invited to celebrate the New Year with Afternoon Tea in the Playing Field Clubhouse, including a short entertainment.
On Wednesday 9th January at 3pm
£2 payable on the door
Year End Deficit
It was announced to the congregation on Sunday 7th September that the church’s finances were suffering and that by the end of the year the deficit would be in the region of £6,400.
At the end of the service the congregation was told that the reason behind the deficit was a sharp falloff in the total figure being given as opposed to any major increase in costs.
It was explained that only just over a quarter of those on the Electoral Roll were part of a planned scheme but that “planned giving” represented 90% of donated income. This implies that there is a real opportunity to support the church further.
Joining the scheme is very easy to do and makes the task of re-claiming gift aid and administering the church’s accounts much simpler. The congregation was encouraged to think about joining the Parish Giving Scheme if they were not already in it. See the section in “General Information” for details of the scheme and for further information.
Carol Singing
Please join us for Carol singing round the Village on Thursday 20th December.
Meeting on the Upper Green at 6.00pm, we will wind up in Tyringham Hall for mulled wine and canapes around 7.30pm.
Be prepared to sing – but if you can’t join us then please listen out for us as we make our way around the village!!
We will be collecting for Crisis at Christmas.
The Hiding Place
The Hiding Place is presented by the Oddments Theatre Company.
This powerful performance of Ten Boom’s incredible story of an amazing rescue mission of Jews from their devastating circumstances during the Second World War is highly recommended.
St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington
Monday 3rd December, 2018 at 7.30pm
Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door and may be obtained from:
- www.oddments-theatre.co.uk for direct online booking
- The Benefice Office, St Mary’s Centre, Station Road, Haddenham, 01844 291108
- Caroline Saker, 01844 291825
Timeless Masterpieces of Music
St Nicholas' Church, Cuddington
Friday, 2nd November 7.30pm, 2018
A concert in aid of the Cuddington Church Restoration Fund
Sam Baker - Piano.Organ; Leonie Stevens - Flute; Sandy Mackenzie - 'Cello
Tickets £12.00 (under 16's free) available from:
- Caroline Saker - 01844 291825
or on the door tonight
Harvest Hog Roast
Saturday 29th September
At the Clubhouse, Cuddington
5.00pm till late, hotdogs from 5.30pm,
Hog roast from 6.00pm
Prices - £7.50 adults, £5 concessions, £20 family
Includes entry, hotdog or hog roast, pudding and Entertainment:
Veg competitions, Kids competitions, Games,
Good music for All Ages
Bring your entries along with you for:
- Best small flower arrangement
- Your face or a celebrity face made from food
- Best carrot cake
- Heaviest marrow/courgette
- Longest runner bean
Judging will be at 7.00pm.
from:
- Caroline Saker – 01844 291825
or "on the door" - please come!
Open Air Service
Come along to our annual Open Air Service this Sunday 8th on the Cuddington playing fields.
Breakfast served from 9.30am, followed by a fun-packed service starting at 10.00am.
Be prepared for a tug of war and a penalty shoot-out!
(Bring your own picnic chairs/blankets)
Mum’s Breakfast
Don’t forget our Mums’ breakfast will be this Saturday 30th June at 9.00am in Cuddington Church. After the usual yummy continental breakfast, our very own Jane Giles will be joining us to discuss how we can guide our children (and ourselves!) through all the changes and transitions in life!
Ali Lewis will also be guiding us through a simple craft to get us through the summer holidays.
Come and join us for some YOU time!
Sonia, Janine, Christine and Ali
P.S. Please share this with anyone you think may be interested and babes in arms very welcome.
Christian Aid Week
Bring and Buy Sale: Thursday 17th May, 5.00 – 8.00pm at Wellfield House, Spurt Street, Cuddington.
Plant stall, cake stall, Bric a Brac, refreshments and a Toy Stall.
All donations welcome.
A great opportunity to stock your garden for the summer while benefiting those in need.
Everyone welcome!
and……..
You’re invited to a Tea Party: Saturday 19th May, Cuddington Church to celebrate Harry and Meghan’s Wedding.
Join us any time from 2.30pm onwards for afternoon tea. There will be a tempting choice of homemade sandwiches, scones and cakes as well as your choice of teas and coffees to celebrate the Royal Event in style with the whole family.
Dance the Night Away!
A concert in St Nicholas' Church, Saturday 17th March at 7.30pm
Come and hear Shulah Oliver (violin & viola) and Claire Hawkes (clarinet) - Duo Armande - playing Beethoven, Dvorak, Debussy and works by many other composers: “Dance the Night Away”!
Please note that as Claire Hawkes is indisposed, Shulah will be joined by her long-standing friend and associate, Simon Marlow, who will be accompanying her on the piano.
Concert in aid of Kampala Music School; tickets are £12 (under 16's free) and available from:
- Caroline Saker - 01844 291825
- Cuddington Village Stores
- or click “Book Now” below
Parish Supper
You are warmly invited to this year's Parish Supper, with hot food, and hear about:
BUILD - African adventures in training Pastors at the grassroots - Speaker Jem Hovil
Saturday 24th February 2018 in the Bernard Hall
7 for 7.30pm
Book your place with Caroline Saker - 291825
Donations to cover expenses and surplus to BUILD
New Year's Viennese Gala
The Manor House String Quartet will be presenting a New Year’s Viennese Gala on Saturday 20th January 2018 at 7.30pm in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington.
The programme will include pieces from Johann Strauss II, Lanner, Lehar, Brahms, Weber and other celebrated composers – so come and celebrate the New Year with us!
The concert is in aid of Utugi Street Children in Kenya.
Tickets at £12 each (under 16's free) are available from:
- Caroline Saker - 01844 291825
- Cuddington Village Stores
Tickets are no longer available online, but will be on the door this evening.
Sacred and Secular
We are delighted to announce that Sam Baker will be back at St Nicholas’ church on Saturday 28th October, this time with his newly formed ensemble, the Stella Maris Trio.
The concert, entitled “Sacred and Secular”, will contain a wide range of music from the 16th to the 20th centuries. In addition to accompanying soprano Victoria Armillotta and mezzo soprano Iryna Ilnytska, Sam will be playing both piano and organ solo pieces – from Bach to Debussy. Many of you who have attended Sam’s previous concerts will greatly appreciate the inclusion of these solo items.
Victoria and Iryna will be singing some very familiar and much-loved pieces such as César Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” and “Voi che sapete” from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, so please make a note of the date and get your tickets online here or from:
* Caroline Saker (01844 291825)
* Cuddington Stores
Tickets are £12 each with under-16s being free.
There will be refreshments and canapés during the interval and all proceeds will be going to the Motor Neurone Disease Association; the concert itself is being dedicated to Sarah Hayward, Caroline Saker’s sister, who sadly died of the disease earlier this year.
For more information about the Stella Maris Trio please visit their website: www.stellamaristrio.com
Tickets will be available on the door.
St Nicholas Church Youth Fundraising Event
Cuddington’s Upper Green
Saturday 14th October 10.30am - 12.30pm
- Homemade cakes and lemonade
- Books and toys
All monies raised will go to the “Compassion UK” charity to help support Ngowa Chonzwe, who is an 18 year old boy who lives in Kenya.
Maundy Thursday Communion Service is in Kingsey at 7.30pm
Please note that the Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Benefice Communion Service will be held at St Nicholas’ Church, Kingsey and not here in Cuddington.
It is incorrectly shown as being in Cuddington in April’s “Go Local”.
Cuddington Church Pantomime
Please join us on Monday 17th April from 10.30am for a pantomime retelling of the Easter Story as an allegory involving 'Trolls'. The message is good but the jokes are awful - you have been warned. The pantomime will be followed by more traditional refreshments and a children's Easter egg hunt.
Lent Course
Challenging Power – Destroying the Myth of the Mighty Leader and offering hope for the future
Speaker: Canon Phil Groves
Five sessions to be held in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington on Tuesday evenings starting on 7th March, 7.30 for 8pm
This Lent we will be examining events, such as terrorism, racism and migration; and politicians (such as Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte) who portray themselves as Mighty Leaders, in the context of Bible stories and characters.
We will consider why such leaders are dangerous and look at alternatives; and also at what creates peaceful communities, and how we can make a difference here and around the world.
7th March: Chaos
14th March: Corruption
21st March: Redefining Power
28th March: Why was Jesus Killed?
4th April: The New Way
The Witchert Chorale
The Witchert Chorale, with their Conductor David Quinn, returns to St Nicholas’ Church on Saturday 25th March at 7.30pm for their Spring Concert, Light.
Light brings together works by Tallis, Bach, Mendelssohn and Duke Ellington – amongst others! With such a range and variety of composers it promises to be a most enjoyable and rewarding evening.
Tickets are £12 each (concs £10, u-16 free) and please get them from:
Jessica Ecott 01844 291101 or Caroline Saker 01844 291825
Cuddington Village Stores or Bloomin’ Fruity, Haddenham
or here online - see below.
The concert will be raising funds for both Kampala Music School and Stoke Mandeville Long-Stay Patient Comfort Fund.
Tickets no longer available online but are on the door this evening
Phil with the present Archbishop, Justin Welby
Parish Supper
Saturday 11th March – 7.00 for 7.30pm in the Bernard Hall
Parish Supper with hot food!
Plus a talk by our own Phil Groves: “Travels with Archbishops of Canterbury” - sharing his own experiences.
Tickets from Caroline Saker – 01844 291825
Donations please to cover expenses.
Rethinking Christmas
Markus and Celia Bockmuehl invite Cuddington friends and others to join them at their home for three evenings of study and celebration about Advent and Christmas.
We will meet for an hour on three Monday nights, 8-9 pm November 28, December 12 and January 2. Markus will speak for 15-20 minutes and introduce a discussion. Refreshments will be served. For the last 20 minutes we will switch gear and hear about a practical Christmas custom – seasonal prayers and decorations, continental baking recipes, a different sort of Advent calendar, etc.
If you would like to come, please register at www.is.gd/Advent16. Space will initially be limited to 15 participants.
· November 28 How could Mary become the Mother of the Son of David?
· December 12 Ten Things You Never Knew About the Christmas Story – and Were Afraid to Ask!
· January 2 The Infant Jesus and His Family – Religious Jews and Syrian Refugees in Africa? The stories behind the festivals of Epiphany and Candlemas
Note: Markus will also be preaching at the Carol service on Christmas Eve at 7 pm in Cuddington church.
Nativity and Gift Service at St Nicholas
All Age Nativity and Gift Service on Sunday 11th December at 10am.
This year we are hoping once again to provide gifts for the women and children in Aylesbury Women’s refuge.
The refuge provides a safe place for up to 14 women and 17 children. At present, the oldest child is a girl of 12 years old. There are also two babies in residence with their mothers.
Please think of some treats for the women as well as toys and gifts for the children. Wrapping paper and sellotape are also very welcome, but please leave your gifts unwrapped when you bring them to the service. These gifts let people who are going through a hard time know that they are thought about and cared for. Let us share God’s love.
Thank you for your support.
Sam with Danea (inset)
Music for a While
This concert in memory of Myles Saker is fast approaching - St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington on Saturday 29th October at 7.30pm
And since announcing the programme, which includes settings of Shakespeare, songs by Purcell, Schubert, Max Reger and Roger Quilter, traditional songs as well as piano and organ solos, we are delighted to say that Sam and Danae are being joined by 'cellist Sandy Macenzie who will be providing some 'cello continuo as well as playing a couple of solo pieces.
Tickets are available from the village stores or phone Caroline Saker on 01844 291825 - or on the door this evening!
There will be refreshments and canapés during the interval and all proceeds will be going to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Harvest Family Service with Bring and Share Lunch
This Sunday at 10am we are having an all age service to celebrate Harvest. A collection of harvest gifts will be taken up for local charities alongside the usual songs, games and fun we have come to enjoy at an all-age service. The service will be quickly followed by a bring & share lunch with competitions that anyone can enter.:
- Tastiest home made jam
- Prettiest tray-bake
- Best decorated cupcakes
- Animal made out of FRUIT!
All entries will be eaten after certificates have been awarded - do join us for our interpretation of a traditional village event!
Church Restoration Works
The next phase of the programme of restoration and repairs to the outside of the church is due to start on Monday 3rd October. These are to the Chancel, that is the part of the church at the opposite end from the tower.
Apart from repointing and replacing missing and crumbling sections of stonework, the guttering is being renewed and new drains laid around the base of the walls.
We hope there will not be any inconvenience caused but there will be the contractor’s vehicles etc. around the church and parking in Upper Church Street.
If you are in the habit of taking a short cut through the churchyard you will need to go the long way round as the path around the east end of the church will be blocked.
James Stonham, Churchwarden
Family Harvest Supper – 8th October
You are warmly invited to this wonderful annual event for the whole village in the Bernard Hall.
Tickets are available from Caroline Saker - 01844 291825
Adults £7.50; Concessions £5; Family ticket £20
We do hope to see you there at 7.15pm!
A day in the life of Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon in Words, Film and Song!
St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington
Saturday 18th June, 6.30pm
Tickets: £5.00 in aid of 
This short programme of singing will be preceded by some “day in the life” insights into the Manor. There will be introductory words by Simon Wales, General Manager, and Pippa Shirley, Head of Collections, (both of whom are choir members) interspersed with some recently commissioned short films about the house and the collection.
The occasion is being used as a fund-raising event for PACE, a hugely worthwhile local charity. Click on the logo to find out more about PACE. The evening starts at 6.30pm and will be followed by refreshments and canapés.
For tickets phone Caroline Saker (01844 291825), call into the village shop or available on the door.
New Associate Rector Appointed
Associate Rector of Wychert Vale Benefice
We are delighted to announce that the Revd Canon Dr Phil Groves has been appointed as Associate Rector of Wychert Vale Benefice. He will join a team of clergy who are enabling ministry in the parishes of Haddenham, Stone with Dinton and Hartwell, Cuddington, Kingsey and Aston Sandford.
Phil is married to Anne and he currently works as Director of Continuing Indaba at the Anglican Communion Office in London. Indaba is a process of honest conversation that seeks to build community, energize mission, and provide a context in which conflict can be transformed.
Phil has had many years of experience of parish ministry in Leeds and Melton Mowbray, where he had a special role in encouraging young families. The Groves also spent six years in Tanzania where Phil taught in the Anglican training college and mentored new clergy. Phil and Anne have three adult children and are exploring becoming foster parents. They will be moving to live in Stone, later in the year.
Concert Success!
An excellent audience welcomed back The Galliard Band for a Spring Concert in church last Saturday.
Raising important funds for Christian Aid Week the event featured some wonderful solos from Greg Bealing and Zachary Taylor.
More details will be given in next month’s Village Voice.
Christian Aid Coffee Evening and Plant Sale
Linnets, Spurt Street (home of Nan and Peggy Cattell)
Monday 16th May 7.00 - 9.00 pm
All are welcome at this popular event to raise money for Christian Aid.
What we need to make the event as successful as ever are donations of plants, whether bedding, herbs or vegetables. Could these please be brought to Linnets during the day on 16th May.
For more information please contact me at wichertcot@btinternet.com
Helen Keeping
Organ and Piano Recital in St. Nicholas Church
Sam Baker, an ex Senior Oxford organ scholar, put on a magnificent recital using both the organ and the piano on Saturday evening, October 24th. Nearly 100 people registered to attend the concert, which included music from JS Bach to the modern day.
Sam was a very popular performer and introduced each piece with an appropriate illuminating commentary. The organ keyboard was photographed and shown on the screen behind the chancel arch, which was very popular, and a definite first for Cuddington. It brought the organist, who is normally invisible in the chancel, right into public view.
There was the initial performance of “A Cuddington Suite”, a set of eight sonnets written by Cuddington resident Nigel Phillips and set to music by Sam Baker himself, which had been dedicated to the memory of Jim Hayward, the very popular village personality who died recently.
Proceeds from the concert will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and such was the generosity of the audience a grand total of £1,554 will be given to this worthy cause.
Photographs can be seen opposite.
Christian Aid 2015
Another successful year for Christian Aid in Cuddington with a total of £1,367 being donated by the village. The bulk of this, £898, was from house-to-house collections and this represents some £4 per household.
In addition the traditional Bring and Buy and Plant Sale contributed £333 and this was a 5% increase on last year. The evening, held at Angela and Charles Sanderson’s house, was a great success and we were blessed by the weather – recent years have frequently been cold and wet (or both) but this year it was a lovely summer’s evening.
In addition notable contributions came from the school and from the church collection.
Many thanks to all who contributed, to all the helpers and also to the Sandersons for organising the Bring and Buy and Plant Sale at their house.
This total did not include the donations at the May Day Madrigals at the top of the church tower, as this year this amount, £266, was paid direct to the Christian Aid Nepal appeal.
Music in Quiet Places
On Saturday June 20th at 7.30pm in St Nicholas Church there will be a concert organised by the Aylesbury Vale District Council in their Music in Quiet Places series.
The musical programme will centre on Schubert’s String Quartet in C Major, widely regarded as one of the greatest piece of chamber music.
There will be an interval with refreshments provided.
Cuddington is fortunate to have been selected as one of the sites for this year’s concerts by the AVDC, and all are welcome to attend.
Tickets at £12 (concessions for over 65s and under 16s at £10) are available from Myles Saker on 01844 291825.
May Day Madrigals
At 9.30am on May Day the Witchert Chorale gave their customary performance of madrigals from St Nicholas’ church tower.
This was attended by a considerable crowd of supporters who afterwards went into the church for further musical offerings, coffee and nibbles.
A total of £266 was collected for Christian Aid Nepal Earthquake Appeal.
Photographs can be seen opposite.
Roger Howell of Barnabas Fund
Parish Supper – Feb. 21st 2015
The Parish Supper was held in the Bernard Hall on Sat. Feb. 21st and a welcome selection of food was provided.
The speaker was Roger Howell of the Barnabas Fund. He gave an illuminating account of how Christians in different parts of the world were persecuted, highlighting how fortunate we are in this country.
44 people attended and their donations were sufficient to provide, after expenses, a payment to Barnabas of £261.
Lent Course
There will be a five-week Lent Course on the Letter of JAMES led by the Venerable Dr Gordon Kuhrt
Subject Faith in Action: – Does Christian Faith make a real difference?
Date Monday evenings from Feb. 23rd to March 23rd at 7.45pm in St. Nicholas Church, Cuddington.
Details Please see the Programme
Witchert Chorale Concert on March 28th
At 7.30pm on Saturday March 28th the Witchert Chorale will be presenting a concert in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington. Their delightful programme will include works by Tavener, Elgar and Mendelssohn, and will also include suitable readings by Andy Hardy.
There will be an interval when refreshments will be provided giving the opportunity for a social interlude.
Tickets at £10 (children free) are obtainable from Myles Saker (tel. 01844-291825 or e-mail mylessaker@talktalk.net)
This concert is in aid of The Utugi Street Children Kenya Project.
ALL WELCOME AT THIS EXCITING EVENING!!
Manor House String Quartet
The Manor House String Quartet gave a Viennese Gala performance in St Nicholas Church on January 17th.
The programme comprised lively Viennese music of the Strauss era with a number of popular pieces, and was much enjoyed.
After expenses the proceeds, amounting to £356.89, were given to The Streetlight Charity in the Philippines, which is organised by our curate Rev. Ian Herbert.
The Bensons’ Farewell Lunch
Jane and David Benson moved house to Tintern, Wales after many years faithful service to St.Nicholas Church. David had been churchwarden for a number of years but Jane had spent a quarter of a century playing the organ at church services.
They will both be greatly missed, and to honour the occasion a special Bring and Share Lunch was held in the church on Jan. 25th. Nearly 70 people attended and showed their appreciation of the magnificent service both the Bensons had provided to the church. They were presented with donations in excess of £720.
Christmas Collections
Gifts amounting to £549 have been sent to and split equally between Crisis UK and Tearfund as a result of the offerings at the Carol Service, Village Carol Singing and net receipts from Christmas in the Club.
Go to YouTube and search on “Crisis at Christmas 2014” to see their work, or watch below
Repairs to Church Path
Work on repairing the church path, south gate and west door paving will start on Wednesday 15th Oct 2014. Access to the church and churchyard from this date will be primarily through the north gate and north door facing onto Lower Church Street.
Limited access will stilll be available through the south door by the path leading from the north gate and is best restricted to those opening and closing the church each day. Work will be ongoing on weekdays and on Saturdays. The contractor will attempt to leave the path in a level condition for use on Sundays (particularly for wheelchairs) but this may be on a hard core base and those who can should use the north door.
Please accept our apologies but would people not requring access to the church and churchyard please walk around by the road during the period work is underway and obey the signs and markers denoting site hazards.
The Galliard Band & Singers
On Saturday September 20th in St Nicholas Church the Galliard Band & Singers gave a lively performance of music from the 16th to the 20th century – that is from Monteverdi and Byrd to Scott Joplin and Benjamin Britten.
The Band comprised a whole range of recorders under the able direction of Alan Hamilton, and the accomplished singers were directed by Kelvin Turner. It was a delightful performance and much enjoyed by the audience.
All profits were donated to the UTUGI project, and amounted to £755.70.
Please see photos opposite.
Toddler Singing Group
The Toddler Singing Group takes place every Friday (including during the school holidays) in St Nicholas Church at 10am. Despite our name we are open to more than just toddlers; we also enjoy the company of many mums, nannies, grandmas and childminders!
We have seen babies as young as 5 days old and children on the edge of starting school. We sing a collection of well-known nursery rhymes and songs for about 30 minutes.
This is followed by a short picture book story and then a time of free play with refreshments (water or juice for the children, coffee and tea for the parents). There is usually a home-made cake and biscuits. We do not charge for this service but if parents wish to make a 50p donation towards refreshments we are happy to accept this.
See photos opposite. All are most welcome – please just come along when you can.
Jo Goodson on behalf of the Toddler Singing Group
Christian Aid 2014
Once again Cuddington has shown its tremendous support for the annual Christian Aid appeal, and has produced a grand total of £1,413.86. Details of the amounts received are:
| House Collections and Donations | £913.91 |
| Bring & Buy and Plant Sale | £315.20 |
| Wichert Chorale – May Day Madrigals | £45.95 |
| Cuddington & Dinton School | £50.00 |
| Church Collection | £88.80 |
| GRAND TOTAL | £1,413.86 |
In addition Gift Aid Vouchers to the value of £392.91 will enable this amount to be increased by tax rebates.
Very grateful thanks to you all for this level of commitment, not only in the generous giving but also in helping to organise the week’s activities.
Christian Aid Plant Sale, Bring & Buy and Coffee Evening
This will be held at Wellfield House, Spurt Street, the home of Charles and Angela Sanderson, on Monday May 12th from 7.00pm – 9.00pm.
Everybody is invited and all offerings will be really appreciated.
Draw On Sweet Night
The Galliard Band and Singers are a broad range of recorder players supported by a number of vocalists who will be providing a concert, “Draw On Sweet Night” in St. Nicholas Church, Cuddington at 7.30pm on Saturday Sept. 20th.
A varied programme of music will be offered to please all tastes and it is much recommended.
Refreshments and canapés will be available during the interval which will provide a social interlude during the performance.
Tickets at £10 (£3 for those of 16 or under) are obtainable from Rose Cottage, Spurt Street (01844-291825). All proceeds, after expenses, will be donated to the Utugi Appeal.
The speaker talking to a churchwarden
Parish Supper
Some 60 people attended the Parish Supper on Sat. March 1st in the Bernard Hall. The speaker was Ruth Robinson who gave us details of SAT7, which is a Christian charity which broadcasts on satellite television to Middle Eastern and North African countries in local dialects.
It was a fascinating talk with screen projection and was much appreciated by those present.
Those attending donated generously and this allowed some £280 to be sent to support SAT7.
Witchert Chorale Concert
Nearly 100 people turned up for the Flora & Fauna concert in St. Nicholas’ Church on Saturday June 28th which celebrated the beauty of nature with a variety of music of madrigals, classical and romantic part-songs etc.
A very lively and enthusiastic performance by the choir was enhanced by readings from Ed Cairns and a clarinet solo by Benedict Quinn. Wine and nibbles provided a much enjoyable social interlude at half-time.
The handsome proceeds of £1376 have been donated to the Tongabezi Trust School in Zambia.
See opposite for photographs.
The Witchert Chorale every year celebrate May Day by singing madrigals from the top of the church tower.
Witchert Chorale – Flora and Fauna
At 7.30pm on Saturday June 28th the Witchert Chorale will be presenting a concert in St Nicholas’ Church, Cuddington. Their exciting programme will include a wide variety of music on the Flora and Fauna theme with an exciting array of madrigals, classical and modern music, well up to their established high standard. See opposite for details.
There will be an interval when refreshments will be provided, giving the opportunity for a social interlude.
Tickets at £12 (£10 concessions, children £3) are obtainable from Myles Saker (tel. 01844-291825 or e-mail mylessaker@talktalk.net)
ALL WELCOME AT THIS EXCITING EVENING!!
The Real Easter Egg
These Eggs have been around for two or three years but as well as the Easter story on the box, they now have a little booklet and chocolates inside!
They make ideal presents for grandchildren, godchildren and all the chocolate is fairly traded (unlike a lot of chocolate using trafficked child labour).
They come in 2 sizes as shown, the original is £3.99 and the Special edition with an Olive wood cross is £9.99.
Please contact Caroline Stonham before Feb. 24th to place an order (caroline@holymans.co.uk) or 01844 292221.
Manor House String Quartet Dec. 13th 2013
The Manor House String Quartet will be performing a Concert of Christmas and Winter Music at 7.30pm on Friday Dec.13th 2013 in St. Nicholas Church Cuddington.
This group, well known in Cuddington, will be playing a lively selection of carols etc and are much recommended. Refreshments will be available in the interval.
Tickets at £10 (£5 for children) can be obtained from Myles Saker (01844-291825), Rose Cottage, Spurt Street.
Christianity Explored Course 26 Sep at 8pm
A Christianity Explored Course will start in St Nicholas Church on Thurs 26 Sep - timing 8-9.30pm. The course will explore: "What is Christianity About"; "Is it Relevant Today?" there are 8 short studies supported by video and with time to explore and discuss. And someone mentioned something about puddings! Please come along and join in and bring a friend.
PS: we are aware of the clash with the film night and there is flexibility for folks to "catch up". Please let us know if you are interested.
Women’s Breakfast on Sat. Sept. 28th
Please get your ticket from Celia or Becky.
All welcome (i.e. the ladies)!
Jonah and the Big Fish
As a contribution to the Village Fete the children’s groups at St Nicholas Church studied the story of Jonah and the Big Fish.
They then created a large collage in the form of a comic strip to illustrate the story, master minded by Caroline Stonham.
This was displayed in two parts in the church for everyone to see on Fete day It will be available to be seen in the church for a period after the Fete.
There were also Jonah related activities for children in the church during the fete, which was lovely and cool on such a hot day.
Photographs of the display are shown opposite.