St Nicholas' Church, Piddington
News and events
Diary
28 September - Quiz, in the village hall, 7.30
5 October - Harvest Coffee Morning, in the church, 10-12
23 November - Stalls at Christmas Market, in the village hall
7 December - Wreath-Making Workshop, in the church, 10-12
20 December - Carol singing in the church, 6
All offers of help to make cakes, donations and raffle prizes are always greatly appreciated
Previous events
Open Garden 2024
Thank you to all who visited and supported the Open Garden at Gwith Cottage on Saturday. A total of £1,183.30 was raised which will be a great benefit to the maintenance and running costs of our village church.
Below are a few photos. You can find more in the Gallery.
Below are a few photos. You can find more in the Gallery.
Easter Pilgrimage to Muswell Hill, 29 March 2024
Setting off
|
At the top
|
Heading back for hot cross buns at St Nicholas Church
Remembrance Sunday - 12 November 2023
|
|
Farewell to Steve
Our vicar, Rev. Steve Hayes, will be retiring at the end of September. Steve has been a great support to Piddington during the last seven years and especially over the last few months.
We wish him well in his retirement and if anyone in the village would like to sign the card for Steve, to show our appreciation, a page for signing will be left on the font in the church over the next three Saturdays, 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd September, when the church will be open. This page will then be included with a card from the whole Ray Valley Benefice.
If anyone wishes to contribute to a leaving gift for Steve, please contact Margaret 01844 238724 or 07860 312061 or leave a message.
Steve's final service will be at Ambrosden church on Sunday, 24th September at 10.30, to which all are welcome.
We wish him well in his retirement and if anyone in the village would like to sign the card for Steve, to show our appreciation, a page for signing will be left on the font in the church over the next three Saturdays, 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd September, when the church will be open. This page will then be included with a card from the whole Ray Valley Benefice.
If anyone wishes to contribute to a leaving gift for Steve, please contact Margaret 01844 238724 or 07860 312061 or leave a message.
Steve's final service will be at Ambrosden church on Sunday, 24th September at 10.30, to which all are welcome.
Open Garden
Despite its being such a miserable wet day, Maggie's Open Garden last Saturday, 22nd July, was very well attended.
Due to being forewarned about the weather, Maggie had arranged to borrow the marquee from the village hall and this proved very useful for people to shelter beneath whilst enjoying coffee and home made cakes. Gazebos had also been erected to protect a variety of stalls, which included books, plants and good as new items. Maggie's garden looked absolutely wonderful.
Many thanks must go to Maggie, a great team of volunteers and all those who braved the elements to support the event. A substantial amount was raised, which will help towards the maintenance and running costs of our beautiful village church.
Due to being forewarned about the weather, Maggie had arranged to borrow the marquee from the village hall and this proved very useful for people to shelter beneath whilst enjoying coffee and home made cakes. Gazebos had also been erected to protect a variety of stalls, which included books, plants and good as new items. Maggie's garden looked absolutely wonderful.
Many thanks must go to Maggie, a great team of volunteers and all those who braved the elements to support the event. A substantial amount was raised, which will help towards the maintenance and running costs of our beautiful village church.
St Nicholas needs you!
Our beautiful Grade II* listed Church of St. Nicholas has served the village of Piddington for generations.
Three Sunday Services are held monthly; a family service at 10.30am on the first Sunday of the month and two Holy Communion services at 09.00 am on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. All are welcome to attend any of these services.
Currently, we have a small group of volunteers who help with the upkeep of the church, keeping it clean, providing flowers, planning fund-raising events for maintenance and running costs and seeking out grants for major repairs.
We have recently lost several people who have supported the church in many ways over the years. Additionally, Steve, our rector, will be retiring at the end of September and we will be faced with an interregnum.
We are asking you to consider offering a small amount of your time to help us maintain the church building and keep it open for our community.
The Parochial Church Council deals with all the business aspects of the church. We would welcome more members to support us, especially anyone with financial or buildings experience.
The Project Fundraising Group plans a diary of events to raise funds for the church and promote us in our community. Both groups meet 3 or 4 times a year and we are seeking new members to support us. We are quite informal but our general aim is to get things done!
We are very lucky to have working bells. The bells are rung regularly and for significant events, recently for the Coronation, but sadly we have recently lost our Tower Captain. It would be a shame not to hear them sound out so, if you think you might like to try bellringing, why not give it a go?
If you would like to know more about how our beautiful village church is run and could offer support so that we can share the load we should be very pleased to hear from you.
For further information please contact the Churchwarden at: [email protected]
Three Sunday Services are held monthly; a family service at 10.30am on the first Sunday of the month and two Holy Communion services at 09.00 am on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. All are welcome to attend any of these services.
Currently, we have a small group of volunteers who help with the upkeep of the church, keeping it clean, providing flowers, planning fund-raising events for maintenance and running costs and seeking out grants for major repairs.
We have recently lost several people who have supported the church in many ways over the years. Additionally, Steve, our rector, will be retiring at the end of September and we will be faced with an interregnum.
We are asking you to consider offering a small amount of your time to help us maintain the church building and keep it open for our community.
The Parochial Church Council deals with all the business aspects of the church. We would welcome more members to support us, especially anyone with financial or buildings experience.
The Project Fundraising Group plans a diary of events to raise funds for the church and promote us in our community. Both groups meet 3 or 4 times a year and we are seeking new members to support us. We are quite informal but our general aim is to get things done!
We are very lucky to have working bells. The bells are rung regularly and for significant events, recently for the Coronation, but sadly we have recently lost our Tower Captain. It would be a shame not to hear them sound out so, if you think you might like to try bellringing, why not give it a go?
If you would like to know more about how our beautiful village church is run and could offer support so that we can share the load we should be very pleased to hear from you.
For further information please contact the Churchwarden at: [email protected]
St Nicholas Church - Bell tower repairs
The PCC are pleased to report that the work to repair the bell tower has now been completed.
The Quinquennial Inspection Report had revealed that due to cracks in the leadwork on the tower roof the timbers below had completely rotted due to water penetration.
The rotten timbers have now been replaced and a new lead roof installed at a greater pitch, allowing water to drain away successfully.
The work has come at considerable cost and we were grateful to receive grant funding from Valencia Communities Fund through the Landfill Communities Fund, and National Churches Trust.
We are also grateful for the many individual donations given by those wishing to support this project and to all who support our fundraising events, which help raise funds for the ongoing maintenance and costs of the church.
Without such generous support it would not have been posssible to carry out this necessary work.
You can see details of the new roof below.
Photos: Chris Weavers.
The Quinquennial Inspection Report had revealed that due to cracks in the leadwork on the tower roof the timbers below had completely rotted due to water penetration.
The rotten timbers have now been replaced and a new lead roof installed at a greater pitch, allowing water to drain away successfully.
The work has come at considerable cost and we were grateful to receive grant funding from Valencia Communities Fund through the Landfill Communities Fund, and National Churches Trust.
We are also grateful for the many individual donations given by those wishing to support this project and to all who support our fundraising events, which help raise funds for the ongoing maintenance and costs of the church.
Without such generous support it would not have been posssible to carry out this necessary work.
You can see details of the new roof below.
Photos: Chris Weavers.
Church cleaning
There is a joint cleaning session in the church every second Saturday in the month from 9.30am. The session lasts for approximately one hour, but help is much appreciated, even for a short time. |
Bicester Food Bank
Did you know that St Nicholas Church is a drop-off point for
donations to the Bicester Food Bank? The church is open every Saturday, if you wish to donate food or toiletries. If you prefer, you can leave donations in the church porch. |
Tabletop sale
A great Tabletop Sale was held in the village hall on Saturday, 22nd April. A good way of clearing unwanted items and looking for pre-loved items and more. Coffee, home made cakes and meeting friends, old and new whilst raising funds for our beautiful village church. Photos: Maggie Pearce
Good Friday walk and Easter flowers
The Good Friday walk up Muswell Hill to the site of Ralph the Hermit’s hermitage, 7 April 2023. The last one, with the tree, shows what is believed to be the site of the hermitage. Photos: Andrew Coleman
Easter flowers in the church, 9 April 2023. Photo: Maggie Pearce
|
|
Wreath making, December 2022
Photos: Sandra Innes
St Nicholas Harvest Weekend
The church was beautifully decorated for Harvest Weekend on 1 and 2 October. Thanks to everyone who helped and contributed. Below are some photos taken by Maggie Pearce.
Harvest Weekend, 1-2 October 2022. Photo: Maggie Pearce.
|
|
Book of Condolence for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The muffled bells of St. Nicholas Church (along with churches across length and breadth of the nation) tolled today at noon to mark the passing of Her Majesty The Queen..
The church will be left open over the next few days during daytime hours for those wishing to visit for commemoration, reflection or prayer, or to leave flowers.
The church will be left open over the next few days during daytime hours for those wishing to visit for commemoration, reflection or prayer, or to leave flowers.
Church cleaning and flowers
The church is cleaned on the second Saturday of the month from 9.30am and anyone who would like to help is welcome.
If anyone wishes to put flowers in the church, i.e. in memory of a loved one they are welcome to do so.
If anyone wishes to put flowers in the church, i.e. in memory of a loved one they are welcome to do so.
Arts & Crafts Exhibition
After being unable to hold this event for the last two years it was great to see so much creative talent coming together at the Exhibition on 20th August. There were numerous displays, from individuals with ages ranging from six to ninety including beautifully knitted items, cards, needlework, photography, sculptures and much more, as well as displays from the Piddington Craft Group and Piddington Patchers as well as displays from local artists. The event was well supported with visitors enjoying the displays whilst enjoying coffee and home baked cakes.
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
The bellringers started our village celebrations on Thursday 2nd June 2022, when - along with the rest of the country - they rang for the Queen.
Piddington bellringers starting our village Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday 2nd June 2022, by ringing for the Queen.
Coffee morning, May 2022
Easter 2022
Easter decorations in the church, 16 April 2022. Photo: Trish Rawlings
Tabletop sale & coffee morning
Here are some photos from the tabletop sale on 5 March. There was a good turnout, and welcome funds were raised for our church.
Our next event is a Music Quiz on 22nd April, so put the date in your diary and get your thinking caps on!
Our next event is a Music Quiz on 22nd April, so put the date in your diary and get your thinking caps on!
St Nicholas' Church Belfry Appeal - Update December 2021
Since the announcement of the increased quote, full details of the permission and conditions granted by the Diocese for the bell tower repairs have been received. Permission has been given that the repairs can be based on using the lower quote, which now means that the target figure is closer to approximately £12,000 and not £20,000, as previously expected. This is good news. We are nearly there!
Bellframe, St Nicholas' Church. Photo: Stan Hearn
If you wish to make a donation, please contact Heather Thomas, PCC Treasurer
or use our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/stnicholas-piddington
.
or use our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/stnicholas-piddington
.
Harvest Festival
Thank you to everyone who helped decorate the church for Harvest Festival on 3-4 October 2021. As you can see from the photos, it looked beautiful.
Open Garden 2021
Maggie would like to thank all the people who came to support her Open Garden fundraiser for St Nicholas' Church Belfry Fund on 23 and 24 July. Originally intended as a one-day event, the weather forecast was so bad for Saturday that she decided to open on Friday too, to allow people who were free then to enjoy the garden in sunshine. As it turned out, both days were warm and dry, with Saturday's threatened rain only arriving when everything had been cleared away.
There were teas, cakes, plants and good-as-new items for people to buy, plus a raffle, and, with some later donations from people unable to attend in person, the grand total is almost £1000!
Thank you all for your support and generosity. Here are a few photos from the day.
There were teas, cakes, plants and good-as-new items for people to buy, plus a raffle, and, with some later donations from people unable to attend in person, the grand total is almost £1000!
Thank you all for your support and generosity. Here are a few photos from the day.
Coffee morning in the churchyard
Many thanks to everyone who attended the coffee morning on 12th June. The sun shone and villagers were able to catch up with friends with tea and coffee and lots of lovely cake! The event raised over £300 towards the Belfry Appeal.
Diocesan live streams
Church at Home
|
Live-streamed and ‘as live’ worship is available for everyone across the Diocese of Oxford These services complement the prayers, meditations and worship offered by local churches. The link below will take you to a page providing the livestream service as well as previous live streams, radio interviews and a list of our parishes who are live-streaming.
https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/
https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/
Watch online or dial in to our 10am Church at Home service
Parishioners unable to access the internet can dial 01865 920930 to hear the service (press 0 = short service, 1 = full service).
Normal call rates apply.
Parishioners unable to access the internet can dial 01865 920930 to hear the service (press 0 = short service, 1 = full service).
Normal call rates apply.
Update - March 2020
The plans for a servery and WC in the church have now been agreed by the PCC and tenders for the work are currently awaiting approval. A servery, WC and easier access into the church will make the building far more hospitable and user friendly. We can only move forward once we have the necessary finance in place. Costs have escalated beyond our original expectations but we hope with fundraising, donations and grant funding to be able to carry out this project.
If you would like to make a donation please either give it to Steve Hayes, the rector, Heather Thomas, the treasurer, or Margaret Hutchings, the church warden. We are grateful for all past support and welcome your continued support.
If you would like to make a donation please either give it to Steve Hayes, the rector, Heather Thomas, the treasurer, or Margaret Hutchings, the church warden. We are grateful for all past support and welcome your continued support.
Wreath making, 30 November 2019
Here are some photos taken by Maggie Pearce.
Greatest Hits Choir Concert - 23 June 2019
It was a great pleasure to welcome back The Greatest Hits Choir from Thame on Sunday 23rd June. We managed to fill the village hall with 80+ people who enjoyed a very entertaining afternoon listening to this excellent choir. Their programme included many much loved songs some of which the audience could participate with. During the interval tea was served with a splendid selection of home-made cakes baked by many excellent bakers in the village.
Following the concert the Rev. Steve Hayes gave a short talk thanking the choir for their excellent performance and giving their time to help raise funds towards the cost of having the bees removed from the church roof. The sum of £1,095 was raised from the afternoon, which was a great result.
Following the concert the Rev. Steve Hayes gave a short talk thanking the choir for their excellent performance and giving their time to help raise funds towards the cost of having the bees removed from the church roof. The sum of £1,095 was raised from the afternoon, which was a great result.
Bees at St Nicholas Church
Wild bees have colonised the roof of St Nicholas Church for many years, with some finding their way into the church through minute holes and unable to get out. The holes would be sealed up, only for them to find other holes and cracks. However, in the prolonged hot weather during the summer of 2018 the bees became extremely active and would find their way in, frequently buzzing along to hymn singing on Sundays and joining in with the rector's sermon! Naturally, people were becoming concerned about their presence and it was obvious from staining on the ceiling and walls and honey dripping through that damage being caused could become a huge problem for the church structure.
After seeking expert advice we were informed that the hive had probably become very large and heavy and we should have it removed before further damage was caused.
We didn't want to harm the bees, just have them removed safely, but due to the site being so inaccessible, it was difficult to find an organisation willing to help. After much searching we were given details of the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain, a small non-profit-making company dedicated to the conservation and preservation of pollinating bees. Their work includes the safe removal of bees. After visiting us last autumn they agreed to remove our bees, which they did between 29th April and 1st May 2019.
The process has been a lengthy, slow and difficult one, with members of the Tree Bee Society working at height, as over three days they carefully took off part of the ancient roof to locate the hive. The hive they removed measured approximately two metres by one metre. Five litres of honey was found and ninety litres of honeycomb wax. The honey is dirty, and so inedible, but the wax will be used for a range of products, including hand cream. These products are produced by the Tree Bee Society and sold to raise funds to support their work.
The bees have been taken to the Tree Bee Society’s headquarters in West Lancashire to be rehomed on their ten acre site.
The church roof has now been carefully repaired and internal repairs will also be carried out. Naturally, all this work comes at a considerable cost. St Nicholas church would be grateful for any donations towards the cost.
The work was featured on BBC News and ITV News, and in The Times, and there's a very interesting interview with the Reverend Steve Hayes and Abigail Reade from the Tree Bee Society on Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 (starts at 1 hour 31 minutes in).
The first three photos below were taken by Maggie Pearce. All the other images and videos are copyright © Abigail Reade and the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain. (The videos take a while to upload, but are well worth the wait!)
After seeking expert advice we were informed that the hive had probably become very large and heavy and we should have it removed before further damage was caused.
We didn't want to harm the bees, just have them removed safely, but due to the site being so inaccessible, it was difficult to find an organisation willing to help. After much searching we were given details of the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain, a small non-profit-making company dedicated to the conservation and preservation of pollinating bees. Their work includes the safe removal of bees. After visiting us last autumn they agreed to remove our bees, which they did between 29th April and 1st May 2019.
The process has been a lengthy, slow and difficult one, with members of the Tree Bee Society working at height, as over three days they carefully took off part of the ancient roof to locate the hive. The hive they removed measured approximately two metres by one metre. Five litres of honey was found and ninety litres of honeycomb wax. The honey is dirty, and so inedible, but the wax will be used for a range of products, including hand cream. These products are produced by the Tree Bee Society and sold to raise funds to support their work.
The bees have been taken to the Tree Bee Society’s headquarters in West Lancashire to be rehomed on their ten acre site.
The church roof has now been carefully repaired and internal repairs will also be carried out. Naturally, all this work comes at a considerable cost. St Nicholas church would be grateful for any donations towards the cost.
The work was featured on BBC News and ITV News, and in The Times, and there's a very interesting interview with the Reverend Steve Hayes and Abigail Reade from the Tree Bee Society on Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 (starts at 1 hour 31 minutes in).
The first three photos below were taken by Maggie Pearce. All the other images and videos are copyright © Abigail Reade and the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain. (The videos take a while to upload, but are well worth the wait!)
|
Video copyright © Abigail Reade and the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain
|
Video copyright © Abigail Reade and the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain
|
Video copyright © Abigail Reade and the Tree Bee Society of Great Britain
|
Update - January 2019
St Nicholas Church Parochial Church Council wish to thank all who have supported our village church during 2018 and in particular during December, which has been a busy month leading up to Christmas with stalls at The Pantry, wreath-making workshop, carol singing around the village, the traditional Carol Service and our Christmas Eve Communion Service. Many of you help with cleaning and flowers and this is much appreciated. We are however, always pleased to have more volunteers and if you would like to join in please do let us know.
Our beautiful Grade 2* listed church needs constant care and maintenance and it's been a busy year, with several fundraising events helping us to raise the necessary funds. These have included table-top sales and coffee mornings, stalls at The Pantry and an arts & crafts exhibition. In addition to our Sunday services we have held special services at Easter, including the Good Friday walk up Muswell Hill, Harvest Festival, Remembrance Service to commemorate
100 years since the end of World War I and our traditional Carol Service and Christmas Eve Communion Service.
Over the next year we intend to safely remove the bee colony in the church roof. This is necessary as the hive has become large and is causing damage in the roof area. Unfortunately it is not easy to access, and we will need to have a professional bee removal company to carry out the work.
We also intend to move forwards with plans for a servery and toilet in the church, making it more user-friendly.
We shall need to carry on with our fundraising programme and are currently planning a programme of events. We hope you will continue to support us so that our church can continue to support our community.
Our beautiful Grade 2* listed church needs constant care and maintenance and it's been a busy year, with several fundraising events helping us to raise the necessary funds. These have included table-top sales and coffee mornings, stalls at The Pantry and an arts & crafts exhibition. In addition to our Sunday services we have held special services at Easter, including the Good Friday walk up Muswell Hill, Harvest Festival, Remembrance Service to commemorate
100 years since the end of World War I and our traditional Carol Service and Christmas Eve Communion Service.
Over the next year we intend to safely remove the bee colony in the church roof. This is necessary as the hive has become large and is causing damage in the roof area. Unfortunately it is not easy to access, and we will need to have a professional bee removal company to carry out the work.
We also intend to move forwards with plans for a servery and toilet in the church, making it more user-friendly.
We shall need to carry on with our fundraising programme and are currently planning a programme of events. We hope you will continue to support us so that our church can continue to support our community.
Ringing for Remembrance
On 11 November 2018, bells rang out from churches and cathedrals in villages, towns and cities across the country to mark the centenary the Armistice. Piddington’s bell ringers, Tony Pearce (Tower Captain), Cheryl Coggins and Morwen Ashton, joined in by ringing the bells in St Nicholas Church from 12.30pm. You can see a video of them ringing here.
|
|
Harvest Coffee Morning at St Nicholas Church - October 2018
The Harvest Coffee Morning and produce sale was a great opportunity for visitors to see St. Nicholas Church beautifully decorated for the Harvest season. Many thanks to all who helped decorate the church. A collection of groceries and produce was collected and has been passed to the Bicester Food Bank.
|
|
Arts & Crafts Exhibition and Coffee Morning - August 2018
An Arts & Crafts Exhibition held in Piddington Church on 4th August was a popular event. Clearly there is much local creative talent and it was good to see such a wide range of artwork and crafts from within our community. Members of the Piddington Craft and Social Group joined in displaying crafts they have worked on since the group formed last autumn, along with many other local artists, crafters and sculptors.
The Piddington Village News & Events Email
To be among the first to know about important issues affecting the village and get handy reminders of upcoming events from the Parish Council, PVHMC and
St Nicholas Church, sign up for our regular email updates.
It's easy - just click on the link below - and you can unsubscribe whenever you wish. You will receive a welcome email once you have registered. If this does not appear in your inbox within 5 minutes, please check your spam folder and add us to your 'Safe Senders' list.
St Nicholas Church, sign up for our regular email updates.
It's easy - just click on the link below - and you can unsubscribe whenever you wish. You will receive a welcome email once you have registered. If this does not appear in your inbox within 5 minutes, please check your spam folder and add us to your 'Safe Senders' list.
Wreath making - December 2017
The wreath making in the church was great fun. About two dozen people came along to create their own beautiful Christmas wreaths and enjoy mulled wine, mince pies and coffee. We will definitely do this again next year.
Photos: Maggie Pearce
Photos: Maggie Pearce
Bingo evening
A Bingo evening was held on 11th November, the profits from which were split between St. Nicholas' Church and a children's project in Nepal. The evening was great fun and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Grateful thanks go to Al and Bev Hopkins, who put a great deal of effort into organizing the evening and arranged for some amazing prizes.
Photos: Maggie Pearce
Photos: Maggie Pearce
|
|
Harvest Festival Weekend 2017
The Harvest Festival Weekend was greatly enjoyed by those who visited St. Nicholas Church which was beautifully decorated in all the wonderful autumn colours. Both the coffee morning and produce sale and the Sunday service were well supported and were joyful occasions to come together in our beautiful church. Many thanks to all who helped decorate the church and helped over the weekend. A large collection of groceries and produce was collected and has been passed to the Bicester Food Bank.
We are also celebrating the near completion of the repairs to the church and are particularly grateful to all who have helped raise the funds for these repairs together with funding from Viridor, Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and The Churches Trust. Without this valued support we would have been unable to carry out the repairs.
We are also celebrating the near completion of the repairs to the church and are particularly grateful to all who have helped raise the funds for these repairs together with funding from Viridor, Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and The Churches Trust. Without this valued support we would have been unable to carry out the repairs.
Keeping in touch - update September 2017
Following a quinquennial inspection in 2014 the rector Rev. Charles Masheder (who was rector at the time) suggested that a fundraising group be formed to raise funds for the repairs to the Church. Its purpose would be to support the PCC and focus on obtaining grants. This group was formed with five people, who began working on a five-year plan. There are now seven in the group including our new rector, Rev. Steve Hayes.
The first stage included work on the stonework around the beautiful stained glass window. Funding for the work came from Viridor, who agreed to give £9,000, and further funds were raised from events held in the Church and village hall. Further funds came from church funds.
The second stage was estimated to cost £37,000 and included repairs to the stonework, roofing and internal flooring. However, at this stage Rev. Charles Masheder moved away and for a year we were without a rector. During this time work was put on hold. In October 2016 Rev. Steve Hayes became our new rector and under his guidance we have been able to proceed with the next stage. Funding has been secured from Viridor (£18,000), Oxfordshire Historic Churches (£4,000) and Churches Trust (£2,500) for the repairs, which had now become urgent, and costs had risen to £41,000. With this funding and funds raised by ourselves work was able to start in June 2017 and should be completed by the Harvest Weekend.
With feedback from the Community Led Plan we are pleased that the village is in agreement for the next and final stage of the five-year plan, which is to put a servery and toilet inside the Church. We will soon be applying for grants to enable us to proceed with this stage. It is important that we move forward to help preserve this beautiful 700-year-old Grade 2* listed Church, enabling it to be shared by everyone.
We thank everyone for their continued support during a difficult time and we invite you all to come and celebrate the completion of the recent work at our Harvest Festival Weekend when the Church will be beautifully decorated in the harvest colours. We will be having a coffee morning and produce sale on Saturday 30th September between 10am and 1pm and the Harvest Festival Service on Sunday, 1st October at 10.30am.
Our first Coffee Morning and Table Top Sale
The first Coffee Morning & Table Top Sale held in St Nicholas Church on 4 March was a great success. Thanks are due to everyone who helped organise and run the event, from putting up bunting and setting up the tables to serving the endless coffees, teas and mountains of homemade cakes. Thanks too to everyone who took a table - there were lots of bargains and plenty of chat.
St Nicholas Church Project Funding Group
We are a small group of people who have for several years met a few times a year to discuss ideas on how to raise money for the upkeep of St Nicholas Church. Some of us are also on the PCC. We all work together to maintain everything. At the moment some of us are busy sending off for various grants for our more urgent repairs whilst the others are busy planning events we can offer in the Church this year. We are very restricted due to the lack of a kitchen and toilet. It is hoped that eventually we will have better facilities but meanwhile please try to support us by coming along to one of our new ventures, a coffee morning and tabletop sale and a concert by the Miltary Wives Choir.
Harvest Festival weekend
The 2016 Harvest Festival weekend was much enjoyed by the many people who visited St. Nicholas Church. The church was beautifully decorated in all the wonderful Autumn colours. Both the Saturday coffee morning and the Harvest Festival Sunday Service were well supported and were wonderful occasions to come together in our beautiful church to celebrate harvest.
Many thanks to all who helped with decorating the church and to all who helped over the weekend. A large collection of groceries and produce was received and will be passed on to the Bicester Food Bank.
Many thanks to all who helped with decorating the church and to all who helped over the weekend. A large collection of groceries and produce was received and will be passed on to the Bicester Food Bank.
|
|
Bellringing
If you heard the church bells ringing on Friday 3rd June 2016, it was because we took part in the BBC's Music Day.
The Piddington bellringing team is (left to right): Chris Taylor, Wendy Taylor, Morwen Ashton, Tony Pearce (captain), Cheryl Coggins, Pam Newell and Rachel Pennington. We welcome new members, and anyone interested in taking part can telephone Morwen on 01844 238510 for further information.
And here's what they sounded like ...
And here's what they sounded like ...
The Piddington Bakers cake stall
|
As well as supporting fundraising events, such as the recent concert in the church, you can help raise money for the ongoing repair and maintenance of St Nicholas's Church by buying a cake from the Piddington Bakers regular stall at The Pantry.
|
|
Oxfordshire Churches in 360 Degrees
St Nicholas's Church in Piddington is featured in a fascinating website showing the interiors of many Oxfordshire churches in 360-degree panoramas. You can see the panoramic view here.
101 churches have been photographed so far and can be viewed here: http://in360degrees.co.uk/oxfordshirechurches/
Here is how the photographer, Nikhilesh Haval, explains the project.
101 churches have been photographed so far and can be viewed here: http://in360degrees.co.uk/oxfordshirechurches/
Here is how the photographer, Nikhilesh Haval, explains the project.
As a hobby and to practise my photography skills, I have been photographing the interiors of Oxfordshire churches in 360 panoramas for the past 2 years. Where possible, I have sought permission to do so, but it has not always been possible. As my collection grew I realised I could use the imagery to increase awareness of the historic churches, so I have collected all the information and produced a website that shows all the panoramas on a easy to use Oxfordshire map: http://oxfordshirechurches.in360degrees.co.uk . The idea behind this is for people who are going to get married to share the venue with far away friends and families. The idea is also to promote the variety and magnificence of the rich architectural heritage that these churches hold. The site is free for everyone to use.