Special Musical Service to Celebrate 900 Years of St Mary’s

2 December, 2015

Sunday 27 December, 2015 10am

Shipton Choir will be joined by the 40 voices of Pure Sound Youth Choir from St Luke’s, Houston, Texas. Bob Chilcott has composed a special carol which is dedicated to both the choir of St Mary’s Shipton and the choir of St Luke’s, Texas to commemorate 900 years of St Mary’s Church and this will be sung at this special service. Do join us for this final, special service of 2015.

12 & 13 September: A Weekend of 900 Years Celebrations

28 July, 2015

Continuing our celebration of 900 Years of St Mary the Virgin Church, Shipton under Wychwood.

Saturday 12 September is Ride and Stride day. If you are interested in taking part, please visit the website here to find out more

Ride and Stride

Bell Ringing in Shipton on 12 September
A full peal will be rung on the bells of St Mary’s Church in celebration of the 900th anniversary. The bells will be rung by a team of ringers from the Chipping Norton Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and invited friends.  The ringing will be of 5040 changes and will take just short of 3 hours of continuous ringing. The significance of 5040 is that it is the maximum number of sequences of the order in which 7 bells can be rung without repeating a sequence.

Since 1893 when the number of bells in the tower was increased from 5 to 8, and the ringing chamber was move from the ground floor to its present position, a total of 64 peals have been rung on St Mary’s bells. The first being on 16th December of that year and the last on  Tuesday 12th September 1989 by a team from the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers. This last date may be coincidental or may be related to the fact that the traditional date to celebrate the Feast of St Mary the Virgin was September 8th.

Saturday 12 September 10am-12 noon banner making!
At Wych Court, High St (behind Grove Farm), Shipton u Wychwood.

Calling all Creative Children! to help make banners to decorate the Church for the Peoples Feast. Bring old clothes!

Sunday 13 September at 11am a special Patronal Church service in Shipton Church with Bishop Colin will take place. A patronal service is the occasion on which a parish annually honours the saint who was chosen as the Patron Saint of the parish. On this day, this benefice celebrate to honour Saint Mary the Virgin.

1940s High Tea – Shipton Court 1 August

29 June, 2015

As part of the celebratory events to mark 900 years of St Mary’s Church, Shipton there will be a special high tea at Shipton Court on Saturday 1 August 3-5pm in the home of Paul & Martin Thomas-Jeffreys.

Tickets are now available for £17.50, cheques payable to The Wychwood Benefice
contact Margaret Hartley: 01993 830 306.

There will be a 1940s Vintage Theme with 40s dress optional – a prize for the best costume! US army troops were billeted at Shipton Court during the Second World War.

There will be music and croquet on the upper lawn and of course high tea!

Oxford Mail Article on Flower Festival

5 June, 2015

Oxford Mail Article

Other 900 Years Events

3 May, 2015

Here’s an overview of the other events planned to celebrate 900 years of St Mary The Virgin. More details to follow!

Saturday 1 August, 3-6pm: Tea at Shipton Court in the house of Paul and Martin Thomas-Jeffreys. It will have a 1940s theme (costumes optional), live music, fun croquet on the upper lawn and afternoon tea.

Saturday 12 September will also be Ride and Stride with full peel being rung to mark 900th as well as banner making for children and families in the church for the decorations for the feast on 19 September. Times to be confirmed.

Sunday 13 September Patronal Church service with Bishop Colin.

The Peoples Feast Saturday 19 September
Starting at 4pm with a feast with 6pm in the church yard and vicarage garden. There will be a variety of entertainment.

Saturday 26 September: Come and Sing with Bob Chilcott
More details to follow or contact [email protected]