Ayot St Lawrence
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News and Views

The challenges and joys of a Greek Revival church in the middle of a field

Christmas at Ayot St Lawrence Church: and a welcome for our new vicar

14/12/2014

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First service this morning with Bonnie Evans-Hills, our new vicar; great to have you with us, Bonnie. We look forward to many more of your thoughts and suggestions! Let's hope we have a good attendance at our carol service next Sunday (21 December at 16.00) so that people can chat and mingle over mulled wine and mince pies, etc....hmm, must put out a request for more mince pies this year (home-made preferably) as last year we ran out.

Thanks, Julia,  for the photos of the church with its biggest-ever Christmas tree: and a rather belated thank you to those who helped with the perilous task of tree-erection, particularly as the promised refreshments did not materialise...
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Jason Kelly talk 4 December 2014

14/12/2014

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How amazing to hear Jason Kelly, Professor of British History at the University of Indiananapolis/Purdue speaking about the life and work of Nicholas Revett in the church that he designed for Sir Lionel Lyde. And suddenly to see the church we know so well (or thought we knew so well) pop up on Jason's list of slides, alongside all those greek images, some drawn by Revett himself. Thank you so much, Jason, for visiting us and rekindling our affection for this most curious and stately building. Next time you come we'll have the portrait of Revett hanging up - even if it is in the loo which he didn't design! We await your book with interest... and meanwhile we have to get used to calling the building's style:  "Grecian"!http://www.jasonmkelly.com/nicholas-revett-and-georgian-neoclassicism/
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June and Archie Laing Memorial Bench

9/11/2014

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We now have collected around £950 for the memorial bench proposed for June and Archie Laing; June, who died in the summer, had asked for donations to be given to the Ayot St Lawrence Festival Fund, of which she was Chair for many years. We are planning to put the bench in the village field, in front of the Palladian church. June worked for so many of the village organisations it was rather hard to decide where best to remember her, but this location overlooks the church which she strived to keep open; it links to the Ruined Church, the preservation of which she also organised and, of course, sits in the middle of the field which she, with others,  purchased for the village. Donations are still open for this project; please contact us through this website.
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Annual Remembrance Service 2014

9/11/2014

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We were very happy to be led in our service today by Jo Warwick, who reminded us about the lives of those from the village who died during the 2 world wars. He spoke about Major Eustace Crawley who lived in Ayot House and had an impressive sporting career; apparently just before he was killed in 1914 he spoke of his regret at the unlikelihood that he would be returning to Ayot for the Boxing Day Hunt.... 

It is sad, of course,  that we know rather less about the "ordinary" men who are commemorated on the Memorial.  We are, however,  really grateful to Lindsay Jennings for all her work on researching the lives of these soldiers and airmen and producing the booklet given out during the service. She also put together the sandwich board next to the Memorial with photos lent to us by the families of those killed, for which we are very grateful. Thanks also to Viv who laid the wreath; she has 3 family members remembered on the Memorial. Finally many thanks to the Brocket Arms who provided tea and coffee afterwards. A collection of £243.58 was collected during the service for the Royal British Legion. 


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Lunch in the church today with the Archdeacon of St Albans

2/11/2014

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Very happy to welcome Jonathan Smith (no, that's not him in the picture below..) to our church today for lunch in the church (thanks to all who helped, and particularly Carole for her delicious roast beef) and to show off our new loo and kitchenette. Still can't get over being able to turn a tap on in the church. Wonder what Revett would have said about our messing up the symmetry of his building; happily this can't be seen from the front. Would he have ever believed that his temple-in-a-field still be standing nearly 250 years later, let alone house a flushing loo - and a dishwasher? Looking forward to Jason Kelly's talk on Revett on December 4th @ 19.30 in the church. Do come!

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Goodbye Harvest

26/10/2014

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Sad to see the Harvest decorations about to be taken down, as they were so lovely tho shear. Thanks to Sally Trendall for putting then together - and, of course, to Katies the bakers in Welwyn for our traditional Harvest sheath and all those extra bread mice, which, as usual, have mysteriously vanished.....


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    Christine Stevenson

    Secretary to the Parochial Church Council - and carer (with others) of this marvellous building

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SErvices in  2024

2024  Monthly Sunday Services at 11.30am (excepting when there is a major festival)
 
Feb 18th         Lent & Ashing Holy Communion 
March 10th      Mothering Sunday-with posies
March 31st        Easter Day-Holy Communion – Ven. Jonathan Smith
April 21st        Service
May 19th         No Service – Manor House open garden day 
June 16th        No Service – Art Show in church
July 21st        Ecology Service: Margaret Johnson 
Aug 18th        St Lawrence Day Holy Communion
Sept 15th        Pet Blessing-- Margaret Johnson   
Oct 13th                Harvest Festival Supper at 18.30
Nov 10th         Remembrance Sunday at the War Memorial 10.50am
Dec 1st           Advent Holy Communion
Dec 22nd        Carol Service 4pm with mulled wine & minced pies.
       
 
Everyone very welcome
 We are hoping to move towards "Festival Church" status, which means we will follow dates for Christian  and secular Festivals, and try to focus on the interests of our community, linking the secular with the spiritual.

​After any of these services, why not book yourself in for lunch at the lovely Brocket Arms, originally the monastic quarters for the old, now ruined church a short stroll away 01438 820250. 

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