Your Church is open for visitorsThe church remains open most days for visitors. Read about the history of the building on the board by the gate or better still, if the church is unlocked (there will be a sign hanging on the gate) feel free to go in and explore the building or just sit and contemplate. If you do visit, a note in our visitors’ book would be appreciated. Harvest festivals 2024Local farmers have been busy gathering in crops, a timely reminder that we’re still surrounded by farmland in a predominantly rural parish. As a way to show appreciation for this essential work, the primary school with hold their harvest festival in church on 15th October and the main parish service will be on 20th. All food donations and the Sunday collection will be gifted to the Hinckley food bank. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oBaptisms at St Peter’s We have recently welcomed four more young people into the church family with two baptisms at the end of August and two in September. If you (or your children) would like to join us then please do get in touch with Reverend Emily. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oThe Bells, the bells ! -- We welcomed a visit of Black County campanologists on 19th August; if you were lucky enough to hear them ringing the church bells it was a treat. There is a fine set of six bells in the tower of St Peter’s. The oldest is called Sancta Petre and was cast in 1563. The second oldest, cast by Thomas Newcombe of Leicester in 1589 is known as the Armada Bell. The full set of bells were rehung by Taylors of Loughborough in 1924 when the newest bell was added so even the youngest is at least 100 years old.Could you help look after St Peter’s ?An old church like St Peter’s needs care and attention – do you have a love for heritage buildings? Could you help? If you’d like to know more then please contact the warden (Eric) on 01455 213872.Reverend Emily Sharman – The Rector of Fenn Lanes, Emily can be contacted on revemilysharman@gmail.com or on 07495 768134. Her usual working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday.Forthcoming events We hope to put on a concert by the Hinckley Choral Union this autumn. They have a special new performance with links to Higham and Lord Geoffrey Fisher - look out for news in the Outlook and on the noticeboards.
Summer opening During the summer the church will be open most days for visitors. If the church is unlocked there will be a sign hanging on the gate, feel free to go in and explore the building or just sit and contemplate. There is a visitor guide provided on the bookcase near the entrance.Promoting Higham and valuing the heritage of our ancient buildingHistory in Higham and our most ancient building On the wall in the ground floor room of the tower of St Peter’s church there is a benefactions board which acknowledges charitable donations given long ago. One of the panels is pictured here.The ten pounds given by Mrs Cockin in 1845 was a generous sum of money and it was no doubt used to help the poor of the parish. Other donations mentioned on other panels included rents from land donated. Some benefactors directed how they wanted their donations to be used.Over time the value of the original donations has diminished but there is still a small combined charities fund which has in recent years paid for a lunch outing for pensioners of the village. The door to the tower is normally kept locked as the staircase up to the bell loft is not suitable for visitors but special visits to see the board can be arranged with the warden. Weddings at St Peter’s We celebrate the wedding of Luke Farmer and Hollie Baggott on 29th June and of Gordon Richardson and Susanne Mustin on 29th July. We wish them long and joyful marriages. Reverend Emily Sharman Emily can be contacted on revemilysharman@gmail.com or on 07495 768134. Her usual working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday.
Bring a picnic to soak up the atmosphere in the Higham amphitheatre before the performance. Oddsocks deliver a great comedy version of this well-known story with plenty of topical asides. It’s guaranteed to be rip-roaring fun. Adults £16 / Family Ticket (2+2) £50 / Under 15 £11 / Children Under 7 free Chariots free (Horse feed not included). Dress code Togas acceptableBook your tickets now by e-mail: obrien2011@btinternet.comFree parking, licenced bar, great location in the Rectory Gardens.
Asbestos - a word to strike fear into the bones of any churchwarden.Unfortunately for us in Higham, some ancient pipe-lagging in the boiler room had started to fall apart and when tested it was found to be one of the more dangerous types of asbestos that needed specialist removal. It's a costly business and we weren't sure if we could afford to go ahead or whether we'd have to shut the church for the winter.Thanks to a grant given by the National Churches Trust we've been able to go ahead and get this essential work done during January. The NCT provide funding to support maintenance and repairs to churches of all Christian denominations so they can stay open.A plastic air-lock tent was built over the boiler room and 'spacemen' went in and came out with secure disposal bags carrying the offending material. Then everything was scrubbed clean and the air and surfaces tested to make sure all the asbestos was gone. With everything cleaned we are able to use the heating again, safe in the knowledge that there's no nasty asbestos any more.If you'd like to join us for a service please check the schedule on the services and events page.
