In common with many villages in the South West, Charlton All Saints "has some flooding issues". The image above shows the Church and Churchyard from the Lychgate in the early morning sunshine, on a rare day when it didn't rain.Despite the wet, the Church is open every day from 9am - 5pm, and we will have our last Evensong on Sunday 8 February at 4.30pm regardless! Please use the vestry entrance or the kissing gate on Church Lane. We look forward to welcoming you.
The Lover & Downton Repair Cafe continues to go from strength to strength. Download this month's newsletter to see what the members have been up to and to see their mended items for sale.#ecochurch
A Christmassy All Saints' Church provided the backdrop for the annual Downton Band Christmas Concert. Villagers gathered to enjoy Christmas music old and new, including the medieval "Gaudete", "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" from the 1950s and from 1989 was "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Medley". The Band took requests for Christmas carols from the audience, and everyone joined in these well loved tunes. There was even some lively participation in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"!During the interval, there was the traditional raffle, along with mulled wine and mince pies. A retiring collection was shared between the Band and the upkeep of the Church, and gifts were collected for the women and children at the Women's Refuge.A great time was had by all! We're already looking forward to next year's concert.
In 1605, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, planned to blow up the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament on 5 November, with 36 barrels of gunpowder. This would have killed King James and a large number of the aristocracy. The plot was discovered, and Guy Fawkes was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.In Charlton, we celebrated with a huge bonfire and a wonderful firework display. Afterwards we enjoyed hot dogs, mulled wine, local beer, and of course, a raffle, in the recently refurbished Charlton Barn, by kind permission of Megan & Howard Taylor.The evening was ably run by Adrian Bright, with a large team of volunteers, to whom we are very grateful.Same time next year?
