For the first time, S. Mary’s decided to take part in the ‘Cherish your Churchyard’ week which took place between June 10 and 16.

The scheme is promoted by Caring for God’s Acre, a national charity which specifically supports the maintenance of churchyards and burial grounds.

In preparation for the week’s events a small team of volunteers from the church led by Peter Leigh worked hard to tidy and maintain the churchyard at S. Mary’s which involved the trimming and removal of a number of trees and bushes, establishing a new wildlife area in one corner of the churchyard which has been sown with wildlife seeds, the purchase of new benches (funded by the 200 club), placing of bird boxes and general weeding and tidying.

The week started with a talk by local historian Chris Jobson with a fascinating talk on clocks. On Wednesday Sue Cooper from Caring for God’s Acre,who has just been awarded an MBE for her services to conservation in Shropshire and Herefordshire, gave an illustrated talk on the work of the charity.

On Friday, Estelle Parker from St Mary’s gave a tour of the church explaining some of the main historical features of a building part of which dates back almost a thousand years and on Saturday, the church and tower was open for visitors and over 100 people climbed the 92 steps to take in the magnificent views over the mere and beyond from the top of the tower.

Tea and cakes were served in church every afternoon and a total of over £400 was raised fro church funds.

The events were organised by Churchwarden Ann Harris, but thanks must be made to those who helped her during the week - Anne Edwards, Jo Garvin and Donna Leigh who helped served teas in church each day, Peter Leigh, Mark Spurdens, Rodney Stokes and Jeremy Stretton for their work in the churchyard and Pam Bowen and Donna Morris who judged the poetry competition and gave prizes.