Music appreciation classes resume
The meetings of the Charlbury Music Class, under the general heading "Exploring Music", resume at The Bell Hotel (annex) on 18 April. Kate Eckersley has been running these classes in Charlbury for over 30 years. New members are welcome, as there is always a need for a turnover. No technical knowledge is required. There will be classes in April, May, July, September and October. They run on Wednesdays from 10.30 to 3.20. Lunch is available. Sliding scale of fees - the more you attend the cheaper they become! For full details phone Peter Fry on 01993 359189
Peter Fry · Wed 22 Feb, 15:39 · Link
Pooches in the Park at Cornbury in The Oxford Mail
Helen & Douglas House are recruiting for their sponsored dog walk at Cornbury Park on 25 March, as featured in The Oxford Mail: www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9539284.Pooch_parade_for_hospice/
Alison Wright · Tue 21 Feb, 09:50 · Link
Wilderness update
The line up for Wilderness at Cornbury Park (10-12 August) will be announced on 1 March. You can sign up for updates at www.wildernessfestival.com
Alison Wright · Sun 19 Feb, 15:36 · Link
St Mary's services as usual on Sunday
We are delighted to say that services will be happening as usual on Sunday!
8am Holy Communion
9.45am Parish Communion with activities for children
4pm A quiet Holy Communion service
Please note that due to the fire there will be no access to the kitchen, toilet, vestry or upper room. However refreshments will be served after the 9.45am service.
As a result of the fire, we will be donating all non regular giving in the collection to the Fire Fighters Charity.
(from the Parish Office)
Richard Fairhurst · Fri 17 Feb, 19:21 · Link
WODC cabinet gives go-ahead for Dean Pit replacement
West Oxfordshire District Council cabinet has agreed to progress plans to open a recycling centre at Greystones in Chipping Norton. The proposal will go to the full council meeting next week for approval, after which plans will be submitted and a public consultation will begin.
The intention is for the recycling centre to provide similar facilities to those at Dean Pit. Greystones is on the A361, just outside Chipping Norton, about 4 miles from the Dean Pit site.
The proposals follow a mass outcry when Dean Pit was closed, including a petition organised by Cllr Glena Chadwick and Liz Leffman and signed by nearly 2,000 people.
Liz Leffman · Thu 16 Feb, 10:15 · Link
Latest from St Mary's
The clean-up begins
A start has been made on the clean-up operation.
The first thing to do was to make the air in the church more breathable.� There is still a heavy smell of smoke in the place and long exposure gives rise to headaches.
This is because particulates are contaminating the air, so first thing this morning air scrubbers , fans and de-humidifiers were wheeled in.� Last night we had been able to establish which power circuits could be safely switched on and two out of the three ring mains were activated, so we could set the units working straight away.
Later an additional temporary supply was installed from a separate phase to share the load.
We next had a visit from the gas man to check it was safe to switch the gas back on.
The gas main was well away from the seat of the fire and pronounced safe and two out of the three heating systems can be switched on. A skip has been delivered to take fire damaged articles.
There have been many visitors asking about the damage, but as the church is effectively a work site for the next few days access must be restricted.� As and when circumstances permit we will allow people in to see what we are doing and confirm for themselves that the church is an up and going concern.
News travels fast
Among the many messages of good wishes and support we have received following the fire, have been one from Colin, Bishop of Dorchester and one from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. They both expressed their concern for our plight and confirmed we will be in their thoughts and prayers.
After the smoke has cleared
After the dramatic events of Sunday afternoon, we have spent today examining the damage, assessing what needs to be done immediately and in the long term, and doing exhaustive interviews with various radio,TV and the media.
Extensive damage has been done to the roof of the old organ chamber now a vestry, kitchen and meeting room area, also the main roof of the chancel. There are large holes in both where the firemen had to cut through to get at the fire. These are sheeted at the moment, but a temporary scaffold roof will need to be erected for more long term use while repairs are carried out. There has also been a lot of water damage to articles below where they were putting out the fire and smoke contamination and smell all through the church.
Much will need to be done to put things right and this will inevitable take some time. Ecclesiastical Insurance have been marvellous, and provided a team of experts this morning to advise on what can be done and help to do it. Some will be coming back tomorrow to start the clean up operation and with luck we should be able to return to some parts of the church this Sunday or next. We have been inundated with offers of help and this is wonderful; as soon as we know what is specialised work and what is not, we may be able to arrange for this help to be mobilised.
In the end, we have had a lucky escape. No-one was hurt, we still have two thirds of a church to use, and comprehensive insurance cover for the repairs. There may be opportunities to incorporate into the repairs enhancements to our facilities, but this of course would have to be at our own expense, but probably cheaper than starting from scratch. All these things will wait to be considered in the future. For now, although the damage is extensive, thanks to the prompt and expert actions of the fire brigade, we still have a church.
Richard Fairhurst · Tue 14 Feb, 22:19 · Link
St Mary's fire - message from the vicarage
I'm sure that you are aware that there was a fire at St Mary's yesterday in the Upper Room. No one was hurt. The fire staff were great.
We are now waiting for the insurance and loss assessors to come today. In the meantime the church is out of use and we can't use the heating or electricity.
Many of you have expressed your concern and offered to help. Please would you pray for strength and support to enable us to all get through this difficult time together. We will be in touch once we know more and a plan of action can be made.
Church Wardens, Annette and Mike are meeting with the various media today. Should you have any queries from the media please ask them to contact the Vicarage.
(from assistant priest Revd Jan Fielden)
Richard Fairhurst · Mon 13 Feb, 21:10 · Link
St Mary's Church fire
The whole of the area was closed to traffic- with four fire engines and their numerous support vehicles including the Incident Command Unit.
Here are some of the latest photos taken from nearby of the fire spreading to cause very serious damage to the roof, as you can see in the photos.
Nancy Whitfield · Sun 12 Feb, 16:31 · Link
Fire in St.Marys Church
Fire
Sam · Sun 12 Feb, 15:22 · Link
Fire in St.Marys Church
Fire
Sam · Sun 12 Feb, 15:21 · Link
