Events and fundraising committee
We meet regularly to discuss fundraising initiatives and to organise events for the community to raise much needed funds for the church. We are always looking for new people to get involved, not just in the organisation of events but also for helping out during events.
If you would like to get involved or volunteer some of your time please click here
People's Working Group
This group provides assistance with maintenance and minor works in the Church and grounds using the talents of the congregation and thereby avoiding unnecessary expenditure.
Some 6 volunteers are part of the group, and help so far has been provided mainly by Gordon Lambert and John McCutcheon and particularly with notice boards, teething problems with the new sound system, modifications to the church lighting for special services, and clearance of the crypt. If you would like to be involved please contact Tony Read.
Church Flowers
Flowers are arranged by members of the church for services and some weddings. There is a flower fund to which people contribute at the major festivals.
Names of people willing to help to keep the vases watered or to arrange flowers should be given to Margaret Khinmaung.
Support us
Supporting the church isn’t just about money - although that’s always welcome! We also need your time. There are lots of ways you can get involved, from financial donations to helping out with church events.
Below are some of the ways you can give your support.
EASYFUNDRAISING
EasyFundraising is a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores including Argos, Next, Amazon, Debenhams, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV and over 2000 other top name stores. Whenever you shop with any one of them using the links provided on the easyfundraising site, you'll generate a free donation for St Mary’s of up to 15% of the purchase price every time.
It doesn't cost a penny more to shop and raise funds in this way. In fact you can even save money as many retailers give exclusive discounts, special offers and 'e-vouchers' when you shop with easyfundraising. All you need to do is register for free at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/stmaryshitchin and use easyfundraising every time you shop online.
EASYSEARCH
You can also raise funds for St Mary’s every time you search the Web - with EASYSEARCH, When you search with easysearch, you'll raise funds for us with every search you make. Make just 10 searches a day with easysearch instead of Google or any other search engine and you could raise around £20 a year - or more - for St Mary’s. It's that easy!
What's more, easysearch combines the strengths of several search engines together - Yahoo!, Bing, Ask.com and many more - making it a 'super' search engine. Please set our unique easysearch page - http://stmaryshitchin.easysearch.org.uk - as your homepage and use it every time you search the Web.
Lay Prayer Leaders
The intercessions at the 9.35am Sung Communion are led by members of the congregation.
Anyone who is interested should contact Robin Sternberg.
Bible Readings
The Bible readings at the 9.35am Sung Communion and 6.30pm Evensong are read by members of the congregation.
Anyone who is interested should contact Jen Lynch.
St Mary's Guild of Servers
We serve at the three major services each Sunday and at various special services throughout the year. The wonderful reflection of the diversity within our congregation is represented by the 23 servers who serve regularly. New members are always welcome to join in this act of worship.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Elizabeth Cranfield in the evenings.
St Mary's Guild of Stewards
So that the church can be kept open as much as possible, a group of people act as stewards. They mostly put in two hours a month and work in pairs. Others fill in on an occasional basis.
We always need more volunteer stewards, so if you would like to help please will you contact David Ockendon
Sidesmen & Sideswomen
Many members of the congregation act as sidesmen and sideswomen once or twice a month and usually at services that they normally attend.
The duties include welcoming people to the service, giving out the relevant books and taking the collection.
Anyone who is interested should contact one of the Audrey Forde.
St Mary's Preservation Trust
St. Mary's Church Preservation Trust is dedicated to the task of assisting the Church Council in the preservation of our fine parish church, the largest and arguably the finest in Hertfordshire. Its responsibilities began in the Autumn of 1978, at a time when the Church Council could no longer shoulder alone the ever increasing burden of caring for a building of such age and importance.
Since then, having launched two successful appeals, the Trust has contributed some £250,000 to such projects as the restoration to the clerestory windows, the tower, the spire, the east wall, the bells and much more. All this has been made possible through the generosity of those who, in common with the trustees, recognise that St. Mary's enriches the heart of our community, regardless of belief.
The Trust has been in operation for over 25 years and looks forward to continuing its most important work. Thanks to numerous unsolicited gifts in recent years, it is once again working in partnership with the Church Council and has recently committed a substantial sum for further fabric repairs.
St. Mary's symbolises the strengths and traditions which bind our community together, regardless of religious belief. For its part, the Preservation Trust will endeavour to ensure that future generations can enjoy and appreciate the beauty of St. Mary's.
The Preservation Trust is a registered charity No. 276501
The Giving Committee
This group meets monthly to monitor the level of income received to meet the day to day expenses and general financial obligations of St. Mary’s. Such running costs are met from donations from both congregation and visitors and the Group considers ways in which to publicise the need for such support. Each year is a challenge and the Group welcomes fresh thinking and new ideas on ways to raise awareness by the congregation, newcomers and visitors of the need for realistic levels of Giving and its place in Christian worship and mission.
For information about our regular Giving Schemes, contact Lesley Davies.
