St Mary's Church Stansted Mountfitchet

Tag: St Mary’s Church

  • A Christmas Carol – live performance 1st December

    A Christmas Carol poster

    We are very pleased to welcome back the very talented actors from thisismytheatre, who will be performing Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Friday 1st December, 5pm – 6.30pm. Anyone who has attended one of the many performances from thisismytheatre we’ve had over the past few years will know what to expect. Brilliant acting, wonderful singing, wonderful music, audience participation, and maybe for some, the unique experience of being close-up to the actors. Something you don’t usually get at a traditional theatre.

    We suggest arriving a early, say 4.30pm, because we’re expecting a full house, plus the theatre group usually have a warm-up from 4.30pm.

    Tickets available from Thismytheatre, adults £15, children under 16 £10, under 4’s free. There is a discount for Friends of St Mary’s. If you are a Friend of St Mary’s, contact steve.dale@gmail for the discount code.

    We look forward to seeing you on the 1st December. Happy Christmas

  • Wind In The Willows: Saturday 27th May, 3pm

    “Hang spring cleaning!” cries Mole as he abandons this seasonal task for the call of the world above.  

    And what a world he discovers! The River, The Wild Wood and  The Wide World beyond. Mole will experience adventure like  never before! Join him as he learns the joys and dangers of  living outside of his hole and forges friendships with the  logical Rat, formidable Badger and who can forget the  outrageous Toad of Toad Hall.  

    Closely adapted from the original and best-selling children’s  book by Kenneth Grahame and combined with traditional folk  music, this will delight children and adults alike this summer!

    We are excited to welcome (once again again) the wonderful actors from Thisismytheatre who will be performing live in church on Saturday 27th May at 3pm. But best to arrive a bit earlier to get the best seats and listen to the music preamble.

    Tickets from the Thisismytheatre website, general admission £15, concessions for CCT members. Under 16’s £10, under 4’s go free. Running time approx. 85 mins.

  • 3rd May 2019, 7pm. Macbeth

    MacBeth, 3rd May 2019

    Thisismytheatre return by popular demand, performing Shakespeare’s Macbeth. If you haven’t yet seen these talented and versatile actors, up close and personal, who make you feel part of the performance rather than mere observers, then don’t miss this opportunity! For our retuning regulars, we know what to expect – an enjoyable evening of West End quality theatre, right here in St Mary’s Church.

    Using the play’s original language in combination with traditional Celtic music played live, choral song and modern characterisation, this beautiful one-act adaptation will captivate audiences of all ages.

    General admission £12.50, Under 16’s £5. Family of 4 £32. Friends of St Mary’s £10

  • Thisismytheatre Perform “The Importance of Being Earnest” – 16th Aug 7pm.

    The wonderfully talented actors from thisismytheatre.com are back again at St Mary’s on the 16th August to perform Oscar Wild’s comedy ‘The Importance of Being Earnest“.

    For anyone not familiar with the plot, The Importance of Being Earnest is the most renowned of Oscar Wilde’s comedies. It’s the story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre, characters to be found on the modern stage.

    Tickets £10 and concessions £8 available from the thisismytheatre website, or call 07732 253311. Tickets also available at the door.

  • St Mary’s Church AGM

    The Friends of St Mary’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday 23rd March at 7.00pm at the Stansted Day Centre.

    The meeting will be followed at 7.30pm by the popular quiz evening with a half-time break for a fish and chip supper. To help with the catering, could we please have your food orders by the 18th March. Choices are:

    • Cod and chips
    • Haddock and chips
    • Chicken and chips
    • Vegetarian option

    Please bring your own drinks and glasses.

    Cost of the supper and quiz evening is £8.50, payable at the door. You can order supper by contacting:

    We hope you will attend and make up a table. May the best brains win – there will be a prize for the winners. There will also be a raffle and lots of exciting news!

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  • Events for December 2017

    The following events are scheduled for December, including our Christmas Festivities!

    Download a poster with details of all these events and put it in your window or share with your friends. What's on in December

    6th December – Forest Hall School Carol Concert at 7pm

    8th December – A Christmas Carol‘thisismytheatre‘ performing A Christmas Carol at 6.30 (for 7pm). Get tickets early for this show, it’s sure to be fully booked on the day. Tickets available from
    thisismytheatre.com or Goldings Fruit & Veg, 6 Chapel Hill, Stansted. 01279 814270

    9th December– Christmas Festival 11am to 5pm
    – Carols for all at 3pm.
    – Raffle prizes
    – Mince pies & mulled wine

    10th December– Christmas Festival 11am to 5pm
    – Stansted Strummers at 3pm. Back by popular demand to entertain us and get us in the festive spirit!
    – Raffle prizes
    – Mince pies & mulled wine

    15th December – St Mary’s School Carol Concert at 2pm

    As always we will have a bedecked church full of beautiful displays and twinkling lights, transforming our church into a winter wonderland !

    If you would like to exhibit a ‘family tree’ for the Christmas Festival, 9th & 10th December, please let Lynda Dale  know (Telephone: 07716 099474) and she will reserve a space for you.

    We  do hope that you will come and share in our Christmas events.

  • Events in July. Don’t miss Macbeth and our Tea Party Weekend!

    A bit of culture coming to St Mary’s Church on Friday 28th July, when the cast of This Is My Theatre present a one act adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a tragedy about power, ambition, deceit, and murder. Far more entertaining and blood-curdling than the Brexit negotiations! Not to be missed. Tickets on sale now from www.thisismytheatre.com or ‘phone 07732 253311, or from Golding’s Fruit & Veg, 6 Chapel Hill, Stansted, CM24 8AG.

    Also, don’t miss our Tea Party Weekend on the 29th and 30th July. Lots of entertainment for all the family, with games for the children, a ukulele band, a singalong to some memorable tunes from 20cvox, plus some special guest presentations. Free entry, but any donations will go towards the upkeep of our beautiful church.

    Please come and support us!

    Macbeth and Tea Party Weekend

    Download the poster:

    Macbeth and Tea Party Weekend
    Macbeth and Tea Party Weekend

  • Memorial To Captain Alan Gardner, Survivor of the Anglo-Zulu War 1879

    Battle at Rorke' DriftMany of you will, I am sure have seen the film “Zulu”, starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker. On the 22nd January 2017, the anniversary date of the Battle of Islandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, St Mary’s Church hosted a memorial service and presentation for Captain Alan Gardner.

    Captain Gardner was one of only 5 out of 67 officers to survive the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war in South Africa. He served with the 14th Hussars. The memorial service followed the original funeral for Captain Gardner, who went on to become a member of Parliament and died in 1907, with the same hymns and readings.

    We are grateful to Kate, a local historian, who found Captain Gardner’s grave in our churchyard as part of her research, and has paid for the restoration of the gravestone at her own expense!

    Kate is very knowledgeable on the period of history and her passion for the topic was clear. She gave an excellent slideshow presentation, telling the story of Captain Gardner’s early life and the part he played in the Anglo-Zulu war. She used original historical artefacts, which included a Zulu shield, an ‘ikwala’ (stabbing spear) and a ‘iwisa’, (a cudgel fashioned from dense hardwood). British Army weapons included a Martini-Henry rifle, bayonet, spent bullets and even a used rocket casing! The red British Army tunic and uniform was also on display. Keith Ayres provided a sound track of Zulu chanting, which added to the atmosphere.

    It was a very moving, informative and interesting afternoon. Special thanks to Kate for donating all the takings on the day to the church. Thanks to all for helping make this a successful event.

    Lynda Dale
    Vice Chair, Friends of St Mary’s Church.
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