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Christmas Tree Festival Events and Times

Friday 8th December: Festival Preview and Concert

A ticketed event.  See the sparkling trees in evening light with a glass of mulled wine and light snacks, and enjoy a Christmas concert with the Holy Saviour Church Choir and the Radcliffe Singers.

Doors open at 6.30 pm; concert starts at 7.45 pm.

Tickets (£12.00) are available in advance from Tory Evans (01462 712212).

Saturday 10.30 – 11.30 is a quieter hour for anyone with a disability and their carer. The session finishes at 11.30 when tree lights are turned off but the Festival Café is open.
Entrance £4 (as usual), but carer comes free.
Call Gill (07576 269226) if you’d like further details, but you don’t have to book in advance.

Saturday, Sunday at 12 noon: The Grand Opening with Lights Switch-on

Come to be seated by 12.

Saturday: St Andrews School Choir will sing before counting down to lighting the trees. Sunday: our openers will be the Bancroft Players from the Queen Mother Theatre with a brief taste of their ‘A Christmas Carol’ production.
Festival Entrance Tickets £4 for adults, accompanied children free.
Open 12 to 6pm (last admission on Sunday 5.40pm).

The Festival Café in the Church Hall is open throughout the festival hours for delicious hot and cold lunches, teas and homemade cakes all at reasonable prices.
The Festival Celebration with Carols at 6pm on Sunday closes the event. Results of the popular vote, the judging and the raffle draw will be announced.

Monday 9am-1pm: Exhibitors dismantle and remove their trees and church is restored to normal. Certificates awarded from the judging and popular vote will be placed under the appropriate trees for collection.

Visit our dedicated Facebook page to share, like, and post your pictures throughout set-up and the festival and to find results of voting/judging.

Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening and Concert

The annual Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening and Concert will take place at Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG on Friday 8th December 2017.

Doors open for viewing of the trees at 6.30pm, and the concert starts at 7.45pm.

Be among the first to enjoy the delightful display of decorated trees, before a concert of seasonal music given by Holy Saviour’s two choirs, directed by Trevor Hughes. Mulled wine and light refreshments are included!

Admission by advance tickets – £12 – from 01462 712212 (toryevans@greatgreen.plus.com)

The 21st Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival

The 21st Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival will take place as usual at Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road SG5 1QG on Saturday and Sunday 9th and 10th December 2017 between 12 noon and 6pm. Admission £4.00, accompanied children free.

Come and see 50 beautifully decorated trees in a lovely setting, with seasonal music from local musicians and choirs.

Excellent home cooked lunches and teas available in the Festival Cafe.
It’s a wonderful way to start your Christmas!

On the Saturday morning, 10.30 -11.30 , the Festival will be open for disabled visitors and their carers who may prefer a quieter time to enjoy the display.

Further info from ctf@holysaviourhitchin.org.uk

See our dedicated Facebook page: HitchinChristmasTreeFestival
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The Friends of Holy Saviour AGM

The Friends will hold their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11 October 2017 at 7.30pm in Holy Saviour Church.

Refreshments will be served. Business includes looking at finances and activities from September 2016 to 31 August 2017.

Membership will vote for committee members and post holders.

We have invited Andy Gibbs to talk about British Schools Museum projects after the normal AGM business.

Non members are most welcome to attend. Please come!

Would anyone like to join our committee to help plan our events schedule? We meet once a month, most months. We aim to raise funds for the church and raise its profile in the community.

See you on 11th October!

Gill Chidgey

On Track

The Friends of Holy Saviour present:
On Track
An exhibition of Trains Little & Large, Past & Present

Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG
Saturday 23 September 10.30 am – 5.00 pm

Holy Saviour Church was built in 1865 to serve the influx of people who moved to Hitchin to work on the railway. This exhibition aims to celebrate that heritage, both past and present.
There will be model railway layouts from 00 Gauge to Gauge 3, model locomotives, stalls from local railway societies, rail user groups, and some participation from operators of rather larger railways.

Entry £3.50, accompanied children free.

Melodies at Maydencroft

Once again we invite you to a lovely evening of popular melodies performed by Hitchin Town Band in Bunyan’s Barn at Maydencroft Manor, Gosmore, on Saturday 9 September at 7.00pm.

Tickets cost only £10 and are available now from Frances Williams  (rbennetwilliams@hotmail.com) tel. 01462 434762,

also from Sheila Daw (sheila.daw@virginmedia.com) tel. 01462 621699.

Cheques to be made payable to Frances Williams.

The Cutting Edge – A Brief Glimpse into 700 years of Bespoke Tailoring

The Friends of Holy Saviour present a fascinating illustrated talk by Alan Cannon Jones – Citizen and Merchant Taylor of London.
Drawing on the experiences of a career stretching from tailoring apprenticeship to membership of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, Alan’s talk will give insights into the world of bespoke tailoring, including the Merchant Taylors Company, 1865 and the Tuxedo, Ecclesiastical tailoring, Salvador Dali – and more!

Wednesday 26 July at 7.30pm in Holy Saviour Church
Tickets cost £12 (Friends £10) including refreshments; available from Clare Fleck or Gill Chidgey 01462 423603, or the Hitchin Festival Box Office, 1a Churchyard.

In The Mood … a Gala Evening of Music

Holy Saviour Church presents In The Mood … a Gala Evening of Music from Folk to Swing and beyond.

Come and enjoy the Holy Saviour Choir, The Radcliffe Singers, and The Gainsford Swing Band, directed by Trevor Hughes, with guest artist Mark Adams and popular TV presenter Pam Rhodes.

The concert takes place on Sunday 2 July at 7.30 pm in the wonderful setting of Bunyan’s Barn, Maydencroft Manor, Gosmore.

Tickets: Adults £15; Concessions £13; available from Clare Fleck 01462 646257 or Hitchin Festival Box Office 01462 453335.

Proceeds in aid of the Holy Saviour Church Organ Renovation Appeal.

Concert: Duruflé, Handel and Coombes

There will be an exciting concert to celebrate the renovation of the organ at Holy Saviour Church on Sunday 18 June at 7.30pm.

Singers from our choirs and others in Hitchin and beyond, combine to sing the Requiem, by Maurice Duruflé. The programme will also include Handel’s Organ Concerto in Bb major, and Double Concerto for Clarinet, Organ and Strings by Douglas Coombes; soloists Trevor Hughes – organ, & Gillian Hughes – clarinet, conducted by the composer, with the Gainsford String Ensemble.

Admission: £11; Concessions £9; Students Free. Proceeds in aid of the Holy Saviour Organ Renovation Appeal. For further information contact Clare Fleck (clarefleck7@gmail.com or 01462 646257).

Holy Saviour’s Annual Bluebell Walk

Join us for Holy Saviour’s Annual Bluebell Walk, which will take place on Sunday 30 April!

Meet at the carpark on the south side of St Paul’s Walden Church for a 2 pm start.
Please come with suitable footwear and clothing.
The walk is about 4 miles and should be completed by 4 pm.
Walkers are invited to Sheila & David’s afterwards for tea and cake.
Contact Sheila Daw, Tel 621699 (sheila.daw@virginmedia.com)