EventsLast updated: Tuesday, 29 June 2010, 11:44 AM 8th Annual Arts and Craft Exhibition and Sale
Entrance £1 (reusable), children free If you would like to enter please contact Thelma on 01954 210321 for an entry form. Entries are limited to four pictures per person and must be framed and for sale. The number of exhibits of pottery, stained glass and jewellery to be agreed on enquiry. Each exhibitor is asked to pay a submission fee of £5 regardless of the number of entries, to be paid when the work is submitted. There is a commission fee of 20% on all sales.
Sunday SchoolLast updated: Tuesday, 29 June 2010, 11:29 AM We will be re-launching the Sunday School on Sunday 5th September. We are delighted that Vicki Farmer, ably assisted by Michaela McNeil, will be running the school, which will be held in the Portacabin located in the car park behind the Church.
There will be a breakfast starting at 8.30am with bacon rolls and tea, coffee and squash. So if you or anyone you know would like your child/children to come to Sunday School please get in touch with Vicki or Michaela for further details. The Church has not been the same without the children joining us at the end of the service, and telling us what they have been doing.
Vicki can be contacted on 01954 212349 or by emailing vicki_farmer24@hotmail.com
Webmaster ServicesLast updated: Tuesday, 29 June 2010, 10:12 AM Weekly Parish CommunionWe are in interregnum (without a rector) at the moment but our services are covered by local and retired clergy, and readers. We are looking forward to welcoming our new incumbent Rev, Alison Myers, who will be joining us in September. All are warmly welcomed to the weekly Parish Communion service (Common Worship, Order One) each Sunday at 9.30am. The hymn books we use are Hymns Ancient & Modern and New Hymns & Worship Songs (Kevin Mayhew, 1996). Monthly Family Service and CommunionOn the third Sunday of each month there is an All Age/Family Service at 9.30am so that the whole family can worship together, followed by a Communion service for those who wish to stay on. Special servicesCome and meet the Bishop Sunday July 18th at Caldecote Village Hall. Bishop David has kindly agreed to come, together with the Rev. Mike Booker. There will be a short service of Holy Communion beginning at 11am, followed by a question and answer session. There will be a Baptism only at 9.30am at St Mary's. Future eventsSeptember 26th 9.30am Harvest Celebrations All perishable donated gifts will be auctioned off at the end of the service, in aid of Farm Africa. All non-perishable donations will go to the Cambridge Foodbank, for distribution amongst local charities.
Friday October 15th Harvest Supper in the Hardwick Primary School Further details to be advised.
Special services are held at Christmas, Easter and other important festivals in the Church's calendar.
We hope that everyone will have an enjoyable summer and we look forward to seeing you at the various events.
Webmaster PrayStationLast updated: Monday, 25 February 2008, 06:21 AM We meet in the portacabin on the 1st Sunday of every month at 9:30am. At around 10:15am we go into church to receive a blessing, then sing the last hymn with the congregation. We always get to show the congregation what we have done - we’re sure we have more fun than them! Here are some of the things that we have done:
Webmaster A message from St Mary’s ChurchLast updated: Thursday, 31 January 2008, 07:15 PM Dear Friends, It is always a pleasure to see new faces at St. Mary's, which is the parish church of Hardwick. I hope you will find a welcome and friendly greeting from all of those present. As a Church we believe in God the Father and His love for the world demonstrated through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus who now reigns on high and who has sent the Holy Spirit to both convict the world and to dwell in the hearts of believers. We believe the Bible is for today, and in the life of the church we try to understand its teaching and see how it applies to our lives. As a body of believers, we meet on a Sunday to Worship The Lord God, to grow together in knowledge of Him and to encourage each other, by caring and nurturing both young and old. We see our Mission to reach out, in the power of the Holy Spirit to our local community, sharing His love, and His peace, as we express our friendship and support. St. Mary's Church has a variety of events taking place: details appear on the weekly pew sheet which is given out at Sunday services. The services at St. Mary's are intended to be Simple to follow and easy to join in with.
Webmaster About St Mary’s ChurchLast updated: Sunday, 27 January 2008, 09:53 AM
St Mary’s is the parish church (Church of England) of Hardwick, Cambridgeshire, England. It is in the Diocese of Ely. This picture shows the church from the outside, taken in January 2008. Our vision statement
Everyone is welcome to join the church. Who's who?During the interregnum there is nobody resident at the Rectory. Please contact the Churchwarden, Thelma Westbury, on 01954 210321 if you have any enquiries regarding Church matters.
Webmaster Interpretation of mural in St Mary’s ChurchLast updated: Thursday, 02 November 2006, 12:45 AM According to research done at Leicester University by Miriam Gill, the Hardwick wall-painting represents in its lower part the Seven Deadly Sins:
and in its upper part the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy:
though only five of the latter are known to be present. Apparently wall paintings with this theme were not uncommon in English churches in medieval times, though most have been destroyed or obliterated. Hardwick was one of just twenty churches used in the Leicester University study, the others being: Arundel, Brooke, Catfield, Dalham, Hoxne, Hunworth, Ingatestone, Kentford, Kingston, Milcomb, Milton Abbas, Netherbury, Oddington, Quatt, Ruabon, Ruislip, Stanningfield and Trotton. Hardwick is unusual in that the Sins are portrayed riding on animals, the only other place where this is found being Langar in North Wales. Further details taken from the Seedcorn Project database:
It is probable that the wall painting was whitewashed over not because of fear or rejection of superstition, as surmised by John Willis Clark in his 1859 article, but because in certain eyes it appeared to justify Redemption by Good Works rather than by Faith alone. (Thanks to Dr Graham Jones, Leicester University, for this comment.)
Webmaster The mural at St Mary’s ChurchLast updated: Thursday, 02 November 2006, 12:33 AM At one time a distinctive and richly-coloured medieval mural painting covered the whole south wall of the nave of the church. Probably painted between 1460 and 1480, it was covered by whitewash during Cromwell's puritan era. Uncovered in August 1858 during restoration work, it was examined by the Cambridge antiquary John Willis Clark, who published a description in The Ecclesiologist journal (volume 20, pages 316 to 321, 1859), which was reprinted in the National Trust Magazine, no. 37, pages 14-20, April 1977. This included the drawing shown below. The Rector ordered the mural to be covered again and it remained hidden until the restoration of 1986, when part of it was once more uncovered and restored (see below). Recent research (the Seedcorn Project at Leicester University) has shown that the mural represents the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy. The mural does not photograph well as there is little contrast; here is one attempt, taken in January 2001. At the bottom, portraying the sin of Pride, is a bearded man, with a crown on his head, a sword in his right hand, and riding on a lion. At the top, illustrating Feeding the Hungry, is a veiled woman offering loaves of bread to an invalid man with a crutch. Hardwick is one of only two places in the country where the Deadly Sins are represented as riding on animals. The other place is Llangar church in North Wales, where the paintings have recently been restored.
The following information was provided by Dr Miriam Gill at the Hardwick Local History Day, 25 May 2002: English church wall paintings were didactic and moralistic. They formed part of the catechism for lay people, who were required by the 4th Lateran Council to make a confession every year. M.R. James in the 1920s identified such paintings with the 7 Works of Mercy which were frequently paired with the 7 Deadly Sins (depiction of the 7 Virtues was very rare). Representation of the Sins riding on animals (as at Hardwick) came from Austria at the end of the 14th century; it is common in France but rare in England (though found in manuscripts here). The sins depicted become less serious from left to right. First the spiritual sins of Pride (the king wearing a crown riding a lion), Envy, Pride, Avarice (noblemen in high hats riding horse, deer etc) then the bodily sins Gluttony (= drinking), Lust, Sloth (workmen in low hats riding goat, donkey). From the style of the clothes, the Hardwick painting can be dated as 1460-1480; perhaps around 1470. It would probably have been done by itinerant painters working from model books or woodcuts, and possibly paid for by a local benefactor. The original inscriptions were probably in English not Latin. Unlike the fresco technique, the paint was applied to dry plaster, so the colour layer is thin and fragile. The painting was covered over in the 1540s with whitewash, unvcovered in a Victorian restoration and covered over again as the Victorians thought it was popish and of dubious morality. The circled cross in "Pride" is one of the church's consecration crosses and probably predates the painting. Two similar ones have been uncovered on either side of the chancel, and the 1858 drawing shows two further ones in "Anger" and "Lust". For more information, see Medieval Wall Painting in the English Parish Church. Two additional images have been provided by "Doctor Digi". These were taken in May 2002 and are copyright (c)2002 The Digital Atlas of England.
Webmaster History of St Mary’s ChurchLast updated: Thursday, 26 October 2006, 08:27 AM It is thought that people have worshipped regularly on this site for over 1000 years, though the first known mention of a church is in 1217, part of the chancel wall being the only stone to survive. The church was built originally in the Decorated style but in the 14th century much of it was rebuilt of field stones with freestone and clunch dressings in the Perpendicular style. There was rebuilding in the 15th century including the queen-post roofs, a widened chancel arch, a stone stair to the rood screen in the northeast corner of the nave, and the porch. It is a small church by comparison with those of many English villages, the chancel being 23ft 9ins by 16ft (7.24m x 4.88m) and the nave 45ft by 22ft 3ins (13.72m x 6.78m), reflecting the small population until recent times and the lack of any sizable endowments. The only subsequent addition was in Victorian times when the vestry was added outside the north door, but, alas, of inadequate size and foundations. There is evidence, however, of a number of changes over the years. Fragments of old stained glass have been found in the churchyard and there used to be a Jacobean rood screen. The original was presumably removed in the Reformation, but early in the 17th century another of the same design was put in and the mountings can still be seen. Ten pictures and a cross were removed by the puritan William Dowsing in 1644. With a few exceptions records exist from 1345, baptisms from 1564, burials from 1576 and marriages from 1578. The land round the church was worked by about 12 monks until 1279 when the Bishop of Ely granted the rector a house and 40 acres of land. Until 1935 the Bishop had the right to receive tithes (income in cash or kind). In 1966 the rectorship was combined with Toft, Caldecote and Childerley. The Glebe House or Rectory was often reported as being in a dilapidated condition and was finally pulled down in 1881. In 1787 it had served as a sort of hospital for the poor families in the village. Over the years there have been a number of remarkable characters as Rectors, although many of them were absent for much of the time during the fourteenth to mid-nineteenth century. To quote just two examples: William Middleton, Rector from 1585 to 1613, would not wear a surplice as ordered by Queen Elizabeth and later committed suicide, while Edmund Mapletoft was sacked in 1644 for popish practices and negligence. In the late nineteenth century when the Rector started to take up residence, a Sunday school was begun and the average congregation numbered seven. In 1783 the church was said to be in poor condition and the spire out of line; the roof was poor in 1836 and sparrows interrupted services. Extensive restoration was carried out in 1901, funded largely by Pembroke College. Bishop Wren when Bishop of Ely had endowed the income from the church's land to the college to help pay for the building of their college chapel, designed by his nephew Christopher Wren. DescriptionAfter passing through the 15th century porch, a visitor will be impressed by the solid wooden door, almost certainly part of the 1901 restoration. As one passes over the threshold a crudely carved windmill can be seen on the east splay and there are other examples that can be seen elsewhere, all uncovered in the parishioners' work of 1986. Quite what the fascination with windmills was is not clear, although certainly they were of economic importance. The first reference to a windmill in Hardwick was in 1299 and in 1356 it needed new sails, but all traces are long lost. Immediately on the right on the south wall of the church, between the door and the pulpit. can be seen an area of restored wall painting. Mural drawings were common in many Cambridgeshire churches, often illustrating some local legend. The whole of the south wall was painted at some time and is thought to have depicted the seven deadly sins. Their condition was of concern to the rector in 1856 and he had them painted over. The painter charged 3/4d (17p) against a normal cost of 6/8d as the parish was so poor. Parts were uncovered during the restoration work in 1986 and the one reasonable area was professionally restored. The choir stalls and curtains behind the altar were taken out and the organ moved to the rear of the church when it was thought that with the closure of the old school there would never be a Sunday school or a choir again. On the south pillar of the chancel can be seen a record of 'marmaduke messynden off helynge (thought to be Helmsby) yn the conty off lyncolne', a stonemason of the 16th century. Nearby can be seen a record of 'HP' and 'TR' in 1710 and, on a windowsill by the south door, a record that the latter was here before in 1699. On entering the chancel, note on both the north and south walls Roundels uncovered in the 1986 work; there were a number of other examples found, some in fairly obscure positions and these were painted over. These religious signs were not used after the end of the 14th century and this throws doubt on the age of some of the walls which were previously thought to have been built in the 15th century. The stained glass windows in the chancel are Victorian with the exception of the most easterly windows either side of the altar, which are medieval. The communion rail of cast iron in Gothic idiom with oak rail was installed in the first half of the 19th century. Notable is a very heavy chest of oak planks strengthened with a rectangular frame and iron bound. The posts at the two ends project above the lid and have fittings to receive a longitudinal bar, now missing, which was secured by a central hasp and lock. There is also an internal locking pin. It is thought to be 16th century and was originally used to keep the church's plate, vestments and linen safe and sound. A banner, more than 50 years old, was found in the church and renovated in August 2001. Notice on the north wall the World War I and World War II memorials recording the names of those who gave up their lives from what was then a small village. Also on the north wall can be seen a record of 36 "additional fittings" being provided in 1858 by the Incorporated Society for promoting the enlargement, building and repair of Churches and Chapels in England and Wales. The board had hung in the porch until its restoration in 1981. The pews of pine also reflect a parish that was not well endowed in the past, oak being more expensive, but at least they are now free of candle grease and other grime through voluntary work in 1986 and 1987. The font of an octagonal bowl with splayed underside is possibly 13th century. It used to have a richly carved wooden surround. On entering the bell tower, notice on the north side further scratchings which record the bell chimes for the three bells which hung in the tower, while the west wall in the tower records on a rebuilt surface the initials of those who helped in the 1986 redecoration and restoration. Until 1994 three bells hung within the 8ft 3ins (2.51m) square tower, two made in 1797 and weighing 3¼ and 4 cwts (160kg and 200kg). The third weighing 4½ cwts (230kg) was recast in 1908. The frame is set diagonally NE and SW. At some time these bells replaced three bells and a sanctus bell hung in 1552. The bells were rung regularly until the 1970's. On 29 July 1994 the bells were removed, as it had become unsafe to ring them. Two were sold to local churches in Toft and Bar Hill, whilst the third, the 4½ cwt tenor bell, was refurbished and rehung on 20 November 1994. It is now rung (swing chime) every Sunday. Source: Largely taken from the booklet A Brief History of the Parish Church of St Mary's Hardwick by Martin Hay, which is available in the church
Webmaster Churches: Hardwick Evangelical Church Hardwick Evangelical ChurchLast updated: Tuesday, 03 October 2006, 12:25 AM We are a non-denominational Christian church, and people from all backgrounds are welcome. We meet for Family Worship every Sunday morning at 10.30 am in the hall of Hardwick Community Primary School. There is a creche and children's activities. To get in touch please contact the secretary, Enid Instone Brewer, on 01954 210009; or email the church at |
