Rye’s historic St Mary’s church at the top of the town is holding its Christmas Fair this Saturday, December 1, from 10am – but it is not just about St Mary’s and not just in aid of St Mary’s.
The stalls will be spread throughout the church and the number of stalls, and who they are in aid of, may well not be known until the very last minute.
Some stalls will be about specific church activities like the Bible Society and Messy Church (for children). Others may be for activities the church supports such as Fair Trade, supporting poorer economies than ours and the charity Family Support Work.
Others will be for specific institutions like the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital, and Rye Museum, or specific organisations like the Bonfire Boys.
Other charities represented may support specific illnesses like Parkinson’s and there may even be the odd specialist business represented – but who knows until Saturday.
What is certain is that the church itself will run stalls with cakes, refreshments, books and bottles, in addition to the very popular raffle.
This year’s raffle prize is understood to be tickets for the Aled Jones concert in St Mary’s on Friday November 14 organised by the Rye Jazz Festival, whose concerts can cover a wide range of music.
Aled is followed on Saturday December 15 by KT Tunstall and then on Sunday December 16 by Jose Feliciano.
Having housed the community carol service on December 8, and the Christmas Fair this Saturday December 1, St Mary’s is clearly heading for another busy festive period well before Christmas Day itself even arrives.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
We have TWO PAIRS of tickets for the Aled Jones Concert on the 14th December! Both pairs come with a signed CD and the opportunity to meet Aled Jones. We also have numerous other festive raffle prizes – food hamper-wine-Christmas biscuits etc.
This year we have the Sue Ryder shop, Parkinson’s UK, Bible Society, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Tilling Green Residents Association, Family Support Work, Rye Bonfire Society, Rye Memorial Hospital, St Mary’s Knitting Group, CAFOD, Rye Scouts, to name but a few. Homemade refreshments will be on sale too.
Regular attendees at St Mary’s Messy Church will also be there to raise funds for their activities. Messy Church is a way of being church for families of all ages (not specifically children) involving fun. The next session is on Friday 7th December, 3.30pm (after school) until 6pm and will be meeting in St Mary’s Church. All are welcome!