Benefice Notices

1. Celebrating our 175th Anniversary at Holy Trinity, Prestwood

   

   Holy Trinity, Prestwood church was consecrated on October 19^th, 1849.

   Our 175^th Anniversary Celebrations will run from October 19^th, 2024 until Trinity Sunday, June 15^th, 2025, when there will be a Flower Festival and we’ll welcome the Bishop of Oxford to a special service.

   There will be lots of things taking place between now and then. You can find everything on this page.

   In particular, we’d love people to share their memories of special events that have taken place in Holy Trinity church. These could be weddings or christenings, or anything memorable. If you have a photograph and would like to share it, along with a paragraph describing the memory, please visit www.htprestwood.org.uk/175memories.

2. 175 Anniversary Art Expo

   

   We begin celebrating our 175th anniversary with an Arts Expo on Saturday 19th October and Sunday 20th October.

   All are invited to come and see the work of prominent local artists, which will be displayed in church. It’s the perfect opportunity to purchase a one-off, special piece as well as supporting local, small businesses. Entrance is free and drinks and refreshments will be served throughout.

   There are lots of ways you can get involved too:

   • Entering your budding artist’s artwork in our Children’s Art Competition
   • Submitting a photo to our Art Expo Photo Exhibit
   • Sharing photos and memories of your special event at Holy Trinity, Prestwood

   More details will be shared over the coming weeks but for now, all you need to know can be found at www.htprestwood.org.uk/175. We’d love this to be an event for the whole community so do get involved and help us celebrate this special milestone in our church’s history!

3. Preserves!

   We have good news and bad news!
   Bad news first - the price has gone up to £3.75. This is the first price increase in 2 years, and the ingredients, sugar and cooking costs have gone up dramatically in that time.
   Good news - Hildreth's have offered to stock our jams, marmalades, chutneys, etc.
   Good news indeed, but slightly concerning! In the first 3 days of trading they sold 20 jars. (In the first 15 days of trading they purchased over 100 jars for resale.) Concerning because I am not sure we can keep stock levels up. So I am coming to you with several requests.

   1. If you are a preserve maker do consider joining the team. We have members who make 6 jars a year, others who are into 3 figures. Whatever you can manage will be gratefully received.
   2. If you make preserves for yourself and have capacity to make just a couple of extra jars each time, again gratefully received.
      If you can do either of these, I will produce labels and pretty lids for the jars. All I ask for is a list of ingredients. Also, if you use butter to clarify I need to know for the allergen information.
   3. If you grow, and have surplus produce to your requirements, we can take any extra off your hands. This is not only fruit, but tomatoes and veggies as we enter chutney season.
   4. While walking round the supermarket, greengrocers or market and you see a really fantastic bargain, please do get it for us and one of the team will make something with it. We can reimburse if needed.
   5. Provide jam jars—clean, labels removed, with lids please.
   6. Support Hildreth's!

4. Great Hampden Harvest Lunch

   

   Our Harvest Festival takes place on 6th October at 11.15am at St Mary Magdalene Church. This is the time when we give thanks to God for all his goodness and we help those who have less than we do. Please bring your Harvest gifts to the service (as described above).
   If you can please also join us for the Harvest Lunch which takes place at 12 noon in the village hall, after the morning's service. An excellent menu of jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings with salads, followed by homemade crumbles for pudding, accompanied by a glass of wine or soft drinks will be served. The cost of the lunch, payable on the day is £12 for adults and £8 for children under 12. An auction of the harvest produce will follow the lunch. Reservations can be made by completing the form at the back of the church or by contacting Kate Brocklehurst on 07786430666.

5. Harvest Festival - October 6th

   

   Our Harvest Festival this year is on October 6th. This year's Harvest donations will be supporting the work of the Chiltern Foodbank (CFB). CFB play a crucial role in our community, supporting individuals and families with emergency and longer term food support. We support clients each day at the Prestwood Distribution Centre at Holy Trinity, Prestwood and the CFB are noticing an increase in clients.

   The CFB would be delighted with donations of dried food (tins and packets) along with toiletries and household cleaning products. The items that they have asked us if we could specifically provide are:

   • Tinned Chicken
   • Tinned mince beef
   • Tinned Meat Pies
   • Tinned Cold Meat
   • Tinned Rice Pudding
   • Chocolate
   • Crisps
   • Deodorant
   • Household Cleaner

   Please bring your Harvest donations to our Harvest family services at Holy Trinity, Prestwood and St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden on October 6th. Please only bring donations of produce to decorate the churches. At Holy Trinity these will be available to take away for a donation after the Harvest service. At Great Hampden, these will be auctioned off after the Harvest Lunch.