2024 will be a Year of Jubilee at St John’s Church with plenty of events to celebrate the milestone. Earlier, a smaller building, a Chapel of Ease, had stood on the site of the present church, but the stone building we now see was dedicated in 1874. There is a brief history on the parish website along with information about the church’s stained glass windows.
stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/about/a-brief-history/
The celebrations will be focused on two main high points:
1. Jubilee Festival Weekend
On Sunday 5 May there will be a special Festival Eucharist at 10am with the Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, presiding and preaching. Both the adult and junior choirs will sing at the service and many former vicars and ministers will be attending.
On Monday 6 May, Bank Holiday Monday, parishioners and friends will join the Vicar, Rev Mike Macey, in Beating the Parish Bounds. Fortuitously, the route takes in a number of good pubs, so those who may fancy walking just some of the way (maybe from one pub to another), or are unable to walk but would like to join in at a given time, then one of these pubs would provide an ideal opportunity. The walk itself will begin and end at St John’s church and be followed by a BBQ. All are welcome to join in.
2. Jubilee Exhibition
This will be held from 27 – 30 June. We will endeavour to illustrate 150 years of life at St John’s through an exhibition of flowers and photos, parish registers and written excerpts. The story will be told through Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals (Hatching, Matching and Dispatching). Refreshments will be served throughout the Exhibition.
If you, or a family member were married or baptized at St John’s, and would like to contribute, please share any photos with the church via SJB150@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk These will be copied and become part of a digital display which will be shown during the Exhibition.
Some other events during the year will make reference to the Jubilee, including the Music Festival in May plus various concerts and music-making.
The annual parish cricket match against the Boxmoor Occasionals will be played on Boxmoor Oval on Sunday 23 June from 2 pm and it is hoped the parish will celebrate the Jubilee with another victory! The Occasionals will, of course, be hoping the victory will be theirs!
For further details follow our Facebook page or see our website:
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
