Church newsletters

The weekly newsletter of
St Mary’s church, Gamlingay

News


Masthead (sans date) for the St Mary's, Gamlingay, weekly newsletter / yellow background.
In the latest (18th April) issue, the Revd Hilary Young, priest in charge for our diocese, notes these are ‘…the final days of Jesus...
Read more

Planning applications

Updated 2nd April 2025

News


Post heading – planning applications.
Current application(s) A planning application relating to St Denis’ church has been submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council. The proposed development is for masonry...
Read more

Gamlingay Food Project

Donations always welcome

News


The Gamlingay Food Project logo – together with the Community Fridge – is located in the Alms Houses' former chapel in Church Street. It is open Monday to Saturday mornings.
The Gamlingay Food Project is a food bank partnership between the two Gamlingay churches – St Mary’s and Gamlingay Baptist Church. It is based...
Read more

what3words

A tool for finding and guiding people to a precise location... as is its rival, Plus Code

News


Hadrian's Wall at Housesteads Roman Fort (Vercovicium), an English Heritage site near Hexham in Northumberland. Its what3words are rental.puzzle.outcasts. Photo: Peter Mann.
By Margot Eagle what3words is the perfect tool for finding and guiding people to a precise location, which street addresses and post codes don’t...
Read more

Banking hub in Royston

But if all you want is cash, go to Hatley post office

News


A banking hub opened in Royston on 15th September 2024, located in the annexe at the back of the Town Hall. It is open Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and in addition to cash transactions, a Community Banker Service will also be available. Cash transactions are also available at Hatley post office.
By Peter Mann A banking hub has opened in Royston – located at the moment in the annexe at the back of the Town...
Read more

30 mph is coming to Hatley St George

Consultation over – implementation date awaited

News


The 40 mph speed sign in Hatley St George – should the limit be reduced to 30 mph?
In August, Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways department published its proposal to reduce the speed limit through Hatley St George from 40 mph to 30...
Read more

This is rather good!

St Denis’ east window – will become real in 2026

News


St Denis', East Hatley, Cambridgeshire – proposed design for a new chancel / east window by Aidan McRae Thomson – March 2024.
By Peter Mann I was absolutely delighted on opening an email in late March 2024 from Rachel Morley, director of the Friends of Friendless...
Read more

Hatley’s defibrillator – just dial 999

Trained operatives will tell you what to do

News


The defibrillator cabinet outside Hatley Village Hall. If you need to use it, first dial 999 – it has been registered with the NHS who will provide the code to open the cabinet door and give instructions for its use.
Hatley’s defibrillator (above) is located outside the Village Hall in Hatley St George in a locked and temperature-controlled cabinet. It has full public access...
Read more

The Gamlingay and Hatleys Car Scheme

For when you don’t have the means of getting there

News


The Gamlingay and Hatleys local car scheme – Mick Marshall with client, June 2018.
Do you need help getting to your doctor or vaccination appointment? The Gamlingay and Hatleys Car Scheme provides transport for medical appointments – including...
Read more

Rail and ale trail around South Cambs

Five stations and 16 great pubs to stroll to

News


Rail and ale trail booklet, May 2024, featuring five stations in South Cambridgeshire (Foxton, Shepreth, Meldreth, Shelford and Whittlesford Parkway) and highlighting 16 pubs, all within a 35-minute walk from the stations.
By Peter Mann A rail and ale trail for Hatley? Erm, no… but a new booklet puts a spotlight on using local trains and...
Read more

Sylvia Marshall – 30 years our postmaster

Long and loyal service recognised by the Post Office

News


Sylvia Marshall – 30 years postmaster of Hatley St George post office: her long and loyal service has been recognised by the Post Office with a Community Service Award certificate. Photo: Peter Mann.
Sylvia Marshall talking to Peter Mann I became postmaster (I prefer it to ‘postmistress’) of Hatley St George post office on 1st May 1994....
Read more

Buses

Some notes on local services
plus Park & Ride in Cambridge

News


Bus in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, March 2013. Photo: Peter Mann.
By Peter Mann and Nicola Jenkins It’s fair to say Hatley is not served well by public transport. Other than the ‘Thursday market day’...
Read more

Gamlingay gym: your local fitness centre

It’s based at the village primary school

News


Gamlingay gym reopened on 27th June 2022.
By Peter Mann Gamlingay gym, based at the village primary school in Station Road, has all the equipment one would expect to help keep...
Read more

The West Cambridgeshire Hundreds

Ancient woods to explore (while still open)*

News


The Cambridgeshire Hundreds, an administrative division used from Anglo-Saxon times (circa 800 AD) to the 19th century when (as with most counties in England and Wales) Cambridgeshire was divided into 17 hundreds, plus the borough of Cambridge. Each hundred had a separate council which met each month to rule on local judicial and taxation matters. Picture source: Wikipedia.
By Peter Mann According to the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants, the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds is ‘a collection of wildlife rich ancient...
Read more

Rita the meter maid is coming to Gamlingay

Civil parking enforcement on streets near us

News


A civil parking enforcement 'service agent' putting a parking ticket on a car – part of Cambridgeshire County Council's take over of parking enforcement - March 2023.
By Peter Mann Cambridgeshire County Council is in the process of setting up a new department for parking enforcement, a job currently done by...
Read more

St Denis’ is an award winning church

First prize in a major competition
for ʻBest conservation’

News


St Denis' church East Hatley, Cambridgeshire from the south west. The Friends of Friendless Churches has completed two phases of restoration work since taking ownership of the building in 2016 – including (in 2018) new windows in the mediaeval nave and (in 2021) new windows in the chancel William Butterfield built in 1874.
By Peter Mann St Denis’ church in East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, has won a major ‘Best conservation’ award. The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and...
Read more

Rescuing our churches

Articles highlighting the plight of rural churches

News


By Peter Mann It was a good week for spotting mentions of the Friends of Friendless Churches – and the plight of rural churches...
Read more

St Denis’ re-skinned

Now a significant local asset – and open every day

News


The south wall in the nave and chancel of St Denis' church, East Hatley. In 2022 the walls in the nave were replastered and (at the far end) the reredos restored. St Denis' is now every day from 8.30 am to dusk. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.
By Peter Mann An unexpected grant late 2021 from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund enabled the Friends of Friendless Churches, which owns St Denis’...
Read more

William Butterfield in action

A visit to All Saints, Margaret Street, London – and an important paper on this star architect who restored St Denis' in 1874

News


All Saints, Margaret Street, London – the interior, looking towards the magnificent altar piece at the east end and dating from 1909.
There can be no question William Butterfield (1814-1900) was, along with Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), Sir George Gilbert Scott RA (1811-1878) and Sir Charles Barry...
Read more

A little less of St Denis

Lost in the great fire at Notre Dame Cathedral

News


St Denis' statue in Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris. He was beheaded around 250 AD - Notre-Dame was built on the site of his church 900 years later. A relic of St Denis, placed in the weather vane atop the cathedral's spire in the 1830s was lost in the devastating fire of 15th April 2019. [Photo: Ronile from Pixabay.com - statues-273745_1920.
Saint Denis was a 3rd-century Christian martyr and saint – martyred for his faith by decapitation, thus now portrayed carrying his head in his...
Read more