Join us for our popular annual Community Carol Service & SCRATCH NATIVITY which this year will be based around the Church of England Christmas Nativity Story – ‘The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas’.
Children (and adults) can dress up as their favourite character and join in at the appropriate point.
Don’t forget to wear your Christmas Jumper if you’re not dressing up!
St Bartholomew’s Church choir have in recent times been singing less and less regularly at services and rehearsals became unviable quite a while ago. The reality of the situation is that we have struggled for quite some time now to get enough voices together at the same time for various reasons, and we now only have one remaining man – that being our head boy and longest serving member Denis Armstong.
There was a consensus among most choir members that it is now no longer feasible to continue as a choir and that we should now hang up our robes and officially draw down the curtain on this wonderful chapter of our history here at St Bartholomew’s. Whilst this is a sad and reluctant decision, we felt that the time was right rather than to just let things drag on with no real purpose as they have for the past 12 months or so.
We do however have a lot to be thankful for; we’ve been very fortunate to be able to continue all these years with such a strong choir when many churches lost their choirs maybe more than 30 years ago. Much of this is down to the dedication and long service of individual members.
We will mark the occasion officially and the choir will sing together one last time at the morning service on Sunday 14th December at 10am where as a church we can celebrate and give thanks for the wonderful years of service from all choir members past and present, and hopefully sign off with a good sing. We hope that maybe some previous members will be able to join us for this also.
Many people in Meltham have had an association with the choir at some point in their lives, and will no doubt have their own memories – whether that’s being a past member, or hearing them singing around the village at Christmas. Maybe the choir sang at your wedding or a family funeral. Everyone is welcome to come along and share in the occasion with us. It really is the end or an era here in Meltham 🙁
My dear readers and supporters, I am sorry to say this magazine will be the last edition of the Meltham Parish Magazine. It has been going for over 100 years in various forms but after my current role of nearly 6 years being editor my time has come to close down my laptop! Thank you for all your support.
However, we still have an amazing edition to read, even if it is a tad late (as usual). So please turn to page 8 as Joyce shares her latest read, learn about how kind you generous people of Meltham have been at both the Crisis coffee morning (pg9) and the shoeboxes (pg 15).
We have lots of Christmas events coming up so please turn to the centre pages and get them up on your calendar. As well as hear about those who have done great things like Wilshaw (pg 24) and the wonderful ladies of Helme (pg 23).
Thank you once again to those who have supported me and the magazine by sending submissions in, you have really helped me out and made this magazine what it is.
Come and sing carols from your heart! The next highlight of Meltham’s Christmas – we’ve had Carols in the Park, now come and join us around the piano in the warmth at the Waggon and Horses in #Meltham for our popular annual evening of festive song, cheer and beer*!
*optional – other drinks are available
Saturday 13th December 2024 from 7:30pm onwards.
ALL WELCOME
Please help us spread the word by sharing our Facebook event – don’t forget to invite your friends and bring them along! https://fb.me/e/74IHS2LUX
CANDLELIT CAROLS IN THE PARK with Meltham & Meltham Mills Band featuring Meltham Community Choir and our local school children. down at Robert Ashton Memorial Park Sunday 30th November at 4pm.
Hot chocolate, mince pies and other goodies available in St James’ Church adjacent. Bring a torch, possibly wellies!
Arrangements designed and put together by talented local flower arrangers will be on display in St Bartholomew’s Church – Meltham on Saturday 29th November from 11am onwards.
Please share our event and invite your friends to help us spread the word. https://fb.me/e/9lrKfShkR
Our popular annual Christmas Market will also be taking place at the same time in the Church Hall.
St Bartholomew’s Church Christmas Market and Santa’s Grotto – Saturday 29th November – 11am – 4pm. Put on your Christmas Jumpers and join us at Meltham Church Hall to celebrate the start of the festive season and find something truly special whilst supporting our local traders. We ho-ho-hope to see you there!
There will be over 20 stalls selling a wide range of Christmas gifts.
FREE entry – DARKWOODS Coffee available for you to purchase whilst you browse.
For the kids, Santa can also be visited in his Grotto courtesy of Meltham Stage Company.
Over in the Church, come and see the Christmas Story told in Flowers! Displays and arrangements designed and put together by talented local flower arrangers.
The Meltham Christmas lights switch-on will start with carols around the tree from 4pm followed by the BIG SWITCH ON at 4:30pm by Meltham’s own international cricket star, Hollie Armitage. Afterwards, there will be an illuminated Tractor Run around the village.
Supporting the ‘CRISIS’ homeless charity, our popular annual Fundraising Morning is back again! Featuring the usual array of fab craft and gift stalls, the brilliant silent auction and much more! Sat 22nd Nov – 10am to 12 noon at St James’ Meltham Mills (the church by the park).
Please support us – there are so many good things to buy and your spending will support the ‘CRISIS’ charity which works with the homeless at Christmas and all year round.
FREE ENTRY! – oh, and there’s tea, coffee and CAKE!
If you’re a Facebook user, please help us spread the word by sharing our event and inviting your friends along: https://fb.me/e/8sKnfbvX6 or forward this email on.
The Royal British Legion service of Remembrance in Meltham will take place outdoors around the War Memorial at St Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday 9th November 2025.
The parade led by Meltham & Meltham Mills band will leave the Carlile Institute at 10:30am and arrive at the church for the service which will begin at 10:45am. Please gather in the vicinity of the church yard.
For those who feel unable to stay outside, it will still be possible to sit inside the church and take part in the service which will be shown on the tv screen. We aim to have improved sound inside in order to be able to hear the service outside.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
