All Saints Church, Mendham used their growth fund to help enable Advent activities across the Benefice.
Their second Christmas pop concert was held on19 Dec in church with the local non-Christian music group that plays voluntarily at village services. It was the most successful yet with 62 adults of all generations, 15 children and 4 dogs. The difference was the
number of children with not only the children’s rock and roll choir (who meet in church from across benefice) singing to us as well as joining in but some instrumentalists from choir and a parent performing. This year also featured the adult singing group (for well-being who meet in church) and the sound system provided by a councillor from her locality budget was able to be introduced and used for first time, giving them an experience to prepare for a performance elsewhere.
The slightly longer concert had a great community atmosphere and although it was a pop concert the church was decorated with stable and it felt that the message of Christmas was not missing from the songs, Silent Night was sung at the end. Refreshments from the pub were also provided free of charge, and it was felt that the community was given a gift of an evening’s entertainment, accessible to all in a time of hardship, showcasing local people’s musical skills that were also offered for free for others and the venue of the church.
The local primary school visited the church on 19 March 2026 where a tour of what the church would have been like 150 years ago was given. The tour was able to emphasise the names and purposes of features of any church with real stories– font, pulpit, lectern, pews, chancel etc.
At the Easter service a prayer for the school was said and schoolchildren and staff were presented with medals as a gift.
The church plans on holding another Christmas pop concert in the future and also wishes to further develop the link between school/community to lead into Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
