Musical Evening at St. James' Church, Cooling

Enjoy an evening of light classical music and conversation at St. James’ Church in Cooling this Saturday (10 August), who will host a Musical Evening with Charles Timberlake.

Tickets are £12.50, which includes a glass of wine and nibbles, and are available from Alison Bucknall on 01634 220204. The event begins at 7.30pm.

Take a look at the website for The Friends of St. James’ Church by clicking here.

  

Carols at Cooling

There will be a Carol Service at St. James’ Church in Cooling on Saturday 17 December, from 6pm. This will be followed by a serving of mince pies at the Village Hall.

The Church isn’t heated, so please do wrap up warmly if you are able to attend. I’m quite sure though that plenty of singing will quickly get everyone warmed up!

The Friends of St. James’ Church, who are organising the event, are always very busy organising events to raise money for the upkeep of the Church and to keep this lovely old building open to the public.

For more information, take a look at their website by clicking here.
 

Murder, Sex and Mayhem in English Churches (Cooling)

That’s the subject of a talk that will be given by John Vigar on Monday 14 November at Cooling Village Hall, at 7pm.

The event will follow a short AGM held by the Friends of St. James’ Church and refreshments will be available. Entrance is free, although I’m sure donations will be very welcome!

The Friends of St. James’ Church are always very busy organising events to raise money for the upkeep of the Church and to keep this lovely old building open to the public.

For more information, take a look at their website by clicking here.

 

Heritage Weekend on the Hoo Peninsula

The Heritage Open Days celebrations are running from 8 to 11 September, and there’ll be at least a couple of special activities taking place right here on the Hoo Peninsula.

St. James’ Church at Cooling (pictured below) will exhibit old photographs of Cooling, including past events, activities and local people. Entry is free, but with the Friends of St. James’ Church currently raising funds to preserve this lovely old building, please don’t forget to take some money so you can treat yourself to tea and cakes in aid of the preservation fund!

If you’d like to pop along, doors open at 10am and close at 4pm on both Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September.

Visit the website of The Friends of St. James’ Church by clicking here.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the peninsula, All Saints Church at Allhallows (pictured below) will be opening its doors to those interested in looking back in time through the photos and historical information which will be available to browse.

My great great Grandfather John Watson was baptised at All Saints Church in 1833. I’ve often thought about how very different the village must have looked in those days. Although being a mainly Norman structure, I don’t suppose the Church itself has really changed that much.

It really is a fabulous old building. My favourite ‘design feature’ is the weather boarded bell turret, a fairly recent addition in comparison with the rest of the building - added as it was in 1890!

All Saints Church opens its doors between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 10 September and there’ll be tea, coffee and cakes.

Well worth a visit - take a look at the Allhallows Parish Council website for more information.
 

Cakes, Tea and Roman Pots!

St. James’ Church at Cooling is tomorrow (Saturday) holding a Cakes, Tea and Roman Pots afternoon.

There’ll be a talk by Peter Dawson, from the Lower Medway Archaeological Society, on local Roman settlements. You’ll get the chance to see and handle Roman artifacts - followed by tea and homemade cakes.

If you fancy popping along, please pre-book your ticket (£5) by phoning Alison on 01634 220204.

Take a look at the website of The Friends of St. James’ Church by clicking here.
 

Dickie Dutton is jumping for charity!

On the same day that I’ll be taking part in the Relay for Life event at Deangate Ridge (2 July 2011), there’ll be an even more thrilling fundraising effort taking place.

76 year old Richard ‘Dickie’ Dutton (pictured below) will be skydiving from a great height to raise cash for St. James’ Church at Cooling.

If you fancy giving Dickie’s skydive attempt your support, visit his Just Giving web page here.

Take a look at the new website of The Friends of St. James’ Church by clicking here.
 

Midsummer Tea Party (Cooling), Saturday 18 June 2011

Cream Tea will be served in the grounds of St. James’ Church at Cooling on 18 June, from 2.30pm till 4.30pm.

Pop along and support The Friends of St. James’ Church, whilst enjoying delicious strawberries and homemade scones. Plants and cakes will be available to buy and there'll be a treasure hunt for the children. Entry is £3.50 per person. Go on, one scone won’t ruin the diet!

Contact Caroline Long on 01634 220336 for further information. Take a look at the new website of The Friends of St. James’ Church by clicking here.
 

New website for St. James’ Church at Cooling

The Friends of St. James’ Church at Cooling, who work in partnership with The Churches Conservation Trust, have gone online with a new website.

Dating back to the late thirteenth century, St. James’ Church is well known for its association with Charles Dickens, who is thought to have set the opening to Great Expectations in the churchyard.

The Church is fascinating and full of history. It's also worth taking time to enjoy the rural setting of Cooling itself - one of the most picturesque parts of the Hoo Peninsula.

If you would like to support The Friends of St. James’ Church – visit their new website here.