Festival of Stars

St Pancras Church’s Festival of Stars and showing of ‘The Infant King’

From 6th December…

As part of the  exciting programme of events planned for ‘Christmas in Arlington’, we are holding a Festival of Stars at St Pancras church. This is a way to celebrate Advent and Christmas in our wonderful ancient village church, and to help raise much-needed funds to keep it going for a few years more.

From 6th to 31st December, the church will be filled with home-made stars – single ones, big and small, star garlands, free-standing stars on shelves and windowsills, and even, we hope, some big enough to stand on the floor. And we’d love to have stars from across the Benefice and other surrounding parishes!

Stars can be lit (by battery-powered LED lights), sparkly, plain, made of tinsel, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, driftwood, knitted, sewn, whatever you like; and they can be in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a new arrival, or just because stars and Christmas go together! (If you prefer, your star(s) could be hung in the churchyard amongst the trees.) 

If you’re an internet user, for inspiration go to the Christmas in Arlington Facebook page (put “Facebook Christmas in Arlington” into your browser if you’re not a Facebook user), where all the details are and where ideas for stars can be found. 

You can attach a small label saying who made the stars and adding an appropriate message, and we’ll print a leaflet for visitors so they know who made what.

We also hope that local businesses might like to either contribute a star and a small donation, or sponsor the making of a star. The church, as always, will be open till evening every day, and on 12th  – 13th December and 19th – 20th December we will be serving yet more refreshments in the church. We hope to attract lots of visitors!

The Festival starts with the Christmas Creations Fair in the Village Hall, on 28th November, 1.30 to 5.00 pm, where there will be a chance to buy small gifts, decorations, cakes and sweets ready for Christmas. There will also be workshops for people to make stars to help decorate the church, so if you need inspiration, a gift for a friend, or a home-made Christmas cake, come along!

There will, of course, be delicious refreshments too, and a raffle (to be held over December) where the first prize is a star-patterned patchwork quilt. We are still looking for small gifts and decorations, so if you would like to contribute, please let Nicola Bloom know – contact details below.

Over the following week, the stars will be put in the church, and the Festival will be officially launched on 6th December, when we are delighted to be holding a showing of the DVD of The Infant King. Some may remember this wonderful act of worship, brought to Arlington by Bill and Jean Hardy, and performed for several years in the 70’s and 80’s, and we hope to bring back joyful memories and create new ones for those who have not yet had the pleasure of seeing it. Patsy Webb (Bill and Jean’s daughter) and others will talk about the play before the showing, and afterwards we will light up the stars, before going to the Village Hall to see an exhibition of photos and costumes, and consuming some warming mince pies! There will be no charge for the showing, but there will be a retiring collection, and since demand is likely to be high, entry will be by ticket only, available from Jackie Appleton on 01323 482489, or jackie@appleton.me.

Proceeds from the Festival will be divided between church funds and other charities. If you would like to contribute a star or stars, or know more about the stars or other events, please don’t hesitate to contact Nicola Bloom on 01273 487867 or at bloomnicola@yahoo.co.uk.

For details of all the Arlington Village events leading up to Christmas please download the ‘Arlington at Christmas’ flyer here.

Christmas in Arlington

For more information see the Facebook page 

More events coming up....

Wed 12th August, 10am til 12 noon

Coffee morning in the church.Come and join us for coffee, cake and a chat

and have a browse of the books in the village library located in the church.

There are some books for sale too for donations to the church.

Friday 11th Sept

Arlington Harvest Flower festival

Arlington's where it's at!! 3 events..

3 days, 3 events in Arlington Village hall, Field and marquee.

Summer Party for residents of the 5 villages on Sun 26th July

11am - Songs of Praise in the marquee.
12 noon - Picnic and games.
Free. Open invitation to all local residents of Alciston, Arlington, Berwick, Selmeston  and Wilmington.

Arlington Day on 1st August

12 noon - 5pm
Free events: Live Music, BYO Picnic, Art & Craft Show (continues til 10.30pm)
7pm - Arlington Gets Cajun. live music and dance event, barbeque, bar. £8/£2


Open to all.

Art & Craft Show on 1st AND 2nd August.

SAT: 12 noon til 10.30 pm.
SUN: 10.30 am - 4.30pm
Free entry.
Refreshments, art, crafts, tombola.

Open to all.

Coffee morning & library. July 8th & Aug 12th. 10am - 12 noon.

Coffee morning at the Library

Every 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 10 til 12, you are invited to come and join us for a coffee morning in the church. Refreshments available for donations to church funds. You can chat about books you have read, browse and borrow books or just come along to be sociable.

JULY 8th
AUGUST 12th

The library is free to use and is open dawn to dusk daily except during church services and events.

Arlington Village Library

The Arlington Village Library is now up and running following the launch event

with tea and cakes on Saturday 6th June. 

Situated at the rear of St Pancras Church in the heart of the village,

the library is open during daylight hours  (except during church services and events)

and is free to use - donations to church funds are always welcome.

You may borrow a book to take home or read it in the peace and tranquillity

of the church or the churchyard. While you are in the church, please do take the

time to have a look around and read up about its history.

There are a wide variety of titles from fiction, non-fiction, reference and children's books.

We ask you to return the books within a reasonable time and to leave the library tidy.

If you would like to donate more books to the library, please call Josie on 01323 485153.

Launch of Village Library!

SUMMER CELEBRATION FOR FIVE VILLAGES

SUMMER CELEBRATION FOR THE FIVE VILLAGES 

Sunday 26^th July from 11.00 a.m.

Everyone from Arlington, Alciston, Berwick, Selmeston and Wilmington is invited to a summer celebration at Arlington Glebe Field (by the Village Hall) on Sunday 26^th July, organised by the churches in our Benefice.

• A Songs of Praise service will be held in the marquee at 11.00 a.m. - with favourite hymns sung. (If you are musical and would be interested in playing in a music group to accompany the singing please contact 01323 870512.)

• This will be followed by refreshments and the chance to picnic in the field from about 12 noon. 

• There will be games such as Boules and rounders (bring your own games if you have any), Wellie throwing  and other attractions including vintage tractor and wagon ride,  a Treasure hunt for children and a have-a-go art Table.

• As part of this event we are trying to organise a show of vintage or veteran cars in the field – if you have one and can bring it along please let us know. Or perhaps you have some other attraction that you would like to bring. 

We hope that you can come and make this a great celebration.
If anyone would like to help with the planning of this event, please email Josie or call the number above. 

4th July Concert

Choral Evensong - ALCISTON

image from Berwick Church.org website

Choral Evensong,

Sunday 17^th May at 5 p.m.

Alciston Church

View the Alciston church GUIDE

Village Library

We will shortly have a small village voluntary 'Library' in the church where you can pop in and borrow a book to read at your leisure, or sit and read in the peace and quiet of the beautiful churchyard for a while.
Coffee mornings and book events will happen in the summer months so keep an eye on this page for details of dates and times.

Donations of decent quality books welcome. CONTACT US.