Thanks to Julia for letting me know that St Nicolas Church (in the Market Place) are proposing to swap the pews for flexible seating …
So now is the time for the people of Abingdon to say whether they agree or not.
The church has been at the centre of life in the town for 850 years. Church members want to make it more available for use by the community, while maintaining its primary function as a Christian church. Details of the proposed changes and a questionnaire for comments can be found in the church or on the website (www.stnicolasofabingdon.org.uk)
The church is normally open on weekdays from 10-1.00 so please go in to discuss the ideas over a cup of coffee, or phone 01235 536343.
St Nicolas Church was also open this evening for the ABCD Film Club Annual Silent Classic. This year it was Sparrows starring Mary Pickford from 1926 – accompanied on piano by Andrew Youdell.
This blog is a great way for us expats to keep in touch with the news and events back home.
A great example of flexible seating is at St John the Evangelist Church, Iffley Road, Oxford. I’ve seen a very good live concert there (they also have a bar for refreshments) They have a full programme of concerts as well as Church services and there is an art gallery available for exhibitions:
The different seating arrangements work really well:
https://www.sje-oxford.org/
The great advantage of uncomfortable pews is that they keep you awake during dull sermons – just saying.
Is this so that they can show the latest blockbuster movies, or alternatively have craft fairs/dances etc? Oh no…that’s the other place.
I would hope St Nicolas might be one of the very few churches not to lose its pews. What’s wrong with them?
On the other hand, as Abingdon is possibly the only town in England without an arts centre, the performance space would probably find use.
Haven’t noticed you at St Nic’s at sermon time, Craig, either awake or asleep.
Pews are so traditional, and so …. English. Shame to see them go for ‘modern’ seating? Visitors come to see our churches, and pews are always admired.