St Peter’s will be open for the national Heritage Open Days on Saturday 18th September 10am – 4pm and Sunday 19th September 2pm – 4pm. In addition to information about the history and features of the church there will be flower arrangements and various singers and musicians will be attempting to perform 100 hymns or modern worship songs over the course of the weekend as part of our Christian heritage.
Donations will support the Town Mayor’s Charities.
We regret that St. Peter’s is currently closed and events cancalled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Current information about the parish can be found on the parish website
www.congletonparish.org.uk
We regret that we will not be able to open for the national heritage open days in 2020. We hope that we will be able to resume opening and events in 2021
Since 2019 we have continued to move forward with consultations and plans for further restoration of the gallery ceilings and upstairs windows. We have begun to improve the box pew seating, widening and raising the benches and adding new cushioning. During 2020 we have met with the relevant heritage bodies about plans for improving facilities, providing smaller meeting spaces and a possible extension to make St. Peter’s more suitable for worship and community use in the 21st century. We have developed links with the Major Churches Network.
Events in 2019 included a display of artwork by prisoners at HMP Thorn Cross and Styal, which was both thought provoking and moving, a talk by a former prison chaplain on life in prison, a piano recital by students from Chetham’s School of Music, access to our registers and a children’t trail.
We hope to be able to reopen for visitors and for events in 2021.
Tuesday opening has been cancelled due to the corona-virus pandemic. We hope it can be resumed in 2021.
We will plan a Mothering Sunday Service at St. Peter’s in 2021.
There are no plans yet to hold a Remembrance Day service. We will follow guidance in holding such a service.
St Peter’s has obtained eight of the Remembrance Silhouettes which are being used to help remember the fallen of World War One in this centenary year
After reopening the church at the end of July three hundred people visited the flower festival at the beginning of August. Twenty two displays depicting the community life of Congleton were put together by nine churches, Kids Planet Nursery and members of the South Cheshire Flower Club.
A celebration service in the presence of the Town Mayor was held on 5th August.
Heritage Open Days and Congleton’s Heritage and Antiques Fair were celebrated with displays in St. Peter’s detailing the history of the church and the programme of restoration achieved so far. One hundred and twenty nine people visited and many positive comments were received. Our new pop up banners helped people understand the important features of the church and are a very attractive asset.
A very enjoyable recorder recital was given given by the Recorder Society (Macclesfield Branch) on September 15th
Remembrance Day service for 2020 has yet to be planned. St. Peter’s has obtained eight of the Remembrance Silhouettes which will help us to remember those who fell in that terrible conflict and in wars since.
Looking forward to December 2020 the Town Carol Service has yet to be planned.
The Project Group will be continuing to work towards plans for the remaining restoration work and updating of the church facilities to make if fit for worship and as a community building for future generations.