Renovation and

Repair at Reed

Church

Work over the last 15 years, and

plans for the future

A substantial programme of renovation and repair has taken place at St Mary’s over the past fifteen years, including three major projects, encompassing careful renovation of both the interior and exterior of the building. In 2006 the East Window underwent total refurbishment. In 2009, a complete renovation of the inside of the Church was undertaken, as well as the provision of a new French drain and associated soakaways. And in 2019 we embarked on the most significant project of all, this time to the exterior of the building, including repointing of the tower, and extensive repair and renovation to external masonry and windows. This significant programme of work has only been possible through the generosity of countless people – including everyone who has supported Church and Friends of Reed Church events – and also through the generosity of numerous grant-making bodies, in particular, the Turney Village Trust. While the Parish can take pride that our Church is in a better state than it has been for very many years, there is yet more to be done. Two significant projects are currently being developed. First, a project to provide the Church with a fine new organ (see below). And second, a project to provide St Mary’s with a WC and kitchenette facility, allowing greater and more comfortable use of the Church by all.

New organ in place at St

Mary’s, Reed

Reed’s fabulous and much-anticipated new organ – made possible through the commitment and generosity of so many in the community – is in! The first service supported by the new instrument was, very fittingly, our sunrise service at 6.15am in St Mary’s Church on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024. The old organ in Reed was “economically” installed in the 1970s and, although it had seen good service, had reached the end of its useful life. An ambitious fundraising project was therefore launched aiming to raise £150,000 to commission and install a beautiful new organ. Fundraising - which included a 24-hour organ marathon by organist Paul Harrison - proved extraordinarily successful - through the extraordinary generosity of many, both in the village and outside. This enabled the team to sign a contract with our preferred organ builder, Mander Organs, who have been working on site in St Mary’s since January 2024. And, as of 28 March, the organ is now complete, and both looking and sounding magnificent! An exciting programme of events has been put together this summer to celebrate the new organ. All are most enthusiastically invited: please do note the dates in your diary and come and join us for as many as you can! Sunday 2nd June, 6pm: Service of Thanksgiving and Blessing of the new organ by the Bishop of St Albans. Supported by Reed Choir. A collection will be taken in aid of Church funds. Saturday 22nd June, 12-4pm: Open Console! Do you play the piano? Then come and give the organ a try! An opportunity for anyone who would like to come and have a go. Explanation of what all the knobs and buttons do will be provided. Drop in any time during the Strawberry Tea. No charge. Saturday 22nd June, 7pm: Organ Concert given by Hugh Morris, Director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), to include Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Tickets £15 adults / U16 free. Click here to buy tickets. A licensed bar will be available. Proceeds to Reed Church. Sunday 30th June, 5pm: Hymns & Pimms at St Mary’s! Come along and join Reed Choir in singing your favourite hymns - as selected by you for the Organ Marathon – while enjoying a glass (or two) of Pimms! No charge (there will be a retiring collection in aid of Church funds). Saturday 20th July, 7pm: Concert given by St Mary’s favourites Ros Holbrow, John Witchell, and Robin Pegna, featuring the new organ! Tickets £15 adults / U16 free. Click here to buy tickets. A licensed bar will be available. Proceeds to Reed Church. …and, as summer turns to autumn… Saturday 21st September, 7pm: Concert given by Reed Choir. Come and support Reed Choir as they perform a wide mix of classical and popular pieces, both sacred and secular, featuring the new organ. Tickets £15 adults / U16 free. A licensed bar will be available. Proceeds to Reed Choir and Reed Church. More details will be available on each of these events on the Reed village website, in The Diary, and on the St Mary’s Reed and Reed Village Facebook pages. But please do save the dates in your diary now, and come and join us this summer in celebrating our wonderful new organ. We look forward to seeing you all!