News

At St Michael’s we are working towards the Eco Church Bronze Award.  (And then, hopefully, silver and gold!). Eco Church is all about the care of the church for God’s Earth, and we can all be involved, both at church and at home.  In all aspects of our lives there are ways to make more caring, ecological choices in what we choose to do, use, buy.  Some things are easy, some more challenging, some you might never have thought of …

Here are some links to get you started, including an environmental lifestyle audit for you to use at home to see what differences you could make. It certainly got me thinking!

• The first and main link is https://creationcare.org.uk/ 
  This is the link to sign up for the Environmental Household Audit we are hoping a lot of people will choose to do.  It also has lots of useful links to help you to find out about other resources you can use.
• For all you drivers, 11 ways to reduce your emissions: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/emissions/11-ways-to-reduce-your-car-emissions/ 
• For those on Facebook - here's a link to our local community group promoting all things sustainable: https://www.facebook.com/sustainableshefford/ 
• And finally, a leaflet that you can download to find out a bit more about the Eco Church Project: 
  
  

Source: Claire Searle

Date: 4th July 2023

We are currently planning for a re-ordering of our Lady Chapel. The plans will include the provision of more accessible seating and additional storage.

This image is of the Lady Chapel as it currently exists, showing the side-facing pews (one of which is not safe to sit on).

Links below are to copies of documents and plans submitted to St Albans Diocese to get a faculty for the re-ordering (similar to planning permission).

Statement of Need

Additional Information

Existing Floor Plan

Proposed Floor Plan

Source: Patricia Goulding

Date: 4th April 2023

Here is a link to this year's draft Mission Action Plan for you to download and read.

Source: Rev Roni Goodman
Date:31st March 2023

Sadly, it has become increasingly obvious that the bench is in a fairly hazardous position in relation to crumbling/falling masonry from the west face of the tower.

We are therefore planning to remove it, cut out the concrete which is to be replaced with turf.

Click here to view the Public Notice.

Our Christmas Tree Festival this year (2nd, 3rd and 4th December) was another triumph with a truly amazing display of imaginative and cleverly executed tree designs.

The event raised over £650 - a spectacular achievement in the midst of so much financial doom and gloom - the good people of Shefford can always be relied upon to support a good cause; thank you to everyone who contributed!

Visitors are asked to vote for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd favourite trees from which the 'Public Vote Winner' prize is awarded. This year's winner of the Public Vote was Shefford Lower School. The children collected and decorated empty plastic bottles to actually build their tree giving a strong environmental awareness message.

An additional prize is awarded by an external Judge and this year's winner was TJ Plumbing who also built their own tree, soldered together from copper pipes and fittings.

We would like to give a HUGE thankyou to the Potter family who plan, promote and run this annual event for us.

Source: Pat Goulding

Photographs: Courtesey of Frank Bond

Date: 10th December 2022