1st November 2024
Join us on November 1st for an evening of fun across Newark Town Centre. St Mary’s will be open late; offering FREE crafts, FREE history tours and our coffee bar will be open late too! A FREE light and sound installation will be running in St Mary’s Gardens in partnership with Newark Creates and Newark Heart, so come along and enjoy what should be an atmospheric evening.
You can book your tickets for our Lamplight History Tours here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1029883377907?aff=oddtdtcreator
27th October 2024
On Sunday 27th October we will be running our last “Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene” Project tour before the church closes for the repair works. If you want to know more about the project, then please come along and join us. FREE tickets for this tour can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1015213720567?aff=oddtdtcreator
13th September 2024
We had a very successful weekend for Heritage Open Days, welcoming more than 450 people to the church to learn about the heritage and history of the building. After the success of our first “Reawakening St Mary Magdalene” Project tour of the church, we will be hosting three further tours over the course of September and October:
Friday 27th September @ 2 p.m.
Saturday 12th October @ 2 p.m.
Sunday 27th October @ 2 p.m.
If you would like to learn more about The Reawakening Project, and what we are planning, then please join us on one of the above dates. Tickets are FREE and can be reserved here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1015213720567?aff=oddtdtcreator
Andrew Fearn leading a tour of the outside of the church, explaining why the major repair works are needed
We also have a fantastic talk lined up for January 22nd 2025, where Dr James Wright will be talking to us about Medieval Stonemasons and their sculptures. If you have ever wondered why stonemasons carved grotesque creatures and faces into churches and grand buildings, or why you often find hidden creatures among the foliage in grand stone carvings, then now is your time to find out! Join us for what will be a fascinating insight into the work (and minds) of medieval stonemasons! Tickets are £10, and all proceeds will go towards the care of St Mary Magdalene. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/998437482387?aff=oddtdtcreator
A medieval sculpture from the nave of St Mary’s showing a King falling on his sword
16th August 2024
We have some very exciting public events and community engagement days coming up throughout August and September. Join us for FREE events on:
Sunday 25th August 12:30-14:30- Table Top Tales and Crafts (drop in session)
Friday 6th September 9:30-16:30- Heritage Open Days- Children’s Trails/ 13:00- Tower Tour
Saturday 7th September 9:30-16:30- Heritage Open Days- Children’s Trails/ 13:00- Tower Tour
Sunday 8th September 9:30-16:30- Heritage Open Days- Children’s Trails/ 14:00- Reawakening St Mary Magdalene Tour
Sunday 22nd September 14:00-16:00- Battle of Stoke Field Tour
For more information, or to book your place on one of our tours please e-mail heritage@stmnewark.org
If you would like to get involved, then please e-mail heritage@stmnewark.org for more information about volunteering!
We also have a number of Community Engagement workshops lined up, partnering with Beaumond House Hospice, REACH and Bowbridge Court Care Home. We are really looking forward to getting to know these groups, and chatting to them about all the incredible heritage at St Mary’s.
26th July 2024
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Chrissie Van Mierlo to the role of Work Experience and Volunteer Coordinator. Chrissie will join our team in mid-September, and we are sure everyone will give her a very warm welcome. Chrissie comes from a background of similar projects, and has most recently been Museum Director at The Loughborough Bell Foundry Trust, and will bring lots of experience and energy to the role.
We have an exciting FREE Family Fun Day planned for the 25th August between 12:30 and 14:30 at St Mary’s. Storyteller, Nicky Rafferty will host a storytelling session for children of all ages. It will be an informal session with accompanying crafts. We hope to see lots of faces old and new there.
Join us for a tour of the site of the Battle of Stoke Field on Sunday 22nd September at 14:00.
The battle took place in 1487, and was the last major battle of the War of the Roses. After the battle Henry VII was said to have taken mass at St Mary’s, and his coat of arms is depicted in the surviving medieval window in the Eastern end of the Church.
The terrain varies from road to track to field margin so please wear appropriate footwear, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Meet at 14:00 at the Women’s Institute building in East Stoke.
Please note the post code of the WI Hut is NG23 5QL and there is plenty of roadside parking.
This will be followed by a Sunday lunch, venue TBC. If you would like more information, or to book your places. Please e-mail heritage@stmnewark.org
19th July 2024
July has been a busy month with lots of planning for the year ahead.
Anna Herbert, the new Heritage Interpretation and Visitor Experience Manager took up her role at the beginning of July, and will be responsible for delivering the new interpretation scheme, the Activity Plan and ensuring that St Mary’s becomes a destination for all visitors to Newark. More information on the Activity Plan can be found below, and if anyone has any questions, Anna can be contacted at heritage@stmnewark.org.
Recruitment has also begun for a new Work Experience and Volunteer Coordinator, who will be responsible for overseeing heritage skills internships and work placements, as well as the recruitment and training of a team of volunteers to deliver a thriving visitor experience.
Watch this space for more updates in the coming weeks!