150th Anniversary

St Jude’s Church
Serving Englefield Green since 1859

On October 28th, 2009, St Jude’s Church will be 150 years old. To celebrate this anniversary throughout 2009 there will be regular events to celebrate. We launched the year with a special calendar featuring some spectacular photographs of places of significance local to Englefield Green. We are now totally sold out of calendars but you can see what they looked like by clicking here.

Other celebratory events this year include a concert series every 1st Saturday in St Jude’s, festivals, as well as historical and artistic exhibitions featuring Englefield Green and its people. Thank you in advance for your support, and we look forward to you joining us in our celebrations for St Jude’s 150th.

We also have anniversary mugs for sale at £5. They come in a protective box.

Concert Series Details

Celebration Presentation on other churches designed by St. Jude's architect E B Lamb

Past Events:

• Sun 12 July 2009 11.15 a.m., in church, after the 9.30 morning service: St Jude's School presents their annual show, "Hoodwinked" (a take on the Robin Hood story, lasting no longer than an hour)
• Sat 11 July 2009 afternoon, in the churchyard around the church: St Jude's summer fair, with announcement of results of local art competition for children
• Fri 7 August to Sun 9 August 2009, during the day: Runnymede Art Society exhibition in church (some pictures will be on sale, a proportion of the proceeds to go to church funds)
• Plus exhibition of pictures illustrating the life of the church and the community during the 150 years since the church was built, in church, at all times when the church is open, including Saturday afternoons 2 - 4 p.m.
• Birthday Party on the Green (13th September, 2009). Click on the picture on the right for the news story).
• Wednesday 28th October 8pm Patronal Eucharist celebrated by the Bishop of Guildford. Royal Holloway Chamber Choir will join the choir of St Jude's in singing this service at the Parish Church.
• 1st November 6.30pm Choral Evensong with Royal Holloway Chapel Choir at St Jude's Church. Includes the first performance of an specially written anthem to commemorate our 150th year.

Hope of the Hopeless
Sonnet by Phoebe Wynne
Music by Guy Bunce
Commissioned by St Jude's United Church

Sonnet for St Jude

Phoebe Wynne

Hope of the hopeless, Hope of the helpless,
    the name our Lord God crowns our patron Jude,
To bring safe miracles to those of us
    for whom grief comes and despair dares to intrude.

St Jude, come ever to our assistance
    most holy apostle always and today;
You who walked beside our Lord of the dance –
    Give us the consolation of Heav’n we pray.

In return he shall lead us to our life,
    for to endure what we only just bear
is a beautiful struggle, empty of strife;
    What awaits is a peace all too fair.

    Hope of the helpless, Hope of the hopeless,
    Bless us all and in His image make us.