Category Archives: Art

Join our Christmas Tree Festival!

It’s never to early to think about decorating your Christmas tree!

That’s the message from the parish as we are calling for entries for the Christmas Tree Festival which will run at St George’s over the weekend of December 5th-7th, in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell, Hospice Care.

Individuals, organisations, schools, charities, businesses, anyone is welcome to enter, and it is totally free to enter. Any size is welcome – large or tiny or anything in the middle, but please let us know dimensions to help our planning. It doesn’t have to be a traditional tree and the only restriction is that the base is no wider than 4ft. It can have lights – battery or mains, but not musical – and let us know when you reserve your space which type you will be using so we can organise a socket for you.

On the Saturday morning, both the Town Cryer and Father Christmas will visit to inspect the trees and encourage donations. There will also be live music, refreshments, Morris dancing and craft stalls.

It’s being organised by Christine Brown who said: “This should be a lovely community event for all and we are planning for 40 trees, but please sign up quickly as those spaces are going fast.

“There will be donation boxes next to every tree so that people can put money into the boxes of their favourite trees. There will be a prize for the tree with the highest amount donated and half of all the money raised from the donations will go to Phyllis Tuckwell to support the wonderful work they do for our community.”

The prize will be awarded at St George’s Christmas carol service on Sunday, December 7th at 6pm. Rev’d Lexi Russell, will not only present a trophy but also announce the amount raised during the festival.

Entry forms are available from Christine Brown, and should be returned by November 14th, though once all the spaces are filled entries will be closed.

Come and see Kitty at our Heritage Open Days

St Mark’s is taking part in the 2025 Heritage Open Days and welcoming people to the church on Friday, September 19th at 11am and Saturday, September 20th at 3pm, to see the Kitty Milroy murals and have all their questions answered by Nick Seversway who is an expert on the subject.

This is an ideal opportunity for anyone who hasn’t yet seen the murals, or would like to find out more, to come along and have a detailed look.

The murals, which are of significant national importance in the development of 20th-century mural painting, were painted between 1911 and 1920 by local woman Eleanor Catherine Wallace Milroy (‘Kitty’) using other local people as models.

They blend influences from European Symbolist painting and the Arts and Crafts Movement and have been featured in the national media. Comparisons have been made with pictures in The Watts Chapel and it is known that Mary Watts visited the area.

The murals are a celebration of faith, seen through the natural world, and include the words ‘O, all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord’  (The Benedicite, a canticle taken from ‘The Song of the Three Holy Children’ from the apocryphal parts of the Book of Daniel) and ‘O give thanks unto the Lord’ (from Psalm 136).

They had deteriorated significantly over the years and in 2021 were restored by internationally renowned mural conservationists Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede.

There is no need to book, so please come along on September 19th or 20th. Refreshments will be served.

Farnham Maltings at… church

Farnham Maltings is bringing its Maltings at… series of events for families to St Mark’s and St George’s this summer holidays.

Maltings at… is a series of free workshops and performances suitable for families and they are taking place at St Mark’s on Monday mornings and St George’s on Wednesdays throughout August.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The activities are:

St Mark’s

Drama Games with Maltings Youth Theatre
Monday, August 5th, 10-11am 
Ages 5-11

Bring your adults and join in an hour of fun and games! Whether it’s your first go at some drama or you’re a budding thespian, there’s something for everyone!
All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Get dramatic in a workshop with the Maltings Youth Theatre


The Giant Who Slept for Ten Thousand Years
Monday, August 12th, 10-11am
Ages 3+


Long before humans, in an icy fjord of the northernmost island, the last family of giants roam the land. Travelling inside and through the gorges and hills, they shape the landscape with their every step. Time passes, plants grow and fall – the mountains hide riches deep underneath the soil. People discover the fjord and cut the earth open for its wealth. Can they live together with giants and trolls peacefully?
A heart-warming story about our relationship to nature, friendship and the places we call home.

Beatboxing
Monday, August 19th, 10am-11am
All ages welcome

Get ready to rock with UK championship Beatboxer Danny Ladwa from School Of Beatbox! Discover the thrill of beatboxing, turn your sounds into mesmerizing rhythms, and pick up mind-blowing techniques that will wow your crowd!

Danny Ladwa is there to teach you beatboxing!

Craft Workshop
Monday, August 26th, 10am-11am
Ages 3+

Get creative and have fun learning how to lino print your favourite creature from nature, cut them out and attach to sticks. Professional artist, Martyna Karch, will have loads of pre-cut templates for you to print and paint!

You can just turn up on the day but it is best to book. To do so, click here.

St George’s

Mrs Armitage on Wheels
Wednesday, August 7th, 9.45-10.30am
Ages 3+


Scoot Theatre presents Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels, an interactive, energetic show, celebrating the joy of getting outdoors and being active. Featuring live music, puppetry and physical comedy.

Drama Games with Maltings Youth Theatre
Wednesday, August 14th, 10-11am
Ages 5-11


Bring your adults and join in an hour of fun and games! Whether it’s your first go at some drama or you’re a budding thespian, there’s something for everyone!

Beatboxing
Wednesday, August 21st, 10-11am
All ages welcome


Get ready to rock with UK championship Beatboxer Danny Ladwa from School Of Beatbox! Discover the thrill of beatboxing, turn your sounds into mesmerizing rhythms, and pick up mind-blowing techniques that will wow your crowd!

Learn to lino print with Martyna Karch

Craft Workshop
Wednesday, August 28th, 10am-11am
Ages 3+


Get creative and have fun learning how to lino print your favourite creature from nature, cut them out and attach to sticks. Professional artist, Martyna Karch, will have loads of pre-cut templates for you to print and paint!

Again, you can just turn up on the day but it is best to book. To do so, click here.

Christmas Angels at St Mark’s

Angels have flown into St Mark’s to declare the glad tidings of great joy at the heart of Christmas – that God is here among us.

The angels were invited in by our Thursday Coffee and Art at St Mark’s group. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 10.30am in the church community centre.

Each month there is a different theme and people of all ages and all artistic abilities (or none) are welcome. Tea, coffee and cake are all served.

The angels will be there for all our Christmas services. At St Mark’s these are:

Friday, December 8th, 6pm: Carol Service.
Sunday, December 10th, 11am: Christingle.
Thursday, December 21st, 6pm: The Longest Night; When Christmas Hurts.
Christmas Eve, 5pm: Crib Service.
Christmas Day, 11am: Christmas Day Communion for all ages.

There will be a special Kitty Milroy Matins at St Mark’s on New Year’s Eve at 11am.

Click on the links for information about other Carol, Crib and Christmas Day services.

To find out more about Coffee and Art at St Mark’s, contact Lesley Shatwell.

Messy Church is back!

Messy Church returns this Sunday – July 9th – at 4pm at St Mark’s. This month we are exploring The Big Catch and taking a look at the computer game Guardians of Ancora.

Come along and enjoy craft, songs, games, stories, sandwiches and cakes!

Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults which involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables. All elements are for people of all ages, adults and children.

To find out more contact Michelle Chapman.

Coffee Artz at St Mark’s

It’s Coffee Artz again this week, on Thursday, June 15th10.30am to 12noon at St Mark’s Church.

Coffee Artz takes place on the first and third Thursday of each month and each time the group takes a different theme to inspire the art. No artistic skill is needed, no experience is needed and the equipment is all provided. Coffee, chat and cake are also provided!

To find out more email Elaine Fell.

Picture by Steve Johnson on Pexels.

Coffee Artz with a Spring in its step

It’s Coffee Artz again this week, on Thursday, May 18th, 10.30am to 12noon, and the theme is Spring.

Everyone is welcome to join in and help create a picture of Springtime which will then be made into cards to sell.

Coffee Artz takes place on the first and third Thursday of each month and each time the group takes a different theme to inspire the art. No artistic skill is needed, no experience is needed and the equipment is all provided. Coffee, chat and cake are also provided!

To find out more email Elaine Fell.

Friday Night is Games Night!

Come and join us at St Mark’s Church on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 7-9pm for our ‘youth club for all ages’, aka Friday Night Games Night. The next ones are: April 14 and 28, May 12 and 26.

We have table tennis, pool, board games, jigsaws, art and craft, modelling, food, drinks and lots of chat and general socialising. It’s open to all ages and we range in age from children to 80+. Anyone of primary age and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

We are inclusive and welcome everyone. Please let us know if you have any particular needs or dietary requirements. Contact revd.stella@badshotleaandhale.org to find out more

Daffodils and art

It’s Coffee Artz again this week. Join us for art, coffee and daffodils at St Mark’s on Thursday, March 2nd, 10.30am to 12noon.

Coffee Artz takes place on the first and third Thursday of each month and each time the group takes a different theme to inspire the art. No artistic skill is needed, no experience is needed and the equipment is all provided. Coffee, chat and cake are also provided!

To find out more email Lesley Shatwell.

Photo by Hilary Halliwell on Pexels.com