Tag Archives: Art

Art, Events, Kitty Milroy, music, St Mark's Church

Artz @ St Mark’s – This Weekend!

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There will be a celebration of art, craft, music and dance this weekend when the first Artz @ St Mark’s takes place from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 1 at St Mark’s Church, Hale.

Cllr Alan Earwaker, Mayor of Farnham, will open Artz @ St Mark’s at 6pm on Friday, July 30 and over the course of the weekend there will be an exhibition of painting, quilting, needlework, knitting, even a prom dress, along with music and dancing which includes the band Cajun Boogaloo, Northumbrian pipes, saxophone, the organ and Appalachian dancing. 

Refreshments will be served and there will be the opportunity to see the newly restored Kitty Milroy murals.  The opening times will be Friday 6-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 2-4pm.

Rev’d Lesley Crawley, Rector of the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale, of which St Mark’s is a part, said: “I am awed by the creativity of the people around us here in Farnham and grateful to them for sharing their work and talent with us. We saw a lot of it during lockdown when we held our online Lockdown Art Club and we are so looking forward to being able to show the work in person now. 

“We hope lots of people will come to see the work on display and enjoy the music and dance, and also take the opportunity to see the beautiful murals painted by Kitty Milroy 100 years ago and now restored. Please do come and join us over the weekend.” 

St Mark’s is on Alma Lane, Hale, Farnham, GU9 0LT. There is a small amount of parking at the church. 

Events, St Mark's Church

Candles of Hope shine a light on human rights

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St Mark’s Church will hold Candles of Hope on Saturday, December 1 – an evening of music, readings and art in aid of Amnesty International.

Organised by the Farnham branch of Amnesty International – the movement which campaigns to end abuses of human rights across the globe – Candles of Hope will feature Jay Parrack’s Voices Community Choir;  Anna Carteret (poetry reading);  Wildflowers (a capella); Richard Lane (classical violin); Frances Whewell (organ);  Bob and Lesley Shatwell (folk violin and double bass); Heather Golding and Caroline Walker (voice and flute); and Jonathan Adams (acoustic guitar and voice). There will also be an art display and refreshments will be on sale.

Admission is free but donations are welcomed. The evening begins at 7.30pm.

Helena Walker, one of the event’s organisers, said: “Candles of Hope’ is an uplifting evening of live music and inspirational poetry, along with an art exhibition and refreshments.  It offers the opportunity to celebrate the work of Amnesty International and learn more about Amnesty’s involvement with human rights issues around the world.  Everyone at the event will be invited to sign greetings cards which will be sent to people who are currently being supported by Amnesty International.

“Since 1961, Amnesty International has campaigned for the release of prisoners of conscience around the world; for some years, the Farnham members of Amnesty have taken a particular interest in Vietnamese prisoners and we will be welcoming a group of Vietnamese friends to the event.”

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than seven million people, campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. It investigates abuses of human rights, lobbies governments and other powerful groups such as companies, tells the stories of people affected by abuses, and mobilises supporters to campaign for change and support the victims of injustice.  It acts on the principle that it is “better to light a candle than curse the darkness”.

For information on the Farnham Amnesty group, email farnham.amnesty@gmail.com

News Releases, St Mark's Church

The mystery of the artist in the church

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There is a mystery to be solved in Farnham – how did a woman from Hale come to paint a series of rare and important murals in a local church in the early 20th century and who were her subjects?

The murals in question are on the walls of St Mark’s Church and have been found to be of national importance, as an audience at the church discovered when they attended a talk at the church on October 20.

The talk followed a report by the internationally renowned painting conservation practice Rickerby and Shekede which placed the murals at a crucial time in the stylistic and technical development of mural paintings.

“They were painted between 1911 and 1920,” said Lesley Crawley who presented the talk along with Bob Skinner, who has carried out extensive research into Kitty Milroy’s background, and painting restorer Nick Seversway who has studied the paintings. “There are similarities with the work of Mary Watts who designed the Watts Chapel in Compton and we know she visited Hale House. Kitty and others in her family were living in Oast House nearby. There may be some link between her visit and Kitty.”

The paintings blend influences from European Symbolist painting and the Arts and Crafts Movement and represent Biblical scenes such as the Annunciation (when the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus), the Benedicite – a song in which the natural world praises God – and the four writers of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There are also local scenes and views and it is known that the figures are of local people but their identities are now a mystery. “We know they were local but we don’t have any more information as there are no records,” said Lesley. “If anyone does know of anything, please do let us know.”

The murals are in need of restoration and the church is now beginning the process of applying for grants and seeking other sources of funding to help bring out the full glory of these important works of art which should put Hale on the artistic map.

If anyone knows who the figures in the paintings may be, or has any further information about Kitty Milory,  please contact Lesley on 01252 820537 or revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org

St Mark's Church

Emily – the ‘Most Original Entry’

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Hale Carnival was a joyful community affair with a happy, celebratory atmosphere which England’s win in the World Cup quarter-finals certainly enhanced. St Mark’s had its bunting up as well as a large rainbow banner as a reminder of God’s welcoming, inclusive love which is far greater than we can imagine. And we also had Emily!

Emily the replica organ was the St Mark’s entry into the carnival procession, created by Dave and Helena Walker and Frances and Paul Whewell. They also entered her into the Farnham Castle the previous Saturday where they won silver in the adults and individuals category. In  the Hale Carnival they not only took home second prize they also won ‘Most Original Entry’.

Thank-you Dave, Helena, Frances and Paul for your creativity and dedication!

Advent, Art, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

Exploring Faith through Art

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Exploring faith through art

 

For Advent this year we are “Exploring Faith through Art” – a time of looking at some artwork on the themes of the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Flight to Egypt and discussing how it informs our faith. There will be refreshments, discussion and a chance to try doing some art for those who want to. It is at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, GU9 0LT on three Mondays 4,11 and 18 December 19:30-21:00

To find out about either of these events contact Lesley revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org or 01252 820537.