Life in churches: Easter prep

It’s tidy-up time for many parishes, as they clean and prepare the church for Easter.  

This morning, Nola, Alice, and I polished the brass candlesticks, book stand, centrepiece cross, baptismal pitcher, and hand-bells at St Mary the Virgin, Anglican Church, Addington, Christchurch. 

In preparation for Easter Sunday tomorrow, the old sign (above the altar) is taken down…

and the new one put up:

St Mary’s is a small, friendly, inclusive faith community that worships in a heritage church in Church Square, Addington, surrounded by large established trees and at least one pair of nesting owls.

Some of its most beautiful interior features (apart from the people :)) are the luminous stained glass windows:

Whether because of its name, or for other reasons, the church has a discernible, feminine atmosphere inside.