St. Andrew’s, Earls Colne

St Andrew’s Church, Earls Colne, stands at the bottom of the High Street, opposite Earls Colne Primary School. The churchyard is a favourite for dog walking and a shortcut to the shops, with benches to take a moment out of life’s bustle. Step into our church, which is open most days, to enter into a place of stillness, somewhere to pray, and to just spend some quiet time with God.

Services take place here most Sundays, normally at 10am, supported by choir and organ in the Anglican tradition. We have varied services from Holy Communion, Morning Worship to All Ages with a fledgling worship band and a beautiful sung Evensong. Children are always welcome and they will particularly enjoy our Morning Worship All Age Service on the second Sunday of each month. We also have regular things like Cafe Church, Brew and Chat, recitals and Alpha. You don’t have to be in the congregation to be part of the life of St Andrew’s - we have wondeful volunteers in our flower team, cleaning team, churchyard crew and fundraising committee - contact us if you would like to be involved and you will be very welcome.

There has been a church on the site since medieval times and our church is a Grade 1 Listed building. The earliest section (the south aisle as you enter) dates from the early 14th Century. At the end of the Wars of the Roses work began on the tower but it was not completed until 1534. In 1838 the South aisle was extended to create the Lady Chapel and in 1864 the North Aisle and vestry were added. Inside we have beautiful stained glass windows, a stunning Chancel ceiling and many interesting memorial plaques. We still have wooden pews and choir stalls carved by a local craftsman in 1931 and also the wonderful addition of a kitchen and toilet facility added in 2011.

Read more about church building and history.:

History Booklet

easyfundraising

Through easyfundraising, you can make a donation to St Andrew’s Church, Earls Colne, without it costing you a penny. When you make a purchase online, you can opt to do it through easyfundraising who will make a donation to the church on your behalf (at no extra cost to you).
Just sign up on the church easyfundraising page. Everything is explained on this page and there is an Easyfundraising app for your phone and an otption to receive a prompt for use on your computer.

The Choir

Rehearsal times

Thursdays from 7.30 till 8.30pm in St Andrews Church with additional rehearsals where needed before major festivals and services. St Andrew’s Choir is a traditional robed choir which leads music at all services in the church. Four-part harmony is the norm and occasionally we will sing works which require more than four parts. We have a repertoire of over a hundred and fifty works of church and cathedral music. We seek to maintain a standard high enough to sing at Cathedral services, which we have done several times at both Chelmsford and St Edmundsbury Cathedrals. We welcome all new singers and there are no auditions because we maintain a policy of supporting all who wish to enjoy the pleasure of making music and to develop their musical skills. We also sing at weddings and occasionally at funerals, and at special services as required. For more information please contact Bret.

Bret Johnson
Organist and Choirmaster
01787 227988
07504 529447 Mobile
bretuk89@yahoo.co.uk

The Organ

St Andrew’s, Earls Colne, is fortunate in having a good two manual tracker action pipe organ. The instrument was built in 1893 by William Hill, and, despite some minor tonal modifications over the years, the organ remains very much as originally designed and, with only twenty-two speaking stops, displays a remarkable variety of tonal colour, making it suitable for both choral accompaniment and solo concerts.

The organ was completely dismantled and cleaned in 2013 and should therefore have many years of active service well into the future.

The instrument contains an enclosed swell, electric blower and a full manual and pedal board compass. Especially notable is a fine solo Trumpet stop on the Great Organ, which also has two flute stops. The Swell Organ contains a reed chorus, and also a lush soft string celeste tone. The Pedal Organ has two sixteen foot stops, unusual on an instrument of this size, and the organ displays considerable power when the full range of stops and couplers are engaged.

Bellringing

Change ringing as an art form began during the 16th century when church bells were first fitted with a full wheel and swung until balanced upside down. This allowed the ringer to control the timing of their bell which allowed continuously evolving sequences of bells to be rung, and thus change ringing was born. The music that we ring is based on continuously altering the sequence in which each bell is rung; learning a few of these simple patterns allows you to join in with bell ringers all across the world.

Bell Ringing Practice:

We are always looking for new ringers, either experienced or those who would like to learn. No musical experience requires! If you can manage the stairs then you will be able to manage the bells. It is a sociable team musical activity that keeps you fit, stimulates the brain and makes a glorious sound. Ringers range in age from 10 to 80+ and come from all walks of life.

We practise on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 pm until 9:00pm at St James’, Greenstead Green except the last Tuesday of the month when we are at St Andrew’s, Earls Colne. The initial weeks will be spent learning how to ring a bell individually and then you'll begin ringing with others before eventually performing with your band. If you would like more information please contact Trevor.

Restoration:

Earls Colne has 8 bells and these are in need of a major overhaul which will cost in the region of £70,000. If you would like to make a donation to help us, please visit our Just Giving page. Alternatively, you might like to support us by buying our merchandise (tote bag and mug) (see left) - obtainable from the Earls Colne Bell Ringers’ Facebook page

Trevor Beadle
01787223611
trevbeadle@gmx.com