Our New Church in Stony Stratford

Dear Parishioners, friends, and all who are supporting our Community

Here we are again after a long time without “News-Letters” coming through your letter-box! Recently, most of our communication was done by phone or E-mail, but it is about time to put pen to paper, as they say.

After an extensive period of negotiations, valuations, meetings with Banks, numerous telephone conversations (far too many to count) meetings and more meetings, the time has come for this Community to move to its permanent home, in Stony Stratford..

As most of you know, we had “discovered” this lovely Church Building a few years back, when we were looking for a venue to hold a “Greek Evening.” It came to our attention that it would make an ideal home to house all the needs of the Community not just for now, but for future generations too. We made inquiries and registered our interest anywhere we could and kept our eyes and ears open.. When it became available for sale and after visiting it, His Eminence the Archbishop gave his approval. We sought the opinion of the Parishioners and Members alike and eventually, made a bid for it.

We had the “feel of the place” on 14 September last year when we put all our energies together to prepare the (former) Church, clean, scrub, dust etc. and move all our furnishing from (and moving them back again) our beloved St. Martin’s, in order to celebrate the Service of Vespers, His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios officiating. Many people of various Denominations, Representatives of local authorities and Clergy mingled with our Parishioners forming the Congregation to hear the Word of God again in this Building, after a silence on this respect for four decades. The presence of the local people of Stony Stratford made us to feel welcome in this old attractive Roman town.

This is a brief presentation of the events regarding the preparation for the forthcoming new chapter of the Community. Now, a place we will call our own, opens new horizons and provides us with a wealth of opportunities, to continue with our customs and traditions more often, to have more Church Services, to display the work of the Greek School and eventually to have more lessons, dance, plays, theatre etc., to have the Church as a centre, open and available as much as possible.

So, as the Solicitors are busy exchanging contracts, we are preparing our move to our permanent premises. The completion of the purchase is anticipated to take place by the beginning of April. However, the Board of Oxford Diocesan Trustees have kindly agreed to allow us to use the Church for our Services before then, so from 6 March 2009 onwards, all Church Services are going to take place in the New Premises. The School classes will continue to be at Lord Grey for a bit longer, until all necessary regulations are in place.

22nd of February 2009 is the last regular Church Service we are having in our beloved (apologies for the repetition of the word) St. Martin’s Church. It has been this Community’s home for more than nineteen years. All this time, everybody there, Clergy, Churchwardens and Congregation, did everything possible to accommodate our needs. Their support, understanding, kindness and love are valuable gifts for us to cherish for ever. We are more than grateful and we hope that the friendship which started in December 1989 will continue to flourish.
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We take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all the contributors enabling this to happen, you the parishioners, friends and supporters, everyone who donated money, furnishings, items and valuable expertise, free of charge, locally or outside the locality. We are undertaking the responsibility to make the project a success so this Community can prosper. Please continue to assist us, with whatever you can, all your gifts are received with gratitude, however small. Please make use of the Gift Aid Scheme as we will receive 25p extra from the Government for every pound a tax payer donates. It is important as we have a loan to repay and of course it is our aim to reduce it as much as possible and as quickly as possible. Your support is much needed.

With heartfelt good wishes from the Trustees and the Committee.,

February 2009
Please refer to the programme for the forthcoming dates of Church Services for Lent and Easter.