Hitchin Nub News is renowned for the quality of its columnists as well as the quality of its reporting.

Whether they be on sport, nature, politics or community, our stable of must-read trusted contributors is growing by the day.

Therefore, we are delighted to add another name to our ever-growing list - a weekly column from the churchwardens at St Mary's Church in the heart of our town.

So, read on for their first column as share the latest news and happenings around St Mary's Church.

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Can we turn your church purple?

This was one of the many and varied requests which come to St Mary's each week from Hitchinites, and although it caused a few raised eyebrows at the team meeting, we said yes.

You may have seen the result as we worked with Tilehouse Rotary to light up the iconic east view of the church with purple lights recently to highlight World Polio Day.

St Mary's sandstone walls at the heart of Hitchin

St Mary's Church has seen some incredible sights and changes during it's long history.

From Henry Woods' (founder of the Proms) memorial service, to staging a Kim Wilde concert for 'Rhythms of the World'.

Despite everything that history has thrown at it, the sandstone walls have always been at the heart of Hitchin, and no less so than during the past difficult year.

Many come in to light a candle and spend time in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings each week.

Lockdown = St Mary's YouTube channel

Like all of the shops and businesses in the town, the team at St Mary's have had to cope with the lockdowns, in our case we had to close for the first time in several millennia.

But every cloud has a silver lining, and the changes forced us to grapple with new technology, so we now have a YouTube Channel and ability to Livestream our services and also events like the Hitchin Festival Lunchtime concerts.

For more information search for our YouTube channel St Mary's Hitchin

Autumn events

This autumn, as we enter what is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year, we are hoping to continue with all our services and events as normally as possible, after last years' disruption.

There are also new ideas at work on Sundays. This weekend an interactive service for the whole family replaces our usual Communion at 10am. One Bread, One Body takes place on the first Sunday of each month and all are welcome.

Read our Hitchin Nub News column for more

In the coming weeks we have plenty to tell you about our plans for Christmas, Churches Together in Hitchin's Theological Society on Sunday evenings, our famous choir, our peel of bells, who puts the flags up on the Tower, our upcoming concerts including a 'Last Night of the Proms', the Platinum Jubilee and much more.

Further details of our services and events are found on our public Facebook page and our website @StMarysChurchHitchin

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