Today, Saturday (June 17) Churchyard Day, organised with Visit Hitchin, will showcase all the shops that snuggle around the edges of the Church's boundary.

From 10am until 4pm there will be special events and activities, and because of its central importance to the space, lots going on in St Mary's too.

For the first time since 2019 there is a chance to visit the Tower roof, with spectacular views of the town. Guided tours of the Church are also available from every half hour.  

Once a secure place which was locked up with tall iron gates each night, the Churchyard is now one of the key commercial areas of the town and has a special atmosphere. You can still see the brick pillars which once held the gates on the North side and wooden posts which mark the outer edge elsewhere. 

 Apart from landmarks like Halsey's which is one of the Hitchin's oldest properties, there are now a multitude of varied independent businesses. The handsome red brick building which contains both the Hitchin Information office and Groundworks café, was once the Vicarage. Railings rather than a hedge once bounded the inner Churchyard with its historic tombs; in medieval times it also served as a market place.  

Church land still extends across the pavements up to the doorsteps of the shops, most of which date back to medieval times. Rumour has it that the fabled tunnels which are said to lead out from various places into the Church extend out from the cellars which are under many of the shops, but we are too timid to explore that legend! 

The Tower itself was restored after a huge appeal was held in the early 2000s. Since St Mary's has been rebuilt many times from its foundation by King Offa in 792 AD, it is made of several different materials like brick and flint as well as stone. The oldest pillars visible inside the Church at the base of the Tower are from around the 12th century, but the belfry and other parts like the ramparts at the top are later. The impressive ring of Bells has been described here before, if you can get onto the afternoon visits you will see them up close. 

When you achieve the nearly 60 steps up to the roof and navigate the narrow gulley around the central spike you will see Hitchin in a unique way. Free tickets are available, first come first served, inside the Church from 10 am. 

During the day there will be plenty of activities on offer (link to the Churchyard Day Poster in What's On) from a Teddy Bears' picnic to a fashion show. As you stroll around the lanes which surround our tall hedge almost every shop will have special offers and enticements. Other streets in town have their own celebration days, but this is the first time for the traffic free Churchyard.  

As the weather looks sunny, do come along and enjoy the atmosphere of the 'Heart of Hitchin'. The Church is always the coolest place in town as the thick stone walls keep out the heat, so you are welcome to come in every day. 

St Mary's will once again be hosting a variety of concerts in Hitchin Festival throughout July, both at lunchtime and on some evenings. The programme is now out so you can see everything that is going on, note especially the 'Elvis' Concert in aid of our Preservation Trust on Friday 28th July. (link to Hitchin Festival poster) 

On Sunday this week we have our 8am Said Eucharist followed by our 10am Sung Eucharist Service. Then at 6.30pm we have Choral Evensong with wonderful music from our St Mary's choir, do join us if you can. 

Other Services at St Mary's this week: 

Monday 19th June - 9am Morning Prayer 

Tuesday 20th June - 9am Morning Prayer 

Wednesday 21st June - 9am Morning Prayer - 11am Said Eucharist with prayers for healing 

Thursday 22nd June - 9am Morning Prayer 

Sunday 25th June - 8am Said Eucharist - 10am Sung Eucharist - 6:30pm Reflective Evensong with hymns. 

Further updated details of our services, opening times and events are found on our public Facebook page @StMarysChurchHitchin   . 

Further information is found on our website: 

You can follow us on the following platforms: 

www.facebook.com/StMarysChurchHitchin 

Instagram stmaryschurch_hitchin 

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