Previous Events at St Andrew’s Church 2019
2019 was a busy year for community events and school trips to the church. Many of which were supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
A selection of events are highlighted below.
Winter Fair
Over 25 stalls as well as Father Christmas and his elf turned out for the annual WInter Fair held in St Andrew's Church on the evening of 29th November 2019. Festive music provided by Soham Comrades Band, fun fair rides and a firework display provided plenty of entertainment for everyone. The event was supported by grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and was run in conjuction with Soham Heritage and Tourism. Click on the link below for photos of the event
Celebrating Equiano
In April 2018, we hosted the Equiano Society who joined us to celebrate the anniversary of Equiano’s marriage to local woman, Susannah Cullen on 7 April 1792 in St Andrew's church. Olaudah Equiano, otherwise known as Gustavus Vassa was an African slave who gained his freedom and became a prominent campaigner for the abolition of the slave trade. We enjoyed a series of readings about the life of Equiano by members of the Equiano Society who also entertained us with some fabulous music and an interesting exhibition telling the story of of Equiano's life and campaignClick on the link below for photos of the event
75th Anniversary of Soham Rail Explosion
In June 2018, Soham Heritage and Tourism staged an exhibition in the church to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Soham Train Explosion. The exhibition presented information on the impact of the explosion on the town as well as describing the heroic efforts of the railwaymen who gave their lives to save the town from destruction. Click on the link below for photos of the event
Spring Fair
On Saturday 11th May we held a spring fair with a difference. All our stalls had a wildlife theme and activities including making bee bombs, painting ladybird pebbles, animal face painting. We were pleased to welcome a range of wildlife organisations including Wicken Fen (National Trust), Wildlife Trust (Ely Branch), Cambridgeshire Bat Group, Soham Ecology Group and the Cambridgeshire Beekeepers Association. CJ's Birds of Prey joined us and proved to be a very popular attraction with our visitors. Local groups were also represented including Soham Gardening Club, and recycling advice group 'Love where you live'. The event was supported by out National Lottery Heritage Fund grant so we could provide free wildlife-themed craft activities for children inside the church. Click on the link below for photos of the event
Duck Race
Continuing the wildlife theme, on Sunday 12th May we by run a fund raising duck race on Soham Lode at 12 noon. 1,000 ducks were launched into the Lode watched over by our Vicar, Eleanor. The ducks then raced to the finish line, with the winning owner receiving £100!This fun, well-attended event helped us raise some much needed funds for the Church restoration fund. Click on the link below for photos of the event
Maths in the church
The National Lottery Heritage grant we received 2018 helped us to develop and deliver 'Maths in Church’ activities to for local school children. The materials were developed in consultation with subject leaders from 2 primary schools. Worksheets for various maths topics were created to use both inside the church and in the churchyard. All ages from Early years to KS2 were catered for. Over the course of the summer 2019, 110 children visited the church to use the materials and put into practice their classroom based maths learning. Activities including helping the Vicar to research the number and type of gravestones in the churchyard and the demographics of people remembered in memorials in the church.