The idea is that those ‘riding and striding’ are sponsored for the number of churches they visit, and those providing a welcome in churches may be sponsored for the number of visitors who arrive during their time on duty. Half of the money raised goes to our own churches and the other half to Nottinghamshire Historic Churches Trust, enabling them to make grants to help churches with repair costs. In Hucknall, we received help from the Trust towards St John’s heating and for the work recently completed on the South Transept wall of St Mary Magdalene’s church

If you are interested in taking part to raise funds for St Mary Magdalene with St John’s churches in Hucknall, please contact jane_haywood@hotmail.com.
Find out more at www.nottshistoricchurchtrust.org.uk

It’s a chance to come along to the Centre and see the latest developments as part of their exciting refurbishment work and experience some of the user groups and their activities. There will be refreshments available in the newly refurbished first floor bar and the chance to see how the work being done at the Centre makes it perfect for your next party, anniversary celebration, christening party, wedding reception or business meeting. Or maybe you’re looking for a new home for your user group or club. However they can help, Centre staff will be happy to speak to you about your needs and show how the John Godber Centre, Hucknall can make your celebration all the more special.

Find out more on the John Godber Centre website or their Facebook page.

Refurbishment and new development work, potentially lasting almost four years, means that the famous chimes will no longer contribute to the soundtrack of London and indeed, British life.

But did you know that here at St Mary Magdalene church, Hucknall, we have a very special connection to Big Ben?

Buried in the churchyard on the north side, is a Mr Benjamin Caunt, Victorian Heavyweight Champion of England and the great bell Big Ben, reputedly takes its name from this giant of a man who called Hucknall his home.

Find out more about Ben Caunt and his connection with Hucknall and the bell Big Ben on our website or visit St Mary Magdalene church, Hucknall, to see his story interpreted for adults and children.

A large, wall-mounted panel presents an activity-based challenge relating to the main themes of our heritage, from ‘Sandy the squirrel’. This is supported by five, life-sized character displays that bring the people behind our main themes (Jesus, Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace, CE Kempe and Ben Caunt), to life for younger visitors. All displays feature a fun activity and are the perfect support for school or family visits.

Ask one of our church stewards for a ‘Sandy’s Church Safari’ activity sheet when you visit – there’s a chocolate treat reward for anyone taking Sandy’s challenge!

The space will make way for a new, inner relief road and free up the main street for pedestrianisation. It is the first stage in a process that will see Hucknall grow significantly over the next 10-15 years.

Historically, whenever the town has grown, so has St Mary Magdalene church and our recent restoration and development projects ensure the church will remain as a focus point for the town, a haven of peace and reflection and a symbol of God’s presence in the life of the community.

Local historian David Heathcote presented two talks within the church, celebrating the life, works and legacy of this ‘enchantress of numbers’, as she was known.

She is best remembered for her work with Charles Babbage, creator the first mechanical computer but as David’s talk highlighted, she was a formidable intellect, whose legacy is far greater than the translation and support she provided to the engineer of the Difference Engine.

The main picture shows a cameraman from NottsTV news, who came to church whilst David was rehearsing.

Historically, the wreath was positioned very high up on the south wall of the south transept, above the old toilet, in a dusty and cracked glass dome.

As part of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) supported restoration project, the wreath now forms part of the story of poet Lord Byron and sits atop the Byron tomb in the newly refurbished wooden case. New LED lighting also shows the wreath off to best effect – the first time it has been seen so close at hand in many decades.

During the restoration project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the ceramic copy of the wreath used at Lord Byron’s funeral has undergone its own restoration. Now returned and protected within a new, perspex display case, it will be repositioned within a modified version of the wooden structure above the vault.

The structure is being enlarged to accommodate the wreath and an inscribed marble tablet will be re-sited to accompany it. The wreath will also be lit by LED lighting so that visitors can see all of the hand-crafted detail.

Carefully, the old wooden cavity has been dismantled and the exposed wall, behind, made good, replastered and repainted. While the work was being done, two new LED lights have been installed within church, in the tower base ceiling to bring much needed extra light to this valuable space. Soon, new interpretive displays, specifically designed for children will be installed to inform younger visitors of the church’s key stories and history.

Following hot on the heels of a refurbishment of all four clock faces, Smiths of Derby have installed an electric winding mechanism to replace the team of 12+ clock winders who routinely wound the clock, twice weekly.

Whilst the system is also supported by a battery back-up system, if you see any problems with the clock or incorrect time showing, please call Adrian Sissons on 07709 935594 to report the issue.