Author Archives: Backstreeter

Banners Out for a Busy Week in Abingdon

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Abingdon’s noticeboards and railings are filling up as we head towards November. There are plenty of big events over the next couple of weeks. I have just space for the next week, and will cover more separately in a few days’ time.

Saturday 25 October – Poppy Appeal Launch
This year’s Poppy Appeal will be launched on the Market Place with stalls and military vehicles.

Now Open – Christmas Card Shop
The Christmas Card shop has opened in St Nicolas Church, raising funds for a range of charities.

Tuesday 28 October – Agnostics Anonymous Discussion
The next Agnostics Anonymous Open Discussion asks: “Why do Christians bother with the Old Testament?” It takes place at the Parish Centre, opposite the main door of St Helen’s Church.

Tuesday 28 October – Saturday 1 November – Hello, Dolly!
Abingdon Operatic Society present the musical Hello, Dolly! at the Amey Theatre. Their big productions are always popular and a highlight of the Abingdon year.

Tuesday 28 October – Saturday 1 November – Abingdon Artists Autumn Exhibition
At Christ Church Barn, Northcourt Road, this exhibition features recent work by local artists, with cards and artworks for sale and live demonstrations during the week.

Friday 31 October – Sunday 2 November – Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair
At the Abbey Buildings, alongside a wide range of crafts for sale, there’ll be live demonstrations and ‘have-a-go’ sessions for visitors.

Saturday 1 November – The Oxford Waits
The period-instrument group The Oxford Waits bring 17th-century songs, dance tunes and readings – all in costume – to St Helen’s Church.

Caffé Opens on Bath Street + and other shops ‘Opening Soon’

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There’s a new caffé on Bath Street, adding another touch more Italy to the street. (In Italian, caffè  means coffee, but it’s also used to refer to a coffee shop or café.) Delicatessen Caffè has been open for about three weeks and offers freshly made bagels with a variety of fillings, stone-baked pizzas, pasta dishes, croissants, puddings, and all the usual hot drinks. You can find out more at delicatessencaffe.co.uk.

Across the road, another shop is being worked on. Three weeks ago, a sign in the window promised a ‘Grand Reveal — Opening Soon: TEN 10.’ That may or may not be a clue, but the balloons that decorated the window have now gone as more fitting out continues.

On Stert Street, another business is ‘Opening Soon’. The sign in the window shows a gold monogram with the letters ABC, and below are the words ‘Aesthetics By Clouds.’ It looks likely to be an aesthetics / beauty clinic.

Revd Dr Jen Brown becomes Rector of Abingdon-on-Thames

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This evening (Tuesday, 21 October) at St Helen’s Church, the Rev Dr Jen Brown was formally welcomed as the new Team Rector of the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames by the Bishop of Dorchester, Gavin Collins, and members of the churches.

Jen is already well known in Abingdon. She has been serving as Associate Priest in the parish while also leading training for the College of Preachers. Before that, she taught theology.

Her interests include the links between science and faith, care for creation, and animal welfare. She holds a PhD in the Psychology of Religion, exploring how people’s faith connects with their sense of right and wrong.

As Rector, Jen will now have oversight of the parish’s three churches – St Helen’s, St Nicolas’, and St Michael and All Angels. She made and signed some declarations and was given the keys of the churches. She takes over from the Rev Dr Charles Miller, who retired last year.

Thanks to the St Helen’s Zoom Meeting for the second image.


P.S. The Creation by Haydn already mentioned in last week’s What’s on is a joyful piece of classical music performed by the Inauguration Choir and Orchestra conducted by Sally Mears to welcome Rev Dr Jen Brown to become Rector of St Helen’s Church.

A Couple of Centimetres of Rain and a Lot to Be Thankful For

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Today brought a fair amount of rain. A local canoeist estimated a rise of a “couple of centimetres” on her gauge at the steps by St Helen’s Wharf. The Abingdon Rainfall Gauge measured 15.3 mm. By the look of it, the local ducks didn’t mind. For the reservoirs and the River Thames alike, it was not a flood, but every drop helps as we still have a hosepipe ban.

It also had the effect of bringing down more of the leaves at St Helens Wharf and plastering them onto the road and seats and boats.

When I return along St Helen’s Wharf on a day like this — when the sun breaks through after the rain — I’m reminded how lucky we are to live here in Abingdon.