Celebrate 80 Years of Preserving Abingdon’s Heritage with the Friends of Abingdon!

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As part of the 80th Anniversary celebration, the Friends of Abingdon (civic society and buildings trust) invite you to explore the Abingdon Abbey Buildings and celebrate their achievements in safeguarding Abingdon’s heritage.

Join them on Thursday, June 27th from 2:30 to 5:30 pm at the Abingdon Abbey Buildings, Checker Walk.

* Explore the beauty of the historic Abbey Buildings and their gardens.
* Browse a special exhibition showcasing the journey of the Friends of Abingdon.
* Learn about the exciting plans to improve the accessibility of the Abbey Buildings.
* Watch a slideshow in the Unicorn Theatre.

Explore the buildings at your own pace or join a guided tour at 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Light refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the afternoon.

Founded in 1944, the Friends of Abingdon emerged from the need to protecting the town’s historical buildings, many of which faced neglect during wartime.

Their initial efforts focused on saving the derelict Abbey Cottages from demolition. Through negotiations, they secured not only the cottages but also surrounding land, including the Checker and Long Gallery. Over time, they acquired additional plots, and in their first decade carried out the initial renovation of the Checker and Long Gallery and creation of the Unicorn Theatre.

The Friends of Abingdon also functioned as a civic society that monitored planning applications and advocated the conservation of Abingdon’s heritage. They have also saved the Roysse Gateway, Carswell, 35 Ock Street, and more recently the historic staircase in the Guildhall. They were also instrumental in the creation of the murals in the underpass and by R&R. They run Heritage Open Day and Unit24 (community shop), and put on walks and produce walks leaflets.

In 2019 the original charity divided in two so that one charity could concentrate on the Abbey Buildings Project. The other charity could concentrate on civic matters.

For more information see Abingdonabbeybuildings.co.uk and Abingdoncivicsociety.org.uk/.

Pre-election hustings for Oxford West & Abingdon

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The general election is scheduled for July 4th, and a pre-election hustings for Oxford West & Abingdon provided voters with a chance to hear from the candidates. The hustings, organized by the Church in Abingdon, took place last Friday at Abingdon Baptist Church and was live-streamed. You can watch a recording at https://www.youtube.com/live/3VCJuzWwhGk.

Each candidate had an opportunity to introduce themselves (from 20 minutes 00 seconds into the recording):

Anni Byard – Social Democratic
Chris Goodall – Green
James Gunn – Reform UK
Layla Moran – Liberal Democratic
Vinay Raniga – Conservative
Ian Shelley – Christian Peoples Alliance
Stephen Webb – Labour
Josh Phillips, an Independent candidate, was absent.

The event featured questions addressing various national and local issues:
* Food Banks: Discussing strategies to eliminate the need for them (from 37:11).
* Top Concerns: Identify the three most important issues the electorate are concerned about (from 50:26).
* Assisted Dying: Sharing views on this matter of individual conscience (from 59:07).
* Abingdon Reservoir: Addressing the need for a public inquiry (from 1:07:50).
* Solar Farm at Botley West: Stating their positions on this project (from 1:15:38).
* Community Contributions: Highlighting their contributions over the past five years and future plans if elected (from 1:27:30).
* 20 MPH Rollout: Opinions on the implementation of this speed limit (from 1:38:12).
* Immigration: Discussing the need for a timely, affordable, and fair path to citizenship (from 1:47:56).
* Climate Change: Proposing national and local actions for drastic climate measures (from 1:57:00).
* Military Spending vs. Diplomacy: Debating the balance between increased military spending and diplomacy (from 2:07:22).

All candidates agreed on the necessity of a public inquiry into the Abingdon Reservoir. The chairman, Chris Bryan, said this was the first time in his memory that all the candidates had agreed on an issue.

In terms of what three issues the electorate are most concerned about:
James Gunn – Reform UK: Cost of Living, NHS Waiting Lists, Net Zero will crash the economy
Layla Moran – Liberal Democratic: NHS GP appointments, Cost of Living, Sewage scandal
Vinay Raniga – Conservative: Cost of Living, Public Sector Reform (NHS), Immigration
Ian Shelley – Christian Peoples Alliance: Immigration, Free Speech, Economy
Stephen Webb – Labour: NHS GP appointments, Cost of Living, Affordable Housing (younger people)
Anni Byard – Social Democratic: Cost of Living, Environment, Affordable Housing (younger people)
Chris Goodall – Green: Nature and Climate, NHS, Palestine

20 years of Abingdon Health Walks

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Pete Skuse says ‘It only seems like yesterday that I sent you details of the 10th anniversary of the health walks. Today we had a walk followed by a picnic at the Abbey Sailing Club to celebrate 20 years of the Abingdon Health walks. The walks have been coordinated by Viv Boorman for all this time. The health walks are now called the Abingdon Community Walks and have four start venues in the town.

Our short walk before the festivities followed parts of the newly created South Abingdon Nature Trails.

For more details of the Abingdon Community walks please go to: Community Walks | GO Active (getoxfordshireactive.org)’

The 2024 Abingdon Passion Play

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The spirit of faith and community was alive in the Abbey Gardens on Saturday, June 22nd, as the 2024 Abingdon Passion Play unfolded. Standing on the hallowed ground where St Mary’s, The Abbey Church, once stood, the production offered a fresh perspective on the story of Jesus. This was the fourth Abingdon Passion Play, and each has told the same story differently.

Blessed with sunshine, the lunchtime and late afternoon productions saw audiences settle down to watch, some with their foldable seats and picnics. Two women, seated at a cafe set on the stage, asked questions we all might ask watching the drama.

The play didn’t rush straight into the events of the Passion. Instead, it began with a procession, with Jesus (with white hair), his disciples, and a crowd of cheering children and adults in front.

The music, a collaboration between orchestra and choir, added to the moving scenes, under the direction of Sally Meers, who also arranged much of the score.

Before witnessing the Passion itself, the audience was reminded of Jesus’ miracles. We saw the sick healed, and the moment of the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus sent disciples into the audience, just as they did with the crowd, asking if anyone had food. A child’s lunchbox became the catalyst for a miracle that fed a multitude.

As the story progressed, the play explored the rising tension. Jesus’ act of clearing traders from the temple angered the authorities, who plotted his demise.

We witnessed the Last Supper,

the solitary prayer in Gethsemane strengthened by an angel’s presence,

the betrayal,

the trials,

Jesus carrying the cross,

and ultimately, the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary.

The two women returned to a transformed cafe, bearing the words “Under New Management.” Hope returned as the disciples discovered the empty tomb. A waiter, unrecognized as the resurrected Jesus, approached the women, offering them drinks and the promise of new life.

This production was a result of the tireless efforts of all involved. The spirit of ecumenism shone, with each Abingdon church contributing spaces and volunteers. The result was a deeply moving play, witnessed by an estimated 1,200 people across two performances.

The 2024 Abingdon Passion Play served as a powerful reminder of the enduring power of faith, the strength of community, and the transformative message of Jesus’ life and sacrifice.