Not a Hoax – The Monk is back

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Despite what this blog reported on April 1st, the monk has really appeared on the Marcham Road Roundabout this Easter Day morning – as a big surprise.

The work to lift him in and bolt him down must have happened early this morning.

It has been arranged by the Abingdon Freemasons, who really do have ties with the original monk, although not the hoax ones put on this blog on April 1st. It was put up jointly by St Swithun’s Lodge, Abbey Lodge and St Swithun’s Chapter.  The previous monk also had a Masonic connection as the original monk was sponsored by the Abbey Press which was run by one of their members.

Easter Activities Around the Town Centre

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An “eggspedition” around the town centre gave children the chance to hunt for twelve egg-themed words and win a chocolate Easter egg.

On the Market Place, there was live entertainment, including performances by the Stagecoach singers,

and the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. All this formed part of the Easter Eggstravaganza – a family event welcoming the spring, with crafts and local stalls.

Among the stalls was the One Wish Dog Foundation, founded in 2025, a new charity working to rescue and rehome unwanted and abandoned dogs across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Elsewhere around the town centre, shop windows joined in with Easter displays. Happy Easter!

Good Friday in Abingdon

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Members from churches across Abingdon came together this Good Friday for a walk of witness, following a cross from the Library to the Market Place.

There, they gathered to sing hymns — There is a Green Hill, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and Amazing Grace — and to hear a reading of the Crucifixion of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel. The Salvation Army band played, and Revd Carol Hamilton-Foyn addressed the crowd.

This Easter Sunday, there is an invitation to celebrate with Christians across Abingdon. Services are taking place at the following churches which are members of the Church in Abingdon:

Abingdon Baptist Church (OX14 5AG)
10.30 am — Easter Sunday All-Age Service, including Communion

Abingdon Community Church (Northcourt Community Centre, OX14 1NS)
10.30 am — All-Age Interactive Service: activities, crafts, short talk, and sung worship

Abingdon Vineyard Church (Preston Road Community Centre, OX14 5NR)
10.30 am — Easter Service

All Saints Methodist Church (OX14 2AQ)
10.30 am — Morning Service and Communion

Christ Church (Northcourt Road / Long Furlong Primary School)
8.00 am — BCP Communion (Northcourt Road, OX14 1PL)
10.00 am — Holy Communion (Long Furlong, OX14 1XP)
10.30 am — Holy Communion (Northcourt Road)
6.30 pm — Evening Service with Baptisms (Northcourt Road)

Our Lady and St Edmund RC Church (OX14 3PL)
Mass: 8.00 am, 9.30 am, and 11.30 am

Peachcroft Christian Centre (OX14 2RT)
10.00 am — Easter Celebration for All

Pearly Gates Church (Fitzharrys School, OX14 1NP)
10.30 am — Resurrection Service, followed by refreshments

Salvation Army (OX14 5BL)
10.30 am — Easter Service

St Helen’s Church (OX14 5BS)
8.00 am — Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) with hymns
10.30 am — Festival Eucharist of the Resurrection with junior crafts and an Easter egg hunt

St Michael and All Angels’ Church (OX14 1DB)
9.30 am — Sung Mass of the Resurrection

St Nicolas’ Church (OX14 3NZ)
11.15 am — Holy Communion and Blessing of the Paschal Candle

Trinity Church (OX14 1DB)
10.30 am — Morning Service and Communion

New Parking Restrictions Take Effect around Abingdon Town Centre

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Over the past week, new signs have been appearing across the Town Centre and Centre East as the latest parking restrictions come into force. These changes were consulted on last year, approved in January, and officially took effect on 1 April.

The most noticeable change is the replacement of older signage with new signs, including those carrying the “AB” designation for Abingdon Town Centre. (The patch on a lot of signs is to hide ‘Mon – Sat 8 am to 6pm’ which does not apply to residents’ spaces.)

New restrictions have also been introduced. These include a new 30-minute waiting limit below the Co-op in West St Helen Street. A new pay-and-display machine is on St Helen’s Wharf.

In Centre East, there are double yellow lines in places where none were before.

This has created some interesting patterns along roads such as Penlon Place.