Lloyd-Webber to get St Mary's celebrations under way

THE eagerly-awaited reopening of St Mary's Loughton will be celebrated with a fanfare of
musical talents.

The celebrations take place between June 30 and July 13 with a two-week feast of events
starring international cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber, below.

For the St Mary's Loughton congregation, the celebrations bring to an end a five-year journey to reshape the ministry of the church.

No longer is the church only open for two hours a week, gone is the well used but tired
old hall that is now the car park and gone too is the dominant church wall that faced out to Loughton's High Road.

In its place comes a creative and innovative new design that sees the church literally opened up for the whole of Loughton to see, with the halls wrapped around this historic building ready to serve the community.
I
t has been a life-changing transformation for the church of St Mary's built and consecrated in 1872.
In 1887, St Mary's was designated as its own parish covering the High Road from the cricket ground south to the edge of Buckhurst Hill and adjoining roads between the Forest and the railway.

The church has evolved over the years with a north aisle added in 1883, a parish centre constructed in 1924 and extended in 1971, the vicarage having been built in 1925.

A parish spokesman said: "Now St Mary's is larger than ever and continues to welcome
the community in.

"Loughton now has a church refreshed and fit to bring glory to the living God and a centre to serve the community.

"Why not come and join St. Mary's Loughton for one of the events."

The celebrations start in earnest with ‘An Evening with Julian Lloyd- Webber' on July 2 (£15 per
ticket). Next on the playlist is the London Community Gospel Choir, which will be performing
on July 6 (£10 per ticket). Finally, Christian hip hop band 29th Chapter entertain on July 11 (£12 per ticket).

Tickets and more information about events from St Mary's Parish Office on 0208 508 3643 or www.stmarysloughton.org.uk to purchase online.

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