In December we move deeper into the winter season, with the markedly colder weather a distinct contrast to the relatively balmy autumn that has been a feature of the last couple of months. Any clearer skies will potentially bring frosts but the white Christmas of films, advent calendars and Christmas cards decorated with snow-filled scenes, is unlikely to materialise.
For most parts of the UK, Christmas Day is only the beginning of the period when snow is most likely – it snows more often in January and February than in December. Snow actually settling on the ground only happens on an average of 3 days in December, compared to 3.3 days in January, 3.4 days in February and 1.9 days in March. White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the calendar change in 1752, which effectively moved Christmas Day back by 12 days.
January, of course, is the traditional time for making New Year resolutions. The 2nd is World Introverts Day, although they don’t make a big thing of it, unlike the observers of National Thesaurus Day on the 18th , who are never lost for words. The Burns Night celebrations on the 25th lead into a period of chocoholic delight rounding off the month: National Days for both Chocolate Cake on the 27th and Hot Chocolate on the 31st – mmm…
The lead article in our final issue of this year features the work of an amazingly generous and caring lady who, in the 1800s, concerned by the poverty she witnessed in the local community, used her wealth and influence to make significant improvements to people’s lives. Her philanthropy has recently been officially recognised and commemorated with a Blue Plaque award – you can find out more on Page 5.
Elsewhere there is information about a number of upcoming social events and activities, both pre- and post-Christmas, along with reports on the Remembrance Events held locally (Pages 12 and 13), the opportunity to win £50 by taking part in an interesting and unusual fundraiser for Crisis (Page 18), some winter Gardening Corner suggestions and Reading Recommendations (Pages 20 and 21) and an invitation to another Men’s Breakfast (Page 23). There is also a repeat call for volunteers to help secure the future of the Round Church (Page 27) and some hints as to how to Prevent Christmas Crime (Page 29).
In closing, our thanks go to all our advertisers, both old and new, who have supported Parish News during 2025 and to everyone who has contributed articles, pictures and information about the events and social activities that make the magazine an essential, eclectic mix of information for anyone wanting to know what is, or has been, going on locally.
Season’s Greetings and a Merry Christmas to everyone and here’s hoping for a settled and peaceful 2026.
We’ll be back in February – until then, take care!
Cover Picture: A Bleak Mid-Winter inspired by Gustav Holst
Letter from the Reverend Beverley Vincent
As we enter December, the lights begin to twinkle in our streets and homes and our thoughts turn towards Christmas. It’s a season that stirs many emotions joy, anticipation, nostalgia and sometimes even sorrow. For some, it’s a time of great celebration surrounded by family and friends; for others, it can highlight what or who is missing. Yet at the heart of it all lies a simple, enduring truth: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
The story of Christmas is one of light breaking into our world — not through grandeur or power but through the quiet birth of a child in a humble stable. God chose to come close to us in the most human way imaginable. That same light still shines today, often in small acts of kindness, generosity and love that we share with one another. Do look out for our many Carol services this Christmas, as we come together to celebrate in the most traditional way and at a time to acknowledge the true meaning of Christmas.
As we look ahead to the turning of the year, many of us will make resolutions or set fresh goals. January gives us a moment to pause, reflect and begin again. My hope and prayer for our churches and communities is that we will enter 2026 with hearts open to hope hope that does not depend on circumstances but on the steadfast love of God.
May this season remind us that we are never alone. Whether you find yourself celebrating joyfully or treading a quieter path this Christmas, may you know the peace which passes all understanding in your heart and your home. (Philippians 4:7)
Thank you to all who serve, give and care within our villages. Your faithfulness and kindness reflect the very heart of the Christmas message. Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a hopeful New Year,
Rev’d Beverley
Church Services in December (January Services are on Page 38)
Café Church (Christingle) Holy Communion Silver Band Carol Concert
Gestingthorpe Great Maplestead Little Maplestead
Great Maplestead Gestingthorpe Pebmarsh
Wednesday 17th 6.30pm for 7.00pm Carol Service Gestingthorpe
Sunday 21st 10.00am Holy Communion + Carols Little Maplestead
Monday 22nd 7.00pm Carol Service Great Maplestead
Wednesday 24th Christmas Eve 4.00pm 10.00pm Crib Service Holy Communion
Little Maplestead Pebmarsh
Thursday 25th Christmas Day 9.30am 11.00am BCP Holy Communion Christmas Communion Gestingthorpe Little Maplestead
Sunday 28th 10.30am 4.00pm
Halstead Team Service Compline
Great Maplestead Gestingthorpe
Mary Gee – A Renowned Local Philanthropist
Mary was born on 6th November 1795 to William Bulkeley-Hughes and Elizabeth Thomas from two longestablished Welsh families. She married Osgood Gee, the son of wealthy Quakers with property in Earls Colne, on 16th July 1821 at Llanedwen in Anglesey.
Mary and Osgood settled at Hepworth Hall in Great Maplestead, later moving into Ashford Lodge to raise their children; sadly, both their daughters died during infancy. In 1837, before a move into Colne House in Earl’s Colne that had been built for the family, Osgood, who had not been well for many years, died. Mary found herself widowed at 42 but independently wealthy from her inheritance, land holdings and her own investments in stocks and railway companies.
Mary was particularly concerned by the local poverty she witnessed in the community and realised that now, with no family ties, she could use her accumulated wealth to change and improve matters significantly. She started by funding the building of primary schools in Earl’s Colne and Great Maplestead (right), allowing all the children attending these to be fed, clothed and educated at her expense.
Mary was also the major contributor towards the cost of building Holy Trinity Church, Halstead and personally funded the building of the church, vicarage and school at St James’s in Greenstead Green, both designed by the famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. She also funded other infrastructure projects, including the installation of a public water pump in Earl’s Colne
Mary died aged 69 on 24th December 1864, bequeathing her remaining wealth to her live-in companion Elizabeth Barter, an Oxfordshire vicar’s daughter. Elizabeth used this bequest to continue Mary’s philanthropy, funding the £10,000 building costs of a House of Mercy – or Magdalen Home for ‘fallen’ women and girls – in Great Maplestead and refurbishing the chancel in St Giles’ Church in memory of her benefactor. Elizabeth later entered the convent of All Hallows in Ditchingham, Norfolk, her wealth facilitating much of the nuns' work prior to her death in 1882.
On 29th October this year a Blue Plaque was unveiled at Colne House, now a care home, by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst, to honour Mary Gee’s philanthropy. Her Blue Plaque is the 36th to be unveiled to honour Essex women – its placement was organised by Gordon Brown, Manager of Earl’s Colne Heritage Museum and arranged as part of the Essex Women's Commemoration Project.
More information at: https://echm.org.uk/mary-gee-1795-1864-philanthropist/
Sources: The Peerage/Halstead 21stC Group/ECHM
Things to do in the New Year…
Remembering the Fallen
Great Maplestead
To commemorate Remembrance Day a respectful display was created by Denise O'Connell in St Giles’ Church, which included the War Memorial book showing the records of soldiers from Great Maplestead who sadly lost their lives in the Great War.
Many thanks to the Meet, Cake, Create team who produced the poppies adorning our display.
Pebmarsh
On 11th November, members of Pebmarsh Parish Council, children and teachers from St John the Baptist School and people from the village gathered at the war memorial on the triangle to remember members of the armed forces from Pebmarsh who have fallen in conflicts around the world.
Wreaths, along with tributes from the school children, were laid on the memorial to commemorate and give thanks to those who sacrificed so much to allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.
Our thanks to Martin Elms for playing the Last Post before the two-minute silence and the Reveille at the conclusion –thanks also to all those villagers who attended the event.
Remembering and Looking Forward
Gestingthorpe War Memorial - Remembrance Day
On 11th November, members of Gestingthorpe Parish Council gathered at the war memorial in the churchyard of St Mary’s church to remember the Gestingthorpe parishioners who lost their lives in the Great War and WW2.
The British Legion Remembrance wreath was laid on the memorial to commemorate all those that gave so much in order that we may enjoy our freedom today.
Thank you to all the villagers who also attended the event.
Gestingthorpe Goings-on
Gestingthorpe Village Hall Coffee Morning & Book Exchange
Fortnightly on Fridays from 10.00am to 12 noon
Our Coffee Mornings & Book Exchange take place in Gestingthorpe Village Hall. All cakes are homemade and served by our fabulous team of volunteers. Tea or Coffee & cake is £3.00. We are now accepting card payments as well as cash.
Bring a book to swap or buy a book for £1. Our bookcase is located next to the big window in the small hall.
Our last coffee morning for 2025 will be on 19th December. Our cake queens will then be taking a well-earned break after Christmas. Our first coffee for 2026 will be 30th January and continue fortnightly thereafter.
The next five Coffee Mornings & Book Exchange will be on 5th & 19th December, 30th January and 13th & 27th February
Thank you to everyone who has come along and supported our coffee mornings in 2025. It is lovely to see the Village Hall full of people chatting away, drinking tea and stuffing their faces with delicious cake! As always, all funds raised go towards the upkeep and running of the Village Hall.
Gestingthorpe Quiz Night
Six teams assembled in the Village Hall on 17th October to pit their wits against questions posed by quizmaster Chris Harman. There were seven themed ten question rounds and, with use of a joker, a maximum score of 80 was possible. The winning team scored 66 and the back markers 47.
Among the questions that nobody answered correctly were:
1. The name of the engine pulling the first passenger train (the 200th anniversary having taken place earlier that week)?
2. Which alone of all the planets always rotates in the same direction?
Answers: Locomotion No. 1 (not Stephenson’s Rocket, which was not a passenger train); and Venus, which always rotates clockwise around its axis.
A fantastic deli-style supper was served by Steph Prior and her team of helpers, which was very much appreciated by all. Judging by the laughter and chatter throughout the parts of the evening when brains were not at full strain, this was a wonderfully happy village occasion, rounded off by a raffle of attractive prizes expertly conducted by our vicar, Rev Beverley Vincent.
Special thanks go to Chris and Rose (scorer) Harman and to Steph Prior, but many others also helped in many ways.
The evening’s proceeds have gone to church funds and the churchwardens, Alice and Peter, are most grateful for this generosity.
Christmas Messages
Do a Good Deed for a chance to win £50!
Donate to Crisis this Christmas
For the past few years St Giles’ Church at Great Maplestead has donated its Christmas Collections to Crisis, the national charity that seeks to help people out of homelessness.
Christmas is especially poignant for those whose circumstances have led to them being homeless. Whilst many of us can enjoy the seasonal festivities in comfortable surroundings with friends and family, the homeless are less fortunate. Crisis seeks to address this by providing those who are facing homelessness at this time of year with a safe place to stay, hot meals including a Christmas Dinner and support to try to help them leave homelessness behind for good.
This year we are inviting you to donate just £5 to Crisis to supplement the donations from St Giles’ and to have an opportunity to take part in a one-off Music Quiz, with a prize of £50 for the winning entry. If you think you know your popular music, why not have a go!
The challenge is to identify as many song titles as possible hidden in a rewording of the Parable of The Good Samaritan, an extract from which you will find below. This may be a good opportunity to involve other members of the family, maybe after Christmas lunch, instead of playing the same old board games.
Entries close at midnight on 31st December 2025, so there’s plenty of time to sign up and test your music knowledge.
If you would like to take part, please e-mail Barry Vincent, St Giles’ Church Treasurer, at barryvincent1950@gmail.com for the full parable, details of the Music Quiz and how to make your donation. Or, if you prefer, come along to the St Giles Festive Coffee Morning in the church on Saturday 29th November, where you can sign up to play.
See how many song titles you can identify from the extract below:
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. There is only one road, and one that could be described as the road to hell, notorious for its dangers. He was too far along the road to run for home when he was attacked by robbers. He was knocked out and they scattered his belongings and stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him all shook up and half dead. Left outside alone, he clearly needed help, and as he lay there mumbling “somebody help me” a priest happened to be going down that same road. When he saw the man, he thought to himself ‘what can I do?’, but decided to walk on by on the other side of the road.
Why not donate to the important work of Crisis and take the opportunity to test your music knowledge to try and win the cash prize?
A Plan to Support your Retirement
Gardening Corner
With Christmas Day fast approaching, I would suggest those of you who are considering a ‘live’ Christmas tree think about the following: store your tree outside as long as possible (central heating is not ideal for keeping a tree green) and place the trunk in a bucket of water until you bring the tree into the house. Try and place your tree as far away from a radiator or wood burning stove as possible – that way your tree should last over the festive period or until the needles start to drop.
My plant of the month is Iris unguilata, known as the Algerian Iris. This small plant has a number of deep blue flowers which poke through its wispy leaves, providing much needed winter colour.
If you like to feed garden birds, now is a good time to start as December and January are hard months for birds to find naturally available food. Putting out a shallow container of water and keeping it ice-free is also a good idea during harsh weather.
As we head towards the New Year bulbs start to break through the ground. Narcissus flower from the end of January through to April; my favourite is Tête-à-tête, a dwarf bright yellow narcissus [daffodil] ideal for putting in pots or on a rockery. Allium, members of the onion family, provide colour in May and June; they have a pom-pom shaped flower and come in a variety of heights and colours, ranging from pinks to mauve. Lastly Iris reticulata, a miniature spring plant ,with colours in many shades of blue through to yellow.
In the vegetable garden now is the time to finish any digging still needed – incorporate as much organic matter as you can into the ground. If you grow onions and shallots, plastic or cloches can be placed on the ground to help warm the soil.
There are a number of gardens open for snowdrops and aconites in early spring – it is amazing how swathes of these tiny plants provide interest. I will just mention two venues that have amazing displays: Hedingham Castle and Anglesey Abbey (right). Look in the local press or online for details.
Enjoy the festive season and I shall be back in February with more gardening tips and ideas.
Reading Recommendations…
My recommendations in this issue are a couple of books with seasonal winter themes and a food connection – one factual and one fictional...
THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES: Notes, Stories & 100 Essential Recipes For Midwinter: Nigel Slater
This book is a complete joy. Not only is it a winter recipe book but it also tells of Nigel Slater’s love for this season: the scent of fir and spruce; ghost stories read with a glass of sloe gin; beeswax candles with shadows dancing on the ceiling. It covers all the essential preparations for Christmas and the New Year, to help the reader enjoy the season. Keep it open beside you throughout the winter and dip into it to consult the book’s one hundred pure and wonderful Nigel Slater recipes and be uplifted by his heart-warming tales.
Covering the period from the beginning of November to the end of January, there are recipe suggestions for Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year through to Epiphany. Alongside the feasts there are folktales, myths and memoirs, all told in the author’s warm and intimate signature style. The Christmas Chronicles is the only book you’ll ever need to get you through the winter – it was my first Nigel Slater book and I was so taken with the simplicity of his writing style that I went on to acquire many more (second hand, but none the worse for that!)
NEW YEAR AT THE CORNISH BAKERY: Sarah Hope
I have included this novel not only because the plot is entirely in keeping with the season but also because it is very much in contrast to the above.
This one is complete fiction, described as a ‘delightfully heartwarming romantic read’ which I, for one, am already finding difficult to put down. I know that some find it hard to take this genre seriously (and for those who do I would like to direct them to Jessica Redland’s wonderfully light and up-lifting Hedgehog Hollow series of books) but I believe it has a place in filling a few quiet hours when the world in general (and the run up to Christmas in particular) threatens to become overwhelming. This is book number three in the Cornish Bakery series (currently twenty six and counting!) in which, when heartbroken Olivia’s car breaks down and local mechanic Scott comes to her rescue, there may be a second chance for her at happiness – or will there?
Having pushed away everyone she loves since the breakup with her ex, can Scott teach Olivia how to love again? Is she ready to immerse herself into the small-town community she so needs? As the New Year festivities begin, will this be her opportunity for a new beginning?
Forthcoming Local Events
Hedingham Heritage Society
There is a festive feast and a local Christmas walk scheduled before the end of this year and a couple of interesting talks to take us into the New Year – we do hope you can join us for some of them:
Thursday 18th December: ‘Medieval Food and Feasting’ . At the Society’s Christmas meeting and social, the subject of medieval food and feasting will be explored by author Joanne Larner, who will also be bringing some medieval tasters. Seasonal refreshments provided. £5 for members and non-members – all welcome
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Sunday 28th December: ‘A Christmas Walk in the Hedingham Countryside’ .
Meet at 10.30 am at Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Thursday 8th January 2026: AGM followed by ‘Pomp, Circumstance and Jubilation’. Warner and Sons’ royal commissions and connections – furnishing royal residences, dressing Queen Mary and the company’s unique role in the last four coronations are the topics covered in this interesting and informative talk.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Thursday 5th February 2026: ‘Life in the Undergrowth’. Multi award-winning photographer and wildlife enthusiast, Roger Hance, makes a welcome return with his photographic guide to the natural world in miniature.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Do join our local and natural history society. Annual membership for 2026 remains at £15.
Members come free to all walks and talks : Non-Members - £5. Everybody is Welcome. Contacts: Rob: 01787 460 664 : Trudi: 01787 462 889 : Mark: 07906 472 636
E-mail: hedinghamheritage@gmail.com or visit www.hedinghamheritage.org.uk
Something to Get Involved With…
Festive Feasting and Fun
Church Matters
St John the Baptist – Pebmarsh
We are fast approaching Christmas and lots of events are happening around us. We have our annual Carol Concert with the Long Melford Silver Band and are looking forward to welcoming everyone this year at 5.00pm on Sunday 14th December.
This is an hour later than normal but we hope you will still be able to join us, There will be mulled wine and mince pies afterwards, with a donations collection in aid of the church.
We will also be holding our usual Christmas Eve service at 10.00pm –this will be a holy communion service with carols.
Sarah Burgess – Pebmarsh Churchwarden
The Future of the Round Church – Little Maplestead
After ten years of faithful service, the current Church Council will be standing down at the end of this church year. We are deeply grateful for all they have given — their time, dedication, and prayerful leadership have guided our church through many seasons.
However, every church must have a governing body in order to continue its mission and ministry. We now urgently need new members to step forward to serve on the Church Council, as well as to take on the vital roles of Churchwarden and Treasurer.
If you have a Christian faith and a heart for serving your church and local community, please consider whether you might be called to help lead us into the next chapter of our church’s life. Together, with God’s help, we can ensure our church continues to be open as a place of worship, welcome, and witness for years to come.
To find out more or to express your interest, please contact:
Rev’d Beverley 01787 460 273 khvicar@gmail.com
Preventing Christmas Crime…
Winter’s dark nights and increased seasonal consumer activity make this time of year particularly lucrative for criminals.
There are certain common-sense precautions home and car owners should take to help mitigate attempts at opportunistic seasonal crime – hopefully, following these 12 steps will help lead to a happier, crime-free Christmas:
1. If you need to store Christmas food and drink, presents and other goodies in garages and/or outbuildings, ensure they are out of sight and any storage places are secured with good quality, well-fitted locks. Treat your shed to a security alarm.
2. Avoid anything that may tempt window-shopping burglars; don’t leave presents and/or valuables in the house on full view in front of a window.
3. Ensure that all your windows and doors are closed and locked before leaving the house. Don’t attract burglars by leaving your home in darkness; have lights on timers and treat yourself to a TV simulator too.
4. Lock any gates to keep unwanted visitors from getting to the rear of your home.
5. Whether on an evening out, or Christmas shopping, keep bags, handbags, wallets and mobiles safe. Busy places make it easier for a sneak thief to be undetected.
6. Park your car safely. Check that it is locked before you leave it and don’t leave valuables and gifts on display.
7. Keep your car keys hidden when they’re in the house, away from doors and windows. Keep any keyless car door and ignition remotes in a Faraday pouch to prevent signals from them being hi-jacked to open, start and steal your car.
8. When you leave the house and find your car all iced up, don’t start and leave it unattended with the engine running to deice it. It only takes a second to steal a car left like this and, by doing so, any insurance claim for theft is invalidated.
9. If you’re attending a Christmas party, make sure you have considered how you are getting home in advance and avoid using unlicensed taxis. Ensure you drink responsibly and are aware of your surroundings at all times, whilst keeping your drink and belongings safe.
10.Watch what you put on social media; check your settings to ensure that you are not publically broadcasting to all and sundry about when you are not going to be at home and all the lovely gifts you have received.
11.After Christmas don’t advertise your gifts to the thieves by putting the empty boxes out for collection. Disguise them, fold them up inside out or put them inside other nondescript boxes.
12.Record any new and valuable property free by going to www.immobilise.com and install tracking and security apps on any electrical and computer products.
The villages’ Neighbourhood Watch schemes can help with advice on how to protect you or your property against criminals – Parish Co-ordinator contact information can be found on the Inside Front Cover.
For further crime prevention advice go to: www.essex.police.uk/cp/crimeprevention/
Pistaphobia – A Fear of Full Stops…
Linguistics experts claim that young people are intimidated by using full stops in social media messages because these ‘abrupt’ punctuation marks are apparently considered to convey signs of anger or disapproval.
Generation Z, a cohort of people born after 1995, has largely grown up with informal text messaging as their default way of communicating. Linguists say that, in this largely punctuation-free context, an unexpected full stop – rather than ‘softer’ commas or ellipses – can come across as potentially indicating that something negative is meant by the message.
Dr Lauren Fonteyn of Leiden University says: "If you send a text message without a full stop, it's already obvious that you've concluded the message. So, if you add one as an additional marker for completion, young people often read something into it, like a falling intonation or a negative tone.”
Some experts argue that hitting ‘send’ on the SMS text itself acts as the end point to the message, so there is no actual need for a full stop. Others however think that context is all-important and that there are some kinds of messages that still need to be structured by punctuation.
Owen McArdle, a linguist at Cambridge University says: “I'm not sure about e-mails – I think it depends on how formal they are – but full stops are, in my experience, very much the exception and not normally used in young people's instant messages because they seem to have a new role in signifying an abrupt or angry tone of voice."
Sources: Daily Telegraph/Guardian/Spectator
Parish News Information
Advertising/Announcements/Articles
The annual and single-issue monthly Business Advertising Rates for 10 issues of Parish News, pro-rated as applicable, will increase slightly for next year, although they will still remain less than for other local magazines.
The 2026 Advertising Rates are shown below, along with the Copy/ Artwork Deadline dates for each of the ten 2026 Parish News issues:
Contacts:
Advertising
Articles
Please submit these by e-mail, preferably as a Word document attachment with separate images:
½ page: 150-160 words + images Full page: 400-420 words + images
Ann Harris ann66harris@gmail.com
Editorial Parish News Team parishnewsmaplestead@gmail.com
The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover.
