221005 MArys D&AStatement - Flipbook - Page 6
Parish
1. Parish Overview
St Mary’s is a thriving and busy parish, with nearly 300
people on the current electoral roll and an average
Sunday attendance of about 140. The Church
community is diverse, welcoming, and we are officially
an ‘Inclusive Church’.
We are seen as a beacon or sanctuary for community
need, recently hosting vigils for the victims of knife
crime, and Mary’s sits at the forefront of our community
work.
We hold memorial services for local people and
organise a Christingle service on Christmas Eve that
annually attracts over 400 people from the local
community.
We are a church that likes to say yes, whether it is to a
request for an unusual event such as a fencing party, a
beer tasting or provision of a green room for a film
production company.
2. St Mary’s Community
Young people
‘We reduce violence. We save lives’ is the strapline of
our radical, lifesaving youth work charitable arm,
Mary’s. The group has been operating since 2006, and
is central to our prioritised commitment to social
justice. Our youth workers mentor young people who
are at severe risk of violence, kidnap and death.
The homeless
Every year we provide shelter and food for the
homeless on Monday nights from November to
January, through our partnership with the Camden
Churches Cold Weather Shelter scheme and the C4WS
charity. On these evenings, the church is transformed
into a shelter for homeless guests and supported by
efforts of a large group of local volunteers (not just
congregation members). This service is now returning
following the Pandemic.
Young parents and older people
‘Carers and Sharers’, our weekly drop-in for parents
with young children, is extremely popular and provides
a meeting places for those with a small support
network. We operate the Primrose Tea Rooms to
support older members of the community, providing a
place to nurture friendships and tackle social isolation
leading to many positives outcomes.
Mary’s, Primrose Hill
Community groups
Open for hire, the church is utilised by a wide spectrum
of local groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to local
choirs. Individuals can also hire the church for private
functions.
Artists and performers
With its excellent acoustics and musical tradition, St
Mary’s is often used as a performance space by
musicians, actors and other artists.
Brewing
In the crypt of our church, we provide space for St
Mary’s Brewery, a microbrewery founded by two of our
churchwardens in 2016. St Mary’s Brewery has a
threefold aim: to make great beer, to bring the
community together, and to raise money for the
church’s work with vulnerable young people.
Earth stewardship
Our newest initiative, St Mary’s lay-led Earth
Stewardship Assembly meets monthly to audit the
church’s carbon footprint and to compile a list of
actions we can take to safeguard the environment and
raise awareness of green issues. The assembly
includes a cross-section of the congregation from
primary school to retired people.
The church is regularly used for community events
St Mary’s Brewery in the crypt raises funds for Mary’s
3. Renewal Project 2022
The Parish has developed a renewal plan, Keep St
Mary’s Standing, to create a renewable future for the
church and the local community.
Its main aims are:
1. Increasing capacity: To allow us to do more and
reach more with better resources.
2. Developing facilities: Becoming better equipped and
resourced to respond to local needs.
3. Improved awareness: Impacting more people locally.
4. Better facilities including improving the kitchen the
staff offices, meeting and counselling spaces, and
storage.
5. Improved energy efficiency, including installation of
solar panels (planning permission granted).
6. Fabric repairs to the listed church.
Reverend Prebendary Marjorie Brown, Vicar of
St Mary’s
The Primrose Hill lecture series, one of many cultural events
which takes place in the church
Dow Jones Architects