FUND-RAISING continues for the building of a new church at Crossways. More and more events are being planned as funds are being raised for this massive project.

  • FOR a couple of years, parishoners have been urged to save their loose change for the church appeal. The idea of ‘pennies from heaven’ has brought in a valuable contribution with containers of pennies being received at services held in the youth |centre on Sunday mornings.
  • ST PATRICK’S day has given the theme for a joint venture with the tavern club in Old Farm Way. A Ceilidh is being held on Saturday, March 21. Participants are encouraged to join in the spirit of the event and enjoy a live band. Irish music is particularly toe tapping and dancing will surely follow. Tickets at £5 means this is an inexpensive way of curing the winter blues.
  • FOR THOSE with a different taste in music then the next big event might be for you. It actually takes lace in St Mary’s Chch, Edward Road, Dorchester. The world famous King’s College, Cambridge choir is letting their scholars perform a concert in aid of the new church.

The name of the group is Collegium Regale and it promises to be an evening of high quality, beautiful music and quite a coup for the fund raising team. Tickets are priced at £10 each and can be obtained by contacting the Rector, Jacquie Birdseye on 01305 854046. I gather that volunteers for the night would also be most welcome to deal with front of house etc.

  • THE LAST Saturday in February saw the launch of a new monthly country market which is being held in the youth centre. Starting at 10.00am until noon the first market saw several stalls selling plants, cakes and homemade greetings cards. There was a good stream of customers who also took advantage of a chat over a cup of coffee.

It is hoped that more stalls can be attracted and there were certainly requests for vegetables so that might be a good thought for our keen gardeners. The next market will be on Saturday, March 28 and you can book a stall pitch by calling Helen on 01305 853643.

  • VISITING the first market it seemed that villagers had managed to combine their Saturday morning trip to the library or post office with popping into the centre. Many commented that it was a good way of meeting up and discussing the current issues of the day.
  • MORETON church is also looking to raise money with various events taking place in and around the famous church of St Nicholas. Carol Gibbens has let me have details of these and would welcome offers of help and donations towards these initatives.
  • INSTANT SUNSHINE are to give a concert in aid of the organ appeal on Friday, May 8 so one to note in your diary as details are still to be fixed. This is a very famous singing group who have a very wide repetoire and are particularly noted for their comic songs and parodies.
  • THE FLOWER FESTIVAL has been the major source of funds and has taken place for many years over the Spring bank holiday weekend. This year it is from Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25. In an event of this size there is always masses to do and not only putting the flowers into beautiful arrangements in the building.

There are stalls and refreshments and also musicians performing in the church. Carol is hoping many people will come forward with offers of cakes, books, tombola prizes, sweets and plants. Carol can be contacted on 01929 462468.

  • THE NEXT meeting of Moreton parish council will take place on Tuesday, March 17 at 7.00pm in the village hall, Moreton. Items for the council and enquiries should be addressed to Mr D Gibbens at Glebe House, Moreton.
  • RAMBLERS or should I say the Aldhelm’s amblers are a relatively new group that started up with members of the Crossways church going on local walks. The group started its 2009 season with a walk on the Sika trail in Wareham Forest. The next takes place on Thursday, March 19 when the destination is the Arne Peninsular. The meeting point will be Crossways Village Hall at 9.30am when shared transport will be arranged. More details from Don Shaw on 01305 854046. Aldhelm by the way is the name of a Dorset saint and the new Crossways church is scheduled to be dedicated to him.