.jpg)
16th September 2023 -
St Stephen’s Church once again opened wide the doors to receive visitors as part of the National Heritage Open Days, having been advertised around the Colchester area.
It was a beautiful day, and we had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. Most people were eager to climb the tower and take advantage of the panoramic views from the top. Some folk coming equipped with binoculars for the experience. Chris, who led the tower tours, guided at least a dozen trips; scaling the stone spiral staircase and subsequent wooden ladder style steps each time. He had certainly had his quota of exercise by the end of the day!
Chris is also our resident expert on our stained-glass windows, so when he wasn’t up and down the tower, he was talking to interested parties about the history and symbolism within the windows. A man very much in demand on the day! Along with our local history banners and pieces of zeppelin memorabilia on display, visitors were treated to a wealth of history.
Sheila treated us to a display of her magnificent quilting. Several quilts were hung to be admired and she beavered away at her current project at one of the tables. Again, this sparked many interested observers who marvelled at her skill and patience.
With our coffee tables draped in gingham tablecloths, the ambience was completed by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and a range of tempting homemade cakes. Another successful year.