This article first appreared in the May 2023 issue of our parish magazine. At St Margaret’s we are blessed to welcome highly talented musicians to perform concerts for us. One of the more recent groups to do this is HeartEdge Manchester. This is a group of choral scholars from across Greater Manchester, led by Andrew Earis – the Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Continuing our look ‘under the bonnet’ of what keeps our parish ticking over, this week meet the Gardener Mice. These mice look after the plants around the Church and by the memorials, keeping the area neat and tidy. They also grow plants for fund raising during the year.

Lord, You know better than I know myself,that I am growing older and will someday be old.Keep me from the fatal habit of thinkingI must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving tostraighten out everybody’s affairs.Make me thoughtful but not moody;helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom,

This article was written for inclusion in the December 2025 issue of our parish magazine. In mid-December 2024 Rev Christine cam to me with a suggestion of a new anthem for Christmas – “but not this Christmas”, she said, “it’s far too short notice!” I found the sheet music, loved it, checked with Tom, and bought it. We offered it at the midnight and Christmas morning services that year.

There isn't a 13th Day of Christmas! This is Carol and Tom's parting gift to you, a cheeky review of the disasters of ill-thought-out gifts. We hope you've enjoyed spending Advent and Christmas, and look forward to doing it all again in December. Meanwhile, we're off for a rest, and normal service is being resumed via this blog, our Facbook page, Instagram and Bluesky feeds.

This month's letter comes from the keyboard of Rev Christine: I pray that each of you has experienced a joyful Christmas, surrounded by family and friends. I also trust you have enjoyed all the traditional trimmings, taken time to celebrate the Christmas story, and had the chance to reconnect with those you may not see often. As we step into this New Year, may I wish each one of you a very Happy New Year, as the days grow longer and we begin to look forward to the promise of brighter days to come.

By now all readers of this blog will be aware that our parish choir took part in the BBC’s recording of the Radio 4 Daily Service Carol Concert at Manchester Cathedral early in December 2025. It was a truly amazing event to be part of! This is what some of our singers said: Christmas started yesterday for Maggie’s Music Makers when we took part in a carol service at Manchester Cathedral along with other choirs and music groups from across Greater Manchester, which was being recorded by the BBC as part of their Christmas schedule for radio.