Heritage Open Days, September 2017

Esh village will feature twice in the national Heritage Open Days festival this year, opening both of its historic churches to the public in September 2017:

Old Esh - St Michael’s RC Church

Esh Laude, DH7 9QN    

A Grade II Listed Church. St Michael's is one of the oldest churches in the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Built to resemble a farm steading to blend in with surrounding area the church was constructed in 1798 and features listed stained glass windows. St Michael's was originally the mother church for the Lanchester area and served the growing population of miners and workers moving into the area. Volunteers will be available to talk to visitors about the history of the building and the surrounding area and history leaflets will be available.

No booking required

West side of Esh Village, 1 mile from Ushaw College

Sunday 10 Sept: 13.00-16.00

Additional Information:  This site is not normally open to the public; the event is especially put on for Heritage Open Days 2017; full wheelchair access; on-site disabled parking; on-site accessible toilets; pushchair/pram friendly; hearing loop; assistance dogs welcome; parking; baby changing/breastfeeding area; refreshments; toilets on site. 

Old Esh – village church and inn

Front St, Esh Village, DH7 9QR

The Church of St Michael and All Angels (13th century) was rebuilt in 1770 and improved in 1850 to current appearance by the remarkable Temple Chevallier (Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Durham University) incumbent from 1835 to 1873.

A village trail will point visitors to other areas of interest in the village.

Volunteers will be available to show visitors areas of interest in the church.

Refreshments and toilets are available at the nearby Cross Keys Inn, a historic drovers inn.

1 mile from Ushaw College, opposite the Cross Keys Inn

No booking required

Sunday 10 September: 1300-1600

Keys to be included: event specially put on for hods; refreshments, toilets, public convenience disabled; partial disabled access

'Sapphire Scones & Tea': Celebrate H.M. The Queen's 65th Jubilee on 16th July

An evening with John Grundy, historian, broadcaster and author

We would like to invite you to an evening with the historian, BBC broadcaster and author John Grundy, who will be giving a talk about local history and unveiling our new banner at St Michael and All Angels Church, Esh, on Monday 3rd April. The evening starts at 7.30pm - entrance is free, but all donations will be gratefully received and will be in aid of raising funds for the village defibrillator and the Esh Leaves WI.

For more information, or to ask any questions about the event, please contact Gillian Wesson (tel. 0191 3731415) or email gillianwesson@hotmail.co.uk

Christmas Carols in Esh

The festive season is upon us, and Esh has a host of activities over the coming month to enjoy the Christmas spirit.

With any luck, the village tree will be up any day now, thanks to a generous grant from our Councillors and kindly sourced by friends from Blackburn Farm in Langley Park.

A few dates for your diary:
- Monday 5th December, 4pm: Carols around the tree with the children from Esh CofE and St Michaels Primary Schools. All welcome; hot drinks and mince pies in St Michaels afterwards.

- Sunday 4th, 2.00-3.30pm, Sundays 11th and 18th December, 2.30-3.30pm: Rehearsals for the village carol service in St Michael and All Angels church.

- Tuesday 20th December, 7.00pm: Esh Village Carol Service.

- Wednesday 21st December, 7.30pm: Carols around the tree.

Coffee Morning: Saturday 3rd December

The next village coffee morning takes place on Saturday 3rd December 2016, 10.30am-12pm.

Hosted by Vanessa Tyres and held at Kirdavane, Front Street, the morning is a great opportunity to catch up with friends old and new over lots of homemade cakes and fresh tea and coffee!

All proceeds go towards St Michael and All Angels Church n Esh.

Esh Harvest Supper

Come and join the Esh Village Harvest Supper on Friday 7th October 2016, from 7pm in the village hall.

All are welcome: it promises to be a great evening, with live music, games, and competitions as well as homemade food and drink included in the ticket price. The proceeds will go towards the Friends of St Michael and All Angels Church to support the work they do to maintain the church.

For more information and details of how to book tickets, please click on the poster to the right. See you there!

Heritage Open Day in Esh

On Sunday 11th September, St Michael's and All Angels C of E church and St Michael's Roman Catholic church will open their doors to the public as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme. Free admission to both buildings will be available between 1pm and 5pm, whilst refreshments will be available at The Cross Keys pub.

St Michael's and All Angels originally dates to the 13th century, although it was extensively remodelled in the latter half of the 18th and first half of the 19th century as part of a refurbishment by Temple Chevallier, the celebrated theologian and astronomer.

St Michael's RC Church, meanwhile, is a Grade II listed building and one of the oldest churches in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Built to resemble a farm steading so that it blended in with the surrounding buildings, it features beautiful stained glass windows and was the mother church for the Lanchester area.

Follow the links above to find out more about the Heritage Open Days in Esh.

Spring Coffee Morning

All are warmly invited to the next 'Friends of Esh Church' Spring Coffee morning, hosted by Kay and Claire at Esh Hall on Saturday 2nd April, 10.30-noon.

There will be a book sale, a raffle and a tombola, as well as lots of homemaking and preserves to enjoy and take away, as well as a range of gifts and cards on sale from Phoenix Trading. All proceeds will go to St Michael and All Angels CofE church. 

Contributions for the tombola, the cake stalls or the homemade jams and preserve stands are very welcome. Entry costs £2 for adults, 25p for children, and includes plenty of tea, coffee, squash and biscuits! 

St Michaels and All Angels has a new website!

St Michael and All Angels C of E church in Esh might date from 1283, but a new website puts it firmly in the twenty-first century! http://www.stmichaelandallangelsesh.btck.co.uk provides details of service times, baptisms, weddings and funerals, the Parochial Church Council, and how to get involved with the Friends of the Church initiative, as well as much more! 

Temple Chevallier, 1794-1873

St Michael's has a rich history: King Edward I attended Mass there on 10th September 1306, and the celebrated astronomer, scientist, mathematician and theologian and clergyman, Temple Chevallier,
famous for his work on sunspots, as well as translating the works of several Church Fathers. Chevallier is buried in the churchyard, which is also the site of a Commonwealth War Grave, that of 552228 Trooper William Francis Leopold Scott, who died in 1940 whilst serving with the Royal Armoured Corps. All are welcome at the church: check out their website for details of how to visit, worship, and get involved! 

Burns Night Celebration

Esh will be celebrating the life and poetry of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) with a Burns Night supper on Friday 22nd January 2016, at 7pm onwards in the Parish/ Sports Hall.
Entertainment will be provided by 'Just Us, and tickets (£5.00 adults; £1.00 children) include a buffet supper and a glass of wine or soft drink. All proceeds to St Michael and All Angels Church.

For more information and to buy tickets, please see Gillian (14 Green Court) or Evelyn (7 Front Street).

Village Carol Service - Tuesday 15th December

This year's village carol service will be held on Tuesday 15th December at 7pm in St Michael's and All Angels Church.

For those interested in joining the choir, rehearsals will take place on the three preceding Sunday afternoons (29th November, 6th and 13th December) at 2.30pm in the church. Attendance at all three rehearsals is not compulsory, and everyone is very welcome to join in.

Important Meeting at St Michael's Church, Tuesday 29th September, 7.00pm

St. Michael and All Angels' Church, in the parish of Esh with Hamsteels.  

A public meeting will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday 29th November in the hall of Esh Church of England School to discuss a matter of serious concern and the future viabilty of the church.

All within the parish are warmly invited to attend. 

New Poppies to Commemorate the World Wars

When the wooden owl from the grassy triangle was stolen in June 2014, the villagers clubbed together to raise £300.00 to commission new sculpture work as a replacement. Last August, a new owl was bolted and cemented into place on the triangle, and yesterday, a new poppy sculpture was erected outside St Michael and All Angels parish church to commemorate the anniversaries of the two world wars. In St Michael's churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of 552228 Trooper William Francis Leopold Scott, who died in 1940 whilst serving with the Royal Armoured Corps, and both churches in the village, St Michael and All Angels and St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, contain memorials to the Esh villagers who gave their lives between 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. To find out more about war memorials in the area, and those in Esh village,  visit the North East War Memorials Project website. 

Esh Easter Coffee Morning

The next village coffee morning takes place on Saturday 28th March, 10.30am-12.00pm, at Hankey Hall, Hall Road.

Kay and Claire will be hosting an Easter extravaganza:  on offer will be home made cakes, fruit pies, meat pies, lemon and orange marmalades, strawberry conserves, fresh flowers and more! There is also a treasure chest of gold to be won by guessing where the pirates have hidden their bounty and Phoenix cards will be selling a range of their greetings stationery. All are welcome - as are family and friends!

Adults £2.00, children 25p entry. 

All proceeds towards the St Michael and All Angels church appeal. 

Village Coffee Morning, Saturday 7th March

A Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 7^th March 2015 at the home of Joan West (8, Green Court, Esh). The morning will be co-hosted by Eileen, Brenda and Gillian and will include cakes, a raffle and a tombola all in aid of St Michael and All Angels Church in the village. Please come and join us - everyone is welcome! 

Burns Night in Esh

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Everyone is welcome to join the village celebrations for Burns Night on Friday 30th January 2015, from 7pm onwards at the Esh Church of England School.

As well as the address to the haggis ('Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!'), there will be entertainment by 'Just Us' and a buffet supper with wine and soft drinks.

All monies raised will go towards the St Michael and All Angels Church Heating Fund.

Tickets: Adult £5.00, Child £1.00

Raffle prizes on a Scottish theme would be greatly appreciated! Heather honey, tablet, oats or a single malt are just a few ideas....

For more information, to buy tickets, or to drop off raffle prizes, please see Gillian (14, Green Court), Evelyn (7, Front Street), or Kay (Esh Hall).