An evening of high energy folk music, with a squeeze of punk and attitude, from this rising star female soloist musician from Poole. Saturday, 23rd September at 7:30 p.m. Admission: £5 at the door.

Baptism of James Benjamin Leeke

James has been a regular church attender on Sundays almost all his life (best part of a year!). He usually drags his mother, Annette, (she pushes the pram!), father and brother along too. So, on Sunday (10th September, 2017) it was especially cheering to see that he had brought even more family and friends for this formal welcome into the family of the Church.

Barbecues & Birthdays! The Barbecue in the Church Hall garden on Saturday (12th) witnessed the "baptism by fire" of a new charcoal barbecue, ably assembled by Fr Adrian who also renewed his reputation as a very able chef. The next morning, at the refreshments following the main Sunday Mass, images of those who had had birthdays in the last couple of weeks featured in edible dyes on a joint photo-cake.

Vintage Brass providing some of the live music at the 2017 Fête.

Hugh Ashley, of BBC Radio Solent fame, introducing the fête with Nicole Warrilow of Diverse Abilities – Dorset’s disability charity - alongside Hannah and Hudson the dog who actually opened the fête.

Many thanks to Hugh Ashley, of BBC Radio Solent fame, for introducing the Fête. He put it in the context of worship, fellowship, friendship, partnership, and stewardship. He then handed over to Nicole Warrilow, who introduced Diverse Abilities – Dorset’s disability charity (with whom the proceeds were split 50/50) - and she explained that Hudson the dog would, in fact, open the fête with Hannah who is a frequent member of St Ambrose congregation. Hudson duly pulled the tape open to a round of applause and the proceedings commenced. This year, in addition to all the usual stalls, Purbeck Ferret Rescue provided ferret racing and a chance to meet the ferrets in the church hall garden. Falconry Solutions brought five fascinating and beautiful raptors. There were also sheep, ducks and geese on display. Live entertainment included the 44-strong Vintage Brass band playing popular tunes in the church followed by folk singer, Shannon White, and Project 17 provided rock music outside. The popular Pimm’s stall included ale on tap, in addition to teas in the Hall, and hot food provided by Flossies outside catering (remember Flossies and Bossies in Westbourne?). There were home-made cakes and jams, home-grown flowers and vegetables, and locally produced honey. The familiar bric-à-brac stalls, jewellery, nearly-new garments, books, gifts, toy tombola, raffles and draws were inside the church. A selection of church vestmnents and church plate were exhibited in the chancel. There were hourly tours up the church tower and, despite the showery weather, there was plenty of activity and the fête was well-supported. A very big thank you to Bob Foster, churchwarden, who was the general organiser; the stall holders and the team who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it all so successful.

🎪 Grand Summer Fête, Saturday, 29th July, from 11:30 a.m. 🌞 🌦 If the weather is inclement, as widely forecast, the Fête will go ahead with some of the stalls moved inside the church. ⛪ ☔ The show must go on! 🎉

The Bournemouth Chapter of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary held a Summer Festival Mass at Wimborne St Giles' Church last Thursday (20th July, 2017). The 13th century church was largely replaced in the 18th century, "gothicised" by G.F. Bodley in the 19th century, and - when it was gutted by fire in 1908 - restored and redesigned by Sir Ninian Comper and richly ornamented. As the annual Flower Festival had taken place the week before the church was also full of floral displays. There have been Rectors of the church since 1207 and we were grateful to the present Rector, Fr Robert Simpson, for his welcome and for celebrating the BCP High Mass. Thanks are also due to the generosity of church members who provided refreshments and hospitality on the day. These images are just part of a much larger set (including a couple of videos) which can be viewed on the Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHskzW3zLG

We are delighted that Hugh Ashley, of BBC Radio Solent fame, has agreed to open the Fête, assisted by representatives of Diverse Abilities – Dorset’s disability charity (with whom the proceeds will be split 50/50). This year, in addition to all the usual stalls, there will be ferret racing, demonstrations of hurdle-making, a falcon bird handler, and a flower show that you can enter. Live music will be provided by Vintage Brass, Shannon White, and Project 17. The popular Pimm’s stall, as well as teas and hot food will be available, and there will be home-made cakes and jams, home-grown flowers and vegetables, and locally produced honey. Once again there will be tours up the church tower, animals in the pets' corner, gift and bric-à-brac stalls, jewellery and nearly new garments, raffles and draws. The Fête is on Saturday, 29th July, from 11:30 a.m. with the final draw at 3 p.m. St Ambrose Church is on Yellow Bus route C1. The Wilts & Dorset “Purbeck Breezer” open-top route 50 also stops by the church, and there are many other buses that stop nearby at “The Grand” bingo hall, and Grosvenor Road, Westbourne.

At 6:30 a.m., on 15th July, a coach left St Ambrose Church for the 240-mile journey to Walsingham in Norfolk. The Society of Mary is well represented at St Ambrose Church and several members from our church joined with others from the Portsmouth Diocese on the three-day Annual SOM Pilgrimage to Walsingham. Many thanks to Dorothy and Henry Frier, Lesley Bird and Ernest Burton who took these photographs, and to Gillian Tankard who remembered friends with personal Prayer Candle cards, for permission to share these images which will bring back memories for some and give a flavour of the devotional atmosphere for others thinking of joining-in next year. http://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/the_shrine/why_pilgrimage.htm