St Mary’s, Barnes

 St Mary’s Barnes links with Magna Carta through Archbishop Stephen Langton.  As Langton travelled back to London along the river after the sealing of the Magna Carta by King John at Runnymede on 15 June 1215, he stopped at Barnes to dedicate St Mary’s Church. This is recognised by the title now given to the original medieval part of the church, The Langton Chapel, created at the time of the rebuilding of the church after the fire which decimated it in 1978.

2015 is a year of celebration of this 800th Anniversary for St Mary’s Barnes as part of the national Magna Carta 800th Anniversary.  Two major festivals are marking the year:

Barnes Music Festival from 14 to 29 March 2015 with the theme “Magna Carta, Music & Freedom”.  The festival includes both medieval music and a wide variety of genres which interpret the legacy of Magna Carta on musical freedom and artistic expression.  There are 20 events over the fortnight culminating in a Festival Choral Evensong on 29 March with The Reverend Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of The Temple, as speaker.

 St Mary’s Barnes Magna Carta Festival from 19 to 24 May 2015 featuring spectacular flower displays, embroidery exhibitions, a history display, lectures by Professor Nigel Saul and Graham Seel and a workshop led by Christopher  Lloyd

Other anniversary events during the year include:

 St Mary’s Barnes Anniversary Service on 15 June 2015 when Stephen Langton’s successor, the previous Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, will follow in his footsteps to visit and give an address

 Anniversary Pilgrimage from Runnymede to Barnes from 13 to 15 June 2015

 Barnes Charity Ball 2015 The Medieval Ball held in St Mary’s Barnes on 6 February 2015

 Jesus Christ Superstar production in St Mary’s Barnes by Barnes Community Players from 9 to 13 June 2015

 Barnes Fair on Barnes Green with Magna Carta/medieval theme on 11 July 2015

Full information from

stmarybarnes.org              barnesmusicfestival.com

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Sir Anthony Clarke

Master of the Rolls (2005-2009)

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