Organisations raising £1,000 for 1,000 years in celebration of Abbey of St Edmund’s anniversary

Businesses and organisations are planning activities to raise £1,000 to celebrate 1,000 years since the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund this year.

To celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds, companies, schools and community groups are being challenged to raise “£1,000 for 1000” for good causes. The campaign was launched by the Abbey 1000 Group, which is made up of organisations in the town, alongside the Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership.

Abbey 1000’s chosen charities are St Nicholas Hospice Care, St Elizabeth Hospice and EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospices), chosen as the monks offered medical care for the sick and dying in the Abbey of St Edmund.

Among the first organisations in Bury St Edmunds to start fundraising are Oakes Barn Pub, in St Andrew’s Street South, St Edmund’s Roman Catholic Church, in Westgate Street, and St Edmundsbury Wealth Management, in Whiting Street.

Oakes Barn will be holding a series of events this year including a sponsored slim, quiz nights and music events.

Heather Warren, owner of Oakes Barn, said: “Oakes Barn are delighted to be involved in the celebrations for the Abbey’s 1000th anniversary and delighted to be raising money for the £1,000 for 1,000 challenge.”

While staff at St Edmundsbury Wealth Management will be taking part in the Great Churchyard Run, running 1,000 yards, in costume on Friday, July 10.

St Edmundsbury Wealth Management are also offering clients the chance to invest £1,000 for free, giving their normal fee to charity.

Its managing director and Chair of the Abbey 1000 Group, Andrew Speed, said: “This is a really great way to get involved with Abbey 1000 and mark this historic year. You can raise funds for the three hospices, have fun and get your whole team involved.”

St Edmund’s Catholic Church have a number of events planned to include a series of quizzes and special tours in April and May and a talk on the Abbey of St Edmund by historian Dr Richard Hoggett on June 18.

John Saunders said: “The Catholic Church in Bury St Edmunds is the only religious building in the town dedicated to St Edmund King and Martyr and it is therefore very pleased to be part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations.

“Various events are being planned by the church throughout 2020, with the intention of helping people to understand the past, Benedictine life at the Abbey, the importance of pilgrimage and what happened after the Reformation.  As an Abbey 1000 partner the parish is aiming to raise £1000 for good causes but in a way that will be fun and engaging.”

Rev Canon Matthew Vernon, from St Edmundsbury Cathedral and Vice Chair of The Abbey 1000 Group, said: “It is great to see organisations in the town planning their own celebrations for the Abbey’s 1000th anniversary and raising money for the hospices in our ‘£1,000 for 1,000’ challenge.”

The Abbey’s 1,000-year anniversary will be marked with a series of events and activities throughout 2020 including a procession of Benedictine monks and nuns and a special sculpture exhibition telling the story of St Edmund and the Abbey within the Abbey ruins. There will also be an exhibition of manuscripts from the Abbey, a fabulous family celebration event in the Abbey Gardens and a spectacular light display event marking St Edmund’s Day Weekend from November 19 to 22, to name just a selection.

More information about the fundraising events planned, the celebrations and £1,000 for 1,000 can be found at www.abbeyofstedmund1000.co.uk

Pictured above (left to right) are John Saunders, St Edmund’s Roman Catholic Church; Andrew Speed, St Edmundsbury Wealth Management; and Heather Warren from Oakes Barn.