The outbreak of Coronavirus in 2020 has caused devastation to the way of life all around the world. New restrictions and advice were being given daily by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and two specialist advisers each day at 5pm from the week beginning Monday March 16th 2020.

It was announced during this week that all schools were to close but the pupils of key workers could still go to nominated schools to allow their parent to continue with his or her essential job. Also, pupils who would normally have free school meals would be able to go in order to have at least one square meal per day.

On Friday, the list of key workers was published and this article from the on-line Witney Gazette lists those key workers.

An instruction from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York this week said there would be no services until the risk of catching coronavirus has passed. Weddings can take place with a maximum of 5 people attending but that did not say if it was the bride and groom and the clergy plus two, or those 3 plus 5. Not helpful.

Vera Elward aged 92 took a flight in a microlight to help raise money for the restoration of the beautiful pipe organ in St Mary The Virgin Church in Bampton. Vera ran the Sunday School for over 20 years and has always worked for the church

On February 17th 2016 work began to dismantle the old pipe organ in St Mary's. Douglas Clare, one of our two churchwardens in April 2019 wrote the following article for the May issue of Contact.

Rev. Andrew Scott retired from being a vicar, the vicar of Bampton and Clanfield in 1996. With the monetary gift from parishioners he went on a tour of Europe and this is his diary of that holiday.

This was a barn dance held in Saint Mary's in 2003 to help raise funds for the church. Bampton is lucky to have kept its retained fire service and the firemen and women very kindly move the pews both before and after the event.

Dr Alan Gaydon was a churchwarden at St Mary's for several years. He photographed the church from inside to out, ground level to the roof and recorded the restoration of the top of the spire and re-guilding of the cockerel on the top.

Junior Church seen in St Mary's on Goof Friday 1999 along with their leader Mrs Margaret Battersby.

These picture were taken in 2007 and show the electric motor which now drives the church clock. It used to be powered by weight and pendulum which had to be wound up twice a week along with the weight that drove the carillon.

The old carillon had to be turned off permanently in the end when too many pins on the drum had fallen out and simply would not stay in place when put back.

On Saturday April 18th 2015 the choir from St Mary The Virgin, Bampton went to Lichfield Cathedral to sing Sung Evensong. Choir master and conductor David New, organist on the day for the choir was John Ridgway.