This is a text-only version of an article first published on Friday, 16 May 2014. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Revd Graham Sykes who won the home brewing contest at the third Witney Beer Festival last month.
Toby Wright raises a glass at the Witney Beer Festival.
St Mary the Virgin, Witney, hosted the contest which saw hundreds of people visit the church.
The partnership working to enable this is headed by Witney Round Table, who have worked to develop it each year.
More than 40 kegs of beer were served from a variety of breweries, including Witney's own Wychwood; and the local White Horse and Compass breweries.
The churchwarden of St Mary's, Mr James Mills had the original idea with the Rector, the Revd Toby Wright.
As part of St Mary's commitment to outreach and mission this is a key part of the developing strategy, along with the Festival of Food and Drink which took place later in May. The home brew contest is a new innovation and Graham, who is Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford and Chair of the Door's editorial support group deserved, to win with his delicious brew. The Rector, Toby Wright (right) said: "We see this as an incredible opportunity to serve the local community.
It allows all sorts of relations with local people to begin and to grow.
It unites people together and has led to great outreach and pastoral encounters. '"The next beer festival will be on Saturday 2 May 2015