The Big Lunch is inviting everyone in the UK to sit down at the same time, to eat lunch with our neighbours, as a simple act of community. Our lunch is part of this national simultaneous “home grown lunch” bringing together people across the community, particularly the lonely and isolated. We aim to grow our own herbs and to have a “festival picnic” atmosphere.

The Parish of St Mary The Boltons is a diverse parish and includes some of the richest and some of the poorest people in London, as well as many in between. We seek to serve them all, and to care for the environment too - a key part of the Church's concern today. David Shreeve, the Archbishops' Adviser on Environmental issues sowed the seed for our Big Lunch when he visited our Church in February. We are hosting The Boltons Big Lunch as part of the Earls Court Festival: a grass-roots Festival for local people. We know the benefits of sharing a regular community meal, prepared by volunteers, as we have a Parish Lunch every month, it is one of our “hidden treasures.” So we are delighted to support “the simple act of community” objective of the Big Lunch project. Through The Boltons Big Lunch we want to reach out to the local community, especially the lonely and isolated, and share good food and sunshine. We are aiming for a festival picnic atmosphere, Le déjeuner sur l'herbe. For the Reverend Ginny Thomas, our priest in charge, there are three key themes for The Boltons Big Lunch: opening up to the community, sharing (the meal, its preparation and eating, and the money raised from donations), and having fun!

Malcolm Connell: Festival and Arts Director of the Earl's Court Community Trust

We're delighted to have The Boltons Big Lunch as part of this year's Earl's Court Festival. I hope that others may be inspired to host a Big Lunch too. Earl's Court is a very busy area. Our location at the heart of one of the country's richest boroughs throws up many unique social, cultural and economic contradictions. The Earl's Court Festival provides a chance for everyone to meet socially, enjoy some great events and activities and share a real sense of belonging. Each year we open up many of the area's beautiful hidden spaces for the whole community to enjoy. What better way to bring this year's celebrations to a close than enjoying an excellent meal with friends and neighbours courtesy of The Boltons Big Lunch! This year's festival will begin with the Earl's Court Fair on June 20th and end with The Boltons Big Lunch on the 19th of July. Look out for details of other great events during the period on the festival website: www.eccf.org.uk.

Robin Arbuthnot: Volunteer Head Chef

We are catering for 150 people and the menu has a 'loaves and fishes' theme. There will be: smoked salmon with gravadlax, smoked mackerel, vegetarian falafel, bread, potatoes, tomatoes, and a green salad with tomatoes and locally grown herbs. This will be followed by a choice of desserts: queen of pudding or a fruit crumble with cream, and a selection of cheeses. We hope to have sponsorship from the Champagne Academy.

General Sir Hugh Beach: Volunteer Chef

My role is to help with the planning and logistics, to support Robin our Head Chef, and to encourage people to grow herbs.

Leo Fraser MacKenzie, PCC Member: Growing and charitable giving

I am co-ordinating the growing of our own herbs for the lunch - and perhaps more. I have just planted dill, basil and chives in a variety of recycled containers, and potatoes in a raised bed made from an old bee hive. We are looking to plant herbs in the Church grounds. St Mary's also wants The Boltons Big Lunch to benefit others. Lunch will end with a soprano and baritone singing in Church after which we will be inviting donations which, once costs are covered, will support the St Mary's programme of charitable giving. Two thirds of our giving goes to our adopted charities which for this year and next are: the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza and the Earls Court Project. The final third goes to our charitable pot which we distribute at the end of the year. The Charities Committee which make recommendations to the PCC about this giving looks particularly for local projects where our funds can make a difference, and which are in unfashionable and unattractive areas, and support those on the margins of society but we also try to support some work overseas each year.

More information about the structure of our programme of charitable giving and of projects supported can be found in our Parish magazine, the Clarion, particularly in the editions for July/August 2008, December 2008/January 2009 and February 2009.

How can you help?

We need green fingers - and wannabe home growers - young or old!
Please let Leo know what you can grow- see March's Clarion.
We need herbs: dill, basil, mint, chives parsley. If you want to grow something bigger, why not try potatoes or tomatoes in a grow bag on your patio - now is the time to start sowing/planting.
If you wish to come to The Boltons Big Lunch you will need to register with the parish office. Registration opens on Monday 1 June.

Do contact me or any of the team if you can help or have any questions
Ruth Lampard

For more information contact
The Reverend Ruth Lampard, Associate Vicar of St Mary The Boltons
020 7835 1440

Here is the Big Lunch leaflet (677kb PDF).