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At my institution at Prestbury in July 1995, Bishop David reminded us to
expect and plan for change. However, within the changes we have seen there
are some important constants for which I give thanks, most of all the
prayerful support and faithful worship of many, including a special
thanksgiving for those who have come to the daily Eucharists and Offices
which sustain a priest’s ministry.
Within our churches, many highlights spring to mind. I give thanks for:
- the co-operation and support of my colleagues;
- the partnership for the past ten years with Fr Michael and Gill,
whose faithful ministries and wisdom have meant more than I can say;
- our curates: Fr Nicholas, Fr Paul Kish and Fr Grant; the appointment
of Fr Paul Iles as a house-for duty priest, and the ordination of Fr
Peter;
- the support of our ‘retired’ priests, of Linda our Reader, of
Churchwardens, past and present, and of the Parish Administrator;
- the establishment of professional youth work culminating in the
appointment of Andy Macauly;
- the support, wisdom and individual service of our Ministry Leadership
Team;
- the quiet work of the Bereavement Support Team;
- and the faithful service of so very many in so many capacities - too
many to list.
I also give thanks for:
- the establishment of the Prestbury and All Saints’ Team Ministry;
- the founding of our weekly Celebrate! Service;
- the refurbishment of St Nicolas’;
- the conservation of All Saints’;
- leading the Governors of our two Schools, and the knowledge that the
chairmanship is in good hands.
And, on a personal level, I give thanks for:
- being Rural Dean and becoming an honorary Canon of Gloucester
Cathedral;
- being chaplain to the Racecourse and County Chaplain of Gloucester
SJAB;
- membership of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the care of
churches.
For all my mistakes, failures and shortcomings, my apologies. Much has
happened in the life of our churches, but for growth in spiritual ways
there is much to be done. Our primary purpose must always be to worship
God, be strengthened and fed by our loving Lord, and to live in the Spirit.
Nothing must deflect it.
Vicky, my strongest support throughout, joins me in sending her love.
Please go on praying for us - as we shall pray for you all, without
exception.
Fr Stephen
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Once again this Advent the Holy Family figures will be travelling around
our parish visiting the homes of people from each of our congregations. The
two sets of crib figures will leave St Mary’s and St Nicolas’ on Advent
Sunday to spend two or three nights with someone before being delivered to
the next hosts and eventually returning to church on Christmas Eve.
This little parish pilgrimage has proved very popular in the last couple
of years but if you haven’t heard about it yet, the idea is that making
space in our homes to welcome the figures can help us make space in our
hearts to welcome the real Jesus. There is a little prayer that you can use
at home if you like and a book into which people are invited to put a
thought or reflection, a favourite poem, a photo or a drawing. Above all we
hope that as the Holy Family is passed from one home to another, people
will take time to offer hospitality to one another, perhaps a cup of tea or
a brief chat, reminding us that Christ does not just bring us to God but to
one another.
Journey with Jesus isn’t just for families with children but rather for
anyone who thinks it might help them prepare for Christmas. If you’d like
to know more or sign up to be a host, please contact Sylvia McKenzie at St
Mary’s or Linda Biggs at St Nicolas’.
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We recently purchased a set of eight new bell ropes. It took a year for
the order to be delivered. Each rope is 50ft long and has a
black/gold/green sally. The top ends (above the sally) are made of
pre-stretched polyester – a new departure for us but well proven in other
towers for its hardwearing properties. This material is also less sensitive
to weather changes. Ordinary bell ropes shrink when the atmosphere outside
is damp which necessitates adjustment by the ringers. The bottom of the
ropes (mainly below the sally) is made of the traditional hemp, which is
less abrasive to the hands.
We were able to pay for the ropes from Tower funds (the profit from
weddings mostly). The total cost for all eight was £1,118.60. We hope that
we do not have to replace them too often! The worn ropes were new at the
time of the bell restoration in 1996.
On the evening of Sunday 17 September eight of our ringers gathered
early in the evening at the tower to ring a ‘Date Touch’ of 2006 changes.
In order to get the right number of changes two methods were involved: 966
changes of Plain Bob Triples and 1040 changes of Plain Bob Major. The date
touch was conducted by Adam Vellender prior to his return to university.
Jenni Scruton
[Nineteen-year-old Adam, reading Mathematics at the
University of Wales, Aberystwyth, has just been elected Tower Captain at
the church of St Padarn in Llanbadarn Fawr, which has a ring of ten bells.
Adam started ringing at St Mary’s Prestbury at the age of about nine years.
Editor]
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Belated congratulations to Mary Eyre, who earlier this year was awarded
an MBE for her services to sport. Mary was unable to make the journey to
Buckingham Palace, so a reception was arranged at the East Gloucestershire
Club in April and she was presented with the award by Henry Elwes, Lord
Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.
Mary has given life-long service to hockey. She was a formidable
goal-scorer and was selected to play for England from 1946-1949. She has
also represented her territory at cricket and in 1953 reached the
quarter-finals of the Ladies’ Doubles at Wimbledon. She became an
international umpire for both hockey and tennis. Over the years Mary has
given much encouragement and support, sharing her knowledge and experience
by coaching and training players and officials at all levels of the game.
She has coached generations of children in schools and continues to be a
very strong supporter of junior hockey. She finally stopped coaching small
boys in football and cricket at the age of 77!
Mary was baptised at St Mary’s church and has lived in Prestbury all her
life. She attended Cheltenham Ladies’ College from the age of five to
eighteen, and later taught at Charlton Park. In her speech of acceptance
Mary paid tribute to her friend Sheila Davson, who also taught at Charlton
Park and then the Ladies’ College. Both Mary and Sheila can usually be seen
at the Thursday Eucharist in St Mary’s.
Editor
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Congratulations to Gwen and Fred Barratt on sixty years of marriage.
They were married in All Saints’ church on 19 October 1946 and celebrated
their anniversary with a family party at home. The following day they held
a tea party in the WI Hall, where they were joined by over seventy friends
from Prestbury and from WI branches across the county. The afternoon ended
with cake and champagne.
Editor
See their photograph taken in 2001 at
A Celebration of
Marriage
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After such a long and busy period away from us all it was only when
Shirley Brown and I enquired whether Father Michael wanted any refreshments
during his Holy Land Talk that he remembered that it had been entered in
his diary many months earlier! His reaction was: ‘Yes please, an interval
break with something to wake them up because I expect I’ll send them all to
sleep!’. Those of us present (forty-odd in all) a month or so later know
that that was a long way from the truth.
The start was a little delayed due to ‘technical hitches’. These were
resolved via Father Michael’s mobile phone and the wisdom of Andy Macauly.
The warm and friendly atmosphere which it generated lasted all evening. It
was not a ‘talk about’ but a genuine sharing of the experience. I felt that
I had been a member of the pilgrims’ group – balancing surprising, moving
moments with the brash touristic element of the local population.
Underneath the layers of splendour at the various churches and shrines
there was so often the basic rock that Christ would have trod, the
claustrophobic tangle of ancient streets, the barren expanse of rocky
hillside above Bethlehem, relieved only by the movement of a genuine
shepherd leading his sheep up to reach the fragile bloom of spring grass.
The hills and mountains around the Sea of Galilee had a majestic beauty
with such rich vegetation and trees, a world away from the bare rocky
harshness of Bethlehem and packed buildings of Jerusalem.
Jesus, whose life was secure and comfortable as a skilled tradesman in
Nazareth, needed great willpower to sacrifice such calm and beauty and
fresh air for a path he knew led only to death. He must have felt a very
bitter sadness as he turned away from the Lake for the final time.
Father Michael’s confession that he had put off visiting the Holy Land
because he was unsure of what his reactions to it would be struck a chord
within me and probably others present. His discovery that it has made the
New Testament more real than ever made me think again and think hard.
Lynda Hodges
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After the Holy Land Talk refreshments Lynda was asked for the following
recipes:
Cheese Spread
Ingredients
2 oz bread crumbs (fresh white)
6 oz cheese (strong cheddar, grated)
2 oz tomatoes (skinned and depipped)
2 oz butter
1 small onion, skinned and chopped fine
1 small egg
Method
Mix grated cheese with chopped tomato, onion, butter and egg and
breadcrumbs. Put all in saucepan and heat gently till blended together.
Beat well till smooth. Cool, stirring regularly. Serve on bread or biscuits
or in sandwiches.
Apple and Nut Cake
Ingredients – cake
10 oz plain flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt
6 oz granulated sugar
4 oz soft margarine
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
8 oz apples peeled and chopped small
Ingredients – topping
1½ oz melted butter
4 oz soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 oz chopped nuts
Method
Sift all dry ingredients together. Rub in margarine. Beat egg and milk
together then stir into dry ingredients. Pour mixture into a well-greased
nine inch square cake tin. Turn oven on to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4).
Combine all the topping ingredients together and sprinkle as evenly as
possible over the cake. Bake in oven for approximately ½ hour or until
firm. This cake can be eaten cold or warm, perhaps as a pudding with cream
or custard.
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People in Prestbury first became aware of Jack Beaver when he moved to
Abbeyfield about ten years ago. Here he quickly found a friend, a true
friend, in Reg Viveash, who occupied one of the rooms upstairs. They became
a very familiar sight to everyone as they walked around the village
together, or headed off on a more ambitious trek into town — Reg so slim,
tall and energetic, in every way the perfect gentleman, but his new-found
friend more hesitant. Jack’s eyesight was already in decline. He generally
wore dark shades over his eyes and used a white stick, more as a
rangefinder than an aid to walking.
In church they were a touching sight as they made their way to the altar
rail, holding hands so that Jack wouldn’t fall. They looked for all the
world like two little schoolboys — except that somehow ninety years had
passed them by. They were both born in 1907. I was made forcibly aware of
this, soon after Jack moved to Prestbury, when I stopped to talk to Reg in
Tatchley Lane. I think he must have just passed his birthday, perhaps it
was his ninetieth (I don’t recall exactly), which provoked me to
congratulate him. ‘Ninety! I can hardly believe it. You’re looking so fit
and active!’ Well, this was more than Jack could stand. After a minute or
so he interrupted: ‘I’m just as old as him’ he said. I was equally
surprised in his case. ‘Well, you’re both doing wonderfully well’ I said
soothingly. (In fact Reg was senior by a few months.) But the years finally
caught up with them. Jack’s sight became more dark and clouded. He was one
of the founding members of the local Macular Degeneration Society, though
he soon found that attending the meetings was too difficult. And soon his
hearing was becoming a problem too.
Reg Viveash’s strength deserted him and he died peacefully in 2003. So
Jack found himself without a companion for his daily walks. But he was
always grateful if someone stopped to talk with him as he made his way
hesitantly around the perimeter of the playing field. ‘Why don’t you call
in when you’re walking past?’ I said one day, and soon he was doing so
regularly. He liked to sit in my workshop trying to figure out what kind of
instruments I was working on, and often went away puzzling over how they
worked. A few days later he would come back with lots of questions, which I
tried to answer. ‘Ah, now I see!’ he would say.
We talked about his early life in Bristol, how he dreamed of
matriculating and going on to university, but his father, who was very
strict with him, wouldn’t allow it. So he left school at sixteen and worked
for the gas company, where he was to remain for many years. In 1932 Jack
married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen, the only true love of his life.
Her family had long before accepted him more or less as their son, but her
father insisted that she should finish her college course before they
married. Their two daughters, Ann and Ruth, both now live in Highnam, near
Gloucester.
One of Jack’s favourite hobbies was spinning and weaving, which he
started when he was still at school. He told me that he puzzled out how it
was done and then built himself a large loom at which he loved to sit after
a day’s work, creating yards of cloth, of which he showed me a sample. He
dyed the wool, span it himself, and with it created the cloth. It was in
two tones of blue, very neatly woven, with a distinctive pattern, of which
he told me the name, but sadly I have forgotten. It was, he assured me, a
very relaxing activity. ‘You forget all about the troubles of the day when
you sit weaving.’ He was a founder member of the Avon Guild of Spinners,
Weavers and Dyers and sometimes went into local primary schools to talk
about weaving and spinning.
We talked about his first motor car, and family holidays, and the old
farm house he bought at Almondsbury, when their girls had left home. He and
Kathleen were very happy there until the most harrowing day in Jack’s life
when he came home to find his wife lying in the stone flagged passageway,
where she had fallen in the morning. Unable to move she had lain there all
day waiting for him to return. So the dream ended right there and then.
Jack insisted that they move to a nearby bungalow in the village, and they
purchased and moved in only a matter of weeks.
He paid his last visit to me on the morning of 25 September, when I was
least expecting him. Some clients were in the workshop, who had travelled
some distance to see the progress on their old piano. I was amazed to see
Jack because, quite frankly, he had been so terribly weak only the day
before. My wife, Ann, walked back to Abbeyfield with him, and saw him into
his room, but he collapsed about half an hour later.
Jack died on 6 October 2006. His funeral took place on 17 October at St
Mary’s, Prestbury, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered in
the churchyard at Almondsbury where he left Kathleen, so many years ago.
Michael Cole
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St Mary’s Junior School has undergone its OFSTED inspection.
‘Congratulations on achieving an excellent OFSTED report. To be judged
Good in the new style OFSTED is a tremendous achievement.’ Jo Grills,
Director of Learning and Development for Gloucestershire
May I share the following comments from the OFSTED report which
substantiate these congratulations:
Overall effectiveness of the school
- Prestbury St Mary’s is a good school, its strength captured in the
observation of one parent who wrote ‘this school has a near perfect
balance of fun, enthusiasm and good teaching.’
- The school’s Christian background has a strong influence on pupils’
outstanding personal development.
Achievement and standards
- Pupils of all abilities achieve well.
- Standards are well above average in English, Mathematics and Science
by the time pupils leave the school at the end of Year 6.
Personal development and well being
- The considerable maturity of those in Year 6 illustrates pupils’
outstanding personal development and well-being.
Teaching and learning
- The strength of the school’s good teaching lies in its exciting
lesson activities.
- Expectations are high, discussion is challenging…, learning is fun.
Curriculum and other activities
- The school’s good curriculum successfully promotes learning because
it gives as much attention to providing exciting and creative experiences
as it does to ensuring basic skills are secure.
Care, guidance and support
- Pastoral care is outstanding… as one parent commented, in this school
‘every child really does matter’.
Leadership and management
- The energy and vision of senior managers form the driving force
behind the school’s good leadership and management. Staff members and
pupils alike have caught this ready enthusiasm.
- The school knows itself well and has a clear view of where it needs
to go, because it examines its work in detail.
I hope this gives you a flavour of the report and the reason why we may
all feel proud of our local church school. We are never complacent but for
a moment perhaps we can pause and celebrate.
Daphne Philpot, Chair of Governors
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Part 2: Ignatian Spirituality
The second stage of my Sabbatical Journey took place in the middle of
May. This time I drove myself to North Wales, although I almost did not
make it, having to be towed off the M6 in heavy rain! Fortunately a very
helpful mechanic in a garage near Stafford was able to identify the
problem, repair the car and put me back on the road, all in just two hours!
My destination was St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre, which is set
amidst some beautiful scenery in the Vale of Clwyd, near St Asaph. Built
originally in the 19th century as a Jesuit Seminary, the rather imposing
building is now used to run retreats and training programmes following the
Ignatian Tradition.
St Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish saint of the early 16th century.
During many months of painful convalescence after being wounded in battle,
he wrote his ‘Spiritual Exercises’, literally a manual of religious
exercises. Just as we exercise to keep fit and well, so we should exercise
to maintain a healthy spiritual life and the exercises are a time for
intimate contact between God and the retreatant, the person undertaking the
exercises, usually during a retreat of thirty days.
My retreat was only for eight days and was conducted in silence. The
only speaking was during the daily worship or with my spiritual guide whom
I met with each day for about 45 minutes. He was a Filipino Jesuit and he
adapted the Exercises so that I could at least experience a flavour of
them. Most of each day was spent with scripture. My guide would suggest a
Bible passage, or passages, for me to read, to reflect on and to pray with.
When we met together, I would tell him some of the things which had
surfaced during my prayer time and we would discuss those things and
reflect on them prayerfully together.
The first evening we were sent away with a passage from John’s Gospel,
chapter 1, verses 35-39. I remember noting in my journal the luxury of
having over twelve hours to spend with just four verses of scripture! I
still remember how powerful, at the start of that retreat, were Jesus’
words from that passage: ‘come and see’. The more I turned those four
verses over in my mind, the more personal that invitation became – ‘come
and see’: an invitation, as it turned out, to explore prayerfully some of
the Bible and in doing so to discover a more personal relationship with
Jesus.
The Ignatian style of prayer tends to be categorised by praying with the
imagination: particularly imagining oneself to be in the bible story that
one is praying with. Most often, this style of prayer will use passages
from the Gospels: accounts which involve Jesus. However, the Ignatian
Exercises begin, quite literally, at the beginning, with Ignatius
encouraging us to consider creation and why God created us. I then found
myself, on my first full day, being given the 23rd psalm to pray with! ‘How
familiar’, I thought and yet it was quite amazing how many things began to
surface as I spent some time praying with the psalm rather than just
reciting it, or singing it to its familiar hymn tune.
As the retreat progressed I moved through various passages of scripture
which included the call of Abraham, the annunciation to Mary, the
narratives of Jesus’ birth, childhood and baptism, then on into Jesus’
mission, spending quite some time on his teaching and his miracles, before
moving into the more painful areas considering his passion and death and
then finally, the joy of his resurrection.
Despite some very heavy and persistent rain during my stay, I was able
to walk each day in the grounds and some of the surrounding countryside. I
was also able to attend a simple daily Mass in the beautifully re-ordered
chapel as well as some time each evening with my fellow retreatants (about
twenty of us) in the presence of the exposed sacrament. Most importantly,
we were very well-fed, which in my experience is essential for a successful
retreat!
Fr Michael
St Beuno’s Ignatian Spirituality Centre
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Thank you to everyone who helped on the day and in advance with the
collection at Waitrose in October. It was exhausting and demanding, but
worth it. We raised £520 and also handed out over 100 leaflets and raised
the PPY profile considerably. There are many more people now who know that
good work with young people is being done in Prestbury and Pittville.
The three yellow collecting boxes were bought by Prestbury and Pittville
Youth. If anyone would like to borrow the boxes at any time for use by
another charity please contact Tricia Wilson on 01242 572017 or
tricia.wilson ppy.org.uk.
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It has been a fantastic month or so for the wider church to share in
what the youth work is all about. The Our Voice film premiere
and then the Youth Team Commissioning! There were so many positives which
were evident: the creative and confident faith of the young people; the
depth in numbers and commitment of the youth work team; the hard work and
organisation of the executive committee and the enthusiastic support from
members of our congregations. It is great to see God at work through so
many people – thank you all for your contribution!
One event which people may not have been aware of was the collection at
Waitrose organised by the executive committee for Prestbury & Pittville
Youth funds. Through the perseverance of many individuals over £500 was
raised! This highlights an important truth behind the work which happens –
that local giving is vital for the continuation of the work of PPY. Local
giving helps ensure the long term stability of the organisation, gives us
more flexibility over the projects we undertake and makes it more likely
that other funders will support us, as they can see our work has local
support.
Would you, as well as your continued prayers, consider giving regularly
to Prestbury & Pittville Youth? Gill Wood (01242 515941) would be happy to
provide the necessary paperwork. Even a small regular gift will make such a
difference!
Andy Macauly
The Youth Team with Bishop Michael on 1 October 2006
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Over the past few weeks Pittville Youth Action Group have been hard at
work in St Mary’s Churchyard. They have been undertaking such tasks as
clearing round the stream, neatening the path edges and weeding overgrown
graves.
Pittville Youth Action Group is a group of students from Pittville
School who are engaged in practical and community work as an alternative to
being in school on Wednesdays. Last year’s group also attained the valuable
ASDAN bronze and silver challenge awards. Aspects such as team work,
confidence and employability skills are key to the programme.
This year’s group of 14 and 15 year olds have shown themselves to be
hardworking and resourceful. I have really enjoyed working with them on
this project – it has also sparked some interesting chats about church and
faith. We hope you like the work that has been done. If you have ideas for
other tasks or projects the group could undertake in the local area please
do get in touch with myself.
Andy Macauly
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On 7th October the Friends of All Saints’ invited us to ‘meet’ the
architects.
Firstly Fr Brian Torode introduced John Middleton, showing slides of
buildings Middleton had designed in his native Yorkshire, including houses,
schools and railway stations. Middleton moved to Cheltenham in the 1840s
and All Saints’ is the second of his five churches here, the others being
St Mark’s, Holy Apostles, Ss Philip & James and St Stephen’s, plus an
extension to St Luke’s. Fr Brian recommended that if possible we should
visit all these churches and have a good look inside to see the intricacies
of Middleton’s style.
The second presentation was by Andrew Townsend, the architect
responsible for the current restoration at All Saints’. He showed us
detailed ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs taken from all angles;
particularly interesting were those looking down at the church from the
mobile platform. A lot of the high-level stonework has been repaired in
situ rather than being removed to ground level. The major work has been the
roof, the existing brown tiles supplemented by new contrasting orange ones
in a fetching design of horizontal lines, dots and zig-zags. The grey
weathered carving round the west door has also been restored and is now a
bright shade of white.
A very interesting afternoon was rounded off by excellent cakes and tea.
Frances Murton
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This tiny church and congregation made me feel very humble. They managed
to put everything you can conjure up with the word ‘Harvest’ into two
packed days.
We had the works: a fantastic array of tractors, large and small,
ancient and modern, plus equally varied ploughs, lapping back and forth
across a vast field ploughing rich ground beautifully. The noise and smell
very authentic!
The drive into the village and walk back from the car park and ploughing
match field to the church was enlivened by scarecrows the likes of which
are rarely seen: they drove cars, climbed trees, warned traffic of the
speed limit, pushed a push chair (and occupant), and lazed on benches in
the sun.
In the church the windows and pillars were garlanded in fruit, vegetable
and top grade flower arrangements which blended and used the autumn colours
in a highly professional manner. Tea, fresh rolls filled to order and home
made cakes were dispensed around tables in the ‘font café’ whilst
volunteers and local charities marketed their goods inside and outside the
church. Every hour we all stood quietly whilst different clergy from all
around North Cheltenham talked briefly of the harvest, then we sang all the
old favourite hymns, one every hour, and said a short and simple prayer.
Visitors really did stop and sang very lustily.
I helped look after their church records, all the old records brought
over from the Gloucester records office specially for the occasion. From
noon till 4pm there was only one brief moment when nobody was relative
hunting. During this time a children’s service took place in the South
aisle of the lovely old church and there was a big gathering of youngsters,
singing, speaking out and bashing or crashing or blowing all kinds of
instruments.
At about five o’clock I ambled back down the lane to my car and found
that most of the ploughing field was turned over but a gang of tractor
drivers was now feeding the vast old threshing machine with genuine wheat
sheaves. Grain shot out one side whilst straw avalanched out of an end to
be forked into an old baler machine driven by one of the vintage tractors.
A small but sturdy rick of straw bales grew as I watched, not closely,
because I was back in my childhood, in a Sussex farmyard watching the same
machine and smelling the wheaty dust. Thank you, Elmstone Hardwicke, you
brought me down to earth so happily!
By the way, a family christening also took place in the chancel at 2
o’clock. Nothing seemed impossible in that pretty small space! The infant
looked exquisite, dark and elfin in billowy white lace. I heard later he
was christened Archie, God bless you little one, what a wonderful start.
Lynda Hodges
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 We knew we were in for something different as
Elmstone Hardwicke is set outside the town in the heart of farming country
and we were not disappointed. As Gill and I turned off the A4019 Tewkesbury
Road toward Elmstone Hardwicke we were greeted by several scarecrows. Every
house had one. As we proceeded one stepped out to remind passers by of the
30 mph speed limit. They certainly set the mood for the weekend – it was
obvious the whole village had worked together for this to happen. The first
car park was full so we drove through the village centre to the next – more
scarecrows greeted us and we came across the ploughing competition at Villa
Farm. I counted fourteen tractors from the Severn Vale Vintage Club pulling
the ploughs in remarkably straight lines. Another was powering the
threshing mill made by Ransomes of Ipswich.
On arriving at St Mary Magdalene’s church we found Fr Michael and Anna
had beaten us to the top of the tower. We paid our pound and climbed up to
greet them. The staircase and ladder were very narrow and not to be used by
the faint hearted. The bells that once called people to prayer had lain
silently for many years. We descended the steps to the sound of a harvest
hymn being sung. Fr Stephen was conducting a Sacred Spot, a hymn and a
short prayer on the hour.
The back of the church had been turned into a splendid café and around
the church were displays of several crafts and artwork. Everywhere people
were busy, friendly and welcoming. Gill noticed the floor tiles were the
same as at St Mary’s, only in better condition.
As we were eating our lunch the Gloucestershire Morris men were striking
up and had attracted a crowd as they danced just outside the church. The
ladies were amused by the Fool who went about among them in a most familiar
manner.
The parish registers were on display and gloves were available for those
who wished to turn the pages. A new register was started in 1879 and the
book is still being added to to this day. On page 3 is written on 5 August
1880 Elizabeth Nalder Viveash was baptised. Any relation I wondered?
At three o clock it was time for Neil Jones, the Reader, to conduct
another Sacred Spot. We sang All Things Bright and Beautiful because
the children were coming into church in readiness for their short Harvest
service. We learned some of the letters of HARVEST can be arranged into
other words. We HAVE food; we SHARE with others or people STARVE.
Meanwhile the ploughing contest was proceeding well. There we were
joined by Neil, who told us all about the congregation. Although it was
small everyone was very enthusiastic and was given a job! Neil welcomes the
proposed North Cheltenham Mission Area. Each church has so much to offer
each other, bringing new insights into each other’s way of life.
Time to go and more waves from the scarecrows.
Brian Wood
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Fr Stephen’s Retirement
The Eucharist of Thanksgiving for 38 years of Fr
Stephen’s Ministry and 40 years of his and Vicky’s Marriage will be on
Saturday 4 November at 11.30am in All Saints’ church, followed by a
light buffet lunch in Cheltenham Ladies’ College. If you would like to
come, please sign the list in church or email
fr.stephen prestbury.net.
This will help us arrange catering and seating.
Fr Stephen’s last Sunday at St Nicolas’ was 29 October,
his last Sunday at All Saints’ will be 5 November, and at St Mary’s
12 November.
Retirement Present for Fr Stephen
Anyone wishing to make a donation towards a retirement
present for Fr Stephen please put it in a marked envelope and give it to
one of the Churchwardens.
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Bible Study
A big thank-you to everybody who helped to make our first
venture into Bible Study at All Saints’ such an enjoyable experience. We
are resuming for five consecutive Tuesdays, beginning on 31 October
at 7.00pm, with a study of the Book of Ruth. If you would like to receive a
copy of the introductory material please contact Frances Murton, Julia Hook
or Jennifer Swinbank.
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All Souls’ Day – Thursday 2 November
At 10.30am there will be a Said Requiem Eucharist in St
Mary’s. During the service the names of departed loved ones will be read as
they are remembered before God.
At 7.30pm there will be a Sung Requiem Mass for the whole
Team at All Saints’, when the Fauré Mass setting will be used. During the
Mass names of departed loved ones will also be read.
Please write the names of the departed you wish to be
remembered on the sheets in church. Please write them on the list which
corresponds with the service at which you would like them to be read.
Simple Memorial Service
On Sunday 5 November at 3.30pm we will be holding
our annual Memorial Service during which we remember before God those who
have died during the past year. We invite to this service family and
friends of all those for whom our clergy have conducted a funeral this
year. Anyone who wishes to is very welcome to attend.
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Celebrate! Men’s Night
Celebrate! are hosting another men’s social evening at
the Royal Oak in the Burgage on Monday 13 November from 7.30pm. Do
join us if you fancy a drink and a chat – no previous experience of
Celebrate! necessary!
Jerry Porter
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St Mary’s Bakestall
The next bakestall at St Mary’s is on Sunday
19 November with contributions from those with surnames G-M. Do
contact us if you would like to join the rota.
Margaret Waker & Linda Matthews
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Mothers’ Union
Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday
28 November at 7.30pm in St Nicolas’ Church when Dee Graham will
present Christmas Crafts. All existing and new members are welcome.
Marion Beagley
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Compline by Candlelight
Looking for peace, space and time to think amid the
hustle and bustle this Advent? Why not join us for Compline by Candlelight
at 8pm on Tuesdays 5th, 12th and 19th December at All Saints? Relax
to the ancient plainchant melodies and spend some quality time with God.
Fr Grant
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‘The Real Christmas’
The Churches of Prestbury invite everyone to step back
from the rush and relax awhile with some seasonal refreshments and music in
St Mary’s church on the afternoon of Saturday 9 December. Admission
free. Details next month.
Lynda Hodges
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Team Christmas Lunch – Royal Oak – Sunday 10 December
If you would like to join us on this occasion please book
early as we are limited to 40 places due to refurbishment at the Inn. A
traditional Christmas two course lunch for £11.00 a head will be on offer.
Marion Beagley
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Angels in Art
A one-off event for Advent presented by Vivian Northcote
at 7pm on Tuesday 12 December in All Saints’ Church followed at 8pm
by Compline by Candlelight
Jen Swinbank
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Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust Cycle Ride
 Congratulations to cyclists Gill Ashman,
Frances and Stephen Murton and Bob Lyle from St Mary’s and Nigel Woodcock
and Brian and Martin Wood from St Nicolas’, who ventured out on
9 September. And very many thanks to all of you who sponsored us. The grand
total raised was £1123.50, half of which goes to the Trust and the
other half to the St Mary’s and St Nicolas’ Fabric Funds.
Bob Lyle
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