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The meeting as a whole then reolved those down into seven Key Areas of Mission. A group then formed around each Key Area and wrote a Mission Statement.
The resulting Vision and Mission Statements were as follows:
LEATHERHEAD PARISH - GROWING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST
To that end, in the words of our members, our Key Areas of Mission are:
Worship
- encourage spirit-filled, appropriate and diverse worship
Growing as Disciples
- grow and share the love of Christ by:
- Bible-based teaching
- development of small groups
- identifying and enabling lay leadership
Evangelistic Outreach
- training - to grow in confidence re: above
- improvements
- encourage fun within the current church
- improve what is happening here so it's attractive to invite others to:
- follow through: "better" services and sermons
- offer hospitality - socials e.g. World Cup, workshops, signage/advertising, at church
- accessibility including parish office
Engagement with Community
- further strengthen our website to create a valuable community resource
- raise the church’s profile in the community
- continue to develop strong links with all schools, state, independent and special
- strengthen support for the blind community, those in residential care and other groups in need
- improve our engagement with the whole of Leatherhead
- establish a High Street presence
Pastoral Care - All Ages
- lower average age of Leatherhead Parish Church congregation
- share our gifts with church, community and afar
- listen and love
- identify pastoral needs
- find ways of meeting them
- identify individual gifts and willingness to use them
Resources
- provide sufficient resources from the living Church and make full use of available talents, time and treasure
Ecumenical Links
- further develop co-operative relationships with other expressions of church
- explore ways of working together to win Leatherhead for Christ
The next stage is to form a Working Group for each Key Area, each with a PCC member as Convenor. Each Key Area Working Group will then begin to address the third stage of the Vision Process - How Do We Get There? - developing Goals and Action Plans in its Key Area, plans that will aim to turn our Vision into reality.
There will also be a Planning Support Group to assist where needed. We will be developing our plans with our covenant partners in the Methodist and United Reformed churches and, wherever possible, we will be working closely with all the churches in the town.
If you would like to be involved in this exciting adventure, please get in touch with me, with one of the staff or the Churchwardens, or a member of the PCC.
Happy June!
[editor: The Vision Statement above is also available as a pdf]
from the June 2010 magazine
2010 Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The APCM was held on Wednesday 21 April 2010. As
always the meet- ing was preceded by a Meeting of
Parishioners held to elect the Churchwardens for the
coming year. As Peter Leith had decided not to seek
re-election, Navin Mehta and Linda Hauxwell were elected
Churchwardens.
After approving the minutes, the meeting turned to the accounts for the last year. Presenting these the Treasurer, Alan Fleming, pointed out that, while the Parish was in a relatively privileged position financially, expenditure in 2009 had exceeded income, with a drop in receipts from planned giving. He had drawn up the draft budget for 2010 in expectation of a further deficit.
He was grateful to the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church for their generous support, and also to the Hall Committee, Parish Magazine sales, Concerts in Church, and others for their contributions. It was pointed out that income from rental of the two church houses would be reduced in the event of one of these being required for a stipendiary curate, but this was unlikely to happen before Petertide 2011. The adoption of the accounts was approved.
Frank Haslam, the Electoral Roll Officer, reported that the number on the Roll was currently 220. The Rector, Graham Osborne, while thanking Frank for his work on the Roll, explained that in response to a request from the Diocese, Frank had carried out an analysis of households on the Roll by Council Tax banding for the purpose of calculating a Relative Prosperity Factor for the parish. The information disclosed had been purely statistical and did not include any names or addresses.
The meeting then received reports on the Fabric, Furnishings and Ornaments of the Parish Church and All Saints Church, the proceedings of Leatherhead Deanery Synod; the proceedings of the Parochial Church Council.
Martin Cole, John Hampton and Sheila Sutherland were then elected as Assistant Churchwardens. As six nominations had been received for four vacancies on the PCC for three years, a ballot was necessary. After the ballot papers had been counted, Jay Bristow, Jane Haslam, Frances Presley and Donald Yeates were declared elected. The meeting then approved the re-appointment of sidesmen.
After the formal meeting, the Rector gave a
presentation in which he referred back to the Statement
of Needs drawn up before his appointment, described how
he had responded to them in his application, and how he
planned the ongoing Vision Process. This would be taken
forward in a Parish Meeting on 9 May when a small number
of strands would be identified to be taken forward by
smaller groups. The over-all Vision Statement would be
"Leatherhead Parish - growing disciples of Jesus
Christ".
Anne Thomson, PCC Secretary
from the June 2010 magazine
Awayday 2010
On 15 May nearly 40 of us from the three Uniting
Churches assembled at St Barnabas' Church in Epsom on the
first really warm day of our late Spring.
Canon Paul Jenkins, formerly Warden of St Columba's Retreat House and now Priest in Charge of Dunsfold with Hascombe, led our Awayday programme entitled "Our Space is Sacred Space". He began by referring to the book "Repitching the Tent" which has provided the basis of reordering churches for many congregations.
St Barnabas was a case in point. We were shown a picture of the original interior, "rather cluttered" as Paul said, and then the result of removing all the pews and creating a church in the round with a circle of chairs, at the centre of which was the Holy Table. Paul asked us to walk round the church (barefoot if possible), pray silently, and experience the sacred space created there as well as the dramatic painting below the East Window.
He then invited us to walk round the outside of the church to experience the original structure of the building and the new glass extension at the front, which was light, airy and welcoming. In showing us how to use our church buildings more creatively to enhance worship and draw people inside, Paul illustrated his talk with a series of slides. Features included the use of good signage and design. A church in the Diocese of Wakefield had on the notice board its name and the words "Come and See...".
"Come and see what?" said Paul. That was an open invitation to encourage people to go inside to satisfy their curiosity. Simple clear and uncluttered notice boards were a further example of good practice in welcoming outsiders.
Paul expressed his admiration of some public works in Hastings ("a seaside town trying to reinvent itself"). An imaginatively designed public lavatory there, which resembled a temple, was a stunning example of what could be done for buildings if creativity was used to the full.
We were allocated into four groups, named after the Gospel writers, for two sessions of discussion on ways of improving the use of our sacred space, all three churches being represented in each group.
A lunch of hot spicy parsnip soup, bread and cheese was then served by Linda Hauxwell and Mary Cruddas.
Our Awayday culminated in a Holy Communion in the round led by Mary as celebrant and Ian Howarth as musical director, leading to some amazing singing, before we closed our worship and our Uniting Churches event.
Our grateful thanks go to Ian and Mary for organising such an enjoyable occasion, and to Paul Jenkins for leading it. Roger Lynch
from the June 2010 magazine
Concerts in Church
Due to circumstances beyond our control the 2010
lunchtime concerts have been put back. Please put in your
diaries the following dates for the three concerts:
Wednesday 23 June: Hedley Kay will play from
12.30pm-13.30
Thursday 1 July: The Acstede Quartet will return
by popular request and play from 12.30-13.30
Friday 9 July: Mike Stewart will play mostly Chopin from
1pm-2pm
As before, entry is free. Please come and sit and relax and enjoy the music for an hour in the middle of the day. From the beginning of June please refer to the flyers for full details.
from the June 2010 magazine
Cat Kelly
Many of you will remember "Time for
God" volunteer, Cat Kelly, who was a youth worker in
our Parish during 2002/3 and went on to study Youth Work
at Plymouth University. Cat met Phil Griffin at
university and they were married on 8 May in Aston Parish
Church, Birmingham. Ruth and I were delighted to go to
the joyful occasion and be able to pass on all the good
wishes of our church family.
We also met up with Claire Gannon, our previous Youth
Worker, who mentored Cat during her two years here. Ruth
also worked as a "Time for God" youth work
volunteer with Claire, having been inspired by Cat –
so it was great to see the three youth workers re-united.
Linda Hauxwell
from the June 2010 magazine
Sacristan
I am most grateful to Lorraine Willmott who has taken
over as sacristan; I am sure she is just the right person
for the task. Grateful thanks also to Caroline Dodds who
has been such a help and support to me in the past
months, and who will continue to assist Lorraine
Anne Warren
Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church Annual
Meeting, Friday 15 May 2010
The Chairman's report mentioned
that a membership recruitment initiative from Fran
Fleming, had resulted in a net increase of 17 members.
However, we must not rest on our laurels and members were
urged to encourage others to join and support us. If each
existing member could recruit just one more member, it
would make a huge difference to the amount of support the
Friends are able to give for maintenance of our beautiful
Church.
Following the formal part of the evening, the Rector, Graham Osborne, outlined his vision for the Church and gave us an insight into the pathway that had led him to Leatherhead.
from the June 2010 magazine
Serendipity
Due to an oversight the review of the concert in
March by Serendipity was not published in the
May magazine but is included now partly to publicise
their next concert in December.
On Saturday 13 March we had the first of our Concerts in Church performed by Serendipity, a very talented vocal ensemble of just six people: Sally Hatton, Hilary Jones, Claire Padbury, Kevin Wood, Chris Whitehead and Terry Foster conducted and accompanied by Mark Laflin. Their concert was entitled Serendipity - with Music for a Spring Evening and their whole programme was devoted to the theme of spring in one form or another.
There were solos, duets, ensembles and poems all dealing with the same subject but with tremendous variety; there was literally something for everyone. Many of the ensemble items were unaccompanied and their diction, harmony and range of expression were excellent. Several items were very light hearted, particularly their entertaining rendering of The Teddy Bears' Picnic and Tea for Two.
Altogether it was a delightful evening, much enjoyed
by all who were there. It was disappointing that there
were not more people there but we hope there will be lots
more at their Christmas concert which will be in the
Parish Hall on Saturday 11 December at 4pm to include
children in the audience, so do come along to that and
bring your families.
Linda Heath
from the May 2010 magazine
The Holy Land at first hand
I led a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year
with a total of 23 of us mainly parishioners from this
Church. On Palm Sunday most of us had risen very early
and found our way to the church of the Holy Sepulchre,
the traditional site of Golgotha where Jesus was
crucified, and of the Tomb where Jesus was laid to rest.
We observed the special liturgies for that morning at the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including being sprinkled
with Holy Water, before moving to St George's, the
Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem to share in their
devotions.
We explored the Holy Land under the auspices of McCabe, a family company, which has been organising similar pilgrimages for a generation. We had the services of a Christian guide, Tony, a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, thus operating under extreme difficulties. However, being a Christian, Tony has to work under even more difficulties being accepted by neither the Israeli Jews, nor the Palestinian Muslims. It brought to life whatit must have been like to be a Christian, in the first century AD.
My job as spiritual leader was to be responsible for the pastoral, spiritual, theological, and liturgical aspects of the pilgrimage. I offered a short service of morning prayer most days; presided at Holy Communions usually held at historically-resonant sites, I think most people appreciated the readings, prayers, hymns and short meditations whenever we stopped at a historically or religiously important site. We all found it so helpful to tie up the biblical readings with the actual sites involved.
These sites included places particularly associated with Holy Week: the Mount of Olives, and the Garden of Gethsemane; the Wailing (or West) Wall of the Temple; the Pool of Bethesda; the site of the Last Supper; the High Priest's House where Jesus was tortured and interrogated; and the Antonia Fortress where Jesus stood before Pilate. We observed and prayed the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa early one morning to avoid tourists and souvenir salesmen, so providing a reflective setting for Christ's journey to Golgotha. However, when Jesus dragged his cross to "the place of the skull", the narrow streets were full of market stalls and jeering, indifferent Jewish pilgrims-, and finally the Church of the Holy Sepulchre covering both the traditional site of Golgotha, and of the Tomb of Jesus.
We also visited other sites in the southern half of Israel-Palestine including two Dead Sea sites: Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and Masada. This being a holiday as well as a pilgrimage, we allowed ourselves a stop to experience floating in the Dead Sea. It really was as remarkable as they say it is! Whilst in the south of the country, we also visited Bethlehem, the traditional site of Jesus' birthplace.
Going to Bethlehem gave us an insight into the current political situation: the Israeli Authorities have erected a series of massive security walls progressively "hedging in" those areas, such as Bethlehem, which are supposed to have been handed over to the autonomous Palestinian Authority. These areas, cut off from one another, are being starved of resources such as power and water. Meanwhile, new, illegal Jewish settlements continue to be built on Palestinian land in the occupied territories.
The injustice of this is hard to bear; these Palestinian enclaves bear a hideous resemblance to concentration camps, so the subsequent trip to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum struck a note of tragic irony.
McCabe is a Christian Charity and give much of their profit to the McCabe Educational Trust. We visited a Palestinian boys' school and also a home and school for Palestinian girls, most of whom had been abused in some way. Half the Christmas collection in Church last year was given to this Girls' Home.
Our hotel, to explore the southern part of the country, was in the Arab quarter of Jerusalem, literally a stone's throw from the Walls of the Temple Mount. We then travelled by coach to the northern part, to Galilee, where Jesus grew up and where the greater part of his teaching and healing ministry took place.
En route, we visited Jericho where Zaccheus was spotted up a sycamore tree. We ascended the traditional site of the Mount of Temptation, via cable car, afterwards travelling north along the River Jordan until we reached the Sea of Galilee.
Galilee is very different from the South; it is "a green and pleasant land" in contrast to the very much more arid South. The OT references to the Promised Land as "a land flowing with milk and honey" can easily be understood when you see it. Galilee has been part of the state of Israel since 1948, and generally has a more "western" feel to it. We stayed at a hotel in Tiberias, a modern Jewish town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus never went there but it served as a useful base for us, for it is very close to the sites on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, which are mentioned in the New Testament. Chief of these is of course Capernaum, which Jesus used as his "base" for his Galilean ministry. At Capernaum there is a very well preserved Synagogue, the foundations of which probably do go back to the 1st Century. It was marvellous to stand in the synagogue and realise that you were standing just where Jesus might have stood, as he preached and healed in Capernaum. We also visited the traditional site of Peter's house there.
We went to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, as well as Mount Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration where I celebrated a lovely Eucharist in the Chapel dedicated to Moses; Tabgha, the site of the feeding of the 5000 thousand; Mensa Christi where according to John's Gospel, the Lord made a post-resurrection appearance to some of the disciples and cooked fish on an open fire; and the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. For lunch we had St Peter's fish, which I found pretty inedible! We sailed on the Sea of Galilee in a "Jesus Boat" and sang songs to the accompaniment of Hedley and his guitar rounding off the whole pilgrimage with a final and peaceful Eucharist. I pray that justice and peace may come at last to that troubled place.
The pilgrimage has certainly deepened my own faith and, I believe, of our group. Many of us want to go back again and also to spread our wings and consider a pilgrimage in the "footsteps of St Paul". Revd Mike Stewart
We are thinking of organising another pilgrimage in April–June or September-October 2011 to either Turkey, visiting Istanbul and the Seven Churches of Asia as mentioned in the book of Revelation, to Greece in the footsteps of Paul or possibly back to Israel. If anyone is interested in learning about such a pilgrimage, please contact the Revd Mike Stewart on 01306 884153 or Martin Cole on 01372 373330.
from the April 2010 magazine
PCC Report The Annual Parochial
Church Meeting on 21 April 2010 offers people on the
Electoral Roll the opportunity to elect Churchwardens,
Assistant Churchwardens and four PCC Members. The
Magazine editors suggested that it might be useful to
"lift the veil" on what happens at PCC
meetings.
Every meeting receives routine reports from the Churchwardens on the fabric, fixtures and fittings of the two churches and the two tenanted church houses, and a financial update from the Treasurer. This last year we had been concerned about the activities of a tenant (now moved out) at the Woodbridge Avenue house who had carried out unauthorised work himself which had been botched and had caused damage to fittings and decor. We have also been concerned about the performance of the letting agent there. The PCC was concerned to learn that income from planned giving had reduced significantly in the second half of the year, and this will have to be addressed in the near future.
Some topics have generated quite heated discussion. Among these was a proposal for refurbishment of the Reeves Room, which would have involved masking the boards on which Sunday Club children's artwork is displayed. Some members felt strongly that the children's work should not be hidden. A representative of the Hall Committee was invited to a subsequent meeting to explain the proposals and to report back to the Committee the views of the PCC. It was felt that if the intention was to provide somewhere for hirers to project presentations there were better ways of doing it.
Another issue, which proved controversial, was the proposal for the re-equipping of a child-friendly area in the Tower. While generally sympathetic to the wish to make young families feel welcome, there were some concerns about responsibility for clearing up and tidying away after use and that toys purchased should be non-bangable. After further details had been provided the PCC approved the proposal. The Archdeacon of Dorking was consulted and was able to give approval under his discretion to approve without faculty schemes where total expenditure did not exceed £2500.
The PCC was delighted to welcome the Revd Graham Osborne as Rector in November. Since his arrival, meetings have been calmer and shorter –the first PCC meeting he chaired lasted 45 minutes! Anne Thomson, PCC Secretary
from the April 2010 magazine
Mary Cook We were sad to learn of
the sudden death of Mary on Friday 12 February at the age
of 89. she was a kind cheerful lady, always willing to
help and a loyal member of the church flower rota. She
will be greatly missed. Valerie Jones
from the April 2010 magazine
A Church for all Generations? This
is what the LORD Almighty says: "Once again men and
women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of
Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The
city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing
there. Zech 8:5
This verse was pointed out to me recently
at a seminar about "Intergenerational Church".
And I absolutely love it! It seems a contented image,
with people of different generations happily co-existing
- each doing what is appropriate to them, but united in
their enjoyment of the holy city, where God dwells with
his people.
I have been thinking a lot about the way the church can
act as a place where all generations meet. I can see how
my own children have formed very strong bonds with
elderly members of our congregation, who love to hear
their news and help them to learn to relate to someone
who may run at a slower pace than them. Equally I
understand that it is important for young people to
engage in activities that appeal to them; such activities
may not appeal to the older members of the congregations
just as the activities of those older members may not
appeal to the young people.
It's a dilemma. How do we best meet everyone's needs? Or nurture our children's spiritual development without neglecting our elders? And if we all go off into our own places, how do we hold together the whole body of Christ and not lose the special gifts that each generation has to offer? Leatherhead Methodist Church is prayerfully considering adopting a "Family Friendly Charter", proposed by the Family Friendly Churches Trust. You can find them on the web if you are interested. Over the next few weeks we will audit our services and groups and look for areas where we could improve the way that we meet different people's needs. We think we are doing some of the right things, but know there are always things we could do better. We'd very much appreciate the prayers of our partner churches as we go through this process, and look forward to sharing some of the issues it throws up. Jane Smith, Family and Children's Worker, Leatherhead Uniting Churches
from the April 2010 magazine
Fairtrade Fortnight
Thank you to all who supported Fairtrade Fortnight (22
February to 7 March), and particularly those who came to
our two coffee and tea tastings on 28 February and 7
March. The theme this year was "The Big Swap",
encouraging customers to swap their usual stuff for
Fairtrade stuff, for example their usual bananas for
Fairtrade bananas, their usual cotton socks for Fairtrade
cotton socks, their usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa.
This means that every time we go shopping, we can use our
purse to make a statement. We hope that some of our
customers during the fortnight will go on to buy
Fairtrade produce, whether from our stall, or from local
stockists, such as the Co-op and Sainsbury.
Traidcraft, the largest retailer in this country of fairly traded goods, has announced two recent developments.
Following dedicated campaigning by various Fairtrade organisations over the last two years the Government has now agreed to set up a watchdog to ensure supermarkets treat their suppliers more fairly. This unprecedented move is a huge boost to the thousands of people in developing countries who rely on selling products to UK supermarkets. Also, following the success of their new range of Fairtrade confectionery, they have developed a range specifically designed for supermarkets. The raisin mix and nut mix are made with a variety of Fairtrade ingredients including juicy flame raisins from Chile and wild almonds from Pakistan. Morrisons is the first supermarket to launch the range, which was available in time for Fairtrade Fortnight. This is a really important breakthrough for the producers of the flame raisins, and could translate into vital orders for the future. M Jones (01372 806853)
from the March 2010 magazine
A Message from Bishop Christopher Hill,
Bishop pf Guildford
Lent is a highly significant time for Christians as they
live through a time of prayerful reflection that
parallels the period spent by Jesus in the desert
preparing for his ministry of salvation. There has
traditionally been a focus in the Church on PRAYER,
FASTING and GIVING and I warmly invite you to join me
over these 40 days in these biblical and life-giving
disciplines.
We pray: I ask you to pray each day for closer communion with Jesus Christ, as he looks with compassion and tears on our broken world. I offer this prayer: Merciful God, you loose the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free: give us the will to share our bread with the hungry and to give shelter to the homeless poor, for this your glory shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
We fast: We are called to show Christ's compassion on our world and I call upon you to respond by praying every day for our Lent Call projects, by giving up one meal a week, unless prevented by age or poor health, and by giving what you save to further the work of our Lent Call projects. Last year's Lent Call, shared between the Church in Zimbabwe, through the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and local projects supported by the Foundation, raised £35,607, which, despite a deep recession, is the best total ever: Thanks be to God!
We give: For its "giving" aspect The Bishop of Guildford's Lent Call 2010 focuses for a second time on Zimbabwe, this time through the work of Tearfund, where their ministry to the poorest of the world's poor started in the early 1960s among refugees and displaced persons and others affected by ethnic and political violence, and continues as they work in close co-operation with churches throughout the world. In our own diocese the focus is on small pockets of deprivation, through projects supported by the Bishop of Guildford's Foundation. The Foundation's distinctive role is to support projects and groups in the Diocese of Guildford, which arise from or have some link with local churches or faith groups. It is particularly interested in building partnerships and strengthening the capacity of faith groups and faith based organizations to get involved in their communities.
from the March 2010 magazine
Holiday Club This year's Holiday Club
will be based on new material, hot off the press from
Scripture Union. Entitled Rocky's Plaice it is
set in a fish and chip shop and explores dramatic events
in the life of Peter and the early church, as recorded in
the book of Acts. Rocky's Plaice takes place
from 16-20 August at Christ Church and BFree. I will be
building the team between now and Easter. Jane Smith
from the March 2010 magazine
Will you help Haiti? The earthquake in
Haiti in January has ruined the country. The world's
media has moved on, but the families in Haiti cannot.
They need help even to think about rebuilding their
lives. If you have not already donated and wish to do so
the organisations below would be glad to hear from you:
Christian Aid's £1M Haiti Earthquake
Appeal, phone donations: 08080 004 004 On-Line donations:
www.christianaid.org.uk/haiti-appeal
Samaritan's Purse UK, phone donations: 020 8559 2044
On-line donations: www.samaritanspurse.org.uk/
TearFund Cheques to: TearFund, Freepost, SEA919
Teddington,
Middlesex TW11 813R. On-line donations: www.tearfund.org/Giving/
from the March 2010 magazine
Clubs, Classes and Groups If you run an
activity in Leatherhead and would like it featured here
free in future issues please give us a call on either 020
8330 0362 or 01372 806853 or email to malcolmclark34 AT
btinternet.com or margaretjones AT waitrose.com [replace
AT with @ before sending]. A sample of what we have in
mind follows but it can be arranged in any other way you
might wish. There must be many more activities that could
be included let us know if you are one of them wish to be
added. Editor
| Day | Time | Venue | Contact | |
| Tuesday | Evening | Bell ringing | Parish Church | P Ford 373629 |
| Third Tuesday | Prayer Group | York Cottage, Church Rd | M Canning 372796 | |
| Wednesday | 10-noon | Parent & Toddler Group | Parish Church Hall | J Burgess 278656 |
| First Wednesday | 2.30pm | Mothers' Union | Parish Church Hall | S Sutherland 811769 |
| Friday | 10-noon | Sewing Room (Haberdashery) | Parish Church Hall | J Stagg 374914 |
| First Saturday | 9-noon | Churchyard Working Party | Parish Churchyard | F Haslam 379341 |
from the Feb 2010
magazine
Ron Presley It is only now that I
fully appreciate what is meant when people say thank you
in this magazine for the thoughts and prayers of those
who have written in response to the death of someone
close. I don't really know where to start to say thank
you to all of you who have written to me after Ron died
in December. As a family we have had so many lovely
letters, cards and emails, not to mention phone calls,
and we would all like to say such a big thank you for
every single one.
The Service to remember him will be held
in the Parish Church on Wednesday 24 February at 3pm and
there will be tea afterwards in the Hall.
Frances, Christopher, Nicholas, Mark and Adam
from the January 2010 magazine
Murder in the Cathedral No matter
how many times you see T.S. Eliot's Murder in the
Cathedral it never fails to impress how pertinent it
is to whatever period in our history the director has
chosen to set the play. The recent production in the
Parish Church by the Pilgrim Players of Leatherhead and
the Epsom Methodist Drama Group was no exception, we
could have been in the twelfth, sixteenth or twenty first
century, to mention a few.
This play has most impact when it is performed in a Church, and Christine Watts' excellent production certainly managed to convey all the implications in the drama to the audience. She had costumed her production 'to indicate character and function rather than historical period' with the 'bully boys' executing their gruesome business in black leathers which was most effective.
The Women of Canterbury, in opening the play, started rather tentatively, not helped by the difficulty of the acoustics in the Church, but they grew in confidence and gave the play the links that were needed. The two priests were unfortunately reduced from three, but their roles in the drama came across well ably supported by the two attendants. The excellent lighting effects helped to create just the right atmosphere. Charlie Crowther-Smith was a very credible Thomas à Becket, passionate and powerful, but also trying to reconcile his earlier relationship with the King with what was probably going to happen. His sermon for Christmas morning came through loud and clear, and I did wonder if our Chairman of Mole Valley Council took heed of the advice to 'curb the excesses of local government'.
The four Tempters/Knights hit just the right 'chord' in their dual roles, plain spoken in Part I but brutish and uncompromising in Part 2. Their whining justification for their deed was masterful and, as suggested in the programme, not unlike today's spin.
It was a very good evening's entertainment, with much food for thought. The really good news is that the £1,300, which was raised over the three nights will be divided amongst Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research, the Leatherhead Youth Project, and the new Youth Hall for Epsom Methodist Church. Frances Presley
I should like to thank everyone who supported us by coming to Murder in the Cathedral. With your support, we raised about £1,500, of which half will go to Muscular Dystrophy research, and the remaining half will go to Leatherhead Youth Project and a new Epsom Methodist Church Youth Hall. Linda Heath.
from the January 2010 magazine
Poppy Appeal We are so grateful to
everybody who helped in one way or the other with the
Poppy Appeal in November , and to the generous people
living and working in Leatherhead. We have banked just
over £19,000. Derrick and Jane Summerfield
from the December 2009 magazine
David Oliver Memorial Concert What
a wealth of talent! Both from the Pro Corda Baroque
Ensemble and from Graham Thorp, organist. They were
the performers at the David Oliver Memorial Concert in
the church on Saturday 17 October. The Pro Corda
group consisted of a small ensemble of only six players,
all music students, led by Rhiannon Randle, aged 16
years. They were absolutely first rate, without having to
make any allowance for their youth. The programme
featured works by Purcell and Handel, both of whom have
anniversaries this year, and a very short work by
Rhiannon herself which, again, was superbly played.
Meanwhile, what of Graham Thorp? Before playing on the Thomas Parker organ of 1766, he spoke about it with such enthusiasm and affection that it was a delight to have a soloist who thoroughly appreciated what a fine instrument it is. He also explained about the sounds and effects of some of the stops he would be using – trumpet, bass horn, etc. Both his solos and the two Handel concertos were a joy to hear, and this was in no small part because he had taken the time and trouble to put in a lot of practice on the instrument to become really familiar with it. Our thanks go to him and to the talented Pro Corda ensemble for a most enjoyable concert which was very well attended.
The concert raised £1,070, which will go to the Queenscourt Hospice in Southport, Lancashire, where David spent his last few weeks. This money willgo to the Queenscourt "Music for Patients i-Pod Fund" to buy i-Pods with suitable equipment for the patients so that they can each listen to as much music as they like. What a fitting memorial to David. Linda Heath
from the December 2009 magazine
Over the Bridge
This book is published by the Leatherhead & District
Local History Society and written by Brian Hennegan.
The bridge is the one which carries Kingston Road
over the railway between the Plough Roundabout and the
Kingston Road Recreation Ground. The author spent
seventeen of his formative years, from the early war
period up until 1956, over the bridge on Leatherhead
Common, or North Leatherhead as it is now known.
He is a member of the Local History
Society and has an interest in transport of all kinds,
including aviation. He is currently a volunteer member of
a team at Brooklands Museum engaged in restoring a Hawker
Hurricane aircraft. He can still walk from his home to
the centre of the bridge in three and a half minutes.
The bridge was and is the defining barrier between those
who live in the North and South of the area. Some say
that it is akin to the Great Wall of China, but this is a
slight exaggeration. However, the bridge does take on a
persona of its own. If you walk over it you might be
heard to say "it was hot, wet, or windy over the
bridge today". If you drive over it you might be
held up in a queue of traffic.
The book takes the reader on a journey through the areas on both sides of thebridge, including a trip into the distant hinterland of Fetcham.
The period in question is not that far removed from the present but it was a very different world then. Although the author was just a little chap during the war, he has many vivid recollections of the period, especially spending a small part of his formal education in the air raid shelters at Fetcham School. You will have to read the book to find out how he came to be at Fetcham School.
The book costs £6.50 and is on sale at Barton's Bookshop in North Street, and, during opening hours, at the Leatherhead Museum or by post to the Sales Secretary, Hampton Cottage, Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP. Post free to the general public; cheques should be made payable to L&DLHS.
from the November 2009 magazine
Ready Steady Slow You will be able
to ponder the planet with the Church of England's 2009
Advent campaign, and enjoy some creation time-out. The
online Advent calendar www.whywearewaiting.com
from November 29 (but take a look now and sign up) will
have daily videos, podcasts, thoughts and challenges on
environmental issues linking with the vital LIN Climate
Change talks in Copenhagen this December. It urges you to
slow down for the planet's sake this Advent.
from the November 2009 magazine
Intercessions, Readings and Elements
As I am sure you know, Helena Hill undertook many tasks
for the Church and several people have taken over the
things that she did on her own. One of these is
organising the Readers, Intercessors, and carriers of the
Elements for Sundays, and collating and giving the
information for the Intercessions to the person
concerned. This last duty Anne Warren has taken on; her
telephone number is at the back of the magazine. I have
agreed to ask people to perform these tasks, which I try
to arrange two or three months ahead.
Helena left me a very comprehensive list of 'victims', some of whom are unable to continue, after many years of helping and for which we are most grateful, others I have cajoled, coaxed or inveigled into carrying out these duties on Sundays. However, like most things, we always need more offers of help.
The Intercessions sound very daunting, but Anne gives a very simple page of guidelines, which can be supplemented or not as you wish. The Reading is just that and is given to you during the preceding week. The taking up of the Elements only involves walking up the aisle to the altar, always with a companion. If you feel that you would like to be included in one or two, or even all, of these responsibilities please ring me and we can discuss it further. The more people there are to help the fewer number of times each person needs to do it. Frances Presley 372049
from the November 2009 magazine
Christingle Service The Children's
Society's Christingle
Service is a celebration of the Light of Christ in the
world. Parents and children are invited to join us in
supporting the Children's Society at this wonderful
family service to be held in the Parish Church on
December 6th at 4pm. Betty Borgust
from the November 2009 magazine
Leatherhead Parish Prayer Group
During his ministry in Leatherhead David Eaton felt the
need of a small prayer group, made up of members of the
congregation, to pray for parochial matters for which he
was concerned. Recent examples include the setting up of
the new Trinity School, and church life during the
interregnum. Anthony and Helena Hill set up the group,
which met at their home until recently when Helena moved
away to Suffolk.
The prayers at each meeting are led by one of the members, who are all lay people with no formal training; they speak from the heart. Before each meeting it was the custom to contact the Vicar to find out what matters he would like the group to include in their prayers. This information formed the core of the prayers, to which were added matters the members were aware of, particularly the names of members of the congregation who were sick or otherwise in need of our prayers.
In the light of the growth of activities in the church it is felt that the time has come to expand our source of information about people and matters that may be helped by prayer. The members also think they need to know more about growing church activities. With this in mind the group invites leaders of all organisations well established, like the choir, or new ventures, such as the Sunday lunches, to tell us of concerns they have which they may wish the group to include in their prayers.
The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm at York Cottage, Church Road, by courtesy of Sheila and Martin Cole. Meetings last about two hours including a cup of tea and a biscuit. We currently have eight members: more would be welcome. Should this be of interest to you please contact M Canning (372796) or S Cole (373330).
from the November 2009 magazine
Prayer Group at Home This is a
service for parishioners who are unable to attend Church
on Sunday even if transport is available. Some years ago
a parishioner who I visited, had been unable to attend
Church for many years because of ill health. She told me
how she had once had prayer groups and bible study groups
in her home and how much she missed this Church contact.
After discussion with the Vicar and the parishioner I
compiled a Prayer Group at Home Service. At a recent
Pastoral Meeting I was asked to put this service in place
again. The service is 10.30- 10.45am; the order of
service is a Prayer Guide for each Sunday of the month
similar to the intercessions plus each member's own
special prayers. The order of service says that the
readings can be found in the Calendar section of the
Parish Magazine. At the back of the order of service are
the telephone numbers of each of the Group with the
message: If at any time you wish the Group or an
individual member to join you in a special prayer please
telephone them.
There are four reasons for a Prayer Group
at Home: the Group are praying at the same time as the
parishioners in Church; it makes them feel they are still
part of the Church Family; prayers are said for them in
the intercessions; and in the last Group friendships grew
through the telephone. I hope this will continue.
At present there are seven parishioners in the Prayer
Group including two who were in the previous Group. If
anyone wishes to join the Prayer Group at Home if he or
she is indisposed for a short or a long time please
telephone me on 375781. E Wright
from the November 2009 magazine
Thomas Parker organ recital On
Saturday 3rd October a group from the British Institute
of Organ Studies held a most interesting day-course in
the church.
This finished at 4pm with a recital on the Thomas Parker
organ by the distinguished organist, Robert Woolley from
the Royal College of Music. This was open to anyone to
attend and those who did so had a real treat.
I have now heard various organists play this instrument, but I have not heard anyone else who produced such a range and variety of tonal effects. Nor have I heard anyone else play so softly on it, obtaining a real pianissimo. Unlike the piano, this is not achieved by playing more gently - volume on the organ is not affected by altering the touch, but by the choice of "stops". These are the "knobs" alongside the keyboard which produce the different levels and range of sounds such as flute, trumpet or whatever.
The programme included works by Purcell and Handel, both of whom have anniversaries this year, and gave a wide variety of music. I think my favourite was A Flight of Angels by Handel - a very short and delicate piece using very high notes - one could imagine the angels flying round the big wooden cross high up above the chancel arch. Altogether, it was an excellent recital and a joy to hear the Parker organ so skilfully played. Linda Heath
from the November 2009 magazine
Inside Out Big
Band Concert There cannot have been too many
rafters left unshaken on Saturday 10 October when the Big
Band sound of Inside Out gave the first of
Concerts In Church's presentations as part of this year's
Mole Valley Arts Alive Festival in the Parish Church. The
concert started off with Glen Miller's American
Patrol and it never looked back, working its way
through many big band hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Unusually there is no brass in this group, but Liz Trueman, its musical arranger and director, is able to blend the sound of wind instruments, drums and a keyboard into the authentic sound of the bands of the past. Daphne Lander added to the programme with some fine singing from Alexander's Ragtime Band to an Edith Piaf number, and Sue Waddell, who has only recently joined the band, contributed her own special harmonies.
The whole programme was skilfully introduced by Dennis Wickham and he also sang some of the numbers which added to the variety. There were not many toes not tapping through every number, and everyone left with a smile on his or her face. Frances Presley
from the November 2009 magazine
Parish Hall improvements When I was
young I was told that painting the Forth Bridge was a
never-ending job. After the bridge opened in 1890, the
story went, a team of men set out from one end to paint
the structure. When they reached the other end, several
years later, they immediately crossed back and started
again. And so ad infinitum and possibly ad nauseam - but
at least it was a job for life.
The Parish Hall is smaller and newer than
the Forth Bridge, but the maintenance problems for a
heavily used building are similarly unremitting and
never-ending. The work is organised by the Parish Hall
Committee on behalf of the PCC, and our aim is to provide
a safe, attractive environment for many different
activities.
Many of these are directly related to the church, in
which case no charge is made for using the facilities,
but the main hall, the Reeves Room, and the small
committee room are also available for hire and the income
from this provides the money needed to run, maintain, and
where possible improve the Parish Hall, and also helps to
support the church finances.
Some tasks, including gas and electrical servicing and safety checks, and the refurbishment of the hall floor, have to be carried out annually. Redecoration, inside and out, is a rolling programme planned on a five-year cycle. We also take on larger improvement projects when there is sufficient money. In recent years the toilets have been refurbished, and Oa toilet for the disable and baby changing facilities, have been provided.
The latest project, completed during the summer at a cost of some £7,000, has been the complete refurbishment of the Reeves Room, involving the provision of new carpets, curtains and blinds, as well as repainting. The room can now be blacked out to facilitate slide or film shows, and we have tried to provide a comfortable, neutral room, which is suitable for many different purposes. It looks attractive at present but we depend on users, whether they have paid to use it or not, to keep it looking so for as long as possible.
What of the future? Routine maintenance obviously has to continue, and when the unexpected happens it must be dealt with. Roofs may leak-, windows get broken; and new legislation demands compliance. The committee has no plans for any more large projects at present, partly because it is aware that some church members would like to make major changes to the existing structure and layout. Until a decision is taken we will continue to maintain and where possible improve the excellent facility we currently have. Kevin Taylor, Chairman, Parish Hall Committee
LYP What's on in December www.leatherheadyouthproject.com
from the September 2009 magazine
Church cleaning Cleaning our
beautiful church is one of the many activities undertaken
behind the scenes by a dedicated group of volunteers. I
have taken over the rota for this from Helena Hill, yet
another of the many tasks she performed, and I should
like to take the opportunity to thank her and all the
other people, past and present, who have helped with
cleaning each month.
A special "thank you" goes to Lesley Knox, who has had to give up recently, and a warm welcome to Juliet Campbell who has joined us.
Throughout the month we work on a rota of five teams, each with a team leader, and as circumstances constantly change we are always on the lookout for new helpers. There are vacancies for the second and fifth Saturdays and if anyone feels able to join in this vital work please contact me on 01372 376771 to discuss possibilities. S Roberts
from the September 2009 magazine
Volunteer wanted The Parish is
currently seeking a volunteer who would be willing to
organise or coordinate a team of parishioners to
transport those who are physically unable to attend
church. Apparently there are several members of the
congregation who fall into this category and would
welcome help.
For further details please contact me on 01372 458844. P
Leith
from the September 2009 magazine
Concerts In Church
Dates for your October diary: as part of the Mole
Valley Arts Alive Festival we are presenting two
concerts this year; please watch out for the posters!
On Saturday 10 October come and listen to the BIG BAND SOUND with INSIDE OUT. Dennis Wickham is coming with his entire band to bring a mixture of big band music past and present day. It will feature numbers by Glen Miller – Moonlight Serenade and American Patrol – alongside special arrangements of more modern songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s in the Parish Church at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 (concessions £10) available from Bartons Book Shop or The Parish Office Wed–Fri 9am–noon, and from 01372 372049.
Then on Saturday 17 October, also in the Parish Church at 7.30, Graham Thorp is bringing his young Pro Corda Baroque Ensemble from Guildford to give a concert of Purcell and Handel to commemorate their anniversaries in 2009. This concert will be dedicated to the memory of David Oliver. These were two of his favourite composers, and all profits will be sent to the Hospice in Southport as they still need some more funds to buy all the iPods that they are getting for their patients. Tickets as above except that if you buy a ticket for both concerts at the same time they will cost you only £20 (£18) for the pair. Click here for poster.
Murder in the Cathedral We still need more people, please, to take part in TS Eliot's great play about the martyrdom of Thomas à Becket, to be performed in the parish church on Thursday and Friday, 19 and 20 November, and at Epsom Methodist Church on Saturday 21 November, directed by Chris Watts, who directed A Rich Inheritance here last autumn.
We need more women for the chorus, just
speaking, not singing; enjoying poetry is the most
important thing; minimal acting required. Most of the
men's parts are already cast, but a few more men would be
welcome, to "read in" at some rehearsals and
get to know the play. Backstage help is always
appreciated too.
Please contact C Watts on 01372726738 or L Heath on 01372
372603
Goodbye and Thank You from Helena Hill I am very sorry that there are so many people to whom I was not able to say a personal goodbye and my thanks for all the friendships I have shared in Leatherhead. Forty-five years is a long time to put down roots and it is difficult to accept that I must now put down new ones in Halesworth, Suffolk!
I am so grateful to have belonged to the Church family, sharing in the work and worship of the parish and enjoying the friendship, fun and support over so many years. I was very touched to receive the gift from the PCC of a lovely silver bookmark and for this to be presented by Bishop David. Thank you all,- I will treasure it.
If you happen to be passing do give me a
ring (Leatherhead Parish Office has my address and tel
no) and call in to visit me, I shall be delighted to see
you. With my love to you all and best wishes for the new
era to come.
Helena Hill
from
the Aug 2009 magazine We have been grateful for her creative skills in the very successful annual craft stall and in her beautiful flower arrangements and her ability to plan with the many brides over the years. |
 Bishop of Dorking, Helena and Mike Stewart after 10.30 service on 28 June 2009 |
Her work for the Church has needed much organisation and the finding of volunteers required to replace resignations was quite an art. She was responsible for wedding flowers, church cleaners, prayer rotas, readers rotas, recording and delivering tapes of the parish magazine to blind people. She has also led and given hospitality to the monthly prayer group, which was instigated by Anthony at the request of the Vicar, specifically to pray for the needs of the parish. Finally she has devoted herself to finding the right person for each job, so that she has left all those years of dedicated work in safe hands. Many thanks, Helena, for all you have done. May God go with you. Mollie Canning
from the Aug 2009 magazine
The A-Frame Board The A-Frame Board
is regularly seen outside the Parish Church Hall keeping
the community informed of what services and events are
happening in the life of the church. From now on if you
need to use this space to advertise church-related events
please contact J Stagg (374914) who will co-ordinate the
display of posters.
from the Aug 2009 magazine
Getting the best from Family Services
The Family Service Planning Team are often looking for
people who are willing to participate in the 10.30am 1st
Sunday of the month All-age Family Service by reading the
Bible passage or leading the prayers. If you would be
willing to help out I would be pleased to hear from you.
We are particularly looking for people who are young or
young-at-heart and who can present items in a modern,
contemporary way, perhaps reading from the Youth or
Message Bible or delivering Creative Prayer. We have
useful resources available so for more information or to
volunteer your services please speak to J Stagg (374914).
from the Aug 2009 magazine
Murder in the Cathedral Chris Watts
is planning to produce TS Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral
in Leatherhead Parish Church on 19 and 20 November and in
Epsom Methodist Church on Saturday 21 November. She is
still looking for more participants. Rehearsals will
start in August or September and will probably be on
Monday or Wednesday evenings. Anyone interested should
contact either Chris, on 01372 72673, e-mail:
mrs.chris.watts@ntlworld.com, or me on 372603. L Heath
from the Aug 2009 magazine
Prayer Board A board has been
placed by the North Door as you enter our Church. If you
know of someone who is sick or in need of our prayers,
please complete and date the card provided, and that name
will be included in our Sunday prayers for the following
two weeks. Martin Cole
from the Aug 2009 magazine
Surrey churches bike ride/walk
On Saturday 12 September between 10am and 6pm hundreds of
churches throughout Surrey will be open to welcome
cyclists and walkers. Each year many hundreds of cyclists
throughout the county visit as many churches as they can
to raise money for the Surrey Churches Preservation
Trust. But in addition they are also raising money for
their own church – half of all the sponsorship money
comes back to their nominated church to help with its
finances.
This year six churches will be open in Leatherhead. In addition three in Ashtead and three in Fetcham will be open – all within moderately easy cycling distance of each other. And if you don't feel up to cycling, walking is also possible. Indeed, in some more rural areas there are horse riders as well. This year, as in the past two years, Andrew and I will be walking round Leatherhead's six churches – we raised £90 last year, half of which went to St Mary and St Nicholas. We can thoroughly recommend it – talk to me or to S Sutherland, our organiser (811769), to find out more. Sponsorship forms and lists of all Surrey churches open will be available at the back of the church towards the end of August. M Jones 806853
from the Aug 2009 magazine
Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church You
are invited to take a table for Bridge at the next
Friends' event from 2 to 5pm on Wednesday, 14 October.
This will include the usual excellent afternoon tea
organised by Jackie Hampton and Liz Meikle and their
team. We hope you will support us. Tables may be reserved
by completing the booking form and
returning it to Fran Fleming. June Robinson
from the July 2009 magazine
The Holy Land
Mike has given a very full and illuminating account of our
recent visit to Israel, and he is absolutely right in
saying that we all will have our own special memories and
highlights. For me, when we first came back, I was really
in a state of wonderment, surprise, fascination -
something that I could not put my finger on. It was not
until I saw the pictures on the television of the Pope
visiting Jerusalem that I suddenly said to myself "I
was there", with the emphasis on the "I".
Of course, there were no crowds lining the street to see us and we had no Popemobil, but there were people of all colours and creeds everywhere, in the Arab quarter where our hotel was situated the traffic was even worse than Paris, and we had a coach to take us wherever we were going. But instead of being surrounded by bishops and other high-ranking clergy, our Palestinian Christian guide, Tony, who was also an archaeologist, gave us the most absorbing and intriguing insight into his country and its people.
from the July 2009 magazine
Mike had planned out a programme,which gave us a
remarkable and perceptive understanding of the places we
visited putting into 3D their relationship to events in
the Bible.
Apart from the myriad photos that were taken, one of my lasting memories is the Eucharist which Mike celebrated on the shore at the head of Lake Galilee; another is the evening that a party of Italian nuns joined in with our singing after dinner whilst Hedley was playing. The scary thought is that because of the heat and the actions of man there may not be a Sea of Galilee, a River Jordan or a Dead Sea in years to come for pilgrims to visit.
I could go on at great length, but won't. I have been lucky enough to visit many places round the world, but this is one trip that I will never forget, not only for the place itself and its -history spanning centuries which touches almost everywhere in the world, and its problems – will they ever be solved – but also for the twenty three of us who spent ten days together in friendship.
Amongst other things we celebrated communion in chapels and under awnings, we helped each other up the uneven pathways, we floated in the Dead Sea, and we stood at the Western Wall. And we all laughed together. Frances Presley
from the July 2009 magazine
Uniting Churches Awayday On
Saturday 30 May 2009 nearly 50 of us from the Leatherhead
Uniting Churches gathered at St John the Baptist Church
in Okewood Hill and at The Ark church rooms to discuss The
Christ We Share. The weather was perfect: warm and
sunny, and the rural setting was idyllic.
Revd Ian Howarth and Sarah Middleton, the Methodist Church Training Officer for the South East District, led the day. Mary Cruddas and Dean Tapley also helped lead. After a short talk and PowerPoint presentation on the modern art collection of the Methodist Church, we moved to The Ark to discuss six questions on an Indian painting, The Dalit Madonna.
We were asked to sit with people we did not know – a difficult task as the majority of us seemed to know nearly everybody already! After a while, it became apparent that the questions were designed to tease out our observations on the picture and enable us to discuss the universality of Christ and the Christian message to all peoples of the Earth. Other pictures were available on the tables to aid our deliberations.
After a pleasant picnic lunch in the open air, we returned to the church to reveal our findings from studying the selected picture. We then looked at other pictures of Jesus, including one of him sitting on a Tube train with surrounding passengers apparently doing their best to ignore the figure in First Century dress. This provoked a lively discussion before the day concluded with a short act of worship.
Hopefully, this will be the first of many Awaydays to enable us to grow together as a worshipping community of The Uniting Churches. Roger Lynch
For Pentecost
On Sunday 31 May 2009, Pentecost, a quarter peal of
Stedman triples containing 1260 changes was rung by: 1 -
Rosemary Henderson; 2 - Linda Armitage; 3 - Ron Diserens;
4 - Peter Ford; 5 - Rex Woodland; 6 - Quentin Armitage; 7
- Richard Truman; 8 - John Aronson. Conducted by Quentin
Armitage.
Peter Ford
Intercessions, etc ... As many of you know, Helena Hill, amongst other things, has been arranging the Sunday Intercessors, Readers and Element Takers for many years. Now she is leaving Leatherhead several people are taking over the myriad things that she has been involved in; I have taken over this particular one.
from the July 2009 magazine
Helena has given me the lists of people who are
prepared to lead the Intercessions, Read and bring the
Elements to the Altar, but I wondered if there was anyone
else who would like to be added to these lists. You would
only be asked every three or four months, less if there
are plenty of names to choose from, and Anne Warren has
all the details for the weekly Intercessions. If you feel
that you would like to be involved in this small way
during our morning and evening services please ring me on
01372 372049 and I can, hopefully, answer any questions
you may have. F Presley
from the July 2009 magazine
Autumn Market The Jewellery Stall
at the Autumn Market is one of our top moneymakers and is
well known to all our regular customers. Would YOU like
to come and head it up? There are plenty of people to
help on the day but it needs a master overseer to
co-ordinate everything. I am sure that Frances Justin,
who ran it for many years, would be very happy to give
advice. Please call me on 01372 811422. J Summerfield
from the July 2009 magazine
Got Bags of enthusiasm? Then we
need your help! We are looking for volunteers to sew
lavender bags for our Autumn Market in October. Whether
you can do one or a hundred and one, we'd love to hear
from you - call F Presley on 01372 372049 and you'll be
in stitches (Lavender supplied).
from the July 2009 magazine
Website's tenth birthday Since it
was launched in July 1997 our parish website has had
nearly 17,000 visits: the Mickleham parish website,
launched in 2002, has had nearly 6,450 visits. The
website provides a detailed calendar of events and
services in the United Benefice, the month's music in
church for Leatherhead, and highlights from the magazine.
It is also an archive with a Remembrance section for
parishioners who have died - for example, there are
in-depth pages on George Dench, Sandy Morris, David
Oliver, Horace Wright, Tim Hauxwell and Rene Vokes, to
name but a few. The restoration of the Thomas Parker
organ is fully covered, as are events such as the
Millennium and David Eaton's retirement.
The website is evidently appreciated by those who are contemplating moving here, those who have moved away, and those interested in family history and local history - there is a listing of the war graves and all the names in our churchyard. There is a comprehensive set of useful links.
However, the time has come for renewal. I am asking via this article all the groups and individuals who work in our church community to let me have a short writeup on what they do plus a few excellent photos to illustrate the text. This is so that we can do more to project what we do as a living church in our community. Frank Haslam 01372 379341 web@parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk
from the July 2009 magazine
Friends AGM and Coffee Morning It
was very encouraging to have so many Friends' support at
the AGM on Friday 15 May; the Chairman's report follows
below. After the formal part of the evening, Mike Stewart
gave a thought-provoking presentation on his recent visit
to the Holy Land and the challenges facing those
entrusted with securing a peaceful solution to the
political situation there.
The damp weather the next morning for the Coffee Morning, Plant and Book Sale seems to have discouraged some of the usually intrepid gardeners but, nevertheless, we were able to add another £500 to the funds for maintaining the Church and grounds. Many thanks to all of you who contributed plants and books - there was a wonderful show. June Robinson
Friends Chairman's Report 2009 After three years of fundraising primarily for two major projects - the Thomas Parker Organ and the restoration of the Church Bells - the year just finished could have been deemed something of an anticlimax. However, the creativity and enthusiasm of the Committee and the generosity of members and parishioners alike ensured that 2008/9 was one of our most successful years.
Over the twelve months the Friends succeeded in raising £6,046 from members' donations and via a series of events, some by now traditional and some new. Our Coffee Morning and Plant Sale following the AGM in May 2008 raised £552 and our Open Gardens Day in June exceeded all our expectations with a superb total of £653, helped no doubt by the unusually fine weather and the Cream Teas on offer at both ends of the recommended route.
This was followed in October with the second annual Bridge Tea and our Quiz Evening in February 2009, which together raised £1,887. We ended the year with a fascinating illustrated lecture The Group Photograph by Andrew Tatham in March. Our thanks in particular go to Frank and Jane Haslam whose research and technical skills are so important to the success of the Quiz evening, and to June Robinson and her team of helpers who have made the Bridge Tea a firm part of the local players' calendar.
Our membership remained stable at 133. We were pleased to have attracted a few new members as the result of increased publicity for the Friends through regular reports and articles in the Parish Magazine and the interest generated by our events throughout the year, even if an equal number, for whatever reason, felt unable to renew this year. Set against this there was a significant rise in members' donations. This was especially pleasing in view of the current economic situation, which affects people at every level.
We have set as an objective to increase our membership each year and are seeking the assistance of all members in attracting additional supporters. Fran Fleming, who has generously agreed to taking on the role of Membership Secretary from Steve Shaw following the family's move to Cambridgeshire, would be only too pleased to hear of or from prospective new members.
We never forget that every penny raised by the Friends is destined to be spent on maintaining or improving the fabric of the Church of St Mary and St Nicholas or the amenities. We have therefore been pleased again in this last year to contribute a sum of £2,000 towards the upkeep of the Churchyard, this being additional to the working parties which under the direction of Frank Haslam and Dave Jones have continued with their aim of making all headstones accessible and visible.
We are currently awaiting from the PCC more details of the five yearly structural survey of the Church buildings and how and in what order they intend to commission the remedial or other work recommended in the report. In view of the priority which has to be given to the long overdue installation of an adequate lightening conductor on the Church Tower, the FLPC Committee have already confirmed their willingness to make a substantial contribution to this work.
Finally I would like to thank all the members of our Committee for their continuing support and hard work, particularly our Secretary Jackie Hampton and Treasurer Frank Haslam as well as Sonya Grove, Peter Ford and Ron Presley. A special mention too, of Bernard Salsbury who retired from the Committee during the year after nearly a decade of service. His wise counsel will be sorely missed and we are particularly grateful to him for agreeing temporarily to continue to administer Gift Aid on our behalf. We would also like to acknowledge the help and support of David Eaton throughout his time as vicar, and our sadness at the passing of David Oliver, always a great supporter of the Friends. Chris Evans, Chairman
from the June 2009 magazine
Seeking
the Promised Land As some of you will know,
a group of us have recently returned from the Holy Land.
We were twenty-three in all, mostly, but not all, from
the Parish. Twenty-three was a good number: not so large
that we kept losing people; though we did mislay one of
our sheep, temporarily, on the top of Masada in the
Judean Desert next to the Dead Sea.
The Pilgrimage, for it was not meant to be a picnic, despite occasional pleas for tea breaks while we trekked round the various sites, started out rather ominously. We had to arrive at Heathrow three hours early (a security requirement imposed by our carrier, El Al). On arrival, however, we were told that the plane had been delayed on an earlier flight by at least another four hours. Having survived the rigours of the El Al security system, we then had to cool our heels for seven hours before we could even get off the ground. This meant that our arrival at the hotel in Jerusalem, scheduled for about 11pm that evening, was delayed until about 3am in the morning. After a hasty cold meal we retreated to our rooms for a few hours of sleep. As the Tour Leader, I felt suitably compassionate and therefore gave everyone an extra hour in bed: so the alarm calls were made at about 7.30am instead of the more usual 6.30am. I did say it was not meant to be a picnic!
McCabe, the Tour organisers, were brilliant in that they had been working overnight to reschedule our first day in Jerusalem, planned to be a packed day anyway. By a judicious reshuffling of the itinerary we managed to see just about everything we had intended to.
Our Pilgrimage lasted ten days, nine nights: six in Jerusalem and three in Galilee. We packed a lot into those days. I hope not too much; I had allowed for a gentler pace for the last three days in Galilee. There is just so much to see and to experience. Luckily we had the services of an excellent Palestinian Christian Tour Guide called Tony. He lives in Jerusalem and he provided us with a perspective of the Arab-Israeli conflict strikingly different from the one usually presented by Western politicians and the media.
In the space of this short article it is impossible for me even to begin to give you an account of the richness of the experiences we had. I'm sure each of the group could nominate one or more highlights, but each of those highlights might well be different for each person. For me, one highlight was the experience of that first morning, when we drove up to the top of the Mount of Olives to view the whole of the city of Jerusalem set before us. This was the view that Jesus would have had on Palm Sunday as he made the journey from Bethphage and Bethany over the top of the Mount of the Olives and descended towards the Golden Gate of the Temple Mounted on a donkey, passing the Garden of Gethsemane on the way. Of course, the buildings have changed: the huge Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Romans some 40 years after Jesus stood there, and a Muslim Shrine, the Dome of the Rock, stands there now. But, strangely, that doesn't seem to change the impact the view makes on you.
Some of the sites we visited are more historically and archaeologically probable than others, many sites being based more on tradition than on hard evidence. It would therefore be easy to be sceptical, even cynical, about some of the sites. As you may know, I'm not one for leaving my rational faculties at the door of the church. But the curious and impressive thing about the Holy Land is its cumulative impact.
Even if Jesus wasn't born precisely on this spot, didn't actually stand here, or preach there, or wasn't crucified here, or buried there, somehow the overall impact is greater than the sum of the parts: Jesus walked and talked all around the places we visited. Somehow, it all became very real to us. So now, when I read about places and people in the Bible, and this goes for the Old Testament too, I feel an extra dimension has been added: I can picture the site, the geography, the terrain, the climate, even the sounds and smells of the place.
Our merry little band went out "in
search of the Promised Land" and in each of our own
ways I hope that we found it. The Promised Land is not,
however, just a place, a geographical site. No, in
seeking the Promised Land we were seeking the Kingdom,
the Kingdom which Jesus Christ inaugurated and which we
must strive to realise through our Christian faith and
witness in the world.
"Your Kingdom come": this was the theme of the
Diocesan Triennial Conference, which Mary and I attended
last month in Swanwick. Each time we say the prayer which
Jesus himself taught us we are reminded of this:
"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name; your
Kingdom come..."
Revd Mike Stewart, Assistant Curate
from the June 2009 magazine
Chris
Bessant's ordination Chris Bessant will be
ordained deacon in Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 5 July.
All are welcome to come. Although the service begins at
10.30am, please look to be seated by 10am. A limited
number of places are available on the mini-bus, which is
being driven by Martin Cole (373330). Please contact him
if you would like to travel on the mini-bus and to
confirm the arrangement for meeting prior to setting off.
If you intend to drive, although there is a good amount of parking available the Cathedral, please come early to avoid disappointment.
After the service, all are welcome to come to 19 The Lorne, Great Bookham, for a bring-and-share lunch. If you would like to come please call me to arrange what dish to bring; also it will give us an idea of numbers. We are moving to the above address on the 13 June.
from the June 2009 magazine
The Music Group The Music Group in
various guises has supported family service, informal
Communion, Evening Praise and, more recently, New Fire
for a good number of years. Our style of performance has
also developed as we have learnt, under the tutoring of
David Oliver, the best ways to use the skills and
instruments we have at our disposal.
However, we have four requests for the
congregations who attend the services at which we play;
Firstly, do you like what we do, the styles of music and
the worship songs which we play.
Secondly, are there any musicians who would care to join
our happy band, to help spread the load so we can ensure
that we are always available in suitable numbers when
required, even on bank holiday weekends?
Thirdly, is there anyone who would like to be trained to
operate the sound desk so we can always have our sound
controlled and balanced.
Finally, we would like to have a one-word name which will
help us create an identity, rather than just being called
"The Music Group" and would welcome any
suitable suggestions.
If you have any thoughts or comments about any of the
above please speak to any member of The Music Group who
will be happy to discuss them with you.
from the June 2009 magazine
Autumn Market I know it seems a
long way off, but the way the months are flying past we
shall soon be there. Our jewellery stall is in great need
for someone to take over the organising and storing of
jewellery etc. Thank you to all of those who have done
this task in the past. There are plenty of helpers
available. It would be a great shame if this stall was
not available as it is a good money earner. If anyone
feels they can help, please contact me on 01372 811422.
Many thanks.
There will be a meeting on Tuesday 16 June at 8pm in the
Reeves Room for all stall holders, helpers and anyone
interested and would like to find out what is involved.
J Summerfield
from the June 2009 magazine
Got Bags of enthusiasm? - then we
need your help! We are looking for volunteers to sew
lavender bags for our Autumn Market in October. Whether
you can do one or a hundred and one, we'd love to hear
from you - call F Presley on 01372 372049 who'll have you
in stitches. (Lavender supplied)
from the June 2009 magazine
Planned Giving The Parochial Church
Council is always appreciative of the financial
assistance that members of the congregation regularly
give for the work of the Parish. Indeed without such
assistance it would be difficult to see how the Parish
could operate.
There are differing ways in which it is possible to give:
By a standing order from your bank to the PCC bank account. This can be done weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually and usually at no cost to either the donor or the PCC.
By putting cash (or cheque) in a supplied pre-numbered set of weekly envelopes.
By placing cash in the offering plate. If you are a UK tax payer, it is very beneficial for the PCC if cash gifts are placed in the Yellow Gift Aid Envelope after completing the essential information, which allows the PCC to recover 25 pence for every one pound given.
By sending a cheque made payable to the Parochial Church Council of Leatherhead, to the Church Treasurer at the Parish Office. Or it may be placed in the offering plate or in the "Blue Box" located by the North Door of the church.
The number of congregation members using the weekly envelope scheme has rapidly reduced, moving over to the more efficient and administratively easier Bank Standing Order system. Part of the reason is the change in church attendance whereby many members do not attend every week. Thus many of the envelopes are, in effect, wasted. Using standing orders reduces the amount of cash to be counted and transported to the bank each week.
A Standing Order is controlled entirely by the church member and may be amended by a simple instruction to your bank, or increasingly by members using an online banking system.
If you do presently contribute by weekly envelope or regular Gift Aid envelopes, please consider if it would be possible to change to a Standing Order. For those regularly giving using the Gift Aid envelopes, it would save having to supply personal details every time a gift is made. If you require assistance or advice on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact the Planned Giving Secretary, Bernard Salsbury (01372 375468). All financial help is appreciated, whatever the method of giving. Thus if your present method is right for you, then please continue. Bernard Salsbury
from the May 2009 magazine
Concerts in Church We are going to try a new
venture this summer. Instead of an open-air concert in
the gardens we have arranged three lunchtime concerts in
the Parish Church between 12.30pm-1.30pm:
Friday 8 May: The Ewell Ladies Choir will sing
light-hearted songs and ballads of yesteryear.
Friday 12 June: Rev Mike Stewart, Curate at the Parish
Church, will give a piano recital, Years of
Pilgrimage, to include some pieces from Liszt's Années de Pèlerinage".
Friday 10 July: The Acstede String Quartet will play a
varied programme of music from Mozart to My Fair Lady,
from Bach to Bernstein. [Acstede is the old name for
Oxted]
All are welcome, so bring your lunch, forget the office
or the washing-up for a short while and sit, relax and
enjoy listening to songs, the piano and/or a string
quartet. Entry is free and there is pre-pay parking
behind the Parish Hall.
If you wish to know more please ring 01372 372049.
from the April 2009 magazine
Parish website Those of you with
access to the internet at home or via family or friends
or the library are reminded that the parish website
remembers old friends like the Eatons and those who have
died, like Sandy Morris and David Oliver. Please look at
the Remembrance page to see if you have a photo or a
recollection we can add. Terry Millward, whose mother
Joyce was receptionist at the Williams surgery very many
years ago, has provided photos from an illustrated 1960
Stewardship brochure showing some Parish Church and All
Saints faces. Where are they now? Frank Haslam 379341
from the April 2009 magazine
Your churchyard needs YOU! Not
"down under". it's a long way to Australia!
Seriously though, congratulations to the contractors who
are maintaining our churchyard. The very small Friends'
team that works in the churchyard for a few hours,
usually on the first Saturday of the month, really
appreciates the difference the contractors are making on
the big jobs.
But we STILL need your help for the key work that we do to ensure that as many as possible of the headstones are accessible and cleared of growth and that the paths are clear. So if you can bring your secateurs and spare us an hour now and then this will be very much appreciated. It might even bring our average age down. Frank Haslam 379341
from the April 2009 magazine
Award for young people At the
recent Mole Valley Youth Showcase Awards, young
people from the BFree Youth Cafe were awarded the
prestigious Community Spirit Award for their service to
the community. They are currently undertaking a joint
initiative with Age Concern and the Surrey Constabulary
to tidy up the gardens of some of Leatherhead's more aged
population. This saves the older people from having
unkempt gardens that are an invitation to thieves and
conmen. A number of gardens in Leatherhead and Mickleham
have received such a makeover.
The award was presented in an Oscars-style ceremony at the Dorking Halls. Youth workers at the BFree Youth Cafe were delighted with the recognition given to the young people for their service to the local community. Nigel Gillott
from the April 2009 magazine
For Christine Bryant's article on Sandy Morris and Ann Morris & family's thanks to those who attended Sandy's service or sent messages of condolence see Sandy Morris in our Remembrance pages
From the March 2009 magazine
Church Watch: I need 40 church
watch stewards for the fortnightly rota to keep the
church open for three hours each day during the spring
and summer. As there are currently only 30 due to
retirement and death and for domestic reasons, a big
recruitment drive is necessary. We desperately need new
people to join the steward's list. The commitment is only
one and a half hours per fortnight and stewards don't
need to know anything about the church or even to be
regular churchgoers. Why not come along with a friend?
Please telephone me on 01372 812598 if you are interested
and would like to know more. C Neeser
from the December 2008 magazine
A Rich Inheritance Linda Heath's dramatisation
of the history of Leatherhead was written and first
performed in 1995 and repeated in 2000. Its third outing,
as part of the Mole Valley Arts Alive Festival, has
fulfilled its author's dream that the inhabitants of
Leatherhead should have a periodic reminder of their
heritage.
For the rest of us, it has been like meeting up with an old friend, and a welcome reminder of the richness of our heritage. One of the best parts is seeing friends from all the churches popping up in different roles. This production was ably directed by Christine Watts of Epsom, who approached it with a fresh eye and a calm encouraging professionalism.
The church itself was one of the stars of the production – it was quite eerie to watch re-enactments of events which had happened six centuries before in the very same building. It began with a violent scene in 1395 when there was bloodshed in the church and the bishop had to come and lead a service of reconciliation and purification, and finished with
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The lighting and sound effects by David Ames and David Stoves were splendid throughout, particularly when the church spire collapsed in the Great Storm of November 27 1703.
No less than five of today's clergy of all denominations portrayed their predecessors, which added to the authentic atmosphere, although fortunately we were spared the original Latin! Mention must be made of Beverley Mehta's marvellous portrayal of the Princess of Wales, distraught after her carriage overturned in 1806.
The production raised about £1750 for the Leatherhead Youth Project. All in all a most enjoyable experience, long may it continue. Alison Wright
... and finally My thanks to all who supported this production, the cast and offstage team, and all who came to the performances. It seems to have been enjoyed by both cast and audiences, which in itself made it all worthwhile, and after all the expenses have been met it has raised about £1, 750 for the Leatherhead Youth Project, which is also well worthwhile. Thank you. Linda Heath
from the November 2008 magazine
Christingle
Christingle means "Christ Light" and celebrates
the light of Jesus coming into the world: but no one
knows how it started. There is an ancient Welsh service
called a Celenig where Christingles are used, and the
Moravian Church has held Christingle services since 1747.
This is one story of how the first Christingle might have
been made all those years ago.
When children were asked to take gifts to put beside the crib in Church one poor family, unable to afford a gift, were determined to take something. They found an orange, which they hoped would do, but it was going mouldy at the top. However, they thought they could scoop out the bad bits and put a candle in the top and turn it into a lantern.
Thinking that it looked a bit ordinary, one of the girls took a red ribbon from her hair and tied it around the middle, fastening it in place with four small sticks, on the ends of which they put a few raisins. They tooktheir lantern to church, thinking it might look shabby beside the other gifts. However, the kindly priest understanding their worry told the congregation how special their gift was because:
- The orange is round, like the world.
- The candle stands tall and straight and-gives light in the dark, like the love of God.
- The red ribbon goes all around the "'world" and is a symbol of the blood Jesus shed when he died for us.
- The four sticks point in all directions and symbolise North, South, East and West and also represent the four seasons.
- The raisins represent the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain.
John Pensom of The Children's Society first introduced the Christingle service to the Church of England in 1968 and, 40 years on, 6,000 churches, schools and groups around the country join the celebrations each year from Advent through to Candlemas.
Leatherhead Christingle Celebration The Children's Society's Christingle service is a celebration of the Light of Christ in the world. Parents and children are invited to join us in supporting the Children's Society at this wonderful family service to be held in the Parish Church on Sunday December 7 at 4pm. Betty Borgust
from the November 2008 magazine
Invite a stranger for
Christmas! Visits from strangers at Christmas
began with shepherds turning up at a Bethlehem stable,
and continued with the arrival of wise men. This year,
you could carry on the tradition by inviting an
international student to spend Christmas in your home.
HOST is a well-established charity, backed by the Foreign Office and many universities, which links adults studying in the UK with hospitable volunteers throughout Britain.
Guests come from all over the world, including many from China. They speak English and are keen to share their own culture, while longing to know more about our way of life. Welcoming a student who might otherwise spend Christmas on a deserted campus fosters international understanding, and could make your Christmas special. See www.hostuk.org or call HOST on 020 7254 3039 to be put in touch with your local organiser.
HOST arranges visits throughout the year, so if your "inn" is full this Christmas, you can still offer an invitation at another time.
from the October 2008 magazine
Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church As the
Summer of 2008 draws to a close, the FLPC Committee has
been busy planning fund raising activities for Spring
2009, so if you have a diary handy please pencil in the
dates of February 7, when we hope to hold another of our
highly popular Quiz Nights, and March 21, when we will be
organising a very special evening to include an
illustrated lecture from a historian expert in tracing
family histories.
There will be more details in the coming months. Also some advance notice of our Spring Plant Sale next May; we would like to plant-up some hanging baskets and if you have any baskets, which you will not reuse, we would be delighted to recycle them for you. They can be left at 15 St Mary's Rd or please contact me on 01372 372169 to arrange collection. Chris Evans
from the September 2008 magazine
Services: several things to note:
1. The Church PCC have slightly revised the
overall pattern of services. Now that Mike Stewart and
Mary Cruddas have been priested we have more scope,
especially over Communion services. It is therefore now
possible to reinstate a third Sunday 9am Communion
Service at All Saints Church. This will be on the same
Sunday that we offer Come and Celebrate more informal
communion at the Parish Church.
2. Evening Praise has been re-evaluated. The Council thinks this will go better as a United Praise Service at the Methodist Church. It will continue to mean the Music Group feature prominently but with support from other churches. This has come out of a fruitful liaison with our Covenanting Partners.
3. This means our monthly Evening Reflection service incorporating Taizé style worship will transfer to the third Sunday. The Council felt it important not to run another service against a United Service. I hope this change will not inconvenience those who regularly attend Evening Reflection, whose numbers have increased recently.
4. Mary Cruddas has helpfully devised a new service to run at 4pm on the fourth Sunday of each month. She writes elsewhere in this magazine about this service, Time for Tea, designed to attract under school-age children particularly those who have recently been baptised.
from the September 2008 magazine
Church Watch: I am desperately seeking new
Church Watch Stewards because several people have had to
retire due to ill health; we are now no longer able to
keep the church open for three hours Monday to Friday.
Please can you help? All you have to do is sit in the
peace of our beautiful historic church for one and a half
hours once a fortnight during the summer months. You do
not need to know all about the church; just be there so
that visitors may enjoy our historic building. Please
contact me on 01372 812598. C Neeser
from the September 2008 magazine
Taste and See: Mike Stewart and Mary Cruddas are
meeting with a small group over a simple bread and soup
lunch each Friday for six weeks to explore the Christian
faith. Starting on September 5 at 12:30 we aim to discuss
the place of God in our lives, there is still room at the
table for one or two more people. If you would value the
opportunity to discuss issues of faith in an accepting
and supportive environment then this might be for you. As
the title indicates this is a taster course for those
considering or reconsidering the Christian Faith. Please
contact either Mike or Mary (via the Parish Office
362544) for further information or to book your place. We
hope participants will prove the Psalmist right when he
says "Taste and see that the Lord is good: happy are
those who take refuge in him" Ps 34:8
from the September 2008 magazine
Time for tea: What are you doing at 4pm on a
Sunday afternoon? It used to be the time the English took
afternoon tea. A visit to Wisley, or any other garden for
that matter confirms the tradition is still alive. On the
fourth Sunday of each month, starting on September 28, we
are offering an afternoon tea service for hard pressed
parents of preschoolers. The half hour service will
include simple prayer, songs, a story and a craft.
We will light candles to remember baptism anniversaries. Then we will tuck into afternoon tea set out in the tower area of the church. Everyone is welcome, especially those under the age of five with their parents or carers. The September theme is God's Wonderful World. Invitations are being sent out to all the families with whomwe have had contact in the last four years. If you would like more information please contact the church office or me, telephone numbers are at the end of the magazine. We hope you will join us. Mary Cruddas
from the August 2008 magazine
Audio visual in church This is a
summary of the audiovisual demonstration presented in the
parish hall on June 4. In the first instance, may we
thank Janine Stagg, Doug Waters and Martin West for
preparing a comprehensive document recommending the
installation of audio-visual equipment on the DM Music
model for the Parish Church, and the presentation that
followed on June 4.
Following the presentation, a variety of questions were asked reflecting both sides of the argument, and the audience were invited to complete a questionnaire to seek opinion. May we thank everyone who completed this task? In total 74 were completed and returned in addition to 14 letters.
In general terms, 73 per cent agreed that the proposed model should only be used for selected services, but as to enhancement there was concern and doubt that the DM system would not meet the desired effect. If an alternative, perhaps less obtrusive and costly, model was proposed the results might differ.
Opinions varied from hostility to a desire to add a new dimension to the worship within our church, enriching the service. There were valid arguments defending the beauty of the church, and that a screen, however flexible in its design and placement, would nevertheless obscure, even to a small extent, the awe and wonder exhibited within the sanctuary and associated east window. An alternative freestanding screen perhaps could be displayed to the right of the chancel arch.
The PCC decided on June 18 that the way forward is not to dismiss audio-visual material outright, but to visit neighbouring churches that have AV in place and seek further opinion.
from the August 2008 magazine
Church Recorders Church Recorders
are NADFAS volunteers who make records of the contents of
churches, thereby promoting the recognition and
preservation of the rich artistic heritage to be found in
places of worship of all religions. The items are
described in detail and their history researched. All the
material is then compiled into a book illustrated with
photographs and drawings. This is presented to the church
and copies are sent to national institutions, including
the Council for the Care of Churches and the Victoria and
Albert Museum.
Church Recorders work as part of a team, choosing a
single local church to record and then working in pairs
on different sections of the church furnishings:
memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles,
paintings, library, windows and miscellaneous. Training
is given by experienced recorders and help is available
from a wide range of experts.
When a Church Record is complete, the benefits are to the church authorities who have a complete furnishing record-, the police who can use the accurate descriptions and photographs to identify retrieved stolen artifacts; insurance companies who use the Records to identify items and researchers who are producing theses and books on allied subjects.
Leatherhead was recently host to a Church Recorders Information Day for East Surrey. Members met in the Parish Church Hall for coffee and an update on Recording projects in the Area. The Leatherhead Society of NADFAS (National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies) has completed and presented a Record of the Parish Church and is currently working on the recording of the Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Peter. Members then moved across to the Church, where Linda Heath gave an informative presentation on the history. The Director of Music, David Oliver, followed this with a demonstration of the Thomas Parker organ and some of the men were delighted and amused to be allowed to use the hand-pump.
The morning concluded with a discussion on the latest NADFAS initiative, Church Trails for the Young – Leatherhead DFAS is working on this too – and finally there was the opportunity to exchange Church Recording experiences and ideas over lunch.
NADFAS members have asked me to pass on their thanks for the welcome that was shown to them and that their appreciation should be conveyed to those whose dedication and hard work ensures that the Church looks so beautiful and cared for. June Robinson, NADFAS
from the August 2008 magazine
Open Gardens Event Our England is a
garden, and such gardens are not made by singing:
"Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade.
Rudyard Kipling's tribute to the Glory of the Garden was
very much in the minds of those who were able to visit
the Leatherhead Gardens specially opened on Sunday June
22 for the Friends of the Parish Church.
The gardens certainly were beautiful and the wonderful weather meant that they were seen at their best. Nearly 100 parishioners, friends and family members spent the afternoon walking around the six very different gardens, discussing design and planting schemes or just relaxing over the excellent cream teas provided en route! Our thanks of course to the garden owners who worked so hard and made us all so welcome, but also to our many visitors who through ticket sales, teas and buying plants for their own gardens contributed no less than £650 to the Friends funds, which as usual will be spent in pursuit of our commitment to maintaining the Parish Church building and grounds.
from the July 2008 magazine
The
choral evensong combined choir
from the July 2008 magazine
Marjorie Spreadbury The
family would like to thank all who sent messages of
condolence on Marjorie's passing. Your vicar sent a card
"in happy remembrance of Marjorie" assuring us
of love and prayers from all at St Mary and St Nicholas,
particularly at the Thanksgiving service for her life on
Friday May 9. We were able to incorporate requests from
Marjorie, namely hymns, God be in my Head (at
her committal) and Lord of all Hopefulness.
She also suggested having a version of the Lord's Prayer, which was sung beautifully by three grandchildren and her eight- year-old great granddaughter. Tributes were paid by Simon her grandson and by her son Peter who came over from America.
We were pleased to have four former neighbours with us, also Pauline and Alan Smith who lived in Leatherhead in the Seventies and Eighties. Pauline was ordained in 1990 and they remained in touch with Marjorie, especially since they retired to Cheltenham.
Thank you too, to the Mothers' Union who sent a card
and kind messages. The MU prayer was read at the service
to reflect Marjorie's long 53 years membership. She often
spoke of when she shared the monthly ward service at
Leatherhead Hospital and it was a comfort to her to have
regular services with communion in her Nursing Home. Angela
& Leslie Rhodes
Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford
from the July 2008 magazine
The bells are ringing A big
thank you to all who kindly donated towards the
refurbishment of our bells, which you may have noticed
are now ringing again. We received grants from two
ringing guilds that cover the area and also from the
Sharp Trust. We can now say we have done our bit to
ensure the Leatherhead bells are in a good state to ring
over the town for many more years to come, as they have
been since the 18th century. Peter Ford, Tower
Captain
from the July 2008 magazine
A Rich Inheritance A
dramatisation of historical events in Leatherhead from
1395-1897 by Linda Heath is to be performed in the parish
church on October 23, 24 and 25. More cast are still
needed: no cast, no play. It is a very big cast, about 40
characters, and we still need a lot more people,
especially for nonspeaking parts. You don't even need any
acting experience, just do what Chris Watts, our
director, suggests!
There will be two more play readings, on Monday July 21 and Wednesday 23 in the parish hall at 7.30pm, so if you are interested in finding out more, and would be willing to take even a non-speaking part, please come along on one of these two evenings (this does not commit you). But please tell either Mrs Watts 01372-726738 or Linda Heath 01372-372603 which evening you can attend, as we do need to know in advance who is coming.
Rehearsals will start on September 1 at 7pm in the parish church and will be either on Monday or Wednesday evenings, depending on which scene you are in. Please come and join us; you will be most welcome. Linda Heath
from the July 2008 magazine
Swan handbells
We are having a great time during our practice sessions
on Thursday evenings. New music brings out all the angst
in ringers. How do I play the note with the dot? What do
we do when there is a squiggle over the top of the notes?
Where's my Bb? Are we going to use mallets in the
staccato section? With all the questions answered we go
for it and surprise ourselves with a decent rendering ...
sometimes!
At the moment we are rehearsing Around the World in Eighty Bars and a G&S tune (which can be sung when the music gets difficult) as well as the old faithfuls. There is much laughter and we always come away feeling better for having made music together.
We are very smart when we have a "gig". With music stands, made by John Sutherland, and beautiful swans complete with bells hanging from their beaks, appliquéd on our "falls" made by Alison Draper, we are a professional-looking group.
I have found the Bell Ringer's Confession
which you may enjoy. Team, learn this off by heart!:
Almighty and most merciful Conductor.
We have erred and strayed from thy beat like lost sheep;
We have followed too much the accidentals and tempi of
our own hearts.
We have offended against Thy dynamic markings.
We have rung those notes which we ought not to have rung
And there is no damping in us.
But thou, O Conductor, have mercy upon us, miserable
ringers;
Succour the key-signature challenged, Restore Thou them
that need help in turning their page;
Spare Thou them that have not pencils. Pardon our
mistakes, and have faith that hereafter
We will follow Thy directions
And ring together in perfect harmony
(Anonymous)
Look out for our open evening in the autumn when you,
too, will be able to join in the fun and ring a bell!
Beverley Mehta, Conductor
from the July 2008 magazine
Back to Church Sunday goes global
Churches Together in Scotland, the Church in Wales,
Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed churches
nationwide, Elim Pentecostal churches and Anglican
churches in New Zealand and Canada will join 38 C of E
dioceses for Back to Church Sunday on September 28, and
inviting a friend back to church with them.
Back to Church Sunday began in Manchester in 2004 with the message "Missing You", spreading to Wakefield in 2005, to nine Church of England dioceses in 2006 and 20 in 2007, when 20,000 people came back to church. It seems that about 15% of those who "come back" stay as regular members and another 50% stay in touch by attending at Christmas or at a social event.
from the July 2008 magazine
The Editorial Team Margaret
Jones has joined the editorial team of the magazine. She
and Andrew have lived in the area since June 2005, after
40 years in Hertfordshire where they brought up their
three children. Once the children were adults they
settled in Surrey, so Margaret and Andrew have joined
their drift south. Margaret was born and brought up in
Sheffield, so her drift south has been considerable. They
have four grandchildren and therefore manage to keep
busy. In their spare time Andrew gardens, and Margaret
runs our Fairtrade stall.
from the July 2008 magazine
Christian Aid A creditable
total of £3,954, only slightly less than last year, was
collected despite some poor weather and difficulties in
maintaining coverage. The major part of the collection
came from the URC team, ably organised by Anne Ray. It is
hoped the Methodist Church will find an organiser for
next year, after two years without one. Thank you to all
who gave and who collected. Frank Haslam
from the June 2008 magazine
New Look for All Saints'. On Sunday
May 4 there was a thanksgiving service at which David
dedicated the newly refurbished All Saints'. We have a
new kitchen area, as well as energy saving lighting, a
much-needed new carpet and some redecoration. My thanks
go to John Hampton and John Sutherland for their help and
support in getting this work done. Please do come to one
of our services a have a look.
Sheila Sutherland, Assistant Churchwarden
From earlier issues, items of ongoing interest
from the June 2008 magazine
A time for God's Creation. This
year sees the start of what is hoped will become a major
step for English churches to join in a celebration of the
environment. The idea has already been adopted by some
English churches as well as churches in Australia,
America and Europe, but now the Third European Ecumenical
Assembly has endorsed the idea:
"We recommend that the period from the 1st September
to the 4th of October be dedicated to prayer for the
protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable
lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate
change".
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are encouraging all parishes in the Church of England to support the initiative. Parishes are encouraged to choose one Sunday between September 1 and the second Sunday in October on which they would put Creation at the centre of their worship and reflection, perhaps linked to Harvest Festival. A special evening service on September 14, featuring the Bishop of London and special guests, will be held at St Paul's Cathedral; it is hoped that other cathedrals will organise similar events.
Mole Valley District Council at the beginning of 2008 launched the "How Green is Your Valley" campaign and website www.molevalley.gov.uk/greener . The aim of the campaign is to encourage as many Mole Valley residents as possible to think about their energy consumption and how they can live more sustainably. The website has an environmental footprint calculator and tips on how an individual can reduce his or her impact on the planet.
We are also seeing food shortages spreading from less developed countries. As I write this, retailers in the USA are reported to have introduced rice rationing. The reasons are complex. These appear to include population growth, placing ever-increasing pressure on world resources, and prosperity pushing up demand while supply is limited. It is one reminder of the fragility of creation whether or not the underlying reason is climate change.
As usual, the suffering is mostly concentrated in countries and with people, least able to cope. This is an injustice that should surely speak to us, both as Christians, and simply as human beings made in God's image. What price human life? The scientists tell us there is around a 90 per cent probability that human action is responsible for global warming. We cannot, therefore, ignore the implications of this question.
Of course, it is very tempting to blame all the world's ills on climate change and everyone else, losing hope and just carrying on as normal. If the problem is just too big for us individually to make a difference, why bother? This is where our Christian hope can give us an advantage. While we know the world is broken we also have hope for the future.
from April 2008
The Sewing Room Do not forget that
The Sewing Room sells haberdashery every Friday morning
from 10am until 12 noon in the Parish Church Hall. I have
a wide variety of general stock and specific items can be
ordered for the following week. I also have a new range
of beautiful greetings cards for the special price of
just 99p each. Do come and take a look and pop into the
Country Market, too. Janine Stagg
from the March 2008 magazine
Church Watch Church Watch will
recommence on Monday April 7. Due to retirements we have
several vacancies in our team of Church Watchers; could
you spare an hour and a half once a fortnight to join our
team? We are having a coffee morning in the Parish Church
Hall on Thursday March 13 from 10-12am to which all
existing and prospective Church Watchers are invited. If
you have never done church watch but would like to give
it a try, please do come along to the coffee morning when
all will be explained. We keep the church open from
11.0-12.30 and from 12.30 until 2pm Monday to Friday. It
is a very relaxing occupation and does not require
knowledge of the church or its history - the knowledge
comes with use! For more information contact me on 01372
812598. C Neeser
from the March 2008 magazine
Get to know the Archbishops The
Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Dr Rowan Williams and
Dr John Sentamu, have launched new websites to help
project their beliefs, activities and personalities to a
wider audience using the current best in web technology
and design. The design themes of each site help
complement the public profile of both Archbishops, with
the Archbishop of Canterbury's site using shades of
contemplative blue and grey, whilst the Archbishop of
York features vibrant reds.
Archbishops Rowan Williams and John Sentamu both have personal pages covering their biographies, background on personal interests - such as poetry, and Russian literature for the former and York City FC for the latter!
A Lambeth Palace spokesperson said: "Through our new websites the Archbishops will be able to reach out to fresh audiences through use of video, audio and other facilities." The websites are: www.archbishopofcanterbury.org and www.archbishopofyork.org
from the March 2008 magazine
No such thing as a free lunch! As I
am sure that you all know, we received a most generous
grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which paid for 90%
of the cost of rebuilding and installing the Thomas
Parker organ. When Mike Lewis made the application he had
to indicate how, once it was in place, we would promote
it generally both locally and further afield, and this
should be done over the next few years.
Indeed, and I quote from Mike: "I would again stress that it was made clear from the start that we would not obtain Heritage Funding unless we made the restored instrument widely available to be seen and heard by members of the national population".
The Concerts in Church committee are co-ordinating anything that might take place involving the organ, and just now we are planning various events to bring both young and old into the Church to hear it, and also to invite organists to come and play. For example, we plan to circulate local schools and music societies, inviting them to make a date to have an illustrated talk about the organ's history.
We are also planning to invite several organists to take a half hour slot to play what they wish one afternoon in November when anyone can drop in and listen. The ideas are endless, and we would be very happy for anyone to make suggestions, or to arrange their own events.
If you would like to organise something
involving the organ you are very welcome to do so, but we
would ask that you tell us about it first so that we
avoid duplications. We will also need to have a copy of
the programme or a flyer so that we can let the Heritage
Lottery Fund know at the end of each year what we have
done to promote the organ. Please speak to any of us with
your ideas:
Frances Presley, Sonja Grove, Beverley Mehta, Bernard
Salsbury
PS: Put Saturday October 4 in your diary - the Welshmen
will be back!
from the January 2008 magazine
Why aren't the bells ringing? The sound
of bells ringing before Sunday services is a part of our
cherished heritage; when no bells are heard, people ask
why? Our bells will be silent for 12 weeks next year
whilst a company of bell-hanging engineers renovate the
fittings. The last time all the bell fittings, bearings
etc. were seen by professional engineers was in 1923! The
work will start on January 21.
As this is going to cost a lot of money we have
applied for grants from various trusts, but more will be
needed. If you would like to help and are a UK tax-payer,
please use and complete the yellow envelopes in church,
write BELLS on the front (so that we can claim Gift Aid
from the Inland Revenue) and put it into the blue box. If
you have any questions contact me on 01372 373629.
Peter Ford, Tower Captain
from the December 2007 magazine
Autumn Market 2007
What a fantastic result for this year's Autumn Market. We
took a little over £5000, which is slightly up on last
year, more than 2005 and almost the same as in 2004. This
is not a final figure as some money is still to come in
from advertisers, always slow to pay up! Who can believe
that the Jewellery stall took nearly £1000, or Craft
well over £600!
Earlier in the week before the market, we think there will never be enough items, and by the Friday evening we start to panic that, not only will there not be sufficient to put on the tables, but that no-one will come! Thank goodness our fears are always totally unfounded, and the queue that forms by about 9.30 on the morning suggests many have been looking forward to it.
This year there were a few slight changes. Veronica Kay, and all her helpers, felt that they should now call time to standing behind the China and Glass stall; Howard and Sue Beales kindly offered to take over. I am not too sure that they fully realised what they had taken on, but they arrived hot foot from the pyramids on the Saturday morning and had everything organised in no time. Also, Eric and Pat Weetman, and Mike and Mollie Lewis, who have done sterling work over the years behind the bottle tombola, decided to put up their feet.
I would like to say a very big thank you to all of them for the many, many hours that they have spent raising quite a substantial sum over the years.
We had a new stall with us this year. The Friends of Triel agreed to come and promote our twinned town in France, and a very colourful addition they made. We hope that they feel it worthwhile to come again. It was good to see such great photos in the Leatherhead Advertiser, excellent publicity and, this time, quite unasked for.
It is impossible to give individual thanks, because it would fill the magazine, but the whole day is so successful as a team of over fifty people run it. That may sound unwieldy but from the moment we have our meeting in June the whole thing seems to roll forward. So I will just say another great big thank you to ALL the stall holders, and those who help them, to ALL the choir who always work so hard in the kitchen, to ALL those on the entry desk and in the office collecting and counting the money, and to ALL who are involved in putting up our banners, flyers and posters.
I must mention three people by name. A very special thank you to Linda Hauxwell for all she does to make the programme so successful and so profitable. To Catherine Diffey who spends the whole day in the Reeves Room hoping to entice more children to play the many games that are up there, and also to Jane Andrews in the office who, like Veronica, puts on a very brave face when we ask her, yet again, to do some more printing, even though she is knee deep in other Church matters.
It has been fun, but it is time to have new ideas and thoughts. There may well be a new organiser next year, nothing is definite yet, but Watch This Space! Frances Presley
from the December 2007 Magazine
Church Watch Church Watch
has now finished for 2007 but it will recommence on April
8 2008. May I thank warmly everyone who has taken part
this year; I shall look forward to your help again next
year together with some new volunteers I hope. It is not
an onerous job. Please telephone me, if you would like to
join us, on 01372 812598. Carole Neeser
from the October 2007 magazine
Give tax efficiently! Many people
consider giving to charity to be part of their Christian
stewardship This article provides a reminder of the main
tax implications. The benefits of gifting by Gift Aid are
well known and, indeed, the Parish receives a significant
boost in income from this source. If you are a taxpayer,
your gift can be worth 28% more to your chosen charity,
at no extra cost to you. Just complete the Gift Aid
declaration. Higher Rate taxpayers can, in addition,
benefit from a refund of tax by completing the relevant
section of the tax return.
From April 6 2008, the tax reclaim by charities will fall to 25%, thanks to the proposed reduction in basic rate tax to 20%. As a result charities will lose out unless contribution levels are increased to compensate. Less well known is that many charities will accept gifts in the form of shares.
Many people sell shares, and gift the proceeds, when the alternative can be more tax efficient. This is because Capital Gains Tax is not payable on such transfers. Just contact your preferred charity to see if they will accept gifts of shares.
Gifts to registered charities in your Will are free of Inheritance Tax. A good prompt to check that your Will remains up to date? As well as taking into account any changes in family circumstances you should also consider the effect of inflation. In this context, inflation means an increase in the value of your estate, as well as the decline in value of a legacy since your current will was drafted.
Both can be good reasons to revise a
legacy upwards. Therefore, gifting to charity not only
benefits the charity directly, it can also be very tax
efficient.
This article is for general information only, and does
not constitute advice, for which you should consult your
usual professional adviser.
Andrew Chastney on behalf of the Outward Giving and
Mission Committee
from September 2007
New appointments: I was delighted
to be able to announce earlier this year that Michael
Stewart will be joining the parish as
Non-Stipendiary Deacon. I gave full details in the June
magazine. Mike's ordination will be on September 29, the
Feast of Michael and All Angels, at St John the Baptist
Egham when there will be one other candidate, Craig
Holmes, who will serve in the parish of Egham. All are
welcome at the service - see Parish Team link
I am also delighted that after an advertising and interviewing process I have been able to appoint Jane Andrews as Parish Secretary to succeed Veronica Kay who has recently retired. Jane is known to many people through her roles in church life as Chalice Assistant and Baptism Visitor. She is very well qualified and experienced for the post and takes up her new duties from the beginning of September.
from September 2007
Thank you! Thank you all so much
for coming to the reception in the church hall following
the service on Sunday July 22 to mark Dorothy's and my
retirement and for the most generous gifts to us both. It
was all a real surprise; we were overwhelmed by the
kindness and generosity shown to us.
David Eaton, Veronica, Dorothy
Dorothy, Veronica and the cake
Thank you also to those who provided refreshments, including wine, soft drinks, coffee, biscuits, cakes and also a delicious large "church-shaped" chocolate cake along with beautiful flower arrangements for us both.
For me it marked the end of about thirty-four years working for the Vicar and Parish. Initially I worked from home assisting Canon Sandy Morris's secretary, Kitty Loveridge, by typing minutes, reports, accounts etc. and also printing the monthly parish magazine on the Gestetner machine in the Reeves Room. When Kitty retired some years later Sandy asked me to be his secretary and I had the pleasure of working for him in the lovely surroundings of the old Vicarage.
On Sandy's retirement I moved to what became the Parish Office and after a short interregnum David Eaton was appointed. David has been a great person to work for and I thank him most sincerely for his understanding, kindness and support. I have very much enjoyed working for the Parish and will treasure the friendship and caring shown to me and my family by so many during this time. It has been much appreciated.
I do, of course, feel sad to be
retiring as the Church family has been at the centre of
my home and working life. However, although I am taking a
back seat now I look forward to seeing everyone and
worshipping in our beautiful Church of St Mary and St
Nicholas. Thank you again. With my love and best wishes.
Veronica Kay
Thank you all for your good wishes when
I 'retired' from the Parish Office at the end of July. I
very much appreciated your generosity and kind thoughts.
Dorothy Paine
from the August 2007 magazine
'Caroling' Two old friends of this
parish, both of whom happened to be called Carol, have
recently been appointed to new parishes. Carol
Coslett, who was both a Reader and Music
Co-ordinator here before training for ordination, is to
be the new incumbent of what will be a new United
Benefice of Betchworth and Buckland. Her induction is on
Tuesday, October 2, at 7.30pm at St Michael's Betchworth.
Carol Smith, who lived in Leatherhead and partly trained here, is to be the Vicar of St Luke's, Moulsham, in the Chelmsford Diocese. She will be inducted there on November 1, All Saints Day, at 7.30pm.
We offer both Carols and their families our warmest prayers and congratulations. All will be welcome at these services.
from the August 2007 magazine
Gift Aid The Inland Revenue have
made various changes to Gift Aid claims. In the past
claims were at the end of each tax year on April 5.
Churches are now classed as businesses and claims are to
be made at the end of the calendar year on December 31,
so for 2008 we can only claim from 6/4/07 to 31/12/07, a
much shorter period.
However, we will be able to make a further claim to 5/4/08 at the rate of 22%. Thereafter the rate is reduced to 20%, as announced in the last Budget. The claim for the remainder of 2008 will be made in January 2009. After that, unless the rate alters again, it should rectify and the actual tax claims should agree in time with funds shown on our balance sheets. Marion Moore Gift Aid Secretary
from the August 2007 magazine
International TV star We have an
international TV star in our congregation! During the
Diana concert, televised worldwide on July 1, Anne
Grindrod
was interviewed, because she had met Princess Diana when
the Princess visited SeeAbility. A shot of
Anne's house was shown. Anne spoke well and also appeared
attending the concert.
As you might imagine, I am not a particular fan of most of the music at these concerts but as my daughter, Caroline, was there she asked me to record it for her. Being over six hours long, I had to change DVDs after four hours. On completion of the recording, being no expert, I quickly checked the DVDs to see that they had recorded. It was OK, but to my surprise the first few seconds were of the interview with Anne! Bernard Salsbury
from the August 2007 magazine
Church Watch The Church Heritage
Forum estimates that church tourism benefits the economy
by £300 million each year. "Cathedrals and historic
churches are a quintessential feature of our landscape
and are part of the historic narrative of our national
identity, which has a strong appeal for domestic and
foreign visitors alike," the Forum told a Government
committee's inquiry into tourism. The potential for
greater development is not always recognised and, as a
result, is not supported.
The current interest in genealogy and the tracing of ancestry, in which churches play a key role, is an area that could be promoted, the Forum suggests.
Local initiatives have shown that encouraging church tourism by providing training and resources can double visitor numbers. They have also shown that opening up more churches brings real benefits to community cohesion and encourages churches to provide other community activities. Church buildings and cathedrals are consistently in the list of most-visited tourist attractions, particularly Bath Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, Fountains Abbey and Westminster Abbey. Visitors to cathedrals last year spent £91 million in the local cities. The benefits of visitors to parish churches are more difficult to quantify, as they do not charge for entry and most are not stewarded, but between 35 and 50 million visits a year would be a realistic estimate. The Churches Tourism Association's website is: http://www.churchestourismassociation.info - Do your bit by joining our church watch group; telephone 01372 812598.
from the July 2007 magazine
Goodbye and thank you. Veronica Kay
has indicated that she will be retiring from the post of
Parish Secretary at the end of July. As you can imagine,
this is a great sadness as Veronica has been a huge
support during my time in Leatherhead. However, I
entirely understand that the time has come for Veronica
to retire and to let the torch pass to someone else.
Veronica's dedication and ability have meant she has successfully managed parish business, as well as my own secretarial needs, with great efficiency and goodwill. She has been more than ably supported in this on a voluntary basis by Dorothy Paine and together they have made a terrific team in our office. There will be a chance to say thank you to them both over coffee after church in the Parish Church Hall on Sunday July 22. Please give them both your support on that occasion. You will find below an advertisement for Veronica's successor. This is a key role in church life. Please pray for the right person to be found with the necessary skills and abilities.
from the July 2007 magazine
Congratulations and every blessing
We wish the Revd David Ireland, Parish Priest at
Mickleham, and Mrs Angela Parfitt every happiness, on the
day and in the years to come, when they marry on Saturday
June 30 at St Michael's Church at 12 noon. The service
will be taken by The Bishop of Dorking and I will be in a
supporting role. As many people will know, David's wife
Jane died last year, and so did Angela's husband Rob.
David wrote recently in the Mickleham magazine: "I
am delighted to say that I have proposed to Angela and
she has agreed to marry me! I cannot believe my G(o)od
fortune."
from the July 2007 magazine
Ordained and rejoicing! As
mentioned in last month's magazine, Mary Cruddas
will be ordained at Guildford Cathedral at 10.30am on
Sunday July 1. We wish her every blessing and thank her
for her considerable contribution already to church life.
Please come and support Mary at the Cathedral and the
"Bring and Share" lunch afterwards. If you have
not yet received a ticket please speak to one of the
churchwardens.
from the May 2007 magazine
Mothers' Union Trustees
Congratulations to Sheila Sutherland on being appointed a
Mothers' Union Trustee for the Diocese on 26th March at a
special service at the Cathedral by the worldwide
Mothers' Union President. The Mothers' Union continues to
be an influential Anglican organisation across the world.
Sheila is branch leader here in Leatherhead, where the
branch has been in existence for more than 100 years, and
gives generously of her time and abilities to Mothers'
Union. We thank her for her services to the church.
from the May 2007 magazine
Thank You After what has been a
very difficult time for us, Ben was released from
hospital on Wednesday 28th March, following almost six
weeks as an in-patient. We would like to offer our most
sincere thanks to all of those who have given their
support, prayers and time for hospital visits. The gifts,
letter and cards have helped Ben's recovery a great deal,
although we still have a way to go.
We have been overwhelmed by the love
and care shown to our family, and it is very much
appreciated. Your continuing prayers are most gratefully
received, as Benjamin progresses towards a full and
sustained recovery.
Chris and Sophie Bessant
from the April 2007
magazine
Leprosy Mission Celia Hamilton has been the
parish representative for The Leprosy Mission for the
last five years. She is handing over the role now to
Eleanor Stuttard. We thank both Celia and Eleanor for
being willing to keep the needs of the Mission and those
who suffer with leprosy before us.
David Eaton
And from Celia: Having retired from being the Representative for Leprosy Mission I wish to thank all the loyal supporters of this worthy cause over the past five years, and hope that they will continue to support Eleanor and this charity. Celia Hamilton Children's Society. This year's box collection has raised £494. We are very grateful to our diminishing band of box holders, many of whom are now giving us cheques.
from the April 2007
magazine
Celebrating success After several years of study
and gaining practical experience, Linda Hauxwell was
awarded a Diploma in Pastoral Counselling from
the University of Nottingham. Her Home Group has toasted
her success. The group meets weekly to worship, pray and
study together.
It's a great place to get
to know people, to encourage one another, to share both
the ups and the downs of life. If you would like to be
part of a home group, speak to Linda or me; we are to be
found having coffee in the hall after the morning
service.
Mary Cruddas
from the April 2007
magazine
B@titude There are many surprising things about
being involved in a community shop like B@titude, one of
them being that you can start a conversation and never
know where it is going to take you! This happened to us
last summer when we sat down with a group of mums to
dream about holidays, holiday homes and possibilities for
helping some families to get away for a few days and have
a break.
Here we are six months later with that particular dream close to being realised. We have a firm plan to purchase a community mobile home on a holiday caravan park site, either at Bognor Regis or Pagham, close to Chichester. Both sites have great facilities for families and children, and the caravans are spacious and comfortable, and we would love to be up and running by Easter. The sites are open for nine months of the year and have the potential to help families have a few days away, who wouldn't otherwise be able to have a break.
We are now in our third year, which is amazing, and we continue to be so encouraged with the constant flow of good quality clothes and equipment coming in and out of the shop. We do have spaces in the week for volunteers and if anyone would like to pop in, have a coffee and see what's going on they would be very welcome. We hope in the next two or three months to have some good storage space for holding and distributing furniture. This has been a challenge so it will be great to have some extra space, and maybe begin to do some furniture restoration, French polishing and to offer some training in these skills.
If anyone would like to know more please feel free to ring the shop or pop in. The number is 374666 (a good number!!). Jenny Moore
from March 2007
Tuning Up The then incumbent, Benjamin Chapman, purchased it from Watford Parish Church. The organ was discovered when the Victorian organ housed in the north transept was dismantled in 1989. The pipe work, soundboard and manual are preserved and will be housed in the new casing designed to an 18th century specification as shown in the line drawing. It will, of course, be a wind blown pipe organ. Our present Allen organ, which we shall retain, is electronic. The hope was expressed by the Diocesan authorities who allowed the 19th century organ to be removed, partly because of fire damage in 1989, that a real pipe organ would one day be returned to the church. I am delighted that that is now being achieved. |
 |
Martin Goetze and Dominic Gwynn have recently been in the national press for restoring a Tudor organ, which had its debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tudor organs are very rare and it is a tribute to Goetze and Gwynn's expertise that they were commissioned to undertake this project. It bodes well for our own.The restored organ will be situated in the north transept facing the congregation. This will allow the sound to come into the nave, and for the organist to have sight of the choir. The restoration work takes place mostly off site at Goetze and Gwynn's workshops. It will be installed in church in October of this year.
This is an extremely exciting project, which will enhance our church and its music. We could not have achieved this without considerable help and support. Our thanks are due to English Heritage for being willing to back the project; to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for their guidance and recommendation; and to Michael Lewis, who is the project leader, and who prepared the English Heritage grant application ... no small task.
The pipe work and other pieces lay in storage for some fifteen years or so. If anything was going to happen to them it would be costly and the only likely source of funding was the English Heritage Lottery Fund. It was a long shot but it came good and an award of £180,000 was made to a total budget of just over £200,000. The Friends of the' Parish Church have said they will take responsibility for raising the local contribution of about £20,000.
The organ was made in 1766 by Thomas Parker, a doyen of organ builders of that period. It is being restored to his specification by Goetze and Gwynn Limited who are the doyens of organ restoration of our day. It was thanks to their research that the importance of our instrument was identified. They have been awarded the contract against competitive tendering.
Mike's careful attention to detail and management of the process has been of a very high order and without his expertise we could not have come this far. He has been ably supported by a small working team: Frances Presley and John Hampton as Churchwardens; David Oliver as Director of Music; Linda Heath as Church Archivist and Historian; and Bernard Salsbury as Treasurer.
Thanks are also due to The Friends of the Parish Church for their generous backing of the project and willingness to fund raise the local share of costs.
I hope you will wish to contribute to their efforts and, if so, please contact Bernard Salsbury or one of our Churchwardens to make a donation [payable to the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church].
from the January 2007 magazine
The Phoenix Rises I started going to All Saints'
Church when I moved to Leatherhead in 1977. At that time
there was a good congregation. Saturday was the day for
cleaning, polishing the beautiful altar rails, and
arranging the flowers in readiness for the Sunday
service. There was a said Communion Service on a Tuesday
morning and a pram Service on a Thursday.
During Lent the pictures and crosses would be covered with purple cloth and, of course, no flowers allowed; but on Easter Saturday a faithful band of "flower ladies" were there and the Church was transformed by all the beautiful daffodils with arrangements at the end of each pew and around the font at the rear. It was a labour of love and fellowship and one elderly lady used to bring a bag of sweeties to share around.
Later in the year we had the Michaelmas Fayre on the green outside (the bungalows were not yet built), with all different kinds of stalls, which drew in passers by.
The Sunday school was thriving, with one young girl bringing hordes of other children with her from over the bridge. Over the years the congregation started to dwindle; some families moved away, others became too elderly and infirm to attend and others died. Youngsters were tempted into other activities on a Sunday morning. In later years the numbers have dropped further, but nevertheless those who come are very faithful and have a great fondness for All Saints' as it has been their Church for many years.
The youngsters now put together a service on every second Sunday evening, to which at first I went with some trepidation. However, I need not have worried, as I found the services very uplifting and meaningful and I am very impressed with the confidence and friendliness of these teenagers. Most of the congregation are a little past the "first flush of youth", yet are welcomed and made to feel valued.
So well done everyone, keep up the good work. The old and the new can mix together and it is a joy to see new life beginning at dear old All Saints'. Sheila Reynolds
from the January 2007 magazine
Coping with bereavement Many people whose
partners have died have written books about what it was
like for them and how they survived. Relatively little
has been written about the practicalities of how to
survive such a shock, and how to get help other than from
counselling and support groups.
A new edition of Surviving Your Partner, by Sylvia Murphy, has just been published. She worked for a bereavement charity for 20 years and has first-hand experience of losing a partner in tragic circumstances. The book contains straightforward descriptions of the roller-coaster ride of emotions that are experienced in bereavement, with practical self-help ideas. The author says.
from the January 2007 magazine
Is this for you? Did you know that Leatherhead
has a flourishing Community Association?
Based at the Institute, the commanding Victorian building
at the top of the High Street, it offers a wealth of
interest and leisure activities. Membership costs £8 a
year and is open to all in Leatherhead and the
surrounding area who wish to join.
Activities include regular table tennis and snooker afternoons; recorded music afternoons and evenings; organised walks; and art history courses. Also, a wide range of visits to places of interest is arranged -to London art galleries and museums; concerts in Croydon; occasional theatres and ballets; houses and gardens throughout the south-east; even escorted holidays by coach! A very informative quarterly newsletter is distributed to all members, ensuring that all forward events are well circulated.
At the Institute, the Leatherhead Community Association (LCA) has a library which is open three mornings a week, run by a staunch team of volunteers, and a club room serving coffee while the library is open.
A monthly informal coffee morning provides a popular venue, which is well supported. Investigate further by calling in at the Institute or telephoning the LCA Office 01372 360508 any weekday morning between 9.30-12.30 for more information about joining. Linda Heath
from Dec 2006 magazine
BFree I was sceptical about the Bfree Youth Cafe
being at the All Saints Church Hall, but after attending
two evening Services organised and run by the Youth I
have now as they say "gone over to the other
side". The Remembrance Service on the 12th November
was very special and a lovely service; well done to all
those who played a part. If you have not been to one of
these Services why not give them a go on the 2nd Sunday
of the month and in December they will be having mince
pies following the Service. Jane Summerfield
from the Nov 2006 magazine
More than names: Via the Leatherhead War
Memorials Research website you can see the names of all
those listed on the War Memorials in Leatherhead,
including St John's School, and the history of our war
memorials. In almost all cases there is additional
information who their next of kin were and where they
lived, and in some cases there is more complete
information from family or friends. Frank Haslam
http://www.leatherheadweb.org.uk/warmemorials/
from the Nov 2006 magazine
Hassocks! You may have noticed that some of the
hassocks are beginning to show their age; who isn't! I
would like to hold a "Mend the Hassock" morning
or afternoon under the Tower sometime in November and
wondered if anyone would like to come and join me. All
you would need to bring is a needle, thimble, pins and
scissors. I will provide blue material, D Hooks, tape and
thread, not to mention tea, coffee and biscuits. If you
are interested, whatever your age or gender, please give
me a ring and we can find a date to suit everyone. F
Presley 01372 372049
from the Nov 2006 magazine
Outward Giving: Within the Parish budget there
is an allocation for the Outward Giving of grants to a
range of charities at home and overseas. In 2006 it was
£6,500. Although details are available in the reports
presented at the Annual Parish Meeting in the spring you
may be unaware of which charities are supported:
World Mission Overseas:
Book Aid International provides books for schools and
colleges in the developing world.
Christian Aid provides humanitarian support and relief
around the world especially at times of crisis.
Church Mission Society (CMS) has evangelical and
humanitarian projects in many countries.
Compassion UK focuses on child support overseas.
Leprosy Mission offers treatment and aftercare to
sufferers.
Mission to Seafarers cares for seafarers in ports around
the world.
United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG)
has many projects linked with churches in developing
countries. Our grant supports their work in the Church of
Bangladesh.
Water Aid, our Harvest Appeal last year was made their
behalf.
Home Missions, local and national:
All Saints' Family Project in North Leatherhead.
Church of England Children's Society, it also receives
donations at the Christingle Service.
Church Housing Trust provides housing for homeless
people.
Church Schools, St Mary's and All Saints', in
Leatherhead.
Church Urban Fund provides funding for projects in poor
urban parishes in England.
Diocesan Guild of Bellringers. Leatherhead and Mid Surrey
Samaritans. Leatherhead Night Hostel.
Leatherhead Youth Project (BFree).
The Club House, a Mental Health Day Centre in
Leatherhead.
In addition to the annual grants there
are special appeals at Harvest and Christmas. This year
the Harvest Appeal for the USPG project in Bangladesh
raised £1,268.19. We thank the congregation for their
generous donations.
Helena Hill for the Outward Giving Committee
Trace your family The church has launched a new area on its website to assist people to trace their family tree. Visit the new pages at: http://www.cofe.anglican
from September 2006
Over the summer, there have been welcome
improvement made to the Parish Church Hall by
way of internal redecoration to the main hall and
refurbishments to the gents toilets and table store. Our
thanks go to Kevin Taylor and the Hall Committee for
organising this and managing the Hall week by week. The
Hall is a great facility for church events and also
accommodates many community meetings, as well as
providing an essential part of church income.
David Eaton
Church Watch Have you
ever been disappointed at being unable to see inside a
church you had gone to visit? Unless we find more
Churchwatch stewards, visitors to our parish church will
be amongst the disappointed ones. If you are worried
about some aspect of being a steward you will probably
find your fears are groundless. Give it a try. At best
you meet some interesting visitors, at worst you spend
time quietly and contemplatively; something we are told
we should all do more often!
C Neeser will be pleased to hear from you, even if it is
only for a trial period, on 01372 812598.
Jan 2006
Voluntary Car Service I have had an encouraging
response to my appeal for drivers to take patients to
surgeries and local hospitals. Are there any others who
would be willing to join a monthly rota to answer calls
from surgeries and arrange transport with the drivers?
The cost of telephone calls would be reimbursed. If you
could help with this, please contact L Heath on 372603.
Jan 2006
Towards the end of last year a Faculty granting
permission for the replacement of the parish
Church boilers and guttering was received. These
works will be carried out shortly. With fingers crossed
that the functioning boiler will hold out, we have
decided to wait until the end of April/beginning of May
to start work on the boilers. This should mean warmer
weather and remove the need to be without heat altogether
in the cold season for one and possibly two Sundays.
The boilers are about 20 years old and do not now meet the increased emissions standards. Because of their age it is good housekeeping to replace rather than spend on repair work, which can only be short term. The guttering replacement means that the extensive overflowing of the guttering when it rains should cease and the stonework not receive a regular soaking, which causes damp and erosion. I am grateful to The Friends of the Parish Church and to other generous donors for financially supporting these works. David Eaton
Making a Will: Where do you start? This is the second in a series highlighting the benefits of making a Will and keeping it updated. The first was published in the September issue.
Everyone over the age of
18 should make a will. Marriage automatically revokes a
will unless it is made in anticipation of the happy
event. Here are a few general suggestions for you to
think about before seeing your solicitor (or other
qualified adviser):
Make an estimate of your total estate after any debts
have been paid. This gives a starting point before any
tax is deducted.
Who do you want to appoint as your executors and are they
willing to act?
Including funeral directions can be very helpful.
If it is possible that you could die leaving children
under the age of 18, consider naming a guardian. Although
this will not legally bind social services, or the person
named, at least you are providing some guidance.
Consider how you want your estate to be distributed.
Under English law almost everyone over 18 has the freedom
to decide this. However, in reality, if someone is
financially dependent on you there is an expectation in
law that you will leave adequate provision. If you do
not, a legal challenge could arise after you have died!
You may wish to consider legacies to registered
charities. This can be very inheritance tax efficient.
Major charities rely on legacies, as a major source of
income, and this is a very effective way.
from the May magazine
Model of the Church Some of you may
remember that I put a request in the Magazine before
Christmas asking whether anyone would be interested in
renovating a model of the Parish Church that Alison
Wright had found in her house. It was a fine model but in
need of a great deal of TLC. John Andrews has spent the
last few months giving it just that and now it is fully
restored to its former glory. Many thanks to John who has
done a real labour of love, and when we can find the
right place it will be put in the Church for all to see
and enjoy [June - it is now on display in the Tower]. Frances
Presley
from the Parish
Magazine November 2005
George Brown had been Parish Clerk for
nearly 40 years, but his family in three generations had
held this office for over 120 years! There is an
interesting commentary on the changes in Leatherhead
(even then) between 1865-1905. Linda Heath
Letherhead Parish
Magazine November 1905
In Memoriam - George Brown
On Wednesday, October 25th, there passed away from us one
who has for more than half a century been a well-known
and a strong personality in the Parish.
As long ago as 1785 Mr.
James Brown was Parish Clerk of Letherhead, having been
baptised in the church May 20th 1759, and for 120 years
through three generations the office remained in the
family. The history of this old Letherhead family is full
of interest, and the following particulars taken from our
Parish Registers are worth attention.
1686 Elizabeth daughter of John Matthews baptised
1709 William Roffer and Elizabeth Matthews married May
1st
1716 Eleanor daughter of William Roffer baptised January
4th
1716 Robert Brown, of ye Parish of S. Saviour, Southwark,
baptised July 15th
1739 Robert Brown and Eleanor Roffer, both of this
Parish, were married November 28th
1759 James son of Robert and Eleanor Brown baptised May
20th (Parish Clerk 55 years)
1790 William son of James Brown baptised April 16th
(Parish Clerk 27 years)
1829 George son of William Brown baptised February 1st
(Parish Clerk nearly 40 years)
Letherhead was a very different place a hundred years ago from what it is to-day. No railroads, no motor cars, no bicycles, no telegraphs; the old stage coach the only public means of communication with London and the outer world. Very different too was the Parish Church with its galleries and its high pews, and its two services on Sunday, and celebrations of the Holy Communion a few times in the year.
Mr. George Brown was
appointed Clerk in 1865, and during his time of office he
saw many changes both in the church and the services, and
most loyally did he accept these changes and support the
Vicar in every way in his power, and very gratefully do
we acknowledge his unvarying loyalty and kindness, and
his readiness to carry out every wish expressed by us.
In him we have lost one of the best known and universally
respected of the inhabitants of Letherhead. The whole
Parish regrets his loss, and offers to Mrs. Brown and to
her family its most sincere sympathy in this time of her
bereavement.