Parish of Leatherhead - Ongoing points of interest from previous issues
last updated 4 Apr 2005
Alpha
is an opportunity for .. * Tim died in March 2004. For the time being please contact the Parish Office about Alpha. Bereavement is a common experience; it comes to us all.
Yet every bereavement is unique and special to the
person concerned. There is a Bereavement Coffee
Morning group in the Parish of St Mary and St
Nicholas for all who have lost someone they love. It
is on the first Monday of each month
from 10 until 11.30am in the Parish Church Hall,
opposite the Church. The atmosphere is informal and
relaxed to provide support at a time when everyone
may feel vulnerable. Whether they have a different
faith or no faith at all everyone is welcome. If you
are interested and would like to talk to someone from
our Pastoral team or need further details about the
drop-in please telephone: 01372 375781 or 01372
379385. Child Protection: In recent years new Government legislation has required more stringent procedures to protect children. Whilst this is in many ways a distressing comment on our society it is necessary to keep children safe. The Bishop now requires each parish to have a child protection policy. This means there must be a Child Protection Representative. In our case I am grateful to Edith Wright our Parish Visitor, for fulfilling this role for some time now and for the sensitive way in which she has handled it. In setting a policy we have been guided by Sue Hodge who lectures in child protection and is well versed on the necessary legal requirements. The policy ensures that when children are supervised, and in the care of the church, at least two adults are present. Adults who have this role are asked to make a declaration in confidence to me that they are fit to do so and have no convictions, which might bar them. Shortly, clearance by the Criminal Records Bureau will also be included and necessary. These procedures protect children from abuse and they protect adults from false accusation. I am grateful to those who care for children in our church for being willing to adapt to these procedures and for the responsible care and concern they take for children. I have no reason to believe that children cared for in our church are cared for in other than a proper and mature manner. Church
Schools and Primary Education Review For a number of years
there have been difficulties concerning the delivery
of primary education in Leatherhead. This is not
because of the quality of education at the individual
schools concerned. Each school is an improving and an
achieving school. The dedication and professionalism
of the Staff is not in question. However, as the
Consultation paper points out: The two options outlined by the Consultation paper are: Option A
In Option A, all three schools would close and be
replaced by one single new primary school for
Leatherhead. Option B
Option B leaves the same educational provision on the
same sites as at present but makes organisational
changes to the existing position. Whichever option is finally adopted, the school on the present Woodville site would be a Church School with a likely Anglican-Methodist Foundation. This will ensure the Churches' continuing involvement in primary education and reflects the good working relationship between Churches locally. The options have been discussed by the Church Council. Each option presents a different way forward and has its own implications. This is not a clear cut decision and there are good arguments to be made for either option. Consultation meetings are being held for the parents of each school involved and there will be a public consultation towards the end of February at a date not determined at the time of going to press. I will make it known through the Church Notices. Further details can be
obtained from: Both the Church Schools, St Mary's and All Saints, have served the local community well over perhaps 100 years. This is an important moment for them both. The Schools were founded by the Church locally. Church members continue to be involved in the life of these schools and have their futures very much to heart. Please attend the public meeting and take an informed interest in future development, and please pray that the best interests of the children will be served by whatever outcome is adopted. Please also hold in your prayers the head teachers, staff and governors of each school. This may prove to be a considerable time of upheaval and uncertainty for staff in particular and they deserve our support. Churchwatch Stewards: If we are to keep the church open during the week we MUST have more volunteers. You don't need to know anything about the church - just to be there from 11.00-12.30 or 12.30-2.00. If you can help, please contact C Neeser 812598 from the March 2003 magazine This new phase of covenant has been agreed by the Church Councils of each Church; there has been a public meeting for Church members. I have preached and written before on this theme. We will jointly prepare for Confirmation. We will be pledged to doing together all that we can in Church life, and to recognising fully each other's ministries. This in particular means that ministers may lead Services in each other's Churches, with or without the resident minister being present, including the celebration of Holy Communion. I think that this level of partnership recognises and respects the individual traditions in which each Church stands, and so retains individual identity, but it allows and encourages joint working wherever possible. In this sense it may be a more realistic and desirable goal for Church unity than the full organic goal of one Church. The Covenant will be inaugurated at
Leatherhead Methodist Church at 6.30pm on March 9th.
The Leaders of all three Churches will be attending
to sign on behalf of the denominations: Nigel Uden,
Moderator of the Southern Province of the United
Reformed Church; John Swarbrick, Chair of the London
Southwest District of the Methodist Church; and Ian
Brackley, the Bishop of Dorking for the Diocese of
Guildford. This will be a very important occasion.
Please come and support this important new step in
the life of our local Churches. July 2004 magazine I would like to invite others in the parish to contribute material to this page: short accounts of what you or a member of your family was doing on 6th June 1944 (irrespective of whether actually involved in the invasion), if possible, with relevant photos. Frank Haslam 379341 from the August
2004 magazine After the service, those who could lined up behind the Redhill Corps of Drums to parade back to the Legion Headquarters, after the Chairman of Mole Valley together with the RBL Branch President and RBL Women's Section Branch Chairman laid a wreath at the War Memorial from the people of Leatherhead. At Headquarters we
took tea consisting of wartime food such as bread and
dripping and modern day food such as ham sandwiches.
Our grateful thanks to all those who helped to make
the day the success it was. from Sep 2004 magazine, updated Una Anderson, Isabel Bale, Dr Jean
Ball, Kenneth Ball, Frederick Bailey, Norman Barnes,
Jack Boulton-Lea, John Boyd, Phoebe Boyd, John Emms,
Mabel Fuller, David Giles, Joan Groom, Cynthia
Hall-Smith, Gladys Hatchwell, Arthur Lankester,
Roberta McNulty, Alice Riedel, Norman Small, Jane
Smith (d.1986), Rowland Starr, Ruth Compton, Rosina
Coy, Menna Hickman, Rebecca Hickman, Eric Hodge,
Emily Hughes, Hilda Jackson, Frank Page, Olga
Phillips, Nora Picton, Mary Price, Mary Taylor,
Kathleen White, Jean Winter, Gertrude Yeates. FLOWERS IN CHURCH
Keeping fresh flowers in Church each week is an
enjoyable and rewarding task undertaken by a friendly
group of volunteers, willing to give a couple of
hours of their time every six weeks or so. We are
funded by generous donations from churchgoers and by
wedding fees, as well as gathering greenery and
flowers from local gardens and overgrown hedgerows. France here we come 22-28 October Visit to Northern France, including Triel-sur-Seine, twinned with Leatherhead I distributed this flyer with the January magazine giving details of a proposed Churches Together Pilgrimage in October. A number of people have already responded. This promises to be a full and interesting visit. A complete itinerary and booking form is available directly from me. I hope you will want to come. Free Passport? Many older people made sacrifices during World War II to secure the freedom of our country. The Government would like to give something in return. As from 18th October 2004, if you are a British National born on or before 2nd September 1929, you became eligible for a free 10-year passport from the UK Passport service. If you have applied for a passport since 19th May 2004 and you are eligible for the scheme you can apply for a refund. For fur ther information please call the Passport Advice Line 0870 5210410. Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church Perhaps you are not yet a member of the Friends (which is a Registered Charity) but feel that you want to support our goal of assisting the maintenance of the fabric and surroundings of Leatherhead's oldest and most important building? If so, not forgetting those now living elsewhere, please contact the Membership Secretary, Meads Cottage, 14 Elm Drive, Leatherhead, KT22 8EX. Our website can be viewed at http://www.parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk/friends/ If you are holding a Friends' savings box and would like it to be emptied and recorded, please hand it to Frank Haslam, the Hon Treasurer, or arrangements can be made for it to be collected by telephoning 01372 376650.
July 2004 magazine Several of our church members have taken a basic computer course at the Learning Shop, so perhaps some of you would be willing to help with this task. It does not need more than basic computer skills - all the necessary information will be given to the volunteers on how to do it. Even if you have no computer knowledge, but would be willing to help with checking the records to make sure they are correct, this also would be most useful. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact John Wettern, tel 01372 459277. Large print hymnbooks and service sheets for the 10.30am service are now available. If you would like to have these regularly, or know someone who might find them helpful, please will you let the churchwardens know so that we can prepare sufficient special service sheets. Leatherhead twinned Triel is a small town of 11,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Seine about 30km west of Paris. There is great enthusiasm in Triel to link up with local organisations over here - representatives from French churches, choral societies, football clubs, schools and a host of other organisations in Triel are keen to foster links with similar organisations in the Leatherhead area. The twinning committee would be delighted to hear from any local groups who would like to join "Friends of Triel". On a more personal level, the welcome and hospitality met by the various groups who have visited Triel over the years is always warm and generous. The committee are keen to expand the membership of the Friends of Triel and would welcome any individuals or families who would like to join as new members. If you are interested in joining or finding out more, please contact Peter Brader on 01372 275862 or email him on peter_braderATuk.ibm.com (replace AT with @ before sending) [Link http://www.mairie-triel78.fr/ ] Toast to Friendship Dec 2004 The ceremony to formalise the twinning of Leatherhead and District with the French town of Triel-sur-Seine took place in October. There have been regular exchanges for the past 12 years, but in May 2003 the twinning committees, led by their respective "mayors", met for the first time. Since then, work towards formal twinning has been progressing apace, and on 2 October, Jean-Pierre Houllemare (Mayor of Triel) and Bridget Lewis (Chairman of Mole Valley District Council) signed the Charters. The Registry Office was packed for the ceremony with representatives from a variety of local groups in attendance, including Canon David Eaton from St Mary's & St. Nicholas. Following an invitation from Canon Eaton, most of the French delegation, Mrs Lewis and several of the Friends of Triel went to the parish church for the Harvest Service. October 2004
magazine There was something for everyone - old and young - whether it be the huge choice of seminars, the quiet contemplative rooms, the bustling cafes and eating places, the market place, the time spent in our "camping village" enjoying meals and fun times together (we had two birthday parties), the skateboard park or maybe exploring the local area. It is already time to think about booking for next year, especially if we want to get the discounted rate which means booking before the 30th November. We have already booked our caravans for next year from 31st July to 6th August 2005, but it is also possible to book a self catering cottage or B&B in the area or hire a tent. We could get a greater discount as a group booking. If you would like to know more, then call S Cole 373330 or L Hauxwell 370308 Other Churches' Magazines Copies of the magazines from Leatherhead Methodist Church and Christ Church (United Reformed) will in future be available each month on the table near the North Door. Please take one of these if you are interested. David Eaton
Feb 2004 magazine Are we falling short? Our financial year ended in December and the PCC will soon have to review the Accounts and future budgets. Initial forecasts are not encouraging, as you will see. The figures exclude financial support for the Churches Together youth worker:
The answer to the question in the title seems to be "Yes", particularly as the lower deficits in 2005/6 result only from lower anticipated maintenance costs, very high in 2003 and expected to be high at All Saints in 2004. The PCC will therefore need to find ways to increase income or reduce costs . "Blessed are those who are generous" (Proverbs 22:9). Our church is very grateful to all those who give. We recognise that a small sum to one person may be a greater sacrifice than a large sum to another person. Younger families have huge demands on their income and retired people face increasing costs without corresponding increases in their pensions. It is therefore difficult for existing donors to give more and more. We are publishing the following statistics relating to our current giving as background information which can be considered when we ask in March/April whether you can increase your donation towards church funds.
The yellow Gift Aid envelopes were introduced in 2003 to improve tax recovery. However, if you give money, are a tax payer and haven't signed a Gift Aid form/used a Gift Aid envelope, please consider doing so as the Revenue will add 28p to every £1 you donate.
If you
can afford to give more to the church it will be very
much appreciated. "My wife and I measure the
success of the year on how much we give away. The
bulk of it goes to church and related
activities." (Novelist John Grisham in USA Today
- 2/11/99) The Parish Share, often called the Diocesan Quota, is the charge levied by the diocese to cover clergy costs, diocesan support and a contribution to the central costs of the Church of England. It comprises two elements: a charge based on the number of clergy allocated to the Parish and a charge on the number of people on the electoral roll. For 2004, we pay 0.75% of total cost of all clergy in the diocese and 0.83% of total diocesan other costs, which include the contribution to the Church of England; for each member of our electoral roll, we will be charged £172. We must therefore consider the rules for membership of the electoral role and whether irregular members should be included. For those who want to be challenged on this, refer to the views of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York: " Church membership - the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued the following short guide to the duties of church membership.All baptized and confirmed members of the
Church must play their full part in its life and
witness. That you may fulfil this duty you are
called upon: We the churchwardens encourage you to think
and pray about the issues raised above and would be
pleased to hear from you with any ideas for going
forward. Once again, many thanks for your enormous
support in 2003. from the May 2004
Parish Magazine It was therefore proposed that the Outward Giving be set at £4,000, 5% of "Giving" in 2003, in line with that recommended by Bishop John Gladwin; and that the Christmas collection be retained for the work of the church in Leatherhead. Otherwise, balancing the budget would require an increase in Giving over a full year of 6.5%. (8.6% over the remaining nine months of the year). As many of our regular givers under the Planned Giving Scheme are retired, with incomes likely to increase, at best, in line with inflation (2.8%), it was felt unrealistic to expect such an overall increase. Following considerable discussion the proposals were overwhelmingly adopted on a show of hands. In the February issue
of the magazine some statistics were given showing
that half of our planned giving comes from only 17
individuals/families. Even more startling, that 97
pence in every pound is given by those over age 50,
of which 42 pence comes from those age 70 and above.
By the very nature of life we will be losing many of
these members over the next decade. We must therefore
actively encourage younger members of our
congregation, who are presently not giving through
the Planned Giving Scheme, to commence at the
earliest opportunity. Failure to do so will present
enormous financial problems in the future. A standing order from
your bank to the PCC is the ideal method of payment
as it is regular (just like our church expenditure)
and simple for the Treasurer to administer.
Alternatively, you could join the envelope scheme and
put the regular amount of "planned giving"
into such envelope, on a weekly or monthly basis, as
you wish. Each member's envelope has an identifying
number and in this way only the Planned Giving
Secretary will know how much each person gives. Parishioners' services to the community HABERDASHERY Not well, at home or in hospital We regularly pray in church for those who are not well and in need of our prayers; whether they are at home or in hospital. However, it is easy to miss people who would like to be remembered. If you would like to be prayed for in church at one of our services, please let one of the clergy know, or alternatively phone through to the Parish Office. We will be very happy to add your name to our weekly intercessions list. I know that some people prefer not to be mentioned publicly, so I usually wait to have a request come forward to respect individual privacy. If you have not been mentioned and would have liked to have been, please accept my apologies, but this is probably the reason. Please be in touch. Mid Surrey Crossroads Caring for Carers On 1st April 2003 Mole Valley Crossroads joined with Epsom & Ewell Crossroads to form Mid Surrey Crossroads Caring for Carers, which moved in June to Connect House, Kingston Road, Leatherhead KT22 7NT, telephone 01372 365080. Mrs Valerie Golden is the manager. If you are looking after someone of any age at home with a long-term illness or disability and rarely go out because you worry about leaving the person you care for alone; and if there is no one who can give you a short break from caring, then CROSSROADS may be able to help you. Mid Surrey Crossroads is an independently run charity affiliated to the National Association of Crossroads Caring for Carers. Some of their funding comes from statutory services but they also rely on charitable contributions. You can contact Mid Surrey
Crossroads yourself or ask someone else to do it for
you. People are referred by many organisations
including social services, doctors and community
nurses. The Manager will make an appointment to visit
you at home to assess your needs and plan the most
appropriate support for you. They can provide trained
care attendants to come to your home to give you a
regular or an occasional break. The care attendants
will provide as much or as little physical care as
required. There is no charge to carers for the
service. It allows you to have some time to yourself
enabling you to have a life away from caring and
helps look after your own health and well-being. The
scheme also helps to keep your relative or friend out
of hospital or long term care. Clients say: (Apr 2005) All
Saints Infant School Our Mother's Day assembly was very well attended and every mother received a small sprig of daffodils and a hand-made card. Our thanks go to Elizabeth Burke who helped to lead the service. We are currently busy learning a range of songs with a spring theme to sing at the Arts Festival, which will be held at West Ashtead School at the end of term. Yes, Spring is here! Jane Gorecka (Apr 2005) St
Mary's C of E Infant School
www.stmarysleatherhead.co.uk As Easter is early, this is an unusually short term but we have packed a lot into it and there are still two big events to look forward to. On Saturday 12th March the St Mary's Singers will represent the school at the Leith Hill Festival. This is an open competition for all youth choirs from both state and private schools in the area - an opportunity to be part of the wider community. The children will sing "Share the Light" and "The Rain Song". Year 2 have another musical event on Wednesday 23rd March - the local schools Arts Festival at West Ashtead. This is not a competition but a chance for the children to enjoy making music together. The theme is Weather/Spring', we hope there is some spring weather to encourage them. On the last day of
term, Thursday 24th March we will hold our
end-of-term Easter Service in the Parish Church, when
parents and friends will be joining us. We are hoping
for spring weather that day, too, as an Easter Egg
Hunt is being planned on our return. No longer able to get to Church? The Pastoral Team would like to keep in touch with members of the church who are no longer able to attend services - perhaps because they are housebound or frail, or have moved into residential care, or are unwell for a time. If you are in this situation, or know of anyone who is, and of whom we are not aware, please call on 373247 or speak to the Welcome team at any service. Prayers: In April 2003 we extended the ministry of the Laying on of Hands for Prayer and Healing to a morning service - previously this has been available only in the evening. This step has been generally welcomed and so I intend to offer it on the third Sunday of each month at the 10.30am. service. When we speak of healing in this context we mean an inner sense of trust and contentment about whatever may be troubling you. This is not the same as physical cure, although sometimes they go hand-in-hand. I would not want to hold out false hope. However, I do believe that a prayerful focus on a particular need can bring its own reward. We are reassured that the burden we lay at God's feet is received, and that He alone can help us with it. Sometimes that does mean cure, usually through the work of the medical profession, if our burden is one of illness. But sometimes cure is not possible and we look for a deeper sense of trust in God's presence with us, whatever is to come. I hope that you will feel able to come for prayer in this way if you have a particular concern. The clergy are always ready to pray with individuals outside the context of public worship, should that be desired. Please contact us. David Eaton Sunday Club 2005 Dec 2004 Due to increasing numbers we would like to hear from anyone who would like to help out at Sunday Club. The commitment is one Sunday per month from 9.45-11.30am. We are also keen to hear from anyone who could provide one to one supervision within a group for special needs or young children. Please speak to the Staggs at coffee time. Swan
Handbell Group:
Thursday evenings find the Swan Handbell
group practising in the Parish Church Hall. We use a
two octave chromatic set of handbells, which means
that we can play a wide selection of music from hymns
and carols to classical excerpts and pop. We have
played in Church services and in venues away from
home. We hope to join with other Handbell groups in
the area now that we are becoming more proficient and
capable of reading a wider range of music. Taking Care of the Church We often receive appreciative comments about the cared-for look of the Church. This is thanks to the devoted teams of people who are responsible for cleaning the Church one weekend each month. We have, however, a growing problem. Some of these volunteers have been doing this job for many years and are already in their 70s and 80s. They would like to retire if only some younger men and women would offer to help - particularly with the "Hoovering". The commitment is only one hour
each month. Surely there must be some younger members
of the congregation who can find time to help? Any
offers will be gratefully received. Veteran's Badge A reminder that if you served in HM Forces
in WW2, the Queen has expressed the hope that you
will apply for and wear the Veterans'
Badge, especially
bearing in mind that this is the 60th anniversary of
the end of hostilities in WW2. What Do You Think of the Parish Magazine? Last month you may have noticed the magazine had a new cover, featuring a photograph of Sarah Chambers taken by Alison Wright; this month it has another, showing a photograph of the church taken by David Oliver. Which do you prefer? If you like this month's cover, which has very kindly been designed for us by Andrew Hunter, and also like the idea of having a picture of someone or something connected with Leatherhead, it would be possible to insert a frame for a photograph in the bottom right corner where the tree is rather dark. Do please let me know what you think especially about the cover but also about any other aspect of the magazine. The price of the magazine will not be increased for 2005 even though the cost of printing it goes up year by year. The price will have to be increased in 2006 to 50p after three years without change. Magazine Editor, Malcolm Clark Why do we have websites, thanks to the Friends? www.leatherheadweb.org.uk - to communicate to
the increasing numbers of those who have access to
the internet that we are an active church among
others serving Leatherhead The Editor, who is Treasurer of the Friends of the Parish Church, regards the active and varied use of the Parish Church and awareness of this historic building and its setting as essential to a duty of stewardship - handing on what we have inherited from those before us to future generations. Who Played the Organ? A while ago, I was speaking to Veronica Kay in the church office about forthcoming weddings, and we soon got round to talking about past organists at the parish church. Veronica remembered that when she and Hedley were married, it was Sydney Hardacre who played the organ for their day. Since I've only lived in Leatherhead since 1991, I obviously have no recollection of the good man, but do you? Whilst sitting at the organ console during services, my eyes often drift across and catch sight of the plaque in the chancel commemorating Cornelius James Hooker as organist, who apparently died whilst playing for a service. Does anyone remember him? I guess what I'm trying to say is
that I'd love to find out more about my predecessors.
Churches always keep records of past Incumbents, yet
organists, who contribute so much to worship over the
years, are rarely noted. I feel sure there are many
people who will remember past musicians associated
with our church, and have stories or anecdotes to
tell, and maybe even photos. If you have any, I'd
love to hear from you and I hope to compile a list to
display on the parish website. Email me at
davidoliver42@mac.com or just catch me in church on
any Sunday. [see the Music pages for progress on this
research] Would
you like to meet
more people, and particularly those who share your
faith? Then you might be interested in
Friends First, a successful information service which
assists single Christians of all ages to meet friends
and potential partners in an informal and
pressure-free way. Friends First was
founded in 2000 by Katherine Gray, a member of St
John's Church, Harbome, in Birmingham, and attracts
men and women in their 20s to their 80s from all
walks of life - professional and nonprofessional,
single people and people who've been married before. from the October
2004 magazine I will be around for a year before I go off to university and will be helping out with the youth groups for all young people aged between 9 and 18. I will also be helping with youth services, doing lessons in schools and helping to run bible studies. I do know some members of the youth group already and am very excited about meeting those who I don't know. There are a lot of
exciting things happening, and I am especially
looking forward to the opening of the new Youth Cafe
later this year. I hope that I will fit in well, but
as I have lived here in Leatherhead all my life and
attended the parish Church, I know a lot of people in
the churches here. If you see me around, come and
chat to me. |
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