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YOU MIGHT well say that we have been doubly blessed! At the end of June we welcomed not one but two new
deacons to serve in our Team Ministry. David Gardiner and Andrew Hughes were both ordained by Bishop Michael
in Gloucester Cathedral on 29th June. Fr David is a stipendiary curate, which means he is with us full-time.
Fr Andrew is currently non-stipendiary, which means that he will work on a Sunday and the equivalent of two
other days and will also be working part-time as a university lecturer in order to support himself
financially. Fr Andrew is only with us until December when he will move to Lichfield Diocese to take up a
full-time post in the parish of Friar Park, Wednesbury in the West Midlands.
Clearly this is a very significant time for both of our new deacons as they begin to work out in practice
God’s calling to ordained ministry. They have both completed courses of study as well as practical placements
and now their formation continues as they work amongst us in their new roles. All of us have a significant
part to play: we are all part of Fr Andrew’s and Fr David’s formation as ordained ministers. Every service
they take part in, every pastoral encounter they have, literally everything they do will be helping to form
them for their particular ministry.
What is a deacon? Part of the answer to that question will be illustrated in the role which they take in
the Eucharist. Iquote from Bishop Michael, who wrote the following for The New Handbook of Pastoral Liturgy:
‘the deacon serves God in serving both the congregation and the president. The members of the congregation are
served by the way the deacon encourages them and helps them through the service.’ You will see the deacons
bringing in the book of the Gospels and proclaiming the Gospel for us; they will invite us to confess our
sins, to share the peace and to go out ‘to love and serve the Lord’. They will also assist whoever presides at
the Eucharist by preparing the altar at the offertory and by dealing with the ablutions – ‘the washing up’.
Bishop Michael goes on to say: ‘throughout the liturgy the deacon is holding up to the priest and to the
people a model of service that, though it is the deacon’s particular ministry, is one shared by the whole
Church and by every member of it, priest, deacon or lay person, individually’.
Clearly our hope and prayer is that our new deacons will be richly blessed by their experience of formation
as they serve amongst us and as we all take our part in that formation. But we also will be greatly blessed by
them. Especially we should be encouraged by their model of service to become even more of a ‘serving
community’: serving one another, those both inside and outside the church, and serving God as we respond to
His call to ministry to each one of us.
 Fr Michael
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Celebrate! Picnic with Sheep
We had a lovely time. We could hear the music in the open as we got nearer our school playing field. When
we arrived there was even a bouncy castle to use up our energy.
There was singing and music and we waved flags. The braver children went to the front and did all the
actions to the songs. Then suddenly there was a puppet show with sheep and we laughed lots. Then we had a
picnic with Mummy and Daddy in the shade of a tree as it was very hot. We saw lots of friends from church and
they had a great time too.
Helena (aged 7) and Sophia (aged 4)
Celebrate! dates
The final Celebrate! service this term will be on Sunday 20th July. We restart after the summer break on
Sunday 31st August at 9.30am in St Mary’s church. All are welcome!
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Initially I want to say a big thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome – especially to Father
Michael, Father Daniel and Andy Macauly. It is so interesting to see how a parish that is very different to my
experience operates and it is lovely to see how a sense of community is being developed within the parish.
At the time of writing I have barely begun my placement with you so I thought it might be best to jot down
one or two of my hopes for the next month. During my time with you, my desire is to encourage each of you in
your relationship with God and to continue to discover ways we can be a blessing to those both inside and
outside the church. My hope is also that you will begin to understand the unique mission to which God has
called you in this parish. I pray for God’s wisdom and the Spirit’s leading as you move forward into that
mission both as individuals and corporately.
Bruce Goodwin
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Many thanks to everyone who helped achieve another excellent result for Prestbury parish. In total we gave
£5911.25 to this valued charity, made up from the house-to-house collections of £1102.37 at St Nicolas’ and
£4808.88 at St Mary’s. This included donations amounting to £242.45 plus St Mary’s bakestall £27.00.
The volunteers who collected did a great job, but there were not quite enough of us to cover all our roads,
so we could do even better with a full complement of collectors! Please put the date for next year’s Christian
Aid Week in you 2009 diary – 10th-16th May.
  Gill Ashman & Paddy Spurgeon
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Dear Parishioners
So much willing help, support and generosity is given each year in this lovely parish to the cause of
Christian Aid (and at other times!) that it is with much regret that I am giving up as organiser of the annual
house-to-house collection.
The number of houses collected from, and the amount given, has increased over the years to the point when
the task really needs someone with more energy, and maybe younger! Or, as I have noticed for a few years, a
small group or team to divide the area and work involved.
I have always found the task most satisfying and it is very enjoyable to meet so many people. My heartfelt
thanks go to everyone who has given me that privilege.
Your prayers have always been of great help and have given guidance to me, and to others, most of whom have
unstintingly and very commendably given their efforts and time throughout the seventeen years I have been
actively involved in Christian Aid. Prayer for the work to continue is needed as much as ever.
In 1979 Christian Aid’s poster caption read ‘As you sow, so shall he reap’ – I believe this applies very
much today, in the turmoil of God’s world in which we live.
Finally, I hope my successor(s) will ask me to help in the future – I still have legs to walk on!
Gill Ashman
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One result of having a craftsman to repair parts of the church is that he occasionally finds other
problems! When Mark Hancock came down from the nave roof one day he said ‘Did you know that the wire rope
working the Sanctus bell is down to its last two strands?’ Well we didn’t and I had visions of Colin or Noel
giving a gentle pull and receiving the rest of the rope on his head!
I enquired of the Diocesan bells expert, Mary Bliss, as to who might help us. Of the names she suggested we
chose Mr Arthur Berry of Great Malvern, who is a well known and respected bell hanger.
Mr Berry came down from the roof and said: ‘It’s not two strands left – it’s only one!’ Also he told us
that everything was rusty and that where the rope passed through the roof the lead had simply been bent aside.
No wonder rainwater drips on the nave carpet!
Inside the nave the wire rope joins on to the hemp bell rope. This then runs over two pulleys and comes
down to the red ‘sally’ on the end which is held to ring the bell. Mr Berry looked at the sally and laughed:
‘You could use that sally on Big Ben!’. I measured it and it was seven feet long. It was so heavy that he
thought it might make the bell hang at an angle and be hard to ring. The other problem was that the bell rope
was in three pieces knotted together. We agreed that the best thing would be to order a new rope and sally.
Mr Berry returned and fitted the new rope. Where it passes through the roof, it now goes through a neat
copper tube fixed to the stonework with the lead carefully dressed around it. On the wire rope there is a
copper ‘Chinese hat’ which deflects the rainwater away. The mechanism is repainted and the Sanctus bell now
rings again over Prestbury!
 Ken Bradbury
Why is the Sanctus bell used?
The Sanctus Bell (also called a Sacring Bell) is a small bell, either placed in the sanctuary or hung in a
small gable over the chancel (like ours at Prestbury) and rung at the Sanctus (‘Holy Holy Holy’) to give
notice that the canon or most solemn part of the service is about to commence. At St Mary’s we tend to use the
small hand bell for this purpose.
The Sanctus/Sacring Bell is also used to focus the people’s attention on the elevation of the sacred
elements immediately after their consecration, and at St Mary’s we also ring the gable-hung bell for this
purpose. This enables parishioners who are prevented from attending the service, traditionally the workers in
the fields, to join in it in spirit, pausing for prayer as they hear the bell.
We also use this bell whenever the Angelus is said or sung – the bell is rung three times for each of the
three Ave Marias and nine times for the collect, giving a sequence 3-3-3-9. During Eastertide, when the Regina
Coeli is said or sung instead of the Angelus, the bell is rung in a sequence of 9-9. Gregory of Tours (c585)
was the first person to mention the use of bells in Christian worship.
 Colin Holman / Fr Michael
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Thanks and best wishes!
Sadly, at the end of July we will have to say ‘goodbye’ to Peter Greaves. Peter has been organist and
choirmaster at St Mary’s since May 2006 when he arrived, literally turning up to offer his services!
Peter’s job has meant a move to Plymouth, which really is too far for him to commute to play for us on a
Sunday! We will greatly miss Peter’s contribution to our worship. He is a very good organist, who has always
played with a deep awareness for the liturgy and the part which music has to play in worship. He has also
worked hard with the choir and encouraged them with their own contribution to our services. All of this has
been done with good humour, sensitivity and commitment as well as ‘free of charge’ – Peter has not taken a
salary whilst he has been with us.
We shall miss him very much indeed but send him off with our love, prayers and very best wishes for this
new venture.
Fr Michael
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Congratulations
To Fr John Gann who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Sunday 29th
June. Fr John and his wife Hilary have retired to Prestbury and worship mainly at St Nicolas’ where Fr John
occasionally presides and preaches at the 9.30am Sung Eucharist. We send him our love and prayers!
Fr Michael
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The 2008 Prestbury and Pittville Youth AGM on 27th April was the best attended meeting in the four years
that PPY has been operating as an independent charity.
Before the start of the meeting, a photographic presentation of the work of Pittville Youth Action Group
was shown whilst members enjoyed a glass of wine. The Chairman presented the Annual Report, which included
details of the appointment of Sharon Macauly as Youth Inclusion Worker leading that group. The work of the
group and the benefits its young members and the wider school community get from it were described by Andy
Macauly.
Hon. Treasurer, Gill Wood, presented the Annual Accounts to 31st December 2007 saying that over £60,000 had
been raised during the year and running costs top £45,000 annually. She highlighted the Executive Committee’s
allocation of funds to specific reserves in an attempt to make the work of the charity sustainable in the
changing funding climate. After the allocations, £16,000 remained in free reserves.
Andy Macauly introduced the charity’s new strapline ‘Involving – Supporting – Challenging’ and explained
its relevance. He also presented his report on the year’s work with the help of photographs showing the young
people working on several projects including a summer healthy living week, an alternative fashion show and the
introduction to an all-group art, craft and music project.
The Chairman expressed thanks to the members of the Executive Committee, in particular to Daphne Philpot,
who had decided to stand down. A presentation was made to Daphne later at St Nicolas’ because she was not able
to be at the meeting.
All the places on the Executive Committee were filled. The Revd Michael Cozens continues as the Chairman,
Tricia Wilson as Hon. Secretary and Gill Wood as Hon. Treasurer. Clare Wyatt was nominated by Prestbury PCC in
place of Daphne Philpot. Linda Biggs, Charlie Chan and Julia Hook were re-appointed and Julie Lane and Liz
Greenhow were re-elected.
 Tricia Wilson
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Youthwork dates
Youth groups finish on 13th July and restart next term from Thursday 4th September.
360° Inspire Project / Soul Survivor (for young leaders): 11-15 August
360° Connect Holiday project (for year 6): 18-22 August
Summer Holiday Projects
This summer we are running two projects linked together – 360° Inspire and 360° Connect. These build on
many years of successful holiday projects.
360° Inspire is all about inspiring young leaders (and potential young leaders) to support other young
people and to make a difference in their communities. Two highlights of the project are a stay at Soul
Survivor Christian Festival (11-15 August) and a visit to Motiva High Ropes Course. So much of the good work
of PPY is down to the contribution of young leaders and it is great to be able to spend quality time
developing their skills and characters!
360° Connect is all about supporting young people as they move from primary to secondary school. We are
running a variety of activities in local primary schools culminating in a week of activities (18-22 August)
focused on confidence building and team work; there are even two day trips to Viney Hill Adventure Centre!
Young leaders will play a key part as they talk through any questions and concerns the participants have and
model team work and respect. We hope to follow up the project with some form of early evening club for new
year 7s (3-5pm) – if you feel you could assist in this please contact Andy Macauly.
Please pray for the summer projects, that they would be fun, safe and help to develop the character of all
those involved. Special thanks to Prestbury United Charities who have been very generous in their support for
these projects.
If you would like more information about these projects or any of the youth work please contact
 Andy Macauly
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For those of you who read my article about Open the Book in the March copy of the magazine, I would like to
let you know how prayer has been answered.
 We have been
invited to take Open the Book into Lynworth School with effect from the beginning of September. Initially we
will be visiting once a fortnight until Christmas, to see how it is received, both by the teachers and also by
the children. Unlike at St Mary’s, where we only go into the Infant School, at Lynworth we will be dealing
with children from four to eleven years old. This is a huge challenge and a wonderful way of bringing the
bible to life with children who may not already know the stories as we do.
Please continue to pray for this important work and if you feel you can help, please contact
  Marion Beagley or Julie Jefferies.
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What a wonderful evening! Mr Derek Henman, a local artist, had generously given his elegantly framed
etchings and drawings of parts of our church needing repair. He explained to us the various methods of
creating etchings. It sounded very complicated, but there was no doubt he had the talent to produce
beautiful pictures.
In the interval a very tasty supper was served and we had the opportunity to view the pictures. Then
came the auction – very professionally done by Mr Marcus Steel. All the pictures were sold, raising the
sum of £695 towards the Church Repair Fund. Thank you, Derek!
Altogether a very interesting and exciting evening with thanks to all who helped. Many people now have a
delightful picture to treasure.
Margaret Stark & Dorreen Kreye
An enormous thank you to Derek Henman, John Mead and our excellent auctioneer Marcus Steel for making this
such an enjoyable evening. It was a fascinating insight into the mysteries of etching and printing.
Derek is a man of great talent and matching generosity. The auction, together with the proceeds from the
supper, raised approximately £800 for the repair fund.
 Lynda Hodges
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You might recall that a group of us have recently re-started a drama group here in Prestbury. We are
calling ourselves CHADS – CHurches Amateur Dramatic Society –and our first official production will take place
in time for St Mary’s Patronal Festival in September. On Friday 5th September please join us for a Cheese &
Wine evening with entertainment at the Prestbury Hall in Bouncers Lane at 7.30pm. Tickets will be £5 per head
and all profits will go to a charity which has yet to be decided upon.
All three of the current team churches have members appearing, in one form or another, and we hope that we
will both entertain and amuse a large audience. Please support us and bring your friends and family for a fun
packed, light-hearted evening. If you have any secret longing to ‘tread the boards’ you are more than welcome
to join us in our efforts.
Marion Beagley
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AN EXCELLENT sermon given recently by Father Peter about Simon of Cyrene brought back many memories. I
served for four years in the Middle East in the Royal Air Force, living for nearly two years in Cyrene in 1943
and 1944. So I could appreciate the background of Simon’s life when Simon lived in a colony of Greek Jews.
They occupied a lavish city built about 600BC. The site chosen was one of the best in North Africa, two
thousand feet up on the edge of an escarpment. Below was a plain full of wadis (deep valleys) to the
Mediterranean. Extensive ruins still remain, including an amphitheatre (where our chaplain produced a version
of A Midsummer Night’s Dream!).
Nearby, in the last century, Italians had built a hotel – where I and fellow members of the RAF lived. One
wing had been destroyed by the British, but the rest was in good order. How lucky we were!
I imagine Simon was part of a group of Greeks who went by sea from the nearby port of Appolonia through the
‘Med’ to a Palestinian port such as Acre and then to Jerusalem. They went to celebrate Passover, but were
caught up in tremendous events.
Father Peter, in his address, spoke of Simon’s ‘reluctance’ to pick up the cross at a soldier’s command.
Did he have to carry it to the site of the crucifixion? How long did he and his friends stay on in Jerusalem,
I wonder. Very likely they would hear about the resurrection, and have plenty to talk about as they returned
to Cyrene! Simon’s experiences would have an immense effect on them all.
It so happens that the Cyrene ruins are becoming a tourist attraction, and I have obtained a map. It is
exciting to spot a drawing denoting the site of a ‘Christian temple’ near the ruins! We know no more about
Simon except that Mark (15:21) describes him as the father of Alexander and Rufus, implying they were figures
known in the early Christian Church.
Leslie Bill
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Perhaps not the most appropriate phrase in the circumstances, but it seemed apt for my graduation from
complete novice with a couple of sessions in a small dinghy on a gravel pit lake at South Cerney to crewing on
a 40ft boat in the annual Civil Service yacht racing championships in the Solent – between Portsmouth and the
Isle of Wight – an annual week-long event held in early June.
Monday was practice and boat/crew familiarisation day; then, after a long and tiring day of four races on
Tuesday, with seemingly non-stop work turning winches and heaving ropes, came what we had all been looking
forward to – the ‘round-the-island’ race. In the two previous years it had been cancelled – once for too
little wind and once for too much wind! This year it was on but there still remained the challenge of getting
round the Needles – sailing clockwise from Cowes – before the tide turned and stopped us sailing back
eastwards to the finish. We made it with time to spare but had the somewhat scary experience of slaloming
through the ‘overfall’ rapids just off the Needles lighthouse, trying to avoid numerous other boats in the
process, before recovering into calmer waters again and on to the finish in nine and a half hours – just
fifteen minutes after the winning boat. After another long race on Day 4 and the evening presentations dinner
in the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, we allowed ourselves a lie in on Friday (7.15am instead of the previous
days’ 6.00am start) before the final race back to Port Solent and boat clean-up/handover.
Looking back over the experience, it struck me how many parallels there were with the Christian faith. We
all pulled well together as a team, we had absolute faith in our helmsman as we lurched through the Needles
rapids, and – reflecting the recent ‘Deliberately Different’ theme at the Celebrate! service – we were
strong enough to steer our own course to find the most favourable wind and tide conditions while others were
playing follow-my-leader after the race favourite. Oh, and we beat our A Boat in the process – but we won’t
mention that!
Would I do it again? Absolutely!!
Stephen Murton
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23a
What a list! We live in a great fruit-growing area and now is the time when many of us are visiting
pick-your-own fruit farms for strawberries and raspberries, gooseberries and redcurrants, or even harvesting
them here in Prestbury in our own gardens or allotments. Later will come pears and apples, as well as the
blackberries and elderberries growing wild in the hedgerows around our parish.
These two verses are almost an aside in Paul’s long attack on the Galatians for their corruption of the
Christian message and their willingness to listen to other sources and compromise the true message which Paul
had taught them. ‘I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of
Christ… Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.’
(1:6-7). ‘You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?’ (3:1).
The first Christians were Jews and probably assumed that they would continue observing Jewish customs. As
the gospel spread, many non-Jews, Gentiles, also believed and became Christians. Did it matter that they were
not observing Jewish ceremonial practices in their new-found faith? It seems that a group of so-called
‘Judaizers’ felt very strongly that one had to convert to Judaism in order to be a ‘proper’ Christian and were
zealously teaching this to the Galatians. In particular they felt that circumcision was necessary in order to
become a true inheritor of God’s promise to Abraham, fulfilled in Jesus.
Paul writes at length about the fact that grace has set us free from the Law, ‘but do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature’ or ‘flesh’ (5:13). It is at this point that he lists the qualities which will be
obvious if we are led by the Spirit and not by our own fleshly desires. Do not confuse these fruits of the
Spirit with the gifts of the Spirit detailed in 1Corinthians. A gift comes from outside, something to accept
or not, as we choose, whereas fruit develops from inside. It is the natural result of something within us.
And so back to the strawberries and apples I mentioned earlier. The type of fruit depends on the type of
plant: we can recognise fruit by its plant, whether good to eat or poisonous, and we identify plants by their
fruit. Is it a pear tree or an apple tree? Maybe you can tell by the leaves or flowers, but if you wait for
the fruit it will be obvious.
The quality of fruit, however, depends on the nurturing. Good gardeners know that left to themselves most
plants will continue to bear fruit despite everything, but that bigger, better fruit, even greater quantities
of fruit per plant, can be obtained by careful management: feeding the plant, improving the soil round it,
protecting it from excessive cold or heat, drought or flood. Pruning is often necessary to enable the plant to
produce its best. But even the most mismanaged plant will bear fruit when the time is right. It is a natural
result of all the growing which has gone before.
And so it is with us. We cannot force joy, peace or gentleness to sprout all over us; we can only let them
ripen. ‘I must try to be more patient…’ we say, but maybe it is wrong to try. Perhaps the answer is to spend
more time with God, listening, absorbing, allowing him to fill us, nurture us, feed us, prune us, and then
these fruits will ripen and mature and become obvious to other people, even if not to ourselves.
 Frances Murton
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Bible Study
The Bible Study group continues to meet in All Saints’ church twice a month, on the second
and fourth Tuesdays. We are now looking at the Old Testament book of Joel. Do join us at 7pm on 8th and
22nd July. We shall meet on 12th and 26th August unless everybody decides to go on holiday at the same time!
Newcomers are always welcome.
 Jen Swinbank & Frances Murton
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Visiting Bishop
The Lambeth Conference of Bishops of the Anglican Communion takes place in Canterbury from
16th July until 4th August. A number of visiting Bishops will be staying in our Diocese for a few days before
the Conference and one of them, Bishop John Kato from Japan, will be guest preacher in St Mary’s at 11am on
Sunday 13th July. Please do keep all the Bishops and the Lambeth Conference in your prayers.
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175 years of the Oxford Movement
This year, 2008, is the 175th anniversary of The Oxford Movement, which revived the catholic
tradition within the Church of England. This revival played a significant part in the history of both of our
parishes of Prestbury and All Saints’. Various catholic societies in the Church of England have called for an
hour of silent prayer to be held on Monday 14th July in thanksgiving for the 175th anniversary and in
re-commitment to Jesus.
We will be holding an hour of silent prayer in St Mary’s from 12 noon until 1pm and in All
Saints’ from 6.15pm until 7.15pm. Please do come and join us – you do not need to stay for the whole hour!
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St Mary’s Bakestall
The next bakestall, provided by the G-M team falls on Sunday 20th July. The proceeds will be
sent to MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship).
In May we were able to add £27 to the Christian Aid collection and in June we supported
victims of torture with £30 to the Medical Foundation.
As usual there will be NO bakestall in August. Thank you all for your support, both baking
and buying.
Linda Matthews & Margaret Waker
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Parish Lunch at The Royal Oak
Our next Parish lunch will lake place on Sunday 20th July at 1.00pm at The Royal Oak. Please
book your place with me as soon as possible as it sells out fairly quickly. If you haven’t been before – try
it – we are a friendly, happy bunch of parishioners, from all three churches, and it is a lovely opportunity
to get to know each other better over a splendid two course meal. This time the main course will be roast pork
(or a vegetarian option) and will be followed by a dessert. The cost will be £11.50 per head. Ring me to find
out more or to book your place.
Marion
Beagley
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All places are now taken for the trip to Hereford Cathedral on 22nd July. You will all have
received details of the arrangements – please ring me if you have any queries. Any outstanding money to me as
soon as possible please (£8 per head). Many thanks.
There will not be a regular meeting in August, but on Saturday 2nd August we are hosting the
Deanery MU coffee morning in St Nicolas’ Room from 10.30am to 12 noon. All are welcome.
On September 23rd at St Mary’s Caroline Sexton will talk to us about the work of the Bible
Society. We start at 7.30pm and are always pleased to welcome new members.
Marion
Beagley
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St Mary’s Patronal Festival
This year the festivities start with a production by the new drama group on Friday 5th
September. On Saturday 6th there is the opportunity to walk the parish boundary.
On Sunday 7th September you are all warmly invited to the United Team Festival Sung
Eucharist in St Mary’s church at 11am. There will be a said Eucharist in all three churches at 8am, but no
9.30 service at St Nicolas’ or 10.30 at All Saints’. If you need transport to St Mary’s please speak to one of
the churchwardens.
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On Saturday 6th September, as part of St Mary’s Patronal Festival, we shall walk the
boundary of Prestbury Parish. Planning is now well underway for this; the route is mapped out and will be
divided into sections with, we hope, a ‘get you home’ service for those not wanting to undertake the whole
circuit. It will begin and end at the Prestbury Hall where we hope to serve café style food at the end of the
day to revive walkers before they head for home. Non-walkers will naturally be welcome to join us there to
cheer the finishers in. Final details will be announced nearer the time.
If, in addition, you would like to ask people to sponsor you to raise funds for Prestbury
and Pittville Youth, please do so, but this is not essential.
Lynda
Hodges
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Parish Fete –
Saturday September 13th
The Scout Field in The Burgage from 2.00pm until 5.00pm
Please keep this date free in your diaries as it will he our grand fund-raising event of the
year. It will be officially opened by Mr and Mrs Tom Graveney, whom many of you will know, not only as former
landlords of The Royal Oak, but also for Tom’s cricketing career. I would welcome as much help as possible to
man the many stalls and side shows that we have planned. Please sign up on the sheets on the church notice
boards so that I know that all areas are covered, and start saving anything that can be sold on the day.
If you have any new ideas or suggestions, please let me know so that they can be included.
We will also have a Children’s Fancy Dress Competition, which should draw in more people from the schools and
the surrounding area. Please tell your friends and families so that on the day we have a really good
attendance, thus raising lots of money for the churches. Thank you in anticipation.
Marion
Beagley
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Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust – Sponsored Ride and Walk
ON SATURDAY 13th September the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust will be having its
Annual Sponsored Ride and Walk.
Every year the Trust makes awards to church communities to maintain their buildings for
worship and a significant amount of money awarded is raised through this sponsored event. We are appealing to
you to help us give money back to communities which desperately need it in order to keep their churches open.
You can do this by taking part in our Ride/Walk or by sponsoring a participant.
Further information, together with sponsorship forms, is available from your Local
Organisers, details below. Participants can nominate a church or chapel of their choice to receive half their
money. The other half goes to the GHCT. The cause is a good one, and, although good weather cannot be
guaranteed, those who have taken part have an excellent day. Please consider how YOU can best support the
event.
The Local Organiser for St Mary’s is Bob Lyle and for St Nicolas’ is Nigel Woodcock.
[Bob points out that 13th September is also the day of the Church Fete in the Burgage and
suggests that if you cannot do the GHCT cycle ride you could try the Slow Bicycle Race at the Fete, though
this of course would be for church funds not the GHCT.]
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Advance Dates for your Dairies …
Harvest Supper
On Saturday 4th October, as part of Harvest Weekend, the 25th Anniversary of St Nicolas’
Hall will be celebrated with a Harvest Supper. More details of tickets, etc will follow in the September
magazine.
 Janet White, PEC
Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir
The choir will make a welcome return to Cheltenham on Saturday 11th October. They will
perform at All Saints’ Church, but the proceeds will go to the St Mary’s Quinquennial Repair Fund. I have been
fortunate to obtain sponsorship for this concert, so that every ticket we sell will be profit for the church.
Please come and support this event and bring all your friends and family for a really good evening’s
entertainment. Tickets will be on sale shortly.
Marion
Beagley
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