The first day of spring is one thing, and the first
spring day is another. The difference between them is
sometimes as great as a month.
Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933) Fisherman’s Luck (1899)
…..and who knows what’s going to happen next! When even The Archers start running weather-related story lines you know it’s bad.
The church has fared fairly well through the storms so far – two trees had blown down in October and no more have gone except for a branch from one due for felling soon anyway – and it didn’t fall on anyone, on a path or a grave, so sighs of relief all round. We had a salutary reminder of the fragile state of some of our windows though during that particularly windy night in February when a section of one of the choir vestry windows was sucked out and landed on the path below – fortunately no one was under it at the time. Also fortunately, whilst it is a leaded window, it’s not stained glass, so is relatively simple to replace. But I suspect, if we continue to be unable to afford to repair the main windows, the likelihood of such incidents must increase.
In 1911 much work was put in hand by the parish to improve and repair the church. The Morning Chapel (what we now call the Lady Chapel although it’s dedication is in fact the Chapel of St John and St Mary) and the vestries – the current office and choir vestry were being built. There was also the need to clean and redecorate the church and repair the organ. I expect the usual entreaties were made to the congregation but clearly by January 1912 fund-raising wasn’t going as well as hoped. The magazines that spring contained the serious matter of TAXING the congregation:
“In order to secure the meeting of all liabilities, a proposal was reluctantly made, and reluctantly adopted, that from the offertory collections of all Sundays except such as may be specially exempted by the vicar and c/ws acting conjointly, a sum of £3 (£290 today) be, till further notice, deducted for the purpose (of paying for the work). The vicar cannot but hope that the liberality of the parishioners and other members of the congregation will soon enable this odious tax to be removed. “
and if that wasn’t incentive enough the vicar went on
“Here is nothing for mere ornament, nothing for show, and if the total amounts to fully £1,000 (£96,714 today) even a little more, that is not a sum which our congregation cannot easily compass if there be keenness, determination, and the will to exercise some self denial for the love of God’s House. “
“Nothing for mere ornament, nothing for show” – what a lot of that there is in keeping beautiful buildings like ours in good condition.
What are you giving up for Lent?
Why not try a Carbon Fast? Check your carbon footprint and then see if you can improve it. Details of this diocesan initiative can be found further on in this issue. I’m not sharing my score but for a non-driving, non-flying vegetarian it was alarmingly high. Perhaps by the end of Lent I’ll have reduced it a bit.
Stations of the Cross
An almost completely new set has been created by members of the congregation and we hope you’ll enjoy (if that’s the right word) praying them during the next 40 days. This might be in led meditations on Fridays at 1pm or quietly at any other time. Booklets (‘The Stations of the Cross Lent 2014’) outlining prayers you might like to use will be left out for private use.
To clarify the confusion over the list of Stations used and that of the dramatic presentation The Way of the Cross – some years ago, whilst reviewing service material generally, it was decided to produce a new list which links the stations to actual events in the biblical account of the passion. So Jesus doesn’t meet Veronica, or his mother, or fall.
But in case you should think Lent is all seriousness we have several musical events – SHHS are doing a concert on 11th, the Choir of the 21st Century on 22nd and the Junior Choir parents are running a Quiz Night in the Crypt on Friday 21st in aid the Friends of the Music. And if we take a peek into April there’s the St John Passion on Sunday 6th at 6.00pm (please note the time because some publicity has gone out with a later start time and we don’t want you to miss it).
If you’re interested in local history do have a look at the changes on our church website where Margaret Willmer has been updating the information about those buried there. There are so many interesting people – if you don’t know anyone in particular try looking at John Harrison or Evelyn Underhill. Maggie writes more about what’s she done further on in this issue.
And finally a reminder about the Spring Fair – our annual fund-raising event – which will be held on 17th May. No details till next month but put the date in your diary now.
March
Judy East