February means snowdrops – the first sign of spring. In fact there have been a few out in the churchyard since January but they really get going this month so do have a wander round and admire them.
Other Signs of Spring……
I cringe at the sight of Hot Cross Buns in the shops in January an think:You don’t eat Hot Cross Buns till Good Friday! Well, no, that’s perhaps not quite right – whilst they are traditionally eaten on Good Friday here and in a few other countries, historically were eaten throughout Lent up till midday on Good Friday (before the hour of the crucifixion I suppose).
During Elizabeth I’s reign they were banned except for Good Friday – and burials and Christmas (an interesting combination) – along with other spiced breads. Why would you want to ban spiced bread? You might not like spiced bread – but banning it? Not surprisingly production went underground – they were only made at home – and though King James made another attempt to suppress them, they survived. In celebration of which survival I think we should all eat them all through Lent!
Soon it\’ll be time for Spring cleaning – and while you\’re doing it please think ahead to the Spring Fair (16th May) and put aside anything that might be useful for it – we can sell most things!
Another sign that the year is well under way is the Parish list of events. Nothing like knowing when the Carol Service is going to be! You\’ll find such a list elsewhere in this issue so please note the dates on your diary.
The gardening group were surprisingly active in January – on a wet and miserable Saturday they all turned out, swept paths, cut weeds, gathered leaves, got soaked…… I\’m afraid my only contribution was to make the coffee! But I\’m sure everyone appreciated, the next day, that the paths and the memorial gardens weren\’t covered in leaves even if they didn\’t stop to wonder who on earth had gone out in the rain to clear them.
February means the completion of the work reflooring the back of church and decorating the porch, the start of Lent and the stepping-up of our activities towards Easter. Father Stephen has already written about the Lent groups. One Lenten task we can all enjoy is the preparation of the voluntary rate. We do this every year – fill around 4,500 envelopes with an appeal letter and a leaflet about our services and other activities during the year. This year it takes place on Saturday 28th February, starting at 10am and going on till we\’re finished – this isn\’t as bad as it sounds, you can come and go at times that suit you, we\’re usually done by mid-afternoon, it\’s easy work and a chance to chat with people you might not otherwise meet – and we do get a very nice lunch provided by Elizabeth Beesley and her team. Of course after that, an even more Lenten activity, all the letters have to be delivered. But more of that anon.
Lots of music in February: James Sherlock\’s Living the History: Music and Faith influences his choice of music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays – he wrote about it in last month\’s magazine (available on the website if you\’ve lost your copy) and talks about it some more at the Friends of the Music AGM on 1st; David Moore will be giving us another Fingers and Feet on 8th. Strictly speaking these are intended for children but are just as interesting for adults. There are concerts – and if you\’re a cello enthusiast there are two just for you: on Wednesday 4th the lunchtime recital will be given by George Cooke whom some of us will remember as a former member of the Sunday School. Then on 14th we have the Paris Quintet and on 21st French cellist Hélène Dautry (more details about all these can be found further on in this issue).
Hampstead laundresses
“From an obscure hamlet, principally occupied by the laundresses of citizens and noblemen, Hampstead arose into a place of crowded and fashionable resort……” so wrote Parks in his Topography and Natural History of Hampstead in 1814. We could do with some of those laundresses now. Why? Read on….
The church has been fortunate that for several years Beryl Dowsett has made a marvellous job of laundering our altar cloths – they arrived all beautifully starched and ironed without us lifting a finger. But Beryl feels the time has come to hang up her washtub and we need to find an alternative. The cloths are big – 13\’ x 30\” and 11\’ x 24\” – so not easy to handle and I suspect not many of us would want to go to all that effort (and starch isn\’t that easy to come by unless you use sprays) so – unless you really love washing and ironing and would like to do them in which case please do! – I\’m asking if anyone lives near a good, reasonably priced laundry and would be prepared to take the cloths in from time to time. Barring accidents we don\’t change them all that often and there is money available – you don\’t have to fund it yourself. Please get in touch with me if you think you could help.
February
Judy East