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Services at the date of this magazine going to press; otherwise please contact a church warden (contact details page 3)

St George, Fordington, Dorchester, DT1 1LB St Simon & St Jude, Winterborne Monkton, DT2 9PT 1st and 3rd Sunday; 8am BCP Communion Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ Each Sunday 9.45am CW Communion. The church will be open for private prayer every Track & trace contact details taken at entrance. Saturday and Sunday 10-4pm. Wednesday; Church will be open 8.30am to 4pm for private prayer and reflection. T H E W I N T E R B O U R N E S St Mary the Virgin, Dorchester, DT1 2HL St Martin, Winterborne St Martin, DT2 9JR Sunday Eucharist at 9.45am this service will be conducted Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ until further notice. All other services and midweek service have been suspended until further notice, Please continue St Mary, Winterbourne Abbas, DT2 9LP to book for the Sunday service with Trudy Tabone Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ [email protected] St Michael, Winterbourne Steepleton, DT2 9LG Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ St Peter, Dorchester, DT1 1XA Sunday – Morning Prayer, at 9am and 10.30am. St Thomas a Beckett, Compton Valence, DT2 9ER We will continue to be open for personal prayer from Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ 10am to 4pm each day. There is a half hour Zoom Service each Sunday at 10am – St Andrew, West Stafford, DT2 8AB please let The Reverend Jean Saddington know if you would Now closed for services ‘due to lock-down’ but is open for like to join in. There are currently no evening services. Private Prayer on Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm.

The Benefice Network

Office Secretary St Andrew June Jenkins 250719 St Mary [email protected] Verger Cynthia Fry 573076 Organist Benefice Website Organist Geoff Greenhough 267723 Flowers Jill Shepherd 264222 www.dorchesteranglican.info - Flowers Margaret Morrissey 250366 Church Committee Secretary Felicity Murray [email protected] Church Committee Secretary Treasurer Kaye Kerridge 268641 Dorchester PCC Secretary Janet Cooper Robert Potter 262041 Envelopes Kaye Kerridge 268641 260259 [email protected] Treasurer John Heath 07802 527757 Electoral Roll Jill Shepherd 264222 Dorchester PCC Treasurer Envelopes Beryl Shuttleworth 266616 Electoral Roll Trudy Tabone 246126 Magazine Editor Servers Peter Vojak 265994 St Simon & St Jude Margaret Morrissey 250366 Organist Duncan Honeybourne 761881 Safeguarding Peter Vojak 265994 [email protected] Flowers Rota of PCC members Social Groups Magazine Advertising Church Committee Secretary c/o Margaret Morrissey 250366 Olive Branch Joyce Potter 262041 Wendy Grassby 263762 [email protected] Monday Club Rosemary Bassett 262615 Treasurer Hilary Hoskin 251085 Email [email protected] and Hall Bookings Electoral Roll Wendy Frost 889510 your message will be sent to someone from John Williams [email protected] Safeguarding Peter Vojak 265994 the Magazine, Pews News, the Parish Magazine Circulation Cynthia Fry office or the Team Website. Benefice House/Prayer Groups St Peter St George Friday Prayer Group Meets at St Peter’s Verger Val Potter 264416 Verger Tony Archer 07484 257612 Friday 10.30am Penny Blaby 753556 Organist Organist Evelyn Kingman 265741 Dorcas MU Bible Study Group Meets on Bellringers Will Haydock 07976 276066 Weds 10am Janet Cooper 260259 St George’s Dragons Maggie Carter 266072 St Peter’s MU Penny Blaby 753556 Bellringers Tony Spiller 262442 Flowers Kate Chapman 756069 and Rosalind Thorpe 259659 Emmaus House Group Meets on 3rd Flowers Helen Pickard Church Committee Secretary Monday of the month. Church Committee Secretary Christian Meditation Group Cheryl Taylor 269564 Christine Buffrey, 778765. Treasurer David Elliott 259236 Wednesdays, 5pm at St. Mary’s. Treasurer Michael Neely 262869 Rosemary Bassett 262615 Envelopes David Elliott 259236 Envelopes Home Bible Study Group Monday 7.30pm Electoral Roll Dorothy Maggs 262436 Electoral Roll Jim Mclean 260126 30 Grosvenor Rd Celia Robertson 257621 Social Events Maggie Carter 266072 Social Events Rosalind Thorpe 259659 Brownies Becki Munro 457181 Servers Safeguarding Jane Pryce 269937 Rangers Lisa Upward 265574 Safeguarding Hall Bookings Pat Davies 267745 Hall Bookings [email protected] Please check if the above groups are Magazine Circulation Val Scriven Magazine Circulation Mark Dyer meeting during Covid 19

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The Editor

The Team Team Rector How to handle temptation Revd Keith Magee with responsibility for St Peter’s “I can resist everything but temptation” Oscar Wilde 07766 645135 Team Vicars Rev Cora Yarrien uring Lent we remember Jesus’ experience in the with responsibilty for wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), when ‘He was led by the St George and St Andrew Spirit to be tempted by the devil’. (1). Temptation is 07704 533340 D a test of obedience, whether we do things our way or God’s Vacant – ( contact church wardens) with responsibilty for way. After 40 days of fasting Jesus was tired, hungry and St Mary’s and St Simon & St Jude vulnerable. Like Him, the Devil will attack us at our most Revd Jean Saddington vulnerable moments, especially during this pandemic. with responsibility for The Winterbournes & Compton Valence The first temptation was to turn stones into bread: Jesus’ 01305 889992 ministry was not about meeting His own needs, but being Associate Clergy nourished by God’s Word. ‘We do not live by bread alone but Revd Joanna Lacy-Smith by every word that comes from the mouth of God’ 01305 889476 (Deuteronomy 8:3). Like Jesus, we are called to make God our Licensed Lay Ministers priority and trust Him completely. David Bowen 01305 263584 The second temptation was to put God to the test: Jumping Allen Knott 01305 267217 Caroline McMeiken 07555 967387 off the Temple pinnacle would have been a dramatic way for Robert Potter 01305 262041 Jesus to gain popularity, but this is not God’s way! ‘Do not put Churchwardens the Lord your God to the test.’ (Deuteronomy 6:16). We too need St George to learn this lesson! Caroline Taylor 01305 269564 vacant The third temptation was to worship Satan: Finally, the St Mary the Virgin devil took Jesus to a mountain to offer Him worldly power. Trudy Tabone 01305 246126 In contrast, His calling as Messiah was marked by suffering Ellie Stephens 01305 263391 and honouring God. ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve St Peter Val Potter 01305 264416 Him only’ (Deuteronomy 6:13). This is often our experience in Judy Cowling 01305 268721 living for God. St Andrew vacant Jesus stands with us in our temptations. As we claim the St Simon & St Jude promises of Scripture, we will find strength in the power of Charles Norman 01305 262719 the Spirit and the victory of the Cross. Judy Norman 01305 262719 St Martin ‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look Dick Corbett-Winder 01305 889410 within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll St Mary be at rest!’ (Corrie Ten Boom). Joy Parsons 01305 889611 St Michael There is all to look forward to in the Dorchester Benefice. Ellie Sturrock 07980 089470 With friendship and prayers we can do this together and Roddy Kilpatrick 01305 889238 welcome 2021 as a challenge. St Thomas Peter Steel 01308 482782 Jeremy Russell 01308 482227 Chaplaincy at Dorset County Hospital Reverend Ron Martin (CofE) Lead Hospital Chaplain Dorchester Benefice Magazine Please submit copy for the March issue email [email protected] Editor: Margaret Morrissey OBE by 16th February at the latest. Revd Jean Saddington (CofE) Chaplain 9 Hessary St., Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3SF All new articles please submit by [email protected] [email protected] 01305 250366 12th February or give notice of intention to the Editor at Father Barry Hallett (RC) Chaplain Advertising Manager: [email protected] Contactable via Ron [email protected] Printed by Sherrens of Weymouth

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More challenges from Robert Potter’s Lockdown photo Gallery. Try walking round and finding the place before you peep at the Answers which you will find in this issue, if you look hard enough!!! Many thanks Robert 5 6

7 8 910

11 12 13

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Forty days and forty nights Rev Michael Burgess looks at ‘Christ in the Wilderness

n the 17th of this month, we enter the season handsome or special of Lent: those 40 days when we follow Jesus about him, apart Ointo the wilderness and prepare ourselves to from his tunic which celebrate His Easter victory. In the last century an artist seems to sprawl and called Stanley Spencer planned to create a series of 40 undulate like the hills paintings, each depicting a day in the wilderness. In the around. Here is a Jesus born into this world and one end he completed nine, one of which is above painted with this world. from 1939; ‘Christ in the Wilderness – Scorpions.’ It is There are two focal points in the painting – the neat, currently held in a private collection. little scorpion and the massive, unkempt head Stanley Spencer lived and worked in the village of contemplating each other. One is life in all its hefty Cookham in Berkshire. The village and the local reality; the other a tiny creature able to squeeze that life countryside were the setting for many of his paintings out by one swift flick of its tail. and the village’s inhabitants his models. Through their Jesus is shown in the wilderness pondering the life everyday life he was trying to glimpse and convey the and ministry called of Him by God – a life and ministry transcendent. ‘Angels and dirt’ he called it: the divine that will take Him from the countryside into the towns seen in the ordinary. So, in a painting of Christ and villages and take Him also to the death of Good carrying His cross, Jesus has the face of the local Friday. Will He find the strength and renewal to grocer. embrace that ministry during His time in the desert? Another villager modelled for this Jesus in the During Lent as we follow Jesus we seek to live for God. wilderness: a strong, hefty, broad figure. This is a great That may mean dying to all that separates us from God. contrast to the Christ of stained glass windows who He has a ministry, a calling for each of us. As we often seems too good to be part of our world. Here is contemplate that calling in this season of Lent, we may real life: a large man filling the canvas with his head, find it is a calling that leads us through these 40 days to his hands and his feet. This figure of Jesus comes as a life and Easter life – we may find it a journey that calls shock: a very human model, ordinary with nothing us to die to self to find our God.

In Memoriam Alfred, Lord Tennyson – 1809-1892

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The faithless coldness of the times; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring out false pride in place and blood, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The civic slander and the spite; The year is going, let him go; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring in the common love of good. Ring out the grief that saps the mind Ring out old shapes of foul disease; For those that here we see no more; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring out a slowly dying cause, Ring in the valiant man and free, And ancient forms of party strife; The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring in the nobler modes of life, Ring out the darkness of the land, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring in the Christ that is to be.

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St George’s Church Church Correspondent Vacant

Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news

Welcome and Thank You On the 10th of January the Rev Cora Yarrien was licenced by the Rev Karen Gorman, Bishop of Sherborne to St George’s church. We welcome Cora to join our family and thank the Revd Reji Raj-Singh for keeping us all together and taking the services in the long interregnum. A summary of the benefice and its hopes for the future As a mixed team of rural and town communities we aim to work together, both lay and ordained, to serve the people of God, to strengthen relationships and to support each other in our future work. We will celebrate our differences and rejoice in all we hold in common, listening to each other and building trust. first incumbency was as the Rector of the Parish of Bishop Stephen Croft writes, “The call to build the Idle and Sands, near Retford prior to moving to Church is a long distance race not a sprint. The call Dorset. to Christian community is a permanent and holy Cora comes to Dorchester with her husband John, calling to be family together, a call to love without who is the Methodist Superintendent, and their two limit as part of God’s holy people”. This is our vision. lively Labradors called Rolo and Poppy. Bishop Karen Message from Val Scriven Rev Cora Yarrien Pupils and Staff of Manor Park First School kindly Cora is very much looking forward to joining the created bags of “Christmas goodies” which they wanted Dorchester and the Winterbournes Team Ministry as to be distributed to those in the community who were Team Vicar of St George, Fordington and St Andrew, likely to be alone or isolated at Christmas, just to let West Stafford. She eagerly anticipates the them know that they were being thought of. They opportunities God may be providing in this new contacted Revd Reji Raj-Singh at St George’s for his season of ministry. Cora’s working life prior to help in creating a list of people in this situation. We coming to Dorchester has included time as a Church were able to deliver 13 such gift bags to very grateful Outreach Worker at St Mary’s, East Leake, with a recipients. particular focus on children and families. She has also This was such a kind thought of the pupils and staff ministered as a Pastoral Care and Community worker of Manor Park School and we thank them for this. in Warwick. She has served overseas in mission projects in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. Cora trained for ordination in 2012 at Cranmer St George’s Online Burns Night Hall, St John s College, Durham. She was ordained in Hope you can join us for the St George’s Online Burns 2014 in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Night at 7pm on Thursday 28th January on Zoom. For where she served her curacy in the Woodborough more information and the Zoom link please contact Benefice and in St Paul’s, Daybrook, Nottingham. Her Revd. Cora Yarrien on [email protected]

“The difficulties and struggles of today are but the price we must pay for the accomplishments and victories of tomorrow.” – William J. H. Boetcker

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Eulogy for Elizabeth Ricketts Helen Lange

lizabeth Ricketts was a popular and much admired member of St. Peter’s congregation, not Eleast for her mental strength and her tenacity. In almost all weathers, she walked, pushing her buggy, down the hill of High West Street, to the church, to attend the 10.30 service. She was also well known in several Dorchester shops, where some of the staff were amazed at her coming out in the dark evenings to do her shopping. Elizabeth worshipped at St. Peter’s for nine years and had several friends in the congregation. She was also one of our flower ladies, often seen reaching up to the planter, whilst her daughter assisted her. Flowers and nature were great loves of Elizabeth. Tragically Elizabeth died quite suddenly on 19th November 2020. Ironically, on the day on which she died, I had been to her house to collect some notes she had written about her time as a land girl. I had arranged for a local radio manager to record her talking to me about her time as a land girl, with the intention of making this into an event for St. Peter’s congregations and others. Alas, that was not to be. Elizabeth’s funeral was at St. Peter’s on 14th December. Owing to Coronavirus restrictions there could not be singing, but Elizabeth’s daughter, Chris Davis, selected several recordings of her mother’s favourite hymns, all very positive ones, including ‘Lord of all Hopefulness’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. The latter was sung by the Viva Community Choir, of which Elizabeth was a member. The Exit Music at the end of the service was Harry Secombe singing ‘Wonderful World, another demanding work. Elizabeth recorded how she had one favourite and a very appropriate choice for Elizabeth. attempt to drive a tractor which ended in hitting a wall. After the funeral there was a committal in Overmoigne She was a little more successful in learning to ride a where Elizabeth joined her husband, who had died bike, although she did end up in a ditch a couple of some years earlier. times. She records how they found social life with the Elizabeth’s life was a wonderful one. She was born in G.Is’ convalescent camp! Elizabeth also recorded how London on 1st December 1926, the third of eight they were able to ‘have a drink’ there! children. By all accounts she had a happy childhood In May 1945 Elizabeth was transferred to a farm in but when she was twelve war was declared. At the time Overmoigne, which is where she met her future she became an evacuee as she was on holiday in husband. There she also learned about milking cows, Bournemouth and she was told to stay there, while her rounding them up and obtaining rides on the cart siblings were evacuated separately to other parts of the horse, all in cold winter months. Elizabeth and Wilf country. At sixteen Elizabeth briefly returned to married in 1948 and moved to Galton. They raised London and worked in the office. three children and later had seven grandchildren and In her own words, Elizabeth said that she was three great grandchildren. When Wilf retired at 70 working in the office at Guys Hospital, in 1944, when they moved to Broadmayne. Sadly Wilf developed she suddenly decided to join the Land Army and went dementia and was placed in a home. Elizabeth visited for an interview, which was, not surprisingly, successful, him every day, until his death in 2009. for this adventurous young woman. She was issued with At the end of the War Elizabeth and her comrades her uniform and sent here to Dorset, to a hostel in took part in a victory parade around Dorchester. Pamphill, just outside Wimborne. Yes, Elizabeth had a wonderful and very purposeful The girls were taken to the farms where they worked, life. We will remember her and celebrate her life and sorting potatoes and threshing corn, hard and God will bless her.

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Struggling towards relinquishment Tony Collins considers the question of how much STUFF we really need in our lives

uring lockdown the little Methodist chapel to filled with trinkets. One man’s heirloom is another’s which Pen and I belong has been refurbished. junk and over the course of the decades I have DAfter the builders left we started putting things ditched most of the stuff that dogged my steps. When straight and were stunned to realise how much stuff we you value things for their sentimental value, rather had. Old hymns books. A broken communion set. than their intrinsic utility or beauty, your heirs will Paper and defunct pens, stickers and dried glue from sigh as they open your attic. Messy Church. Wonky plastic chairs. A portable font. A cassette player. A communion jug from 1864. A spare This is where relinquishment comes in organ stool. Endless vases. A handsome, heavily carved Relinquishment empowers love and generosity. You’d table that had been donated in memory of someone no have thought the more you have the easier it is to one can remember. Not all of it useless, but none of it give. In fact, the less you have, the more lightly you sit needed. I didn’t win every discussion, but we filled a to everything. This is the principle of the Widow’s skip. Mite; those who have relinquished much are more Adaptation is the often willing to share. motor of evolution; if Relinquishment is the starting point for spiritual we are encumbered growth. What if we’ve been missing the chance to with objects – and discover not only who we could have been, but who habits and old stories we at heart really are? What if the nothing we brought – we will be less able and leave with is precisely our birth-right, an to change. Churches instrument of spiritual power? When we remove the should not be possessions and commitments that form our armour, museums. our true selves can emerge. Much of the Once your mother’s ancient sideboard has finally problem arises from gone, you can break out the vacuum cleaner. sentiment. My Learn how to sit light to stuff by reading grandparents were Pen Wilcock’s new book, Relinquishment: Making world travellers, Space for What Really Matters, available in paperback mainly in India and and ebook from abebooks.co.uk. the Far East, and my Tony Collins has worked for most of his life as a publisher. childhood home was He is now a literary agent.

Living for Ever Lines from World Health Organisation Invocation of Peace By Fiona Macleod Doing housework can help you live longer (19th century Celtic visionary and romantic) hen you spend half an hour a day tidying the house, going up and down your stairs, and doing household chores, you are Deep peace, pure white of the moon to you; Wreducing the risk of an early death. Deep peace, pure green of the grass to you; So says recent guidance from the World Health Organisation, as it Deep peace, pure brown of the earth to you; urges people to maintain regular moderate exercise on a daily basis, of up Deep peace, pure grey of the dew to you, to at least 150 minutes a week. It also recommends vigorous exercise of at least 75 minutes a week. Deep peace, pure blue of the sky to you! The WHO recommendation was published in the British Journal of Deep peace of the running wave to you, Sports Medicine and is part of the new global guidelines on physical Deep peace of the flowing air to you, activity. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. WHO also warned that those who stay sedentary for 10 or more hours on a regular basis will have a “significantly heightened risk of death”. Well on that basis I should live for ever!! – Editor

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Candlemas – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

n bygone centuries Christians said their last farewells to the Christmas season on Candlemas, I2nd February. This is exactly 40 days after Christmas Day itself. In New Testament times 40 days old was an important age for a baby boy: it was when they made their first ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her first male child – to ‘present Him to the Lord’. At the same time she, as a new mother, was ‘purified’. Thus we have the Festival of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. So where does the Candlemas bit come in? Jesus is described in the New Testament as the Light of the World and early Christians developed the tradition of lighting many candles in celebration of this day. The Church also fell into the custom of blessing the year’s supply of candles for the church on this day – hence the name, Candlemas. The story of how Candlemas began can be found in Luke 2:22-40. Simeon’s great declaration of faith and Nunc Dimittis was mostly used just on this day, during recognition of who Jesus was is of course found in the the distribution of candles before the Eucharist. Only Nunc Dimittis, which is embedded in the Office of gradually did it win a place in the daily prayer life of Evening Prayer in the West. In medieval times the the Church.

Do your days rush by at a hectic pace? Revd Dr Herbert McGonigle.

ave you ever stopped to think that your mobile to ‘waste’ less time. The tempo of cultural life picks up, phone and emails have not given you more the heartbeat of daily life races and our own body Htime? Just more things to do in the same rhythms respond with adrenaline, cramped muscles and amount of time. heart attacks. We leave our messages in one place while we take To take time out for daily prayer, for a quiet walk our bodies elsewhere. Instead of doing one thing after that is not to the next meeting, for daydreaming or for another we shoot out a variety of tasks and then swoop Bible study becomes a cross-cultural act. Following down on them later, needing to deal with them all at Christ, waiting on Him, is a countercultural act. once. One lovely biblical phrase is ‘in the fullness of time, In a four minute clip from a street scene from an old it came to pass’. This suggests four things: that time Orson Welles film and a similar clip from a more crests like a wave; that there is a right moment for recent film, you will see an amazing difference. In the things to happen; that it’s not ours to plan that early film, the camera records ‘real time’ – people get moment, but to recognise it; and that we are not the out of their cars, walk across streets, wait for lights, primary agents of what happens in the world. speak to other people, enter a bank. In the more recent So, feel free to accept God’s offer of rest when you film a similar sequence was reduced to a half a dozen are weary; receive each moment of your life as a gift quick cuts. Transition time was eliminated. from God’s hand; pray to discern what each new Modern life teaches us that ‘down time’ is wasted. encounter you make requires of you and freely entrust Time is money. So mobile phones, emails, etc enable us everything else to God’s care.

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From the Dean of Salisbury

ccording to ancient tradition(!) the probationer Lent – or, for that choristers of the Cathedral celebrate Shrove matter, Holy Week ATuesday by cooking pancakes in the Deanery and Easter – in kitchen. Boys, girls and staff members crowd around anything like the as lemons are squeezed, sugar is scattered and manner to which we pancakes are flipped. Some are caught and some are were once accustomed. not: the presence of two Deanery tortoises in the Like the butter and the eggs, like the probationers’ corner of the room is always a significant distraction. pancakes, our routines, our traditions, our habits are Above the din I try to explain how once upon a time being devoured by a pandemic which seems to go on this was the day when all the household’s butter and and on. eggs were used up in readiness for the Lenten fast. We might ask, when all these have been devoured, Pancakes eaten, we troop out into the back garden what is left? The answer is: the ash. The gritty, for a more solemn but no less fascinating ritual. The resilient, irreducible residue that clings to the bottom stacks of palm crosses collected from the congregation of the barbeque when the palm crosses have been in previous weeks are thrown into a fire and the probs burnt and the flames have died down. It’s this gritty, are told about the ashing that will take place in the resilient, irreducible residue that we daub on our Cathedral the following day. Appetite and curiosity foreheads on Ash Wednesday. Ash is what remains satisfied, the children return to school. when everything else has been taken away. None of that will happen this year. Shrove Tuesday It makes you think. Ash which cannot be destroyed; and Ash Wednesday fall within the earliest dates ash which endures. This year of all years, could there envisaged for the ending of our current lockdown. It be any more potent symbol of God’s gritty, resilient, seems inconceivable that we will be able to observe irreducible love for us?

11 Science fiction (abbrev.) (3-2) 13 Clay pit (anag.) (7) February Crossword 16 Went to (John 4:46) (7) 19 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to — your bodies as living sacrifices’ (Romans 12:1) (5) 22 David’s plea to God concerning those referred to in 14 Down: ‘On — — let them escape’ (Psalm 56:7) (2,7) 24 Royal Automobile Club (1,1,1) 25 How the book of Ezekiel refers to God more than 200 times (Ezekiel 2:4) (9,4) Down 1 Seas (Proverbs 8:24) (6) 2 One of the sons of Eli the priest, killed in battle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11) (6) 3 Specialist in the study of the Muslim religion (8) 4 ‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but — him as if he were your father’ (1 Timothy 5:1) (6) 5 One of Esau’s grandsons (Genesis 36:11) (4) 6 Taking a chance (colloq.) (2,4) 7 God’s instructions to the Israelites concerning grain offerings: ‘ — salt to — your offerings’ (Leviticus 2:13) (3,3) 12 Confederation of British Industry (1,1,1) 14 ‘All day long they twist my words; they are always — to harm me’ (Psalm 56:5) (8) 15 The crowd’s reaction to Jesus bringing back to life a widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7:16) (3) 16 Disappear (Psalm 104:35) (6) 17 How Jeremiah was likely to die if he wasn’t rescued from the cistern where he was imprisoned (Jeremiah 38:9) (6) 18 What the prophets do to a wall, with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10, RSV) (4,2) Across 20 Made by a plough (Job 39:10) (6) 8 Interrogated (Acts 12:19) (5-8) 21 Noah was relieved when the flood waters continued to — (Genesis 9 ‘Burn it in a wood fire on the — heap’ (Leviticus 4:12) (3) 8:5) (6) 10 Tobit, Judith, Baruch and the books of Esdras and the Maccabees are 23 Jesus gave the Twelve the power and authority to do this to diseases part of it (9) (Luke 9:1) (4)

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St Mary the Virgin Church Correspondent Robert Potter

Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news

The Monday Club were then furloughed and eventually sacked. Rent arrears were a common problem but thankfully many It is with great regret that, due to the current housing associations had been very accommodating and lockdown/tier restrictions, we shall not be able to have were supporting their tenants as much as possible. a meeting of the Monday Club in February. It is also The team behind the scheme is so grateful for all the extremely unlikely that we shall be able to meet in support it has received from our community. The March, for the same reasons. However, we are planning churches in the town along with the Town Council, to reopen as soon as it is legally possible and we have a Rotary, Dorchester Poverty Action, Dorchester Relief in varied and interesting list of speakers ready and willing Need and many individuals have been extremely to come and talk to us. As soon as there is any new generous. Thank you all for your prayers and practical information we shall be in touch with all our help. I will finish with some quotes from the families supporters, but in the meantime we wish you well and YOU helped: look forward to being able to meet again for friendship, I wanted to say thank you for the generous gift hamper I fellowship and enjoyment. With very best wishes collected today. It will certainly help to make our Christmas Jill Minchin tel 01305 263757 more special. Thank you for all you have given to me and my family to Christmas Food Hampers 2020 help us over Christmas. You have been amazing and very It seems a long time ago now but I thought it thoughtful. It’s been a hard year for us all but people like you appropriate, as so many of you were generous with your make everything ok with your smiles and laughter. donations and financial support, to let you know how I am absolutely blown away by the generosity given this the Christmas delivery of food hampers went. Christmas. You have no idea how much it has helped. I am We supplied just under 200 families with over 300 more than grateful. parcels of food. This is because larger families were Kath Joslin – Dorchester Family Support given more supplies. We were also given a range of brand new toys, baby clothes and knitted jumpers/hats which were greatly appreciated by our families. All were Sanctuary Lamp Candles exceedingly grateful for this help and once again were Given this month on 14th by Katharine Marr in amazed that people they did not know were prepared to memory of her mother May; 21st by Cynthia Fry in help them in this way. Usually we would normally have thanksgiving for her granddaughter Arwyn whose a chat with our families but due to Covid we were birthday is on 19th; 28th by Trudy Tabone in memory unable to do so. Many of them had been in work but of her mother whose year’s mind is on that day.

spend part of my Easter holiday camping; my only Camping at Easter stipulation was that I was able to be at home to go to part of the 3 hour service on Good Friday. Katharine Marr The purpose of the camp was to sort out the equipment for the coming season. We mended canvas, counted pegs and mallets and renewed ropes. On Good atching Antiques Roadshow recently, when Friday morning I caught the bus home to go to it came from Forty Hall in Enfield, St Mark’s church. Not for us the 7 sermons, hymns etc; Wreminded me of how I spent Easter in1948 we started with Matins, then Veneration of the Cross, and 1949. At that time the estate was privately owned Mass of the Presanctified and, lastly, evensong. by the Parker Bowles family and the local Guides kept Evensong was timed to start at 2.15 and then the choir their camping equipment there. A camp site was boys were allowed to go home, with some of the always available for Guides and Mrs Parker Bowles was congregation (which included me). On Easter Day I a Brown Owl. I was training to be a teacher at went to Forty Hall church. St Katharine’s College in Tottenham and was a I still remember the camping weekends with great member of the Guide Cadet Company (now the pleasure. I’ve always loved camping and continued for Young Leaders). I lived in Enfield and I was happy to many years. .

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All in the month of February Fairtrade Fortnight 200 years ago, on 23rd Feb 1821 John Keats, 50 years ago, on 15th Feb 1971 the UK’s 22nd February – 7th March the poet, died of tuberculosis, aged 25. currency was decimalised. It has been a terrible year for farmers 125 years ago, on 1st Feb 1896 the premiere 30 years ago, on 28th Feb 1991 the Gulf War and workers in the global south. of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La boheme took ended at midnight when a ceasefire came place in Turin, Italy. into effect. In 2020, on top of the pandemic, they had to deal with the growing 75 years ago, on 11th Feb 1946The Revised 25 years ago, on 15th Feb 1996 the oil Standard Version of the New Testament was tanker Sea Empress ran aground near impact of climate change: more published. It was the first major English- Milford Haven, Wales, causing a major oil droughts and crop disease, locusts, language update of the Bible since the King spill along the coastlines of Wales and floods, fires, and heatwaves. No James version published in 1611. Ireland. wonder their harvests were shrinking. 70 years ago, on 27th Feb 1951 the 22nd 20 years ago, on 19th Feb 2001 the first Yet with the help of Fairtrade, many Amendment to the US Constitution was case of foot and mouth disease in the 2001 of these producers of food, drinks and ratified. It limits the President to two terms UK outbreak was detected at an abattoir in cottons can be equipped to meet in office. Essex. The EU subsequently banned all more everyday needs and to deal with British meat, milk and livestock exports. 65 years ago, on 11th Feb 1956 two members the challenges facing them. of the Cambridge spy ring, British diplomats 10 years ago, on 22nd Feb 2011 the Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand This month why not visit announced that they had defected to the took place. 185 people were killed and up www.fairtrade.org.uk and see how Soviet Union. They had both vanished in to 2,000 injured and there was widespread you can send some support. mysterious circumstances in 1951. damage across the city.

St James the Least of All The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…On why our church does not need health or safety.

The Rectory St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren that area are used only once a year when his relations visit from America to commemorate his death at I appreciated your recent concern when you heard one Agincourt – which is probably just beyond of our parishioners had slipped on a gravestone. Your remembrance of the oldest of our congregation. desire to help was entirely commendable and I do know that sending your own church’s health and safety officer Leaks from the ceiling in the north aisle are solved to give us some advice was kindly meant. The 200-page with a row of buckets – and even you must concede report was not welcome. Were we to implement even that the fungi on the oak beams look really rather half of your officer’s suggestions life would become attractive when the sun catches them. The sapling unbearably safe. growing out of the spire is certainly an issue – although it looks so attractive in Spring when in blossom. As for St James the Least of All has survived perfectly well our fire extinguishers, they were serviced when my for the last 600 years without gutter cleaning predecessor but two was in office and I have the inspections, path degreasing and electrical safety certificate to prove it. certificates, so I think we may survive a little longer without them. As far as I am aware the only disaster to So, do thank your health and safety officer for all his hit us was when Cromwell’s soldiers stabled their horses work and tell him we will bear his recommendations in in the nave – which I suspect a few of our oldest mind. Also tell him I was so sorry he slipped and broke members still clearly remember. his leg in our choir stalls while he was with us. That bit of floor has been out of alignment since 1748 and it The shock the sidesmen sometimes get when seems a shame to disturb it now; if only he had arrived switching on the lights occurs only occasionally, is encased in bubble wrap it would never have happened. relatively mild and soon over – and if it happens when Perhaps you could put that on the agenda of your next preparing for the 8am Service, helps to wake them up. health and safety meeting. The weight of the Duke of Clumber’s marble sarcophagus is slowly detaching the south aisle from the Your loving uncle, rest of the church, but it is very slow – and the pews in Eustace

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Odd Corners of Dorchester. Robert Potter

irst – apologies for a wrong answer to one of Old (St George’s) Rectory in fairly recent times but the Dorchester pictures in the December down the hill on the north part of the High Street, Fmagazine; it got transposed during the there’s Colson House, which was St Peter’s rectory in production process. The clock in its turret is on the time of Revd Colson. Tony Wheeler lived in the Southfield House, built on the site of a Hardy’s Holy Trinity house in Albert Road before and after he Grammar School boarding house, not on the stables was vicar of St Mary’s so what belongs (or belonged) to at what is now Sunninghill School. which church isn’t easy to trace. Jill Minchin is an When you looked at the Dorchester pictures how authority on these! many sites did you identify? Some will say, confidently, The more you look around the more interesting all! There were 2 pictures of plaques at Dorchester buildings you find. When you are near Duke’s Avenue South station, one commemorating the building of the have a look at the symmetry of the whole street, current station, a short distance east of the other, in designed as one terrace and there’s a lovely Georgian 1989 which might have proved less obvious. Allington house behind the tall wall in Icen Way, visible only Hall (now shops at street level), originally a chapel (note when you go through the narrow footpath leading to a the windows) and then a working men’s club is modern development. Seek and ye shall find! probably not recognised as such. In the 40 pictures I Answers to this months Picture Quiz took several were of former chapels because they’re 1 Old Queens Arms, Colliton Street. 2 Old Masons Arms, Glyde Path Road. often not recognised. There are lots of ‘Old Rectory’ 3 Allington Hall, Durngate Street. 4 Bridge by Hangman’s Cottage. 5 Former Brewery. 6 Fairfield Road. 7 Old Hospital Chapel. 8 Borough Gardens. 9 Former Jehovah’s houses and it is difficult to know which belonged to Witness Chapel. 10 South Station. 11 By The Old Mill, Friary Hill. 12 Coach House, Holy Trinity, All Saints or St Peter’s. Fordington lost its Sunninghill, South Walks. 13 Elizabeth Frink Statues.

How many more waves? Paul Valler, Chair of the LICC Board (London Institute for Contemporary Christianity.)

s the days are dark, and winter still stretches Occasionally an indestructible hope burst forth like a ahead, many of us find the prospect of more ray of light in the darkness of his pain. “I know that Arestrictions for months to come even harder my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand than when we first went into lockdown. on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, After nine months of coronavirus, we are yet in my flesh I will see God.” (Job 19:26). emotionally drained. We are financially drained. We The truly transformative moment for Job came are lonely, depressed, frightened and facing deep when, instead of seeing his situation in front of God, uncertainty, from job losses to health problems to he finally saw God in front of his situation. Then, relationship breakdown. We are running out of steam even in the intensity of his suffering, the greatness of and the virus is still going strong. the Almighty eclipsed the problem. That is the There is a strong parallel in all this with the ancient revelation we need. book of Job and his experience of loss and pain. Like In this sad and weary time lament is therapeutic Job we are discovering that we are not always entitled to and we can be completely real with our Father in health, wealth and happiness; and like Job our suffering Heaven. Yet in our lament, the path to rekindling true inexplicably goes on and on. Like the irritating hope lies in the possibility of focusing on the moralising of Job’s comforters, the constant critique of character and immensity of God. Greater is He that is the media only seems to make things worse. Like Job, in us than the pandemic that is in the world. our minds are incapable of totally grasping the meaning Join in with the ancient words of Psalm 42: ‘Why of all this suffering. We need hope. are you downcast O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Job was deprived of everything, yet even in his Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour despair he never lost his belief that God was there. and my God.’

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Initial results will be available takes up nearly three quarters of a within 12 months, although standard parking bay. DID YOU personal records will be locked away CarGurus, who carried out the for 100 years, kept safe for future research, has urged the authorities to generations. Residents can be update the guidelines for parking KNOW? assured that the Census form is bays. The current size of a parking completely confidential and personal bay is 2.4m by 4.8m, and has not data is not shared until the Census changed in 50 years. is opened up 100 years later. On Census 2021 is Coming that subject Census 1921 will be available for research early in 2021. Households across Dorset along For more information visit TIME FOR with the rest of England and Wales census.gov.uk, follow on Twitter will soon be asked to take part in @CensusDorset or contact Philip Census 2021. Eades on 07452 948119 or email at SMILES The census is a ten yearly survey [email protected] that gives the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in Dorchester Food Bank Choir: Two choir members recently England and Wales. It has been got married. They met by chants. carried out every decade since 1801, “The local community has been with the exception of 1941. extremely generous in supplying Advert seen in a church magazine: It will be the first run money and food donations to Car engine for sale by curate slightly predominantly online, with Dorchester Food Bank over the last cracked. households receiving a letter with a few months. We now have sufficient unique access code, allowing them money and food to last at least six Not comfortable: The vicar was to complete the questionnaire on months. We therefore feel it would praying for the sick and said: “We their computers, phones or tablets. be more appropriate for the must remember Mrs Goodwin in Those residents who are unable to community to support other our prayers. She recently had all her complete the Census digitally will be charities in greater need. teeth taken out and a new gas stove supported by a phone helpline, a DFB Treasurer” put in.” network of Census Support Centres or by ordering a paper Census. Order: Happy to visit his local pub “A successful census will ensure Why parking your car is before it closed again, a man found everyone from local government to himself near two nuns. Eager to talk charities can put services and getting more difficult to anyone after weeks in Tier 3, he ventured: “What is your order?” funding in the places where they are Have you noticed that it is getting (Meaning their religious most needed,” said Philip Eades, the harder to park your car? and that community.) Census Engagement Manager for when you finally do get parked, you the area covered by Dorset Council. The nuns happily replied: can barely get the door open enough “Sausage and chips.” “This could mean things like to squeeze out? doctors’ surgeries, schools and new It is not your fault. Modern cars transport routes. That’s why it is so From a church magazine in have grown so big that many drivers important everyone takes part and Hampshire: We badly need more now have as little as 21cm of room we have made it easier for people to sinners for our choir. do so online on any device, with to spare in a parking space. help and paper questionnaires for A recent study has found that the those that need them” he continued. country’s most popular cars are as Fox Typesetting Services Census day will be on Sunday much as 55 per cent larger than they If you have a manuscript, a memoir, novel, March 21st 2021 with households were in the Seventies, while the life experiences, short stories or poems you standard parking space has not would like to transform into a printed format across the country receiving letters no matter how old or rough the original copy, I with online codes allowing them to grown at all. No surprise, then, that can reproduce the content into a fresh, clean take part from early March. The millions of drivers scrape their cars document, ready for you to edit and share with each year trying to park in cramped friends and family. census will include questions about I can work from handwritten, typed or printed your sex, age, work, health, spaces. materials, typed drafts or printed books. You The biggest grower is the Mini will be amazed at the visual transformation education, household size and and easy access to the content once it has ethnicity. For the first time there will Hatch, which is now 55 per cent been newly typed into a Word document or a be a question asking people whether bigger and takes up to 22 per cent Desk Type Publication. As an extra I can also        
   they have served in the armed forces, more of a parking space than the bound form with a hard or soft cover. as well as voluntary questions for original did, back in 1959. The 7 Yalbury Lane, Crossways, Dorchester, those aged 16 and over on sexual Honda Civic of today is 1.8m wide, Dorset DT2 8XR. Tel: (01305) 854783 orientation and gender identity. an increase of 44 per cent. It now E-mail: [email protected]

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Where do we go from here?

Lester Amann considers the visit of the Wise Men

had experienced. Their lives were now changed. On returning home they faced new circumstances and challenges. erhaps this was a question the Wise Men asked Doesn’t this sound a bit familiar to us today? The after seeing the infant Jesus. They had come Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us in one way or Pfrom a distant land to Jerusalem. They had another. Where do we go from here? We have followed a star and expected to see a royal child. Now celebrated our Lord’s birth, but now we are returning to in Bethlehem, they saw things differently. No doubt our previous activities. The festive break is over, and we Mary and Joseph shared with these men their recent are returning to changed, very difficult circumstances. experiences and knew God was with them. Now the We go into a New Year that is so different from this Magi had to have eyes of faith to recognise that this time last year. While we might be downcast with all the child was God in the flesh. upsets around us, there is one thing that has not On 6th January many churches celebrated changed. Epiphany. On this day we remembered the Eastern It is almighty God! He is our rock. We can look to Men bringing their gifts to Jesus. The word ‘epiphany’ Him in this world of confusion and uncertainty. describes their ‘revelation’ or ‘insight’ that this was no Perhaps, from now on, we shall be worshipping and ordinary baby. Who could they tell? Not King Herod. serving Him in different ways. So, with the challenges They had a dream warning them to return home a that lie ahead, let’s continually seek His guidance. different way. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your Their return to familiar surroundings was going to own understanding….and He will make your paths straight. be different. They couldn’t be silent about what they (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The cure for sore throats

t Blaise is the saint for you if you have and Lesser Armenia began a persecution of a sore throat, or a pet who is ill. He Christians, Blaise was arrested. As he was Swas born in Sebastea, ancient Armenia, being led to prison a distraught mother, (now Sivas, in Turkey) sometime during the whose only child was choking to death on a late 3rd century, and became a physician. fishbone, threw herself at his feet and begged His compassion did not stop there: he went for help. Blaise prayed and immediately the on to become bishop of Sebastea and thus a child was cured. Regardless, the governor had physician of souls. Known for his dedication him beaten and beheaded, but the miracle to prayer, Blaise taught by his own example was not forgotten by the people who loved of virtue and sanctity, as much as by his him. Blaise became the patron saint of words. His ministry was accompanied by illnesses of the throat and of wild beasts. many miracles of healing and people (and Blaise was one of the most popular saints animals) came flocking to him from near of the Middle Ages. There are several and far. churches named after him in England, from When in 316 the governor of Cappadocia Cornwall to Oxfordshire.

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace. – Jerry Bridges

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Places of Pilgrimage (Dorset) St Andrew’s, Winterborne Tomson and St Mary’s, Tarrant Crawford

Jane Pridmore, Dorchester Deanery Synod Secretary

lways seeking, each moment fleeting. This is where my 3. It was rescued in 1920’s by the architect A R Parvey soul will rest. Lang Leave says in the poem ‘A who lies in the churchyard. (He was one of eleven APilgrimage’. The first of our recommended visits children born in Dorchester to Rev Charles Parvy, this month is to the church of St Andrew’s at incumbent of St Peter’s). The entrance to this church Winterborne Tomson which was special in this way to is via the west door. The fabric of the church conveys Thomas Hardy who loved this church because it simple beauty with a wagon roof, timber ribs reminded him of Dorset Churches from his childhood embossed with Tudor roses. There is a simple and before (in his opinion) the Victorians ruined many octagonal font amidst the oak fixings and pews and of them. Nearby is St Mary’s also cherished as special by an altar for which William Wake (Georgian the nuns who lived in the nunnery nearby. So during Archbishop of Canterbury and local resident) is these colder months we can visit two churches in a day responsible. and enjoy their surrounds. Simon Jenkins the author ranked this as one of the most significant and lovely churches. “In an earlier age What to look for: it would have been another old chapel converted to a St Andrew’s Church DT11 9HA (SY885974, N50.77622 barn. To us it is a precious relic.” In her book W2.16460) can be reached from A35 Dorchester “Unwrecked England” Candida Lycett Green cites this towards Wimborne. At the red signpost on A35 turn as one of her hundred gems. She even took Prince left towards Winterborne Tomson and just off this Charles here in 1987 and he wrote, “There were so road is a sign to the right taking you through farm many magical views and memorable jewel houses but buildings to the church. St Andrew’s is famous for none could ever compare with that exquisite church. I three reasons; 1. It is a single cell Norman church shall always remember the cool, pristine ‘prayerfulness’ dating back to 942AD. 2. It holds a collection of old of that unearthly place. It was total perfection and oak bleached woodwork (including the box pews). worth driving hours just to be there”.

St Mary’s at Tarrant Crawford Driving from here to St Mary’s at Tarrant Crawford DT11 9HU (ST923035, N50.83062 W 2.11132), the church is found about half a mile along a private drive (access for church visitors only). This simple and evocative church was built in the 12th century and is all that remains of the Cistern Nunnery (13th century Tarrant Abbey). On entering the church is notable for the 16th century wagon roof and some 13th and 14th

Inside St Andrews and above right an external view century coffin lids (probably of the nuns). However this church has the most ancient and amazing wall

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painting of St Margaret of Antioch being swallowed by a dragon and on the north wall St Michael weighing souls and St Christopher carrying the Christ Child. Other places to visit: As these churches are suggested for winter months there are two places of interest and warmth nearby. Marcia’s Farm at Spetisbury DT11 9DF (ST910030, N50.82669 W 2.12915 Tel: 07771 774006) has a café, bar, lunch and afternoon tea facilities. A short walk along the back of the building takes you to a river trail and mill which is well worth a look and also the second place Keyneston Mill and Gardens DT11 9HZ (ST915036, N50.83185 W 2.22142 Tel: 01258 78602 ) home of Parterre Fragrances and fifty acres of garden estate to explore. There is a teashop which is free to use and gardens costing £8 to go in, plus tours if you book in advance. (Please check opening times in advance due to Covid-19. Both open when we visited in October 2020).

Caedmon – The father of English sacred song

aedmon (d 680) should be the patron saint of and we have the great all farmers who enjoy humming to themselves as historian, Bede, to thank Cthey do the lambing this Spring, for Caedmon for even that much. In of Whitby was a bit like David in the Bible; he grew up his time Caedmon’s gift as a simple herdsman out on the hills who enjoyed of telling Christian stories composing songs and poetry for himself while watching in the vernacular must his flocks. have been of great value Like David, Caedmon also had a keen awareness of in evangelising the God and used his creative gift to express his devotion common folk. and love for his Creator. When his poems and songs Elaine Treharne translates became known to others they liked them so much that Inscription on Caedmon's Cross, Cædmon’s Hymn (from the soon Caedmon left his sheep in order to become a Whitby, North Yorkshire gloss found in a manuscript monk. This gave him time to compose many poems in St Petersburg) into modern English as: based on the stories in the Bible: from Creation and Genesis, to the Exodus and entry of the Jews into the Now we ought to praise the Guardian of the heavenly kingdom, promised land, to the birth, passion and resurrection of The might of the Creator and his conception, Christ, and finally to the future Last Judgement, The work of the glorious Father, as he of each of the wonders, Heaven, and Hell. Eternal Lord, established the beginning. Then one day Caedmon suddenly announced that he He first created for the sons of men knew he was going to die soon; and so he did, in a state Heaven as a roof, holy Creator; of charity and peace with everyone. There was great Then the middle-earth, the Guardian of mankind, mourning. The eternal Lord, afterwards made Sadly, only nine lines of his poetry have survived The earth for men, the Lord almighty.

Endurance is the ability to stand up under adversity; perseverance is the ability to progress in spite of it. – Jerry Bridges

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St Peter’s Church High West Street, Dorchester

Church Correspondent: Jill Bryant

Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news

Weekday Services, Theology Group and Time to Mourn are currently suspended. At St Peter’s we were, as in all churches, unable to have St Peter’s will continue to be open for personal prayer our usual Nine Lessons and Carols service where we all from 10am – 4pm each day. join in lustily. Instead of this, on a Tuesday afternoon, we The Benefice Prayer group will meet in the Hardye had a simple act of praise and thanksgiving led by our Chapel at St. Peter's Church on Fridays at 10.30am for new Rector Revd Keith Magee. Six members of the choir half an hour, with appropriate spacing and hand sang carols and we enjoyed the Christmas story through sanitising. Please call Penny Blaby, 01305 753566 if you the usual readings. We celebrated Christmas with have specific prayer needs, as there is not a book in eucharist at Midnight Mass and on Christmas morning. church at the moment . Both services were inspiring and joyful. Thanks is due to all at St Peter’s who have held us together through what was a challenging year. We are Keith writes … grateful to all retired clergy and to Val Potter and Judy It hardly seems three months since Ruth and I arrived in Cowling and their cheerful helpers. We hope that things Dorchester. In some ways, the time has flown by. We are will improve in the coming year but if not we will not be officially unpacked, we have got rid of all the packing defeated by it! boxes and we are enjoying settling into our new vicarage. All this process has taken place, of course, in a very strange context because of Covid 19. The arriving and A day of happiness settling in process has been slightly muted because we On 2nd January my daughter Rose married Patrick have to be more distanced and restrained in our Burton at St Peter’s. Despite the Covid restrictions it interaction. Nevertheless, we have been wowed by the was a day of great joy. The service was simple and very warmth of the welcome that we have received from the moving. Thanks to John Wood for organising and congregation at St Peter’s and we are very thankful for conducting the service, to Val Potter, to Sara the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us. Beauchamp for the flowers, Kate and Clive for ringing We look forward to a time when we can welcome you to the bells, to David Bruce-Payne for stirring organ music our home and return to you some of the hospitality that and to members of the St Peter’s congregation for we have been shown. We also look forward to a future waiting in the cold to greet us as we came out of time when we can worship and celebrate in an unmasked church. manner and bring back the music, joy and laughter that We could not is so much a part of the spiritual life of St Peter’s. have the planned After consultation with others I took the decision to reception so we follow the advice of our Bishops and changed the style changed into warm of our worship so that it is shorter, simpler and reduces clothes (the bride the need for movement and touching. The service of kept her floral Morning Prayer will continue to be our style worship crown!) and took until we are advised differently. I will review the Prosecco and situation regularly so that we still have an opportunity nibbles to Ringstead to worship together in a manner which is safe while still beach. We toasted giving glory and praise to God. I wish to thank the the happy couple Churchwardens and Sidespersons who prepare our and the many other church for worship and endeavour to keep everyone people on the beach safe during our times together. joined our cheers. Having to do things differently is Christmas 2020 at St Peter’s sometimes This virus has taught us to do things differently and we wonderful! have discovered that differently is often very enjoyable. Jill Bryant

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Taking a mature look at Valentine’s Day Revd Peter Crumpler, priest in St Albans, Herts, and a former communications director for the C of E.

ou do not see many zimmer frames, wheelchairs It’s so wonderful to see the bride and groom or hearing aids on Valentine’s Day cards. They smiling, and enjoying this precious moment, making Ymostly seem to be full of young love, hearts and vows that will, hopefully, span the rest of their lives. I roses. love taking weddings – it’s an immense privilege to be Young love is wonderful and beautiful, full of part of a couple’s special day. optimism, and plans and hopes for the future. I find myself pondering what the future will hold Love in later life is precious too. It is a love that has for them. I wonder what shape that lifelong been forged through years of shared experiences and commitment will take, as I pray a blessing on their joy, maybe raising children together, perhaps enjoying marriage. grandchildren. How much wealth or poverty will come their way? It’s a love that’s stood the test of time, and deeper, Will it be sickness or health that will accompany them much deeper, than any shop bought Valentine’s Day through the years? How will they support each other card can describe. as the years go by? That long term love can also be shown by the devoted ‘Love is patient. Love is kind.’ These are familiar wife or husband who visits their spouse in a care home words from the popular wedding reading in Paul’s each day, gently talking with them when they are, letter to the Corinthians. That patience, that kindness perhaps, deep into dementia; or sitting for long hours by are qualities that can develop over years of marriage. a hospital bed; or dutifully caring for them at home. Just how much patience will be needed in the years Love is a marathon, not a sprint. It starts with white ahead cannot usually be known on the wedding day. lace and promises and grows over the years. So, this year, as I look at the rows of red or pink Mature love is about the commitment that spans Valentine’s Day cards on sale in the shops, I shall decades and is seldom shown on the cards on sale in look out for cards that have a deeper message. the High Street this Valentine’s Day. I shall seek out cards that celebrate long term love. As a priest, when I marry a couple and take them Cards that say something about the joys and through their wedding vows, I hear them make their challenges of growing older together. lifelong commitment “for better, for worse, for richer, Cards that go beyond hearts and roses to the for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to deeper love that transcends love’s first blossoming. I cherish, till death us do part…” just hope I can find some…

arrived, breathless. “Sorry I took so Sign on the tomb of an long” he said, “but she put up a fight! TIME FOR Stupid old thing was hiding under atheist: the bed and I had to poke her with a Here lies an atheist. All dressed up coat hanger and grab her by the and sadly no place to go. A SMILE scruff of the neck to get her out.”

The cat Fire? Dorcas Mothers’ Union A vicar and his wife were going out The team at the local fire station had assembled to hear their training Dorcas MU Bible Study group for the evening and carefully set the meet at 10am individually in our security lights and put the cat out, officer discuss the behaviours of various kinds of fire. He began: “You homes, in these socially distanced but when they opened the door to times, to share in spirit a time of go to the taxi, the cat slipped back in pull up to a house and notice puffs of smoke coming from the eaves, but prayer and bible study. Details and disappeared upstairs. Irritated, 260259. the vicar followed it. the windows are blackened out and The wife waited with the taxi there is little or no visible flame. Wednesday 10 February driver. Not wanting him to know What does this tell you?” he asked. For Such a Time. Genesis 9: 8-13. that they were leaving the parsonage Hoping the men recognised signs (Part 1 USPG course) empty, she said: “My husband is just of a possible ‘back draft’, a Wednesday 24 February upstairs for a quick word with my condition very dangerous to fire Creation. Psalm 19:1-6. (Part 2 mother”. fighters, he heard instead: “It tells USPG course) A few minutes later the husband me I’ve got the right house”.

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We have more than the Covid-19 Crisis to deal with. Mary Foskett

was listening to Sunday Worship on 10 January on trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of Radio 4 presented by Martin Palmer (see below),an other practices? ‘All of these reflect a generous and Ienvironmentalist, about the crisis of global warming worthy creativity which brings out the best in human and climate change and the importance of caring for the beings’. (from Laudate Si) environment for the sake of everyone living on the ‘Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also planet at present and for the future. It is our common capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what home. It made me think about how long we have been is good, and making a new start, despite their mental hearing about this. It was from well before Pope Francis and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest produced his Encyclical Laudate Si in 2015 discussing look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep how everything is closely interrelated and we cannot dissatisfaction, and to embark on new paths to authentic separate out the overuse of the earth’s resources albeit to freedom. No system can completely suppress our boost wealth, national economies and technological openness to what is good, true and beautiful, or our advances from caring for the environment so that future God given ability to respond to his grace at work deep in generations are able to flourish and be nurtured by its our hearts. I appeal to everyone throughout the world beauty and abundance. Have we forgotten how much of not to forget this dignity which is ours. No one has the a crisis this continues to be because it has been around right to take it from us.’ (from Laudate Si) for a while? Greta Thunberg, just 18 years old, has been reminding us articulately for the last 2 years. On a personal note, The crisis we are most aware of at present is the I definitely have a better relationship with my garden Covid-19 pandemic and it feels very personal as our birds, one half of my wide Edwardian window in the lives and those of our loved ones are in danger. We kitchen now has secondary glazing, (they had run out of hear about those who care for the seriously ill, the work magnetic tape before lockdown so the other half has to of the scientists and the development of the vaccines as wait until they unlock us), and I am going to change my well as the poverty due to the deteriorating economic green energy supplier after help from the CAB with situation as businesses close, and we are asked to accept comparing suppliers. Are there things in our churches restrictions on our lives. Is it possible that this which could be more environmentally friendly eg. pandemic could help us be more environmentally aware changing to LED lightbulbs, changing to green energy ‘encouraging ways of acting which directly and suppliers, maybe doing things together more? significantly affect the world around us, such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water St Mary’s has changed to LEDs as many as possible of its light consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can bulbs and we do use a ‘green’ energy supplier (at greater cost); reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living we are once again considering installing solar panels following beings, using public transport or car pooling, planting changes in planning regulations. Robert Potter

He was brought up on a huge public WWF, asked him to organise the first Martin housing estate on the outskirts of Bristol, ever meeting between major faiths and where his father was a vicar. His first job the main conservation movements in Palmer was as an advisor on religious education in Assisi, Italy. In 1995, he launched, with schools in Manchester and as part of that Prince Philip, the Alliance of Religions and he founded, in Salford, the world’s first Conservation (ARC) which now works multi-faith education centre. with every major religious tradition A writer, broadcaster, In 1983 WWF-UK asked him to write worldwide developing environmental religious historian and the first book for schools on how different programmes based upon the tradition’s environmentalist. beliefs shape the way you treat the natural own teachings, schools, landholding, He heads the Alliance of Religions and world. Worlds of Difference became the investments, festivals etc. Conservation (ARC), a charity linking best selling RE book ever and went into He is an Anglican but not perhaps an religions and the environment, which he 12 languages. It launched the whole orthodox one as his faith has been founded with Prince Philip in 1995, and movement of taking seriously the role of deeply influenced by both Daoism and he is also a translator of Chinese classics: faith in the protection of our planet and Judaism. He speaks regularly around the his new version of the Confucian classic its nature. world on a range of topics from the role Shang Shu, was published in 2014 with In 1986 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, of stories to the role of faith in Penguin. who was then International President of conservation.

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St Andrew’s Church West Stafford

Church Correspondent: Tim Dennis

Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news

Services Churchyard St Andrew’s is now closed for services but is open for We have received List B authority to carry out work to private prayer on Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm. This our large lime trees, so this is now with the tree will continue during the lockdown. We are very grateful surgeon to obtain the consent of the Conservation to the retired Clergy and LLMs who had been taking Officer. This might actually be a job completed before our services prior to closure. Spring! Team Vicar Shrove Tuesday Welcome to the Reverend Cora Yarrien as the new We will miss the usual Team Vicar of St George’s and St Andrew’s. pancake afternoon hosted Having been Licensed on the 10th January, Cora will by the St George’s Team. now be well settled in and becoming accustomed to our Here’s an idea. A virtual oddities! Covid restrictions necessitated the Licensing pancake tossing being carried out virtually with the participants and competition using Zoom. congregation in their own homes. It all went very This will require the added smoothly thanks to good Zoom management. expertise of staying within camera shot whilst trying to What a felicitous idea to hold a virtual drinks party recover from a bad start. A landing out of shot after the Licensing. Thanks Cora. wouldn’t count.

Ash Wednesday My memory of the Passover in Jerusalem

David Winter

sh Wednesday introduces the Christian unleavened bread – Matzos as we now call it. We also preparation for Easter, which normally coincides drank plenty of wine but not from the cup at the end of Awith Passover, the major Jewish celebration of the table. That is ‘Elijah’s cup’, only to be drunk from the year. It’s near Easter because Jesus was crucified at when the prophet comes to announce the arrival of the Passover, having just shared this very last meal with His Messiah. At the last supper Jesus instructed His disciples. disciples to drink from that cup after supper, which may Passover celebrates and recalls the Israelites’ escape have shocked them at the time. The Messiah had come! from slavery in Egypt. Led by Moses they crossed the Red Sea and 40 days later entered the ‘Promised Land’. The Revd Canon David Winter They shared the Passover meal at their last night in David Winter has had four working lives: as a teacher, Egypt and have kept it for nearly all the past three journalist, BBC producer (radio and television and then thousand years or so that have followed. Head of Religious Broadcasting) and finally as a parish priest in the Church of England. Now retired, he lives in Berkshire, Many years ago, when I was in Jerusalem to produce writes endlessly, though his 44th book, Heaven’s Morning a radio programme, I was invited to join a Jewish family (Rethinking our Destination) will, he says, be his last. He still for their Passover meal. It was a great occasion, very like does a diary column and reviews books for the ‘Church our Christmas, a family event with deep religious Times’. He contributed to Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ significance for those who seek it. for twenty years, until faced with the winter of 2013 he At the meal in Jerusalem, we ate modest lentils and decided to stop getting up at 6am on cold mornings.

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Churchills gift as an orator.

In no particular order The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. If you’re going through hell, keep going. A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. something, sometime in your life. I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. matter. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in what we give. a single word: freedom, justice, honour, duty, mercy, hope. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. continue that counts. The best argument against democracy is a five-minute My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and conversation with the average voter. you will still be ugly. History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

Hope for 2021: Celebrating the now and future creation Ruth Bancewicz, Church Engagement Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge

find that watching buds swelling on trees and plants are not ‘natural disasters’, but are almost certainly during the winter months gives me a tremendous caused by environmental destruction and poor farming Isense of hope. We may all need some need extra practices – either from greed or the desperation born of hope for 2021, after the events of 2020. By the time you poverty. Part of the answer to the current crisis is for us read this a number of us may have been fortunate to care for all of Creation, both human and everything enough to receive a COVID vaccine, but all of us will else, with God’s help. probably still be under various kinds of restrictions. Our ultimate hope is in God’s promise that He will After creation’s winter shut down the sight of tiny bring about a new heavens and new earth. We can look flowers poking out of brown earth may be more forward to the day when Creation will be fully important than ever. redeemed and liberated from evil. The Greek word used Getting outdoors during daylight hours, enjoying to describe the new creation is the same as that used to green spaces and getting some fresh air and exercise are describe someone who becomes a Christian, whose great ways to keep ourselves healthy at any time of year. humanity is restored and renewed. There will be A psychologist colleague wrote, “Attending to the details continuity between the old and new earth as it is of nature can also inspire awe, which has been linked to cleansed and purified, surpassing and perfecting what positive mood and increased life satisfaction.” I expect has gone before. There will also be some discontinuity, it is this sense of awe that makes it easier for many of us as there will be no more suffering or death. to connect with God outdoors. So, one source of hope for 2021 is that we can enjoy Helping ourselves and others to thrive is a good start both caring for and meeting God in Creation. The to 2021, but it is also vital to have hope for the future. parts of Creation that we find most beautiful, giving us The Covid-19 pandemic was caused by an animal virus a sense of awe and helping us to worship, are also a jumping into the human population. Diseases like this reminder that there is something much better to come.

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Ride+Stride - a record result! in its 60th year.

Dorset Historic Churches Trust

orset Historic Churches Trust has announced to repair leaking roofs, to prop up sagging walls and that its annual fundraising event, the install better community facilities. DRide+Stride for Churches held in September, The Trust’s Chairman, John Stokoe, explained how raised an amazing £110,000 – a record amount – in its delighted he is to announce this result. “There was a 60th year. point in the year when we considered calling off the whole event,” he said, “but we have been blessed with great supporters all over the county and I thank them all wholeheartedly.” The Trust hopes to encourage the move to make church buildings the centres of their communities, especially in rural areas where churches are often the oldest and largest structure in each town or village. Over 160 parishes all round Dorset took part in the 2020 event, helped by a team of local organisers. Each parish will have 50% of the money raised by its efforts returned directly to its home church for its own use. Since 1960 Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) has grant aided maintenance work for churches and chapels of all Christian denominations in Dorset. Total John Stokoe, with enthusiastic participant grants awarded over the last 5 years have averaged over Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, at Sherborne Abbey £110,000 per annum. The priority has always been to assist with weatherproofing roofs and stonework. There was some considerable doubt about asking the DHCT’s principal source of funds is the annual charity’s members and friends to take part in a sponsored Ride+Stride for Churches around Dorset’s sponsored walk, cycle or canter in this challenging year over 300 churches and chapels. In 2019, nearly 175 with all its restrictions. In the end the outcome parishes took part, raising more than £84,000. surpassed every previous year. In recent years, significant funds have been granted The beautiful and historic church buildings of Dorset to assist communities to adapt their cherished church are in greater need of support than ever with incomes buildings for wider use. Further details of the work of sharply down because of the pandemic. This heartening the Trust can be found on result means that more grants can be made to churches https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/news/ride-stride

These United States are confronted with an economic Backwards glimpses affliction of great proportions…It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people.” What do presidents say on the day that they become President of 2001: George W Bush: “While many of our citizens the United States? Here are some brief glimpses backwards prosper, others doubt the promise, even the justice, of 1961: John F Kennedy: “We observe today not a our own country. The ambitions of some Americans are victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — limited by failing schools and hidden prejudice and the symbolising an end, as well as a beginning — signifying circumstances of their birth. Sometimes our differences renewal… Let the word go forth from this time and run so deep, it seems we share a continent, but not a place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been country.” passed to a new generation of Americans…. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for

you—ask what you can do for your country.” February Crossword Answers

21, Recede. 23, Cure. 23, Recede. 21,

1981: Ronald Reagan: “Can we solve the problems Furrow. 20, it. Daub 18, Starve. 17, Vanish. 16, Awe. 15, confronting us? Well, the answer is an unequivocal and Plotting. 14, CBI. 12, all. Add 7, spec. On 6, Omar. 5,

emphatic ‘yes.’ To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did Exhort. 4, Islamist. 3, Hophni. 2, Oceans. 1, DOWN: 24, RAC. 25, Sovereign Lord. Lord. Sovereign 25, RAC. 24,

not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of account. No 22, Offer. 19, Visited. 16, Typical. 13, Sci-fi. 11, presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest Apocrypha. 10, Ash. 9, Cross-examined. 8, ACROSS: economy…The business of our nation goes forward.

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Dorchester Churches Together Compiled by Val Potter 264416

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 ‘As One’ Initiative. The theme for 2021 was 'Abiding in Christ' based on Even before the pandemic the members of the Enabling John 15:1-17 “Abide in my love and you shall bear much Group of Churches Together were talking about fruit”. The word ‘abide’ is worth thinking about - staying showcasing all the ways in which we and others are with, resting in, living in, and applying these to making a difference in the community, and discussing remaining in the love of God is a very helpful thought the possibility of an Ecumenical service. A national at this difficult time. The reflections offered to us ecumenical initiative, ‘As One’, has caught something included these thoughts from the Swiss Sisters of the of these ideas, aiming to take the community spirit of Grandchamp Community who prepared this year’s lockdown to continue to build community, turning a material: negative experience into a positive one. As One has Spirituality and solidarity are inseparably linked. four suggestions for action: Prayer and action belong together. When we abide in • Fill the town with banners re-affirming community Christ, we receive the Spirit of courage and wisdom to engagement. Banners from the council, churches, act against all injustice and oppression. community organisations, schools and businesses. Jesus calls us to abide in him, as branches of the true • Churches hold a joint Memorial Service for the local vine. He calls us to bear the fruit of God’s healing and community, helping to bring peace to all dealing reconciling love. He calls us to draw closer to God and with loss and trauma – as a community, gathered to one another as we offer this love to the world. together. Imagine a circle drawn on the ground. Imagine that • A Back Together Celebration, in the form of local this circle is the world. At the centre of the world is tea parties, helping neighbours to get to know each God, in whom all our desires and longings find their other. meeting place. As we move closer to God, so we draw • Finally, on the back of consistent prayer for their closer to one another. And the closer we come to one own streets, church members help form Street another . . . …the closer we come to God. Associations where they do not already exist, to help These words are recited daily by the Sisters: relationships to develop and loneliness retreat. We pray and work that God may reign. Throughout our days let the Word of God breathe life into work and rest. Some of these ideas will be considered for what May we maintain inner silence in all things so as to dwell in Christ. might be appropriate for Dorchester later in the year. May we be filled with the spirit of the Beatitudes: joy, simplicity, mercy. Quiet Space Dorset Climate Action Network. During the lockdown many organisations are looking The Dorchester Area Churches Ecology Group is always to the future. Some will continue to provide their happy to work with others on climate and services online but several are looking for premises for environmental issues. We have now joined the Dorset planned activities. The Quiet Space is particularly Climate Action Network, and Brother Hugh attends appropriate as a peaceful venue for support groups their meetings on our behalf. So what is the Network? and two new ones, for mental health and for bereaved ‘Our Network has been set up in response to the parents, are hoping to begin sessions in the Quiet rapidly growing public concern about the impact of Space when Covid cases decline and rules for climate change, the use and abuse of the world’s gatherings are loosened. We are also looking forward resources, the loss of wildlife and the related threats to to welcoming Dorchester Family Church who wish to social justice at global, national and local level. The make a weekly booking to record their music and Network aims to stimulate awareness of these issues and songs for their online services. to support action by people and local organisations We are in discussion with the Duchy for a short term throughout Dorset county, as a complement to action by extension of the lease until the future becomes clearer. national government, Dorset Council, BCP Council and other agencies. We are in process of building our membership, particularly among town and parish Lent Course councils, community led organisations and individuals. An unusual Lent course from Churches Together in We stand ready to work with Dorset Council in Britain and Ireland. The Poet’s Gospel explores a implementing agreed measures. We are ready to re-working of the Gospels in verse, written by someone contribute to the public engagement activity proposed working through the pain of loss of his wife. by Dorset Council’. https://ctbi.org.uk/lent-study-2021/

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Thoughts and Smiles from the Editor

appy New Year to all our readers. Thank you Valley, Hilton, Cheselbourne and Melcombe Horsey. to all those who have sent messages and cards Father Roger Butcher and Ginny perfect start and Htelling us how much they enjoy receiving and close to any day, many thanks to them both. reading the Benefice Magazine. I will try and do even https://www.facebook.com/piddlevalley/ better this year and not be beaten by a virus, well not a medical one, publishing has many viruses to cope A story to make you smile – well it did me with so had some practice, all troublesome but none During my surgical residency I was called out of a life threatening like Coronavirus, although at times it sound sleep to the emergency room. Unshaven and feels as if they are. with tousled hair, I showed up with an equally Our churches looked beautiful to welcome the birth unpresentable medical student. In A&E we of Jesus and most of us were able to visit them and encountered the on call medical resident and his appreciate the complete joy of proclaiming the magical student, both neatly attired in clean white lab coats. story of the birth. Unfortunately there were no The resident said to his student, “You can always tell Christingle services or crib services, for me personally the surgeons by their absolute disregard for very sad. The one time on Christmas Eve I have all appearance”. Two evenings later I was at a banquet my grandchildren in church for us to worship as a when called to A&E for another emergency. I was family. They all said they were missing the start of stitching away, wearing my dinner jacket, when I Christmas, especially my Rocco who still insists he will encountered that same medical resident. He looked at be a King in the procession at St Mary’s next year me then said to his student “Sure is sensitive to despite the fact he will be 16. His response to our criticism, isn’t he?” lovely verger who felt he was rather large was “I am not too old the Kings were men”!! Well can’t argue More Smiles with that so no doubt he will expect to be in December, you have been warned Cynthia. Two boys were walking home from church after We have welcomed Rev Keith Magee our new hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to Rector, also Rev Cora Yarrien to St George’s and look the other, “What do you think about all this Satan forward to welcoming a new vicar to St Mary’s in the stuff?” The other boy replied, “Well, you know how very near future. Santa Claus turned out. It’s probably just your Dad.” Looking forward to having a Diary page return to My grandson, Rocco, watched a live streaming service the front of the magazine with all the clubs, talks, with his father one Sunday morning. His mother services and events. We have been missing so much wanted to know how it went. He said, “The music for so many months now. Looks as if some of us will was nice, but the commercial was too long”. Think we still have a main Sunday service but sadly many will can all identify with that at times. feel it is too big a risk to venture out. Fortunately there are a number of services on line for those with internet access. As well as following Salisbury Cathedral I also follow Southwark Cathedral (which was my cathedral during my time living in London 1968–1980) each evening. I join Dean Andrew Nunn for the compline service along with a number of others from around the country and world all who have strayed far away from London over the years. One day I had a message from one of the people, a Nigel Skyman, said he thought he knew me, had picked up some remarks from me and did I come from Retford? Turned out in the 1960’s we lived just round the corner from each other, literally yards away. Never fails to amaze me how small the world gets as you get older and social media get larger. I also follow The Benefice of the Piddle

As any member of a church committee will tell you, after all is said and done there’s a lot more said than done.

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Bookworm Jean Lang

The next day the first V2 rockets hit London. The V2s were the world’s first ballistic missiles – a 12,500kg projectile carrying 1,000kg of explosives. A V2 could cover the 200 miles from its Dutch launch site to London in around five minutes. Travelling at up to three times the speed of sound the rockets gave no warning of their arrival. Of the 1359 V2 rockets aimed at London 517 detonated in the target area killing 2,511 people and seriously injuring 5,869 with a further 484 V2s detonating in the Home Countries. Robert Harris latest novel “V2” concentrates on the efforts of the British to find and destroy the launch sites and the efforts of the German military and scientists to improve the accuracy and reliability of the bombs. Although by late 1944 the war was being won by the Allies on many fronts V2s were having an appalling effect on the morale in London. They were so much more deadly and they were much more accurate in where they fell – falling on or near specific sites, for instance the Royal Chelsea Hospital (where 3 were killed and 30 injured) and Smithfield Market (105 killed and 340 injured). Robert Harris follows the Whizz Bang! engineer Rudi Graf working in Scheveingen and Kay n the 13th June 1944 the Germans launched Caton-Walsh a WAAF officer who is transferred to a the first of the flying bombs – the small team working out of Belgium whose job it is to OVergeltungswaffe – V1s. Initially not plot the trajectory of the bombs. If they can do so successful, of the ten fired only four reached Britain accurately enough linking the trajectory with the exact and only one led to fatalities – 6 people killed in point of impact then they should be able to work back Bethnal Green London. Launched from the French to where the bombs are fired from and destroy the sites. and Dutch coasts the V1 flying bomb was a pilotless As always with Robert Harris the book is aircraft packed with an 850kg warhead. The approach meticulously researched (with a list of sources at the of the V1 could be heard from some way off and cut end) and the main protagonists are engaging. He out before landing. V1s tended to be isolated and manages not to cast the Germans as stage villains although the blast caused substantial damage the showing that each side was doing a job which they did bombs could often be spotted before they landed with to the best of their abilities. The ending is a slight damp rescue services being able to be mobilised quickly. By squib, but overall an easy read and one that sent me the beginning of September 1944, the V1 launch sites back to look at what really happened. in Northern France had been shut down by the “V2” advance of the Allied forces and on 7th September the Government Minister Duncan Sandys told the By Robert Harris press that the attacks on London were almost over. Hutchinson £20

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