Wickham Bishops Parish Magazine June 2019

Produced by St Bartholomew’s Church www.churchinwickhambishops.org.uk

Church Services for June

At St Bartholomew’s and St Nicholas

SUNDAY 2 Seventh Sunday of Easter 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Parish Eucharist 4.00 pm Messy Church

MONDAY 3 8.30 am Parish Prayers at the start of the month

WEDNESDAY 5 10.15 am Holy Communion

SUNDAY 9 Pentecost 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Parish Eucharist 4.00 pm Choral Evensong at St Nicholas, Little Braxted

WEDNESDAY 12 10.15 am Holy Communion

SUNDAY 16 Trinity Sunday 9.00 am Parish Eucharist at St Nicholas, Lt Braxted 10.30 am Morning Praise in the Church Hall

WEDNESDAY 19 10.15 am Holy Communion at St Mary’s Chapel, Little Braxted

SUNDAY 23 Trinity 1 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) 10.30 am Parish Eucharist 12.30 pm Baptism 6.00 pm Deanery Evensong at St Andrew’s Hatfield Peverel

WEDNESDAY 26 10.15 am Holy Communion

SUNDAY 30 Trinity 2 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Parish Eucharist

Parish Register

Baptisms None

Marriages None

Funerals None

Parish Contacts

Revd Hilary The Rectory, 1 Church Road, 01621 892867 Le Sève Wickham Bishops CM8 3LA Hilary’s day off Priest in Charge [email protected] is Friday.

Revd Derek Clark The Leas Farm 01245 380619 Wickham Bishops Road Priest / Curate Hatfield Peverel 01245 380627 CM3 2JL (with answer phone)

Barry Cousins 3 Harvey Road 01621 891355 Great Totham CM9 8QA Churchwarden [email protected] Graham Wingrove 8 Arbour Lane 07398 025442 Wickham Bishops Churchwarden CM8 3NS

Peter Bates 10 Church Green 01621-893173 Wickham Bishops Magazine Editor [email protected] Kath Adkins [email protected] 01621-891143

Church Hall Bookings

Letter from Reverend Hilary

Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson drew our attention to the melting of the Greenland Icesheet with blocks of ice cast from it harvested from the fjord and displayed outside The Tate Modern over the winter as they melted. Since then David Attenborough’s ‘Climate Change – The Facts’ broadcast by the BBC in April caused us to come face to face with the reality of climate change and the impact of human behaviour on it. His focus on the damage we create through plastic waste has been influential in encouraging many of us to reduce our use of plastic (not least wet wipes and other single use products). He warns that plastic pollution is an ‘unfolding catastrophe that has been overlooked for far too long’. It was time to act ‘not only for the health of our planet, but for the well-being of people around the world’. The United Nations sponsored report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services disturbingly cites how ‘nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history’. Now a sixteen-year-old girl with pigtails, Greta Thunberg, speaks with authority on the damage we have caused to our planet – not only addressing Parliament in April but those seeking to raise awareness through Extinction Rebellion and school strikes. People of faith and none are eating less meat and deciding to travel less by plane and car. Imaginations are being stirred as we appreciate that future people might end up suffering in ways that we would not want to suffer ourselves. Ecological stewardship and caring about people beyond our own selves and family is crucial for taking the political and economic steps needed to prevent the development of flooding, famine, and intolerable temperatures. We talk of ‘tipping points’. Perhaps this year, as Paul Vallely* suggests, ‘the psychological tipping-point has arrived’.

*’The growing clamour for climate action’ The Church Times 10th May 2019 p15

Women’s Christian Fellowship ... "Fire Safety in the Home" was the title of our talk in April, and our speaker was Mr Scott Kincaid, a Community Fire Officer from Essex Fire Brigade. Scott gave us many useful tips to keep our homes safe, and said that the biggest cause of a house fire was a distraction, such as a phone call or answering the door. The answer to that was always turn the hob off, especially chip pans which should never be left unattended. We were also told never to leave appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers on overnight or charge mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc for that length of time either. Scott was able to answer members questions about fire alarms, extension leads and multi plugs among others and we all came away feeling much more confident about our families safety. The Fire Brigade also offer a free fire check and alarm fitting service which members were able to book if needed. We had a "Bring and Buy" table to help with our charitable donations and the afternoon closed with refreshments and birthday cards. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, June 26 when we will be having our Summer Tea Party. If you haven't yet put your name down please speak to a committee member for catering purposes. Denise Yelland

Drop-in For Tea and Cake On the second and fourth Monday afternoons.

We meet from 2.30pm to 4pm ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH HALL Transport is available - please ask Sue We look forward to seeing you - Sue (892032)

VISITS

CRAFTS PERU STORY FOOD FUN

Sunday 2nd June at 4 p.m. in the Church Hall

Easter – Reflection on Church Services

The intensely moving service of Tenebrae in St Nicholas’ on Good Friday marked the approaching night of Christ’s death and absence, symbolised as candles were extinguished one by one between readings and the congregation left the church in silence. What is then a time of waiting ‘between suffering, aloneness and unutterable waste on the one hand and the dream of liberation, of rebirth on the other’* was brought to an end on Easter morning. The newly lit Paschal Candle pierced the morning twilight as it was brought into St Bartholomew’s at dawn. Scripture readings of God’s saving love reminded us that the light of Christ cannot be held in the darkness of the tomb.

Tenderly introducing the 10.30am service with Sumsion’s introit ‘Thou wilt keep him in Perfect Peace’, the choir, with singers drawn from both the church and locality went on to lead the congregation in the classic Easter hymns (amongst them ‘Jesus Christ is risen today’ and of course ‘Thine be the glory’) accompanied not only by our organist Paul Strong but by musicians playing the violin, cello and flute. The gospel favourite ‘Steal Away’ touchingly shaped the mood during the distribution of communion. Together with the choir, musicians lifted, even further, the joy of the celebrations with the ‘Gloria in excelsis deo’ from Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’.

Over Good Friday and Easter Day over 250 adults and 35 children were present at our services (including the Easter Holiday Club) served by those who, amongst others, had cleaned and the buildings, decked them with flowers, cooked the delicious breakfast, hid chocolate eggs, prepared crafts, served at the altar and of course conscientiously rehearsed the music amongst the many other ways. As we continue to enjoy the Easter gardens in our churches and ponder what the great resurrection narrative brings to humankind, thanks are to be given to all involved and for the gifts so generously shared. These gatherings have the power to refresh our vision of communal and spiritual life.

*George Steiner – Philosopher and theologian

A Spring Evening Delight – May 4

It isn’t often you see a “sold out” sign outside a church but the Spring Evening Concert on May 4 was definitely a sell-out, raising over £1500 towards refurbishment.

After a day of extreme weather (we had hailstones, torrential rain and bright sunshine all in that one day) that belied the season, the excited audience seemed happy to exchange the comfort of their armchairs at home for a hard pew in a Victorian church. There were clearly no regrets, judging from the applause throughout.

Paul Strong, the church organist, had brought together a talented group of musicians that were equally happy to play ensembles from ABBA and Les Miserables as they were classical duets from Vivaldi, Mozart or Fauré. Throw in some crowd-pleasers like the Dambusters March, a haunting cello version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and the rousing Last Night of the Proms section and the audience was ready to raise the roof, never mind redecorate it.

Perhaps the interval wine and food had dissolved the traditional English reserve since there was no shortage of enthusiastic flag-waving and robust patriotic singing, leaving everyone wanting more.

With a bit of luck there will be more in 2020 but get your order in early!

Thank you to Stewart Adkins for the article and Nadia Harvey for the photograph

Carpet Bowls ... Our AGM was held on 9th April when 17 members were present. This was followed by our final bowling session. Our annual Club Lunch on 26th March at the Ship Inn in Tiptree was enjoyed by 14 members. All League Clubs have completed their matches and the winners in our area were Feering for the 8th consecutive year. Purleigh were runners-up. The Area Shield Tournament was won by Chelmer Village with Purleigh runners-up – the score being 9-7. If anyone would like to try their hand at carpet bowls, we play in the Great Totham Village Hall from September to early April - 7.30 pm - 10.00 pm - on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except the 4th Tuesday and 2nd Thursday of each month when other clubs use the hall). All equipment is provided. The first two evenings attended are free. If you would like further details please contact me on 892286. We commence our next season on Tuesday 10th September. Jean Cloughton

THE BEACON HILL SPORTS ASSOCIATION (a Registered Charity) Facilities Management Service Contract Proposals are invited for a Facilities Management Service for the Wickham Bishops Village Hall and grounds, and for the Sports Ground and facilities at Rainbow Fields, Wickham Bishops. Duties include:  performing various periodical checks of the Association’s premises and grounds, and making regular reports to the Association’s managing Trustees  obtaining estimates and arranging contracts with outside contractors and monitoring their work and supplies  provision of an on-call service Note that it will be an advantage for staff to have evidence of DBS check. Date for commencement of contract is anticipated to be 1st October 2019. An initial contract period of 2 years will be subject to a satisfactory 3 months probation period. Full details of work scope with contract terms and conditions are available from the BHSA Chair at the address below. Written applications giving full details of the company, together with relevant experience and qualifications should be sent to: Ms E Coeshall - Beacon Hill Sports Association Village Hall, Church Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3JZ to be received no later than 15th June 2019 Please mark envelope "Contract Application"

BEACON HILL SPORTS The Arts Society ASSOCIATION Blackwater

presents

JAZZ

at Wickham Bishops Village Hall Thursday 6th June 2019 Next Meeting: British Seaside Holiday 8th June 2019 History, Architecture and Entertainment Simon Nelson's Jackie Marsh-Hobbs Dixiemix Preceded by the AGM at 10 am Visitors welcome - all enquiries to Bring your own refreshments. Seating is at tables and reserved. Jennifer Allen 01621 891589 Start time 7.30pm. Meetings are normally held at the Wickham Bishops Village Hall at 11 am Contact Visit our website Peter on 07548 775777 www.theartssocietyblackwater.org.uk

Wickham Bishops Men's Badminton Club WICKHAM BISHOPS ART GROUP

We are looking for new members to join us.

We are a social badminton club We meet on Wednesdays and play at Wickham Bishops from 2 pm - 4 pm at Village Hall on Tuesday evenings St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall and at 8pm and welcome new players are a friendly, of all standards. informal group with varying abilities.

Please contact First few weeks are free and yearly subs are £60. Jenny on 01621 891246 Just turn up on the night or or Rita on 01621 891130. email Bill on [email protected] for more information. We look forward to meeting you.

Wickham Bishops Women’s Institute ... At our meeting in April our speaker was Sharon Flowers who gave a talk on 'Repair or Make Anything Out of Fabric'. Sharon demonstrated a powder that could be used on repairs, hemming trousers, making bags, pictures and anything with fabric. A fascinating talk given by a very enthusiastic speaker. Members purchased the powder, so it is a case of watch this space! Our AGM this month will be accompanied by a Ploughman's Lunch. Our speaker in June will be Kay Ball who is returning to talk to us about Make Up, and our competition is a Posy of Flowers. In July we have Ann Mathews MBE who will be talking about her Life in Guiding. Our meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month in the Church Hall from 2.00pm - 4.00pm, and we are always pleased to welcome visitors and new members. For further information please contact our secretary Sharon O'Connell 01621 891631. Essex Field Club ... The Essex Field Club is the oldest naturalist group in Essex. Our members contribute to much important research on Essex wildlife and its geology. We visit areas across the county to record wildlife, habitats and geology. We will be visiting Saxonbury Wood (part of Chantry Wood) in June 2019. The Club holds nationally and regionally important collections and an extensive natural history library. This is housed in the Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Basildon. The Green Centre is normally open every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday between 11am - 4pm and Wednesdays between 10am – 4pm. Every summer the Club hosts the largest free natural history show in the county. This hopes to inspire an interest in natural history and is aimed at youngsters and families. This year’s event is on Sunday 11th August, 11am-5pm at the Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Basildon SS16 4UH. The Essex Field Club is run solely by volunteers; from organising field meetings to editing the newsletters, updating the website and running the visitors centre. To join the Essex Field Club please go to our website for a downloadable membership form www.essexfieldclub.org.uk You can also find us on Facebook – we have a page and a closed group where members share their photos, news and stories. For more information about any aspect of the Essex Field Club’s work please email Fiona Hutchings on [email protected]

Wickham Bishops Garden Festival

14th June 2020 Building on our long tradition of “Open Gardens” the new Garden Festival is set to thrill and excite the village in 2020 Many innovative new ideas will ensure that 2020 could be the best “Open Gardens” event ever in our village and we are now offering the opportunity for new participants to join the fun. This biennial event raises money to maintain and repair our beautiful village church and has proved extremely popular over many years. We are looking for a small number of new gardens to open on the day and the organising committee will provide advice and support to ensure that your participation is both enjoyable and successful. Large, small, quirky or just plain interesting? Yes - your garden will certainly fit the bill. As a bonus, the committee has arranged for all next year’s participating gardens to be photographed by a gardening specialist, as a legacy for the future.

We will be attending the ‘Welcome and Social Evening’ on 20th June, to chat about what opening your garden is really all about, or you may call: Wendy Wallace on 01621 893360 or Stewart Adkins on 07775 672547

Do You Need Transport To Attend Hospital And Doctor’s Appointments?

Help is at hand

Please call Ruth Johnson on 893636 or [email protected]

There are some local drivers who are happy to take you to Broomfield, Springfield or St Peter’s Hospital

A small donation to cover parking and petrol would be appreciated

News from Neighbourhood Watch ... Village news: Things seem to be quiet in Wickham Bishops at present (touch wood). However please be aware that there are still thieves about and remain vigilant. If you see a crime in progress phone 999 immediately (this includes hare coursing). Do not put yourself in any danger by confronting criminals. Suspicious activity should be reported by phoning 101. There have been some instances of fly-tipping. If you come across fly-tipped material please ring Maldon Council and report it. They will come and remove offending items. NHW Street Coordinators: Due to the loss of some coordinators the following roads no longer have coverage: Blacksmiths Lane Church Green Church Road from Blacksmiths Lane to Mope Lane (Leigh Road side) If you would be willing to volunteer as a street coordinator to cover these roads (the job is not arduous) please contact me to discuss. What you yourself should do if you see a crime being committed or are concerned about suspicious behaviour: If something needs immediate attention from the Police eg someone trying to break into a house or a car dial 999 If you are concerned about suspicious activity or other non- emergency crime eg a car slowing patrolling around with the occupants staring into gardens dial 101 or 01245 491491. Anyone deaf or with hearing or speech problems should phone 01245 452828 To report non- emergency crime online search for www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online/report-non-emergency-crime Let’s all help keep Wickham Bishops a safe place to live, and look out for each other. Sian (Village Coordinator 01621 891510 [email protected])

Great Totham Women’s Institute ... The talk at our May meeting was entitled ‘Doppelgangers Read Poetry’. When Rev. Neil Richardson retired to Braintree a few years ago he found himself being addressed as John as he walked around the town. He was anxious to meet this ‘John’ for whom he was being mistaken and finally met up with John Jemison when both were booked on the same coach trip. The physical resemblance between the two was uncanny and as they got to know each other more they discovered they had both studied at teacher training colleges and had gone on to teach Religious Education. They even had sons who played the didgeridoo! An article about them was published in the Braintree and Witham Times and their story caught the eye of newspaper editors around the world. After taking part in a survey at a London hospital for unrelated lookalikes they were the pair with the most similarities. This led to a programme on Channel Four; a further programme is due to be screened in Australia. It transpired that both gentlemen wrote poetry and we were treated to a wide variety of their compositions; very moving and thought provoking poems from Neil and more light-hearted verse from John, where both Donald and Brexit featured. They finished their programme by reciting together ‘Is your Team Ploughing?’ by A.E. Housman. We look forward to buying copies of their poetry when a booklet is published later this year. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings, held on the second Thursday of the month at Great Totham Village Hall. Information is on the website www.greattothamwi.weebly.com or email [email protected]

Men’s Assembly … On the second Wednesday of each month, around 15 to 20 local men meet to discuss a wide variety of topics and enjoy a relaxed evening in good company, accompanied by beer and refreshments. The meeting in June is scheduled for Wednesday 12th from 8 pm onwards, at The Green Man in Little Braxted and all local men are invited to join us - no rules, no membership forms to fill-in, just £10 on the night to include two drinks and some top-notch bar snacks. For more details please contact Lester Firkins on 01621 892913 or by email: [email protected]

St Bartholomew’s Church Redecoration Appeal ...

With its 120-foot spire visible from the A12, St Bartholomew’s has been a well-known local landmark since 1850. Having completed essential external stonework repairs at St Bartholomew’s Church last year and had the clock dials repainted, the Fabric Committee for the church building is now concentrating its efforts on redecorating (with minor repairs) the interior, increasing flexible space at the chancel step, introducing a retractable screen and projector and, given the funding, upgrading the lighting scheme and possibly sound system. Over £35000 has been raised towards the costs (in the region of £60000). ‘Faculty’ (planning) permissions are to be sought from the Diocesan Advisory Committee and we are hoping for work to be completed in the next 18 months. With a significant footfall through the building per year this communal space serves both the worshipping and non- worshipping community through hiring out the hall, public concerts, meals and of course services (weekly, for weddings and funerals and of course for the great celebrations of Easter and Christmas). For further detail about the scheme drop into the church to look at the display. Donations towards the work are being invited. Gift Aid forms are available in the church. Please make cheques payable to: "Wickham Bishops and Little Braxted PCC" and pass on to the Treasurer Graham Spearman via the Church Wardens (details on Page 4) Account Details: - 40-52-40 00022245 Wickham Bishops with Little Braxted PCC - Reference: Redecoration

From the Parish Council … The Statutory Annual Meeting of the Council was held on 7th May. Councillors re-elected Cllr Mandy Mickelsen as Chairman for 2019-20 and all Councillors declared Acceptance of Office having been returned uncontested at the recent local election. The meeting was followed by the Annual Parish Assembly at which residents were able to hear progress reports from Councillors and to ask questions. The minutes of both meetings can be read on the Parish Council website which is www.wickhambishopsparishcouncil.org A number of volunteers joined Councillors on a very windy Saturday afternoon at the end of April, for the Village Litter Pick. Around 20 sacks of litter were collected although the general opinion was that the village was much less littered than in previous years. We would encourage residents to continue to keep the village tidy. The next meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday 4th June at the regular time of 7.30 pm. A meeting of the Planning Committee will be held if required on Friday 21st June. Councillors may be contacted individually, or via the Parish Clerk on 07542 190176, or by email [email protected]

Update on the Library … A much less busy month than last, but the Library Working Group have continued to plan for the future of our village library. We still hope that Essex CC will have a change of heart and continue to support the smaller branch libraries in the county, but we need to have a solid plan in place should they not be so persuaded. The County Council have indicated that a decision on the future of the Library Service will now be made during July - rather later than originally anticipated. The group have prepared a draft business plan which has been circulated to Parish Councillors and The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, but this cannot be developed much further until we receive a valuation of the library building from Essex CC and, at the time of writing, this is still awaited. We have received more excellent suggestions for potential use of the building for community activities, but, so far, not many people have

Summer Reading Challenge 2019 Volunteers … Essex Libraries are looking for volunteers aged 14 or over to help children develop their enjoyment of reading through Space Chase, Summer Reading Challenge 2019. Every year thousands of children across the county come to the library to take part in a fun reading activity during the summer holidays. The challenge is to read 6 books and their reward is stickers and a medal. As a volunteer you'll help library staff to: • Join children to the Summer Reading Challenge • Talk to children (mainly aged 4 to 11) about their books • Hand out stickers and rewards. You’ll have fun and gain new skills - and it’s great for your CV! We are looking for volunteers who can commit to a minimum of 18 hours from Saturday 20 July to Monday 2 September 2019. Apply online at www.libraries.essex.gov.uk Applications are open until 16 June and the process is quick and easy, so help us to have a blast this summer!

indicated that they would like to join interest groups should they be formed. Should Essex CC decide to continue to run a library service in Wickham Bishops, there is still a good opportunity to use the building for the benefit of the wider community by holding meetings, classes , etc. in the library at a very reasonable cost. Many community schemes fail due to lack of volunteers and supporters - if we want our library to be successful going forward, it is essential that we have the support of local residents. To register your interest, or to make suggestions for possible use of the building, please email me at: [email protected]

Over 50 members attended our meeting in May, to listen to Paul Harrison speak about ‘The Very Best 50 Small Trees for Small Spaces’. Paul is passionate about trees and showed us many varieties suitable for differing locations and soil conditions, each one accompanied by some beautiful photographs, many taken in his own garden. This was Paul’s third visit to us but, regrettably, is likely to be his last as he is retiring from presenting talks at the end of the year. Paul’s garden will be one of those open at the Terling and Fairstead Open Gardens Event on Sunday 2nd June, and certainly looks to be well worth visiting. For more details, search for ’Terling’ on http://www.opengardens.co.uk/ On Friday 14th June we intend to spend a day at two venues close to Bury St Edmunds. The first is Wyken Hall Gardens and Vineyard which also has an excellent restaurant to take lunch, and then a visit to Fullers Mill in the afternoon. The original plan was to hire a coach for this trip but the cost proved inhibitive, so we are travelling in our own cars, leaving Wickham Bishops at around 9.30 am. If you would like to join us, please contact us using the details below - guests would be very welcome. The Horticultural Club has been asked to run the Plant Stall at the Church Summer Fayre on Saturday 8th June from noon until 3 pm. We would welcome donations of plants and other garden-related items to sell on the stall, and would also encourage you to visit the Fayre on that afternoon to buy from us. There are often bargains to be had! Donations may be brought to the Church on the morning of the event or we can collect from you in advance if you contact Peter on 01621 893173. Thank you. We will also have a stall at the ‘Welcome and Social Evening’ on the 20th June (see the inside back cover for more details) so, if you have been thinking of joining us but never quite got around to doing so, please come along for a friendly chat. To contact us please email [email protected] or telephone Stewart on 893360.

Back Words … The photograph on this month’s front cover is one of my own, taken in our back garden about five years ago. The flower holds a particular significance for our family. When my elder step-daughter, Shobe, was 18, she celebrated with a small party. Being from the Philippines, she followed a tradition of her country, whereby the birthday girl dances individually with a number of male friends and relatives, the total number of whom equals the age of the celebrant, in this case 18. Each man then presents her with a single rose, so that by the end, she has collected a bouquet. The flowers were on display at home and as they faded we noticed a number of side-shoots developing. After carefully removing some of these, and planting them in a pot of seed compost, one grew roots and shoots and eventually a bush which bore the most beautiful orange flowers, though unfortunately, not scented. Sadly, the bush succumbed to a particularly dry summer, so we have it no longer, but we still hold the memory of our ‘Shobe Rose’. Best Wishes

Items for the July 2019 magazine should be submitted to the editor by Thursday 13th June 2019 Please send items by email if possible to: [email protected] or place in an envelope marked ‘Parish Magazine’ and deliver to 10 Church Green, Wickham Bishops Priority goes to church events and information connected with Wickham Bishops.

If you would like to place an advert in this magazine please contact John Baker on [email protected] or Tel. 01621 892928

For enquiries regarding distribution of the magazine, please phone Jayne Jennings on 01621 891396

© Wickham Bishops & Little Braxted Parochial Church Council (PCC) Published by the PCC of St Bartholomew Wickham Bishops and St Nicholas Little Braxted. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the PCC nor can the Church guarantee the credentials or performance of any of the advertisers within this publication.

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