Jenny Wren’s Jottings ‘From the Registers’

Thank you for your bird sightings. This year there have been more bullfinches around. Interment at St Chad’s Representing St Michael’s I heard at least five robins singing as I 13 December Doreen Carrington walked down our road recently. and St Chad’s Far Headingley

Two unusual sightings were a grey wagtail in our Funerals garden - and next doors - and a Ring Ouzel. January 2017 60p

Near Drighlington Red Kites and Red Wings have been around at the end of December. My experience of shepherding at St Chad’s

Jenny Wren Courtesy of a local family we had sheep at St Chad’s The way that hand reared sheep look at you is de- 6 December Tania Clifford over Christmas. They arrived on the Friday in tme lightul, full of curiosity and wonder. The sheep also Hook Lecture 2017 at St Chad’s for our crib service the following day. We weren’t added a wonderful sense of reality to the Crib ser- Tuesday 24 January at 7.30pm at Minster sure how many sheep we were getng, so it was vice narratve itself. It made me refect upon how Exploring questons of cultural, racial and with some trepidaton mixed with antcipaton that surreal the appearance of the angels must have religious diversity in Britsh public life with we awaited their arrival. been for the shepherds - the dramatc contrast be- Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Chair of the commission tween the everyday and the supernatural. I hope Four sheep arrived, that produced the landmark report complete with a that for some it enhanced the spiritual meaning of The Future of Mult-Ethnic Britain. Christmas. The sheep evoked a sense of delight and square pen. A

playfulness from the people I would have least ex- Admission is free but by tcket only. To reserve a tcket please contact 22 December William (“Bill”) Simpson young parent kindly the Leeds Church Insttute at [email protected], at St Michael’s came to assist when pected that reacton from. ring 0113 391 7928 or go on-line at www.LCILeeds.org/hook-2016 the sheep arrived. I had not antcipated

Though his instru- how atached we mentality a photo would become to the Hitting the Mark of the sheep found sheep. On their last

Lent course from Church of its way onto Facebook and is perhaps why so many day with us we were Bermuda - based on the people atended this year’s crib service. on the verge of giving Five Marks of Mission

them names. 27 December Ronald (“Ron”) Pascoe One of the things I did not know at the age of 45 “The Church exists by was how to handle a sheep. The answer is to strad- There was one sheep that I called Shona (they were mission, just as fire exists at by burning” Emil Brunner dle them with your legs, grip their horns and ‘walk’ all girl sheep – Shona being nearest equivalent to

them towards the pen, and most importantly not let Shaun) who was the frst to come up to see me. 5 sessions - dates and go. Sheep are resistant to being handled and look Shona looks at you with her head slightly cocked to venue to be confirmed. for any opportunity to escape, any sign of weakness. one side. She was also the last one to get to feed – That was my frst refecton on being a shepherd. which I think made her the most trustng sheep. St Michael's Stage Group presents... On feeding the sheep we discovered that they are It was quite a responsibility. Helen and I would the 2017 pantomime compettve and will fght over food untl they real- count them from the bedroom window before we ise that there is enough for each of them. You could went to bed and walk outside to talk to them as 'Aladdin' say that sheep sometmes do not know what is good soon as we have got up.

for them. Having denigrated our sheep by saying 29 December Norman Walls This experience has reminded me that in the parish that I would also say that they became used to our neighbouring the one where I served as a curate in at St Michael’s voices very quickly, identfying within the frst few Sussex that sheep lived all year round in the Church- 9 - 11 February at 7.30pm hours that Helen and John and Mark and myself The deadline for artcles for the February yard and kept the grass trimmed... Tickets from Janet Lewis editon is: Monday 30 January were not a threat. Tania Clifford RIP Church Calendar, January 2017 Church family news Date Time Services Tania certainly never suffered from a lack of things to Beverley Harfield thanks her friends in the Church th do; her problem was always that she wanted to do too Sunday 8 8:00am Holy Communion at St Chad’s Family for their supportive condolences on the loss much. The same was true of sport. Tania loved to 9:30am Parish Communion at St Chad’s of her daughter, Jackie, on 24th November in the Intensive Care Unit at the Leeds General Infirmary. play hockey and represented Leeds Hockey Club at Epiphany (N.B. Parish Praise next week) junior levels, and netball where she represented her 10:00am Parish Communion, St Michael’s (Baptsm of house team. Christ) 12 noon Holy Communion at St Michael’s Greetings from Revd Jenny Barbour Tania’s favourite participation sport was volleyball. 6:30pm Choral Evensong, both churches Many folk from St Chad's will remember Jenny, who She learned the sport so quickly that after less than a was licenced to St Chad's when she was Chaplain Sunday 15th 8:00am Holy Communion at St Chad’s year of playing she was invited to a weekend junior to Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Beckett Universi- 9:30am Parish Praise at St Chad’s ty). Jenny was among the first group of women to be training camp with the volleyball coaches at Epiphany 2 10:00am Covenant Service at St Michael’s ordained as Priests in the Church of England, and Pond’s Forge. her husband Walter was the Vicar of St Stephen's in 12 noon Holy Communion at St Michael’s Moor Allerton. She developed valued links with stu- Tania was keen to go on the school ski trip to Italy. 6:30pm Choral Evensong, both churches dents living on the Beckett's Park Campus, which Despite being a complete novice she had no intention 8:00pm Worship on the Edge at St Chad’s was then mostly halls of residence, particularly to spend her holiday on the beginners’ slopes. She through a Sunday evening discussion group in the got herself booked onto a course at the Sheffield Ski Sun 22nd 8:00am Holy Communion at St Chad’s Parish Centre after Evensong. Tania wanted to do a skydive at the age of 14, and Village and on the back of that she managed to pass

9:30am Confrmaton service, St Chad’s was dismayed that no company in the UK would take Epiphany 3 Jenny and Walter retired several years ago, moving herself off as an intermediate level skier. She said it 10:00am Parish Communion, St Michael’s to Gloucestershire where their shared ministry con- anyone under the age of 16. Tania’s solution was to was a bit daunting going down some of the bigger Holy Communion at St Michael’s th Week of Prayer 12 noon tinued to flourish as joint "Priests in Charge" of a ru- organise the event on the day of her 16 birthday. runs and suffered a few falls, but that never bothered for Christan 3:00pm Unity Service at Headingley ral parish. I recall once staying with them over their Not only that, she wanted to do the highest available Unity ends Tania. She just met the challenge head on. Methodist Church Harvest Festival weekend, celebrated on the Satur- tandem jump in the UK. day evening in the Parish Hall with a Barn Dance, But it was gigs not sport which were Tania’s main N.B. No Evensong today music provided by a local folk group, ending with The skydive highlighted several characteristics in love. She loved being right at the heart of the rowdiest Sunday 29th 8:00am Holy Communion at St Chad’s community singing of "The Wild Rover" - the Sunday Tania which we all loved dearly: her determination to crowd, and if 9:30am Parish Communion with candlelit Harvest Service was rather more traditional ! achieve whatever ambition entered her head, her there was a Candlemas procession at St Chad’s I have kept in touch in touch with Jenny and Walter completely fearless approach to everything, and a chance to go 10:00am Parish Communion, St Michael’s over the years, now fully retired in the Cotswolds, genuine empathy for people evidenced by her support stage diving, 12 noon Holy Communion at St Michael’s and have been asked to pass on their very best for her favourite charity, Dreams Come True. nothing could 6:30pm Epiphany Carols, both churches wishes to everyone. Nigel Greenwood Tania threw herself into everything school life had to stop her. She offer. As well as playing guitar and singing, Tania also also adored passed grade exams on the violin, clarinet and saxo- music festivals, Please remember in your prayers those getng phone and taught herself to play the piano. particularly if confrmed at St Chad’s later this month: When Tania took the entrance exam for the Grammar dressing up School without a scrap of tuition she turned up at the was involved. John Bradbrook, Juliete James exam and got a mark which earned her one of two ac- For most people, a borrowed ID as a 17-year-old is an St Chad’s Mothers’ Union News and Tom and Leanne Hawthorne ademic scholarships offered by the school. opportunity to have a drink in a pub: for Tania it pre- A happy new year to all members. We have two events Tania was a talented artist as anyone who has seen sented a great opportunity to get herself a tattoo. in January: first of all the Wave of Prayer - this will her pictures will attest. She achieved an A grade in art Her popularity is a testament to how much she was take place across the world where each day some- at Prince Henry’s and did the first year of an art loved by so many people. Tania was just pure joy to where in the world MU members will be praying. Our time of Prayer is on Monday 9 January at 10.30am in course at Notre Dame College. Tania would pour be around, with that infectious laugh and smile, her af- the Lady Chapel. There will be a short act of worship. hours into her artwork with truly impressive results. fectionate manner, her empathy for everyone, her warm generosity, her enthusiasm and zest for life. The Our next meeting is on 12 January at 2pm when our The speed with which Tania picked things up was own Abbie Palmer is speaking to us her title is frightening at times. Whilst this sometimes led to a most beautiful person both inside and out. The Becket Choir is running again this term. Our ‘Motherhood & Ministry: my journey towards a wandering of concentration in lessons (or at college The family can’t put into words how much they are go- frst rehearsal takes place on Thursday 19 January. priestly vocation’. All welcome - please come and sup- not turning up to lessons at all) she was capable ing to miss her. There is a Facebook group called Re- Rehearsals start at 6pm and fnish at 7.45pm. We port one of our own members. Just a reminder that an- enough to get by. She learned the first year A level membering Tania Clifford. Please post messages and nual subs are due £21 and that the new programme is meet in the Jubilee Room of the James Graham maths syllabus in the course of three two hour les- memories on that. available. For further details please contact Elizabeth building at the Headingley Campus (LS6 3QW). sons with a tutor and achieved A grades in both her Please feel free to come along and try us out! on 0113 278 7990 or at [email protected] Malcolm Clifford pure maths papers. News from the Marshalls in Malta Real Santas Leeds Pilgrimage 2016 ... serving those who have fallen through the cracks of society, helping asylum seekers recover their lives.

This man is applying for naturalisaton as he has been here 18 years. This exceeds the requirements for an applicaton (by 8 years) yet there is scant

chance of it being approved. Despite consttutonal

provision for this, it is not the ‘done thing’. This man arrived in Malta when he was 48. He turns 67 next year. Dare we pray, and what do we pray for?

We returned to Malta in late September and within a month found ourselves needing new accommoda- ton. This was sudden, unexpected and no fault of our own. In short, our landlord had become em- broiled in a family feud which brought many of his tenants, including us, into a situaton where we These photos are from St Richards Church in Dear friends, Wild City Retreats have been circling round the seasons were not supposed to pay him any rent. So we have Seacrof where Lynn Dickinson and I dropped within the boundaries and life of the City. We have of- Every now and then we hear someone’s story. The moved. The children have coped really well. It has of the toys afer the Toy service at St Chad’s fered quiet spaces for those looking for new forms of spir- only appropriate response is silence. Words fail, and been annoying but also possibly positve by “shaking that is good, because any atempt to speak would be this week. The appeal for toys has grown so ituality through listening to the earth alongside the city. things up a bit” and generally it’s a good outcome. undignifed and disrespectul. All you can hear is the much in the last few years and is providing toys Building on these experiences we have taken on a new re- And it must also be placed in perspectve with the sound of your thoughts as you take in what this per- story I just shared. It’s minor. It’s nothing. God keeps to families right across Leeds. flective challenge in 2016-17, to explore how the City son has just said, how powerless they – or you – are providing, and out of his overfowing abundance in connects with the Country: the Leeds Pilgrimage. to do anything about it. We heard some lovely stories of families who all things we share with others. have benefted and also learned that though The Leeds Pilgrimage meets monthly on Wednesdays The story maters. I met a man in Valleta. I had seen I frequently get asked the queston “What do you they store remaining toys for the rest of the (between approx. 10am and 3pm) and walks a 5 to 6 mile him before, and this tme we were walking in oppo- actually do?” Sometmes it is easy to answer but at section of the Leeds Country Way with time to reflect and site directons in the same street. I stopped him and other tmes it is difcult. Much of it has to do with year, they can access them to help families at said I could tell he was from South Sudan because of relax together. We reach the half way point at Carlton our understanding of, and response to, the refugee tmes of need - for example, if a child is moved the partcular scarring he had on his face (facial scar- this month. situaton. I might menton “breaking isolaton” and from one parent to another suddenly and does ring is a common practce among many of the tribes helping those “who have fallen into the cracks of so- in the country). I introduced myself and we talked ciety”. “But what do you actually do?” This is where not have any toys there. It was thoroughly Our next walk is on Wednesday 25 January is from about South Sudan briefy. We arranged to meet the it get trickier. How do you explain that a large part of heartwarming. The ladies pictured are helpers to Carlton (approx. 6 miles). We will catch following week. your work is sitng down with people and talking who agreed to us using their photo... Lynn de- the 9.52am 167 bus [from Park Row, stand R8] We will He had arrived in Malta in 1998, by boat without his about their situaton, their needs, their dreams and scribed them as the real Santas! get off near the Church at Swillington at around 10.23am wife and children; they tried to join him in 1999. then trying to inject some hope into them? It is in- where we will be just in time for the 10.30am Wednesday Abbie Palmer They made it to Malta, but on arrival the local au- efcient, slow and not easily measureable. communion service. thorites sent them back to Libya the same day. How do you measure an act of kindness? (Besides We will then walk to the Boundary House Inn at Methley UNHCR said that this man’s family had the right to the fact that you shouldn’t!) There are obviously to have lunch there. There is the option of getting the 410 stay in Malta and that all eforts should be made to other elements to our work, which include writng, bus back into Leeds, which leaves outside the Boundary re-unify them. However, the local authorites did not conferences, meetngs and collaboratons. agree, and the man has not seen his family since. House pub at 1 minute or 31 mins past the hour. I’ve been reminded of an old song that I used to sing One decision made by someone else, and before as a kid and we recently sang it in church: “Thy Lov- Then in the afternoon we will walk the 3 miles to Carl- you is a profound change in life. Of course, this hap- ing Kindness is beter than Life”. Experiencing that is ton, finishing with refreshments at the Unicorn Inn. We pens to everyone at some point in their lives but key for everyone. are then aiming to catch the 2.39pm 444 bus which gets when it does where does your support come from, back into Leeds at 3.19pm. where does your help come from? Lots of love and Happy Christmas!

More information about the walk can be found on the The man showed me a recent photograph of his family. His former wife is saying now that she needs Doug and Jacqui Leeds Church Institute website. Please book so we can to marry someone else for the sake of protecton contact people in the (hopefully unlikely) event that we If you’d be interested to read the whole newsleter, and provision. What can you say to this? A family is need to cancel the pilgrimage due to poor weather. please talk to Peter Hemming. broken apart because of an acton done in haste. Saint of the month - Aelred of Rievaulx Bill Simpson RIP

At this time of the year I usually write about some aspect of the Christmas or Epiphany story. Bill was born in Filey, He has a sister called Audrey who lives in Wakefeld. He served in But this means that the saints of December and the RAF during the Second World War. He and his wife Peggy were devoted to one an- January get overlooked, and that’s a pity in the other and would enjoy walking holidays in the north of Scotland around Oban as well case of Aelred of Rievaulx (also known as ‘of as frequent trips to Edinburgh. Hexham’ - whose feast day is 12 January), as he is generally regarded as one of the greatest of Bill worked for many years for the Water Board untl his retrement. He was organist at All Hallows before England’s religious leaders and one of the most moving to St Michaels where he introduced women into the choir for the frst tme. attractive personalities of the medieval period. The choir under his directon fourished . He also ran the St Michael’s Stage Group Aelred’s family were con- alongside Reg Simpson [no relaton] putng on plays, revues, musical evenings and nected to the community last but not least the annual pantomime. Bill would give his directons, ofen upsetng at Durham: his great- tender egos and Peggy would then follow calming the waters. grandfather was sacristan The ruins of Rievaulx Abbey on the River Rye in North there and his grandfather Bill and Peggy never had children of their own but their extended family of ex was cathedral canon and Aelred played a major role in developing the Or- treasurer until, in 1083, der in England, and was sometimes called upon clergy, choristers and budding actors is immense. His devoton and service to St Bishop William required to resolve disputes in the wider church. He Michael’s is incalculable. married priests to choose preached and advised at the English and Scot- between their cathedral tish courts, including preaching at Westminster May Bill rest in peace and rise in glory. Glynis Dickson position and their wives. Abbey when the body of Edward the Confessor The grandfather chose his family, and moved to was moved into the chapel where it now rests. the benefice of Hexham, where his son eventu- Aelred was also a prolific author (in Latin, of CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEADINGLEY ally succeeded him. course) writing histories, lives of English saints, studies in moral and theological enquiry, and WEEK OF CHRISTIAN UNITY Aelred was born in 1100 and was probably edu- above all works of spiritual direction. 18 – 25 JANUARY 2017 cated at Durham. Aelred’s family was not only a priestly one; it was also of considerable social On a personal level Aelred was renowned for his THEME: ' CROSSING BARRIERS' standing, and around 1124 Aelred went to live at spirituality, commitment to prayer and medita- the court of King David I of Scotland, where he tion, and love of humble manual labour. He was This year's theme has been chosen by the Churches in Germany grew up with David’s two sons, and spent some revered for his gentleness, courtesy, and practi- and CTH have arranged the following ecumenical get togethers: time serving as steward. cal wisdom. Above all he was confident in per- sonal relationships, from which grew some of the Wednesday 18 January from 10.15am In 1134 Aelred travelled to England on a mission distinctive characteristics of his writings, many of In the “Green House” at South Parade Baptist Church from King David, and met with Archbishop which still speak to us today. Tuesday 24 January from 7.15pm Thurstan of York, who shared David’s interest in In the “Small hall” of the St Chad’s Parish Centre promoting the newly established Cistercian Perhaps we should see Aelred’s acceptance of order. Aelred spent a day visiting the monastery the conflicts and contradictions of human life as Wednesday 25 January from 1.45pm of Rievaulx, spent the night at Helmsley Castle, being fashioned by his own experience: Headingley St Columba URC, Headingley Lane (entrance at the rear) where he was hosted by monastery’s founding He was an heir of Anglo-Saxons living under patron, Walter l’Espec, and the next day Norman rule… There will be time for: presented himself at the gatehouse asking to be He was a native speaker of English daily speak- admitted as a monk. ing French and Latin... Discussion Refecton Fellowship Refreshments

Aelred quickly rose to be a major figure: Novice He was a descendant of generations of married Master at Rievaulx in 1141, representing the priests coming of age as priest were being for- Abbot on a diplomatic mission to the Pope in bidden to marry… Also as part of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity...

1142, Abbot of Rievaulx’s new daughter-house He was an English monk in a French order, an at Revesby in 1143, and third Abbot of Rievaulx abbot bred to service in the church but trained COFFEE MORNING UNITED SERVICE from 1147, where he died twenty years later. for service in the court... (In aid of Wheatfields) SUNDAY 22 JANUARY Aelred was in regular contact with the head of And he was an increasingly prominent figure SATURDAY 21 JANUARY HEADINGLEY METHODIST CHURCH the Cistercian Order, Bernard of Clairvaux, one who had close personal ties on both side of the ST MICHAELS CHURCH HALL at 3.00pm of the towering figures of Western Christendom, Civil War which divided England in his lifetime… visiting him in France and exchanging letters. 10am – 12noon

An interesting man indeed! CAKES AND TRAIDCRAFT GOODS

Joyce Hill