Another wonderful Community Day
Magazine of the Parish of St Matthew with St Paul, Winchester June 2019 £1.50
Services Monday 4.30 pm Evening Prayer St Paul’s Lady Chapel/vestry/parish rooms Tuesday 4.30 pm Evening Prayer St Paul’s Lady Chapel/vestry/parish rooms Wednesday 11 am [BCP] Holy Communion St Matthew’s Wednesday 4.30 pm Evening Prayer St Paul’s Lady Chapel/vestry/parish rooms Sunday 8 am [BCP] Holy Communion St Paul’s on 1st Sunday of month St Matthew’s on all other Sundays Sunday 9.30 am Family Communion St Paul’s on 1st Sunday of month Sunday 9.30 am Parish Eucharist St Paul’s on all other Sundays Sunday 11.15 am [BCP] Holy Communion St Matthew’s on 1st Sunday of month Sunday 11.15 am [BCP] Mattins St Matthew’s on all other Sundays
Interested in meeting Children and young people people/getting involved? welcome Women’s group meeting monthly, 7 pm, at first Sunday of each month: 9.30 am Family the Roebuck for supper; please contact Communion for all ages with DIY crèche and band Julia Seal, [email protected], 854849 (opportunity for children to play in band) Tea with Friends on the second Monday of 2nd to 5th Sundays: 9.30 am Parish Communion the month, 2.30–4.30 pm; please contact with activities for children and young people (five Linda Russell-Smith, 853584, or Heather different age-groups) plus a DIY crèche Riley, 862867 St Paul’s @ 4: short, informal family service with St Paul’s Coffee Pot pop-up café, usually on craft activities at 4 pm every third Sunday of the the second Monday of the month, 10 am– month, with refreshments afterwards noon in St Paul’s; children welcome confirmation preparation for those of secondary- Daytime book group reconvenes in school age September and would welcome new baptisms: contact Canon Peter Seal, 844878, members; please contact Talia Hedstrom, [email protected] 868728, or Christine Bennett, 852681 regular weekday under-fives’ services with pre- Tuesday homegroup, meeting fortnightly; school and toddler groups new members welcome; please contact toddler group, 0–3 years, Thursdays 9.30–11.30 am James Clay, 852141 in the parish rooms Meditation group, Tuesdays, 7.30 pm in St Paul’s pre-school, 2 years 9 months to school age, the parish rooms; all welcome five days a week 9.15 am–2.15 pm in St Paul’s Hall Thursday homegroup, meeting fortnightly, 7.30 for 7.45 pm; please contact Peter and Please contact Mary Copping, 07921 886016, Irene Casey, 808776 [email protected]
Useful phone numbers Out-of-hours medical help 111 Police non-urgent 101 St Paul’s medical practice 853599 To report a BT landline fault 0800 800 151 Friarsgate medical practice 871730 Winchester City Council offices 840222 St Clements medical practice 852211 Bus station 0345 121 0190 Royal Hampshire County Hospital 863535 National Rail enquiries 0800 5282 100
2 | From the rector
Dear friends, How truly wonderful the Community Day was, with its imaginative circus theme. Huge thanks to everyone who was involved in any way (photos on centrespread). Julia and I much enjoyed clowning around. I’m still musing on the inner clown in me. Each week I value reading the International Catholic Weekly called The Tablet. A recent front cover has a picture of a seal caught up in a fisherman’s net with the heading ‘The cry of the earth’, and then inside a fascinating article titled ‘The empty sky’ in which the writer laments, ‘There is a swift- shaped hole in my heart and it is so painful I want to weep’. It continues to report on the United Nations biodiversity report published on 6 May, which highlights the loss of wildlife as equal to climate change as one of the biggest threats we face. It seems that we are being reminded repeatedly of the twin challenges of climate change and the loss of wildlife. There was encouragement too: ‘With such huge environmental destruction on a global scale, putting our own house in order is the right thing to do. Small, simple, holy steps give a big message.’ As church communities we are taking some small steps, and I sense a gradual growing engagement: recent switch to a green energy supplier and change to LED fluorescent lights in parish hall at a cost of over £1,200; possibility of replacing some spotlights in St Paul’s my ‘annoying’ insistence, when the church heating is on, that the main doors of both churches are not left open as people arrive and leave! positive response, especially by young adults, to my Easter sermon and the warnings by the modern-day ‘prophet’ David Attenborough use of biodegradable glasses at Community Day and use of china and metal cutlery (thanks, washers-up!) by the café team user groups of St Paul’s Hall and rooms urged to avoid single-use plastic splendid articles in this magazine by Max Priesemann each month, including that alarming picture of planet earth on fire, now one of our roadside posters pair of blue tits nesting in boxes put up at St Paul’s last year replanting of churchyard at St Matthew’s using appropriate, beautiful plants. Our Building for Life project also includes many eco-friendly elements and this is an integral part of the process of reviewing the tender prices. Anyone who has had a building project at home will know that the costs often come in higher than hoped. That is our experience. A strong and skilled team from our parish is working hard with Antony Feltham-King, our architect, to see what savings can be made and which elements of the project could be delayed whilst maintaining its integrity. It’s all very complex, but we’re making good progress and are hopeful. More news as the way forward becomes clearer. As you read this magazine the Church’s year will be moving through the season of Ascension, which completes the time of our Lord’s resurrection appearances to his first disciples. Now we move into the season of the Holy Spirit. God’s life and energy is now everywhere. Here’s to that! With every good wish and prayers,
Sunday services: June Bible readings 2 June Acts 1: 1–11; Luke 24: 44–53 [p. 917] 9 June Acts 2: 1–21; John 14: 8–17, 25–27 [p. 925] 16 June Proverbs 8: 1–4, 22–31; John 16: 12–15 [p. 928] 23 June Isaiah 65: 1–9; Luke 8: 26–39 [p. 969] 30 June Acts 12: 1–11; Matthew 16: 13–19 [p. 1148]
| 3 Diary dates
Tues 18 Thurs 27 J U N E Faith development group Toddler group St Paul’s, 10.30 am Parish rooms, 9.30–11.30 am Tues 4 Olive Branch AGM and talk Sun 30 Christian meditation St Peter’s, 7 pm Parish rooms, 7.30 pm Ordination of Liz Stuart as Christian meditation deacon Wed 5 Parish rooms, 7.30 pm Cathedral, 10 am Deanery synod bring & share Wed 19 Taizé service supper Cathedral, 6 pm Stoke Charity, 6.30 pm Deanery children’s and youth work committee Winchester Camerata concert Thurs 6 St Paul’s, 7.30 pm St Paul’s, 6.30 pm Toddler group Thurs 20 Parish rooms, 9.30–11.30 am Clean Air Day 2019 J U L Y Sun 9 Baptism of Maisie Prestidge Toddler group Sun 7 Parish rooms, 9.30–11.30 am St Paul’s, noon We welcome Liz Stuart as our Mon 10 Sun 23 part-time curate St Paul’s, 9.30 am and Women’s group Baptism of Oscar St Matthew’s, 11.15 am Roebuck Inn, 7 pm Goode St Paul’s, noon Bring and share lunch Music committee St Paul’s, 12.45 pm Vestry, 7.30 pm Mon 24 Wed 10 Tues 11 Building for Life tender revision group ‘An evening with Peter Seal’ Christian meditation St Paul’s, 5.15 pm Friends event Parish rooms, 7.30 pm Churches Together in St Paul’s, 7.30 pm Thurs 13 Winchester AGM Deadline for magazine articles United Church, 7.30 pm S E P T E M B E R Toddler group Tues 25 Sat 14 Parish rooms, 9.30–11.30 am Mothers’ Union cream tea, Fri 14 raffle, sale Peter Seal’s Clarendon Way Walk St Paul’s Coffee Pot pop-up Lynford Avenue, 2.30 pm Cathedral, 8 am café Christian meditation St Paul’s, 10 am–noon Parish rooms, 7.30 pm Sun 16 Wed 26 We’re grateful to all who send in photographs; this month St Paul’s @ 4 family service Climate change march Westminster, 1 pm they are by Mary Copping, St Paul’s, 4 pm Harriet Hide, Megan Osborn and Mollie Stannard.
Family feedback We welcome those who have We pray for all who are unwell: We offer our love, sympathy and worshipped with us for the first Caroline Behan, Janet Bird, Henry prayers to close family and friends time in recent weeks, and hope Drew, Vera Edwards, Liz Elsworthy, of those who have died recently, that you may feel at home and Judy Golding, Jan Gwynne Howell, including Ann Hall, Audrey Perris, encouraged to come again. Andrew James, Julia Jones, Laura Muriel Smith and Ann Wells. Liepins, Kate Morgan, Les Scott,
Jane Seal and Nicki Smith.
4 |
Coming up
Olive Branch Christian Counselling Service, one of Pastoral Care of the Southern Health NHS the charities the parish supports, will hold its AGM Foundation Trust (Winchester). All are welcome at at St Peter’s Parish Hall on Tues 18 June, 7 pm, with what promises to be an enlightening evening. guest speaker Michele Price from Winchester Churches Nightshelter at 7.30 and questions and Camerata summer concert at St Paul’s At St Paul’s networking at 8. This is the Olive Branch’s 22nd on Sun 30 June, 6.30 pm, the Winchester Camerata year of offering long-term, low-cost mental health (leader: David Blunt) will be joined by French services to Winchester adults. Contact Sanga harpist Solenn Grand, soon to be Co-Principal Harp Burrough, [email protected]. of the State Opera in Prague. They will perform Debussy’s Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane, a work Churches Together in Winchester invites you to its that showcases the harp’s virtuosic capabilities, as AGM at the United Church on Mon 24 June, 7.30 well as Vaughan Williams’ Five Variants on Dives pm. The focus here will also be mental health and Lazarus and Mahler’s Adagietto, made famous issues, with speaker Canon Nick Fennemore, who in the film Death in Venice. Tickets (£12.50, has spent over 33 years working for the NHS as a students £5) from [email protected], 732487. chaplain. He is part-time Canon at Winchester Cathedral and Head of Chaplaincy, Spiritual and
Western Church of England Primary School
Western is closely linked to St Paul’s, where Peter congregation of St Paul’s or St Matthew’s, to be Seal and Mary Copping take regular assemblies. part of our active governing body and who will be Children from Western are often involved in church able to support the wellbeing of the school. We are events and festivals, singing at services and taking not currently seeking a specific skillset for this role, part in the annual show each February. Our links go although any experience in education would be deep into the very governance of the school: Peter, beneficial. There are plenty of training in his position as rector of the parish, is a governor opportunities to support governors along their ex officio, and there are two other Foundation way. Time commitment is a minimum of two Governor positions (currently Liz Stannard and me). evening meetings per half term plus some time visiting the school each term. Please talk to Peter Foundation Governors represent the historic link or me if this may be something you’re interested in. with the original establishment of the school and its distinctive religious ethos. We are responsible Westminster to Western Bike Ride Challenge for trying to ensure the continuation of the Health and wellbeing are top of the agenda for character and ethos of the school. The Church’s many schools, and Western is no different. As part interest in education stems from a philosophy that of a broader grounds strategy, the governors have education is not just about acquiring knowledge approved a new running track, the Golden Mile, to that will enable children to earn a living in a be laid within the grounds. To raise funds for the competitive world. It begins from a position that track, a group of 24 intrepid parents took on a this is God’s world and everything in it has value. sponsored bicycle ride from Westminster in London Religious education is important, but to Western Church School. it is not the only subject that reflects The ride involved months of training spiritual values. The whole curriculum and administrative preparation, but is given value by being considered in good weather prevailed and all this way. riders made it safely back to the Foundation Governor vacancy Sadly, school, where a party of supporters Liz will be stepping down from her cheered them in. Among the riders role as governor at Western at the was St Paul’s congregation member end of this term, after years of George Hide, who was greeted supporting the school in various ways. home by his children Mary and Liz has played a hugely valuable part Dougie. The riders amazingly raised in the life of the school and will be over £11,500 in personal sponsorship sorely missed – thank you, Liz! alone; the whole governing body is extremely grateful. We are therefore looking for a new Vicki Tibbitts, Chair of Governors volunteer, ideally from the
| 5 Eco Church – The Time is Now A call from A Rocha, Christian Aid, Tearfund and WinACC
One of the key themes of Eco Church is to engage responsible for causing climate change ... and who with our local and global community. ‘The Time is frequently suffer the worst of its impacts. Now’ does just that, bringing people together to Tackling climate change is the next step in the talk with our MPs about our concern for creation. Church’s history of working together to bring about It’s a mass lobby of parliament organised by the justice for the world’s poorest people. Climate Coalition – a broad spectrum of hundreds On 26 June, we’ll come together in London’s of UK organisations that are speaking together. Westminster to celebrate our faith in action, lobby Climate change affects people and planet alike – our political representatives, pray together and but it’s also an issue of justice. It’s the world’s energise one another for the challenges to come. poorest communities who are often the least Winchester Diocese Environment Resource Pack
Rosemary Dunhill writes on behalf of Christian Aid: One of the most serious problems affecting the developing world, and
indeed ourselves, is climate change, hitting the poorest hardest, and these are the people least responsible for it. Just one statistic: in Northern Kenya
drought has killed 90% of cows and 80% of goats and sheep. Even camels are beginning to die. We need to keep global temperature rise to below 1.5
degrees. To do this we need to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions globally. The UK government must put a target in place now to reach net zero by 2045.
At ‘The Time is Now’ it would be great to have a good contingent from Winchester and District. To register go to caid.org.uk/timeisnow. Contact our Climate Change Champion, [email protected], if you would like to be involved.
Or if you would like to be part of a WinACC group: We are meeting at Winchester station at 11 am on 26 June to travel to London together on the 11.18 train to the mass lobby at 1 pm. Bring your own banners
and sandwiches.
We have written to local MPs Steve Brine and George Hollingbery asking them to be there to talk to us. The specific issues we’d like to promote in our discussions with them are: carbon neutrality targets in government legislation, energy-saving retrofitting of existing homes and net zero carbon energy requirements for new homes, and the treatment of proposals for small-scale onshore wind farms. We hope you can join us. It’s not essential to tell us that you’re coming but it would be good to know, so we can contact you if plans change or we get split up – e-mail [email protected] with your name, e-mail address and mobile phone number (for the WhatsApp group); then we can keep you updated on plans for the day.
6 | Eco Church Threats to nature and demand for change
In the past month, there has been an incredible level of action and increasing awareness of the urgency to take action for our environment. For a week, many Christians took part in Extinction Rebellion protests, blockades and disruption across London and around the world, demanding action from our leaders. The Swedish 16-year-old Greta Thunberg gave her endorsement to the Extinction Rebellion protests on her visit to London, when she met several party leaders and MPs at the Houses of Parliament – describing the UK’s response to the climate crisis as ‘beyond absurd’. She highlighted the UK government’s support of fracking, greater exploitation of North Sea oil and gas fields, and airport expansion. David Attenborough’s brilliant new documentary, Climate Change: The Facts, was screened on Maundy fume-filled air to breathe, and nature destroyed? Thursday. It brought scientific evidence into our ‘World is “on notice” as major UN report homes. If you haven’t yet watched the programme, shows one million species face extinction’ it may be available on BBC iPlayer for a bit longer. (https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/05/1037941) reads as a final warning. Sadly the UK, as many other developed nations, has already passed this year’s ‘overshoot day’ – the Nevertheless, there is hope that this year could date when we had used all our national carbon be the year when we start to turn it around budget. As in 2018, all greenhouse gas produced and change. The local newly elected council from 17 May will further increase the CO2 content has promised to declare a Climate Emergency, in the atmosphere, contributing to faster climate following the House of Commons’ and many change (see last year’s diagram). other councils’ examples. We can ask them to act accordingly. The Greens have achieved the In danger is the planet’s capability to repair itself, best-ever result in local elections, and all the even if humans were to give it a chance. The sixth mainstream parties are trying to gain votes by mass extinction is underway. The fifth was probably using environmental slogans. The topic is in the caused by a meteorite, but this time humans are mainstream news. In the Church of England at to blame. Every creature, every species that is the moment a particularly live issue is that of irreversibly extinct will reduce our planet’s investment in fossil fuels. Let’s get involved and biodiversity; nature depends on it. We are pray for our church leaders – that they not only destroying the habitats for many species, making pray the prayer but lead by example and support life harder for them by changing the climate, divesting from fossil-fuel industries now. destroying the soil and polluting air and oceans. Please contact me if you would like to join me in When will we realise that there will be no some action. economic growth without fertile soil, without rain Max Priesemann, PCC Environmental Officer when we need it, without bees to pollinate our [email protected] crops, with polluted groundwater to drink and
| 7 Beyond Ourselves
Updates from charities we Delhi Brotherhood Society’s restorative justice support, edited and paraphrased programme in her village in North India, USPG- from letters received. supported, has empowered women through the council and protected them through a 24-hour Our mission partners working helpline and provision of emergency response vans for Church Mission Society and shelters for women in danger. Koma went to (CMS) Life can be a challenge with power cuts, the council after an argument with her husband, shortages of running water and sustained heat. when he became violent. They agreed to try living Being part of a school that provides a Christian together peacefully once again. The husband was education to the children of ethnic minorities here warned that any repeat of his previous behaviour remains a real privilege. The school provides would result in legal charges, and he promised to affordable education to the children of missionaries work for a peaceful relationship. The couple are and being part of their stories is equally an honour, still back together; Koma is treated well and is even if it does come with challenges. Recently excitedly expecting her first child. some teenagers joined the school. Their knowledge of English is limited, so they are receiving intensive Facilitator Kiran Bala lessons, but many of them do not want to be there. says: ‘There is much They followed their parents but are angry, resentful injustice inflicted upon and have strong opinions. It is difficult to integrate women. But God them with the rest of their class. continually raises people up to challenge We are called to teach but also to provide pastoral these atrocities. When care for those who seem to have been forgotten by DBS intervenes in a their home churches – or even by parents who are situation of injustice, themselves busy trying to find their place here. We it is the intervention had previously heard stories of kids being ‘messed of God.’ up’ and always wondered how someone who had been given the opportunity to live and study Helpline workers Kiran Thank you for your abroad could be so broken. However, every day we Bala and Asha Kasgar prayers and support for deal with the consequences of decisions made by our work with churches adults without the consent of their children. across the Anglican Communion, like the Church of North India and its community restorative justice
initiatives. We had previously heard stories of kids Winchester Churches’ Nightshelter A huge thank being ‘messed up’ and always wondered you for the extremely generous gift of £233.83 how someone who had been given from donations given at the Western Church the opportunity to live and study Primary School carol service. Your donation will enable us to help more people suffering from abroad could be so broken. homelessness rebuild their lives. Residents receive food, quality temporary accommodation and support services to help them get their lives back We have been thinking about what it means to be a on track. ‘third-culture kid’ and how we can best help them. We also reflect on our own situation, with mixed- Due to cutbacks, more than 40 local beds in staffed race children who are growing up speaking four and fully supported accommodation have been lost languages, holders of four passports, but whose in Winchester over the past few years. We rent a home is undeniably here. Are they going to be move-on house that is visited by a support worker ‘messed up’? During our months of preparation and are excited to announce that we have just with CMS we talked a lot about crossing cultures, purchased our own move-on house, which is up how to respond to culture shock and how to and running. There are now eight move-on beds navigate life between your ‘home country’ (or provided by us, and the total number of people passport country) and your ‘host country’. But what directly supported by our organisation is 25. if you cannot identify with either of those labels? Alexa Heady, Beyond Ourselves committee We do hope and pray that we will be able to give our sons a sense of belonging rather than a label. United Society – Partners in the Gospel (USPG) Thanks to your support, women like Koma can For further details about the charities we support, access the Women’s Community Council. The visit stmatthewstpaul.org/beyond-ourselves/.
8 | The day the circus came to town
Roll up, roll up ... what a fun day was had by all at circus tent created by our talented Sandra Lewis this year’s circus-themed Community Day! and Barney Lynch. On 11 May the Parish of St Matthew with St Paul And who can forget the competitions? We had an hosted a vibrant and colourful celebration in the array of dogs skilfully compared and co-ordinated glorious spring sunshine. It was a wonderful mix by the Lucas family. The categories were: Cutest, of many old favourites such as the bouncy castle, Fastest, Jumpiest, Rescue and Looks Most Like animal farm, face-painting, hair-braiding and Its Owner (and, yes, we had a winner for this stalls overflowing with hidden treasures. Visitors final category!). Steve Brine MP and local dog were treated to lots of local produce: delicious walker Clare Harper from Your PetPal judged the homemade cakes, ice-cream, burgers and hot-dog competition, and it’s fair to say that the best sausages, plus refreshing Alfred Brewery’s beer and dogs won (no bias on the part of the Community local gin. Day organisers!!). The musical backdrop kept visitors No sooner had celebrations ended after entertained as our very own in-house the dog show than we were running the barbershop quartet delighted us with circus costume competition, ably judged two performances, along with Will by Bill Lucas and Mollie Stannard, who Ridpath partnering with his godson. is also responsible for many of the great And our huge thanks to the stallholders, photos on the centrespread. We were who respected our aspiration to keep our thrilled to see a couple of double acts … carbon footprint to a minimum by using in the shape of our rector Peter and biodegradable products and having plenty Julia Seal along with Adrian and Denise of washer-uppers on hand throughout McKenzie. We won’t easily erase the the day. image of Peter sweeping the floor (and people’s feet) in his crazy clown outfit! And this was just the start! We were blessed to have our regular performances And it is that lasting image which sums up from Florian School of Dance, St Paul’s Pre-school the essence of this wonderful day – it allowed us all and Western Church Primary School, and with our to connect with our inner clown. circus theme, we almost raised the roof with all our Huge thanks to so many people who gave so much performers setting their routines to the soundtrack of their time, energy, talent and wisdom. It takes of the hit musical The Greatest Showman. A super more than one person to organise this day … it opening number was choreographed by Integr8 takes a community. Dance, and we rounded the day off with a jaw- Adrienne Marsden dropping display by Bristol-based aerialist Phoebe Hoyle of Cirque de Silk. She wowed a full church Especial thanks to the organisers Kat and Adrienne with her acrobatic skills within the beautiful Marsden and Roger Jones, backed up by Mary Copping.
Friends of St Matthew with St Paul
Another contribution to Building for Life The personalities. The event will take place at St Paul’s Friends committee, in consultation with Amanda on Wed 10 July, 7.30 pm. Tickets (£10 Friends; £12 Berridge, our Treasurer, have made another general admission, no reserved seats) available contribution to Building for Life at St Paul’s of from Katy Palacio in the parish office, 844878, £1,500. This brings total contributions to Building [email protected]. They are expected to for Life to £9,000, so with the £11,000 previously go very fast ... contributed to the works at St Matthew’s, we can Many of us have known and loved Peter since his proudly announce that the Friends have supported arrival in the parish in 2001, but few will know the maintenance and improvement of our two anything about his career during his first 40 years. church buildings since 2013 to the tune of £20,000. This is an event not to be missed – cancel your An evening with Peter Seal We have persuaded early July holiday now! our rector, Peter Seal, to be the next ‘victim’ in our Dick Wilkinson, Chairman successful series of evenings with well-known
| 9
Community Day at St Paul’s
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Community Day at St Paul’s
Singing in church
Cake sale for Christian Aid
| 11 Some thoughts about clothes
Well, I have been to the History has been recorded in wedding I mentioned last the dress of each period, most month. Of course it was a of which showed men in lovely time for a gathering clothes as elaborate if not of the friends and families of more so than women. My Emma and James, and of admiration and sympathy course the bride looked belongs to women like the beautiful in her long lace dress, Victorians, who were laced into reminding me of many other those awful corsets, and those special-occasion dresses – before whose huge dresses and even the one which I suppose wigs made movement difficult was my first. My parents were and washing them impossible. married in 1927 and Mother Perhaps, though, I think wore a delicate lace dress too, more of the late portraits of but this time in the short Elizabeth, Gloriana, in her fashion of the period. Unlike jewel-encrusted gowns of the many brides, however, she did richest fabrics in the world. not keep her dress, but took it Everything about them was apart to make the christening huge and to impress, but gown that my sister and I somehow now I feel sympathy wore. She went on to make all for the wearer with her white our clothes, and in my loft I still have the old Singer make-up to hide blemishes, and the red wig to hide hand machine she used all her life. the loss of hair, and under all that splendour I see a tired, sick old woman. People who remember the war, which rationed even clothes through coupons, will recall the great In this place thoughts turn to the Bible and efforts to ‘make do and mend’, when things were memories of stories like the symbolism of Elijah’s cut down and mended many times, woollen cloak falling on his successor Elisha. And I wonder garments were unravelled and the wool knitted which lilies of the field were arrayed more again, and later we all had underclothes that were gloriously than Solomon. I think also of the anger rather off-white as they were made from panels of of Jesus’ enemies and their rending of garments no-longer-needed parachutes. Hats for occasions in fury, and the cloak and crown of thorns that like funerals were lent and borrowed, and no one mocked the King of the Jews. who wore one can ever forget the hand-knitted swimsuit. Beautifully crafted and designed and often very pretty, they were fine until worn into I wonder which lilies of the field were the sea, when they filled with water and stretched arrayed more gloriously than Solomon. heavily and soggily to our knees.
With the end of austerity came ever-changing high fashion, and like everyone else I followed the But these thoughts, which began with my mother trends from full skirts to straight ones, from long and the gown she made for her daughters, must skirts to short ones – though never a mini – and end with that most wonderful of mothers and how later to trousers, though never to jeans. I don’t we know of the first and last clothes her son wore think I was ever really fashionable, though, and did in his earthly life. We learn how she wrapped him not regret the passing years which allowed me to in ‘swaddling bands’ when he was born, and we settle for what made me feel comfortable and know she watched as he died, while guards diced good. I can even remember the exact time when I for probably the most famous garment in history – gave up trying to understand the trends, as I saw that robe ‘without seam, woven from top to the photograph of a beautiful young model wearing bottom’ – which he wore to Calvary. the style of the time – a big, heavy sweater over a Heather Riley delicate chiffon skirt, and with the outfit completed by Doc Martens boots.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3: 14 (New Living Translation)
12 | Annual Parochial Church I was soon helping at the Sunday school, held in the old village school, which the church had acquired Meetings 2019 for parish use. Many teenagers like me were On 29 April the Annual Parochial Meetings for the members of the congregation, so getting together year were held. Their main business is elections. we started a youth club and with the rector’s There are also reports from the Electoral Roll consent undertook the task of decorating the room Officer and Treasurer, and a report from the rector in the school we were given to use. We had great on the past year. The following were elected as fun working together with a common purpose, churchwardens: taking our tea and then going straight on to Evensong. The club was a great success, with table St Matthew’s St Paul’s tennis, skittles, dancing and singing to the pop Mike Russell-Smith Christopher Seaman songs of the young Cliff Richard, Buddy Holly and Dick Wilkinson Chris Sharp others, and putting on live entertainment. The following were elected to the Parochial Church Sadly, after two years this came to an end with Council (PCC): another family move to Southsea, where I Amanda Berridge Jonathan Jesty (new) worshipped at St Jude’s for a few months until we Helen Chambers Anne Odling moved to Southampton and I started my first job Kathleen Freeman Linda Russell-Smith with the National Assistance Board. I joined St Alexa Heady Nathalie Schulz Mark’s, Archers Road, until I married and moved to Talia Hedstrom Vicky Scott Dartford in Kent and ceased going to church. Later, moving to Chandlers Ford with our family we went The following were co-opted to the PCC: regularly to St Boniface, where our young curate Sandra Lewis (new) was John Guille, recently Archdeacon of Bill Lucas (non-attending) in his role as Mary Winchester and now retired. Our children were Copping’s line manager. baptised at the daughter church, St Martin in the Wood, where I became a Sunday school teacher. The PCC is made up of the churchwardens, the members of the Deanery Synod (Mark Byford, Years later with a change in my life I dropped out of Keith Jones and Chris Sharp), the elected and co- church for many years, although I frequently felt a opted members, and Stephen Adam, Licensed calling. Eventually, encouraged by two friends who Lay Minister. worshipped here, I came to St Paul’s. Welcoming me at the door were Janet Bird and Libby Wallis, Canon Peter Seal is the Chair and Revd Mary with whom I had worked for Social Services. I had Copping attends the meetings as a non-voting been sitting down only a few minutes when Peter member. Tim Stannard (Chair of Finance and Julia came over and gave me a really warm Committee) will also be attending meetings as a welcome. I felt I had ‘come home’. The revised non-voting member. liturgy was strange to me, but that dormant seed of Amanda Berridge was elected as Honorary faith had come to life again. Treasurer and Nathalie Schulz as Honorary Norma Goodwin Secretary. If you would like to see a copy of the minutes from the meeting please contact Nathalie ([email protected]). Project Linus I have recently become Winchester Area Co- A seed of faith ordinator for Project Linus UK. We aim to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and Becoming an active member traumatised babies, children and teenagers (Continued from May) Moving to Bath and joining through the provision each month of around 3,500 the choir of All Saints, Weston, was the beginning new, washable, homemade patchwork quilts of my becoming an active member of the Church. and knitted blankets across the UK, also giving I reckon it was the same year that our rector, volunteers the opportunity to contribute to their Peter Seal, was born! Choir practice was on Friday local community. Our motto is ‘A quilt is a hug you evenings when I allowed myself a break from can keep’. Southampton children’s wards receive homework for A-levels. On Sundays, singing from hundreds of quilts each year from our colleagues in Hymns Ancient and Modern, our fully robed choir the south of the county and I am trying to get an of 25 members or so would process from the vestry introduction to our local children’s wards at the to the double rows of oak choir stalls that occupied Royal Hampshire County Hospital. If you know of a both sides of the chancel, slightly obscured by the child or local organisation that would benefit from rood screen. This was fortunate, as the ‘angelic’ our service please get in touch with me: 864684, choirboys took delight in rolling polo mints across [email protected]. the chancel during the sermon! Norma Goodwin
| 13 From our elected representatives Safe cycleways and new Green Deal Spring saw the third mass cycle ride in One key aspect came under the Winchester and it was lovely to take heading ‘redesigning our roads, streets part once again, this time with my and communities’ and said local daughter Emily. Organised by Cycle authorities should seek to deliver cycle- Winchester, an energetic campaign friendly improvements, including that simply aims to make Winchester segregated cyleways that keep vehicle better by bike, it saw several hundred and cyclist apart. Progress has been of us form a cycle train around the made, but not enough, and certainly one-way system in town. The event is not here. important but it cannot of course be an end in Secondly, and sticking with the Green Winchester itself. Bottom line is that action speaks louder than agenda I have pursued for more than 12 years wheels, and one thing we need to see is more than now, I have already used my new position on the a few yards of dedicated, safe cycleways in the backbenches to speak out on the environment, district if we’re going to turn Winchester into the and it was during a debate in the aftermath of the cycle city it should be. Extinction Rebellion protests I called for a new That is vital if parents like me are going to have the Green Deal in our country. confidence to do this much more often with our We absolutely should set our sights on the net children; in the city for sure, but also across the zero emissions target ministers have asked the wider Winchester District. How many of us feel Committee on Climate Change for advice on. As I truly comfortable at present cycling up Stockbridge said in the House of Commons, a new Green Deal is Road or along Stoney Lane, let alone allowing little about tackling one of the biggest issues we face in ones to go that way to school or to visit friends? getting there: retrofitting existing housing stock. It all reminds me of a piece of work I was involved And it’s not all doom and gloom and things we in early during my time as MP, as Vice-Chair of the need to give up or pain we need to feel; better- All-Party Cycling Group. The Get Britain Cycling insulated homes benefit the environment, but inquiry was huge and produced a weighty report they save us on energy bills at the same time. full of recommendations for central and local Steve Brine, MP for Winchester government (see www.stevebrine.com/cycling). Local concerns, hopes and values This month has been busy with elections. Firstly Particular concerns we have identified are about came the District Council vote, and we were climate change, the need for Winchester to delighted both that Martin Tod was re-elected improve its recycling rates, include doorstep glass to Winchester City Council (WCC), with a greatly collection as well as food waste, and make better increased majority, and also that there was a arrangements for plastics. Doorstep glass collection change in the administration. Lucille Thompson is planned and should be implemented shortly; is now WCC leader – a great opportunity. these other issues will be addressed soon. The Immediately that was over we were into elections streets, improved provision for pedestrians, fewer for the European parliament and a local MEP, with cars and slower speeds along with better planning, Martin again standing. and the future of the High Street were also recurrent themes that we picked up on many Elections are hard work, and we have them every encounters. We will work on these issues. year in Winchester. But what is good about them is that they offer the chance to speak to many people Throughout this period work has continued on on the doorstep about their concerns, hopes and the major projects: the proposed new Sport and values. It has been a privilege to have that Leisure Centre at Bar End; and plans for the opportunity, and it is indeed important to do this regeneration of central Winchester and the Carfax regularly as times and concerns change. For the site. The Movement Strategy, which is a joint most part, people we have encountered have Hampshire County Council and WCC project, has recognised that they live in a special place; they now been approved by both councils and we shall value the greenness, sense of community and do what we can to ensure that it is implemented – charm of the city but are not complacent; they and, in particular, will ensure safe and attractive want to ensure that these qualities are retained, pedestrian routes from the station area, including are enhanced, and feel that there is still much to Fulflood, to the city centre as well as to Bar End. be done to make the place better. Liz Hutchison, Lucille Thompson and Martin Tod Councillors for the St Paul ward 14 | Children’s and youth work update
Community Day got off to a wonderful start with a dance choreographed by Bronwen Dixie of Integr8 Coming up Dance to the song ‘Come alive!’ from The Greatest Showman. We held a rehearsal the week before Sun 16 June, 4 pm when 17 children from St Paul’s, Western Church St Paul’s @ 4 family School and Westgate Lower School practised for service, ‘The lost sheep’, the event. with tea afterwards
On the day, lots of children came into the
Children’s Zone to have their faces painted. (Some adult clowns came in too, wanting to be made up!)
A wonderful team was busy doing tattoos, hair braiding, nail painting, mask making and scratch art. For very small children and their parents, there was a small room with toys and games where they could come and relax. Thank you so much to all who helped in any way! There were further activities for children outside, including Mill
Cottage Farm, bouncy castle, coconut shy (which was really popular) and circus skills. It was interesting to see how long a peacock feather could keep the boys concentrating on their balancing skills. at the rooms we will be using for the children’s Scramblers, Climbers and Explorers (to age 9) groups during our temporary move to Western One week the children talked about the work of for Sunday services while the St Paul’s building Christian Aid. They decided that they would like to is renewed and improved during Building for hold a cake sale the next Sunday, at the beginning Life works. of Christian Aid Week. They brought in cakes and Young people (age 10 upwards) In their Sunday also iced cakes in their groups, then sold them after morning group the young people looked at the the 9.30 Sunday service, raising £45.51 for Christian different aspects of prayer with our two youth Aid. They were all so pleased to be able to help in assistants, Aaron Burrows and Megan Maylam. this way. They drew round their hands and wrote the St Paul’s @ 4 Our latest service was on the story of aspects on each digit, as a reminder – praising Jonah and the Whale. It was good to have Imogen God, thanking God, confession, asking for help for Cook, our children’s assistant, to help with this. someone, asking for something for themselves. Many families came and the children made a big They then thought about these things in relation whale collage. There was lots of discussion about to specific prayers and what they would pray for. the story and how it all happened!! Do come along There were some good discussions about this area and bring friends to the next St Paul’s @ 4. of their faith. Toddler group is thriving, with a good team of Youth work We had a great youth games evening volunteers led by Victoria McCabe. with pizzas, snooker, table tennis, football and card games! Aaron and Megan ensured that everyone Children’s work team Our latest team meeting had lots of fun. was at Western Church School. It was good to look Mary Copping
You are warmly invited to contribute items to the magazine – it would be good to hear a wide range of voices from our community. Please e-mail them to [email protected] or send them to Ursula Payne at the Parish Office, St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB. (Final editorial choice rests with Peter Seal, and we reserve the right to edit contributions.)
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Winchester Shape Note Singing Group Community singing for all No auditions – beginners and experienced singers all welcome! St Paul’s parish rooms, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester, SO22 5AB 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, 7.30–9.30 pm Cost: collection tin For more information E-mail: [email protected] Facebook: Winchester Shape Note Singing
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18 |
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Disclaimer: Advertisements in the parish magazine are accepted in good faith from local organisations, businesses and individuals. The publication of these advertisements should not be taken as a recommendation or endorsement of the products or services offered. | 19
Contact us
Parish Office, St Paul’s Church Canon Peter Seal, Rector Katy Palacio, parish St Paul’s Hill, Winchester [email protected] administrator, room bookings, SO22 5AB, 844878 854849 (h) 844878 (office) advertising Usually open M, W, F, 9.30–3 M, Tu, W, Th [email protected] www.stmatthewstpaul.org 844878, M, W, F Revd Mary Copping, Asst Priest, Ursula Payne, rector’s assistant, Ali Galvin, music administrator children/youth work co-ordinator Building for Life project [email protected] [email protected] administrator 07734 458773 07921 886016, M, Tu, W, F [email protected] 844878, M, Tu, Th Bishop John Dennis Nathalie Schulz, PCC secretary Ian Rees, organist, St P’s [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 868881 810509 07824 686147 Revd Neil Birkett, Asst Priest Amanda Berridge, PCC treasurer Prue Skinner, organist, St M’s [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 864910 777808 854210 Stephen Adam, Licensed Lay Tim Stannard, stewardship secretary, Niki Bray, safeguarding officer Minister (LLM) legacy officer (children and adults) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 883511 855871 07786 837535 Gary Ruffell, LLM Emeritus Bill Lucas, Chair, Building for Life Jan Walley, parish visiting 881513 Project [email protected] [email protected] 808441 Chris Sharp, churchwarden, St P’s Maggie Brecknell, electoral roll Sarah Eadie, flowers, St P’s [email protected] officer [email protected] 849186 [email protected] 624259 856552 Christopher Seaman, Silvia Brown, St Paul’s Pre-school Heather Riley, flowers, St M’s churchwarden, St P’s supervisor [email protected] [email protected] supervisor@stpaulspreschoolwinche 862867 849192 ster.co.uk 07879 645600 Alexa Heady, assistant Roger McKearney, health, safety and Janet Bird, postal magazine churchwarden, St P’s security officer, St P’s distribution [email protected] [email protected] 881173 841151 624115 Mike Russell-Smith, Dick Wilkinson, churchwarden/ All gifts gratefully received churchwarden, St M’s health, safety and security officer, Cheques payable to St [email protected] St M’s/Chairman, Friends of St Matthew’s PCC 853584 Matthew with St Paul Sort code 55-81-26 [email protected] Account 73264024 865705
A gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society around it, what gospel is that? Oscar Romero