Issue No. 9 November 2014 to January 2015 Welcome to the ninth edition of the Newark and Southwell Deanery Newsletter.

Dear All,

This letter falls into three parts - a reflection of events and work done by the Deanery and delivered via the Deanery office; a thank you to clergy who have moved on; and thirdly, thoughts about the coming months.

I cannot remember a busier time. June saw Newark & Southwell Deanery’s Annual General Meeting and the appointment of new officers. Penny Peterson retired and Mike Wilson was elected as the new Lay Chair. At that meeting the House of Clergy and Laity present voted for the membership of a new Standing Committee. At the beginning of September a Cream Tea was held in the Great Hall at Southwell following its recent refurbishment. The acting , Canon Nigel Coates, welcomed everyone and folks then tucked into scones, cream, jam and cups of tea. From comments made subsequently a good time was had by all.

As part of a Diocesan wide plan, at the end of September, spent the day in the Deanery. He supported three major events: football for young people using the facilities at Tuxford Academy in the morning; a presentation, bible study and time of extended prayer, concluding with tea and cakes, at All Saints, Hawton, during the afternoon; and in the evening a musical and social event, music being provided by young people from Southwell Minster School and Tuxford Academy and hosted by Revd Andrew Porter at Holy Trinity, Southwell. Bishop Tony Porter concluded the proceedings with a presentation. Together with a Deanery Confirmation Service at Holy Trinity, Southwell and a Bereavement Course at St. Peter’s, Farndon, led by Revd Ian Lambert, there has been a considerable amount of activity. I am extremely grateful to all those who provided refreshments along the way for all of our events.

The last three months has seen a number of comings and goings. Four clergy have left their present posts - three of those have left the deanery. Revd The Deanery Clare Goode has left her post with the West Trent Group and moved to a Newsletter church in . Revd Colin Wall has left churches in the Tuxford area This is your newsletter. for the Riverside Group. Revd Christine French has just left the Beck and Tent A way of communicating Group to go to Kirk Hallam in Diocese and finally Curate to Newark with each other. To Team Ministry, Revd Judith Pollard, is leaving to begin her ministry in Norwich make it successful we Diocese. They have all served the deanery and diocese to the best of their need to receive your abilities and we wish them well in their continuing journeys. offerings. The deadline for the next issue is 15th During the coming months there will be further events which will engage with January. Please send in different groups and individuals in special ways, further growing the identity your entries to of the Deanery and enabling people to use it appropriately. In 2015 there will nsdeanery- be a Deanery Service. If you have any ideas about how this should look [email protected] or by please do let us know at the deanery office. Bishop Tony is likely to spend a post to Mrs Louise Riley, day in the deanery again next year. We would also value your thoughts The Rectory, 3 Marsh about how this might look. Lane, Farndon, Newark, Notts, NG24 3SS All at the deanery office wish you well as we gear up for Remembrance services in November and, of course, Christmas. Due to the number of vacancies within the deanery, Louise, Michael and I will be busy making sure that, where possible, there is appropriate cover for all services and support ministry generally throughout the deanery. In Christian Love, David Milner

http://southwell.anglican.org/about-us/deaneries/newark-southwell-deanery-home/ A Message from the , John Sentamu

The nights are getting longer and darker and the light and colours of autumn are dimming. We are now entering the dark time of the year, but we live in the hope of the light of the world, as we ap- proach Christmas.

As we read in our physics books, the things we see around us are seen through the action of light striking and reflecting off the surface of objects. Without light there would be no sight. There would be no information for the brain to process.

The use of sensory deprivation - particularly of sight, by the use of blindfolds, hoods, blackout rooms – is a longstanding form of torture. Without sight our sense of reality trembles. Our brains have no data to work on, nothing to interpret.

Sight is either generated by a luminous object, like the sun, or by an illuminated object which reflects the light cast by a radiant object.

Please don’t be offended if I say that we are not brilliant in ourselves; we are not like the sun; ra- ther, we are illuminated objects like the moon. We can only make our presence visibly known by re- flecting light to the eyes of those who look our way. It is only by reflection that we, as well as most of the other objects in our physical world, The fire of God’s love burns in our hearts and his can be seen. glory is etched on our faces as we delight in him, and worship him in truth and witness to his love in As Christians, the radiant light of God is the word and deed. source of our life and our understanding; but our reflected light is also essential to the sight of oth- Light came into the world with Jesus Christ. A light ers. which enables us to know what real life is; and as we reflect that light, we show others what Christ is At Christmas the radiant light of God was made like. We become a light which helps others to find visible to humanity in his Son, Jesus Christ, the way into the very life of God. through his birth, life and death. What was Word, was made flesh – so that all could see and know At Christmas we are reminded that God invested the good news. himself in the most unpromising way – in humani- ty at its weakest and most vulnerable. We are re- Communication of the gospel is by seeing as well minded too that the coming of God offers us the as by hearing. This double strand runs through opportunity to begin anew, for our sins to be for- the Bible: image and word, vision and voice, given and for those beams of self-righteousness opening the eyes of the blind and unstopping the to be removed from our eyes by God. ears of the deaf. Jesus is the Word of God and the Image of God. The Word became visible and This grace is freely given and joyfully unregulated. the Image audible. It calls us to active compassion. And its endless supply in a constantly demanding world offers us And if we live in that light, reflecting it in every- all a route to a more hopeful future. Offering us thing we say and do, then the world’s darkness forgiveness for past sins, new life in the present, will be put to flight. Like Superman eyes, our light and hope for the future. comes from within and not from outside. Refreshed, I tackled the hills leading to Kneesall, St A little ride around Bartholomew (toilet break) before a lovely stretch of open straight road which took me to the north part of the Ossington where the Church of the Holy Rood deanery. nestles well in the country! It was I have taken part in the Historic good to visit on the eve of Holy Churches Trust annual ride and stride event for a Cross Day! number of years, usually visiting the east of the Trent area through Newark and then down to By now the inclines were beginning Bingham. This year, on September to take their toll but I kept arguing 13th, I planned a different route that what goes up must come down but this did visiting as many churches as not seem to happen with these roads. Norwell, possible in the top half of the St Laurence was next with some deanery and made sure I had delightful pictures by the local school a camera with me. children to welcome riders and striders and then onto Caunton, St Andrew, So, having parked my car in where I possibly made a poor decision. I Tuxford and full of decided to cycle down (actually up, up enthusiasm off I set visiting St and up before down) to South Nicholas’s first before signing Muskham, St Wilfred and onto North in at the Methodist Church. Muskham, St Wilfred. It was good to The weather was good for cycling - see the Wilfreds but an hour later my body was not too warm, not a lot of wind and not raining. However, regretting that extra distance. what I had never really appreciated during my many However, I was now on my homeward stretch cycling along car journeys around this area the path alongside the A1 to was the number of inclines in Cromwell, St Giles, across the bridge this area. The first I to Carlton-on-Trent, St Mary the encountered was when I Virgin (which is cycled out of Tuxford toward not identified West Markham - but there on the diocesan was relief as I free wheeled map in the Church towards All Saints. This was History Project book) before followed by a longish ride to Walesby and an reaching Sutton-on-Trent, All interesting discovery of the Mausoleum Church of All Saints at Saints. By now I was very tired and Milton which I never knew existed.! it was nearing the end of the official event so, any attempt to visit any other church communities not on Walesby, St Edmund was followed by my route back to Tuxford were abandoned. So, a slow Kirton, Holy Trinity and then after a ride up to Weston, All Saints was followed by an even long incline, a stop at Egmanton to look slower ride back to Tuxford, St Nicholas and to my car. round the Church of Our Lady. Onwards It was a long, tiring day but really then to Moorhouse Chantry Chapel enjoyable visiting so many through Laxton, St Michael the buildings and communities; Archangel before reaching the steep thank you to all who provided incline towards Boughton. The ride refreshments and words of down was excellent but to my horror encouragement. I tried to leave I missed St Matthew’s Church. My association with a calling card saying I had visited Boughton goes back quite a while when I visited the as the lay chair of our deanery of Newark & Convent along with Mrs Darby (Bishop Richard’s Southwell. I am in training to visit other parts of it wife) when we were involved in a community next year. I think I cycled well project; I thought that the nearby church building over 50 miles though it was not C of E so did not have it on seemed more with all those my list. My apologies and I will make inclines! amends. Michael Wilson My journey took me past the Lay Chair churches of St Paulinus and St Giles in the new and old parts of Ollerton before I rested for lunch at Wellow, St Swithin. St. Wilfrid's Church South Muskham AVERHAM BELL EDUCATION Christmas Craft Fair

AND RESTORATION PROJECT Saturday 29 November The Grade I church of St Michael and All Angels Averham is believed the oldest church in continuous use in Nottinghamshire, with the 10am-12noon lower part of the tower being of Anglo-Saxon origin. The tower Village hall, South Muskham contains a peal of six bells cast by Thomas Mears II at the Whitechapel foundry in 1840. They were considered to be the A variety of craft stalls plus home made preserves, cakes, gifts, second most needy of restoration in the Diocese, of 5 or 6 bell tombola, raffle and books. towers.

Admission £1.00 includes tea/coffee and a mince pie. There have been at least five unsuccessful attempts to restore the bells in recent years, most recently for the millennium. Interest was Accompanied children under 10 free. reignited in 2007 as a result of the Parish Plan when a number of All proceeds towards the maintenance of our ancient church. villagers volunteered to learn to ring, without knowing that the Averham bells were unsuitable for teaching. Ian Hasman and Paul Raithby, ringers at Winthorpe, kindly took it upon themselves, initially at Winthorpe and subsequently at North Muskham.

The bells were removed in May 2012 by the Power Station team in front of an audience of local schoolchildren and local television news cameras (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18034247) and returned in late 2013. During this time the new bellframe was installed, tower floors renewed, the clock mechanism replaced and dials regilded, the west window restored, electrics renewed and new access stairs installed throughout the tower.

This was only made possible through the generosity of local residents and companies, grant funding and the voluntary labour provided by Staythorpe Power Station and local volunteers. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave a £29,700 grant. Students from Newark College assisted with welding a new steel bellframe and Lincoln College constructed new louvres.

What started, in cash terms, as a £40,000 bell restoration project ended up as an £80,000 restoration of the tower and bells, with well over £100,000 work undertaken once voluntary labour and materials was taken into account.

The church was full for a service to rededicate the bells at the end of June 2014, the theme of which was God’s faithful provision, with the opportunity to ring afterwards. This was followed by an open morning held in early July when over fifty visitors came to see the bells rung, tour the tower and try bellringing for themselves. A number of villagers have started to learn how to ring on the bells, which bodes well for the future.

Martin L Cooper Project Co-ordinator, [email protected]

Volunteers for The Nottingham Winter Shelter The Nottingham Winter Shelter is recruiting volunteers for this year’s night shelter during the winter months - when churches work together from November to March to provide warm safe shelters in church halls for Nottingham's rough sleepers/ homeless people. Accommodation and support services was found for 166 people who stayed last winter thanks to a dedicated team of staff and 89 volunteers. To volunteer please contact Denis Tully [email protected] or telephone:Everyone 0115 950 Welcome 7140. Follow them Facebook www.facebook.com/ nottinghamwintershelter Further details: the Revd Liam O'Boyle 07860 507318, email: liam.o'[email protected] SUTTON ACOUSTIC EVENING Saturday 13 December 2014 - 7.OOpm at All Saint Sutton on Trent

Admission £3.00 various types of music including some Christmas Favourites All welcome “Sharing the caring of depression and dementia”

A special event for World Mental Health Awareness Week held at St Paulinus Church working in partnership with the Rosewood Involvement Centre, New Ollerton

On Tuesday 7th October, St Paulinus opened its doors to Trinity Hall & Holy Trinity Church people from the local community and surrounding areas to learn together, to improve our understanding and knowledge Besthorpe about dementia and depression and to consider how communities, including faith communities, can work together to support people suffering with dementia and depression. It was hoped that people would leave feeling inspired, resourced and enabled to play our part in raising awareness and reducing stigma about mental health. Professor Mike Cooke CBE, the Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (pictured above) and Archdeacon David provided keynote speeches and we heard 3 powerful personal stories from carers of loved ones suffering with Taste of Europe depression and dementia. There were information stalls from various organisations which people browsed around at Saturday November the beginning and end of the event and there was a th ‘question and answer’ time where all were able to contribute 15 7.30pm to the discussion. Right from the off, St Paulinus was buzzing and the church was soon full. People have been saying “we should do more of this” and many of these were Come & sample the taste surprised to hear that 1 in 4 people will suffer from mental health problem in the course of a year. It was a great of European food and drink opportunity to network and show what can be achieved Quiz Raffle when we partner together. Many remarked that the event was stimulating and interesting and people did leave inspired. The event even got a mention at the recent Tickets £10.00 from: Diocesan Conference at Swanwick! Events such as these build community and show how our church buildings can be Sue Butler Tel: 01636892068 used for mission. Many thanks to all who supported this event and especially to the unsung heroes who made this Rosie Smith Tel: 01636894277 event possible and the success that it was. Revd Zoe Burton Proceeds to Holy Trinity Church project to restore our railings

St Giles, Balderton, Printing Service Canon Tony Tucker at Balderton continues to offer a printing service at great rates.

Collingham Singers will be celebrating St. Cecilia's Day, with a concert at St Cecilia's Church, Girton,

Please contact him on on Saturday 22nd November at 7.30pm. [email protected] or Tickets £5 and include a drink and "nibbles", 01636 704811 please phone Sally (01522 778691) or Samantha (01522 778697) for tickets. 11 & 7 Feb 2015 Parish Employment Responsibilities Some Useful Dates for your Seminar. 9.30am-12.30pm. Details and to book: 01636 817249, email: [email protected] Diaries

Forthcoming Deanery Synod Meetings Are you thinking of getting 4th February 2015 - venue tba 8th June 2015 - venue tba your Will written? 6th October 2015 - venue tba

Will Aid Deanery Standing Committee Meetings November is Will Aid month, and to get your Will drawn up by a local solicitor for free, in return for a voluntary September 17th 2014 donation to charity, you need to make an appointment November 12th 2014 now! To find participating solicitors near you go to the January 20th 2015 website hwww.willaid.org.uk/will-makers. March 18th 2015 It is recommended that you make an appointment as soon May 14th 2015 as possible, because solicitors' Will Aid appointments July 7th 2015 diaries are already filling up fast. For further information September 16th 2015 please contact: Steve Cumberland 01636 817245, November 12th 2015 [email protected] Deanery Confirmation Service Saturday 12th July 2015 Parish Share St Mary’s Newark

What is it for? Primarily it is to pay the stipends of our priests, along with their housing and pension provision. Secondly, it pays for the relatively small number of staff at Jubilee House. In other words a very high percentage of parish share is used to pay people, but does not include the or the Minster staff. This diocese pays its clergy a little below the recommended levels.

What if we don’t pay our share? Not paying means the resources for paying clergy will be restricted which will then reduce the number of stipendiary priests employed.

We don’t get a whole priest to ourselves now? I wonder when churches in the deanery, with the exception of 1 or 2, can remember when they had their own individual priest? In our deanery of 72 churches we have just 12 stipendiary

priests. The majority of parishes share the ministry of one priest. This pattern will not change. Whilst there is a steady Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham stream of women and men going through the training and Revd Ian Lambert accompanied a group of people ordination process it will only enable us to staff the deanery at the present levels . The cost of a priest is around £50,000, from the United Benefice of Farndon with Thorpe, (covering stipend, housing and pension provision). Although in Hawton & Cotham, to the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady some benefices and groups this is achieved, in many they are of Walsingham on Thursday October 2nd. unable to pay their allotted share. The less money overall that the deanery pays against the total share asked of it by the The Shrine occupies an island site in the village of diocese, the more difficult it is for the diocese to staff the Walsingham, fivemiles from the north Norfolk coast. number of posts now available. Close to the ruins of the original medieval Priory

What to do? (destroyed in 1538) the present-day Shrine was The Lord’s teaching in the Parable of the widow’s mite gives gradually created from 1931 from derelict farm direction but it is not easy. We all have pressures on our buildings and cottages with a brand new Shrine finances but perhaps we all could take stock and look at our Church in the south-east corner of the site. giving to enable the Lord’s work to continue by paying our full share. For more information visit Is there an alternative? www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk The alternative of no priests ever for some parishes is the answer and do we want that? Messy Minster! Come along for Messy Church at the Minster!

The first Friday of Month, in term time: Fri 7th Nov, 3.30pm-5.30pm Fri 5th Dec, 3.30pm-5.30pm Fri 9th Jan 2015, 3.30-5.30pm Fri 6th Feb 2015, 3.30-5.30pm

…come straight from school, and it’s OK to arrive late!

Messy Minster! is a new monthly event for families; it’s for both children and adults together. ‘Messy Church’ is a fun and relaxed experience of church for people of all ages to be creative, make crafts, eat together, and share a time of informal worship Messy Minster! meets in Trebeck hall, next to Southwell Minster. Its free of charge - there will be opportunity to donate something at the end, to cover drinks or food, if you wish I’m looking forward to welcoming you - please come along and help us get messy! Fr Matthew

For more information please contact Fr Matthew, email:[email protected] or tel: 01636 817298

Family events and services at Southwell Minster

Children’s Church - meets during the 9.30am Sunday Eucharist, all year during term time. Come along and have fun while you learn

Christmas Services – always popular, come along for the very special atmosphere at the Minster –

Christingle: Sun 7th Dec, 5pm The Crib Services: Christmas Eve (24th Dec), 11am and 2pm

Playful : Sun 1st Feb-Sun 8th Feb. Exhibition of children’s art celebrating creativity and the Church. On display in the historic at the Minster

Messy Church Celebration: Feb 7th 2015, 2-4pm. Join us in the Minster for this County-wide celebration of all things Messy Church!

Easter Day – Sun 5th April 2015, 9.30am – celebrate the biggest day in the Christian Calendar at the Minster, and join in our popular annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Archbishop’s Palace gardens.

Rogation Sunday – 10th May 2015, 10.30am – celebrate nature and the environment with this family service which involves a fun walk up to Brakenhurst and the blessing of animals.

Pentecost – Sun 24th May 2015, 9.30am – today is the ‘Birthday of the Church’, come and help celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and our gifts too! Check out Southwell Minster’s website for more information www.southwellminster.org At The Minster St. Giles Church Ollerton December 12 at 7.15pm

Concert of Music for Christmas QUIZ NIGHT arr: by Barbara Marriott and Martin Yates, IN THE UNITED BENEFICE OF FARNDON WITH Please come & have some fun at our Quiz Night on THORPE, HAWTON & COTHAM admission £5 to Friday 7th November include our famed Sunday 2nd November 2.30 pm Thanksgiving “for completion of at Kilvington St. Mary’s Church refreshments ! church project” Service, *************** All Saints, Hawton from 7.30pm, teams of four – six. Delicious supper provided plus a bar for wine & beer. Sunday 9th November 10.45 am Remembrance Service Tickets are £8.00 each and all profits to St Mary’s at Farndon Village Hall

Church. Saturday 29th November Don’t delay – book today! 2.00 to 5.00 pm Christmas Fair & Carols by Candlelight Tickets: Alexandra Norman 01400 281245 All Saints, Hawton

Katie Allen 01949 850333 Sunday 30th November 4.30 pm Advent Carol Service, St Peter’s, Farndon

Saturday 6th December Norwell Christmas 7.30 pm WW1 Christmas Concert, All Saints, Hawton

Festival Saturday 13th December 7.00 pm Paul Jackson Concert St Laurence Church, Norwell St Peter’s, Farndon

Special Opening afternoon on Film Night Sunday 14th December 9.30 am Christingle, All Saints, Hawton Wednesday Saturday 13 December 11.00 am Family Service with Nativity Presen- 26th November 2014 tation, St Peter’s, Farndon 2.00–5.00pm Location: Traditional displays, arrangements, activities, crafts, Wednesday 17th December St Michael’s School, 6.00 pm Carols on the Green, Farndon music and refreshments Farnsfield Service of Nine lessons and carols at 6.00pm on Thursday 18th December Sunday 14 December Time: 7.30 pm 7.00 pm Carol Service, All Saints, Hawton

The church will be open to see the displays and Sunday 21st December Cost: arrangements until Christmas. 11.00 am Carol Service, £5.00 wine available For more information ring 01636 636 365 St Lawrence, Thorpe 4.30 pm Carol Service, St Peter’s, Farndon NEWARK PARISH CHURCH Christmas Eve th 4.00 pm Christingle, St Peter’s, Farndon 7 CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 8.00 pm Christmas Eve Eucharist, 6 Dec. - 14 Dec. 2014 St Michael’s, Cotham Over 100 trees decorated by local schools, organisations & businesses. 10.00 am Christmas Eve Eucharist, St Peter’s, Farndon

Opening times: Saturdays 9.30am - 5.00pm Christmas Day Sundays 11.00am - 4.30pm 9.30 am Christmas Day Eucharist, Weekdays 10.00am - 4.30pm All Saints, Hawton Entrance: Adults £2 Children 20p Refreshments, Christmas cards, Raffle, Stalls Sunday 28th December 11.00 am United Benefice Service, FESTIVAL SONGS OF PRAISE - 14 Dec at 6pm St Peter’s, Farndon

Don’t forget to advertise your Christmas Services & Events at achristmasnearyou.com nearer the time!! In The Deanery The following churches are in vacancy in our deanery at the moment. If you would like to support them by attending any of their services please contact the deanery office for more information on service times. Bleasby, Halloughton, Hoveringham, Morton, Rolleston, Thurgarton, Upton, Sutton on Trent, Carlton on Trent, Norwell, Ossington, Cromwell, Caunton, Tuxford, West Markham, Weston, Normanton on Trent, Marnham. Please hold them in your prayers.

Deanery Prayer Useful Contact Information Most merciful God, our creator and redeemer, in baptism you called us to be members, www.southwell.anglican.org one of another as witnesses to your saving power. www.yourchurchwedding.org

Grant that, united in your love, Revd Lucy Cleland, and confident in your promise to be with us always, Chaplain to the Bishop we may be led by your Holy Spirit, [email protected] to be your living body in this deanery, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Mr Nigel Spraggins, Chief Executive [email protected] Revd Greg Price We are pleased to announce that Revd Greg Price will be the new Priest serving Archdeacon the churches of Tuxford, Weston, West Markham, Normanton on Trent and [email protected] Marnham and of course Tuxford Academy. We will keep you posted about the time and date of his licensing. Mrs Jo Padmore Executive Personal Assistant [email protected] Deanery Treasurer Needed For some time Mike Wilson has been the Deanery Treasurer. Having been For Stats for Mission Returns appointed the Lay Chair he needs to relinquish the role. It is not an onerous and On-Line Data entries: task and we hope that someone will be prepared to take it on. Mike will be Mr Fraser McNish pleased to speak with anyone interested about what is required. 01636 817244 [email protected] Prayer Time: Newark Team Ministry are pleased to announce a weekly time for prayer, which will be held every Tuesday at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene from 12.30 to 1.00 pm. You are warmly invited to join members of the Newark Team as they pray for the Newark Team Ministry and wider community

St Peter’s Farndon also hold a Time for Prayer at 9.15 am every Tuesday before their 10.00 am Holy Communion Service. All welcome

Newark & Southwell Deanery Leadership Team

Area Dean: Revd David Milner Lay Chair; Mr Mike Wilson Treasurer: Vacant Deanery Administrator: Mrs Louise Riley

Deanery Office: (Mon/Tues 9.30-3, Thurs 9-1) 3 Marsh Lane, Farndon, Newark, Notts, NG24 3SS Tel: 01636 650063 Email: [email protected]