(At Greyfriars) Wed 2Nd

We aim to show how God through the Church, with its worship, teaching and service is relevant to modern living.

Every Friday 10am-12 Knit2gether in Greyfriars Restaurant. noon Tue 1st 10.30am After the Cards (at Greyfriars) Wed 2nd 10.15am Richmond Flower Arranging Club Thurs 3rd 12-12.30 Christians Together in Richmond First Thursday Prayers in Holy Trinity Chapel in the Market Place Sun 6th 10am Dedication by Bishop James of the MU banner at the 10.30am Sung Eucharist service at St Mary’s Church

6PM service, Illuminate at St Mary’s Church refreshments afterwards Thurs 10th 7.30pm Gilling West Gardening Society Sun 13th 6.30pm Farewell Eucharist service for Rev Antony Kirby at St Mary’s Church followed by refreshments Sun 20th 4pm Café Church @ St Mary’s Sat 26th 10am Rokeby Inn - “Why do we suffer if God is so good?” Sun 27th 3.40pm for Fun-Key Church @ St Marys Richmond (refreshments from 4pm start 3.40pm) Tue 29th 2pm Mothers Union at Greyfriars. Wed 30th 7.30pm Hudswell Gardening Club

P1 Calendar and Contents P2 Ministry Team P3 Register, After the Cards, Knit2gether, P4 From our Curate and Car Transport

P5 Farewell to Colin Hicks P6 September Prayer Diary P7 What’s on in September 2015 P8 Café Church @ St Mary’s, Interview with Oliver Murray P9 Interview with Oliver Murray cont P10 Who is my neighbour? Richmondshire Subscription Concerts P11 Who is my neighbour? Cont., Fun- P12 Richmond C of E Primary School Key Church @ St Mary’s P13 Richmond C of E Primary School cont., P14 The Oxford Gargoyles, Easy Mothers Union, Study Groups Fundraising P15 Thank you Ann, A history question. P16 Reader Ministry - Joy Hornsby P17 Reader Ministry cont., On this day... P18 Book Recommendations, Fire Safety P19 Services in September P20 Rotas and 200 Club, Living with Dementia 1

THE PARISH OF RICHMOND WITH HUDSWELL AND DOWNHOLME AND MARSKE www.richmondhudswellparish.org.uk MINISTRY TEAM RECTOR Rev’d John R Chambers The Rectory, Church Wynd 821241 0787 5348245 [email protected] CURATE Rev’d Antony Kirby 850349 07594615180 [email protected] HONORARY CLERGY Rev’d Mark Beresford-Peirse Rev’d Jennifer Williamson Rev’d Bill Simms READERS Mrs Joy Hornsby 2 Olliver Road 826490 Mr Scott Lunn 2 Hurgill Road 826895 Mrs Joan Plowman 7 White Friars Gardens 822792 PASTORAL ASSISTANT Mrs Jennifer Patrick 1 Roper Court 850693 ACORN CHRISTIAN LISTENERS Mrs Jennifer Patrick 850693 Dr Sheila Harrisson 822059 Mrs Ruth Brown 825270

CHURCH OFFICERS - THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, RICHMOND

Mayor’s Warden Mr David Frankton 8 Alans Court 823531 Rector’s Warden Mr Roy Morel 22 Olliver Road 823278 Assistant Warden Mrs Janet Morel Organist & Choir Director Mr Colin Hicks 1 Willow Crescent 821464 Bell Captain Mrs Susan Welch 8 Maple Road 823700 Head Verger Mr Leonard Scrafton 14 Pilmoor Close 824106 Parish Administrator Claire Murray [email protected] 07737482611

OFFICERS OF THE PCC AND OTHERS Secretary Mrs Jennifer Patrick 1 Roper Court 850693 Treasurer Rebecca Simpson Flat 2, 4 Hildyard Row, Catterick Garrison, DL9 4DH 07716608948 Assistant Treasurer Claire Murray 07737482611 FWO Secretaries Mr Don & Mrs Joy Wade 11 Moorside Road 821062 Magazine Editor Gillian Lunn 2 Hurgill Road 826895 Magazine Distribution Gillian Hardy 11 The Green 449850 Magazine Adverts Mr Frank Gibbon 23 Westfields 821002

FOR THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, HUDSWELL Organist Mrs Valerie Strawbridge 15 Boundary Way 821440

FOR THE PARISH OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, DOWNHOLME Reader Mr George Alderson 68 Brompton Park, B on Swale 818865 Church Warden Mrs Jean Calvert Thorpe Farm, Reeth Road, Richmond 823001 Church Treasurer Mr John Horseman Echlinville, Hudswell, Richmond 826216

FOR THE PARISH OF ST EDMUNDS, MARSKE Reader Mr David Stoneham Ivy Cottage, Marske 822418 Church Warden Mrs Ruth Tindale Skelton Lodge, Marske 823371 Deputy Warden Mrs Ann Stoneham Ivy Cottage, Marske 822418 Organist Mrs Jennifer Wallis 1 School Terrace, Marske 822930 Treasurer Mrs Elizabeth Withers [email protected] 825262

www.richmondhudswellparish.org.uk http://funkeychurchatstmarysrichmond.wordpress.com/

FROM THE REGISTERS Sadly we have laid to rest 18th June 2015 Dorothy Fisher Aged 83 26th June 2015 Winifred Tait Aged 91 9th July 2015 Brenda Woodhouse Aged 69 29th July 2015 June Doreen Ivory Aged 86 3rd August 2015 David Charles Doorbar Aged 60 5th August 2015 Ernest Miller Aged 63 May they rest in peace and rise in glory

We have joined together in marriage 2nd August 2015 Matthew Barker and Ashleigh Fayers 15th August 2015 Dean Dade and Kayleigh Jones

AFTER THE CARDS AND VISITORS Bereavement is a very difficult time for the spouse/partners left behind. Starting again on their own is even more difficult. Carrie and Anne would like to help with the next step by meeting recently bereaved spouses/partners for coffee at Greyfriars on the first Tuesday of the month at 10.30am. Contact Carrie on 850103 for further information.

KNIT2GETHER - FRIDAYS BETWEEN 10 AND 12 AT GREYFRIARS RESTAURANT - A weekly Knitting, Crocheting and Hand Sewing group continues to meet in The Restaurant @ Greyfriars, Flints Terrace, Richmond between 10:00 - 12:00. All will be made very welcome. Bring your own projects and enjoy coffee and a chat whilst making new friends. Please see Claire Murray.

ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH PASTORAL CARE TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE Transport to and from Church (C), Hospital (H), Shopping (S) Ruth Brown 26 Whitefields Drive C H S 825270 Michael and Margaret Clayson 12 Green Howards Road C H 822631 John Dickinson 5 West End Avenue C H 826803 Joy and Don Hornsby 2 Olliver Road C H 826490 Graham Merlane 1 Gallowfields Road C H S 826109 Rosemary Oliver 3 Stanley Grove C 823081 Edna Roberts 70 Ronaldshay Drive C 822970 Eileen Simms 56 Ronaldshay Drive H S 821511 Anne Simpson 56 Gilling Road C H S 822277 Pamela Wheatley 32 Whitefields Drive C H 822428 Linda Drury 25 Darlington Road H 850243

More drivers are always welcome and much appreciated so if you wish to volunteer for this very important service, contact this magazine on 826895.

From Our Curate September 2015

s most of you will know I have been appointed as Priest in Charge of A Barningham with Hutton Magna and Wycliffe and Priest in Charge of Gilling with Kirkby Ravensworth (Incumbent Designate of the United Benefice). This will be my last Magazine letter with you at Richmond Hudswell Downholme and Marske.

It has been a great privilege to have served my Title Post with you and to share with Rev John the ministry of these parishes.

Rev John has been a great support and I thank him for his gentle encouragement and the way we have worked together over the past four years. It has been a time I will always cherish and give thanks for. We have laughed together and on occasions cried together, we have prayed for you our parishioners and held you before God in our times of Morning Worship.

As Priests of the Parish, there is much work going on that no one sees and often I would guess that many people fail to recognise the time that is put into our ministry. I have been surprised by some of the work we are involved with, which never entered into my mind set when I first set out on responding to the calling of priesthood.

The calls that come late at night because someone is in need must be responded to, the many calls that come just as you think you are about to call it a day may result in another hour’s work that you were not catering for. All these calls are acted upon and often put pressure on an already busy schedule. This ministry must continue to go on because it is so important to the life of the church the people of God.

It has been a great privilege to have been able to enter into this ministry and to share with you all the ups and downs of life within these parishes, but this is not carried out in isolation, because as Priests we are part of the Christian community the Body of Christ who work together in furthering God’s Kingdom.

So it is we have Priest and People together serving our lord. So I thank you the people who have given of your time in the work of the church, you who have supported me in my ministry through prayer and friendship, you who have made my ministry so enjoyable. I hope that together we have grown in our faith and that our memories of these times together will always lift us when times may be difficult and I pray that you will all continue to support Reverend John in his ministry as he continues to support you in your callings.

God Bless,

Antony, Debbie and family.

From Our Rector September 2015

Farewell to Colin Hicks

It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to Colin Hicks, our Director of Music who will be stepping down in September. Colin has been organist and choirmaster at St. Mary's for a total of 13 years. In that time, he built up the choir to 10 adults and 12 girls and boys. Five of the youngsters won a top national medal for musicianship, the coveted Gold award of the Royal School of Church Music. And at least two choristers used skills learned in the choir to enhance their GSCE results. Music has always played a big part in Colin’s life. At 16, he joined the band of the Royal Artillery in Woolwich and became organist at the Royal Military Academy Chapel there. Like his father, a military band conductor, he rose to direct the Queen's Normandy Band at Catterick Garrison On leaving the Army, Colin took over the part-time post as organist and choirmaster at Richmond parish church in 1999. Other roles in his musical life have included secretary to the Northern Cathedral Singers, a voluntary choir that fills in at cathedrals over the north of England. He was commended by the RSCM for his services. And in 2010, he stepped in to serve as accompanist to the Military WAGs choir under Carol Gedye. Colin will be much missed. He built up the choir and has maintained a consistently high standard of music at St. Mary's at a time when many parish churches are struggling to keep their choirs going. He will be much missed and I thank him for his significant contribution to the worship life of St Mary’s. He has kindly offered to step in when the need arises. We are now seeking a replacement for Colin. I would be glad to hear from anyone who has the necessary skills and experience Rev John

NB Many thanks to our roving reporter Ralph Robinson who has supplied much of the detail about Colin’s music career to date.

5 PRAYER DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER - we pray …... TUE 1 For all who seek refuge, all migrants and all who seek to help them. For all who mourn loved ones. We pray for all who attend the “After the cards” group - for friendship and support. WED 2 For our Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. For our Bishops Nick and James. For our Mayor, local councillors, for our MP and MEPs, and for integrity and wisdom for all involved in politics. THUR 3 For Christians Together in Richmond and the First Thursday Prayers FRI 4 For the opportunities each new day gives us. May we make the most of that time. For friends and family living near and far away. SAT 5 For all who provide emergency service relief. SUN 6 For all our congregations at St Mary’s Richmond, St Michael and All Angels in Hudswell and Downholme and St Edmund’s Marske. MON 7 For the teachers and staff of our schools in our town. For a good new term. For the Girlguiding and Scouting Movements. TUE 8 For peace in the world. For people caught up in conflict throughout the world. For medics who minister and Aid Agencies who assist WED 9 For all who mourn loved ones. We pray for all who attend the “After the cards” group - for friendship and support. THUR 10 For our Royal Family we give thanks. For the Bible Society, Home- Start Richmond and all who volunteer and give of their time. For families coping with increasing financial demands FRI 11 For people who work unsociable hours. We pray for people who are in prison and all their families and victims of their crime.. SAT 12 For all who come to our churches for funerals, baptisms and weddings. May they feel inspired to find out more about God. SUN 13 For families throughout the world, and for those who are mothers and family to us. For the Mothers Union MON 14 For Traidcraft and the Fairtrade movement. For Swale Womens Institute. For friendships and love. TUE 15 For all who suffer religious persecution WED 16 For our Rector John , now Interim Area Dean, for Rev’d Mark Beresford-Peirse and Rev’d Jennifer Williamson and their families THUR 17 We give thanks for all the gifts God gives us. May we embrace every opportunity given to us, For our Armed Forces here and abroad, and their family and friends FRI 18 For our Readers Joy, Joan and Scott, our Readers in Training James and Gillian, and Warden of Readers Rev’d Jennifer Williamson SAT 19 For all who feel dissatisfied with life. May they feel fulfilled SUN 20 For people we are worried or concerned about. MON 21 We pray for Rev Antony Kirby as he is licensed as Priest in Charge to Barningham with Hutton Magna and Wycliffe, and Gilling with Kirkby Ravensworth. TUE 22 For all who are lonely, sad or depressed - encouragement and love. WED 23 For love and friendship. THUR 24 For our neighbours FRI 25 With thanks for all who use their talents for worship-musicians, florists, choir, listeners, cleaners, the unseen workers. SAT 26 That we may always love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. SUN 27 We pray for all attending Fun-Key Church today - may they find true fun, faith and fellowship for all ages. MON 28 For peace in self and the world. For space and time to listen to God TUE 29 For peace throughout the world. WED 30 For all who are sick in body, mind or spirit, and for all who look after them whether as medical staff or family, friends and carers.

WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER 2015

FRIDAYS BETWEEN 10 AND 12 - KNIT2GETHER AT GREYFRIARS RESTAURANT - A weekly Knitting, Crocheting and Hand Sewing group continues to meet in The Restaurant at Greyfriars, Flints Terrace, Richmond between 10:00 - 12:00. All will be made very welcome. Bring your own projects and enjoy Coffee and a chat whilst making new friends. Please see Claire Murray.

TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - 10.30am - AFTER THE CARDS - GREYFRIARS please see page 3

WED 2ND SEPT - RICHMOND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB IN HUDSWELL VILLAGE HALL at 10.15am Demonstration by Valerie Guest— Autumn Odyssey. Enquiries Tel. 01748 824514

THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER - CHRISTIANS TOGETHER IN RICHMOND - FIRST THURSDAY PRAYERS - AT HOLY TRINITY CHAPEL - 12-12.30

SUNDAY 6TH SEPT—MOTHERS UNION - Dedication by Bishop James of the MU banner at the 10.30am Sung Eucharist service. SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER - ILLUMINATE AT ST MARY’S CHURCH - SERVICE AT 6.30PM, REFRESHMENTS AT 6PM —Our speaker will be Allan Fraser. Illuminate is a Contemporary Christian worship service held at St. Mary's, Richmond on the first Sunday evening of every month. Informal, relaxed, with food and drinks provided, all ages are welcome to come and enjoy the worship band, relevant sermon and fellowship before and after.

THURSDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER - GILLING WEST GARDENING SOCIETY—7.30PM in the Village Hall. 'The Perfect Posy' with Clarey Wrightson. Everyone welcome. £3 visitors includes refreshments. £10 for the year.

SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER - CAFÉ CHURCH @ ST MARY’S AT 4PM. In the first of our bi-monthly speakers we welcome Bishop John Pritchard as our speaker. Everyone welcome. Why not bring a friend? Please see page 8 for further details.

SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER - Prof. the Rev. Jeff Astley, on 'Why do we suffer if God is so good?' He is a distinguished theologian who, amongst others, taught the current Archbishop of Canterbury! Rokeby Inn at 10.00am.

SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER - FUN-KEY CHURCH @ ST MARYS RICHMOND - 4pm service with refreshments from 3.40pm Relaxed fun, faith and fellowship for all ages. See Gillian for more details 07592016476

TUESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER - MOTHERS UNION - 2pm we meet at Greyfriars when our speaker will be the Rev John Chambers. Everyone welcome.

WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER - HUDSWELL GARDENING CLUB - 7.30pm A year in my allotment by Peter Williams.

SWALE WOMENS INSTITUTE - . For details please contact Alayne Saville 850528

Cafe Church @ St Mary's

Sunday 20th September sees the start of a brand new way of experiencing church at St Mary's. There will be excellent speakers with time for questions and discussion. We'll sit around cafe style tables, enjoying tea, coffee and home baking. The 'Cafe Church' will happen bi-monthly at 4pm in St Mary's, and is aimed at everyone who would like to spend a relaxed and informal time of learning and fellowship together, finishing with the quiet service of compline.

We are delighted to welcome Bishop John Pritchard as our speaker for the first service on September 20th. Bishop John retired as Bishop of Oxford at the end of last year, but continues with a teaching, preaching and writing ministry. His books include 'How to Pray', 'Living Jesus', 'God Lost and Found', 'The Journey' and 'The Intercessions Handbook'.

Our other speakers will include The Revd Janet Henderson, on 15th November who is a former Archdeacon of Richmond; The Revd David Day on 17th January 2016, who was principal of St John's College Durham before his retirement, and is one of the best preachers in the Church of England; and Bishop James Bell, on 20th March 2016 our own Bishop of Ripon.

This is a new service for St Mary's and we would love to welcome as many people as possible. Why not bring a friend? If you would like more information please speak to Gillian Lunn or Wendy Pritchard. https://cafechurchstmarysrichmondnorthyorkshire.wordpress.com/

A Wonderful Experience As a student of St Francis Xavier’s, a Catholic and Anglican school, Oliver Murray was entitled to go for a week to Lourdes, as a helper, on a trip organised by the Middlesbrough diocese for students from the Catholic schools in the diocese. Thirty two students from SFX went by coach. Angela Dickinson asked Oliver all about it. Angela: So what was it like? Oliver Murray: It was amazing. Lourdes is a small town roughly the size of Richmond in the shadow of the Pyrenees so I didn’t expect this magnificent church like a great cathedral and the big hospital and the St Bernadette’s Centre, “the domain” as this complex is called. It was breathtaking. Angela: What did you have to do? Oliver: We had to pray daily for the schools in the Middlesbrough diocese in different ways. For example one day we made boats with the name of each school and sent them sailing down the river Gave. We had to push people in wheelchairs from the hospital to the church for services and to other places. We were given training. You would think that you just have to push a wheel chair but there is a lot more to it. It was hard work. Angela: How did you cope with the French? Oliver: Most people that I helped came from the Middlesbrough diocese so mostly language wasn’t a problem. One lady who became a friend had been coming to Lourdes for more than forty years. Angela: Did anyone get out of the wheelchair and walk? Oliver: We were told that once in every ten years or so a miracle like that happens. Do you know about the story of St Bernadette?

Angela: Not much . Please tell me about it. Oliver: The year was 1858. Bernadette was the daughter of parents who were poor because her father was so generous. While out to gather firewood she had a vision of a woman who asked her to pray with her for 18 days. On the last day she revealed that she was Mary and told her and other townsfolk where to dig. They found a spring of healing water. Angela: What were the highlights for you? Oliver: Helping the disabled was really rewarding. I carried the banner for the Middlesbrough diocese. It was so heavy. I liked the appreciation of the vital part played by youth at Lourdes. Also I had a lot of fun with my friends and made friends with students from other schools. There was such a tremendous atmosphere and everyone was sorry to leave. I would love to go again. Angela: Is there anything else you would like to add? Oliver: I would like to thank all the members of St Mary’s who supported me and especially Mrs Maureen Gibbon who had one of her famous all day coffee mornings to raise support. It was an expensive trip and without that support it would not have been possible for me to go and enjoy this eye-opening marvellous experience.

Richmondshire Subscription Concerts The coming season’s concerts are: 26 Sept – the Cavaleri Quartet with Julian Bliss (clarinet) 24 October – Quartetto di Cremona 28 November – O Duo, amazing percussion duo 23 January – Tasmin Little 5 March – Albany Piano Trio 23 April – Villiers Quartet

Richmondshire Subscription Concerts has been promoting high quality classical music in Richmond for over 65 years. All concerts take place in the Influence Church (Zetland Centre), a former cinema with good seating and acoustics and nearby free parking. A season ticket for all six concerts is £39, individual concert tickets cost £13 and can be bought online or phone 01748 822640 Full details are on the website rsconcerts.org and on Facebook.com/RichSConcerts and you can also follow on Twitter @richsconcerts

CONGRATULATIONS to Freda and Tony Dykes who have just reached the 50th anniversary of continuously worshipping at St. Mary's. If you know of others with anniversaries that we can celebrate, please let us know.

THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S … would like to thank everyone for coming to their BBQ, and people for their help, donations of food, the chefs and entertainers (Rev Antony and his son Luke played their bagpipes and friend Catriona danced; and Freda and Tony sang and played folksongs). There was a really friendly atmosphere and £257was raised.

Charity of the Month – 'Who is my Neighbour?' On Sunday November 1st, St Mary's will be launching a new way of charitable giving. We will be supporting a 'charity of the month' with a retiring collection every first Sunday of each month. This will be entirely voluntary, but will be a way of supporting others in their Christian work or their care for the disadvantaged. A list of twenty charities has been prepared by a sub-committee of the PCC, deliberately avoiding those that are already the focus of special efforts by the congregation. A voting form to choose the favourite six home based charities and six 'away' charities will be given out throughout September, to decide on the charities for the first year. A box for votes will be at the back of church and there'll be the opportunity to make suggestions for the following year. Below are the charities we will be choosing from this year. For those with internet access, the web sites give a good insight into their work. Home based charities Barnado's - working with vulnerable children and their families throughout the UK. www.barnados.org.uk Christians Against Poverty - working in partnership with local churches to provide debt counselling and negotiate with creditors to help desperate people manage. www.capuk.org Church Army - working in Anglican churches, projects and teams to share the Christian faith through word and action. www.churcharmy.org.uk Emmaus - supporting people to work their way out of homelessness, providing meaningful work as well a stable home for as long as someone needs it. www.emmaus.org.uk Kidney Patients Alliance - aiming to ensure high quality treatment for all patients with kidney failure. www.kidney.org.uk Samaritans - offering support to people who are suicidal or despairing, 24 hours a day, every day. www.samaritans.org SASRA (The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association) - bringing friendship and evangelism to soldiers and airmen in their accommodation, work and recreation areas. www.sasra.co.uk SPCK - The oldest Anglican mission organisation, now involved in publishing, prison literacy, resourcing school assemblies and putting 'prayers on the move' in the Underground. www.spck.org.uk Torch Trust - enabling people with sight loss to discover Christian faith and lead fulfilling Christian lives. www.torchtrust.org Family Help Women's Refuge, Darlington - providing emotional and practical support to women escaping abusive relationships, both within the refuge and when they move on. www.darlingtonrefuge.org.uk

Charities which focus their work abroad Bible Society - making scriptures available where there are none; using the arts, education, media and politics to make the Bible available, accessible and credible in our own culture. www.biblesociety.org.uk CMS - sharing Jesus and changing lives through mission partners; looking at mission from a new angle to restore and heal a broken world and broken people. www.cms-uk.org Embrace the Middle East (formerly the Bible Lands Society) - tackling poverty and injustice; supporting child welfare, education, social care and medical care throughout the countries of the Middle East. www.embraceme.org

Interserve. A Christian mission organization serving across South Asia and the Arab world, and also working cross-culturally in Britain. www.interserve.org.uk Mercy Ships - providing the world’s largest charitable floating hospital, bringing free medical care to some of the world’s poorest people and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. www.mercyships.org.uk Open Doors - serving persecuted Christians and churches worldwide by supplying bibles, leadership training, literacy programmes, livelihood support and advocacy services. www.opendoorsuk.org Tear Fund A leading relief and development charity, working in partnership with Christian agencies and churches worldwide to tackle the causes and effects of poverty. www.tearfund.org Water Aid - delivering water, sanitation and hygiene to those most in need, working with partners in civil society, government and the private sector. www.wateraid.org/uk World Vision - working alongside communities in nearly 100 countries to improve children's lives by focusing on child protection, child health and emergency response. www.worldvision.org.uk UMNHET (United Mission to Nepal Hospitals Endowment Trust) - supporting four hospitals in poor areas of Nepal and subsidising patient care. www.umnhet.org.uk We have been given so much, let us share it joyfully. Wendy Pritchard, Sheila Harrisson, John Dickinson, Rebecca Simpson.

FUN-KEY CHURCH @ ST MARY’S RICHMOND We had our annual break in July and by the time you get this we will have met on the last Sunday of August. Our August service is always lovely as having had a break it is great to see old friends and greet new friends. Our theme will have been “How clean are you?”. Our service on Sun 27th September will be our Harvest service when we will thank God for all he provides for us. We gather for refreshments from 3.40pm, made by Mothers Union, and the service will begin at 4pm. This service is very relaxed and informal, with words, songs, hymns, stories, crafts, prayers and refreshments available throughout. See blogs for more images and info - http://funkeychurchatstmarysrichmond.wordpress.com/ , find us on Facebook or tweet @fun_keychurch. Gillian 07592016476/826895 Helpers are always welcome, and as Fun-Key Church is for all ages and not just for children, if you are perhaps concerned that you might “not be good with children” then fear not, there are many more adults than children!

Best position for effective prayer Three ministers sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely best," claimed one minister. "No," another contended. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven." "You're both wrong," the third insisted. "The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor." The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Sorry,” he blurted out, “but the best praying I ever did was hanging upside down from a telephone pole."

The final few weeks at school are always busy with plenty going on for everyone.

July began with our annual summer fair organised by the Friends of Richmond CE School (FORCE). Once again we were fortu- nate with the weather and the rainy morning soon disappeared and left a sunny afternoon which encouraged people to come along. We made approximately £2600 which will be spent on resources and visits to enhance the children’s learning as well as providing gifts for the Y6 children as they leave – personalised hoodies and a year book of photos. The following day the Y5/6 Hockey team represented the school at the Yorkshire games and came away with a winners’ trophy. All in all, a great weekend!

During the rest of the term, there were also lots of other sports events going on. We dodged the rain and managed (eventually!) to get in Sports days for Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Mr McCulloch had spent a lot of time checking the weather forecasts but finally got them all organised. Last year the children had really enjoyed their Skip to be Fit day and so this year we had a Box to be Fit day – a circuit training of various kinds of exercise all done to loud and lively music which really produced inspiration and perspiration. The children also reaped the reward of their Soccer Shoot Out sponsorship with a fun day which included a climbing wall and an inflatable jungle run. This was great fun and produced some healthy competition between the teachers as to who could climb the wall and sound the klaxon!

The Year 5/6 classes had worked hard on their Enterprise schemes this year, making and selling chocolate products and making recycled objects to sell at the summer fair. The money they made was then spent on a cinema visit treat. As well as seeing the Minions film, they had a snack box and then picnic lunch out. A good way to relax after a very busy year for our oldest children.

The children in Year 3 /4 had a visit late in the term to find out more about the Stone Age at the Bowes Museum. The children had a workshop making coil clay pots and a workshop learning about the Stone Age through artefacts. They were able to handle, draw and write about articles such as flints and grinding stones. They also put on a Stone Age afternoon and invited parents into school to see what they had been finding out. These were both great experiences and it was amazing how much the children had learned.

The children in the reception class (Foundation Stage 2) will be moving into Key Stage 1 in September and for the past few years we have held a Graduation cere- mony to mark this big event. This year the children were as wonderful as ever, receiving their medals and scrolls, wearing mortar-board hats and singing their own version of “Let it go” from the Disney film “Frozen” called “Let us go (to Key Stage One). There were very few dry eyes in the hall that afternoon! As well as the children, Miss Grainger will be “graduating” to Key Stage 1, to become one of their Year 1 class teachers.

On the final day of term we always focus on the Y6 children who are leaving us for their secondary schools. Their celebration assembly included showcasing their various talents – joke telling, dancing, singing, drawing – and reminded us of all we would be missing. We also said goodbye to some staff who are moving on; Miss

Andrews, Mr Edwards and Mrs Greenhalgh are all moving within the locality, but Miss Bellard will be seeing her next year of teaching in Qatar! And so, we came to the end of the school year. Every year is busy and brings its own delights and difficulties. This year has been no exception although some of the difficulties the school and some individual children have had to face this year have been harder than most. However, we have stuck together and kept true to our Christian ethos and have made it through. A slightly longer summer holiday than usual was welcomed by us all and will bring refreshment and re-creation ready for another great year in September.

With best wishes from everyone at Richmond Church of England Primary School. Alexa Barber

On July 28th we welcomed Mrs Ros Dobbin the current Diocesan president who came to tell us about the plans for Mothers' Union in the new Episcopal area of Ripon in the diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.Our area is made up of five Deaneries Bowland (7 branches), Harrogate (7 branches), Richmond (2 branches plus East Richmond members), Ripon (2 branches) and Wensley (3 branches ) A huge geographical area but good from our point of view as it centres on Ripon and what we feel is " our " cathedral. New Deanery leaders and Diocesan trustees have been appointed and we must look forward to pastures new. The service of thanksgiving for the present Diocese of Ripon and Leeds will be held in Ripon Cathedral on November 24th when it is hoped all present (and some past ) branches will be there with their banners. Our new banner is well on the way to completion and will be dedicated by Bishop James at the St Mary's Patronal Festival service on September 6th. The beautiful banner designed by Ann McDonald and stitched by Susan Scrafton backed by Christine Stedman and Margaret Clayson will take pride of place in the service and again at the Cathedral. Ros congratulated our members who had supported the Fun Day at Colburn which showed Mothers' Union helping families to have a good day out without cost .the day was much appreciated by Colburn and Hipswell families. The Belles of St Mary's (alias Mothers' Union members ) helped the bell ringing team with the very successful and most enjoyable Oxford Gargoyles concert in church. Our next meeting will be in Greyfriars on September 29th when our speaker will be the Rector but in the meantime we are looking forward to the dedication service. Margaret Clayson

THE WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP MEET AT THE LUNN’S AT 2 HURGILL ROAD @ 7.30pm. Currently looking at Philippians . Everybody welcome to join us for cake, chat and discussion. Please call Scott on 826895 if you wish to know more. THE THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP AT JENNIFER PATRICK’S AT 1 ROPER COURT @ 7.30pm - This is another very friendly group. We are studying Acts, with a commentary by Tom Wright .Please call Jennifer on 850693 for more information.

THE OXFORD GARGOYLES The Oxford Gargoyles have again given us an astonishing performance of a cappella music in the parish church of St Mary. The group from Oxford University came last year en route to the Edinburgh Festival and raised a substantial amount of money for the disabled facilities in St Mary’s. They entranced and enthralled the audience then with their singing, acting, choreography and sheer virtuosity. They offered to come again this year to raise money for the Bell Restoration Appeal. We jumped at the offer, but were slightly apprehensive as to whether we would fill the church on a Monday. We needn’t have worried. The church was a packed. People were at the door of the church an hour before the start of the performance, many remembering or having heard how brilliant the Gargoyles were last year. They didn’t disappoint. The purity of unaccompanied voices lifts the spirit in a way no other music really does. The Gargoyles all learnt their craft in different church choirs including Daniel Overin our own Richmond star who is studying medicine at Oxford and thanks to whom, and his parents Brett and Sandra, that the Gargoyles came to Richmond in the first place. We hope they enjoyed their stay. Tim and Austin very generously put them up free of charge in Millgate house - and that in peak tourist season- and they had the use of the coachhouse for rehearsal. Brett and Sandra fed what must have appeared at times to be 5000 hungry voices. And no one would take any money, not even for their train fares. It was with some difficulty that we even persuaded them to take a case of wine. For the performance itself, the Richmond Belles baked fruit cake and adorned it (courtesy of Ken Warne) with Wensleydale cheese which, with wine was just the perfect combination for the interval. So perfect that it was difficult to get people back in their seats. Thank you so much Richmond Belles. The tangible success of the evening was that over £3000 was raised for the Bell Restoration Appeal. This was tremendous and thank you to everyone for that. But the intangible benefits in many ways were greater. Over 300 people packed the church and were again enthralled by the performance of the Gargoyles. On the way out everyone was smiling. Old friends met and new friends were made and the church was filled with a vibrant and happy community. What more could anyone want? Peter Trewby

Hutchinson Richmond and Gilling Trust Did you know that if you live in: Richmond, Gilling West, Eppleby, Eryholme, South Cowton, North Cowton, West Layton, Hutton Magna, Cliffe, or Barton, you may be eligible for a small grant towards:- Educational courses, Necessary medical equipment Household appliances, And many other expenses. For further information, please contact either Mrs C Wiper Gentry (Clerk to the Trusts) 3 Smithson Close, Moulton, Richmond DL10 6QP, or the Rector.

Easyfundraising.org.uk is an easy way to raise money for St Mary's Disability Access Toilet Fund. Shop with any of over 2,700 retailers and a percentage of what you spend is donated to the fund at no additional cost to you. Retailers include Amazon, John Lewis, eBay, Tesco and many more. Please register to support us today -http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ stmaryschurchrichmond Any questions please ask Gillian Lunn (it’s such a simple way to raise money)

THANK YOU ANN MACDONALD “30 years ago Mrs Ann MacDonald designed the covers for kneelers in tapestry for St Mary’s Church. What a lot of happy memories I have going to her home with a lot of other ladies to do tapestry and complete the covers which are used and adorn St Mary’s Church. Thank you Ann”. Doris West

QUESTION FOR HISTORIANS Among the smaller silver collection plates belonging to St Mary’s is one with an intriguing inscription under the rim. The wording runs “To the glory of God, this plate has been subscribed for by forty two unmarried ladies of the congregation of St Mary’s, Richmond, as an Easter offering. April 1899.”

This has interested me since I first joined St Mary’s Altar Guild many years ago. Pairs of Guild members undertake in turn each week to clean and maintain the silver vessels and linen used at Holy Communion, and to prepare the elements for the services on Sunday. Having washed (and sometimes polished) it twice every year, I should very much like to know the history of this plate and the origins of its dedication. Was it an expression of solidarity? A thank-offering for unmarried status? How numerous was the congregation that it could have forty two unmarried ladies with a sufficient income to subscribe to a solid silver plate? Did ‘unmarried’ mean just that, or did it mean widowed as well? Following the Great War it would have been commonplace to see those who had lost fiancés or husbands, but what social circumstances led to this state of affairs in 1899? If anyone has answers to these questions, please contact the editor, and enlighten us all! Jennifer Patrick

STOREHOUSE Thank you to all who support the Storehouse Foodbank with donations left in the large box at the back of church. Your contributions of in date food are much appreciated.

Home, warm home? Do you wear a thick jumper at home, now that the days are cooler and the nights are drawing in? Probably not. It seems that we are keeping our homes an average of 4C warmer than we did in the 1970s. A recent government study has found that nowadays we prefer our homes at 63.8F (17.7C), compared with 56.6F (13.7C) in 1970. It seems that people back in 1970 had “very different expectations of thermal comfort.”

READER MINISTRY - A PERSONAL ACCOUNT. To Read or not to Read ? That is the question. Whether it is preferable to retire gracefully Whilst still able to climb the pulpit’s steps, Or to continue to afflict the ears Of luckless parishioners (Some of whom may sleep, may dream perchance, Or think of dinner in the oven ?) With serious thoughts of life and death and heaven. Or should I cease to bore those youngsters in the choir Bearing it all patiently, fidget-free ?

To know when it is time humbly to depart Before glazed eyes are all too obvious. Aye, there’s the rub. Conscience or weariness, pride or common sense, what is to be the guiding motive for future actions ? The decision is made. May all my sins and weaknesses, unlike my sermons, be forgotten.

When I was first admitted and licensed as a Reader in the Church of England, it was in Lincolnshire. It took place in Lincoln Cathedral, in 1991, in a service led by Robert, then Bishop of Lincoln. As in the licensing of clergy, we were asked to affirm our beliefs in the faith revealed in Holy Scriptures, and to use in public prayer the forms of service authorised or allowed by Canon. I then, with my fellow candidates, promised to endeavour to promote peace and unity; to conduct myself as becomes a worker for Christ for the good of the Church and for the spiritual welfare of my fellows; to give due obedience to the Bishop of Lincoln and his successors, and to the minister whose cure I served. The document with which I was presented authorised me to “ visit the sick, to read and pray with them; to undertake such pastoral and educational work and to give such assistance to any minister as the Bishop may direct; to read Morning and Evening prayer; to read the word of God; to preach; to bury the dead and administer the Holy Communion in either kind.” This could take place in any Parish to which invited by the incumbent, with the consent of the Rural Dean. On coming to Richmond, I was then licensed by David, Bishop of Ripon in 1993, making similar promises. Since then, at three year intervals, I, with all Readers in the Diocese, have been re-licensed in the Cathedral. Then at the age of 70, one is simply given ‘Permission to Officiate’, until finally one ‘Hangs up one’s scarf’ and becomes Emeritus (or Emerita?) This is the stage I have now reached. This, I hope, gives some indication of the role which Lay Readers as a whole can and should play in the life of the church, here in Richmond, as in Grantham. It has been my good fortune to be welcomed, encouraged and affirmed by my various incumbents, allowed to be a part of a team ministry in the two parishes concerned, and permitted to be used in the many village Churches throughout the Deanery, where non-Eucharistic services are more common. At the time I began training as a Reader, I was still teaching, and the Rector of the Parish in Grantham asked me to write an article for the Church magazine, entitled ‘Faith and my work’ . Finding this, I have been amazed to discover that I still feel the same way as I did 24 years ago. It was both a privilege and a responsibility to teach young people. It is similarly so to continue in retirement as a Reader, working in a wider community.

I closed that article with an adaptation of Paul’s wonderful passage from Corinthians. One can substitute ‘Reader’ or ‘Parent’, for ‘Teacher’.

“Though I speak with authority in the Assembly Hall and teach with skill in the classroom, though I lecture brilliantly on a wide variety of educational subjects, though I have written articles on the subject, if I have no love, it is not enough. If I have a first class honours degree, a diploma in education or a distinction in my college course; if I am in close touch with the latest trends in theology and methods of teaching, if I have no love for my pupils, it is still not enough. Love makes a teacher very patient, very kind. A teacher who loves his or her pupils is never sarcastic, never rude, never impatient, never unfair. A teacher’s love never ends. Whether there be new theories of education, of subjects , of techniques, they will be superseded or become out of date. There are three things in education that endure; faith in the ultimate value of learning; hope in the future of education; and the love of teachers for their pupils. But the greatest of these is the teacher’s love.”

Regrettably I frequently failed to live up to this ideal, but what an incredible reminder it is of what the Christian life and faith is all about. Joy Hornsby August 2015

On this Day…...

60 years ago:- on 22nd Sept 1955 that Britain’s first independent television channel ITV was launched, ending the BBC’s monopoly and broadcasting Britain’s first TV advertisements.

40 years ago:- on 5th Sept 1975 that the IRA bombed the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London. 2 people were killed and 63 injured.

30 years ago:- on 1st Sept 1985 that the wreck of the RMS Titanic was found in the Atlantic, 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, 73 years after it sank.

Also 30 years ago:- on 9 – 11 Sept 1985 that the Handsworth riots in Birmingham took place. Unemployment and racial tensions were the cause. 45 shops were looted and burnt, at least two people died.

20 years ago:- on 28th Sept 1995 that the Israeli Government agreed to give Palestinians control of much of the West Bank, which Israel had occupied for 28 years.

15 years ago:- on 29th Sept 2000 that the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland closed. The high security prison was used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles.

10 years ago:- on 19th Sept 2005 that the deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al- Zawahiri, claimed responsibility for the 7th July London bombings in which 52 people (plus four suicide bombers) were killed.

Prison Fiction Programme Since 2013, SPCK’s Prison Fiction series has supported prisoners with low literacy skills across the UK by providing them with free, easy-to-read books. By doing so, the programme seeks to improve prisoners’ reading confidence, assist rehabilitation and champion every prisoner’s right to read.

Overall, SPCK has partnered with over 35 prisons and supplied around 2,500 literacy books to prisoners. In the last six months, it has seen a 71% increase in the number of prisons it is supporting.

Evil Angels Among Them – a Book of Psalms mystery By Kate Charles, SPCK, £9.99

'Peaceful' is the most common entry in the visitors’ book of 15th-century St Michael’s Church, with its glorious angel roof and its medieval Doom painting. But away from the church, and beneath the idyllic veneer, the tiny Norfolk village of Walston is anything but harmonious. The Rector’s new bride, Becca Thorncroft, is receiving phone calls so unpleasant that her very sanity is at stake; and the newest residents of Walston, Gillian English and Lou Sutherland, are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Then sudden, gruesome death shatters any remaining semblance of serenity.

Fortunately for Father Stephen Thorncroft, he is able to enlist the help of his friends Lucy Kingsley and David Middleton-Brown to unravel the tangled relationships and uncover the dark motivations of the villagers. As the investigation proceeds, they stumble on more than they’d bargained for. But it is not until a little girl goes missing that the final, deadly pieces fall into place in their search for the ‘evil angels among them’.

MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP FOR SAFETY

With summer drawing to a close, Chimney Fire Safety Week (7–13 September) provides a timely reminder to make sure that your chimney is ready for the winter months ahead. As part of the national Fire Kills campaign, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are urging householders to ensure their chimney is safe and to have their chimney swept by a registered chimney sweep.

Latest statistics show that there were 6,000 chimney fires England in 2013/14, but most are preventable.

To find a certified Chimney Sweep, or for more information on chimney fire safety, please visit: www.nacs.org.uk, http://www.instituteofchimneysweeps.com/find.php, orwww.hetas.co.uk.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue offer free home fire risk checks, providing advice, checking existing smoke alarms, and in certain cases may be able to supply and fit new smoke alarms for free. To book an appointment visithttp:// www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/communitysafety/fire-safety-visit or call 01609 788545.

ST MARY’S RICHMOND Sunday 6th September 8am HOLY COMMUNION Trinity 14 (BCP) Birth of the Blessed Virgin 10am PATRONAL EUCHARIST Mary 6pm service, ILLUMINATE refreshments after Sunday 13th September 8am HOLY COMMUNION Trinity 15 (BCP) 10am SUNG EUCHARIST 6.30pm FAREWELL SERVICE FOR REV ANTONY KIRBY Sunday 20th September 8am HOLY COMMUNION Trinity 16 (BCP) 10am ALL AGE HARVEST EUCHARIST 4pm CAFÉ CHURCH Sunday 27th September 8am HOLY COMMUNION Trinity 17 (BCP) 10am SUNG EUCHARIST AND BAPTISM 4pm FUN-KEY CHURCH (refreshments from 3.40pm)

EVERY WED 9.15am HOLY COMMUNION HOLY TRINITY EVERY THURS 10.30am HOLY COMMUNION ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS DOWNHOLME Sunday 13th September 9.30am MORNING PRAYER Friday 25th September 7pm HARVEST Sunday 27th September 9.30am HOLY COMMUNION ST EDMUND’S MARSKE Sunday 6th September 11am FAMILY EUCHARIST Sunday 13th September 11am MORNING PRAYER Sunday 20th September 11am HOLY COMMUNION Sunday 27th September 11am HOLY COMMUNION

St Mary's SIDES PEOPLE 10.00 am SEPTEMBER ACOLYTES 6TH J&A ROBERTS, D&J WADE C 13TH G&M MERLANE, A MCDONALD, A GUY D 20TH G&J BARBER, R MACAULEY, K ROBSON 27TH O HARRISON, R GAZZARD, R&S WALLIS A

FLOWERS - SEPTEMBER 6TH CLAIRE MURRAY 13TH THE GUILD 20TH HARVEST 27TH HARVEST

COFFEE ROTA - SEPTEMBER 6TH R BROWN, P WHEATLEY, J BROWN 13TH B BEATHAM, A MCDONALD, C STEDMAN, A BACON 20TH M EMMERSON, G HARDY, J BILBROUGH, J BEAUMONT 27TH C BLENKIRON, M GIBBON, R MACAULAY The deadline for the 200 Club October 2015 issue is winner 9th September 2015. Please forward any August 2015 contributions to Gillian by hand or Pat Croft [email protected]

Living with Dementia Now that so many people live to enjoy a ripe old age, almost everyone knows (or will know) someone with dementia. Christians Together in Richmond are going to host a talk by a representative from the Alzeimers Society. It will help us all to understand about different forms of dementia, the effects of the disease, and how we can all be supportive in the way we interact with those living with dementia. We want to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from the talk: to help us select a sensible time and venue, so please tell Sheila Pearson, Jennifer Patrick or Liz Chambers if you are interested.