Contact Details: Church Off ce Tel: 01454 281900 E: [email protected] Church of St Mary, Thornbury with St Paul’s The Hackett www.thornburycofe.org.uk

St Mary’ s C of E School Head Teacher: Karl Joyce [email protected] Welcome to Ch@t (Church at Thornbury) The newsletter of the Parish Church of St Mary, Thornbury with St Paul's at the Hackett August & September 2020 In this Edition we are delighted to announce the appointment of Rev’d Joy Ludlow as Priest in Charge of our United Benefice! The government announced that some Church buildings may be able to reopen from 4th July, but only subject to careful stepwise and detailed advice and planning (see article by Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, Church of Recovery Group). And St Mary’s School looks forward to returning in September. Thankyou to all who contributed to this edition. Ed

ANNOUNCEMENT Appointment of Priest in Charge

We are delighted to announce that Rev’d Joy Ludlow has been appointed as Priest in Charge of the United Benefice of Thornbury and Oldbury with Shepperdine, subject to the completion of the usual legal processes. The completion of Joy’s curacy will be celebrated on Sunday 9 August at a 10am service in St Mary’s and a final evening service at St Arilda’s. Joy will then take a break from duties for various preparations to be made and will be welcomed back and licensed, as the new A Reflection on our times Incumbent, by Bishop Rachel on Wednesday 7 October at 7pm in St Mary’s Church. The final details of this service will A minute, unseen enemy has shaken depend very much on the situation with regard to Covid-19. global society to its foundations. This is bringing about a new way of being-in-the- We are sure that you will be very pleased with Joy’s world… In the long run, this pandemic appointment and that you will be wishing her well and giving may hasten the emergence of a renewed her every support in this new role; an exciting time for her vision of community and progress towards and us as we go forward into the future together. Our prayer environmental renewal for Joy is that God will richly bless her now, during her which we had hardly preparations and as our new Priest in Charge. Rev’d Joy dared to think could is really excited about taking up the post and is looking happen. forward to what the future holds with us all together.

The Rev Dr Christopher Churchwardens: Andrew Gazard, Sandra Grey, Robin Steed, Team Rector in the Gupta, Mike Dennett and Jenny Ovens Totton Team, Hampshire Reopening of Church buildings for public worship Message from the Bishop of London Following the recent Government announcement that church buildings were able to reopen for public worship from 4th July, the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Recovery Group, said that the months since lockdown began “have been an extraordinary time - the first period without public worship and the sacraments in England in more than 800 years.” She said also that there will have been “real joy” as people began “to come together again – if even at a physical distance – but I also know that many will be understandably cautious at this news. “We will not be returning to normality overnight - this is the next step on a journey. We’ve been planning carefully, making detailed advice available for to enable them to prepare to hold services when it is safe and practical to do so. It is important to say that the change in Government guidance is permissive, not prescriptive. "I would particularly like to thank clergy and lay leaders for all they have done during the time our buildings have been closed.” Bishop Sarah warned that there will still be restrictions, “and we must all still do everything we can to limit the spread of the virus… The online services and dial-in worship offerings we have become used to will continue. “This has been an incredibly difficult time for the whole country, especially for those who have been ill, who have suffered financial hardship, the loss of livelihoods and indeed, for many, those they love. We know that is not over and the Church has a task ahead to bring consolation and hope. “Churches and cathedrals have risen to the recent challenges, finding new ways of meeting for worship, of serving our neighbours, and of reaching new people with the love of God. The challenge before us now is to take the next steps carefully and safely, without forgetting all that we’ve discovered about God and ourselves on the way.”

History being Made! Jenny Ovens writes There is no doubt that we have been watching history being made in the past few months. So many changes; who would have believed this time last year that so many of us would have been working from home, “shielding” (a new term for us), grocery shopping on-line for the first time (what a strange selection of food I managed to order!), being put on furlough, wearing a mask to get on a bus, being careful when taking our daily walk not to go too close to other people, keeping our distance when what we really wanted to do was to hug the person we were now standing 2 metres away from. Altogether it has been a surreal experience. Another side to this strange time has been the loving concern from and for neighbours and friends. Phone calls to friends whose names suddenly come to mind; do they need some comfort, some help or just a chat? It seemed to be that Thornbury became a very caring place to be. And what of church in all of this; certainly there has been a lot of comfort from phone calls, emails, zoom coffee, cake deliveries, prescription collection, virtual hugs. God has been with us in every aspect of our daily lives through this time. By the time this edition of Chat is on-line we should have been able to enter church together for worship. It won’t be anything like we are used to but God is the God of the unusual as well as the ordinary. Let’s embrace these changes that are coming; we have been through lots of changes recently – we are good at change, let’s look forward to the challenge of letting God lead us into new ways. See back page for opening details St Mary’s School Despite the lockdown, school has continued partially open. We have continued with our Key worker children, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. They have enjoyed working in bubbles of between 8 and 12 children. The reduced numbers have been taught by all teaching and classroom support staff. A real team effort by the staff who have also been teaching children through an online platform! In all of this we have had to interpret the monumental guidance from the government, adapting procedures to ensure we are in line with government policy. The staff have been very positive and have pulled together to make everything work. Parents also have played their part by working with their children at home. They have done a brilliant job which I am very grateful for. In school the children have adapted to the ‘new normal’ and have been real stars. We decided to try and bring in every class before their return in September and for the last week of term we brought in the other classes for a day each, so that they were able to finish their school year, talk to friends they had missed and meet their new teacher. We said good bye to our lovely Year 6 with two special days where we had a pizza picnic lunch, our famous Oscar award ceremony, an ice cream van and a water fight (Still in their bubbles). We also said goodbye to Mr Pike our deputy, one of our long standing teaching assistants Mrs Novak and Miss Baker our apprentice teaching assistant. They will be missed but we now look forward to welcoming our new deputy Mr Penny and a new team with a few more new teaching assistants.

The whole school is due to return in September!!! K Joyce Head teacher

Ed A huge thank you from us all to Karl Joyce and his teaching and classroom support staff who have continued to teach Key workers children, Reception, year 1 and year 6 through an online platform, A huge thank you also to their wonderful parents! Well done!

Covid 19 - How was it for you?

Rev’d Chris Verey writes

As we emerge hesitantly from some of the key restrictions on our lives over the past months, what might the experience be teaching us?. Deprived of the familiar comfort of church, how has our faith evolved? What now appears more important, what less so? Have you found God in new places? What have been the ups, the downs? The experiences of the past few months will have been difficult for all of us, but they will be wasted if we fail to build on them. In Revelation chapter 21 we hear “See, I am making all things new” from the throne of the One who declares “the home of God is among mortals”. So often the Church is so keen on holding on to the past that it fails to respond to a God who comes to make “all things new”. God has been no less “among mortals” when church is locked. Internet access has made up for some loss of community – just think how we might have responded to the pandemic just 10 years ago! Joy, the wardens and others have helped sustain a sense of community. But now is not the time to look forward to returning to a familiar, reassuring previous normal. All too often church can cling to the familiar as a comfort blanket. Now is the time to build on the experience of what for most of us will have been, and continues to be, the biggest upheaval to our way of life. It would be a denial of all that experience to refuse to use it. As we look forward to a new chapter in the life of our benefice as we welcome a new incumbent, this could not be a more opportune time to grasp the challenge,

“See, I am making all things new”. How will it be for you? Dads and Kids

Hopscotch is for babies and March Meeting as we go little ones under school-age into lockdown and their parents and carers. Here are the photos from the last 9am at St Mary's every Dad's & Kid's! It was a strange Thursday in Term-time. one as it was the day after schools went on lockdown, so we didn't know whether to expect anyone, but we got a few regular families and some new ones!. We made pull back cars, and had races to see how far they would go. Changing design to see which ones worked better!

As we are approaching the end of the summer term we would like to mention the children 'Peta's Pantry' was the production line for edible racing who will be moving on to their next adventure cars! At the Art Table we got creative, painting letters for - joining Reception class in September are :- some Dad's and Kid's Bunting we can put up next time we Annabel, Imogen, Isabella and Bobby meet. We enjoyed Hot chocolate and Coffee with our Bacon Butties. We wish you every happiness as you start school. Our next Dad's and Kid's still waits TBA. Your Hopscotch family will be thinking of you Meanwhile, Stay safe in this really strange time. From The all and will be in touch before the end of term. Dad's and Kid's Team Photos show Hopscotch in action pre-lockdown Hilary Craig

Sad news Wendy Shellard RIP (above and right) At Finley’s Christening Many of you will be aware that Wendy Shellard very sadly died prematurely in May. She was a much loved wife to Kevin, Mum to Hannah, Amy and William, and Nanny to Alfie, Elsie and baby Finley. (See photo Left) Wendy was an active member of Hopscotch and was always a happy, friendly face ready to greet new Mums and babes. Wendy made them feel very welcome, would chat to them and put them at their ease. Wendy will be sadly missed by so many. All our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Ed. Memories of a lovely lady - holding baby Finley (above)! Ed. Happy memories of a lovely lady Our Easter in Lockdown! From Kevin and Fleur Tweehuysen

We are delighted to welcome Kevin and Fleur to our pages, with this splendid account of their Easter Celebrations! Fleur writes Rev.Joy asked if we could send you these photos and an explanation of how we celebrated Easter this year! We used The First Easter, a book given to us some years ago by the Bible Society at school or a toddler group, as a guide. We also made use of the services Rev Joy e-mailed through to us and the Facebook videos Rev. Joy posted. As well as the YouTube channel put out by the Benefice of North Severnside, the Church group my parents attend. On Palm Sunday we made Palm Trees by drawing around each of our families hands on green paper, cut them out and attaching them to a cross made of brown paper. We then wrote "Hosanna Son of David" on the cross and stuck them, a picture of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem and our Palm Crosses from last year to our porch window. We hoped that we could share with those passing the message of Easter On Wednesday my daughter and I made Hot Cross Buns, for the first time! ready for Friday!. On Maundy Thursday we made posters for our porch window about the last supper and Jesus praying in Gethsemane. We used Rev. Joys service to share in our evening meal, which consisted of Boiled Eggs, Matzo for starters followed by Lamb, Couscous and Salad. It was the first time in many years that I have not been able to join my parents to attend an Agape service at St.Marys, where they share a very similar meal as part of the service. I then went out into our garden where I followed the watch service, it was very peaceful watching the stars and listening to the relative silence, again different from doing the watch in church with fellow parishioners but knowing that many of the members of church would be following the same service. Good Friday we had our Hot Cross Buns and then made an Easter Garden, which we placed in a Cherry Tree next to the public path past our house, in the hope that it might spark a conversation with families out doing their daily walk. We printed off the Stations of the cross which we put up in our porch. We read through the Good Friday Service and watched the one by Revs Rural. On Saturday my daughter and I made up some Easter goodie baskets and made some cards for the housegroup I go to, we then delivered them as part of our daily walk. Easter morning we decorated our cherry tree with coloured eggs and rolled away the stone in our Easter Garden. We made another poster for our porch. After we had watched Rev. Joys Easter message we celebrated with chocolate eggs and roast lamb lunch!

We left the posters of Holy Week up for the rest of the week. It was a very different Easter Season, but we had fun, made memories and we knew we were celebrating with the wider community. Eco Church - Fairtrade Church. Producers of Fairtrade certified crops hand washing stations receive an additional premium to spend and distributing soap in their communities on health and to their workers. Some education needs. You may like to see of the estates are how vital this is now with examples also reaching out to from the FAIRTRADE Foundation other educational and website. religious institutions in their communities to join forces and raise awareness more “In the face of the global Coronavirus crisis, farmers and widely.” workers are playing a vital role. Fairtrade farmers and workers are keeping shelves stocked around the world, but “Brazil has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Latin even more importantly they're working to keep their own America, but solidarity and hope can still be found in local communities safe. From preparing emergency food parcels communities. The Fairtrade certified coffee cooperative to producing PPE, Fairtrade producers are helping some of CAFE-SUL, has used their Fairtrade Premium to provide the most vulnerable communities in the world get through cleaning supplies, masks, money and coffee to a local this crisis” elderly home.” “When the government of India announced lock down “Sixteen Fairtrade certified banana co-operatives in measures it was almost the start of the tea plucking season Colombia joined forces and contributed 55,000 dollars from in Assam. While the local government took measures to Fairtrade Premium funds to install a COVID-19 diagnostic protect the health of people working on the region's 685 centre in the Uraba region, where around 700,000 people tea estates, those that are live” part of Fairtrade have Full stories plus news from Uganda, Ghana, Belize & Peru been able to go further. Social distancing and https://stories.fairtrade.org.uk/the-key-workers- reporting sickness are beyond-our-borders/?utm_medium=email&utm_ actively promoted and source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=++&utm_ hygiene measures are content=SC:WFTD+H+Ts being put into practice Fairtrade goods available in shops and from local rep Robin including installing at Thornbury URC Church. Marian Stephens Parish pastoral support during lockdown. Sheila Jones writes: At the start of this strange time I composed a list of those living alone who would appreciate some support. This list was passed to the clergy and the wardens, who were able to ensure that everyone ‘living alone’ had an on-going personal telephone contact. Many others of us have also been phoning and keeping in touch with those who are older and on their own. As lots of us are over the magic 70 we have been unable to offer much more than a “voice on the phone” but we know this is certainly appreciated! And of course neighbours are also helping out. The wardens have worked really hard doing all sorts of extra jobs both for the congregation and the church buildings. So let's give them an extra CLAP too and pray that everything returns to normality soon.

Covid-19 report - Our first service since lockdown At last! Sunday 26 July 2020 dawned and 45 members of our Benefice congregations came to St Mary’s all masked up, well covered in sanitiser and joyfully welcomed by the bells! Most of us entered the church for the first time in almost 4 months! Joy lead us in a very special, reverent, said communion with just bread for the congregation. We could not shake hands as normal during “the Peace” but we put one hand on our heart and many of us used the other hand to wave to friends and loved ones around the church – as you can see from the photo, we were very spread out. One member who attended said how lovely it was to see all the “smiling eyes”. Joy’s talk spoke of change – we have experienced so much change and there is definitely more to come as we get to understand more of the virus and the precautions that have to be taken. But her talk ended on the wonderful words of Romans 8 “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Jenny Ovens Missions Missions: Global and Local Concern: Compassion, Justice and Hope for All I really do believe we are a generous nation and a generous parish/benefice, sharing out wealth and talents with those in greatest need, raising awareness of injustice and unfairness. By doing so we give support and especially hope. As individuals, we’ve volunteered, baked and bought cakes (I miss you Hill!); Gone to plant sales, been involved with ‘marmalading’; supported charity shops, all where the proceeds have gone to good causes. Huge sums were raised by lots and lots of small acts of kindness. And then Covid 19 happened … Everything had to be paused due to the deadly pandemic. We had to stay home to ‘flatten the curve’ and save our NHS. Sadly, poverty wasn’t paused. Injustice continued in the world. Those in need, still needed our help. In fact, more people than ever before have used the Foodbank. The charities and organisations we support need our help more than every because the people they help are in the greatest need. Whilst times are tough here, we know it is far harder for those living in countries without an NHS and without a system of support services. Although Christian Aid’s annual house to house collection, one of the largest acts of Christian witness, was cancelled, it went online. Church Army hostels have remained open to support the homeless. Their centres were transformed into Food Kitchens, delivering hot, ‘takeaway’ meals to those who needed them. Whilst our church buildings may have closed and are now slowly reopening into a ‘new normal’, the church people were still there. They were still caring, just looking for new ways to provide help and support to those in need. For example, those ‘shielding’ have become a powerhouse of prayer. In the box is a list of charities we support, why not set yourself a challenge this summer, if you can, go online and either make a small donation or find out more about their work and pray for those they help. We still believe in compassion, justice and hope – for All. Christine Dadd, Chair, Missions: Global and Local Concern

The Lockdown Lifts

There’s life in the town! A Rocha UK – www.arocha.org.uk No longer ‘locked down’! The people stroll out in the sun The Children’s Society – www.childrenssociety.org.uk The majestic trees Children’s Hospice S West – www.chsw.org.uk Sway in the light breeze Like they wanted to join in the fun! Christian Aid – www.christianaid.org.uk

Like light after dark! Church Army – www.churcharmy.org.uk We can walk in the park! Church Mission Society – www.churchmissionsociety.org.uk Buy our tea, and sit out on the grass! We can chat to our friends Church Urban Fund – www.cuf.org.uk As our loneliness ends Embrace the Middle East – www.embraceme.org.uk And we smile at the strangers we pass! United Society Partners in the Gospel – www.uspg.org.uk Yes there are still queues Wycliffe Bible Translators – www.wycliffe.org.uk Which cease to amuse But things are no longer so black! As they sing in that song – You miss what is gone, But it’s great when at last it comes back! By Nigel Beeton Local Pilgrimages A Lockdown Pilgrimage Be still, for the presence of the Lord, bats flying in The holy One, is here; Come bow and out of the before him now, With reverence and church porch. fear. In him no sin is found We stand on holy ground. Feeling braver and fitter we got our bikes out and Be still, for the presence of the Lord, The holy One, is although it’s been years since I cycled it was great going here. down to St Mary’s, Thornbury (thank you for the bench It was very sad that our churches had to be closed to opposite it)! keep us all safe during this dreadful pandemic. However, However, it was meant to be a ‘benefice pilgrimage’ so mindful of the first verse of one of my favourite hymns I decided to be more adventurous and cycled to St Arilda’s, decided to undertake a ‘pilgrimage’ around our churches. Oldbury, where the views over the were The buildings may be closed but the ground is still holy truly spectacular. We even eventually found the ‘Tin and I wanted to be still, in the presence of the Lord, the Tabernacle’ chapel of St Mary’s, Shepperdine. Holy One. As a benefice we have I started at St Paul’s at the Hackett as it was within been blessed to be walking distance and allowed under lock-down rules for the custodians of such daily exercise. I was able to sit on the bench outside the holy ground where church, pray, reflect on past services and look forward to you can truly feel the the time I would be able to see my presence of the Lord. If church family again. Nature had a you don’t/can’t walk or different idea about ‘being still’ as cycle, take a drive. It’s the birds sang heartily! One evening worth it. we even saw two different types of Christine Dadd

Book Review Where is God in a Messed-Up World?

By Roger Carswell, 10 Publishing, £6.99

This book asks (and answers) Ride + Stride is a nationwide event supported by the questions that people are National Churches Trust but organised by local historic asking about God, life and churches trusts. suffering. Questions such as: ‘If God exists and All around the country on the second Saturday really is a God of love, then why doesn't He stop the in September each year, thousands of people are suffering and problems in our world?’ People often ask sponsored to travel from church to church by these questions in the wake of major tragedies. Glib walking, cycling or other methods. Funds raised answers don’t help. Instead, Roger Carswell is realistic, are split between the Trust and local churches in admitting that there are things God reveals to us, and , and North things He doesn't reveal. But Carswell argues that the . starting point is to find out who God is, and to figure This year, as many times before, the out if He can be trusted – even if we don't have all the Indomitable Rev’d Tom will be seeking answers. sponsorship for his traverse of the Benefice! The author's own experience of suffering with See if we can help him beat last years grand depression, and the real–life stories that are included, make this a compassionate book. Carswell encourages total ! us that our questioning need not be a barrier to entrusting ourselves to God. He says: "God has not only been faithful to me, He has been overwhelmingly kind, incredibly merciful, consistently good and unbelievably patient." Local Pilgrimages Fabric Electrical works at St Mary’s and St Paul’s. Robin Gupta writes By the time you read this, all the electrical works in St Mary’s and St Pauls should at last be See above: having complete. This means that we say goodbye and their lunch break! thankyou to Adrian and Dan, the lovely JeffWay electricians! And below: up the They have been part of our church for quite a while now and scaffold installing the Welcome!! Porch Up-Lighters we will miss them.!! They started on the new new Nave Altar lights. lighting in St Mary’s last autumn and completed this by Christmas. We have been very grateful for their suggestions and expertise and endless good humour! Since then they have installed all new main incoming electrical switchgear in St Mary’s. This was followed by a complete rewire of the tower, installing new lighting and emergency lighting in the spiral staircase as well as all three bell chambers plus new power outlets. They have put in new distribution boards in the office and Clergy Vestry. There is now all new lighting in the Choir Vestry Tangled Old and Orderly New, and toilet. They sorted out all the haphazard wiring Distribution Boards that was in the office. They have also now installed the up-lighters in the porch, which look fantastic. See attached pictures . Thank you both so much In both churches, they have carried out the 5-year electrical test, and PAT tested everything that you can plug in – their least favourite job – and there were a lot of things to test! At St Paul’s, they have carried out some extra safety works which were identified during the 5-year electrical test. Along the way they have helped with odds and ends - mending sockets, cutting off a rusty old padlock for us and mending a leak in the toilet sink – without being asked to do so! The flower arrangers and cleaners made them lots of cups of tea and we fed them lots of cake! They also very much enjoyed Hopscotch days (pre Covid-19) when they had to answer endless times questions such as “what are you doing?!” What nice chaps! Thank you. “Ye shall be cleansed, Calling Anna and Gemma!! Ye shall be purified” (well almost) As part of the upgrading of electrical installations at St Mary’s, office access As part of the arrangements have been changed. Coronavirus Visitors no longer need climb the left precautions handed, cramped spiral staircase to the church has speak to Anna or Gemma. When the purchased a office returns from furlough all you will hand cleansing then need to do is “press the button” station. This works by the main door to attract attention automatically when — then smile into the camera and ask hands are placed your question. under the reservoir - If you actually need to physically There is no need to access the office, at the top of the stairs touch any buttons. the office door now has an electrical Instructions are on lock which can be released by the the front panel. office occupant (always assuming you smiled nicely at the bottom!!) Faith Sharing Team : Questions About the Parish Future

FINANCE. “The times they are a changing”. Any new normal is We are thinking about how we deal with the loss of never the same as any previous normal. We are likely income from weddings, plate-giving and visitors when to face big changes in our clergy (fewer), congregation all the bills still have to be paid. How can we have fun (most over 70) and the way we do things. in our FUNdraising? Donation days/Promises Auction/ Open Gardens ……? The Faith Sharing team have been having a conversation (on Zoom) about how we might do things differently. There is no better time to introduce radical change than NOW. COMMUNICATIONS The early church, described in Acts, had no ‘normal’ We are thinking about……How we keep in contact to follow but grew on the foundation of the Apostle’s with one another? How we distribute information, teaching, breaking of bread, fellowship and prayer. How ensuring that we love and care for all the members of can we, together, create our new normal? our community. We really welcome your ideas and invite you to join our For example. What about Chat on e-mail? What about Faith Sharing team as we continue to think about these those without e-mail or computers and for whom we things in the months ahead. Come and join us. need to provide copies? What about St. Mary’s school or visitors to our churches? Contact Rev’d Joy (Phone/e-mail) or Ann Ellis (e-mail), WORSHIP. Jan and Ken Miles (phone/e-mail ) or Gill and Mick Spiller (01454 260153 and [email protected] ). We are thinking about……Where, when and how our worshipping community will gather with all Pray: May the Creator, Redeemer and Restorer of all our gloriously diverse needs? What about safety things, the only wise God, guide us all into a new when taking communion? What about our planned normal in line with His purposes. Amen. rescheduling of our Park Farm welcome day in 2021? Mike Spiller

Smile Lines The queue While waiting in a long New version queue early one morning for of Apostles’ Creed the supermarket to open for us ‘seniors’, I was surprised When our church began live to see a young man saunter streaming its services, our minister along and try to cut in at the was at first a bit nervous. Still, he front of the queue. A furious kept his cool, and you would never ...it's perhaps not the most dynamic of mission statements... but at least it recieved the unanimous approval of the Church Council! old lady waved her cane at have known he was struggling until him, and he quickly backed he reached the Apostles’ Creed. away. Then he firmly announced that Jesus was..." confused by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary..." A moment later, the young man tried again. He managed to dodge the old lady, but then two old men Beware started shouting at him. Again, the young man backed As you prepare for the school holidays, remember this: away. children are natural mimics. They act like us in spite of But he wasn’t giving up, and soon the young man all our attempts to teach them good manners. approached the queue for the third time. By now, all of us pensioners were ready for him, an angry wall of Coronavirus opposition. For the first time in history, we can help save the human The young man stood there for a moment, and then race by lying in front of the TV and doing nothing. Let’s shrugged his shoulders. "If you people won't let me not mess this one up! unlock the door, none of you will ever get in to shop." Dennis Toomer RIP Music in our churches & cathedrals Meg Adnams writes; The Church of England, together with the Royal School A popular resident at Alexandra Lodge has passed of Church Music, has encouraged the Government to away recently at Southmead Hospital - though not be proactive in ensuring music-making can resume in with Covid 19. church buildings, once it is safe to do so. Dennis Toomer had settled well here with his wife Responding to the latest guidance, the Bishop of Josephine, and they had started to attend St Mary’s London, Sarah Mullally, said: “We are encouraging before he was ill. the Government to be alert to the consequences of our choirs’ continued silence - and to take a proactive Sadly he was in Southmead Hospital for 11 weeks approach to allowing singing to return to our churches apart from one very short break at home and cathedrals as soon as it is possible to do so safely. But at least his family could visit him two at a time “We look forward to a time where worship and music occasionally. can once again be combined, in all their different Our love and prayers are with expressions, as they have for centuries, turning our Josephine and Dennis’s family hearts to God.”

Sunday Coffee - Zoom coffee after the Sunday Service continues at 11.00 am each Sunday. Meeting ID: 824 7330 9441 and password: 245970. All are welcome! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82473309441?pwd=aUJ During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Church of ackpRUHVkWmNpR0RzMDkwQW9Idz09 England partnered with the RSCM to provide free hymns for parishes for use in streamed worship, which have been downloaded more than 45,000 times.

Jenny Ovens writes Even though MU in Thornbury has not been able to meet during this time, there has certainly been a lot of loving, caring support going on and the Committee have kept us in touch with various aspects of the organisation. I recently received my “Families Worldwide” magazine and opened it to the middle pages which are a map of the world. It shows the membership numbers for each country. England has just over 47,000 members and I thought “that’s a lot of members” but then I noticed that India has 1,915,369! (Population 1.4 billion!) Africa has many thousands of members too. But God is at work as well through the 10 members in Suriname, the 15 members in Uruguay, the 60 in Peru and the 75 in Belize. Please do remember these members in what are probably, difficult situations. We thank God for the Members of our Committee and look forward to being able to get together again at one of our interesting and enjoyable meetings.

A BIG thank you to everyone who gave plates, dishes, mugs, cutlery, pots and pans, boxes, books and dvds so that homeless people could be set up in their own small place by St. Mungo’s. All these items were hugely appreciated. Jenny The volunteer driver is now back at work so the collection is on hold for now. Toiletries and dried food would still be appreciated. RestrictedContact Details:Service Dates for Church OffOldbury ce Tel: 01454 to 281900Fiji – theE: tale [email protected] of the travelling church font Parish Church of St Mary, Thornbury with St Paul’s The Hackett August - September 2020 www.thornburycofe.org.ukMeg Adnams writes St Mary’ s C of E School Head Teacher: KarlSt Joyce Arilda’[email protected] church is well known for the position it holds overlooking the Sunday mornings starting village, the countryside and the River Severn. These views make stained glass 26th July — 10.00 am windows unnecessary. However the stories about the church are worth telling Benefice Eucharist at St Mary’s and none more so than that of the font. Numbers will be limited by the need At some time, possibly during repairs and restoration in the early 1700’s for social distancing. If you wish to following the Great Storm of 1703 when the steeple blew off, the font was attend please first contact Jenny Ovens replaced. The old font was taken out into the churchyard and much later (01454 414727 - Jennyovensbb@tiscali. found to be in use in Thornbury Castle gardens. (A bird bath?) The new one co.uk) by the Saturday before at the was an impressive Grecian edifice with pillars and steps which was set in the centre of the church. latest. We have to record contact details for all those attending in order to allow By the mid-19th century the church was described “little more than a ruin” tracing should someone present later test due to a lack of funds to repair it. A thorough restoration was initiated in positive for Convid-19. 1884-5. The high box pews were removed as well as the chancel screen. Tiles replaced the lead roofing. The original font was rescued and returned Oldbury - Spoken Evening Prayer leaving the Grecian font surplus to requirements. It was found a new home in the then Cathedral of Suva in the Fiji Islands! How? Hereby hangs a great at St Arilda’s narrative - that of John Bates Thurston. Sunday 9th August at 6pm John was a descendant of the well known Thornbury Thurstons. He left school Again numbers are limited and contact aged 13, and was apprenticed to a firm of Liverpool ship owners. In 1853 he details will be recorded. joined the crew of the “Ann Holzburg” and set forth for the Australian Gold Rush: confident of success, he arranged for his mother and sisters to join him in time for Christmas that year. Dates for you diary He worked in the New South Wales goldfields at Hanging Rock and Peel River but with limited success. He was a keen amateur botanist so joined a Sunday 9th August. botanical expedition in 1864. They were shipwrecked on Samoa but the crew 10.00 am at St Mary’s were rescued by a passing vessel bound for Sydney which stopped off on Fiji. On landing John discovered an advertisement for a job as clerk to the Consul. Rev’d Joy’s last service as Curate He impressed them, stayed on Fiji and was taken on and became a cotton plantation owner and eventually High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. Wednesday 7th October 7.00pm John was later to become “Viceroy of the Pacific”, bringing that region into at St Mary’s Rev’d Joys Licensing as the Empire and was knighted on behalf of Queen Victoria. He did much to Priest in Charge by Bishop Rachel improve the islands and his Botanical Gardens still remain open there. John heard about the Oldbury font and arranged to have it despatched to Sunday 25th October Fiji where it was placed in the then cathedral, now Holy Trinity Church. Delayed Annual Parochial Church The first infants baptised in this font were John’s son Bassett and Maurice Meeting after morning service Anthony the son of Chief Justice Berkeley. at St Mary’s A new modern cathedral was built in 1950 and both Mick Riddle and myself wrote at various times to try and find out whether the Oldbury font still existed but no reply. However a visitor to our church with a party from Contact details: Stroud U3A, told me she had a cousin who regularly visited relatives in Fiji. Not only did she discover it was still there but sent us photos of the church Assistant Curate : and the font being dusted Revd Joy Ludlow 01454 853646 by a local cleaning lady. E: [email protected] John was much mourned when he died at the age Church Office: 01454 281900 of 61. Not only was he E:[email protected] admired for his diplomatic and executive abilities St Mary’s C of E School but also for “his valuable Head Teacher: Karl Joyce services for the betterment E: [email protected] of the natives”.

If Ch@t magazine is delivered to your home, and you no longer wish The Editorial Committee of Ch@T is: Angela Swan (Editor) Distribution: Diane Moyse, to receive it, please contact the church office to let us know: Artwork and layout: Fiona Mitchell 01454 281900, or [email protected]. Photography: Timothy Swan, Printed by Oldbury Deckers