DEACON’S LETTER

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to be a mentor. “Mentoring” is a term that is used to describe the process by which one person enables another to grow and develop. What a privilege to be asked to do this most important of jobs.

Mentors are widely used in education and business as well as within the Church. In the Christian context, it is often known as spiritual mentoring because the purpose is to help individuals reach their full potential in God. The mentoring that I have been asked to do is very informal, a chat over a cup of coffee, to enable a “soul friendship” to be established and enable a confidential sharing of faith, thoughts, and fears.

Spiritual mentoring is built on the metaphor of the journey and here we are reminded that we are pilgrims who share a sacred journey together. As someone who loves walking it is always more enjoyable on a day out walking to be accompanied by someone and be able to walk and talk together.

Perhaps the best mandate we have for mentoring others is the example of Jesus. For three years, the disciples had unlimited access to their Master. As they criss-crossed the country with him, they listened to his teaching and had the opportunity to ask questions about anything they did not understand. They were able to hear his words and see his life at close quarters. They learned from his example as well as his teaching.

While Jesus often worked with them as a group, he also had time for them as individuals. Perhaps one of the most important mentoring jobs Jesus did was with Peter. Taking this somewhat “raw” individual and transforming him into the person who would lead the infant Church. As with Peter, God is always at work in our lives, using the circumstances of everyday living to shape and mould us so that his love, grace, and truth may overflow from within.

Jean, your Deacon

1 2 PRIORY GIFT SHOP Gifts for all occasions

Wide selection of biscuits, preserves and confectionery Opening Times

The Priory Shop is currently closed to visitors

Where are our birds?

British birds are in big trouble. 80 per cent of our most popular species are in severe decline, according to recent data from the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch.

The world’s largest wildlife survey has found that 16 out of the 20 most spotted garden birds have been in decline since 2020. There are now concerns about the greenfinch and chaffinch, which were seen in their lowest ever numbers this year.

The top five birds seen in people’s gardens were: house sparrows, blue tits, starlings, blackbirds and wood pigeons. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush grew in number in 2020.

3 4 Anthony and Evelyn

welcome you to their home

at 40 Road

on Saturday 3rd July from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

All welcome to meet friends again and catch up on news

Refreshments

John Hughes R.I.P.

Helen would like to thank everyone for the kind messages of sympathy and support that she and Gareth received following John's sudden death on April 17th. He was greatly loved and respected and is sadly missed.

5 All in the month of JUNE

It was:

175 years ago, on 28th June 1846 that Belgian musical instrument maker Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone.

125 years ago, on 4th June 1896 that Henry Ford completed his first automobile, the Ford Quadricycle, and gave it a test run around Detroit Michigan. It was a simple frame with an engine, two gears, a tiller for steering and four bicycle wheels. It had a top speed of 20mph. Its success led him to establish the Ford Motor Company.

100 years ago on 10th June 1921 that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on a dining room table in Corfu. He was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.

90 years ago, on 13th June 1931 that Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent, British pharmacist and philanthropist, died. He had turned his father’s Boots Company into a national chain of chemists.

65 years ago, on 13th June 1956 that the first European Cup final (soccer) was held, in Paris. Real Madrid (Spain) beat Stade de Reims (France) 4-3. The European Cup is now known as the UEFA Champions League.

60 years ago, on 6th June 1961 that Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist, died. He was the founder of analytical psychology.

50 years ago, on 16th June 1971 that John Reith (Lord Reith), 1st Baron Reith, Scottish business executive and politician, died. He was Manager and Director Gen- eral of the BBC in its formative years. He also formed BOAC (now British Airways).

40 years ago, on 5th June 1981 that the first report of AIDS took place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA reported that five homosexual men in Los Angeles were suffering from a rare form of pneumonia found in patients with Weakened immune systems. These were later recognised as the first official AIDS cases.

Also 40 years ago, on 22nd June 1981 that American tennis player John McEnroe earned the press nickname ‘Superbrat’ when he threw a tantrum during his first-round match against Tom Gullikson at Wimbledon. He hurled abuse at the umpire, swore at the referee, and popularised the phrase ‘you cannot be serious’ when he disputed a line call. Nevertheless, he went on to win the men’s singles championship that year.

25 years ago, on 4th June 1996 that the Second Severn Crossing was officially opened. The bridge spans the River Severn and links and Wales via the M4 motorway.

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EMAIL [email protected]

COPY DATE for the July magazine is 7 June Please send a copy to the Priory Office using email if possible ([email protected]) Any articles received after this date may not be included

8 Miscellaneous observations on our Christian faith

Without God the world would be in a maze without a clue. – Woodrow Wilson

Our ecological responsibility rests in our prior responsibility to obey our Creator. – R C Sproul

The universe seems to have been designed by a pure mathematician. – James Jeans

Christ has made of death a narrow starlit strip between the companionships of yesterday and the reunions of tomorrow. – William Jennings Bryan

The Christian’s chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement. – John R W Stott

Jesus didn’t commit the gospel to an advertising agency; He commissioned disciples. – Joseph Bayly

Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have. – Billy Graham

With Father’s Day in mind:

What a father says to his children is not heard by the world, but it will be heard by posterity. – Richter

Directly after God in heaven comes Papa. – Mozart as a boy

A father is a banker provided by nature. – French proverb

The child had every toy his father wanted. – Robert C. Whitten

With the Summer Sales approaching:

Fashion: A form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. Oscar Wilde

9 Peter

(Mt 26:71-75, John21:15-18)

I don’t know the man. I don’t know Him. I don’t know Him.

But I did. From the moment I turned to Him, That day by the Sea, I knew Him, Knew He was the Lord.

I so wanted to serve Him, Speak for Him, Follow Him, Fish for Him Live and give my life for Him No matter what.

He is the Lord And I let Him down Again and again and again. I go on letting Him down.

But Jesus, Who knows the best and worst of me, Who knows how I rush in and blurt out, Mix and mess things, Fail and fall asleep, Who feels the agony of the denied one, Understands the agony of the one who denies.

He is the Lord And He forgives Again and again and again. He goes on forgiving.

Feed my lambs, Take care of my sheep Feed my sheep.

By Daphne Kitching

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11 Hackness and Silpho

This is a scenic walk of just under 4 miles. There is a steep rough climb near the beginning and because of an overgrown section, the walk is best kept for a dry day.

Hackness can be reached via , Flixton, Seamer and Ayton. In East Ayton take the Forge Valley road (signed Hackness 4) off to the right. At the T-junction turn right into Hackness and park opposite the school and church.

Head uphill along the road signed for Silpho and after a couple of hundred yards at the first bend go through the gate on your left to take a Bridleway. The path is rather rough and has some slippery rocks to negotiate. Another gate gives access to a country lane where you turn left for 0.75 miles to enter the small settlement of Silpho.

Pass a pond on your left and opposite the Phone Box take the Bridleway along a cart track. Where the track bears left through a gate, continue straight ahead with a hedge to your right along a path that can be very overgrown in summer. The path eventually bears left with the edge of Lowdales opening to your right. Soon after a quarry is reached on your left, look out for a Bridleway sign in the hedge to your right. Descend the path with a wire fence to your right and pass through a farm gate and a tunnel of trees to cross a field towards a cottage. A yellow marker post directs you left along a short path by a wall to a gate and a farm lane.

Here turn left passing cottages and cross the bridges at two fords to reach a junction with a sign to Highdales to the right. Ignore this but continue straight ahead along the farm access road.

Occasionally, the first part of this road can be under water, especially in the winter. If this is the case you may want to take the stile opposite the Highdales junction into a field and follow the hedge on your right to a stile and bridge on to the farm access road. Turn left and remembering to 'Try Your Brakes', continue about a mile down the quiet lane to pass a tennis club on your left and to emerge in Hackness. Turn left to return to your car.

Allow about 2 hours. Map: Explorer OL27

12 13

Choir Notes

Presentations

The boys returned to singing at The Eucharist from Sunday 25th April, and at the time of writing we hope that the adults were able to join with the boys at Pentecost at the morning service as normal ‘service’ begins to be resumed.

The boys had a special Choir Club in the Rectory garden in April at which a number pf presentations were made. During lockdown they have been busy following the RSCM chorister training programme and new medals were presented:

Light Blue (Junior Singer): Darragh Walshe; Louie Dixon; Isaac Dixon; Teddy Lowe; Jonah Harris. Dark Blue (Senior Singer): Elijah Ross. Red (Chorister): Jacob Dodd. Head Chorister: Alex Harper and Deputy: Lucas Lunn.

Congratulations to all of them!

We also note the ‘retirement’ of Charlie Pitten and Matthew Leech from the trebles and welcome them into the adult section of the choir. We now have 6 ex-trebles in the choir James Collinson, Matthew Overend, Oliver Smith, Daniel Marr as well as Charlie and Matthew – it is good to see the fellowship continuing.

John Hughes

Just after Easter we learned the shocking and sad news of John’s untimely death. John had only recently retired as Assistant Organist (Christmas 2020) after 43 years of dedicated service to the Priory, when the choir presented him with a table lamp made from a wooden organ pipe.

Following the death of Organist Raymond Sunderland in 1977, John stepped into the Organist’s role on Christmas Day. John was due to be offered the Assistant post by Raymond and James Nolan (Rector at the time). Since then, John has worked with four Organists (Alan Dance, Geoffrey Pearce, Michael Smith and lately Paul Dewhurst) – and even more Rectors (James Nolan, John Meek, John Wardle, Adrian Cragg and Matthew Pollard). He also directed the choir during Organist/Director of Music interregnums. Continued on page 15

14 John was always very modest about his role at the Priory though to the choir and con- gregation he was an integral part of worship for over four decades.

Sadly, the choir was unable to sing at this funeral but we hope a memorial service will be possible in July. His service, dedication and contribution to services and the life of the choir is immeasurable. To misquote Pericles: ‘his story will live on without visible symbol woven into the stuff of the lives of others. It was with respect, gratitude and af- fection that we remember his passing.

Rest in peace John.

Tim Sykes

Peace between neighbours

Peace between neighbours near, Peace between kindred here, Peace between lovers dear, In the love of the King of us all.

Peace man with man abide, Peace man to wife allied, Mother and bairns to guide, And peace of the Christ above all.

Bless, O Christ, bless my face, My face bless every face, Christ, bless mine eye with grace, Mine eye give a blessing to all.

From Poems of the Western Highlanders

15 Grace – God’s kindness towards us

The word ‘grace’ is one of the most important words found in the New Testament. It means God’s loving disposition towards us as sinners. God’s ‘grace’ is almost another word for God’s love. This grace is the foundation of our salvation. So Paul can say that ‘we are justified freely by His grace’ (Romans 3:24); ‘where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more’ (Romans 5:20); ‘by grace you are saved through faith’ (Ephesians 2:8).

But the word ‘grace’ is also used in another way in the New Testament. It means the godly character being reproduced in Christians; Christ living in His people by His Spirit and making them like Himself – gracious.

Luke records that as Jesus grew up ‘the grace of God was upon Him’ (2:40), and that the people wondered at the ‘gracious words’ that He spoke (4:22). John says that Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’ (1:14). The most common benediction bestowed on Christians in the letters of the New Testament is ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (eg Romans 16:20; 1 Cor. 16:23).

From this understanding of grace comes the reminder and the exhortation that all of us as Christians are ‘to grow in grace’ (2 Peter 3:18). Our lives should manifest the grace of God in love and compassion and kindness.

But grace is not something we can achieve on our own. True grace is only found in close communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gardening really is good for you

According to a recent study conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and two universities, people who garden every day have well-being scores 6.6 per cent higher, and stress levels 4.2 per cent lower than those who do not garden at all.

Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui, RHS well-being fellow and lead author says, “The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden, the greater the health benefits.

“In fact, gardening every day has the same positive impact on your well-being as undertaking regular, vigorous exercise like cycling or running.

“Gardening is like effortless exercise: it doesn’t feel as strenuous as going to the gym, but we can expend similar amounts of energy.”

16 Churches to launch nature count within the ‘National Park’ of church- yards

Hundreds of churches have signed up to a week-long ‘nature count’ occurring this month (June), which will encourage people to visit churchyards and record what they see.

Churches Count on Nature, to run between 5th-13th June, is a citizen-science event covering churchyards across England and Wales.

Communities and visitors will be asked to make a note of the animals, birds, insects, or fungi in their local churchyard. Their data will then be collated on the National Biodiversity Network.

It is being jointly run by the conservation charities Caring for God’s Acre, A Rocha UK, the , and the .

Church land, often uniquely unploughed and undeveloped, can be a habitat for precious, endangered plants and wildlife. Together, churchyards cover a huge area –estimated to be equivalent to a small national park.

The week is open to anyone with a love of nature, and churches are seeking links with local schools and local wildlife groups.

Various online guidance about getting to know fauna and flora is being shared with the churches who are participating. A similar national event Love Your Burial Ground Week will be combined with this project.

Registration for the webinars is on the Church of England’s website and also at Churches Count on Nature online.

Smile Lines

Neighbourhood Watch

In one small rural village the local vet also led the local Neighbourhood Watch group. Late one night the phone rang, and his wife answered. An agitated voice inquired, “Is your hus- band there?”

“He is, but tell me, do you need him as the vet or the Neighbourhood Watch?” the wife asked.

“Both!” was the reply. “We can’t get our dog’s mouth open, and there’s a burglar in it!”

On a church notice board:

Visitors welcome.

Members expected.

17 18 Across

1 Military tactic used by Joshua to attack and destroy the city of Ai (Joshua 8:2) (6) 4 Place of learning (6) 8 ‘When Moses’ hands grew — , they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it’ (Exodus 17:12) (5) 9 Unpleasant auguries of the end of the age, as forecast by Jesus (Matthew 24:7) (7) 10 Stronghold to which girls in King Xerxes’ harem (including Esther) were taken (Esther 2:8) (7) 11 Where Saul went to consult a medium before fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 28:7) (5) 12 Propitiation (Hebrews 2:17) (9) 17 Turn away (Jeremiah 11:15) (5) 19 So clear (anag.) (7) 21 ‘I have just got — , so I can’t come’: one excuse to be absent from the great banquet (Luke 14:20) (7) 22 Long weapon with a pointed head used by horsemen (Job 39:23) (5) 23 Musical beat (6) 24 What the Israelites were told to use to daub blood on their door-frames at the first Passover (Exodus 12:22) (6)

Down

1 Fasten (Exodus 28:37) (6) 2 Art bite (anag.) (7) 3 ‘The people of the city were divided; some — with the Jews, others with the apostles’ (Acts 14:4) (5) 5 Contend (Jeremiah 12:5) (7) 6 Possessed (Job 1:3) (5) 7 Sheen (Lamentations 4:1) (6) 9 ‘You love evil rather than good, — rather than speaking the truth’ (Psalm 52:3) (9) 13 Large flightless bird (Job 39:13) (7) 14 They were worth several hundred pounds each (Matthew 25:15) (7) 15 ‘A — went out to sow his seed’ (Matthew 13:3) (6) 16 How Jesus described Jairus’s daughter when he went into the room where she lay (Mark 5:39) (6) 18 The part of the day when the women went to the tomb on the first Easter morning (John 20:1) (5) 20 Narrow passageway between buildings (Luke 14:21) (5)

19 22nd June St Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr

Alban was the very first Christian martyr in Britain – or at least the first we know of. A ‘martyr’ is someone who has died for the faith – the word literally means ‘witness’. He was probably killed during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian in the early years of the fourth century, in the late stages of the Roman occupation of Britain. His martyrdom took place in the amphitheatre outside the Roman city of Verulamium, which is now St Albans, in Hertfordshire.

The church historian Bede, writing 600 years after Alban‘s death, records that Alban was a Roman citizen (possibly a soldier) who gave shelter to a priest who was being hunted by the Romans. During the priest’s stay in his home, Al- ban was converted to the Christian faith. When the soldiers eventually tracked the priest down, they arrived at Alban’s house and insisted on searching it. What they found was Alban dressed in the priest’s clothes, while their real prey escaped. They arrested Alban and demanded that he make a sacrifice to the Emperor – a common test of loyalty. He refused. He was then condemned to death and taken into the amphitheatre, which still stands in the fields below St Alban’s Abbey, to be put to death. One of his executioners was converted, Bede claims, but the other one took a sword and beheaded him.

He was buried nearby, on a site where a shrine was later erected. In the early fifth century two Continental bishops, Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes, were sent to Britain and record that they visited the shrine of Alban at Verulamium. The date of their visit was given as 429.

The martyrdom of Alban is a reminder that Christianity was planted first in these islands during the Roman occupation, though it was all but extinguished in England in the dark centuries that followed, until people like David, Cuthbert and the other Celtic missionaries restored the faith in many parts of the land – especially in the north. The fact that his shrine existed and was venerated right through to the time of Bede also demonstrates that the faith did not die out completely, even in the south of England.

Not a great deal is known about Alban apart from the story of his martyrdom, but what we do know is probably enough to give him a substantial claim to be the patron saint of England ahead of the foreigner St George.

20 Funerals held by the clergy of the Priory

There is no information available at time of going to print, therefore the funerals for May will be included in the next magazine.

21 22 SERVICES FOR

For the foreseeable future there is one service per week, a Celebration of the Eucharist at 10.30 on a Sunday. The Priory is committed to re- suming its usual pattern of services and promoting the Anglican Choral Tradition as soon as it can safely do so.

Also, in response to limited demand, from the 1st August the Priory will only be open for personal prayer two days a week: Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10.00 am and 11.00 am.

23 Groups and Activities (in Church Rooms unless otherwise stated)

Mothers’ Union 1st Tuesday, 2.00 pm (Paula Burbidge 07895700963) Priory Ladies Group 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7.30 pm (Anne Pearson 424332) Bell ringers Tuesdays, 7.00 pm in Priory (Trish Fozzard, 604398) Handbell Ringers Wednesdays 7.30 pm (Evelyn Halford, 677458) Chat and Craft Every third Wednesday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Rainbows Wednesdays, 5.45 pm (Sophie Bell 07780463764) Brownies Thursdays, 6.00 pm (Laura Harrison, 07828208112) Guides Thursdays, 7.30 pm (Laura Harrison, 07828208112) Beavers Tuesdays, 5.45 pm (Janice Hardwick, 229664) Cubs Tuesdays, 6.30 pm (Michael Lupton 07851262971) Emma Szpakowski (07715827945) Scouts Tuesdays, 7.30 pm (Michael Lupton 07851262971) Mothers & Toddlers Thursdays, 1.00 – 2.30 pm (Kerry Fawcett, 07717475795) Choir Practice Boys – Mondays 4.30 pm and Fridays 6.30 pm Adults – Fridays 7.30 pm Mr Paul Dewhurst (07747 627269) Luncheon Club Wednesdays, 12.15 pm (Marion Lambert, 602191) Priory Walking Group Last Monday of every month (Roger Fozzard, 604398) Man Talk First Monday of every month – 6.30 pm at the Bull & Sun (Alan Watters 674437) 24