The Parish of Wellow Wellow Church and Parish News

December 2018

“A time to rejoice” by Matthew Street, The Vicar, based on Isaiah 52:7 -8a How lovely on the mountains are the feet of the herald who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who announces deliverance and who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Lis- ten! Your watchers lift up their voices and together they sing for joy. (Isaiah 52:7 -8a) Some years ago a prominent newsreader bemoaned the fact that only bad news seems to make the headlines. Sadly, nothing much seems to have changed; daily bulletins are still dominated by news of strife, conflict, murder, disaster, war, hunger or tragedy somewhere in the world. The seasons of Advent and Christmas, however, remind us of another kind of news, for the events they speak of were marked from the very start by a mood of rejoicing. When Mary and Elizabeth met for the first time since Mary became pregnant, Eliza- beth exclaimed: “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy” (Luke 1:44,) and Mary’s response was to joyfully proclaim “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour” (Luke 1:47.) So it was to continue after the birth of Jesus, as angels appeared to shepherds with the message, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11.) Finally, when the wise men at last reached their destina- tion and entered the house where Mary and Joseph had taken lodging with their child, “they were overwhelmed with joy” (Matthew 2:10.) This is not to say that sor- row was at an end, the slaughter of children in and around Bethlehem ordered by Herod was to show this was far from the case. Yet, within the trouble and pain of the world, the tragedies and trials that beset us all, God had brought joy that nothing finally could overcome - good news that we continue to celebrate today.

Visit the Church website: www.stjsgroup.church Sunday Services in Advertising in this Newsletter FREE for voluntary organisations based in December Wellow. Fees apply to all other individuals Paul’s road to Rome (Acts 21 - 28:31) and businesses who seek to gain financial benefit from advertising (irrespective of if they are based in Wellow or not). Sunday 2nd December: No Service Contact the editor for more details and pay- ments. Cheques made payable to St.Julian’s Joint Service at St John’s, Peasedown, Church P.C.C. 10.30 a.m. Talk: Witness to Malta – Acts 27:27–28:19 Church Community Leader: Tom Benyon Groups Speaker: Tom Benyon White Ox Mead Community Group Phone Nigel & Jo for more details: 01761 437724 Sunday 9th December: 6.30 p.m. Wellow Prayer Group Christingle Service Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Leader: Tom Benyon Phone Pauline for details: 832625 Speaker: Tom Benyon Benefice Praise and Prayer th Sunday16 December: 6.30 p.m. Every Monday, 7.45pm-9.30pm Carols by Candlelight @ The Vicarage, Peasedown St John Festival of Lessons and Carols ‘God is spirit, and his worshipers must Leader: Matthew Street worship in spirit and in truth.’ John 4:24. Please join us as we praise God, hear from His Word, and come to Him in prayer. Sunday 30th December: 10.30 a.m. Joint Service at St. Julian’s, Wellow Leader: Tom Benyon St John’s Peasedown Speaker: Dick Beath 1st Sunday - 10:30am Joint Service 2nd Sunday - 10:30am MP 4:30pm SF 3rd Sunday - 4:30pm Family Carol Service 4th Sunday- 10.30 am Joint Service at Wellow Contact the Vicar: The Revd. Matthew Street HC = Holy Communion Tel: 01761 432293 SF = Soul Food: A service with modern lively Email: [email protected] music followed by a family tea or through the church website. MP = Morning Praise Want to keep in touch? Benefice Office St Julian’s Church sends out a weekly For anything church related contact the e-newsletter with all the latest news and Benefice Office: views from around the Benefice. Tel: 01761 300410 Email [email protected] to Email: [email protected] subscribe to the mailing list. Visit the Church website: www.stjsgroup.church Welcome to Christmas at St. Julian’s Church, Wellow CHRISTMAS 2018 SERVICES Sunday, 9th December, 6.30 p.m. CHRISTINGLE SERVICE Sunday, 16th December, 6.30 – 7.30 p.m. CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT – Festival of Lessons and Carols Followed by mulled wine and mince pies ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ Christmas Eve, 24th December You are invited to join us at 4.30. p.m. in the Church We celebrate the birth of Jesus ARE WE READY? Why not come dressed as an angel, a shepherd, a wise man, innkeeper, or Mary or Joseph and see the Bible story unfold. Help us sing best loved carols, bring an instrument to join in the carols or sing a solo. Please let me know by 16th December- Pauline. Tel: 832625 ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ Christmas Eve, 24th December, 11.30 p.m. – 12.30 a.m. MIDNIGHT COMMUNION Christmas Morning, 25th December 9.30 – 10.30 am FAMILY SERVICE Do bring along a gift to show us Come and worship Christ the Lord! Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Community Matters: Support your Village The Parlour Shop, the Village Hall, the Church and the Societies Church News The Remembrance Sunday service this year was very moving with more than 75 people attending to remember the fallen from both wars. Sunday December 2nd. There will be no a service at St Julian’s on this Sunday, how- ever there is joint service at Peasedown St John at 10.30 a.m. Sunday December 8th is the opening date for the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Julian’s. Doors open 11 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. There will be a table top sale with lots of Christmas Fayre. Light refreshments served all day. There will be entertainment from the ringers, a Christmas raffle and something for the children. Come and support your group and place your vote for the best tree. Any profits will go to the Children’s Hospice Southwest and St. Julian’s . Sunday December 9th. There will be no morning service. The Wellow Singers will be performing in the Church at 3.00 p.m. Something new at 6.30 p.m. will be a Family friendly Christingle service. Come and make a Christingle, all welcome. The service will last about one hour.

Please see previous page for all other Christmas services. Pam Pike and Colin Tremellen, Church Wardens Needed for the Christmas Eve Nativity Service Do you have any floor cushions/beanbags you would be kind enough to lend us for the Christmas Eve Nativity Service? If you have any freestanding stage spotlights, we could borrow, they would really light up the tableaux at appropriate moments, then we could use minimal ordinary lighting, adding to the atmosphere? Please let me know and we can arrange when and where to deliver/collect them. Looking forward to your help, Thank you, Pauline. Tel: 832625. Lunch Club The Christmas Lunch is on Thursday 13th December at 1 p.m. in the Village Hall. Looking forward to seeing everyone, but if you are unable to come along, please let one of the cooks know as soon as possible. Many thanks. Janet Martin Tel: 835254

Don’t forget to visit the Wellow website @ www.wellowparish.info School News St. Julian’s Primary School have had a busy start to the term by learning all about Bonfire Night, the Hindu celebration of Diwali and Remembrance Day. Each class took part in activities that explored these significant events. A special assembly took place on Friday 9th November to mark the centenary of the ending of WW1. Chil- dren remembered and gave thanks to the local soldiers who lost their lives during The Great War. Younger children made wreaths of poppies and older children wrote very poignant poems about the war. A two minute silence was observed in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives. Our oldest children took part in a sleepover at school on Friday 9th November, where they got to take part in team building games, watched a movie and slept in the school hall together -what an adventure! A fantastic time was had by all and a huge thanks goes to our wonderful teachers who gave up their own time to look after the children. Wellow Parish Council The WPC meeting took place on Monday 19th November with 5 members of the public attending. Apologies were received from Cllr Hartigan who was unable to attend. A number of issues were discussed including (but not limited to) the adoption of an online banking system for the parish council, the delivery of the Christmas tree to be displayed in the village and confirmation of “Carols on the Batch” taking place on 19th December. The car park located in Wellow will be closed from Wednesday 21st due to resurfac- ing works going ahead and will remain closed for two weeks. BANES has written to the Parish Council regarding the Parish Sweeper funding currently in place. Councillors expressed their concern at speeding vehicles through Wellow and called for signage reminding motorists of the speed limits in place to be repainted. Next meeting Monday 17th December, Wellow Village Hall, 8:00pm. All wel- come. Kirsten Griffiths. [email protected]

The Hub @ Wellow Sports Pavilion WINTER OPENING HOURS Saturdays 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sundays 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Come and relax in the Pavilion with a great cup of coffee, hot chocolate, tea or a cold drink from the chiller. We have snacks, home-made cakes and while you’re enjoying your cuppa have a go at one of our board games! See you there! Wellow and District Horticultural Society Well the year is going round and it is now about 5 weeks until the winter solstice after which, very slowly at first, the days will start to lengthen and we can get excited about growing things again. If you are as bored as I am with clearing up leaves this is definitely something to look forward too. We are sad to be loosing some old friends from the Hort. Soc. committee, but are delighted to have 5 new members and are looking forward to taking the society forward with new enthusiasm and fresh ideas. For those who were unable to make last night’s AGM the seed offer for 2019 is now on the website. Please return the forms to me, Bridget, at [email protected] or by post to 2, Tucking Mill Cottages, Midford, Bath, or drop them through Avril’s door at Manor Stables. Please can I have all requests by 31st January so that I can spend dark winter evenings counting out seeds! We are hoping to set up a gardeners online forum next year so members can share ideas and tips and problems of a horticultural nature with each other. There will hopefully be some experts on hand to help beginners in the gardening field. Now we have a larger committee we are planning some talks and visits and it is our 70th anniversary flower show. Watch this space. Don’t forget the excellent wreath making workshop on 5th December, with mulled wine and mince pies! Phone Mari on 840889 for more info. I hope you all have a lovely peaceful Christmas and a happy new year. Let’s raise a glass to 2019! Best wishes, Bridget and the Hort. Soc. committee.

CHRISTMAS 2018 AT THE PARLOUR SHOP The festive season is a vital month in our sales calendar. It would make a huge dif- ference to the shop if you purchased your Christmas meat and some other “special” items from us. In doing so you support hard-working local family businesses, as well as your own community shop. There are three order forms: 1) Meat from Tunley Farm. 2) Fish, fruit, veg, dairy and bakery items. 3) Smoked deli produce from Beckington’s award winning start up, The Smoke Folk. These are available to print on Wellow Parish’s website (http://www.wellowparish. info) or pop into the shop for printed copies. Please complete and return your form by Monday 10 December. Order deadline - Monday 10 December 2018

MORE ABOUT OUR SUPPLIERS: support local family businesses this Christ- mas… Meat: Tunley Farm is a 500 acre estate and family run butcher providing the high- est quality locally bred (Hunstrete, Timsbury & Farmborough mainly) meats, poul- try and game. They supply top quality Castlemead turkeys from Radstock, or other free range alternatives. Smoked fish: This year we’re really excited to add Beckington’s award-winning start-up, The Smoke Folk, to our roster. This is an artisan Smokery where sustain- ably sourced produce is smoked in small batches over a range woods. Buy sides of salmon, nuts, cheese, salt and garlic. Perfect as gifts for foodies or for your own family feast. Cheese: Family run business, Wyke Farm, makes and supplies a Somerset cheddar perfect for everyday eating. We can also source a wide range of speciality cheeses for an impressive Boxing Day board, through them and Hawkridge. Pop in to look through the extensive list, from a wheel of ripe brie to a speciality goat’s cheese. Cream: Ivy House Dairy, also based at Beckington, is a family run farm of Jersey cows. They supply delicious milk, as well as indulgently thick double, single and whipping creams perfect for sweet Christmas treats. Fruit & veg: Based in the Chew Valley, our trusted fruit and veg supplier, Arthur David, is yet another family-run business providing really fresh produce, a wide range of choice and excellent service. Bakery: Family-run Hobbs House in Gloucestershire provides artisan bread which is ever more popular. Add to this tempting delicacies from the Handmade Cake Company or everyday supplies from Daily Bread in PSJ. CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS: here if you need us • Sat. 22 December: 9:00am to 5:00pm • Mon. 24 December: 9:00am to 12 noon CLOSED • Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Mon. 31 December & New Year’s Day • Thurs. 27 December & Wed 2 January: 9:00am to 12 noon • All other days will be usual hours See you soon! Wellow Parlour Shop

Over the Christmas period, you will hear the church being rung. I thought that it would be interesting to tell the story of how the way church bells are rung in Britain came about and about the bells in St. Julian’s Church. , also called method ringing, is almost exclusive to Britain and its former colonies. Origins: Church bells have been hanging in English churches since around A.D. 750 when the Archbishop of York ordered that bells by rung at specific times. In those days the bells were hung on a simple spindle and chimed pulling a rope. Following the Reformation, a new technology de- veloped of bells mounted on a wheel. This gave much greater control, the final refinement being a stay and slider to be able to “set” i.e. stop, the . Around the mid-17th century ringing changing patterns began to evolve and in 1688, published Tintinnalogia, or The Art of Ringing. These books described the art of change ringing and drew up rules for long series of changes, without the need for calls, whereby bells must change place at each pull of the rope. Further changes were worked out and written down to be learned by heart to create patterns where the bells are never sounded in the same order twice. These compositions were named methods and soon hundreds were created, often named after the cities where they were first rung in such as Norwich, London or Cambridge. Ringing church bells: To ring the bell, it is first “raised” so that it has its mouth up. It is rung by pulling on the bell rope, which winds round the wheel, first one way round and then the other.

When at rest, At hand stroke At back- the mouth of you pull on the stroke, you the bell is facing sally, the “fluffy” pull on the down. bit half way up end of the the rope. rope.

If you would like to learn to ring the bells, please contact Clover Holland. Tel: 833348 The bells in St Julian’s Church, Wellow Treble: C. 7 cwt.: “James Rossiter and Robert Smith: Churchwardens: James Wells Ald- bourne fecit 1809.” No. 2: B flat; 8 cwt. “Mr Geiles Long and Mr Geiles Balm: Churchwardens: Thomas Bilbie fecit 1753.” No. 3: A flat; 9 cwt. “George Gifford and John Parker; Churchwardens: Thomas Mears of London, Founder, 1835.” No. 4: G; 12 cwt. “George Gibbs of Home House and Nich. Slad. Churchwardens: A.R. 1725.” No. 5: F; 14 cwt. “James Rossiter and Robert Smith: Churchwardens: James Wells, Ald- bourne, Wilts. Fecit 1809.” Tenor: E flat; 21 cwt. “G. Gifford and E. Gibbs: Churchwardens: Thomas Mears London, Founder, recast ad 1838.”

Restoring the bells: In 7th May, 1948, as part of a major restoration of the church, the bells, which had not been rung since 1909, were lowered and sent to the for tuning and restoration. They returned on June 13, 1949 and once again the bells rang out over Wellow. Wellow Parish Diary Regular activities: Parish Council meetings: Village Hall; 3rd Monday in the month; 8.00 to 9.30 pm: Con- tact Parish Clerk: Kirsten Griffiths: Tel: 07813 616189; Email: [email protected] Wellow Wrigglers playgroup: Village hall. Thursdays (except 4th Thursday), term time. 9.30-11.30 a.m. Contact Karina Coats: Tel: 07515812501. Email: [email protected] Boules: Wellow Recreation Ground; Summer months: Wednesday, 6.00pm and Sunday, 2:30pm. October: Sunday afternoon only. Contact: [email protected]: tel 01225 830188 Sirona Art Group: Village Hall; Tuesdays, 10.30-13.00. Bellringing: Wednesday evening, alternate weeks at St Julian’s Church and Dunkerton. Contact Clover Holland; Tel: 01225 833348: Email: [email protected] Pop-Inn: Fox & Badger; 1st Monday of the month, except Bank Holidays; 12.00 – 2.00 p.m. Contact: Shirley Betts, Tel: 01225 833683 Fox & Badger “Pub Quiz”: 2nd Thursday of the month; Contact the pub. Tel: 01225 832293 Meditation: St Julian’s Church Vestry; 1st Thursday in month, 8.00-9.00 pm. but contact to check: Jill Tremellen. Tel: 01225 833506: Email: [email protected] Lunch Club: Village Hall; 4th Thursday in the month, September to June. Contact: Janet Martin: Tel. 01225 835254 Wellow Community Choir: Generally meet at St. Julian’s Church; Tuesday 7:30 to 9:00pm during School term times; Contact James Watts: 07806 540515 if you would like to join. Mobile Library: Alternate Tuesdays. Village hall: 10.35-10.50 a.m.: Manor Close: 11-11.30 a.m. Post Office: Village hall, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m. Wellow Parish Directory: Wellow Horticultural Society: Secretary: 01225 837878: [email protected] Parlour Shop: Tel: 835438: Email: [email protected] Wellow Village Hall bookings: Tel: 835840. Email: [email protected] Wellow Community Bus: Contacts: Mike 07854 414084, [email protected] Friends of St. Julians: Contact: [email protected] Wellow Valley Tennis: Contact: [email protected] BANES Local Councillor: Neil Butters: 01225 832256; [email protected] Parish Magazine Editor: Jane Rees, 3 Weavers Orchard, Wellow; tel: 01225 837031; email: [email protected]. Please let me have material for the following month’s magazine by 18th of each month. Printed by St Phillip and St James’ Church, Odd Down. Published and Promoted by St Julian’s Parish Church at the St J’s Group Office, The Vicarage, Church Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8AA, [email protected]