Services at the date of this magazine going to press; otherwise please contact a church warden (contact details page 3)
St George, Fordington, Dorchester, DT1 1LB St Simon & St Jude, Winterborne Monkton, DT2 9PT Every Sunday Communion Service at 10am. We no longer The church will be open for private prayer every Friday, require people to pre-book for this service. Names and Saturday and Sunday during the summer 9am-5pm or by contact details will be taken at the door. Wednesdays separate appointment with Judy Norman on 07880 700926. 1-4pm & Sundays 8.30-11.30am for personal Prayer. T H E W I N T E R B O U R N E S St Mary the Virgin, Dorchester, DT1 2HL St Martin, Winterborne St Martin, DT2 9JR Sunday worship each week Eucharist at 8am and also at 1st and 3rd Sun 11am Holy Communion 9.45am. Please could you book EACH week with Trudy 4th Sun 11am Worship Together [email protected] if you wish to attend either of the St Mary, Winterbourne Abbas, DT2 9LP services The church will also have a Eucharist on 1st Sun 10am Holy Communion Wednesday mornings at 9.30am but this does not need to 3rd Sun 10am Morning Worship be booked, just come along. St Michael, Winterbourne Steepleton, DT2 9LG St Peter, Dorchester, DT1 1XA 2nd Sun 11am Holy Communion Sunday 2 services of Morning Prayer, at 9am and 10.30am. St Thomas a Beckett, Compton Valence, DT2 9ER We will continue to be open for personal prayer from 2nd Sun 9.30am Holy Communion 10am – 4pm each day. 5th Sunday Services see notices. St Andrew, West Stafford, DT2 8AB There is a half hour Zoom Service each Sunday at 10am – Sunday Service at 11.15am. The church will be open for please let The Reverend Jean Saddington know if you would Private Prayer on Wednesdays from 10am-4pm. like to join in. There are currently no evening services.
The Benefice Network
Office Secretary St Andrew June Jenkins 250719 St Mary [email protected] Verger Cynthia Fry 573076 Organist Benefice Website Organist Geoff Greenhough 267723 Flowers Jill Shepherd 264222 www.dorchesteranglican.info - Flowers Margaret Morrissey 250366 Church Committee Secretary [email protected] Church Committee Secretary Felicity Murray Dorchester PCC Secretary Janet Cooper Robert Potter 262041 Treasurer Kaye Kerridge 268641 260259 [email protected] Treasurer John Heath 07802 527757 Envelopes Kaye Kerridge 268641 Dorchester PCC Treasurer Envelopes Electoral Roll Jill Shepherd 264222 Beryl Shuttleworth 266616 Electoral Roll Trudy Tabone 246126 Magazine Editor Servers Peter Vojak 265994 Margaret Morrissey 250366 St Simon & St Jude [email protected] Safeguarding Peter Vojak 265994 Organist Duncan Honeybourne 761881 Magazine Advertising Social Groups Flowers Rota of PCC members Olive Branch Joyce Potter 262041 c/o Margaret Morrissey 250366 Church Committee Secretary Monday Club Rosemary Bassett 262615 [email protected] Wendy Grassby 263762 Hall Bookings Email [email protected] and Treasurer Hilary Hoskin 251085 your message will be sent to someone from John Williams [email protected] Electoral Roll Wendy Frost 889510 the Magazine, Pews News, the Parish Magazine Circulation Cynthia Fry office or the Team Website. Safeguarding Peter Vojak 265994 St George St Peter Verger Val Potter 264416 Benefice House/Prayer Groups Verger Tony Archer 07484 257612 Organist David Fawcett 07740818107 Friday Prayer Group Meets at St Peter’s Organist Evelyn Kingman 265741 Bellringers Will Haydock 07976 276066 Friday 10.30am Penny Blaby 753556 Sunday School Maggie Carter 266072 Dorcas MU Bible Study Group Meets on Bellringers Tony Spiller 262442 Flowers Kate Chapman 756069 and Rosalind Thorpe 259659 Weds 10am Janet Cooper 260259 Flowers Helen Pickard St Peter’s MU Penny Blaby 753556 Church Committee Secretary Church Committee Secretary Cheryl Taylor 269564 Tony Palmer 268486 Emmaus House Group Meets on 3rd Treasurer Michael Neely 262869 Treasurer David Elliott 259236 Monday of the month. Envelopes Envelopes David Elliott 259236 Christian Meditation Group Electoral Roll Dorothy Maggs 262436 Electoral Roll Jim Mclean 260126 Wednesdays, 5pm at St. Mary’s. Social Events Maggie Carter 266072 Social Events Rosalind Thorpe 259659 Rosemary Bassett 262615 Servers Safeguarding Jane Pryce 269937 Home Bible Study Group Monday 7.30pm Safeguarding Hall Bookings Pat Davies 267745 30 Grosvenor Rd Celia Robertson 257621 Hall Bookings [email protected] Brownies Becki Munro 457181 Magazine Circulation Val Scriven Magazine Circulation Mark Dyer Rangers Lisa Upward 265574
2 The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam
The impact of COVID-19 is changing us. In many ways, people have The Team stepped up to look after each other. Churches have been part of this but Team Rector it’s been a much broader movement of neighbourly care. We have Vacant – contact church wardens applauded the NHS and care workers and we have redefined who are with responsibility for St Mary the Virgin the key workers. The desire to look after each other is strong. and St Simon & St Jude Every organisation has had to change rapidly. Churches have adapted Team Vicars locally extraordinarily fast. Thank you for all you have done to help. Vacant – contact church wardens None of us knows if this is the new normal but at the end of summer with responsibilty for St George it looks as though the winter could be long and difficult. This virus is and St Andrew not yet finished with us. Vacant – contact church wardens with responsibility for St Peter’s We are being tested. The virus is not limited by national boundaries. Revd Jean Saddington It is a global pandemic. There have been some key moments and our with responsibility for responses have been revealing. The death of George Floyd in The Winterbournes & Compton Valence Minneapolis set off an international movement that Black Lives Matter. 01305 889992 Who are the people we want to celebrate and why? We have been too Associate Clergy slow re-evaluating the statues populating our public space and frustration Revd Joanna Lacy-Smith boiled over. People want to be dealt with justly and we need to rework 01305 889476 our history so that it helps us tell a better story in our own day. Licensed Lay Ministers For example, there are lessons for us with regard to slavery. Church David Bowen 01305 263584 was part of the problem and became part of the solution. We were among Allen Knott 01305 267217 those who profited from slavery and claimed it was part of God’s given Caroline McMeiken 07555 967387 order. We were also among those who campaigned for its abolition. In Robert Potter 01305 262041 this respect my predecessor Bishop Burgess (1825-37) was courageous in Churchwardens the late eighteenth century in articulating his opposition to slavery. St George Nowadays no-one is in favour of slavery and the Church is among those vacant challenging modern-day slavery. The question for us is why there was a vacant re-evaluation of the way we understood scripture that changed our values St Mary the Virgin and the way we acted. Trudy Tabone 01305 246126 Ellie Stephens 01305 263391 One of my favourite Bible stories is from Matthew 22.15-22 when the St Peter religious leaders tried to trap Jesus with a political question. Is it lawful Val Potter 01305 264416 to pay taxes to the emperor? Smelling hypocrisy, Jesus asked whose image St Andrew is on a coin? They answered the emperor’s. “Give to the emperor the vacant things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” St Simon & St Jude It’s a clever and enigmatic response. Whatever it means about God Charles Norman 01305 262719 Judy Norman 01305 262719 and Caesar, paying taxes, and the Christian engagement with political St Martin life and power, a Jew at the time of Jesus would have heard an unspoken Dick Corbett-Winder 01305 889410 second question: ‘And you, whose image are you made in?’ We are called St Mary to live as people made in God’s image. Joy Parsons 01305 889611 That at the heart of who we are and we need to take care to live up St Michael to it. A time of crisis is both a judgement and an opportunity. Ellie Sturrock 07980 089470 Roddy Kilpatrick 01305 889238 St Thomas +Nicholas Sarum Peter Steel 01308 482782 Jeremy Russell 01308 482227 Chaplaincy at Dorset County Hospital Reverend Ron Martin (CofE) Lead Hospital Chaplain Dorchester Benefice Magazine Please submit copy for the November issue email [email protected] Editor: Margaret Morrissey OBE by 17th October at the latest. Revd Jean Saddington (CofE) Chaplain 9 Hessary St., Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3SF All new articles please submit by [email protected] [email protected] 01305 250366 12th October or give notice of intention to Father Barry Hallett (RC) Chaplain the Editor at Advertising Manager: [email protected] Contactable via Ron [email protected] Printed by Sherrens of Weymouth
3 Oppressed Christians struggling under Covid-19 Release International
Oppression and discrimination against Christians has In Pakistan the situation is especially hard for increased during Covid, says Release International, converts from a Muslim background. which has launched an appeal to help Christians The only form of social security is family support suffering during the pandemic. and Muslim families often withdraw support for family Many Christians have been denied food and relief members who change their religion. aid and excluded from support systems during In several countries lockdown has led to an increase lockdown. They have been abandoned by families in persecution. because of their faith and refused relief by governments In Upper Egypt, where Christians face and NGOs. discrimination for their faith, some organisations are At the same time, several countries have stepped up allegedly refusing food and support to Christian persecution against Christians. One of the worst families. Release partners report: ‘The authorities are offenders is China, where Christians have been arrested helping Muslims but not Christians and churches that for simply holding prayer meetings online. try to help are being closed by police order.’ “The situation has got much worse for many In China, Release partners say the government is Christians during lockdown,” says Release using the pandemic to step up its crackdown against International CEO Paul Robinson. Christians. They have accelerated campaigns such as “Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on the lives the forced demolition of crosses. Pastors have been of many poor Christians. In places hostile to the faith rounded up for sharing the gospel and distributing Christians are experiencing increased hardship. facemasks on the street. The authorities have ‘totally ‘Food is now in short supply. They are unable to prohibited’ online church services and prayer meetings, work and can’t earn, and support is being withheld as ‘nothing constituting a religious service is allowed’. because of their faith. Their cries for help are being In Nigeria, the lockdown deepened the insecurity ignored by local charities who are distributing food facing many Christian villagers, who face attacks by packages only to families of other faiths. We can’t Fulani militia. afford to delay. These Christians need our help.’ Paul Robinson of Release International says: ‘Right In Algeria, many Christians have had to stop work now, it’s up to us in the family of faith to give them because of the lockdown and so lost their income. They our support.’ Partners of Release International are have been rejected by society and their families as a providing food parcels to impoverished Christians in result of their faith. There is no social security in the Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. country or government support. Go to: www.releaseinternational.org/covid if you Eritrean Christians fleeing persecution have been can help. barred from refugee camps and are unable to get support from UNHCR, and they refuse to resort to crime to get the money and supplies they need. Anna is the only breadwinner in her family of five. Two of her children are severely handicapped.
4 Do the Bible and Science contradict each other? Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge.
Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science the world around them, observing the movements of and Christian faith. the stars, the processes of life and death that happened all around them, the seasons, the behaviour of physical For the Christian, the Bible is God’s word to us; it tells objects, and so on; but they did not study the us about His character and creative purposes, how He mechanisms underlying these things systematically using has related to people in the past, and His promises for the tools of science, and they did not see or describe the future. Science is a specific way of studying the the world in scientific terms – not because they weren’t world, exploring the physical properties of things – a intelligent, but because science as we know it wasn’t wonderful way to explore God’s creation. So, the happening at that time. question to ask if the Bible and Science seem to be Instead the biblical writers used words that were contradicting each other is, have we made a mistake in commonly used in their own cultures to record events, interpreting one or the other? share truth and wisdom, and tell stories that convey Science is very good at answering certain types of deep truth about God’s character. If we want to questions: ‘What size is it?’, ‘How fast does it travel?’, understand God’s intention in inspiring these words, ‘What is it made of?’, and so on. Questions like ‘What’s we need to do some careful work to connect with it for?’, ‘What should I do with it?’, and ‘What’s it those ancient writers and find out what they meant, worth?’ can’t be answered using scientific methods. before we can discover what those words mean to us Some of the misunderstanding in discussions of science today. and religion come from not recognising the limits of These principles can help us have far more fruitful science. conversations about science and Christian faith. If we It’s also important to recognise what the Bible is and allow any apparent conflict between Science and the what sorts of questions it can answer. The Bible was Bible to fuel our search for understanding, not only will written well before people began to investigate the we learn as individuals, but we will be able to draw world in ways we would recognise as scientific. Of others into a conversation that is relevant to wider course, people in the Ancient Near East were studying society today.
Remembering Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer Tim Lenton
The prison reformer and philanthropist Elizabeth Fry Bible to inmates and gave Bibles away, combining social died 175 years ago, on 12th October 1845. She was work with proclamation of the Gospel in a way that widely admired during her lifetime and after and was inspired future generations. Her insights also led to the depicted on the British £5 note between 2001 and 2016. Prison Reform Act of 1823. She was born into the family of a wealthy Quaker banker, John Gurney, in Norwich in 1870. She rededicated her life to Christ at the age of 18 and devoted herself to helping the downtrodden. This she continued to do after her marriage to London merchant Joseph Fry and while giving birth to 11 children. She was a minister of the Society of Friends from 1811 and travelled in England and Europe inspecting prisons and writing reports that were highly influential, transforming gaols from “pits of indecency and brutality” to more orderly places with a new interest in reform. She was admired by both Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale. Early on she made frequent visits to Newgate Prison in London, suggesting radical improvements that were adopted both there and in other prisons. She read the
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6 St George’s Church Church Correspondent Nicky Brennan
Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news
St George’s say thank you to meet with government legislation for Covid-19 and Yvonne and Paul. making sure everyone who came into the building was Yvonne and Paul are our Churchwardens and have aware of procedures and followed them. They always been in post since 2014. They agreed to an extension supported and helped to organise social events at of their roles when we were without a permanent St George’s from Harvest Suppers, the Annual Fair, Vicar at St George’s They are both stood down at Quizes, Burns Night Suppers etc. as well as attending our Annual Meeting church on Sunday 13th meetings associated with the running of the church. September. They have been a wonderful steady asset They will be greatly missed but we wish them both a for St George’s and kept us going through challenging very happy retirement from their posts of times. It has not been easy for them as they are both Churchwardens. It will be good to have them with us in full time employment in very busy jobs. However in the congregation. they have always been there for us and organising Thank you Yvonne and Paul from all of us at church matters in a most efficient way. Their latest St Georges. You can be proud of your achievement challenge was the organising of the church building to and you both have done a great job.
31st October All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening
Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots with Day”. The evening before became an evening of prayer the Celtic peoples of pre-Christian times. and preparation and was called “All Hallows’ Eve”, In those long-ago days, on the last The Holy Evening, later shortened to “Halloween”. night of October, the Celts For many centuries, however, fear of the celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or supernatural remained strong. During the ‘Summer’s End’. The priests, or Middle Ages animal costumes and Druids, performed ceremonies to thank frightening masks were worn to ward and honour the sun, for there was a off the evil spirits of darkness on very dark side to all this: Samhain also Halloween. Magic words and charms signalled the onset of winter, a time were used to keep away bad luck, and when it was feared that unfriendly everybody believed that witches ride ghosts, nature-spirits, and witches about on broomsticks. Fortune telling was roamed the earth, creating mischief. popular and predicting the future So the Druid priests lit great bonfires and by the use of nuts and apples was performed magic rites to ward off or appease these so popular that Halloween is still dark supernatural powers. sometimes known as Nutcrack Night or Snap- Then the Romans arrived and brought their Harvest Apple Night. Festival which honoured the Goddess Pomona with Today Christians have learned to turn to prayer gifts of apples and nuts. The two festivals slowly instead of charms to overcome the powers of darkness. merged. The deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, should When Christianity arrived still later, it began to not be forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to replace the Roman and Druid religions. 1st November - Christ when we remember and give thanks for our All Saints’ Day – was dedicated to all Christian Martyrs loved ones and for others who have gone before us and Saints who had died. It was called “All Hallows’ through the gates of death.
7 Understanding the Bible Canon Paul Hardingham considers the authority of the Bible
As we acknowledge Bible Sunday this month, it’s a good opportunity to ask the question: why should I read the Bible? The Bible is the world’s best selling book of all time. However, it isn’t one book, but a library of 66 books, lives. We also have the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide us composed by some 44 writers over a period of 1500 in applying the words to our lives: ‘the Spirit will guide you years in a range of literature including history, poetry, into all truth’ (John 16:13). prophecy, letters and apocalyptic (end times). Despite However, the Bible could also be described as a love having a number of different writers, the Bible claims letter from God, as He uses it to deepen our one author: God himself! relationship with him. As Jesus said: ‘You diligently study This is the basis of the unity of its message and the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess authoritative claim to be the primary way by which God eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me’ speaks to us: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for (John 5:39,40). Christians follow a person not a book, teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so and the Scriptures are intended to help us to know that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every Jesus better. good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is inspired (‘the word At her coronation the Queen was given a Bible with of God in the words of men’) and presents itself as a manual the words ‘the most precious thing this world affords’. for life, equipping us to live for God in every aspect of our Does this reflect our own attitude to the Bible?
7 ‘They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their — end’ (Psalm 107:27) (4) 8 See 19 Across October Crossword 9 It concerned who among the disciples would be the greatest (Luke 9:46) (8) 13 Formed by the Jews in Thessalonica to root out Paul and Silas (Acts 17:5) (3) 16 ‘He has sent me to bind up the — ’ (Isaiah 61:1) (6-7) 17 Moved rapidly on foot (Matthew 28:8) (3) 19 and 8 ‘ — a great company of the — host appeared with the angel’ (Luke 2:13) (8,8) 24 Hindrance (Romans 14:13) (8) 25 Comes between Luke and Acts (4) 26 Empower (Acts 4:29) (6) 27 ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a — !’ (John 2:16) (6) Down 1 Sunrise (Psalm 119:147) (4) 2 The part of the day when Cornelius the Caesarean centurion had a vision of an angel of God (Acts 10:3) (9) 3 He was one of those who returned with Zerubbabel from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:7) (5) 4 ‘No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born — ’(John 3:3) (5) 5 Animal hunted or killed as food (Ezekiel 22:25) (4) 6 ‘He encouraged them — — remain true to the Lord’ (Acts 11:23) (3,2) 10 Ruses (anag.) (5) 11 Jewish priestly vestment (Exodus 28:6) (5) 12 Visible sign of what had been there (Daniel 2:35) (5) 13 This was the trade of Alexander, who did Paul ‘a great deal of harm’ (2 Timothy 4:14) (9) 14 ‘This is my — , which is for you; do this in remembrance of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:24) (4) 15 One of Noah’s great-great-grandsons (Genesis 10:24) (4) 18 Traditionally the first British Christian martyr (5) Across 20 Relationship of Ner to Saul (1 Samuel 14:50) (5) 1 He must be ‘the husband of but one wife and must manage his 21 Jacob had one at a place he named Bethel while on his way to Haran, children and his household well’ (1 Timothy 3:12) (6) fleeing from Esau (Genesis 28:12) (5) 4 ‘For we must all — before the judgement seat of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 22 Bats (anag.) (4) 5:10) (6) 23 ‘You strain out a — but swallow a camel’ (Matthew 23:24) (4)
8 Moral questions from the pandemic The Ven John Barton compares a film of a pandemic to the real thing
You may have missed it at the time. The movie ‘Contagion’ didn’t make much of an impact when it was released for public viewing in 2011. Perhaps it was thought to be unrealistic. It was about a highly contagious, unknown virus, transmitted by an infected bat to a pig in a Chinese marketplace. From there it spread like wildfire round the world. It was fiction then of course but not so far fetched as to be distant from reality, as we now know. Deadly viruses and the plagues they cause, have been part of world history since time began. In the early days, when travel between continents was infrequent, their spread was slower and usually confined to local regions. The way the film’s imaginary plot develops bears an uncanny resemblance to what we have experienced this year. Panic buying empties supermarkets, whole populations adopt social distancing, scientists work flat out to identify the virus and then search for a means to combat it. Meanwhile, millions are infected and quarantines are imposed. The story progresses far beyond the reality which is familiar to us. The irresponsible use of social media and false rumours of a cure lead to the looting of In real life, we haven’t got that far yet, but, please pharmacies. Emergency food supplies are ransacked, law God, we will. After all, most deadly diseases are now and order break down. Troops police the streets. Then under control and both vaccination and immunisation there’s a breakthrough: a vaccine is discovered, but that are part and parcel of everyday life; old ‘uns take it for raises a new moral problem: who will get it first and granted that their GP will summon them for an anti-flu what would be a fair distribution system? jab each winter. The movie is still available via Netflix or you can buy We may face an ethical dilemma when it comes to a a DVD online. Despite the inevitable carnage of the vaccine for Covid-19 if there’s an initial shortage, who pandemic and the suffering it portrays, it contrives to should get it first? Should money come into it? Are have a relatively happy ending. Christian principles applicable?
Virgin Birth and stories of Mary, Elizabeth, and the St Luke the Evangelist woman who was a sinner. In Acts, Luke is remarkably good at linking sacred – linking the sacred and the profane and profane history, as subsequent archaeology has shown. A principal theme of his Acts is how the early Christians moved away from Jerusalem into the pagan To St Luke, a Gentile, we owe the beautifully written world and especially on to Rome. Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He was a Greek Luke is the patron saint of doctors, surgeons and physician, a disciple of St Paul, a companion on some artists (due to his picturesque style of writing). His of his missionary journeys and an inspired writer. symbol is an ox, sometimes explained by reference to Luke’s gospel focuses on the compassion of Christ. the sacrifice in the Temple at the beginning of his His gospel contains some of the most moving parables, Gospel. In England 28 ancient churches were such as the Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son. This, dedicated to him. with his emphasis on poverty, prayer and purity of heart, make up much of his appeal to the Gentles, for The weaker we feel, the harder we lean; and the whom he wrote. harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even Women figure more prominently in Luke’s gospel while our bodies waste away. – J I Packer than any other: look out for the extended story of the
9 children’s happiness during the last exploit vulnerable children to traffic decade. We need action and for the drugs during lockdown. DID YOU Government to provide long-term “They adapted their methods investment to stop this toxic trend”. where necessary and took advantage of a situation in which many KNOW? Criminals took advantage children were out of view of teachers, social workers and youth of school closures to workers – meaning that even these exploit children during shocking figures may be just the tip Our teenagers are the of the iceberg. Our research has also lockdown found that awareness of the NRM least happy in Europe New figures for the second quarter among professionals is patchy. So says the Children’s Society in its of 2020 show children accounted for “Even when children are assessed recent Good Childhood Report, an 346 out of 409 referrals to the to be victims of child criminal annual consideration of childhood National Referral Mechanism – the exploitation, the support they receive in the UK. system for identifying victims of remains inconsistent and often The Church of England charity modern slavery – which related to insufficient and too many children found that 15-year olds in the UK concerns about criminal exploitation are not identified until exploitation is score lower levels of life satisfaction through so-called county lines drug deeply engrained in their lives. than those in 24 other European trafficking operations. The overall “It’s vital that all vulnerable countries. Levels of poverty, a lack of number of county lines referrals for children who are not yet in school, close friendships and pressure in all age groups more than doubled or in the event of future school school have all been found to from 199 to 409. closures, have access to a named contribute to the problem. Iryna Pona, at The Children’s trusted professional who can help Chief executive of the Children’s Society, said: “We saw through our ensure they are getting the support Society, Mark Russell, said: “Modern frontline services how criminals they need and identify any risks they life has been chipping away at our continued to cynically groom and may be facing.”
Christmas Cards
Covid-19 has drastically affected The Children’s Society’s income but also sadly increased the need for its help with families and young people. Last year more than £1,000 worth of Christmas cards were sold via the Dorchester Churches, over half of which was profit and helps fund the Society’s work. Please can you consider purchasing some of the Society’s cards this year? They will be available to view and order at the 3 town churches and also from Rita Kennett, tel 265432. . Many of you will have kindly supported our various fundraising events in the past and we do hope to be able to resume these before too long. The Dorchester Committee are frustrated that so many things they planned have been cancelled but we must keep everyone safe and pray that folk will be give generously if they possibly can. Thank you so much. Rita Kennett
The No child Children’s should feel Society alone
10 Fly-tipping David Pickup, a solicitor, considers a common nuisance.
14…The king sent them after the Aramean army. He Or here is another scenario: you are going on commanded the drivers, ‘Go and find out what has holiday and decide to leave some rubbish at the back happened.’ 15 They followed them as far as the Jordan, and of your house. You phone a mate to come and collect they found the whole road strewn with the clothing and it, but they forget. Both of these scenarios could result equipment the Arameans had thrown away in their headlong in a heavy fine. flight. So the messengers returned and reported to the king. In the 2018/19 year, (2 Kings 7:14-16) local authorities in England dealt with over One good thing about coronavirus has been the one million fly-tipping reduction of litter on the roads. When the burger incidents, nearly two thirds shops were shut, people did not buy a snack, eat it on of which involved the way home and then throw the plastic container household waste. and the milkshake mug and straw out the car window. Fly-tipping is a criminal What possesses people to do this? For another type offence punishable by a of anti-social behaviour has increased: fly-tipping. fine of up to £50,000, or Council tips have been closed, so irresponsible people 12 months imprisonment have decided to turn a field entrance or a pathway if convicted in a into another tip. Fly-tipping costs money to deal with Magistrates’ Court. The and it is also dangerous to people and wildlife. offence can attract an The government is tackling this problem and there unlimited fine and up to are heavy fines and even imprisonment for the five years imprisonment if convicted in a Crown Court. offenders. Quite right, but it is not only the tipper What can we do as responsible people? We can report who is responsible. You have an old settee and some fly-tipping to the local authority and if there is a serious bags of rubbish and need someone to dump it. A problem, we can ask our local and parish councillors man with a van offers to do it for £20 in cash. A what is being done about it. week later you get an email from the council to say When you go for a walk, you might sometimes take that you are going to be investigated for fly-tipping as a rubbish bag with you, to collect stray litter. Just the man simply dumped your stuff on a roadside, and make sure you protect yourself with rubber gloves, and someone recognised the sofa and there were letters to take care on the roads. You could even suggest that your home address in the bags. your church should organise a litter pick one Saturday!
Noah and the Ark – 2020 version Anon
In the year 2020 Noah was living in England when the sprinkler system. My neighbours claim that I should Lord came unto him and said, “Once again, the earth have obtained planning permission for building the Ark has become too wicked to continue. Build another Ark in my garden because it is a development of the site and save two of every living thing. You have six months even though in my opinion it is a temporary structure, before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 but the roof is too high. nights”. “The Local Area Access Group complained that my Six months later the Lord looked down and saw ramp was going to be too steep and the inside of the Noah weeping in his garden, but no Ark. “Noah”, He Ark wasn’t fully accessible. Getting the wood has been roared, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?” another problem. All the decent trees have Tree “Forgive me Lord”, begged Noah “but things have Preservation Orders on them and we live in a Site of been difficult. I needed Building Regulations approval Special Scientific Interest set up in order to preserve the because the Ark was over 30 square metres. I’ve been Spotted Owl. I tried to convince them that I needed the arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a wood to save the owls – but no go!
11 12 St Mary the Virgin Church Correspondent Robert Potter
Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news
Promises operation from 4 to 6 weeks. Each family received a I saw recently an advertisement for paint which bag of tinned goods, one of fruit and vegetables along promised it was of good quality, something I would with fresh meat, cheese and eggs. have expected anyway but it made me think about the For the first time also we were able to offer a word ’promise’. It seems to have various meanings and delivery service to those families who were unwell or assumptions ranging from ‘vow’ to more idle uses. The who had problems with transport. This was only made most serious promises for Christians were made on possible by the help we received from the Family our behalf by our godparents or sponsors, namely to Church who each week took on the job of supplying give up what is wrong, to do what is right and to volunteers to go near and far so that all our families believe about God what is true. These promises were would have access to this support. accepted by us at our confirmation. Other serious This just goes to show what a team effort the Lunch promises we make include wedding vows and those Club is. To all our generous donors thank you, to the made by Licenced Lay Ministers. churches which have supported us with money and In the secular world, on a personal note, I made more importantly their prayers. The last words must promises when I was enrolled as a Guide, promises go to our families. You will not meet them but I can which I have tried to keep for the rest of my life. assure you that they were so grateful for this help. Other organisations ask members to make promises “A massive thank you to all who prepared the food too. For some people they are just words said, while parcels. I felt a little embarrassed that I need this help for others they are a commitment for life. right now. From the moment I came in everyone was so Promise has other meanings beside that of vow and kind and lovely and I knew no-one was there to judge us. sincerity. Children may have words such as ‘shows It is really hard to sum up in words what a difference promise’ on a report, suggesting that they have you make to families”. abilities that should, in the future, reach a potential in “The food parcels have made a real difference to my the education system or in later life. Alas, however, children and me, allowing me to make some tasty the word is bandied about very lightly today; people nutritious meals – the cottage pie has been a winner”. say they promise to write, phone or e-mail or do Thank you. Kath Joslin something but they don’t, which may cause disappointment to the intended recipient. ‘Promise’ A forgotten world wasn’t really meant by the person who said it. Maybe we should be careful when we say ‘I promise’ that we In my order of service booklet at the 9.45am service at mean what we say. St Mary’s this morning (6th September) there was The greatest promise, however, is that made by Pews News for 23rd February, the Sunday next before God, a promise that he is with us now and we shall Lent. It’s a reminder of an almost forgotten world – be with him for ever. Katharine Marr reminiscent of looking at old documents when compiling the church history. It listed a multitude of services in all the churches and then the activities for Dorchester family support/holiday each church and for the benefice. Did we really do all those things and hold all those services? As we still get lunch club used to the current restrictions perhaps remembering In this Covid-19 year, 188 families registered with us for what we did in the past may encourage us to look a food pack, equating to over 300 children. This year we forward to a brighter and more active future. It’s were very grateful to Thomas Hardye school for the use something to hope and pray for. Robert Potter of their premises free of charge together with several members of the kitchen staff who voluntarily came in Sanctuary lamp candles each week to help with packing. All the schools in the town were represented along with Frome Valley, Given this month on the 4th by Janet Comley in memory of her daughter Margaret Janet Comley-Nichols whose birthday was on Charminster, Puddletown and, for the first time, the 1st and by Jan Milree in thanks for her grand-daughter Amelia Studio School at Kingston Maurward College campus. whose birthday was on 2nd. Also on the 18th by Di House in Due to many generous donations from individuals memory of her niece whose year’s mind is on 20th and in and organisations we were able to extend our memory of her parents whose year’s mind is 25th.
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St James the Least of All The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…Beware what lurks in the church vestry...
The Rectory St. James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren lunch, just for fun. I am already rehearsing my own I am unsurprised that the cleaning lady took exception look of pained forgiveness for my leaving photo that to you dismantling your motorbike in the church vestry. will stare down on my own successor and perpetually Clergy vestries are the final repositories of rotting hymn irritate him books, ancient cassocks with a certain aroma, buckets It also seems to be a tradition that retiring clergy with holes in, which are kept “just in case” and dead donate their robes for their successors, probably because animals in various states of decomposition; but they are it spares them a walk to the dustbin. So, a five-foot, 18 no place for bike chains, disc brakes and inner tubes. stone incumbent will leave a cassock for his six-foot, ten I will concede that vestries seem to attract all those stone successor. There will also be a spare 1960s nylon objects no one quite knows what to do with, but which surplice hanging on the back of the vestry door, to parishioners can’t bear to throw away. Flower arrangers remind you that should you ever forget your own, then creep into my vestry, looking for space for boxes of this is the horror you will be obliged to wear twine. Decorators arrive with cribs and Easter gardens throughout Evensong. they are hoping to store. Even the choirmaster Notices on the walls will tell you that marriage fees in occasionally sidles in, trying to slip some anthems past the 1920s were seven shillings and sixpence, that me. I repel them all with vigour and a firm broom. Communion wine can be obtained from a shop that One thing I can’t keep out of the vestry are the closed down a generation ago and there will be a copy portraits of all my predecessors, who stare down at me of the prayer of thanksgiving to be used on the Relief of reproachfully. The most recent, in colour, stare smugly, Mafeking. knowing that I am still being compared to them and My only advice is to remove your bike before it gets falling short. Earlier incumbents, in black and white, bundled up with the Scouts’ tents – and lost forever in look mildly reproachful, reminding me that they all the churchwarden’s shed. held doctorates from Oxford. The hand-drawn portraits from pre-1870 are the worst – they all look as if they Your loving uncle, drank vinegar for breakfast and argued Pelagianism over Eustace
14 The Frailty of Life Grandads Bible Canon Paul Hardingham considers some comforting Dear Eleanor, Lydia, Amelia, Richard, Sophie Millie and Ava, words from Isaiah. I’m sending you a collection of ‘words of wisdom’ that I have collected during my lifetime with hope that they may help you in future times. You may appreciate them According to one survey, during the lockdown, a more as you become older, but they have helped me quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to deal with the many things life throws at you. Remember a religious service and one in 20 have started praying. that a great part of success in life is how you deal with While the majority of people who contract Covid-19 adversity. survive, it reminds us that we are much more frail and • Hardship brings about determination which forms weak than we like to think. As the prophet Isaiah says: character. ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like • Success is largely determined by understanding the the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, actions or decisions we make will determine our because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the future. people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but • We cannot run from what we are, our destiny chases the word of our God endures for ever.’ (Isaiah 40:6-8). us. Isaiah’s words really resonate at this time. In more • Take pleasure in simple things. normal times we can avoid facing up to our vulnerability, but this pandemic has forced us to • Live your own life not someone else’s. recognise our weakness and fragility. • Do not worry about what has not happened, it’s a However, this shouldn’t lead us to despair or fear; wasteful pastime. rather it is an opportunity to worship and praise for His • It’s more difficult to contend with yourself than with constancy and care. In Peter’s first letter he quotes this the world. passage from Isaiah and says, ‘For you have been born • Never stay on the barren heights of cleverness but again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the sometimes descend to the green valleys of silliness. living and enduring word of God’ (1 Peter 1:23). Peter • Even the worst and most intractable mistake beats the contrasts our mortality with the eternal Word of God, hell out of not trying. which bring us new birth and life through the power of • We must learn our own lessons and make our own the Spirit. Jesus died for our sins and rose again to mistakes but having written this I do believe that wise make us right with God, so that through faith in Him men learn from the mistakes of others. we can know eternal life. We don’t need to be afraid of • Not sleeping is better than not waking (particularly our frailty, for God is a dependable foundation on relevant in grandad’s case!) which to build our lives and face eternity. • In the constant race of life don’t forget to unwind. ‘We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree. And wither • Once in a while people may even take your breath and perish, but nought changeth Thee.’ (Immortal, away. invisible, Walter C Smith). • The only true measure of the life we live is the love we give. • Try to develop an attitude of gratitude, be thankful for all that you have and all that you haven’t. • Support those who are less fortunate when you can. • Make up your mind to do what you love and love what you do. • Let go of things that are holding you back, such as past mistakes, grudges or similar negative feelings towards others. • There is no failure, only growth through stumbling. • Increase your flexibility. The person with the greatest flexibility will ultimately control most outcomes. • Trust in the process of life. Believe that there is a higher It was a great joy to be able to add to the list of purpose to everything. Licenced Lay Ministers on page three the name of • A person’s fate is their own temper! Caroline McMeiken was admitted as an LLM during • Time does not change things, doing things changes Evensong in Salisbury Cathedral on September 27th things. Doing nothing changes nothing. We hope Caroline will enjoy her Ministry with us in • Lastly for your generation. Never go to war unless your the Dorchester Benefice as much we have already mobile phone is threatened! enjoyed having Caroline with us in St Mary’s over the Lots of love Grandad x last months, always a smile and a cheerful word from the lovely lady. Welcome.
15 Wordsearch All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots in pre-Christian times. In those long-ago days, on the last night of October, the Druid priests celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or ‘Summer’s End’. They lit great bonfires and performed magic rites to ward off the dark supernatural powers of oncoming winter. Today, Christians turn to prayer instead of charms to overcome the powers of darkness, and the deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, should not be forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to Christ when we remember and give thanks for our loved ones and for others who have gone before us through the gates of death.
All Hallows Halloween Druid Priests
Festival Samhain Bonfires Magic Dark
Supernatural Powers Winter Christians Prayer
Charms Deeper Tr ue Eve Closer
Christ Thanks Loved Death Gone
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16 St George’s Church – interesting snippits about Fordington and its church Compiled by Margaret Morrissey
Fordington is now part of Dorchester but was originally During the reign of Edward III Fordington Manor a separate village. It took its name from a ford across belonged to the Queen-Dowager Isabella, then passed to the River Frome and grew up around the church of the Black Prince as Duke of Cornwall and is still owned St. George, which has been an important site since today by the Duchy of Cornwall. ancient times. The church has been enhanced over the years and It was possibly the site of a Roman temple as Roman includes a 15th century font, a 16th century pulpit and foundations and a cemetery have been discovered there. a stained glass window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, with The Romana stone, commemorating Carinus from his angels designed by William Morris. widow Romana, can be seen inside the church. Fordington had two serious outbreaks of Cholera in St. George’s was the royal church of the Kings of 1849 and 1854. Rev Henry Moule, Vicar of St George's Wessex, built in 857AD. Alfred the Great is said to church invented the Dry Earth closet to improve have spent every Christmas at a royal manor at sanitation. Thomas Hardy was a frequent visitor Fordington and mentioned Saint George of to the vicarage and became friends with the England, referring to the church, in his Moule family. William Barnes gave a reading will. of his poems at the vicarage. A stone over the south door records Fordington Green is the only true the miraculous appearance of ‘village green’ in Dorchester. The St George to lead crusaders Fair on the Green takes place into battle. every St. Georges Day, In Norman times the although the traditional manor was given by lamb roast has been William the Conqueror replaced by a hog to St.Osmund, who roast. added the porch to the church, which contains a fine This article also tympanum depicting the Battle answers the questions posed of Antioch. by the editor last month.
More thoughts on William Barnes walks his Parish At times he disturbed the grass on the tumuli William Barnes as he collected his parishioners’ tithes and vowels. He knew that under his feet was a strange music of bone David Bowen which was echoed under every thatch in his parish. And their blood which cried to him Last month David Downton gave us some more insistently than Abel’s thoughts on ‘An Extraordinary Parson – was warmed still at each hearth as he looked by, although theirs left no more than a stain William Barnes’, who walked his parish of on the soft chalk, Winterbourne Came to serve its parishioners if at all. as pastor. As a coda, here is a poem about his From Maumbury Ring to Herringston Barrow doing just that. Andrew Hawthorne, who the mute ancestors lay tracing destinies wrote it, will be remembered by many as in the palm of their bony hands as he walked by. Team Vicar at St. Mary’s. His slim volume They listened to their children verse was published in 1998 under the title as he recited their stories into a poem, suggested improvements, ‘Strange Music of Bone’ by kabasis.co.uk It is acquiesced, worth searching out. offered him a strange harvest of songs.
17 Dorset Dream Becomes Reality for UK’S Pioneering Conservation Charity Mervyn Edgecombe
The long cherished Dorset Dream of pioneering Spencer White, an agricultural consultant and conservation farmer Robin Page this week becomes specialist marketeer who is also a Trustee of the CRT. reality as the Countryside Restoration Trust completes ‘Bere Marsh has everything we want and need to the most significant purchase in its 30 year history of make it the exemplar farm of our estate. The setting is wildlife friendly farming. magnificent, the farmstead and land perfect but above Bere Marsh Farm on the banks of the idyllic River all else it has a trailway, footpaths, car parks and a Stour at Shillingstone, near Blandford Forum, Dorset, bridleway all running through it – in short, lots and is set to become the Trust’s national showcase for its lots of visitors walking by. You could not ask for more holistic fusion of sustainable, traditional farming in terms of footfall and site awareness.’ methods, habitat restoration and a dedicated Robin Page agrees. ‘Our long term intention is to education programme focused around the importance turn the farm into an education and visitor centre – of food provenance. to re-attach visitors, as well as ourselves, to the land, Furthermore, its idyllic 92 acres of wetland, to our native wildlife and where our food comes from. grassland and woodland, rich in butterflies, birds, This will be where we demonstrate everything that the wildflowers and rare mammals makes it the perfect Trust stands for.’ setting to commemorate the Trust’s co-founder and To this end the intention is to introduce a small Dorset conservation icon, artist Gordon Beningfield. herd of milking cows, free range hens, a small flock of ‘It is the perfect place for us where we can bring sheep, an orchard and a nursery. It is even hoped to together everything we believe in whilst remembering produce bread at the farm from wheat grown in the Gordon and his devotion to the countryside. It fields of other CRT farms as well as beer and cider represents our vision and why he and I decided to from CRT barley and apples. found the Trust all those years ago. Existing barns and outbuildings will be specially We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to shape it into converted to create the education centre alongside a the showcase for our work and our vision but it’s a dedicated art gallery devoted to the wildlife artwork of challenge we have long wanted,’ said Robin Page, Gordon Beningfield. Executive Chairman of the Countryside Restoration ‘It is a highly ambitious plan but it will be where Trust. the Countryside Restoration Trust puts itself on the The cornerstone of the CRT’s philosophy is that map and finally makes our Dorset Dream come true,’ both traditional and innovative farming methods can says Robin Page. be made to work profitably and sustainably together in conjunction with the protection and restoration of wildlife habitats and precious eco-systems. In all, it has 15 properties throughout the UK ranging from dairy and arable farms to sheep, rare breeds and woodland centres. Running in harmony with these sites is the curriculum based MOSAIC education programme for children at a network of nearby primary schools highlighting where food comes from, the value of its sustainable production alongside wild flora and fauna and how they can play their part in connecting with nature and the wild world. All these key elements of the CRT’s programme will be brought together at Bere Marsh Farm under the supervision and direction of Estate Manager, Elaine
18 Places of Pilgrimage (Dorset) St Basil’s Toller Fratrum Jane Pridmore
As a result of our medical needs since March what better homage than to visit St Basil’s, for it is he who is patron saint of the Hospitals. St Basil was born AD329 as one of ten children. He became bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia (in modern day Turkey). He is renowned for being a philosopher, philologist, orator, jurist, naturalist and profound source of knowledge in astronomy, maths and medicine. He wrote many books including ‘On the Six Days of Creation’ and his sermons dealt with ethical and social problems. Most notably he is renowned for victory of the Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism. He died it had earthworks and a bowl barrow. Around 1300AD on 1st January 379 aged 49. Incidentally only one other it was in possession of the Knights Hospitallers of church in England is dedicated to St Basil. St John of Jerusalem (They wore black robes with an 8 pointed white cross). The present church was rebuilt on the original foundation of the presbytery. The font is unique in a simple tub shape carved with figures in high relief and possibly Saxon with a man-faced lion of Judah succouring the human race. One figure shows St Michael carrying a cross and leading souls from Hell. Another shows grotesque monsters attacking a man who stands beside a Golden Calf. The 1130 stone behind the altar is of Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Christ (with possible links to Location Chichester Cathedral). The The venue can be reached by car with the chancel rail is dated around option of a short walk along the road to the 1730. church. Leave Dorchester along the main The farm next door was built road towards Yeovil and just after Grimstone take the on the site of the monastery and the barn by the church A356 through Maiden Newton. About three quarters of was probably the original refectory (which is now in a mile after Maiden Newton take the lane on the left to disrepair). The building oozes history and is a calm and Toller Fratrum. Follow the lane until you go under a quiet place for quiet prayer and reflection. Plenty of bridge then parking is on the left and you can continue information can be found inside. walking up the road, or follow the lane until you come to a cluster of houses. Take the first turning on the Other places to visit right past the post box towards the farm house (DT2 Nearby is the Jubilee trail but it is very overgrown. 0EW, N50.773737 W2.599845 or SY578973) Instead drive back into Maiden Newton where the village newsagent has a little café with full English What to look for breakfast for under £4. (Check opening times by The church is signposted near the old farm building. It phoning 01300 320260). The pub also does breakfasts. is open 10am until 4pm. Walking up the path the door Off the main road the Church of Maiden Newton may handle needs a firm ninety degree turn and push to let well be open and provides a huge contrast in modern you in (but it is open!) The name Toll means ‘spring’ in furnishings to that you have just left in Toller. The Roman or Toller meaning ‘river with deep gravel pools’ village is worth an autumnal stroll with plenty of from the Saxon and Fratrum meaning ‘of the brothers’. character and history and behind the church is a The church was originally part of Forde Abbey and footpath to Chilfrome via the easily accessible Frome nobody knows exactly how old it was but it is Trail. It is about a mile each way and flat, though wet in mentioned in King Edward’s census. In the Bronze Age winter months.
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20 St Peter’s Church High West Street, Dorchester
Church Correspondent: Jill Bryant
Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news
Week day Services, Theology Group and Time to We have so much to look forward to, the arrival of Mourn are currently suspended. Revd Keith Magee and the hope that we will all be St Peter’s will continue to be open for personal prayer together again one day singing lustily led by our great from 10am – 4pm each day. St Peter’s will continue to choir. I hope we will emerge from this peculiar situation have two services of Holy Communion on Sunday living life to the full every day and valuing each other and mornings at 9am and 10.30am the simple pleasures in life. Meanwhile we can rejoice in The Benefice Prayer group will meet in the Hardye being part of the St Peter’s community and give thanks to Chapel at St. Peter’s Church on Fridays at 10.30am for God for his goodness. half an hour, with appropriate spacing and hand sanitising. Please call Penny Blaby 01305 753566, if you Lockdown Memories have specific prayer needs, as there is not a book in church at the moment. We are grateful to you all for your submissions to our Lockdown Memories Anthology. It is almost ready to go to the printers and should be on sale in October. We will New Beginnings announce details in Pews News. It is to be titled “When The new Rector, Revd. Keith Magee, who will have we had time to stand and stare. Memories of Lockdown responsibility for St Peter’s as well as the duties of 2020”. Christine and I are excited by it and we hope you Team Rector will be licensed in St Peter’s Church on will like it. 22nd November. It is likely that, due to Covid-19 restrictions, numbers attending his licensing will be Ride & Stride restricted and we will not be able to celebrate his arrival in the usual way; but I know we will all offer him and his Kate Forrester represented St Peter’s Church cycling her wife Ruth a warm welcome We look forward to getting to way round visiting as many churches as she could know them and supporting him in his ministry with us. manage. Results of how much she raised will be in next It has been wonderful to be back in church worshipping month’s magazine. The weather smiled on her and the together. Thank you to Revd Canon John Wood and photo shows her and Clive outside the church with other retired clergy for enabling this. Thank you also to David Elliot who was sitting in the autumn sunshine Val Potter, Judy Cowling and all other helpers for the hard welcoming visitors and noting their attendance. work they have undertaken to keep us correctly in line with Covid 19 guidelines. St Peter’s feels like a very safe place to be. There really is nothing like praying and praising together and Philip Lange’s organ playing before and after the service adds so much to the atmosphere. Before the service he usually plays hymns and I’m sure I cannot be the only one quietly mouthing the words beneath my mask! Yes, we miss singing hymns but the beauty and meaning of the liturgy shines more brightly. Last Sunday we had our first Holy Communion services, once again strict Covid19 guidelines were observed. John Wood coped admirably operating the blunt silver tongs to serve wafers from the ciborium.
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22 Past Harvests Robert Potter
For last month’s magazine I wrote a short piece about acknowledging the different kinds of harvest we should give thanks for. Watching combine harvesters and Sheaves before forming them into stooks. balers working in the fields now made me think of the variety of natural harvests I’ve been involved in. be, literally, man-handled. No threshing machine I suppose the first that I remember ( I was only a lad) though. I did progress in a later season to driving the was watching a binder working round a field and after a tractor and trailer which ran alongside the more time, as the uncut area got smaller, the rabbits would modern combine to collect the grain from a bulk tank. dash out, often to be caught in netting which had been Quite often the grain went to a drier to reduce the put up for that purpose. Everyone enjoyed rabbit pie moisture content to a level that allowed bulk storage and stew for a few days, supplementing war time and I remember being on night duty on more than one rations. occasion. The sight of approaching dawn was always Then many, many years ago I worked on a large East welcome! Seeing up-to-date large scale grain harvesting Anglian farm which, when I started, was traditional in and storage on Adam’s farm makes my early experiences that wheat and barley were still cut with a binder, seem primitive – but not all farms can justify the latest necessitating men walking behind, picking up the technology and machinery even today. sheaves and forming them into fairly robust stooks. Peas were harvested on that north Essex farm earlier Walking round the edge of a 40 acre field on a hot than the barley and wheat and had to be off the farm summer day makes you appreciate distance! Of course, and into the frozen food factory in 2½ hours so it was a as you move in, the circumference gets smaller but by hectic couple of weeks and fine weather was vital. then you’re getting tired. They were long days – but I The grass harvest as hay and silage is another story was young and fit then! The sheaves were eventually altogether! carted to stacks which were thatched to protect them When we lived on Sedgemoor Joyce and I spent until the thresher came. The thresher was driven by several days in the school holiday with the potato belts from a single cylinder Field Marshall tractor which harvesting gangs, hard work on a small scale when the had a characteristic slow beat. The grain was bagged potatoes are spun out of the ridges and then have to be into hessian sacks of a fixed size (so many bushels) so picked up by hand. Missing them was frowned on as their weight varied according to the grain; wheat they remained there to sprout again next year in a weighed 2¼ hundredweight I seem to remember, barley different crop. Nearby was a large fruit farm and Joyce less (2 cwt?) and oats lighter again. The sacks slid down was involved in blackcurrant picking on many days in a shoot and on to a waiting back to be carried to a several years. I’ve only experienced sugar beet harvesting trailer which took them to a barn for storage. Looking on a small scale and that again is hard, back-breaking back at the whole process I think modern Health and work. Like most crops, potato and sugar beet harvesting Safety inspectors would have terminated the whole are now large scale, mechanised and less hard on the operation. That was the way of things and you just got back and legs. Those were the days! Fit, strong and on with it. eager! A year later the farm had changed hands and we had As I said last month, don’t overlook the many non- a combine harvester in place of the binder – a basic agricultural harvests, the fruits of which we enjoy and combine with a bagger for the grain which still had to often take for granted.
October's Party by George Cooper October gave a party; The Chestnuts came in yellow, Then, in the rustic hollow, The leaves by hundreds came The Oaks in crimson dressed; At hide-and-seek they played, The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples, The lovely Misses Maple The party closed at sundown, And leaves of every name. In scarlet looked their best; And everybody stayed. The Sunshine spread a carpet, All balanced to their partners, Professor Wind played louder; And everything was grand, And gaily fluttered by; They flew along the ground; Miss Weather led the dancing, The sight was like a rainbow And then the party ended Professor Wind the band. New fallen from the sky. In jolly "hands around."
23 Frances Bellerby Richard Betts
Frances Parker was The Sea born in 1899, the daughter of an Anglo- This much I entreat you to answer, Catholic priest. She you who never answer. had a strong social Isn’t there a longer journey still ahead, conscience and socialist leanings, shared by John For surely the heart of the matter was never here. Rotherford Bellerby whom she married in 1929. Their Listen, O listen! relationship was a strained one and they eventually Or do you not even listen? separated in 1942. Frances had a fall in 1930 and this, Over the river of the years that flows between combined with other medical issues, meant she was a us, I am crying hotly that the heart stays hidden semi-invalid for much of her life. After the marriage for our discovery, in a country we’ve never yet seen. failed, she moved to Cornwall and then later to Devon. Not as well-known as she should be, Frances Bellerby was Only grant me clear assurance, an accomplished poet, short story writer and novelist. I You who now must have attained assurance. love the poems, which reflect themes of loss, hope, the Assure me that you merely mark time in eternity, thin threshold between the living and the dead, and waiting for me, and that soon we shall start out together more besides. This one is called The Sea. and, as we always did, make for the sea.
New ‘rule of 6’ restrictions to help limit the spread of coronavirus have been announced.
The ‘rule of 6’ as groups in other church settings, home groups, PCCs or APCMs. The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Aside from ensuring the rule of 6 inside church Church of England’s recovery group, said: buildings, please continue with current guidance. We “I welcome confirmation from the Prime Minister will share new guidance in a Covid-19 update as soon as that places of worship can still hold more than 6 people it’s available. in total, despite the new restrictions on gatherings, and Correct at the time of going to press Tuesday 22nd the reassurance that public worship can continue. September. “We will continue to work with the Government on specific areas relating to our churches and church-based activities.” What do the latest Covid-19 restrictions mean for parishes and benefices? From Monday 14th September: Places of worship are Covid-secure venues so they are exempt from the 6 people limit for services of public worship and private prayer However groups inside church should not be more than 6, groups should not combine and there must be social distancing between groups. Covid-secure weddings, funerals and other stand alone services can go ahead up to a limit of 30 people. As ever, there is a lot of detail still to emerge. National Church colleagues are working hard with government departments and Public Health England to ascertain the detailed information parishes need, such
24 St Andrew’s Church West Stafford
Church Correspondent: Tim Dennis
Details of Services and church opening times are on page 2 – this information is updated each Friday on http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/pews-news
Services curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead.” St Andrew’s is open for private prayer on Wednesdays I don’t think we should take Dionysius’s very 10am to 4pm and for Sunday services which are at upbeat account to mean that they did not have any present Morning Prayer. All is going well and we are mental anguish. Their own empathy with the suffering very grateful to the retired Clergy and LLMs who have would entail that, as it does for nurses and doctors in been taking our services. ICUs today. Through all that, they had the assurance of being in God’s hands. A New Church Guide We also know that the New Testament never In preparation for when we are open all day, we now promises us physical safety in all circumstances. Rather have a new 8 page A5 booklet available to visitors it urges us to be prepared for the suffering that may courtesy of Janet Ranger-Dennis and June Jenkins. come our way, not least because we are Christian This takes a look round some of the interesting believers. aspects of the church. I think it is absolutely right that we should pray for God’s protection from disease and other physical dangers and also that we should pray for God’s A Pandemic Reflection protection for others. God wants us to share all such Here is a short much abridged extract from an article concerns with him, trusting them to him. Generally, written by a friend who worshipped at my former all our prayers of this kind carry the implicit thought: church many years ago, Professor Richard Bauckham, “if it is your will”. who writes (actually based on Psalm 121). We can ask God to keep us safe from dangers and “Does this psalm in the context of the pandemic, give thanks to him when he does. After all, we are assure us that, trusting in God, we will not catch the kept safe from potential threats to our life and health virus or die from it? I think we would probably all every hour of every day; but we know that we cannot agree that Christian believers do not have some kind presume on God’s protection in this sense, since it of immunity that others lack. An example from may not always be God’s will for us. We can, however, church history that has been quite widely shared in also apply the psalm to the promise of spiritual safety recent weeks is the behaviour of Christians during a that God makes unconditionally to all who trust in devastating plague in the Roman empire in the him. Whatever we may have to go through (even the mid-third century. This is an eyewitness account by lonely death of many who die in an ICU) God is with Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria: “Most of our us in it and will in the end bring blessing for us and Christian brothers and sisters showed unbounded love others out of it.” and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on Thanks to Linda Purr who raised £100 for Ride and themselves the sickness of their neighbours and Stride at a time when communication with
cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and congregants and villagers was not straightforward. 12, Trace. 13, Metalwork. 14, Body. 15, Eber. 18, Alban. 20, Uncle. 21, Dream. 22, Stab. 23, Gnat. 23, Stab. 22, Dream. 21, Uncle. 20, Alban. 18, Eber. 15, Body. 14, Metalwork. 13, Trace. 12,
October Crossword Ephod. 11, Users. 10, to. All 6, Prey. 5, Again. 4, Nehum. 3, Afternoon. 2, Dawn. 1, DOWN:
Answers Market. 27, Enable. 26, John. 25, Obstacle. 24, Suddenly. 19, Ran. 17, ACROSS: 1, Deacon. 4, Appear. 7, Wits. 8, Heavenly. 9, Argument. 13, Mob. 16, Broken-hearted. 16, Mob. 13, Argument. 9, Heavenly. 8, Wits. 7, Appear. 4, Deacon. 1, ACROSS:
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26 He gave us eyes to see them: ‘St Francis of Assisi preaching to the fish’ The Revd Michael Burgess
Animals and birds as seen in art and scripture.‘St Francis of God’s creation and they must return that love. It is Assisi preaching to the fish’ by Luc-Olivier Merson. the mood of the Benedicite where all things that move in the earth, the skies and the seas are exhorted On 4th October we give thanks for one of the most to praise the Lord and magnify him forever. St Francis loved saints in the church – Francis of Assisi. He died captures that mood in his own Canticle of the Sun. in 1226 but his example and witness have lived on to In the weeks and months of lockdown many of us inspire Christians through the centuries. have had the time to look afresh at our relationship His was a life focused on the crib and the cross, with the world of nature as we have journeyed through Lady Poverty and the stigmata, suffering and the seasons of spring and summer. We have learnt to transfiguration; but also, it was a life marked by a wonder at the richness and variety of creation. We need deep love of creation. St Francis had a special to take that lesson into the ‘new normal' as restrictions nearness to all creatures great and small. As we read are gradually relaxed. The clock and the complexity of the stories of Thomas of Celano, we learn how he life may easily take over again, but St Francis is inviting tamed a wolf in Gubbio, how swallows would chirp us to journey with him in simplicity and joy as we praise and fly around his head, how lambs would come close God with all His creatures: and gaze with delight, how his faithful donkey wept as ‘Let all things their Creator bless the saint approached death and, in this month’s and worship Him in humbleness.’ painting, how fish would come to the shore to hear him preach. Thomas relates how Francis returned some fish that had been caught to the water, telling them not to be caught again. They lingered near the boat, listening to the saint until he gave them permission to leave. The sermon to the fish is portrayed in this work by Luc-Olivier Merson, a French artist who lived from 1846 to 1920. He is better known for his work with designs for banknotes, postage stamps and the basilica of Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. Here in this canvas we see St Francis with followers young and old, a faithful dog and the fish at the water’s edge. What was the saint telling them? I think that they were loved and valued as part of the rich tapestry of
All in the month of October
500 years ago, on 21st Oct 1520 Portuguese 80 years ago, on 9th Oct 1940 during the She told the Conservative Party explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s Spanish Blitz, a German bomb destroyed the high conference in Brighton: “The lady’s not for expedition to the East Indies discovered the altar of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Later turning!” Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of that same month on 31st Oct, the Battle of 30 years ago, on 8th Oct 1990 East and Chile. Britain ended. West Germany reunited as the Federal 175 years ago, on 12th Oct 1845 70 years ago, on 7th Oct 1950 Mother Teresa Republic of Germany. Elizabeth Fry, died. This prison reformer and founded what would become the 20 years ago, on 17th Oct 2000 the philanthropist was depicted on the British Missionaries of Charity, in Kolkata, India. Hatfield rail crash took place. Four people £5 note between 2001 and 2016. 40 years ago, on 3rd Oct 1980 the Housing were killed when a high-speed passenger 100 years ago, on 7th Oct 1920 Oxford Act came into effect in Britain, giving more train derailed because of a cracked rail. University allowed women to become full than five million council tenants the right to 15 years ago, from 18th to 26th Oct members and study for full degrees for the buy their homes. Hurricane Wilma, the most intense Atlantic first time and the first 100 women were Also 40 years ago, on 10th Oct 1980 hurricane ever recorded, caused massive admitted. Margaret Thatcher gave a memorable and damage worth $29billion across the 90 years ago, on 22nd Oct 1930 the BBC defiant speech defending her policies to Caribbean, Central America and the Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert. combat inflation and economic recession. eastern USA. 63 people were killed.
27 Rosemary Rogers Catering
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28 TIME FOR Eleven Reasons why A SMILE we Love Children
1) NUDITY 7) ELDERLY I was driving with my three young children one warm While working for an organisation that delivers lunches summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead to elderly people, I used to take my 4 year-old daughter of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued reeling from the shock I heard my 5-year-old shout from by the various appliances of old age, particularly the the back seat, “Mum, that lady isn’t wearing a seat belt!” canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I 2) OPINIONS braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, On the first day of school a boy handed his teacher a she merely turned and whispered, “The tooth fairy will note from his mother. The note read, “The opinions never believe this!” expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents”. 8) DRESS-UP A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. 3) KETCHUP When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the “Daddy, you shouldn’t wear that suit.” “And why not, jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked darling?” “You know that it always gives you a headache her 4 year old daughter to answer the phone. “Mummy the next morning.” can’t come to the phone to talk to you right now. She’s hitting the bottle”. 9) DEATH While walking along the path in front of his church, 4) MORE NUDITY our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and the women’s changing room. When he was spotted the his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and proper burial should be performed, they had secured a running for cover. The little boy watched in amasement small box and cottonwool, then dug a hole and made and then asked, “What’s the matter, haven’t you ever ready for the disposal of the deceased. seen a little boy before?” The minister’s son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version 5) POLICE No1 of what he thought his father always said: “Glory be While taking a routine vandalism report at an unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl hole he goooes.” (I want this line used at my funeral!) about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, “Are you a policeman?” “Yes,” I 10) SCHOOL answered and continued writing the report. “My A little girl had just finished her first week of school. mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the “I’m just wasting my time,” she said to her mother. “I police. Is that right?” “Yes, that’s right,” I told her. can’t read, I can’t write, and they won’t let me talk!” “Well, then,” she said as she extended her foot toward me, “would you please tie my shoe?” 11) BIBLE A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was 6) POLICE No 2 fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. It was the end of the day when I parked my police van Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf police dog, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy that had been pressed in between the pages. “Mum, staring in at me. “Is that a dog you got back there?” he look what I found,” the boy called out. “What have you asked. “Yes it is”, I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at got there, dear?” me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he said, “What’d he do?” answered, “I think it’s Adam’s underwear!” NOW IF THIS DIDN’T BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY, GO BACK TO BED AND FORGET IT
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30 Dorchester Churches Together Compiled by Val Potter 264416
Chaplaincy Celebration people could hear what is happening in the various churches, ecumenical initiatives, and also in our Four of the chaplains who have served since the launch associate groups. It was agreed that this will be of the Town Chaplaincy in 2016 came together to scheduled for next year. celebrate four years of the service. Churches reported on how they are offering worship: Town Chaplaincy was an initiative of the United streamed services, and increasing numbers of physical Church when they wished to offer chaplaincy to their gatherings, including the Community Church holding a neighbours in the new council offices. That did not service outdoors. The Family Church is celebrating 25 happen but the wider vision for serving the town shops years and is planning a ‘drive-through’ gathering at a and businesses was taken up and has developed into the nearby farm. We hope to report on that next month. service it is today, with a team of 16 chaplains, visiting The Climate and Pension Funds The Dorchester Churches Ecology Group became aware that the Dorset Council would be discussing the investment strategy of its Pension Fund for the next 3 years. They wrote an open letter to them urging them to divest from investment in fossil fuels. Their arguments were clustered around 3 areas: Global Justice: (The consequences of climate change are not felt equally); Generational Justice: (The harm to humanity wreaked by climate change falls most heavily on the lives of the young and the generations not yet born); sending out a Powerful Message: (Divestment by any public body has an impact). Divestment would be a demonstration of Dorset well over 100 shops and businesses in the town centre. Council’s sincerity in declaring a climate emergency. Chaplains undergo basic training and are then paired The group joined with others in demonstrating with more experienced chaplains as they learn to build outside the council offices and the combined efforts had relationships and develop good listening skills. an effect. The council agreed to compile a list of any After the lockdown the shops re-opened under the remaining investments in the coal extraction industry very different conditions of all the current restrictions with a view to replacing them with more environmentally and it was good to offer our good wishes and support – responsible investments. They also agreed to switch 20% while wearing face coverings and taking care not to use of their equity investments into a new Low Carbon up a valuable customer ‘place’ in the shop! Global Sustainable Fund aiming to cut investors carbon It would be good to extend the service to a slightly footprint by two-thirds, and finally they set a target for wider area and now is a good time to think whether this their other equity portfolios of cutting their carbon is something that you might like to do. Please contact footprint by 7% for at least the next three years. me, Val Potter on 01305 264416 or Chris Warren, the chaplaincy co-ordinator at [email protected] if The Quiet Space you would like to know more Ah the joys of all those Risk Assessments! After the risks were assessed and the measures put in place we Churches Together were able to welcome our first groups back into the The world of Zoom meetings is with us for the Quiet Space building. A new group said that it had foreseeable future and the executive committee of been a good experience and made 2 further bookings. Churches Together in the Dorchester Area linked up Many of our community user groups are still working via the wonders of technology for their recent meeting. out how and when they can meet again and the new Some are clearly more at home with this than others! Government restrictions mean that realistically many We looked back to the distant days of gatherings for the will wait until the New Year before resuming their Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the special time activities. We look forward to welcoming them back in the Quiet Space when we shared different and if you know of any community group who would approaches to prayer. Plans had begun for an event like a pleasant, peaceful, inexpensive (!) place to meet about Making a Difference in our Community – when please get in touch with me (01305 264416).
31 32 Thoughts and Smiles from the Editor
“History books will inevitably tell the story of a virus agreed to disagree. Apparently Rocco said “I believe in that swept the world in 2020. However it is up to us God” and Daisy said “I believe in the Big Bang” leaving what that story will look like. Either… the story of a me feeling all my work had not been in vane with the virus that – showed up the weakness, selfishness and children’s religious story books teaching the lord’s frailty of people or how people responded with their Prayer and taking them, when I could to church. He is best, how the virus was a medical but not a social now 15 – have not asked him for an update to risky. tragedy.” Canon Will Hughes, Vicar of Petersfield. “The With the possible event of soon having new Priests Covid-19 pandemic is traumatic not only because it in Dorchester at all our three churches I offer you this threatens our existence but it also threatens the cultural thought. Parish Priests are the veins which take the people to norms, frameworks and habits that we take for granted the heart of God. leaving us socially isolated and disorientated. It is no longer easy for us to say ‘but life goes on’.” – Canon Smile time Joanna Collicutt. I began my page with these quotes as it sums up my feelings entirely. Like many of us I have A spirit guest? wavered between feeling grateful for what I have and When new neighbours moved in next door they held a cheated for losing a summer out of my life when House Warming party and invited the entire road. My realistically I don’t have many left. husband and I were glad to go along, as our daughters All those who help distributing the magazine have were both five years old. Next morning I was taken been wonderful and after the first month we got a aback when my daughter told me that the mother had good system working, as our churches do in a team taken her into the kitchen and given her ‘a spirit guest’, together. Sadly we are losing a number of advertisers which my daughter had really enjoyed. Now she wanted and whilst it is hard to keep going without them our me to get her ‘a spirit guest’. I was wondering how to prayers and thoughts are with those whose businesses contact the local vicar for exorcism when I realised that are suffering and pray they will recover and join us my daughter meant ‘asparagus’. again very soon. Once my grandchildren were allowed to visit again The language of church-going life took a good turn, and whilst being very relieved they BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending the service. are now back in school I am missing them a lot HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is especially as two have gone to boarding school one H2OLY. being Rocco. HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three Having spent too much time on Facebook it has octaves higher than that of the congregation’s range. allowed me to keep in touch with relations and friends. INCENSE: Holy Smoke! One of the regular posts to come up is “memories”; at the beginning of September up came pictures of Rocco’s JUSTICE: When your children have children of their own. 5th birthday party which I posted for all to see. My ex KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most neighbour saw it as did her daughter who was sitting Catholics and Anglicans can recognise besides gyros next to Rocco, here is a and baklava (it means Lord have mercy). quote from her “Just PEW: A medieval torture device still found in many shown Daisy this and Anglican and Catholic churches. she was amazed how PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the much he’s changed. She beginning of the service, consisting of altar servers, said they used to get on the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats. well when they were at RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the school together which I conclusion of the service – led by parishioners trying thought was quite to beat the crowd to the carpark. sweet”. I’ll never forget RELICS: People who have been going to church for so Mrs Hall recounting long that they actually know when to sit, kneel, and how she overheard the stand. pair of them discussing the origins of the TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important – and universe, age 5. I asked oldest – Top Ten list. her if she knew what USHERS: The only people in the church who don’t they said I believe they know the seating capacity of a pew.
33 Bookworm Jean Lang
readable and this last week he looked at Jane Austen and Gardening – as always she is spot on in her use of every detail to point out a character. In Northanger Abbey the show off General Tilney has a large kitchen garden, Mr Knightly proposes to Emma in the shrubbery (a recent Georgian garden addition), in Mansfield Park the dastardly Henry Crawford approves the new landscaping which Elizabeth Bennett notes with approval is not a feature of Pemberley. Penelope Lively in her slim “Life in the Garden” writes of “The Written Garden”, the opening dream garden at Manderley in “Rebecca”, the Secret Garden of the book of that name contrasted with the garden in Tom’s Midnight Garden, “The Stone Diaries” (by Carol Shields) where Daisy Goodwill takes over the gardening column in the Ottawa Recorder on the death of her husband and records her readers comments “I laughed till I cried about your struggle with your leggy poinsettia”. “Life in the Garden” is about gardening as reality and metaphor. Penelope Lively was brought up on the outskirts of Cairo where her mother planted an English Garden, back in England she and her husband started with window boxes and graduated to large gardens in Somerset, now back in London she manages with a small paved courtyard garden. All have been important to her and she relishes the friendships made through gardens, the fact that gardens are planted for “Getting tough with Phlox”! tomorrow that they are created in expectation, that gardens leave a legacy for those that follow. The Times wrote that the I am not a gardener. I have friends for whom Covid 19 has book is “Scholarly bedtime reading” this does it a disservice. been the excuse they needed to put life on hold and dedicate It is a beautifully written meander through gardens and themselves to their lawns and herbaceous borders. Their gardeners, part memoir, part discursive discussion of what Roaseraie de L’Hay pruned over the pergola, their Ceonothus gardening means intellectually, spiritually, and paget blue tied back against the wall, the Salvia turkestania metaphorically. cut back to flower a second time. The lawn (for theirs is not Kipling in the same poem quoted above wrote: mere grass) mown to within an inch of its life and finished off with nail scissors! I on the other hand want to enjoy a “Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees garden without the work, I like grass and greenery, well That half a proper gardener’s work is done upon his knees, ordered borders (bulbs are good since at least they flower So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands where they are put!). Kipling wrote: – and pray “Our England is a garden, and such garden are not made, For the glory of the garden that it will not pass away” By Singing “Oh, how beautiful and sitting in the shade.” Penelope Lively would say “Hear Hear” and so would I! but that is what I want to achieve and books and articles about gardening get me near. “Life in the Garden” Every week in the Financial Times Robin Lane Fox (Fellow of All Souls and Classicist) writes a gardening column, he has Penelope Lively been doing so since he was in his early 20s. It is erudite and Penguin £9.99
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