Church & Parish News and Events in with No.224 august - September 2019

Weekly Services & Activities Sunday : 8.00am: Communion 10.30am Family Communion Monday : 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice Tuesday : 9.00am Morning Prayer Wednesday : 9.30am Church Mice Thursday : 10.00am Communion

Church Diary Sunday 4th August 7th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Monday 5th August 7.30pm Prayer and Praise at 32 Hood Lane Sunday 11th August 8th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Sunday 18th August 9th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Sunday 25th August 10th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services 4pm Celtic Communion Sunday 1st September 11th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Sunday 8th September 12th Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Saturday 14th September Ride & Stride 10am - 6pm Sunday 15th September Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Sunday 22nd September Sunday of Trinity Usual Services Sunday 29th September Sunday of Trinity Usual Services 4pm Celtic Communion Our Vicar writes Playing as a Team! As a football fan I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s confidence or low self-esteem) we fail to offer them, the Ladies World Cup. The whole competition has been a team or the church is made poorer as a result. And of great footballing success with lots of positive football course, if we think we have all the gifts we’re probably and plenty of goals. But of course our hopes for an deluded and will prevent someone else from coming to England success came to an end at the semi-final stage the fore and offering what is absolutely necessary for as England were beaten by the USA by two goals to the team or the church to function as it should. Neither one. Nevertheless, I suspect the Lioness’ achievements inferiority nor superiority is helpful; just confidence in and the skill with which they played has established a God to use the gifts that he gives to us all. platform for ladies football that will see the ladies game Having said that, there is one huge difference between go from strength to strength. the football team and the church; all the players in a I have to say that the thing that was most inspiring for football team use their gifts to win, while all the people me about England was their spirit and just how much in church should use their gifts as an expression of they worked for each other as a team. No big name their love for God and for God’s people. St. Paul made stars, no prima Donna’s or big time Charlies, just 11 this very point in 1 Corinthians 13: players working hard and supporting each other and “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, giving their best. but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or And that reminds me of how the church (and we as a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy a wider society?) should “play” together with each and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, individual being encouraged to bring his or her gift or and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but skill to use for the benefit of all. St Paul said something have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess like this in his letter to the Corinthians written to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, sometime in the 50’s A.D. Of course, St Paul takes us a but have not love, I gain nothing”. little deeper in our thinking by saying that, all gifts are To return to the Ladies World Cup: an impressive given by God and therefore should be used to the glory tournament, and a great effort by Phil Neville and his of God and for the common good. England Team. They have given us much to admire It’s a simple and obvious thing to say, yet for all kinds and we can learn from their spirit and collaboration of reasons we sometimes like to ignore the advice. In as a team. But of course we must go farther and with some instances some people don’t contribute because St. Paul remember and understand that our gifts are they feel that they have nothing to offer. While other not meant to be used to beat everyone else but to love people try to dominate and show off believing they have God and love God’s people. And I genuinely believe if all the gifts and are indispensable. Both responses are love is our motivation then we will all be “winners” in wrong and need to be questioned. the end. For a start we all have gifts, each and every one of Every Blessing us have gifts to offer and if for any reason (lack of Peter

Team Vicar - Rev. Peter Hart telephone: 01543 579660 Churchwarden - Peter Conway telephone: 01543 490588 Editor & Churchwarden - Danny Briggs telephone: 01543 490114 email: [email protected] Parish Church website: www.achurchnearyou.com/armitage-st-john-the-baptist Village website: www.armitagewithhandsacre.co.uk Rotas for August & September 2019 Old NEW DATE Testament Testament SIDESMAN CLEANING FLOWERS 4th Mr. D. Lee Mrs. H. Bartnicki Volunteers Mrs. C. Berry Mr. D. Lee

11th Mr. P. Upton Dr. B. Lucas Volunteers Mrs. H. Bartnicki

18th Mrs. M. Adams Mrs. C. Parsons Volunteers Mrs. J. Smith Mrs. C. Parsons Mrs. C. Parsons/ 25th Mr. P. Conway Mrs. E. Mills Volunteers Mrs. T. Riley Mrs. M. Boraston 1st Mr. D. Lee Mrs. H. Bartnicki Volunteers Mrs. C. Berry Mrs. B. Conway

8th Mr. P. Upton Dr. B. Lucas Volunteers Volunteers

15th Mrs. M . Adams Mrs. C. Parsons Volunteers Mrs. E. Harvey Mrs. E. Coles

22nd Mr. P. Conway Mrs. E. Mills Volunteers Mrs. H. Bartnicki Mrs. J. Grocott/ 29th Mr. D. Lee Mrs. H. Bartnicki Volunteers Mrs. J. Smith Mrs. P. Hodgkiss Mrs. C. Parsons/ 6th Mr. P. Upton Dr. B. Lucas Volunteers Mrs. T. Riley Harvest Please ring 01543 490588 if you would like to have your name on the rota. Also if you wish to put flowers on the altar for any special occasion please let me know. Thank you. Di Conway.

Armitage with Handsacre W.I. Inspiring women in the community Our July meeting was a meeting with a difference. We and all the washing up. Also thanks Janet and Pauline held an afternoon tea in Doreen’s garden in memory for making the sandwiches and to everyone who of a dear friend and long serving W.I. member Cynthia baked the lovely cakes. Conway. Our August meeting will again be an open meeting The meeting was open to everyone and family, friends with members bringing along items of interest and and neighbours joined members for this event. The with a story to tell. One item will be chosen to go to weather was lovely and everyone sat at garden tables the Group Meeting in October where it will be entered enjoying the lovely sandwiches, cakes and numerous into the competition to be judged by the speaker cups of tea. There was no charge for the tea but people Charles Hanson who is well known to many of us. At were generous with donations and buying raffle our August meeting we shall also have a tombola to tickets for a chance to win one of the many super raise funds for our own institute. prizes that had been donated. With donations received Our speaker for September will be another local from friends unable to attend the final total raised lady Pat Clee who will talk to us about life on a small was £585. Which has been sent to Katharine House holding and spinning. Hospice where Cynthia was cared for in her final days. Both meetings will be held in the evening at 7pm Our thanks to everyone who came and supported the in the village hall. If you would like any more event with special thanks to W.I. members Margaret, information please contact Doreen 01543 490240 or Maureen, and Lynn for making the tea waiting tables Lesley 01543 491621. Armitage with Handsacre Bowling Club Well another season has arrived and the green was The John Metcalf Trophy this year will be against opened on 13th April. Museum on 31st July away and 7th August This year again we have entered one team in the at home starting at 14.00 hours. Lichfield over 50’s League. Playing on Thursdays, We have at present 27 members and would like to the team has had a slow start, but only a few games see more local residents using the facilities. Fees for have been played. On Thursday 9th May 17 players this current season are £35.00 and should anyone competed for the President’s Cup and the conditions be interested in bowling for the team or just socially were not very good. John Magill was defeated by please do not hesitate to call the number below, even David Clarke in the final by 21 shots to 19. if you would like to give the game a try. Bowls can be Our friendlies against Abbots Bromley, Kings provided. You only need flat shoes. I look forward to Bromley and Tamworth were enjoyed by everyone, hearing from you. but due to bad weather some matches have had to Bill Beer, President. 07850 721864 01543 490134 be cancelled.

Our Village: The Village Halls According to its official modern title, “Armitage demolished in 1973, its sole remains being the with Handsacre”, Armitage has become the more protected moat off Shropshire Brook Road. important part of the parish (but don’t mention that The other great hall in the area was Hawkesyard Hall to the folks in Handsacre). In years gone by however, which had a magnificent existence for hundreds of right up to the 15th century in fact, Handsacre Hall years but was eventually reduced to a few submerged was still the centre of village life. remains under the small lake created by the This splendid building existed in its original form power station. A new Hawkesyard Hall, formerly before Domesday Book and was the residence of called Armitage Park, was built in the 19th century Robert de Handsacre who controlled tenant farmers alongside Hawkesyard Priory, constructed for the working unenclosed strips of arable land. The Dominicans. They left after a while and the new medieval village consisted of hovels and cottages Hall was used as a school for a short period but constructed of timber, and wattle and daub. The eventually closed and was boarded up until 1999. Hall had fallen into disrepair by the 16th century In the meantime the Priory became a Care Home and was reconstructed in the 17th. Title passed to but a graveyard still remains, where monks are Lady Robert Bertie, then to Sir George Chetwynd of buried. The last owners of the Hall - Relaine Estates Brocton in the 17th and 18th centuries. Ltd., turned it into a Grade II listed conference and By 1912 it was owned by Francis Villiers Forster but events centre, alongside the St. Thomas’s Priory Golf farmed by a Mrs Boycott and Miss Harvey, as Forster Course, now closed with the land up for sale. So time lived at Longdon Grange. In 1963 the Hall was moves on: the future of the village, like everything bought by Robert Boston of Brereton Cross Farm. It else, in the hands of the next generation and the gradually fell into disrepair again however, and an developers, but rooted firmly in a past lost in the account in the Times dated 11th November far-off mists of history. 1967 described it as having “seen its best days and Cliff Harris is now falling victim to vandalism.” It was finally Handsacre Methodist Church August and September 2019

Sunday 4th August 11 am Lisa Lynch MAKING CONNECTIONS Sunday 11th August 11am Worship leaders Thursday 8th August: The book of Hebrews part two Songs of Praise for all ages Thursday 19th: September: The Book of James Sunday 18th August 11am 7pm - 8.15pm. Rev. Jacob Donkoh - Holy Communion Refreshments, informal time of singing, Sunday 25th August 11am craft, Bible wall and poems. Café style worship led by Graham Lowther CAFÉ TIME Everyone is welcome to join us for worship every Saturday 17th August and Saturday 21st September Sunday morning at 11am, for about an hour, 9.30am to 11.30am. followed by refreshments. Bacon/sausage baps, Cakes, hot and cold drinks. HANDS ON CHURCH Raising money for charities and the church. Sunday 15th September 4pm-5.30pm COMMUNITY VOICES A Messy church style event for everyone including Wednesdays 7th & 21st August, 4th & 18th singing, interactive Bible storytelling, crafts and September, 7.30pm to 9pm. activities and a free cooked meal with cake A relaxed and fun time of singing together, plus drama, poetry, dance, music etc. The choice is A PLACE OF WELCOME yours. All are very welcome. All are welcome to drop in for a cup of SUMMER AFTERNOON TEA tea/coffee and chat every Friday 1pm - 4.30pm. Sunday 11th August 11 at 3.30pm. SUMMER HOLIDAY DROP-INS Tea, sandwiches, scones and cake for just £5. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1pm - 4pm. MEETING POINT Refreshments, conversation, HANDSACRE METHODIST ROOM craft, singing, fun! Tuesdays 10am - 12noon More information 01543 491704 ALL WELCOME TO DROP IN Tuesday 6th August: Quiz. Tuesday 3rd September: Craft work with TUESDAY 13th AUGUST: SEASIDE Diane. COACH TRIP - all invited for a trip to Tuesday 10th September: Quiz with SOUTHPORT Contact Celia on 01543 491704 Jasmyn £15 for adults; £7.50 for children. Tuesday 17th September: Lower Lodge (Meeting room closed). Ladies Choir. Tuesday 20th August: A holiday in Tuesday 24th September: Please bring Sri Lanka - slides with Gifford & Celia. readings of interest. Tuesday 27th August: Bring & Buy in Tuesday 1st October: HARVEST aid of Air Ambulance & Alzheimer’s Support LUNCH and auction of produce. (MASE). Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals at St John the Baptist May, June and July 2019 Baptisms Weddings Funerals Freddie Dean McGuckin Asa James Orr and Mrs. Margarita Ann King Lottie Black Hollie Spink Mrs. Patricia Anne Rush Jessica Ella Freeman Thomas Henry Wood and Mr. Michael Princep Beresford Katie Elizabeth Beaumont Alice Olivia Pugh Mrs. Florence Jones

Antoine Albena Mountsoy An Armitage Celebrity - Part Three Researched and compiled by Roy Fallows

In 1870 Maria Mountsoy had fallen foul of the law. Antoine was becoming well known for his life story On 1st December she had been arrested on warrant, and his great age. On 24th April 1896, a London accused of stealing one sable muff the property evening newspaper, the St James’s Gazette, published of John Lawrence at on 23rd an article outlining his exciting life but finished by November. John Lawrence was a farmer from Rowley saying that the hero of this tale was aging fast with at Hamstall Ridware and a reasonably wealthy diminished hearing and eyesight. To help support man for that period. She was committed for trial him the Lichfield Guardians, who were overseers by J. Spode Esq. of Hawksyard Park on the same of the Lichfield Workhouse and poor people in the day. She remained in custody over the Christmas wider district, awarded him 2/6 (12½ pence) a week. and New Year period until appearing at Stafford Antoine Mountsoy died in April 1896 at the age of Assizes on 3rd January 1871. The jury found her 109. He had been practically housebound for the guilty of larceny and was sentenced to one month final four years of his life but, according to the imprisonment with hard labour in the House of Gloucester Citizen ‘his hair was plentiful and of a Correction in Stafford. brown colour, having grown again since his baldness Maria and Antoine were back living together at after an illness about three years ago’. Hickbury Cottage in 1881 and Suzanah is still using His death was regarded as very notable and was the surname Mountsoy. Antoine is still being called widely reported in British newspapers and even as Anthony and he is described as a seaman (ms), far away as Australia. meaning merchant service. He was buried near his wife in the church yard at Maria died in 1882 and by 1891 Antoine had moved Pipe Ridware. to Armitage where he boarded with Mr. and Mrs. The service was conducted by the Rector of Wallbank. Mrs. Wallbank is believed to be his Armitage, Rev. J. W. Kewley. adopted daughter Suzanah. They occupied what is now known as Lodge Cottage, at that time a workers A Union Jack, sent by the Hon. Capt. Littleton, draped cottage divided into two or three dwellings. Mr. the coffin of the man who had seen and taken part Wallbank was a farm labourer. Lodge Cottage is the in so much history. impressive thatched building in Rugeley Road, still to Antoine Albena Mountsoy. 1787 – 1896. be seen almost opposite Church Lane. Tuppenhurst Barn,Tuppenhurst Lane, Handsacre Ws15 4Hj Bed &Breakfast & Cafe 0793226615

Out for a stroll or drive with family and friends, this An additional bonus it is also a bed and breakfast is the ideal spot to relax in the countryside close the rooms are decorated and furnished to a high to the canal and fields a great meeting place for standard not losing the characteristics of the barn, walkers plus dogs there are three upstairs and one downstairs which The Barn is open daily 9am - 5pm offering breakfast has all disabled facilities. Walkers staying are able to 9am - 12pm, lunches 12pm - 3pm or simply tea place outdoor clothing in the wardrobes in the main and freshly baked cakes. A good menu to suit all, hall plus dog blankets if necessary. an excellent friendly atmosphere with indoor and The Barn is well worth a visit fro a snack/meal, or outdoor seating nothing too much trouble, dogs even longer if you need an extra room for visiting catered for. guests. Contact: [email protected]

Dates for your Diary Macmillan coffee morning 27th September 2019, 10.30am - 12.30pm at St. John the Baptist church, Armitage. Ride and Stride is the annual sponsored event in aid All welcome. Donations to Macmillan Cancer Support. of county Historic Churches Trusts all over England. Raffle prizes, craft stall, teas/coffee & cakes. It takes place this year on Saturday September 14th. Participants are sponsored by family and friends to Cancer coffee morning visit as many churches as they can between 10am Second Thursday of the month starting 10th October and 6pm. Churches are also sponsored for how 2019, 10.45am - 12.00pm at St. John the Baptist many participants they have visit. church, Armitage. Contact Danny Briggs on 01543 490114 or email If you or anyone you know has been affected come [email protected]. along for a chat and a cuppa Adult craft and sewing club Second Friday of the month, 2.00pm - 4.00pm Parish Council Notice at St. John the Baptist church Armitage. The Armitage with Handsacre Parish Next one 9th August 2019. Council will be holding their next meeting £1.00 includes tea/coffee and biscuits on Thursday 26th September 2019 at Come along and bring your craft/sewing projects. 7.00pm at the Pavilion, Millmoor Avenue, All welcome for a chat and a cuppa. Armitage. PUBLIC WELCOME The next in our series highlighting people and groups that serve our village comes from Carol Hipkiss. Lower Lodge Ladies Choir The idea of the choir began in 2014 following lives. We may not always be the best singers a coffee morning which ended up in a singing but we give it everything that we have got and session (and yes it was defiantly coffee we were this is appreciated. drinking!) The ladies group are self-named the “Lower We enjoyed the singing so much and we did Lodge Golden Oldies “ and none of us have not sound too bad, so I broached the idea had any formal training but together as a of starting a choir. We would sing songs group we sound good and work as hard as we primarily form the 50’s and the 60’s which can on trying to sound good. You do not have was the music that we all knew as this was to sing well to join the group it’s about fun our era when growing up so brought back lots and socialising and putting something back. of fond memories. The age range within the We hope to continue to take the ladies choir group is 55 to 85 so we all have similar taste wherever we are asked whether that is care in music. homes, fetes, pubs or any other type of events. We all loved singing so decided to give it a We are not professional and do not charge a try, so we arranged to meet at the Pavilion fee. We have grown from a small group of 12 on a fortnightly basis for two hours just to to over 20 members and we have had to move sing, socialise in between drinking and eating to the church room at St Johns the Baptist to cakes, so very much a social event. rehearse every other Tuesday evening between Since we started the group momentum has 7pm - 9pm. grown and we were asked to sing at a few We are always looking for new members so social events such a village day, weddings and if you feel that you would like to join our even funerals of close friends. We have sung very friendly group you would be more than for the past few years on Armistice Day at the welcome. cenotaph. We are also involved with taking We feel that we have done our bit to put our our choir to the local nursing and residential retirement park on the map and that life can homes to entertain the clients residing in the begin when you retire. And if you ever hear homes. the ladies sing their golden oldies we hope it The reaction that we get from the clients in brings a smile to your face and has your toes the homes is priceless and sometimes they get tapping. up and dance if they are able and get involved Remember “Music gives a soul to the in the songs that we sing. It is nice to be able universe, wings to the mind, flight to the as a group to contribute to the community in imagination and life to everything.” Plato a positive way and bring some joy into people’s