ST. JOHN BAPTIST CLAINES
December 2019 - January 2020
80p
MON 9.30am – Ombersley Mem. Hall Suitable for all MON 11.45am – Martley Village Mem Hall No experience needed – MON 6.30pm Claines Church Hall www.judymaund.zumba.com TUES 6.30pm – Martley Village Mem Hall WEDS 9.30am – Hallow Parish Hall for map and more details WEDS 2pm - St. Mark's Hall, Bath Road Contact Jude on: WEDS 6pm – St Martin’s Church Hall 01905 356281 / 07948356894 FRI 10am – Martley Village Mem Hall [email protected] Zumba GOLD classes (LESS active): £5.00 WED 2-3pm St. Mark's Hall, Bath Road No need to book, just turn up a class
MOBILE VALETING FOR CARS, CARAVANS AND VANS
We come to your home or work and offer just a wash and a vac or complete full valet.
Professional services provided by Car-a-Val on 01905 456732 or 07831 444992. You can visit our website at car-a-val.co.uk.
2 Hurst Lane, Fernhill Heath Worcester WR3 8RR Tel 01905 756074 Mobile 07899 948596
Gary M Barnes, Gas Safe Registered (Reg 30917) Qualified and Experienced Plumbing/Heating Engineer Service & Installation of Gas Central Heating and Gas Fires All aspects of Plumbing, Bathroom Fitting and Tiling, Kitchen Equipment Competitive Prices ● Friendly Service ● Estimates Free
ESTABLISHED 1895 E.J.GUMERY & SON GEORGE CRUMP & SON Funeral Directors FUNERAL DIRECTORS Independent, Family Funeral (Prop: Michael J. Crump) Directors PERSONAL ATTENTION ALWAYS Established 1870
- also - Helpful & Efficient Personal CRUMPS Service FLORISTS Tel: 01905 22094 Flowers for all Occasions 24 HOURS 33 HANBURY ROAD 68,70 & 72 Ombersley Road, DROITWICH Worcester WR3 7EU TEL: 01905 773339 www.ejgumery.co.uk Email:[email protected]
A. V. BAND LTD St. Nicholas Street and Sansome Walk
Funeral Directors PRIVATE CHAPEL Tel: 01905 22892
CLAINES CHURCH HALL AND INSTITUTE The Church Hall and the Institute are available for WORTHINGTONS your wedding reception, christening party, birthday For all your Cycle, D.I.Y., Hardware party and for meetings or social events. Both Gardening and Electrical Supplies buildings have excellent facilities and wheelchair COME TO access WORTHINGTONS For booking contact: Katrina Boucher 152 Ombersley Road Tel: 01905 451932 [email protected]
RON SIMS HEATING & SCOUT & GUIDE HQ AVAILABLE ELECTRICAL SERVICES For use during the daytime and occasional GREGORY'S MILL STREET, weekends. WORCESTER Location -Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, Worcester. Installation - Servicing - Repairs Facilities - Large sports hall, small meeting hall, kitchen and toilet facilities. To all Heating Equipment For more information please contact: Tel: 01905 25214 or 21572 Kelly Maiden - Tel:07884 337265
The Dog House, Worcester 86H, Blackpole Trading Estate West, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8TJ
Grooming, bathing, nail clipping and hand stripping Training Rooms for hire Canine laundrette – let us wash your dog bedding! We wash horse rugs too! Doggy Daycare now available, £21 for a full day We sell Albion Raw Foods, Fish 4 Dogs Treats, Kongs, Nature Diet, Toys, Leads and gifts. Why not call in or ring 01905 452078 www.thedoghouseworcester.co.uk
Church House Bed & Breakfast
Church House is a working farm, conveniently situated just five minutes from Junction 6 of the M5 motorway and two miles from the centre of the historic city of Worcester.
There is an extensive range of good local pubs and restaurants to choose from, with the renowned Mug House, just a two minute walk away.
We welcome all guests, whether your visit to the area is business related, attending one of the numerous cultural or sporting events, or just taking the opportunity to explore this lovely area. We very much look forward to welcoming you. Julia Philips Church House Claines Worcester T: 01905 452366 WR3 7RL M: 07909 968938 email: [email protected] www.churchhousebandb.co.uk
This is Home
Fernhill House is part of the award-winning Majesticare family For more information or to speak to of care homes. With over 20 years’ experience in caring for a member of our team, please call: 01905 679 300 residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care in a warm and welcoming environment. We provide our residents with or alternatively email: an engaging setting to socialise, dine, enjoy favourite activities [email protected] and explore the beautifully landscaped gardens. Socialise with us online: Fernhill House is a vibrant and active community where FernhillHouseCare residents are enabled to live life to the fullest. A community f where older people are supported to carry on enjoying all the t @Fernhillhousech little things that make them happy. Fernhill House Care Home Encouraging a high quality of life is at the heart of our culture Grange Lane, Fernhill Heath, and ethos at Fernhill House. Our highly trained and dedicated Worcester, WR3 7UR team approach every day with professionalism and compassion, delivering a service that’s unique to each individual’s needs. Fernhill House This is Fernhill House. This is Care. by Majesticare LETTER FROM REV JENNIE
Dear Friends,
There is one sentence l dread hearing at this time of year. It is 'Are you ready for Christmas?', because l never am. With the 'children' in their 50's and grandchildren in their 20's, there is not the same 'buzz' as there used to be in years gone by.
This year will be particularly poignant for my family and l for, as many of you know, l lost my husband Roy in June, and Roy loved Christmas and everything connected to it. After 55 years of marriage, there is now a big hole, and l have learnt the effects bereavement can have at first hand.
The message of Christmas is one of hope. We welcome again the Christ child into our world, where hope is so desperately needed. Amid all the sometimes rather tawdry trappings that now surround the festival, the light of the Christ child will shine through again and illuminate the darkest areas of the world around us.
As we move into 2020 can we have hope? Our country has and is enduring a time of great turbulence and uncertainty. Some of us will have seen something similar nationally before and know that there is a way through, eventually, so hope is all important There is so much in our world that needs it. Endless wars, appalling suffering, the plight of refugees and of our own homeless and of those living on the breadline. Also, the threats and changes that climate change is bringing and the need to change our lifestyles so we can help save our planet. So, despite all that is around us, l move into the New Year with faith in the transforming power of the Christ child who comes to bring light and hope into this beautiful, but suffering world of ours. l hope, as we move into 2020, you can share that hope with me. May l wish you a joyful Christmas and a peaceful and hopeful New Year.
Rev Jennie
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Parish Priest THE REVEREND JO MUSSON The Vicarage, Claines Lane, Claines, Worcester WR3 7RN T: 01905 780200 E:[email protected] (normal rest day - Friday)
CURATE ASSOCIATE PRIESTS Rev Paula Honniball Rev Jennie Hayward Rev Peter Davies T: 07902 098500 T: 01905 29545 T: 07810 008026 (normal rest days - Thursdays (normal rest day - Wednesday) (normal rest day - Friday) And Fridays) Rev Sue Pollard T: 01905 759214
CHURCHWARDENS Rachel Cramp, 11 Willowslea Road, Phil Kear, 1 Hadley Villas, Droitwich Road, Northwick, Worcester WR3 7QP Worcester WR3 7SW T: 01905 457749 T: 01905 451099 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] PARISH OFFICE Parish Administrators: Gwen Clifford and John Brady Claines Church Hall, Cornmeadow Lane, Worcester WR3 7NY Open: Monday-Friday 10am to 1pm T: 01905 759702 E: [email protected] All enquiries for Baptisms and Weddings should be made to the Parish Office
ABOUT ORGANISATIONS Children's Ministry: Ann Sansome 01905 754561 [email protected] Little Fish: Pat Price 01905 455514 Little Friends Baby and Toddler Group: Jennifer Chow 07563 509715 Mothers’ Union: Gwen Clifford 01905 451574 LinC Lunches: Pat Harris 01905 451305 Church Hall and Institute bookings: Katrina Boucher [email protected] Magazine Distribution Secretary: Margaret Sturdy 01905 456624
CLAINES ON THE INTERNET Keep up to date with news about Claines on Facebook
Website address: www.clainesfriends.org.uk
MAGAZINE ARTICLES Please let me have articles by 10th of the month prior to publication. Editor and Treasurer: Stephen Taylor, The Crest, 257 Droitwich Road, Fernhill Heath, Worcester WR3 7UH T: 01905 457165 E: [email protected]
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PARISH CALENDAR - DECEMBER 2019
Sunday 1 First Sunday of Advent 8am Holy Communion 11am Choral Eucharist and Installation of Junior Bishop 4.30pm Christingle Service 6.30pm Ecumenical Advent Service at St Stephen’s Church No 6.30pm Service at Claines
Monday 2 7pm Advent Bible Study Group, ―Psalms for Today‘s World‖, Glan Mor, Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, WR3 7PW Tuesday 3 10am Little Friends, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall Wednesday 4 2.30pm Holy Communion, Fernhill House, Fernhill Heath Thursday 5 10.30am Holy Communion Saturday 7 9.30am Choir Practice 10.30am Christmas Messy Church, St George‘s Church
Sunday 8 Second Sunday of Advent 8am Holy Communion 11am Café Church, Claines Parish Hall 6.30pm Contemplative Communion
Monday 9 7pm Advent Bible Study Group, Glan Mor, Cornmeadow Lane, Claines,WR3 7PW Tuesday 10 9.30am Kingdom Arts, St George‘s Church 10am Little Friends, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall Wednesday 11 7.30pm Mothers‘ Union Christmas Meal Thursday 12 10.30am Holy Communion Friday 13 7.30pm Volante Strings Concert, St George‘s Church Saturday 14 9.30am Saturday Surgery, Parish Office 12.30pm LinC Lunch, Claines Parish Hall
Sunday 15 Third Sunday of Advent 8am Holy Communion 11am Parish Communion and Children’s Church 6.30pm Devotions at Dusk
Monday 16 7pm Advent Bible Study Group, Glan Mor, Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, WR3 7PW Tuesday 17 10am Little Fish, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Church 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Quest, Claines Institute Wednesday 18 2.30pm Songs of Praise, Fernhill House, Fernhill Heath 6pm Claines School Carol Service, Claines Church Thursday 19 10.30am Holy Communion Friday 20 7.30pm Beer and Carols, Mug House 8.30pm Beer and Carols, New Inn Saturday 21 9.30am Choir Practice
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Sunday 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent 8am Holy Communion 11am Celebration Communion 6.30pm Carol Service
Tuesday 24 2.30pm Crib Service, Claines Church 4.30pm Crib Service, Claines Church 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist Christmas 8am Holy Communion Day 10.30am Festival Eucharist
Sunday 29 First Sunday of Christmas 8am Holy Communion 11am Parish Communion 6.30pm Carols and Readings for the New Year
JANUARY 2020
Thursday 2 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 5 Second Sunday of Christmas 8am Holy Communion 11am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm Devotions at Dusk Monday 6 7.30pm Ministry Team Meeting, Vicarage Tuesday 7 10am Little Friends, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall Wednesday 8 2.30pm Holy Communion, Fernhill House, Fernhill Heath Thursday 9 10.30am Holy Communion Saturday 11 11am Choir Social Event 12.30pm LinC Lunch, Claines Parish Hall
Sunday 12 First Sunday of Epiphany 8am Holy Communion 10am Café Church, Claines Parish Hall 6.30pm Contemplative Communion
Tuesday 14 9am Claines School Values Service, Claines Church 9am Kingdom Arts, St George‘s Church 10am Little Friends, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall
Thursday 16 10.30am Holy Communion 7pm Planning Meeting for Summer Fete in June, Institute Saturday 18 9.30am Choir Practice
Sunday 19 Second Sunday of Epiphany 8am Holy Communion 11am Parish Communion and Children’s Church 1pm Holy Baptism 6.30pm Choral Evensong
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Tuesday 21 10am Little Fish, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall Wednesday 22 2.30pm Songs of Praise, Fernhill House, Fernhill Heath 7.30pm PCC Meeting, Claines Institute Thursday 23 10.30am Holy Communion Saturday 25 7pm Quiz and Fish & Chips Evening, Claines Parish Hall
Sunday 26 Third Sunday of Epiphany 8am Holy Communion 11am Celebration Communion 6.30pm Celtic Worship
Tuesday 28 10am Little Friends, Baby & Toddler Group, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Community Café, Claines Parish Hall 2pm Quest, Claines Institute Thursday 30 10.30am Holy Communion
LOOOKING AHEAD
Saturday 29 February Marriage Preparation Day, Claines Parish Hall Friday 6 March World Day of Prayer, Claines Church, 2pm
PARISH REGISTERS Holy Baptism
2 November Frederick Alan Pincott 3 November Giovanna Jessica Widdows Jenson Christopher David Widdows Charlotte Adele Widdows 17 November Lilah Louise Wright Arthur Albert Wilson
Christian Burial and Cremation
22 October Derrick John Evans aged 90 years 25 October Pauline Cleaveley aged 89 years
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MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR WANTED CHURCH CLEANERS WANTED
A distributor is required to deliver Two volunteers are needed to join the approximately 10 Parish Magazines in church cleaning team from January. Leabank Drive. If you could help, please Please contact me on 01905 592555, or contact Margaret Sturdy on 01905 see me in church. Thank you. 456624 evenings or weekends. Sincere thanks to Mrs Val Kilmartin who has Pat Harris delivered Parish Magazines in Leabank Drive for more years than I can remember! Margaret Sturdy
CLAINES CHURCH FLOWER GUILD
Many thanks to all who came to help with the decorating of the church for Harvest and to all who supplied all the wonderful Thank you to everyone who supported gifts. our ―Sausage Sizzle‖ Coffee Morning in
October. With your help we raised over We had our annual meeting here at Glan th £400. Some of this money will be Mor on Tuesday 15 October, where we donated to the Mothers' Union Christmas were able to discuss the following year's Appeal in aid of our worker in South dates for decorating the church. Sudan. Dates for your diary are: Christmas decorating Saturday 21st Mary lives in Yeti town, 150km South December from 10am and taking down West of the Capital, Juba. She works as Saturday 4th January. a Community Development Co-ordinator Mothering Sunday posies Saturday 21st and our donation will help Mary to March 9.30am. This may have to be acquire more skills and confidence in done in the church as the Institute is rebuilding trust in her community and booked. through her Mothers' Union work she will Easter Saturday April 11th in church assist in re-establishing a school and from 10am Church decorating. nursery and medical centre for the local women and their families in this war-torn Merry Christmas to everyone and a country. happy and healthy New Year. The remainder of the money raised at the Pat Harris coffee morning will be donated to projects which the Mothers' Union members are involved in around our own parish. More BERNARD AND DOREEN information about this after our AGM next DIAMOND WEDDING February.
Bernard and Doreen Potter would like to At our November get together we thank members of the congregation for planned our meetings for 2020 and we their best wishes on the celebration of have some very interesting speakers and their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in topics lined up. We now have three lively September. MU noticeboards, in the Church, Institute
6 and Claines Hall. Keep an eye on them tree planted in memory of Greta Lawrie for details of our meetings. Everyone who died in February and had been a is very welcome at any of our events. member since 1962. Greta and four ladies from other WIs in Worcestershire Wishing you all a very Happy had become very great friends and Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. became ―ladies who lunch‖ and met very regularly. These four ladies
Gwen Clifford bought the tree and it was our privilege to be invited to be there when the tree was planted.
December will be a busy month with our Christmas meeting and Christmas dinner. As we all reflect on the end of this year all the members of North Claines WI wish you a very Happy Christmas and all good wishes for NORTH CLAINES WI 2020.
October and November have been busy months again. Our speaker in Heather Pitts October was Adrian James and he talked about building, planting and developing a garden from scratch. The members were so enthused that we are going to visit his garden next year. Val Hibbitt was our speaker in November talking about the history of the silver screen in Worcester. It was an eye-opener, even to those born in Worcester, to hear the variety and amount of coaching houses, theatres and cinemas there were in the city.
Some of us have been to various Federation events; a brilliant Murder Mystery evening with fish and chip supper; a day at Worcester Races with afternoon tea and the Federation ACM at Malvern.
We have been to the Theatre to see ―Singin‘ in the rain‖, had our monthly social lunches, our exercise with 10 pin bowling and another social cocktail We don't sing carols any more..... evening. you 'ave to listen to 'em off me iPod!
In November some of us went to Gheluvelt Park to see a liquid amber
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JEAN BIDS FAREWELL Pat on some occasions and when Stephen Agnew arrived we were called I had a really warm welcome at St his vertically challenged Church Stephen‘s church, the church was full Wardens. Neither of us could not reach and every one welcomed me with a smile the top shelf of the safe! or a hello. It was only when I had a careful look at the stamp in the hymn During this time and it was at an book that I realised that I wasn‘t at St Evensong when Stephen was suddenly Stephen‘s but at St John Baptist! Still, I taken ill, Pat and I led the service and I rather liked ―ole vicar Owen‖ and his realised that perhaps I was being called sidekick known as ―Wedgie‖ brought the to serve in a different way. I talked it over service alive and preached a good with Stephen and he asked if I had sermon. considered Ordination. Yes, I had, but I had my reservations about my ability to What had happened was my colleague in serve and be obedient to the Word but I the office lived in Grange Avenue and knew that I was being called to do said that she went to the local church. something and so I took Reader Training. We had moved to Worcester and didn‘t know anyone. We first lived in Warndon I had only completed one term when I and Philip and I attended St Wulstan‘s became ill and was diagnosed with church. We heard from my colleague that sepsis. I was in a coma for five days and there were some new houses being built as Stephen called it ―was away with the in Leabank Drive and we liked the look of fairies‖ for a few days after that. The them and moved in as soon as one support from the congregation was became available. The ―local‖ church as wonderful with the messages, the offers far as I was concerned was the one in the of help, not to mention the prayers. It was field with the pub in the churchyard. truly the family of Claines pulling together. I finished my Reader training So we settled into church life. We had and again at my licensing I had the always been ―Evensongers‖ and enjoyed support of the congregation either by the evening service at Claines. As ―ole attending the service or sending cards of vicar Owen‖ retired and we had a new congratulation. I have had sad times, the vicar Alan Brooksbank, he suggested that death of my parents but the support at we should stand for election for the PCC. their funerals was very uplifting. The Of course my husband managed to funeral service of my darling Philip was evade the call to serve, but I was elected overwhelming. The church was full with and had some interesting times. not only family, friends and work colleagues but also with so many regular Renovating the Institute after the play members of the congregation. group left due to the retirement of the Leader was one challenge and then From that time I have had had my fingers being the link between the PCC and the in lots of pies! Yes the famous ―Pie, Peas playgroup only to find that the and Pudding‖ evenings. Renovating the leader/owner had sold out to the Wishing Institute house on a zero budget with the Well group.(No wonder I didn‘t recognise help of Gordon Smith and Colin Harris, a the leader when I went to do my monthly headache but fun! goodwill visit!) Most of all I have loved supporting the During our next interregnum Pat Bridges congregation. Leading services has been and I were elected as Church Wardens. a challenge at times, but always worth it We made a dynamic duo. Pat was in the end and being with the bereaved sometimes called Jean and I answered to somewhere along their sad journey and 8 hopefully drawing them back into a kind, A LITTLE GEM loving supportive life. Then there is Open the Book with the super super people From one little gem to another, in the who turn up and follow my direction and back room of The Mug House sits a turn chaos into a bible story that lovely box, which used to be a poor box encourages the young people at Claines and can trace its origins back to the School. 1890s. What has turned this otherwise plain oak box into a work of art is the ironwork decoration that adorns its exterior.
Poor, mite or alms boxes were very popular in churches before the 19th century and were the main source of funds for poor relief before societies decided to organise the process and make public authorities responsible for this.
Being invited into homes to administer The mite as we know was a small coin Holy Communion and hear confidences made popular in the bible story of the that have been for my ears only and my widow's mite. It is said that mite box brush with death and my two months in giving promotes the spirit of the Galilee strengthened my faith but contributing based on the intent to help working in the parishes of Claines and St others and not on the monetary George have made my ministry and my amount. However, the origin of the mite life worthwhile or to put in simply, YOU box is very old. In Kings 12:9 the priest have made it and I thank you all for that Jehoiada bored a hole in the lid of a privilege. chest and placed it near the first altar. Jean Smallwood This was, however, to fund maintenance rather than alms. Jean, we will miss you, but wish you all the best in your move to Lytham St. How did the box in The Mug come to Annes. Anyone fancy a holiday! be there rather than the church? A parish magazine from June 1890 records that an oak alms box was Editor presented to the Mission Room in
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Fernhill Heath. It appears to have gone PARISH LUNCH missing for a good part of the 20th century until the Crabb family, We had a marvellous joint Parish Lunch successors to landlord, Wally Trow, the on Sunday 27th October with friends from landlord of The Mug for over 50 years Saint George's at the Magdalene Rooms. from the 1930s until the 1950s, discovered it in the loft of the pub. I'm Over 50 people from both churches came not saying anything! together to enjoy a cooked meal in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There
was a choice of beef, lamb, chicken or The box was, apparently, offered to vegetarian casserole and for dessert a Claines church for safe keeping, but as variety of fruit crumbles. this offer was declined, it found pride of place in The Mug and was used for many a year to place donations in for the church magazine.
What makes the box so special is the fascinating pattern in ironwork on it which includes the sacred monogram incorporating an X and P which are the first two letters of the Greek word XPICTOC (KRISTOS) for Christ and A (alpha) and Ω (omega) for the first and last.
Everyone had the chance to eat their fill and by the look of the many happy faces everyone enjoyed the event immensely. There was certainly a great buzz of chatter and laughter which made the whole event so worthwhile for those on the organising team.
I thought the box was unique, but my Jan Hayden research has discovered an identical one in St. Nicholas Church, East Grafton, Wiltshire, so perhaps they were mass produced at the time. THE CALL OF GOD
That said, it is a lovely and fascinating Notice outside the door of a Corsican object well worth a look when you next church: 'It is possible, on entering this visit The Mug. church, you will hear the call of God. lt is, however, unlikely he will contact you My thanks to Russell Allen at The Mug by phone so turn your mobile phone off !!' for some of the background information for this article. Editor
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FROM THE WORCESTER JOURNAL THE ODDINGLEY MURDERS SATURDAY 19 JANUARY 1867 PART 2
―A Subscriber‖ reminds readers about Last month we heard about the murder the overlooked Christmas decorations of the local vicar, the Reverend George at Claines church, and says : Much Parker, arranged by three local labour and pains have been bestowed landowners after a long dispute about by some of the parishioners, tithes. particularly by the daughters of our worthy members, the Misses Sherriff, the Misses Eginton (Perdiswell). Handsome wreaths are festooned from the centre of every arch, while similar ornaments are suspended over each window. A very clear and appropriate inscription ―Glory to God in the highest‖ adorns the chancel arch, while across the organ is the word Alleluia.‖
A large double triangle also hangs from the centre of the chancel arch, while small devices in different coloured immortelles and holly are unsparingly scattered over the church. The font, A local tradesman, Richard Heming, too, has not been forgotten it is decked was suspected as the murderer as he with a pretty little canopy composed of was seen and described by two local moss and everlastings. butchers in the area, but he could not Jan Hayden be found. 24 years later bones and clothes were found by a worker clearing ground for a new barn at Netherwood Farm, Oddingley. These were identified as belonging to Richard Heming. Several of the farmers who had had the original motive to murder the Reverend Parker were summoned. Captain Evans had died just a few months before, but particular suspicion was focused on Thomas Clewes, the former tenant at Netherwood Farm. Many witnesses had come forward recalling quarrels between both Evans and Clewes with Parker, and the former, it now emerged, had sworn an oath of vengeance against the parson. Clewes was suddenly in a very difficult situation. Evidence was gathering that
11 both he and Evans had had a role not This meant the three men could only only in Parker‘s murder, but also in that be charged with Parker's murder if of his assassin, Heming. Clewes was Heming were so charged and he was hence held in gaol as the inquest dead. progressed. Furthermore, though in his confession Eventually, Thomas Clewes confessed Clewes had admitted sheltering the that he did, indeed, know more than a man he knew had murdered Parker, he little about the events on Midsummer swore the death of Heming had Day 1806 and the subsequent events. happened without either his Evans had masterminded the affair. He foreknowledge or consent. The had employed Heming to murder mastermind of the conspiracy against reverend Parker. Although Heming had Parker had been a Captain Evans of appeared to flee towards Worcester, he Church Farm, a retired army officer and had in fact returned to Oddingley that local magistrate, who had since died. night. Clewes claimed that the day after Clewes had been persuaded to hide Parker's murder Evans had told him he him at Netherwood Farm, and Evans must allow Heming to hide in his barn, had promised to go to the farm at night and after Clewes reluctantly consented, the day after the murder, to decide Evans then told him to meet up at the what to do with Heming. He arrived at barn at 11 o'clock that night 'to do eleven o‘clock in the evening, something with him (Heming) to send accompanied by locals George Banks him off'. When Clewes arrived Evans and James Taylor. Clewes had guided entered the barn along with a local bad them to the barn where Heming was character, a farrier called James hiding, and without warning Taylor had Taylor, who had with him a heavy club- bludgeoned Heming on the head. like instrument known as a 'blood stick' Then, Taylor and Evans had buried normally used to let blood from horses. Heming in the corner of the barn. There he had lain for nearly twenty-four years In the dim light Evans called out 'Get undisturbed. Clewes had been paid up Heming I have got something for money that was originally promised to thee', and as Heming rose into a sitting Heming to keep quiet. position Taylor swung the blood stick, smashing his skull. The corpse was Despite the expectation of a conviction then hastily buried. for murder, due to a legal technicality the three farmers could not be tried for Clewes was charged with aiding and the first death, the shooting of Parker. abetting Heming's murder, and the Under the law as it had stood in 1806 other two defendants similarly charged they might have been accessories to on the strength of his accusation. Apart his murder but Heming, who fired the from Clewes's confession there was actual shot, had in law been the little valid evidence: too long a time had 'principal'. In 1806 accessories to elapsed, witnesses contradicted murder could not be tried unless the themselves on details and several principal was also tried, and although in significant persons, including the the intervening period the law had been ringleader of the conspiracy Captain altered, the change had not been made Evans, and Heming's actual killer retrospective. James Taylor, had died.
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Clewes' defence first argued that his HELPING THE HOMELESS confession was inadmissible, due to his THIS CHRISTMAS having wrongly been promised a royal pardon by an inexperienced magistrate. This argument was rejected. They then countered that his confession, if accepted, must be accepted in its entirety and in that case it nowhere showed foreknowledge of, or participation in, Heming's murder. On the contrary, Clewes' confession showed he had had no idea of what Evans and Taylor planned to do to Heming. Therefore, on the only reliable evidence before the court, Clewes was innocent of the only charge on which he was being tried - aiding and abetting the murder of Richard Heming. Christmas is coming and that is a time The complexities of the case confused of year that most of us look forward to. the jury, who initially brought in a It is an opportunity to have a few days verdict of 'guilty as accessory after the off from work and to spend time with fact' which was not the charge Clewes friends, family and loved ones. And faced. Rebuked by the judge, they then of course there is the Christmas reconsidered and brought in a verdict atmosphere of street markets, mulled of 'not guilty of aiding and abetting': wine and perhaps some retail therapy! and if there was not enough evidence to convict Clewes, then the two other But for some in our society, Christmas men implicated solely on his is just a constant and relentless accusation must also be released. reminder of what they have not got or Thus, although it was generally did have but have lost in their lives. accepted that the three defendants, Evans, Clewes and Taylor had Imagine being a homeless person conspired to have Parker killed, that sleeping in a door way in Worcester. two of them had at the least been The shops are full of Christmas gifts present at the death of Heming, that you can‘t afford, the streets are full of they had not intervened to save him or people shopping for things they don't remonstrated with his killers and had need, but you don't have the money to subsequently concealed the crime for a buy a hot drink. Everyone is looking quarter of a century, all three were forward to the big day when they will acquitted in 1831 and returned quietly eat and drink too much in the warmth to private life. and comfort of their own home, but you have no home, not enough to eat, and In the February magazine I look at the you will be sleeping outdoors in a shop public response and the payment of doorway. tithes which led to this dispute. Most homeless people are in that Editor position through no fault of their own – money problems, loss of private
13 tenancy, changes in the benefit make all the difference to homeless system, health issues and relationship people in Worcestershire. breakdown can all lead to people living on the streets. The main objective of Maggs is not to simply provide support, but also to get A study last year estimated that 6,000 people off the streets and into ex forces' veterans were among those permanent homes. So Maggs workers living on the streets, men and women help homeless people to access who have served their country but been organisations like the local Council and unable to adapt back to mainstream the NHS to help find help that they society. About 25% of ex-service need. Maggs Outreach workers go out people end up on the street onto the streets across the county to help homeless people. Christmas is a time to be generous, not just to our friends and family, but also Every day around 40 vulnerable people to those who are less well off than come to Maggs Day Centre for food, to ourselves. This is a key part of many use the showers or just to have a safe teachings, to love others as we love place to go. Maggs provides free ourselves. activities to encourage development and progression by teaching life skills What can we do? How can we help? and building confidence. The sessions include art, cookery, creative writing, It‘s actually very easy to help the quizzes, poetry and sewing. homeless this Christmas and there are a number of ways that you can do it. Maggs needs your help to continue its Maggs Day Centre is a charity based in good work. You can donate on line at Worcester which tries to help the most our website where you can read more marginalised people in our society. about our work - There are a number of ways in which www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk/ or you you can help Maggs to help the can donate via cheque (Maggs Day homeless. Centre) and send to C/o Mel Kirk, Maggs Annexe, 59-60 The Tything, Donate money – Maggs is mostly Worcester, WR1 1JT funded from donations from members of the public and uses these donations We are always looking for volunteers to to provide services to rough sleepers help out – to help in the kitchen at the and those in need; Day Centre, or at the Clothing Store or if you have any other skill that may be Donate clothes – Maggs runs a of assistance to us. clothing store for rough sleepers and is always in need of donations – clothes, If you would like to volunteer, have a shoes and sleeping bags in good look at the page on our website, condition; www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk/volunteeri ng Donate your time - The Day Centre is or contact volunteer co-ordinator Val largely run by volunteers, and Maggs Turner by email - currently has around 40 volunteers and [email protected] is always looking for more. Just a few or phone us on 01905 25027. hours of your time every week could
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NO. 37 BUS SERVICE First Bus should be investing in this UNDER THREAT service to improve it and its schedules - then they would find more people using The 37 bus services, which serves it." Barbourne, Northwick, Bevere and the Cornmeadow areas, is under threat as According to our own Gordon Smith First Bus reviews the level of service. 23rd November is a significant date for bus services in Worcester as on this In October, First Bus withdrew the 37 date in 1985 Midland Red introduced Saturday service, but this was 61 new 20 seat minibuses, branded reinstated from 23rd November after Citibus, which started an intensive City and County Councillor, Andy operation in the City including diverting Stafford, negotiated a deal with First the Ombersley Road bus along Beckett Midland Red using his divisional fund Road. as a subsidy. Gordon said, "It is important for people Councillor Mel Allcott, City Councillor to support bus services for them to be for Claines, said, "the threat to end the viable". only service for this area is unbelievable. The inconvenience to The full revised timetable is set out those who cannot drive is unacceptable below. and ending a bus service just when we need to reduce congestion and air Editor pollution is seriously a backward step.
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WHY 2000 YEARS AGO? all the years before Jesus‘ birth receive the label B.C., and all those after his Ever wondered why Jesus was born birth get A.D. If Jesus had been born in when He was? The Bible tells us that 1 A.D., these designations would be ―when the time had fully come, God accurate. sent forth His Son…‖ The Jewish people had been waiting for their However, scholars date the death of Messiah for centuries. Why did God King Herod the Great to 4 B.C. Since send Him precisely when He did? Herod played a major role in the narrative of Jesus‘ birth, Jesus would, Many biblical scholars believe that the therefore, have had to have been born ‗time had fully come‘ for Jesus because before Herod died. of the politics of the time. The Roman Empire‘s sheer size and dominance How then did the current division had achieved something unique in between B.C. and A.D. come to be? world history: the opportunity for travel from Bethlehem to Berwick on Tweed One theologian identifies the monk without ever crossing into ‗enemy Dionysius Exiguus, who lived from territory‘ or needing a ‗passport‘. about 470 to 544 A.D., as the originator of the B.C. and A.D. calendar. He was For the first time ever, it was possible a learned monk who moved to Rome for ‗common‘ people to travel wide and and became well known for translating far, and quickly spread news and many ecclesiastical canons from Greek ideas. And all you needed were two into Latin. However, his claim to fame languages - Greek to the east of Rome, is the ―Anno Domini‖ calculations that and Latin to the west and north. You were used to number the years of both could set sail from Joppa (Tel Aviv) and the Gregorian and the adjusted Julian head for any port on the Mediterranean calendars. and the Roman roads ran straight and true throughout the empire. Although no one is exactly sure how he came to this conclusion, Dionysius So the Roman Empire achieved calculated the reign of King Herod and something it never intended. It helped his death in 4 B.C. Because of spread news of Christianity far and Dionysius‘s calculations, a new wide for 400 years. After that, the calendar using B.C. and A.D. was born. Empire crumbled and the borders shut th down. Not until the 19 century would Even though Dionysius Exiguus people again roam so freely. The time calculated his date for the year in which for Jesus to be born, and for news of Jesus was born in the sixth century, it Him to be able to travel, had indeed was not until the eighth century that it ‗fully come‘. became widespread. This was thanks to the Venerable Bede of Durham, This also begs the question of how England, who used Dionysius‘s date in Jesus could have been born around his work Ecclesiastical History of the 4B.C. The terms B.C. (―before Christ‖) English People. and A.D. (―anno Domini,‖ which means ―in the year of the Lord.‖) are used to Editor mark years in the Gregorian and Julian calendars—with the birth of Jesus as the event that divides history. In theory, 16
PUTTING THE FAITH INTO These include: ‗make sure you‘re FACEBOOK setting up a Facebook page, not a profile‘, ‗remember anyone can read My guess is that like me and many your page!‘ and ‗be conversational and readers of the magazine we are on the responsive‘. ―A crucial part of our fringes of things like Facebook, Twitter, communities are online,‖ she said, ―so Instagram and Snapchat. if we as churches are not there, we‘re not only missing out on amazing I can just about manage Facebook, but opportunities to build communities and don't bother with the others. The things reach new people but also to engage you hear are not always that with people who are already there. encouraging about some of these platforms and as Donald Trump seems ―We‘ve had some really wonderful to do a lot on Twitter and you hear a lot stories about people who need support about how these tools can affect young finding us through social media. A lot of lives in some ways the less I know the students are already digital natives, better. and we just help them build their confidence and apply strategy to help But, the truth is that the tendency is for them reach more people. Sometimes the young to use these tools and the we meet people who say ‗I don‘t like Church of England has to get on board social media, it‘s a really negative if we are to continue to get the place‘, but I always feel like that if we Christian message across. withdraw from that, we miss out on spreading some goodness to draw For the past year, the Church of people together and turn all the England has been running workshops negative stuff around. Christians and in which millennials are training Christian leaders have a key place to thousands of vicars around the UK how do that.‖ to use social media. The Rev‘d Rachel Archer, of St Mark‘s The Introduction to Digital scheme is Biggin Hill, Kent, who recently took part part of the latest drive to modernise on one of the courses said ―Today has Christianity, improve church‘s outreach really made us think about how we to younger generations and manage communicate as a church and helping consistently declining congregation us to smarten up what we currently numbers. More than 2,000 churches doing, it really has made us think." have signed up so far. Just 14,000 to ―Churches have such a good story to go. sell and tell of God's love, it just needs to get better at telling that in a way that The Introduction to Digital scheme is a generation today is used to engaging run by Liz Morgan, a 34-year-old tech- with stories which is via social media, savvy millennial tasked with travelling back in the day it was newspapers and around the country and running the radio.‖ workshops. Mrs Morgan, whose official title is Churches' Digital Champion, The Church of England is now running hands out worksheets for the students Labs Learning Roadshows – an to fill in which are peppered with an extension of the day-long training as a array of hints and tips that any conference which is free for churches millennial would find amusing. to attend. The day sees keynote
17 sessions from digital experts from the minutes between the main course and industry as well as senior church the dessert. leaders and bishops, to inspire and equip churches ―to use digital for mission‖.
Whilst that sort of social interaction is clearly not for some people, others
over the age of 60 with partners, or not, For one I am happy to keep up with enjoy their weekly visit. Claines on Facebook. We have to use all 'modern' methods to get the The cost is £3 a week after a joining Christian message across and to quote fee and a ride in on the minibus, if the old maxim, a picture can paint a transport is required, is £2. thousand words - am I doing myself out of a job? There is no commitment required to come and try the Thursday lunch Editor meeting though if Bingo is not your thing then the last Thursday of the month might not be a good idea.
PERDISWELL MATURE CLUB Further information can be obtained from me or Phil Weston at the PYPLC Fancy a square meal and a bit of (01905 451372). entertainment? Perdiswell Mature Club meets on a Thursday lunchtime and is Paul Fulbrook open for new membership applications.
The club is basically a ‗lunch club‘ serving the area of Barbourne, Claines, ACORNS BENEFITS FROM COUNTY Fernhill Heath and extends into RECYCLING
Warndon. It has a nominal roll of about A campaign aimed at getting residents 60-70 members meeting for social recycling more has raised £2,000 for chat, lunch and coach trips in the Acorns Children's Hospice. summertime.
The Worcestershire County Council The lunch is on a Thursday at the Recycle for Acorns campaign ran Perdiswell Young Peoples' Leisure throughout August, encouraging people Club from 12:30 until 3pm with a to recycle more cans and plastics. Speaker or activity for about 30-40
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During the month, every can, aerosol, SMART NEW BENCH plastic bottle, pot, tub, and tray (not IN MEMORY OF ROY CALE black) that was put into a green bin helped to raise money for the charity A lovely new bench has been placed based in Wythall. by the family opposite the war memorial in Claines churchyard. Councillor Tony Miller, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for environment said: "Thanks to your recycling efforts over the month, we were able to raise a fantastic amount of money for such a great cause, to which I used my divisional fund to round up to the final sum. It's important that we all try to recycle as much as we can and, hopefully, this campaign will have encouraged people to either start recycling or to recycle more."
After his retirement Roy spent many hours working in Claines churchyard. Roy was also a lifetime member of the Royal British Legion so the placement of the seat is most appropriate to his memory. The seat inscription also includes the carved outline of a poppy, the symbol of the Legion and is a lovely embellishment to this memorial.
Coucillor Tony Miller, Michael Hornby, Severn Waste Services and Dominic Stanford from Acorns Children's Hospice
Vicki Rowles, from the charity said: "We rely on donations to continue our work, so we are hugely grateful to the Worcestershire County Council for this fantastic initiative. Thank you to everyone who showed their green credentials and recycled. We are thrilled with the amount raised which will go directly to the vital care we provide to children and their families across the county." Editor
Editor
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