The Parish Magazine of &

june 2021

Dear Readers, The month of June begins a lengthy period in the church’s year, known as Ordinary Time, that runs right up to the 21st November when we celebrate the festival of Christ the King. This June, however, from the 21st we hope, will be far from ‘ordinary’, a time where Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed, perhaps with the wholescale need for social distancing to disappear and, I pray, our freedom to sing in church returns! What a joy that will be. Ordinary Time in the Church’s year are the numbered weeks that fall between Christmas and Easter and then Easter and Advent. It stems from the Latin word 'ordinalis' meaning numbers in a series and represents the ordered life of the church, the times when we are neither feasting in celebration or spending time in contemplation. During a visit to most Anglican or Roman Catholic churches during this time you will see the colour green on the altar. We tend to think that if something is “ordinary” it is unnecessary or of less value. But actually, Ordinary Time is far from that and it reminds us that God walks among us in every aspect of our daily lives and our ordinary times. Just as most of our life is spent doing ordinary things, most of the church year is in ordinary time. In fact, if every day was extraordinary, then really, no days would be extraordinary. So, these days are just as important as the extraordinary ones, for it is in these days that we can reflect further on God’s story and find unexpected transformation. We have seen such transformation in our villages during the pandemic as people have freely offered their time, their skills and their care for one another. How wonderful it is to live here. We go forward into this time, that is both ordinary and extraordinary, with the strength of great community. And, if you hear that we are in “ordinary” time, please know that this is not a “throwaway” season, but instead is a vitally important time when we remember that God is in the ordinary and that as such, we are made to be extraordinary. As we gather with friends and families in ways that we’ve not been able to for so long and as we remember those we’ve lost, www.colnechurches.com 3 we celebrate the miracle of each other and the relationships that eternally connect us to one another, and vow never to take our freedoms for granted again.

Revd Sharon was ordained Deacon last September and we are delighted that she is to be Ordained Priest by Bishop Roger on the 26th June. Please keep Sharon in your prayers as she prepares for this next exciting chapter in her journey with God, the Diocese and our villages. Revd Sharon will be presiding at Holy Communion for the first time on Sunday 27th June, 10am at St Andrew’s Earls Colne. We hope that there will be no restrictions on numbers but please keep an eye on our Facebook Page and website for updates. www.colnechurches.com

. . . to everyone who gave a donation towards the purchase of Easter Lilies. Your generous gifts were very much appreciated. As you can see from the photo, some of the lilies were used in the arrangement for the Maundy Thursday service.

Thank you, also, to everyone who sent cards and expressed their condolences on the recent death of my mother. Again, this was very much appreciated. Liz Pottinger.

4 www.colnechurches.com Wed 2nd 9.30 am Earls Colne 7.15 pm EC Baptist

Sun 6th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am 10.30 am White Colne Wed 9th 9.30 am Colne Engaine Sun 13th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am Colne Engaine Wed 16th 9.30 am Earls Colne Sun 20th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am Colne Engaine 10.300 am White Colne 6.30 pm Online Wed 23rd 9.30 am Earls Colne Sun 27th 10.00 am Earls Colne #

3.00 pm Earls Colne

Wed 30th 9.30 am Earls Colne

# - streamed on Zoom and The Three Colnes Facebook Page Morning Prayer - Mondays and Saturdays at 9.00 am on The Three Colnes Facebook Page.

Most mobile phones and other devices will connect automatically to the free Wi-Fi, but if not then look up settings and Wi-Fi and County Broadband should be displayed. Click on and you should connect. www.colnechurches.com 5 100 Years Anniversary of the Dedication of the Earls Colne War Memorial On the 26th June 1921 the village of Earls Colne got together to remember the fallen in our Wars by dedicating the War Memorial situated near St Andrew’s Church. To mark this significant anniversary we will gather again, at the War Memorial for a Rededication Service at 3 pm on Sunday 27th June followed by refreshments in the Village Hall. We are delighted that we will be joined by some of the descendants of people who were part of this event 100 years ago. Keep an eye on our website: (www.colnechurches.com) and the Parish Council website for details: (www.earlscolne.org)

Essex Villages Puzzle by Gareth Millar Can you re-arrange each of the following blocks of letters to reveal the names of six villages? 1. YJU CL TIL ARE BUR XTA 2. ODE TER GO AS 3. NGH STL AM EHE CA 4. OU AMO CH RNH BU NCR 5. KEN BYL KIR ESO 6. RDE AYE YE LAH LA (Answers below)

Essex Villages Answers

4. Burnham on Crouch 5. Kirby le Soken 6. Layer de la Haye la de Layer 6. Soken le Kirby 5. Crouch on Burnham 4.

2. Good Easter 3. Castle Hedingham Castle 3. Easter Good 2. 1. Tilbury juxta Clare juxta Tilbury 1.

6 www.colnechurches.com Can you sing or play an instrument (even a shaker or tambourine)? Now that we returning to our church buildings for many of our services, we are looking to put together a worship band which will help lead the music once a month in one of our three churches across The Three Colnes. If this interests you and you want to find out more please contact Revd Mark – [email protected] / 01787 220347

a. the sound of squeaking shoes b. a dunce or idiot c. to be half-drunk a. changeable or uncertain b. being in a dangerous position c. inclined to be irritable and grumbling a. stout, of large circumference b. displaying like a bird c. venturesome and in high spirits *******************

b. a strange, unexplained noise a. Looking faint or sick b. To stagger like a drunken person

www.colnechurches.com 7 Earls Colne Heritage Museum

The Harvard Connection Some more yellow signs have appeared on the lamp posts between and . This batch directs potential house-buyers to “Harvard Place”, the new development on the west side of Station Road. A press release from the developers explained that the name was chosen to commemorate a type of aircraft used by American forces during the War and still operating at our local flying club. However, regular readers of this magazine may remember that there is an even stronger historical link between Earls Colne and America’s oldest university: two of its founding trustees were former residents of our village. In 1635 Roger Harlakenden, the Lord of the Manor’s younger brother, chartered a ship called “The Defence” to take himself, his sister Mabel and a group of other emigrants to New . Mabel was to become the wife of Governor John Haynes and Roger established himself as a leading commander of the colony’s militia. Another of the passengers on the ship was a young clergyman, the Reverend Thomas Shepard, whose Puritan views were too radical for him to obtain a parish appointment. Instead, he became an assistant Master at Earls Colne Grammar School. Although not licensed to take part in regular services, he was allowed to “lecture” in the church to parishioners who wished to hear him. Unfortunately for Thomas, that arrangement was not to the liking of the Bishop of London, William Laud, who summoned him to a stormy interview and, according to Shepard’s own diary account, thundered at him: “You prating coxcomb! Do you think all learning is in your head? I charge that you neither preach, read, marry, bury nor exercise any ministerial function in my Diocese; for if you do and I hear about it, I’ll be on your back and follow you wherever you go in any part of the kingdom, and so everlastingly disenable you.” William Laud

8 www.colnechurches.com So, unable to follow his vocation anywhere in England, Thomas Shepard joined the community at Newtown (Cambridge), Massachusetts. There, another Essex fugitive, the Revd Thomas Hooker, had become the Pastor. Shepard married Thomas Hooker’s daughter and eventually succeeded his father-in-law as Pastor of the town. Realising that the New England colony could not rely on the continued arrival of trained ministers of religion, leading members of the community resolved to establish their own college, modelled on those of Oxford and Cambridge. The original charter of Harvard University, dated 1637, names Thomas Shepard and Roger Harlakenden among its founder Governors. In his biography of Shepard’s father-in-law, Deryck Collingwood wrote: “The Massachusetts Ministers boasted in their ranks some of English universities’ finest minds, Thomas Shepard versed in the learning and culture which places like in later life Earls Colne fostered every inch of the pilgrim way” The congregation at Earls Colne must have suspected divine retribution when William Laud, by then Archbishop of Canterbury, was executed on dubious charges of treason in 1654. The Revd Ralph Josselin gloated in his Diary: “The Archbishop, that grand enemy of the poor of godliness, that stickler for all outward pomp in the service of God, left his head at Tower Hill by ordinance of Parliament.” It is clear that Thomas Shepard had not been forgotten in Earls Colne. When Ralph Josselin heard that Thomas was organising missions to convert the Native American tribes to Christianity he wrote: “I resolve to give £5… towards the propagating the Gospel to the Indians.” So successful were his fund-raising efforts that the parish accumulated the large sum of £54 for the cause, almost three-quarters of the annual amount due to be paid in tithes. Perhaps we could drop a hint that a future housing development in the village might adopt the name of Thomas Shepard to go along with Harvard Place. David Brown www.colnechurches.com 9 The following is a sermon I delivered to the congregation at St Andrew’s Colne Engaine on 25th April which was the 4th Sunday in Easter. It is on the sensitive but topical subject of racial injustice. This may not be quite so visible in our rural communities, but it is a matter that affects many communities in our country and our diocese. For that reason, my aim, and that of the Diocese of Chelmsford Racial Justice Task Group, is to raise awareness. Whilst racial injustice is currently our focus, raising awareness of injustice of all kinds goes without saying. So if you would like to explore this further in anyway, please do not hesitate to contact me or Rev Mark. ~~~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~~~ “Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is commonly known as Good Shepherd Sunday, as you could probably tell from our reading from St John’s gospel. It is also Vocations Sunday, a time when we try to encourage those thinking of, or feeling they have a call to ministry to explore further what that call might be.” Those were the words I spoke this time last year, online, though Easter 4 was in May 2020. And funny enough, the text from John that I read this morning (John 10:11-18), is the continuation of the text set for last year. I could so easily preach the same sermon as I did last Vocations Sunday, when I shared my vocational journey to ordination. But today, I am going to talk about a different kind of vocation; the vocation I believe we all have; the vocation of all God’s people in all places. The vocation for which ordination, licensing, authorisation or any kind of singling out or public acknowledgement is not required. When we speak of a vocation, we usually have in mind the definition of a job or occupation to which someone is particularly suited or qualified or have an inclination to do. In theological terms, the definition of a vocation is the calling of an individual by God, especially to a religious career. But I believe Jesus calls us all to a different kind of vocation when he commands us to love each other in the same way he loves us. The way he as the shepherd loves us his sheep.

10 www.colnechurches.com During this past week four things have happened that are key to this vocation I am talking about. ● On Monday (19th April), there was the BBC Panorama programme asking ‘Is the Church of England racist ?’ - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000vc34 ● On Wednesday (20th April), Derek Chauvin was found guilty of George Floyd’s murder ● Thursday (22nd April) was the day we remembered the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence ● And the same day Thursday (22nd April), The Archbishop’s Anti-Racism Task Force report was published - https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021- 04/FromLamentToAction-report.pdf In a way, for me at least, a very emotional, sobering and challenging week. A week in which some have been jumping for joy, some in tears, others cringing behind the sofa, and others feeling a deep sense of pain, grief and shame. A week when we as a country and others across the world have had to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves: ‘Is this loving my neighbour?’. Perhaps even a week where some have asked: ‘What’s all the fuss about?’ The context of this morning’s gospel is Jesus talking to the Pharisees. He had just restored sight to a man blind from birth, and the Jewish rulers were questioning Jesus’ actions. The healing took place on the Sabbath, and the man and his parents were being interrogated on the incident, even being expelled from the Synagogue. Jesus was in essence putting their hats on straight, highlighting the corruption of the Jewish leaders in the evil and harm they were causing the people; acting like thieves and robbers rather than protective shepherds. www.colnechurches.com 11 But Jesus also said, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” In those days if you were not Jewish, you were considered a Gentile, irrespective of your nationality, ethnicity or belief. So it was just Jews and Gentiles. Jesus, speaking to the Jews said there were others not of the Jewish fold, that he is there to protect and care for. So Jesus is the loving, caring and protective shepherd of one flock. One human race, as one of our Bishops put it; “We should not consider ourselves as different races, but one human race.” So the way we treat others or allow others to be treated, is the way we wish to be treated ourselves. If this is negative, as it is with racial injustice, we are giving others permission to treat us negatively, without regard to us as part of the one human race; the one flock Jesus calls us to be and for which he laid down his life. I therefore believe that our vocation as followers of Christ - as people redeemed by his sacrifice, as people who, even if you don’t believe in Christ have the desire to be treated fairly, respectfully, on merit and with love - our vocation is to love each other as Jesus loves us. To stand up for each other, for what is right, and fair and just. To be respectful, encouraging, supportive and loving. To acknowledge there is prejudice in our society. To speak into the silence of that prejudice and injustice and make our voices heard. To address the ignorance that perpetuates the evil that is racism. To cast out the fear that stops us from making a difference, that stops us listening to those who are hurt, marginalised and in pain and stops them from speaking. To admit the hypocrisy of ourselves and others when we do nothing. To pay attention to power: who has it, who hasn’t and how that power is used or misused. And to love as Jesus loves us. This is our vocation to which we are particularly suited, qualified and called. How so? This from the first letter of [1] John 3:16-24

12 www.colnechurches.com “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.”

The question for us today is, do we have the inclination to follow this vocation?

Would you, or would someone you know, like a visit from a member of our pastoral care team? The team members are: Mrs. Beryl Amy 01787 223486 Mr. Terry Hawthorn 01787 223140

Earls Colne Church could benefit from your online shopping! www.easyfundraising.org.uk See the Editorial page for further details. Marmalade and Chutney Available! Contact Beryl on 01787 223486, or have a word with Helen Sherfield or Margaret Hill at Church. BERYL’S MARMALADE Proceeds to Earls Colne Church Funds. www.colnechurches.com 13 St Andrew's Church Centre, Parsonage Street, Halstead. CO9 2LD Mondays 10 to 2 (except Bank Holidays) General Enquiries 01376 330694 E-mail [email protected] https://braintreearea.foodbank.org.uk/ for your continuing support during the Corona Virus crisis. Your generous donations enable us to work towards a future where there is no longer a need for Foodbanks. We are pleased to report that, as a result of your fantastic support,

● Sugar (500g) are made up of specific food groups so that those in need have enough food for at lease nine meals. We ask for small packs as larger packs do not fit in our boxes, making it difficult for our clients to carry home. We are also unable (for hygiene reasons) to split large size or catering packs. pasta, pasta sauce, biscuits, rice, fish, soup, baked beans, baby food and cereals. that when you donate food you’ve bought in Tesco and put it in their collection point, Tesco will provide a cash top-up? Only food purchased from Tesco qualifies though, so to maximise the benefit to the food bank if you shop at Tesco, use their collection boxes rather than dropping off your donations elsewhere. (these help with running costs) if you prefer or Supermarket Gift Cards. We can only accept donations of unopened and undamaged goods that are still well within their “use by” date (no less than six months if possible). Items which do not meet these requirements cannot be used and your donation may be wasted.

14 www.colnechurches.com Thank you for your wonderful support for our Rogation walks last month. Despite the changeable weather I think everybody enjoyed them very much. So, from this month a change to my usual detailed description of a local walk. I will give a briefer description and on the second Saturday of the month Ray has volunteered to lead a Walk-About group on that walk. This month it will be on Saturday June 12th, leaving from St Andrew’s Earls Colne at 09:30. Walks will be in the 4-to-6-mile range (unless there are special requests for longer ones) and hopefully Covid restrictions will enable us to recover with tea/coffee and biscuits in the church on our return! Our first physical walk will be to another local wood – Aldercar Wood – just to the north of Colne Park. Much less visited than Chalkney woods but equally impressive, much quieter and ‘less managed’, so a more natural environment. The route to Aldercar woods across Colne Park is picturesque but more often than not you will encounter fields with cattle, so we will approach from a different direction. Going round the Colne Valley Golf Course (or down the path to the iron bridge if it is open), then along the old railway line to the first exit on your left, then following the path to the bends on Mill Lane. Taking the path off the bend just above the mill we will cross the course of the mill stream and follow the path between it and the garden fence. Further on we will come to the point where the mill stream leaves the Peb and a cascade takes the latter down to its crossing at the bridge further down Mill Lane. Turning right after the next stile we will cross the field on the diagonal path and then follow the right-hand field edge hedge, to cross another path and take the stile that leads to a path through trees and then between some houses. Finally, we exit onto Lawshall’s Hill, almost opposite the track up to Home Farm, we will take this track for a short distance and then enter the woods where the path almost immediately crosses a small stream. The main path does not venture too deeply into the woods, but you will www.colnechurches.com 15 see and hear many wonders of nature at her busiest. A visit here at sunrise will repay the effort a thousand times over! We will take the path from the wood to the Bures Road, then turning left, we will unfortunately have to follow the road for a short distance passing Berewyk Hall, then turning left onto Boley Road towards White Colne church. Maybe we will grab a short break while enjoying the views from the churchyard. Refreshed we will follow the paths straight down the two next fields, passing under the pylons on the way, to then cross the old railway line (much less visible or obvious here) and then down onto the footway beside the A1124, almost opposite the van sales garage. Turning right we will follow the path up to the entrance to Chalkney Mill and crossing here follow it down to the riverside path back to Earls Colne. An interesting option at the end of this walk is to carry on past Chalkney Mill, instead of taking the riverside path, and spend some time in Chalkney woods to make it a two woods walk! This walk is just under six miles and besides a few stiles the going is quite easy, light/bright or high visibility clothing may be a good idea for the road walking section though. Hopefully, some better weather and dryer conditions will be with us in June. If so, many walkers will be thinking of changing from boots to trainers, but this year more than any I feel it is best to stick with boots for the additional ankle support. The long-wet winter has left many paths very deeply rutted, as the Essex clay dries out they will become solid ridges, ready to twist your ankle at the slightest opportunity. Investing in a lightweight pair of boots for summer walking may save a lot of lost walking time while waiting for an injury to heal. Another little piece of advice is, if you stop for more than just a few minutes, take your boots off, not only do your feet get the chance to cool down, but you can re-tie them when resuming, ensuring they are comfortable again if they may have loosened during the walk. If you want to join Ray for the guided version of this walk contact [email protected] or by phone/text on 07734450221. The format isn’t finalised so your suggestions on different times, starting points, walking distances and anything else will be more than welcome for the future of our Walk-About Group Stay safe and enjoy your Walk-Abouts. Christopher Walker 16 www.colnechurches.com We are often advised to take time out ‘in nature’ for its restorative and restful effect. When on my daily walk, I often stop by an oak tree on the edge of a small wood I call my ‘listening tree’: I take time to listen to bird song, the sound of the wind, water dripping from leaves. But this morning I heard one bird (a chiff chaff? great tit? *) that seemed to be singing ‘tick tock tick tock tick tock tick’- reminding me of all the jobs I had to do and that I needed to hurry up and start them. Not at all restful! The benefits of green spaces and fresh air are, however, indisputable and everyone I know in this village comments on how fortunate we are to be living in such a beautiful, rural part of the country. On ‘Dawn Chorus Day’, Sunday 2nd May this year, we got up before 5 am so we could be out before sunrise to listen to the birds; their twittering and chattering surely has more meaning than most tweets on Twitter. We saw the sun rise higher, glowing gold, and watched four hares racing around a field. Skylarks soared singing above the field into a clear blue sky. I’m sure everyone reading this knows how to care for their natural environment: it won’t be someone from Colne Engaine (Earls Colne or White Colne - Ed.) who drops fast-food cartons and coffee cups out of their car window (does someone drive here from MacDonald’s just to litter our verges?). We know you have to keep to footpaths, close gates after us, and at this time of year take care not to disturb nesting birds and to keep dogs on leads when around livestock. The guidance offered by the Countryside Code has been updated, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code but the basic rules remain the same. Respect the land, the wildlife, and the people whose livelihood depends on the countryside. If we’re fortunate enough to have a garden, we also care for our own little patch of ‘nature’, maybe leaving room for wildlife among the flowerbeds, vegetable patch and manicured lawns. (Some people may manicure their lawns: more and more of ours is only mown a couple of times a year.) I read a column in the weekend paper by someone who was trying to be ‘mindful’ on her daily walk: ‘Idly, I stood in the nature’, she wrote. It seemed an odd phrase, but often you hear journalists and others talking www.colnechurches.com 17 of being in, or going into, ‘nature’ as though it’s somewhere to visit, a place to take photos of before returning home. It sounds as though ‘Nature’ is something other, apart from us, but we are ourselves natural creatures, with a place in the whole natural world, and unless we acknowledge that, and accept our responsibility to the rest of the natural world, from the great oceans and its whales to the bugs in the soil beneath our feet, we are destined to destroy what we claim to love. Cate Gunn * I found the answer to my question ‘Great Tit or Chiff Chaff?’ on Radio 3 at 7.45, Sunday morning. Every week there is a guide to birdsong at that time, and on 9th May the guide was how to distinguish the songs of these two birds. If you want to listen to these guides (made so easy and interesting by the enthusiasm of Lucy Hodson), search for ‘Radio 3 birdsong’ or follow this link and enjoy the beautiful music of the birds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/34jF1nwh8Z32sbB92d H23yf/a-beginner-s-guide-to-identifying-birdsong-this-spring

You’ve heard of Book Club . . . now comes Film Club ● Do you enjoy films? ● Do you enjoy meeting new people? ● Do you enjoy having a natter? If you’ve answered yes to one or more of the above, why not come along to our inaugural Film (Discussion) Club? The only obligation is to watch the film at your leisure and come ready to discuss it in the company of others whilst enjoying the hospitality of one of the gems of our community. The Film - (known to be available on and ) The Discussion - Wednesday 9th June 2021 gather at 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start The Where - The Five Bells, Colne Engaine For more information or to book your place, contact Sharon Quilter at [email protected]

18 www.colnechurches.com June 1921

EARLS COLNE Sunday School The arrangements for the excursion to Clacton on Thursday, June 23rd are now complete. Two motor buses, and two small brakes will leave the Church Room at 9.0 a.m., taking 96 children, 43 Teachers, and Parents for what we hope will be a very pleasant outing. Tea will be served at the Brunswick Hotel 4 p.m., and the party will leave Clacton about 7 p.m. A very generous response was made to the appeal for funds, the sum collected amounting to over £18. We are most grateful to the subscribers, to Miss Wenden, and Mr. Cuthbert for so kindly undertaking the collection, and to Mr. Bonner who was good enough to act as hon. secretary, of the sub-committee appointed by the Church Council.

COLNE ENGAINE A site has been fixed for the Memorial to the Late Mr. George Courtauld. It is, as has been announced, to consist of a Village Hall, and is to be erected at the cost of Miss Courtauld. It will be gratifying to all to see the name of one so honoured, perpetuated in our midst. A Pilgrim age of Prayer A few women with the permission of the Bishop of the Diocese and your Rector, are coming to your Parish on a Pilgrimage of Prayer. This means that by Prayer and short Talks we shall try to learn together more about the Saviour. We need to do so at this time of national anxiety. The Pilgrims will ask for humble lodging for three nights. They ask that they may be invited to the very simplest meals in the cottages. They hope to walk from parish to parish and that some of their fellow communicants will meet them on arrival. They will not bring eloquence or great learning, but only the Call to Prayer. www.colnechurches.com 19 WHITE COLNE The Library Annual subscriptions to the Library are due to be paid this month. G.F.S. Several members of the G.F.S. (Girls’ Friendly Society - Ed.) kindly undertook to weed the Churchyard path, and did the work thoroughly. Many thanks to them. Holy Communion with Intercession for the G.F.S. will be celebrated on Sunday the 19th at 11 a.m. Two Pilgrims in connection with a “Pilgrimage of Prayer” will visit this Parish on Monday the 13th. 11th June 1921 – The funeral of Mrs. M. A. Hills, wife of Mr. Henry F. Hills of Chalkney, took place at the Friends' Burial ground, Earls Colne, on Friday afternoon last, and was attended by a large gathering of relatives and neighbours. The coffin, covered with a number of floral wreaths, was placed on a carpeted space in the Meeting House, where a service was held, at which Mr. Howard Nicholson, a minister of the Society of Friends, spoke feelingly, afterwards offering up a prayer. The coffin was then borne to the graveside, where Mr. William Baker, another of the Society's ministers, offered a prayer, and gave the benediction. Some sympathetic lines of poetry written by a friend were read over the open grave at the close.

The Essex Church News – June 1921 News of the Diocese The Bishop of Colchester's Visitation, which was to have taken place during the second week in May, was cancelled in consequence of the reduction in the train service on account of the coal stoppage. A “Home-Made” War Memorial St. Paul's Church, Accrington, possesses a “home-made” war memorial – an oak reredos, erected to the memory of thirty-two men of the parish who were killed in the war. The Vicar, the Rev. F. Torr, who was an architect before taking Holy Orders, designed it, and one of the churchwardens, Mr. R. P. Townley, made it. The reredos is in the Perpendicular style; the names of the fallen are carved on the side panels Liz Pottinger. 20 www.colnechurches.com Research tells us that young people’s mental health has really suffered as result of the COVID 19 pandemic and the disruption to everyday life that it has caused. It is vital as we move forward for young people to be given opportunities to understand how to take care of their mental health both now and in the future. At Explore we believe with your help we can be part of the solution. Healthy long-term relationships are associated with good physical and mental wellbeing throughout our lives, how can young people learn the skills they need when they may not have positive examples around them? Through the media they are often exposed to relationships between celebrities which are portrayed as short-lived with acrimony and tension not providing them with the healthy role models they need. For the last 20 years Explore Relationships has worked in schools to empower young people to explore what it takes to create and sustain happy, healthy and loving long-term relationships. Our sessions provide a unique opportunity to explore the realities of lasting relationships in today’s world. We work with real-life volunteer couples who share their stories with young people, enabling them to think differently about love, commitment, and long-term relationships. During our sessions our volunteer couple alongside our trained facilitator ● Counteract negative or unrealistic media portrayals of relationships to help young adults understand what real relationships are like. ● Provide hope to young adults that healthy, happy and loving relationships do exist, and they too can have this type of relationship in the future. ● Help young adults recognise that all relationships, romantic or otherwise, require time and effort, that experiencing challenges is part of life, but these can be overcome. www.colnechurches.com 21 So, could you be one of our Volunteer Couples? We are looking for married couples from all backgrounds including divorced and remarried or same-sex to use their experiences to support our sessions. As a Volunteer Couple, you will spend time together with groups of around 30 young people where you will answer their questions about your experiences within your own relationship. We are not seeking the "perfect couple" - in fact, you may be on a second or third marriage, or have faced and overcome significant challenges together. We have found that young people respond best to couples who are prepared to share what they have learnt, are open, honest and, most importantly, authentic. We asked one of our couples Kim and Steve what they get out of being an Explore Couple? They said: We get an immense sense of satisfaction from being Explore Volunteers. We want young people to be as prepared as possible to cope with their future close relationships and to have the skills they need to deal with the inevitable issues that they will face. It is important that young people realise that difficulties can pull you together rather than tear you apart, so an honest chat with people who have coped with life's challenges and survived, will help them look at their own relationships more realistically, and will help them see that real life can be more satisfying than the Media portrayals of what the 'perfect marriage' is all about. If you would be interested in helping young people explore what it takes to build and sustain those long term, healthy relationships please contact your Essex Local Development Officer on [email protected] or call 0784 3207505. Rose Abrehart, Local Development Officer, Explore Relationships

THE KEVIN JOLLEY QUAKER MEETING HOUSE HOUSE, LOFT, SHED & GARAGE EARLS COLNE CLEARANCE is available for hire. Fully licensed waste carrier A warm and friendly venue for leisure PROPERTY MAINTENANCE and educational groups, tea parties, Painting, Decorating, Repairs etc. children's parties and alcohol free events. Tel: 01787 469355 £10.00 per hour Mobile: 07798 785559 Please call 01787 222993 for details.

22 www.colnechurches.com EDITORIAL NOTE Articles for the Parish Magazine from individuals or village organisations are always welcome! ● Copy may be emailed to: [email protected] or delivered to: 11 Morleys Road, Earls Colne ● Copy deadline: 4th of each month ● To subscribe to the Magazine, please contact: Sue de Berry (tel: 01787 222804) ● To advertise in the Magazine, please contact: Mervyn Rudkins (tel: 01787 222882 or email [email protected]) Advertisements in the Parish Magazine • Our Magazine goes out to over 300 homes in the area • The fees for 2021 (for 12 copies) are: Earls Colne/White Colne: From Outside Area: £ £ ½ Page 120.00 130.00 ¼ Page 60.00 65.00 ⅛ Page 30.00 32.50 ● Please send your new copy to: Mervyn Rudkins, 8 Road, Earls Colne, Colchester. CO6 2JP or email to [email protected] ● Please make cheques payable to: Earls Colne PCC. Just imagine . . . Earls Colne Church benefiting from your online shopping! Huge numbers of online shops such as Amazon, Viking and insurance companies will donate a percentage of your total shopping bill to your chosen charity. All you need to do is access your online shops through a designated website who will donate the percentage to St Andrew’s Church, Earls Colne. What next? 1. Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk 2. Register as a user selecting Church of St Andrew, Earls Colne as your chosen charity 3. Find your chosen retailer in the listings 4. Start shopping, knowing you are benefiting the Church. Remember to add the site to your favourites and don’t forget to use it! 5. Please tell others . . . www.colnechurches.com 23 The Halstead Area Team Ministry (The Parishes of Halstead, , Gosfield, Earls Colne, White Colne, Colne Engaine, , Gestingthorpe. Great Maplestead and Little Maplestead) Team Rector: The Revd Katie de Bourcier [email protected] 01787 478471 Team Vicars: The Revd Mark Payne [email protected] 01787 220347 The Revd Beverley Vincent [email protected] 07944 200132 Associate Priest: The Revd Rose Braisby 01245 361927 Priest: The Revd Hugh Mothersole 01787 222211 Team Curates: The Revd Sharon Quilter [email protected] The Revd Joanne Parrott [email protected] To find out more about the Halstead Area Team Ministry, visit the Team website: www.halsteadchurches.co.uk

Worship Through Your Phone Available 24 hours a day BCP Holy Communion with Revd Rose: 01376 317669 (less than 1p per minute).

24 www.colnechurches.com Churches of St. Andrew, Earls Colne & White Colne Who’s Who 2021 Team Vicar: The Revd Mark Payne [email protected] 01787 220347 Team Curate: The Revd Sharon Quilter [email protected] Priest: The Revd Hugh Mothersole 01787 222211 Churchwardens:

Mr. Ray Wood [email protected] 01787 224140 Ms. Helen Sherfield [email protected] 01787 222526

Mr. Christopher Chamberlain 01787 222200 PCC Secretaries:

Ms. Caroline Smith [email protected]

Mrs. Jacquie Church PCC Treasurers:

Mrs. Helen Brooks [email protected]

Mrs. Sally Scobie 01787 227915 Parish Magazine:

Ms. Sue de Berry 01787 222804

Mrs. Juanita White-Thomson 01787 222403 Mrs. Margaret Hill 01787 223843 Mr. Mervyn Rudkins 01787 222882 Church Choir (Earls Colne): Mr. Bret Johnson 01787 227988 Bell Ringers (Earls Colne): Mr. Trevor Beadle [email protected] 01787 223611 Sunday School (Earls Colne): Ms. Helen Sherfield 01787 222526 Church Cleaning (Earls Colne): Mr. Brian Hayward 01787 222706 Seekers and Bible Study Notes: Mrs. Ann Norris 01787 222015 www.colnechurches.com 25 ANGLICAN SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS Membership £20 per annum /3 magazines per. annum ��Made to order for any occasion. Web-site sermons, book reviews, prayers, services etc A Christian organisation born of the Anglican church in 1970 ��I have 30 years’ experience of we believe animals are sentient beings, created and valued by cooking for people. God. Many are exploited for human use and often subject to appalling cruelty. Three quarters of viruses emanate from ��I have a Health and Hygiene factory farming/exploitation of animals. Certificate. Following the Anglican Churches’ stated mission, we ‘Strive ��Will deliver locally. to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth’. Please call me for a quote on www.aswa.org.uk . Tel: 01252 843093 or E-mail: [email protected]

Gardening & General Would you like to place Maintenance Services an advert in this space? Phone Mervyn Rudkins on 01787 222882 or email 8 High Street, Earls Colne [email protected] Mobile: 07464 315278 Email: [email protected] See the Editorial page Follow us on Facebook and instagram for details of our prices. 26 www.colnechurches.com EDWARD PRESTON GRSM, ARCM, Dip Ed. PIANIST & TEACHER All age groups taught – currently from 4 to 84 years old. Piano as well as Music Theory Grades 1-8, GCSE, 'AS' & 'A' Music and Diploma Level (01787) 829843 or 07805310486 [email protected] Call or email to make an initial enquiry/ preliminary meeting.

��All Interior and Exterior Work Undertaken ��Specialist in Period & Listed Properties ��Wallpaper Hanging to the Highest Standards ��Restoration of Ornate Cornices & Ceiling Roses ��References Available ��Fully Insured Contact: Jeff Macdonald Tel: 07778 031505 - 01787 224674 Email: [email protected] www.jmac-interiors.co.uk