CHURCH ALIVE! Swanage Parish Magazine

www.swanageteam.com

www.salisbury.anglican.org

1 To advertise in CHURCH ALIVE!

please contact the Parish Secretary Mrs. Karon Quirey Parish Office, St. Mary’s Rooms (421117) email: [email protected]

2 Team Rector The Very Revd Dr John Mann The Rectory, 12 Church Hill Swanage BH19 1HU 01929 422916 email: [email protected]

Team Vicar - Vacancy For matters relating to All Saints' contact: Tim Silk, Cosy Cottage, Ulwell, Swanage, BH19 3DG (423931 or 07708 668357) email:[email protected] or, the Team Rector (see above)

Assistant Curate - Revd Solveig Sonet Tel: 07367 785634 Email: [email protected] 27 Bell Street, Swanage, BH19 2RY Resident Priest - Revd Tony Higgins (Responsible for St Nicholas Church Studland) The Old School House, School Lane, Studland BH19 3AJ (450691) email: [email protected] Youth Minister – Berno Vierbergen 31 Jubilee Road, Swanage BH19 2SE [email protected]

Director of Music (St Mary’s) - Simon Lole Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07888 653529 Verger (St. Mary’s) - Mr Ray Davis 3 Hobourne Park, Swanage. 07887389982 Email: [email protected]

Parish Secretary – Mrs. Karon Quirey Parish Office, St. Mary’s Rooms (421117) email: [email protected] Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Fridays: 9.00 am - 4.00 pm; Lunch: 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm

‘Church Alive!’ Parish Magazine Editor – Mrs. Jane Cooper Dinosaur Footprints, 21 Townsend Road, Swanage BH19 2PU (423591) email: [email protected]

‘Church Alive!’ Distribution Manager – Mrs. Karon Quirey Parish Office, St. Mary’s Rooms (421117) 3 ST MARY’S DIARY FOR OCTOBER 2021

Saturday 2nd 2.30-3.13pm Visiting bellringers

Sunday 3rd 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Choral Eucharist and Harvest Festival - gifts for Swanage Food Bank gratefully accepted 6.30pm Choral Evensong

Sunday 10th 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm Choral Evensong

Sunday 17th 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm Choral Evensong

Saturday 23rd 3.15-4pm Visiting bellringers

Sunday 24th 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm Choral Evensong

Monday 25th 7.30pm Purbeck Film Festival

Friday 29th 4.00pm Wedding rehearsal

Saturday 30th 1.00pm Wedding: Nicholas Cary & Alice Dorrington

Sunday 31st 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Choral Eucharist 6.30pm A Service in Which to Remember

4 The Assistant Curate writes

What the curate did this summer:

Like probably most of you, it had been a very long time since I had actually gone away on a real holiday. Switched off, left the house, and drove off somewhere far from home. So after a year and half of ‘holidays-stuck-at-home’ (or staycation as they say), it was such a treat to pack my bags, my tent, and sleeping bag, and set off to meet a few friends in field somewhere up north.

Usually at the end of August I would be attending a huge Christian art and activism gathering called Greenbelt Festival. This year, we didn’t much hope it would be going ahead, but we were still treated to a much smaller scale gathering, and without the usual hundreds of line-ups. One thing I had forgotten however, is how bitterly cold the nights can get in the countryside even in summer. Thankfully, vegan food trucks and endless cups of coffee, and quite a few G&Ts, kept us going. We were blessed with dry weather throughout, sitting outside the now famous ‘Jesus Arms’ pub, popped up in the middle of the field. Our hearts were warmed up by delightful and hilarious poetry and singing from Harry Baker and Chris (check them out they are utterly brilliant! www.harryandchris.com). Our inner activists were ignited by the famous Grace Petrie and her protest songs (check her out too, she too is utterly brilliant! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2DEs2mKd4Ct0FlcTiAjUA).

All in all it was such a brilliant time of gathering with beautiful folks from around the country. Seeing friends I hadn’t seen face to face since before the pandemic. But mostly this warm fuzzy feeling you get when God’s people are gathered to show their love to God by loving and affirming each other. All this best summed up by the dad in the tent next to us, Robin Message, who read us his poem as we were packing our tents away. (check his webpage for more of his poems www.justlyspoken.wordpress.com)

5 They don’t lock the toilet roll holders at Greenbelt The caravan of love is just a guy who loves the festival and offered up his caravan No wristbands are checked Even southerners converse with strangers

We are Greenbelt The whole field is our communion table The whole weekend our service of Thanksgiving, of community, of inclusion and justice and peace and love

We sound like a bunch of unwashed hippies in a field And, to be fair, some of us are But there are bishops and pilgrims Goths, poets Activists, penitents Church-goers of all stripes And those left with stripes of spiritual abuse on their backs

They don’t lock the toilet roll holders at Greenbelt They don’t lock you up in a Bible either You might hear something other than a middle class, straight, cis, white man’s interpretation of it. This is our place to think, to question, to believe To doubt And to hope the stronger for it

So ignore those who call us heretics Who question our orthodoxy, our theology

6 Who question us for questioning all that should be questioned Who question if Greenbelt is even Christian anymore

God is here In the smile of a stranger, the tears of a friend God is here In a long devotion and a passing conversation God is here And certainly meets us in this bright field

They don’t lock the toilet roll holders at Greenbelt This is a retreat, a sanctuary From churches where questions of belief and identity Become pointed This is a school, a trade show A party political broadcast For the kingdom of God

And as the music starts up again They might call us Faithless But this is my church This is where I heal my hurts For tonight God is a DJ Mixing labour-supporting folk music With Palestinian protest songs And soft acoustic guitars Played over her children.

7 Regular Sunday services

8.00 am: Holy Communion 9.00 am: Breakfast @ 9 10.30 am: Family Worship (also live streamed - not on first Sunday of month) www.allsaints-swanage.org

All Saints Calendar

Alpha & B@9 Prayer Thursdays at 9.15am in the Quiet Room Morning Prayer Monday to Friday at 8.15am in church Art Workshop Friday mornings from 10am Churches Together Tuesday 9am - ecumenical, community prayer Monday Prayer 7pm - either in church or on Zoom House Groups Contact Tim if you would like to join a group Coffee Pot Thursdays from 10.30am

All Saints Notes

As we slowly, but surely, edge towards some semblance of post-lockdown normality, the calendar above begins to increase in the number of activities springing back to life. Breakfast @ 9 restarted on 5th September with 35 people attending. It is now running weekly with a break for a joint service at 10am on 3rd October so that we can celebrate harvest together.

Coffee Pot, too, is running again on Thursday mornings and the small eco group use this time to share together and to tend the church grounds. The Toddler group, which used to run on Thursday afternoons, is one of the things that will not be restarting allowing time and space, perhaps, for a new initiative to be birthed in the future.

We were very pleased to be able to welcome the Revd Canon Jonathan Triffitt, Director of Mission and Ministry in the Salisbury Diocese, to our services on 5th September. It was good to learn a little about his role in the diocese woven together with some teaching and insights into the familiar story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10 v38-42). At the time of writing, I am

8 awaiting confirmation that Jonathan will be returning to speak to us again sometime in December. It will be great to welcome him back if he is able to fit us into his busy schedule.

There is a possibility, too, that Daniel and Sarah, our CMS missionaries in Brazil, may be able to visit us in December/January, but this will depend on Covid related restrictions and it cannot be confirmed at this stage. This excerpt from their latest prayer letter pretty much sums up the dilemma. “We are meant to be coming back to the UK on 9th December which at the moment seems impossible as Brazil is on the red list and the price of the hotel has gone up. Please pray that God would do the impossible and make a way for us to come back.”

As mentioned in my previous article, Graham Else has placed a lovely new bench just outside of the hall at All Saints in memory of dear Moureen who died in January. We shared a special time dedicating the new bench at the B@9 restart on 5th September.

How on earth can a letter written 2000 years ago by a chap called Paul to a bunch of Christians in Corinth have any relevance for us today? Well, this is what we will be exploring together over the coming months as we delve into 1 Corinthians. Our new sermon series, beginning on 10th October, is entitled ‘Living for Christ in a Hostile World’ and we will be discovering that many of the issues which we face in the world today are remarkably similar to those faced by the people of Corinth. To borrow a quote (source unknown), the city of Corinth is described as ‘a pluralistic melting pot of cultures, philosophies, lifestyles and religions.’ Paul has numerous warnings for the recipients of his letter, including issues of morality, idolatry, unity and division. I am very much looking forward to hearing what our All Saints’ preachers have to say about some of these thorny issues! Tim Silk

9 St. Mark’s Diary October

3rd All Age Worship 10.00am 10th Holy Communion 10.00am 17th Holy Communion 10.00am 24th Holy Communion and Dedication service 10.00am

Prayer & Share: It is hoped to resume the meetings in church during October; when known, the dates will be published in the weekly Pew leaflet. Herston Community Coffee Mornings: October 7th & 21st, 10.30 until 12noon in the Church garden.

St Mark’s Notes

John Keats writes in the first line of his poem ‘To Autumn’, of ‘Season of mists and yellow fruitfulness’ which really sums up the days of late September and October. It is the season too of Harvest and the bountiful supply that is gathered each year, to celebrate what we are given so freely and without the thought that crops might fail, (though it seems this year for some home gardeners, reliable crops have failed, especially the harvesting of courgettes and runner beans), and how fortunate we are that food is always available in our markets and shops no matter the harvest yield. The Harvest Festival service at St. Mark’s was held on the last Sunday in September and the ‘Harvest donations’ of packaged and tinned food were given to the Swanage Food Bank as in previous years. Unfortunately, and as last year, it was felt by the church committee and churchwardens that the Harvest Supper should not take place this year as it would be difficult to ensure that all would be kept safe within a confined building.

At the church committee meeting in September, it was decided that face masks at the Sunday services would still be worn whilst attending church and safe distancing within church will continue. During the Holy Communion service, it was also agreed by the committee that participants should still continue to receive just the Host (wafer) in the pew where they are seated and to not share the wine from the communion cup (chalice). The order of service booklets during the service will now be used as will the new hymn

10 books but the singing of just two hymns will continue for the time being. Also, coffee after the church service will not be resumed as the Church room is too small to accommodate people safely. Concern was expressed by members of the committee of the continuing rise in infections of the virus but it was hoped that if circumstances change, the situation could be reviewed at the November committee meeting and with hope and prayer, the tentative plans for the Christmas services will then go ahead.

During the committee meeting, Marion Marchant who has led the Toddler Group at St. Mark’s for almost 12 year announced that with much regret and after much thought she has decided that she no longer wished to continue with the role of Leader. Marion explained that the future due to Covid is still uncertain, that at the present time the Group could not meet safely in the Church Room and as more Toddler groups had opened in the Herston area, ‘Mums (& Grandmas) and Toddlers’ would be well catered for. The church committee expressed their sincere thanks to Marion, especially for the dedication and the hard work she put into the role as Leader and where she was so valued by the many who took part in the ‘Toddler’ activities and who had ‘used’ the Group over the years. Thank you Marion.

On the last Sunday in October the Stained Glass Window in memory of Lilian Keats and Irene Makin and the new Votive Candle Stand in memory of Bill Penley will be dedicated during the service by Revd Andy Roberts; Lilian, Irene and Bill being long, committed and valued members of St. Mark’s Church during their lifetimes.

May we all continue to enjoy this ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ as we watch the leaves turn to gold, the last of the migrant birds leave, the hardy bumble bee continuing its search for nectar, the vibrant colours of autumn flowers over shadowing the dying foliage of plants and to be thankful for what God our Creator has given us; we have so much to enjoy and to be comforted by the beauty that surrounds us all.

Margaret Chinchen Churchwarden

11 St Nicholas Parish News Harvest has many connotations for us in Studland. We see the local farms bringing in their crops and gardeners celebrating their yields. Even the squirrel in our picture is benefitting from the Sunflowers growing in my neighbour’s garden. For us at St Nicholas we have benefitted from increased congregations as both the morning services and the Zoom services have flourished. In addition, St Nicholas has enjoyed being able to celebrate 9 weddings this year and the list for next year is significant with 12 weddings already booked. We are very grateful to all who help at weddings and especially Barbara our Church warden who carries much of the administration. Ian and Susie who have multi tasked being verger on alternate occasions together with David acting as bell ringer. We have also been able to have the choir return to lead our singing. The restrictions for Covid have resulted in a number of Baptisms being delayed and we hope by the end of the year to have Baptised at least 12 children.

Paul, Alfred, Thomas, and Beatrice It was a great joy to see Beatrice and Paul with their twins Alfred and Thomas when they visited Studland at the beginning of September. Many will remember Bea’s Grandparents Joyce and Clifford White. The whole family have had a long association with the Village.

We will celebrate Harvest in church at 10am on Sunday 3rd October followed by a Harvest Ploughman’s lunch kindly hosted by Julie and Steve Smith at Manor Farm tea rooms at 12.30 We continue to use Zoom for Services and meetings, and the addition of WIFI to the church will enable us to stream services as well as install a contactless terminal for giving. In an increasingly cashless society, we have found this necessary.

12 The current church lighting is effective but as the bulbs currently being used are coming to the end of their life they will be replaced with LEDs. These will improve brightness and significantly reduce our energy consumption. The church grounds continue to attract many compliments from residents and visitors alike. Terry is now being assisted by Alex and we are very grateful for the dedication they show to their work.

As a result of the pandemic the pattern of services continues to evolve. Morning prayer is proving very popular, and the return of the choir and congregational singing have lifted our worship, always joyful and we are thankful for this. The rota will show when morning prayer or a simple Holy communion are taking place.

Remembrance Sunday will take place on Sunday 14th November at 10.50. Recent events in Afghanistan remind us of the sacrifice made by our Armed Forces. Sacrifice sits at the heart of our Christian faith.

Plans are in place for a Christmas Carol service and a Christingle service. In addition to the Family service at 10am on Christmas Day there will be a Zoom service for those who are unable to attend church.

Continue to enjoy the Autumn season with its fruitfulness and promise of life reborn in the Spring.

From the Registers 11th September Wedding Tadius Jones and Jessica Drake

(Resident Priest)

13 All Souls - A Service at Which to Remember

A “Service at which to Remember” is held every year close to All Souls/All Saints-tide, and this year will be on Sunday 31st October at 6.30pm, assuming that we are still able to operate with the existing spacing of 1m apart.

This service means a lot to families who have lost loved ones particularly in the trying circumstances of recent lockdowns.

As in previous years we are inviting folk who would like to sign up on lists in our four churches, naming those for whom they would like to light a candle and have their names read out during the service.

There will be light refreshments following the service.

SWANAGE BLIND CLUB

When we can get together again, the Blind Club will resume its monthly afternoon gathering. We would welcome new members, and also another helper and drivers.

For further details, please get in touch with Pam Drelin, phone number 426136 Or me, on 421785. Thank you Peter Burtwell

14 St Mary’s Choir News

The start of September sees St Mary’s Choir back singing again after a very turbulent 18 months when we tried to carry on as much as we could, but obviously the lockdowns interrupted things considerably. But now restrictions are generally lifted we are cautiously back and singing our two Sunday services and Friday choir practice.

Our wonderful “Come and Sing” Evensongs – at which we welcome anyone who wishes to sing – will start again on Sunday 19th September with a rehearsal at 4pm and we have a very exciting list of guest directors who will lead the services on the third Sunday of the month. These became very popular and we are hoping to attract good numbers again. Please bring along your own refreshments for the break.

Our children’s choir, which had only been going for a while, is due to re-start at the end of September and we are planning to build on the encouraging foundations that we laid back 18 months ago. Any children from 7 upwards are welcome to join us at 5.45pm on a Friday. The children will join us at the Family Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month and again, hopefully, at the “Come and Sing” Evensongs.

We are also planning to start an ambitious “Choral Scholarship” scheme at St Mary’s in partnership with Bournemouth University. With thanks to a very generous benefactor, we are in a position to offer some scholarships for some young student singers to join us at choir during the academic year. This will give them some experience and training, as well as benefitting our current members.

Exciting times ahead for St Mary’s Choir.

Simon Lole September 2021

15 Monthly Letter From the Acting Bishop of Salisbury, Karen Gorham

I was delighted recently to be able to issue recommissioning certificates to those continuing to serve as Lay Worship Leaders, Lay Pastoral Assistants and Commissioned Lay Pioneers across the Diocese. We are grateful to all who play a part in the local church in this way, to assist in the leading of worship, visit those who are ill, co-ordinate baptism preparation, or bereavement care and work with those on the fringes of church life in faith sharing and outreach.

I am delighted too that this year we have an increased number of individuals embarking on training for Licensed Lay Ministry, and who have been licensed for that ministry. Our LLMs are key to the life of the local church as they lead in church and society, teach the faith and act as enablers of mission. As we think as a Diocese about Generous Giving it is gratifying to see so many offering their gifts to the church and that includes churchwardens, treasurers, and PCC Secretaries too.

It is so easy however to concentrate on what happens in and around the local church and forget the role that each person following God’s call plays in

16 their everyday life. The Christian contribution to education, farming, the health service, business, politics, social services, charity, local government, commerce, retail, leisure, and our local community is enormous as individuals play their part in being the person God calls each one of us to be in the places he has put us. This, as for those playing a part inside the church, takes courage and confidence to be people of faith in the world.

We are a diocese of disciples, and all need one another to encourage and support us in our day to day lives. So, this month let us not only give thanks for those serving in our churches, but intentionally pray for those amongst us who are called to live out their calling in the world. We all have opportunities to bring about change for good and by using our God given gifts, with the encouragement of each other and the power of prayer together we have what we need to further God’s work across the Diocese and beyond. +Karen

THE EXAMEN PRAYER

I thank God. I say to the Lord: I am content with what I am and have. Thank you for stars and universes, for mountains and oceans. Thank you for health and home and work, for those I love and those who love me. Thank you that I know Jesus Christ and am his—for the Church, and sacraments, and hope in eternal life. And thank you for this day. I ask for light. Let me see myself and my behaviour the way the Holy Spirit has been seeing me, who am God’s splendid creature, adopted and “set free in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). I look for God in my life. I ask what I have done for love—love of God, of others, and of myself. If I have decided to change a habit or to grow a virtue, I give myself an account. I face what’s wrong. I accept responsibility for what I have done or not done, rejoicing in the good and repudiating the bad. I do not blame circumstances, upbringing, or others. I determine what to do now. I see what I can do to love God better, grateful for what Jesus Christ is doing in me. I watch where the Spirit is leading me.

17 12th September saw the launch of our Diocesan Generous Giving Campaign.

As a Diocese, we want to transform our giving to reflect God's generosity to each and every one of us.

Throughout the Diocese, our parishes' finances have been affected by the pandemic and as we begin to return to worshipping in our buildings the Campaign allows us to look at why and how we give.

St Mary’s Parish Church West Moors is one of many joining the campaign, and the Revd Andy Muckle explains why he felt it was important for them to join in: "As I have reflected on Generous Giving and what it means to share our time, talents and treasures for the service of the Kingdom, one of my favourite quotes (from Dag Hammarskjold) comes back to me: “For all that has been thanks, For all that is to come, yes!”

"To me this is what it means to give generously and with the love of Christ in our hearts, to see what has come before and give thanks, and to look to the future with renewed hope."

Nigel Salisbury, Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance welcomed the launch saying: "The campaign is an important aspect of financial recovery for many churches across the Diocese, following the unprecedented hardships of the last 18 months. Recognising that ongoing financial pressures continue to afflict many, our church membership included, I nonetheless hope that the

18 campaign will be supported generously by those who can. And I thank all those who have been involved in the development and roll out of the campaign to date. Please do take this opportunity to review your giving - as a church we depend substantially upon the generosity of our supporters and now perhaps more than ever we really do need your help.”

Last week, Bishop Karen encouraged as many parishes as were able to join in, saying: “We worship a generous God who has blessed us with abundance. Giving and generosity should therefore be part of living out our faith as disciples of Jesus. And we know that giving and generosity can be transformative to the mission of our Church, and this includes digital giving which is key to the long-term sustainability of our churches and their ministry.

“I know for some, this will not be the time to join the campaign, but we welcome all those who can join in to use the materials at this time as God challenges each of us as Christians."

Gillian Clarke, Chair of the House of Laity at Diocesan Synod, especially welcomed the resources saying: "So good to have this wide range of resources on Generous Giving. Flexible, so they can be adapted to suit our very different parishes and communities, they can be used at a time which best fits your local context.

"All our churches are facing financial challenges as we try to navigate our way back into church, building confidence and renewing our social activities and outreach.

"It's good to have help and support so no parish feels they have to face this alone. There's a framework with lots of resources to draw on as we aim to move forward together in a creative and positive way."

The campaign was the idea of Bishop Nicholas, who retired in July. He hoped it would leave a lasting legacy of generous sustainable giving throughout the Diocese.

From the Diocesan website

19 My journey through cancer By Annie Giles

Eleven years ago I found a small lump in my right breast; tests proved it was HER2 cancer which is very aggressive and ultimately a killer. Chemotherapy was prescribed and three different types tried but all gave me severe side effects. So my oncologist Dr Chakrobati tried a new ‘hold back’ treatment which would not cure me but buy me some more time.

I had this treatment for nine years but eventually it had to be stopped as it made me very anaemic. I became very unwell, my legs and abdomen swelled up and I could hardly move and could no longer live independently. So I was admitted to Hays House Nursing Home near Shaftesbury - my family were told I had about three months left to live.

But time passed and I survived so my GP sent me to hospital where they drained 19.5 litres of fluid from my abdomen. Gradually back at Hays House with excellent food, very good care and a lot of prayer I got stronger. Then I contracted Covid, but again with their excellent care I recovered.

My GP ordered some scans to be done to see exactly what was going on - she didn’t understand why I was doing so well - and eventually she told me the scans could find no trace of cancer, much to everyone’s surprise!

Eventually it was decided I no longer needed nursing care and a flat was found for me back in Swanage. So here I am back where I always wanted to be, really happy and grateful to be here.

I would like to thank everyone at St Mary’s for their support, prayers and love which have sustained me through the difficult journey. A lot of people have called me a miracle but I know the miracle is from God.

Annie Giles

20 Welcome to the "T-Pot Friendship Morning"

September's "T-Pot" gathering, although mighty windy, with paper plates flying around Mowlem Court back court- yard, was another positive time of new introductions, sharing the ups and downs of life, and celebrating a 91st birthday of a guest facing considerable pain and disablement every day. The happy arrival of a guest bearing a strawberry and buttercream gateau was welcomed with joy!

Throughout the New Testament we see the call to hospitality as a key part of what it means to follow in the way of Jesus. The New Testament uses the Greek word “philoxenia" when talking about hospitality, literally meaning 'love of the stranger' or 'love of the other'. Reading this encourages us to continue with T-Pot into the Autumn and Winter (out of doors as long as we can, but with an empty garage available if wet!).

Sadly bereavement and loss continue to affect more people, so we invite anyone facing this to join us on Wednesday October 6th anytime from 10.00am onwards. We 'd be glad to see you. We bring our own drink if possible. We mention with sadness, the recent death of Peter Wilkinson, one of our loyal guests over many years ever since his beloved wife died. Peter arrived smiling, in rain or shine, more lately in his roofed Invalid Carriage, coping with deafness and unpredictable heart disease, sometimes setting us a concerning challenge health wise. We will miss him greatly, and send love to his family.

.Jane Eastgate

" Lord of the loving heart, may mine be loving too, Lord of the gentle hands, may mine be gentle too. Lord of the willing feet, may mine be willing too, So that I may be more like Thee in all that I say and do."

21 To make you smile

In Church one Sunday morning a mother was kneeling with her little boy during prayers, and he was laughing rather noisily. Mother said " Johnny, stop making that noise". The lad replied - “It's alright mummy, I have just told God a joke, and we are both laughing".

Members of the Church Committee were making arrangements for the Summer Fete. the following day. Checking through the list of invited V I Ps they realised, that a wealthy lady villager had not been invited! The vicar hastily wrote a note and sent a choirboy. Unfortunately the lady spotted the lad cycling up her drive, and opening the door greeted him "Too late, young man, I've already prayed for rain ". From an Oxfam collection

22 Donatus - and the danger of exploring an unfamiliar church

When you are out and about on the road far from home, ever feel tempted to pop in and explore an unfamiliar church? If so, think of Donatus as your patron saint – and beware. You don’t know what you may be letting yourself in for.…

In 829 Donatus, an Irish monk, had completed a prayerful pilgrimage to Rome, and thought his adventures were over. Now there only remained the long road home to Ireland. He had got as far as the beautiful little town of Fiesole, which sits high above Florence in Tuscany, when he saw a lot of people milling about the cathedral. Curious, he decided to look in.... as he entered the cathedral, the bells rang, the lamps were lit and wham! Without any diocesan paperwork at all, he was acclaimed to be the new bishop the people had been praying for.

Donatus was very surprised, but accepted that this turn of events must be God’s will for his life. So he became bishop, in a time when bishops did even more dangerous things than they do nowadays. Instead of verbal forays into the national press, Donatus was given the job of leading Pope Louis the Pious’ troops against the Saracens. Safely back in Fiesole, Donatus settled down as a scholar and teacher of his new flock. But he never forgot his native Ireland, and so did the 9th century equivalent of ‘twinning’ his diocese, for he opened a little hospice where any Irish pilgrims passing through Tuscany could stay in safety. He died in 876, and 12 centuries later, his relics lie in the present cathedral of Fiesole.

From ‘Parish Pump’

23 24 abandonment of religious belief (8) 25 Note (anag.) (4)

Down 1 Give an account of (Mark 4:30) (8) 2 ‘I — — the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free’ (Psalm 119:32) (3,2) 4 ‘He took the ephod, the other — — and the carved image’ (Judges 18:20) (9,4) 5 ‘You are a chosen people, a — priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:9) (5) Across 6 The meek, the merciful and the 1 ‘Those who were standing near mourners are all this (Matthew Paul said, “You — to insult God’s 5:4–5, 7) (7) high priest?”’ (Acts 23:4) (4) 7 Musical Instrument Digital 3 They were assigned to guard the Interface (1,1,1,1) tree of life (Genesis 3:24) (8) 8 He was the son of Nun 9 ‘Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son (Deuteronomy 34:9) (6) of Elihu, the — of — , the son of 13 ‘Let the little — come to me’ Zuph, an Ephraimite’ (Matthew 19:14) (8) (1 Samuel 1:1) (3,4) 15 ‘About three thousand were — — 10 Surrender (Joshua 24:23) (5) their number that day’ (Acts 2:41) 11 Where American livestock can be (5,2) reared (5) 16 In John’s vision, the wall of the 12 Listen (anag.) (6) new Jerusalem was made of this 14 Alternative name for Kiriath (Revelation 21:18) (6) Jearim (2 Samuel 6:2) (6,2,5) 18 ‘Our citizenship is in heaven. And 17 He founded Westminster Abbey, we eagerly — a Saviour from — the Confessor (6) there, the Lord Jesus Christ’ 19 Hebrew word for the place of Philippians 3:20) (5) the dead (5) 20 ‘Glorify the Lord with me: let us 22 Allies of Persia in the fifth century — his name together’ BC (Esther 1:3) (5) Psalm 34:3) (5) 23 Where John Wesley was forced 21 Young Men’s Christian to preach a lot (4,3) Association (1,1,1,1) 24 Rebellion against God;

25 Family News

Funerals: Burial of cremated remains

We give thanks for the lives of

Tony and Norma Farmery, formerly resident at Wordworth House. Tony died on 20th November 2011, Norma on 27th January 2021. Their cremated remains were interred on 27th September 2021.

Wedding flowers and funeral tributes Flowers made with sincerity and from home 01929 427776 07966 462974 [email protected]

26 Articles for the NOVEMBER edition Solution to the September crossword of ‘CHURCH ALIVE!’ should be in the Parish Office E-mail: [email protected] by FRIDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2021 no later than 12 noon on that date or in the hands of the Editor (Jane Cooper Telephone: 423591) e-mail: [email protected] no later than 12 noon on that date

The editor cannot guarantee the inclusion of any contributions received after that date.

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A Personal Service to Landlord and Tenant Do you have a property to let or are you looking for a property to rent, in Swanage or the Isle of Purbeck?

Tel: 01929 426200

15c Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF www.wpmlettings.co.uk/ [email protected]

28 “A family business pursuing the finest traditions of the trade” 26 Station Road, Swanage Tel: 01929-426377

Members of the British Hardware Federation

Holiday let: West Wales Glwysgoed is located amongst beautiful scenery in the Rheidol Valley, 10 miles inland from Aberystwyth. Quiet rural location with great walks and a bird watchers paradise. A splendid area to explore and relax. Sleeps four. Reasonable rates. For further info: [email protected] or [email protected] or tel: 423772 or 427037

29 Selling a car ...... but can’t face the hassle? We buy all kinds of cars, bikes, campers & vans for cash at a time to suit you. Trading in elsewhere? ‘We can usually offer more. Halcyon Motors Ltd is a friendly, family run, local business and we will happily come to you. Impartial advice is offered free with no obligation! Buying? Visit www.halcyonmotors.co.uk to see ‘warts and all’ descriptions and photos of our current stock. Warranties with all cars. Part exchange welcome. Don MacLeod: 01258 839 209 or 07782 189555 (Mon-Sun 8am-9pm)

KDL Maintenance Painting & Decorating Plumbing & Heating Roofing & Guttering Tiling, Fencing, Shed Felts & Bases and more Free estimates & advice Call: (01929)-448548 Mobile: 0747-512-8249

15 STATION ROAD, SWANAGE CATERING 01929 427057 Support your local Health Shop Your local Outside Caterer Diabetic & Gluten-free Products v The personal touch Organic Vegetarian Foods to your catering needs: v Loose Cereal and Dried Fruit v Weddings Herbal and Birthdays Homeopathic Medicines Christenings v Funerals Fresh Fruit and Vegetables v Corporate Events SPECIAL OFFERS JULIAN WOOD 07789 289289 Please telephone for LOCAL DELIVERIES

30 NICHOLAS LEVER QUALIFIED HORTICULTURIST

Established 1985

Tel: 01202 777827 mob: 07979 967 855 email: [email protected]

www.nicholasleverlandscapes.co.uk 5 Ropers Lane, Poole, BH16 5HR

W. F. SNOOK & SON Ltd. * Installers of *Girl Friday * PVC-U and ALUMINIUM Simplify your Life….. WINDOWS ~ DOORS ~ PATIO PA Secretarial and DOORS Book-keeping Service BIFOLDING DOORS Freelance for part-time or ad-hoc CONSERVATORIES assignments. Reliable, confidential GARAGE DOORS and friendly service

GUTTERING • Book-keeping Herbal and ‘KESTREL’ PVC-U FASCIA • Secretarial / Administration • Reports / Mailshots SOFFIT MOULDINGS etc. • Diary / Event Management • Personal Administration Tel./Fax: 01929 481581 • Personal Shopping / Errand Running 10 YEAR INSURANCE BACKED GUARANTEE Email: [email protected] FENSA Tel: 01202 894448 Mob: 07952 174975 13202

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