The Parish Magazine of Earls Colne &

april 2021

A very Happy Easter to you all! And I pray it is a happy Easter, despite it being the second since we entered the hardship of pandemic restrictions over 12 months ago. But the journey through the pandemic does have an end in sight, though it will bring with it more changes and challenges as we adapt to a new normal. As I write I’m looking out of my window on the garden. The daffodils and my lovely Camellia are in bloom, alongside the crocuses and the cyclamens. There is even new growth on the roses and all around there are signs of spring and new life emerging from the winter past. In fact, today (1st March) is the start of meteorological spring, so nature appears a little ahead of the meteorologists! It also reminds me of something Jesus said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). During the winter when all seems dark and dead, we yearn for the light and warmth of spring and the beauty and brightness in the colours of the plants as they emerge from the soil. Even better when, over time, we see how a single seed or bulb turns into many more, filling our gardens and verges with more and more colour and life. This brings me back to Easter, the time when Christians celebrate the joyous mystery of Jesus overcoming death. Jesus died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and raised to life three days later creating the first Easter Day. But why did he go through this? Well, for a number of reasons. The Bible tells us that God sent Jesus His Son into the world to save the world, because God loves us (John 3:16-17). Jesus willingly came into the world because he too loves us and wants us to have fulfilling lives (John 10:10). But because humanity has been a little wayward, we need to be reconciled to God and Jesus, through his death, became the means of that reconciliation between us and God. His death though was not the end, just the beginning of the new season of our lives. Like the grain of www.colnechurches.com 3 wheat buried in the ground died to produce much fruit, so Jesus emerged from the darkness of death to bring us eternal life. The joy of Easter is like the joy of springtime. It brings with it a freshness that blows away the cobwebs that entangle us and gives us hope and new perspectives. Even in the midst of a pandemic when we have lost so much! And whilst this pandemic will end leading us into that new normal, Easter will never end (though the season in the Church calendar lasts for 40 days). With the rising of the sun as we experience God’s blessing of each new day, so we experience the Easter blessing of new life in Christ. So Happy Easter, today and every day!

A Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group is a safe and supportive space: ● for people who feel or have felt overwhelmed. ● providing tools for self-management. ● in a facilitated peer mentoring style setting. Issues covered include; disappointment, loss, anxiety, anger, perfectionism, shame and resilience. Feedback so far has been amazing. The current informal programme of 12 weekly meetings (with a week’s break over Easter) continues online on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm. If you would like to know more about Kintsugi Hope, or perhaps book a place on our next programme which is planned for later in the year, please contact Revd Mark on [email protected] / 01787 220347.

4 www.colnechurches.com www.colnechurches.com 5 Wed 7th 7.30 pm Earls Colne Sun 11th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am Wed 14th 7.30 pm Earls Colne Sun 18th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am Colne Engaine 10.30 am White Colne 6.30 pm Earls Colne Wed 21st 7.30 pm Earls Colne Sun 25th 10.00 am Earls Colne # 10.00 am Colne Engaine Wed 28th 7.30 pm Earls Colne # - service also Live Streamed with Zoom and Facebook and later uploaded onto YouTube In addition to these services Morning Prayer is available via Facebook and YouTube on Mondays and Saturday

Sunday 18th April in Church at 11.15 am If you intend coming to the meeting, please let Revd Mark or Helen Sherfield know - so that the seating can be arranged to conform with social distancing guidelines. In order to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting, you need to be on the Electoral Roll. If you are not already on the Roll, and would like to be, please contact Caroline on [email protected] The country may have been in lockdown for much of 2020 but God’s work has continued in Earls Colne. Why not come along on 18th April and hear what’s been happening?

6 www.colnechurches.com a. to nod the head a. shelters for keeping warm b. a hole in a garment b. a cure for hiccups C. to crowd together or swarm C. big, clumsy men or beasts a. to disarrange or upset b. to pull or carry with difficulty c. to sniff in a noisy manner

*******************

c. to rock a child b. An imaginary ailment a. Profuse perspiration

From the Church Spider . . . Hi Everyone, Incy Wincy, the Church Spider here. Has anyone seem Maurice? Maurice the mole, I mean. Most of the Church creatures are easy to keep in touch with. Magnifi-cat’s always prowling round the church- yard and I often see Kooky the Church mouse scampering up and down the pews - it’s easy to say hello to them and find out how they are. But Maurice spends most of his time burrowing underground - we never see him and he often doesn’t hear us when we call out to him. I hope he’s ok. Do you know anyone who isn’t easy to keep in touch with? Perhaps they haven’t got internet access; perhaps they’re unable to leave their home; perhaps they live in a remote location. If you do, why not give that person a call to check that they’re alright? Don’t let them be ‘out of sight, out of mind’ - a call from you might just make their day. I’m off to cast a thread across to the church door so I can go out through the keyhole and look for Maurice. Keep spinning! Incy Wincy.

www.colnechurches.com 7 Earls Colne Heritage Museum 200 Years of Making Us Better

Those of us who’ve had our first Covid jab are very grateful for the calm and efficient way that the medical staff and volunteers at the Pump House Surgery are carrying out their complicated task. In fact, the Earls Colne medical practice has a history of service to the village stretching back over 200 years; and by coincidence, each generation has its own Doctor Taylor, although only the first two were related. Dr John Polly Taylor moved to Earls Colne in 1812 and set up his practice in the annexe to Boxteds in Upper Holt Street (Left). In 1842 he was joined by his son who, because he shared the same Christian name, was known to the village as “Young” Doctor John. To celebrate Young Doctor John’s 80th birthday in July 1899, the Vicar - the Revd David Methven - organised a public collection and presented him with a portrait, reminding the audience that their doctor could rightly claim “to have brought most of Earls Colne into the world”. He went on to describe him as “a regular John Bull”always ready to visit patients in his horse- drawn gig, whatever the weather. He was also famed for his excellent wine cellar and his gift as a story-teller. The portrait (Right) now hangs in the Council Chamber at the Village Hall. Dr Thomas (Ted) Pallett joined the practice in 1887 and, when he retired in 1945, the three doctors had, between them, served the village for 133 years. Dr Pallett’s place was taken by Dr Lily MacKinnon and she was joined in 1948 by Dr Brian Taylor, (Left) shortly before the NHS came into being. At his arrival, Brian could remember the surgery having two waiting rooms - one with padded furniture for private patients and the other with wooden benches (“the Shed” as he jokingly called it) for patients who

8 www.colnechurches.com were said to be “on the Club” and paid for their treatment with assistance from local branches of the Friendly Societies. The NHS put an end to such discrimination but it was not until 1971 that Doctors Brian Taylor and Mark Cutts were able to move the practice to purpose-built consulting rooms in Queens Road (Right). When the Atlas Works closed in 1988, the planning agreement for development of the site required some of the industrial buildings to be preserved. The old water tower became the Heritage Museum, with Brian Taylor as Chairman of the management committee, and the former power house which had contained the factory’s electricity generators was converted to the Pump House Surgery where Dr Sylvia Taylor and her colleagues continue the long tradition of service started by her namesake in 1812.

Left: “Young” Dr John Taylor with his dog in The Causeway. Right: The window in the south aisle of the church which he presented in memory of his parents. David Brown

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 9 As reported in our January Magazine, owing to the pandemic, the Mission to Seafarers is currently unable to distribute knitted hats to the seafarers. However, some of the hats made by our Colnes Churches knitters have been donated to Beacon House, the Christian Charity in Colchester which helps the homeless, those in insecure accommodation and those at risk of becoming homeless. The following letter was received from Beacon House: “On behalf of the staff and service users at Beacon House, I would like to thank you for your very generous gift of knitted hats. With over 250 current service users at any one time, we are very grateful to all the people who donate to us, which helps us to support the most vulnerable people in our society. Due to the current lockdown restrictions, we are pleased to say that our guests have been placed into emergency accommodation as much as possible. We continue to support our guests by still offering our services through our window for any face to face needs. Your donation helps us to serve the most vulnerable in our community during these times.” Beryl Amy Marmalade and Chutney Available!

Contact Beryl on 01787 223486, or have a word with BERYL’S Helen Sherfield or Margaret Hill at Church. MARMALADE Proceeds to Earls Colne Church Funds.

10 www.colnechurches.com We spoke last month about garden security - now, we look at sheds, garages and objects within them. As mentioned before, controlling access is your first line of defence and you may consider using good old gravel on paths and drives or round statues etc as an audible warning and/or a “Driveway Alert Monitor” (can be found by internet search). Sensitively and effectively placed lighting and CCTV may be considered to help protect outbuildings, ornaments, and statues but these should not be your only thoughts. Don’t forget though, motion activated lighting may be triggered by animals and shrubs moving in the wind. Shed and outbuilding security: If you are installing a new shed try and find a place in view of the house and neighbours. The padlock hasp fittings of a shed should be coach-bolted to the frame and door. Strengthen the fitting area with a metal plate inside and out; don’t forget the hinges - ensure they cannot be unscrewed. Cheap locks and padlocks are a poor investment; use good quality locks. Look for a “Close Shackle” padlock or a key operated mortice lock to at least “Sold Secure” Silver or Gold standard. Protect windows with a wire mesh and fit a curtain or whitewash the windows to prevent prying eyes. NB some of this advice can apply to aviaries, kennels, barns and other buildings of similar nature. On garage doors, consider adding locking bolts to both sides of an “up and over door” or a garage door defender in the ground in front of the door. Don’t forget other doors and windows in the garage - secure them as you would in a house. Locks are a waste of time if you do not lock them. When storing larger items like motorcycles, cycles, lawn mowers etc, consider a fixing set/ground anchor into the concrete floor, a heavy chain and again a good quality padlock to secure it. If the chain or lock is lying across the floor it could provide a surface for it to be smashed against so try and keep it tightly secured. Consider a shed alarm if you do not have one, there are shed alarms available that contact you on the phone when activated such as www.uwatch.co.uk . www.colnechurches.com 11 Products that are fit for purpose can found by looking for the "Secured by Design" or "Sold Secure" logos, or on their websites www.securedbydesign.com or www.soldsecure.com . Tips for Statues, ornaments and pots: • Drill and secure with quality chain/padlock larger pots and ornaments to a secure surface. • Offenders will not want to break valuable containers - however they may still opt to lift out the plant. This is where the Plant Anchors can help. • Make the plant pot heavier with a layer of gravel at the bottom. • Some planters/pots can be marked/post-coded /etched carefully with a small Hobbyist drill, or an indelible pen can work sometimes on the base. • Hanging baskets can be secured with chains or cable ties but there is a danger the offender may simply wrench them from the fixing point making even greater damage. • Where possible position statues, ornaments etc in view of the house and neighbours. • Photograph more unusual ornaments - with a scale rule included - and where possible ensure these ornaments are in view of a house and have good lighting. Consider using a property marking product • Only buy plants/ornaments from a reputable source and report any suspicions to Police/Trading Standards. For further garden security advice see the following webpages: www..police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ www.securedbydesign.com www.soldsecure.com www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=606

Stephen Armson-Smith Crime Prevention Advisor, Braintree, Uttlesford, Chelmsford & Maldon Districts 12 www.colnechurches.com In just a few weeks it will be that time again. Bluebell time! Their bursting buds creating a purple haze that seems to hover over the woodland floor, while their gentle aroma purges the air of the damp decay left-over from winter; bringing hints and promises of a summer to come. is home to over half the world’s population of Bluebells and our special corner of Essex is blessed with many more than its fair share. Most of the local wooded areas will be host to some from mid-April to May; while for many residents this time triggers an annual pilgrimage to see the wondrous display in Chalkney Woods. This month we will look at three different routes to get to Chalkney Woods to see this spectacle. Then, by using one route to get there and another in reverse to get back, you can create up to six different circular walks. Also, next month’s walk will start from the woods, so keep these routes safe to get to the start of one of the most popular walks in the Colne Valley! These three walks are all around one-and-a-half miles long and go to different entry points of the woods, as shown on the map. Entrance 1 – The Yellow Brick Road This is so called because the track to the car park was resurfaced at one time with a very bright yellow sand/stone mixture and it certainly leads to an emerald palace! 1. Follow the High Street towards the church, preferably using the left-hand side footpath. Take care as the path narrows on the bend between Colne Place and the church. Just round this bend, and before the graveyard, is the entrance to the Causeway. 2. Follow the Causeway down to the Priory fence, turn right and continue along the path with the fence on your left and the brook on your right. This path emerges at the junction of Upper Holt Street (A1124) and Tey Road with the entrance to the Priory directly on your left. 3. Do not cross the road at this point! Turn right and walk a few yards along Upper Holt street to find a safe crossing point away www.colnechurches.com 13 from the double bend. Take the path across the rear car park of Oxford House to the Tey Road junction. 4. Cross Tey Road and continue along Lower Holt Street taking the footpath directly after house number 28 (with the diamond leaded glazing). Follow the path between the gardens to a gate into the fields. 5. Follow the path on the right-hand field edge until you come to a gate directly in front of you. Continue ahead, and then slightly to the right you will see a gate that leads into a large field with a track through the middle. Follow this track across the field to exit on to Tey Road. 6. Turn left and follow the road; in a few yards there is a sharp right-hand bend at which point the track up to Chalkney Woods (and the main car park) is immediately on the left. Entrance 8 – Chalkney Mill This path follows the eastern bank of the river for a considerable distance, and then passes in front of Chalkney water mill to enter the lower parts of the woods. 1. My preferred route for this walk would start from Burrows Road and across the golf course, taking the iron bridge over the river, similar to an option in last month’s walk, but this time turning right onto the disused railway line. Then after crossing the wooden bridge over the Peb, taking the next footpath on the right around the sewage works. However, the golf course path will be closed for the next few months to repair the winter damage. The easiest alternative is to follow steps 1, 2 and 3 as in the previous walk, then… 2. Cross Tey Road and continue along Lower Holt Street all the way to the river bridge and then on to Colneford Hill, take the footpath on your right between house numbers 20 and 22; please ensure that the gate is shut securely after use. 3. Follow the path between the gardens to a gate into the field, then follow the path beside the river. Directly after the next gate there is an incline, and the path continues beside the river. Further on as the path moves away from the river it enters an area of scrub and trees and a metal gate leads into a willow plantation alongside

14 www.colnechurches.com fishing lakes. Follow the path to the left-hand side of this field with the river now on the far right-hand side of it. 4. Leave the field through the gate on the left, onto Chalkney Mill Lane and turn right towards the mill buildings. Walk past the mill and straight ahead between the kennels to enter the woods. NOTE: Just before the kennels there is a footpath to the left, that takes you between the woods and the river to Swanscombe Lane and then on to Lamberts Lane where entrances 6 and 7 can be accessed. Entrance 2 – Greenbanks This entrance is directly behind Greenbanks, a house on Tey Road, half-way up the hill towards its junction with America Road. 1. Just before reaching the church from the High Street is Shut Lane, follow this path down to Park Lane, where almost directly opposite is a path to Brick meadows. Follow this path down to a gate, then through a second gate to your right, directly after this take the path to your left up the slope, keeping just inside the woodland. Pass a seat that overlooks the adjacent meadow and then take the next path to the left that runs across the top of this meadow. Exit between the houses on to Road and turn right. 2. Follow the path to the sharp right-hand bend in the road, find a safe place to cross and take the footpath beside Tilekiln House. Follow the path ahead keeping to the right-hand field edge, by the hedge, at the break in the hedge the path goes down, under the trees. It then opens into the next field which has an area of fenced-off trees and scrubland to your right and a hedge to your left. 3. Leave this field through the gap on your left. (NOTE; if returning this way the Footpath finger-post has gone and the notice declaring this as Private Farmland may deter you from entering, however that sign relates to the area fenced off behind the sign, the official footpath runs parallel to the hedge and is a well established right of way) Turn right on to Tey Road and climb the hill, being aware of traffic at all times, when you see Greenbanks house to your left then entrance 2 is directly after it. Please remember, do not pick wild Bluebells, or the Wild Garlic that follows a little later on the lower, wetter slopes of the woods and is also quite impressive. www.colnechurches.com 15 The woods are not big, but it is still amazingly easy to get lost, most maps and tracking apps show the main paths, but the minor paths do change over time due to fallen trees, changing ground conditions and overgrowth so please take something that will help show you the way around. Stay safe and enjoy your Walk-Abouts. Christopher Walker

16 www.colnechurches.com Halstead Foodbank 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]

Shopping List of Urgently Needed Items (April 2021) ● Washing Detergent (in a gel form if possible, please) General Shopping List (April 2021) ●Tea (40 bags, if possible) ●Tinned fruit ●Tinned tomatoes ●Tinned sponge puddings ●Sugar (500g) ●Coffee (Small jars) ●Instant mash ●Tinned rice pudding ●Jam

Monetary donations or Supermarket Gift Cards are always acceptable (contact details given above and on www.colnechurches.com). A Message from the Foodbank: * The food parcels are made up of specific food groups so that those in need have enough food for at least nine meals. * There are currently large stocks of baked beans, cereals, pasta, pasta sauce, biscuits, rice, fish, soup, baby food and cereals, and we would ask if you could donate one of the items from our current list. * 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.

www.colnechurches.com 17 � �

After the year that has passed, it feels good to know that our gardens are still there. They have been there for us all the way through - come rain or shine - and I believe that so many more of us now appreciate all that surrounds us, that which has always been there, but we were too busy to notice. And all that has benefited from our lack of intervention, causing pollution with our trains, planes, and automobiles. You may have seen more butterflies, not only because you have the time, but because there are more; it is a proven fact that the whole ecosystem of the world has made some inroads into recovery following the reduction of overall pollution through the last year. If you like what you see, then maybe you should consider making a conscious effort to play your part, however small. Remember, the mighty oak grows from such a small acorn. Just saying � One thing that is reasonably easy to do is get involved with wildlife surveys. These are often organised by organisations such as the RHS, RSPB and Butterfly conservation along with many others. The RSPB has already completed this year’s spring birdwatch but there may be other surveys available. If you are partial to a mobile phone ap, the RHS are conducting a survey of sweet chestnut trees (Castanea sativa), the link for this is rhs.org.uk/check-a-sweet-chestnut

Other helpful links https://www.rspb.org.uk/ https://butterfly- conservation.org/ 18 www.colnechurches.com Keep an eye out in your borders when weeding for self-sown seedlings from established plants in the garden, you can of course just throw them out if you have enough, but a little careful transplanting or potting on could give you a nice stock of new plants. There are any number of different self seeders but to name just a few you could look out for, Spurge (Euphorbia), Ladies mantle (Alchemilla mollis), Foxglove (Digitalis) and Christmas rose or Hellebores (Helleborus). Penstemons would benefit from pruning back at the end of the month. As the weather gets warmer (he hopes), cut last season’s growth down to the lowest pair of healthy leaves; the new shoots should already be showing at the base of the stems. Those lovely fresh green curls of fern fronds should be pushing up from the crown, so this would be an ideal time to prune away dead brown and tatty fronds from last season. Don’t forget we can still get a frost until the middle of May so don’t be tempted to put out any summer bedding or baskets just yet. No harm in getting ready though. How about installing a drip irrigation system for your planters, pots and baskets to give everything a fighting chance from the off? Early spring flowering shrubs can be pruned back now. Shrubs such as Forsythia, Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Viburnum bodnantense can be tackled. Prune flowered stems back to a healthy pair of buds and remove up to a third of old woody stems all the way to the ground. So, what’s Spud up to? Well, he is busy sowing and planting, he has given me a list in case I want to do the same. He prepared the ground for the runner beans (Phaseolus coccineous) by digging a trench 12” deep and laying newspaper and garden compost in the bottom before backfilling with soil. This helps hold the moisture in the ground as runner beans need a lot of water. Squash (Cucurbita), Courgettes (Zucchini), Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and Pumpkins (Cucurbita) would all benefit from the same ground prep as runner beans, for the same reasons. He is sowing the seed directly in the ground where they will continue to grow - but to be honest I prefer to grow them under glass (in the greenhouse or on a windowsill) and then plant them out after the risk of frost has passed. www.colnechurches.com 19 My plant of choice for this Month has to be Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) It has large silver jagged spear like leaves and the purple flower is like a giant thistle, it is an herbaceous perennial and with its height of between 4 – 8 feet it is an amazing architectural plant for the back of a sunny border.

Bet you thought I had forgotten to research how April got its name - ok, you got me, but I can just squeeze it in at the bottom. � It would seem the jury is out on this one, so our old friends the Romans called it `Aprilis’ which means second, and as we already found out last month, in the Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year. Then if we take the Latin translation, this gives us Aperire which means `to open’ probably a reference to the buds and flowers opening at this time of year. Finally, we have the ancient Greeks who would have us believe that it was the month dedicated to their goddess of love Aphrodite. I will leave it up to you to decide which you prefer to be true. `March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers’ Strange isn’t it that one of the driest months of the year is noted for its abundance of showers? The thing is that they are just that - short bursts of localised rainfall. This comes about because at this time of year the air is getting progressively warmer and the sea is still lower in temperature as a result of the preceding winter. This combination causes increased evaporation with moisture rising and cooling, creating those lovely big, fluffy cottonwool clouds known as cumulonimbus. These are the clouds that produce short, sharp and sometimes heavy showers. Keep calm and carry on weeding - ‘Laters taters � Gary Hoskin [email protected]

20 www.colnechurches.com Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March has perced to the roote, . . . Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages Anyone who has ever studied any literature earlier than Shakespeare will instantly recognise the opening of the General Prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: ‘When April, with its sweet showers, has pierced the drought of March to the root, then people long to go on pilgrimages.’ As we’re entering April with the promise of further easing of restrictions, many people are longing to travel again, if not on pilgrimage then to warm beaches, historic cities, exotic far-flung places, whether to have adventures or to restore bodies and minds battered by a long and bitter winter. In the Middle Ages pilgrimage was undertaken in the hope of a cure, to give thanks, or as a penance. The destination was usually a saint’s shrine, like that of St Thomas at Canterbury, or the site of a miracle, like the ‘holy house’ at Walsingham in Norfolk. Some even travelled to foreign lands, to Santiago or Cologne, Rome or Jerusalem. Pilgrimage was not only about reaching the destination, however; it was also about the journeying. Pilgrimage was an allegory for life itself. Christians saw themselves as ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth’ [Hebrews, 11.13] as they travelled through life to their heavenly home. The longer and more arduous the pilgrimage, the greater the reward. But many must have undertaken pilgrimages for other reasons as well as spiritual benefit. In the Middle Ages going on a pilgrimage might be the only chance someone had to leave the place where they lived their whole lives: it was an opportunity to travel to new places and meet new people. On pilgrimage travellers were able to step outside everyday life. Although social hierarchies would remain in place among fellow pilgrims, they would be with people who didn’t know their personal histories or their families. On the open road, pilgrims had a taste of a kind of freedom. Pilgrimages were often undertaken in the spring as the weather got warmer, the days longer and the condition of the roads improved. It was then, as now, a time of hope. www.colnechurches.com 21 T. S. Eliot deliberately echoes the opening of Chaucer’s General Prologue at the beginning of his great poem, The Waste Land: April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. When I first studied The Waste Land as an eighteen-year old student, I might have thought I knew what it meant. Now I am in my 60s I am wiser and know that I don’t know. The Waste Land is a collage of images, memories, scriptural allusions and quotations building up a picture, like a reflection in a broken mirror, of the desolation following the First World War. Hope can seem cruel after such destruction. Coming out of a different, but still terrible, nationwide experience, it is hope we cling on to. Our desires to see friends and travel to places far from our village are stirred as are our memories of loved ones who have died and those we have not seen for too long. We must trust in the hope that April, and Easter, brings, watering the parched ground of the long winter of the pandemic. Cate Gunn

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

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 Coggeshall 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, Pebmarsh, 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

The MU had a “consultative status" at the annual United Nations' “Commission on the Status of Women" which took place in March. This year a delegation of 26 women from nine countries met to discuss and agree the key issues to be put forward. Sheran Harper, the World President from Guyana was the Leader. More information on the MU website: www.mothersunion.org Neville Bird 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