Issue Number 430 September 2016
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Issue Number 430 September 2016 Olympic Spirit The ancient Olympic Games were in origin as much a religious festival, in honour of Zeus, as a sporting event. Even so, the OUR MISSION participating Greek city states seem to have been as keen to get one A community seeking to live well with God, over on their rivals as today’s nation states are in the modern gathered around Jesus Christ in prayer and fellowship, Olympics. One historian describes how a certain Sotades, a champion and committed to welcome, worship and witness. Cretan runner in the Games of 384 BC, was bribed by the city of The Church Office Bolton Abbey, Skipton BD23 6AL Ephesus to run as an Ephesian in the Games of 380 BC. ‘For this act’, 01756 710238 we learn, ‘Sotades was banished by the Cretans’. [email protected] The ancient Olympics were eventually suppressed at the end of the The Rector fourth century by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, not because he The Rectory, Bolton Abbey, Skipton BD23 6AL 01756 710326 disapproved of athletic competition but because of the pagan rituals [email protected] that were a fundamental part of the Games and which conflicted Curate with the now official imperial religion of Christianity. It would be 07495 151987 another fifteen hundred years before the Olympic Games were [email protected] introduced – without any religious component but no less Website www.boltonpriory.church competitive. SUNDAY One of the most heartening images of the Rio Olympics was that of two gymnasts, Lee Eun-ju of South Korea and Hong Un-jong from 08.00 Holy Communion North Korea, posing together in a selfie. The image brought to mind a 09.15 Liquid Family Worship First Sunday of month now largely forgotten feature of the ancient Olympics: before being 10.30 Sung Eucharist allowed to send athletes to compete, participating states were 18.30 Evening Prayer (said) April to September obliged to observe a truce for the duration of the Games. Wars were 16.30 Evening Prayer (said) October to March suspended, and legal disputes and the use of the death penalty were WEDNESDAY forbidden. That’s a feature of the Games that even Theodosius I ought to have approved of and which we, his successors as followers 10.00 Holy Communion of the Prince of Peace, should encourage 18.45 Choir Practice members of the IOC and IPC to make a requirement for participation in Tokyo 2020. All regular services are according to the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), except for the Family service, an informal service for young and old. With prayers and best wishes, WEDDINGS and BAPTISMS: By arrangement via the Church Office. RECTOR’S NOTES CHRISTINE CRABTREE RIP Some of our readers will be aware that one of my daughters, Felicity, Christine was born in Leeds in 1932, her brother Frank followed three is currently training for ordination. I am delighted that the Bishop has years later. During the War the family were evacuated to Burley in given permission for Felicity to preach at the Sung Eucharist on Sunday Wharfedale to their holiday bungalow. Her Mother died when she was sixteen and Christine took over much of the running of the 11 September. family home. After she left school she worked as a Nursery Teacher in The development of a ministry of healing forms part of our current Leeds. When she was 21 she married Chris, a farmer/milkman from Strategic Vision. The next Eucharist with ministry of healing will take Askwith. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1954. In 1957 place in church on Thursday 15 September at 19.00. The service will Christine and Chris with Chris’ parents and younger brother Melvyn, include the option of anointing and the laying on of hands. all moved to Bolton Park Farm and the Cottage, where son Steven We anticipate hearing about our Round 1 bid in connection with the was born in 1957. Christine started to offer farmhouse Prior Moone Project (see July magazine) later this month. In accommodation with full board. This continued for 34 seasons. anticipation, and as mentioned in both the July and August magazines, Christine was an active member of the Bolton Abbey Women’s Institute eventually becoming President. She was instrumental in the a congregational consultation morning has been organised to take fundraising for the new Village Hall and organised the Bolton Abbey place in the Village Hall on Saturday 29 October from 09.30 – 12.30. Country Fair for six years. She was chairman of the Village Hall This is part of a wider consultation process which will help in the Committee for many years and an active participant in the annual preparation of our Statement of Need. Even if the bid is not successful, pantomime. Christine organised the annual Mince Pie Bazaar for 25 the meeting will still take place as the PCC will also be consulting on years and was a Churchwarden at the Priory and greatly helped in the Priory’s Strategic Vision for 2017 – 2019. the fundraising for the 1980’s Church Restoration Fund. Advance notice of a short Advent study series looking at the When she and Chris retired and Steven took over the farm they challenges to faith that are posed by tragedy and human wickedness. travelled widely, but not at lambing or hay time. Christine planned, The subject matter arises out of discussions about the nature of evil booked and packed, Chris carried the suitcases. Christine was a devoted grandmother to her five grandchildren. During her and forgiveness in our post-Easter course on the Lord’s Prayer. The retirement she spent at least one morning a week listening to the sessions will take place in Ilkley on Tuesdays 29 November, 06 children read at Beamsley School. Sadly Chris died aged 73 in 2000 December, and 13 December (evenings) and at Bolton Abbey on but, with her usual strong spirit, she rallied and continued her travels. Wednesdays 30 November, 07 December, and 14 December In September 2007 she travelled on her own to Sri Lanka and there (daytime). Venues and more details will be announced in next month’s met Bill from Redcar, her future partner. magazine. They divided their time between Redcar, Bolton Abbey and holidaying The annual Bradford and Leeds World Festival of Curry takes place both at home and abroad, finally settling in Redcar in 2015. from 15 – 29 September. Faith in Food is one of the strands of the Many people in Bolton Abbey will have had their lives touched by Festival, aiming to bring people together to share food and Christine. She was very active in this, our community, whether it be conversation in a faith setting. I am delighted that the Priory will be fundraising or socially. Her life was never boring and most definitely lived to the full. hosting an event as part of Faith in Food on Wednesday 21 September Christine’s motto in life was-: at 19.00. Places are limited, and may be booked via the Festival Don’t look back with regret, move on and live life to the full. website: http://www.worldcurryfestival.com/events/ The Crabtree Family PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL – 28 July 2016 CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFE LINE At this meeting we were considering various new items for the Priory. From the outset years ago, I have felt that this charity was worth The long-awaited handrail for the steps in the graveyard leading down creating a precedent for. As a ‘reserve’ Priory Guide I opened the loos to the Garden of Remembrance has reached the next stage. The PCC for a group of weary children who had walked to the Strid and back on has seen the design and has agreed that the Rector should seek a a hot day. After conversation with the chair of the charity and leaders Faculty for it. We have also approved the design for two new free- of the group, on their next visit a year later we would provide a drink standing noticeboards for use in the tower which will make it clear to and a biscuit. Then why not lunch and craft activities if it was pouring visitors that the Priory is a living church and not just a historical down? This we did. monument. Thanks to an anonymous donor the altar will soon have a At the Guides 2016 meeting volunteers came forward and everyone full green frontal for use in the appropriate season. We are also came on 21 July as Guides, caterers, crafty and sporty people (or all planning to install an electronic people counter to record how many four). Full-on activity from 10.30 onwards for 10 – 12 year olds. What a people enter and leave the Priory. It won’t be exactly accurate but it great experience for us all; lively, energetic, cheerful, friendly! will show trends. It helped if you could understand Russian but, with the help of Gerry It will not have escaped your notice that the sound system is not and Lydia their interpreter, the Priory was explored, the bell was rung, working properly and the Rector will talk to the sound engineer about bookmarks were presented. The children were polite and well- a replacement. mannered and there were many ‘thank you very much’ comments The lighting, though almost complete, still awaits the finishing throughout the day. They were quick to use their knowledge of touches. There are some areas of concern, particularly the spotlights English: counting which are designed to highlight the 13th century arch but which, in angels was good their present position, are liable to trip people up.