Parish Newsletter June 2020 Issue 551 http://fordcombechurch.org Delivered to every home in the Parish—free of charge ST. PETER’S CHURCH, FORDCOMBE fordcombechurch.org Rector of Penshurst & Fordcombe The Revd. Tom Holme, MA. The Rectory, Penshurst 870316 CHURCHWARDENS Mike Gilbert Rockydene, Chafford Lane, Fordcombe TN3 0SH Email [email protected] 740371 Peter Waghorn Woodpeckers, The Green, Fordcombe, TN3 0RY Email [email protected] 740645 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Hon. Secretary Linda Naidu 740724 11 The Drive Hedge Barton TN3 0SL Treasurer/Gift Paul Reeves Queens Spinney, Ashurst Road 740837 Aid Recorder Ashurst, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9SU Deanery Synod Representative John & Christobel Sworder 740345 Electoral Roll Officer Vacant PCC. MEMBERS June Gilbert 740371 Helen Morrison 740211 Isobel Smith 740404 Vacancy Organist & Director of music Bob Wilson 01732832444 St. Peter’s Fellowship Peter Waghorn 740645 Sunday Club Leader Mrs Hayley Collins 01892544458 Church Flowers Mrs. June Gilbert 740371 Mrs. Sandra Arnold 740283 NEWSLETTER - PLEASE NOTE THE COPY DATE IS 16th OF EACH MONTH Newsletter copy by e-mail please to: [email protected] Neither the Editor nor the Newsletter can be held responsible for its content. Editor and Advertising: Mike Gilbert. Rockydene, Chafford Lane, Fordcombe. TN3 0SH 740371 Advertising rates per annum: £100 full page, £60 one half, £40 one quarter, Printer: St. Mary’s Church, Leigh 01732-832236 ALL PHONE NUMBERS ARE PREFIXED 01892– ... UNLESS OTHERWISE SHOWN 2 FROM THE RECTOR Trinity Sunday - 7th June. This festival in older times simply marked the end of the week following Whit Sunday or Pentecost. It became more prominent even- tually as representing the culmination of the full Christian story. Centuries ago Trinity was particularly popular in this country partly because Thomas Becket was consecrated Bishop on Trinity Sunday 1162. I mentioned Becket in a recent talk, quoting the line from T.S.Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. As the knights approached his locked cathedral he gave the in- struction “Unbar the door!” The horrible event in Canterbury of 1170 was also brought to my mind when reading a facsimile edition of some lectures given 150 years ago given by The Revd W.Nicholls on the subject of Pendragon Castle in Westmorland. Hugh de Moreville, one of the four knights in question, was the first recorded lord of the manor there. Mr Nicholls is eager to deal lightly with Hugh de Moreville, and to point out that he was more gentle, less brutal than the others. “…every allusion to De More- ville is, to his credit, that whatever blame may be awarded to the perpetrators of this crime, the lightest share must rest on him. One only of the four knights had struck no blow. Hugh de Moreville throughout retained the gentler disposition for which he was distinguished, and contented himself with holding back at the en- trance of the transept the crowds who were pouring in through the nave”. We all hope that in the months to come that word blame will not be subject to over use. Yesterday 18th May the President of the United States referred to his predecessor’s incumbency as incompetent! Not that those who clearly are guilty of anything should expect to avoid blame. There will be no more historical exoneration of Hugh De Moreville for example. Kindness, courtesy and gentle- ness we hope to be in good supply, and as for our churches, whether or not they will have re-opened by 7th June, we shall celebrate on Trinity Sunday a definite unbarring of the door - to hope, to love and true protection. I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his might to stay, His hand to guide, his shield to ward, His heavenly host to be my guard. I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity. Tom Holme 3 FORDCOMBE LUNCHEON CLUB Fordcombe Luncheon club usually meets on the second Thursday of each month at 12-30pm. We have space for new members to come and join us for food and pleasant conversation with old and new friends. LUNCHEON CLUB WILL OF COURSE NOT TAKE PLACE AT PRESENT For more information please contact Mrs Kate Hargrave Tel 861047 CHURCHYARD TIDYING NO CHURCHYARD AT PRESENT Helen Morrison 740211 CHURCH COFFEE MORNING NO COFFEE MORNINGS WILL TAKE PLACE AT PRESENT Christabel Sworder 740345 WI Hello everyone, in taking it forward into the future. CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO WI MEETING PLANNED Best wishes Angie 4 Tier 1 individuals, of whom 404 requested and have been receiving regular food deliveries, including 23 new requests over Easter weekend. SDC has been ful- FROM THE CHURCHWARDENS PEW Church Services At present I am sure everyone understands that the Church cannot be opened at present to allow services to take place. However the Reverend Bill MacDougall at Chiddingstone is conducting weekly services each Sunday on YouTube and indeed daily thoughts. These videos are extremely good and I am sure many would find them most helpful. Please take a few moment to check them out. If you go to YouTube and search under Chiddingstone you will find them. St Peter’s Fellowship - Peter Waghorn Fellowship meetings are suspended for the time being We pray: Heavenly Father, Keep us under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Support for the Parish Volunteers Over 20 volunteers have kindly come forward to help anyone in need of help with shopping, collecting medication, running errands and importantly perhaps having a chat. If you or anyone you know needs help please do not hesitate to contact me, my details are below, or our other Church warden Peter Waghorn. The calls for help have not been that great so far and therefore not all of the volunteers have been called to help but as time goes on of course that may change. However many thanks to those who have unstintingly given of their time to help. Email list I have a village Email list of 68 so that information can be disseminated and messages have already been sent out on initiatives to help with food supplies. This message and all future ones will be carried on the Church website. (http://fordcombechurch.org) If you would like to be included on the list please do make contact with me Please also see the centre pages for more information on local initiatives Best Wishes Mike Gilbert 740371 [email protected] 5 District Councillor’s article for June Parish Magazines Another month, another world! Last month I updated you on Sevenoaks District Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic whilst we were all ‘confined to bar- racks’, this month we are all planning furiously to slowly restart our lives. The gradual easing of lockdown measures is to be welcomed and SDC has been playing its part to help local businesses ‘bounce back’. At the time of writing, SDC has paid out £21.1m under the small business grant schemes, benefiting 1720 local businesses. A further £1m has been allocated for discretionary grants to small organisations that fell outside these schemes; such as those shar- ing premises, charities and B&Bs – if you think this might apply to you please apply via the SDC website. The council has also launched a Sevenoaks District Business Board, combining local business leaders and civic officials in collabora- tive local action planning to accelerate economic recovery, particularly in the town centre/retail, rural businesses and tourism (when allowed!) sectors. As part of this drive SDC has committed to sustaining its capital investment to build pri- vate sector confidence and is willing to use its statutory powers (planning, licenc- ing etc) to the fullest extent possible to promote our local economy. In which regard, all planning applications are continuing to be considered digitally even though site visits are suspended. A quick reminder that the volunteer service continues to operate: across the dis- trict we have 4614 shielded residents, of whom 762 have requested and are re- ceiving food parcels, and a further 1342 vulnerable residents (or those self- isolating with symptoms) have been receiving help with shopping and prescrip- tions. Government advice that we must continue to self-isolate if we have a fe- ver or dry cough means that the local volunteer networks will continue, so as before if you need help do please contact your Coordinator [me for Chidding- stone/ Bough Beech on 01892 870435]. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 84 Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone residents who volun- teered – you really are the best, thankyou on behalf of everyone you’ve helped, and thankyou from me for showing how caring our villages are! Continuing this caring theme, I would like to draw attention to a local NHS/Kent County Council development of a new Help to Care app which offers guidance, advice, and training videos to make people even more effective carers. It is available to download via the App Store on your Apple or Android phone and I commend it to you. In closing, as we have heard a thousand times before I know, I encourage you all to ‘stay alert’, ‘stay apart’ and spend money, locally!! Sue Coleman, 870435 6 7 VILLAGE HALL MONTHLY DRAW FEBRUARY Prize Ticket No Name First £30 424 N Weaver Second £15 39 A Barnett Third £10 321 Mr Pelly Fourth £5 274 Mr Gable Fifth £5 640 Mrs Elliot IF YOU ARE NOT IN IT - YOU CAN’T WIN IT! “If you want to join please ring Bob on 01892 740307" Distribution of prizes will be delayed until social distancing measures allow.