Rector’s Letter Coronavirus restrictions continue to have a massive impact on church activities. If the East Riding goes in to Tier 2 or 3, the impact will be even greater. As at the time of writing, we are still in Tier 1. Nevertheless, even if we remain in Tier 1 Christmas at the Priory will be very different this year. There will be no Nativity Service at the Priory this year. There will be no Midnight Mass. There will be no congregation present at either Christingle or Nine Lessons & Carols. These services will go ahead, but will be livestreamed only and will be subsequently available on YouTube. The Christingle will be on Sunday 20th December during the afternoon. The Nine Lessons & Carols will be on Christmas Eve at 4.00pm. To see these services – or any other services from the Priory – see Friends of Bridlington Priory Church Facebook page or the Bridlington Priory Church YouTube channel. Watch this space for when it will be possible to collect a “Christingle in a Bag” from the Priory prior to the Christingle service so that you can participate at home. Even in the midst of these restrictions, though, church life develops. We are really excited to announce that the Priory is now recruiting for a new Girls’ Choir. This will be additional to the Boys’ Choir. It is hoped the first time the Girls’ Choir will lead a service will be on Advent Sunday, 29th November. Helen Hughes has become Churchwarden again at the Priory after a two year Sabbatical, during which time she has continued to be the Events Manager. She joins Jan Wattleworth and Frank Fowler. Anthony Halford, who became Churchwarden in 2005, has retired. On Sunday 25th October the Rector presented him with a silver wine coaster, a case of wine and gardening vouchers on behalf of the congregation in recognition of his dedicated and faithful work and cheerfulness over the years. Don’t forget the Priory now offers what is being termed ‘blended worship’ – you’re welcome to attend in person or can watch online, either through Fa- cebook or YouTube. If you are watching online, please consider making a donation to the Priory via the website www.bridlingtonpriory.co.uk Matthew 1 We Will Remember – 80 years on This year we’ve been remembering the Battle of Britain, described by Winston Churchill in August 1940 as ‘one of the decisive battles of the war… never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ It was a dra- matic turning point in the history of the Second World War. The occasions for Re- membrance this month will provide us times of gratitude for what was achieved in the darkest moments of war. However, this year we are very aware of our own struggles with the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. We face an unseen enemy, but the effects on our lives and society are almost as devastating as world war. Remembering is not just about focusing on past events. It is also about making present past events, as we give thanks for all that took place. The Battle of Brit- ain was fought by the Few and won in the skies over the Channel. In our battle with the virus, we can call to mind the victory of Jesus: ‘Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.’ (2 Timothy 2:8). Jesus secured the victory of death by His cross and resurrection, so that we don’t need to fear death, but trust in His loving purposes for our lives. Currently we can’t see clearly what the future holds for us; it may be very differ- ent from what we might expect. However, we can pray for God’s will to be done and that we will play our part, just as each of those airmen did so many years ago. ‘They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.’ 2 PRIORY GIFT SHOP Gifts for all occasions Wide selection of biscuits, preserves and confectionery Opening Times The Priory Shop is closed until further notice Help our wildlife before it is too late A quarter of mammals in the UK are at risk of extinction, and this decline will continue unless their habitats are restored and some species are reintro- duced. So warns the chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, referring to a recent list of endangered animals issued by the Mammal Society, and approved by the United Nations. UK mammals most in danger are the greater mouse-eared bat, the water vole, the hedgehog, hazel dormouse and Scottish wildcat. The European wolf is already extinct. Tony Juniper advises that reintroducing some mammals would help others at greater risk. For example, introducing more pine martens would help control the grey squirrels, which in turn would give our native red squirrels a better chance. As one professor of environmental biology said: “Here in Britain we are man- aging to send even rodents towards extinction. Things have to change rapidly if we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy the wildlife that we take for granted.” 3 4 Founded by Henry VI in 1450 and having survived The Plague, The Civil War, two World Wars and other setbacks along the way, the Boys’ Choir of Bridlington Priory is back! Rehearsals and limited services are once again being sung by the boys of the Priory Choir and we are now recruiting others to come and join us. At the moment we are particularly wanting to hear from boys in Years 3 & 4 who enjoy singing and would like to be part of this successful team. After initial horror stories about the dangers of singing in the Covid-19 world, scientific studies are showing time and time again that singing is no more dangerous than speaking when carried out in an orderly and risk-assessed fashion. The latest research shows that children produce fewer aerosols than adults when singing and that singing is a safe activity to engage in, especially in a large and well-ventilated building like the Priory Church. It could in fact be argued that singing in the Priory Choir is actually safer than playing sport in an indoor venue. The benefits of being a chorister are well documented. Mu- sic stimulates the same areas of the brain used in numera- cy and literacy. As a group activity, choral singing influ- ences not only the mental but also the behavioural and emotional development of the child. Reading, social and organisational skills are enhanced through membership of a choir, and helps to explain the success that many choris- ters achieve educationally and in later life. Current weekly commitment Rehearsals; Monday 4.30 – 5.30pm Friday 6.30 – 7.30pm Sunday Service 9.45am rehearsal for 10.30 service (finishes about 11.30am) Questions? Want to know more? Contact Paul Dewhurst, Director of Music, on 01262 371258 or 07747 627269 or [email protected] 5 ‘Real Aid’ Charity Christmas Gift Box Appeal The Priory is again sending Christmas boxes for children in Romania and Moldova Suggested items to include: colouring book & crayons notebook/exercise book pens & pencils chalks skipping rope or ball playing cards soap & facecloth toothpaste & brush small first aid kit & plasters comb new underwear stocking fillers puzzle or small toy (no batteries) You may like to send a card - please print & keep the greeting simple. Remember: To comply with customs regulations do not pack: Chocolate, sweets, any food items, war-related toys, anything sharp or breakable. Instructions: Please pack in a shoe box, do not seal, mark Boy or Girl together with age. The box can be wrapped in fancy paper, please ensure the lid is wrapped sep- arately & not sealed. Please tape a donation of £2 underneath the box lid towards transportation if possible. Thank you. Please leave your box at the back of church on or before 15.11.20 The Priory is open Wed and Sat 10-11am and Sun 10-12 noon COVID-19 safety measures are in place *Hands * Face * Space* 6 East Coast Auto Service Brian Tingle MOT Service Repairs Body repair specialist ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE MOT’s @ £24.99 Re-Sprays Priory Garage, Sewerby Road, Insurance Work Scratches & Dents Bridlington 3-5 Market Place, Bridlington, Telephone: 01262 675475 East Yorks. YO16 4QJ Tel/fax:- (01262) 671620 All work carried out by qualified technicians Mobile:- 07788 880036 IAN WATSON UPHOLSTERY CONTRACT & DOMESTIC Suites & Chairs Foam cut to size, Repairs Etc Hotels Cars Clubs Boats Care Homes Caravans Pubs Bike Seats Tel: 01262 609892 Greenways Workshop, 20 Church Green, Old Town, Bridlington YO16 7JX 7 PAUL ADAMS JOINERY Time Served Joiner with over 30 years experience. All aspects of joinery work and property repairs undertaken. For Free Quotation contact Paul Tel: (01262) 603154 MOB: 07805 283393 EMAIL [email protected] November brings us Remembrance Day… War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. – C S Lewis War does not determine who is right – only who is left. – (probably) Bertrand Russell The tragedy of war is that it uses man’s best to do man’s worst. – Harry Emer- son Fosdick The Church knows nothing of a sacredness of war. The Church which prays the ‘Our Father’ asks God only for peace. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer COPY DATE for the December magazine is 2 November Please send a copy to the Priory Office using email if possible ([email protected]) Any articles received after this date may not be included 8 9 War and Peace War is not a new thing It’s been here from the start, When Cain slew brother Abel And their lives were torn apart.