THE BELL Benefice of East Lonsdale Life October and November 2013 THE CHURCHES OF LECK, TUNSTALL, MELLING WRAY, TATHAM AND TATHAM FELLS YOUR CHURCH STAFF The team of clergy and lay-people who run our Services at the six churches are: Revd Mark Cannon (Priest in Charge) Tel: 21030 Revd Canon Professor Robert Hannaford Tel: 74376 Revd Canon Norman and Dr Ann Dawson Tel: 62936 Peter Osborne Tel: 61029 Mary Winter Tel: 21784 For further details please go to the Benefice website ‘Benefice of East Lonsdale’ www.tathamfells.me.uk/benefice/index.php WARDENS WRAY Mark Rowland Tel 22484 HOLY TRINITY TATHAM Phyllis Holt Tel 21443 ST JAMES THE LESS Norman Dove Tel 21557 TATHAM FELLS Carole Butcher Tel 63095 GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH John Wilson Tel 61594 TUNSTALL Jane Greenhalgh Tel 74260 ST JOHN THE BAPTIST Gill Stephenson Tel 74250 MELLING Jac Beeson Tel 21638 ST WILFRID LECK Eleanor Denby Tel 21793 ST PETER Fanny Leech Tel 72009 This edition has been sponsored by St John the Baptist, Tunstall Sponsorship: if you wish to sponsor an issue as an individual, in memory of someone, or as a business, please call Carole on 015242 63095. The cost will be £55 COPY DATE FOR DECEMBER/JANUARY ISSUE FRIDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2 Editorial You will find an account on page 8 of a visit to an Orthodox Church, on page 9 the shipment to Spain of the Gray and Davidson pipe organ from Wray Church, and on page 10 details of a very special concert at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tatham Fells. The summer has been a good one and despite the chill today I feel autumn may be the same. Carole Butcher Diary of a Lune Valley Vicar loins. It was a warm day, and I began to by Mark Cannon wish I hadn’t also put trousers on. For Wednesday: Oh no! An email from the first time ever I learnt what it was the Archdeacon! (Archdeacons are the like to be a woman, and why it could evil henchmen of the Bishop and are be “too hot for tights, what to wear in responsible for naughty vicars and summer, nothing in the wardrobe” etc, drains). “now what?” I think as I open etc. My winter wardrobe is clothes plus the attachment. It is glad tidings about jumper, and my summer collection is the new clergy appraisal system – 70 the same clothes without a jumper. questions to be answered by the Now I am in a whole new world of congregation about their vicar. Now, as discomfort and looking for a bush in a vicar, I’m quite aware that the Lord Lowgill behind which I could remove has provided congregations in order to my pants without scaring the sheep. give Vicars something to moan about, When the bride shimmered elegantly but I’m not sure I’m ready to be down the aisle, I recognised a fellow- assessed by the humble pew-dwellers! sufferer for fashion. “I am with you, The questions include; “Do I bring sister” I murmured as she tried to kneel people to Christ?” “Do I get on with at the altar. the elderly?” I ask myself if I am The truth for me is that I am never ready for this new world where I have quite ready for the task that lies ahead, to remember to be polite etc. One of and I do not think I’m alone. We plan my training vicars was, quite possibly, and we plot, but we have to be ready to the rudest vicar in England, I hope that change when events don’t quite pan out I have not “modelled” too much of my in the way we had hoped. We all suffer ministry on him. from change, but it’s how we react, as Christians, which makes a difference. Sunday: My jaw is aching with too The New Testament reading today much smiling at parishioners, and talked of believers going through a because my priestly colleagues are “refining fire” which burns away the away, I’ve got five services on the rubbish and leaves what it pure and bounce including a wedding and a valuable behind. Life events can do christening. On the whole, it doesn’t that to us. It’s up to us to hang on to the seem as if it will be worthwhile taking valuable and to let the rubbish go. off my cassock as I dash between all Next time I smile at you and ask you the different churches, so I keep it on how your bunions are, I won’t be all day. Now I don’t know if you’ve angling for a good appraisal; I might ever worn a full–length black woollen have learnt to change, to adapt, to ball dress for six and a half hours, but I evolve from grumpy middle-age and wasn’t fully prepared for the heat inch forward just a little closer to Jesus. generated around my legs and 3 NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES souls who did stay enjoyed a convivial lunch sheltered by the porch. Church of the Good Shepherd, Looking ahead, Tatham's version of Tatham Fells the Lions v All Blacks, the Jumble Sale, takes Our Leavers Service on Tuesday 23rd place in September. Fun, profit and no July was very well attended. Madonna Buss, injuries please! Olivia Dinsdale, Harry Lane, Isla Primrose Finally, on Saturday 9th November at and Rheannon Stokes all read out memories 7.30 pm we welcome Tatham History Society of their time at Tatham Fells Primary School. to the church. The meeting studies the effect Copies of the Children’s Bible were presented of the Scots Invaders on the district and the to ten year 2 students and the leavers received involvement of local men in the battle of a Good News Bible from the PCC. Flodden. Please come along. Work is in progress on the roof above John Holt the chancel. Trevor Jones is making a very good job of replacing rotten timbers and Holy Trinity, Wray putting back the lovely stone slates. The A cricket match ‘Wray v Fells’ was pointing in the wall on the east gable is being arranged on the school field by Jonathan done at the same time making good use of the Wright as a joint venture between Wray scaffolding. Chapel and the Church on Saturday 24th Gayle Batty and Simon Denny were August. The event was very well attended, married at our church on Sunday afternoon 4th and the weather managed to remain fair August. We wish them both much happiness throughout the day. The ladies of both Church in their future lives together. At the time of going to press we are and Chapel provided catering for the event, looking forward to our Harvest Festival which was a great success and thoroughly Service on Sunday 6th October, the Harvest enjoyed by both young and old. In view of the Auction on Monday 7th October and a very response this may well become an annual special concert by the well-known cellist, event on the calendar. Matthew Barley on Friday October 11th – The Harvest Festival Service will be please see page 10 for further details. held on Sunday 6th October at 10.00am. Carole Butcher Children from Wray Endowed School will St James the Less, Tatham participate during the service. The Harvest John Keats’ lovely poem, Ode to supper will be held on Monday 7th October at Autumn contains the lines "now with treble 7.00pm prompt in Wray Village Institute. The soft the redbreast whistles.........and gathering supper will be followed by an auction of swallows twitter in the skies". We have heard produce donated during the Sunday service; and seen both so summer is over! However tickets from Fran Hartnup or Sue Rowland. the often quoted first line talks of "mellow Judith Wrigley/Ann Anderson fruitfulness" and the dry, sunny summer has come up trumps. Farm and garden have St John the Baptist, Tunstall thrived and there are a lot of blackberries but It has been quite an eventful summer no mushrooms; we shall celebrate Harvest for Tunstall culminating in a most wonderful Festival with sincere thanks! Barbecue and Auction of Promises on The highlight of the summer was the September 7th organised by the St John the Afternoon Tea hosted by Dick and Irene Baptist Ecclesiastical Trust to raise funds for Kelsall and their team in their lovely garden a much needed toilet in the car park. At the at Millhouses on a real summer's day. It was a time of writing this I am unable to say how great party and some of the profit will be used much was raised towards this project. It was a to put the church boiler on earlier next winter! most enjoyable evening despite the rain. The The joint service at the end of July, church is truly indebted to The Trust for all again supported by the choir, was most their planning and hard work. Some members moving but the cold wind deterred all but the of the prestigious Haffner Orchestra played hardy from staying for a picnic. Those brave before the auction and Peter Entwistle delighted the 130 strong audience with a short St Wilfrid’s, Melling organ recital. The food was magnificent and Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the this comes from someone who does not often beholder and I was reminded of this whilst enjoy barbecued food! Thank you to everyone enjoying our family holiday in Tuscany.