Chedzoy News Autumn 20 10 ISSUE ZOY VILLAGES ASSOCIATION Chedzoy Candle Auction from Malcolm Friend AGM The 25th Candle Auction on behalf of St.Mary’sChurch was th held in the Village Hall on 23rd June. Tradition has it that in Wednesday 8 September 1490 a piece of land known as Church Acre was given to the Parish Hall, Westonzoyland village church by Richard Sydenham, a local landowner. This piece of land, near the top of Chedzoy Lane, came with the At 7:30 pm condition that the lease was auctioned every 21 years to raise funds for repairs to the church. The Auction is the country’s With presentation of 2010 visit to Val d’Ille oldest, still carried out the way all auctions were until the Industrial Revolution. Half-an-inch of candle is lit at the outset and the buyer is the last bidder before the flame goes out. Sing Sankey Evening Bishop Peter of Taunton was Master of Ceremonies for the evening and was accompanied by Rev Chris Keys. The Friday 17th September Venerable John Reed, Archdeacon of Taunton, was present in the audience, along with Rev Kelvin Williams, a previous 7:30 pm at Chilton Trinity School Rector of Chedzoy. The Auction was conducted by Robert Venner from Greenslade Taylor Hunt and the solicitor in attendance was Chris Jones from Messrs Harris and Harris at Admission Free Wells. Come along and sing your favourite songs – Around 130 people crowded into the Village Hall to hear Rev immortalised by Ira D Sankey – with the renowned Keys welcome everyone and introduce Bishop Peter, Robert Burnham and Highbridge Town Band, plus the Venner and Chris Jones. He then handed over to Bishop Peter enthralling New Horizon Singers from Taunton. who said the following Opening Prayer, which delighted the crowd: “May God bless our imbibing, our conversations, There will be a collection in support of local charity our deliberations and our bidding, and may lots of money be SURE - Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy raised. Amen .” Equipment, the charity that provides funding for the Bishop Peter gave a short introduction to the Candle Auction purchase of equipment for the local Cancer Centre including several amusing anecdotes from previous Auctions. at Musgrove Hospital – and for Shelter/Water He then handed over to Auctioneer Robert Venner who Boxes for Pakistan flood relief. explained the technicalities and legalities of the evening. Bishop Peter was then asked to light the candle, and - as is traditional - was asked to make the opening bid. He said that in Organised by Sedgemoor Rotary Club the World Cup that afternoon England beat Slovenia 1 – 0 following a goal scored by Jermain Defoe. To the amusement of the crowd he said that Defoe’s shirt was number 19, so he had decided to bid £19. St Mary's Church Chedzoy Robert Venner then asked for further bids. To the crowd’s HARVEST FESTIVAL EVENTS further amusement Archdeacon John said that in the marathon rd tennis match at Wimbledon between John Isner and Nicolas Sunday October 3 Harvest services Mahut that afternoon the latest score was 45/45, so he would 11.30 am Family service bid £45. Bidding then began in earnest with bids coming from 6.30 pm Evensong all parts of the crowd. Bidding gradually crept up to £3,550, and as the candle started to wane Mark Kidner of Chedzoy Monday October 4th Harvest Auction made a surprise bid of £4,000. Despite encouragement from the The Manor public house at 8.00 pm auctioneer, no one else topped this bid and Mr Kidner became the new leaseholder a few minutes later when the candle finally th Saturday October 9 expired. Harvest Supper Rev Keys announced that the candle had burned for 36 minutes Chedzoy Village Hall and 47 seconds. He then thanked everyone for coming and in 7.30 for 8.00 pm particular Bishop Peter for being Master of Ceremonies. He in aid of St Mary’s Church and The Village Hall also thanked Harris and Harris and Greenslade Taylor Hunt for £8 carrying out all of the work in connection with the Candle Au ction completely free of charge. This year visitors also had the opportunity to view a display in the Views from the Vicarage Church of locally made quilts. All of the quilts on display were made by members of the Chedzoy Patchwork Group, part of Dear Friends, Chedzoy Ladies, which was formed to enable some of the skills There is a saying that ‘time waits for no and techniques used in patchwork and quilting to be passed on by man’. The 3rd of September is the third Avril Johnson. anniversary of my becoming Vicar of A number of the quilts were ‘Sampler Quilts’, where the overall Westonzoyland and Chedzoy - I can hardly design is created from a variety of traditional ‘patches’ such as believe it. The time seems to have flown by. It is a privilege to ‘Tumbling Blocks’, ‘Log Cabin’ and ‘Ohio Star’. The Group meet share in people’s lives in times of joy as well as sadness. I try like regularly in the Village Hall to learn the techniques and eventually so many to follow Jesus in all that I do. I fail in that so often, as assemble complete quilts, using the traditional methods of this are all bound to do. We are after all saved by grace through faith ancient craft. This was an impressive display, mainly by first- in Jesus Christ. time quilters, which received a very appreciative audience. What is grace? It is God’s unmerited favour. In other words we do not deserve to go to heaven because we can never live up to New Churchyard Management Regulations God’s standards. Jesus surmised the commandments in these from Chedzoy PCC words. ‘Love God, and love your neighbour as yourself.’ There The Diocese have pointed out that we should have a set of are six hundred and thirteen commandments in the bible. Most Churchyard Management Regulations in place to help with the people have heard of the ten commandments but studies show few maintenance of the Churchyard. A copy of the new regulations is people can tell you what all ten are. The best way to look at the shown below and will come into effect on 1st November this year. ten commandments is to view them as God’s teaching or God’s Please read the new regulations, and if you have any queries then ten best ways to live. If the world followed them there would be no please discuss them with our Churchwarden or Rector. need for police or armies, life would be as God intended. The In order to preserve the dignity of the churchyard and to ease problem is we cannot live up to them. Even the best people fail or the task of maintaining it these Management Regulations have miss the mark. That is sin. Falling below God’s standards. That is been adopted by the Parochial Church Council of this Parish. where grace comes in. God’s unmerited favour. 1. The surface of the churchyard shall be kept as far as possible I have found over the last three years that many people think they level and free of grave mounds. The Parochial Church Council are not good enough to go to heaven. Every one who repents and may level any mound at its discretion at any time more than 12 believes will be saved. It really is that simple. Over the last three months after the latest internment in the grave. years some have grasped that but I know many still have not. How 2. Bulbs and small annual plants may be planted in the soil of a about you? Don’t leave it too late. grave, and plants or flowers may be placed in a removable God bless Chris sunken container (preferably of unpolished aluminium): but unless they are kept tidy the Parochial Church Council may St Mary’s Church, Chedzoy treat the grave as part of the turf and mow over it. Services Each Sunday 3. Wreaths or cut flowers may be laid direct on any grave or in any vase authorised by the Incumbent or by these regulations; 9:00 am Holy Communion but the Parochial Church Council may remove them when they - except appear to be withered. First Sunday of each month 4. The Parochial Church Council may in its discretion at any time remove and dispose of any artificial flowers placed in the 11:30 am Family Service churchyard. CHURCH EVENTS 5. No additional items can be displayed on graves, and Ploughman’s Lunches - £3.00 unauthorised items will be removed. th September 16 at Glebe House 12 – 2 pm 6. Any power exercisable by the Parochial Church Council November 11th Soup Kitchen, at Sibleys farm 12- 2 pm under these regulations may be delegated by that Council to a November 27th Pate and Puddings eve at Village Hall person or persons deputed to care for the day to day upkeep and maintenance of the churchyard. Other News from St Mary’s Curtain Call at Chedzoy - from Malcolm Friend Chedzoy Tower Open Day and Quilt Exhibition The congregation at St. Mary’s Church have been concerned that from Linda Friend the area around the font can be a little drab and dark. Plans are The annual Tower Open Day was held on Sunday 27th June. It now in place to improve the area by upgrading the lighting and was a glorious day and, although there was a slight haze, views making some other cosmetic changes.