The Parish Magazine May/June For the Churches and Community of Albrighton & District 2020 Pentecost ________________________________________________________ online edition 1 Who’s Who in the United Benefice Vicar: The Revd Mary Thomas The Vicarage, High Street, Albrighton WV7 3EQ 01902 373415 Email: [email protected] Curate: The Revd Ana Lawrence 2 Garridge Close, Albrighton, WV7 3PZ 01902 373031 Email: [email protected] Reader: Bill Sharples 01902 372469 Email: [email protected] Baptism & Wedding Enquiries For further information about how to book a baptism or wedding, please look at the website: www.albrightonparishchurch.org.uk or contact the Church Office on 01902 373160 or by email: [email protected]. The office is staffed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 am-1 pm. St. Mary Magdalene, Albrighton Churchwardens: Andrea Tyerman 01902 374055 Chris Cherrington 01902 374687 PCC Secretary: Lydia Radigan [email protected] Safeguarding: Kim Hodgkins 01543 306030 Sunday School: Paul Fisher 01902 373851 Messy Church: Josie Fisher 01902 373851 Bell Ringers: Jan Bumford 01902 372010 Ladies’ Link Josie Fisher 01902 373851 Organist Gerald Leach 01902 372288 United Benefice Pastoral Pam Slater 01902 372436 Visiting Co-ordinator St. Cuthbert, Donington Churchwardens: John Purchase 01902 373773 Jan Concannon 01952 253660 Churchwarden Emeritus Len Warrilow 01902 373799 PCC Secretary: Francis Quilter 01902 375940 St. Chad, Boningale Churchwardens: Pauline Hill 01902 372758 Trevor Elton 01902 789561 PCC Secretary: Jess Harper 07767 390860 The Parish Magazine Editor: Margaret Leach 17 High Street, Albrighton 01902 372288 Email: [email protected] Advertising: Denise Cherrington 2 Mayfair Close, Albrighton 01902 374687 Email: [email protected] Distribution: Bill Tennant 11 Lyncroft, Albrighton 01902 372717 Mandy Murphy 8 Lyncroft, Albrighton 01902 372319 The next issue of the magazine is likely to be an online version also. Print production and distribution will begin again as soon as it is safe to do so. The views expressed in articles and letters published in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the United Benefice. The inclusion of advertisements does not mean that they are endorsed by the Editor or the United Benefice. 2 DEAR FRIENDS, ______________________________________________ Thoughts from the Vicarage... In our prayers: "And God said, ‘I have set my rainbow in the clouds, +Michael, +Sarah, AD and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever the rainbow appears in the Paul and the Senior Staff clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting team as they continue to covenant between God and all the living creatures of lead and guide the Clergy every kind on the earth." and people of the Genesis 9.13 &16 Diocese. During this season of Covid-19 signs of hope, solidarity, support and gratitude have appeared in windows, on Confirmation Candidates: doors and walls across our community. The rainbow Lesley, Joanne, Luke, has become the symbol for these times. In the Bible the book of Genesis Adam, Steven and Emily. tells of how, after the Great Flood which Noah and his family survived in the Ark, the rainbow was a sign of God's covenant with Noah and his Local Businesses, Schools, descendants that this would never happen again. It can also be seen as a and all who keep our picture of God's beauty and holiness, “Like the appearance of a rainbow in community running the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the smoothly as they appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” (Ezekiel 1:28 :) continue to face challenges posed by So how are you? Has lockdown been a relief from the daily grind? A Covid-19. burden to be borne? Or, a mixture of both? As a Vicar and Priest, I used to _________________ be in and out of the church all the time. The last time I led a service in St NHS staff, Albrighton Mary Magdalene church was on Mothering Sunday 23rd March. On that Medical Practice, those day, there were only two of us in the building and the outer door was who are working in Care closed. It felt strangely profound to be in the holiest part of the church, Homes as they care for praying prayers and using words that have been said through the ages the most vulnerable. amidst those prayer-soaked walls. The following evening, lockdown was _________________ imposed. Churches remain closed for public worship. Those who are in need: But, it's only the building that is closed, the church (as people) is very much Lesley & family, family & alive and well. Worship services have moved online or are being broadcast friends of Alan, Jenny & over the telephone; coffee mornings, quizzes and meetings are taking place family, Janet, Bill H, David via video-conferencing platforms; pastoral care and funeral 'visits' are and all who have asked being done over the 'phone. We have also partnered with the Red House, for our prayers. Melville Club and Parish Council to deliver groceries to those in most need _________________ through the Albrighton Flyer - thank you to everyone who has brightened We remember with my day with a smile and a conversation when I've joined Ken and Phil on thankfulness: David the bus. Clark, Alan Cresswell, Vernon Glanville Norman, This strange season in which we find ourselves will be with us for some Robert John Thompson & time, it seems. Whilst we're apart, know that the love of God is constant Jayne Richardson. and far reaching, our community is being held in prayer and, in every act of kindness, the love of God is made known. With my love and prayers, Mary x 3 Sunday Worship This week the theme of our worship is: The Importance of Prayer. Jess Harper is leading with Kevin Lawrence reading the Gospel, Evelyn Harper leading the reflection and Lydia Radigan our Prayers of Intercession. The service will be available on our website, www.stmarysparishchurch.org.uk, on our Facebook pages (@stmarysalbrighton, @stcuthbertsdonington, or @stchadboningale and YouTube: @UnitedBeneficeabd: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCen1APsj7d419bRJre1wgNw?view_as=subscriber or over the telephone: 01902 906507 You can call at any time to suit you. (Calls charged at local rates.) 'Quiet Reflections' @ St. Chad, Boningale In these unprecedented times, meeting to enjoy a time of Prayer and Reflection among the quiet surrounds of St Chads Church is not possible, so our Quiet Days have gone electronic. We currently have Prayers, Reflections and suggested Bible readings based around the 'Footprints' poem and these are available via mail and email. If you would like to receive these reflection sheets please email [email protected] or contact Evelyn on 07767 009 634. PASTORAL CARE Whilst our churches may be closed, we are still very much here. Our Benefice Pastoral Care team has been doing a fantastic job of keeping in touch with people over the telephone. If you would like a telephone call, or know someone who would appreciate one (with their permission), please let us know. Office: 01902 373160 or email: [email protected] Albrighton Flyer Mobile Shop Contact Ken on 07543 869754 if you would like the Flyer to pop by with some essentials. 4 ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S TONG Minister in Charge: The Revd. Preb. Pippa Thorneycroft 01902 375523 Funeral: On 2nd May at Telford Crematorium - Susan Helliwell. Our sympathy is extended to her husband Keith, son and daughter Martin and Sophie, and her beloved grandchildren Amelia, Aggie and Sam. Her death was not Coronavirus-related. Golden Chapel and South Porch Thanks to the technology we have nowadays, the PCC members have been kept informed of the results of the 4 companies tendering for the next phase of work at Tong and the steering group has had two virtual meetings on Microsoft Teams with the architects. The result is that we have appointed Treasure & Son of Ludlow for the contract which is multifaceted and includes a substantial amount of woodwork. Treasures have their own in-house joinery shop, which was an added attraction. The bulk of the work will be both inside and outside the Golden Chapel and South Porch, but there is the need for some specialised stonework, including re-siting the alabaster top of Humphrey Vernon’s tomb, cleaning the Coade stone coat of arms and preserving the sandstone relief of Tong castle which has sat on the floor of the porch for 30 or more years, but will be raised and securely fixed to the wall. In addition the Chancellor has given permission to put glass doors at the main entrance, though the medieval ones will remain in place, but open during the daytime. The work is scheduled to start mid/end June, more than three years after starting the whole process. Our next project will be the heating and also toilet/kitchen but as there is no ideal solution to the latter, we are not optimistic that we will succeed in getting a faculty quickly. Whilst going through many Tong papers during lockdown, it is obvious that the heating has been discussed for 50 years without resolution, and the toilet/kitchen for more than 20! Can we crack it this time? ALBRIGHTON FLOWER CLUB It is with regret that our meetings have had to be cancelled and our programme of activities curtailed. However we hope to resume our meetings beginning in September providing the present situation will allow the opening of the Red House. In the mean time we would like to convey our best wishes to all members of Flower Club and look forward to seeing you in the near future for more delightful evenings of flowers and friendship. Val Kirton 5 ST MARY'S, SHIFNAL & ST JOSEPH'S, ALBRIGHTON Registered Charity number: 234025 Parish Administrator: Father Tom Cunnah Resident at: Cathedral House, 11 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE 01743 290 000 [email protected] COVID-19 PANDEMIC: During the current restrictions designed to slow the spread of the virus, there will be NO PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF MASS.