Christ Church Link August 2014 l New series Number 28 l 50p where sold The bells leave the building Removal of bells, fittings and frame successfully completed The first phase of our bell restoration to our appeal. Resounding thanks to project is complete. The old bells and our gang of volunteers for all their work: bell frame have been removed, and the Morley Bray, Phill Butler, Roger Button, builders have started work in the bell Ian Smith and Dave Kelly! chamber to block up the open louvres Thanks to the splendid fund-raising and install a new sound-proof floor, effort spearheaded by Ian Hay Davison, these being the key elements in the new we will have enough money to cast five system to control the loudness of the new bells and install a full set of eight bells in the immediate neighbourhood. bells (by December, if all goes to plan). With the help of our sterling team of We are hoping to arrange an outing to volunteers, the bell-hanger removed all the bell-foundry, though it might not eight bells in mid-July. The largest bell, be possible to see our new bells actually the tenor, is cracked and will be melted being cast. Please let the verger or one down. The Keltek Trust, a charity that of the churchwardens know if you’re ▲ arranges exchanges of bells, has found interested in coming. new homes for all the rest (assuming they’re confirmed to be sound). One looks likely to go to Sydney, Australia! The work party collected up all the old fittings and other scrap metal, and was able to send a total of half a ton of metal for recycling, adding a handy £65 The electric chain hoist broke down with the first bell, so all the bells, fittings and frame parts were lowered by hand. Photos: Dave Kelly / Keltek Trust. The bells have left the building... 1 The bell chamber looks vast now that it’s 1 empty! The new sound-proof floor will go roughly at the level of the beam you see at the right. 2 Having been lowered from the tower, the old bells await collection. Each has its destination chalked on its side. 3,4 The foundry sent a lorry with an impressive hydraulic arm that simply reached in the front door and lifted each bell out in turn. When the final bell was lifted, it was manually struck – not as part of a ritual (or even a superstition): its sound was recorded so that the church in Sydney interested in that bell can hear it! 5 The weight has to be distributed evenly for the trip to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. 4 2 3 5 2 Christ Church Link August 2014 Synod votes yes to women bishops On Monday 14 July all three Houses of the General Synod of the Church of England voted in favour of legislation to enable women to become bishops. Women were first ordained as priests by the Church of England in 1994. Aged between 16 and 30? Ever felt God’s call The previous vote on the question and wondered about ministry in the Church of women bishops in November 2012 of England? The Diocese of Bath and Wells is failed when the vote in the House of holding its first Young Vocations Day on Laity, though in favour, fell just six Saturday 11 October to help young people votes short of the required two-thirds think about their calling and the prospect of majority. The House of Bishops and the ministry in the Church of England. House of Clergy achieved the required If you’re aged 16–30, you’ll be able to majority both then and now. speak to those who have taken this step and The legislation to allow women to discover how the selection process works, become bishops will now go before explore both ordination training and the parliament’s Ecclesiastical Committee many other alternatives to ordained ministry, for approval and may become law as with those already in church leadership. soon as November. The morning will be spent at Holy Trinity, The Bishops of Bath & Wells and Nailsea, thinking about how we discern God’s Taunton warmly welcomed the news, call, and the afternoon will be a chance to see saying, “We could not be more delighted what life is like at Trinity College, Bristol. with the result. After the trauma of the For more information contact the last vote and the damage it did to the Diocesan Young Vocations Advisor, Jeremy public’s perception of our Church, we Putnam, on 01275 844137 or register online can now move forward knowing that at http://bit.ly/1na9ctn this is the path the Church has decided to take.” Details of the voting, and statements made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, can be found at http://bit.ly/ Mothers’ Union news womenbishops. The Mothers’ Union bring-and-buy cake sale For a timeline of the process towards last month raised a huge £106 in aid of the women bishops since 2000, see http:// 2014 MU Wheels Appeal. This total is over bit.ly/XfxaP9. For “some thoughts on 50% more than we raised in 2013, and the the history of Anglican women’s money will go to support the MU Community ministry” by Canon Angela, see the Development Coordinators (CDCs) who May 2014 issue of Christ Church Link. work within their own and neighbouring For an analysis of the significance African communities, some of which are very of the vote by Robert Pigott, BBC News isolated. Many thanks to all those who bought religious affairs correspondent, visit cakes, and to those who provided them! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28300618. With so many members away in August, The Diocese of Bath & Wells will be there will not be a communion service on celebrating 20 years of women serving the first Wednesday of this month. Normal in the priesthood at a service in Wells service(s) will be resumed next month! Cathedral on Saturday 27 September. August 2014 Christ Church Link 3 Home Group dates Coming events Next term, the Home Group will meet on Candlelit Vigil marking WWI the following dates (all Thursdays): What is it? Drawing upon Sir Edward Grey’s 18th September famous remark that “The lamps are going out 2nd October all over Europe,” Bath Abbey will be marking 16th October the centenary of the start of the First World 30th October War with a Vigil Service. The Abbey will be lit 13th November with hundreds of candles, which will be 27th November extinguished one by one until the final candle 11th December is blown out at 11pm – the moment of Meetings will be at Janet Mahto’s house Britain’s ultimatum to Germany. The Vigil (Granville Lodge, Weston Road, Bath BA1 will include music, memoirs of Bath residents, 2XU), except for the two in November – scripture and poetry. the venue for these two is to be confirmed. When is it? Monday 4 August, 10pm – 11pm Further details will be coming soon. Please Where? Bath Abbey put these dates in your diary. Tickets? Tickets are free and available from Bath Box Office, or visit www.bathabbey.org/ whats-on/events/ Discuss Assisted Dying Summer Organ Festival Recital Bath Central United Reformed Church What is it? The final recital of Wells is hosting a series of “Community Cathedral’s 2014 Summer Organ Festival is Conversations” to bring people together given by Jonathan Vaughn, Assistant Organist to discuss important issues of our times. at Wells Cathedral: Guilmant Sonata no 1 in The first is at 7pm on Friday 19 September D minor; Whitlock Fantasie Choral no 1 in at Bath Central United Reformed Church in D flat; Ireland Villanella; Reubke Sonata on Argyle Street on the topic of Assisted Dying. the 94th Psalm. Assisted Dying is a controversial and When is it? Wednesday 6 August, 7:30pm complex question. In the United Kingdom, Where? Wells Cathedral it is illegal. But some people believe that we Tickets? £10.00 (including a post-concert should have the freedom to choose when drink), available from Wells Cathedral Shop and how we die, as in assisted suicide. Some Box Office and at the door. For details call do not support this view for medical, ethical 01749 672773 or visit wellscathedral.org.uk or religious reasons. Others are unsure of where they stand. “From Time to Time” The evening will start with presentations by What is it? A celebration of the Book of Sophie Pandit from Dignity in Dying and Dr Common Prayer through words and music Nigel Rawlinson. After a break for tea, coffee including Handel’s “Come unto him” and and home-made cakes, there will be an hour Stanford’s “Te Deum” performed by the for open discussion. The evening ends at 9pm. talented trio of “In Voice and Verse”: actor Entry is free, but the organisers would like Lance Pierson, Soprano Belinda Yates and some idea of numbers, so please sign up on pianist Heather Chamberlain. Sponsored the list at the back of church by Friday 12 by Friends of Bath Abbey in support of the September if you are interested. Footprint project (for details of which, see last month’s Christ Church Link). • More than 20 church leaders, including the When is it? Thursday 4 September, 7:30pm Archbishop of Canterbury, have issued a joint Where? Bath Abbey statement opposing Lord Falconer’s Assisted Tickets? £15 (includes programme and Dying Bill. Read it on the archbishop’s website refreshments), available from Bath Box Office at http://bit.ly/assisteddyingstatement or visit www.bathabbey.org/whats-on/events/ 4 Christ Church Link August 2014 Bishop’s Message for August From the Rt Revd Peter Hancock, move in all sorts of ways.