Holme Pierrepont with Adbolton Nottinghamshire
The application for a Faculty Advice has been made to the Diocese, and following the display of the Statutory Notice – in the porch we hope for a Faculty to be granted in March, which means that the work can proceed. This will make access much safer for all.
IG
We were saddened by the death of our brother Frank Hughes, whose funeral in church and burial were on December 22nd. Frank, a native of Lady Bay who we shared with the Methodist Church, was a long-standing member of our choir and former Church Councillor. A hard-working businessman in insurance and then property, he had also been a stock-car racing promoter. He loved vintage cars, travel, dancing, and Nottingham Forest – I shall miss celebrating – or commiserating – with him. A big, and yet feeling and generous character, Frank will be missed by many; especially of course by Isobel after 55 years of marriage, daughters Angela and Julie and families, to whom we offer our sympathies.
Christmas services were very well attended, helped by email contact with our young families. Our thanks again to Rita Pratt for making our Christingle oranges; to All Hallows’ Choir for leading our 9 Lessons and Carols so beautifully, and to the Lady Bay Bellplates Group for their contribution. And of course to Ian Hepburn our faithful organist. And to David Butterworth and the Clifton Choir for their excellent 9 Lessons and Carols. Not forgetting our Bellringers, and Colin and Jean for their New Year’s hospitality.
In February we look forward to the Feast (now fully booked) and the Valentine’s Tide service and Faith Lunch – at which all are welcome; please bring a contribution, and preferably sign the book.
And on March 10th to the COFFEE MORNING at Holme Pierepont Hall, 10.00am-12.30. Admission £2.50, children free. Gifts of preserves, cakes, good bric-a-brac for sale welcome.
At the 10.00am service on February 26th, I shall dedicate a fine churchyard bench in memory of the late and fondly-remembered George and Irene Watts, and know you will do your best to attend to show their family our appreciation.
Have you had a good look at the newly-cleaned monuments? They are worth it, and what a difference the cleaning – a painstaking task by conservation specialists – has made to the ‘feel’ of the whole church. The four in the chancel are by the leading monumental artists of their age; John Flaxman, and Michael Taylor of York. We are grateful for the Thoresby and other charitable trusts that helped us raise the £7,860 to pay for this; and also to the Lottery Heritage Fund which agreed the £3,000 left over from our grant could be used to clean the five Victorian memorials on the north wall of the nave. Thanks should be recorded to Elizabeth Brackenbury and Ian Godson for their hard work obtaining grants, and to Brenda Stevenson for her’s obtaining faculties.
RB
No one is more eager than myself for news of progress in appointing my successor, but I regret to say I cannot give you any. As regards the appointment process, I am not involved at all, and can only refer you to your parish representatives – Dave Allen and Jenny Hempstead, Ian Godson and Richard Cumberland – who tell me there is nothing at present they can report. Keep praying! In that connection, we will be having monthly Saturday Prayer Mornings at All Hallows, beginning on February 25th at 10.00am, with our old friend Canon Philip Humphreys – all are welcome.
RB
Thanks to grants from The Thoresby Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have had nineof the church’s internal memorials cleaned. That the job has been well done can be seen from the following photos …. showing before and after views. However, the best way is to see them is “in the flesh”, so to speak.
IG
Henry Sydney Pierrepont
North wall of the nave.
Henry Sydney Pierrepont - before cleaning
Sydney Henry Pierrepont - after cleaning
Revd William Saltren
North chancel wall
Revd William Saltren - before
Evelyn Henry Frederick Pierrepont
North wall of Sanctuary – by John Flaxman
During…….
After………….
Evelyn Pierrepont, 2nd Duke of Kingston
South wall of Sanctuary – by Michael Taylor of York.
It is some weeks since Herbert reported the death-defying leap of Revd George, at Langar airfield. You will recall that George made the sponsored jump to raise money for providing wells, etc, to give clean water in Zimbabwe.
I am now able to show you pictures of our intrepid parachutist, before, during and after his jump!
IG
What an autumn! Starting with Oct. 2nd when we had our Harvest Festival and Faith Lunch, a very good congregation and splendid food The Produce Auction made £130, which went to Revd George for his parachute jump for Water Aid. Thanks also to Angela for coming back take the service; it’s always great to see her.
On October 12th, after a week of uncertainty due to the weather George took the plunge/parachute jump. What an entrance he made coming out of the clouds, I think I heard him say, “can we go up again?” I, Brian Goulding, Harold Tipple and my friend Tony all witnessed it. Well done George!
October 16th was the very big day, when 5 other churches — the Clifton Group, Ruddington, Gamston, Burton Joyce, and Tollerton, brought candidates (12 in all) to Holme Pierrepont to be Confirmed by Revd Tony Porter, Bishop of Sherwood, along with our own Georgina
We were out of practice because the last confirmation at St Ed’s was in 1965! But the service went like clockwork. We thank All Hallows’ for helping with refreshments, and the Hall for letting the clergy robe there.
On November 13th, Councillors and British Legion representatives joined us for Remembrance Sunday. On November 20th, our Patronal Festival was made special by Georgina’s first communion and also by dedications: of our Memorial Book to the late Irene Storey, and of its beautiful oak case, made by Mr Taylor from the old bell frame, to the late Doris Wightman, Colin’s mother. Jean had embroidered a beautiful hassock featuring a train in emory of family friend Roger Lewis, and Brenda Stevenson another with a rose in gratitude for granddaughter Danielle’s 21st; these were also dedicated. We thank all concerned for their generosity.
Sir Jimmy Savile, OBE, 1926-2011
When Revd David Bennett became priest in charge of St Edmund’s, he invited Jimmy to do a sponsored run for disadvantaged children in Nottinghamshire and Belfast Northern Ireland. With help from Eaton College near Retford, and a Belfast College, this started a good friendship with Jimmy, to last from 1968 to 1991.
I started coming to St Edmunds in 1972 when I met Sylvia, my wife-to-be. When November came round it was, “What can you do to help?” All members of the church rallied round, getting sponsors, selling crisps and pop around the route.
First, it was 10 times round Saxondale Hospital, till Jimmy got bored. Then they met up with the vicar of the Cranmer Group who advised them to try Scarrington, Hawksworth, Thoroton, Aslockton and back to Scarrington, which we called a 10k run The monies raised took 20 children to the Gower Peninsula in Wales for 2 weeks holiday The weekend started on a Friday when Jimmy visited a School for Children with special needs.
On the Saturday we had a dinner at either Saxondale, Bingham, or County Hall. After the Sunday Afternoon Run we had our service in church when Jimmy would preach. One memorable time was when one choir member, Jack Blackshaw got his surplus on fire waiting to take communion. My, did the press make a story of that? He was said to preach Hellfire and Damnation!
Monday was clean up day, when Maurice & Margaret Harrison, May & Fred Holmes, Fred & Vera Cole, Nell & Walter Meredith, Sylvia & I walked the whole course clearing up.
Jimmy was a Roman Catholic; the first R C to be installed as a church warden into the Anglican Church, by the Bishop of Wakefield in a church just outside Halifax.
HW
The PCC and I have agreed to experimental use of the modern service at the morning communion in January, February, and March. While the number of ‘regulars’ at morning services has decreased, the number of young couples and their families attending in connection with weddings has grown. The latter generally have very limited church background, while the former are often too few in number to ‘carry’ and teach some of the ways of doing things which we love. The theory is that a simpler, more direct style of service may touch the couples more and encourage some to come back. The modern service will be done ‘decently’, without the handshake of peace, and only the hymns will be sung. In March, people’s response will be sought as the PCC and I decide how to proceed. Robert
Results – MORNING COMMUNIONS; BCP or Common Worship?
The results of the Questionnaire following the experimental use of the modern communion service earlier this year were taken into account by May’s PCC. 16 people using their names responded, all but two being established members of the morning congregation. 10 of these personally preferred the old BCP service, only 2 (the more recent attenders) the new ‘Common Worship’. But 5 of the 10 graciously responded that they thought the new service would be better for the future of the morning congregation, making this the opinion of 7 as against 4 who disagreed. The PCC and I therefore felt we were getting mixed messages, and that we should revert to the BCP until the Holy Spirit made the need for change clearer. We also took into account the strong feelings of some who pointed out that it was the BCP that originally brought them to St Ed’s; and that at least some of St Ed’s young attenders prefer also prefer the BCP, and they are more likely to stick with us than those who prefer the modern service which is invariably used at churches nearer to their homes.
We were greatly encouraged by the open-mindedness of our congregation and people’s willingness to put the needs of the church above their own preferences. On other questions; by 11 to 3, people preferred the priest facing the congregation; by 10 to 5, you preferred saying the creed; all but one preferred the traditional Lord’s prayer. All this will be taken into account, allowing for practicalities.
Robert
Sunday - why does it happen on Sunday? First, Ian told us the organ was being taken down
for a fifty year service, and it would be three months b
efore we get it back. That will be the end of January! (We have since heard from the organ builder that part, at least, of the organ will be working for Christmas).
The following Sunday I had a puncture going home from church in the dark. After a struggle to get the wheel off without success, three cars came to my aid. Out came three young men and a young lady who quickly changed it for me, without reward. Thanks, lads, wherever you are!
Sunday, 14th November was Remembrance Sunday, when we had the Royal British Legion Standards from Radcliffe and Orston, together with Cllr Barrie Cooper from the County Council; Cllr Mike Helmsley, Rushcliffe District Council; Cllrs Frank Thomas and Cynthia Stacey from the Parish Council
On Saturday 20th November, fifteen couples who wish to marry came to church for a wedding talk, and to hear music played by Ian. We gave them coffee and biscuits. Then what happened? The boiler decided to malfunction, so it was very cold in church.
Next day, Sylvia and I went in early to switch on the electric heaters. It was still cold but we had a good congregation on Sunday night, being the Patronal Festival of St Edmund. We had our special guest speaker Revd Canon John Bentham, who is Rural Dean for West Bingham. The service was followed by coffee – and the heating came on for us!
On November 27th several of us went into church armed with buckets and cleaning material to clean the walls, re-hang the curtains, put up the Christmas tree and clear leaves from the ground-level gutters.
Herbert
As part of the programme of work funded largely by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the organ re-furbishment started as expected, on Tuesday 2nd November. We have been loaned an organ by the organ builder, to use in the meantime. It is hoped that the work will be completed by Christmas, but it may run into January. Let us hope not!
IG
Sunday 5th February
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
11.00am Mattins (with Accession Prayers)
6.30pm Evensong
Sunday 12th February
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
11.00am Songs of Praise for St Valentine’s Tide
with Baptism (followed by Faith Lunch
see Rector’s Notes)
6.30pm Sung Communion
Sunday19th February
Transfiguration Sunday
11.00am Sung Communion
6.30pm Evensong
Sunday26th February
First Sunday in Lent
11.00am Mattins with Baptism and
dedication of George and
Irene Watts Memorial Bench
6.30pm Sung Communion
Sunday 4th March
Second Sunday in Lent
11.00am Mattins
6.30pm Evensong
