Its now been some time since my last 'lot' but I have been quite ill over the last 4 months. I am now getting back on my feet and starting to feel like doing jobs around the church once again. I have been quite astounded by all the prayers, cards, phone calls, and visits that I have received and wish to start by thanking everyone for their support and concern. It has been tremendous and has certainly helped in my recovery.

 

Sue Farr has done a remarkable job in organising the services and taking care of the Church since David left. She has received help from P.C.C. members and other members of the congregation and they deserve recognition for their efforts, especially over Christmas.

 

There is a lot of work needed this year to keep the church in good order. Money is never a problem when you have it but we are now getting short and we are getting a bit concerned. As well as paying the Parish Share (Which is considerable), we have to maintain an historic building, maintain the churchyard, pay the utility bills and raise money for new projects. The Church of England contribute nothing at all to the upkeep of All Hallows Church and it is our responsibility, locally, to raise the necessary funds.

 

The Parish Council help greatly by contributing towards the care of the churchyard but the church roof is now leaking and in need of repair, there are problems in the churchyard with loose memorials and we would like to see better lighting on the path from Church Walk to the church door. We also need an extension to house a toilet, small kitchen and possibly a small meeting room.

 

We will be holding a number of fund raising events during the coming year. Please support these and be generous in your giving.

 

On a more positive note, we have paid our parish share in full this year and, once again, it looks like the church accounts will stay in the black for the year to April. We have been successful in obtaining a grant from the National Lottery to help develop the church paddock and five girls, from the village, Amy Hopson, Charlotte Compton, Charlotte Gibbs, Ellen Shields & Bella Smeaton raised money to support their Lifestyle Project. They built hedgehog homes and installed them in the paddock and churchyard donating the balance of £99.29 to pay for plants and shrubs which will be selected to help attract wildlife.

 

 

As well as people issues church wardens have to be 'experts' on very many other issues including The Health And Safety at Work Regs, Working at Height Regs, Scaffolding Regs, Gas Regs, Electrical Regs, Fire Regs. Highways Regs. Conservation Regs. etc. etc.

 

Since becoming a church warden I have been keen to keep the churchyard in good order. The Rector recently raised concern about the Horse Chestnut trees down Church Walk and I have now become an 'expert' on Tree Regs. They have some form of canker which we thought might signal their demise. White flowering Horse Chestnuts are succumbing to a virus but the good news is that the trees in the Churchyard have pink flowers and the canker is quite normal and safe on this type of tree.

 

Our concern for the trees prompted a lot of debate among people using Church Walk. The news reached Mrs Pat Collins who produced some of her old photographs showing the trees in the 1920s. There doesn't seem to be a hedge down Church Walk and the path is not clear. Its also interesting to see that the Church had a porch over the South door in those days. The other photograph shows the war memorial in its early years.

 

I would be interested to see any other old photos of the Church if you have any available and would like to share them with me. Thanks.