APRIL 2021 - "The Church in the Park - Growing in Faith, Hope and Love" - NET
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Edition 264
“The Church in the Park – Growing
in Faith, Hope and Love”
APRIL 2021
kettallsaintschurch@gmail.comA MESSAGE FROM CARYS One of the stories which has struck me most in the last few days was shared on the BBC website. It was a story of how forensic artists had, using 3D scanners, reconstructed the faces of two people who had been buried in a Scottish graveyard, at any time between the about 1300 and 1650. What’s remarkable about the images (which can be seen at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife- 56523810) was the familiarity of the faces. The middle-aged man, with a slightly jovial lopsided smile, looked like anyone we might meet in the street. The woman, slightly younger perhaps, square jawed and firm featured, also with the look of an ordinary person whom we might meet today, only placed in time by a working woman’s headdress. Lives lived long ago, and lost long ago, but precious to them and to all who knew them. Time somehow collapses when we are confronted in this way with distant faces, which are nevertheless familiar. And in their fresh presentation of the past, such faces seem to remind us again of the profound significance of human life, made in the image of God. They call us to connect with people who have gone before us, and remind us that theirs were not lives lived in sepia, or in cartoon-like marginalia in ancient manuscripts, but ordinary flesh and blood technicolour, with all the joy and love, rage, loss and pain that lives are still lived today. God’s creatures, like us; beloved like us, and caught up in God’s saving grace, like us. They remind us of the dance between the individual and the universal and give us a glimpse, in the heart of history’s sweep, of pinpricks of humanity. This past year, with its blend of loss and deprivation, of individual stories of being embattled or courageous in the face of international, worldwide devastation, has also been a time when the individual and the universal have tussled for our imagination and sympathy. We have been called to love our neighbour, and ask who our neighbour is; we have seen the ache of individual loss and heard of the overwhelming
heartbreak of losses in the thousands and hundreds of thousands. We
have known the importance of being vaccinated individually, at the
same time recognising the need of entire continents to be made safe,
knowing that widespread and individual safety circle around on each
other.
And we find ourselves now, again, at a moment in the year when we
hold together the individual and the universal. We mark and celebrate
again the extraordinary story of a single man, to whom we open our
lives and by whom we know ourselves to be transformed. And we
know too that this individual story is a universal one, and that lives
lived here in Kettering are made rich by the same life, lived 2000 years
ago, who has enriched individual lives and entire communities ever
since - including the lives lived hundreds of years ago in Scotland,
brought up in the faith of the Church, who stare out of 3D scanned
reconstructions.
With Easter, we are called again to this dance between the particular
and the universal. We are called to know ourselves beloved, precious
and eternally held by God, and to know whole communities, nations
and peoples equally precious. We are called to remember Jesus, the
one who lived, died and rose again, for those amongst whom he lived,
for each of us, and for the millions who have lived since then.
We are called to remember Christ who shapes all our lives, whom we
meet in each other, and who stares out of the eyes even of faces
brought vividly to life from a Scottish graveyard from hundreds of
years ago. Carys.
The Christian Chronicle
Maid of Orléans – Rouen’d
Every now and again, a single person or event makes a profound
impact on history. I’ve only moved forward to 1431 because there’sbeen one such person who’s captured the attention of much of Europe. As ever, there’s a back story which needs telling; for context, I’ll start there as the background’s good, but the main tale is truly captivating. Just as there’s been fallings out within the church, there’s also been animosity among the secular powers. Everyone’s after more power. There’s been tension between England and France since William invaded England in 1066. The English relationship with the Scots is no better, and since the Scots won a significant victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314 the English kings have sought to extend their Kingdom elsewhere. The French and Scots are allies, often uniting against a common enemy. France, 1328, and Charles IV died without a direct male heir. Isabella, his sister, and mother to English King Edward III, tried to claim the throne for Edward, but the French nobility rejected this. England controlled Gascony in southwest France but otherwise had no foothold and the French crown passed to nearest male relative, Philip, Count of Valois. In 1337 Philip tried to regain Gascony and so commenced a war that’s been going on, with just a few short breaks, ever since – it’ll soon be a one-hundred-year war! In short, the English gained some victories, then, mid-14th Century, the ‘The Black Death’ plague hit both countries hard; France suffered most – half their population died! England recovered better from the following economic crisis but changes in leadership on both sides saw fortunes swing both ways; then domestic unrest and limited finances combined to result in a period of relative peace that lasted from 1389 to 1415. In France Charles VI became suddenly mentally unwell in 1392 resulting in bitter conflict between factions competing for the role of Regent. On one hand there was the Duchy of Burgundy, on the other the Duchy of Orléans that was also supported by the influential Armagnac family. The matter descended into something only just short of outright civil war.
1413 saw a numeric change of English King, as Henry V succeeded his father Henry IV. He attempted to take France via political allegiance and marriage to Catherine of Valois (Charles VI’s youngest daughter), but this was rejected, so he set about seeking the goal by force. Henry invaded France and secured a crushing victory at the Battle of Agincourt. Over the next 5 years Henry captured most of northern France and, after meeting Charles VI, secured the Treaty of Troyes. Many suggested Charles was not fit to sign the Treaty and, indeed, it was the Queen (Isabeau) who signed on his behalf. Henry finally got to marry Catherine and it was declared that the throne of France would pass to him on Charles’ death as Charles also disinherited his own son, also Charles. This was his 5th son but given the first 4 had all died by this point, the 17-year-old Charles was left as ‘Dauphin’, the title given to the French heir apparent. Forces remaining loyal to the Dauphin were concentrated on the eastern sector of the country. Whilst they secured victory at the Battle of Baugé, near Anger, in 1421, it was but a minor hiccough in the progression of English dominance. After a significant siege, Henry captured Meaux, a Dauphin stronghold, in 1422, but then Henry died whilst still in France, never gaining the French throne; Charles VI died just 2 months’ later. A change, therefore, on both thrones: the English successor, Henry’s son, also Henry, was less than 1 year old when his father died. Charles’ death, and the Treaty of Troyes, meant he also inherited the French throne. Henry V had arranged for his brothers to be Regents: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, as Lord Protector of England and John, Duke of Bedford, to be Regent of France. Bedford continued his brother’s military progress, and by the latter part of the decade the Dauphin, was all but defeated. Time to rewind a few years. In 1412 (or there abouts - no-one’s really sure), a girl named Jeanne was born to farmer Jacques D’Arc and his wife Isabelle in the town of Domrémy in north eastern France. Whilst Jacques
owned a 50-acre farm and was a local official, he’d no formal standing and Jeanne’s early childhood was unremarkable and without education. In 1425, aged just 13, she reported seeing visions whilst in the garden; saints who told her to drive out the English and take the Dauphin to Reims to be consecrated as King. These particular Saints are quite significant: St Michael (the Angel), leader of God’s armies against Satan in the Book of Revelation; St Catherine (of Alexandria), a Princess Saint martyred as a virgin in the early 4th century who converted many to Christianity; and St Margaret (of Antioch), also martyred in the early 4 th century, as a teenage virgin and associated strongly with indulgences (something I’ll deal with at a later date). Both Catherine and Margaret are from the ‘14 Holy Helpers’, a particular group of Saints identified by the Catholic church. At 16 she persuaded a relative to escort her to the garrison at Vaucouleurs where she petitioned the Commander to take her to the Royal Court. Initially the Commander turned her away, but a few months later she was back having persuaded two of the Commander’s soldiers to support her. Jeanne predicted defeat in a battle near Orléans days before messengers brought word, claiming a revelation by divine grace as she was tending her flocks; this was enough for the Commander to take her to the Dauphin. After meeting the Dauphin, she travelled with his army seeking to lift the siege of Orléans. Whether Charles was persuaded of Jeanne’s divine mission, taken by her presence and demeanour, or simply grasping of straws (the fall of Orléans would end his challenge for the throne), is not clear. Wearing borrowed armour and armed only, effectively, with a banner, she went with the troops into battle. I’ve seen sketches of her wearing a sword but haven’t heard any reports of her ever using it. Despite being wounded, she returned to the battle, guided the troops to victory and lifted the siege – all viewed as a sign of her Holy ordinance.
With Jeanne advising on strategy, the French advanced on Reims winning numerous battles en-route including Patay that was as devastating to the English as Agincourt had been to the French. Charles was consecrated King on 17th July 1429, the day after the city had fallen to him. Jeanne urged that the armies press on to take Paris, but the Dauphin’s generals delayed. During a brief truce, Jeanne dictated a vitriolic letter to the followers of Jan Huss, citing them as heretics. On resumption of hostilities, Jeanne was with the army near Compiègne when she was captured by Burgundian troops allied to the English. After several escape attempts, she was moved to Arras before the English bought her capture and she was moved to the English stronghold of Rouen. Several attempted rescues were thwarted. Early in 1431 a “trial” (if you can call it that) was commenced against Jeanne for heresy. The “Judge”, Bishop Cauchon, didn’t have correct jurisdiction; the main investigator could find no adverse evidence against her; she was denied a legal advisor; and the Tribunal was carefully selected to be partisan pro-English. Jeanne had worn male soldier’s clothes to avoid detection when passing through enemy lines; she’d also worn male clothing in prison as protection against molestation and rape, which a dress wouldn’t have done. However, despite such valid reasons, these were regarded as acts of cross- dressing, a form of heresy, and her short, practical hair style was taken as further evidence against her. All the elements were stacked against her, so it’s not surprising that Jeanne was declared guilty and condemned to death. She was burned at the stake in the marketplace at Rouen on 30th May 1431. After her death, her body was burnt twice more to reduce it to ashes and the remains thrown into the River Seine to prevent any collection of relics. The trial was so clearly unfair and prejudicial that, already, many are hanging their heads in shame. Whether known by her name Jeanne
D’Arc or her honorary titles, Maid (La Pucelle) of Lorraine, or Maid of
Orléans, she’s a heroine of France.
HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL
Fr. Brian sends good wishes for a happy and blessed Easter.
Pam Chandler wishes everyone at All Saints a very happy Easter with
every blessing.
Ruth Inyon writes: as I walk to work each day it is lovely to
hear the birds singing at the dawn chorus and see the
daffodils unfolding their petals to reveal their splendour. To
see the sun rise and glow in the orange sky as it comes up
each morning. To walk beside the rather full Slade brook as it
meanders through the housing estate where I work. Spring is
on its way at last. As we travel through this season of Lent
again, we have hope and the promise of our Lord’s salvation
that he is always with us on life’s journey. I would like to
wish all my friends at All Saints a very HAPPY EASTER and
pray we can all in the near future worship together in the
church again. You are remembered in my prayers. May the
risen Lord renew your spirit this Easter.
Love Ruth.VIRTUAL HOUSE GROUP BY ZOOM
The House Group, we will be resuming on Zoom in April on
Wednesdays 7th and 21st. Details to be sent out to group members
nearer the time.
New members are always welcome – please contact Alan & Lyn for
further details.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Continuing on with THE BURNHAM FAMILY
I didn’t know when I was researching the Burnham Family (in the
March magazine) that I actually knew Kate Burnham’s granddaughter,
Mary who sadly died last year.
Frederick Howard Burnham and Margaret Ethel Loasby who married in
1930, lived at 80 Regent St Kettering.
Frederick and Margaret Burnham had two children: Mary Patricia born
1932, and then Anne who married Raymond Varnfield in 1958. Mary
later married David McKee in 1960.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nobody is more important than anyone else
We see rainbows when the rain stops and the sun comes out. Then an
arc-shaped curve may appear in the sky. Sometimes it is pale,
sometimes it is bright, but you can always see the seven colours – red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The coloured stripes are
about the same size as each other. They are side-by-side, yet each is as
important as the others. It wouldn’t be as wonderful if one of the
colours wasn’t there – or if one of the colours was far bigger and
brighter than the rest.ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PAPER ABOUT ALL SAINTS
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bishop Stopford School
faith | justice | responsibility | truth | compassion
Please pray for;
• Ms. Silverthorne, the Governors, and the Leadership team
• Sally and the Chaplaincy
• Year 11 and 13 Grading
• Year 6 summer introduction days
• Year 7 to experience some normality in their first year of
secondary education & friendships to be affirmed
• Staff changes to come
• Protection for the new deputy headteacher
• Relationships
• Students & families’ anxieties to be replaced by peace
• Protection from the pandemic and testing to go smoothly
• Evangelism amongst the students
• God’s Word to be heard in assemblies
• Easter display and the message of hope
• Hearing ears
• God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven
• God’s mercy that leads to repentance
• Growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Just 3 keys to enjoy life: ctrl+alt+del
1. Control yourself
2. Look for alternative solutions
3. Delete the situation that gives you
tension!!MY LATEST PROJECT
I have been looking to find something special about Easter for you all
to see in this edition. Then I remembered a photograph that I saw on
the internet some years ago and have never had the time to research
it or find anyone who knows anything about it. But now I have!!
It has taken me ages to find this hidden gem! I now know at lot more
about it as the information out there is quite scant. This is a plaster
relief picture of the crucifixion dated 1577, that is at Rushton Hall. I
tried to translate the Latin but after finding a bit about a whale I
stopped thinking it was a joke! Then I went back to it and saw the story
of Jonah and the whale staying inside it for three days and how it
relates to Jesus in the tomb for three days. It is amazing that this is still
in existence.
photograph by Mike Ingram (Northampton)
Sir Thomas Tresham’s coat of arms is on the bottom.
I contacted Dr Claire Gapper FSA and she gave me the English version:
“The Latin inscription was translated by J Alfred Gotch (a Northamptonarchitect who was a great enthusiast of Sir Thomas Tresham’s
buildings in that county):
‘Behold the health-giving symbol THAV [the Greek T, tau, resembling a
Cross], the noble Tree of Life. This was the second Brazen Serpent; a
Joseph sold for filthy lucre; a Jonas who was shut for three days in the
whale’s belly. This was a fount of springing water, a ….. Priest; a Lamb
who was slain ….; and a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
who washed away our sins with His Blood.
O how the Jews imagine many vain things, and the peoples raged with
their hands! These raise the head, these laugh, these curse. There are
some who wish to cast lots for the tunic. There is one who pierces the
tender heart with a cruel spear. There is one who wishes to quench
great thirst with gall. But the Mother, O Mother, overcome with tears
begins to faint; but the womanly knee gives the help of woman.’
The text may have been written by Sir Thomas Tresham himself or it
may have come from a contemporary devotional text, so far
unidentified. The sculpture was probably copied from a foreign
engraving.”
THE SWEETEST SONG A BIRD CAN SING
The sweetest song a bird can sing
Is sung to greet the joy of spring
Like daffodils we face the sun
That warms the bones of everyone
The little robin sweetly trills
For budding trees and daffodils
To greet the reawakening
Of all the hope that spring can bring
The sweetest song a bird can sing
Is sung to greet the joy of spring
May every heartbreak and defeat
Be blessed in spring with all things sweetThe winter world was grey and cold
But now the sun pours down like gold
So now we’re feeling young and free
And blessed with springtime ecstasy
The sweetest song a bird can sing
Is sung to greet the joy of spring
My ears can hear a symphony
Where birds and bees are wild and free
This broken hearted world of woe
Can make a friend become a foe
But when the birds begin to sing
It’s all forgotten in the spring
The sweetest song a bird can sing
Is sung to greet the joy of spring
Like daffodils we face the sun
That warms the bones of everyone
All rights reserved – Steve Howkins (from Rothwell)
--------
GIVE LAVISHLY! LIVE ABUNDANTLY!
The more you give, the more you'll get,
The more you laugh, the less you'll fret,
The more you do unselfishly,
The more you live abundantly,
The more of everything you share,
The more you’ll always have to spare
The more you love, the more you’ll find
That life is good and friends are kind.
For only what we give away
Enriches us from day to day.
Helen Steiner RicePlease send in your snippets, news,
prayers etc to Angela. The deadline
for the next edition of Saints Alive! is
the 27th April. The May edition will be
ready from Sunday 2nd May 2021.
WHO’S WHO AT ALL SAINTS PARISH CHURCH
Priest-in-charge Rev. David Walsh
Reader John Stapleton 520342
Lay Minister Alan Ridley 529426
Churchwardens: Richard Lewis 513703
Angela Brett 522158
Safeguarding: Julie Loake 077434
00812
Hall Manager: Lyn Ridley 529426
Secretary: John Sockett 501851
Treasurer: Marie Morrison 725219
Saints Alive! Angela Brett 522158
Email: kettallsaintschurch@gmail.com
Website Address: http://kettallsaintschurch.btck.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsparishchurchkettering/
Or follow us on Twitter @AllSaintsKettLes Ridley
This edition of Saints Alive is
sponsored in memory of Les
Ridley who would have
celebrated his 100th birthday
on 1st April this year. It was a
long-standing matter of debate
within the family whether he
was born in the morning or
afternoon – his mother would
never tell so it was deduced that it must have been
morning! Hence, he would say there is no fool like an
old fool! God Bless.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
This edition of Saints Alive is sponsored by
Sue & John Owen in loving memory of
Joseph “John” Allen
1.8.1922 – 1.4.2009You can also read
