CONTACT The Magazine of Crook Peak Parish (December 2020 / January 2021) - Published - Bob Foster
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CONTACT
The Magazine of Crook Peak Parish
(December 2020 / January 2021)
Online only – http://www.bobfoster.co.uk/contact/Published.pdf
Issue 284
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY CORRESPONDENTS
DECEMBER 2020 Biddisham Vacancy
5 Dec 9am-1pm Axbridge Square - Axbridge Farmers Market – Many of the Weare Julia James-Smith
usual stalls and traders (featuring music from Jean & Bob) (jjames9691@gmail.com )
5 Dec 6pm Weare Church - The Great Weare Village Christmas Lights Switch On Stapling & Pat Northmore
Distribution (733172)
13 Dec 4pm – Carol service outside Biddisham Church (featuring music from Jean
& Bob)
17 Dec Alzheimer’s Society’s Virtual Carols at Christmas alzheimers.org.uk/elfday Loxton & Philip Davies
(the site also provides many other resources and support ideas). Christon (07881630629)
20 Dec 9am-1pm Axbridge Square - Axbridge Christmas Farmers Market – Many
of the usual stalls and traders (featuring music from Jean & Bob)
22 Dec 4.30pm – Carol service inside Badgworth Church (Featuring music from Badgworth Vacancy
Robert & Debra Anderson) Cover Photo from
Axbridge Market
during Covid-19
Treasurer Peggy Farley
(732989)
Cross Richard Parker
(732084)
(richard.a.parker@
btinternet.com
Tarnock Vacancy
Edited & Bob Foster (732935)
Published by rmfoster10@yahoo.co.uk
From the Editor: Thank
you to our
correspondents and regular
contributors, who have made a
special effort to write articles for
this issue. We have fewer pages
than normal due to our reduced
diary of social events, but there
have been some significant
developments associated with some
of the church buildings in the
parish and there are some important
reminders about forthcoming
services, so the decision has been
made to a go ahead with
YouTube Church Services – For every Sunday since Easter, Crook Peak publication..
Benefice has held an online service on YouTube. This is the link to the latest Early deadline
Please email items for the
one https://youtu.be/5Jtszf69Epk . You can also find them from the Crook
February/March issue before 10th
Peak App or the http://www.crookpeakparish.org.uk/ website .. or by January to me at
searching for ‘Crook Peak Parish’ at YouTube. rmfoster10@yahoo.co.uk
Christmas dinner for the poor and the rich
The poor: “On Christmas Day the inmates of the workhouse received a substantial remembrance of the great Christmas festival.
Beef with vegetables and one pound of plum pudding, were distributed to each inmate. The old women had also half-an-ounce of
snuff each, and the children were regaled with sweets and fruit. The workhouse pudding consisted of 280 lbs of flour, 125 lbs of
raisins, 83 lbs of currants, 100 lbs of suet, 84 lbs of sugar, with other ingredients”. (From the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 31
December 1857)
The rich: (from The Bristol Mercury 01 Jan 1848): “The Christmas holidays were observed at court
[Windsor Castle] with princely festivity. The royal table on Christmas night was laden with a magnificent
display of viands, set out with taste and splendour. The baron beef was there in all its glory, as well as the
boar’s head, crested with bays and rosemary; and the sideboards were surmounted with stately Christmas
trees, glittering with pendant bon bons”. And in 1860 (Times 02 Jan 1860): “So many mincemeat pies are
to be baked the Castle cellars send up 24 bottles of brandy. For the Christmas meal fifty turkeys are
prepared.”
I wonder who would have appreciated their dinner the most
Page 1
From: the Reverend Judith Jeffery, Rector of Crook Peak United Parish
The Rectory, Sparrow Hill Way, Weare, Axbridge, BS26 2LE
Tel: 01934 733973, crookpeakparish@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Friends,
As we approach Christmas this year even during this time of COVID, lockdowns and Tiers we do have
hope for 2021 and beyond. We have news of a vaccination, in fact not just one but three so far to date.
Even though we are not sure of the longevity of the protection it might give it is hopeful. In Spring we
may start to see some benefits of this as we move towards Easter.
What a terrible and frightening time it has been in 2020 with so much death, sadness and loss. There
will be much lament and time needed for healing but the vaccinations do bring a flicker of hope.
The season of Christmas is all about hope, joy and peace. God sends his beloved only Son to earth to
experience the world and it was just as horrid then as it is now. Jesus was to be with us and also give
us hope in a plan of salvation for humanity.
Such is God’s love for us, what a sacrifice that Jesus Son of God is to suffer just as we and more for
the sins of us all, to bring us hope and salvation and allow us to also join in a resurrection after our
time on earth. It is available if we want it and believe it. I can’t help thinking that in 2021 as we move
towards Easter and thinking about the resurrection of Christ that there might be a respite and
resurrection for us all in fighting the virus. It will mean a return to being with the ones that we love
too, as well as, the assurance God gives us of His love and ultimate plan for our eternal future at
Easter. Perhaps this year even more than ever before in our living memory we will cling to that hope,
joy and peace of Christmas as we look to the future with God in our midst. Emanuel.
God Bless you all with the knowledge and love of Christ.
Reverend Judith Jeffery
Prayer Chain Letter – December 2020
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2, 10 and 11
This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live
through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice
for our sins. (1John 4, 9 and 10)… Presents – something we all enjoy giving or receiving, big or small. Mothers
and fathers in particular love giving presents to their children. Some of the presents God gives us, his children,
if we allow him into our lives are priceless. Here are some of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5, 22).
This Christmas, we thank you, Lord, for your love for us.
Do, please telephone with any prayer requests 01934 750856
From the Registers: Funerals:
9.11.20 Jennifer Anne Hearn, Sedgemoor Crematorium but from Badgworth
25.11.20 Robin Owen-Smith, Badgworth
Download the app NOW. No one will ask for your details and it is completely free, for as long as you want to use it. The
app can be easily deleted if you change your mind. Available in Apple AppStore or Google Play. Search for the
Chancel App .. THEN Install .. Search for Crook Peak. March 2019 (Existing users need to re-install the App using
the above instructions).
CALLING WEARE STUDENTS
Weare Educational Foundation is a small charity established for the benefit & education of young people in the Parish of
Weare. Grant applications should be made to: The Trustees, c/o Paul Wattam, Henmore Lane, Weare BS26 2LB
Page 2
Special Features
Page 3
Parish News
Report concerning Weare Church Room
Revd Judith Jeffery writes.. A small committee was formed in February 2016 and we named ourselves the Church Room
Committee. The Church room no longer met safety standards with two doors on one side aspect of the church room
making escape from fire difficult and even more difficult as the original windows needed restoration and would no longer
open. Fire extinguishers were on hand and the walls above the paneling were made of asbestos however the church room
was not safe, could not be let out or hired and could be dangerous if the asbestos was disturbed and inhaled. The Chair-
person of the Committee was and still is Ruth Orriss, we had more members however over the four years, some have
moved away, lacked the time commitment needed and some had fallen ill and sadly Alan died. We are very grateful for all
they contributed and are now a band of four, myself Revd Judith, Sarah Pettifer, Anna Fox and Ruth Orriss is still the
Chair-person.
Since our first meeting in 2016 we had plans drawn up for an extension housing a kitchen, storeroom, possible Parish office and
toilets with a new path providing an entrance from the Farmers Aisle of the Church to a glass connecting link between the
Church Room and extension on the East end. Before any of this could be thought about the unglamorous but urgent work on the
drains and location of the septic tank had to take place and a French drain was made to remove water from the back of the toilet
wall as removing the damp was vital. The asbestos had to be removed from the walls in the hall, by a specialist firm, walls be
repaired and lime plastered. This work exposed two niches and a slit window at apex height in the East wall.
The toilet under new regulations needed to be accessed by the disabled and was made larger and the kitchen cupboards altered to
allow for this. New breathable plaster and paint were applied and the toilet and kitchen floor recovered in hardwearing new
flooring. A new extra height toilet was installed and grab rails added. A wall mounted nappy change unit was installed and
safety pull cord alarms and other safety features put in place.
In the hall electrical work was renewed with a new up to date electrical junction box.
The original windows were taken away to be restored individually and a new window of a similar design was installed in the
West apex. The windows now look wonderful. Over all this time, money has needed to be raised for the work and grants applied
for and Ruth spent many hours pursuing funds. We have been very fortunate and been given two grants of £10k from the Lottery
Awards for All Fund. £2,500 from Sedgemoor District Council and £5k from the Somerset Community Fund. At times The
Church Room restoration has felt quite overwhelming with so much to do felt a really hard slog but Ruth’s determination kept us
all going and undeterred she bought china from Ebay for the Church Room and made a profit by selling individual pieces that
we didn’t need. The Villages have supported us with quiz’s, pudding, pate and pudding, nights, open garden events and
lunchtime Concerts, we are very grateful for all the hard work, help and encouragement.
More recently this year the ceiling was painted and the hall floor was sanded and sealed and it is truly beautiful and we were all
very pleased with the result, now level with no lost character and a warm pine gloss.
All this made the décor look quite shabby and the panelling no longer matched the floor as dark stained wood, the beading was
missing and it was difficult to get the help of tradesmen during the Pandemic. All the hard work prior to the décor made it
possible to achieve a usable and pleasant church room with elbow grease and paint!
I appealed for help and the panelling was sanded, washed with good old sugar soap, sealed and painted. I was able to obtain the
original beading and fitted this. A variety of people turned up over the weeks with their tools and we all enjoyed working
together. Sometimes we would have a lovely soup lunch outside provided by Juliet Freedman and cake was brought round and
tea. The Fireplace was restored and hearth cleaned and sealed. Cracks in the lime plaster repaired, window sills painted and the
red external kitchen and hall doors painted. Pictures have been hung gifted by The Brazier family and new tables bought with a
donation from the family in memory of Yvonne Pineo. Bunting has been made and then put up by a very tall gentleman! Tables
cloths have been made and finally the kitchen cupboards have had a ‘make-over’. A mirror was put up in the toilet and a jug and
clock donated.
The Church Room Committee would like to thank all those who have donated in any way over the years and
supported fund raising events and all those who formed a recent decorating team.
Thank you so much, it looks great:
The Decorating Team have been.
Gerald and Simon Lunn, Peter Murray, Jane Murray, Mike Melluish and Son, Sarah Pettifer, Kerry McColgan, Mike
Freedman, Rita Hanson, Juliet Freedman and Trevor Morgan and me.
Page 4
News from the Villages
Christon Biddisham
Mary Counsell writes: Christon Church is to begin an Dear friends, We have passed into autumn with a super tidy
internal plasterwork and re-decoration programme in 2021 - church yard. Thank you very much to everyone who has
the permissions are in place as are kind offers of help with worked so hard to keep it this way throughout the year. We
administration by kind neighbours. have trimmed back a few over hanging branches from the
yew tree growing into the church porch and over the old
Fresh flowers are also continually placed in Church but stone cross by the porch this month. Also we have raked up
there are no regular services. We all hope that normality the leaves around the path to prevent the path becoming
will return asap. slippy.
Badgworth For remembrance Sunday we hung a picture under the war
memorial. It gives an insight into the lives of the men listed
Debra Anderson and David Parker Churchwardens write...
on the plaque who sacrificed their lives in the two great
Thank you to all who turned out at St. Congar’s Church,
wars. Do come into the church and have a look, you may
Badgworth to celebrate our Pets and Animals Thanksgiving
also want to read our Biddisham village covid19 prayer and
Service 4pm Sunday 27th September. On a sunny, warm
place a leaf on our prayer tree too.
and blustery afternoon fourteen adults, four children and ten
dogs assembled on the, now bright and cheery, grass in
Christmas services.
front of the Porch. The Revd. Judith Jeffery, with Lewis her
I am writing this before we come out of lockdown and so
Bichon in tow, led us in prayer, Debra Anderson our newly
things may change. If they do my apologise.
sworn-in Churchwarden read to us a piece of scripture. In
Sunday 13th December.
the windy conditions, we heard stories of how our pets
8am - Holy communion
supported us during the Covid-19 lockdown that were
4pm - Village traditional carol service.
voiced by the adults and children, with an occasional bark
of agreement by our canine friends. Judith led the party to a
We have no other services until the new year. Please come
conclusion by blessing each dog individually and by name
along to one of these advent services to celebrate the birth
and then the all of us en masse. Debra said afterwards “that
of Christ with fellow villagers.
her cheeks ached from smiling so much”.
The carol service will be outside this year so we can all
meet up socially distant. Please wrap up warm and bring a
chair if you like. Look out in the lane for carol service
posters and also in your emails giving updates about the
service.
Thank you friends for all the work you do to keep St John’s
a special place to worship in and visit for mindfulness and
reflection. Wishing you all this Christmas time a very happy
Christmas. Clairet (Churchwarden)
Tarnock
Holly Thomas writes… Don’t forget to order your turkey! The
team at Ploughman’s Farm Shop in Tarnock are now taking
We had a marvelous turnout for the Harvest Thanksgiving Christmas orders with lots of yummy treats for the festive period.
Forms are available in the shop with various collection days
service, with a baby and toddlers brought by their parents available. Neighbourhood watch updates are being issued from
and grandparents. Thank you to those who bought so many Tarnockvillage@gmail.com - please drop a line if you want to be
fruits, vegetables and pumpkins. included on the distribution list.
Our next service is 4.30pm Tuesday 22nd December when
Weare
we shall hold a Christmas Service of Carols and Lessons.
Margaret Jordan writes … Every Christmas when the village
This family-friendly service will be by bookings, have Christmas tree is lit we share the event with friends and
carefully Covid-19 secure social distancing and of course neighbours with carol singing, mince pies and mulled wine and it
face coverings for all adults, and children over eleven years feels as if Christmas has begun. This year due to Covid
old. Debra will sing the carols and Robert shall accompany restrictions this could not happen. Someone suggested that when
her on the church organ. we lit the village Christmas tree everyone could switch their
Christmas lights on at the same time. People came out to see the
Debra Anderson and David Parker Churchwardens lit tree, socially distance of course and several houses had also
switched on their Christmas lights. What a great idea, why not
do it every year.
Page 5
Regular Groups
Weare Academy
Denise Mawdsley, Head Teacher at Weare Academy writes: The autumn term at Weare Academy has been
quite different in so many ways this year. We have made and continue to make lots of adjustments to
make sure we are all as safe in school as we can be. We miss our usual close contact with parents, and
both our church and local communities but we work hard to find other ways to communicate and to make
sure the children continue to have a happy and interesting day at school with lots of opportunities for
learning, creating and keeping fit both mentally and physically.
We have sadly said goodbye to Mr Charles Toogood who was our caretaker for many years. He has been
integral to many developments and projects at the school in ensuring that our school premises is fit for
purpose. He had a big thank you from the whole school community and some lovely cards from the
children packed full of thoughtful messages. We wish Charles all the best as he begins a new phase of his
life’s journey.
We are all looking forward to Christmas and every year Art Explosion Day marks the start of our
celebrations! This year will be no different except that we will be working in our bubbles, busily cutting
and sticking, making all sorts of decorations to adorn the school! Our Christmas Play will also be different
this year. Sadly we can’t put on our usual whole school performance; neither can we invite parents into the
school to watch. Instead each class will learn and then perform part of a play, which will be recorded and
then sent out to parents electronically. As always, we will do our very best to make sure that the children
have their usual happy time in school during the lead up to Christmas with some very special treats to look
forward too!
We would like to wish everyone in Crook Peak Parish a very merry Christmas and a happy, and healthy,
New Year.
Axbridge Royal British Legion - The end of this extraordinary year is fast approaching and time for us to
wish all our members and readers a Very Happy Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
The commemoration of Remembrance Sunday and the actual Armistice Day this year was very different.
A short service took place in Axbridge on Remembrance Sunday when a small group gathered on the steps
and around the Memorial with Representatives of all the local organisations. Wreaths were laid following
as much of the traditional service as was possible. On the 11th three representatives of Axbridge Branch
attended Compton Bishop Church for the 2 minutes silence when names of the fallen were read and
wreaths laid. The Axbridge branch is still hoping that by the first Tuesday in February 2021 we will be
able to restart our normal meetings. In the mean time the Royal British Legion continues it's work
nationally. For advice on contacting the legion. or an update on local activities please contact the secretary
Brian Winder, 01278 785696 or visit the website axbridgeroyalbritishlegion.com
Axbridge District Trefoil Guild - Sadly the local branch will not be meeting again this year. However for
those who are technically savvy there have been meetings on Zoom with plans for some sort of Christmas
event/get together. For more information about this please contact Sue Wild at swild34@hotmail.com or
Liz Foster (liz_hamilton500@yahoo.co.uk). It is hoped that normal meeting times can be resumed on the
second Tuesday of the month as soon as possible in 2021. Meanwhile to all members and friends Happy
Christmas and Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Axbridge Archaeological & Local History Society - We are planning a series of lectures in 2021
which will be delivered via Zoom. The first will be on Wednesday 20 January at 7.30pm when
Mary Miles will be talking about the History of Brewing in Somerset. On Wednesday 17 February,
John Page will talk about The Rules and Regulations in the Tudor and Stuart Period. If you would
like a link to access these lectures or go on the mailing list for future talks then please contact
Elizabeth Friend secretary@aalhs.co.uk. The full programme will be advertised on our website
www.aalhs.co.uk. We look forward to you joining us for the talks.
Page 6
Special Events
BIDDISHAM CAROL SERVICE
Sunday 13th December
Biddisham Church at 4 pm
A service of six lessons and carols. Music from Jean Pickering and Bob Foster
BADGWORTH CAROL SERVICE
Tuesday 22nd December
St. Congar’s Church at 4.30 pm
A service of six lessons and carols. The congregation will be socially distanced in St. Congar’s, which has been made
COVID-secure in line with Government guidelines. Seasonal music & carols from Robert & Debra Anderson. We wish
you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year of health, hope & happiness!
Page 7
Badgworth Biddisham Compton Bishop Christon Loxton Weare
2020 Flowers & Brass Flowers Cleaning Flowers Cleaning Brass Flowers, Flowers, Flowers & Cleaning
Dusting & Brass Cleaning & Cleaning Brass
Brass & Brass
Dec 6 A. Cramp T. Wills C. Talbot L. Borscz A. LeProvost & J. Wattam
& J Klinker I. Counsell
Dec 13 “ “ “ “ “ “
Dec 20 “ “ “ “ J. Stitch & J. Stitch
S.Banwell &
S.Banwell
Dec 27 “ “ “ “ “ “
Jan 3 S. Steel S.Steel B. Channon A. Fox
Jan 10 “ “ “ “
Jan 17 “ “ L.Taylor L. & F.
Taylor
Jan 24 “ “ “ “
Jan 31 “ “ A. Ham S. Pettifer
Feb S. Hayes S.Hatton J. Jackson S. Pettifer
DONATIONS TO CONTACT
Peggy Farley (treasurer) would like to record a public ‘Thank you’ to all donors who
make it possible for us to provide this community publication possible.
If you wish to make a donation to contact please contact Peggy Farley, Treasurer,
01934 732989 for the necessary details.
Page 8
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