Wickham Bishops Parish Magazine October 2020 - Produced by St Bartholomew's Church - St ...
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Wickham Bishops Parish Magazine
October 2020
Produced by St Bartholomew’s Church
www.churchinwickhambishops.org.uk
Please see the ‘Shopping List’ on page 7
2
Church Services for October
We are glad to be able to welcome worshippers to a 10.30am service
in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall adding to our weekly provision of
an online service on Facebook Live. Numbers for this service will be
limited to 32 taking into account required social distancing.
This information is accurate at the time of going to print but may
be changed according to government guidelines
Sunday orders of service are posted on the parish website.
https://www.churchinwickhambishops.org.uk/
St Nicholas’ Church is open daily for private individual prayer.
St Bartholomew’s Church is closed until December 11th 2020 for
redecoration of the Chancel.
SUNDAY 4 Harvest Thanksgiving
10.30 am Service of Holy Communion in St Bartholomew’s
Church Hall Phone 01621 892867 to book a seat.
Also on Facebook Live.
SUNDAY 11 Trinity 18
10.30 am Service of Holy Communion in St Bartholomew’s
Church Hall. Also on Facebook Live.
SUNDAY 18 Trinity 19
9.00 am Service of Holy Communion (Book of Common
Prayer) in St Nicholas’.
Phone 07960558587 to book a pew. (Limited to 18)
10.30 am Sunday Praise Service in St Bartholomew’s Church
Hall. Also on Facebook Live.
SUNDAY 25 Last Sunday of Trinity
10.30 am Service of Holy Communion in St Bartholomew’s
Church Hall. Also on Facebook Live.
WEDNESDAYs
10.00 am Service of Holy Communion in St Bartholomew’s
Church Hall. Also on Facebook Live.
FRIDAYs
10.15 am Zoom Prayers (please email revhilary@btinternet.com if
you wish to be part of this so we can send you the link)
3
Parish Register
Baptisms None
Marriages None
Funerals Alma Cottee 23rd September
Parish Contacts
Revd Hilary The Rectory, 1 Church Road, 01621 892867
Le Sève Wickham Bishops CM8 3LA
Hilary’s day off
Priest in Charge revhilary@btinternet.com is Friday.
Revd Derek Clark The Leas Farm 01245 380627
Wickham Bishops Road
Associate Priest Hatfield Peverel 07860 235778
CM3 2JL
Barry Cousins 3 Harvey Road 01621 891355
Great Totham CM9 8QA
Churchwarden
barry.j.cousins@gmail.com
Graham Wingrove 8 Arbour Lane 07398 025442
Wickham Bishops
Churchwarden CM8 3NS
Peter Bates 10 Church Green 01621 893173
Wickham Bishops
Magazine Editor magazine@churchinwickhambishops.org.uk
Kath Adkins kathrynadkins@btconnect.com 01621 891143
Church Hall
Bookings
4
Letter from Reverend Hilary
A thought for Harvest time
The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is
mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants.
Leviticus 25:23
It is in God’s nature to bring some kind of blessing out of a crisis so
whenever there is a crisis in human affairs, the key question is
“what kind of blessing does God want to bring out of this”? Given
the coronavirus crisis and the green crisis this is the question for us
to be asking.
In both cases we are being challenged to sort our priorities out.
The green crisis, in particular, tells us that things will only get
worse for us until we get the message and change our ways. It is a
call to a new way of living. The industrial solutions we sought in the
18th, 19th and 20th centuries, enabled in part by colonialism, no
longer hold the answer for a stable and sustainable future for
humankind. We learnt to behave as if the world belongs to us
rather than us seeking ways to be a little more at home in the world
in which we belong.
In these past 6 months a simple pleasure for me has been to
receive photos of plants, vegetables and flowers from people’s
gardens. With quiet attention gardeners have been discovering
what the natural rhythms of things are, understanding the soil
better and working with that to bring something that is both ‘natural’
and new. This brings great freedom for those who have gardens -
freedom to make a difference – freedom to work on the raw
material of the world and become more at home there.
In considering how to ‘Make a difference’ in times of the Covid-19
crisis we have had to think a lot recently given the incentives,
threats and promises designed to alter our human behaviour.
Whether a publican or a priest, a head teacher or a builder we
have been given the challenge to change each other’s behaviour
… continued on the next page
5
implementing guidelines at a local level. If we get it wrong we are
fearful of risking the well-being of others. As far as the environment
is concerned when we get it wrong the results can be horrific.
We’ve all heard ghastly stories of projects that have failed because
no-one bothered to work out the balance of a natural environment
before introducing some new element that threatened the whole
ecology of a region (remember the Sandoz disaster of 1986 when
it took 10 years of work to clean up the Rhine river).
In asking the question “what kind of blessing does God want to
bring out of this” I ask myself where do God’s ‘wants’ and ours
align? We humans do want things – freedom, harmony, more of a
sense of being at home in the world. Our wanting has to be in line
with the grain of what’s actually there, whether in the material
world or in the lives of other human beings. If it is not then we are
doomed; that is the reality.
In this world of advanced technology, global warming and mass
migration may we better understand what sort of work we are
called to do and what sort of tools we need – ‘work that grows out
of the patience to search for a vision that all can recognise as
lifegiving.’ (Rowan Williams).
MAGAZINE DELIVERY - CAN YOU HELP?
We are delighted to be able to deliver the magazine to your door once
again, thanks to the numerous volunteers who sort and distribute to
every household in the village.
If you could spare some time to join our band as a regular deliverer or
on the reserve list for occasional help, we would love to hear from you
and your help would be hugely appreciated.
To find out more contact Jayne Jennings
Tel: 01621 891396 Email: jayne@jenningsmail.uk
6
7
From Buxtehude to Lionel Bart …
How do these composers relate to St. Bartholomew’s in the Covid social
distancing era?
One answer is that over 8 weeks in July and August, live music from
these and many other composers provided a backdrop to the
Wednesday afternoon individual private prayer sessions at
St.Bartholomew’s. I was fortunate to be able to attend one of the early
events and realised this was something special that I didn’t want to miss.
Live music anywhere has been severely restricted hence another good
reason for attending. Music has always been a large part of my church
involvement and personally I believe
there has always been something Sketch by Bernie Rochester
August 2020
special about music in the church
environment. A piece performed in a
church (parish church or cathedral)
often seems to have something extra
in comparison to the same piece in a
concert hall. Exactly why is hard to
define, but contributing factors could
be the church architecture, the
relative silence and, of course, the
acoustic.
In the Covid era these differences
seem especially important and the
opportunity to just sit in the church
and relax for an hour each week was
a welcome change from the usual
routine of Click and Collect and
Zoom calls. There were also quite a
few very hot days in July and August so sitting quietly in a cool church
was also a welcome respite from gardening duties.
There is music and there is music and we were very fortunate in having
talented musicians to arrange and play the pieces for the Wednesday
afternoons. Our Church organist Paul Strong, ably assisted by cellist
Lucia Carnell and violinist Anne Bellett, put together an amazing range of
music catering for all tastes across the 8 weeks.
The early weeks in July were principally Paul playing reflective church
organ and piano pieces that perfectly fitted the church aim of providing
the opportunity for private prayer at a time when there were great
8
uncertainties in day to day life. He was then joined by Lucia for pieces of
a similar style involving cello and piano. Lucia’s engaging performances
of Bach solo cello worked perfectly in the lovely church acoustic and will
certainly stay in the memory. The repertoire began to expand to include
pieces that were more upbeat which, I think, reflected a general optimism
that, at least in the local district, Covid was having slightly less impact on
our daily routine. The Government was relaxing restrictions and life was
beginning to edge towards a “new normal”.
The August repertoire continued the trend of a wider range of music. For
example, the music on the 5th and 12th August ranged from a Bach
piano Prelude, to cello and piano arrangements of music composed by
Ludovico Einaudi (Indaco) and Lionel Bart (As long as he needs me).
Ragtime and Blues were also included with piano solos such as The
Entertainer and Jackson Street Blues. Anne then joined the group for
arrangements of the music of Leonard Cohen (Hallelujah) and film music
(Schindler’s List) as well as classical favourites such as the slow
movement from Mendelssohn’s violin concerto.
The programmes for the final two weeks extended the range even further
with styles ranging from a Chopin piano Nocturne to Louis Armstrong
(What a wonderful world). The final week ended with a couple of fun
pieces Banaha (a Congolese folk song) and the exuberant The Peanut
Vendor.
Ideally more people would have been able to come but the inevitable
Covid restrictions and other commitments no doubt limited the actual
attendance. Everyone able to come appeared to have had an enjoyable
experience and appreciated the opportunity for some personal thought
and reflection with the bonus of live music.
Thanks must go to everyone involved, Paul, Lucia and Anne together
with Hilary and the church stewards. It was a big undertaking to organise
the 8 hours of music (at least 100 different pieces) being performed over
the 8 weeks but, equally important, making sure that all the relevant
social distancing and related requirements were met.
It was good to hear that Paul is very keen to continue his excellent work
organising and performing musical accompaniments to church events.
A date for your diary is Sunday 13th December, after completion of the
Chancel re-decoration. Paul is planning a programme featuring “upbeat
Christmas music”. Further details will be published in the parish
magazine.
Graham Cook
9
Great Totham Women’s Institute ...
Our committee managed to meet in
August to try and plan for the future.
We decided, reluctantly, that meeting
face to face (or mask to mask) would
not make for a very fulfilling
experience at present especially with
all the restrictions in place. We
therefore decided to produce a goody
bag for each member with a
newsletter, raffle ticket and the
wherewithal to make a cup of tea or
coffee in a reusable collapsible cup
adding a chocolate biscuit or two for good measure!
One of our members had made
face coverings for all of us so that
was included too, together with a
card signed by all the committee
members. Each of us visited
three or four people personally so
they could have a one to one chat
and ask them about how they
saw the way forward. We
received a very favourable
response and most members will
be re-joining next year and are
looking forward to the time we
can all meet again en-masse.
REMEMBER
THE CLOCKS GO BACKWARDS ONE HOUR
AT 2 am ON SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER
10Churchyard Autumn Clear Up
This will take place on Saturday 14th November from
9:30 onwards. It will be organised taking into account
any social distancing rules in force at
the time.
Although some tools will be available,
it would be best if you can bring your
own, e.g. secateurs, loppers, shears,
etc. and stout gloves.
We hope to be able to provide
refreshments for volunteers.
Women’s Christian Fellowship ...
Hello everyone. Do you remember our last meeting way back in
February when our speaker on puppy walking for Guide Dogs was
Sarah and her lovely doggie companion who delighted us all? Little did
we realize then that we would not be meeting again for the foreseeable
future.
I and the rest of the Committee hope that you and your families are well
and that you have kept yourselves busy and enjoyed the glorious
weather that we have had this spring and summer. How lucky we are to
live in this lovely village; I have enjoyed walking the surrounding lanes
and footpaths and have met up with a few of you who have been doing
the same.
Sorry to say I do not know when we will be able to hold our monthly
meetings again, as the rules change all the time, and then it will only be
when it is safe for everyone. Let us hope it will be sooner rather than
later. In the meantime keep safe and well.
Denise Yelland
11At Maldon & District Citizens Advice, we can help you to find a way
forward, by giving free, confidential advice in all subject areas.
Since lockdown began, we have been delivering a full advice service, mainly by
telephone and also email and web chat, responding to the rapidly changing
issues facing local residents. We are now gradually able to reintroduce face to
face appointments for those interviews where that would be most beneficial,
having made alterations to our room to ensure a safe environment.
Each month in the magazine, we plan to highlight a topical issue.
Redundancy
The subject most commonly raised by our callers in August has, sadly, been
redundancy. If you are facing the possibility of losing your job we can work
through this with you including; whether or not you have been fairly selected;
what process your employer should be following; offers of other roles; notice
period and redundancy payments.
Of course, any job loss has a knock-on effect on other areas of life. We can help
you look at how to deal with financial commitments such as rent or mortgage
payments and what benefits might be available until you are back in work. Our
benefit system is complicated and there may be choices to be made about what
to claim. In this case, we can carry out calculations to help you decide what to
do as well as guiding you through the claims process.
Our website has a great deal of relevant information including
Check if your redundancy is fair (EWS)
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/leaving-a-job/redundancy/check-if-your-
redundancy-is-fair/
Preparing for after redundancy (EWS)
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/leaving-a-job/redundancy/preparing-for-
after-redundancy/
While we are always careful not to advise both parties in a dispute, if you are an
employer with a small business, we would welcome your getting in touch. We
have specialist employment advisers who can discuss legislation and best
practice and thereby avoid potential claims.
Please contact us for advice on any subject by:
ringing 01621 875774 – leave a message and an adviser will return your call
that day or emailing bureau@maldoncab.cabnet.org.uk
Lucy Bettley
12To Rev. Hilary who celebrates
on October 2nd
I hope that Hilary spends an
enjoyable and relaxing day,
and has many more to come.
13I would like to thank those kind folk who, during the
‘lockdown’ have phoned me, shopped, delivered home
baking, plants and online information, for my
edification. I am most grateful.
Discovering the inspired variety of scarecrows in May
and June was a great joy.
Village life is alive and working.
Polly Wheaton
A plea from a resident …
About three (maybe four) years ago I met a woman, who I only know by sight,
at Church. I now have no idea of her name. Her daughter was training to be
a teacher. We talked about the books that support children learning to read
(Biff and Chip, Read Write Inc, Jolly Phonics, Project X) and I said I’d lend her
the range of books, soft toys, CDs and DVDs I had at home. I added that I
really needed them back as occasionally I help friends whose children are
slow readers and also I would be going back to work and would need them. I
need them now for my course to help my students and, more importantly, their
children, some of whom cannot read English at all. Please would the family
return them to me, or possibly leave them on the steps of the Rectory if you
wish to remain anonymous? Alternatively if they wish to contact me directly I
will go and collect.
They came in two very large sturdy carrier bags and could well have been put
at the back of a cupboard. It’s so easy to do, to borrow and over time forget
who lent you things, especially when you don’t really know the person well, so
I do understand.
Last year I posted requests on Facebook (my personal FB page, the village
one and the Church page) but from memory I don’t think the woman was a
Facebook user.
The loan was for her daughter so maybe the woman gave them to her and she
has forgotten the request to return them, or didn’t pass that part of the
message on.
Catrina Capon-Telford 07710 392676
Both of these letters appeared in the online version of the magazine earlier this
summer, but I was asked to repeat them in the printed version. Editor
14News from Great Totham Primary School
www.greattotham.essex.sch.uk
We are so excited to have been able to open our doors to all our pupils and
to welcome our newest members of the Totham family in Reception. Having
said that, we have not forgotten our former Year 6 pupils who conducted
themselves brilliantly during their last half term at primary school.
Year 6 Leavers’ Celebrations
At the end of the last academic year, the Y6 children had the opportunity
to find messages posted ‘secretly’ around Wickham Bishops and Great
Totham. We hope the children (and maybe you!) enjoyed searching for all 32
of the good luck messages written by the Great Totham team.
Certificate and PTFA Memory Book
Presentation Drive-Thru
The infant playground was transformed into
a special leaver’s drive-thru where Miss Vass
and the Year 6 teachers could present the
children with a special leavers’ certificate
and memory book. The children were able to
have a lap of honour whilst being clapped and
cheered by the Totham staff team!
Leavers’ Picnic on the Field
The children enjoyed fun and games
and a burger and chips lunch on the
field together where the different
bubbles could sit in a giant square,
therefore seeing each other whilst
maintaining distance.
… continued on the next page
15Autumn Term Topics
The new academic year is well underway and the children have started
learning about their fantastic topics for the autumn term;
Reception – ‘Rhyme Time’ – books by Julia Donaldson
Year 1 – ‘Superheroes’ and ‘A Toy’s Life’.
Year 2 – ‘Come Fly With Me’ – the Wright brothers
and aeroplanes
Year 3 – ‘Ancient Egyptians’ and ‘An English Country
Garden’
Year 4 – ‘Settled Saxons, Vile Vikings and Dangerous
Dragons’
Year 5 – ‘Our World and Beyond’- rivers, coasts and
space
Year 6 – ‘The Angry Earth’ – mountains, volcanoes
and earthquakes
From the Parish Council …
An online general meeting of the Parish Council was held on the 1st
September. The minutes of this meeting can be viewed on our website -
www.wickhambishopsparishcouncil.org
Councillors agreed that the annual village ‘Litter Pick’, originally scheduled
for March, cannot go ahead as an organised event due to the ongoing
situation with Covid-19. Residents are encouraged to check the area
around their properties and remove any litter so as to keep our village
looking tidy.
There is an ongoing problem in parts of the village, with hedges and trees
overhanging footpaths and roadways. This obstructs sightlines for drivers
as they try to exit at a junction, and in some places is blocking the
pavement for pedestrians. As we are now well past the nesting season,
please ensure that your hedges are cut back to the boundary of your
property and that overhanging trees are trimmed so as to not obstruct
larger vehicles. In a few of the more extreme cases, the Parish Clerk will
be writing to the householder asking them to take action.
The village Speedwatch team feel that they still cannot resume duties due
to Covid-19. However, the Maldon Community Protection Team have been
spending approximately three hours each month checking on vehicle
speeds using the Trucam device. During August, 33 drivers were found to
16have exceeded the speed limit and their details will be passed to the police
for further action.
Following on from new government guidelines on social distancing, it is still
not possible to resume the monthly ‘Saturday Surgeries’. However,
residents are encouraged to raise any matters of concern, via the Parish
Clerk, using the details given below.
In addition to their individual responsibilities shown below, Parish Councillors
are each allocated several roads in the village, to report any problems and
address the needs of their residents. The list can be found on the ‘Your
Councillors’ page of our website, and, it is hoped, will be printed in a future
issue of this magazine (it is quite a long list). Please refer to this list to see
who ‘your’ Parish Councillor is.
The next general meeting of the Council is scheduled to be held, once again
online, on Tuesday 6th October at 7.30 pm and will be available for
residents to view on YouTube. A Planning Committee meeting will be held, if
required, on Friday 16th October. Please check our website for the latest
details and agenda.
Councillors may be contacted individually, or via the Parish Clerk on 07542
190176, or by email
info@wickhambishopsparishcouncil.org
17Back Words …
… and back in print. It was in April that we were last able to
distribute printed copies of our Parish Magazine. Thankfully, with
modern technology and the internet, we were still able to maintain a
‘presence’ online, plus able to distribute a few copies via Royal Mail
to those who could not access it online. Now we are back, but for how
long I do not know. Even as I type this, the government has
introduced tighter restrictions on what we may, and may not, do, and
another general lockdown seems to be a distinct possibility.
Thank you to the contributors who have continued to send items for
inclusion over the past five months, and I hope that all of those
groups who have currently suspended their meetings are able to rise
from the ashes before too long.
I wish you continuing good health and stay safe,
Items for the November 2020 magazine should be submitted to the editor by
Thursday 15th October 2020
Please send items by email if possible to:
magazine@churchinwickhambishops.org.uk
or place in an envelope marked ‘Parish Magazine’
and deliver to 10 Church Green, Wickham Bishops
Priority goes to church events and information connected with Wickham Bishops.
If you would like to place an advert in this magazine please contact
John Mason on johnmasonwb@aol.com or Tel. 01621 927066
For enquiries regarding distribution of the magazine, please phone
Jayne Jennings on 01621 891396
© Wickham Bishops & Little Braxted Parochial Church Council (PCC)
Published by the PCC of St Bartholomew Wickham Bishops and St Nicholas Little Braxted. The views
expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the PCC nor can the Church guarantee the
credentials or performance of any of the advertisers within this publication.
18You can also read
