Haslemere Parish Magazine December 23/ January 24

Dec 23 / Jan 24

HASLEMERE P A R I S H

M A G A Z I N E

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S AND ST CHRISTOPHER’S

C o m f o r t H o p e

www.haslemereparish.org Click QR code & select Parish Magazine to donate Suggested donation of £2 per printed copy

1

Haslemere Parish Contacts Rector: Rev Chris Bessant 01428 658107

Older Children’s Worker

rector@haslemereparish.org

Verity Sutherland children@haslemereparish.org

Curate: Rev Justin Manley-Cooper revjustin@haslemereparish.org

Children & Families Worker

Verger: St Bartholomew’s

Victoria Martin families@haslemereparish.org

Carol Skeates

01428 642662

First Steps Mondays in St Christopher’s 0-5 Year Olds Sophie Bessant & Victoria Martin families@haslemereparish.org

Parish Office The Link, Derby Road Haslemere GU27 1BS Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9am-3pm office@haslemereparish.org www.haslemereparish.org

Treasurer Andrew Culshaw: 01428 644578

07889 855239

Gift Aid Secretary Geoff Martin

01428 641907

Parish Administrator, Electoral Roll Officer PCC Secretary and Link Bookings: Katie Morgan 07794 149111 Kari Hayden secretary@haslemereparish.org Contact Parish Office.

Facilities for the disabled;

Safeguarding Officer Cathy Moore

Both Churches and The Link at St Bartholomew’s have ramped access and space for wheelchairs. Toilets suitable for use by the disabled are available in The Link and at St Christopher’s.

07593 814438

Church Wardens Geoff Martin Gareth David

01428 641907 01428 643617

Facilities for the hard of hearing;

Deputy Wardens David Simmons

Both churches and The Link have Sound amplification and hearing loops.

01428 644826

LLM (Reader)

Facilities for the visually Impaired;

Peter Sellars midsummer4peter@gmail.com

Both churches have good interior lighting and large print weekly notice sheets and service sheets.

Director of Music & Organist Clive Osgood

07747 785 940

Please recycle this magazine when you have read it. Either into paper recycling, or better still, pass it on to a friend 2

Bell-ringers Paul Bagshaw

Pastoral Assistants 01428 656129

Ruth Pattenden Ros Webb

01428 651435

Bereavement Visitors

Friends of the Parish Chris Lemar

Linda Donaldson Frances Gaiter Sarah Mulliner

Flowers St Bartholomew’s Sarah Mulliner St Christopher’s Frances Reincke

01428 643504

Sue Davis

01428 607206

Sarah Mulliner

01428 651561

01428 643504

Magazine Secretary 01428 644120

Jane Slevin 07949 633979 office@haslemereparish.org

01428 644578

Magazine Advertisements Manager:

Pastoral Visitors Church Office

01428 661115

BRF Representative

Churchyards Philip Hunt

01428 644473 01428 648843 01428 643504

Mothers’Union Treasurer

Church Care Group Roscelin Rees

01428 653033 01428 648916

Geoff Martin

01428 641907

Safeguarding Contacts: Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor is:

DeafHope (BSL) text: 07970 350366

Jackie Broadfoot 07918 559387 jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk

Childline 0800 1111

National Society for the Prevention of supporting survivors of church-related abuse. Cruelty to Children

Safe Spaces, an independent service

Telephone: 0300 303 1056 Email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk WebChat via the Safe Spaces website

NSPCC 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk NSPCC Sign Video link nspcc.org.uk/aboutus/contact-us

For all emergencies call 999

Samaritans 116123 or jo@samaritans.org

The Single Point of Access (SPA)

Modern Day Slavery Helpline 0800 01210700

Children and Adult Service social workers.

Direct information, advice and guidance about where and how to find appropriate support for children and families: Surrey 0300 470 9100 (children) cspa@surreycc.gov.uk (adult) acsmash@surreycc.gov.uk

Mental Health Crisis Helpline 0300 5000 101 Open 5.00pm - 9.00am Monday to Friday 24 hours cover at weekends inc Bank Holidays SMS texting facility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: 07717 989024

Domestic Abuse Surrey - YourSanctuary 01483 776822 24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

Stop it Now! 0808 1000 900 www.stopitnow.org.uk 3

May the full blessings of Jesus Christ our Lord be upon you. So, it’s that ‘summary’ time of year again when we look back upon the year gone by. In our lives, families, and community there may be joy, sorrow, worry and hope all rolled into one. My prayer is that however you find yourself today, God’s abiding love will lift you and love you. We are in the Advent season, where the angels and Holy Spirit of God bring new life and a promise that God wishes to be present with us. Please accept my most gracious and warm invitation to join your church this Advent and Christmas season. You will find the details of all we have planned in these pages.

Since you last held a nice fresh copy of Link Parish Magazine in your hand, what has happened in the life of our churches and parish? Plenty of Christian service………..

Harvest Festival seems like a long time ago now - in early October. From where I stand in church, I’m privileged to see the joy of people’s faces as they come up the church aisle with something to offer. Few things come as close to the moment that brings joy to the hearts of those who give and those who receive.

You may also know that the older children ran the Supermarket Challenge one evening down at Tesco's. Shoppers were greeted as they entered the store, there to be given a list what Haslemere Foodbank needs. It takes a moment for people to realise what is being asked of them, but when they do they are very happy to be a part of it. The youth group filled three trolleys to overflowing!

The annual All Souls Memorial Service falls at the end of October. The last twelve months have seen many funerals in the parish. Justin and I have had a steady stream all year, with some tragic and very emotional moments to share. There is a long list of names we read during the service, as a memorial to their memories.

Many such names are familiar to us - those we have loved but no longer see. For families it’s a chance to return to the church or revisit the minister who took their loved one’s funeral. It’s one of those loving works of God’s ministry that will never change.

4

Most years in the autumn we try to host a series of Confirmation classes, as young people look to confirm their Christian faith. Those baptised as infants now take some time over a series of weeks to look into the foundations of our shared faith. On Sunday 5th November the candidates came before Bishop Peter Hancock, as he laid his hands upon them and prayed for God’s Holy Spirit to enter. Congratulations to Henry, Annabelle, Lucy and Maclaren.

The second week of November brings Remembrance. The sacrifices of the past merge with the conflicts of today, and our hopes for the future. Personally speaking, this year was the most difficult I’ve known with the dreadful situations in the Holy Land. I may wish to claim that I speak for everyone in Haslemere who wishes to see an end to these protracted and most destructive conflicts. This year the turnout for churches, parade and town gathering were outstanding. In Haslemere we seem to do remembrance so well. Long may it continue.

I can’t tell you how pleased I was to receive the news that the Link Community Hub project has been granted planning permission. The project team has been putting in a heroic effort all year. There remains much funding work to be done, yet permission to proceed is essential if we are to continue towards turning plans into reality. I’ve found myself saying quite often that such a big project is unlike anything seen in our churches for generations. We should have the confidence and determination to serve our community as our very own neighbours.

On Sunday 3rd December a team from the church will be setting up a stall at the Haslemere Christmas Fair on the High Street. This has become a firm fixture since 2020, and great exposure for the church. We are not there to sell things of course! Our offering to the public is an invitation and welcome. My memory of the market in December 2022 is of a chance to stand and chat to literally hundreds of people. We are there to offer Christ, our ministry, and the Christmas services. This year the stall will carry the banner ‘Bethlehem Post Office’, as we invite young people to send a message of hope, and literally post it!

Also, for 2023 the Christmas Windows Competition returns for its fourth year.

Justin and his team have done a great job to organise and promote the competition again, and with even more involvement for the schools and community. Do please have a look for your favourite window when you are outand-about. Be encouraged to place your vote online on the parish website (haslemereparish.org/windows).

Keep an eye on the parish website (haslemereparishg.org/christmas) for all the Christmas Service details, some of which you will find elsewhere in this edition of the magazine. The season begins on Saturday 2nd December, with the Friends 5

Christmas Concert with the Junior Choir. The following day, Sunday 3rd December, is the evening of the traditional choral service of Darkness to Light. All are welcome to this lovely Advent opener.

Christ, come into our world of darkness Light up our lives with your coming.

Fulfil all our longings with the joy of your birth Strengthen our resolve to work for change in our world And to share the hope of your birth that each Advent brings.

Amen.

God bless you all, Rector Chris.

Their Faith was Confirmed!

It is a healthy thing for Christians to seek to understand what they believe, and to make promises before God to live their lives as faithful people. Each year young people and adults declare their faith in the Christian Rite of Confirmation. For 2023 four of our young people were prepared for confirmation, and on their special day were confirmed by Bishop Peter Hancock at St John’s Farncombe on Sunday 5th November.

Besides many other candidates from across the Guildford Diocese, we were delighted for Henry, Annabelle, Lucy and Maclaren. Our congratulations to them all! May God’s Holy Spirit dwell in them richly.

Rector Chris.

6

7

8

Younger Children and Families We kicked off the Autumn term with a ‘bang’ or should I say ‘clang’ with a special bell ringing session when children and their families could try their hand at ringing our wonderful bells at St Bartholomew’s Church. A big thank you to Paul Bagshaw and the bell ringing team for all their hard work in making this session such a success. As you will see from the photos a great time was had by all.

In October we ran a special ‘mini-Light Party’ in St Bartholomew’s Church - the message being, ‘Jesus is the Light of the World’. A Light Party is a wonderful alternative to Halloween. The Church and Link were set up with numerous tables and activities for the families to enjoy including prayer pass the parcel, glow hoopla, animal balloon making and star crafts. The children started the session by decorating bags which they could then use to store all of their crafts.

9

The Sunday morning families group enjoyed a bumper turnout for Harvest, which was fantastic! Following a talk about how God provides enough food for everyone, but it is our responsibility to share what we are given, the group created a heart collage demonstrating what each child would like to share: Sunday Morning Families is held regularly on the first Sunday of the month and is an opportunity for children, over four years of age, to leave the service and enjoy a talk, games, prayers and crafts in the Link during the St Bartholomew’s 10am service. The sessions are run by the CAF team but importantly supported by a group of parent volunteers who work on a rota system and do a brilliant job!

On All Saints Sunday we started thinking about superheroes and what powers we ourselves would like to have. We then looked at the lives of Saint George and Saint Andrew discovering how they dedicated their lives to God and the amazing feats that they achieved; discussion moved to how the Saints’ superpowers came from God. The children then decorated their own superhero masks and were invited to consider how God gives all of us gifts which we could call our own superpowers.

10

Our sessions this term have been busy and buzzing with happy children and their carers. We have run a series of four sessions on Creation including the sun, moon and stars, trees and flowers, animals and ending with how special we are. The final session of the last half term focused on Joseph and his special coat. We started back on Monday 6th November with a session on Remembrance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team of ladies who support the running of First Steps. They are extremely dedicated and wonderfully welcoming to the families who attend the sessions. You are all amazing and I greatly appreciate all that you do.

Montessori Harvest Service In October the CAF team welcomed back the children from Weyhill Montessori to a special harvest service - just for them! We had fun playing various food-related games after which we thanked God for all that He provides for us.

After a short discussion about the Food Bank the children brought up their food gifts and we ended with a prayer and energetic song:

Getting Ready For Christmas Christmas is rapidly approaching and Verity and Victoria would love your help to prepare Christmas Market bags and Christingles for the Christingle services. The two dates are as follows: Christmas Market bags on Friday 24th Nov, from 9.30am, at St Christopher’s Church, and Christingle-making on Friday 22nd Dec, from 9.30am, at St Christopher’s Church. Can you please contact Victoria if you would like to help at either or indeed both sessions at: families@haslemereparish.org.

Written by Victoria Martin, photos from Verity Sutherland

11

Spotlight on ...

Canon Evelyn Hughes As shared with Ann Lear After contributing ‘Just a Thought’ to the Link Magazine for some 15 years, Evelyn stepped down at the end of last year. I had the privilege of asking Evelyn about her life - and particularly the experience of being one of the first women to be ordained in the UK. (Ann Lear)

Early years Evelyn was born on February 2nd, 1931, the third of four daughters. Her father died when she was eleven. Her memories of childhood are mostly concerned with World War II, when she and her younger sister were evacuated at its beginning. “We were unhappy in our billet, so our parents brought us back to London - in time for the Blitz!” With the advent of flying bombs, their mother took them to the relative safety of Suffolk.

She has good memories of her connection with St Luke’s Church, a few steps from their London home. Evelyn enjoyed going to Evensong with her two older sisters. “Young as I was, I caught something of the atmosphere of worship”.

Although the church was packed for a Service of Thanksgiving at the end of the War, numbers gradually declined. Now in their teens, Evelyn and her younger sister were looking for a youth group. A friend suggested that they try the Elim Pentecostal Church. It was here that Evelyn came to personal faith in Christ: “I had been mulling things over for some time and, during one Sunday evening service, the moment had come - to hand myself over to him and to invite him into my life. It was like being born again!”

Marriage - and sadness “It was when I was in a job in The City that I met John - many years my senior who had contracted TB during War service. A while after his wife sadly died, we started going out together.”

“With marriage in view, we asked John’s consultant for a prognosis. I was 23 a possible 20 years seemed like a lifetime. We went ahead. I moved to John’s home in Ashtead, near Epsom, where, in due course, we had a beautiful daughter and I became stepmother to John’s little son.”

John died when Robert was 14 and Melanie 5.

12

Ministry In Ashtead Evelyn returned to her Anglican roots. She became involved in its lively, two-church parish, administratively and pastorally. “I began to wish I could do this sort of thing full-time but, as far as I knew, women didn’t! However, my Rector gave me a booklet which showed that they did!” The upshot was that she attended a selection conference and was recommended for training to become a deaconess. As she had a family, the training was to be non-residential. This took a long five years, when she had to juggle the training with earning a living, working in the mornings to supplement her war-widow’s pension, then settling down to study in the afternoon. It was such a struggle that she almost threw it in.

However her calling kept her going, as, too, did the excitement of what she was learning.

Deaconess “I was made a deaconess on 24th June 1979” (although commissioned by the imposition of the Bishop’s hands, deaconesses - unlike their male counterparts were not considered to be ‘ordained’). “My first posting was to a neighbouring parish, where I, for one, discovered the benefits of catholic spirituality quietness, spiritual reading and retreats.”

Deacon After four years there, she was once more in a lively, two-church parish - that of St Peter, in Farnborough. Whilst there, it became possible to be ordained Deacon, thus becoming part of the Church’s three-fold order of ministry bishops, priests and deacons. ...and Priest After nine years in Farnborough, Evelyn moved to Badshot Lea, where she became curate in charge of St. George’s. “During this four years I was ordained priest” (at Guildford Cathedral, along with 31 other women) “so no longer had to arrange for a man to preside at the Holy Table for me.”

It was also during her time at Badshot Lea that the Bishop conferred on her the title ‘Honorary Canon of Guildford Cathedral’. The duties were minimal - such as occasionally attending meetings of the Cathedral Chapter. As were all Canons, she was allotted her own seat in the chancel - a good vantage point at special services!

Almost from the beginning, she had a diocesan as well as a parochial role. Every diocese had a Lay Ministry Adviser and, when theirs retired, the Bishop asked her to take her place. This involved interviewing women who felt called to ministry, taking up references, reporting to the Bishop. With the ordination of women, the ‘lay’ was dropped from her title and she became Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s 13

Ministry. Part of this function was to meet with the Archdeacons regarding the placing of women in the diocese. (Some parishes were actually asking for a female member of staff!).

Excitement in high places...

In addition to parochial and diocesan roles, Evelyn had a national one - as chair of the Church of England Deaconess Committee, representing Anglican deaconesses.

When a majority of dioceses voted in favour of women deacons, Parliament became involved. Debate on the ‘Deacons, Ordination of Women Measure’ took place in the Commons on October 28th 1986. “I was there, with a number of other Deaconesses, in the Strangers’ Gallery. A steward warned us to keep quiet when the result was announced! Happily the vote went in favour. The Deaconess Committee had worked hard to engage the support of the MPs. Perhaps that had paid off!”

The next hurdle was the ordination of women to the priesthood. “This time I was present at Church House, Westminster, for the General Synod Debate. I was fortunate to get a seat in the debating chamber, where our own Diocesan Bishop, Michael Adie, was to speak in favour. For the afternoon session I was in an anteroom, with closed-circuit television. Archbishop George Carey asked for silence, but when the result of the vote was announced, we were able to erupt with joy that it had gone in favour - albeit by a breath-takingly narrow margin.”

Highlights “As to highlights of my ministry, I hesitate to answer: each congregation is different, but equally precious. But there is one episode, at St Peter’s, Farnborough, which can’t help but stand out. When the curate in charge of the daughter church moved on, the Rector asked me to succeed him. We were about to embark on a complete rebuilding programme. Our little chapel-size building was sinking due to subsidence. We were to replace it with a worship area with rooms off - a colossal financial undertaking. The Lord’s approval seemed to come with the results of a parish Gift Day - £361,000 was raised in one day (either by direct giving, loans, or interest-free loans) - added to by the benefit of Gift Aid, which the Chancellor had just introduced. At the end of that Sunday, the Good Shepherd congregation went up to the Parish Church, where we all sang fervently ‘To God be the glory, great things He has done’. I lived in the parsonage on site and kept a photographic record of the razing of the old building to the glorious dedication of the new one. For that service, I had asked one of our young men to sing solo the hymn ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord…’, not least for its affirmation ‘no work too hard for Him’. The project had been a challenge - we used the nearby 6th Form College for Sunday worship and the nearby Methodist Church for the evening services, which Methodists and Anglicans led alternately.

14

We all enjoyed this ecumenical experience.”

Some thanksgivings “Although not church-going themselves, my children have supported me and rejoiced with me in my various ordinations and inductions. I was particularly pleased that my mother was able to be present when I was made (!) deaconess.

She was uneasy in big, open spaces, but her pride in her daughter made her cope with the Cathedral’s loftiness.”

Changes “The changes I have observed in the Church have been the gradual acceptance of women ministers and a vast increase in their numbers. My hope was always to see men and women working together to represent the God who is neither male nor female.”

Retirement …brought the opportunity to take up pursuits which full-time ministry hadn’t allowed for. She has enjoyed painting and prayer retreats - sometimes as a group member, sometimes acting as chaplain alongside a tutor, under the auspices of the Creative Arts Retreat Movement. “It was good to take up singing again and to enjoy performing with the Haslemere Musical Society. It has also been a great joy to continue ministry in a ’helping out’ capacity.” Nowadays she is learning that there is still work to be done - in a ’hidden’ ministry of prayer.

What made you choose to retire in Haslemere?: “With the date for my retirement fixed, I had to find somewhere to live - but where?” It so happened that she had to accompany her Badshot Lea warden to an ‘Admission to Office’ service at St Bartholomew’s. “As I sat there, I seemed to hear a voice say ‘What about Haslemere?’ This was surprising. The very name held sad memories - I used to come this way when visiting John in Midhurst Sanatorium. I decided to follow that ‘voice’, signed on with some agents, and ended up in a pleasant close, in an attractive town, among lovely people - and sad memories were healed in the process - for all of which I give thanks to God.” And we are extremely glad she did ‘follow that voice’, as she has been a valuable contributor, not only to The Link Magazine, but a blessing to many in her ‘helping out’ capacity in the local churches - and in her ongoing ministry of prayer.

Thank you, Evelyn!

15

St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School In this edition I would like to write about the wonderful residential visits that our children in Year 4 and Year 6 have during their time with us.

In May, Year 4 goes to CYE, Christian Youth Enterprises. CYE has over 30 years of experience of providing outdoor activities and residentials with a dedicated team that ensures that every detail is met and that pupils and teachers get the most from their stay. The centre lies at the heart of a designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ on the Bosham Channel, part of Chichester Harbour where we stay on ‘TS Resolute’, a magnificent multi-purpose, custom built vessel.

This year the children pushed themselves in the exciting activities of kayaking, sailing, tunnelling and completing an assault course. They learnt more about the importance of teamwork and resilience and they had great fun challenging themselves. As we do at St Bart's, CYE believe in living life to the full and we certainly manage this every year on our stay at CYE.

Each year we also welcome the CYE team to our school, in December, where they give our school an engaging and entertaining assembly based on the Christmas message.

In September of this year, our current Year 6 cohort spent a week in France enjoying themselves at the PGL centre just south of Paris. On the first full day they played a great team game called archery tag as well as a sensory trail in which they were blindfolded and had to follow a nature course through using only verbal communication and touch. They did bushcraft, in which they learnt skills like lighting a fire using a flint. The children also made French tarts which were delicious. During their stay they visited a French market in the town of Melun where they could put into practice some of the French language skills that we have learnt over the course of their time at St Bart’s from Madame Byers, our French teacher. Everyone was blown away by the spectacular Chateau Fontainebleau, the residence of Napoleon and the French kings. In the evenings, they enjoyed singing songs and telling stories around a campfire and had great fun at a silent disco. One morning, they were up high in the trees (being extremely brave) at a site very similar to GoApe. Perhaps best of all was the several extended swimming sessions which we got to enjoy each day. On the journey home, they even manged to fit in a visit at a chocolate factory.

16

All these wonderful residentials for the children would not take place without a dedicated team of staff who are involved in organising these visits as well as those that go away with the children. We are, as always, very grateful to them all for the work that they do.

Simon Avenell Headteacher French Photos

CYE Photos

17

THE BOY BISHOP A Christmas Celebration The earliest record of the celebration of the Boy Bishop is found in 911 at the song-school of the monastery of St Gall near Lake Constance in Germany. The custom was part of the wider Christmas festivities of St Stephen, St John the Evangelist and the Holy Innocents (known as the tripudia) each festival being enjoyed by the deacons, priests and choirboys respectively. So well-known did the revels become in St Gall that King Conrad 1, visiting the Bishop of Constance over Christmas, asked to see them. He was highly amused, especially by the sedate procession of the choirboys and their diminutive Bishop: even when the King rolled apples down the aisle among them, they kept their solemnity and decorum.

It was not until over two hundred years later that the entire series of feast days became known rather ominously as the Feast of Fools. It was at this time too, that tropes (musical additions to the existing liturgy) were created for the festivals, becoming normal in service-books throughout the Middle Ages. The Feast of Fools spread swiftly across Europe and is first found in England in our then diocese of Winchester as early as 980. (The Chapel of Ease on the site of St Bartholomew’s was not built until around 1180). Very soon the custom is discovered as far afield as Exeter, York and St Albans. Eventually it would have been usual in all the cathedrals, monasteries, and churches wealthy enough to afford the celebrations.

It seems that the innocent and governable nature of the Feast of the Boy Bishop, celebrated as it was on the more sombre Feast of Holy Innocents, was very much in its favour, and set it apart from the more riotous Feast of Fools of the senior clergy. In England the Boy Bishop flourished, and was widely popular across the country, surviving well into the sophisticated late Middle Ages. Indeed, even the great theologian, Erasmus, created a sermon for the Boy Bishop of St Paul’s Cathedral to deliver from the pulpit. (The Boy Bishop’s remit did not extend to the writing of his own sermon!) By 1547 however, the Feast of Fools was found to 18

be too licentious, and was banned across the continent - having already been abolished in this country, along with that of the Boy Bishop, following the Reformation of 1534.

We are fortunate to have preserved many descriptions of the Feast of the Boy Bishop both from abroad and in this country. No two celebrations were alike, and the feast responded to local circumstances and custom. In general, the Boy Bishop was chosen by the Canons and was a reward for good behaviour and long service.

It was important that he should be in ‘good voice.’ Sometimes however the boys were allowed to elect their own Bishop and organise their own festivities within the prescribed guidelines. These would involve a feast and the hiring of a horse for the Boy’s procession through the neighbourhood, accompanied by his choirboys impersonating the Canons. The Boy Bishop was permitted to bless the people and give the blessing after Mass. Presumably the special tropes would be sung, and the Boy, seated in the true Bishop’s chair, could conduct every part of the service except the actual celebration of the Mass. If there was a shrine to St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, the boys processed to the altar, and in some instances the celebrations took place on St Nicholas’s Day itself (December 6th) as a children’s feast day.

The Westminster Inventory of 1388 has left us with wonderful descriptions of clothing and ornaments used by a Boy Bishop. Outstanding is a cope of ruby and ‘blood-coloured velvet,’ embroidered with gold, the ‘new arms of England’ woven into it. Together with a mitre of silver gilt set with pearls dedicated to St Nicholas, and a further ruby-red velvet cope embroidered with ‘gryphons and other beasts and cisterns spouting water,’ clearly a celebration of great splendour is indicated. It must have been a thrilling and responsible task for the children involved. Huge crowds turned out to see the Boy Bishop both within the churches and lining the streets as he rode by. For a day or so, a hard-working chorister had become a person of magic and importance.

Following the Reformation the Boy Bishop made a halting reappearance in the reign of Mary Tudor, but with the accession of Queen Elizabeth 1, the tradition disappeared altogether. Revivals over the centuries can only have had a novelty

19

value, and today the Boy Bishop is essentially detached from its original meaning and context.

Indeed, it is tempting to look on the custom as merely a forerunner of the Feast of St Nicholas and the ascendance of Father Christmas as part of our modern Christmas celebrations. However, there was a serious purpose to the Feast of the Boy Bishop that was uniquely its own. At a time of darkness and mystery, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the act of humility in ‘bringing down the Mighty from their seat’ briefly suspended the everyday, overturning the church’s hierarchical world, ‘and exalting the humble and meek.’

Katherine Jessel Reference: The Medieval Stage (2 vols) E.K. Chambers OUP 1903

A Picture for Advent Elohim Creating Adam by William Blake (1795) Elohim is a Hebrew name for God. This picture illustrates Genesis 2.7: ‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground’. Adam is shown growing out of the earth, a piece of which Elohim holds in his left hand, as he wrenches Adam out of the ground.

20

Adam looks full of terrible sorrow. Already, the serpent is coiled around Adam’s leg, manacled to his deathly destiny. He is unclean, bereft of choice from the start, and burdened with this earthly life in which no freedom from sin in possible.

Blake’s terrifying vision of human destiny is to wage war on mankind and wreak havok on earth, constantly forced against its will to engage in hostile acts. At Advent, we call out to Jesus to take the responsibility of this tragic history from our shoulders. Christ lifts from our shoulders the weight of governance that we are so incapable of exercising well. Recent events between Israel and the Palestinians testify to the need for Christ’s love.

Jesus comes to this state as ‘King of the Nations’. Adam is not the fount of the human race through which its meaning must be interpreted, Jesus is. We can compare Blake’s picture of creation to one of the Crucifixion where the human figure is Jesus. The fragmented pieces of the old humanity are nailed to the Cross and put to to death, so that what is reborn is a new nation of which Jesus is king.

“You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2.19).

We find that we are one human race, not fragmented by enmity: sharing one world, not fighting to break it into pieces, knowing one source and one king. So look again - Adam or Jesus? Life torn from the earth or life offered to the earth?

Desolation or restoration? Expulsion or homecoming?

Peter Sellars

A SUGGESTED BOOK FOR ADVENT Hope from beyond, sent to the present, is what Advent asks us to reckon with. Hope consists of God’s jump-leads sent from the future through time and space, wired into our present pains, panics and predicaments. How can the light of Christ illuminate this present darkness of the threat of war and the rise of Mammon. This book engages with two great Christian hymns, the Magnificat and the Benedictus. It is also rooted in poets, prophets and theology.

There are daily readings from Advent to the 7th February and every day it has a scripture reading and a meditation, a prayer and a period of contemplation. It uses a lectio divina approach (or spiritual reading) to passages drawn from Isaiah and Luke. ‘An Advent Manifesto’ is an invitation to pray and practise that most ancient Advent prayer, ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come.’

It is priced at under £10 from Amazon or any good bookseller.

21

Peter Sellars

Church Youth Groups Everyone at The Den and Summit has been very busy this term and it has been lovely to welcome Lara Butler to the leadership team.

The term started at St Christopher’s with the children at The Den engaging in crafts related to Harvest and, through bible stories and discussion, we looked at how God provides. This theme continued into the next meeting when we visited Imbhams Farm and made a dough wheat sheaf with Margaret Barlow which was baked ready for the Harvest Festival that Sunday. While toasting marshmallows over a fire we also talked about Jesus as the ‘bread of life’ and what that means. Some of The Den families also joined in the Harvest Supper at the farm that Saturday evening, an event organised by Grayswood Church.

The following week at our ‘progressive supper’ the kids were split into three teams, and each took turns going to one of three houses along Haslemere High Street. They enjoyed a starter (at Cathy Moore’s House), a main (at Claire and Peter Gratton’s) and a dessert (at Katie Morgan’s), but not necessarily in that order! Whilst enjoying this hospitality there were some fun activities and the children took turns reading the bible story of Elijah and the widow. (Many thanks to the hosts for their wonderful hospitality).

The annual ‘Food Bank Challenge’ at Tesco was even more successful than last year, despite the horrid weather, as three trollies were filled! Three teams took turns handing our ‘Food Bank wish lists’ to customers arriving in the store, encouraging them to add a needed item to their shopping. The children also 22

brought some donation funds along and each team had to see how many items they could buy from the wish list with their money. They were then able to scan these items at the tills thanks to Rhys (who works at Tesco), who also gave them a behind the scenes tour at the end.

Our most recent event at the time of writing was another visit to Imbhams Farm, this time for a Light Party/All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) themed session. We carved pumpkins in the decorated barn, Margaret read a poem and Lara showed us how to make ‘firework conkers’ continuing the theme of light, followed by a hunt around a field for some sweets with our torches. We then carried our tealights down to the farm pond and stood by the water as we discussed All Hallows Day and how it is about honouring the Saints. We talked about how Halloween has become dark, but that it should be a time of light and faith and we should focus on how Jesus is the light of the world.

Everyone toasted pumpkin seeds and marshmallows around the fire pit. The session ended with us writing the name down on a piece of paper of someone we feel needs light in their lives and then we threw the names into the light of the fire as we said a prayer.

At the start of term Summit had a go at some apple-bobbing followed by a discussion session pondering a question put forward by one of the young people - ‘Can Christianity be cool - and does that matter?’

There was also a visit

by Deborah Callewaert from Shottermill House Care Home (a Christian home) and she talked about dementia. This was in preparation for a visit in October, so everyone knew what to expect and how to respond when interacting with the residents.

Before they visited, the young people made some ‘holding crosses’ - small hand 23

sensory pillows with a cross sewn on. They were told these bring comfort and that they can help with prayer. A gift tag with a personal message and an encouraging bible verse was attached. (Many thanks to Liz Cook, Bryony Atkinson, Dorothea Nattrass, Ros Webb, Leandra Cox and Sue Davis who either helped at the session or made some extra pillows).

Summit’s visit to the care home was very moving.

After playing carpet games with some of the residents, the holding crosses were handed out, much to their delight. Then there was a visit to the bed-bound so they also could meet the young people and receive their cross.

Most recently at a Remembrance session, after decorating crosses, special guests Chris and Shirley Harrison shared two powerful stories about local WWI heroes. These were featured on display boards that were positioned around the church for the group to read. Then Jamie Harle, former Army Major who is now serving as an RAF Air Cadet Officer, shared some personal experiences and issued a challenge - to put up an army shelter outside, with the first five minutes in complete silence! After five minutes he let them talk and they figured it out. Whilst everyone headed over to the fire pit for sausages in buns, beans and hot chocolate, Jamie chatted to them about what his faith means to him as a Christian solider and how God and the bible have helped him through difficult times.

Coming up there are lots of festive sessions planned for both groups and we will tell you about these in the next edition.

Sue & Verity For more details of The Den and Summit contact: Verity Sutherland, Children & Families Worker (Older Children) Email: Children@haslemereparish.org 24

Christmas Crackers We present below some childhood pictures of well known parishioners. Can you guess who they are?

Answers on Page 51 1.

2.

3.

4.

5

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

25

Rise up against domestic abuse A new campaign by Mothers' Union The letters of RISE UP stand for Respond, Inform, Support, Empower, Unite and Pray.

Mothers’ Union is raising awareness of and calling for an end to gender-based violence and abuse in all its forms.

This will be a particular focus from 25th November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, (founded by the UN 1993) to the 10th December.

Around the world, one in three women and one in seven men will suffer abuse at some point in their lifetime.

We are are also publicising ‘Bright Sky’, a safe, easy to use app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse.

It is for anyone experiencing it or who is worried about someone else. People in all walks of life may be affected, and need encouragement to seek help. You will have noticed that our church has taken the practical step of putting notices on the back of toilet doors with information about sources of help.

In September I was fortunate to attend the MU Annual Gathering in York. Our World Wide President Sheran Harper gave an impassioned address, based on witnessing MU at work in many countries in Africa, for instance in Uganda, where MU runs a programme giving abused teenage girls a new lease of life.

We ended the day with Evensong in York Minster, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell preaching.

He talked of Jesus “ Why are you weeping?” and ”For whom are you looking?” First Jesus addresses her sorrow, and then the source of her help. He reminded us that in all our activity we should be helping people to look for - and meet - Jesus .

Dorothea Nattrass

26

First Steps is the place to be

Welcome to Mothers' Union Charity Online Gift Shop – Mothers' Union Shop (mueshop.org)

Christmas Cards

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Hampers

Mothers' Union 2024 Diary

Free delivery to UK & Ireland for orders over £60 Mothers' Union Enterprises Limited Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London United Kingdom Telephone 020 7222 5533 (option 2)

27

Parish Activities in Pictures

Amazing turnout for the Harvest Service. Our donations were then taken to the Foodbank by Richard and Justin. (Delivery Photos by Lucy Manley-Cooper, Children’s artwork by Jane Slevin).

Once again the intrepid team at St Christopher’s work on repairs to the carpets of poppies and then take on the challenge of raising the carpets to roll down the side of the tower, securing them to withstand the buffeting of storms and gales.

An amazing symbol which is seen by so many driving down Weyhill. (St C’s Remembrance Photos by Richard and Frances Reinke and Liz Cook, top centre over page), town parade and service Kari Hayden).

28

St Christopher’s commemorating those who died for our freedom.

After the remembrance service in St Bartholomew’s we all joined up for the procession to the war memorial. We will remember them.

29

The Techies work their magic on St Christopher’s sound system Contributed by Richard Reincke Some time ago the Rev. Chris decided that he was less than impressed by the quality of the sound coming from our ancient speakers in St Christopher’s.

As a result a resolution was passed by the St C’s committee that the entire system should be reviewed and all necessary upgrades should be integrated into the existing equipment.

Enter stage right two very skilled technocrats keen to exercise their skills for our benefit. One David Simmons who runs his own radio show on Wey Valley radio between 7 and 9pm on a Sunday evening and is a walking encyclopaedia of all things to do with wiring, hi-fi, phone lines, wi-fi, mixer desks, XLR plug sockets, RCA plug sockets, microphones and sound systems and all things you could mention but could never understand. Entering with him steps Andrew Silk, the best dressed man in the parish and probably Haslemere when it comes to country suits, Norfolk jackets, pressed trousers and polished shoes. He worked for many years at the BBC and also has a profound knowledge of all things that pick up sounds and all things which produce sound of the highest quality.

After deliberating for a little while the dynamic duo came up with a plan and bought all the appropriate equipment and wiring to bring the chaotic and rather ancient PA system together in one coordinated control centre at the back of the church.

The existing speakers were completely unsuited to music and so made a rather apologetic jarring sound whenever used. The big thundering speakers by the choir stalls produced magnificent sounds but could only be controlled by running up the church and turning them on, plugging in a laptop, saying a little prayer, and waiting patiently for a massive volume of sound to deafen the unsuspecting congregation if you were lucky.

30

So, first, the two technocrats started to delicately run new sound wiring all the way from the back of the church by the new mixer desk to the front. As the heating duct only goes as far as the chancel this involved threading the wires down through a hole in the floor of the chancel, and then running them along the ceiling of the cellar, past the spiders webs and tripping lightly past all the junk, splashing through the floodwater and threading the wiring back up into the passage by the back door. At this point David and Andrew put down their pliers and screwdrivers and took up the longest and largest drill and bit - one meter in length and drove a hole through the massive church wall just behind the choir stalls. They have fitted some very neat trunking in the back passage to hide the new wiring and fitted an XLR plug socket on the end to receive the XLR plug which will mean that full control of the thundering beast - all 500 watts of it - can now be had at the back of the church. Not content with taming this beast they also ran another wire right across the chancel in the piping duct so that in the event of the organ not working or there being a need for Clive to play on his own keyboard, the sound from it can be directed all around the church. In addition to this, the lectern, pulpit and celebrant’s microphones are also controlled by the mixer desk. And the sheer beauty of all this well concealed and effective wizardry can always switch to the old speaker and loop system in the event of a technical hitch anywhere in the system.

I looked at the control system which is run through the mixer desk and it is aweinspiring that so many controls can be run through one entity. In fact there are 16 connectors, 12 of which will be used initially, which will go into a new double wall box, which means that St Christopher’s maintains its great adaptability as the mixer desk can be unplugged when not in use and moved into the corner to provide maximum space for all the activities that take place during the week. To the untrained eye it looks as if you could control a nuclear submarine or an F35 from the mixer desk and knowing David you probably can!

So we are eternally indebted to David and Andrew for the weeks they have worked on this and it will not now be long before all this intricate and sophisticated work can be put into operation to enhance the joys of worshipping at St C’s and to provide an inconceivably vast improvement to the existing system 31

which will of course also be a huge advantage for hirers who provide such wonderful entertainment, and the broadcasting of services.

Editor’s Note: We trust there will be some of our readers who understand the more technical aspects of this article. In any case who isn’t impressed at the thought of a meter long drill bit that can punch through a church wall? What is most appreciated, by our parish as a whole, is the dedication of David and Andrew in the planning and execution of this ongoing project and most generously giving their skills and time for the benefit of us all.

Great South Run Heroes Contributed by Frances Reincke Haslemere Rotary Club President Ken Griffiths and Friend of the club Richard Reincke ran the Great South Run in Portsmouth recently as ‘Community Ken and Tricky Dickie’.

With a combined age of 147 years the pair crossed the ten mile finish line on Southsea Common in good time. They ran alongside more than 20,000 competitors, raising more than £4,500 - thanks to 90 supporters - for their chosen charities the Hunter Centre and the Talk to Me counselling service.

32

In My Garden Philip Duly

I strongly believe that the garden in winter can offer almost as much pleasure and charm as in the other seasons. Structure and form come to the fore between December and the beginning of March with rather less emphasis on colour and planting. That doesn’t mean of course that the winter garden is bereft of colour; the glorious yellows of the winter-flowering jasmine and mahonias are perhaps the best examples of early winter flowering shrubs.

Another colour that one thinks of when considering the charms of a winter garden is white. Snowdrops are the best example of white flowers in winter but even the earliest flowering varieties are unlikely to appear before mid-January. If like me you love and enjoy your garden in winter as much as throughout the other seasons, you will be consistently on the lookout for winter performance plants. Fortunately there is a wonderful white flowering clematis that will star amid the berries and leaves in most gardens from December onwards.

The aptly named Clematis urophylla Winter Beauty bears its blooms in clusters with thick-petaled, upturned-urn shaped flowers which age from cream to white and are set off against its superb glossy evergreen foliage. It looks magnificent on established winter berry shrubs such as pyracantha and cotoneaster. It is generally hardy although not quite as hardy as some other winter varieties so it is best grown in a warm or sheltered position where hard frosts are abnormal. I think it will attract your attention and brighten your day when you wander around the garden throughout the dark winter months.

33

Haslemere Art Society The annual exhibition by Haslemere Art Society took place in October and was a fantastic opportunity to see the work of local artists. I had the good fortune to have three paintings on display and I even sold one! The paintings were beautifully displayed and lit and it was a joy to be a part of. Everyone I spoke to at the exhibition said what a high standard there was this year.

As part of the exhibition, there were several events including a painting demonstration by Roger Dellar, a Q&A session with Sarah Manolescue talking about her new book ‘Painting Light and Colour in Oils’ and HAS Chairperson, Olga Houghton even ran a children’s art workshop.

Every year two awards are given. The winner of the Allan Thomson award was chosen by the Haslemere Educational Museum staff and this year it went to Claudia Malitzki-Hastie for her water colour painting entitled ‘Fog on Frensham Common’ The Darlah Peters People’s Choice Award is voted for each year by visitors to the exhibition. There was a huge response this year and the award went to Sarah van den Broek for her acrylic painting entitled ‘Two Faces of Summer 1” You can find out more about Haslemere Art Society at www.haslemereartsociety.co.uk Kari Hayden 34

Link Community Hub Update After 18 months work we have achieved two important milestones: Planning Permission has been granted - we can remove the chimney, create a new entrance, insert the upstairs rooms and reorganise the ground floor.

Three Grant Applications totalling £1.7m have been submitted, the biggest being £1m to YourFundSurrey (YFS) We were delighted to receive over 400 indications of support for the YFS grant which, judging by many lovely comments, demonstrated that support is embedded across the wider community. There is no doubt that there is a real need for the Hub and that it is wanted by our community.

What next?

Responses to the application will take between three and six months so we may hear by Easter 2024 if the project has its core funding in place and can move forward.

In the New Year we will ask members of the congregation to show their financial commitment - we won’t need money just then but we will need commitment to provide funds later in 2024 and early 2025. We are looking to raise £200,000 to go alongside the grants.

Cathy, Debbie and Andrew are now taking a breather for a few months!

Please keep the project and the decision-makers at Surrey CC, Waverley BC and the National Lottery in your prayers.

Andrew Culshaw - Treasurer St Bartholomew's is open for private prayer each day, from 9:00am until 4:00pm.

St Christopher's Church is open for private prayer on Tuesdays-Fridays from 10:00am until 4:00pm.

The above may be adjusted should there be other events taking place.

35

Roast Turkey Pie for Turkey left overs Serves 6, Cooking time about 1 hour 20 minutes

Linda Donaldson

Ingredients: 2 red onions, roughly chopped 2 leeks, trimmed and roughly chopped 200g. (7oz) Chantenay carrots, trimmed 259g. (9oz) baby new potatoes, halved if large 1 tbsp. olive oil 600g. (1lb. 5oz.) leftover roast turkey torn into bite-sized pieces 25g. (1 oz.) butter 25g. (1 oz.) plain flour, plus extra to dust 500 ml. (17 fl.oz.) fresh turkey stock or gravy 2 tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon 500g. pack of all-butter puff pastry 1 egg, beaten Method: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees (180C fan). Put the vegetables into a large roasting tin and toss through the oil and plenty of salt and pepper. Roast for 30-35 mins, stirring half-way, until the vegetables are cooked through.

Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl and add the turkey.

Put the roasting tin over a medium heat on the hob and melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute. Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the stock or gravy, scraping up any sticky bits from the bottom of the tin. Return tin to the heat and cook until thickened, whisking constantly. Add the stock or gravy and tarragon to the vegetable and turkey mixture and fold through. Check the seasoning and transfer to a 2.5 litre (4 ½ pint) ovenproof pie dish.

Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the pastry until large enough to cover the pie dish. Brush the edges of the dish with some of the beaten egg, lay the pastry on top and crimp the edges to seal.

Cut a cross in the centre of the pastry to allow the steam to escape. If you like you can cut out shapes from the pastry trimmings and stick on top of the pie and brush with more egg.

Cook for 45 minutes or until the pastry is a deep golden colour.

Delicious served with mashed potato and greens.

36

A wonderful Bach Day organised by the Friends of the Parish Some ten years ago The Friends helped raise funds to restore St Bartholomew’s organ. This was the reason at the time: The refurbishment and repair fell into three categories: electro-mechanical, wind and tonal. The electro-mechanical problems related to sticking Stops, sticking Slides, sticking Shutters and faulty Pre-sets. The wind problems involved the blower motor and the leather gussets on the air reservoirs. Tonal improvements included replacing - at modest cost - two of the two identical-sounding ranks of pipes currently installed in the Great Organ and providing a new bass for the Pedal Organ. The opportunity was taken to install 64 computer pre-sets.

When the refurbishment was complete, we decided to show off the capabilities of the organ and to complete the fundraising (no church funds were touched).

That is when our Autumn Series and Spring Series of concerts was born.

This November, Clive Osgood our Director of Music, came up with the idea of a Bach Day. It was an astonishing success. Starting at 10 am with Clive playing ‘Organ Masterpieces’ and continuing after coffee with ‘Popular Bach’ we were entertained by the sheer breadth of Bach’s compositions. We also were in awe of Clive’s playing which seemed to require more than two hands and two feet.

Coffee and biscuits were served by Liz Cook and her team while an excellent lunch of soup and sandwiches (with wine and soft drinks) was donated and served by Jane and Dom Slevin.

After lunch the programme continued with chorales performed by (Scarlett Martin) organist and four voice choir, followed by chamber music with Anna Hunt (cello), Catherine Lett (violin) and Malcolm Allison (viola) After lavish tea and cakes, the concert concluded with vocal arrangements with an expanded choir and orchestra (pictured) We are so grateful to Clive for coming up with the idea and recruiting all the excellent performers, most of whom were able to give their time for the Friends.

Hamish Donaldson 37

Book Review Contributed by Charlotte & Emily With these burly winds and soggy mornings, it's time to match fiction choice to season! Below we’ve listed two books we think are perfect reads for these winter months.

‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan is a slim novella that, in our minds, captures the true spirit of Christmas. Set during December, the story follows Bill Furlong as he makes his rounds delivering coal in 1980s Ireland. After stumbling across some sinister goings on at a convent, Bill is left wrestling with his moral obligations as his family prepares for the festive season. Although this book is less than 200 pages it is an incredibly powerful story, and one that I think I will revisit every December. My favourite parts are the small but moving acts of community, especially when contrasted with moments of cruelty and closed-mindedness humans are complicated creatures!

If you’re looking for something a little less wintery, but a novel that matches the slow and reflective pace these colder months often have, ‘A Single Rose’ by Muriel Barbery may be something you’d enjoy. We follow the story of Rose, a 40 year old woman who has just received word of her father’s death, a man almost entirely absent from her life. As she travels to his home in Kyoto, Japan to hear the reading of his will, she encounters a number of characters and scenes that ultimately change her life and her understanding of herself.

Although A Single Rose has themes of loss woven throughout it, don’t let that put you off. This is a truly breathtaking novel for a number of reasons, with a focus on the many forms that love can take. Barbery’s poetic prose also has a role in this; her handling of Japan’s scenery and natural world is sensitive and beautiful, and her use of dialogue is both tender and at times funny. This novel is only little, but it really asks for a gentle and slow read in which you can really absorb the wonder in every page!

38

Greetings from Canada

In September we had a wonderful trip to the West coast of Canada. Arrived in Vancouver and had a day exploring the city, before leaving for Vancouver Island where we spent time in the very charming city of Victoria. We walked our socks off, hired bikes, and had some perfect fish and chips on the harbour while watching the sea planes take off. Whale watching was another highlight and the humpbacks did not disappoint!

We then drove to the Pacific Ocean side of Vancouver Island to the small coastal town of Ucluelet where the rocky bays and turbulent seas were dramatic and beautiful.

The next part of our trip was to catch the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops. The scenery was full of beautiful mountains, forests and rivers . We saw plenty of golden eagles but alas no bears.

Arrived in Jasper, a charming alpine resort with numerous walking opportunities.

Our favourite was around Lake Edith, a stunning turquoise blue lake surrounded by mountains We continued along the Ice Fields Parkway to Lake Louise, stopping several times to view the magnificent Athabasca falls, and turquoise Lake Peyto.

On our first day in Lake Louise we decided to climb to the Six Glaciers Teahouse, an eight mile round trip mostly uphill! Next day Lake Moraine, another stunning lake where a bear had been spotted but unfortunately not by us!

The photo is taken looking back towards the Fairmont from the end of the Lake before the hike up!

Out final stop was in Banff, where the temperature had dropped and it felt like winter. We took the Banff gondola up Sulphur Mountain to have 360* views of snow covered peaks..

Canadian Fall had started and we managed to take some great photos of the changing colours of the aspen and maple trees dotted amongst the firs. A lovely ending to a special holiday.

Sara Smith

39

Farnham Lions help with fuel bills Although fuel prices are a little lower than last year, Government assistance is more limited and will only partly cushion the blow so there is still a significant gap to be filled. Coupled with the general rise in the cost of living, this is going to make it a very difficult winter for many families in the Farnham and Haslemere areas.

Consequently, for the 12th year, Farnham Lions are proud to be launching Project Wenceslas again. Lions are inviting those who receive a Winter Fuel Payment, and who feel they don’t need it, to donate it to the Farnham Lions Wenceslas Fund to help local people and families who will be finding it hard to keep warm and cook in the coming months. We also welcome donations to this cause from anyone else who would like to help.

Last year Lions distributed over £57,000 in respect of families with fuel debt referred to us by Citizens Advice and the Farnham Support Fund as well as a large number of discretionary grants to needy families identified to us by Foodbank, local Barnardo’s Family Centres, Home-School link workers, churches and other agencies. These payments enabled over 400 people to have hot meals and stay warm over last winter.

Every payment is made directly to the utility companies, ensuring that ALL monies received are spent on gas and electricity.

Donations can be made to https://www.lionsgiving.co.uk/Appeal/ farnhamwenceslas or by cheque (payable to Farnham Lions Club CIO and endorsed WFP on the back) sent to Farnham Lions Club, 45 Edward Road, Farnham GU9 8NP

The Spirit of Wenceslas lives on.

40

In Remembrance and with Gratitude Rev. Graham Hawkett 1920-2022 We remember all those who have died for their country and those who serve their country, prepared to die for freedom of speech and the safety of their families.

We pray for peace and a future for our children and grandchildren, where everyone across the globe is more interested in serving their neighbours and protecting the planet.

Only God can grant this miracle.

There are, however, some people who seem to provide us with an example; quite often they themselves have a strong calling to follow Jesus.

This brief article is to remember Rev. Graham Hawkett who served in the Fleet Air Arm during WW2, was married in 1947, had two children, trained for priesthood, became ordained in 1963 and retired to Haslemere in 1985. He was a much-loved member of the parish, serving the community, mild-mannered and with a mischievous sense of humour.

He has featured in our magazine in a ‘Spotlight On’ article in 2013, 100th birthday wishes in 2020 and a eulogy written by his son-in-law in 2022. This last can be found online if you browse past issues through our on-line publishing platform Issuu - haslemereparish Publisher Publications - Issuu. Links will also come up if you Google ‘Rev. Graham Hawkett’.

Today we wish to thank him for the legacy he gifted to the parish of £10,000.

For me, having done a bit of research for this article, what struck home was what he said to Frankie Gaiter when she was interviewing him in 2013.

Jane Slevin

“I must add that I did not ‘enjoy’ the war. It was stimulating but I would have preferred to be at home and in peace. War is ghastly and there are those brave and gallant souls called to the front line whom we must never forget. “ Graham Hawkett 41

42

Churchyard Jottings Philip Hunt

A successful working party in the St Bartholomew’s main churchyard took place on Saturday 21 October. Despite one heavy shower, which was an excuse for a coffee break, we managed to achieve a good deal and even enjoyed some early sunshine. Some of the old brick graves were cleared of weeds, shrubs were pruned and the canopy of the large conifer close to the path was raised. This has provided more light and made it much easier to use the path (see photo). The area in the corner, to the left of the war memorial, was comprehensively tackled to give a clear vista through to the memorial to Lt Lawson. This has also uncovered the tablet to his wife, Janet, who died in Haslemere in 1970, aged 84.

For those unfamiliar with Lt Lawson’s story, he was born, Harry Sackville Lawson, in 1876 in Portishead, Somerset, and was one of seven children of the Rev’d Robert Lawson and Mary Sackville Lawson. He subsequently was married in London in 1909, to Janet Kathleen Trinder, who lived in Haslemere. They had four children. He became Headmaster of Buxton College, Derbyshire in 1911. Harry was commissioned into the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, as a 2nd Lieutenant on 19th December 1915. Initially, he was engaged in lecturing but, early in 1917, he volunteered for service on the Western Front. He was killed in action on 5th February, 1918. Laurence Housman, the playwright, commented that “his sense of duty must have been very strong to take a public school Headmaster into the Army at the age of 41”. Lawson wrote ‘Letters of a Headmaster Soldier’, published shortly after his death. In the Letters, written to the boys back at Buxton College, he tried to give some impression of his life in the Army, and to inspire the boys with the ideals of citizenship and public spirit.

In late October, I had the second of my twice-yearly sessions with my contact at Waverley Borough Council. On these occasions we typically tour the main churchyard and also over in Derby Road. While the regular grass cutting, by Waverley’s contractor, keeps the main churchyard generally looking neat, the 43

same cannot be said for Derby Road. Although the grass is cut there just as frequently, the incursion of brambles, holly, etc, as well as the ever enlargement of shrubs, means that access to some graves is increasingly difficult. The local authority contract is of a basic nature - it only really covers a programme of regular grass cutting in the growing season, and occasional hedge cutting. Waverley maintains seven closed churchyards within the borough and there is very little in the budget for work outside the basic contract for churchyards. Much of the “headroom” this year, which might enable a little additional work, has been used up already.

One frustration, admitted by Waverley, is that the contractor does not capitalise on past work. A whole area along the far boundary in Derby Road had been cleared by them, in preparation for the next programme of memorial safety inspections which is still to be carried out. Much of this area is overgrown once again as is a rhododendron which they had previously freed up. Serious thought has to be given as to how we can ensure that this churchyard is made more accessible and tidier. It does attract a steady flow of visitors. Any readers of the Haslemere Society’s newsletters, may have noticed that there are two unrelated articles in the current issue which contain references, one somewhat unjustified, to the state of graves in Derby Road churchyard. How we best deal with ongoing maintenance, over and above what is carried out by Waverley, is under active consideration.

Waverley has been very complimentary about the volunteer effort in the main churchyard, citing the working parties, the involvement of young people, planting of wild flower areas and the war memorial garden. It has been suggested that the Parish might like to consider competing in South and South East in Bloom in 2024. There is a separate category for churchyards and it is as much about community involvement as about producing blooms. This is an intriguing prospect and one which, I hope, might be considered favourably by

44

the PCC. Waverley has offered to assist in putting together the entry and be the contact point.

Finally, there is evidence of further sinking of graves in the main churchyard, perhaps a consequence of the recent rains. A particularly bad example presented a real trip hazard and, being near to the boundary with Derby Road itself, could have injured a child. We know how some children love to run through one gate and out another to or from school. The before and after pictures show just how large was the hole that had opened up on the grave and the position after it had been filled in during the recent working party. Since then one or two other holes have opened up on the site of other graves in the churchyard. We must remain vigilant.

Haslemere - Cards for Good Causes Our shop will be open from Thursday October 19th until December 23rd at Haslemere Museum. We will be selling Christmas cards, many with a religious theme, on behalf of a very wide range of over 40 Charities including RNLI, Cancer Research UK, Mind, The Alzheimer’s Society, Marie Curie, GUTS and SSAFA. We will also have a range of gift wrap and tags and a selection of gifts.

For further info: https://www.cardsforcharity.co.uk or call Haslemere Museum on 01428 642112

45

Programme of Life Issues Sessions 2024 OVERWHELMED – FINDING BALANCE IN FAST PACED WORLD Led by Andy Peck Saturday 27th January, 9.30 am – 1 pm

SAVE THE DATE - TOPIC TO BE CONFIRMED NEARER THE TIME Session to be led by Dr Martin Brunet, Saturday 28th September

CARE COMPANION AT END OF LIFE For more details on courses, or to make Led by Daphne Bleach a reservation, please contact: Saturday 16th March, 10 am - 12.30 pm Sally Pollard, email: pollard3@hotmail.co.uk, tel: 01483 FORGIVENESS 428646 Led by Rev Tim Carter All Life Issues sessions (apart from the Saturday 27th April, 10 am - 12.30 pm Women’s Away Day) are held at Godalming Baptist Church LADYWELL RETREAT CENTRE AWAY DAY (Queen Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1BA), Ladywell Retreat Centre, Godalming with drinks provided.

Saturday 18th May 2024 10 am - 4 pm, led by Revd Canon Hazel Whitehead Women in Scripture

Our aim is to bring Life Issue Sessions

ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE Led by Rev Peter Jackson Saturday 22nd June, 10 am - 12.30 pm

to as many people as possible at an affordable price

46

OVERWHELMED – FINDING BALANCE IN FAST PACED WORLD

Led by Andy Peck Saturday 27th January 2024 9.30 am - 1 pm (Coffee available from 9 am) at Godalming Baptist Church, Queen Street, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1BA Jesus promises an ‘easy yoke’ for the believer, yet many Christians find life anything but ‘easy’. It seems tough navigating the challenges of 21st century life, inside and outside the church, and we can feel ‘overwhelmed’, by life itself or the volume of things coming to us.

This morning we will look at the following: What makes us overwhelmed?

How do we typically respond?

Learn from what Jesus modelled, and taught his followers Developing mental strength: how are you thinking?

Expanding your emotional capacity: how are you feeling?

Spirit empowered living: who are you trusting?

Come for yourself and those who need our ministry.

Please reserve a place, with payment of £7, by contacting Sally Pollard email: pollard3@hotmail.co.uk tel: 01483 428646

by Friday 12th January 47

Petworth House & Park News for December https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ sussex/petworth Colours of Christmas at Petworth House Celebrate with a tree-mendous display at Petworth House. Explore the rooms decorated with stunning trees and floral displays, inspired by the colours within our world-class collection.

Normal admission applies, no booking required.

25 November to 1 January, 10.30am - 4.30pm. Closed 24 and 25 December.

Christmas Workshops Get into the festive spirit with our creative workshops. Suitable for all skill levels. Materials will be provided. Each workshop is £50 per person and includes a hot drink and mince pie.

Booking is essential. Please call 0344 249 1895 or visit our website.

Lino Cut Christmas Cards 7 December, 10.30am - 1pm Paper Flower Wreath Making 7 December, 2pm - 4.30pm 9 December, 10.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 4.30pm Traditional Wreath Making 8 December, 10.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 4.30pm 9 December, 10.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 4.30pm Christmas Makers Market Explore this Makers Market to discover artisan gifts perfect for Christmas. You’ll find a range of beautiful handmade products including jewellery, homewares, textiles and art. This event is held in partnership with Petworth Pop Up: Makers Market. Normal admission applies.

Saturday 2 December, 10am - 7pm Sunday 3 December, 10am - 4pm Choirs in the Courtyard Join us throughout the festive season and enjoy local choirs performing in the courtyard on weekends in December. Normal admission applies.

Choirs will perform on Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30am and 2.30pm, including two evening performances at 5.30pm on 2 and 22 December.

Christmas Lates Experience the magical festivities and explore Petworth House after dark, open until 7pm, when the lights sparkle and the choir will be singing in the courtyard.

Saturday 2 December, until 7pm Friday 22 December, until 7pm 48

What’s on at Haslemere Museum 1-23 December, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-4.30pm Exhibition: Georgian images of Haslemere From 1820 to 1833, John and his son Edward Hassell produced more than 2,000 watercolours of Surrey. This exhibition focuses on the Hassells' depictions of the local area, which reveal a picturesque view of Surrey before the age of the railway.

1-13 December, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-4.30pm Cards for Good Causes Buy Christmas cards, calendars and more - for charity.

Saturday 2 December, 10.30am-12pm Museum Explorers session for ages 5-11: Good Ol’ St Nicholas Learn about this saint who is often connected to Christmas, along with some of the associated traditions from different countries around the world. Adults do not need to stay. Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson Friday 15 December, 10.30-11.30am Early Years session for under 5s: Christmas Decorations Listen to a festive story and make a decoration to take home.

Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson Saturday 16 December, 11am Traditional family play: Haslemere Mummers A performance of this traditional play. Twenty minutes of family fun.

Entry by donation. No need to book.

Tuesday 19 December, 10.30am-12pm Museum Explorers session for ages 5-11: Christmas Crafts Enjoy a fun-filled morning making a variety of creative Christmas crafts to take home. Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson 49

16, 20, 21, 22 & 23 December, 10.30am-4.30pm

Santa’s Victorian Parlour Visit Santa as he takes time out before Christmas to relax in his charming Victorian parlour. Children receive a gift. Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson Friday 12 January, 10.30-11.30am Early Years session for under 5s: No Place Like Home Come and see our amazing dolls’ house, listen to a story and make your own collage of a house. Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson 13 Jan-2 March, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-4.30pm Exhibition: Museum Lego Model A Lego model of Haslemere Museum Friday 26 January, 1.30-2.30pm Early Years session for under 5s: Space Explorers Come to the museum to learn all about the wonders of space, listen to a story and even create your very own universe! Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson Saturday 27 January, 10.30am-12pm Museum Explorers session for ages 5-11: Big Garden Birdwatch Learn about some of the birds that frequent our gardens, make a lovely bird feeder to take home and do bird related arts and crafts. Book in advance at haslemeremuseum.co.uk/whatson Saturday 27 January, 12.15-3.15pm Family event: Big Garden Birdwatch A chance for children and adults to have fun together making simple bird cakes, doing art activities and discovering the birds in the Museum galleries. No need to book.

50

A FREE service for people with NHS hearing aids includes: Basic Maintenance, Battery Supply, Cleaning & Re-Tubing, Trouble-Shooting and Advice Sessions will be held at The Link (St Bartholomew’s Church) on: 10:00am – 11.30am, every 2nd and 4th Thursday Our NHS volunteers are trained by the audiology department of the Royal Surrey County Hospital. Visiting the Hear Here clinic may save travelling long distances or the difficulties of access to the hospital.

The Hear Here scheme was launched in March 2013 as a partnership between Guildford Diocese and the NHS. There are now over 200 people trained in hearing aid maintenance. Hear Here was successful in winning the Faith Action & Health Award in 2018 for continuing to provide support for those with hearing loss across Surrey and North-East Hampshire.

Enquiries to: Hearingchampion@halsemereparish.org

The guilty parties on page 25 are...

1. Justin Manley-Cooper, 2. Geoff Martin, 3. Victoria Martin,, 4. Clive Osgood, 5.

Clive Hawkins, 6. Andrew Culshaw, 7. Verity Sutherland, 8. Debbie Peet, 9. Rob Fox, 10. Richard Reincke, 11. Jane Slevin, 12. Hamish Donaldson.

51

52

Needs volunteers to staff the office or drive clients to medical and dental appointments.

Mileage allowance paid.

Please call 01428 652505 www.careinhaslemere.org.uk

53

54

55

Bluebells Cancer Support Centre at Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary Burrows Lea, Hook Lane, Shere, GU5 9AL Bluebells is a friendly, sharing group for anyone affected by cancer.

We laugh a lot, cry a little, share experiences and support each other.

Do come along one Thursday to see for yourself!

We meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 11am— 1pm ending with a relaxation session.

We like to keep in touch and know how you are at other times too, so please feel free to contact Carolyn Low on 01483 203540 or email Carolyn.graeme@hotmail.co.uk

ROBERT MOODIE Master upholsterer Since 1973

If you would like to advertise with us please contact

Is your sofa or perhaps your favourite chair In need of a little loving care?

Don’t push it aside or take to the ‘tip’ Just give us a ring and we’ll mend it.

Geoff Martin on

Loose covers or fitted, or down to the frame We will restore it, elaborate or plain Fabrics and braids for us to enhance Our craftsmanship’s shown if given the chance.

01429 641907 or email:

Specialists in re-upholstery & loose covers

martin_g6@sky.com

The Old Milking Parlour, Mellow Farm Dockenfield.

01428 712886 hello@arfordupholstery.co.uk

56

57

58

From the Registers Baptisms Konnie Jennifer Johnson, Khloe Bremner and Robert Johnson 19th November at St Christopher’s Louis Elwyn Bowman - 25th November at St Christopher’s Funerals Jamie Crick - 10th October at St Bartholomew’s

Max Zyta - 20th October at Guildford Crematorium Andrew Brownrigg - 6th November at St Bartholomew’s William Chevis - 20th November at St Bartholomew’s

Members of the church are reminded that online copies of approved PCC minutes are available on the parish website.

This magazine is also available online from the parish website, www.haslemereparish.org, Go to the Community tab

COPY DATE For the Feb/Mar 24 issue of the magazine

Is Friday January 12th 2024 We’d love to hear from you Responsibility for opinions and accuracy in statements expressed in articles and in advertisements in this magazine rests solely with the individual contributors 59

Sunday Services 3 Dec

First Sunday of Advent

7 Jan

Epiphany Sunday

8.00 Holy Communion | St Christopher’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Bartholomew’s Sunday Morning Families 6.00 Darkness to Light | St Bartholomew’s

8.00 Holy Communion | St Christopher’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Bartholomew’s Sunday Morning Families

10 Dec

14 Jan Second Sunday of Epiphany

Second Sunday of Advent

8.00 Holy Communion | St Bartholomew’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Christophers

17 Dec

Third Sunday of Advent

8.00 Holy Communion | St Christopher’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Bartholomew’s 16.00 Carol Service| St Christopher’s 18.00 Carol Service | St Bartholomew’s

24 Dec

Christmas Eve

8.00 Holy Communion | St Bartholomew’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Christopher’s 15.00 & 16.30 Nativity Christingle | St Bartholomew’s 23.30 Midnight Mass| St Bartholomew’s

25 Dec

Christmas Day

8.00 Holy Communion | St Bartholomew’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist |St Christopher’s 6.00 Evensong | St Bartholomew’s

21 Jan

Third Sunday of Epiphany

8.00 Holy Communion | St Christopher’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Bartholomew’s 11.30 Praying on Sunday | St Christopher’s 16:00 Families@4 | St Bartholomew’s

28 Jan

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

8.00 Holy Communion | St Bartholomew’s 10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Christopher’s 6.00 Evensong | St Bartholomew’s

9.30 Family Communion |St Bartholomew’s 11.00 Family Communion | St Christopher’s

31 Dec

First Sunday of Christmas

10.00 Parish Eucharist | St Bartholomew’s

10am services are livestreamed via the Parish YouTube channel. www.haslemereparish.org/stay-at-home/live-service-streaming/ Please check the website for latest service dates and times: www.haslemereparish.org 60