Haslemere Parish - Link Magazine, October - November 2020

Haslemere LINK THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW’S AND ST CHRISTOPHER’S

‘Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…, for God loves a cheerful giver.’

2 Corinthians, Ch 9, vs 6:7

October/November 2020 Suggested donation for a printed copy: £2 1

Parish Contacts Rector Rev Chris Bessant 658107 rector@haslemereparish.org Deacon Curate Rev Justin Manley-Cooper revjustin@haslemereparish.org

Assistant Youth Minister Vacancy Children & Families Worker Victoria Martin families@haslemereparish.org First Steps Mondays in St Christopher’s 0-5 Year Olds Sophie Bessant & Victoria Martin (email as above) LLM (Reader) Peter Sellars

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Church Warden Robert Fox 652055 Geoff Martin 641907 Deputy Wardens Howard Body 658762 Nick Beare 609630 PCC Secretary Cathy Moore 07593 814438 Treasurer Andrew Culshaw 658962 Stewardship Secretary Geoff Martin 641907 Outward Giving Dorothea Nattrass 653216 Director of Music & Organist Clive Osgood 07747 785 940 cliveosgood@hotmail.com

Parish Office The Link, Derby Road Haslemere GU27 1BS Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9am-3pm office@haslemereparish.org www.haslemereparish.org 01428 644578

Pastoral Visitors Dorothea Nattrass 653216 Peter Sellars 641032 Pastoral Assistant Ruth Pattenden 653033 Ros Webb 648916 Bereavement Visitors Linda Donaldson 644473 Frances Gaiter 648843

Parish Administrator Bryony Atkinson

Homegroups: Vacant

Verger St Bartholomew’s Carol Skeates 642662 Link Bookings Carol Skeates 642662 skeatMalco@aol.com

Safeguarding Officer Cathy Moore 07593 814438 Mothers' Union Treasurer Sue Davis 661115 BRF Representative Sarah Mulliner 643504

Magazine Secretary Ann Lear 651570 office@haslemereparish.org Advertisements Manager: Geoff Martin 641907 Electoral Roll Officer Lynn Lemar 651435 Bell-ringers Paul Bagshaw 656129 Friends of the Parish Bernard Coe 651146 Flowers St Bartholomew’s Sarah Mulliner 643504 St Christopher’s Liz Hawkins 642445 Church Care Group Roscelin Rees 651561 Churchyards Philip Hunt 644120 2

Facilities for the disabled 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.

Facilities for the hard of hearing Both churches and The Link have sound amplification and hearing loops.

Facilities for the visually impaired Both churches have good interior lighting and large print weekly notice sheets and service sheets.

Dear Friends Finally, Chris goes away on holiday and I get to say hello from the Link Magazine!

To say that the last few months have been a challenge for all of us would be a dreadful understatement. Some have had to isolate or shield and, even if not, we have all had to endure a lockdown without seeing family, friends and of course our Church family. No matter our individual circumstances, I’m sure we have all had cause to reflect, that the certainties we were all used to, have become uncertainties that we have to live with.

Lately of course, restrictions have been eased and we have been able to get out and about just a little bit more which is wonderful. The more I have reflected on this, the more I have thought how lucky we are to be able to appreciate freedom, a freedom that we will fully enjoy once again. There are some around the world who have never experienced the sort of freedom we once used to take for granted.

Whilst we have all had to endure, to lesser or greater extents, there has been for me a particular highlight. I never doubted for one second that in times of strife the parish would pull together and support each other. However, the extent and fervour that the pastoral care team has brought to the endeavour of making sure that all in the parish were cared for and looked after physically, mentally and spiritually, has been an inspiration to us all. Ros, Ruth and the team, we will never be able to thank enough.

This bonding has created deeper relationships and understanding that have enhanced all our lives. Somehow we all seem to know much more about each other and it has led to a better understanding of each other. This really has been a community that has pulled together, the benefits of which are still unfolding and I don’t think will be fully realised until we are fully free from this pandemic.

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This community bonding and pulling together led me to thinking, if we can do this as a church, how can we help the broader community to do the same? As most of you know I have never had an original idea of my own, so I stole one from my sister-in-law!

Angela has for many years run a Christmas windows competition amongst the retailers of Belgravia. So I thought ‘if it is good enough for Belgravia it is good enough for Haslemere’. At the time of writing the idea is just taking shape and those with organisational skills well beyond mine are putting their experience and intellect behind it, so for now it is a question of watch this space. It will be quite an endeavour to bring the Church into the heart our retail community, so I would be very grateful for your prayers, not just for the team, but also for all our retailers who have without doubt found life exceedingly challenging over recent months.

Finally, on the 10th of October, my deacon ‘L’ plates will be shed and I will be priested. Bishop Jo has assured me that it will happen, even if it has to be behind closed doors! This should have taken place on July 4th at the Cathedral.

Once again, due to circumstances, everything has changed, but the silver lining on this occasion is absolutely wonderful as both Sandy and I will be priested together at St.Barts, with Chris preaching, which I think will be very special. Of course numbers will be limited, but it will be live streamed at 9.00am, so no lying around in bed!!!

Chris has very kindly asked me to preside over my first Eucharist service on Sunday, 11th October, which I am very excited about. Whilst current restrictions will limit numbers, I know we will all be together in spirit.

Very best wishes

Justin Rev Justin Manley-Cooper

From the Registers Funeral (at Crematorium): Jane MacGregor-White – 12th August 4

The Building of St. Christopher’s Church Why does our parish have two churches? It is most unusual for an established parish and the reason is almost entirely due to the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century and the subsequent expansion of the town together with its growing population.

The old Chapel of Ease (then in the Parish of Chiddingfold), had been almost entirely demolished and rebuilt to become the parish church of St. Bartholomew’s. Her first rector was the Revd. Sanders Etheridge. As more and more of the town was built up the church was extended with the addition of a second vestry and a south aisle, giving about 120 more sittings. But by the end of the century, the parish boundaries were extended and the parish church was again too small to accommodate the town’s population. Small shops and businesses were springing up along Wey Hill (then called Clay Hill) and large houses, complete with servants, were being built along Bunch and Farnham Lanes. St. Bartholomew’s architect thought that no further extension of the church was possible. Furthermore it was a long walk in the winter months along unmade roads for people without means of transport, living in the growing west end of town.

Some thought that a District Church or Chapel of Ease should be built (the Rector also came to this conclusion), but that ‘This church may be safely left until Haslemere has become a much larger place than it is at present likely to be’. This proposed new church would serve the Clay Hill end of town, the Camel’s Dale area and part of Shottermill.

In October 1898, the second rector Revd. G. H. Aitken reported: ‘One development suggested to me by Mr. Etheridge which we have made has been, as yet, something of an experiment. I refer to the Mission Services in Foundry Road’ (now called Kings Road). Services had been held at a hall there during the winter months. An altar and harmonium were set up, a choir and small orchestra formed. It was immensely popular and the congregation quickly grew - it had a reputation for warmth and sociability.

The first Annual Social Gathering of the Foundry Road Mission was held in March 1899. ‘Tea had been provided for 80 and there did not seem to be any vacant places at the tables. After tea came a short programme of music. The Rector, in an interval in the programme, gave the hearty wishes of all who 5

were present to Miss Whiteway and Mr. Leake. It was a good day for the Mission when Mr. Leake came to take charge of it and it was still a better day for Mr. Leake. They found a Missioner - he found a wife’. Grayswood Church was built in 1902 and, after marrying Miss Whiteway, Mr. Leake became its first Vicar.

In November 1900 the Rector, in his ‘My Dear Friends’ letter in the Parish Magazine, says that ‘there is a real need that one should get up in a sort of moral balloon, rise higher in the air and take a more distant view of what is going on around us as a whole, so as to really be able to judge where are our chief defects. But the chief point to notice (as we look down from our moral balloon) is the reopening of our Mission Services in Foundry Road which does not seem to diminish the number who come to worship at the Parish Church.

Personally, I should like to enlarge the church as it was enlarged when a somewhat similar state of affairs arose 14 or 15 years ago. But that Mr. Penfold (architect) this is, from an architect’s point of view, an impossible solution or at least an undesirable one. The question arises, what other way can be found out of this difficulty? We shall none of us be willing, while we are putting out so many efforts and sending much money to help the Church’s Mission work both at home and abroad, to acquiesce in the dropping away of some amongst our own people just for the want of bricks and mortar.’

At the Annual Business Meeting of the congregation in January 1901 it was recorded that the new Church Council should ‘forthwith take into consideration a question of building a church for the Foundry Road district of the parish. This motion was accepted with some enthusiasm, exactly 50 voting ‘aye’, and no hand being raised in the contrary sense.’ The Parish Magazine of March 1901 announced promises of £500, and a building committee was formed. The Rector is quoted as saying that ‘The Mission Church idea has thus been successfully launched with a favouring breeze behind it. We wish it a prosperous voyage . Should it indeed come to port in 1902 , it will be a proud day for Haslemere’.

Frances Gaiter (to be continued) 6

Autumn Course 2020: Samuel Wells –

The Heart of it All This autumn we are delighted to announce a sixweek course to run from mid-October to the end of November. Based upon the book ‘The Heart of it All’, by Revd Sam Wells, this is a good look at the whole story of the mission of God, as set out in that other bestseller - The Bible.

But how do we read and understand the 66 books that make up the Bible? At its heart is a single story - a love story between God, creation and humanity. This book sets out the central themes, revealing how and why the scriptures came to be written, and how they answer humanity’s deepest questions today.

‘The Heart of it All’ is an ideal introduction for those new to the Bible, an informed companion for those trying to gain a greater understanding of its breadth and depth, and a wise guide for those who wish to reflect on the significance of how its story unfolds.

Sam Wells (Vicar of St Martin in the Fields, London) simplifies the Bible's complexity and presents the entire sweep of its narrative over six study sessions. Although its contents range from history to poetry, law, narrative, letters and even apocalyptic literature, at the Bible's heart are relationships between God, creation, Jesus, the Church, the Spirit and the Kingdom.

If you have access to the internet, we hope to set up a discussion group on Zoom to run on six Wednesday evenings from 14st October at 19:00 hours.

Please either sign up on the parish website, or via the Parish Office. Due to the pandemic, we will not be able to meet ‘face to face’, but feel free to use the book for self-study as your preparation for Advent if preferred.

Peter Sellars (who can provide further details : midsummer4peter@gmail.com).

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World’s biggest coffee morning comes to St Christopher’s

In the middle of August, Macmillan sent out their message ‘Nothing stops a Macmillan coffee morning’. Frances Reincke immediately responded to the challenge. ‘Do you think this would be a good thing to do at St C’s?’ Within hours of her raising the question, there was an overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive response.

It wasn’t plain sailing. Government restrictions were under review. The threat of a second Coronavirus wave was ever present. Could we use the church if wet? How were we to make the event Covid secure? We needed a detailed risk assessment and then an operational approach which minimised the risks.

Contingency plans were needed to cover various ‘what ifs’. And then, despite September’s weather being generally glorious, the forecasters were predicting rain for the day we had chosen for the event.

So not only was there an appeal for donations, cakes to sell and prizes for the raffle, there was an urgent call for gazebos.

So before dawn on 23rd September a gallant team of volunteers was busy putting up six gazebos in the garden at St Christopher’s, assembling socially distanced tables and chairs and getting Macmillan themed balloons and bunting strategically placed.

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By 9.45 the 15 volunteers were ready.

The Rector said a prayer for the occasion and Richard Reincke took the team photograph.

At 10am the gates were opened and a steady stream of Macmillan coffee morning supporters were quickly snapping up the cakes off the heaving stall and buying coffee, raffle tickets and Bric a brac. Despite some threatening clouds, the rain held off until almost noon, and then it was just a sharp shower.

All the while our Covid marshals were busy sanitising chairs and tables and monitoring social distancing.

Liberal doses of hand gel were being applied. Of course, we were all masked too.

We welcomed 101 visitors to St Christopher’s that day, including contractors from the building site by Majestic. There was a real buzz in the air.

One person asked if we could do this every month as she so enjoyed seeing friends again.

In total we raised ÂŁ1,483 for Macmillan who are really desperate for donations in the current climate. The photos say it all!

A huge thank you to all who contributed cakes, donated prizes, set up tents, made and distributed the coffee and kept us safe, and especially to those who came along to support the event so generously and its very worthy cause.

Chris Lemar Photographs: Frances Reincke 9

Just a Thought… from Evelyn Hughes In my study I have a copy of Dürer’s painting known as ‘The Praying Hands’. The hands are drawn in profile, palm to palm, and are raised upward. The picture always ‘speaks’ to me, but more so since Corona has brought hands into focus.

The word ‘hand’ occurs with great frequency in the Bible. Fifteen columns are devoted to it in my concordance. It would be rewarding to follow through the various uses of the word. The Psalmist used his hands in prayer. He ‘lifted up his hands’ as he cried to God for help; he praised God ‘with uplifted hands’; he ‘spread out his hands’ to express his longing for God. The Psalmist used his hands to emphasise his words. Words are a stumbling block to some people. Frances, a church member elsewhere, would go into the empty church and play hymns on the organ. ‘It’s my way of praying’, she said.

Doing things with our hands can sometimes lead us into prayer unawares. We may commune with God subconsciously as we tidy the garden, paint a picture or bake a cake.

There’s no sense of agitation or intensity in Dürer’s painting.

Rather, the hands give an impression of resting in God. ‘There is no need to speak much in prayer’, said a Desert Father.

Sometimes a gesture says it all. Near my picture of the hands hangs a replica of the beautiful San Damiano crucifix. At night, when I’m too tired to pray, I simply raise my hands towards it and say, ‘Thank you, Lord’.

What of God’s hands? I was once secretary to a builder. He never carried a notebook Any name or number he needed to remember he wrote in biro on the palm of his hand. Little did he know that he was illustrating the words of the Lord to the people of Jerusalem - and, I think, to us: ‘I will never forget you.

I have written your name on the palms of my hands’.

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My Name is Gracie Hello, my name is Gracie I am a 22-month-old Boston Terrier and I live with Mummy and Daddy here in Haslemere. I was born in a town called Kidderminster. I am a ‘Recovery Assistant Dog for Wellbeing’ and am sponsored by a charity in Leicestershire. My training is ongoing and is particularly important. This is my story.

Mummy and Daddy collected me when I was just eight weeks old; I weighed less than a kilogram and I was one of four Boston puppies.

My breeder was told when I was born that I was going to be a special dog and started my training when I was only four weeks old - doing quite simple things like getting used to my name. I was the smallest pup, but my nickname was ‘Small but Mighty’. Apparently, I just learnt things very quickly.

I knew in my heart from the very beginning that my mummy was a special person and that our relationship was going to be a close one. I just love to please her with lots of love too. From just eight weeks old she started to take me to church, hairdressers, experiencing different noises, smells, children, and many other things to help me to learn that these things are safe to be around.

I started more formal training around 16 weeks old, doing the puppy foundation training with the Kennel Club (10-week course, attending once a week). I really did well. This is when I learnt to walk more confidently on a lead, improve my recall, learn how to behave with other dogs, and to build up a loving relationship with my mummy and my family. I passed with flying colours and my trainer told me I am a bright little dog and a quick learner.

When I was about 20 weeks old I went on a residential training course where we had three days of one to one in basic/intermediate training. The training ethos was to reward for good and ignore the bad bits to build my confidence with lots of encouragement.

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By this time, I had some good strong base training behind me. I just love to learn new things so I found it very exciting. Wearing a training jacket, I started to go into more public places with my mummy, attending her GP appointments and being in more unpredictable, challenging environments. When I am by her side, she can feel my love for her, which gives her more confidence in herself.

People comment that wherever my mummy goes, along comes little Gracie (now weighing only 5.5 kgs) - we go everywhere together. I have continued to go to church every Sunday, where sometimes we get asked if I could have a cuddle with other people who are struggling with life issues. I can feel their sadness or their pain. I just lie in their arms, giving them some reassurance.

I have even been on a train to London to attend a medical appointment with my mummy and everyone comments on how sweet and good I am! I love riding in the black taxis watching all the happenings out of the window.

When Mummy has a bad day and she must have a bed day, I lie next to her just to give her my company.

Each day we do my mental training and I am always keen to learn new skills and improve my basic skills. We have lots of fun - one of my favourite games is called ‘Find it!’ Mummy hides some food biscuits in different places and I must find them - which I do. I am also exceptionally good at bringing back objects that have been thrown for me. Sometimes she does these puzzle games too. I have even attended a quiz evening. I didn’t know many of the answers but enjoyed being around all the people, giving them lots of cuddles. Best of all, like Mummy, I love the beach. I love running free and making new friends with other dogs.

Being in lockdown was fantastic for me, as it gave me more time with my mummy, having our special time. Do not tell anyone but, you see, I pretend to not understand what she wants me to do when we play our special games. This means I get more treats. For example, I have this very colourful mat with different types of material. She hides the treats in all the different pockets and I 12

know where she hides them! I love playing the cone game. As you can see in the photo, I must find the treat hiding under the cone. Mummy says I am too quick at it!

I am kept on my paws every day by playing games which help me to improve my focus and obedience. I know when I have got it right first time as I hear a clicker telling me an extra ‘yes well-done Gracie’ which I do love to hear.

For a special treat, we went to my favourite place: THE BEACH !!!! Hooray, I could not contain myself, it’s been so long, so as soon as my paws hit the sand I went bonkers zooming here, zooming there. I was so fast I did a head roll - yuck the sand didn’t taste good.

I have also had a new experience to share - I went for a ride on a funny boat called a hovercraft. What a lot of noise it made, I cannot understand how we could hover on top of the sea, this just blew my mind. I was very brave, and the best part was, yes you guessed it beach time.

I am an incredibly lucky dog as I always get taken to fun places and have new experiences to explore.

Well you can see, I just love to make people and children happy, I might be small, but I have a big heart and love to give.

Much love & licks to you all.

Gracie

(and ‘Mummy’ Sophie Bessant)

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Rev Graham Hawkett’s 100th birthday Sunday September 6th Saturday:

brought the very special birthday card from The Queen (left)

Sunday: 11.15am: A group of friends from St Bartholomew’s and St Christopher’s line up to sing ‘happy birthday’ outside Graham’s house. (below and right) (Photo by Liz Cook)

12 o’clock: A delegation of neighbours from Beech Road then come to the door to greet Graham and present him with a lovely hamper of goodies 14

1.00pm: George and Catriona Tremlett host a small lunch party for Graham in their garden. They provided a hot meal and saw to every conceivable detail – including the ’100year’ balloon, napkins and a buttonhole for Graham.

The top table with son, David, and daughter, Helen Graham.

Catriona presents Graham with the cake and ‘Happy Birthday’ is sung

Graham deals with the candles 15

Graham studies the collection of cards sent by church members, placed in an album by Catriona. (She is in the process of putting together a second album with the many other cards he received). Donations were also made by parishioners to Graham’s chosen charity, MÊdecins Sans Frontières, which have been acknowledged by the charity.

Son, David, makes a speech 16

And we couldn’t leave out this happy photo of the birthday boy relaxing at home after the big day!

(All other photos by son in law, John Graham) AL

First Steps Adapts to the Times As you may realise, we haven’t been able to meet during the lock-down and we were hopeful of returning to St. Christopher’s in September, when the schools reopened. Unfortunately it is still impossible due to the regulations regarding meetings of most kinds. So now seems to be the natural time to change how we work - and this is what we plan to do.

Victoria Martin has been appointed to be in charge of children and families and, with Sophie Bessant, will run the group in future, assisted by most of us ‘old hands’.

Initially, starting at the end of September, they plan to run a 15 minute live YouTube broadcast every Monday morning at 10am, around the time First Steps normally starts. This will consist of a short story, action songs, a simple handicraft session and prayers, including a prayer carers can share with their children at bed-time. It will take place at St. Bartholomew’s Church, since as yet there’s no Wi-Fi connection at St. Christopher’s. Hopefully this will change sometime soon.

Next year, God willing, we hope to resume ‘normal’ sessions at St. Christopher’s but, yet again, even if this is possible, numbers may have to be limited.

Frances Gaiter (for Victoria, Sophie and the rest of the First Steps Team).

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Editor’s note: Having heard mention that this year is the 25th anniversary of the massacre at Srebreniza, I remembered an event which took place from Busbridge, involving our good friend, Jill Mace, and a Bosnian refugee. I’ll let her tell the story…

The Church in Action (or ‘A Family Reunited’) The Yugoslav wars began in 1991 and, with them, the uprooting of a country’s worth of lives. The conflict gave rise to around 2.4 million refugees and, while most remain living in the former territories under dispute, around a quarter of that 2.4 million found a new start in nations far from their original homes.

It was during 1992 that the Rector of Busbridge church, accompanied by a medical team, set off by coach for a refugee camp in Montenegro - initially to provide aid and treatment. While there he asked if any of those staying in the camp wanted to return with him to England. He eventually left with 23 individuals in tow. They were mostly families and, on their return to England, the work began to house them and gradually introduce them into the communities in Surrey which were prepared to take them in.

It was around this time that I returned from a holiday in Italy, to find the refugees temporarily housed in a school building that belonged to the Diocese.

I was given the job of finding permanent housing for them and, while the undertaking was difficult, it worked out in the end with the support of the community.

While I was in the process of housing one particular family I noticed that, as was the case with most of the other refugee families, the father was not with them. It turned out that he had been taking part in the War but had grown tired of the fighting and wanted to join his family. I was given this information by his wife, who also told me that he had managed to escape the conflict zone by getting rides on trucks and had finally reached Germany, where he was 18

staying with an acquaintance. Ideas were exchanged as to how to bring him into the country, one being that he could be smuggled through customs undetected - but I was adamant that if we were going to go through with his rescue, we would do it honestly or not at all.

As the conflict continued into 1995, I and others at the church began working to secure the father’s passage back to England. It became clear that the only way to move him out of his place in Germany was to pick him up personally.

In preparation for this, a lay reader at Busbridge booked rooms at a Holiday Inn in Aachen, where I and the father, Fahrudin, would meet up, to then begin the journey back to England.

I set off for Aachen with my friend, Rae. It was August and the car had no air-conditioning which made the journey particularly gruelling.

However, we finally made it to the Holiday Inn and met Fahrudin.

He possessed no visas or immigration papers and only a passport to identify him by, which would later provide him with documentation that could be used by the Home Office to process his identity and reunite him with his family. That night Rae and I spent time in prayer for the next day’s journey. As morning came and with our new passenger in the back of the Renault 19, we started to make our way back to Zeebrugge, where we were to catch the ferry back to mainland UK.

Fahrudin and Jill

As we pulled up to immigration on the Belgian side, I resolved to ask the officials at the border where to go to process our passenger’s travel permit as we were quite prepared to be questioned about his identity and lack of papers. However, out of the blue, just as Rae and I and were about to be processed by the customs authorities, there came the rumble of cruiser bikes behind us. 40 German bikers in full leather had turned up to make the same 19

crossing. Envisaging what was sure to be a gruelling next hour processing this swarm of bikers, the customs official decided to just wave the Renault through.

After our crossing, we encountered the same situation at the English border, which was resolved in exactly the same way: the combination of weary border officials and leather-clad bikers resulted in our being swept on through the checks without so much as a question about our passenger. We were sure that if we saw those bikers again, a round of beers would be in order!

Thanks to answered prayer and a guardian angel, Rae and I had managed to cross two countries and a sea twice in order to rescue one man. The family was reunited in Busbridge, and a house was bought for them. A journey to find peace for those touched by war had successfully concluded.

Jill Mace Note: The grateful family have kept in touch with Jill. Fahrudin has done extremely well, holding down a good job to this day and his two children have attended university and also have successful jobs.

Easter 2020 A Poem by Malcolm Guite And where is Jesus, this strange Easter day?

Not lost in our locked churches any more than he was sealed in that dark sepulchre.

The locks are loosed; the stone is rolled away and he is up and risen long before, Alive, at large, and making his strong way into the world he gave his life to save, No need to seek him in his empty grave.

He might have been a wafer in the hands of priests this day, Or music from the lips of red-robed choristers, instead he slips away from Church, Shakes off our linen bands to don an apron with a nurse: He grips and lifts a stretcher, soothes with gentle hands the frail flesh of the dying, Gives them hope, breathes with the breathless, lends them strength to cope.

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On Thursday we applauded, for he came and served us in a thousand names and faces, Mopping our sickroom floors and catching traces of that corona which was death to him: Good Friday happened in a thousand places where Jesus helped the helpless, died with them That they might share his Easter in their need, Now they are risen with him, risen indeed.

This poem was published in Tom Wright’s book ‘God and the Pandemic’ (reviewed last month). I have suggested it now since it relates to current controversies about locking churches and how we see the role of church and worship in general during the pandemic.

In his poem, Malcolm suggests that Jesus does not need church buildings for his work to go forward. During Covid-19, God is out there on the front line, suffering and dying to bring healing and hope. We are reminded of the British custom on Thursday evenings at one time for people to emerge from their homes and applaud all NHS workers.

Tom Wright adds that where churches have been shut (albeit for comprehensible reasons), there is a danger of sending the wrong message to the wider world. If we regard ‘religion’ as a private matter, our faith may be reduced, in the public mind, to be a private matter of no relevance to public life.

‘By saying that we will temporarily abolish corporate worship and join with others only on live-streamed services, we may seem to be agreeing that really we are just like a group of like-minded individuals pursuing our rather arcane private hobby’.

My understanding is that many newcomers have recently been newly drawn to church in the current ‘virtual-reality’ regime thanks to YouTube, and that an unexpected boost to outreach has resulted. However, the latest insistence of all in church wearing facemasks (while logical from a public health point of view) can only re-inforce the hiding of facial expression and emotion, steering us back to a private and introvert understanding of faith.

What do you think?

Peter Sellars 21

Halloween Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots with the Celtic peoples of pre-Christian times.

In those long-ago days, on the last night of October, the Celts celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or ‘Summer’s End’. The priests, or Druids, performed ceremonies to thank and honour the sun. For there was a very dark side to all this: Samhain also signalled the onset of winter, a time when it was feared that unfriendly ghosts, nature-spirits, and witches roamed the earth, creating mischief. So the Druid priests lit great bonfires and performed magic rites to ward off or appease these dark supernatural powers.

Then the Romans arrived, and brought their Harvest Festival which honoured the Goddess Pomona with gifts of apples and nuts. The two festivals slowly merged.

When Christianity arrived still later, it began to replace the Roman and Druid religions. 1st November – All Saints’ Day – was dedicated to all Christian Martyrs and Saints who had died. It was called ‘All Hallows’ Day’. The evening before became an evening of prayer and preparation and was called ‘All Hallows’ Eve’, The Holy Evening, later shortened to ‘Halloween’.

For many centuries, however, fear of the supernatural remained strong. During the Middle Ages, animal costumes and frightening masks were worn to ward off the evil spirits of darkness on Halloween. Magic words and charms were used to keep away bad luck, and everybody believed that witches ride about on broomsticks. Fortune telling was popular, and predicting the future by the use of nuts and apples was so popular that Halloween is still sometimes known as Nutcrack Night or Snap-Apple Night.

Today, Christians have learned to turn to prayer instead of charms to overcome the powers of darkness. And the deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, should not be forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to Christ when we remember and give thanks for our loved ones and for others who have gone before us through the gates of death.

(From The Parish Pump) 22

It’s a Small World…!

It's amazing what this lock down has revealed. I play bridge online and one of my partners from Fernhurst helped me to get into BCL (Bridge Club Live) on my iPad - he was in IT and I am really pretty clueless! In order to play one has to have an alias, his was JohnDS so that was easy - ElizabethTC - and, after a bit and lots of patience from John, I managed to play ok.

I then decided I would like to join another club online - BBO (Bridge Base Online) and thought I would have the same alias, but masses more people were playing online by then and it simply wouldn’t accept Elizabeth at all, so I decided to use my second name, TidburyC. One of the local bridge clubs I belong to is Godalming Bridge Club, which actually plays at Milford and has been in existence over 85 years. (My mother was a member but, luckily, before me, as we would not have seen eye to eye!)

One of the members whom I frequently play against and has a good sense of humour - a really nice chap called David - saw my alias and the word Tidbury and he thought he knew the name. His wife, Kate, had made a family tree and the name was on that, so he emailed me one Sunday and asked if I was born Elizabeth Tidbury Beer and he knew the date, but was unsure if that was me - he didn’t realise how old I was! However, I emailed back that I was, so he then told me that Kate's grandfather's name was John Tidbury Beer, who was one of my father's older brothers (he had two and they were all given the name of Tidbury, it was their mother's maiden name).

So Kate was my first cousin once removed!

Kate and David came over to coffee with me which was lovely and I learned a lot from her about the Beer family and I knew and shared quite a bit too.

Kate showed me a picture of my grandmother, Elizabeth nee Tidbury Beer. I had never seen one before. Neither my mother nor I ever met her and my father fell 23

out with her in the 1920s because she wouldn’t admit she had ever had any daughters. She died in 1950 and my grandfather in 1915 when my father was in the French army Red Cross and didn’t know of his father’s death for over a year, when he saw the announcement in an old paper In France.

Some of this would certainly be a tale in itself - my grandson said it would make a film!! I have started to write my memoirs, living with corona virus is strange, but so was my father's family!

Elizabeth (Tidbury) Copeman

(Editor’s note: Elizabeth shared some other fascinating and very extraordinary details about her father’s family, but, as she says in her last paragraph, ‘this would be a tale in itself’ so we’ll leave that for another time. Or ask her about it if you’re curious!)

Mackerel Pate Contributed by Linda Donaldson Serves 4

Ingredients: 4 to 5 smoked mackerel fillets 300g. Philadelphia cheese Juice of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon horseradish sauce

Method: Skin the mackerel and place in a blender with the other ingredients and blitz for 1 minute.

It’s as easy as that! If you like it more spicy, add more horseradish and if you like it softer, add more cream cheese If you are calorie counting, then try the lower fat cream cheese 24

In My Garden Philip Duly Many gardeners, in my experience, seem frightened of the colour yellow, especially in summer. Whether this is due to the association of this muchmaligned colour with springtime daffodils, or whether, as I suspect, some consider yellow to be garish and tasteless, I know of at least two keen gardener friends who refuse to have any yellow flowering plants or shrubs in their gardens.

What a pity as this leaves their gardens bereft of rudbeckias, this month's ‘star plant’, commonly known as ‘Black-eyed Susan’. These sturdy, longflowering and bushy plants produce masses of stunning flowers from early July to late October.

Indeed, during a mild autumn, I have known my final rudbeckia fade away as late as midNovember.

Planted effectively in clumps, rudbeckias will contrast perfectly with the gentle lilac and purple shades of asters or the most vibrant of dahlias, not to mention the autumnal rosy foliage of peonies and deciduous azaleas.

Rudbeckias are characterised by their colourful daisy-like flowers surrounding a prominent conical disk. They can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials, yet the annual varieties may still survive from year to year if left in the garden, although flowering may be reduced in subsequent years, whereas the perennial varieties will invariably produce more and better blooms each year. Although yellow is their prominent colour, in recent years numerous red and orange-flowered varieties have been cultivated which add a further string to the bow of these reliable, easy-to-grow, stunning members of the much derided aster or daisy family.

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We are an international Christian membership movement supporting families and communities in the UK and worldwide since 1876. Our members are active in 84 countries and work tirelessly to serve their communities whilst offering Christian care for families, regardless of faith or background.

Examples of area of interest: parenting programmes, prison work, resilience training in cyclone hit Madagascar, literacy and financial education in African countries and much more.

So when the financial problems affecting all charities during the Pandemic hit MU, an urgent appeal was raised so that projects in progress would not have to be abandoned.

There has been a wonderful response, so urgent needs will be met. Sadly, however, a third of the central staff now face redundancy.

Nevertheless there is a new project, growing out of the MU ‘Away from it All Holidays’ scheme - ‘Thank you Keyworkers’ appeal: Help us say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to families of key workers who have continued to go above and beyond to help others during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are gifting activity hampers, experience days or short breaks (taking place in 2021) for families of key workers to help rebuild connections and togetherness.

You can find out more at www.mothersunion.org/thank-you-keyworker-appeal This is an extension to the Mothers' Union long standing scheme Away from it all holidays (AFIA).

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AFIA is one of many projects at home and abroad, which will survive this year thanks to a good response to an urgent appeal to keep Mothers’ Union afloat during the present crisis, which has hit all charities. However we need prayers for the future of MU, which has been at the heart of the Anglican church for 144 years.

Speak to me, or check out the website membership.

for more information about

Dorothea Nattrass

The ‘Rambling Rector’ Rose

John Worlidge sent us these photographs of two wonderful examples of ‘Rambling Rector’ rose bushes which lit up his garden this summer. With such a name we felt we must find out the reason it was called this and, of course, turned to Google for help. We unearthed a wealth of information about them, but not the origin of its name.

So we consulted Philip Duly, our contributor on things horticultural, who came up with the following: 27

The parentage of the rose is from Rosa multiflora or Rosa setigera.

It was first catalogued in 1912 by Daisy Hill Nurseries, based in Newry, Northern Ireland.

Its name ‘Rector’ derives from being originally established in the garden of a vicarage. The ‘Rambling’ description is related to the rose type, i.e. a rambler.

In 1993 it received the honour of being granted the RHS Garden Merit Award.

In my ‘Googling’ I did, however, come across the following ‘Readers’ Comments’, which I thought were worthy to relate: They were talking about the Rambling Rector on last week’s Gardeners’ Question Time. A lady was having trouble controlling her Rector and ‘he’ was overpowering her other, more ladylike roses.

I enjoy Gardener’s Question Time but must have missed that one. It is easily tamed if it is pruned just after flowering. We forgot to do this last year but it will be given a good shave and a haircut in July this year.

Having heard that there is a ‘Rambling Rector’ rose in the Rectory garden, we decided that we would invite the Rev Chris Bessant to have his say on the matter before he rambled off on holiday at the end of the week. Here is his reply: What fun! Yes, indeed, the Rambling Rector Rose in the Rectory Garden is a beast to behold when in full flower. I only wish now I had taken a picture of it because it might just be the most impressive one in existence. (There’s a challenge for you, John W.!) Down the far end of the garden is a big apple tree which acts as a giant trellis for the rose. For about a month it was like a snowball. I was amazed it went on so long. It needs a lot of pruning, which I must set about soon!

Happy gardening, John and Chris - and send us a photo of that ‘most impressive one in existence’ next year!

AL 28

Link Magazine Circulation We started publishing online two years ago, but up until this year we continued to print hard copies for those who depend on them and have always suggested a donation of ÂŁ2 for a hard copy or ÂŁ10 for an annual subscription for all six magazines. The income assists with printing and publication costs.

One of the benefits of online publishing is the additional tools that allow some statistical analysis of our readership. This has enabled us to find out that we have reached a global circulation. Although this sounds impressive, we suspect that this is likely to be part of our local readership, having accessed the magazine whilst on holiday or other international travel.

Globally we have now reached Finland, Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Sweden, U.S.A., South Africa, France, Hong Kong, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Chile, India, Italy and South Korea.

We would love to hear from any of our readers who may have moved away, but still keep in touch by reading our online magazine.

For the benefit of our advertisers and those others who find statistics interesting, the information below shows our circulation for the last five magazines. (August-September final count not in at time of going to print).

Total Circulation

Dec 19 - Jan 20

Feb - Mar 20

Apr - May 20

Jun - Jul 20

Aug - Sep 20

259

292

244

305

206

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A Victorian Lady’s Album For this edition I have included two harvest-themed entries, a short joke and an unsigned, thought-provoking poem. The mixture of poetry, thoughts, jokes and pictures in the album demonstrates a wide range of friends, most showing great respect to the Church and personal duty. All with loving wishes. The biggest challenge is reading the handwriting and understanding the flowery language. Finally I include a drawing, which looks as if a pencil was used, 2B or above.

Contributed by Jane Slevin One by one thy duties wait thee, Let thy whole strength go to each, Let no future dreams elate thee, Learn thou first what these can teach.

Ours is the seed time; God above Beholds the end of what is sown.

Beyond our vision weak and dim The harvest-time is hid with Him. Oct 22/1891 P.W.I.

Go forth! Work zealously; soon the hour will come To store the many sheaves that gathered are; Then go! In other fields, or near, or far, And share the pleasures of thy work well done!

With best wishes J. A. Ritchie Oct 15th /1891 Whitby

You want me to write in your album, I scarce know how to begin For I’ve nothing original in me Except original sin Aug 13th / 1896 Rosie Busbridge

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The Inquiry Tell me ye winged winds, that round my pathway roar, Do ye not know some spot, where mortals weep no more.

Some lone and pleasant dell, some valley in the west, Where free from toil and pain the weary soul may rest!

The loud wind dwindled to a whisper low And sighed for pity, as it answered “no”.

Tell me thou mighty deep, whose billows round me play, Know’st thou some favour’d spot, some island far away Where weary man may find the bliss for which he sighs, Where sorrow never lives and friendship never dies!

The loud waves rolling in perpetual flow Stopp’d for a while, and sighed to answer “no”.

And thou serenest moon, that with such holy face, Dost look upon the earth, asleep in nights embrace, Tell me in all thy round, hast thou not seen some spot Where miserable man might find a happier lot!

Behind a cloud the moon withdrew in woe And a voice sweet but sad responded ”no”.

Tell me my silent soul, Oh tell me, “Hope” and “Faith” Is there no resting place from sorrow, sin and death: Is there no happy spot where mortals may be blessed, Where grief may find a balm and weariness a rest!

“Faith”, “Hope” and “Love” best boons to mortals given Waved their bright wings and whispered “Yes, in Heaven”

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Surrey Churches Ride and Stride Congratulations to Robert Fox who cycled 70Km and visited 17 churches for Ride and Stride on September 12.

The churches he visited: St Stephen’s St Alban’s All Saints, Tilford St James, Elstead St Nicholas, Peper Harrow St Mary’s, Shackelford St John the Baptist, Puttenham St Mark’s, Wyke Guildford Cathedral St Nicholas, Guildford St Peter and St Paul, Godalming

St John’s, Milford All Saints, Witley St Mary’s, Chiddingfold All Saints, Grayswood St Bartholomew’s St Christopher’s One week on Robert had raised £350 - but more is coming in and there is still time to support his efforts. You can donate via cash or cheque to the Parish Office (cheques payable to ‘Surrey Churches Preservation Trust’), the Just Giving web site, https://www.justgiving.com/scpt (please put Haslemere Parish in your comment), BACS transfer (Haslemere PCC, 30-93-94, 00070529 ref SCPT or the Donate button on the website.

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As written by kids •

The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up to mount cyanide to get the ten commandments.

•

The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

•

The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.

•

Moses died before he ever reached canada then Joshua led the hebrews in the battle of geritol.

•

The greatest miracle in the bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

•

David was a Hebrew king who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times.

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Seenagers I just discovered my age group - I am a ‘Seenager’ (senior teenager).

I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 55 - 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car.

I have ID that gets me into bars and the wine store. I like the wine store best.

The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant they aren’t scared of anything, they have been blessed to live this long, why be scared?

And I don’t have acne. Life is Good!

Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager. Brains of older people are slow because they know so much.

People do not decline mentally with age; it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains. Scientists believe this also makes you hard of hearing as it puts pressure on your inner ear.

Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there, wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory problem; it is nature’s way of making older people do more exercise.

SO THERE! I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names. So please forward this to your friends; they may be my friends too. (found on Facebook)

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Choir Practice

Up to the end of August the choir has been meeting by Zoom on Thursday and Sunday evenings. They have sung their way through 46 (different) hymns over the 23 weeks. As restrictions have eased, they were able to have a (socially distanced) outdoor meeting at the end of August, complete with Pimm’s. But Rev. Chris was anxious to get the choir back in church as soon as possible so, in September, the Thursday practice has been held in the chancel at St Bartholomew’s. All being well, a small choir will now be singing at the morning 10 am services and the full choir at Evensong on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

Hamish Donaldson

We would recommend that due to the coronavirus outbreak it would be wise to check directly with organisers before attending any events mentioned in this issue..

Responsibility for opinions and accuracy in statements expressed in articles and in advertisements in this magazine rests solely with the individual contributors 35

What’s on at Haslemere Museum

Early Years Friday 25 September 10.30 am - 11.30 am

Early Years Friday 9 October 10.30 am - 11.30 am Museum Explorers Wednesday 14 October 4.00 pm - 5.30 pm 5 - 11 year olds Art Workshop Tuesday 20 October 2.30pm - 4.00 pm Museum Explorers Tuesday 27 October 10.30 am - 12.00 noon 5 - 11 year olds

Family Drop-in Event Wednesday 28 October 10.00 am - 11.00 am

Maisie Goes to the Museum Join us for this story and see how Haslemere Museum differs from the museum Maisie visits Three Little Pigs Make puppets and/or houses to act out this popular children’s story

Adults £1 Children £2

Adults £1 Children £2

Telephone Timeline Join us as we explore the history of the telephone and experiment with how sound travels

Members £5 Non-members £7

Art with Diana Burch Join Diana for an art workshops

Adults £15

Explosive Volcanoes Find out about these fascinating features of our planet, explore volcanic rocks, make volcanic pictures and join us for our own eruption Early Birds Special opening for families with children who have an Autism Spectrum Condition to come along and enjoy the Museum free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.

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Members £5 Non-members £7

By donation

Family Drop-in Thursday 29 October 11.00 am - 4.00 pm

Early Years Friday 6 November 10.30 am -11.30 am

Museum Explorers Wednesday 11 November 4.00 pm -5.30 pm 5 - 11 years

Early Years Friday 20 November 10.30 am –11.30 am

Horrific Halloween Join us for a 50 minute arts and crafts session on a Halloween theme. 11 - 11.50am Bring a pumpkin to carve in the 12 - 12.50pm garden, leave all the mess here and 1 - 1.50pm make sure you are ready for 2 - 2.50pm Halloween night!

3 - 3.50pm Family bubbles will be socially distanced and the 50 minute Members £2 sessions will allow us to clean Nonbetween groups. The sessions must members £4 be booked in advance but pumpkins per child can be carved at any time during the day as long as there is space to socially distance.

Handa’s Surprise Listen to this colourful story and explore the exciting colours and patterns found in the galleries.

Create your own artificial bowl of fruit

Magnificent Monopoly Join us to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the launch of the board game Monopoly

As Quiet as a Mouse Join us for this fun action story and make a mouse finger puppet

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Adults £1 Children £2

Members £5 Nonmembers £7

Adults £1 Children £2

Creative Wellbeing Workshop Tuesday 24 November 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm

Crafty Christmas Members £10 Join artist Diana Burch for a relaxing Nonafternoon making Christmas crafts members £15 and decorations using an array of materials

Creative Wellbeing Workshop Tuesday 24 November 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

Crafty Christmas Members £10 Join artist Diana Burch for a relaxing Nonevening making Christmas crafts members £15 and decorations using an array of materials

Adult Talk Wednesday 25 November 2.30 pm

Art Workshop Tuesday 1 December 2.30pm - 4.00 pm

Mummification A light hearted look at mummification with Education Officer, Kay Topping. Join us in person at the Museum or virtually by zoom

Members £3 Nonmembers £5

Art with Diana Burch Join Diana for an art workshops

Adults £15

Museum Explorers Wednesday 2 December 4.00 pm -5.30 pm 5 - 11 years

Exciting Explorations With the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan becoming the first European to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific, we look at some great explorations.

Early Years Friday 4 December 10.30 am - 11.30 am

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Come with us on an expedition to find a bear and act out the popular story 38

Members £5 Nonmembers £7

Adults £1 Children £2

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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

40

FALLS PREVENTION CLASS Exercises to music, held at the Link on Tuesday afternoon.

For more details please contact Sophie Patrick on 07748 845931

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The Merry Harriers , Hambledon Road, GU8 4DR 01428 682883 enquiries@merryharriers.com

Opening times: Monday: 17:30—23:00 Tuesday—Saturday: 11:30— 23:00 Sunday: 12:00—20:00

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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 43

SUNDAY SERVICES 8AM HOLY COMMUNION (BCP) 10AM PARISH EUCHARIST (ALSO ONLINE

Haslemere Parish)

2ND & 4TH SUNDAYS

6PM EVENSONG AT ST BARTHOLOMEW’S Service location: please check www.haslemereparish.org/worship/ Book a place : www.haslemereparish.org/worship/worship-servicebooking/

NIGHT PRAYER & BIBLE REFLECTION TUESDAY 8PM LIVE STREAM ON

Haslemere Parish

COMPLINE THURSDAY 9PM (ALTERNATE WEEKS) PARTICIPATE VIA Zoom

CHURCH OPENING FOR PRIVATE PRAYER ST BARTHOLOMEW’S: ST CHRISTOPHER’S:

TUESDAY & FRIDAY 10AM-12PM THURSDAY 1PM-3PM WEDNESDAY 10AM-12PM

To access all live and recorded services, please visit: www.haslemereparish.org/stay-at-home/live-service-streaming/ 44