Easter Weekend at St Christopher's
Good Friday (April 18th)
Service at St Christopher's (10am)
A Reflection on Good Friday will be led by Rev. Lynne Bowden at 10am in church. There will be children’s craft activities in the village hall. Both to be followed by hot cross buns!
Good Friday Walk (after the service)
Join us for a walk and a picnic after the morning service. Bring your own bite to eat and we'll enjoy it together in the beautiful Pott Shrigley countryside.
Curry at The Viceroy (5.30pm meet, 6pm eat)
Selection of curries, rice & naan bread at the Viceroy, 22 Ingersley Road, Bollington. Everyone welcome! Booking essential – limited places (first come, first served).
Prices: Adults £19.95, Children £12.95. Please contact Kath or Duncan Matheson (574983 or 07944 624832, email kmmpott@yahoo.co.uk) by Palm Sunday (April 13th).
Payment on booking please – cash only.
Easter Day (April 20th)
Come and help us celebrate the wonderful news of Jesus’s resurrection.
Holy Communion (8.30am)
Family Communion (10.45am) followed by an Easter Egg Hunt.
An earthquake, an angel descending from heaven and rolling away the stone, guards collapsing like dead men: all these dramatic details are unique to Matthew’s account of the first Easter Day (Matthew 28:1-10). The shaking of the earth is an appropriate image to help us understand the way that the events of Good Friday and Easter morning shake the very foundations of everything.
The current world news is shaking us as if we had just experienced an earthquake. Everything around us is changing. This shaking is stretching across the world. As the global church prepares to celebrate Easter, we do so with one eye focussed on the news.
For us in Pott Shrigley we have grown accustomed to celebrating by gathering to pray, to walk, and to eat together (see the inside front cover for details!). These are familiar routines that help
us celebrate the uniqueness of what Jesus came to do: in dying to save the world, including us, from the effects of the sin that can be seen around us. But what of the impact of the resurrection? What do we make of all these details of Jesus rising again that are unique to Matthew’s story?
Just as for the fledging early church, the earth-shaking news of the resurrection remains unsettling, even frightening; it shatters all our human attempts at security and jolts us into the unfamiliar territory of God’s new creation. In Jesus, the reign of God breaks open everything that seemed fixed and immovable – even death and stone-cold tombs.
Just as no wall of stone is large enough to keep Jesus in the tomb, so it is with the life-giving power and love of God. No show of force, no oppressive regime, no contingent of guards or security police could stop it. The current news may be unsettling, but at Easter we are called to remember the resurrection as the ultimate earth-shaking, unsettling event.
Jesus himself tells us, we need not be afraid. The One who shakes the earth
with the resurrection is the One who holds our future, who promises to meet us and to be with us, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
We can trust that the power of God is at work just as much today as it was on that first Easter Day. May we, like those first visitors to the tomb, be able to hear the words of the angel: ‘Do not be afraid; I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here as He has been raised, as He said.’
Lord God, as the world shakes, as we see things turned upside-down as we feel the fear of the unknown, as we realise that things are changing around us, may we know the power of your resurrection life, breaking through our physical and emotional barriers, breaking through our fears and anxieties, breaking through our disorientation may we hear your words: ‘Do not be afraid, I am with you even to the end of the age.’ Amen.
With love, Lynn.
Cover story: The Batlló Majestat
The Batlló Majestat (or Majesty) is currently housed in the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. It is considered one of the finest and bestpreserved examples of painted wood pieces, such as altar frontals and crosses that were produced in abundance during the Romanesque period (c.900 – 1200AD). Abundant in Catalonia, they are rare in the rest of Europe.
Duncan Matheson
The Batlló Majestat dates from the 12th century and is 1.53m tall and 1.19m wide. The wood carvers working at that
time in the high valleys of the Pyrenees in Catalonia used four main formats to represent the crucifixion: Calvaries (where Jesus is represented on the cross with Mary and St John the Apostle at the base); Deposition (or Pieta) tableaux (with figures of the good thief, the penitent thief, Mary Magdalene, St John, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea); Majestats (large wooden crucifixes showing Christ, triumphant after death, wearing a long sleeveless tunic); or nude Majestats (a cross with Christ wearing only a loincloth). Majestat is a Catalan form of ‘Rex Tremendae Majestatis’ symbolising the triumph of Christ over death.
There are over 30 examples of these majestats in the Catalan provinces of Girona (where the Batlló Majestat is thought to come from), Barcelona and Lleida, and in Roussillon, France. Although its creator is unknown, a medieval legend credits Nicodemus with producing the Batlló Majestat soon after the actual crucifixion. Some scholars believe that as early as the 10th century majestats hung as rood crosses in almost every Romanesque church built in Catalonia, possibly as the focus of an important and popular cult veneration as they were considered to have miraculous powers. Some majestats were hung near the church door or above altars dedicated to the Saviour. Often majestats’ backs were painted with the Agnus Dei and the Evangelists’ symbols, which suggests that these crosses were also carried in processions.
The Batlló Majestat shows Christ bearing His suffering with stoicism. He is triumphant: although the corners of His mouth turn slightly downward, Christ's open eyes and unfurrowed brow create the impression of peace and acceptance. One of the striking features of the Batlló Majestat is, compared to others, how well the colours of the wood are conserved. Christ’s colobium (long, sleeveless tunic) is decorated with blue floral designs surrounded by circular red frames and embellished with dots and circles, imitating rich oriental silk and the Byzantine and Hispano-Moorish fabrics held in such high esteem in the Christian west during this time. A thin belt with an elaborate interlace knot pulls the tunic in at the waist, making the fabric above it swell out slightly. Colobiums are linked with royal and priestly functions and provide a message of strength to the viewing audience and can be seen as a visualisation of the image of the Apocalyptic Christ from Revelation.
Thank you to the websites Artistic Adventure of Mankind & Wikipedia for the above information.
Catalan Art Museum
A Prayer Journey through Spring Sunshine
Four of us met at The Coffee Tavern in the glorious spring sunshine which blessed our prayer walk on Saturday 1st March. Sally kindly led the way and helped guide our prayers.
Anne Murphy
After admiring the beautiful crocus flowering on the verge opposite Yew Tree Cottage, our route went across the field footpaths and over to Simpson Lane, where we paused to pray, thinking of those who care for the land and for livestock in the area.
Gareth and Ruby the dog joined us briefly, and then we headed to Green Close Methodist Chapel. On the way we were greeted by some of Sheila and David’s sheep who were grazing in the fields. We had another prayer stop in the sunshine at the chapel, giving thanks for the preaching ministry of John Wesley and others who have followed in his footsteps.
We then headed uphill, encouraged by the sound of the busy woodpecker. We got pretty warm as we continued our ascent as we’d all put on our thermals after seeing
the cars iced up in the morning! We had regular stops to marvel at the view and listen to the birdsong.
At the top of the fields, just before joining Moorside Lane, we paused again to pray – giving thanks for God’s great love and forgiveness – and to admire the surrounding scenery. The view across the moor and over towards Manchester was stunning. The sun was warm on our faces and the birdsong a joy to hear.
Sally, Ros & Madeline on Prayer Walk
Green Close Methodist Chapel Woodpecker
A short way along Moorside Lane we took a right turn down the track to Birchencliffe. As we walked along we shared the words of the hymn How Great Thou Art:
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
At our prayer stop by the pools, Sally read Zephaniah 3:17:
‘The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.’
We could hear the water ‘singing’ as it flowed down from one of the pools into the
next. This provided perfect background music as we prayed for all those who live, work or journey through Pott Shrigley and our local community.
It was just approaching 12:30pm as we returned to The Coffee Tavern: super timing for coffee and lunch!
Thank you to Ros, Madeline and Sally for your company, fellowship and prayers. It was great to journey and pray with you. Yvonne organises a prayer walk on the first Saturday of most months. The leaflets for all four of our suggested prayer walk routes around Pott Shrigley are available in St Christopher’s Church and from The Coffee Tavern and can be used at any time. Yvonne can be contacted on 07842428496.
The Coffee Tavern
More Home Thoughts from Abroad: A Happy Easter!
Here we have another excerpt from Audrey Meecham’s letters home to her mum & dad, the late Vera & Vernon Peers.
Sally Winstanley
Having embarked on married life in the Colonial Service and bringing up children in Africa, there came a time when Audrey and Keith had to make a very difficult decision about the children’s education. After much soul-searching, advice seeking and even children consulting, it was decided that boarding school in England would be the best option. Being the eldest, Sally was the first to experience this new life and started at Brereton Hall School, near Sandbach, in September 1967. The first Christmas holidays were spent in Pott Shrigley, with grandparents, Mum Audrey and three little brothers, Nicky, Jon & Kit (Christopher). Dad Keith had already transferred from Sierra Leone to start work in Malawi…
Sally’s first ‘solo flight’ (aged 9) to Malawi for the Easter holidays, 1968
Fort Johnston
April 17th
Dear Mum & Dad,
Keith & I and Jon & Kit set off for the airport (Chileka, near Blantyre, about 200km) in good time, and when we were almost there, we saw the VC10 coming in to land! We hurried the last bit and arrived at the airport just as the plane taxied up to the terminal, half an hour early. We watched anxiously as the first passengers appeared, quite a few children, one of whom, in an enormous boater and red blazer, seemed to find her folks among us mums-and-dads on the balcony, very
quickly (with frantic waving!). More and more, but no apparent sign of Sally’s ginger hair; then as they came closer, the whitefaced child hidden under the brim (of the enormous boater) became recognisable! She was ages coming through customs & immigration – probably stood back and let everyone else through first. She had had a good journey and was shepherded everywhere quite safely.
Nicky’s school in Blantyre didn’t break up for Easter until two days later, so we stayed for two nights at the Shire (pronounced Shirry) Highlands Hotel in Limbe. It poured with rain and Sally was disgusted
Chileka airport today; Wikipedia
Shire Highlands Hotel, 2016; Nyasa Times
with the weather, she was so anxious to get brown like her little brothers, who looked like little berries against her. It brightened up a bit when we went to collet Nicky after having the car serviced. You should have seen his face when he saw Sally. The pair of them just grinned great toothy grins at each other for the first five minutes, then they were holding hands and talking 19 to the dozen. We must take a photo of them in their uniforms, Nicky’s grey and blue and Sally’s grey and (unfortunately) red. The luggage had been stowed at the back of the car where the engine is, so the chocolate eggs were rather misshapen. However, they were whole and delicious, thank you.
I hope your Easter was as happy! Love, Audrey.
A huge thank you…
…to Sally Winstanley, who sat in the editor’s chair last month and, together with our expert graphics and technical team of Tess and Andy Phillips, produced an excellent March edition of HotPott. I’m very grateful to Sally for volunteering for the task, and I’m sure the readers are too!
Six little maids from school
Easter: God's Conundrum
He came with a purpose, a purpose to die But how could we understand such a thing? Born in a stable, worshipped by wise men Lived as a poor man but destined as King
Loved by the masses, hated by others, Hung on a cross as they watched Him die, What of the promises written in scripture, Were they the truth, or just a lie?
He told them beforehand that He would suffer Despised, betrayed, rejected by men, Condemned to die a criminal’s death Be killed and three days rise again.
As Mary went to the tomb to find Him “Why look for the living among the dead, |Remember His words?” the angel told her “Jesus has risen, just as He said”.
by Megan Carter
St Christopher’s Pastoral Ministry
For pastoral support, a listening ear, a home visit, Holy Communion at home, prayer support or if you have a baptism enquiry
please contact the pastoral ministry care team via Anne Murphy. pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk telephone: 07891 953919
All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
James A Francis
A Shocking World Book Day
This month we celebrated World Book Day in school. The children and staff all enjoyed dressing up as book characters and sharing our favourite stories with each other.
Eden, Abby and Sophie from Class 3
We all had a shock though when we arrived at school and found out that all the chairs had quit and we were not able to use them. The chairs had left a letter for us explaining that they were fed up of being dragged around, rocked on and even trumped on!
We all had to write letters to the chairs to ask them to come back to us. We had to use persuasive techniques and make a balanced argument to give our points of view.
The day was really fun and our letters must have worked because the chairs were back in use the following day.
I’m giving up eating chocolate for a month. Oh, wait, sorry, bad punctuation. I meant, I’m giving up. Eating chocolate for a month.
Quitting chairs
Book characters
Dear Chairs,
This morning when I arived at school, I noticed that ALL the chairs where on strike. Please come back we mist you so much. Were sooper dooper sorry and sad. I’m am sure that we won’t trump or rock on you – I pinky promiss!
Love from Charlie
Dear Chairs,
I noticed in the morning ALL of the chairs where stacked up and a peice of paper “DO not touch! You said you were on strike! This made me so sad because I need you so I can do neat handwriting we will all try to look after you I promise.
From your dear friend
Ieva * * *
364 days of the year we tell our kids: “Do NOT eat anything you find on the ground, or anything from strangers!”
On Easter morning we tell them: “Why don’t you go outside and search in the dirt for chocolates that a strange giant bunny has left for you?”
* * *
The Story of the Hot Cross Bun
‘One- a-penny, two-a-penny, hot-cross-buns! If your daughters will not eat them, give them to your sons. But if you hav’n’t any of those pretty little elves, You cannot then do better than eat them all yourselves.’
Kath Matheson
As some will know, the word I most associate with hot cross buns is ‘yuk’, and I was very glad my Mum gave this Good Friday ‘treat’ to my brother and not me. However, I realise this is not a universally held view: some people profess to like them, and even consume the modern versions – Triple Berry, Salted Caramel & Chocolate, Jalapeno & cheese (!) to name but a few – all year round rather than just on Good Friday.
Hot cross buns are made from a yeast dough with the addition of allspice, citrus peel and raisins or sultanas. And of course they have a cross on top; some use short crust pastry for this, some flour paste, but Mum always used marzipan. Very decadent for a Good Friday!
A Christian tradition?
‘Hot-cross-buns are the ecclesiastical Eulogy, or consecrated loaves, bestowed in the church as alms, and to those who, from any impediment, could not receive the host. They are made from the dough from whence the host [bread given at communion] itself is taken, and are given by the priest to the people after mass.’ (The Spirit Of Public Journals; Jones & Westmacott,1826.) In medieval England these buns were placed between Good Friday and Easter Day in a recess, usually in the church’s chancel, known as an Easter Sepulchre. The bread was guarded until it was shared at Mass on Easter Day with the lay worshippers, the whole ritual representing Christ’s burial and subsequent emergence from the tomb. Regarding the individual elements of the bun, the cross represents the crucifixion of Christ, the spices signify the spices used to embalm Him and the citrus peel reflects the bitterness of the time Jesus spent separated from His Heavenly Father whilst on the cross.
Hot cross bun; egg info
Easter Sepulchre, Holcombe Burnell Church, Devon; Wikipedia
The mysterious origins of the crossed bun.
In pre-Christian times in Europe special currant bread was baked in honour of the Saxon goddess of spring, Ēostre, who also gives her name to Easter. Two loaves marked with crosses were found in the ashes of Herculaneum, which was buried in 79AD when Vesuvius erupted. These crosses may have been functional, to make the bread divide and break more easily; similarly, early Greek bread was also marked with a cross.
Although a 12th century monk may have made the predecessor of the ‘modern’ hot cross bun, another claim is made by St Alban’s Abbey, where in 1361 a monk called Thomas Rocliffe used flour, eggs, yeast, currants and a spice called grains of paradise (melegueta pepper) to make Alban Buns; these had a cross cut into them and were distributed from the abbey gates to the poor on Good Fridays.
In medieval England grains of paradise were only found in the kitchens of the very wealthy, like the monasteries. It is a moot point to consider if the monasteries would share such an expensive ingredient with the poor, but at least its name was appropriate! The first printed reference to hot cross buns appeared in the satirical publication Poor Robin’s Almanac in 1733: ‘Good Friday comes this Month, the old woman runs. With one or two a Penny hot cross Bunns.’
A religious disagreement
In medieval times and before, marking baked goods with a cross was common, as in the Roman Catholic tradition the sign of the cross was thought to ward off evil spirits which could affect the bread and make it go mouldy. However, as Protestantism became established in the 16th century, use of the cross in this way was considered popish, as was the Easter Sepulchre ritual. In 1592 the London Clerk of Markets issued a decree forbidding the sale of spiced buns and other spiced breads, except at burials, on Good Friday, or at Christmas. If a baker infringed this edict, all his buns had to be given to the poor. The Puritans were similarly disapproving: in English Political Thought: 1603-1660, John William Allen wrote: ‘They are suspicious of ceremonial
Alban bun; English cathedrals
The pagan goddess, Ēostre; British food history continued
in worship, partly because they are suspicious of everything they have learned to associate with … Popery. They are apt to see Popery in talk about altars or in a cope or in the sign of the cross.’ However, crossed bread on Good Friday was deemed to commemorate the crucifixion, so the cross bun became an annual treat. Much later (1836) an interesting comment on the religious significance of the buns was found in Figaro In London: ‘This is the season at which all good Christians devour hot cross buns for breakfast, under the comfortable impression that a religious duty is being performed; and in this instance we are happy to find a spirit of faith and religion in the rising generation, for the little boys devour hot cross buns with a most sacred Gusto…’
When do you eat yours?
Breakfast is the traditional time. In his Life of Samuel Johnson of 1791 James Boswell records: ‘On the 9th of April [1773], being Good Friday, I breakfasted with him on
tea and cross-buns.’ However this was not universal: in 1664 a Samuel Pepys’ diary entry reads: ‘So home to dinner, and had an excellent Good Friday dinner of peas porridge and apple pye … then to walk in the garden with my wife, and so to my office a while, and then home to the only Lenten supper have had of wiggs [buns] and ale, and so to bed.’
Big business
In the 18th century hot cross buns became, for one day a year, big business. From The Illustrated London Magazine in 1855: ‘I am informed that 500 persons are employed on Good Friday in the streets of London in the sale of hot-cross buns, each itinerant selling upon the day’s average six dozen halfpenny, and seven dozen penny buns, for which he will take 12s.6d. (his profits being 3d. in the shilling or 3s.1½d.).
One person informed me that last Good Friday he had sold during the day forty dozen penny buns, for which he received 60s.’ Buns were supplied mainly from commercial pastrycooks; the vendors needed a basket (1s.6d.), a flannel and a cloth to keep the buns warm and looking clean (2s.), and 5s. to stock up with buns.
Charles Dickens in an 1870 article All The Year Round, wondered: ‘The Hot Cross Bun. Who these vendors are, whence they come, and what is their occupation on the other three hundred and sixty-four days of the year, are questions left somewhat in mystery; for the people are evidently not all connected with the baking trade. That the buns are all hot, that they are crossed, that they are “one a penny, two a penny,” are facts asserted in a very determined and unanimous way by the vendors. And herein is suggested a speculation—why are hot cross buns always the same price?’
The answer to Dickens’ first question is answered in an 1851 piece, London Labour And The London Poor Of The Street-sellers
18th century street seller in London; English Heritage
Of Hot-cross Buns by Henry Mayhew:
‘The sellers of the Good Friday buns are principally boys, and they are of mixed classes —costers’ boys, boys habitually and boys occasionally street-sellers, and boys street-sellers for that occasion only. One great inducement to embark in the trade is the hope of raising a little money for the Greenwich Fair of the following Monday.’ Selling sometimes became riotous: in 1821 The Literary Chronicle And Weekly Review wrote: ‘at Chelsea; the BunHouse there, on Good Friday, affords quite a treat to the cocknies, and is recommended to all strangers as one of the “sights of London”. The shop is literally besieged the whole day, and, notwithstanding the presence of a number of constables to keep order, it requires the utmost exertion to get near enough to the window to obtain a supply of the favourite cakes.’ Not everyone in the 18th and 19th centuries could afford to eat hot cross buns on Good Friday. In 1872 The Illustrated London News carried a picture showing poor children in London receiving charity in the form of a hot cross bun from a rich girl.
The
myths of the bun
Robert Chambers’ The Book Of Days (1835) records: ‘Hot cross-buns, if properly made, will never get mouldy. … you must do the whole of the business on the Good-Friday itself; the materials must be mixed, the dough made, and the buns baked on that
day, and this, I think, before a certain hour; but whether this hour is sunrise or church-time, I cannot say. Perhaps the spice which enters into the composition of hot cross-buns, has as much to do with the result as anything… In the houses of some ignorant people, a Good Friday bun is still kept “for luck”; and sometimes there hangs from the ceiling a hard biscuit-like cake of open cross-work, baked on a Good Friday, to remain there till displaced on the next Good Friday by one of similar make; and of this, the editor of the Every DayBook has heard affirmed, “that it preserves the house from fire.”’ In the 18th century, ‘Good Friday bread’ was considered medicinal or curative, and hardened bun was grated into food to help digestive or bowel problems. If taken on a sea voyage, the buns also protected against shipwreck apparently. Buns also brought husbands: in 1855, The Illustrated London Magazine reported: ‘Young ladies are fond of preserving hot-cross buns. They puncture the date on its back with pins, and put it away, like a bag of lavender, in their drawers. “Whoever keeps one of these mealy treasures for an entire twelvemonth is sure, it is said, to get married the next.”’
A sadder story tells of a widow living in London’s East End in the 1820s. She baked hot cross buns for her sailor son who was
The Widow's Son; folkandhoney
Victorian hot cross bun seller; Oakden
due home on Good Friday, but he never arrived. The widow never gave up hope, so baked a hot cross bun for him every year; when she died, a huge collection of hot cross buns was discovered in a net hanging from the ceiling of her cottage. In the 1840s a pub, The Widow’s Son, was built on the same site and became known locally as The Bun House. The tradition of a sailor
from the Royal Navy placing a new bun in the net hanging above the bar each year has continued.
So… when you eat your hot cross buns, think for a minute of its rich history. Thank you to English Heritage, Food History Blog, Oakden and Wikipedia for the information in the above article.
Your Vote Your Council
Highways
New/Updated/Completed
• Culvert under Shrigley Road outside Pott Hall: unblocked, water is now running freely into the brook. This culvert has been noted for more frequent clearing & maintenance
Jo Hadfield
• Gullies near Spuley Lane corner: not cleared as the traffic lights in the way
• Blocked drain in the field that abuts Nab Cottage. Owners realise that the drain under the road is blocked. Clerk and owner have both reported it to Highways
Pending
The dates when these issues were first raised now added to the agenda to emphasise the problems with the Highways Department.
• Broken fence at West Park Gate car park on list for repair (April 23)
• Remedial resurfacing of Shrigley Road from Green Close to the aqueduct (2014)
• Modifications to the chevron bend by Shrigley Hall (2017)
• Repair of collapsed wall on Bakestonedale Road (July 22)
• Improvements to bend at Brookbank: will be included in the Minor Improvement Scheme
• Culvert/wall on the west side of Shrigley Road (Nov 2024)
• Rebuilding of demolished wall at junction of Spuley Lane & Shrigley Road (Dec 2024)
Involvement of MP
The clerk wrote to Tim Rocca MP to express the council’s concerns regarding the deterioration of Bakestonedale Road since it was designated as the diversionary route following the closure of part of the B5470. The letter also highlighted the council’s frustration over the prolonged delays in repairing the damaged wall at the junction of Shrigley Road and Spuley Lane. Mr Rocca promised to apply pressure to Cheshire East Council (CEC) to ensure the B5470 road is prioritised for repairs, given the knock-on effect it is having on surrounding communities. He will also ask why the Spuley Lane repair work has not been prioritised given it is an insurance repair.
Road Sweeper
Cllr Basford asked for the pavement and roadside from the Bollington boundary to the temporary traffic lights to be swept given the amount of debris threatening to
block drains and gullies further.
Lychgate
The clerk has received more questions regarding the request for a grant to help with repairs to the lychgate. The application was due to be assessed (alongside others) in late February so we hope a decision will be made shortly.
Mersey Forest Tree Planting Scheme
Cllr Basford met with the Wildlife Trust for advice on planting trees on the village green. The Wildlife Trust are now considering a scheme proposal.
Increase of traffic through village
Updated figures of the amount of traffic passing through the village after the Poynton Relief Road was opened have been received. Unfortunately, there has been an incredible increase of 70% in traffic using Bakestondale Road. The council will ask CEC for mitigation
measures to be considered to reduce traffic using Bakestonedale Road as a short cut.
Spring litter pick
The annual litter pick and spring clean is due to take place on Saturday 5th April. Please meet at 10am at the cobbles outside church. All welcome; equipment provided!
Planning Applications
Pending
24/2084M 3A Moorside Cottage, SK10 5RZ
Proposal: Two storey side extension to the existing dwelling
24/3155M 1, Normans Hall Mews, SK10 5SE
Proposal: Demolition of garage and the construction of a new garage with workshop and storage areas on the ground floor and a first-floor home office above.
Next meeting
The next council meeting will take place at 8pm on Monday 7th April 2025 in the village hall.
Across
1. Relating to the whole universe (6)
4. The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20:24) (6)
8. ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands, I will not believe it’ (John 20:25) (2,3)
9. He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 36:25) (7)
10. Baptist minister and controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7)
11. ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8:36) (5)
12. Repossessed (Genesis 14:16) (9)
Coffee Break
17. Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome. (Acts 27:3–4) (5)
19. ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — because he had spoken with the Lord’ (Exodus 34:29) (7)
21. Roonwit, C.S. Lewis’s half-man, halfhorse (7)
22. Grill (Luke 24:42) (5)
23. ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1:26) (6)
24. ‘I was sick and you looked after me, I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25:36) (6)
Down
1. Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141:6) (6)
2. Academic (1 Corinthians 1:20) (7)
3. Publish (Daniel 6:26) (5)
5. For example, the Crusades (4,3)
6. 11 Across is certainly this (5)
7. He reps (anag.) (6)
9. Liberator (Psalm 18:2) (9)
13. Man who asked the question in 11 Across was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8:27) (7)
14. They must be ‘worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 Timothy 3:8) (7)
15. The human mind or soul (6)
16. ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, the tools of war increase; their bread is — ’ (Graham Kendrick) (6)
18. ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not — ’ (Matthew 11:17) (5)
20. Bared (anag.) (5)
Beautiful country, gentle people
In 2018 Duncan and I were blessed to visit Myanmar, previously known as Burma, a strikingly beautiful country of mountains, rivers and forests with a rich cultural history. The people we met in the villages and in the towns were hospitable, kind and gently spoken. All was not completely well, however, as whilst some were at pains to point out how well the majority Buddhist and minority Christian, Muslim and Hindu populations lived together in harmony, Christians told us of considerable discrimination in jobs and housing, and even rivalry about whether Christian crosses or Buddhist temples should dominate the skyline. Muslims too were persecuted. About 1,000,000 Rohingya, a stateless people who are predominantly Muslim, still live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, most having fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape persecution from the military. Those Rohingya remaining in Myanmar now are confined to camps and villages without freedom of movement and living with inadequate food, education, healthcare and employment.
In 2018, although the military were very powerful (and feared), Myanmar was nominally a democracy and at peace. All that changed in February 2021 when the
democratically elected ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was deposed by the military, otherwise known as the Tatmadaw, and the legitimate president, Win Myint, and state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, were arrested. Since that time a civil war has raged and many thousands have been killed, injured and displaced.
So how is it to be a Christian in Myanmar now?
Unfortunately, Myanmar rose four places on the OpenDoors World Watch List last year, with persecution in church life having the most significant increase; it is now in the ‘extreme’ category of
Bathtime for an elephant, Kalaw, Shan State, Myanmar
Loikaw Cathedral, Kayah State, Myanmar
Silver Pagoda, Kayah State, Myanmar
persecution scores. Myanmar’s civil war has become entrenched in areas with a significant Christian presence, such as Chin state, and a ceasefire seems very far away.
The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the previous persecution. Christian villages and churches are attacked disproportionally often, even wellestablished ones in predominantly Christian states like Chin and Kayah. Also, Christian aid workers and pastors are killed, often in aerial attacks. Christians are often targeted by the anti-government forces too. Increasing numbers of Christians are living under tight restrictions, have fled over the border to Thailand or India, or have been internally displaced and live in camps; some (an estimated 10,000 in 2022) are forced to live in the jungle where they are often deprived of access to food and health care. Many minorities are excluded from receiving international aid because distribution is administered by the military. ‘We have to leave our homes for our safety. We can no longer go to our churches. It is unsafe as churches are also targeted.’ Pastor Mun.
Some communities aim to stay ‘Buddhist only’, which makes life for Christian families extremely difficult; converts are particularly persecuted because they are
seen as threatening this ethos. Converts are also at risk from their Buddhist, Muslim or tribal families and communities because they have left their former faith. Non-traditional church groups experience particular opposition, especially those located in rural areas and those who are known for their evangelistic activities.
In other areas of Burmese life, the government is using the People’s Military Service Law to enforce mandatory conscription. This has prompted many young Christians to leave the country, creating a lack of youth in some Christian communities. In general, previous
Houses burnt by the military; Barnabas
Searching for victims of an airstrike by the military junta
Protests against the military; OpenDoors
progress made on women’s rights is rapidly disappearing following the military takeover. Sexual and physical assault by the armed forces is a significant threat to women, particularly those belonging to ethnic minorities and religions.
What can we do?
Please keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Myanmar. Prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter what the cost. Please consider supporting one of the Christian charities working in Myanmar, like TearFund, Barnabas, OpenDoors and others. These organisations work through local partners, strengthening the persecuted believers of Myanmar through literature distribution, discipleship and
leadership programmes, livelihood support, and youth, children and families ministries. ‘I am so thankful that you are here and willing to listen to me. It has been a long time since someone asked how we are or even cared for our well-being.’ MoeMoe.
Please pray:
Father God, we lift the church in Myanmar to You. Thank You that You are the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); help Christians to be peacemakers even as they are caught between the military and the rebel groups. Protect vulnerable believers living in displacement camps – provide for their needs and heal their trauma. Please help believers who’ve converted from Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim backgrounds to learn more about You and meet with other Christians. May the church in Myanmar continue to be a light in the darkness. Amen.
With thanks to the websites of OpenDoors, Barnabas, Medecins sans Frontiers, and Human Rights Watch for the information in this article.
This article was written before the devasting earthquake happened. Please pray foe effective help to be given to all those who need it, regardless of their beliefs.
Pontius Pilate: “Joseph, I really don’t understand you. You’re one of the richest men in the region, and you’ve just spent a fortune on that new tomb for you and your family – and now you want to suddenly give it to this man Jesus?”
Joseph: “Well it’s just for the weekend.”
Kachin christians; Barnabas
Pott Shrigley
2nd April - Into the Wild
Adventure / Drama starring Emile Hirsch & Kristen Stewart
7th March - The Leisure Seeker
Adventure / Comedy starring Donald Sutherland & Helen Mirren
4th June - Small Things Like These
Drama starring Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon & Emily Watson
Missionary Matters
It is always encouraging to hear from our missionary partners, Johnny & Ann McClean in Bangkok and Megumi & Helen Fazakerley in Malawi. Their lives are busy, with any number of competing priorities as they do our Lord’s work. Please do pray for them and the particular issues they raise.
From Bangkok:
Ann’s work at the International Community School (ICS)
Please pray for the girls in Ann’s life group, which meets for Bible study each week. Ann has more opportunities this year to lead Serving and Learning Together trips: 120 students learned about modern slavery and had ministry trips to visit people in our slum communities. One student was so touched that she asked for food to be donated to our church's foodbank rather than having any birthday presents and another wants to join us in revisiting the community.
New City Fellowship (NCF) Church
Our church has started a Joy Club in one of the local slum communities and as a result seven local kids have started coming to church and Sunday School. Please pray for them as they hear the gospel and listen to
Bible stories for the first time. Last week, we celebrated NCF’s 18th anniversary and all of God’s goodness through many highs and lows.
NCF Foundation
I (Johnny) have just become chairman of our foundation. Previously, missionaries on volunteer visas have helped with our work but in recent years legislation introduced to reduce fraud means that such visas have become far more restricted in time (three months only) and scope, making it difficult to recruit and utilise volunteers effectively. Please pray for our new board and for wisdom navigating the government legislation.
Langham
Recently we held a training session for preachers and church leaders in the second-largest Muslim country in the world; a third of the participants were from the majority community. The participants worked extremely hard; their progress was so encouraging. This week, we are training 34 church leaders in Bangkok: rewarding, but it takes a lot of teaching time! Please pray for stamina and fitting in my routine work with Langham around this. Soon four of us from Thailand will deliver the first Langham training
→ Food distribution, ICS
NCF 18th anniversary
in a neighbouring communist country. Christians are killed and imprisoned here for their Christian activity and there are no printed Bibles, Christian bookshops, or theological colleges. The need is great as the church is growing there. Please pray for effectiveness and safety.
A, S & M, Afghan refugees
A and S passed their medicals for Australia with flying colours, though must still wait until Australia says they can go. Please pray for patience. Praise God that their daughter, M, grows in confidence and her English is coming along too. She’s looking forward to her birthday party!
Searching for a PA
I grossly underestimated the amount of work I would have with Langham. I coordinate many East Asian nations and just this week a Japanese Langham Scholar studying in the UK wrote asking how to start Langham preaching in Japan. Three of us, all part-time, are trying to do this coordinator job but it needs more time, so I am seeking to reduce my workload in other areas and looking for a PA to help me; a lady called Kul in NCF is interested but has been unwell. Please pray that I can find a suitable PA and for a reduction in workload.
And from Malawi:
Home News:
When another cyclone, Jude, was forecast recently, putting Blantyre on hold, schools were shut for three days, as were many shops and businesses. There was much fear around, as everyone remembers Cyclone Freddy two years ago, which caused so much death and destruction. Praise God that although a lot of rain fell over the three days, we haven't heard of any severe damage to buildings, houses, or crops.
Ministries:
Cyclone Jude, petrol shortages and school holidays all affected our ladies’ Bible study group, but fuel supply has improved recently, so I hope we can now forge ahead with our study through to Easter.
Fortunately, after a busy period with the guesthouses and their pots and pans and dishes all ending up in the wrong place, it is now relatively quiet on this front. Our home group has finished our studies in Romans. It was interesting that out of several options suggested regarding what to study next, people thought Revelation was the right book to choose. Obviously, there is much concern about what is happening in the world these days. We hope our studies in Revelation will help us to live well as God's people in this time.
The church's theme for this year is Go and
Bible study
Langham training in a Muslim country
Go and make disciples
Make Disciples. Megumi recently led a time of reflection on the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Hopefully, it helped us all to feel excited to be tagging along with Jesus and learning from Him, while also wanting to help others to join us and do the same.
Life in Malawi
We are very thankful that fuel remains available but are puzzled about how the country is paying for both fuel and the other imports Malawi relies heavily on. Prices are increasing steeply, inflation being around 30%. Recently there were a few public disorder incidents in Malawian cities, with large numbers of people gathering to protest; in some places the police fired live bullets. It is a difficult time, and everyone in every part of society must act well and be productive in what we do. Please pray.
With many thanks to the McCleans and the Fazakerleys for sending the above information.
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Baptisms
We welcome into our church family: 16th March Heida Ursula Swann 16th March Penny Sue Swann 23rd March Rosalind Ivatts-Darlington
INTERIOR SERVICES
Full & part home renovations
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info@springdecorating.co.uk www.springdecorating.co.uk 17 Earle Road, Bramhall, SK7 3HE
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Pott Shrigley
Village Hall Bar
2nd Friday of every month, 6.30 'til 10.00pm
11thApril
9thMay
Recipe of the Month Cheat’s
Chocolate Trifle
Celia says: ‘Knock this recipe together from shop-bought ingredients for a quick, delicious but impressive dessert.’ Most of us are short of time, so Celia’s recipe is a welcome addition to the HotPott repertoire.
Celia Fraser
However, please note: it does need to be chilled for at least two to three hours to set before serving.
Ingredients:
1 (approx. 225g) chocolate Swiss roll (preferably containing chocolate rather than vanilla buttercream, or use bought chocolate brownies or any chocolate cake, really)
500g chilled ready-made custard
1 (425g) tin cherries in light syrup. Check they are de-stoned!
Fresh berries such as a small punnet of blueberries and/or raspberries (optional) 3 tablespoons brandy, cherry brandy or kirsch
100g dark chocolate (plus a bit extra for grating on top)
300ml (10fl oz) double cream
Method:
Melt the dark chocolate (in a bowl over boiling water or in microwave).
Add the custard to the chocolate and stir well.
Transfer to a saucepan and heat very
gently for just 20-30 seconds, stirring constantly until smooth and glossy. Don’t allow to get too warm.
Cut the Swiss roll into 1.5cm slices, then arrange them around the base and sides of a medium trifle dish. Drizzle with the brandy or kirsch.
Drain the cherries and drizzle the sponge with 5 – 6 tablespoons of the syrup, until lightly soaked.
Reserve a few of the cherries for decoration, scatter the rest over the sponge together with fresh berries if using, and pour over the chocolate custard.
Cover and chill for 2 – 3 hours, until custard is softly set.
Whip the cream and spoon gently on top. Decorate with remaining cherries and some grated chocolate.
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Chocolate trifle; BBC
Services
6th April.
8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Holy Communion‡ Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 Lynn Caudwell
13th.
8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Morning Worship‡ Philippians 2:5-11 Luke TBC Lynn Caudwell & OWLS
18th Good Friday
10.00am Reflection Lynne Bowden
20th. Easter Sunday
8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Family Communion TBC Lynn Caudwell
27th.
8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Morning Worship** Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 Lynn Caudwell & Melissa Wearden
2nd May.
8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Holy Communion Acts 9:1-6 John 21:1-19 Lynne Bowden & Anne Murphy
• All services underlined in blue will be streamed live on our Facebook Page & YouTube channel.
• A recording of each live-streamed service will be available from the services page of the church website: ‡ Junior Church * Youth Church (at 6pm) **Youth Church (at 10.45am) OWLS - Occasional Worship Leaders
6th Apr David Gem / Judy Keeling Sally Winstanley Mathesons Reg & Jean Ferguson
13th Apr Anne Murphy David Garton Clare Chasty Joy & David Whitehead Yvonne & Annie
20th Apr Reg Ferguson / Jean Ferguson Anne Murphy
Apr
4th
Keeling
Directory
Priest-in-charge: Rev. Lynn Caudwell vicar@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
Assistant Priest Rev. Lynne Bowden a.curate@btinternet.com
Readers: Dr John Ryley (Reader Emeritus), 2 Wych Lane, Adlington, SK10 4NB
Licensed Pastoral Worker Anne Murphy, 14 Silver Street, Bollington, SK10 5QL
Churchwardens: Andy Phillips, 26 Hurst Lane, Bollington, SK10 5LP
andyphillips@totalise.co.uk
Jean Ferguson , 17, Poplar Grove, Bollington, Macclesfield, SK10 5LS
jeanfergusonuk@msn.com
Verger: Situation Vacant
PCC Secretary: Rebecca Roth-Biester pccsecretary@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
PCC Treasurer: Peter Kennedy, kennedyp@tuckerssolicitors.com
Gift Aid & Planned Giving: Sally Winstanley, 3 Green Close Cottages, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SG
sjwinstanley.ps@gmail.com
Organists: Mary Currell, 61 Crossfield Road, Bollington, SK10 5EA
marycurrell61@btinternet.com David Garton, davidgarton2020@gmail.com
Andy Phillips, as above
Weekly Bulletin: Annie Palace, anniepalace04@gmail.com
Kath Matheson, Church View Cottage, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SA
kmmpott@yahoo.co.uk
Safeguarding officer: Kath Matheson, safeguarding@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
Tower Captain: Duncan Matheson, Church View Cottage, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SA
dmmpott@yahoo.co.uk
Pastoral Ministry: Anne Murphy, pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
Children's Ministry Situation Vacant
annemurphy1214@gmail.com
Parish Council Clerk: Joyce Burton, pottclerk@btinternet.com
Wedding Coordinator: Pam Cooke, weddings@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
Head Teacher: Mrs Anne-Marie Willis , Pott Shrigley Church School, SK10 5RT 573260 head@pottshrigley.cheshire.sch.uk
Website: Tess Phillips, 26 Hurst Lane, Bollington, SK10 5LP info@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk
PCC Members:
Duncan Matheson, Sally Winstanley, Peter Kennedy, Jean Ferguson, Andy Phillips, Pam Cooke, Mary Currell, Mike Akerman, Ang Davies, Simon Caudwell Rebecca Roth-Biester, Sheila Garton, David Garton, David Gem, Annie Palace, Kath Matheson, Reg Ferguson, Anne Murphy.
This directory was updated on 25th August 2024. Please give corrections and additions to magazine@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk