HotPott March 2024

£1 March 2024

Pott Shrigley’s Church & Parish Magazine

Easter Weekend at St Christopher's Good Friday (March 29th) Service at St Christopher's (10am) Service of reflection to remember Jesus' death on the cross. The service starts at 10am with hot cross buns served afterwards

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 £18, Children £9. Please contact Kath or Duncan Matheson (574983 or 07944 624832, email kmmpott@yahoo.co.uk) by Palm Sunday (March 24th).

Payment on booking please – cash only.

Easter Day (March 31st) 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.

Lynn's letter

Dear Friends, Watching the news should come with a health warning.

The reports from Gaza and other war zones stir up conflicting emotions: at times we feel almost pierced with pain as clips of children being injured in bombing raids show us that the innocent are used as pawns in the war games of others. I must confess that the pain can sometimes be so sharp that I want to look the other way and find something else to watch. Simultaneously I have an equally strong sense of anger at the pointlessness of it all and want to ask where we can we find an alternative model of leadership and authority.

A stark image that comes rushing unbidden into our minds, especially in the buildup to Easter, is that of Jesus, His head slightly to one side, with blood running down His bruised and dirty face because His forehead is pierced with a HotPott - March 2024

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crown of thorns.

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Lynn's letter

At that time, Jerusalem was set like a stage for a display of absolute imperial power. The city more than quadrupled its population for the Jewish Passover festival and the Romans were keen to show who was in charge; the forest of crosses for the crucifixions taking place were a reminder to any who had forgotten. But no other victims were given the extra treatment of having sharp acacia thorns twisted into a circle and pushed with force into their scalps. This is because, whilst a crown of thorns would be excruciating, it was more about power play than it was about pain.

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Diary dates

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St Christopher’s away for a day

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Your vote, Your council

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Muriel Elisabeth Schofield

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The knight with the (not so) shiny power hose

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Geoffrey George Llewellyn Parker

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The going (and coming back) like the clappers

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Blown along with prayer

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Calling all aspiring Rose Queens

Here was the supposed King of the Jews being beaten, spat upon and insulted by low-level, uncouth, battlehardened Roman soldiers.

The crown of thorns was the finishing touch to their mockery, taking a symbol of royalty and majesty and turning it into something painful and degrading. We can almost hear them jeering, with their sense of utter superiority in the face of a would-be king from a menial, vassal state.

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Coffee Break

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Another exciting trip to church

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The Crossroad

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Class 3 consider Communion

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PCC Ponderings

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Suffering Church

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Missionary Matters

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Your presence is requested

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Flix in the Stix

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Recipe: Summer Pasta

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Services

These accounts, like the news from Gaza and elsewhere, should shock us. But we should not imagine that gentle Jesus was powerless to

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March 2024 Page 3

defend Himself against a stronger power.

Remember, Jesus had already indicated that Pilate, the mighty Roman governor, only had authority or headship over anyone because God had given it to him. No, this image of Jesus with blood running down His face was not a mistake; this was always going to be the face and head of our King.

We read in Isaiah: ‘He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.’

(Isaiah 53: 2-3) And yet, this despised and rejected man holds the answer to the battle of our conflicting emotions for all the sin and pain we see being acted out across the world and even within our own hearts. The crown of thorns brings reconciliation of things that seem unreconcilable.

Firstly, we see here total identification with the very worst of human suffering that can be inflicted upon the innocent by other human beings. Because of love for us all, Jesus was willing to endure the pain, the insults and the shame, all on our account. So, when we feel that sharp pain of compassion or despair let us remember Christ’s pierced head taking on the sin of the whole world.

a script and playing parts they had already been ordained to play. The soldiers were being used to reveal what we all need to realise and hold on to with everything we have: Jesus Christ, with His crown of thorns, is both the suffering servant and the conquering Messiah-King. Even the Roman soldiers guarding Him at the foot of the cross saw this as they exclaimed: ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’ (Mark 15:39) It is right that we should sometimes feel compassion like a thorn. It is right that our battle for justice means we look for a different authority. As Easter approaches let us remember that we have somewhere to go, we are all invited to the foot of the cross and to look into the face of the one who loves us all. And, using Julian of Norwich’s famous words, we can trust that ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well’.

With love and prayers for a blessed Easter time, Lynn

Secondly, when we feel that anger rising for all the injustices in the world and long for a different kind of headship and authority, let us remember that Jesus was, and is, indeed our King. He is now the head of the body of the Church, and one day the entire universe will bow to Jesus as the ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.

(Revelation 17:14; 19:16) The Roman soldiers thought they were mocking a weak and powerless victim but, unbeknown to them, they were following Page 4

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Dates for the diary…

Experience Ethiopia!

Sunday 3rd March at 6.30pm at Pott Shrigley Village Hall.

Everyone, from young to not-so-young is welcome to come and enjoy hearing about Simon and Lynn Caudwell’s time living and working in Ethiopia.

Experiencing Ethiopia will be a caféstyle presentation (with Ethiopian coffee, tea, and snacks).

Celebrate Mothering Sunday Sunday 10th March at 10:45am at St Christopher's.

The children will lead an all-age worship service. There will be a presentation of flowers for those who are there – and also for those who are unable to be there.

A Service of Remembrance Sunday 17th March at 4.30pm at St Christopher's.

A Lenten Workshop Monday 25th March at 2pm at St Oswald’s Church, Bollington.

All interested are welcome to attend this workshop on the subject of peace.

Bollington Air Cadets Monday 25th March at 7pm 236 Bollington Squadron Air Cadets will be holding thir presentation evening at St Christopher's Church.

Epiphany Saturday 27th April at 7:30pm Don’t forget that these wonderful musicians will be visiting St Christopher’s and treating us to a mixture of classical pieces, including many familiar and well-loved ones.

(See page 5, February edition of HotPott).

For all those who have lost someone close – whether bereaved recently or longer ago. Please let Lynn know if you want the names of those who have died included in the list of those we remember. There will be refreshments afterwards and an opportunity to talk.

Epiphany is an innovative Christian music group of professional classical musicians who love improvisation and creativity. They aim not just to entertain, but also to enhance the quality of life itself by bringing space into our hectic lives, relieving stress and bringing new perspectives.

Join the procession

Tickets, to include a glass of wine/soft drink, are now on sale at £15.00 from:

Sunday 24th March at 10:45am at St Christopher's.

Join the procession, if you are able, on Psalm Sunday. The service will include a dramatic reading of the story of the Passion of Christ.

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Mary Currell: 01625 573735 Sandy Milsom: 01625 573850 or any member of the fundraising team.

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St Christopher’s goes away for a day… why we went and (some of) what we learnt

The editor, whose impression of away days is somewhat jaundiced by her professional experience of time spent away from the proper job to brainstorm ideas that were good but for various, often financial, reasons rarely came to fruition, must confess to a less than enthusiastic response when Rev. Lynn announced, with great verve, that everyone, whether they had worshipped at St Christopher’s for 80 years or one week, was invited to Savio House Retreat Centre in Bollington on Sunday 21st January. Safer, then, to let others tell the story…

From Simon Caudwell: Why? Two main reasons led to us wanting to spend more time together than can usually happen on a Sunday morning. Firstly, we simply wanted to get to know each other better to help us thrive as a church. We could bring our two congregations (8:30am and 10:45am) together, learn some more names and build friendships, appreciate each other’s unique talents and see if there are new ways we could help each other and serve the community. Secondly, we were keen to look at the vision that Chester Diocese has set out for the church – a vision they are calling Together in Christ – Sharing Hope. As well as learning to be confident in who we are – with the gifts God has already given us, we wanted to remind ourselves that the church doesn’t exist to serve itself, but to focus outward, both appreciating and welcoming those in our neighbourhood.

And so to Savio on a cold and windy Sunday morning, where Father Joe was waiting to welcome us to The Barn.

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Away day

Who came?

All ages from young children to octogenarians! Existing church members from both our 8:30 and 10:45 congregations. Some new people, getting to know us for the first time.

Many of us spent the whole day together, but there was freedom to come and go, as other commitments and energy levels allowed.

What did we do?

Initial icebreakers to help us learn more about each other were followed by a short time of worship, with songs (including from Pott Puppets!) and some brief prayers for the day. Rev. Lynn led us in thinking about how we are all unique. Using a striped beachball, she illustrated how, because we each see the world from a different viewpoint, we need to share our perceptions if we want to discover the whole picture.

We talked together as a church about three main topics: • What already gives us hope? Sharing things that are already going well.

• Outside the church, who do we already know? What are some of our most natural connections with the wider community?

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• How could we build bridges and enjoy those connections more?

Everyone wrote their ideas on Post-it notes, and then we put our brilliant teenagers to work (they think the quickest!) sorting the dozens of notes to bring everyone’s ideas together and find some of the common themes. The children were asked for their ideas too: what they enjoy at church and what they would like to do more of.

It wasn’t all work, of course! We had breaks to relax and chat; thanks so much to all who served us tea and coffee and to those who provided such amazing cakes. After we had consumed our packed lunches, some took the opportunity to have fun with the Pott Puppets under the guidance of our regular puppeteers. A craft table was also a popular optional activity for the creatives amongst us, while others took an after-lunch walk in the beautiful Savio grounds.

How did it feel?

One person who arrived at lunchtime was amazed at the excited buzz of conversation. (There was also a quiet room for those who needed a break from all the talking!) Many participants said how much

Puppets

they had enjoyed the day, and I sensed that people felt welcomed and included.

As Rev. Lynn promised, no one was pounced on to say anything, but there were lots of opportunities to contribute: by writing ideas down; by sharing quietly in small groups; or for the confident ones, by speaking out in the bigger group. Overall, it felt like a relaxing and fun way to share ideas together.

What might come next?

All those Post-it notes are being read in more detail by our dedicated church leaders. The themes that emerge about our perceived strengths and what we could try to do more of – or do differently – will be shared with our standing committee and PCC, and then with the whole church.

We won’t be able to change everything all at once, but we can explore new ways of being relevant to our Pott Shrigley community, and to keep growing together as a church for all ages.

Several people – including some of the children – asked: ‘When’s the next away day?’ So watch this space…

I’ve tried to capture something of the flavour of our time together – I thoroughly enjoyed it myself! …but let me know if I missed your favourite bit. Oh yes, I know, the table football!

Post-it notes HotPott - March 2024

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From Lydia Potts: 'Getting to know you' marmalade and summer pasta.

We began the away day by playing some 'getting to know you' games. Firstly, Person Bingo: when you'd found the person matching the clue, you then asked them to sign the corresponding square. Who would have thought David Gem was born in Birmingham? He doesn't sound a bit like Noddy Holder. Afterwards, we played Red or Blue?: the participants were split in answer to questions such as: 'Do you prefer tea or coffee?' Some choices were tricky so sometimes I stood in the middle. The short Sunday service was reflective, I thought; some people remained seated instead of standing, which seemed relaxed.

At lunchtime Simon and I mentioned our previous day’s trip to West Kirby, where there is a lovely little old-fashioned familyrun greengrocer's. I said that I'd noticed Seville Marmalade oranges outside the shop, and had considered buying some but changed my mind, not knowing if I'd have time to do all of that boiling and chopping; that led to a conversation about making marmalade. Audrey Bomford had just made some marmalade and mentioned that the small Seville oranges are best.

She had scoured the shops until finally finding some in Marple. Audrey told us that it’s the pips that set marmalade… she

Seville Orange Marmalade

puts them into a muslin bag to stop them escaping into the mix. Rebecca told us how her mum made marmalade and Pam Crewe offered around her sandwiches while we talked. I was glad I hadn't bought the Seville oranges I'd seen as they were quite large. We did, though, purchase some lovely little Spanish tomatoes on the vine; they looked sweet, ripe and delicious, so we bought a brown-paper bag full. I had a Jamie Oliver creation in mind, and it didn't disappoint.

And, indeed, it is this month’s recipe; see page 41.

Lydia mentions Audrey B and her marmalade-making expertise. As Seville oranges appear in our shops in January, I’ve taken the liberty of reserving her recipe for the Christmas 2024 edition of HotPott! However, here are her thoughts following on from the away day.

From Audrey Bomford: Marmalade meditation.

It was in a January service at church, just after the away day, that Reverend Lynn reminded us that all our plans and discussions and hopes and requests emerging from that day were of no avail if as a church we forgot that our plans need to be God’s plan. We were urged to wait and watch, as the Psalms remind us so often, so that we could listen to Him.

Person Bingo Page 8

Like making marmalade, following the HotPott - March 2024

recipe and waiting and watching are central to success.

Making our year’s supply of marmalade usually takes a whole week, and reminds me of the times in our lives when we feel like a Seville orange. Life may seem bitter and be squeezing us with pressures that seem to have little purpose. We may feel useless, different from the rest, and have irritating pips of permanent pain. But even in the darkness of our January, we are called to waiting and watching to be

of service for God. The bitter juice of life has the warm abundant sugar of God’s love and purpose poured into it. We are stirred to make nourishment for others, which no other oranges can do quite the same.

Even the pips have a reason to be there! We are preserved to be used for the Maker’s purposes, and the result of waiting for His recipe is generous gold.

Thank you for these thoughts on the away day; the sceptical editor was made to ponder – she even enjoyed herself!

Your Vote Your Council Highways Pending • Repair/replace culvert under Shrigley Road outside Pott Hall.

• Remedial resurfacing of Shrigley Road from Green Close to the aqueduct.

• Modifications to the chevron bend by Shrigley Hall.

• Repair of collapsed wall Bakestonedale Road.

• Damage to the signpost by the church wall still awaits repair.

• Awaiting redesign of the work required on the kerb by the village hall.

Pott Shrigley village website Cllr Lancaster and the clerk are continuing to populate this. Residents will be advised in due course how to access this new website.

Lychgate We await the archdeacon’s approval for repairs to commence.

Planning Application NP/CEC/1223/1523 Nab Cottage, SK10 5RT Proposal: two storey rear and single storey side extension.

Pending 23/3874M Shrigley Hall Hotel, SK10 5SB Retrospective application for installation of two marquees on the old tennis court area to be in situ for 12 months.

23/1419M Nab Works, (MRI Polytech) SK10 5SD Application (retrospective) for a storage building and an additional area of car parking, including associated engineering works, with a proposed comprehensive landscaping scheme and biodiversity enhancements.

Withdrawn NP/CEC/0323/0337 Lyme Park relocation of car park, restoration of swine ground, visitor access improvements and new hall and garden entrance.

Next meeting The next council meeting will take place at 8pm on Monday 4th March 2024 in the village hall.

Jo Hadfield

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Remembering Muriel Elisabeth Schofield…

On Saturday 16th December 2023, the village community and all Muriel’s many, many friends, were shocked to hear from her lovely family that Muriel, Gran Mu, Auntie Mu, had died. Needy Gate Farm, her home for over 72 years, had caught fire; we were relieved to learn later that this was not the cause of her death.

Kath Matheson Muriel Elisabeth Morgan was born on 1st January 1927 in Newton le Willows.

Her sister Joan was several years older, and Muriel’s arrival was a bit of a shock to Joan’s system; Mu was never sure if Joan got over it! Joan was the quieter, more compliant one, Muriel rather less so. Muriel’s childhood was spent in Macclesfield and Rushton Spencer; academically able, Muriel was proud to attend Macclesfield High School for Girls and made several lifelong friends and acquaintances there.

After school Muriel became a land girl at a farm in Wrenbury, though she often wished she’d pursued her preferred option of becoming a librarian; this was not, however, to be. Recently parted company from her boyfriend Hugh, Muriel met Brian, an apprentice on the same farm.

They married at St Bartholomew’s, Wilmslow on 4th April 1951; although Muriel sometimes said she married Brian on the rebound – they certainly seemed to ‘do their own thing’ pretty often – there must have been something pretty good about their relationship as they were married for an awfully long time. It’s a measure of Muriel’s sociability that she kept in contact with Hugh, staying with Page 10

Muriel

him and his family in Pimlico a couple of times a year. I was never sure a romantic relationship between them would have been sustainable – Hugh was a Labour councillor!

Brian and Muriel lived with Brian’s parents for a few weeks before moving to Needy Gate Farm on 1st May 1951. There they inherited a horse, Dolly, a gentle creature who worked on the farm raking up hay and the like; son Glyn loved to ride on her back. Muriel wrote a lovely poem about her for the June 2020 edition of HotPott.

Brian kept a herd of Ayrshire cows; Muriel spoke of ‘double whipped cream’ – whipped from the churn and whipped from the Milk Marketing Board. I guess they weren’t supposed to skim off the cream the dairy had, effectively, already paid for! Farming was, and still is, hard work, but Muriel spoke with great affection of the times spent with neighbouring HotPott - March 2024

Needy Gate Farm

Muriel & Buttercup at Needy Gate Farm

farmers, like the Masseys at Birchencliffe, helping each other out; these occasions usually seemed to involve much hilarity.

some lovely, cross-stitched pictures. She was an excellent and generous cook, particularly famous for her New Year’s Day birthday lunches and her special traybake – made in her inimitable fashion, never weighing the ingredients and always putting lots more cherries in than her ‘recipe’ stated.

Muriel and Brian had two children, Glyn and Gaynor, who were brought up on the farm and attended Pott Shrigley School.

Very sadly Glyn died at a relatively young age; Gaynor still lives locally.

Muriel was a participator. A stalwart of Adlington Women’s Institute for many years, Muriel was one of its early presidents in 1966 & 1967; in the second millennium she came to the rescue when a mass resignation of the committee threatened its closure. Muriel, and her great friend Isobel Drynan, also a farmer’s wife, enjoyed trips to Denman, the WI college, subjects varying from jewellery making to bell ringing to local history.

Muriel never stopped learning.

Muriel was a talented artist and went to an art class at Adlington Village Hall; she worked in water colour, pen and ink, oil and pastel. Her Christmas cards displayed her considerable skills; her paintings (and photographs) frequently appeared on the Cheshire WI calendar as well as winning prizes at the Cheshire Show. Her creative talents extended far beyond painting though – further prizes were awarded for her flower arranging, and she produced HotPott - March 2024

Muriel & Brian, 1986

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Muriel

Muriel 1987

Table tennis player, Scottish country dancer, yoga-doer, horse rider; Muriel was ever on the go. She enjoyed many a substantial walk with Eileen Buffey, and when on holiday, both at home and abroad, with Barbara Reeves. Muriel was also a bellringer, learning at St Michael’s, Macclesfield shortly after the wartime ban on ringing was lifted in 1943. Brian was the real enthusiast, but Muriel supported him in his efforts to increase the number of bells at Pott Shrigley from three to six in 1986, became secretary of the new band and rang faithfully for Sunday services for many years. Muriel’s secretarial skills were also used for the Pott Shrigley Village Hall Management Committee, where her beautifully clear handwriting is still the most legible in the minute book; she was also a school governor, Rose Queen supporter and crowner, always willing to help at fetes, jumble sales, the whist drive, the list goes on. She was personally kind too – taking a friend many miles to be with her dying mum, a casserole left in the

fridge for someone returning from holiday.

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She loved wildlife; she fed the badgers that visited her garden and the variety of birds that visited her garden was just amazing – and rather jealous making!

Muriel adored her grandchildren – Alan, Emma, Angela and Martha – and her great grandchildren too; she also appeared to be a surrogate gran to most of Bollington – so many of her grandchildren’s friends regarded her as their gran, as did our three children. I suspect it was her attitude of encouraging the young that kept her young too. We often joked that Auntie Mu knew most of Cheshire – it was rare that she didn’t know the person you were talking about, or at least she would know someone who knew them! Muriel rarely lost contact with friends, or indeed the friends of her children. One of Glyn’s great friends, Trevor Wainwright, is one such. Trevor recalls: ‘One of my and Glyn’s friends was Pete, always referred as 'big' Pete as he had big ideas and was always doing something new. When Glyn's Vauxhall Viva engine HotPott - March 2024

gave up the ghost, I knew big Pete had a spare. Muriel ran me to Pete's house to collect it in their Hillman Husky estate car, while Glyn got the old engine ready for removal. Everything went well but Muriel was unusually quiet. Finally she admitted what was troubling her: she was expecting to meet Hagrid, not someone seven stones wet through! Just because two big lads called him big Pete!’ One of the funniest memories of Muriel that Trevor’s wife Sandra has is when Muriel gave them a piece of beef once, she stuck her head between them and said: 'That's Claude'!

Muriel loved many and was much loved. Having supported her family, her neighbours and her friends over so many years, she was enabled to live at Needy Gate Farm till the very end because her family and her neighbours supported her so well. In her last hours she was across

the road, enjoying food, wine, reliving fond holiday memories and being her usual cheeky self; what a way to spend your final evening.

Kind, funny, generous, cheeky, well read, artistic, a fund of local knowledge and stories, memories of her gusty laugh as we sat by the fire… so much to say about dear Auntie Mu. Her thanksgiving service held at St Christopher’s was packed. God ‘has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.’

(Ecclesiastes 3:11) He has now restored Muriel to Himself. May she rest in peace and rise in glory; till we meet merrily in heaven..

Thanks to Muriel’s family, Rev. Lynn Caudwell, David Garton, Audrey Meecham and Sandra & Trevor Wainwright for their help in preparing this tribute.

The knight with the (not so) shiny power hose…

Having spent many an hour in a cold, wet and mucky state secondary to wielding a power-washing hose, I am deeply grateful to Jim Curtis for cleaning the church paths.

I’m sure everyone else who has skidded around on the stone slabs recently is also extremely grateful; the paths were somewhat hazardous.

Thank you, Jim! Hope you’ve warmed up now…

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Remembering Geoffrey George Llewellyn Parker…

Sunday mornings have been quieter at St Christopher’s since Geoff died on Sunday 10th December 2023. At a singing practice a few days before he’d seemed his usual ebullient and lovely self: cheerful, chatty, and forward thinking.

Kath Matheson Although Geoffrey George Llewellyn Parker was Pott Shrigley to the core, he was, in fact, born in Manchester on 13th August 1937. His parents, Lilian and George, met after she went there to work, but when George was called up Lilian and Geoff moved to 1, Church Cottages where Lilian’s parents lived.

Geoff said the war didn’t really impinge on his childhood: ‘I played with my friend Teddy Cooper from Jackson Brow and enjoyed myself.’ Geoff’s mum was a dinner lady at Pott School (alongside Annie Dalziel and Eileen Harding). These redoubtable ladies had a softer side – they fed the cats on the cobbles by the lychgate – but Lily could also be formidable. Geoff was allowed to start Pott School at four, possibly because he spent so much time there anyway, but he had a period away too: ‘Not sure why, but Mum fell out with Miss Featherstone at Pott so I went to Church Street School, Bollington for a bit…’ Perhaps mum and teacher disagreed about Geoff and his mate Teddy breaking into school on several occasions and, when bored one evening, shoving a lit newspaper through the school letter box to set the place on fire?! Geoff subsequently attended Poynton High School.

Geoff often hopped over the garden wall into Pott churchyard. He chimed a bell Page 14

Geoff

for services and pumped up the organ blower for Mr Bennett, the Sheriff of Pott Shrigley. He progressed to filling in graves for pocket money and lighting the coke boiler on winter Saturday nights to heat the church. Geoff attended Sunday school, sang in the choir and after he was confirmed in 1950, helped to serve Communion under the watchful eye of Rev Oscar Lloyd.

Geoff joined the Pott Shrigley Amateur Dramatic Society, which was organised by Kay Penney and Dorothy Stewart, both Pott Shrigley born and bred. Whilst rehearsing a play, The Vigil, Geoff offered to walk a certain young lady home. Although Wendy Bunce and Geoff had both attended school in Pott and Poynton, as Geoff was two years older they didn’t socialise much then, though Wendy, often late for the Poynton School bus, usually relied on Geoff’s younger brother Raymond to park HotPott - March 2024

Geoff

Geoff

her bike in the Parkers’ garden whilst she scrambled onto the bus! Geoff and Wendy married at St Christopher’s in 1959, ostensibly to get better army pay during his National Service (according to Geoff!).

died in 1964, Geoff joined Wendy and her mum Eve in the family business. Initially just selling tea to walkers, it blossomed into the locally renowned Country Café on Spuley Lane. Geoff’s first job was to build more accommodation onto the little bungalow, which had already been extended with a bigger kitchen and dining room. Meanwhile the family lived in a static caravan at the top of the garden, the same one they used for their early family holidays in Prestatyn. Running a café precluded summer holidays, but every half term Granny Bunce took over the catering reins and when the café closed at the end of a busy Sunday the girls were bedded down in the back of the estate car, usually used for trips to the cash and carry, and after a pause at the bottom of the drive for a discussion on ‘left or right’ and possible destinations, usually depending on weather forecasts, off they went. The girls woke up to breakfast in a surprise seaside location; Mandy remembers it was always raining!

Geoff trained as a master bricklayer and on trips round Cheshire he loved to point his handiwork out. He became an army driving instructor and subsequently taught his younger siblings Raymond, Robert and Anita to drive, rapping the knuckles of any hand left resting on the gear stick with his pipe. He also taught his daughters, Mandy and Caroline, but his toughest pupil was his dad George. Despite his expertise, Geoff sustained a serious head injury whilst driving an army truck near Catterick; years later he suddenly remembered it was caused by him reaching down to retrieve a newspaper from the floor – the gear leaver caught in his epaulet and he couldn’t free himself.

Geoff and Wendy lived initially in Whiteley Green and Mandy and Caroline were born there. When Wendy’s father, Bert Bunce, HotPott - March 2024

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The Country Cafe

Shrigley Hall Hotel Golf and Country Club

Geoff spent 30 years cooking endless afternoon teas at the Country Café, keeping every order in his head. Although some recall he was not infrequently rude to customers (!), Geoff loved being the host, front of house and wine waiter.

Birthdays, weddings, funerals, coach parties and Christmas dinners were all catered for. Thousands of people were fed whilst a wonderful team of ‘aunties’ looked after Mandy and Caroline, and generations of Bollington teenagers were given their first work experience. Geoff and Wendy had boundless energy, and each New Year’s Eve, after the restaurant closed at 10.30pm,

friends, family and neighbours arrived to drink and dance until the not-so-early hours. Then came the massive clean-up before the café opened again for the bank holiday meals. If unable to sleep Geoff got up to make a batch of scones in the Aga, which probably explains why he absolutely refused to make them for Rose Queen cream teas after he retired!

Geoff and Wendy encouraged Mandy and Caroline to be independent whilst keeping safe. Before Mandy was let loose with a car, Geoff had her perfecting hill starts on the café car park, then removed all the wheels to prove she was competent to change a tyre!

On retirement in the mid-1990s, Geoff and Wendy moved to the cottage Geoff had renovated whilst still working (builder by day, restauranteur by night!).

They travelled widely, played bridge and continued their enthusiasm for golf. At his funeral, Mandy said: if ‘Mum and Dad (had) discovered golf earlier then Caroline and I would not have been brought up at all!’ Geoff and Wendy were early members of the Shrigley Hall Golf Club, of which Geoff became president; he wore his green president’s blazer as proudly and as often as possible. Geoff and Wendy were founder members of SAGA, the Shrigley Ageing Golfers Alliance.

Geoff Page 16

‘We have Alzheimer’s’ was how Geoff told Caroline the awful news of Wendy’s diagnosis, and that is how he saw it – they HotPott - March 2024

woe betide anyone who stood in front of him – police outriders, the postman, the man who couldn’t get through to pick up his wife who had gone into labour, they all got told to move! Geoff recalled the annual Bollington Cycle Race, which took place from 1940s to 1963. Geoff, using a stirrup pump and bucket, stood on Pott churchyard wall and sprayed the riders with water to cool them down as they passed; Geoff assured me that he only sprayed those who wanted to be cooled. A likely story.

Tour of Britain

were in this together. He did an amazing job of keeping her feeling safe and happy before she died in 2013. Geoff had ‘The love of my life’ put on her memorial stone, and that is what she was, but Geoff was a resilient man and after having a shoulder and knee replaced in the few months after her death, he resumed an active, sociable life. Unless staying with Mandy in Spain, which he loved, Geoff rarely missed a Sunday service at St Christopher’s. He loved to sing and re-joined the choir at St Christopher’s; his booming voice was always to be heard above the rest! He revisited his thespian days for productions in Bollington, and his performance as a Hawaiian dancing girl, complete with grass skirt, at one of the old people’s parties in Pott is seared on many memories.

Never afraid to make his views known, his ‘performance’ when the Tour of Britain cycle race passed through Pott in September 2016, typified his approach.

Arriving in good time, Geoff resolutely plonked his chair in front of the post box; HotPott - March 2024

Geoff was very rooted in his community.

Jo Gem remembers opening the front door of The Croft (previously the village shop) to find Geoff sitting on the bench in the porch, swinging his legs like a little boy and saying: ‘Eee I haven’t sat here in years since I used to buy my sweets here.’

A devoted husband and dad, Geoff lived life to the full and with humour; loud and sure of his opinions he was also certain of his faith. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Thanks to Geoff’s family and to many of his friends for help in preparing this tribute.

“Your magazine needs you.” n’t Do get r fo

Please send your contributions to

magazine@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk no later than midnight on.....

Thursday, 14th March www.pottshrigleychurch.org.uk Proof reader next month is Sally Winstanley Page 17

The going (and coming back) like the clappers A while ago, as part of routine maintenance we had the bells at St Christopher’s inspected by an engineer from Taylor’s Bellfoundry in Loughborough. I’m glad to say the report was good, but it recommended that the clappers be re-bushed.

Duncan Matheson A clapper comprises the ball and shaft that swings inside a bell to strike it and make it sound. It hangs from a staple in the crown (top) of the bell, and its movement is enabled by a sort of bearing known as a bush. After many years of ringing the bushes get worn and need to be replaced.

The report also suggested completely replacing the clapper of the third bell, which dates from the 1700s and was originally hung in St Nicholas, Lockington in Leicestershire and transferred to Pott in 1986 when our bells were augmented from three to six. The clapper in the third bell never functioned very well – it had a forked design, making it more expensive to re-bush, and was 2cm too short for the bell, which made it more difficult to ring in certain ways.

After discussion with the PCC and getting the necessary diocesan permission, in 2023 we decided to get on with the work. So, we waited till the wedding season was over and one day in November I enlisted the help of a ringing friend from Macclesfield, Kevin Rogers (who knows about these things, unlike me), and we removed the clappers from the tower. The next day Kath and I drove them over to the bell foundry at Loughborough for the work to be done.

For five weeks the bells were silent, though we were able to continue to practise on Thursday evenings. This was useful experience, especially to stop the learners getting rusty, but was also more challenging, not being able to hear the sound you were supposed to be making.

We were not the only ones to miss the sound of the bells – several worshippers asked why there were no bells to greet them as they came to church on Sunday morning.

Page 18

HotPott - March 2024

In mid-December, just in time for the Carols by Candlelight and other Christmas services, we made the return trip to the bell foundry to pick our clappers up. They looked splendid – as good as new, with the clapper balls built up and rounded off where they had got worn and all given a coat of the shiny red paint always used on Taylor’s bell fittings. Kevin and I, together with David Garton, got to work putting them back in. Kevin provided the knowhow, David provided the hard graft and common sense, and I did what I was told.

The clappers have to be exactly central within the bell and hung at the same level as before to get the right note.

The more discerning may have noticed a slight improvement in the sound of the bells, a purer note because of the rounded clapper balls, and as ringers we find them easier to ring, especially the third.

HotPott - March 2024

Page 19

Blown along with prayer: February's prayer walk It was a dry and mild day for our first prayer walk of the year. Starting from church, we headed north-west along Shrigley Road, stopping at the entrance to Shrigley Hall to pray.

Yvonne Foster As we moved on we spotted some snowdrops and walking along Long Lane we saw other signs that carried the same hope and promise of the coming springtime.

The views from Long Lane were, as ever, spectacular and we paused to pray for all the people, and their livelihoods, that we could imagine hidden in the rural and urban landscape. On Long Lane we met Irene at the Silk Cat Rescue Centre and, knowing that we'd be passing, she shared with us a prayer that she'd written. Olga, a volunteer who was just finishing her shift at the centre, joined us for part of our walk before we parted company and we headed off across the fields. We stopped in the field to pray for the health and wellbeing of our nation and for those we knew who were suffering.

As we climbed the Nab, we met a local landowner who, along with his wife,

Page 20

was managing their land for the benefit of wildlife. We were encouraged to hear about the return of owls and smaller birds as new ponds, trees and hedgerows were being introduced on their seven acre plot.

It became increasingly windy and hard going as we continued to climb the Nab, but seeing the 360 degree views from the trig point lifted our spirits: praise the Lord of heaven and earth!

The 12noon return time was woefully inaccurate, but a good time was had by all.

Thanks Lynn, Ros and Madeline for your company.

We are now doing prayer walks on the first Saturday of each month. By special request, in March the walk will be sponsored. Sixyear-old Clark, a member of St Christopher's Church and Pott Shrigley School, is seeking sponsors to raise money to buy a cow (or two) through the charity Concern Worldwide.

The circular walk, from church to White Nancy and back is approximately four miles. Everyone is welcome to come along on March 2nd, but if you can’t, sponsor Clark anyway. See Victoria in church or phone (07961004755) – late sponsors welcome!

HotPott - March 2024

To give financially in support of St Christopher's Pott Shrigley Please scan the barcode below Thank you!

Calling all aspiring Rose Queens, Rose Buds and their friends The Pott Shrigley Rose Queen Festival and the Shrigley Stag Race will be held over the weekend of June 15th & 16th 2024, so we need to find some royalty.

Rose queens have generally been drawn from years 6 and 6, rose buds from years 2 and 3 but these things are not set in stone.

Girls who attend Pott Shrigley School, St Christopher’s Church or who live in the village are eligible; generally, girls who have been rose buds do not become rose queen unless we have a dearth of girls.

The role involves attending the Pott Shrigley Rose Queen Fete on Saturday 15th June, and the family service at St Christopher’s on Sunday 16th June at 10.45am. Sometimes invitations come from other rose queens in other villages like Rainow to accompany them at their fetes, but accepting these invitations is not compulsory.

Matheson (07944 624 832), Helen Kennedy (07722 782 837) or Lisa at Pott Shrigley Church School (01625 573260).

Crowns and cloaks provided!

If you are interested, please contact Kath HotPott - March 2024

Page 21

''I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who believes in me will live even though they die:'

1 _ _

John 1:25

2

Mouse Makes

READ the Bible passages to find the answers to the crossword clues

3

Matthew 21:1-11 1. Which city did Jesus ride into?

2. What did he ride on?

3. What did the crowd shout?

4. What clothes did they put down?

7. What did they cut down to spread on the road?

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Matthew 26:17-29 sd 15. What feast did Jesus celebrate?

Sa 12. Who did he celebrate it with?

11. What did Jesus break to eat?

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__&<t)_

Matthew 27:27-61 17. What was Jesus' crown made of?

9. What was Jesus crucified on?

14. Whose tomb was Jesus buried in?

13. What did they wrap Jesus' body in?

16. What did they roll in front of the tomb?

---

Matthew 28:1-10 5. Who descended from heaven?

19. What had happened to Jesus?

Sa. Mary was full of fear and ...?

HotPott - March 2024 Mar24 © deborah noble • parishpump.co.uk

Coffee Break

Across 1 Made from the fruit of the vine, symbol of the blood of Christ (4) 3 ‘You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on — — ’ (Joshua 8:4) (3,5) 8 Seep (4) 9 Celebrated by Jesus on the night of his betrayal (Luke 22:15) (8) 11 One of the supposed sites of Christ’s burial place in Jerusalem (6,4) 14 ‘A city on a hill — be hidden’ (Matthew 5:14) (6) 15 He inherited Elijah’s mantle (2 Kings 2:12–13) (6) 17 Where Jesus prayed ‘Not as I will, but as you will’ (Matthew 26:36, 39) (10) 20 ‘Only in his home town _ 7 ‘I preached that they should repent and — and in his — — is a prophet without honour’ to God’ (Acts 26:20) (4) (Matthew 13:57) (3,5) 10 ‘ — — , the world will not see me any more, 21 Sail (anag.) (4) but you will see me’ (John 14:19) (6,4) 22 How Jesus was punished before his 12 He betrayed Jesus: Judas — (Luke 6:16) (8) crucifixion (Matthew 27:26) (8) 13 Jesus to Peter: ‘ — — of my sheep’ (John 23 Eye sore (4) 21:16) (4,4) 16 The centurion said, ‘Surely this man was Down — — of God’ (Mark 15:39) (3,3) 1 Can’t grow (anag.) (5,3) 18 Baked bread (Mark 8:14) (4) 2 A servant girl to Peter, ‘You also were with 19 ‘Blessing and honour, glory and power, be that — , Jesus’ (Mark 14:67) (8) — Him’ (Handel’s Messiah) (4) 4 Well-being (Proverbs 3:8) (6) 5 Pentecostal denomination, — of God (10) 6 One of the ‘obvious’ acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19, 21) (4)

Thinking about advertising in this magazine?

For commercial or private advertising, please contact us for free advice and very reasonable rates: magazine@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk HotPott - March 2024

Page 23

Class 3 consider Communion

On Monday 22nd January Class 3 had the chance to visit St Christopher’s Church and speak to Reverend Lynn about how she delivers Communion in church.

Mrs Fairhurst This follows on from their topic ‘Why do Christians celebrate the Eucharist?’ in RE.

Page 24

The children explored how Reverend Lynn breaks the bread for the congregation and then shares the wine. Lynn then explained the link between Communion and the Last Supper; the children found the symbolism incredibly interesting. They asked plenty of well-thought questions and really consolidated their learning of the topic so far. A huge thanks to Reverend Lynn for having us!

HotPott - March 2024

Another exciting trip to church…

Every year the children in Reception and Class 3 receive Bibles from the St Christopher’s Church family. Those in reception were presented with The Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories and Class 3 had a copy of the International Children’s Bible. We’re told that the older ones in particular really look forward to receiving their ‘grown-up’ Bibles, but

judging by the photographs, the little ones were pretty keen too! We hope they enjoy reading and learning from their Bibles for many years to come.

The Crossroad The road was hard, no turning back, The way ordained by mighty God. ‘Your will, not mine’ was all He said, As humbly down that path He trod.

The crowd that cheered Him once with palms Began to shout for Him to die, They chose Barabbas in his stead And with one voice cried ‘Crucify!’

Between two thieves on Calvary’s hill They put to death the Prince of Life One cried for help, the other cursed.

The first was promised Paradise.

This promise now is for us all: Christ gave His life to set us free.

The Cross divides, it always will – The question is: what side are we?

By Megan Carter HotPott - March 2024

Page 25

PCC Ponderings The PCC has had plenty to ponder in recent months! The main discussion points generally fall under three headings: financial matters (Peter Kennedy), the buildings and churchyard (David Garton) and, of course, the vicar's report. In reverse order, some key highlights from recent months: Vicar’s report: Can you believe it's almost a year since Rev. Lynn joined us? It feels like she has achieved so much in such a short space of time. Church in the Pub continues apace, with ecumenical opportunities arising from these jovial meetings at The Cotton Tree in Bollington. The Little Doves pre-school group, led by Victoria Price, continues to grow, although numbers do vary greatly. New orders of service for the weekly 8.30am communion have been well received and wheels are in motion to produce a number of larger print copies for those who need them. You may have noticed Rev. Lynne Bowden has been providing more regular support. Freed from some of her other commitments, Lynne has graciously agreed to step in when we need help from a priest with

permission to officiate. There has been a positive reception to the involvement of members of the congregation in leading the 10.45am service, with several new folk volunteering to take part. We are also very fortunate to have the tremendous support of our pastoral worker, Anne Murphy, who continues her many roles including (but not limited to!) leading youth church, acting as coordinator of the pastoral group, connecting with those considering baptism and taking Holy Communion home to those who request it. Anne recently began a course in bereavement ministry too.

Rebecca Roth-Biester

Page 26

Buildings and churchyard: The Diocesan Advisory Committee supports our proposal to locate future cremation plots at least 1.5m from the churchyard wall.

There are notices about this in church and on the website and, assuming no objections are submitted, we anticipate receiving permission to progress in the coming months. The eagle-eyed may have noticed the door and frame to the gas meter cabinet in the churchyard have been replaced. Thanks to Ian Clarke for arranging this. A smart gas meter is due to be installed; we hope it will prove a lot smarter than the newly installed smart electricity meter, which has not worked properly since its installation! Last, but definitely not least, for the benefit of the campanologists out there, you will be pleased to note that the bell clappers have all been refurbished. This will ensure the HotPott - March 2024

Site of proposed cremated remains plot

bells continue to sound magnificent for several years to come.

Financial matters: Unfortunately, whilst regular giving remains relatively stable year on year, increasingly this is failing to match our outgoings. Our largest expenditure is the parish share, the sum of money which every parish is asked to pay for mission and ministry across the diocese.

In 2024 our contribution will increase by 5%, with the total payable each month rising to almost £5,000. In addition to the parish share, we have substantial costs and liabilities in maintaining our beautiful Grade 1 listed church building. The good news is that the recent gift day resulted in some one-off donations, which provided a very welcome boost. We are extremely grateful for these, though it would be great if regular giving increased too! We are also keenly anticipating some exciting fundraising concerts in church later in the year – more on this in future editions!

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. email: pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk telephone: 07891 953919 HotPott - March 2024

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HotPott - March 2024

The Suffering Church

Mrs Shazia, Sunday school teacher, Pakistan; Barnabas

Famine in Tigray, Ethiopia; Al Jazeera.webp

Information from Barnabas Aid this month is less about persecution, more about the physical needs of Christians in many parts of the world. For example, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia millions face death by starvation. A doctor desperately trying to save lives said: ‘People have accepted daily mourning and funerals, and they have understood that they are destined to die.’

Tigray, where most people are Christian, is a region still reeling from two years of conflict, where hundreds of thousands died due to war-related hunger. The last five rainy seasons have failed, leading to severe food shortages. An estimated 5,000,000 people require immediate food assistance. Already hundreds have died, especially children.

Amidst anti-Christian violence and persecution in Pakistan, Christians need help to survive the elements. In August 2023, Martha’s family was among the many made homeless by mob violence; houses were burnt, churches ransacked, Bibles destroyed, belongings stolen. The HotPott - March 2024

family have recently got a proper house to live in again, but with few amenities or possessions so it was an answer to prayer when winter supplies such a quilts, rice, pulses, flour, spices, soap, detergent and other essentials arrived from Barnabas.

Another recipient, Shazia, a Sunday school teacher, said: ‘We have found amazing grace with new hope to start life with renewed zeal and passion for Lord Jesus Christ by living and testifying among our enemies with renewed spiritual resilience.’

In Kyrgyzstan, Christians are facing temperatures as low as -30⁰C; and need coal to help keep their homes warm in the freezing winter. In Lebanon, the economy is still in free fall and poverty is engulfing more and more people – not only Lebanese Christians but also many Christian

Winter in Kyrgyzstan; AKIpress

continued → Page 29

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HotPott - March 2024

Trauma centre run by Open Doors partners, Nigeria; Open Doors

Barnabas-funded wood-burning stove, Ukraine; Barnabas

refugees who came to the country fleeing war in Syria. They have no jobs, and no way to warm their homes, which are often shared with many others. In Ukraine the war rages on; many areas have no gas or electric supplies and Christians, particularly the vulnerable and elderly, are in desperate need of heating and a means of cooking though, through Barnabas, many have now received a wood-burning stove and firewood to help keep them warm and enable them to cook food again.

Please consider supporting these efforts prayerfully and financially.

A way to support Christians who have been persecuted for their faith is to write to them. OpenDoors run a scheme which enables Christians to write in encouragement to those who have suffered. ‘These letters encouraged me to know that I am not alone,’ says Martina from Nigeria, whose husband was tragically killed by Fulani militants.

‘Anytime I am sad, or my heart is heavy, I pick up the letters and start reading and feel comforted.’

OpenDoors also support local partners to

run trauma centres. After his father was killed by Islamic militants, Ayuba*, also from Nigeria, was determined to kill the person who helped the extremists identify their targets. But after attending a trauma centre, a remarkable transformation happened. ‘I thank you so much,’ he says.

‘It is because of you that I have peace in my mind now. I said I would never forgive, and I wanted to take my revenge, but now I have forgiven totally. I have learned to leave everything at the feet of Jesus.’ Sessions focus on what trauma is, and how to respond in a resilient and biblical way. Workshops help trauma survivors – especially church leaders, women and young people – to process and work through their trauma and start to heal. Practical support is also offered.

‘The act of listening to victims of violence and allowing them share their frustration, humiliation and fear for the future proves to be very helpful,’ says Tirham* a volunteer at the trauma centre. ‘They are able to open their hearts to share their ordeal and express their fear and sometimes suicidal thoughts.’ The trauma centres need continued prayerful and financial support.

Your prayers and generosity are enormously contributing to the precious work of the trauma centre. Help can also be given by writing to both beneficiaries and frontline workers at the centre. continued →

HotPott - March 2024

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Est since 1890

1 Henshall Road, Bollington.

Tel: 01625 572110

Ayuba has now left the trauma centre feeling strengthened and encouraged to resume his life, but other believers, who are still at the centre, or workers like Tirham who are selflessly supporting survivors, would benefit from your words of encouragement. There is much useful

information about this on their website (http://opendoorsuk.org/act/letter/). * names changed.

Thank you to Barnabas and OpenDoors for the use of their material in preparation of this article.

Missionary Matters Johnny and Ann McClean had a wonderful season of outreach over Christmas in Bangkok, as reported previously. Johnny and Pastor Pramote have been following up those who showed interest in knowing more about what it means to be a Christian.

John Ryley Please continue to pray especially for one lady who has been coming to church on and off for the last year and has now asked how she can become a Christian.

Ann and son Joshua are now back at school, working hard. The McCleans have sent a note about their budget for 2024; please pray that churches and individuals will respond with adequate support. In addition to the support they need with their daily living expenses, Johnny and Ann have to find money to support Joshua

HotPott - March 2024

at school and Beth at university plus support for the Afghan refugees A, S and M in Bangkok as they continue to wait for their transfer to Australia, M’s school fees alone are around £2,500 per year. In addition, Johnny’s work with the Langham partnership is likely to cost £4,000 in 2024. Please consider supporting them financially, as well as with your prayers.

A recent visit from some friends who, like the Fazakerleys, are missionaries with Service in Mission (SIM) gave me much food for thought. Whatever church of whatever denomination in the UK we choose to go to, we would expect there to be a minister who had been to Bible college or the equivalent and who was well versed in scripture and Christian beliefs and doctrine; they would have had training in pastoral care and how to baptise the living and bury the dead etc.

We would take it for granted that we could read scripture in English, rather than in the original Greek and Hebrew, or some modern tongue such as German or French.

But in missionary countries like Malawi and Thailand, churches often have a leader of limited training and experience, which is why Johnny McClean's activities with the Langham Fellowship are so very, very important as they seek to encourage the ministry and augment the training of those already in positions of church leadership.

My friends, now back in Malawi, have developed a similar ministry continued → Page 33

there. Other friends in Mozambique have recently finished a 10 year programme translating the Bible into Lomwe, so believers in the 1,000,000+ Lomwe tribe can now read – or at least hear – the Bible in their heart language, not just in their country’s official language of Portuguese.

Megumi and Helen Fazakerley return to Malawi on March 28th. It will be interesting to see what new ministries they may become involved in: watch this space!

Helen & Megumi Fazakerley

Moses and climate change When Moses went up the mountain one day to meet with God, the Lord said he had both good news and bad news for him. Moses asked, “What’s the good news?”

God replied, “Moses, I shall visit plagues upon the Egyptians. I shall cause their rivers to run red with blood. I shall cause frogs to infest their houses, and lice to infest their bodies. I shall cause flies to swarm upon them. Their cattle shall die; boils will infect both man and beast. I shall cause hail to destroy their crops; and locusts shall devour anything green that is left in their land.

Darkness will cover their land for three days and nights. I shall then lead you through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night. I shall split the waters of the sea. I shall feed you with Manna that forms upon the ground until the children of Israel reach the Land flowing with milk and honey.”

Moses replied, “That’s GREAT, Lord! What could possibly be the bad news?”

“You, Moses, shall write the Environmental Impact Statement.”

HotPott - March 2024

The Coffee Tavern Fully License(\ Shrigley Road, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield

01625 576'90

Setving Daily, Breakfust, Main Meals, Snacks etc Available (or Functions etc.

OPEN 10qm to 6pm - Thursday to Sunday Page 35

Pott Shrigley Village Hall Bar 2nd Friday of every month, 6.30 'til 10.00pm

Page 36

8th 12t March h Ap ril

HotPott - March 2024

Hand Painted Pet Portraits

As a professional designer, I have enjoyed visualising my designs throughout my career but have in recent years rekindled my love of painting landscapes, and in particular pet portraits, through the medium of watercolour.

As an animal lover, it is of great satisfaction to capture the true character of a beloved pet.

From my home in Cheshire allow me to bring your pets to life in a vibrant, illustrative image - the perfect gift

Just send me a good photo and I will do the rest!

Geoff Kay artist HotPott - March 2024

M:07740966170 Geoffkay1959@gmail.com @geoffkayart Page 37

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HotPott - March 2024

2024

F LIX I N TH E STIX

Pott Shrigley Community Cinema

At Pott Shrigley Village Hall SK10 5RT

On the first Wednesday of each month:

DOORS OPEN 6.30 pm FILM STARTS 7.30 pm

6th March: The Great Escaper

Drama/Romance starring Michael Caine & Glenda Jackson

Ticket agents: - Anthea Wilkinson (01625 573538) (and St Oswald’s church, Bollington)

- Peter M Boulton (01625 876646) E-mail pottflix@gmail.com https://sites.google.com/site/pottflix/

Suggested donation: in advance £4 : on the door £5

Your presence is requested… at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on Sunday 17th March following the 10.45am service. At our recent away day we started to consider how we, the St Christopher’s family, wanted to continue to move forward in showing God’s love to each other, but also to bring His love and hope to others in our neighbourhoods.

The APCM provides a further opportunity to meet as a congregation to review the life and mission of St Christopher’s, and to HotPott - March 2024

contribute to its future plans.

Please do come, whether you have worshipped at St Christopher’s for days or decades! Chester Diocese’s vision, Together in Christ - Sharing Hope calls us to get out of our comfort zones and bring the good news of Christ to those who are yet to meet Him. So… there is plenty to talk about, and your views need to be heard!

Please do join us.

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Page 40

HotPott - March 2024

Recipe of the Month Summer Pasta

This is the first of the two recipes mentioned in Lydia’s report on St Christopher’s recent away day.

Lydia Potts It’s a Jamie Oliver recipe (thank you Jamie!), and looks really quick to do and tasty too. As for the other away-day recipe – you’ll have to wait till Christmas!

Ingredients: 500g mixed red and yellow cherry tomatoes 150g black olives 1 clove of garlic Red wine vinegar 30g (one bunch) fresh lemon basil 30g (one bunch) fresh marjoram Extra virgin olive oil 400g spaghetti or linguine

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Method: Halve the tomatoes and stone the olives.

Peel and finely chop the garlic.

In a large bowl, scrunch the tomatoes with your hands to slightly mush them. Mix in the olives, garlic and 1 tablespoon of vinegar.

Pick and tear in the basil and marjoram leaves and pour in 10 tablespoons of the olive oil. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Cook your pasta in salted boiling water according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain and quickly toss in with the tomatoes.

Call your guests around the table, then taste the juice at the bottom of the bowl and adjust the seasoning if you feel it needs it. Serve right away.

Enjoy!

HotPott - March 2024

Church Cleaning Rota 1st March

Mike & Sue

22nd

Shirley & Christine

8th

Ivan & Mary

29th

Sally & Yvonne

15th

David & Joy

5th April

Caroline & Jean Page 41

Services

3rd March.

8.30am 10.45am

Holy Communion Holy Communion‡*

Exodus 20:1-17 John 2:13-22

Lynn Caudwell

Numbers 21:4-9 John 3:14-21

Lynn Caudwell

10th. Mothering Sunday 8.30am 10.45am

Holy Communion All Age Worship

17th.

8.30am Holy Communion Jeremiah 31:31-34 10.45am Morning Worship John 12:20-33 4.30pm Service of Remembering 24th. Palm Sunday 8.30am Holy Communion 10.45am Morning Worship** 29th. Good Friday 10.00am

Lynne Bowden

Isaiah 50:4-9a Mark 11:1-11

Lynn Caudwell

Service of Reflection

Lynn Caudwell

31st. Easter Sunday.

8.30am 10.45am 7th April.

Holy Communion Holy Communion

TBC

Lynn Caudwell

8.30am 10.45am

Holy Communion Morning Worship

TBC

Lynn Caudwell

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) Readers

Prayers

Sidesmen at 8.30

Sidesmen at 10.45

Coffee

3rd Mar

Anne Murphy & Audrey Meecham

Sheila Garton

Mathesons

Anne Murphy

David & Joy

10th

Henry Fraser & Tom Murphy

Audrey Bomford

Gill Mosley

Mike & Sue Akerman

Lydia & Simon

17th

Mike Akerman & Henry Fraser

Pam Cooke

Liz Arrowsmith & Nigel Heathcote

Simon & Lydia Potts

Gill & Victoria

24th

John Ryley & Irene North

Sandy Milsom

Clare Chasty

Jon Weston

Caroline & Steve

31st

Reg & Jean Ferguson

Anne Murphy

Mathesons

Jean & Reg Ferguson

Ros & Madeline

7th Apr

TBC

TBC

TBC

TBC

Yvonne & Annie

Page 42

HotPott - March 2024

Directory Priest-in-charge:

Rev. Lynn Caudwell

Readers:

Dr John Ryley (Reader Emeritus), 2 Wych Lane, Adlington, SK10 4NB

vicar@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk

574660

Licensed Pastoral Worker Anne Murphy, 14 Silver Street, Bollington, SK10 5QL

829595 07891 953919

Parish Assistant:

Gillian Mosley, 129 St Austell Avenue, Macclesfield, SK10 3NY

Churchwardens:

Andy Phillips, 26 Hurst Lane, Bollington, SK10 5LP

829819 07881 358976

andyphillips@totalise.co.uk David Gem, 4 Normans Hall Mews, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield, SK10 5SE davidgem@gmail.com Verger:

Situation Vacant

PCC Secretary:

Rebecca Roth-Biester

PCC Treasurer:

Peter Kennedy, kennedyp@tuckerssolicitors.com

476398 07766 880318

pccsecretary@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk 07850 740335

Gift Aid & Planned Giving: Sally Winstanley, 3 Green Close Cottages, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SG

574545

sjwinstanley.ps@gmail.com Organists:

Mary Currell, 61 Crossfield Road, Bollington, SK10 5EA

573735

marycurrell61@btinternet.com David Garton, davidgarton2020@gmail.com

573492

Andy Phillips, as above

07881 358976

Weekly Bulletin:

David Gem, as above

Electoral Roll officer

Kath Matheson, Church View Cottage, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SA

574983

kmmpott@yahoo.co.uk Safeguarding officer:

Kath Matheson, safeguarding@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk

Tower Captain:

Duncan Matheson, Church View Cottage, Pott Shrigley, SK10 5SA

574983

dmmpott@yahoo.co.uk Pastoral Ministry:

Anne Murphy, pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk

07891 953919

Children's Ministry

Situation Vacant

Youth Ministry:

Anne Murphy, as above, annemurphy1214@gmail.com

07891 953919

Little Doves:

Victoria Price

07961 004755

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

PCC Members:

Duncan Matheson, Sally Winstanley, Peter Kennedy, Jean Ferguson, Andy Phillips, Pam Cooke, Ian Clarke, Mary Currell, Mike Akerman, Rebecca Roth-Biester, Sheila Garton, David Garton, David Gem, Annie Palace, Kath Matheson, Chris Day, Reg Ferguson, Anne Muprhy.

info@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk

(please prefix numbers with 01625)

This directory was updated on 19th November 2023.Please give corrections and additions to magazine@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk