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Easter Weekend at St Christopher's

Good Friday (April 3rd)

Service at St Christopher's (10am)

A Reflection on Good Friday will be led by Melissa Wearden at 10am in church. There will be children’s 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 £20, Children £13. Please contact Caroline Booth (07962 020892, email sbooth752@ btinternet.com) by Palm Sunday (March 29th). Payment on booking please – cash only.

Easter Day (April 5th)

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.

Dear friends,

Lynn's letter

This year our Easter preparations straddle the end of March and beginning of April, so a letter about Palm Sunday and how it heralds our Easter seems appropriate.

In our Palm Sunday procession on 29th March, we will hold our palm crosses and try to imagine the scene of throngs of people waving palm branches as Jesus approached Jerusalem. I wonder what hidden message hides in the palms? What are they saying to us?

Jesus: ‘We’re tired of being kicked around by the Romans and we are hungry to be powerful once more. We want victory and you look like just the man we need. Welcome, warrior king! Hail, conquering hero!’

Rev. Lynn Caudwell

We can assume that those who originally waved their palm branches were caught up in some sense of expectation and anticipation. With a bit of background knowledge, we can assume they were in some way reenacting the time when the Jews had been rescued from previous dominant powers and had come into Jerusalem rejoicing and waving palm branches.

Thus, they were saying to

But amid the clamour of the crowds, Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it. This was a definite act designed to drive home the truth of the whole matter: a king bent on war rode a horse, but one seeking peace rode an ass. Whilst the crowd longed for political freedom, Jesus’ mind was on something else: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.’ (Zechariah 9:9)

The palm wavers were right to sense that Jesus was bringing triumph. But they underestimated what kind of victory Jesus, and those who would follow Him, were about to fight for. Jesus continued →

came to conquer not Rome, but the world. He came to the holy city not to sidestep death, but to meet death head-on. He would conquer the world and death itself by dying.

We confess our misunderstanding. We, too, come to the city gate with our shortterm agendas in hand, amid crowds lined up as though a benevolent Santa Claus were coming to town. In a world that routinely places ultimate value on less than eternal things, even we, the faithful, are tempted to come with our list of wants. The religions of nationalism or consumerism are far from the Kingdom Christ was entering Jerusalem to fight for.

But these are things we are currently surrounded by. The news is full of sabre rattling and false solutions to the problems of human sin, human ego, and selfish gains for the few at the expense of the many. The palms are saying to us that such an approach has been taken before, but has been found wanting. We are not to trust in superficial enthusiasm, like trusting in the surge of the markets.

The glory that is promised if we follow Christ all the way to the cross will not be found in a new hero, financial system or political movement. ‘My kingship is not of this world,’ says Jesus in John 18:36. Jesus also says of His followers: ‘they are not of the world’. (17:14)

Throughout history, when the pressures of the world grow intense, people have turned to Christ. They turn amid turmoil, and as a result the church has grown fastest in places of oppression and suffering. In Ethiopia, in China, in the slums of Brazil and Peru, in all these places underground churches have mushroomed.

So amid our global crises, let us remember this Palm Sunday and Easter Day that Jesus is the one who identifies with the suffering throughout the world and comes to save us from ourselves. He comes riding on a donkey, without the weapons of war, and He comes to us today.

Please join us for our Palm Sunday procession on 29th March. And, of course, in church for our Good Friday (3rd April) meditation or, for the younger members of our church family, in the village hall for some activities. For the energetic the Good Friday Walk will ensue, followed by the now-traditional curry in the evening. Then all are invited to our family Easter Communion on Sunday April 5th at 10.45am in church, with an Easter egg hunt to follow.

With love, Lynn.

For more information about the Easter activities, please see the inside front cover.

Palm Sunday procession 2025

Cover story: the Guardians on the Columns

Our front cover this month comes from the Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s famously unfinished basilica in Barcelona. The symbols of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, appear on lamps on the central columns, which stand at the crossing of the nave and the transepts. Sculptures of the Evangelists also appear on top of their respective towers, which surround the massive central tower of the Sagrada Familia.

Kath Matheson

Inside the basilica, Gaudí wanted to recreate the feeling of a great leafy forest; he hoped this would help worshippers to feel peaceful and contemplative. Therefore, the structures of the 36 columns and the ceiling vaults are inspired by the shape of trees, with the shaft imitating the trunk and the capital acting as a knot in the tree before the stone branches out and merges with the vaults, which represent the foliage. Gaudí’s vaults have openings for light to filter through, just like sun rays through the leaves.

Ever one to innovate, Gaudí created a different type of pillar to update the classical styles of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns. Taking inspiration from the eucalyptus tree he watched grow outside his studio and, using plaster models to study columns that would express upward movement and be strong enough to bear the weight (approximately 6,000 tonnes) of the central tower, Gaudí invented a column with a polygonal or star-shaped base that gradually turns into a circle as it moves upwards, twisting both left and right from the base. These double twist columns draw the viewer’s

eye upwards, reinforcing the feeling of verticality and connecting the earth to heaven.

As making the columns of solid stone would make them too big and crowd the space in the basilica, they consist of a reinforced concrete core clad with stone of varying colour to reinforce the natural look of the interior. The columns have a hierarchy, with the central ones considered the most important, structurally and symbolically, whilst those at the edges of the basilica are less so. Hence the central columns are covered in red granite porphyry, the strongest stone used in construction, whilst the others are clad in black basalt, grey granite

Sagrada Familia Basilica, Barcelona

and yellowish sedimentary sandstone. The columns’ bases reflect this order of importance too: the central ones are a 12-pointed star, whereas the others have 10-, eight- and six-pointed stars, in decreasing level of importance. Gaudí thought of everything! When the natural light begins to fade, the lamps on the columns illuminate the inside of the church with a very colourful light. But what of the symbolic representation of the four Evangelists (Gospel writers) on the central columns?

In these winged symbols, Matthew is depicted as a divine man, or an angel, Mark as a lion, Luke a ox and John a rising eagle. The ideas are taken from Ezekiel 1:1-21, when the prophet had ‘divine visions’ (v.1) whilst in exile in Babylon of four living creatures of human form: ‘Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.’ (v.10) The images

appear again in Revelation 4:6-8, when John has a vision of a throne in heaven: ‘In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.’ The purpose of these beings was to praise God continually. In the second century St Irenaeus associated these images with the four gospel writers because of which aspect of Christ each of them had focussed on in their Gospels.

Specifically, Matthew is represented as a winged man, because his Gospel highlights Jesus’ entry into this world, first by listing his family line: ‘This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham’ (Matthew 1:1) and His incarnation and birth: ‘This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about’ (v.18). This makes Matthew the Gospel that emphasises Christ’s human heritage, with Him being portrayed as a humble man throughout.

Sagrada Familia interior

Mark appears as a winged lion. He opens his book with John the Baptist, the messenger of good news, the ‘voice of one calling in the wilderness “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’ John the Baptist did roar rather like a lion and, of course, Jesus lived in the wilderness (as lions do) for 40 days after His baptism. Traditionally, the lion represents strength, courage and royalty, and Mark’s Gospel details the power of Jesus, and royal dignity is an appropriate symbol for the Son of God.

Luke is represented by the ox, a sacrificial animal, because his Gospel stresses the sacrificial nature of Christ's ministry. It opens with Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) performing his priestly duties, which would have included the sacrifice of oxen. Luke’s Gospel includes the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) in which the fattened calf is slaughtered, not only to celebrate the younger son’s return, but also to foreshadow the joy we have in being reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Thus, the winged ox reminds us of the priestly character of our Lord and His sacrifice for our redemption. Another school of thought is that Luke, a physician converted to Christianity by Saint Paul and whom he served and followed everywhere, was a kind, obliging man, so he was given the symbol of the ox, a humble, docile, hard-working animal.

John is represented by the rising eagle, the creature that dwells closest to heaven. John’s Gospel begins with a rather heavenly prologue and rises to embrace some of the deepest mysteries of God, including the relationship between the Father and the Son, and the incarnation: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has

been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:1-5) And ‘The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ (1:14) The Gospel of John introduces the reader to some of Christ’s most profound teaching, such as His discussions with Nicodemus (3:1-21) and the Samaritan woman (4:1-26). Also, in the visions he recorded from Revelation 4 onwards, John had risen to heaven, something an eagle could do.

Thus, the symbols ultimately represent Jesus as truly God (John) and truly man (Matthew). He is our High Priest and His sacrifice redeems us (Luke). He is King of all, now and forever (Mark).

Thanks for the information from https:// blog.sagradafamilia.org/ and the https:// catholicexchange.com/

Letters Home from Abroad

Some readers will know that the Meecham family spent many years abroad whilst Keith worked as a fisheries development officer, first for the Commonwealth Office, then for the United Nations. Keith, Audrey, Sally, Nicky, Jonathan and Christopher took some exciting holidays during their years in Africa, including one to the Luangwa Valley Game Reserve in Zambia. Audrey wrote home to her parents, Vernon and Vera Peers, who lived at Green Close in Pott Shrigley, about the trip:

Audrey Meecham

‘Our films are back from the developers, and I think we have some good shots, as far as I can see without a viewer. I’m looking forward to being reminded of those exciting few days in Luangwa Valley, Zambia.

Almost as soon as we entered the game reserve, something bounded across our path and disappeared into the bush. We were very ignorant at first, not knowing the names of the different types of buck, and not even knowing it was wrong to call them deer. We soon got ourselves a tourists’ guide to the animals and were then able to identify the creatures immediately.

All the children became adept at ‘spotting’ and loved being the first to cry: ‘There’s an elephant!’ or whatever it was. Fortunately, they each managed to spot something on our first drive so there were no upsets. You should have heard the excitement over the first elephant! And it was miles away, or at least four or five hundred yards across a grassy plain. We didn’t realise that later we would see them feeding right by the dusty roadside and giving us a wary look as they crossed the road. They were of

course quite accustomed to cars, but they wouldn’t let us approach too close.

Our first sightings of herds of puku and impala were breathtaking, they are such delicate and beautiful animals, and even when we had seen so many of them that we scorned them in our impatience to see something rarer, we never got tired of watching their incredible, apparently effortless leaps through the air. The impala especially were a delight to watch, with their subtle colouring – a sort of caramel colour – and delicate markings. When they were at a safe distance, they would turn their heads as one, ears wide apart, and gaze at us with their huge soft eyes,

Impala

Luangwa river with elephants

staying perfectly still. If we too stayed still for some time they would eventually go back to their grazing. I was reminded time after time of Walt Disney’s Bambi and marvelled at how the artists had captured the animals’ characteristics.

Of the ungulates, as we learned to call them, we saw puku (small like the impala though redder and more robust but without such an incredible leap), water buck (greyish with a distinctive white ring around their behinds) and kudu, which were very impressive with their spiralling horns and stately bearing.

On our second day we had seen only one giraffe, looking lovely in an almost dry riverbed, so that afternoon we went north specially to find some more, and we did! They were on the other side of the river, and probably out of camera range, but we filmed them anyway. We saw lots of zebra, elephant, baboons and monkeys. Warthogs always ran away as soon as they heard us, except one little group of a mother and several young which were running towards us rather frantically. Then we saw why: the mother suddenly stopped, turned round and disappeared backwards into a hole with her babies tumbling in after!

Once we seemed to be witnessing a huge gathering of all the animals. We had seen a large number of elephants lumbering across a plain, and round the next bend we surprised a mixed group of impala, puku, waterbuck, kudu – and one eland. They turned as one body and fled in the same direction as the elephants. Some came leaping across our path, one so close it nearly crashed into our car. It turned out to be a waterbuck, which is apparently quite rare in those parts. The cause of the panic turned out to be some hyenas, which were

Kudu

Common waterbuck

Puku

following them – very thrilling.

I think the only other things I haven’t mentioned are the HUGE herd of buffalo and the two isolated rhinos, again too far away to photograph properly. Oh, and the lions!

We had come to our last morning without seeing any of the big cats, very unsatisfactory. We went out well before breakfast and quite soon met a Belgian who told us to look out for his tyre marks leaving the road, because he had just seen a lion and lioness. We found the place and searched in great excitement, looking and listening for any sign of their presence. Nothing. Feeling very disappointed but not quite giving up hope, we decided to drive slowly on a bit, and just as we were back on the road again and driving away, I looked to my side and saw the ears, then the head of the lioness! She was about 50 yards away, staring at us, not moving a muscle; beside her lay the lion, fast asleep.

Of course, there were hundreds of hippos in the rivers and dambos (shallow, seasonally waterlogged, grass-covered depressions found in the headwater zones of drainage systems), and crocodiles too, though they were harder to see. And the birds! We saw some beautiful, incredibly coloured birds: great herons, crested cranes, ground hornbills like huge black crows with red wattles on their beaks, and our friend of the telegraph wires on the road to Monkey Bay – Moselikatse’s Roller,

so called because Moselikatse, chief of the Matebele, would not allow any but himself to wear its feathers. It has a purplish-pink breast and blue-green feathers all over, with a brilliant metallic turquoise streak in each wing. We saw them from our khondi (veranda) once, behaving in an extraordinary manner near the fisheries’ tall new radio mast. They would flutter about, then suddenly drop like a stone, turn a somersault then flutter upwards again. The book says it’s their courting display.

The last four pages of the letter (Audrey wrote very long letters!) describe seeing fish eagles fighting over a fish, a new cooker with an eye-level grill, going to the Mpwepwe equivalent of Flix in the Stix to see John Wayne and Stewart Granger in North to Alaska which was in poor condition - what dialogue came through the crackle was drowned by cheering, booing and laughter from the enthusiastic audience!’

Thank you to Audrey and Sally for sharing their wonderful memories of their Zambian adventures.

Moselikatse's Roller

Herd of buffalo

NOT JUST SUNDAY: an excellent way to spend Wednesday mornings

Wednesday morning worship at St Christopher’s has become a really special part of our week. We gather at 10.30am for a warm welcoming cuppa, a biscuit, and a chance to chat with friends before beginning worship at 11.15am.

Anne Murphy

We use the Wee Worship books from the Wild Goose Resource Group, whose Celtic liturgies are easy to follow and always seem to suit our themes. On Wednesday 11th February, we explored the Parable of the Sower from Mark, chapter 4, using the Jesus Shaped People resources to help us reflect more deeply on the passage.

Our time of worship concluded by 12noon with prayer, after which nine of us headed to the Legh Arms in Adlington for a carvery lunch. What a scrumptious feast! The roast meats were delicious (yes, I confess I sampled pork, gammon, turkey, and beef!), the Yorkshire puddings were a great mid-week treat, and the selection of vegetables was excellent. None of us could manage a dessert, and I

suspect most of us enjoyed a well-earned afternoon nap afterwards. It was great to relax and enjoy a meal in good company.

Thank you to Irene for the suggestion, and to Lynne B and Caroline for organising us. Count me in for the next lunch outing!

Not Just Sunday Worship meets each Wednesday at St Christopher’s.

Refreshments are served from 10.30am, and worship begins at 11.15am.

All are welcome to join us.

For more information, please speak to Rev. Lynne Bowden.

Not Just Sunday lunch; Lynne, Jean, Annie, Caroline, Nick, Reg, Anne, Paul, Steve

More social lunches at Not Just Sunday

There are going to be two frugal Lent lunches in March after Not Just Sunday (NJS) worship – not as filling as at the Legh Arms (above), but no doubt delicious. These are happening on 4th March and on 18th March.

Please note that on 4th March, NJS worship will start at 11am, with the lunch from 12noon till 1pm as there is a funeral in church at 2pm.

All are welcome to both the worship and the lunches. Please ask Rev. Lynne Bowden for more information if you wish.

Praying in the Rain: the February Prayer Walk

We met in the car park at The Coffee Tavern and began February’s prayer walk by praying for the Coffee Tavern and for Andrew, the cafe’s proprietor.

Yvonne Foster

As we began our walk the day felt cold and damp but we were delighted to spot some bright yellow crocus flowers, and some daffodils in bud, both of which helped us to remember spring was on its way. It was muddy underfoot as we crossed the fields to Simpson Lane, but our stout boots coped well and nobody ended up on their bottom!

On Simpson Lane we stopped to pray for Redacre Hall Farm, which has been up for sale for many months. We shared with God our concern for farmers and we voiced our desire that the Redacre farmland would continue to be farmed, managed and cared for. Leaving our requests with God, and trusting His will and good purpose, we continued on.

As we passed Simpson Lane Cottage, it was

good to stop and chat with Tracy, who was busy with her leafblower in her garden. We admired her fox, a new visitor keeping watch on the tree stump nearby.

At Green Close we prayed in the chapel garden. Like Redacre Hall Farm, the future of Green Close Chapel is unknown, so we gave thanks for all those who had served God in this place over the years and prayed

Crocuses near the Coffee Tavern

Sally and Tracy

The Fox at Simpson Lane Cottage

for its future use and purpose. We also prayed for family and friends by name.

Climbing uphill it began to drizzle and so we took shelter in Nancy’s wooden oratory. The oratory is used and appreciated by passing walkers, and as we were praying a dog walker came in to light a candle for a friend. We chatted together about faith in God.

As we climbed up onto the moor the weather deteriorated into sleet, but by the time we were passing Keepers Cottage it had stopped and as the sun broke through the clouds a rainbow appeared. It reminded us of God’s love for Noah and his family, and of the promises God gave to him about ‘the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.’ Genesis 9:16.

Coming off the moor, we passed the Birchencliffe community and we prayed for the people and families who live there. It was wonderful to hear the birdsong so clearly as we stood at the ponds: another sure sign of spring. Good too to see a buzzard sitting watchfully in a nearby tree, though the resident mice and voles may not have been so keen to see him!

We got back to The Coffee Tavern in a fairly drippy condition, so it was good to see Andrew stoking up the wood burner. Duncan joined us and together we enjoyed coffee and teacakes, and drying out! Thanks Kath and Sally for your company on the walk. Despite the weather it was very enjoyable.

And thank you once again to Yvonne for leading us. For more information about these monthly walks, please contact Yvonne on 07842 428 496.

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

Sally and Kath near Keepers Cottage

Kath, Sally and Yvonne with Andrew Buffey at the Coffee Tavern

Pott Shrigley C of E Primary School

Are you looking for small class sizes for your child?

One of the oldest schools in Cheshire, nestled between Bollington and Poynton in the foothills of the Peak District

All classes fewer than 15 pupils, throughout the school

Warm, nurturing provision, with a family-like feel

Weekly farm-based forest school

Specialised sports provision

Call for a personalised tour

01625 573 260

A BIG WELCOME to Mr Henaghan!

This month we are delighted to welcome our new executive headteacher. Ena and Ieva spent some time chatting to him to find out a bit more about what he wants to bring to our school:

‘My name is Nathan Henaghan and I have been working in schools for 17 years now. I live in Warrington and am currently also the headteacher of Dodleston Church of England Primary School in Chester. This school is very similar to Pott Shrigley –small, rural, community minded and with a deep connection to the Church.

I have a three-year-old son called Remy who takes up a lot of my time, but I also enjoy going to the gym, walking my dog and reading.

My passion in education is that I would like to see all the children in my care happy to learn from a curriculum that is challenging, progressive and fun, as well as spreading a spirituality to nurture our Christian values.

I am looking forward to meeting all our families and wider community in the coming months.’

To give financially in support of St Christopher's Pott Shrigley

Please scan the QR code below

Thank you!

And we look forward to welcoming Mr Henaghan to St Christopher’s and Pott Shrigley too!

A grandmother was taking her young grandson for a walk in the park. The daffodils were in bloom, and it was a beautiful spring day. Wanting to encourage her grandson’s spiritual understanding of the world, she said: “Doesn’t it look like an artist painted this scenery? Did you know God did all this?”

Her grandson replied: “Oh yes, and God did it left-handed, too.” In astonishment, the grandmother asked what he meant. “Well, He must have done,” said her grandson, “because we learned at church last week that Jesus sits on God’s right hand.”

Heading

Service of Remembering

St Christopher’s held its annual Service of Remembering on Sunday 8th February 2026.

Anne Murphy

The service was organised by the pastoral care team and led by Rev. Lynn Caudwell and Rev. Lynne Bowden. We welcomed all who wished to remember loved ones who have died, whether recently or many years ago, as we are conscious that grief, and the process of adjusting to life without someone we love, can take a considerable time.

Those attending were invited to write down the names of those they were remembering and to light memory candles, which were arranged in the chancel in the shape of a cross. The service included Bible readings, a reflection, hymns and prayers.

After the final blessing, refreshments were served, offering time for quiet reflection, conversation and prayer with members of the pastoral care team.

Our thanks to all who helped make this a meaningful and supportive occasion.

For bereavement support, please contact: pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk.

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

Your Vote Your Council

Highways

New/Updated/Completed

Jackson Brow steps: the steps have reopened after a meeting between public rights of way (PROW) local inspector Peter Atkinson, PROW manager Nicola LewisSmith, Joyce Burton and John Goodman. John will try to persuade the charity Peak Northern Footpath Society (PNFS) to give the parish council money to buy the services of a handyman to keep the steps vegetation free. He will also investigate the possibility of forming a working party with East Cheshire Ramblers to keep the steps clear. Peter will contact Kerridge and Ingersley Vale (KRIV) Working Group to ask for their support. It was suggested that the clerk contact Astra Zeneca, who has a team who carry out the sort of work required at Jackson Steps.

• Improvements to bend at Brookbank: will be included in the Minor Improvement Scheme. (Nov. 2024)

Jo Hadfield

• Culvert/wall on the west side of Shrigley Road. (Nov. 2024)

• Poynton Relief Road: no further information about a proposed meeting regarding traffic mitigation measures.

• Gullies not emptied on Spuley Lane & Bakestonedale Road: no further response. (Sept. 2025)

• Contravention of weight limit by HGVs using Bakestonedale Road: this is a police matter. (Sept 2025)

• Damage at Normans Hall grass triangle (1): Awaiting review. (Nov 2025)

• Damage at Normans Hall grass triangle (2): Awaiting review. (Nov 2025)

Potholes at Needygate: Cllr Greenwood pointed out that there is now a pothole and water flowing on the other side of the road from the already much-reported deep pothole and drainage problem outside Needygate. The clerk will report/re-report this increasing problem.

Pending

Dates when issues were first raised with Cheshire East Council (CEC) Highways appear in brackets.

• 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)

• Broken fence at West Park Gate car park: on list for repair. (April 23)

Some of the older items, which are unlikely to be done, will be removed from the list to allow the council to focus on the more recent ones.

Adlington New Town: The socio-economic consultancy advice note was circulated. Bollington, Poynton and Prestbury have confirmed agreement to fund a scoping report; Pott Shrigley will pay its share, plus further charges if other reports are requested. Relevant reports have been submitted to the government by the Adlington New Town Task and Finish group.

Applications for position of parish clerk: Applications will be reviewed at the parish council meeting on 9th March

Replacement laptop: The choice of a new laptop will be discussed with the new

clerk.

Lychgate repair: The work is scheduled for February/March 2026. The War Memorials Trust must be notified of the date two weeks before it starts.

Jumber Clough: No further information has been received from Peak Park about the possible removal of a wall and other stone from Jumber Clough.

Flagpole: This will be ordered when a debit card on the bank account has been received.

Lack of hard standing at bus stop on Brookledge Lane: No further information has been received about this, so the clerk will contact the relevant officials again.

Planning

Pending

23/3874M Shrigley Hall Hotel, SK10 5SB. Storage on tennis courts: Cllr Wray informed the council that the tennis courts are clear.

NP/CEC/1025/1086 Keepers Cottage, SK10 5RZ.

Replacement dwelling: self-build.

Re-roof the property and install energy saving materials. This planning application will be discussed at the PDNPA planning meeting on Friday 13 February.

25/4528/HOUS Church View Cottage, SK10 5SA.

Re-roof the property and install energy saving materials and solar panels.

Decision

NP/CEC/1125/1153

Brink House, SK10 5RU

Occupation in breach of condition 3 attached to NP/M/291/5 (approved at appeal) for a continuous period in excess of ten years. Certificate of Lawfulness granted

Peak Cluster CCS pipeline.

Peak Cluster have applied to build a high-pressure pipeline network to convey carbon dioxide from new carbon capture facilities to be constructed at existing lime and cement manufacturing sites in Derbyshire and Staffordshire to a coastal network exchange point and compressor station for onward transport to suitable geological carbon dioxide storage under the Irish Sea. Pott Shrigley households should have received printed information about this by post. Cllr Wray has raised concerns about the pipeline’s route during an online meeting. Further meetings will be held on this matter.

Next meeting

The next council meeting will take place at 8pm on Monday 9th March 2026.

Breedon cement plant in Hope;BBC

Model showing how carbon dioxide will be captured and stored under the Irish Sea; BBC

Across

1 Arouse (Song of Songs 2:7) (6)

4 Extinguish (Isaiah 1:31) (6)

8 ‘“They — — ,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!”’ (Proverbs 23:35) (3,2)

9 Unhappiness (Nehemiah 2:2) (7)

10 Jewish (7)

11 Dirge (anag.) (5)

12 ‘A truthful witness gives honest — , but a false witness tells lies’ (Proverbs 12:17) (9)

17 Paul quoted from the second one in his address in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:33) (5)

19 ‘Do not use your freedom to — the sinful nature’ (Galatians 5:13) (7)

Coffee Break

21 ‘As you can see, he has done nothing to — death’ (Luke 23:15) (7)

22 Name applied by Isaiah to Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1) (5)

23 ‘All the people — — one man, saying, “None of us will go home”’ (Judges 20:8) (4,2)

24 Lazarus, who was carried by angels to Abraham’s side when he died, was one (Luke 16:20) (6)

Down

1 Appalled (Job 26:11) (6)

2 ‘In an — to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea’ (Acts 27:30) (7)

3 Expel (Acts 18:16) (5)

5 ‘But I have a baptism to — , and how distressed I am until it is completed!’ (Luke 12:50) (7)

6 ‘Of the increase of his government and peace there will be — — ’ (Isaiah 9:7) (2,3)

7 Hurry (Psalm 119:60) (6)

9 ‘For I desire mercy, not — , and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings’ (Hosea 6:6) (9)

13 One of its towns was Sychar, where Jesus met a woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:5) (7)

14 Shouting (Acts 7:57) (7)

15 Arachnid (Isaiah 59:5) (6)

16 One of Paul’s first converts in Philippi was Lydia, a — in purple cloth (Acts 16:14) (6)

18 Donkeys (5)

20 Raked (anag.) (5)

The Song of the Spirit

Nigel Beeton writes: St Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 that the Spirit speaks within our hearts to call out our gifts, so that we may use them to build up the Church. But we must learn to hear the Spirit’s voice; it is like a gentle whisper, a song, and it can easily be overwhelmed by our doubts, our lack of faith, and the cares of the day. Yet the song of the Spirit can make the ordinary person extraordinary. But it is our job to listen out for God’s Spirit, as He sings:

O when Your Spirit softly sings Within our hearts of stone Lord, speak to us of godly things And make our hearts Your home.

Sometimes our doubts like briars grow Sometimes our faith is weak, O Spirit, sing, that doubt may go, Lord, help us hear You speak.

Transform us through Your Spirit’s voice And set our hearts alight, So truly may our hearts rejoice And shine with Godly light.

For those who hear the Spirit’s song, Are filled then with His power! Their light shall shine the whole day long And praise fills ev’ry hour!

by Nigel Beeton

One of my churchwardens is a stickler for 'Health and Safety'...

New ways of doing ‘Church’: PCC Ponderings for January

At our January PCC meeting, we discussed the various forms of worship we have at St Christopher’s. In our Sunday services we use Communion from the Book of Common Prayer at 8.30am whereas familyfriendly contemporary worship is the norm at 10.45am. Recently, we have been following a new programme of exploring Christian faith called Jesus-shaped People. This helps us look at Jesus’ values and priorities, with the realisation that He was not much focused on religious rules and regulations, but much more interested in connecting with people. Are you ‘put off’ by too much religion? Why not drop Rev. Lynn a line or put a comment on our Facebook page and let her know your ideas about how we could be more relevant to you.

Simon Caudwell

Carols by Candlelight services in December always provide special moments for families and visitors, for churchgoers and not, as we come together to experience those magical moments of ‘heaven touching earth’. Those of us with any voice left also sang carols at Shrigley Hall Hotel, at The Cotton Tree pub and at Ingersley Court care home.

A very positive experiment, which has now turned into a regular fixture, has been our weekly Not Just Sunday worship on Wednesday mornings. A short time of fellowship (with tea, coffee and goodies) starts at 10:30am, with worship from 11:15am that draws from Celtic traditions, using engaging forms of words that are both simple and profound.

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we held a Taizé-inspired worship service featuring contemplative songs and interspersed prayers addressing significant global and local concerns. It is always delightful to meet with friends from our neighbouring churches and parishes to worship God together.

…And even if you don’t usually think of going to church, come and join us sometime!

Carols at Ingersley Court

Missionary Matters

Students from the International Community School (ICS) Bangkok recently enjoyed a wonderful weekend beach camp: the gospel was clearly and faithfully presented, and many Christian students shared their testimony. Since then, Ann McClean has enjoyed a further valuable opportunity to share with her study group what it means to trust Jesus for salvation. All the girls in the group are from Christian families and will talk openly about trusting Jesus for their problems, and all know that Jesus died on the cross for sin. Please pray that their faith will grow, and that they will all put their trust in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. Pray for the seeds that have been sown to find good soil and bear fruit. Many readers will know that Johnny McClean has been Langham Preaching’s regional director for Southeast Asia since January 2025. This comprises a vast area from Mongolia to Singapore and from Myanmar to Japan. Please pray for safety for Johnny as he travels at least once a month to help train pastors across the region. Johnny and Ann are excited about their move in mid-June to Udon Thani, a small provincial city in northeast Thailand.

Kath Matheson

Langham preaching, SE Asia

In the agricultural areas around Udon, and in Udon itself, many have never heard the gospel and there are many untrained pastors, so there is much to be done! Udon has good transport links to Laos, China and Bangkok, which will help Johnny to travel to training events. In Laos 75% of registered churches are in rural areas, but preaching training currently only happens in the capital, Vientiane. There is a 70 – 80% overlap between the Lao and Thai languages, so as Johnny is fluent in Thai, he can be an effective trainer in Laos. Give thanks that Ann has been given a job at the relatively new ICS Udon Thani; this sister school is about a third of the size of ICS Bangkok. It was established to provide education for missionary children to allow their parents to stay in this needy part of Thailand, but it also welcomes families from Laos, China and

Cupcakes at the Care group - Happy Birthday Helen!

ICS Udon Thani

Thailand, some of whom have never heard the gospel. Ann will not have a teaching role, but will work as a support, mentor and encourager to staff and students across the ICS Udon campus. She feels this unique role is an immense privilege as it brings answers to prayer for the staff at ICS Udon and fulfils Ann’s desire to serve and encourage the next generations as they grow in both competency and heart for gospel ministry in Thailand. Please continue to pray for the McCleans' move, that they will find somewhere to live and to worship and that they will also be able to forge good links with other Christians working in Udon Thani.

Helen Fazakerley has spent her last birthday in Malawi; she’s now classed as a pensioner! She celebrated with a meal at her favourite restaurant, The Bombay Palace, which she and others consider the best in the world. In the evening, surprise cupcakes appeared at Helen and Megumi’s Care Group Bible Study, a wonderful end to the day. Helen’s health coordinator role has been quiet of late, with no new missionaries arriving, no new missionaries being sent, no short-term visits, and, thankfully, no major sickness amongst the team, just monthly reports to write and keeping abreast of relevant WHO information.

The guesthouse has been moderately busy but thankfully no maintenance issues have appeared so far this year.

Helen’s international ladies’ Bible study group has been adversely affected by fuel shortages, sickness, and work schedules. Nevertheless, they recently completed their study book on Habakkuk. Megumi has been reflecting on their time in Malawi, where they started in 1993, initially in a local church context but then Megumi taught at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi for 20 years. One thing he has learnt is that people must be willing to learn before they can be taught. Also, that discipleship is about learners, not teachers.

Megumi writes: ‘As Jesus told us to make disciples, these are His learners, and we are their fellow learners. And yet, why is it that too often we tend to assume the role of a teacher for ourselves, when we are all fellow learners? Among the learners, we can help each other, as we learn together. This, I think, is the discipleship ministry.’ Life in Malawi continues much the same, with 30% inflation, power outages and fuel shortages. However, Helen and Megumi are thankful that God is faithfully doing His part well by sending rains for the maize crop, so people are anticipating a good harvest in April.

Ann with students at ICS

Training in Laos

Pott Shrigley Village Hall Bar

2nd Friday of every month, 6.30 'til 10.00pm

13thMarch 10thApril

INTERIOR SERVICES

Full & part home renovations

Project management

Joinery

Plastering

Heating/plumbing & electrical

Kitchens & bathrooms

Painting & decorating

Wallpaper hanging

Venetian plastering

Tiling

Hand painted kitchens

EXCEPTIONAL FROM START TO FINISH

“Incredibly pleased with the renovation work by Spring Decorating. The work involved the replastering of several rooms, replacing internal doors, bannisters, spindles, radiators and then redecorating. All finished to a very high standard, which I am delighted with. The team was professional, efficient and friendly. I wouldn’t hesitate to have them back in the future.”

0161 439 9195

info@springdecorating.co.uk

www.springdecorating.co.uk 17 Earle Road, Bramhall, SK7 3HE

EXTERIOR SERVICES

Exterior painting & decorating

Rendering & K Rend

Joinery

uPVC window spraying Scaffolding

PROMPT AND EFFICIENT

“We are delighted with the work by Spring Decorating. The response to our query was quick and a quote followed promptly. Work started a couple of weeks later on the outside of our house. The team always arrived exactly when they said they would and were totally reliable, pleasant and courteous. The work was thorough, with excellent preparation and looks very good. We will certainly use them again for more work.”

info@springdecorating.co.uk www.springdecorating.co.uk 17 Earle Road, Bramhall, SK7 3HE

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Recipe of the Month: Vegetable lasagne

Many years ago, the Foster family decided to forego meat during Lent, so Yvonne garnered several vegetarian recipes to use. This lasagne is tasty, filling and easy to do, perfect for a cold March day in Lent!

Yvonne

Foster

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons tomato purée

1 tin chopped tomatoes

Bunch basil, finely chopped

Bunch oregano, finely chopped

1 large aubergine

1 large courgette

1 clove garlic

1 glass red wine

4 large mushrooms

½ red onion, finely diced

1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped

Salt & black pepper

600ml (1 pint) Béchamel/white sauce (See below)

6 lasagne sheets

25g (1oz) Cheddar or Lancashire cheese

Italian hard cheese to grate over top

Method:

Heat the oil, salt & pepper in a large deep pan and fry the onion and garlic until soft. Add the chopped (about 2.5cm/1” size) mushrooms, aubergine and courgette, plus the red pepper to the pan and fry until soft. Add the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, basil and oregano to the ingredients and stir continually.

Season to taste and simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Make the Béchamel sauce

Ingredients:

600ml (1 pint) hot milk

40g (1½oz) butter or margarine

40g (1½oz) plain flour

Salt & black pepper

Method:

Melt the butter/margarine in a pan over a low heat, add salt & pepper.

Add the flour and stir well (I use a small balloon whisk). Do not allow to brown. Gradually add the hot milk, stirring/ whisking the mixture continually to make a creamy white sauce.

Stir in the Cheddar/Lancashire cheese until it’s melted and dispersed throughout the sauce.

Assembly:

In a large oven proof dish, layer the cooked vegetable mixture first, then the Béchamel sauce, followed by 2 sheets of lasagne to cover the mixture.

Repeat until reaching the third layer of Béchamel sauce, then grate an Italian hard cheese over the top.

Leave to stand for a couple of hours, then bake in an oven preheated to 180°C/350°F/ gas mark 4 for about 25 – 30 minutes. Serve with garlic bread and salad. Serves 4 – 5 people.

Vegetable Lasagne; BBC

From the Registers

Burial of Ashes

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of: 7th February Charles Cheshire

Electoral Roll Revision

It is a legal requirement that we revise the church electoral roll annually to ensure it remains an accurate reflection of those who attend church regularly (or would do so if they were not prevented by frailty or illness from doing so) or who live in the parish. This will happen in the second half of March and the relevant official notice will be posted in church on 20th February 2026. The revised roll, together with a list of names of those added or removed from it since the last annual meeting, will be

put up on the noticeboard at the back of church on the 29th March 2026.

Please note that if you are already on the roll, you do not need to take any action. If you would like to be on the roll, or have any questions about it, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kath Matheson, Electoral Roll Officer 07944 624 832 kmmpott@yahoo.co.uk

1st Mar

Jean Ferguson & Tony Witkowski

8th Mar Paul Bowden & Rebecca Roth-Biester

15th Mar Matt Bird & Bella Wearden

22nd Mar Sharon McMullen & Judy Keeling

Audrey Bomford Clare Chasty Tony & Rachel Witkowski Gill & Victoria

Pam Cooke Jenny Miles & Annie Smith Gillian Macneill & Judith Harris

Sandy Milsom

Sheila Garton

Jim Curtis

Mike & Sue Akerman

Nigel Heathcote Tony & Rachel Witkowski

29th Mar Occasional Worship Leaders Anne Murphy Annie

5th Apr Reg Ferguson & Jean Ferguson

Simon Caudwell

Whitehead

Joy & David

Caroline & Steve

Ros & Madeline

Yvonne & Annie

Jim Curtis Reg & Jean Ferguson The Malyan family

Shirley & Christine

Sally & Yvonne

Services

1st March.

8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Holy Communion‡** †

8th.

8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Morning Worship‡**

15th. Mothering Sunday

2 Timothy 2.14–266 Mark 10.32–45 Lynn Caudwell

Acts 6.1–7 Mark 6.6–13

8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion All-Age Worship† TBC

22nd.

8.30am 10.45am

29th.

Holy Communion Morning Worship‡**

Romans 8: 6-11 John 11: 1-45

Anne Murphy

Melissa Wearden

Lynne Bowden

8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Morning Worship** † TBC Lynn Caudwell

3rd April Good Friday.

10.00am Service of Reflection

5th April Easter Sunday

8.30am 10.45am Holy Communion Family Communion**

Acts 10 v 34-45 Matthew 28 v 1-10

Melissa Wearden

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 10.45am) † Refresh Youth Group (at 7.00pm)

HotPott March 2026

Easter Weekend at St Christopher's

Lynn's letter

Rev. Lynn Caudwell

Cover story: the Guardians on the Columns

Kath Matheson

Letters Home from Abroad

Audrey Meecham

NOT JUST SUNDAY: an excellent way to spend Wednesday mornings

Anne Murphy

More social lunches at Not Just Sunday

Praying in the Rain: the February Prayer Walk

The Coffee Tavern

Fully License(\

Pott Shrigley C of E Primary School

A BIG WELCOME to Mr Henaghan!

Heading

Service of Remembering

Anne Murphy

St Christopher’s Pastoral Ministry

Your Vote Your Council

Highways

New/Updated/Completed

Jo Hadfield

Pending

Planning

Pending

Decision

Peak Cluster CCS pipeline.

Next meeting

Coffee Break

The Song of the Spirit

New ways of doing ‘Church’: PCC Ponderings for January

Simon Caudwell

Missionary Matters

Kath Matheson

Pott Shrigley Village Hall Bar

INTERIOR SERVICES

EXCEPTIONAL FROM START TO FINISH

EXTERIOR SERVICES

PROMPT AND EFFICIENT

Recipe of the Month: Vegetable lasagne

Yvonne

Foster

Assembly:

From the Registers

Burial of Ashes

Electoral Roll Revision

Services

Directory