News from Woodmancote & Popham Woodmancote was very lucky to have the Rev. Neil Britton for our Service of Holy Communion in June and we would like to express our thanks to him and Jacqueline his wife for visiting our little Church. Also in June, but after the Dever went to press, we were due to have a fabulous fund-raising drinks party in the beautiful garden of Penny and Colin Dixon. A report will follow in the next Dever magazine. I am always touched by the way so many people really put themselves out to support St. James’ and without the support of passionate parishioners determined to keep the Church going, St. James’ might be in a very different position. On 18th July Woodmancote celebrates its patron Saint James with the Patronal Service at 6pm. Please do come and join us for this special summer gathering. There will be wine and nibbles afterwards. Jane The wonderful monthly walks organised by Sue Bell follow many different routes around the locality, but the one on 6th June had religious significance too as it
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took in a visit to the historic Godsfield Chapel near Alresford. We learnt that the chapel had been built on land gifted by a long ago Bishop of Winchester, Henri de Blois (who happened to be William the Conqueror’s grandson), to the Knights Hospitaller. They were like the Knights Templar but in charge of sheltering and looking after the sick and had been founded by the Pope in 1113 in the Holy Land. The chapel has been on that site since the 14th century, replacing an earlier one. The Order of Hospitallers provided hospitality to travellers and pilgrims, and this would have included those going from Winchester to Canterbury. Latterly the chapel has had various other uses and in the 20th century it even had a period as a youth hostel before English Heritage stepped in about 20 years and carried out works to arrest its deterioration. It is set in the most beautiful gardens and well worth a visit by arrangement with the owners. Linda
The Dever–July 2021
