The magazine of Holy Trinity Parish Church Sutton Coldfield July / August 2018 60p
Muriel Goldsby (1921—2018) with her husband Harold (died 2005) See page 8
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Our churchwardens, Ros Dyke and Colin Ingley, were installed at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Water Orton, in May.
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From the Editors ...
...to Trinity We’ve lots of food for thought in this issue for the summer months. Young people have expressed their concerns about knife culture, in the wake of the fatal stabbing in the town centre of 17th May (page 7). We pay tribute to Muriel Goldsby, a long-standing member of the congrega'on (page 8) and we have a report on the annual church mee'ng (page 20) with the current officers of the church listed there. Try to get to our new lunch-'me series of concerts over the summer (p5) and join the Friends of Holy Trinity or renew your membership! If you are s'll to go on holiday, enjoy the 'me and change even if some'mes it is not a complete break as hoped. Do join us if you possibly can for our Heritage Open Day, on Sat 15th Sept. See page 23 for details. This is really an occasion for everyone: old, young, church-goer, visitor, first'mer. Blessings,
Stella
Contents: John Routh writes Through a glass darkly Summer concerts Youth Matters Tribute to Muriel Goldsby To a god-daughter Financial corner Where your treasure is… Heritage Church news Friends’ update APCM report From the registers Bible verse National Open Day Trinity arrangements
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Editors: Stella 329 2101 s_thebridge@yahoo.com Louise 240 6366 louisejharden@hotmail.com Johanna 07788 910059 johanna.paul@hotmail.co.uk
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John Routh writes … Paradise regained Answering the voice One of my favourite films is Field of Dreams, a somewhat magical film made towards the end of the 1980s. It’s the story of Ray Kinsella and his journey of ‘faith’. I was all set to write about it when I found a sermon on-line which said much of what I had in mind, and only required some light editing. So my thanks to Kim Fabricius and www.faith-theology. com! Anyway, here goes ... Ray is a novice Iowa farmer, struggling to make ends meet. One evening, alone in his cornfield, a voice whispers from the heavens: “If you build it, he will come.” Build what? Who will come? In the days ahead Ray continues to hear the voice, and finally he sees a vision of a baseball diamond set in the field. Now Ray knows what he must do. To the astonishment of his neighbours, he destroys valuable cropland to build a baseball field, the “field of dreams”. The “he” who “will come” turns out to be Shoeless Joe Jackson, a player from the Chicago Black Sox team who was accused of taking and was subsequently banned from the game. Now, on the “field of dreams” that Ray built, this disgraced man gets another chance to play ball.
The voice asks for more Ray soon learns that it’s not just for Shoeless Joe that he has been called to be an agent of grace. The voice speaks to him again and sends him on a journey east to “ease his pain.” The pain turns out to be that of Terence Mann, a once famous but now neglected and embittered writer, who as a child dreamed of playing professional baseball. Ray finds Mann in Boston, takes him to a Boston Red Sox game, during which he hears the voice telling him to “go the distance”, the “distance” of meeting another might-have-been, Archibald Graham. Graham played just one game in the Big Leagues, but was dropped and went on to be a GP. Ray finds Graham, but he doesn’t take up the offer to return to the farm with Ray and Mann. Instead on the way they pick up a young hitchhiker named, in this enchanted world, Archie Graham – a young Graham who is still dreaming.
The voice brings its reward 4
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So Ray has built the field for Shoeless Joe, eased the pain of Terence Mann and gone the distance for Archie Graham. Well, yes ... and no. We haven’t yet reached the end of Ray’s journey of faith, for one other figure finally appears on the “field of dreams.” Ray’s own father, though now dead, appears as a young man. John had wanted Ray to live out his own dream of becoming a baseball star, but their relationship had soured after Ray vilified Shoeless Joe, one of his father’s heroes. Ray now sees his dad sympathetically as a complex composite human being, both sinning and sinned against, and sees himself as that man, everyman, too. In a moving final scene, father and son are reconciled, and we now realise that John is the ultimate “he” who “will come”, the one for whom Ray will “go the distance.” And as for “ease his pain” – well that’s the shared pain they both carry. Cue an iconic American cameo: father and son playing a game of catch on the “field of dreams”.
A theological view TS Eliot observed that home is a place we all start from, leave, and long to return to. Banished from the Garden, exiled from the Promised Land – these are biblical images saying the same thing: we are all exiles and strangers, wayfarers and pilgrims, lost and searching, homeless and homesick, longing for homecoming, for paradise regained. That’s what the film is about. Deep down, we all have a sense that somewhere, sometime, we went wrong – and if only we could go back, get another chance, we’d get it right, or right the wrong, and all manner of things would be well. Perhaps, like Shoeless Joe Jackson, it was some mistake we made for which we’ve never been forgiven – or perhaps for which we’ve never forgiven ourselves. Perhaps, as in Ray’s case, it was a relationship that broke down, with a parent, lover, or friend. If only we could go back and restore the relationship, follow the road not taken, receive mercy, make amends! Is it true that alienation, defeat, failure, disgrace, finally confirmed by death, have the final word? Are second chances only the stuff of cinematic fairy tales? Or maybe – as we Christians believe – the past is redeemable! Anyway – it’s a great film.
John 5
Through a Glass Darkly—
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Thoughts of food When we want to celebrate we eat. This seems to be true in all cultures. We eat to celebrate new life, completed life, weddings, birthdays and many of the year’s festivals. Looking back to our childhood, many of us have loving and treasured memories of kitchens of long ago: bread or cake baking, stirring the Christmas pudding and scraping out the mixing bowl. Other eating memories may include picnics, parties and lunches and dinners ‘out’. It is amazing how many of our treasured memories are bound up in food. The readings for these two months are all about God feeding his people to show his love. Jesus’ command is to love one another so it follows that we are expected to feed one another as in the Korean fable of the long spoons which could only be used in that way. We make small and feeble efforts to do this when we contribute to Christian Aid or the Food Bank – but this is a drop in the ocean. There are many hungry people in our own country but even hungrier ones in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and in many other impoverished countries around the world. Love is failing to feed the world because the Bread of Life, spiritual food, is being ignored. We need to pray and work for the world to wake up, make peace and speak of God’s love so that spirits are fed, then we shall all learn to feed each other’s bodies more effectively as well.
Jean Schneider
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Summer lunchtime concerts Fridays 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st August At Holy Trinity Parish Church Sutton Cold ield 1.15pm start Join us for light refreshments from 12.30pm No tickets
Retiring collection
Performers to be con"irmed but will include David Rice, our Director of Music
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Youth Matters I am writing this about a week after the fatal stabbing of a 16 year old young man in the centre of Sutton; an event which has shocked our community and which has touched the lives of so many. It goes without saying that those of us who work at our two youth clubs have spent some time talking with the young people and exploring the issues the stabbing has raised. What is their take on the events that unfolded last week? What can we do? – questions we adults have been asking of the young. What follows is what the young people have answered. They were not shocked that there was an altercation in Sutton. Each day around 3.30pm, Sutton is full of many different groups of young people and there are always reasons for flashpoints. They were, however, surprised that knives were involved. They found it hard that so many people were filming the events and putting it on social media with little regard for the feelings of those involved. They do not feel that there is a particular knife culture within Sutton, but that the town is a melting pot for young people from all over, including areas where knife culture is more prevalent. It is not about rich and poor, or even drugs; drugs are easily obtained without violence in Sutton if they are desired! Instead our young people feel that the violence comes from gang culture. And that is a very hard nut to crack. They felt they have had lots of teaching about drugs, crime, citizenship, etc, and feel reasonably equipped to deal with the issues. However, they are unsure that everyone gets this teaching and feel there must be much more focus on education. They feel that nothing else will make a difference. Sure, the police cuts and lack of police presence out on the street does not help but more police would not solve the problems. It was felt that many parents had little awareness of what their offspring were up to and many young people are out of control and unmanaged. Can the parents be helped to regain control and respect? Otherwise it is a case of putting in place and funding the resources which can combat gang culture: education, providing youth clubs, people who could be good role models (and ban all the songs that glorify gangs). The young people were pragmatic. They do not see that there is an easy fix; it is hard to change a culture but they feel that, over a long period of time and with much effort, any culture can adapt and very gradually turn into something more creative. Let us hope and pray that they are right. Susie Walker
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Tribute to Muriel Goldsby (1921-2018)
Muriel, who has died at the age of 97, was a much-loved member of our church congregation for over 70 years. She lived for all of those years in Riland Road not very far from the church she loved. At her funeral service in church, her family remembered Muriel and her long life of Christian witness. We are privileged to have this account of her long life by Neville Goldsby one of her sons. An account of the importance of her Christian faith to her and the family, written by David Goldsby, will be in the next Magazine. Muriel, a life lived well – Neville Goldsby Mum was born on 13th Feb 1921 at Aston Road in Witton, one of four children. Both of her parents had remarkable backgrounds. Her mother Louise was born in Gosta Green in Birmingham to an Italian mother and a French father. Her father Albert Atkins was born into a farming family in the village of Haisley near Oxford. When he was 19 he went to Paris and worked as a horse groom to a Russian aristocratic family. On return to England he lived in Birmingham where he met and married Louise in 1909. After service in the First World War he took a small-holding near the village of Hints near Lichfield, when Muriel was only a few months old. Muriel attended Hints Village School, a very small school, there were just two teachers. The school was a good mile from their house and she walked to and from the School every day. While she was at school she had one very special friend, Vera Cope who lived at Bangley Farm near Bassett's Pole; they were lifelong friends and in regular contact until Vera died in 2005. From the age of 14, Mum worked in service at various large houses in and around Sutton Coldfield, where she lived-in during the week. Her first employers asked her parents if they could adopt her but were told "No." When she was 16yrs old and working for the Beddowes family, owners of a Sutton Coldfield grocery store, she met her future husband, Harold Thomas Goldsby who worked for the Grocers as a van driver. He was her only sweetheart, but things could have gone badly wrong for them both when they lost touch after Mum fell very ill with flu and she stopped working for the Beddowes. After recovering from illness Muriel then worked at another large house on the Four Oaks Estate, for the Dann family who were Estate Agents. Muriel proved to be very capable, the Dann family were amazed that Muriel could control very easily one of their sons who was a little difficult. The romance with Harold blossomed when her former employer Mr Beddowes told Harold where Muriel was now working. They became engaged when she was 18 years old, Harold was 12 years older but Muriel always said she preferred older men, rather than immature younger men. They were married in April 1939 at Hints Parish Church, living at first with the Beddowes family until later that year they moved into a house in Riland Road, the house in which Muriel lived for 76 years. Page
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Muriel and Harold were blessed with three sons, Neville, Maurice and David. When Neville was 7 years old and in the Holy Trinity Scout Group Cubs, Muriel became a trained Cub Volunteer as they were short of helpers. Her involvement and dedication to Holy Trinity Church was truly remarkable. She played a major part in the Mothers’ Union at Holy Trinity, becoming Secretary when it looked as if the group might have to close. She also helped the Vicar and his Curates when they took Holy Communion to patients at Good Hope Hospital. A tireless worker in the community, she also raised funds for Barnardos Homes over several years. Muriel took great delight in following the fortunes of her growing family. Neville, Maurice and David all married and started families. There were eight grandchildren, six boys and two girls, and now there are nine great grandchildren and two adopted grandchildren. This large family enjoyed looking after Muriel and Harold. There were holidays abroad, a first for Muriel and Harold, they went to Austria and on Harold’s 80th birthday in 1989 holidayed in Tunisia. Holidays in southern Spain were greatly enjoyed. Family life also had its traumas, Muriel and Harold’s son Maurice died of a brain tumour in 1987 aged just 45. In 2005 Harold died, 8 days short of his 96th birthday. Muriel lived on her own at 59 Riland Road until January 2015. She had lived in the same house for 76 years, but in the last three years there, she had been unable to go any further than her house and garden, unless accompanied. So in January 2015 Muriel, suffering with dementia, moved to Bartley Green Lodge Care Home. However, in 2017 Muriel started to have falls, they became more frequent and in November 2017 she fell and broke her leg. After some time in hospital she came back to Sutton and lived for a short while in Hafod House, Anchorage Road Sutton Coldfield. She passed away in March of this year. Muriel lived a long, happy and simple life, always in the service of her family and the wider community. Muriel had an impact on so many lives, in many ways she was an example to all who knew her of a life lived well, an example to us all.
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To a god-daughter I was at the memorial service for my sister-in-law’s mother recently, who died in January at the amazing age of 104. One of the readings at the service was a letter written to her god-daughter on the occasion of her confirmation. The reason it was still in her papers is that Beryl herself was a writer, for much of her career writing and editing for Country Life magazine, but also contributing to a host of other columns and also writing, in 1973, the first definitive history of her adopted home, Greenwich in South East London. According to the family her typewriter dated from 1916 which proved a challenge when trying to find ribbons and other replacement parts in later years, but this also meant that she kept carbon copies of everything she had written including letters. This letter, not long, seemed to me to deserve a wider readership.
(ST) March 3rd 1969
Passing thoughts on from one generation to another is one of the most important ways of maintaining a civilisation. And Con"irmation is one of the most important steps in the progress of a Christian. So it is right that I, your godmother, should now pass on to you my thoughts on Christianity. I really have only one thought and it is this: if you can go through life believing that God is, and that He is good, you will never be without comfort. In a hard, sad, lonely life, I should have been over-whelmed if I had not believed in God. I did not choose to believe; it came, I now realise as I write to you, as a gift. And it is a gift that has given me more happiness than anything else. As your godmother I must wish a gift for you – and this is it – Belief in God. I shall pray that you have it, my darling. Perhaps the prayer book will come in useful for your wedding. I hope you enjoy your Thursday and am very sorry I cannot be there. With much love, Beryl Platts Page
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Financial Corner a series of short articles by Mike Somers Funny money? ♦
Always borrow money from a pessimist. They won't want it back
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Retirement is the time of your life when time is no longer money
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A long term investment is a short term investment that failed
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If you can count your money then you are not a millionaire. Money can buy a house……but not a home Money Money Money Money Money
can can can can can
buy buy buy buy buy
a bed…….but not sleep a clock…….but not time a book…..but not knowledge medicine…..but not health presents…….but not love
Money can buy lots of things …..but giving is better. ———————————Tim hesitated and did not really want to put the money on the offering plate on Sunday. His mother quickly thought of some creative reasoning and said- “You don't want that money, drop it on the plate, it’s tainted!” Horrified the boy obeyed, and said“But why is it tainted, Mummy?” She replied- “Because it ‘taint yours and it ‘taint mine, it's God’s!” 17
A story sent in by Revd Carol Hoare, our Associate Priest For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I wonder if everyone is acquainted with the story of how the Apostle Thomas took this story to heart but rather overdid it.... The story is told in the apocryphal Acts of Thomas which tells how Thomas was sent by Christ to India. Thomas was employed by the local king Gundaphorus to build a new palace, and Thomas was given money to buy materials and hire workmen. Thomas gave the money to the poor, but always assured the king that his palace was rising steadily. The king became suspicious when Thomas kept putting off his requests to see the work in progress and finally sent for Thomas. "Have you built my Palace?", he asked. "Yes", Thomas replied. "Then we shall go and see it now" said the King. Thomas answered: "You cannot see it now, but when you depart this life you shall see it. I have built you a palace in heaven by giving your money to the poor and needy of your kingdom." Somehow Thomas survived intact and eventually Gundaphorus became a Christian, along with many others. For them light had come into the darkness. For them a pearl of great price had been discovered. For them the world was changed. Treasures in heaven. Enjoyed even while on earth. Don't wait to forgive. Don't wait to visit the sick. Don't wait to give alms. Don't wait to begin that special project that God is gifting you for. Don't wait to start thinking better about other people. Don't wait before you adjust your attitude about life. But believe Christ, trust God and do what the Spirit urges you to do, in the good book, and in the depths of your hearts.
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H history E education R reflection I innovation T tradition A adoration G grace E evolution This is my take on the meaning of heritage for our church. I hope readers are aware of the tremendous amount of work by many people on our HeritageLottery-Funded project enabling us to open up our historic church more frequently to all and to engage with visitors online. We now have a new church website which includes a huge amount of information about the church. Check it out. Pages include:
A timeline of key dates from 1086 to 2018
Interactive floorplans for a quick view of what was in the church at different periods in its history
Pictures and information about key features of the church like the stained glass, font, woodwork and Bishop Vesey’s tomb.
Films about some key aspects of our Town’s history
Audio clips of members of the church and wider community giving memories about the church, faith and local amenities.
We are now regularly opening up the church with trained stewards on hand to offer a cup of tea and information if required. We have a new family leaflet which all visitors will enjoy. With information and some activities to do while in the church, people can also link from it via their phone or tablet to the website when they require more information. We have great dressing-up costumes for all ages made by an incredible team who have gone beyond the call of duty! So why those terms for HERITAGE? Well most are obvious, the history and education angle. Adoration and grace refer to our faith heritage. Everything for the glory of God and by His grace. Evolution is the final one and the most important. Heritage is history, great events and the everyday, about the people who have been part of the church and this community over many centuries. It is not a nostalgia trip (though happy memories are important). We must learn from both the bad experiences of the past as well as the good and use our history and heritage to evolve and change for the better. Hopefully it is also a lot of fun along the way (but there’s no F in ‘heritage’!) Stella Thebridge
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Church news Our cover this 'me shows a number of different occasions. The Civic Service is now firmly in the calendar of Holy Trinity with the Town Council in place. This year it was on 20th May. Our two centenarians men'oned in the last issue have now had their celebra'ons, so we are able to show photos in this issue. This is a terrific achievement and we congratulate both Lucy and Joan. Margaret’s report of the APCM on page 20 notes all the new officers of the PCC and other appointments. One of the key func'ons of the mee'ng is to appoint the two church wardens. We have a picture of Ros Dyke and Colin Ingley with the Rector and holding their ‘wands’ (that is the official name!) aFer the Archdeacon’s visita'on to the Deanery in Water Orton where they were officially installed in their posts. Finally, our front cover shows the most famous King of England , Henry VIII, and the most famous resident of SuIon, Bishop Vesey as portrayed by two members of the congrega'on at our Parade service on 10th June which celebrated the heritage of our church and town. The costumes were made by a wonderful team who will be thanked properly in due course. They also found 'me to make the school children’s ouJits, some old-fashioned Guide / Brownie scarves and some Victorian wear! All costumes were put to good use at the service and will be available for visitors of all ages to enjoy in the future. Page
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If you would like to
ADVERTISE in this space …... Please contact: Holy Trinity Parish Office, The Trinity Centre Church Hill, Off Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield B72 1TF Tel: 0121 321 1144 Fax: 0121 321 1199 Email: admin@htsc.org.uk
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Friends of Holy Trinity Su/on Coldfield Our fifth season has just drawn to a close with ”No petticoats here” - Louise Jordan’s commemorative look at women in the first world war in this centenary of the end of the conflict. A picture of the previous event is on the inside cover. The Friends of Holy Trinity have again reached their target of £10K to help with the many costs of maintaining the fabric of a historical church. They were also successful in receiving funds from the Sutton Coldfield Philharmonic Society, a group which had been promoting concerts at the Town Hall for 88 years, but which sadly had to wind up its operation. The remaining funds were distributed to two music-based charities of which we were one and we are most grateful to them. To be sure of information about the forthcoming series, check the website. Better still, sign up as a Friend to ensure you receive first chance to book tickets and regular updates on all our activities. Join us online via www.htsc.org.uk (press the Friends’ symbol on the screen to reach our page) or ring the Trinity Centre on 0121 321 1144 for an application form. Annual Parochial Church meeting – 15th April 2018 Elections:
Colin Ingley and Ros Dyke - Churchwardens Jo Medlicott, Liz Petley, & John Wright - PCC
Reports on Parish Life These had been circulated prior to the meeting – copies of these and the abbreviated accounts may still be available to view. Accounts for 2017 These were presented by John Routh, as acting treasurer. The two funds covering day to day finances showed a £14000 deficit – although better than had been expected, still a significant deficit. The architects believe that following the quinquennial inspection the south aisle roof may need replacing in the next 5-10 years. Electoral Roll – this now stands at 158 members. Rector’s address John spoke on the Diocese’s plans for changes in the deployment and funding of parish ministry, how it might affect Holy Trinity in the future with regard to a rector and common fund.
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PCC membership The PCC now consists of the two churchwardens, the Deanery Synod representatives (Margaret Le Brocq, Sue Ingley & Tanya Arroba) and other PCC members elected as noted above, the Rector and PCC members whose terms continue – Neil Parker, Louise Perry, Karen Wright, Liz Petley, Marette Ambler, Chris Chubb, Nicola Revell and Stella Thebridge. P.C.C. meeting immediately following APCM Election of PCC Officers:
Treasurer – Bill Bickerstaff Stewardship Officer – Bob Dyke Legacy Officer – Mike Somers PCC Secretary - Margaret Le Brocq PCC minutes secretaries - Margaret Le Brocq, Liz Petley, Sue Ingley, Karen Wright Child & Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Officer and Identifying Officer – Elizabeth Petley
Children’s Advocate - Neil Parker Vulnerable Adults’ Advocate – Stella Thebridge Health and Safety Officer – vacancy Electoral Roll Officer – Colin Ingley Group Council Representatives – Simon Ambler, John Routh, Tanya Arroba Appointment of Committee Chairs: Revd John Routh – Standing and Worship Stella Thebridge - Mission Tanya Arroba - Children and Young People Revd Paul Duckers - Pastoral Sue Ingley - Social Colin Ingley - Trinity Centre and Church Management Ros Dyke – Trinity Centre, Church and Grounds Nick Revell - Friends of Holy Trinity Appointment of Working Group Chairs: Revd John Routh - Re-Ordering Stella Thebridge – Heritage Project Steering group. Margaret Le Brocq PCC Secretary
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FROM THE REGISTERS ... Baptisms 20th May
Flynn Alan Mulvey Raye Rebecca Mulvey Henry Harvey
We welcome these children into new life with God, as part of our church family
Marriages 21st April 28th April 6th May
James Reilly & Melanie Harris Victor Cheng & Michele Hughes Charles Wager & Becky Wager
2nd June
Nicholas Humphrey & Geraldine Bell
(Blessing)
We wish these couples every blessing in their future together.
Funeral 23rd April
Colin James Newey
We remember all who have died and ask for God’s comfort to sustain all who are bereaved.
Bible verse You have ďŹ xed all the bounds of the earth: you have made summer and winter. Psalm 74, verse 17 Page
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This is the theme of national Heritage Open Days 2018 Join us at Holy Trinity on
Sat 15th Sept 2018 Official opening by the Mayor of Sutton Coldfield
Cllr. Derrick Griffin at 10.30am Celebrating famous women of our church and town in the past, including: Agnes Bracken and Sarah Holbeche (historians) Emma Barton (photographer) and other women of famous families in Sutton Coldfield! Stalls Dressing-up Family Activities Tower Trips Heritage Goods Refreshments
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Trinity Arrangements for 2018 The cost is 60p per issue, and an annual subscrip'on just £3-50. Please pay as you go, or annually by cash or cheque to “PCC Holy Trinity SuIon Coldfield”. If you have any queries rela'ng to the magazine, please contact the Trinity Centre in the first instance on: 0121 321 1144 or Cover date
admin@htsc.org.uk Copy deadline th
Publica<on date
Sept/Oct
5 August
19th August
Nov/Dec
7th October
28th October
Jan/Feb 2019
25th November
16th December
Please submit material for the next issue by the deadline above to : Louise Chubb 240 6366
louisejharden@hotmail.com
End note... In response to an article entitled “Want to know who God is? Now you can ask Alexa”, Matt Jones of Swansea wrote to The Guardian:
One evening, during prayer in our church home group, our Amazon Echo thought it was being addressed. As the group sat in contemplation, the device broke into the silence as a voice of still calm : “I’m sorry, I cannot help you”. Startled, we looked up, with one participant saying: “God just spoke—she’s a woman and can’t help us!” The Guardian, Sat 2nd June, Journal, p9
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Dignitaries at the Civic Service—20th May
The libre=st and composer in ”The Gilbert and Sullivan story” from the Birmingham Savoyards. 12th May
Thanks and an end to the re-ordering work at Holy Trinity 13th May
Centenarians Lucy Rawlins (above) and Joan Smith (right)
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