Parish Magazine January 2012 50p St.Mary, Alderley Cheshire Rector Writes: January 2012 I would very much like to wish you all a very happy New Year. December has been a busy and rewarding month in both Churches. St Mary’s looked splendid and the new figures in the nativity have been much admired. I have been particularly pleased at the joint services we have had with St Philip’s and St James. These have proven to be a good thing and they are going to continue next year. I came across a wonderful quote regarding Church attendance which I think is surprisingly relevant and fresh despite belonging to 19 th century. It comes from a local man named John Charles Ryle. He was born in Macclesfield, went on to study at Eton College and then Christ Church, Oxford. He was Ordained and became the first Bishop of Liverpool. He was somewhat evangelical and wrote many books and tracts explaining the faith. "We shall all do well to remember the charge of the Apostle Paul- "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." Never to be absent from God’s house on Sundays, without good reason– never to miss the Lord’s Supper when administered in our own congregation– never to let our place be empty when means of grace are going on, this is one way to be a growing and prosperous Christian. The very sermon that we needlessly miss, may contain a precious word in season for our souls. The very assembly for prayer and praise from which we stay away, may be the very gathering that would have cheered, established, and revived our hearts. We little know how dependent our spiritual health is on little, regular, habitual helps, and how much we suffer if we miss our medicine." Our attendance at Church, any Church is a basic way of witnessing to our faith. I have found out Services to attend whilst on holiday and been much the better for having done so. Our attendance is our service to God. We should be present in Church each week to offer prayer and praise to the Almighty. However we should only be in Church if we want to be there. Our faith needs to be a positive part of our lives and give joy to us and others. The reason why I am in Church is because I want to be there and I regard the Church and her Services as an essential part of who I am. I may not always feel like attending but I whole heartedly acknowledge the beneficial good in doing so. May God bless us and increase our faith to be a joy and a glorious ingredient of who we are. James 1
Transcript
Parish Magazine January 2012
50p
St.Mary, Alderley Cheshire
Rector Writes: January 2012 I would very much like to wish you all a very happy New Year. December has been a busy and rewarding month in both Churches. St Mary’s looked splendid and the new figures in the nativity have been much admired. I have been particularly pleased at the joint services we have had with St Philip’s and St James. These have proven to be a good thing and they are going to continue next year. I came across a wonderful quote regarding Church attendance which I think is surprisingly relevant and fresh despite belonging to 19th century. It comes from a local man named John Charles Ryle. He was born in Macclesfield, went on to study at Eton College and then Christ Church, Oxford. He was Ordained and became the first Bishop of Liverpool. He was somewhat evangelical and wrote many books and tracts explaining the faith. "We shall all do well to remember the charge of the Apostle Paul- "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." Never to be absent from God’s house on Sundays, without good reason– never to miss the Lord’s Supper when administered in our own congregation– never to let our place be empty when means of grace are going on, this is one way to be a growing and prosperous Christian. The very sermon that we needlessly miss, may contain a precious word in season for our souls. The very assembly for prayer and praise from which we stay away, may be the very gathering that would have cheered, established, and revived our hearts. We little know how dependent our spiritual health is on little, regular, habitual helps, and how much we suffer if we miss our medicine." Our attendance at Church, any Church is a basic way of witnessing to our faith. I have found out Services to attend whilst on holiday and been much the better for having done so. Our attendance is our service to God. We should be present in Church each week to offer prayer and praise to the Almighty. However we should only be in Church if we want to be there. Our faith needs to be a positive part of our lives and give joy to us and others. The reason why I am in Church is because I want to be there and I regard the Church and her Services as an essential part of who I am. I may not always feel like attending but I whole heartedly acknowledge the beneficial good in doing so. May God bless us and increase our faith to be a joy and a glorious ingredient of who we are.
James
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DIARY FOR JANUARY 2012
Sat 31st 2.00pm Holy Matrimony at Alderley Sun. 1 st Sunday after Christmas Day 8.00am Holy Communion at Birtles 9.45am Holy Communion at Alderley 11.15am Family Service at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at Alderley Thu. 5th 10.00am Holy Communion at Alderley Thu. 5th 12noon Soup & Study in the Rectory Sun 8 th Epiphany 8.00am Holy Communion at Alderley 9.45am Mattins at Alderley 11.15am Holy Communion at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at St.Philips Church, Alderley Edge Thu.12th 10.00am Holy Communion at Alderley Sat. 14th 2.30pm Holy Matrimony at Alderley Sun. 15 th First Sunday after Epiphany 8.00am Holy Communion at Alderley 9.45am Holy Communion at Alderley 11.15am Plough Sunday Service at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at Alderley Thu.19th 10.00am Holy Communion at Alderley Thu. 19th 12noon Soup & Study in the Rectory Sun. 22nd Second Sunday after Epiphany 8.00am Holy Communion at Alderley 9.45am Mattins at Alderley 11.15am Holy Communion at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at Alderley Thu.26th 10.00am Holy Communion at Alderley Sun. 29th Candlemas 8.00am Holy Communion at Birtles 9.45am Candlemas Service at Alderley 11.15am Christingle Service at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at Alderley
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February 2012 Sun 5 th 8.00am Holy Communion at Birtles 9.45am Morning Service at Alderley 11.15am Morning Service at Birtles 6.30pm Evensong at Alderley
COFFEE is available in the Parish Hall after the 9.45am Service.
At the end of the Family Service coffee and biscuits are provided by a stalwart group of volunteers in the Parish Hall. Donations given over the last few months have been given to Christian Aid to purchase three lots
of 20 fruit-trees and three bee-hives for South America.
COLLECTION TOTALS
Date Gift Aid
Envelopes Non-Gift Aid Envelopes
Misc. Cash
Standing Orders Total
Nov 6th 341.00 35.00 27.20 403.20
Nov 13th 388.00 3.50 61.10 452.60
Nov 20th 416.30 1.50 28.20 446.00
Nov 27th 497.30 19.50 202.71 719.51
TOTAL 1642.60 59.50 319.21 431.00 2452.31
2011 Envelopes
If you have not already collected your 2011 box of dated envelopes, you will find them at the back of the church. Thank you for your continued support – Donald Henderson
A THANK YOU I would like to thank all those generous folk who responded to the Wardens’ appeal last March for donations for “an appropriate item” to be purchased and dedicated in my name. I have been extremely gratified and humbled to have been associated with the lovely silver ciborium which was dedicated last Sunday and which has, I believe, met with such universal approval.
Peter Bean
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SOCIAL COMMITTEE
The Christmas Soup and Sandwich lunch was held at Margaret Worthington’s on December 7th. It was a very chatty happy occasion with14 attending. We were pleased to welcome Rector in his special Father Christmas hat! The Christmas Coffee Morning took place on December 3rd. The Barnby Choir gave us a real treat singing Carols in church during sessions. They hope to be invited next year? It is their Christmas treat! On Wednesday January 25th we plan to go out for a Pub Lunch . This is instead of a tea party and the venue to be decided. Please can people let me know if they would like to join in, anyone will be welcome. I mentioned in the December magazine that we plan to hold a Bridge Drive on Monday February 13th in the Parish Hall starting 1.30pm.Tables will be £26.00. I do hope the bridge players will join us and please tell your friends. Do let me know if you would like a table.
Janet Adamson Tel: 01625 583320
ST MARY'S WALKING GROUP
Saturday 7 th January 2012 Ridge Hill Round Walk: start 10.00am Starting point: The Ryles Arms.
Map: Outdoor Leisure 24 – Peak District, White Peak Grid Refence: SK 942694
Length : 4 ½ miles, easy / moderate Further information: Pub Lunch at the Ryles Arms available. Contact: Ring Will Ablett with any queries (01625 585180: mobile 07977 978620)
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ST MARY'S WALKING GROUP
Saturday 4 th February 2012 Tegg's Nose Meadows and Toot Hill Walk: start 10.00am Starting point: Teggs's Nose Car Park off Buxton Old Road Macclesfield. Map: Grid Refence:
Length : 7½ miles, Further information: Lunch and coffee needed. The walk starts and finishes with a descent to make everyone happy. In the event of bad weather contact Jamie on 01625 585245. Boots and waterproofs needed. Contact: Ring Jamie Smith with any queries
SOUP AND STUDY 2012
Soup and Study will be continuing to read and discuss the Apocrypha. Those interested in Lunch should arrive at the Rectory for 12 o’clock and those who wish to attend the study only at 1 o’clock. A donation of £3 to defray costs would be appreciated per session from those having lunch. Thursday 5th Jan Wisdom of Solomon
Thursday 19th Jan Ecclesiasticus / Sirach
Thursday 2nd Feb The Prayer of Manasseh
Thursday 16th Feb The Prayer of Azariah
Thursday 1st Mar 1 Esdras
Thursday 16th Mar 2 Esdras
Thursday 29th Mar The Biblical Canon ' How do we see Scripture'
Thursday 19th Apr Pseudepigrapha
Thursday 3rd May Enoch: The fall of the Angels
Thursday 17th May Sibylline Oracles
Thursday 31st May The Assumption of Moses
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Friends of St.Mary's The Alderley Mummers – Thursday 24 th November
This was another memorable evening for the Friends of St Mary’s and their guests. The Adlington Morris Men have obviously researched the whole subject of Mummers and Mumming Plays very thoroughly and we enjoyed an excellent presentation of the history of Mumming illustrated by photographs of groups, many in their costumes. The Alderley Mummers Play was always performed by the various members of the Barber family and it was lovely to have Margaret Bailey (nee Barber), the daughter of Fred
Barber, himself a Mummer, in the audience with us. Tribute was also paid to Jenny Youatt for information and photographs she had been able to supply from her archives. The evening culminated in the presentation of the Alderley Mummers Play in their colourful costumes, with duels, death and miraculous return to life! Plus the arrival of the rather recalcitrant (two legged) horse, which generated much amusement. Afterwards we enjoyed a glass of wine and the opportunity to chat to members of the cast.
Jean Lee
Deiniol d. c.584
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is not the first mighty bishop to come out of Wales. Deiniol was a monk of Wales who came to be the ‘first bishop of Bangor’. And a mighty bishop he was, too: Deiniol founded the two monasteries of Bangor Fawr (on the Menai Straits) and Bangor Iscoed (Clwyd), which, according to Bede, became the most famous monastery of British Christianity and came to number over 2,000 monks. Sadly, they were defeated at the battle of Chester by the pagan Aethelfrith, king of Northumbria. Deiniol is also remembered for his skill in getting disagreeing bishops to come and talk things over at a Synod… surely a skill which his 21st century successor has had to put to great use!
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The original book, published in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English Reformation following the break with Rome. Prayer books, unlike books of prayers, contain the words of structured (or liturgical) services of worship. The work of 1549 was the first prayer book to include the complete forms of service for daily and Sunday worship in English. It contained Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, the Litany, and Holy Communion and also the occasional services in full: the orders for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, 'prayers to be said with the sick' and a Funeral service. It also set out in full the "propers" (that is the parts of the service which varied week by week or, at times, daily throughout the Church's Year): the Collect and the Epistle and Gospel readings for the Sunday Communion Service. Old Testament and New Testament readings for daily prayer were specified in tabular format as were the Psalms; and canticles, mostly biblical, that were provided to be said or sung between the readings. The 1549 book was soon succeeded by a more reformed revision in 1552 under the same editorial hand, that of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. It was only used for a few months, as after Edward VI's death in 1553, his half-sister Mary I restored Roman Catholic worship. She herself died in 1558, and in 1559 Elizabeth I reintroduced the 1552 book with a few modifications to make it acceptable to more traditionally minded worshippers, notably the inclusion of the words of administration from the 1549 Communion Service alongside those of 1552. In 1604 James I ordered some further changes, the most significant of these being the addition to the Catechism of a section on the Sacraments. Following the tumultuous events leading to and including the English Civil War, another major revision was published in 1662. That edition has remained the official prayer book of the Church of England, although in the 21st century, an alternative book called Common Worship was introduced. The Book of Common Prayer with local variations is used in churches inside and outside the Anglican Communion in over 50 different countries and in over 150 different languages. Like the Authorized King James Bible and the works of Shakespeare, many words and phrases from the Book of Common Prayer have entered common parlance
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1952 – 2012 – Celebrating 60 years of The Queen’s r eign
Queen Elizabeth ll came to the throne on 6th February 1952. Her coronation took place on 2nd June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria, in 1897. The main celebrations for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be from Saturday 2nd June to Tuesday 5th June. For your interest, here’s how that weekend will look: Saturday 2nd June: The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. Sunday 3rd June: The Big Jubilee Lunch: Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This might be a traditional street party or even a picnic lunch. Visit: http://www.thebiglunch.com/ The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: This event will consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla. Monday 4th June: BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace: There will be a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot. The musical programme will feature British and Commonwealth musicians. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons: A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon. Tuesday 5th June, 2012 Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession: There will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage Procession by The Queen.
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Henrietta Maria Stanley (1807 – 1895) & Girton Coll ege
Henrietta Maria Stanley, wife of the 2nd Lord Stanley, was a leading figure in Victorian education. As the wife of the Chief Whip and later Paymaster General to Palmerston’s Government, she used her influence to campaign for the progression of women’s education and suffrage and helped found the Girls’ Public Day School Trust and Girton College, Cambridge.
In 1867 she declined an invitation to join the committee planning a women's university college. She said "it is not liked to see my name before the public" but the death of her husband in 1869 enlarged her freedom of action.
On 16th October 1869, the College was opened at Benslow House, Hitchin, under the name of the 'College for Women'. At the beginning of 1872 the invitation to involve herself more formally in the affairs of what was to become Girton College had been renewed and Lady Stanley of Alderley accepted. In 1872 the present site was purchased, and the College was renamed Girton College: the removal to the new buildings took place in October 1873.
It was not only the absence of a library which vexed the earliest Girtonians in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, but the absence of books themselves. Emily Davies (another founder) had set about the building of Girton with great vision but little cash. The women were stranded several miles from any other available resources, to which they were not always allowed access in any case, and in an age when chaperones were still a requirement. Girton’s first library was built with a donation of £1000 from Lady Stanley. By then the college had already been established fifteen years. When the library was finished, contemporary students were entranced by its beauty and comfort, with the vivid cobalt blue in its stained-glass windows, its leather window seats and its large chimney corner.
For the remainder of Lady Stanley's life she gave generously of her time and money. She was solely responsible for the building of a science laboratory which cost £600 and she also paid for a lodge at the front gate for the head gardener. She also provided many other lesser gifts. From 1890 until her death in 1895 she blocked a further round of building schemes including a chapel, to which she was deeply opposed. She campaigned instead for the improvement of staff salaries and equipment.The chapel was eventually built in 1899, four years after Henrietta's death.
The red crescent shapes in the Girton crest are taken from the arms of the 13th Viscount Dillon, Henrietta's father.
(Eventually the Stanley Library became too small both for the quantity of books and for the growing population of students, as the college buildings expanded. It culminated in the building of a new library in 1932. The Stanley Library is now a conference room).
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A Choir Without --- Enquire Within. Reader wise, I had an easy time in December. I was required to lead only at the joint Evensong with St Philips and St James on the 4th December, where the three Ladies of Alderley gave Absolution, Prayers, Sermon, Blessing and vestry prayers with quiet charm and feeling. The united choir was in fine form and tune with the organ, making a fine sound. And it is about the choir, more particularly the choir of St Mary Alderley that I wish to write as an Advent penance for not writing a sermon. If you Google the phrase “Shortage of men in Church Choirs”, as I did, then you will find 15,100,000 headings assembled in 0.20 seconds. I do not have time to verify the accuracy of this but fortunately some early entries provided sufficient stimuli for this appeal – for such it is, although not for money. The Royal School for Church Music in Wales, and Wales begins not too far down the road from here, carried out a Church Music Survey in 2010/2011. It found that music still plays an important part in church worship and that psalms are still widely sung. When asked too make a wish list for additional musical resources, respondents wanted more men in the choir and an improved organ. And this is the point -- on the one hand the Men of Harlech and elsewhere are more represented in church music than are the Men of St Mary Alderley. There are just two regular male members of the choir of St Mary Alderley, neither of whom live in the parish and whose cumulative years to date total 163 as they process up and down the aisle to the strains of an organ recently restored at a cost of £85,000. Hardly cost effective, is it? At that joint Evensong of 4th December there were 6 men in the joint choir, 3 tenor and 3 basses. The improvement in effect over that of 1 tenor and 1 bass was immeasurable and confidence overall was sky high. Surely the Men of St Mary Alderley have amongst you 2 tenors and 2 basses that could join the choir, perhaps sharing on a week on/week off basis, perhaps coming from the auxiliary singers and even covering all voices? Please think about it, talk about it to choir members, clergy, our organist, to Helen and Martin who lead and train us. Believe me, something has to be done about the shortage of men – and done now. A New Year’s resolution that would gladden so many hearts and mind. Are you up for it? Nigel – Reader and Chorister.
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ROTA FOR JANUARY 2012 LADY SIDESMEN / SIDESMEN / LECTORS
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DATE TIME SIDESMEN LECTOR 9.45am Mr T Fones
1st 6.30pm Mrs A Cobb Mrs F Robinson
8.00am Mrs B Essayan
9.45am Mrs G Beeley & Mr W Ablett Miss S Varden 8th
6.30pm JOINT Evensong with St Philips & St James @ St Philip’s Alderley Edge
8.00am Mr R Akester
9.45am
Mr G Woolley & Mrs J Adamson Mrs J Lee 15th
6.30pm Mr A Cockitt Mr & Mrs G Davis
8:00am Mr P. Bean
9:45am
Mrs F Ablett & Mr J Ratchford Mr R Akester 22nd
6:30pm Mrs J Maynard Mr S Maynard
8:00am Mr H A Wright
9:45am Candlemass
Service Mrs J Robinson & Mr A Claridge Miss L Bootland 29th
The deadline for the next magazine is Thursday 19 th January 2012
Please send all copy to: Editorial: Jenny Youatt Email: [email protected] 1, Orchard Crescent, Nether Alderley, SK10 4TZ Production: Jean Whittingham Subscriptions & Distribution: Peter Bean: 01625 582073 Large format copies of the magazine are available.
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FROM THE REGISTERSFROM THE REGISTERSFROM THE REGISTERSFROM THE REGISTERS
ChristeningsChristeningsChristeningsChristenings Sun. 4th December Toby Wilber Wallet Griffiths Sun. 4th December Scarlett Carlene Barr Wed.7th December Lily Trafford Sat. 17th December Harry Arthur Peel Sun. 18th December James Albert Gordon Bounds Sat. 31st December John Lugo
CCCConfirmationonfirmationonfirmationonfirmation –––– Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday 7777thththth December December December December Lily Trafford, Rebeca Wardle, Letitia Amy Burns, Grace Elizabeth Anna Jones, Georgina Lucy Bootland and Martha Jill Margaret Mckenna
WeddingsWeddingsWeddingsWeddings Sat. 31st December Helen Adams and Roger Linnell
FuneFuneFuneFuneralsralsralsrals
Fri. 25th November Edward Brain (interment of ashes) Fri. 25th November Alex Humphrey (Mem. Service at Graveyard Farm, Mobberley)
