St Andrew's Parish Church, Medsteadwelcome | faith | services | events | news | archive | people | church | village | friends | location |
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St Andrew's Parish Church, Medsteadwelcome | faith | services | events | news | archive | people | church | village | friends | location |
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July-September 2007
PCC Meeting: 19th Sept
Our Vision Launched
More Villagers Reunited
Karamoja Visit
Harvest
Ride and Stride
Change
PCC Meeting: 18th July
Medstead Parish Plan
Love It / Hate It
United Benefice
Medstead WI
Medstead Bowls Club
Uganda Flood Emergency
Organ Recital
Harvest Festival & Supper
Activity Days Help
Oars For Treloars Update
Photographers Wanted
Refectory Duties
Website: New Address
Village Fête
Sunwalk
Hog Roast
Social Events
Gardeners Club
Open Garden
Births, Deaths & Marriages
Small Ads
April-June 2007
January-March 2007
October-December 2006
July-September 2006
April-June 2006
January-March 2006
October-December 2005
July-September 2005
April-June 2005
January-March 2005
October-December 2004
July-September 2004
April-June 2004
January-March 2004
November-December 2003
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The Parochial Church Council met on Wednesday, 19th September and, in addition to the usual items of business, discussed the following:
The next PCC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 21st November at 8.00pm in the Church Hall. If you have any matters you would like discussed, please let our Secretary, Yvonne, know.
Related Links:
Faith In Action: Karamoja
Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18).
Our church is a place where people can come to worship, to ask questions and learn about faith, as well as for baptisms, weddings and funerals. We are fortunate our church is also at the heart of the community here in Medstead, providing a facility where different organisations and groups can meet.
As you may know, we have been thinking about what the Lord is calling us to do at St. Andrew's. At our Vision Day in November 2006 we worked together to produce ideas on how best to develop our life and increase the outreach and appeal of the Church in our community.
Prayer for Our Vision
God, our heavenly Father, we give thanks and pray for your Church within our village community of Medstead.
Increase in us true humility and love for you and all people and a readiness to listen and speak to you.
Inspire and guide us that by your Holy Spirit we may discover your will for your Church in our village. In that discernment and vision:
- Make us willing to commit ourselves and the gifts and talents you have given us for use in your service.
- Give us courage and strength to move forward in prayerful obedience to you.
- Help us to support and encourage one another in revealing your love for the world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
We launched Our Vision at the 11am Family Communion service on Sunday, 2nd September, to share these ideas with you and to ask for your help in turning them into real and practical changes.
There are all sorts of ways in which you could help us, all equally valid. I hope you will take a few moments to read about Our Vision, to pray about it and consider if there is any way you can help by using the Response Pack to pledge your time, talents and giving.
If you are already on our Electoral Roll then you will receive a copy of Our Vision and a response pack during September. If you are not and would like to receive a copy, then you may download them, below.
Alternatively, to receive a hard copy, please contact Ben or one of our Churchwardens, Kerry or Ian.
All packs should be completed and returned by the Benefice Service at St. Andrew's on Sunday, 30th September.
I hope you will do your best to help us. This is not just about meeting budgets, it is about opening our lives to God's Spirit. That is why our vision and growth go together.
Ben Flenley
Download:
Our Vision
Response Pack
Right click on the link, select "Save Target As..." to save the file to a local directory. The documents are in Adobe pdf and Microsoft Word 2003 format, compressed using Winzip.
Related Links:
Vision Day
Vision Day Update
Members of the Cole, Cresswell, Holdaway, Ivall, Meek, Norgate and Westbrook families from New Zealand have all recently contacted us seeking family history information.
Several have also visited us, most recently Emily and Phillip Meek with baby Harrison (Emily's maiden name, she was a Medstead girl). Phillip had connections to an Emma Holdaway, the daughter of John Holdaway and Mary Norgate. They also had a copy of The Holdaway Family - Pioneers of Nelson which they promised to send us extracts from, with photographs.
Earlier this year, the Cresswell family also visited and we discovered they had close connections with Medstead. They also had a book, the Cresswells of Hampshire and Nelson, which they donated to us during this year's Medstead Fête. It includes a history of the Cresswell family and their links to the Holdaways, details of the emigration of the families to New Zealand, voyage narrative, letters, newspaper articles, photographs and more.
Our benefice connection with New Zealand began in 1840 when The New Zealand Company recruited skilled surveyors, carpenters and labourers to establish a Colonial Settlement. These first settlers, including John Holdaway and Thomas Cresswell, spent 144 days at sea before arriving in New Zealand in September 1841.
Having met so many relatives with common links to our benefice within such a short space of time, we have established contact with each and introduced them to the others, many for the first time, via email:
Cole:
Cresswell:
Holdaway:
Meek:
Westbrook:
Ron Burnett
Related Links:
Villagers Reunited
Medstead Village History
In recent months we have had a number of representatives from our Deanery visit Karamoja. Hard on the heels of Kennett Westmacott and James Campbell, John Ellison has been to Karamoja. John wrote this article for his village magazine.
In March of this year I was invited to represent the Alton Deanery at the consecration of Rev James Nasak as the first Bishop of North Karamoja, a remote area of North Eastern Uganda, on the border with Sudan and Kenya.
On 25th June I was up at 5am and took a taxi to pick up the Mission Aviation plane that would take me to meet Bishop Joseph Abura in Moroto, Karamoja. After a two hour flight I arrived on a deserted airfield and, as the plane flew off, found myself in the middle of Africa sitting on my luggage whilst I waited to be picked up. Fortunately, they had heard the plane and I was collected half an hour later.
As well as attending the consecration I had promised to use my financial experience to help them with budgets and costs. There are a number of major problems to overcome:
In late afternoon on Friday we left with armed convoy to travel to Kotido district for the consecration of the new Bishop. Travel on unmade up roads is doubly hazardous because of marauding warriors with guns.
On arrival we were greeted by joyful singing and ushered onto a well-maintained compound owned by the church. A new accommodation block with 4 bedrooms was a pleasant surprise and was to be my home for the next five days.
The Saturday was spent in meeting the 7 Bishops from other dioceses in Uganda including the Archbishop Rt Rev Henry Olunga and a round table meeting to rehearse the consecration.
Sunday, 1st July - the day of the consecration - was a joyous day with the three-and-a-half hour service commencing at 10am. VIPs present were the Defence Minister, Primary Education Minister, local MPs and the head of the Ugandan Army, all friends of the new Bishop. In this illustrious company for the next two days I was surrounded by armed guards and was invited to attend several discussions on Karamoja security and to comment as an outside observer!
The Government seeks to disarm Karamajong warriors of their weapons. This is a non-starter as the Bishops present pointed out, supported by me. It will not succeed by force as there needs to be agreement with Kenya and Sudan tribes on the border to do the same concurrently with their people, as the Karamajong would have no defence against cattle raiders from neighbouring countries without weapons to defend themselves.
After the consecration most of my time was spent holding discussions with the new Bishop and preparing budgets with him. I also had the privilege of preaching to all the clergy on Monday, 2nd July when I spoke on enduring suffering from the Epistles of Peter.
The problems in North Karamoja were the same as in South Karamoja but the vehicles were in much better condition. The Government ministers also promised to donate a new Land Rover to the new Bishop at a cost of £36,000, which is most generous - if it happens.
The visit was very rewarding personally, to see Christians vibrant with faith, hope and love despite acute hardship. I left challenged to try my utmost to raise their profile in the West and to raise financial support for these needy people.
I brought back warm greetings from all the Bishops and the Archbishop to Winchester Diocese for their wonderful support.
Rev John Ellison F.C.A
Northanger Benefice
Related Links:
Faith In Action: Karamoja
Again, first things first: some of you will recall the visit two years ago by singers from St. Petersburg, the Valaam Ensemble. Well, they're coming back! They gave us one of the finest concerts I have ever attended, and should be heard by everyone who appreciates music.
I suspect, as before, their programme will include Russian Orthodox Church music and Folk Songs, but I will have more details later. Meanwhile, I thoroughly recommend you 'earmark' now the date which I've been able to secure: Friday, 2nd November in St. Mary's, Bentworth and probably at 7.30pm.
September sees the beginning of our annual round of Harvest Festivals but, as I write, the news is dominated by an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. I can only imagine the feeling of an icy hand gripping at their hearts which livestock farmers must experience when they first hear that report.
I well remember the outbreak in 1967, when my part of the countryside, around Bath, was subject to stringent controls and consequent economic hardship. All the farms around us bore the signs: exclusion notices, footpaths closed, buckets of disinfectant, etc. and the strange quiet which settled on the villages.
The outbreak of 2001 brought all those memories flooding back, together with the horror which televised pictures of slaughter and incineration brought into our homes. It looks as though this time the disease is confined to a very small area: I hope and pray it is.
As if farmers and growers hadn't suffered enough this year! The wettest July on record has ensured, even where yield quantities are not much lower than normal, quality will not be of the best. That will probably reflect itself in lower prices paid to farmers, and the likelihood of increased imports to make up the deficiency. And all the time, consumers seem to want cheaper food. I wonder how it is we believe quality comes at a price in all areas except food?
It does makes one think again about how we care for the creation around us. Attitudes have changed remarkably since those days when humanity seemed to believe creation was there simply to satisfy and be plundered by us without fear of any consequence. Whether we look to a 'higher authority' or not, we increasingly recognise our duty to care for the natural world. How refreshing it would be if we showed the same recognition to those who work the land and give us its produce!
How refreshing, also, for us all to gather together at Harvest Festival and give thanks with a sincere heart for all the goodness we derive from the land.
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
What is this, I hear you ask? Ride and Stride is the new title for what was previously the Historic Churches Preservation Trust Bike Ride and as the new title suggests, you are no longer restricted to the humble bicycle, you can now also walk or ride a horse or scooter.
The Historic Churches Preservation Trust has also recently changed, together with the Incorporated Church Building Society it is now the National Churches Trust, of which the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust forms a part.
This year's event takes place on Saturday, 8th September, between 10am and 6pm, and is an opportunity to discover ancient churches and to raise funds for your favourite place of worship and the Trust.
The idea is you decide on your choice of transport and visit churches around the county meeting fellow Christians taking part and raising money through sponsorship. Churches taking part, including all those in our Benefice, are either manned or unmanned but there are usually some welcome refreshments available for the weary traveller.
All money raised is divided equally between the Trust and the churches of the individual's choice. Please do join in this year or be generous with your sponsorship. St. Andrew's received a grant from the Trust towards the restoration of our church roof.
This year Sue Rustell has taken over as co-ordinator and has all the details, sponsor forms and a list of the churches taking part. If you would like to participate please give her a call on 01256 381482 and she will let you have all the details. Posters, information sheets and sponsor forms can also be found in each of our churches.
Last year, the Diocese raised nearly £50,000, including over £5,000 in Gift Aid tax refunds. Of this total, Alton was a front runner with some £4,000, exceeded only by Winchester, Andover and the Isle of Wight. Closer to home, both Shalden and Lasham were in the top 20 churches, with £795 and £490 respectively. Regrettably neither Bentworth nor Medstead were able to field a solitary rider or walker!
This year we hope for better things and encourage our active cyclists and walkers to take part in this healthy and enjoyable day out in support of the benefice churches. On the day, each church will be open for riders and walkers to check-in and, hopefully, to receive some refreshment to help them on their way. Go for it!
Sue Rustell / Ron Burnett
Related Links:
Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust
National Churches Trust
First things first: I'm changing my day off. That is to say, we are changing our day off, because Kathryn and I share one precious day together each week; apart from that, we don't see each other very much! So, as from August, our day off will be Thursday. I hope this change won't confuse everyone, and that it will soon become as ingrained as before.
At St. Mary's Bentworth, the PCC was approached on behalf of the families themselves to change the format of the monthly Family Service. As a consequence, as from May we have shared in a monthly Family Service Communion. The first was very well attended, and received very favourable comments from those who came; however, since then, the numbers attending have dropped off severely, so that in July only one of our regular families was present.
The congregation agreed with me that the new format was not working; it was also noted that many others who used to come when this was a Parish Communion were staying away. Consequently, this change must be seen as failing to meet its purpose and, as from September we will return to the former Parish Communion service on the second Sunday of each month. This will leave no provision for a specifically family-oriented service, so more thinking will have to be done over the summer, in order to sort something out for September.
The news continues to be dominated by acts, or rumours of acts, of terrorism, not least against the citizens of our own nation. It troubles me that one so often hears the blame being laid solely at the door of religion in general, as if atrocities of this nature were committed only by believers (of whatever faith).
This argument conveniently overlooks the widespread murders committed during the French Revolution, by Adolf Hitler, a Christian who later foreswore any faith, (millions) Pol Pot (1.5 million at least), Joseph Stalin (tens of millions) - all in the name of atheism.
The fact is that, for whatever reason (faiths and philosophies have their own ideas), human nature proves itself consistently capable of such appalling deeds, frequently using religion as an excuse for their validation. This is not to say that religion is totally innocent, only that its not the sole cause.
It's time the terrorists grew up and admitted that its the killing that motivates them, whatever justification they seek. The rest of us should treat them all with equal contempt.
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
The Parochial Church Council met on Wednesday, 18th July. As well as the usual items of business, your PCC discussed the following:
The next PCC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19th September at 8.00pm in the Church Hall. If you have any matters you would like discussed, please let our Secretary, Yvonne, know.
Medstead is a very community spirited Parish and has already put together its own Village Appraisal and Design Statement.
Following on from this good work a group of volunteers have undertaken the task of preparing a Parish Plan. This will involve consultation with, it is hoped, every person in the Parish - including the younger residents - to find out what they want for their Parish over the next ten years.
Many people will have views on what they want to preserve and indeed what they want to change in Medstead. The Parish Plan will be a vehicle for presenting these views. In addition it will establish a coherent action plan for achieving the wishes of the people who live in the Parish of Medstead.
The Medstead Parish Plan Committee (MPPC) was formed in January 2007 and since then has been busy raising funds and doing the groundwork in readiness for a series of initial consultations to establish the main issues and provide the focus for the main questionnaire, planned for October this year.
The Village Fête on Saturday, 14th July will see a couple of special stands, one, a rally driving simulator, is aimed purely at young people, the other, a parish planning for real table will be an interactive display for all the family.
As part of the initial consultation, presentations will be given to local groups and associations and there will be a simple love it / hate it questionnaire available at the Fête and at key locations around the Parish. You can also send us your views, online, using the form below - so make sure you have your say!
The committee welcomes your support. If you would like more information on the Parish Plan please see our website: Medstead Parish Plan. In particular, the Committee are looking for volunteers to distribute the Parish Plan questionnaire during October.
If you feel you could help, by delivering and collecting the questionnaire from ten or so of your neighbours, then passing them on to the Parish Plan Committee, or if you wish to take part in any other way, please email:
David Rae from the Medstead Parish Plan Committee will also be joining us at St. Andrew's for post-service coffee throughout June, to distribute the Love It / Hate It Survey and answer any questions.
To help us establish the main issues and provide a focus for the Parish Plan questionnaire, send us your views, by Saturday, 14th July, on the best and worst things about living in Medstead, and what should be improved in future.
Thank you for taking the time to give us your ideas.
Related Links:
Medstead Parish Plan
When we first thought to hold a Benefice Pilgrimage, Kathryn and I wondered whether perhaps thirty or forty people might come? Imagine our amazement, therefore, at the eventual numbers who came along for part, if not all, of the Pilgrimage on Saturday, 2nd June!
More than 50 breakfasts were served, mostly 'Full English' cooked by Adrian Barnes, approx. 80 for 'elevenses' at Shalden, 85 Ploughman's Lunches at The Royal Oak in Lasham and over 70 Cream Teas in Bentworth.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day as, I know, did the Bishop of Winchester, who came with us all the way round and back to Medstead again. The weather could not have been better, the logistics all worked incredibly smoothly and everyone seemed to have a very happy day.
On the subject of the weather, Kathryn and I had been in Northern Ireland for the four days leading up to the walk and, whilst we had been revelling in wonderful sunshine over there, we grew ever more despondent over conditions back on the mainland. We needn't have worried!
I would like to thank again the small organising group of Kerry Magennis-Prior (Medstead), Jo Holliday (Shalden), Antonia Goor, Sue Jamieson and Katrina Milnes-Gaskell (Lasham) and Kathryn Flenley (Bentworth), together with all the helpers at various refreshment stops en route. It has to have been one of the most successful parish events of which Kathryn and I have been part, and we're extremely encouraged by the help offered and general level of interest. It will happen again!
One of the features of the day, as reported to me by many who took part, was the chance to walk alongside and get to know villagers from the other parishes - many walkers met fellow pilgrims for the first time. As Rector of this 'multi-part' benefice, I can only hope that we will find many other opportunities to get to know each other and build a stronger identity, not just as Christians together but also as members of a united benefice.
What would you like to do next? I hope to accompany folk from All Saints', Alton, on their parish retreat to a monastery in France in the early autumn; as much as going for my own benefit, I shall be reconnoitring to see if this is something we could do as a benefice one day - interested? Any other ideas or suggestions for joint activities would be very welcome.
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
Related Links:
Rogation Walk
Events
How well do you know your onions? Well, the members of Medstead WI have become well acquainted with their onions since March this year, when many members went home from the meeting with one onion set to plant and nurture. The reason being in August the onions would be judged and the heaviest would enable its owner to win the large garden trophy for 2007.
Over twenty onions and their owners duly arrived back at the August meeting. WI husband Tony Messenger, himself a bit of an expert at vegetable growing, was there to judge the onions. The results varied, but the impressive winner weighed in at over 14oz.
It was, therefore, with pleasure Tony was able to announce the winner, Patricia Bonser, a new member of Medstead WI and obviously a green-fingered member! Just water and sunshine was the apparent secret for success!
Inspired by an article in the first edition of magazine WI Life the craft group have been busy making crazy geometric patchwork cushions and these will be handed over to Naomi House at the September meeting.
Also at the September meeting the monthly competition will be to knit a jumper for Zimbabwe, so a colourful display is anticipated. An e-mail from Zimbabwe was read out thanking the members for the last batch of jumpers sent, which had arrived safely. In addition another batch of hats for sailors has been dispatched.
Medstead WI meets on the second Thursday of every month at 2.15pm in Medstead Village Hall - new members and visitors are always very welcome - so come along and find out how much fun we have as members and discover all the opportunities available!
Gill Siddall
Related Links:
Medstead WI, February-March 2007
Medstead WI, April-June 2007
This year's annual Open Day was the most successful we have held. The weather was perfect and around twenty visitors were able to sample the game with equipment and introductory coaching provide by our members. Seven visitors have since joined the club. In the evening we held a barbecue attended by about fifty members and guests.
We had our usual Target Bowls game at Medstead Fête. Visitors played all afternoon and we made a donation of £77 to the Fête Committee.
Our members' half-day tournament was held at the end of July. Entrants draw lots for partners and then play several short matches in two leagues, with the league winners competing in a final. The winners this year were Ted Browning and Tony Chivers, two of our most experienced players, but it was very pleasant to see one of their opponents in the final was a new member.
August saw our Finals Day. The first matches were ten-end competitions for older players, who perhaps can no longer enjoy a full length game, to play on an even footing in an open competition.
The matches started at midday in drizzle, turning to heavier rain before the end but the green continued to play well. Stan Whitcher beat Ted Browning in the open competition and Diane Barrett beat Penny Ellery in the ladies match.
There was still light rain for the start of the Doubles final which gradually got heavier throughout the 18-end match. By half-way officials were considering whether play should continue but the match was so good and the scoring so close we decided it would be unfair not to continue, despite the pools of water which were beginning to form.
The match was all-square after 18 ends and eventually Ted Browning and Anne Robinson beat Dennis Church and David Rae by a single shot in the extra end. The spectators enjoyed some of the best match play the club has ever seen.
The weather then deteriorated so play was impossible and the other two finals had to be re-scheduled. The Yardstick final (all bowls within one yard count) between Ted Browning and Fred Dodd gave us another nail-biter. The players both reached the score of 21 in the same end and in the ensuing tiebreak, Ted won.
The Singles final between Ted Browning and Douglas Hudson for the Wakeman Cup again resulted in a win for Ted who was obviously in remarkable form.
Our results in the Stan Hardman league have been very mixed, ranging from all-rink wins to all-rink losses and our final position was fifth out of seven. Half our league matches are played away and we always have difficulty at the beginning of each season making the transition from our very fast all-weather surface to the slower grass surfaces.
Usually this problem reduces as grass greens speed up in the drier weather but this year they have remained soft and lush for the whole of the season. The problem is not quite so big for our visitors as many of them play indoors in winter on surfaces similar to our own.
Visitors, irrespective of whether they have played the game before, are always welcome at our casual roll-ups on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoons at 2pm. If the weather is bad we play indoors on our short-mat rink. We have plenty of club equipment that can be borrowed. If you want to know more, please speak to Les on 01420 563180.
Wilf Robinson
Related Links:
Medstead Bowls Club, Apr-Jun 2007
Please pray for the people of Uganda affected by the worst flooding in 35 years. The abnormally heavy rains are forecast to last until mid-November, only subsiding in mid to late December.
The United Nations reports about 300,000 people are currently affected. Many people have lost their homes and belongings, together with their harvest, cattle and food stocks.
Aid agencies are warning of widespread hunger and disease if emergency assistance does not reach the flood victims. Shelter, food, clean drinking water and sanitation are the most urgent needs.
The World Food Program is asking for USD65 million to feed up to 1.7 million people in Uganda until March 2008.
Initially confined to central and eastern Uganda, the floods are spreading to the north where hundreds of thousands of refugees have already been displaced by two decades of civil war. Karamoja has been cut off by floods which have, so far, killed 17 people in the region.
Related Links:
ReliefWeb: Uganda Flood Emergency, 2007
ReliefWeb: 17 killed in Karamoja
Faith In Action: Karamoja
To celebrate the installation of our new church organ we hosted a recital by Jeffrey Williams, on Saturday, 15th September.
Born and brought up in Cornwall, Jeffrey read music at Bath and studied the organ at Bath Abbey.
He was organist at Romsey Abbey for 22 years and is on the Diploma and International Panel of Music Examiners at Trinity College, London. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Jeffrey is now Organ Advisor to the Diocese of Winchester.
The recital featured works by Hollins, Albinoni, J.S. Bach, Whitlock, Franck, Michel and Lefebure-Wely.
The audience of over 50 villagers, listened spellbound as Jeffrey put our new organ - which he praised as "emperor of digital organs" - through its full range of abilities by playing seven very different pieces.
He even made us believe for a while we had somehow acquired a fairground organ rather than a rather more sombre instrument to accompany church services.
Afterwards we repaired to the Church Hall to refresh ourselves with a complimentary glass of wine and a tempting array of snacks.
We are most grateful to Jeffrey for taking time from his busy schedule to showcase our new organ before setting off for a ten-week trip to Thailand. Thanks also to Adrian Barnes and the Music Committee for organising the event.
Gay Howard
Related Links:
Organ Appeal
Our traditional celebration supper and harvest thanksgiving, attended by over 70 villagers, was held on Friday, 14th September in the Village Hall, followed by our Harvest Festival service on Sunday, 23rd September.
These events do not take place without a lot of hard work behind the scenes. So thank you, very much, to all who helped with the organisation, decoration, refreshments and entertainment over Harvest.
Harvest Supper refreshments were masterminded by Jackie Jurd and included ham, chicken, sausages and quiche, complimented by a fine assortment of salads, followed by a mouthwatering array of desserts. These we were only allowed to sample once we had sung for our supper.
During the interval between the courses a real old-fashioned community sing-song was enjoyed by all the diners. We were supplied with words and musical direction by Adrian Barnes, Wendy Busby and Ian Jurd, but the entertainers were "most chiefly (y)ourselves".
Meanwhile, Kerry Prior and her team ensured the children had fun painting pictures and making collages illustrating harvest. They also took time to think about and compose prayers which they read during our intercessions at the Harvest Festival service.
Kerry also organised the raffle which raised enough money to purchase two goats and a donkey from Oxfam Unwrapped for underprivileged communities. Thank you to all who contributed.
Thank you also to the church flowers team for decorating the St. Andrew's so splendidly for Havest Festival. Please contact Gill Siddall for any floral requirements in the Church.
The congregation also brought a splendid array of gifts of food, produce, tins and packets to the Harvest Festival service which were donated to the Winchester Churches Night Shelter.
Gay Howard
So our benefice can continue to provide Activity Days for the children in the four Parishes, Kathryn Flenley would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to join a small group of dedicated and inspirational people who plan and organise these events.
The only qualification you need is to enjoy working with youngsters. Being slightly mad helps but is not compulsory!
If you may be able to help please contact Kathryn.
Related Links:
Child Protection Policy
Make Mother's Day 2007
Make Mother's Day 2006
Mummy Mania!
Make Mother's Day 2005
Lasham Olympics
The Medstead Sports Club has received a letter from the Centenary Appeals Events Organiser thanking the Club for taking part and, particularly, those who have sponsored me.
I have less than 10 miles to go now, but there is still time for those who would like to but haven't got round to it yet! I would like to pass the £2,000 mark and am within £200 of it.
Sponsorship forms are available at The Handy Stores or 'phone 01420 563510 for one.
I would like to add my thanks to those of you who have supported me in raising money to further the work of this superb School and College.
Tony Chivers
Related Links:
Oars For Treloars
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) and the Communications team are building a photographic library of all the churches in the Winchester Diocese.
This will greatly assist the Diocese when dealing with Faculty applications and enquiries relating to church maintenance.
If you know any keen amateur photographers who would be willing to help in this task by visiting some of the historic churches in our Diocese, please email or telephone 01962 624787.
Related Links:
Church Of England: Church Care
The next duties for the St. Andrew's team at the Refectory are on Thursday, 23rd August.
If you can help for either a whole day or half a day please contact Mary Spinks.
We are looking for more helpers, so please consider volunteering for this important contribution to the Cathedral's activities.
No previous experience is needed and this is an equal opportunity job!
Welcome to our new home! As a result of Hantsweb updating their hosting service, our website URL has now changed to:
www.standrews.hampshire.org.uk
The change took effect from Monday, 23rd July.
There is a permanent redirection in place from our old site URL, www.hants.org.uk/standrews, but please update your bookmarks.
Our RSS feed has also now changed to reflect the new URL.
If you link to our site, please update your links to the new URL.
Related Links:
Bookmark Our New Site (IE only)
RSS Feed Details
Get Our New RSS Feed
St. Andrew's had an excellent day at the Fête on Saturday, 14th July.
The traditional, annual fund-raising Village Fête had a 007 theme this year, with prizes for the best Bond lookalikes and a 4-Bonds-4-A-Night auction for the services of the Fête Committee to cook dinner!
As well as entertaining many children with our Casino Royale games and providing a rare opportunity to purchase our sought-after, limited edition Medstead sweatshirts, hoodies and t-shirts, our attendance was rewarded by winning the Fête Cup for Best Stall.
The award was largely due to the sartorial elegance of our own James Bond, Paul, and his vivacious Bond girl, Kerry.
Well done Kerry and thanks for ensuring that our Church had a powerful presence at this important Village event. Thanks also to Chris and Elizabeth Tew for the sale of about 50 Medstead sweatshirts to date.
There was also a grand parade, craft and trade stalls, bar and barbeque, tea and cakes, train and traction engine, dog show, grand draw and arena entertainment including dance, bands and displays, throughout the afternoon.
Planning is already underway for the 2008 Fête, which will have a Harry Potter theme!
Having done the marathon Moonwalk for the last two years, we decided to have a change this year.
I persuaded Emily to join me in the Sunwalk on Sunday, 8th July in Bristol, part of the Walk The Walk events raising awareness of breast cancer.
We left for Bristol at 6am. After driving around Bristol once, twice then, third time lucky, we found the venue for the start.
I admit I thought it would be a breeze having completed two Moonwalks, but I didn't realise Bristol and outskirts were so up and down unlike flat London. The first mile was completely uphill! Add to this a very hot sun, we really did deserve our finisher's medal.
I am extremely proud of Emily, she did not moan or want to give up, quite something for a teenager!
To all of you that sponsored us, thank you so very much it is going to a very worthy charity. All money raised goes to cancer research and cancer care.
As many of you know, we lost my beloved Mother only three months ago to cancer, so we are definitely did this one for Mum.
Kerry and Emily Magennis-Prior
Related Links:
Moonwalk 2006
Sunwalk 2006
Our fifth annual Hog Roast took place on Saturday, 7th July in the gardens of the Castle Of Comfort and raised around £200 for church funds.
No one could believe how good the weather was for the roast, excellent food and good company completed the evening.
Our thanks to the Social Committee for organising the event and to Adrian and Debby for their hard work to make this a really great evening.
Thanks also to Roger and Ann Mattia of the Hinton Arms, Hinton Ampner for their generous loan of the spit, to those who provided salads and to Sue Willson for, once again, allowing the use of her lovely gardens at the Castle Of Comfort.
Highlights of our summer and autumn calendar of events include:
Hog Roast: 7th July
Harvest Supper: 14th September
Organ Recital: 15th September
Jumble Sale: 10th November
Patronal Concert: 25th November
Please see our Events page for more details.
The Social Committee is also eager to recruit a few more members for its work. If you are interested, please contact Sharon.
Sharon Blackshaw
Club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, in the Village Hall at 7.30pm for 8.00pm:
Tuesday, 3rd July:
Sarah Coles on the Historic Roses of Mottisfont.
Saturday, 21st July:
Medstead Gardeners Club Flower Show, Village Hall, 2.45pm.
Tuesday, 4th September:
Geoff Lunn on wildlife on your doorstep.
New members are always very welcome.
Gill Siddall
The Earl and Countess of Portsmouth are kindly opening their 10 acre gardens at Farleigh House, Farleigh Wallop, Basingstoke from 11.00am-4.00pm on Sunday, 1st July, on behalf of CPRE Hampshire.
There will be experts on hand to answer your gardening queries and garden tours by the head gardener. There will also be a garden quiz, a raffle full of wonderful local prizes and activities for children, so the whole family can come and enjoy the day!
There will be a variety of local produce stalls, including a range of nursery and plant stalls, gardenware, designer baskets, handmade floral greeting cards and much more.
CPRE, a local charity campaigning to protect the Hampshire countryside, will be selling refreshments on the day, including tea, coffee, soft drinks, locally picked fresh strawberries with cream and a stall packed full of a variety of delicious cakes.
Entrance will be £3 for adults, whilst under 12's go free!
For more details please email Alternately, telephone Becky French on 01962 843655 or write to: Beaconsfield House, Andover Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 6AT.
It was with great pleasure that, as part of our 11.00am Family Communion on Sunday, 2nd September, we welcomed William and Anabelle Hewett to be baptised at St. Andrew's, along with the Hewett family and their Christening party.
William and Anabelle were warmly welcomed to our Church family and we were delighted to have the opportunity of taking part in their Baptism.
Janice and Peter were married at St. Andrew's on Saturday, 25th August. Please pray that the Lord will be with them in their new life together.
It is with great regret we announce the death on Thursday, 12th July of Wally Little, aged 72 years.
Wally was born in 1934 and spent most of his life in Medstead where he ran his business Masta Pak which later became W.K.L., the builders' merchant on Lymington Bottom Road.
Wally was a great character and played cricket and badminton for Medstead, although badminton later gave way to golf. He was a also generous supporter of our church and contributed to the cost of our new organ.
Wally's funeral took place at St. Andrew's on Friday, 20th July and he was committed at Medstead Cemetery.
Please remember his family in your prayers, especially his widow Peggy.
We were very sorry to hear of the death of Alf Dixon, whose funeral was on Tuesday, 10th July.
Alf, who was 89 and a regular attender at St Andrew's, had lived in Abbey Road since 1958 and tended his wife's grave every day since she died in 1995.
It is four years since the last sale of Medstead sweatshirts and t-shirts. As there have recently been a number of requests by those new to Medstead and those who wish to re-order, we are once again making them available, including new colours and new styles.
You may order at the St. Andrew's Stall at the Village Fête on Saturday, 14th July or contact Elizabeth Tew on 01420 563106, by 7th August.
All profits will go to St. Andrew's Church.
Related Links:
Medstead Fête
From time to time the editor of our Pewsheet takes a holiday, so we need someone to take over the occasional preparation of this sheet.
If you may be able to help please contact Chris.
Related Links:
Pewsheets
To advertise here please contact Andrew.
To advertise in the Pewsheet please contact Chris.