News & Views - November 1980 - Issue 17
HARTINGTON AND BIGGIN “NEWS AND VIEWS”, NO.17 NOVEMBER 1980
VICAR’S LETTER
May I begin by thanking all who supported Gift Day. The final totals were £185.76 at St. Thomas’ Biggin and. £167.30 at St, Giles’ Hartington. Whilst the response is encouraging, we must not become complacent. As I have mentioned elsewhere, St. Giles’ spent nearly £500 in September on necessary repairs, whilst St. Thomas P.C.C. has recently committed itself to expenditure amounting to £727 for the replacement of the West window and other reglazing in church,
We were grateful, too to all who helped in any way at the Harvest Festivals and the Harvest Sales which followed. The preacher at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas’ was Mrs Joan Gornall, who has now commenced her training as a Reader in the diocese. On September 7th Mr. David Gregg of Chapel-en-le-Frith spoke at both churches. He came as a Bishop’s Messenger to explain more fully the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter, from which 1 quoted in August. Both David and his wife are also training as Readers. It is good to hear that more and more men and women are offering themselves for this form of ministry in the church and we should remember to pray for them.
This week sees a deputation from the Parwich Hospital Trust meeting the Health Minister. He understands that they will go armed with facts and figures to support their case. At the public meeting in Harwich Village Hall last year, Biggin and Hartington were the only parishes to supply any figures concerning the number of elderly people in the area. With a projected increase of 16 during the next 5 years of people of 75 years and over in West Derbyshire, the need for community care is very great. We wish the Trust success in all they seek to do and I know that Sister Haigh would value our prayers.
November 9th is being observed as Remembrance Sunday. After the First World War, British people associated the sacrifice of their dead with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross – particularly its “once-for-all” aspect. In my boyhood, “the war to end wars” was a popular slogan. That notion was dealt a severe blow by the events leading up to 1939-45 Today opinions are divided as to the worthwhileness of perpetuating services of remembrance . No one, however, has ever seriously suggested that Christians should discontinue remembering the central events of
their salvation in the Communion Service. Which is why I close with a reminder of the command of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of Me” St. Luke 22:19.
A tall sturdy step ladder has been donated to St. Giles’ Hartington by Lady Redwood, formerly Ursula Hale, daughter of the Rev. H.P. Hale, Vicar of Hartington (1915-18) It has been given in memory of Emma Phillips, who was nursemaid at the Vicarage. Lady Redwood has also supplied the words of the following poem by Brother Lawrence, which seem to fit so well Emma’s faith, which shone in practical ways.
LORD of all pots and pans and things, since I’ve no time to He
A Saint “by doing lovely things or watching late with Thee;
Or dreaming in the dawn-light
or storming Heaven’s gates;
Make me a Saint by getting meals
and washing up the plates.
Warm all this kitchen with Thy love
and light it with Thy peace,
Forgive me all my worrying
and make all grumbling cease.
Thou who loved to give men food in house and by the sea
Accept this service that I do
as offered unto Thee.
Donations amounting to £45.00 in memory of the late Doris Howson have been received by St. Giles’ and £36.20 in memory of the late James Albert Heathcote by St. Thomas’.
The proceeds of St. Giles’ Autumn Fair were £230.19. A big “Thank you” to all who assisted in any way.
The Hartington Welldressing raised £203.50. After allowing
of expenses, £190.00 has been given to Cancer Research.
Congratulations to Stephen Sutton of Hartington, who made his 1st team debut for Notts Forest Football Club on October 25th. He deputised for Peter Shilton in goal and made some splendid saves in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City.
Collections for Mental Health in the Ashbourne/Buxton region amounted to £113.14, over twice as much as in 1979.
DAMPY’ S PINCH
My father, James W. Bonsall was born in 1867. His father died before he was born, so he was brought up by his mother’s parents, Michael and Elisabeth Featherstone at Chapel Farm, Heathcote. His grandfather was nicknamed “Dampy” and, as he often walked down the fields to feed his stock in the building at the top of the little hill at Dale End, it became known as “Dampy’s Pinch”. My father said that he remembered going round with his grandfather, with the horse and cart, to collect bones from the farms to take to the Bone Mill at Dale Head, to be ground up for bone meal. He would be about 3 years old.
Agnes Massey
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER
Cultivate a sense of humour, let your heart be gay;
Send a glimpse of welcome sunshine
Through the dullest day.
See the funny side of things, At times at your expense;
Surely to dispel the gloom
Is ample recompense?
Put aside that brooding sorrow, watch concern and cares grow less; Lift your face towards tomorrow, Lift your heart to happiness!
Courtney Farmer
AN ENTERTAINING DEMONSTRATION
On Wednesday, 3rd December a Fresh Food Demonstration will be given by Bamix Food Mixers in Biggin School at 7.30 p. m. It will last for around one hour. Tasty samples will be given, also new ideas on money savers and Christmas dishes. Admission will be 50p, which will include sherry and mince pies. A Bring & Buy Stall will also be included to round off the evening. Proceeds will be for Biggin Church funds.
SUNDAY SERVICES IN NOVEMBER. AND DECEMBER 1980
Winter service times are in operation at St. Giles’ from November to Easter., This means that the 8 o’clock service of Holy Communion will be held on the 2nd Sunday in the month only. Evensong will be normally at 3.45 p-m.
The Services of Remembrance on November 9th will each be followed by an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial.
There will be a Songs of Praise at St. Giles’ Hartington on December 7th at 6.3O p.m. when the soloist will be John Oliver. John is at present appearing in “The Desert Song” at Buxton Opera House*
The Backpackers Club has asked for a family Christmas Carol Service to be arranged during their next get-together. This will be held at St. Thomas’ Biggin on December 14th at 10.30. Parishioners are warmly invited to share in the service.
