Congratulations to Jo and Matthew
Jo, our Rector, the bride, married on the 24 May at St Michaels, Stanton Harcourt, one of her own Churches to Matthew – officiated by Matthew’s father. Congratulations and all good wishes for happiness to them both.
From the Rectory – May
Dear Friends, As I write this we are in the middle of a long spell of unseasonably warm weather. I have lost count of the amount of washing loads I have achieved in the last two weeks! Children and school staff are on their Easter break, and we are about to head into Holy Week; … [Read more…]
From the Rectory – Spring! a season of Hope and Renewal
Dear Friends, As I write this, the cold grip of winter seems to be firmly holding us! But a walk onto the bank of the stream at the bottom of the Rectory garden yesterday reminded me that the grip slowly loosens and the first signs of spring are beginning to appear. Snowdrops and tender petalled … [Read more…]
Canon Sarah Sharp
Congratulations to Sarah Sharp, our former Rector,who was installed as an Honorary Cannon of Christchurch on 1 February 2025
From the Rectory – Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger
Dear Friends, Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.’ This famous bible passage is often used in helping people to make their friendship or relationship work: do not let the sun go down on your anger? How does any friendship or relationship work? Whether that is … [Read more…]
From the Rectory – Election Special!
At the time of writing it’s about three weeks to election day – countdown! Not long to go before we’ll all be asked to have our say on who we want as our local MP, and our thoughts on who we want governing the UK. We are fortunate indeed in this country to be able … [Read more…]
View from the Pew
I’ve always felt rather sorry for Pontius Pilate. Apart from Mary he is the only person mentioned in the creed and it is unfortunate that the wording makes it sound as if he was responsible for Jesus’s death though “suffered under Pontius Pilate” was just a formula for dating the event. The gospel accounts give … [Read more…]
View from the Pew – Food, Glorious Food
My husband – not a churchgoer – was scanning our benefice What’s On news sheet. As he read through the notices of Parish breakfast, Teacake Tuesday, Cafe church, Ladies Lunch, Men’s Breakfast, and Thursday Lunch Club he asked whether anything took place in the C of E these days without food being involved. Since most … [Read more…]
Bellringing in Standlake
It’s been a number of years since the bells at St Giles Church, Standlake, have been rung regularly. In an attempt to rectify this, when the King’s Coronation was only a few weeks away, a call went out on the village Facebook site in March last year for would-be bellingers to make some noise for … [Read more…]
From the Rectory: Caring for the vulnerable – April 2024
Recently at church we looked at the very early life of Moses – specifically when he was drawn from the water as a baby. It was suggested to me that what I said on that day was written down for others to read. So here I offer to you what I said on Mothering Sunday. … [Read more…]