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Christ Church News November 2015

UNIVIDA Tee Shirts

Advent Labyrinth Evenings

Annual Memorial Service

Churchill’s War Cabinet

Christ Church News www.christchurchepsom.org.uk

From the Pulpit

November is a time when we commemorate those who have passed on from this life. The month opens with All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days and on the 11th we remember all who have lost their lives in war. Given that it is now 100 years since the First World War it is inevitable that many names and occasions will come to mind over the next three years. One name that must surely be known to everyone in this country is that of Edith Cavell, a nurse who was shot by a German firing squad on 12th October 1915. Her crime was to have sheltered Allied soldiers who had been wounded and then helped them across Belgium to safety in neutral Holland. All Edith’s actions were undergirded by her Christian faith. As a vicar’s daughter she grew up in rural Norfolk, trained as a nurse at the London Hospital and by her pioneering work did much to change the perception that nursing was a lowly job for unqualified carers. She taught that it was “a great and honourable profession” which aimed to safeguard life, attend the sick and wounded and allay suffering. When World War I broke out Edith was running a nurses’ training school in Brussels. She taught that both Allied and German soldiers must be cared for. As nurses they must not take sides – their work was for humanity. When two wounded British soldiers arrived at her door one night she hid them, gave them shelter and nursing care, and arranged for them to have false papers and disguises to get them to safety. This work developed into a large movement which helped soldiers to escape. The school was searched and Edith was arrested. After a trial of two days with no proper legal representation she was found guilty of having conveyed soldiers to the enemy, concealed arms and transmitted seditious pamphlets. After ten weeks in solitary confinement she was taken from her prison cell and shot. Her death aroused worldwide outrage. “Remember Edith Cavell” was the slogan used by army recruiting offices in England and the isolation favoured by America began to wane. After the war her body was brought back to England and buried in Norwich Cathedral. This year her centenary is being marked by many services and exhibitions in England and Belgium. But she would not have sought fame.


The night before her death she received communion from an Anglican priest and when he told her that she would be remembered as a heroine and a martyr she replied: “Don’t think of me like that. Think of me as a nurse who tried to do her duty.” She told the priest: “I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me. But this I would say. I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone” On the 11th of this month we will commemorate the dead of all wars. Let us give thanks for Edith Cavell, a true public servant, a nurse who went beyond the call of duty and a woman who lived out her Christian faith in her life and actions;

Pam Buckingham

November Diary

Date Time Venue

Home groups Tues 3rd 8.00 pm Homes

Wedding Lauren Williams and Steven Newbury

Sat 7th 1.00 pm Christ Church

PCC Meeting Mon 9th 8.00 pm Parish Hall

Mothers’ Union Meeting Tues 10th 10.15 am Parish Hall (upstairs)

Home Groups Tues 10th 8.00 pm Homes

Christ Church News Deadline Friday 13th November

Baptism Prep Mon 16th 8.00 pm Christ Church


Refugee meeting (see page 18)

Wed 18th 7.30 pm Kings Church


Men’s Breakfast (see page 6) Sat 28th 9.00 am The Haywain Pub (Dorking Road)

Mothers’ Union Pilgrimage of Prayer

Tues 1st Dec Guildford Cathedral

Advent Labyrinth Evening Tues 1st Dec 7.30 pm Christ Church


Advent Labyrinth Evenings

Following the success and intrigue raised at the Labyrinth Discovery Day back in April, I have borrowed Vivien’s ropes to use with Sally Welch’s Advent Liturgies. (Taken from her book, ‘Walking the Labyrinth – a spiritual and practical guide’; Canterbury Press, 2010). Each Tuesday in December (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd) the church will be open from 7:30-8:30 pm for people to experience the labyrinth as part of their Advent journey. Stephen Cotterill states that, “the labyrinth is a place of healing and celebration, a place where new direction for life is ought and found.” I believe it is a helpful tool for us as community to improve mission, share worship, build friendships and grow in wisdom. The labyrinth lends itself to being used regularly over a period of time for both individuals and groups and this season of Advent is a good time for us to become accustomed to using it as an aid to prayer and meditation. Each week we will be focusing on a different character in nativity story and how they journey to Christ. The evening will be structured around a simple liturgy with plenty of space and silence for people to walk the labyrinth and reflect on the experience for themselves. I look forward to this special time of creativity and challenge as well as the opportunity to fine peace and purpose at this busy time of year. Come along and journey with the angels, Mary, Joseph and shepherds as we prepare for Christmas together.

Rosemary Donovan


The long awaited NADFAS/EDFAS Report

On Sunday 11th October at a service attended by NADFAS/EDFAS representatives and recorders the long awaited Report was presented to Christ Church by David Parmee, chairman of EDFAS. Canon Mavis Wilson who was at Christ Church when the recording started presided at the service.

Founded in 1968 The National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) is a worldwide organisation based on a love of the Arts in all its forms. It has as its objectives the promotion and advancement of the aesthetic education of the public, - the cultivation, appreciation of the decorative and fine arts, - and the giving of aid to the preservation of our national artistic heritage for the benefit of the public. The local branch founded in 1989 and known as EpsomDFAS (EDFAS) has an active membership and meetings programme.

The NADFAS church recording programme researches and records the entire contents of churches. This includes detailed documentation and photographs of memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings, libraries, windows and other items. The NADFAS website shows that at June 2014, 1766 churches had been recorded in this way. The Church of England in UK has around 16,000 churches, serving every part of the country and open to every local inhabitant!


Recorders started work at Christ Church in 1995 but were unable to complete the Record for various reasons and the work went into abeyance for a time. A new recording group was formed in January 2014 and since then there has been a flurry of activity to update the records begun in 1995 and complete the recording for Christ Church. This latest phase has involved some 20 people who, between them, have put in close to 2,000 man hours of effort which has resulted in the magnificent bound record presented to the church. Copies have also been sent to national institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This Report brings together, in one place, a complete record of our church complete with beautiful photographs and a detailed history and record of each item and architectural feature.

We are immensely grateful to NADFAS/EDFAS and all who, over the years, have so painstakingly worked to complete this interesting and valuable record of Christ Church.

Martin Shipton

All Aboard!

Christ Church Men’s Breakfast

With Brian Walpole, first commercial pilot of Concorde and former head of the Concorde Fleet

Saturday 28th November at the Haywain Pub – 9-11 am. Tickets £8 including cooked breakfast & coffee – see Alan Frame or myself for more details (and tickets!).

Julian McAllen


Mothers’ Union Events

Working in Churchill’s War Cabinet

Our Mothers’ Union Branch held an evening meeting on October 9th which was attended by more than 30 members and non-members. After we had all enjoyed the puddings generously donated by members, we shared a short time of intercession led by our Secretary Gill Glasspool. We were then given a fascinating talk by Joy Hunter, an inspiring ‘nonagenarian’ member of our diocesan Mothers’ Union, who had worked as a secretary in Churchill’s War Cabinet early on in her career and also at the Potsdam Conference.

Enjoying pudding!

We were treated with tales of cigar smoke wafting down corridors, the horrors of typing multiple carbon copies, the need for super-fast and accurate secretarial skills and, on occasion, of Allied strategies backfiring; Joy reported that Churchill received news of such setbacks with sincere personal sadness. The wartime leader clearly enjoyed everyday chitchat with those who shared his underground HQ – news of ‘normal’ lives somehow buoyed him up. We heard how he set up a small cinema on one occasion to provide some well-deserved relaxation for his staff who could work extraordinarily long hours. Bed only came when the job was done and, tragically, Joy noted that sometimes workers would return home from the War Rooms to find that their address no longer existed, having been raised to the ground in the latest bombing campaign. We also learned that Churchill had been notorious for venturing outside during such bombing raids - strictly against the wishes of his aides and loving wife! Among the many artefacts which Joy exhibited were chunks of marble from Hitler’s desk in the Chancellery in Berlin! Joy had personally collected these during an extremely rare trip into bombed Berlin in July 1945 when on business at the Potsdam Conference.


Joy with one of our younger attendees

Joy’s talk held our attention from beginning to end, with its fascinating blend of history and personal recount. Many are hoping that she might make a return trip to Christ Church to talk about other chapters and encounters in her remarkable life. Those who regretted missing the meeting may be interested to learn that copies of Joy’s book, ‘Joy’s Journey, A Memoir’ are available for purchase (cost £10.00). Please contact Gill Glasspool at [email protected] should you wish to buy a copy.

125 years of Mothers’ Union at Christ Church! Our branch is celebrating its quasquicentenary (our 125th Anniversary) in 2015 and to mark this occasion we look forward to welcoming you to a special church service, followed by refreshments in the church hall, at Christ Church on Sunday 6th December. At this service we will reflect on the contribution Mothers’ Union has made to our local community and across the globe. We additionally plan to dedicate our new Mothers’ Union banner at the Anniversary Service. The design for this has been very carefully considered and we trust that it will be a welcome addition to the church furniture. Our membership currently stands at around 30 and Rosemary will rededicate us all during the service.

Kate Nichols & Gill Glasspool Photos by Sarah Chorley

mailto:[email protected]


Our ANNUAL

REVIEW

2015

CHRIST CHURCH EPSOM COMMON


The past year

As part of our mission last year we planned to:

Review, expand and explore our Vision 2020 of “Living Well”.

Expand our Ministry through ‘Living well with God- Living well with Ourselves- Living well with Others.’

Continue to develop our worship, prayer life, and our service to the community through our ministry to all but especially to children and their families

By God’s grace and with your help we have achieved all this and more. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel, the commitment of your time, your skills and abilities and, of course, your generous giving to Christ Church.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his

brother or sister in need but has no pity on him,

how can the love of God be in him?”

1. John 3:17

Our present situation

The money we give makes possible the ministry of this church. It is that simple. This year our church needs £3,050 per week for the work of ministry, worship, service and mission. This breaks down as:

£1,518 on our share of clergy, housing, training and support costs £980 to maintain our church and hall, including insurance heat light etc. £552 on missions giving, worship and ministry costs to and in the community, including our church hall.


Plans for our future

We want our life and ministry to grow and develop and this year we see the following as our key priorities:

1. To continue to pursue and achieve our Mission Statement which is encapsulated as “Knowing, Growing. Going”

2. To continue to be open to new possibilities with Youth, the first of which is the recently concluded accommodation of Little Hands Nursery in our premises.

3. And of course, we must maintain our Beautiful church building, our services and worship, pay our bills, support our organisations and ministry and services to our community. In fact all those things that make up the life of Christ Church

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on

earth where moth and dust corrupt, but store up

for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither

moth nor dust corrupt nor thieves break in and

steal” Matt. 6:19

Planning our income

To meet this challenge our planned income for this year looks like this, in weekly terms: £2,425 per week from all sources. This breaks down as: £2,040 from regular giving, including Gift Aid reclaimed from the Revenue £355 from fees, the church hall and our fundraising efforts £30 from interest and the careful use of some of our reserves The largest share of this income is from the giving of our congregation. To fund our ministry this year we will need an increase in weekly giving of £625


How much to give

We’re all different; so are our circumstances. There is no easy answer and we must make our own decisions. But here are some things to consider. First, our giving needs to be realistic about the needs of our church so we can pay our bills and maintain our church for today and tomorrow. Second, our giving makes possible the life, ministry and mission of our church. Without it we could not be a living church and serve our community. Third, generosity is part of our Christian faith. As we give freely to our loved ones so we give generously to God, honouring him and saying thank you for all he gives to us. Fourth, good giving needs planning and must be a priority. Practically, this may mean giving by a Standing Order or Direct Debit and, if we pay UK tax, giving by Gift Aid. Or you could donate online, details are available from the Treasurer. And finally, we are budgeting to incur a deficit over this year of £32,500. To be really practical, if everyone increased their giving by just £5.00 a week we could achieve all our goals for the coming year. What can you do?

How to Give

If you would like to know more about ways to give to Christ Church or about the finances of the church, simply contact our Planned Giving Officer June Skinner or Alan Frame Treasurer for a pledge form. Contacts: June Skinner 01372 202838 [email protected] Alan Frame 0208 3931571 [email protected]

Alan Fame




The Pilgrimage to St Albans

Early on Saturday 26th September thirty three of us boarded the coach to St Albans Cathedral for our annual pilgrimage. After dire warnings from the organiser about the fate awaiting people who got up late, there was a fair amount of embarrassment when the M25 behaved beautifully and we arrived in St Albans before 9.30! As it was a lovely day this meant more time to enjoy our surroundings before having refreshments, then a guided tour of the Cathedral. We learned that St Alban was the first English martyr. He was living in Verulamium late in the 3rd Century, and was converted by an itinerant Christian priest. At a time of great persecution of Christians Alban helped the priest escape death by swapping clothes with him, hence the name Amphibalus which was later given to him (Greek for cloak). As a punishment, Alban was beheaded himself. This Cathedral has had a very mixed history, being part of a large Abbey, then being practically in ruins for hundreds of years before being restored in the 19th Century. It is still used as a parish church but was given Cathedral status in 1877. The Cathedral has a complete mix of architectural styles and in several parts of the building different sides of the same space could easily be part of completely different buildings. It was very special to us that Julian celebrated the Cathedral's regular 12.00 Eucharist service in the Lady Chapel, and we were impressed to hear how ecumenical this Cathedral is. As St Alban lived and worshipped before different branches of the Christian religion were established, regular services are held in the Lady Chapel by Roman Catholic, Free Church, German Lutheran and Orthodox priests who are all Chaplains of the Cathedral. We enjoyed doing various things during the afternoon from visiting the market to wandering about St Albans city centre, climbing the City's medieval clock tower (Mavis), and exploring the Verulamium area where talks by blue badge guides were available in the Museum of Roman Life and at the Roman Theatre. Those who attended Evensong (which was at the same time as the talk at the Roman Theatre) said that the singing was outstanding compared with other cathedrals we have visited.


Once again we were blessed with a gorgeous day, and readers might like to make a diary note of 1st October next year, when we are thinking of visiting Chichester Cathedral. Hope the weather holds!

Jenny Power

Annual Memorial Service

Every year at this time we hold a memorial service. This is to give relatives and friends of people whose funerals we have taken to come and give thanks for their loved ones and to ask for God’s strength to uphold them as they journey on. It is a simple service of hymns and prayers and the lighting of a candle by all who wish to do this. The service is followed by refreshments and the opportunity to talk together and share memories. This year the service will be held on Sunday, 15th November at 6.30 pm. Invitations will have gone to people who have lost a loved one during the past year, but it is open to anyone who would like to attend. All are welcome to come and join in this service of thanksgiving and reflection.

Pam Buckingham


George Brown’s Windows

At the dais end of the North Aisle is a set of three stained glass windows (with scenes from Jesus’s progress to the Crucifixion) under which a brass plaque states simply that “these windows are erected in loving memory of George Brown by his widow”, also giving the date of his death as 11 April 1876 and his age as 74. The sparse information and common name provided an unpromising start, but the breakthrough came from discovering that George was the brother of William Trotter who, in 1868, inherited Horton Manor from the childless Elizabeth Trotter – the “founder of the parish”. (While William wasn’t a relative by blood, he was married to Elizabeth’s nearest blood relation, her niece Mary Elizabeth. As a condition of the inheritance, the family changed its surname from Brown to Trotter. I’ll fill in more of the details when I write about all “our” Trotters over the course of next year.) George and William came from a large family. Their parents (father, another George and a “Merchant” of Russell Square, London and mother Margaret, née Balfour) had 20 children. However, four were stillborn and another six died in infancy. William was the oldest surviving son, with George, who was born on 5 March 1802, second. George followed in his father’s – and, indeed, family’s – footsteps by becoming a merchant. It is no great surprise that we find him in the mid-century records in Calcutta, the largest commercial centre in British India, where he was working in the firm of Jardine, Skinner & Co. The firm initially dealt in textiles but, by the mid-19th Century, had branched out into other commodities. These included opium for export to the Chinese market, the trade in which George was particularly engaged. At the time, of course, such trade was seen as quite legitimate: indeed, Thomas Coutts Trotter – a distant relation of our Trotters – is listed in the staff of the Bengal Civil Service as “the Opium Agent for Behar”. In October 1858, the bachelor George (then aged 56) married – in Calcutta – the 30 year-old spinster Hannah Thomas. She had been born in mid-Wales, the daughter of Gentleman Farmer John Thomas, who later moved to Bletsoe in Bedfordshire. It is not known how Hannah came to be in Calcutta, but her brother (John Phillips Thomas) was a witness at the wedding so it is a reasonable


assumption that he also worked in Calcutta and was somehow instrumental in his sister meeting George. George and Hanna had no children (or, at least, none that survived) and it seems that they stayed in Calcutta until George retired. He returned to England a very wealthy man. The 1871 Census records the couple – with George living on “income from interest” – at the smart address of 32 Gloucester Square, London (just north of Hyde Park) and with a domestic staff of nine. They were still at that address when George died in April 1876. George’s Will indicates that he also leased “The Grange, Leatherhead” as his country residence, but it has not been possible to untangle which of two or three possibilities this might be. However, it’s unthinkable that George and Hannah did not visit his older brother, William, and family at Horton. They might well have worshipped with the Trotters in the first Christ Church, and were doubtless kept up to speed on plans for the present building – the construction of which was well under way when George died in April 1876. The records show that the windows Hannah funded in George’s memory date from the consecration year of 1876 and were thus among the first stained glass in Christ Church. (Indeed, the only other stained glass in Christ Church dating from 1876 is in the Baptistry windows commemorating three of William’s children who had died in infancy.) William Trotter was the first-named executor of George’s substantial estate – some £80,000 then or about £8 million at today’s prices. It is clear that George had been helping William financially: the Will explicitly cancelled William’s debts with him. Moreover, having made generous provision for his “dear wife Hannah” for the rest of her life and certain other cash legacies to his wider family, George left William a half-share of the “residue” – giving the equivalent of at least a £2-3 million boost to his bank account. William was a generous donor to the new Christ Church, among other things, funding the organ and substantial stained glass. At a couple of removes, we are beneficiaries of George’s opium trading!

Roger Morgan


Services in November

Sunday 1st November

8.30 am Holy Communion (Order 2) Christ Church

10.00 am Parish Communion Christ Church

11.00 am Worship on the Wells Christ Church on the Wells

6.30 pm REVIVE ‘Wrestling with Angels’ Christ Church

Wed 4th Nov 9.30 am Holy Communion Christ Church

Sunday 8th November

8.30 am Said Holy Communion (Order 2) Christ Church

10.15 am Civic Remembrance Sunday service

Christ Church

10.45am Worship on the Wells Christ Church on the Wells


Sunday 15th November


10.00 am All Age Worship

Stilling the storm Christ Church

11.00 am Worship on the Wells with Holy Communion

Christ Church on the Wells

6.30 pm EMBRACE Memorial Service Christ Church


Sunday 22nd November




Wed 25th Nov 9:30 am Holy Communion Christ Church

Sunday 29th November



11.00 am Worship on the Wells Christ Church on the wells

Wed 2nd Dec 9.30 am Holy Communion Christ Church

Sunday 6th December




6.30 pm REVIVE ‘Dreams of Home’ Christ Church


Christmas Singers

All are very welcome to come and sing in the Christmas Choir this year for the Candlelit Carol Service on Sunday 20 December at 6:30pm. Rehearsals will be in the church as follows:

Thursday 26 November 8:30 pm

Thursday 3 December 8:30 pm

Thursday 10 December 8:30 pm

Thursday 17 December 8:30 pm followed by carol singing at The Cricketer's and the Jolly Coopers.

Sunday 20 December 3 pm – 5 pm followed by a bring and share tea before the service with time to get changed if people wish.

Please let me know by emailing [email protected] if you would like to sing. It is not necessary for everyone to attend every rehearsal as long as you can make a good number of them and preferably the rehearsal on the day. Please do come and sing! Note usual choir rehearsals will be from 7:45 to 8:30 pm during this rehearsal period.

Julie Shaw

Open meeting to explore

Our Town Response to the Refugee Crisis

Hosted by the local churches and the Foodbank

Everybody Welcome!

Guest speaker from Housing Justice plus other agencies

Wednesday 18th November 7.30 pm at Kings Church, Longmead Road, Epsom, KT19 9BU

Refreshments available


Christmas Shopping

For those, like me, who’ll be doing a significant amount of their Christmas shopping online please take a moment to register with Easyfundraising. It is a really simple way to raise money for Christ Church (and it won’t cost you a thing – just shop as normal and the retailers will make a donation to Christ Church).

1. Start at easyfundraising. Let's say you want to buy a something from John Lewis. Instead of going to johnlewis.com directly, you first go to easyfundraising.org.uk. 2. Make a purchase. From the easyfundraising website, click through to John Lewis to make your purchase. This tells John Lewis you came from easyfundraising. The price etc. is exactly the same. 3. Get a donation. After you buy your item, John Lewis will give a donation to Christ Church. easyfundraising collect this and send it on at no extra cost.

So before you start your online shopping for Christmas (you can choose from over 2,700 top retailers)please be sure to register with easyfundraising www.easyfundraising.org.uk and nominate Christ Church Epsom as the cause you support.

Craig

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/


Fortaleza 2015

At the time of going to press a group from Christ Church was working hard at UNIVIDA and just wanted to give a big thank you for all the tee shirt donations (see front cover).

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