PARISH AND PEOPLE

The Magazine of St. Mary the Virgin,

Goldington

June 2020 80p

ST. MARY’S DIRECTORY

Vicar: The Rev’d Simon Dommett 01234 351920 The Vicarage, Church Lane Goldington, Bedford, MK41 0AP the.revd.simon@gmail.com

Associate Priest:

The Rev'd Jennie Cappleman 01234 266952 jennie.cappleman@yahoo.co.uk

Licensed Readers:

Michael Furlong 01234 352134

Cathy Sanderson 01234 346889

Churchwardens: Mrs Wendy Watmough 34 The Spinney, BEDFORD, MK41 0ET 07588 185347

Mr Brian Backhouse (until further notice) 8 Lydford Close, BEDFORD, MK40 3AZ 01234 403255

Cathy Sanderson (following formal Admission) 01234 346889

Parochial Church Council Secretary:

Sarah Collinson 01234 262123

Treasurer:

Richard Kirby 01234 266425

Safeguarding Officer: Cathy Sanderson 07870 679699

Environmental Officer: Colin Last 01234 356261

Health & Safety Officer: Vacant

Electoral Roll Officer: John Sheffield 01234 357439

Church Hall Manager: Mr Geoff Sowerby 01234 403411

Enquiries about baptisms and marriages are always welcome.

Please contact the Vicar as above.

Other enquiries should go to the Church Office

01234 328823 or e-mail office@stmarygoldington.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1131568

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A Reader Writes

During the Easter Season Morning Prayer (Common Worship

– Daily Prayer – p263) opens with a prayer of thanksgiving.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our Salvation,

to you be praise and glory forever.

As once you ransomed your people from Egypt

and led us to freedom in the promised land.

So now you have delivered us from the dominion of

darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.

May we, the first fruits of your new creation,

rejoice in this new day you have made,

and praise you for your mighty acts,

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I write this article soon after the Prime Minister announced

we had passed the peak of the Crisis and that there is light at

the end of the tunnel. And we must continue to pray and

hope that this remains the case. That the light may grow and

spread.

As we emerge from a dark, scary and anxious time, the way

back to anything near normal will be long and hard. There

may be bleak days to come. We have been held captive by

our circumstances and in our homes away from family and

friends. Phone calls, Zoom and Skype cannot replace the

need to be with each other and the freedom to go wherever

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we want. To do; to see; to get whatever we want/need at

anytime. The world we once knew; hoped for; struggled

with, is perhaps, gone. This is Crucifixion.

As we review, rebuild and renew our lives, communities and

nations may the new light bring warmth and opportunities to

make life better, deeper and meaningful. To start again,

change our attitudes as well as our priorities and work to-

gether for the good of all.

This new bright light may also reveal the things that were

once hidden, the mistakes, as well as our greedy, selfish ways

and highlight the missed opportunities. We can learn from

this experience, and begin to accept a different way of life.

This is a point of repentance and new growth if we can seize

this time to make a new creation and, perhaps, lead us to re-

joice in this new day. This is Resurrection.

As we begin to look up and forward can we, perhaps, pray.

Creator God,

may every breath we take be for your glory,

may every footstep show you as our way,

that trusting in your presence in this world,

we may, beyond this life, still be with you

where you are alive and reign

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Michael

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Christian Rural and Environmental Studies Certificate – course update

A few people have asked me how studying is going in lockdown. In many ways things haven’t changed much as CRES is primarily a distance learning course. However, as everything else is now happening at home too, it’s become

more important to plan my week well and set aside blocks of time for study.

My current module is ‘Globalization and Faith’ which focuses on the environment, politics, digital communica-tions and technology, and religion. This is a very strange time to be thinking globally when our horizons have be-come limited to our own homes, gardens and very local activity. As part of the coursework I keep a diary which reflects on the reading and on anything else related to the course – as you might imagine there is a lot in this one about the impact of the pandemic.

In April we were due to have a study day at Ripon Col-lege Cuddesdon, near Oxford, which had to be cancelled. As a replacement we had a morning online with two pres-entations – the first was by Andy Lester who is the head of conservation at A Rocha UK. Andy spoke about the threats facing nature such as climate change, biodiversity loss and world politics. He finished by calling on Chris-tians to be ‘prophets of hope’ on environmental issues. Ruth Valerio then gave us an overview of the themes in Saying Yes To Life, (the 2020 Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book). There is a new non-Lent edition of Saying Yes To Life coming soon which will be revised to discuss the impact of coronavirus on the environment. The Lent ver-sion was excellent and I would recommend reading it to anyone interested in getting a biblical perspective on crea-tion care.

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The morning finished with a short reflective service led by one of the course tutors, Rev Margot Hodson. She left us with three questions to think about during the pause of lockdown:

What sort of world do we want?

How do we do that?

How will we help God’s new creation break through?

****

At this time I’d also like to share the first activity that new students on the course are asked to do before we start any of the reading or in depth study. It is a reminder to appreciate that part of God’s crea-tion that is on our doorstep more fully.

Find a park, wood, garden or similar place where you can be alone, relax, and make prayerful use of your senses. Note your impres-sions.

Sight – enjoy the colour, shape, texture, depth and movement of all that is around you. Thank God, recognising it as his gift to you. Hearing – listen to silence, the sound of the wind, bird song, and insect noises. Imagine their praising God together and join in. Touch – feel the air and sun on your skin, and touch tree bark, grass, etc. Reading – Psalm 24:1 ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’

Shelly Dennison

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Stewardship Envelopes during the

Covid-19 lock-down

M ost stewardship donations are made by monthly bank standing

order payments but weekly contribution through the envelope

scheme is still preferred by about 30 church members. There is no

indication yet that the current requirement to close churches is likely

to change in the near future. Diocesan Parish Share contributions con-

tinue to be paid each month along with other regular payments such as

insurance premiums. The savings from the church closure are very

marginal; just some cleaning and energy costs whereas the cessation

of activities in the church hall is a complete loss of regular booking

income of £800 each month.

T he money donated through the enve-

lope scheme is a significant amount and

the Church cannot do without it. I would

encourage all those with bank accounts to

change to a monthly standing order (thank

you to those who already have). Those

members using on-line banking can set this

up for themselves; others will need to com-

plete an instruction form which I can pro-

vide by e-mail or by post. If you usually

pay by cheque and wish to continue this

way or want to change from cash to cheque then I can pay them in

without having to enter our bank. But you will have to get them to me

by one means or another.

F or those who prefer cash or do not have a bank account then there

is no option but to continue with the envelope scheme. But there

is a choice; either fill them each week and keep them or wait until

church services are resumed, count the unused envelopes and put the

appropriate amount into one of them. Obviously I would prefer the

latter but this may not be suitable for those managing on a tight

budget.

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T he Church bank account details for standing order payments are:

Bankers: National Westminster Bank, 81 High Street, Bedford

Sort code: 60-02-13

Account number: 51386178

Account name:Goldington Parochial Church Council

F or cheque payments Goldington PCC is acceptable. Please do

not test the patience of bank clerks by writing St. Mary’s Church

as there are rather a lot of them and it is not the name on the PCC’s

bank account.

F inally my address is 9 Clare Road, Bedford MK41 8QX, not far

off the route around Mowsbury Park or Putnoe Wood for those

taking exercise there. Telephone number is 266425.

Richard Kirby

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“Positive – being able to access services that fall during the working week; the video of the Wednesday service means that we can catch up in the evening. Special moment – watching the Stations of the Cross service in the garden on Good Friday in the sunshine with the birds singing around us. Active – lighting a candle before the start of services, making palm crosses using Simon’s video instructions, joining with the responses – online can still encourage us to be involved. What do I miss most? - Our Taizé services, particularly the shared silence and the candlelit glow of the church.”

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An Ode to the lockdown.An Ode to the lockdown.An Ode to the lockdown.An Ode to the lockdown.

The streets that we have always known The streets that we have always known The streets that we have always known The streets that we have always known

We walked them every dayWe walked them every dayWe walked them every dayWe walked them every day

Always travelling from AAlways travelling from AAlways travelling from AAlways travelling from A----BBBB

Just going along our way.Just going along our way.Just going along our way.Just going along our way.

Suddenly then the lockdown cameSuddenly then the lockdown cameSuddenly then the lockdown cameSuddenly then the lockdown came

With times never known beforeWith times never known beforeWith times never known beforeWith times never known before

Most told you must now stay at homeMost told you must now stay at homeMost told you must now stay at homeMost told you must now stay at home

Behind your own front door.Behind your own front door.Behind your own front door.Behind your own front door.

A daily walk permittedA daily walk permittedA daily walk permittedA daily walk permitted

We set out keen each dayWe set out keen each dayWe set out keen each dayWe set out keen each day

Taking time to notice thingsTaking time to notice thingsTaking time to notice thingsTaking time to notice things

And varying our wayAnd varying our wayAnd varying our wayAnd varying our way

This was when we realisedThis was when we realisedThis was when we realisedThis was when we realised

Front gardens held our gazeFront gardens held our gazeFront gardens held our gazeFront gardens held our gaze

They varied so completelyThey varied so completelyThey varied so completelyThey varied so completely

Some sights they did amazeSome sights they did amazeSome sights they did amazeSome sights they did amaze

How could they all so varyHow could they all so varyHow could they all so varyHow could they all so vary

We'd wonder then decideWe'd wonder then decideWe'd wonder then decideWe'd wonder then decide

They must reflect their ownersThey must reflect their ownersThey must reflect their ownersThey must reflect their owners

All locked down inside.All locked down inside.All locked down inside.All locked down inside.

Mary Everitt Mary Everitt Mary Everitt Mary Everitt

8

Where do you live? Where do you live? Where do you live? Where do you live?

As a supplement to the series of articles on the roads of Goldington this item

looks at how we know where places are.

How would you describe where you live?

These are some possible ways for describing the location of St Mary’s

Church.

a. St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Goldington, Bedfordshire, MK41 0AP

b. TL 0767851174

c. ///turned.flame.view

All the above - Postcode, OS Grid reference and what3words - would mean

that you had no difficulty in arriving on the spot. You could also point it out

on a map or say “It’s about half way up Church Lane on the right by Bury

Court flats”.

What about your own address? Well, the same type of description could apply

to this too.

In earlier times, though, when maps were non-existent or at best very

inaccurate things were very different.

Let’s look at Goldington and work backwards through time.

Taking the street directories in the 1930s we find named streets and their

locations. Smaller roads can be identified by where they come in order. For

example, in the High Road or Goldington Road there will be a gap saying

“Here is Grange Road” or “Here is Alexandra Road” (Note Alexandra Road,

not Queen Alexandra Road!).

The 1911 census is also reasonably helpful with addresses. Mr Rogers, miller,

lived at Castle Mills, Goldington and so he wouldn’t have been hard to find.

Similarly Mr Tompkins who lived at the Post Office and The Rev’d William

Bradney Dunne at the Vicarage would have posed no problems especially if a

local resident was asked. In general road names are given and in some roads

the address is refined as far as number but this is the exception rather than the

norm. Barford Road and Bedford Road equate to the main highway through

the village and to pin down an address would have worn quite a lot of shoe

9

leather. Some addresses such as Baker’s Yard or Park Lane appear to have no

modern equivalent and are much harder to identify.

In the nineteenth century censuses for small parishes vagueness is standard.

Most residences are just described as being in Goldington with no further

details. Some will give an area such as The Green or East End and again some

apparently unidentifiable locations are given like Gawp Row. In a village as

small as Goldington and with the local knowledge of the time I’m sure

everyone knew where people lived but as time passes that knowledge

disappears.

What does help in the censuses is that the enumerator went around the parish

in a fairly logical manner and so we can get some idea of where residences

were clustered.

How were addresses identified before the censuses? Again, in much the same

nebulous way.

Let’s go back even further to the period between mediaeval times and the

nineteenth century. At this time, residential addresses were not so important.

What mattered was where the land you held and farmed in the agricultural

field system was to be found. It is difficult to describe where one strip or

portion of land is in a large, unfenced field which may cover nearly a quarter

of the parish especially when all the plots look very much the same. Few

maps would be available, indeed none in the early days, and maps were very

different from the ones we use today.

The first thing to do was to narrow it down to the furlong. There were several

of these in each large field and they all had descriptive names which

originally gave some indication of their location, nature, productiveness or

shape. From this point the identification of the plot actually becomes very

precise. Here are some typical examples:-

From a document of 1753

1ac of meadow land lying in the Farr Meadow in Goldington,

Beds formerly in the occupation of Thomas Middleton and now

Henry Thompson; abutting N by a house formerly belonging to

William Odell the younger; S upon a Headland acre formerly

of Mr. Haselden, and the meadow formerly of Thomas Watford

lies on both the E & W.

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From a document of 1659

In Greenditch Field:

1/2 acre on Stone Hill Furlong

North Puttenhoe Way

South Godso slade

East Mr Riseley

West Mr Allen

From the Warden Abbey Cartulary in about 1180

In East field

lying next to the monks’ three acres which they hold from Ada

Pippard towards the south

In South Field

Between the Newnham canons’ land & abutting in the east on William

Wigain’s headland

In each case the description is very detailed but is virtually meaningless to us

today. In fact most of these descriptions would only have made sense for a

few decades or so. They depend on knowing where other owners’ land is, the

names of the occupants and the names of now unknown areas. Even if the

fields still existed in Goldington we could not go and point out specific plots

today. Trying to identify all these places is almost impossible and leaves the

local historian with a very difficult task (always assuming you might, for

some obscure reason, want to identify the locations!!)

There are times however when it is interesting to know where people lived

and worked and locating all the homes of the Goldington men who were lost

in the First World War which I helped Andrew Dennison research a couple of

years ago was not easy.

In conclusion, modern addresses may seem somewhat soulless and not very

colourful but next time you are tempted to say,

“John’s House? Oh, yes that’s round the corner from the big oak tree

opposite Mary Smith’s and next to Old Peter’s cottage. You can’t miss

it!”

... think again!

Sarah Collinson

Dear friends,

I have started and restarted this newsletter, but the

situation changes almost daily and since I last saw you

in the UK, as you all know, the entire world has been

taken over by events out of all human control with COVID-1 9. So

much information, fact and an overload of “fake news”. Emotions are

ranging from panic, fear and great sorrow to heart-warming stories of

selfless kindness! It is such an insane time in our Lives and is honestly all

rather overwhelming.

Home leave

I thank God for the most encouraging and rewarding time spent visiting my

supporters and Link churches in the UK. It was fabulous visiting friends, old

and new, forging new links, and having the opportunity to share the

Rehema story. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. My

contemporaries starting home leave after me are not so lucky as they

entered a very different United Kingdom, where churches have shut their

doors to contain the spread of the virus.

Praise point: Thank God for the many individuals and link churches who

support the Rehema Project and the work I do in so many ways.

Prayer point: Pray that my Fellow mission partners will be able to find a

way to feed back to their link churches in a positive and encouraging

way.

Generosity of spirit

When I left Tanzania at the beginning of October, I had multiple gifts thrust

at me to somehow squeeze into my already bulging baggage. The Rehema

women had with great love and out of their own limited resources made

gifts for my whole Family. Shorts for my brother, nephews and brother-in-

law, a doll for my niece and placemats for my sister. My family were

astounded, my sister was in tears — how could these women they had

11

Heather Johnstone

12

never met, who come from such marginalised backgrounds, give them such

generous gifts? They were humbled and learned a valuable lesson about

the gift of giving.

Praise/prayer point: Give thanks for the incredible generosity of all the

Rehema women, and the lessons they teach us about generosity.

Where in the world?

On 1 March I arrived in South Africa to spend some time with family and

friends before returning to Tanzania at the beginning of April.

A national state of emergency was declared in South Africa by President

Cyril Ramaphosa on 15 March. The next day CMS suggested I deploy to

Tanzania within 48 hours if my work permit and residence visa had been

approved — they hadn’t. In fact, I had discovered a couple of days earlier

that they had not even started processing the paperwork, so I had a choice

of remaining in South Africa or quickly returning to the UK, as borders were

closing. I chose to remain in a “locked down” South Africa with family and I

have a tourist visa which expires 30 May 2020.

Challenging times

Unfortunately, I don’t have good news to report from the project. Due to

the coronavirus, the volunteer groups that were travelling to Musoma have

cancelled their trips. The foreign nationals who live in Musoma have all left

— instructed to return “home” by their organisations. The heart-breaking

reality is that without these customers we have no choice but to close the

business at Least until the end of June, when the situation will be reviewed,

but probably for longer. Please pray for us all. When I told the women this

devastating news, they told me not to worry, God would provide. They

humble me!

Fortunately, we were able to pay the wages at the end of March and have

enough money to pay wages in April as well. From donations raised whilst I

was in the UK, I have funds available to buy basic food parcels for those

who need them and hopefully pay for medical treatment as required.

These are exceptional times. I don’t want the ladies to be without a wage

and without hope of an income, but as a project we simply cannot afford to

continue to pay their wages every month, especially if the indications are

that this might only “right” itself in 2021. To give the women hope and the

13

chance of survival, I hope to be able to give a small investment to each of

the women to enable them to start a business or somehow be resourceful

in providing for themselves and their families.

Prayer point: Please pray for all the Rehema women. Pray that God will

enable them to be resourceful in providing for themselves and their

families.

At the time of writing the number of reported COVID-1 9 cases in Tanzania

is 21. We pray earnestly for Tanzania, which reportedly has one of the

poorest healthcare systems in the world. Social distancing and isolating for

people that live so near to one another, sharing every part of their lives,

from mattresses to latrines to water supply, is almost an impossibility.

Many people in Musoma have limited access to clean water and no access

to hand sanitiser, so keeping hands scrupulously clean will be a challenge.

So many people live in extreme poverty and cannot afford to stock up on

supplies or stay at home as

many of us have been asked to

do.

Hope

The world has been brought to

its knees with COVID—1 9 and I

pray that while we are on our

knees, we seek mercy from our

living and loving God. He alone

can bring us real and lasting

hope.

“May the God of hope fill

you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy

Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Mungu awabariki. God bless you all.

Heather

The Rehema team during happier times

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Book Review Book Review Book Review Book Review –––– Living with the Psalms by John BellLiving with the Psalms by John BellLiving with the Psalms by John BellLiving with the Psalms by John Bell

One of the books I have been enjoying during lockdown is this short volume by John Bell. His name will be familiar to anyone who enjoys the hymns which come from the Wild Goose Resource Group, part of the Iona Community.

It’s really accessible and easy to read, with short chapters – so excellent for anyone struggling to concentrate at the moment. He shares lots of stories about the important part that the Psalms have

played in his life and in other people’s lives. There is also a strong emphasis on praying with the Psalms which runs throughout the book.

Some of the chapters focus on particular Psalms, including Psalm 23, others look at different themes such as God and nature, justice, praise, pain, and Jesus and the Psalms.

At the back of the book are some extra resources including three questions to reflect on for each chapter and a suggested cycle of readings for readers who would like to engage with a selection of the Psalms on a regular basis.

Living with the Psalms is full of fascinating insights into individual verses and the book of Psalms as a whole. Bell’s enthusiasm for his subject shines through and makes for an engaging and refreshing look at a book that can feel both overlooked and over familiar.

Shelly Dennison

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“I have appreciated the virtual services during lockdown. The Compline, Maundy Thursday and Easter services were particularly welcome. Each Sunday at 9.30 am my wife and I light a candle and take part in the service and find it very moving.”

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“Coincidence, or Is it?”

Around 12 years ago I began to experience problems negotiating stairs, a

throwback to having had polio during my teenage years. Being aware that

the problems were likely to become more acute in time, I began to consider

the wisdom of moving to a bungalow. Knowing that John hated change in

any form I tentatively discussed my thinking with him, only to realise that

this was unlikely to happen. However, this did not stop me from searching

the local paper each week to see what was available, but I failed to reach

any positive feeling about anything on offer. After weeks of looking -

“Eureka!”, one day a bungalow caught my attention.

John just happened to be going to town on that particular day so I tenta-

tively asked if he would pick up details, emphasising that to do this entailed

no commitment whatsoever. Not only did he collect the details, he asked to

be shown on a map where the property was sited and made an appointment

for us to view it.

As we arrived for the viewing I still felt apprehensive but, to my amazement,

as we stood in the living room John said,

“I can see a Christmas tree over there,” (the month was October) - was he

seeing us moving in?

Now you may wonder where this story is going. We did move in and I’ve

often said that the bungalow chose us but, going back to the beginning, why

did the advertisement jump off the page in the first place where others had

failed? What made John take an interest and arrange a the viewing appoint-

ment when he had been so against moving?

There was never a question in our minds regarding the decision to move

and we were indeed in there for Christmas but, as we moved in, I discov-

ered a drawer containing one or two items that had obviously been over-

looked by the family of the previous owners - items that I was sure would

be of sentimental value to them, so I made contact.

This is when I met Gill, the late owners’ daughter, who came down from

Ilkley to collect the said items. We had a long chat over a cup of coffee and

16

as a result have kept in touch each Christmas since then. At Christmas last

year she wrote to say how she could still remember the very many happy

years spent in the bungalow as a youngster and I happened to reply that if

she was ever down this way she would be very welcome to drop in. A reply

came immediately saying that she was, in fact, coming to see her aunt at

the end of January, would I mind if her aunt came as well. This proved to

be a crucial decision.

We sat, once again, drinking coffee and chatting when her aunt looked

across to a picture (a similar photo hangs in the church vestry) showing

John at the organ.

“Who’s the organist?” she asked.

I replied that it was my late husband, John, who had been St Mary’s organ-

ist for almost 40 years.

She replied, “He didn’t take over from Mr Baxter, my father, did he?”

A number of our congregation will still remember Mr Baxter (organist at St

Mary’s for many years from 1948 to 1976, ed)

Well, it is 11½years since we moved into the bungalow without the knowl-

edge that it had previously been owned by Mr Baxter’s family! Is this sim-

ply coincidence? I only know that it has been a very happy home, one that

John loved as much as I do now.

I had always said that the bungalow chose us, but now I feel that we were

directed here from the moment I picked up that local paper and for that

I’m forever thankful.

Val Scrivener

[As a postscript I can add that I am one the St Mary’s people who can just

remember Mr Baxter still playing for the occasional service when I came to

Goldington. However my knowledge of him goes right back to my infancy

as my grandparents who lived briefly in Bedford when my mother was born

often spoke warmly of their piano tuner, Walter Baxter. Little did I know,

as I practised my early piano scales, that I would eventually arrive at the

same church and, in the short term, play the same organ! “Coincidence, or

Is it?”] SEC

Since I wrote my update on

Reader training in the

February issue of ‘Parish

and People’, the world has

changed beyond what we

could have imagined.

My last evening class at St. Albans was on 10th March, and since then,

all training has gone online. We were in the middle of our

‘Introduction to Preaching’ classes, which didn’t transfer online, but

will now take place during Year 3. St. Albans Diocese and the Eastern

Region Ministry Course (ERMC) have been very supportive to the

students with providing an online discussion forum to chat to others,

and an online chapel, where

Daily Prayer is said four times

a day and any student can join

in with this.

I’ve found the transition to

online classes both positive

and negative. On the positive

side, it is great that classes can continue and there will be no disruption

to our learning. The tutors are adapting to using the technology. After

a blip on the first class, the students can now see each other on the

screen as we listen to and watch the tutor.

On the negative side, I am missing the shared meal we enjoyed at the

start of our evenings. It was a chance to get to know each other better

and to bond as a group. The interactive Evening Worship led by

students that followed the meal has been replaced online by Evening

Prayer at the end of our class, led instead by one person. It inevitably

feels very different to being together in person.

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Reader Training Reader Training Reader Training Reader Training NewsNewsNewsNews

Susan LaneSusan LaneSusan LaneSusan Lane

18

The St. Albans students have joined together with students from the

Diocese of Norwich to form a large class of around 25 people. The

tutor leads the session and shares a presentation around that week’s

topic. At one point we are split into smaller groups of around five

people to have a 10-minute discussion before coming back to the whole

group.

Since Easter, we have been studying the Old Testament. I’m enjoying

looking at the how/when/why/where it was written and by whom. It’s

challenging and absorbing, and I’m learning many new ideas and ways

of looking at things. For instance, there are different perspectives on

the source of Old Testament writings and the types of truth they

contain. Culture, relationships, images, paradox, community – these

are some of the ways of viewing the books of the Old Testament. This

term we have two assignments, so plenty to keep me busy whilst stuck

indoors.

As always, I am thankful for your prayers and support during my

training.

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“Online Church has opened up new ways of worshipping.

The recorded services mean we can rewind to engage again with the reflections and prayers.

I enjoy being able to explore other services and churches from home and whilst doing this at a time to suit ourselves may take away from the idea of us all worshipping simultaneously it does allow a greater interaction with the wider church.”

19

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

13

14 15 16

17

18 19 20 21

22

23 24

25 26

A N A G R A M C R O S S W O D R Each answer is an anagram of the clue.

D O W N

1 Catriona

5 Olga

9 Evens

10 Hornets

11 Edit

12 Icier Rat

14 Real

15 Lustre

18 Reversed

20 Vine

23 Herb Tea

24 Merit

25 Et Al

26 Desserts

1 Ester

2 Vain Red

3 Once

4 Asters

6 Route

7 Leaking

8 Crouton

13 Rare Tan

14 Cab Rota

16 Mothers

17 Centre

19 Wells

21 To End

22 Reef

A C R O S S T

han

ks

to M

ary E

ver

itt

for

sourc

ing t

his

ite

m.

20

In these days of not going anywhere we think of all the places

we would like to be - somewhere completely different, some-

where we remember from more flexible times. The mind (so

much more effective than Zoom!) can take us anywhere and I

am deciding to visit St Govan's Chapel.

This little hermit's cell built to honour St Govan stands tucked

into a crevice in a cliff face in Pembrokeshire. You approach it

from above, carefully climbing down 52 twisty steps (I was

younger then) towards the sea and the sound of the waves be-

low. St Govan a 6th century monk lived in a cave here and lived

on fish and spring water. Legend says he may have been the

Arthurian knight Gawain living here in his retirement from all

that glamour and chivalry. Being not only holy but also magi-

cal, he inspired many legends, including possessing a bell sto-

len by pirates and returned to him by angels who set the bell

into a rock for safe keeping, where its chimes are exceptionally

pure and resonant.

A Mindful Trip

21

No legend is needed to make this place special. Very peace-

ful, on a sunny day there are any number of chunky rocks to

sit on and watch the waves breaking below. The dark interior

of the chapel, with its low roof, wall niches and stone altar re-

tains to this day a holy and mysterious atmosphere. Through

the small window you see sky, sea and tumbled rocks.

And as this is a virtual visit you don't have to climb the 52

steps back up the cliff but can drift slowly up to that nice little

cafe just a little further along the cliff where tea and cake is

waiting.

Christine Hunt

R A I N C O A T G O A L

E N O S C U I

S E V E N S H O R T E N

E A E E N E K

T I D E C R I T E R I A

E N T O G

A E R I A L R U S T L E

C R R R H

R E S E R V E D V E I N

O E A C F R O

B R E A T H E R E M I T

A L E N E O E

T A L E S T R E S S E D

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

22

IIII

NNNN

TTTT

EEEE

CCCC HHHH UUUU RRRR CCCC HHHH

NNNN

EEEE

TTTT

“Personally I like the more gentle reflective nature of the online virtual services at the moment as much of the usual more active participation elements are absent.

Most of all I find the apparent contradiction fascinating: that services that are potentially more 'consumer' than ever (no real participation required if you don't want to - you can just tune in and consume the 'showing' at a time convenient to you, whenever you like, how you like) are at the same time brought directly into our homes and into our everyday lives, detached from that risk of remoteness in the church building from our normal lives outside. It's all about how you actively chose to engage with it.”

No flour, no yeast, no eggs?!

Try Marjorie Starmore’s indulgent recipe from St Mary’s own Family Favourites

cookbook.

Fudge Cake

4 ounces butter or margarine

1 tablespoon caster sugar

1 tablespoon golden syrup

3 tablespoons drinking chocolate.

1. Heat and stir together until

dissolved. Do not boil.

2. Break and mix in 8 ounces of

digestive biscuits.

3. Pour into a flat baking tray and

leave to cool.

4. Top if liked with 3 ounces of milk

chocolate melted with a little milk

in a basin over a pan of boiling

water.

23

This month we are asked to remember the following groups and parishes of St Alban's diocese in our prayers

Monday 1 Diocesan Advisory Committee

Tuesday 2 Chaplains within Medical Establishments

Wednesday 3 Walkern (LEP) (Buntingford)

Thursday 4 Wallington (Buntingford) Pentecost

Friday 5 Westmill (Buntingford)

Saturday 6 Weston (Buntingford)

Sunday 7 Broxbourne with Wormley (Cheshunt)

Monday 8 Cheshunt (Cheshunt)

Tuesday 9 Goff's Oak, St James (Cheshunt)

Wednesday 10 Hoddesdon (Cheshunt)

Thursday 11 Northaw and Cuffley (Cheshunt) Trinity Sunday

Friday 12 Rye Park, St Cuthbert (Cheshunt)

Saturday 13 Turnford (Cheshunt)

Sunday 14 Waltham Cross, Christ Church (Cheshunt)

Monday 15 Billington (Dunstable)

Tuesday 16 Chalgrave (Dunstable)

Wednesday 17 Dunstable (Dunstable)

Thursday 18 Eaton Bray with Edlesborough (Dunstable)

Friday 19 Egginton (Dunstable)

Saturday 20 Heath and Reach (Dunstable)

Sunday 21 Hockliffe (Dunstable) Alban

Monday 22 Houghton Regis (Dunstable)

Tuesday 23 Kensworth (Dunstable)

Wednesday 24 Leighton Buzzard (Dunstable)

Thursday 25 Linslade (Dunstable)

Friday 26 Sandhills, Church of the Good Shepherd

(Conventional District)

Saturday 27 Stanbridge (Dunstable)

Sunday 28 Studham (Dunstable)

Monday 29 Tilsworth (Dunstable)

Tuesday 30 Toddington

24

CALENDAR, JUNE 2020

Monday 1 THE VISIT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TO ELIZABETH

Justin, Martyr at Rome, ca 165

Wednesday 3 The Martyrs of Uganda, 1885 - 87 and 1977

Thursday 4 Petroc, Abbot of Padstow, 6th Century

Friday 5 Boniface (Wynfrith) of Crediton, Bishop, Apostle of Germany, Martyr, 754

Saturday 6 Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945

Sunday 7 TRINITY SUNDAY

Monday 8 Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath & Wells, Nonjuror, Hymn Writer, 1711

Tuesday 9 Columba, Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597

Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Hymn Writer, Teacher, 373

Thursday 11 DAY OF THANKSGIVING FOR HOLY COMMUNION (CORPUS CHRISTI)

Friday 12 BARNABAS THE APOSTLE

Sunday 14 THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY (Proper 6)

Monday 15 Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941

Tuesday 16 Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253

Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Philosopher, 1752

Wednesday 17 Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936

Thursday 18 Bernard Mizeki, Apostle of MaShona, Martyr, 1896

Friday 19 Sundar Singh, Sadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher, 1929

Sunday 21 THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY (Proper 7)

Monday 22 Alban, first Martyr of Britain, ca 250

Tuesday 23 Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, ca 678

Wednesday 24 THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Ember Day

Friday 26 Ember Day

Saturday 27 Ember Day

Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 444

Sunday 28 THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY (Proper 8)

Monday 29 PETER & PAUL, APOSTLES

ST MARY’S DIRECTORY

Parochial Church Council Committees

Finance: Richard Kirby 01234 266425 Pastoral: Chris Jones 01234 959952 Property: Nick Fowler 01234 400294 Worship: Cathy Sanderson 07870 679699

Music at St Mary’s

Organist: Vacant Keyboard: Jane Davey 01234 360851 Choir: Sarah Collinson 01234 262123 First Sunday: Jane Davey 01234 360851

Bellringers

Tower Captain: Jenny Thompson 01234 216571

Church Services

Altar Servers: Frances Tyler 01234 303407 Flowers: Sally Gilbert 01234 266552

Intercessions: Tim Hern 01234 317847 Lesson Readers: Brenda Keech 01234 266743 Sacristans: Wendy & Bill Roffe 01234 342287

Verger: Antony Collinson 01234 262123

Social Groups

Catering Team: D Kirby & S Barker 01234 266425 Craft & Chat: Elaine Abraham 01234 301181 Indoor Bowls: Dorothy Kirby 01234 266425

Ladies’ Breakfast: Chris Graham 01234 213501 Men’s Breakfast: Brian Backhouse 01234 403255 Knit & Natter: Elaine Abraham 01234 301181 Walking Group: Richard Kirby 01234 266425

Other useful Contacts

Archivist: Sarah Collinson 01234 262123 Beavers: David Batten 07523 215187 Bible Reading notes: Jane Preston 01234 306361 Children’s Society: Christine Chapman 01234 342724 Church Library: Susan Lane 01234 404970 North Bedford Churches Together: Colin Last 01234 356261 Guides: Nesta Gedrych 07708 954462 Lifts to Church: Sheila Berry 01234 359470 Planned Giving: Michael Barker 01234 306139

Signing Group: Sue Lennon 01234 407298 Traidcraft: Andrew & Shelly Dennison 01234 217261

Editorial Team: Sarah Collinson Mary Everitt Christopher Hjelt Brenda Keech

Proofreading: Shelly Dennison

Distribution: Brenda Keech

Treasurer: Mary Cope

Please note that the deadline for articles to be included in the July issue is Sunday, 7th June. The deadline for the August issue is

Sunday, 5th July. Articles, where possible, should be sent by e-mail to

parishandpeople@gmail.com or submitted to one of the editorial team on a memory stick accompanied by hard copy.

Hand-written items are also accepted.

REGULAR SERVICES AT ST. MARY’S

SUNDAYS

First Sunday of the month only 8.00 am Holy Communion (B.C.P.)

9.30 am Family Praise – There is no Communion but plenty of music, singing, listening to God’s Word and prayer.

5.00 pm Contemplative or Taizé Service

Second, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of the month 9.30 am Parish Communion (Common Worship)

with activities for children.

Third Sunday of the month 9.30 am Family Communion (Common Worship) This service is especially child and family orientated.

Second Sunday of the month 5.00 pm Evensong (B.C.P.) March - November (except August)

WEEKDAYS

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9.00am Morning Prayer (CW)

Every Wednesday 10.00am Holy Communion (B.C.P.)

www.stmarygoldington.org.uk

Please note that during the current coronavirus restrictions

the normal pattern of service has been suspended.

You are very welcome to join us

in our online worship on Sundays and Wednesdays

following the links you may have received by e-mail or those to be

found on our website and Facebook.