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BOLLINGTON CHURCH NEWS
July 2020
Print edition 50p
Page 2
ST OSWALD’S -THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN BOLLINGTON
Vicar The Revd Canon Veronica Hydon 01625 422849
Reader Anne Coomes 01625 571144
Churchwarden Christine Osbaldiston 01625 575589
Churchwarden Hilary Young 01625 574725
PCC Secretary Julie Brunt 01625 574334
PCC Treasurer Richard Raymond 01625 612025
Bollington Editorial Team: 07989 719608
Church News [email protected]
St John’s Headteacher: Mrs Melanie Walker 01625 572025
CE School [email protected]
Bollington Cross Headteacher: Mr Yenson Donbavand 01625 572138
CE School [email protected]
Electoral Roll Officer Jackie Pengelly 01625 572645
Children & Families Beverley Nixon 01625 500970
Worker [email protected]
Parish Giving Officer Dr Christopher Ward 01625 573892
The Parochial Church Council. (Up to 12 elected Lay Representatives)
Churchwardens: Christine Osbaldiston and Hilary Young
The Secretary: Julie Brunt The Treasurer: Richard Raymond
Ken Bennett, Julie Brunt, Cheryl Bush, Anne Coomes, Sally Garnett, Alison Grimshaw, Beverley
Nixon, Maggie O'Donnell, Jackie Pengelly, Simon Thomas, Chris Ward, Angela Williams
Deanery Synod: Sue Berry and Anthea Wilkinson
Diocesan Synod: Beverley Nixon and Richard Raymond
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting has been postponed because of the COVID-19
emergency. We expect it will now take place in October. Members of the PCC, Deanery
Synod members and Churchwardens have all had their periods of office extended
accordingly (following a legal provision made by the acting Bishop of Chester).
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Cover comment
(cover illustration by Ann Stringer)
“And let the earth be glad…”
I suppose that it was in the days of World War Two that we became obsessed
with tuning in to the radio to hear the Nine O’clock News to hear about the
progress of the War. Nowadays it seems to be a major industry in terms of TV
News and Social Media.
Quite often it seems to be full of bad news of disasters on the other side of the
world or murders and crimes nearer to hand.
I sometimes think it would be good to have our ears or eyes open to notice
the good news from far and near as well.
We are in danger of feeling a sense a frustration and even anger about our
modern times. Perhaps it is because we can seem to be drowning in a sea of
bad news whereas the reality is that there is so much that is good about these
modern times.
But this is not to say that all is well in our country and the world, for there is
still greed and selfishness all around and a lot of anti-social behaviour. In the end
we can only do what we can to improve the world.
If we ourselves try our best to be good neighbours, caring about other people
and their property, and being generous and not greedy, these are the ways to
improve our world.
We can always pray for our world and try to walk humbly with our God,
allowing Jesus to gladden our hearts with the good news of his Kingdom
Roy Arnold
Deadline for August Magazine 15 July 2020
What can you offer in the way of an article?
For latest news visit our Church Website:
www.stoswaldbollington.org.uk or find us on Facebook
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"Trust * Hope * Believe" are the words on a recent
bookmark posted out to members of our congregation.
As you know, sadly all places of worship nationally must
still remain closed for public worship services in our
collective effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the middle of June, limited access to a church
building for private prayer may now be considered, so
our Churchwardens and PCC have completed the
necessary risk assessment. But because our building development project is still
very much a work in progress, we have decided that regretfully, for the time
being, it is not yet practical or safe to open our doors for private worshippers.
However, we do encourage you to continue praying at home or out on your
daily walks instead, especially following our "10 for 10" scheme together. Thank
you for your ongoing patience and faithful support. We will continue to act in
line with Government and Diocesan guidelines and will of course review this
decision as the summer unfolds.
With love and blessings, Veronica
Bollington Church News: Published by the PCC
e-mail [email protected]
Editorial Team
Revd Canon Veronica Hydon
Ann Stringer
Anne Coomes
Dave Williams
Treasurer and Advertising Secretary
John Rickman
Adverts: 01625 573817
Temporary COVID crisis distributors:
The Ireland family, Christine Osbaldiston
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Onwards and Upwards
At this time of the year I am usually looking to promote our RiCH After School
Group to the current Year Six children who are due to move to High School in
September.
The Group was started in 2013 as a way of engaging with the young people
from our local schools who were leaving Primary School for a High School
outside the parish. On a Thursday afternoon, for the past seven years we have
provided them with a safe place to be themselves, meet with friends, enjoy our
hospitality and experience a little of what it means to be a Christian.
The RiCH Group has been involved in fundraising for the church and other
charities, in the Bollington Festival parade and the Big Church Day Out, to name
just a few things. Many of the children have shared their trials and tribulations
with us as we strove to support them through some of life’s difficulties.
We have had the privilege of watching them grow and develop into wonderful
young people on the cusp of adulthood.
This year, due to the pandemic, we were unable to invite the Year Six children
into our church to present them with the Scripture Union booklet ‘It’s Your
Move’, designed to help them through the changes they will encounter when
moving from Primary to Secondary School. Instead, I have had to deliver the
books individually packed to each child following the social distancing and
hygiene regulations in place.
We are also unable to invite them to attend our RiCH Group in September, as
we do not know when we will be able to start this up again. Sad times indeed!
However, remaining optimistic, I am looking for volunteers to help staff RiCH
when we do resume. You don’t need any special qualifications. Just an ability to
care about the young people in our community and a willingness to engage with
them on a social basis (they really don’t bite!!). We need people to run the
kitchen and make refreshments, supervise the children during games and
activities, and assist them at the craft table.
If you think this is you and you would like to discuss it further with me, then
please do contact me on 01625 500970.
Bev Nixon
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News from Bollington St John’s School
How do you start to write an article for this magazine after the events of the
past few months? On Friday March 20th 2020 life in schools changed dramatically,
as learning for all children, except the vulnerable and the children of key workers,
moved online. Nobody knew how long this would last, or for example, how
would families survive the challenges of home schooling, what would happen
about children who usually had free school meals and how these measures would
affect the disadvantaged children in our care. Across the nation, schools faced the
same questions and together and bit by bit we have worked our way through all
scenarios that have arisen.
As March moved into April, teachers became masters of online learning and tried
many ways to keep children enthused and focussed on their learning. This was
done while also being mindful that all families had different circumstances and so
not all would be able to juggle children, working from home and now becoming
unqualified teachers. Well-being became a priority.
Megan, Ellen and Lucy—children of key workers
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March became April, with Easter providing a blessed relief and a chance to
refocus and find strength in the message of good news and hope. Almost
without hesitation we found ourselves in May, which just as quickly became June.
The year was flying past and, as each new week started, we remembered all the
events, so precious in school life, that were now no longer possible. No
assemblies, no plays, no sports day and no St John's Academies.
However, because of the strength of our wonderful school community, the year
did not become one of lost memories, it became one of resilience, perseverance
and finding a new way forward. The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of
Canterbury, eloquently reminded us that, "Christ calls us towards a vision of
hope and service...to be a light in the darkness." That, more than ever, is what
we hope our school has become. As we prepared to welcome more children
into school and made a wonderful welcome video for our new starters, who
would now be unable to attend transition days, we found a new energy, and
welcomed the summer days with a renewed zeal. More than ever our offer of
education is one which enables healing, repair and renewal, teaches children how
to cope when things go wrong and continues to open new horizons so people
can fulfil their potential.
God our Father,
In your tender compassion the dawn from
on high has broken upon us.
Shine on those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death
And guide our feet into the way of peace;
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.
Melanie Walker
Headteacher: Bollington St John's CE
Primary School
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Modern hymns – are they as good as the old ones?
Our current hymn book ‘Anglican Hymns Old and New’ (abbreviated to
AHON) was published, believe it or not, 12 years ago in 2008 and we
introduced it at St Oswald’s soon afterwards.
A glance through the index shows the dominance of Graham Kendrick from
the 1970s; 30 of his hymns are in the book, some of which, like ‘Shine Jesus
Shine’, are now standards. Then came John Bell of the Iona Community who
wrote 20 hymns in the late 1980s, half of which were set to traditional Scottish
tunes.
But in the 1990’s other English writers came to the fore, many of whom may
not be as well-known but have written hymns, may I suggest, that will be more
long-lasting.
For example, Stuart Townend (‘In Christ alone’ and ‘How deep the father’s love
for us’), and Bernadette Farrell (‘O God you search me’ and ‘Christ be our
light’). And possibly Tim Hughes who wrote ‘Light of the World’, a hymn we have
started to sing recently in church. Matt Redman, a prolific writer, has several
hymns in the book but we don’t sing these probably because they are more
designed for accompanying by a modern music group using keyboard, guitar and
drums. All except Bernadette Farrell perform their own hymns.
Unfortunately when we are able to go back to church it is unlikely that we will
be able to sing these hymns at first because of the risk of spreading the
coronavirus. But below is a list of hymns and songs that you should be able to
find and join in on YouTube at home.
Are they as good as the old ones? It’s difficult to compete with a thousand
years of writing including some of the greatest composers and poets that ever
lived, but why not try them out and judge for yourselves!
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1. Light of the world. Here I am to worship. Tim Hughes. AHON 441
2. Beautiful one Tim Hughes AHON 838
3. I will offer up my life. This thankful heart. Matt Redman AHON 339
4. When the music fades. The heart of worship. Matt Redman AHON 823
5. All my days. Beautiful Saviour Stuart Townend AHON 18
6. How deep the father’s love for us. Stuart Townend AHON 317
7. In Christ alone Stuart Townend AHON 352
8. The Lord’s my shepherd Stuart Townend AHON 724
9. The power of the cross (chorus) Stuart Townend (Not in AHON)
10. O God, you search me Bernadette Farrell AHON 549
11. Christ be our light Bernadette Farrell AHON 452
12. Alleluia! Raise the gospel. Bernadette Farrell AHON30
13. You have called us by your name Bernadette Farrell (Not in AHON)
14. Come thou fount of every blessing. Robert Robinson (1735-1790)
American folk melody. Common Praise No. 406 as sung by Elenyi. (Not in
AHON). An old one revived!
15. In God alone. Jacques Berthier Taize (a new one to us? Not in AHON)
16. You raise me up. Lovland and Graham 2002. By many artists.
17. What a beautiful name Benjamin David Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood
performed by Hillsong Worship 2016.
Chris Ward
Editor’s Note:
Our webmaster has ingeniously offered a growing number of Sing-Along Hymns
on our website at Songs of Praise - Sing Along but we are only able to
include hymns for which the words are no longer copyright. So although the
website presents a selection of traditional hymns and old favourites, sadly none
of the modern ones listed above could be included. But again please do enjoy
singing along in practice for when we can return to the church building!
www.stoswaldbollington.org.uk
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Some Holiday Reading: A pilgrim’s guide!
Revd Canon Phil Lambert writes…
I am a pilgrim, on a journey of faith and even though a
priest for 40 years often I feel I’m only at the starting
block!
In that pilgrimage as priest and Rural Dean as well as a
residentiary Cathedral Canon I have been inspired on
that journey by so many church buildings. They range
from the lofty Cathedral through the medieval gems to the “tent” in Crete.
Now I look over at the former Holy Trinity Church and worship in St Oswald’s.
So today as I read the gospel reading for morning prayer (4th May 2020) it
described the effect on the young Jesus abandoning his parents and remaining in
the temple. (Luke 2 v41). When questioned by his parents he replies in most
translations, that he had to be in his Father’s house and also (in a minority of
versions) that he had to be about his Father’s business in the Temple. If we move
into his future, Jesus also throws the money-changers out of his “Father’s
house”.
What does this say about Jesus’ understanding of God’s presence and place? In
the case of the temple the word Luke uses is of the whole thing “ieros”, the
whole sacred area. The inner part which contained the “Holy of Holies” was
called the “naos”.
Jesus understood God as being everywhere but he also understood particular
places and especially the temple itself as a special place for God’s presence. Jesus
called himself a temple too and he used that same term “naos” or sanctuary -
the special place of God’s dwelling - the site of the “Holy of Holies”.
“Naos” is the same word that St Paul uses of the Christian Church in 1
Corinthians 6 v9. He is addressing the Corinthian Christians as a group and the
individuals there too. The image he uses of the human body expresses very well
the relationship between the corporate and the individual parts. The particular
place of the presence of the Universal God was in the being together, the
gathering (ekklesia) of the people of God in worship (the Body) and then in the
person who was a part of that, who existed because of that, like the parts of a
body.
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So how does this help our understanding of our church buildings? Certainly
Jesus, unless he was pulling a fast one, did believe that places, both the physical
temple and the physical body, were particular locations of God’s presence and
his holiness. Clearly he thought that his body played the same function in what
he did with it and what he said through it as the stones of the temple did.
Initially Christians in Jerusalem would have worshipped in the Temple until its
destruction. And even afterwards much of the synagogue worship would have
been the template for the way Christians worshipped, using psalms and readings
from the prophets. This is expressed in how Jesus in the story of the road to
Emmaus uses them and how the gospels themselves use the psalms and
prophets as authorities.
The Church (ekklesia) under the Holy Spirit finally decided which gospels and
books to put in the New Testament, Christians under the same Holy Spirit
witnessed to their faith through their bodies (martyrdom - which means
witness). For early Christians like Ignatius and Clement, who knew St Paul,
martyrdom was the supreme way of witnessing to Christ in and through their
bodies. Where they were martyred then very quickly became places of worship
- places where Christians gathered (ekklesia
in Greek). Christianity like Judaism being a
very physical religion (see 1 John v1) they
felt the need to be there and touch these
holy places and be buried nearby too. As
Christianity became accepted so they
wanted buildings over those places and they
copied the Roman buildings they saw
around them. In one example, Classe near
Ravenna used to house as a port city the
Roman naval fleet. Apollinarius the
missionary landed there and was martyred
and buried in the Roman cemetery. Over his
grave now is a beautiful 5th Century church
built on the foundations of an earlier one.
The photo shown here is of the inside of
this great building.
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They did not simply copy the Roman buildings but adapted them to reveal
something of the Christian truth. One of the most important factors for them
came from those days of persecution, martyrdom and burial. What was that?
The reason we know where Christians were buried in those early days is that
they were buried on an east/west axis with their feet at the easterly end. This is
still done in our cemeteries to this day.
Why was this so important? It is to do with the understanding that we are
pilgrims - pilgrims to the light. It was understood that at the general
resurrection Christians - the church - would rise facing the light - the light they
had been following and seeking all their lives. The only exception was the priest
who rose facing west - facing his flock, so at a priest’s funeral the coffin is
usually placed this opposite way.
To face east literally is to be orientated - facing the orient - where the sun rises.
It is the direction of travel for the pilgrim church: as St Paul puts it, “en
Cristo” (in Christ). So to express this physically, the pilgrim people of God
when they met together in their “temple” also wanted not only to face east, but
to do so journeying together in the ship of faith, expressed in the Western
world by the large part of the church building we call (using the Greek) the
nave - from which we get the word navy. What is more the route of this
pilgrimage was through martyrdom, and so the early buildings were either
founded on places of martyrdom or the bones of the martyrs were placed
there.
In other words the places in which Christians met, their buildings, must in their
structure reveal, and indeed shape, the faith of the faithful.
In English we have the one word church (from the Greek meaning the place or
thing of the Lord) to describe both the building and the community of faith. In
the Greek Orthodox Church they call the place of gathering the “naos”, the
inner temple, what Jesus called himself. The community that belong to Christ
are called the faithful and the gathered (congregation) or “ekklesia” in Greek.
The thing we call the church is the place that especially when we gather, bears
the particular presence of God, but which, even when we cannot gather,
remains as an expression of his Incarnation.
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So what does that mean for our
buildings? The building itself is not simply
a space to meet but importantly it
expresses the direction of travel and the
meaning of the faith. In other words it
reorientates us - turns us eastwards to
the “Sun of Righteousness” - in stone and
glass as we are inwardly reorientated by
coming together in word and sacrament
on our pilgrimage to enlightenment. The
worship within and the structure itself
can in both cases shape us. However, like
word and sacrament, we need to study it,
to know it. Here is a picture of Truro
Cathedral as you look east.
The west to east movement in most church buildings helps to remind us of our
focus as pilgrim people. Other shapes can also remind us of different stages of
faith, like cruciform ones, “weeping” chancels, the number of sides a font has,
acanthus leaves carved into stone pillars, metalwork budding into leaves and so
on. Our buildings can also help us in our explaining and spreading the faith. In
general those outside the faith do not really understand when we talk about
“doing church”. For most people “the church” is a building. That, it seems to me,
is the place to start, where most people are.
The Victorians understood this very well, that the church building expresses
meaning and feeling. We may disagree with a lot that they did, but their vision
was impressive. Sometimes our re-orderings haven’t properly understood the
rhythm of the building and can block sight lines, frustrating the orientation of
the building. St Oswald’s preserves this ideal sight line even though unusually it
is not strictly orientated on an east-west axis because of the limitations of the
building plot at the time. You still get the sense of pilgrimage though, from the
font at the “west” end pointing us onwards to the altar, in the “east”, and this
progression will be even clearer once our current internal improvements are
completed and the space around the baptistry is opened up again.
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When I was a Canon at Truro Cathedral, we had a link with University College
Falmouth and we were asked if we would like to have some undergraduate
students over for a morning’s visit. There was a stipulation. The lecturer for
some strange reason said that we were not to talk about “religion” to the
students!
We decided to accept the challenge and the students arrived. I simply asked
them to look at the shapes, the orientation of the building and the role of the
light in it. They did and used their own eyes and minds to think, to feel and they
were moved. Then of course, much to the lecturer’s chagrin they asked many
many questions, “Why was light important to Christians? Why was the building
a cross shape - a thing of violence? Why did cold stone pillars have carved
plants growing out of them?” And so on...
Those questions enabled us to open up the depths of the Gospel. A couple of
days later they produced a beautiful video of morning light coming into the
cathedral and also that light rising in different areas of Cornwall. They then
recorded the setting of the sun, the colours in the cathedral building and across
the county. They focussed on the west window at the end - a window
structured around the number 7 whereas the font and baptistery was
structured around the number 8. Do you know why? Maybe have another look
when you can at our building and have a look at how the numbers are used in
the Scriptures too.
The point is that our
buildings can shape, teach
and reorientate us at the
beginning of the week, the
first day of the week, the
Resurrection Day, as a
pilgrim people. (Christians
begin the week with vision,
not work). Our church
buildings can be, if we let
them, in their very language
and shape, a way of mission.
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The last image is of the 6th Century Church of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul. It was
converted to a mosque but you can see how important light was in the
experience of worship as the dome almost floated on light like an UFO!
The famous Church of England poet, George Herbert (who wrote “Teach me,
my God and King”) used this way of thinking in his collection of Poems, “The
Temple", and I quote some lines from one of his poems called Prayer - which
speaks of corporate as well as personal prayer:
Prayer the Church’s banquet...
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage...
The six-days world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune, which all things hear and fear...
Phil Lambert
Cartoon by Taffy Davies
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Taking to the Hills: Corona Walks
Joan and I have been taking our allowance of daily exercise early in the morning
to make social distancing easier on the narrower sections of footpath. We have
had such beautiful mornings that we have decided to continue the habit when
this is all over.
We have been walking in this area for so long that every landmark is attached
to a personal memory.
One morning we walked down from the house in Macclesfield onto the canal
towpath and followed it towards Bollington. In the next ten minutes we saw a
heron standing by the bank and a streak of blue which must have been a
kingfisher. After half a mile we turned right through a kissing gate and out of the
shadows into a warm sunlit field of sheep and lambs. We walked across the
fields and passed a building that we call the “Red Barn” because over twenty
years ago it had a rusty red corrugated iron roof. The roof has collapsed and
now there are trees growing in the barn floor.
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Another ten minutes and we passed the “Rabbit Field”; so called by us because
years ago hundreds of rabbits lived there. The rabbits are long gone but it is still
a lovely place with the hill on one side and views of Cheshire on the other. We
passed Lower Swanscoe Farm and followed the farm drive back to Kerridge
Road. Just before reaching the road we passed two ponds where we used,
many years ago to encourage our dog Grace to swim in order to clean her feet
before taking her home. We turned right and followed Well Lane and Rainow
Road back to the canal.
These beautiful places and the memories they contain are not heaven but they
do represent how we sometimes visualise it.
Richard Jones
Taking Time Out
“Are you going away this year?” Probably not!
At one time, all of Bollington (more or less) went away at the same time –
Bollington Wakes Week (the last week in July). All the mills in Bollington – and
shops as well – used to close as Bollington residents moved away to Blackpool,
Southport or Llandudno. No flying off to Greece or Ibiza in those days.
Strangely enough these lockdown days remind me very much of those times.
There is, of course, a worrying aspect to lockdown in that many locked-down
firms and shops may remain locked and empty.
But there has been a positive side as well. People have been looking after the
neighbours, and people have been making their own bread and cakes, making
dresses, and talking to friends and families – even able to see them on their
smartphones. Much to be thankful for, even in these worrying times which have
given us time to garden or read – or even time to just sit down and be quiet
(and maybe to pray).
Time to be still and take from our lives the strain and stress. Time to be still
and know that faith and hope and love are God’s gift to us all – if we can “Be
still and know” that God is still around!
Roy Arnold
Page 18
“Don't rush for the exit!”
From another Spiritual Tour Guide, Canon J. John
You’ve been stuck for hours on
some crowded plane but, at long
last, you reach your destination. As
motion stops, everybody around
you gets to their feet, grabs their
luggage and pushes out into the
aisle. You pick up your things and, as
politely as possible, push your way
into the queue as it heads to the
exit. You are suddenly struck by the uncomfortable feeling that, in your haste,
you may have left something behind. You look back to your seat only to realise
that you are now separated from it by at least six rugby players who are
muttering ‘Move on!’ It’s too late to go against the flow...
I am reminded of this experience as – very cautiously – it begins to look as if
we may be emerging from the long journey that has been the COVID lockdown.
There is a temptation to mentally ‘rush for the exit’; to put, without any thought,
the whole two months or so finally and completely behind us.
Haste can be a dangerous thing and let me suggest four things that we shouldn’t
forget.
First, we shouldn’t forget unfinished matters. During this period of confinement
or lockdown, from necessity, we all did some things briefly or badly. Some of
them may have been trivial: a temporary fix of the doorbell which fell off or the
light in the loo which wasn’t working. Some things, however, may have been
serious and must not be overlooked. So, there may be flowers to put on the
grave of someone whose funeral you could not attend. There may be a grieving
friend you need to sit with and comfort. There may even be apologies that you
need to make for some ill-tempered email or telephone call made in the stress
of the crisis. And however relieved we may be for ending confinement and being
able to ‘move on’, we all need to remember that for some people the loss and
pain they felt may make ‘moving on’ difficult.
Page 19
Second, we shouldn’t forget unfulfilled promises. It is a common characteristic
of human beings that under difficult circumstances we make promises, whether
to ourselves, to others or to God. In the days of confinement, I imagine many
people reviewed their life and made a promise to do something ‘when this is all
over’. Unfortunately, an equally common human characteristic is that, when the
restriction is removed, such promises get forgotten. So as we prepare to leave
lockdown, we need to remember any promises we made and consider them
carefully. Were they serious and sensible? If so, why not keep them? And if they
were promises made before God, then I would suggest it’s a very good reason
to keep them.
Third, we shouldn’t forget unacknowledged blessings. Yes, it’s been a bad few
months but for many people there were plus points. Bonds of fellowship grew
up with neighbours, digital skills were gained, books were read and parents had
time to talk to children. And, of course, if you have reached this far, it looks as
though you have survived. You may even have had a deeper sense of God’s
presence or learnt more about him or dug deeper into the Bible. Why not take
some moments to look back and give God thanks for the blessings you have
received?
Fourth, we shouldn’t forget unexpected lessons. One of the extraordinary
things about lockdown was how, without warning, we all found ourselves in this
strange situation. But I think all those who managed to stay close to God
through this time learnt something, whether about themselves, their family or
God himself. In this enforced separation from friends and colleagues, many
people found a time to spend with God that they hadn’t had before. Perhaps,
too, new values and new priorities were acquired. In the inevitable busyness of
the post-COVID world let’s not forget what we learnt in our enforced isolation.
Amid those urgent calls to ‘Move on!’ let’s not
be too hasty. Let’s pause for a moment before
we join the crowd pushing for the exit.
(Extracts from an article supplied by Helen Buchanan)
Page 20
“Local is back!” by Revd Peter Crumpler (St Albans diocese)
Odd things have been happening to my world in these past weeks of lockdown.
It’s got bigger. I’ve been speaking regularly via the web with friends in Australia
and the United States. Worshippers from Canada and South Africa are taking
part in our online church services. Other churches are telling the same stories,
with increasing numbers of people logging on.
It’s got smaller. Even with the relaxation of regulations, many people are still
working from home, home-schooling and mostly exercising within walking or
cycling distance from where they live.
It’s got faster. Arrangements for a funeral in my family were speeded up, with
registration and funeral planning carried out over the phone. A doctor’s
appointment by telephone significantly cut down waiting time.
It’s got slower. Shopping takes longer with queues that people would have
complained about before the lockdown. The shops have done a great job to keep
the shelves stocked and maintain social distancing.
I’ve been thinking about what the long-term impact of the Covid-19 lockdown
might be. One of the key outcomes is that local is back. For decades, we’ve been
hearing about globalization, and how the world is a much more connected place.
It is, and the internet has kept many vital businesses running these past weeks.
But we’ve also come to value what’s on our doorstep and in our local streets.
Neighbours have become more important. We’re valuing local shops, pubs and
restaurants, parks and open spaces. All the people working hard to keep local
services going.
Heathcote’s on Palmerston Street
in the Olden Days but it still looks
much the same!
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Christianity is now a major global religion, with billions of followers around the
world. But it began local. It began with Jesus Christ, travelling by foot, preaching
and healing around a small area of the middle east. From its local roots, the faith
spread around the world. Today, churches around the world are deeply rooted in
their local communities and are seeking to follow Christ’s example of love and
caring. Each of us is rooted into our family, into our key relationships and into
where we live. During this pandemic, each of these has grown in importance.
Parish Pump
A big “Thank you!”
We are very grateful for all who have continued to offer financial support,
especially in this time of lockdown. Particular thanks for the following donations
in memory of loved ones:
For General Church funds:
• In memory of Donald Ainsworth RIP from Jean, Judith and Roy.
• In memory of Elizabeth Riley from Ann and Edwin
• A gift from Margaret McKinley: in return for Family Research and for special
prayers offered by the Vicar at family graves in St John’s, Bollington and St
Mary’s, Bowdon
For the Kitchen Project, from:
• Joan Kendrick
• John Hydon
• Julie Downing (who said “It’s what I’ve saved in haircuts over Lockdown!”)
And a “thank you” message from Dr Lösel at the Bollington Medical Centre on
receipt of a card from St Oswald’s sent on our behalf by Hilary Young...
“It was good to know that we are all being thought about at this difficult time”.
Cheques for donations towards the upkeep of your church
or for the Kitchen Fund should be made payable to:
“The Anglican Parish of Bollington PCC”
Thank you!
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Passing the Hat Round
Towards the end of every church outing, I remember it was customary to “pass
the hat round” rather surreptitiously to collect a well-deserved tip for the coach
driver. This was meant as an extra thank you for the driver having conveyed a
motley crew safely to and from a day trip, skilfully managing not to lose any
passengers along the way, whilst also catering for frequent requests for loo stops
and patiently enduring the (perhaps less than delightful) community singing
wafting forward from the back of the bus on the long journey home.
This habit of “putting a little extra in the hat” has echoes of when we used to be
able to gather in church for services and the offertory basket was passed along
the rows of seats, as a way of collecting funds in thanksgiving to God for helping
to steer us in the right direction on our life’s journey and for enabling the church
to attend to our needs along the way. Of course we are deprived at the moment
of any chance of enjoying a day out on a crowded coach, let alone of gathering
together as a congregation in our beloved St Oswald’s building. But sadly the
regular bills, maintenance costs and allocated Parish Share we have to pay as a
local church have not gone away, even though we are staying at home! And
likewise we are unable to hold our normal fundraising events over the summer.
We are therefore asking all the members of our congregation to consider finding
an interim way of putting into a “virtual collection basket” those generous
donations you would normally have put into the offertory plate or the collection
box whilst worshipping at a Sunday service or for example gathering for a “tea
and cake” afternoon with a bring & buy or raffle. To make things easier, Richard
Raymond our Treasurer (01625 612025) and the Vicar (01625 422849) will be
very happy to make a suitably distanced doorstep call to any of you who would
welcome this, if you are unable to donate to our church online directly through
your bank. In that way we could safely collect from you either the stewardship
envelopes you would normally have brought with you to church, or any other
gifts in the form of cash or cheque which you would kindly like to donate in this
crisis time of COVID-19. Please do give us a call if this method of having a
gentle courtesy call from either of us (cap in hand!) would help you to join in
boosting our otherwise inevitably dwindling funds. Thank you and God bless you
for enabling us to continue keeping the “St Oswald’s Bus” on the road!
Veronica
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From the BOOK of REMEMBRANCE
JULY
3 Florence Stearn: died 2001
4 Hilda Kelly: born 1918: died 2003
5 Frank Johnstone Pimblott: died 1994
8 Mary Foster: born 1931: died 2017
10 Harry Ainsworth
13 Jane Margaret Sauer: died 1999
14 Samuel Victor Kershaw: died 1977
15 Donald Wilson: died 2001
17 Thomas Brocklehurst: died 1989
19 Charles Green: born 1919: died 1996
Les Lappin: born 1944: died 2007
21 Elsie Lea: died 1996
22 James Bennett: born 1903: died 1974
Olive Lane: born 1902: died 2004
Sylvia Brunt: died 2017
25 Sylvia Lily Thomas: died 2012
27 Annie Williamson: died 1981
29 Joseph Edward Pye: died 1925
Any names of departed loved ones can be recorded in our Book of Remembrance at
St Oswald’s, whether they lived in Bollington or not. An entry costs £10.
Please speak to Ann Stringer on 01625 574325.
Please consider becoming a “Friend of St Oswald’s”.
Visit our website “Giving” page: How to support us.
Any donations, large or small, will be very much appreciated!
www.stoswaldbollington.org.uk
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Bollington Church News...
is YOUR newsletter. It depends on YOU to send
in items of interest for inclusion on its pages!
Please send in stories, reflections, reports of
what’s happening, memories, pictures, prayers…
Even if it’s in note form, the editor will try and
knock it into shape!
E-mail to: [email protected]
Please send any material for the next edition by
15 July 2020
THANK YOU from the editorial team, on behalf
of the PCC.
The Light of the World
Being a long time fan of William
Holman-Hunt I've admired this
painting in Manchester Art
Gallery for many years, but more
recently, for me, it holds a special
significance in these perilous
times.
Elaine Houghton
Page 25
From our Parish Registers
Funerals held at Macclesfield Crematorium
24/04/20: Jillian Margaret Rowbotham
14/05/20: Sybil Mary Slater
26/05/20: Leonard Baggaley
27/05/20: Ann Rosemary Simon
28/05/20: Gillian Jones
29/05/20: John Brookes
Graveside service at Family grave in St John’s churchyard:
17/06/20 Susan Kimpton
(Sadly, the Vicar has also been advised of the recent deaths of two faithful
people who attended our monthly worship services at Mount Hall Care Home
– both members of the Methodist Church – Jean Masheder and Frank
Rathbone.) May they and all loved ones departed rest in peace and rise in glory.
Care for the Community
The Diocese of Chester, in line with the whole Church of England, has declared
that during the present COVID-19 crisis, as from the 23 March 2020, baptisms,
weddings or funeral services are not allowed to be held in church and no
services for interment of cremated remains can be held in our churchyard until
after the national lock-down is lifted. Our Vicar remains available to officiate at
shortened funeral services (although no hymn singing is allowed) at the
Crematorium or at burial services held at the graveside (only permitted where
there is space in an existing family grave in our churchyard): in either of these
cases, only a maximum of 10 mourners is allowed and they must strictly
observe the current social distancing advice.
Veronica will be pleased to discuss the possibility of holding fuller memorial
services in St Oswald’s at some future date, for the families of any loved ones
who may die during this difficult time and for whom a full service of celebration
and thanksgiving is not yet possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact either of the Churchwardens, the Vicar
Veronica or our Reader Anne Coomes for pastoral support as we all endure
this critical time of separation and isolation (see contact details on page 2)
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Please continue to
support our advertisers
if you can:
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Parish Pump
If you would like to set up a regular payment from your bank account to
support the work of our church, please tear off this page, fill in the form, and
send it directly to your bank.
BANKERS ORDER
To:…………………………………………………Bank plc
………………………………………………….
………………………………………………….
………………………………………………….
Name of account to be debited …………………………………………..
Account number Sort Code
Please pay to National Westminster Bank plc, Macclesfield Branch, PO Box 65, 2
Chestergate, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6BS
Sort code: 01-05-41 for the credit of The Anglican Parish of Bollington PCC
Account number 39536416
The sum of £……………. (figures)
…………………………………….. (words)
On the …………… day of ………………….. 20………… and a like sum
a) ANNUALLY on the …………… day of …………… in each following year*
b) QUARTERLY on the ……………. day of each subsequent third month*
c) MONTHLY on the ……………. day of each subsequent month*
until further notice
(* Delete as appropriate)
Signed: ………………………………..…………. Date: …………………
Print name: …………………………………………………………