ASHBURY COMPTON LONGCOT FERNHAM NEWSLETTER JULY St Swithun s

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1 ASHBURY COMPTON LONGCOT FERNHAM NEWSLETTER JULY 2016 St Swithun s

2 The new Bishop of Oxford Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft. Bishop Steven, who is 58, is currently Bishop of Sheffield, a role he has held since He serves on the Archbishop s Council and Chairs the Ministry Council of the Church of England. He has been a member of the House of Lords since He has a passion for mission and evangelism and for finding creative ways of sharing the Gospel. He is the co-author of the Emmaus and Pilgrim courses, both of which are resources to help people engage with the Christian faith. The Oxford Diocese is one of the largest and most complex in the Church of England, stretching from Milton Keynes in the north to Newbury in the south; from the Cotswolds in the west to Slough in the east. The Diocese has a population of 2.3 million people, more than 800 churches and almost 600 parochial clergy. It also includes 12 secondary and 270 primary church schools. Bishop Steven has personal connections with Oxford: he is a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford, and met and married his wife Ann in the city. The family lived in Oxford from 2004 until 2009 when Bishop Steven was leading Fresh Expressions, an initiative aimed at encouraging new forms of church for the 21st century Speaking about his appointment, Bishop Steven said: I am looking forward enormously to a new challenge and new responsibility in the Diocese of Oxford and to working with the senior team and many others to serve the local communities and to build up the life of the Church. There are many signs of God s grace at work across the Diocese and immense potential for the future. I would ask for the prayers of the Diocese in the coming weeks and months for all that lies ahead. He outlined his three priorities for ministry as the Bishop of Oxford: children and young people, serving the poorest in our communities, and encouraging lay discipleship. The Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy, said: The Cathedral very much looks forward to welcoming Bishop Steven to Oxford, and to the wider diocese. Bishop Steven comes with a wealth of experience in ministry, mission and in theological education, and the diocese will welcome the many gifts that he will bring to our work across the cities, communities and counties of the diocese. The diocese like its cathedral is both complex and unique, and we look forward to the distinctive gifts that Bishop Steven will bring to us in our shared vocation. Bishop Steven will be enthroned on Friday 30th September at Christchurch Cathedral Oxford. There will be a special service at Dorchester Abbey later in the year for this 2

3 area to welcome him and he will be visiting the Vale of the White Horse Deanery in due course. [Taken from Oxford Diocesan Press Release] Richard Hancock Shrivenham & Ashbury Benefice Services in July Sunday 3 rd July 7.45am Holy Communion (BCP) Shrivenham 9.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Patronal Watchfield Festival 9.00am Holy Communion Fernham 10.15am Family Service with Baptism Shrivenham 11.00am Morning Worship Ashbury 3.00pm Joint Service Longcot 6.30pm Compline and Benediction Shrivenham Sunday 10 th July 9.00am Matins Watchfield 10.15am Parish Communion Choir Sunday Shrivenham 10.30am Patronal Festival St Swithun Holy Communion Compton Sunday 17 th July 7.45am Holy Communion (BCP) Shrivenham 9.00am Matins Watchfield 9.00am Holy Communion Fernham 10.15am Parish Communion Shrivenham 11.00am Family Service Ashbury 6.00pm Evening Worship Longcot Sunday 24 th July 9.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Watchfield 9.00am Matins Compton 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) Longcot 10.15am Parish Communion Shrivenham 11.00am Holy Communion Ashbury 6.00pm Evening Worship Fernham Sunday 31 st July 10.30am Benefice Service Holy Communion Fernham 3

4 The Ashbury prayer cycle for July will be: 3 rd Kingstone Winslow, 10 th Malthouse Close,17 th Odstone Farm and Cottages, 24 th Pound Piece, 31 st Chapel Lane. See Ashbury also under Benefice News Ashbury Evangelical Free Church Sunday 3 rd 10.15pm Communion Wednesday 6 th 2.15pm Tea and chat Tear Fund bring and buy Sunday.10 th 10.15am Communion Sunday 17 th 10.15am Communion Sunday 24 th 10.15am Communion and Village show celebration (at St Mary s) 11.00am Sunday 31 st am Communion Tea and Chat, all welcome, free. Ashbury News THE QUEEN S 90th BIRTHDAY STREET PARTY Thank you to everyone who helped to make Sunday 12th June a real village party. Whether you donated cakes, ran stalls, helped to set up and put everything away, or came along to enjoy the event about 300 people contributed to making the afternoon a success. Chapel Lane was closed for the occasion and down the centre was a long row of Union Jack decorated tables loaded with plates of cakes with free cups of tea available all afternoon. The monthly market run by the pre-school continued in the hall where there was also a huge display of royal memorabilia. There were several stalls along Chapel Lane run by our local organisations to raise funds, including two local children raising funds for special school trips. Below the tables was a gazebo area of games and stalls which kept the children amused. Ice creams, soft drinks, BBQ and bar provided extra refreshments. 4

5 Stewart Smith compered the whole afternoon in his inimitable way! The church bells were rung at the start of the afternoon after which about 20 people took the opportunity to go up the church tower. The Royal party arrived at 2.30 to circulate around the stalls, pose for photographs and cut the Birthday Cake. The afternoon ended with a Songs of Praise at the bottom of Chapel Lane attended by about 30 people. Altogether the stalls raised a total of about 800. The Vale of White Horse District Council provided a grant which contributed towards the cost of running the event. The organisers would especially like to thank all those who helped to make the event possible and where lots of newer village members could join in with the older residents - the sun coming out was just the cream on the cake! AVAILABLE: Four small desk style tables - Size approximately 4 x 2 FOR A DONATION TO ASHBURY VILLAGE HALL Contact: Maggie Simons Ashbury Community Club (formerly Senior Citizens) Tuesday July 19th join us for an afternoon trip on a horse drawn barge along the Kennet and Avon canal from Kintbury. If you are interested please contact Sue Reade (710208) asap so we can book places. Longcot and Fernham News Longcot Churches working together-chapel News SUN. 3rd, 3pm Our monthly service, to which everyone is welcome, will be led by Revd Richard Hancock. Tea and biscuits will be served after the service. FRI 22nd, 2pm Due to a variety of reasons Friday Fellowship will be meeting a week earlier than usual and we shall be enjoying a time of fellowship over tea in Stella's garden in Shrivenham. Please contact Stella on if you'd like to join us. SAT 23rd10.15am - Our monthly Coffee Morning at the Chapel will also be a week early and will be in aid of 'Perennial' (formerly The Gardeners Benevolent Fund). Do come and join us for a chat over tea/coffee and biscuits and choose a home made cake to take away with you. 5

6 Longcot Booklet on May Hughes There are a few copies of the May Hughes story still available produced as part of the May flower festival. This is the story of an extraordinary Victorian woman whose influence and work with the poor in London became legendary. As a young woman May Hughes, daughter of Thomas Hughes of Uffington, lived in Longcot as housekeeper to her uncle the vicar John Hughes. When he died in 1895 he left the major part of his estate to his niece, including several cottages in the village. May moved to London and became a well known social reformer but kept her property and connections with Longcot all her life, bringing sick and destitute children to the village for recuperation and education. If you would like a copy please contact me. Donations are going to St Mary's Church Longcot funds. Shirley Dalton-Morris Tel: e: hirsleyvillage@mybtinternet.com Fernham News Fernham & Shellingford WI The July meeting takes place in Fernham Church Hall on Wednesday 20th at 7pm. This is our Summer Social with a quiz, music, wine and nibbles and weather permitting a picnic. Any enquiries to Joan Turner or Elli Wickham ' Breakfast Groups, open to all Benefice News Men s breakfast: in the Ashbury Village Hall on Saturday 2 July. Everyone is welcome, the conversation is great and the English breakfast is free we just ask for a donation if you can. Please call Norma (710055) if you would like to come. Breakfast Bible Study: this monthly discussion group will meet again at 8am on Saturday 30 July at St Mary s House. Again, all are welcome to chat about anything and everything over a cup of coffee and a simple breakfast. Just call Norma on to confirm. 6

7 Recorders at Ashdown House Stella Tidmarsh s recorder group will be playing at Ashdown House at 2pm on Saturday 2 July and Wednesday 6 July. Songs of Praise to celebrate Ashbury s Village Show Sunday 24 July at 11am, followed by Communion for those who wish. Prayer for a summer s day Lord, help me to rest awhile in the cooling shade of your presence. Slow down my restless heart and fill me with gentle compassion for all your people. Amen. Faringdon Singers Concert A variety of music for a summer s evening in the village hall, Sunday 10 July. Includes Purcell s Come ye sons of art and a selection of part-songs from the 16th -20th century, with a chance to join in so come prepared to sing. More details to follow. Norma Faringdon Singers Summer Concert in Ashbury Village Hall on Sunday 10th July at 7.30pm Programme to include: Purcell s Come ye Sons of Art, Part songs, Readings and instrumental pieces Songs for all to join in Conductor: Terence Carter 7

8 Accompanists: John Ridgway Piano Katherine Bowen Flute Tickets 5.00 to include a drink and light nibbles Proceeds to Ashbury Village Hall and St Mary s Church Tickets and further information from: Maggie Simons Richard Fergusson Country Matters..is taking a break this month. Benefice Clergy Vicar NSM Rev Richard Hancock Revd Norma Fergusson (Except Monday and Friday) Newsletter entries for August 2016 Submit your entries for August by 15 th July to: M. Turner Claremont, Ashbury SN6 8LN. marionlturner@me.com Website 8