T H E W I N D R U S H B E N E F I C E

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1 win T H E W I N D R U S H B E N E F I C E EMBRACING THE PARISHES OF ALDSWORTH * GREAT BARRINGTON * LITTLE BARRINGTON * SHERBORNE * WINDRUSH website: windrushbenefice.weebly.com Rector: Nick Fisher Providence House, High Street, Northleach, Gloucestershire GL54 3EU telephone: nick@5fishers.co.uk Administrator: Margaret Shaw, 39 Sherborne, Cheltenham GL54 3DH telephone: w.benefice@gmail.com (the Rector is always pleased to learn of anyone who might be helped by a visit at home or in hospital, or who would like to receive holy communion at home) NEWSLETTER for APRIL 2018 A very happy Easter to you! With Easter Day falling on the first day of the month, April 1, we cannot avoid feeling our spirits lift as we stand at the threshold of Spring (no matter that we may have to endure a traditional wet and miserable Bank Holiday Monday, the days are now obviously getting longer). For those who have conscientiously tried to prepare for Easter, there is the additional satisfaction of better understanding the enormity of Jesus s sacrifice for us on the Cross, and being more fully aware of an inspiration to live a less selfish and more selfgiving existence in the several different communities we are all members of. And, frankly, the result of a national leader not heeding Christ s encouragement to us to love your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself has been played out during Lent in Salisbury. On 4 March, an investigation began into the harrowing poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent of the former Russian military intelligence officer and British spy

2 Sergei Skripal and his daughter, and the proven Soviet responsibility for this cruelty have shown evil being practised at the highest level. In helping us to come to terms with this evil, and determine our response, Paula Gooder in our Lent book this year made the valuable point that in St. Luke s description of Jesus withstanding the three tests the devil set him during his forty days in the wilderness, the devil then departed from him until an opportune time. And as we know, Jesus was severely tested during his Passion and crucifixion. Evil, we are thus reminded, is very much part of life, our lives, in fact, but equally Easter assures us through the example of Jesus that evil will ultimately be overcome (and perhaps in the international response to the Salisbury tragedy we can see the beginnings of an example of that). Essentially, each of us has a responsibility to reject evil wherever we encounter it. That requires a reaction from us that is neither timid nor vengeful; but we can be assured, as Jesus was, that if out of love for God and for our neighbour we work for a better, fairer and more just world, we will be granted the resources necessary for us to achieve that task. With every blessing for a joyful Eastertide, Nick. Rated good by Ofsted Small classes, exceptional staff, a unique rural environment the perfect start for any child Headteacher, John Moore For details, please contact him on

3 Windrush Church BENEFICE JOTTINGS Having been unavailable for services since the early summer last year, normal service(s) was (were) resumed on Palm Sunday, after expenditure of over 145,000 on replacing the nave floor, creating a new baptistery, updating the heating, and splashing nine coats of limewash on the nave walls. The procession with palms wove around the baptistery, out of the north door to the new rail placed by the entrance to the churchyard (which was blessed and much admired) and back into the church by the south door. The village can be extremely proud of having raised 42,000 for the Appeal, which also attracted a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of 52,500 and significant support from Gloucestershire Environmental trust, Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust, the Diocese of Gloucester Mission Trust, Little Barrington Charity, Garfield Weston Foundation, the Langtree Trust and the Jill Franklin Charitable Trust. Particular thanks are owed to Martyn Ifould for his persuasive applications to these sources of assistance, and also not only to the churchwardens and the PCC for their stamina and to Joanna McKerlie for overseeing so many enterprising fundraising events, but above all to everyone in the village (including those major donors who have wished to remain anonymous) who have so loyally supported the Appeal in a variety of different ways. Everyone please award yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back! Thank you so much. While there are still some minor snagging matters still to be completed, the church looks magnificent, and preparations are underway for a suitable celebration (or series of celebrations) in June to mark the success of the Appeal details will be publicised next month. Annual Parish meetings This year there will be some extra excitement as two new churchwardens will be elected at Sherborne and one at Windrush, the current wardens standing down after five years. Do come and witness local history being made! Aldsworth, Thursday 19 April, 7.30pm, Aldsworth Village Hall Little Barrington, Friday 20 April, 7pm, Reading Room Sherborne: Tuesday 17 April, 6pm, Sherborne Social Club Windrush: Saturday 14 April, 10am, Windrush Village Hall

4 Photo: Andrew McKerlie Overview of the repairs to the floor of St. Peter s, Windrush: before, during and after

5 Michael Pocknell and Charlie Neil put the choir stalls back in place, the north door is open again, the baptistery is ready for business, and Adrian Mustoe makes a final check of the attractive new railing by the churchyard entrance that he and David Hall have made and fixed.

6 Please join us for A Quiz, Supper and Some Fun Friday 13 April 2018, 7.30pm, Reading Room, Little Barrington 15 per person includes quiz fee, supper and glass of wine *Prize for the winning team! * Raffle!! In October, Beth and Jacky are helping to build a classroom in Rwanda, as part of ActionAid s work to eradicate poverty through better access to education. All proceeds from this evening will go to ActionAid. Please buy your tickets in advance from Beth: bethtarpey@tarpeyclark.com or Jacky: jackyking@btinternet.com Gardening tips for April by Alan Abraham Plant out sweet peas, gladioli and broad beans. Prune forsythia after flowering. Sow sweet corn, runner beans, courgettes mid-april. Spray fruit trees with a good fungicide against scab, spray apples, pears, gooseberries etc. with pesticide to tackle sawfly. Two soil-borne nasties are the chafer grub and cut worms both eat the roots at soil level and stem bases of most plants in the vegetable garden. They are easily spotted when forking or planting destroy, birds love them. But above all, enjoy yourself!

7 CHURCH SERVICES Sunday 1 April (Easter Sunday) 147, 150, 152, am Holy Communion Sherborne 11.15am Eucharist Aldsworth Sunday 8 April (Easter 2) 136 (om. 2,4), 145, 150, am Eucharist Windrush 10.45am Matins Little Barrington Sunday 15 April (Easter 3) 160, 175 (om. 2), 277 (om. 3), 612 (om. 5,6) 9.45 am Matins Sherborne 11.15am Eucharist Aldsworth Sunday 22 April (Easter 4) 401 (om.4), 371 (om. 2, 4), 483 (om. 2), am Morning Praise Windrush 10.45am Holy Communion (1662) Little Barrington Sunday 29 April (Easter 5) 290, 389 (om. 3), 442, am Benefice Holy Communion Great Barrington Sunday 6 May (Easter 6) 555, 497, 175, am May Merrie Sherborne 11.15am Eucharist Aldsworth Ascension Day, Thursday 10 May 171, 165 (om. 2,3,4), 379, pm Benefice Eucharist Great Barrington Sunday 13 May (Easter 7) 586 (1,2,10 only), 283 (om. 2,4), 278, am Morning Praise Windrush (om. 2,3) 10.45am Holy Communion (1662) Little Barrington Sunday 20 May (Pentecost) 175, 183, 383, am Holy Communion Sherborne 11.15am Morning worship Aldsworth Sunday 27 May (Trinity Sunday) 202, 200, 206, am Eucharist Windrush 10.45am Holy Communion (1662) Little Barrington Sunday 3 June (Trinity 1) 546 (om. 3,4), 286, 375 (om. 6), 430 (om. 3,5) 9.45am Matins Sherborne am Eucharist Aldsworth

8 EVENTS IN APRIL The Benefice s website is windrushbenefice.weebly.com and is now being maintained by Steven White. We are most grateful to him for taking on this responsibility. His contact is: drsteven.white@gmail.com. Tuesday, 3 April, 9.30am (and every Tuesday) Pilates at Windrush Village Hall. Info from Lucy, Wednesday, 4 April, 7.30pm The Landscape Legacy of the Normans talk by Alan Pilbeam. Northleach Historical Society, Westwoods Centre, Northleach. Members free, visitors 3. Saturday, 7 April, 10.30am 2.30pm Coffee and Cake meeting to which is invited anyone interested in becoming a Friend to support Kate s Home Nursing fundraising committee. Meet in café at George Moore Community Centre, Bourton-on-the-Water. Saturday, 7 April Live Music Night at Sherborne Social Club Sunday, 8 April, 2.30pm Sunday roast + pudding, 10 at Sherborne Social Club Sunday, 22 April, 9am 12.30pm Farmers Market, Countrywide Stores, Bourton-on-the-Water. Fresh, high quality food direct from local farmers and small producers. Expect to find seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat, free-range eggs, preserves, cakes, cheeses, fruit juice and more... Wednesday, 25 April, 6.30pm Cotswold School concert in Sherborne Church. Entry free. Saturday, 28 April, 7.30pm Windrush Film Night Paddington 2 (2017), starring High Bonneville, Hugh Grant and Julie Walters. Film starts 7.30pm. tickets 3.50 on door. FUTURE EVENTS Sunday, 6 May Bank Holiday BBQ and Aunt Sally Knockout, Sherborne Social Club Saturday, 7 July Presentation, Pigroast & Fete, Windrush Camp Saturday, 21 July Windrush Valley Flower Show and Fête, Great Barrington. Please send to Margaret Shaw by the fifteenth of the current month any items or photographs for inclusion in next month s issue.