Issue No Nov 2016 to Jan What goes up must come down.

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1 Issue No Nov 2016 to Jan 2017 Welcome to the 17th edition of the Newark and Southwell Deanery Newsletter. What goes up must come down Although sometimes it s hard to work out which way is up! As we come to the end of 2016, there seems to be no doubt that this will go down as an extraordinary year. Our vote to leave the European Union in the summer and the election of Donald Trump in the USA are the two most obvious examples. It seems like the graphics we see on the TV news have been all over the place! In the Deanery, we have not been immune from change either. It has been my privilege to join you as your new Area Dean, and we are delighted to welcome new clergy into the Deanery; Louise Holliday in Balderton, Mandy Cartwright in the East Trent group and Anna Alls as Growing Disciples priest in Ollerton and the surrounding area. We are also very aware of the challenges that the new Parish Share allocation formula is bringing to some parishes next year. Yet, as this year ends, we turn again to a familiar story. A baby born to a young mother in difficult circumstances, who became a refugee in Egypt, and then grew up and worked with people in an obscure part of the Roman empire, far away from the centres of power. He was executed for treason, though that wasn t the end of the story And people said this is God s way; that this is his actual word among us in flesh and blood. The one who was up has come down to be with us, not because he had to but because he chose to. Then, through the turmoil of all the centuries since, people have found this person has given their lives meaning and purpose and they still do today. This is the good news which it is both our duty and our joy to share in the communities where we are set. I know that there are many calls on our time in the life of our churches, but I believe we have an unrivalled opportunity to share this message as we commit ourselves to working together in 2017, to grow disciples younger, wider and deeper. As we do so, I understand that there is concern across the Deanery about the changes to Parish Share allocation in These changes were made after consultation at two Deanery Synods earlier in the year, so it has been a concern to find that for some parishes this has been a surprise. No system is perfect and when substantial changes are made it is good practice to review them. So, we are planning to hold an open meeting at some point early next year to look at this allocation process to see if modifications need to be made for If you would like to talk this through with me either individually or with your PCC directly then please get in touch with Louise Riley at the Deanery Office to make a time. With best wishes for a great Christmas and a happy new year in

2 Life up North in the Deanery There was a stand in joke at the last Deanery Synod which is rippling out further that I now have my own Archdeaconry with my own team, but in the beginning life was very different! Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Ollerton with Boughton has since the end of July, seen my oversight increase with the transitioning of 3 clusters of churches to a Family of 12 churches in the communities of Ollerton Village, New Ollerton, Boughton, Bilsthorpe, Earking, Egmanton, Kirton, Kneesall, Laxton with Moorhouse, Walesby, Wellow with Rufford!! I have been blessed to work with, to use the words of a colleague, the Dream Team! Janice Hannington, over the last 2 years, has trained for Reader ministry and we rejoiced with her as she was recently licensed as Reader. In recent months, the team has grown with the addition of Philip Howson as Curate, Heather Brown and Joan Wood as Readers and Margaret Groves as a Self-Supporting Priest. We await Anna Alls formally joining us in December as a Growing Disciple Priest. We are also exploring an appointment of a Children and Family Worker. The team of Readers and Clergy is also blessed with the support of 2 Recognised Lay Ministers: Andrea Ellis (Children s Ministry) and Pat Evans (Pastoral Care) and 3 Lite Leaders: Margaret Grey, Rachael and Mark Harrison-Bust. This is not negating the support of good churchwardens, retired and other ministers and the good ministry which is going on all the time some hidden to many but not to God! Life up North brings its joy and challenges. With change, comes challenge it is par for the course! We share a vision of enabling our 12 churches to increasingly become a Family: united in their diversity: honouring local churches in all their uniqueness and diversity but also looking beyond themselves for the sake of the other 11 churches. Part of this vision is enabling the Family to see that together we share more resources and will be better off for having come together as we seek to build God s Kingdom in the North of the Deanery. We have centralised some of the things we are doing and the ministerial team is committed to working across the 12 churches so that all the churches get to know the ministers and the team is enriched by working with each other in different pairings. Our churches are already commenting that they are enjoying having different ministers to lead the services. A particular highlight for me was bringing all our 12 churches together for one act of worship at the end of August. It was great to see around 75 people from across the family of churches worshipping together as one and then partaking in tea and cake from across the Family. One or two members asked when we are going to do this again! As you will imagine, there is diversity in abundance in our Family. Our Family consists of two ex-mining villages with adjoining and surrounding rural villages. We have a Shrine church at Egmanton, Laxton still follows the ancient tradition of allocating the fields to local farmers on an annual basis and Wellow hosts a Maypole, to name but a few unique features. There are 9 schools ranging from a Private school, Secondary Academy, Church schools and Community schools. Within the Family exists some of the most deprived communities which find themselves in the bottom 10% nationally for multiple deprivation. We have a diversity of worship styles from traditional BCP services to Messy Church! I could say more about diversity but I think you get the picture! As we embrace the Diocesan Vision for joining in God s transforming mission to the world and Growing Disciples: wider, younger, deeper, we consider crucial to all of this will be relationship building. Being where people are in our communities: building upon the good link with schools, exploring fresh expressions of Church; developing the partnerships with other organisations, building upon and creating new initiatives with occasional office follow up; being intentional in forming discussion groups across the Family and growing disciples where those gathered share a meal together and set the agenda for the discussion topics (We call this Hot Potato Discussions!). I wonder what ideas we might continue to come up with as a team as we pray together and consider what Growing Disciples: wider, younger, deeper might look like in our communities. As the team continues to come together and our family of churches increasingly become a Family, please pray for us that we might honour and please God in all that we do in Christ s name and in the power of the Holy Spirit that more people may come to know Jesus as their friend and Lord and Saviour. Blessings Zoe Burton NORWELL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2016 Saturday 10 December in St Laurence Church 2.15pm Displays, arrangements and entertainment on the theme 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL' Stalls and activities Seasonal refreshments

3 New Associate Priest joins the Riverside Group It has been really good to join the Riverside group as associate priest. September is a time of new beginnings. For me it is a new beginning and the start of something exciting and new. I have gone through quite a few changes in the last few months. My three years of curacy working with the Retford Area Team Ministry came to a conclusion with the Bishop signing me off in January, but I continued to work with them till the end of August. For the last year of my curacy I worked in a group of local villages. God very often asks you to do things before you know completely what the future holds. I put in my intention to retire from my full time job of teacher at Ratcliffe College where I taught Religious Studies and taught Dyslexics. Once this had happened negotiations started for my position of Associate Priest working with Mark Adams. I live at Sutton on Trent with my husband Jim Hadley so although I don t live within the parishes I am very local. I come from a farming family in Leicester and I am over joyed to be working in a rural setting. When I am not working as priest I am looking forward to supporting Jim in his business and I am hoping to change one of the farm buildings into an artist s print studio. To relax I love to garden, especially the kitchen garden, walking and reading. Between us Jim and I have five children and by various routes we have seven grandchildren. At this time of year especially in rural churches we think about the harvest being gathered in. Harvest is so different from when I was younger - it all took so much longer. Watching the steam thrashing at the Sutton festival made me think back to how labour intensive harvest used to be and how important team work was. It reminds me of how labour intensive it is being involved in the Christian Church and how important team work is, something Paul was well aware of as he wrote to the churches commending different people for their work and asking others to care for other workers. I look forward to leading, guiding and supporting the local churches and the area team in our respective ministries. A Plea for Photographs! Do you have any photographs of the Deanery (whether it be church pic/countryside/events that have happened) that we might use in our newsletters/publications? Please to Louise at nsdeaneryoffice@gmail.com Southwell Minster needs new Foundation Governor 2017 Deanery Synod Meetings: Wednesday 8th February 7.00 for 7.30 pm start Venue tbc Deanery Confirmation Service: Sunday 22nd October St Paulinus, Ollderton Rev Georgie Hadley Mrs Penny Peterson, the deanery s previous Lay Chair, stands down from her position as Foundation Governor at The Minster School. We are extremely grateful to her for her service and dedication. Thank you Penny! We are also looking for someone to tread in her shoes. If you are interested and would like to talk this through please do give me a call. Canon Mark Adams

4 A Reflection on Swanwick The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire is a lovely setting for conferences, especially when there is need for quiet contemplation and a lack of distraction at times. So it was to Swanwick I travelled for two back to back conferences at the beginning of October. The first conference of 130 delegates was for the National Deanery Network and the second was our own Diocesan Conference; three days each allowing me a complete morning of nothing being organised which was a luxury. So I held my own retreat sitting alone in the lounge reading a book about the Ashes victory in 2015; no phone ringing no facility on, no meetings and if anything this session was extremely helpful reminding me of the need to have times of stillness, quietness and reflection. The National Deanery Network conference is held every two years and is open to all deaneries in England for both lay and ordained leaders with some attendees holding other positions of interest within their particular deanery or diocese. The main theme of the conference was around the Reform and Renewal programme being titled More for Less. The Conference Bishop was the Rt. Rev Peter Hancock from Bath and Wells, who was last in the Area when he introduced our new Dean of Southwell Minster, Nicola Sullivan who was previously the Archdeacon of Bath. He was out spiritual guide as we listened to a variety of speakers and discussed their challenges to us. The main speakers were: Rt Revd Ric Thorpe (Bishop of Islington) who talked about church planting and growing new and existing congregations. Emma Buchan, from the Archbishop s Evangelism Task Group, talked about witness and evangelism especially with the Thy Kingdom Come movement and the 24/7 prayer initiative. Canon John Spence, Financial Chair of the Archbishops Council who talked to us about the place of deaneries in the new way money is being release from the Church Commissioners to develop strategies to increase disciples. John has an incredible grasp of detail and accuracy along with a very dry sense of humour all the more remarkable when you consider that he has been blind for many years, including time when he was head of Lloyds bank! Canon Roger Matthews, from the Chelmsford Diocese, who talked about reimagining ministry with a particular slant on regrouping churches in different sorts of teams or benefices. There were times for group discussions, questions and answers with the speakers, a couple of workshops (e.g. using and abusing social media) and socialising with delegates from all around the country. What was interesting was the common themes when meeting others, the desire to grow disciples and, of particular interest to us, how we look after the rural ministry. The next National Deanery Network conference will be between the 5 th and 7 th of October The Diocesan Conference had the theme Growing Disciples Wider, Younger and Deeper and I had experience of what the Bishop s initiative hopes to achieve immediately the conference started. I was sat by myself at the front of the main hall (I try to sit at the front so that I can see better, hear easily and make the speakers at the front feel wanted) and was joined by the Dean, Ven. Nicola Sullivan. The average of those at my table immediately dropped as I am older than the dean. We were deep in conversation when our table was filled by the Younger Leadership College dean and interns I rejoiced because the average of the table members plummeted to well below 40. The team from the college were inspirational as they explained what they were aiming to do in recruiting and training 1000 young leaders aged, between 15 and 30, within the diocese. The new college is part of the Bishop s plans for the future in growing disciples. There were four guest speakers who helped us to think about our response to achieving Growing disciples Wider, Younger, Deeper. Mark Tanner was at the time just ceasing to be the Warden of Cranmer Hall, the theological college at St John s College of the University of Durham and a week after the conference was consecrated Bishop of Berwick to work in the Diocese of Newcastle. He was the link throughout the conference with reflections on discipleship being A long obedience with all the difficulties involved and how to look beyond our own stumbling blocks. He considered the discipleship of David, Mary and Paul through his own experiences as a vicar in Doncaster, of those who had come to faith, of those who had shared their own coming to Jesus journeys. We had two contrasting addresses from two contrasting Bishops Bishop Ric Thorpe and Bishop Philip North. Bishop Ric spoke again about church planting and growing new congregations as he had done at the other conference. As a bishop he has a national responsibility for church planting so I was not surprised to hear a similar address, his passion and enthusiasm for his work is infectious but I pray he develops more ideas for the rural deaneries sooner rather than later. Bishop Philip is an Anglo -catholic cleric, part of the Forward in Faith group, and is very much engaged in the Reform and Renewal programme. His specific priority is to minister to the larger housing estates which have largely been forgotten by everyone in any form of authority and his challenge was very serious. The Church which abandons the poor abandons the Gospel was his theme. I have rarely heard a more passionate address from any priest; he had no hand outs, fancy presentations or gimmicks just the love of the poor and the Gospel pouring out of him. It was a privilege to hear him especially as

5 he had a wisdom of how to deploy ministry into the estates, in line with the Reform and Renewal Programme. The fourth keynote speaker was Amy Orr- Ewing who is a vicar s wife, a mother and works at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics in Oxford. Amy has spoken all over the world including the White House and the Middle East. For us her main themes were how to reach the Under 40s in their various age group categories and the Orr-Ewings move to the countryside to establish a church plant which now has a membership of over 500 which meets for worship in a circus big top tent! She was so inspirational and had me thinking as to where we could pitch a similar one in our deanery. There was time to converse and socialise with many clergy and lay persons in the diocese in social and discussion times, meal times and in the bar. Driving home from the two conferences I had time to reflect on the challenges facing us in the very near future Growing Food Hygiene Certificate Course Are you Interested? Rev Greg Price will be running another Food Hygiene Certificate Course on Sat 25 th February 2017, 9.30am pm at a venue in Tuxford. The cost will be a special price of 15 for everybody. A photo driving licence or passport will need to be brought for identification, and sandwiches for lunch. (Hot drinks will be provided). Anyone serving food/ drinks needs to hold this qualification. To apply please will you send a cheque payable to 'Tuxford PCC' for the required amount, together with your name and a contact number/ address plus a postal address to Hygiene Course, 30 Lincoln Road, Tuxford NG22 0HP. The closing date is the 17 th February 2017, but please note there are only 11 places!! Please will you send any queries to tuxfordbenefice@gmail.com There are only 11 places!! Disciples Wider Younger Deeper within the Reform and Renewal initiative. I am still reflecting because there is no easy answer but there is a willingness to be involved and a focus for prayer. To help me make some sense of the challenge, and this may help you, I am holding this quote from the conference: God s plans are not democratic, sensible or obvious Michael Wilson Sacrista Prebend Tuesday 8 th November 2016 Helpful Habits: Enabling Oneself and Others to Pray Sustaining a regular pattern of personal prayer can be difficult. This Quiet Day will provide a practical introduction and exploration of prayer, based on Graham Pigott s Grove Booklet, Helpful Habits: Exploring Personal Prayer. The Revd. Canon Graham Pigott is a retired Anglican priest who leads quiet days and retreats and accompanies others on their spiritual journeying. Art at Sacrista Prebend On Saturday 19th November 2016, the Revd Jean Lamb, a priest and artist living and working in Nottingham, will lead a Quiet Day at Sacrista Prebend Retreat House on the subject of 'New Art in our Cathedrals'. (This day was postponed from 2015.) Jean's mission statement is 'To enable others to see the glory of God in Creation through the eyes of Jesus and with the love of the Holy Spirit' and on this day Jean will help us to explore the wealth of new images displayed or embedded in the stones and glass of our medieval Monuments. Saturday 3 rd December 2016 Christians Reflecting Theologically Among Muslims: a study day This study day will reflect on how Christians living among Muslims have responded theologically to questions of prophethood, suffering and the triune nature of God. We will consider a number of examples from across the history of Christian-Muslim interaction and provide opportunity to think about implications for today. The Revd. Jacqueline Hoover, freelance instructor in Islamic studies and Teaching Affiliate at the University of Nottingham, and The Revd. Dr. Jon Hoover, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham will lead this day. All of our Quiet Days begin at 9.45am with coffee, and end at 3.30pm with tea and cake. Please bring your own sandwiches. For all enquiries and to book a place on any of the days, please contact Sacrista Prebend, 4 Westgate Southwell Notts NG25 0JH. Telephone , sacrista_prebend@btinternet.com

6 What s on in November Messy Minster November 2 nd 3.30pm 5.30pm in Trebeck Hall Friday Lunchtime in the Cathedral Mirabilé Friday 4 th November pm in the Minster Winter Craft Fair Saturday November 5 th 10am 4pm in the Minster, entry by 2 donation, under 16 s free. Festive & Crafty Christmas decorations Workshop as part of the above in the ABP small charge may apply 10 3pm The Friends of Southwell Cathedral An illustrated talk in the State Chamber of the ABP by Charlie Leggatt Forty Years on China in the final year of Chairman Mao Finger food and wine/ soft drinks from 6.15pm, talk at 7pm Remembrance Sunday 13 th November Music in the Great Hall with Jeremy Jepson (Counter Tenor) Sunday 13 th November at 7pm Friday Lunchtime in the Cathedral - Daytime Voices Friday 18 th November at 12.15pm in the Minster Southwell Choral Society: Mozart Requiem Saturday 19 th November at 7.30pm in the Minster What s on in December Lowes Wong Carol Concerts Tuesday 6 th December at 7pm, Wednesday 7 th 2pm and Wednesday 7pm Messy Minster Wednesday 7 th December at 3.30pm in Trebeck Hall Lord Lieutenant s Carol Service Friday 9 th December at 7pm in the Minster Holly Wreath Workshop, 25 each, booking essential tickets from the Cathedral shop. At the ABP Saturday 10 th December 10am 12.30pm Cantamus Girl s Choir Christmas Concert Saturday 10 th December at 7.30pm in the Minster Emergency Services Carol Service Tuesday 13 th December at 7.30pm in the Minster Carols for Everyone Saturday 17 th December at 7.30pm in the Minster (tickets required) Messiaen s LA Nativite Du Seigneur with Simon Hogan Sunday 18 th December at 6.30pm in the Minster Friday Lunchtime in the Cathedral Ceremony of carols (Minster Girl s Choir) Friday 9 th December at 12.15pm in the Minster Carols for Everyone Saturday 17 th December at 7.30pm in the Minster Minster Chorale: Handel s Messiah Monday 19 th December at 7.30pm in the Minster Cathedral Carol Services Friday 23 rd December at 7pm and Saturday 24 th December at 7pm Check out Southwell Minster s website for more information

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8 Serving Tuxford, Weston, Markham Clinton, Normanton on Trent & Marnham WESTON CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2016 Sat 10 th December 2016 For more information or call Gill Fendley on mob: Closing date: Thurs 3 rd Dec 2016 Serving Tuxford, Weston, Markham Clinton, Normanton on Trent & Marnham TUXFORD CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2016 Sun 4 th December 2016 For more information, stnicks7events@gmail.com. Closing date: Sat 26 th Nov 2016 TUXFORD BENEFICE - CAROL SERVICES 2016 Sun 11 th December, 5.00 pm Carol Service at Matthew s, Normanton-on-Trent Tues 13 th December 7.00 pm Carol Service at St Nicholas, Tuxford Thurs 15 th December 7.00pm Carol Service at All Saints, Weston Sun 18 th December 6.00pm Carol Service at All Saints, West Markham Wed 21 st December 6.30pm Christingle Service at St Wilfred s, Marnham

9 Special Advent & Christmas Services FARNSFIELD ST. MICHAEL Sunday 27 th November ADVENT SUNDAY: 6pm Advent Carol Service Sunday 11 th December Advent 2 : 4pm Christingle Service Tuesday 20 th December : 1.45pm Primary School Service Saturday 24 th December Christmas Eve : 4.00pm Blessing the Crib : 6.30pm Christmas Carol Service : 11.30pm First Mass of Christ Sunday 25 th December CHRISTMAS DAY : 10.30am Family Service with Holy Communion KIRKLINGTON ST. SWITHIN Sunday 27 th November ADVENT SUNDAY: 9.30am Family Care Toy Service Sunday 18 th December Advent 4 : 6pm Christmas Carols Saturday 24 th December Christmas Eve : 10.00pm First Mass of Christ MAPLEBECK ST. RADEGUND Sunday 11 th December Advent 3 Sunday 25 th December : 6pm Advent & Christmas Carols (SEE WINKBURN ST. JOHN) WINKBURN ST. JOHN Wednesday 14 th December : 6.30pm Advent & Christmas Carols Sunday 25 th December CHRISTMAS DAY : 9.30am Family Communion In The Deanery 30th. October The Archdeacon preaches at Kelham Church. 6th. November Bishop Paul preaches at South Muskham Church. 12th. November A race evening will be held at Rolleston Village Hall commencing at 6.30 pm. Tickets cost 10 each. The Churches of Farndon with Thorpe and Hawton with Cotham 12th November 7.30 pm Voices Concert, St Peter s, Farndon ******************* Saturday 26th November 2-5pm Hawton Christmas Fair Gifts/ Stalls/Raffle/Tombola/Produce/Cakes/Carols by Candleight/ Penny Trail ******************* pm Mince Pie Munch Tickets 2.50 to include a drink and cake or mince pie (from church members) ******************* Thursday 1 5th December Carols by Candelight at Hawton ******************* Sunday 18th December Christingle Service, Hawton ******************* Wednesday 21st December 6.30 pm Carols on the Green For more information visit out website at The Parish Church of St Giles, Balderton Advent Carol Service Sunday 27th November at 6.00 pm Gift Service Sunday 4th December at 9.30 am Parish Eucharist with Nativity Presentation Sunday 18th December at 9.30 am Carol Service Wednesday 21st December at 7.00 pm Christmas Eve: 3.00 pm Christingle pm Christmas Eve Eucharist Christmas Day: 8.00 am Holy Communion am Family Service Carol Service at All Saints, Barnby in the Willows Monday 12th December At 7.00 pm

10 The Newark and Southwell Circuit of the Methodist Church is seeking to appoint a CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WORKER in Newark and the surrounding area We are looking for someone who will work with local congregations to develop and grow our current engagement with children and families. Working across one church in Newark and two churches in the surrounding villages, the role includes: Seeking ways to help develop the Christian faith of the children and families who are already part of the churches Developing the existing links with church and community groups, including local schools Leading and supporting the existing volunteer teams of two Messy Churches. This is a part time appointment (10 hours per week), to be reviewed after 3 years, and includes occasional evenings and Sundays. We are offering a salary of 10 per hour plus expenses. An enhanced DBS is required and it is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a Christian. Further information, job description and application form can be obtained from: Rev. Philip Macdonald (Tel: , philipmacdonald@tiscali.co.uk) or Rev. Mark Roberts (Tel: , markroberts@cantab.net) or from the circuit website Applications must be received by midnight on Friday 18th November 2016 Interviews will take place in the week commencing 28 November Your Deanery Newsletter This is your newsletter. A way of communicating with each other. To make it successful we need to receive your offerings. The deadline for the next issue is 15th January (for the Feb to April issue). Please send in your entries to nsdeaneryoffice@gmail.com A national campaign to fund local homeless projects in England. Church Urban Fund are challenging youth organisations, community groups, churches, and individuals throughout England to sleep out this Advent, and help transform lives and communities across the country. By giving up a night of comfort that most of us are lucky enough to take for granted, this challenging experience brings home the daily reality of life for many homeless people in England. You could sleep out in a church or community hall, garage, or a garden shed! You could even spend the night in a local stable and reflect on the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph. For more information on The Advent Sleepout Challenge and how you can get involved check out our website!

11 Have you checked out the Church of England Portal System yet? A new faster and more accurate way to access the church database, parish buying, parish returns, a church near you, and more For more information contact Frazer McNish at the Diocesan office The following churches are in vacancy in our deanery at the moment. If you would like to support them by attending any of their services please contact the deanery office for more information on service times. Edingley, Halam, Newark St Leonards, Coddington, Christ Church Please hold them in your prayers. Newark & Southwell Deanery Leadership Team Area Dean: Revd Mark Adams Lay Chair; Mr Michael Wilson Treasurer: Vacant Deanery Administrator: Mrs Louise Riley Deanery Office: (Mon/Tues/Thurs ) The Vicarage, Norwell, Notts, NG23 6JT Tel: nsdeaneryoffice@gmail.com Newark & Southwell Deanery website pages can be found at about-us-2/deaneries/newark -and-southwell-deanerynewsletter/ Canon Tony Tucker will carry on all printing and communication services as Jubilate Communications. Please give him a call to discuss any requirements you have. Tel: On the diocesan website office@jubilatecic.co.uk To advertise your events or services please nsdeaneryoffice@ gmail.com Deanery Prayer Most merciful God, our creator and redeemer, in baptism you called us to be members, one of another as witnesses to your saving power. Grant that, united in your love, and confident in your promise to be with us always, we may be led by your Holy Spirit, to be your living body in this deanery, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Useful Contact Information The Right Reverend Paul Williams Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham bishop@southwell.anglican.org Revd Lucy Cleland, Chaplain to the Bishop chaplain@southwell.anglican.org Mr Nigel Spraggins, Chief Executive Ce@southwell.anglican.org Archdeacon David Picken Mrs Jo Padmore Executive Personal Assistant Jo Padmore (archdeaconspa@southwell.anglican.org) For Stats for Mission Returns and On-Line Data entries: Mr Fraser McNish fraser@southwell.anglican.org

12 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST RIDE AND STRIDE 2016 This year s Ride and Stride event, on September 10th, supporting Nottinghamshire s Historic Churches Trust started with rain which at times was possibly Biblical in proportion during the morning. I set off from Southwell Minster with hope and determination, as Readers were arriving for their special service and other visitors came to see the Cathedral. My target this time were the churches in the Newark and Southwell Deanery which are west of the A616, east of the A614 and north of the River Trent. From Southwell, I headed to Hockerton, crossing the A617 In a monsoon to Winkburn (St John of Jerusalem) followed by Mapplebeck (St Radegund) where the rain stopped for a few moments. Eakring (St Andrew), Bilsthorpe (St Margaret) and into Farnsfield (St Michael & All Angels) nearly saw me calling it a day as being wet was becoming uncomfortable. However, after a drink and a biscuit a circuit around Edingley (St Giles), Kirklington (St Swithin) appropriate but wrong month, and Halam (St Michael) saw rain stop, which was good as there was a wedding taking place. However as I left Halam before the bride had arrived the water from above dropped heavily again. The B6368 was wet and miserable before I arrived at Holy Trinity, Southwell. Hoveringham (St Michael) then back through Thurgarton to Bleasby (St Mary) where I met the first other cyclists of the day! The cycling was then easy along the Trent valley through Morton & Fiskerton (St Denis), Rolleston (Holy Trinity), Averham (St Michael & All Angels), Kelham (St Wilfred) ending this section at Upton (St Peter & St Paul). The last leg of returning to Southwell involved visiting Our Lady of Victories R.C. church, Southwell Methodist church and through the passage way to the Minster (Blessed Virgin Mary) but now dry and very relieved. Many thanks to the number of courteous drivers who passed me carefully; also to the many churches which provided refreshments as I signed in. I tried to leave a calling card in each church I visited and did take some photographs mainly when rain permitted. Hopefully someone will have noticed. As Lay Chair, I believe I have now not visited only 3 churches in the Deanery of Newark & Southwell. They are for the future! However the 20 churches visited in rain and sun were my target for 2016, so I thoroughly enjoyed a good shower and some liquid refreshment when I returned home. The decision to keep going on the planned Michael Wilson route was taken with some thought and as I Deanery Lay Chair. passed the Brakenhurst Campus, it was the right one to have made. Lunch was taken in Halloughton (St James) before an interesting search for the Priory Church of St Peter, Thurgarton. Drier roads and a glimpse of sunshine spurred me on to