Midweek Bulletin
MID-WEEK BULLETIN – Wednesday 30th October 2024
‘If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me …” even darkness is not dark to you… For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:11-14).
Phase 2 of the work on the Chancel ceiling: Our Architect’s colleague inspected the on-going work on the ceiling on Monday with our builder Paul and plasterer Mervyn. He will report to the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee) for their meeting next Tuesday. The Chancellor will then make his decision. Unfortunately, the Chancel will have scaffolding and remain sheeted off for Remembrance Sunday.
DIARY
Sunday 3rd November (4th before Advent)
9.45am: Zoom
11.00am: Holy Communion
12.30pm: Baptism of Rowan LOVE (Friars Gate)
6.30pm: All Souls Day Service (any names to be remembered can be sent by email)
Sunday 10th November (3rd before Advent)
10.55am: Remembrance Sunday Service, Withyham
12.30pm: Act of Remembrance, Blackham Lych Gate
Tuesday 12th November
11.30am: Funeral and burial of Marie STRANAGHAN, Blackham
Sunday 17th November
4.00pm: a ‘Service of Wholeness and Healing’ in the Lady Chapel, using C of E’s liturgy with recorded music but no singing.
Tuesday 19th November
7.30pm: PCC meeting, The Rectory
Saturday 23rd November
From 10.00am: Autumn Churchyard Working Party
The Kings Hall, Withyham
Next Friday Café: 8th November Next Parish Lunch: 23rd November
Tabletop Sale: This Saturday 25th October - 10.00am-1.00pm
Blackham Market: Village Hall – First Saturday in the month: 10.00am-12.30pm
For your PRAYERS
The Persecuted Church: Christians in EGYPT. Believers who have converted from Islam experience the most severe persecution, especially in the Upper Egypt region where Islamic hardliners are active especially in rural communities.
All those in particular need of our prayers: Theo BOYLE, John COLLINS (returned home yesterday), Janet FUNNELL (at home) & Janice YONGE.
The Bereaved: The family & friends of Arthur HARRIS (who died peacefully at home in the early hours of this morning) & Marie STRANAGHAN (ex-Blackham).
James
Notices
WITHYHAM CHURCH ESSENTIAL BUILDING WORK
PHASE TWO - OCTOBER 2024
In April, the ceiling tiles in the Nave (the main part of the Church) were re-fixed. However, it was discovered that although the ceiling above the Chancel (where the choir sit) looks similar from the ground, it is actually made of plasterwork and not wooden. Some repairs are necessary.
It will therefore be necessary to close the Church from Monday 30th September. The Nave will be protected from dust coming from the Chancel by plastic sheeting on a frame.
Sunday services will continue as normal, led from the Lady Chapel with accompaniment on a keyboard. It won’t be possible to hold funerals during this time. Because the plasterwork is being restored using traditional methods, the work is expected to take about a month.
Do let us know of any issues that arise.
Gilly Halcrow, Churchwarden & James Campbell, Rector
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PARISH REGISTERS - OCTOBER2024
FUNERAL
On 20th September, the interment of the ashes took place in Withyham Churchyard of Richard CARDEN who died on 10 th July aged 86.
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CHURCHWARDEN'S NOTES
October started with Phase II of the repair of the ceiling plaster work above the Chancel. The scaffolding went up and with a wooden frame with plastic sheeting to protect the rest of the Church from dust. Services continued in the Lady Chapel of the Church. The first Sunday was Holy Communion which went well and services since, continued successfully.
Unfortunately, mid-October the work on the ceiling had to stop. Although we felt that this is just repair work, the Diocese considered that we needed permission (a ‘Faculty’) to continue, as our Church is a Grade One Listed
Building. Completion of the work has been further delayed and so the scaffolding in the Chancel (Choir) with
its plastic sheeting will still be in place on Remembrance Sunday on 10th November. However, in other respects
the service will continue as normal.
We are grateful to our builder, Paul Lavington, and plasterer, Mervyn Holman, who have been very helpful and understanding, having discovered repairs undertaken 30-40 years ago were of a very poor quality. We are now having the ceiling repaired with the correct plaster, which also includes natural horsehair.
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ALL SAINTS CHURCH, BLACKHAM
All Saints Church, Blackham is open at weekends between Easter and Harvest, and for services.