Stay and Play meet on Fridays from 10 – 11.15 in the church. During each session there is an opportunity for children to play and do craft activities, while their parents share a hot drink and a chat. Children then have a snack together before a bible-based story and some songs. All parents and carers are welcome whether from Goathurst or the surrounding villages.Kid’s night meets on a Friday night monthly in the village hall. There are games, crafts and activities for children, plus a light snack (burgers, pizza). Again, we welcome accompanied children from Goathurst and surrounding villages.For more details of either of these groups please contact Brenda Smith on 07790 825207.
St Edward’s Workdays - Spring and AutumnThe labourers are few but work willingly and are drawn from the wider community. We are so lucky to have the support of the community to keep our churchyard well maintained and looking beautiful. Each Spring and Autumn we have a day set aside to work on specific areas of the churchyard. Refreshments are provided and are most welcome!
The issue:The ‘heart’ has stopped beating and we villagers don’t know when it’s time to stop working and have a cuppa! Much of it is still in good condition but mainly lack of lubrication has led to it stopping. It needs dismantling, repairing, cleaning, lubricating, and putting back together.The History: the clock was a gift from Sir Charles Kemys-Tynte of Halswell House. It dates from 1734 and is by John Hunt, clockmaker of Bridgwater.Any clock of this age and provenance should score highly in any significance scale. Few church clocks survive from before this date. The clock was the first to include ‘Bridgwater Crossings’ (a type of wheel spoke) and a first to use cast brass wheels. The good news: The PCC has obtained the appropriate permissions for the repair work to go ahead. Work was scheduled to start in November 2022, with completion expected in February 2023. The overall cost was due to be £3450 and we have received grants from Churchcare/Pilgrim Trust for £1500, plus £1000 from the Leche Trust. Thank you to all those who attended a Cream Teas Fundraiser on a very hot afternoon in August 2024, and to all who gave donations towards the clock fund. £275 was raised and the chance to sit and chat in lovely surroundings was much enjoyed.(Thanks have already been expressed to all those who ‘laboured’ to make it possible.)To update you on the situation with the clock: the chosen horologist expected to complete the repairs by March 2023 and then by March 2024, by which time he already had the mechanism. Sadly, ill health intervened and he was unable to fulfil the contract and Cumbria Clocks (who work on Big Ben) have agreed to step in as per their original quotation which was £2,120 more expensive! The PCC had obtained grants to cover the original quotation, but now still have a shortfall of £1,855 to find by November when the clock should be back in situ. If you would like to contribute towards the cost the bank details are:Goathurst PCC; Account number 87313367; sort code: 60-03-27, please use the reference CLK with your surname.Many thanks, Goathurst PCC
