Christmas Carol Concert 16th December 2022All Saints Church provided a stunning setting for the Carol Concert. Greeted by pealing church bells, twinkling lights and a beautifully decorated church bathed in flickering candlelight, a 100+ congregation packed the church. Shirland Welfare Brass Band created a magical Christmas atmosphere with a mix of traditional Carol’s, instrumental solos and more popular music. Our thanks to Lynden Cooper (MD of Shirland Welfare Brass Band) for his conducting and humorous encouragement which soon had everyone taking part. The interval saw the congregation enjoying a glass of wine and a mince pie whilst the raffle was drawn. The hugely successful evening received many favourable comments from an appreciative audience, with several requests for the event to be repeated next year. Thanks to Dennis Holmes for his suggestion to hold the Christmas Carol Concert with our local brass band and for organising it so well. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the evening such a special community event. It certainly felt a lot like Christmas.
Our annual Christmas Fayre took place in our Church Hall on Saturday 26th November, with a good attendance from the village browsing our tombola, bric a brac and jam & cake stalls, with special contributions from Baby Play with a stall for mothers and their children.<br>South Wingfield History Group came along with a selection of photos of the church in times of recent and further past, and interesting articles on Rev Harry Watts, and the Lych Gate and Wingfield Station. Old photos of the church and churchyard would be welcomed by the group for their collection, if you have any ( which will be copied and returned) see Carol & Geoff Brown.<br>We were graced with an appearance from the man of the Season, dressed in his usual Red suit.Our fair team(!) did a super job of setting up, and providing the refreshments - soup & rolls and a selection of puddings. Thanks go to everyone who gave their time and effort into making our Fayre a successful event.<br>Our Raffle raised over £200, with the star prize of a hamper won by Ann Turner, and 30 other prizes collected gratefully by those others present. Our best wishes and congratulations go to Ann for her wedding on Wednesday.<br>We are very grateful to all those who gave contributions to the stalls, especially for the jams, chutneys and curds, and offered their time and efforts for the day.<br>With the raffle, stalls, lunches and a few donations on the day, we managed to raise just over £900, which will go towards the upkeep of the church.<br>We hope to see you all at our Christmas services and our Carol Concert on the 16th December at the Church at 7:30pm - see our other notice for more details.
Our Vicar Ian Whitehead will now retire on 17th January 2023, the full notice is:"The Revd Ian Whitehead, Priest in Charge of Crich & South Wingfield, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Mr Whitehead’s last day in post will be 17th January 2023, with his retirement taking effect from 18th January 2023."For the time being our service pattern will continue as present, with Rev Jim Gray and Rev Harold Dobbin continuing to take a communion service on the first and third Sundays and with morning prayer on the remaining Sundays at 11.00am.Diana & I have a meeting with Archdeacon Karen Hamblin this coming week, and we will endeavour to keep you informed of further developments that affect All Saints.This is a sad announcement to have to make, especially as Ian and Christine were very much enjoying their time with us, but is expected due to Ian’s poor health. We all, I’m sure, wish them all the best with whatever they will go on to do now, and our prayers should go with them. I am hopeful that Ian & Christine can join with us before retirement, but Ian may not be able to take our worship again. Mark Irving & Diana Marshall, Church Wardens, 20 Nov 2022.
We continue to work at keeping each other safe from illness:· If you are unwell or show signs of a cold/flu you may wish to consider this effect on others before services, especially as you may be among people who are elderly or infirm and who may not have been vaccinated (due to their condition).· Wearing of masks is optional now but advised if you feel vulnerable· Hand sanitising is advised, and social distancing practised for any who feel vulnerable· The clergy who lead our Communion services will give us clear guidance about how we will receive our Communion, which may still be with bread only.
