Dorothy Lay Churchwarden of Claydon & Barham for two years until she retired with ill health in March 2020 passed away in St Elizabeth Hospice on 20th Jannuary 2021, The funeral will take place on 12th February at Coddenham Church where she worshipped for many years with her late husband, David. Sadly attendance at the Church and the Crematorium will be strictly limited due to the Covid-19 restrictions. This news follows hard on the heels of the sad loss of Caroline Seager, Churchwarden of our sister parish of Great Blakenham and at a time when the benefice still has a vacancy for Parish PriestRev'd Cathy made the following announcement"It is with the very greatest sadness that I inform you that Dorothy Lay, former Church Warden for Barham Church, and friend across this Benefice, passed away, very peacefully last night, Wednesday 20 January, with her daughter Nyree beside her. Dorothy was a lady of great loyalty and integrity, and served her church and this benefice with commitment and devotion. Whilst she had stepped down as Church Warden due to the need to start medical treatment, she remained interested in all that was going on, and cared very much about the future of our benefice. As her light has gone out on earth, we know it will shine brightly in heaven"the following notice has been published in the East Anglian Daily Times"DOROTHY MAY LAY Peacefully at St Elizabeth Hospice on January 20th, 2021. Beloved wife of the late David, mother of Peter and Nyree, grandma of Gemma and Shaun, great grandma of Marshall, special friend of so many. Funeral service to take place on Friday, February 12th, 2021 at St Mary's Church, Coddenham at 11.00 a.m. followed by private cremation. No flowers please, donations if desired to St Elizabeth Hospice, may be sent c/o L. Fulcher Funeral Service, 58 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1AD."
Assuming that we stay under the same tier 2 restrictions in the run up to Christmas we have the following plansWednesday 16th December at 6pm - Singing on your Doorstep with Radion Suffolk. Sunday 20th 3pm - 30 minute Carol Service in Barham Churchyard please book via Eventbrite and wrap up warm. For more information and to book/register please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-carol-service-in-barham-churchyard-tickets-132439182159Christmas Eve 3pm - 30 minute Family Service of Light in Barham Churchyard please book via Eventbrite and wrap up warm. For more information and to book/register please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-christmas-eve-service-of-light-in-barham-churchyard-tickets-132597425469Christmas Eve 11.30pm - Midnight Mass in Barham Church - Booking essential as numbers strictly limited to maintain 2 metre separation between households. Please ring Jonathan on 01473 830890 to check availability and bookChristmas Day 9am - Christmas Family Worship on Zoom - If you would like to join us for any of our Zoom services and you are not already on the mailing list please contact Wendy Hooper on wendydhooper@gmail.com.Sunday 27th December 10am - Holy Communion (said) at Barham Church
We have had some lovely feedback from those who came to the Christmas Experience last weekend. Santa saw over 60 excited children in his excellent grotto and there were over 100 cribs of all sorts and sizes for everyone to view in the Church whilst sipping their mulled wine and listening to carols. We managed to fit in a few stalls as well. Everyone seems to have enjoyed their visit despite all the rules we had to put in place to be Covid secure. Although fundraising was very much an afterthought in planning this event, in the end it made an amazing £1450+ profit which will go towards reducing the large deficit which we are facing this year as a result of the pandemic We would like to thank the team of helpers who worked so hard during the week and the weekend in very difficult circumstances to ensure this event happened and happened safely We are very appreciative of all those from across the benefice and beyond who lent us their cribs for the display and of all those who made cakes and pickles for sale. We should also thank Paul Corbett, the bell foundary workers and the Suffolk Guild volunteers for their patience and cooperation as we were setting up whilst half the Church was basically their building siteDraw Result - The draw took place on Facebook Live last Sunday evening at the end of the weekend using an electronic random number machine. For those who missed it or couldn’t hear it all (sorry about the volume) these are the prizes and winners:- £50 - Samantha Hallatt; Scalextric set donated by Chassis Cabs - Liz Stone; £30 voucher donated by Claydon Hair - Steph Brand; £30 meal voucher donated by Sorrel Horse - Liz Stone; Bottle of Whisky - Ann Stephen’s; Tub of Chocolates - Steph Brand; Wine & Glasses - Kerry Goosepree; Box of Crackers - Mandy Fenn; Teddy bear - Roger Colthorpe; Large Prosecco - Jonathan Dedman; Bottle of Gin - Arthur & Brenda Coe; Luxury Christmas Pud - Trudi Ablett; Gift pack donated by Fresh Fills - Trevor Messenger; Candle Set - Bea Cousens; Drinks Maker - “Rev”; Box of Biscuits - “Rev”; Toiletries - Lucy Culley; Tin of Biscuits - Rachel Amass; Puzzle - Robin Greenhill; Large Basket of Fruit donated by Choices.A big thank you to those who donated prizes and all of you who bought tickets either at or before the event.
