Our 14th open air band concert in the fantastic gardens of Barham Hall was blessed with beautiful evening sunshine. About 450 ticket holders enjoyed an evening of great music from the It’s Fete function band and an enthusiastic singalong led by Lisa Rogers with lots of songs and flag waving to celebrate this year’s Platinum Jubilee. Before the band struck up, the Barham Church bells rang out across the rolling lawns whilst visitors were able to explore the gardens. As well as being a great evening’s entertainment, the event raised over £4,200 towards the Barham Church Bell Appeal and £255 in donations towards the DEC Ukraine Appeal. Our sincere thanks to Mr and Mrs Burrows for allowing the use of their gardens and to everyone who came along to support the event and help us record such a great result.
Meetings have now been organised with representatives of the three PCCs to draw up our Benefice Profile and then to meet with the Archdeacon and Bishop in order to progress advertising the vacancyOur Interim Priest-in-Charge Rev'd Canon Mark Haworth writes "The Bishop is now asking that I assist in the process of preparation for my successor, such that there is no vacancy (formerly known as an ‘interregnum’) as a candidate is selected to become Rector of the benefice, and I take my leave. To make this happen we need to pull together a Benefice Profile, which tells your story as the three churches you are, with facts and figures, but also the common ministry and mission that you share in this part of the Gipping Valley Deanery, as a benefice. While the three PCCs have all been asked for volunteers, we are keen to recruit other people who may have skills to offer and I invite you as members of all our churches, or indeed folk you might like to suggest, who could be part of this important piece of work. I have already begun to make arrangements for the meetings that then ensue, involving the new acting Rural Dean, Archdeacon and Bishop, in the hope of moving to an appointment this summer."
Ash Wednesday 2nd March 10am Eucharist with (optional) Imposition of Ashes 7.30pm Eucharist with (optional) Imposition of Ashes at Great Blakenham Zoom 7pm on Zoom Service of the Word Thursdays through Lent at 7.30pm Compline (Night Prayer) 9pm by Zoom (10th March, 17th March, 24th March, 31st March, 7th April)Lent Groups ‘Living Honestly with the Psalms’ for five weeks from 7th March. Mondays on Zoom 8pm with Ruth Dennigan; Tuesdays on Zoom 7.30pm with Wendy Hooper; Wednesdays 7.30pm at home of Revd Jenny Ablett; Thursdays 2pm at Henley with Ruth Dennigan; Fridays 2pm at home of Jane Whight, starting 4th March.Palm Sunday 10th April with distribution of palms at all services, 8am Holy Communion Barham10am Procession of Palms and Parish Eucharist including a dramatised reading of the Passion Monday 11th April 8pm Compline with Address at Gt BlakenhamTuesday 12th April 8pm Stations of the Cross Wednesday 13th April 10am Eucharist with Address 8pm Compline (Night Prayer) with Address by Mark at Henley Maundy Thursday 14th April 6pm Benefice Agape Meal at Great Blakenham Parish Room 8pm Eucharist: Commemoration of the Last Supper at Great Blakenham followed at 9pm (if you wish) by Watch until Midnight at the Altar of ReposeGood Friday 15th April 10am Children’s Workshop with Hot Cross Buns for all at 11am followed by a Family Service at 11.30am 1:30am Liturgy of Good Friday 7:30pm A Service of Readings & Meditation at Henley
