NEWS
A congregation of over 50 people welcomed our new Rector, the Revd Graham Naylor, when he took his first service at Barsham on Sunday 23rd February. The service was followed by celebratory drinks and eats.
Graham is running a Lent Course over four consecutive weeks on Wednesday mornings at Holy Trinity Bungay from 11am to noon, starting on Wednesday 12thMarch, and at Mettingham Village Hall on Tuesday evenings, from 6pm to 7pm, starting on Tuesday 18th March.
People wishing to be included on the Electoral Roll for Holy Trinity Barsham should collect a form from Bridget or from the back of the church, and return it to Bridget completed by Sunday 13th April.
The PCC is grateful to George Hammond for repairing the iron gate in the chancel screen (photo, front cover). For some years parts of its decorative detail had been bent and missing. The gate was designed in about 1870 by Charles Kempe (1837-1907), the celebrated designer of church fittings, interior decorations and stained glass, who also made the glass for our fine east window. (hammondhalldesigns.com)
At the routine PCC meeting on 6th March, it was confirmed that Ruth Blackman, a director of architects Birdsall, Swash and Blackman has agreed to become our new church architect. This architectural practice has been serving churches in Norfolk for 50 years and Ruth has a particular interest in round tower churches.
The PCC is grateful for the valuable service of our former architect, Chris Codling of Peter Codling Architects Ltd of Norwich, who retired recently.
An Easter hamper is to be raffled after the service on Easter Day. If you would like to contribute some foodstuffs or drink – perhaps with an Easter theme – please give donations to Diana.
The sales table organised by Margaret raised the fantastic sum of £150.00, a figure much helped by the sale of Chris Bardsley’s beautiful Easter Cards.
Many thanks to those who contributed to the 232 items donated to the Food Bank in February.
FORWARD PLANNING
The APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) and Annual Meeting of Parishioners will take place in the church at 2pm on Thursday 1st May. Anybody can attend and those entered on the Church Electoral Roll for this parish and those entered on the register of local government electors for the parish may vote at the election of parochial representatives of the laity (ie churchwardens, members of the PCC etc). If you cannot attend and would like copies of the audited financial statements, please contact Dominique ([email protected]).
Coffee mornings at Barsham and Shipmeadow Village Hall take place on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 10am - noon. There is usually a good attendance from the church congregation and always delicious cakes and snacks.
The Summer Lunch will be held on Wednesday 25th June at St Bartholomew’s Shipmeadow at the kind invitation of Nick and Jenny Caddick.
A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, The Revd Graham
Dear friends
As I type this in mid-March, it is four weeks since I had the joy and privilege of being Instituted, Inducted, and Installed (the Church of England never does one thing when it can do three!) as Rector of the Bungay Benefice. I am thankful for the very warm and supportive welcome I have received from everyone – including the food and fizz following my first service at Barsham - and I look forward to getting to know you all over the coming months and years. I would add my thanks to those of Bishop Graeme to the churchwardens, PCC, congregation, and clergy who have maintained the pattern of services and the ongoing work of ministry during the vacancy.
Prior to training for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, I spent 25 years in the touring music industry as a sound engineer and in tour and production management. I was attached to St Peter & St Paul church, Lavenham with St Mary’s church, Preston St Mary during training and stayed on to serve my curacy – including holding a vacancy in the year that Her late-Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died.
I look forward to being part of the worshipping community at Barsham and to discovering together what God is calling us to in the next chapter in the life of the parish and benefice as we seek to minister to the existing congregation and the community around us.
With every blessing
Graham
APRIL DIARY
Sunday 6th April – Fifth Sunday in Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Jonathan Olanczuk.
Sunday 13th April – Palm Sunday. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Canon John Fellows.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 14th-16th April – 6.30pm Compline with Reflection, Holy Trinity Bungay. Revd Graham Naylor.
Thursday 17th April – Maundy Thursday. 6.30pm Holy Communion with foot washing, Holy Trinity Bungay. Revd Graham Naylor.
Friday 18th April – Good Friday. 10.30am Walk of Witness, starting at Emmanuel Church, Bungay, arriving at Holy Trinity Bungay for Reflective Service for Good Friday at 12 midday.
2-3pm Reflective Service – Hour at the Cross. Barsham. Revd Graham Naylor.
Sunday 20th April – Easter Day. 6.30am Sunrise Service, Bungay Common, Revd Graham Naylor.
11.00am Sung Eucharist (BCP), Barsham. Revd Desmond Banister.
Sunday 27th April – Second Sunday of Easter. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Graham Naylor.
Church correspondent: Robert Bacon 07867 306016, [email protected]