NEWSIt is with huge sadness that we record the recent deaths of three faithful members of our congregation, Valerie Taylor, Roy Pike and Maurice Elliott. Roy and his wife Marion attended Barsham church regularly for many years and he served as a sidesman. Roy’s funeral took place at the church on 11th February, when he was laid to rest beside Marion. Valerie was a stalwart of the local community and a long-term member of the congregation who organised teas and coffees after the service. Those post-service refreshments were initiated by Maurice and Janet Elliott when they lived next door at the Rectory. Maurice became an active member of the PCC, taking on the key roles of Vice Chair and Church Warden, as well as being Deanery Lay Chair. The church was filled to capacity for an uplifting service of thanksgiving for Maurice’s life on 14th February. Thanks as ever to the team who provided such splendid refreshments. As advised recently at Sunday service, two new appointments to the Bungay Lightwave Hub have been made. The Revd Edward Land has been appointed as Associate Minister of the Lightwave Rural Hub in Bungay and will be licensed on the 1st May.Heather Land, Edward’s wife, has been appointed to the half-time post of Choir Director within the Lightwave Hub, the aim being to forge new links with the community through music and song. We are most grateful to Robert Rawlinson for so kindly donating a fine new large print King James Bible for the lectern.The January Sales Table organised by Margaret raised an excellent £165.00. The Food Bank received 226 items in January. Grateful thanks as ever to the church’s loyal supporters. The Beccles Foodbank would love to have more baked beans.FORWARD PLANNINGThere will be two services of Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Bungay on Ash Wednesday, 2nd March, one at 10.00am and one at 7.30pm, both with imposition of ashes. Sales Tables will be held on Sunday 27th February and Sunday 27th March. The Spring Equinox Event is due to take place in the church on the afternoons of 19th, 20th and 21st March. Refreshments will be served from 4.45pm with the illumination taking place at about 5.15pm, weather permitting. SNIPPETS – St Felix and a Barsham Treasure In the Church of England the feast of Saint Felix falls on the 8th March and remembers Felix of Dunwich, sometimes known as Felix of Burgundy, who died on 8th March in the year 647 or 648. Very little is known about Felix, except what was reported by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written almost a century after Felix died, and similar information contained in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle another century later. Felix had probably been a priest in a Frankish monastery in Burgundy when he came to Canterbury in about 630. From there he was sent by Archbishop Honorius to bring Christianity to the pagan East Angles whose king, Sigeberht, had already converted to Christianity whilst in exile on the Continent. Felix was given the see of ‘Dommoc’, thought to be Dunwich, and became Bishop of East Anglia. He then spent the next 17 years spreading the faith amongst the East Angles and was venerated as a saint after his death.At Barsham St Felix is remembered in a banner that stands on the right of the altar in the north chapel. This is the banner of the St Felix Ward of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (CBS). The CBS was founded in 1862 during the Catholic Revival in the Church of England. It was a fellowship of men and women within the Anglican Church dedicated to the veneration of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. A ward was the local unit of the CBS in which members met together for prayer, worship and mutual support under the guidance of a priest or ward superior. The Revd RAJ Suckling, sometime Rector and Patron of Barsham, who was a leading figure in the Anglo-Catholic Movement, was the Superior-General of the CBS from 1901 until his death in 1917. Suckling and the Revd Allan Coates (Rector 1889-1920) did much to promote the Anglo-Catholic ideal of the ‘Beauty of Holiness’ at Barsham, beautifying and dignifying our church to render it worthy to be the house of God, and restyling Holy Trinity, Barsham as ‘The Most Holy Trinity’. They commissioned furnishings, fittings and decorative pieces of the highest quality – the banner amongst them – from the leading craftsmen of the day, giving the interior of the church much of its characteristic appearance today. The St Felix banner is one of our treasures. It was designed by Watts & Co of 30 Baker Street, London and embroidered and presented to the church in 1904 by Catherine Coates and Alice Harrison, respectively the Rector’s wife and the headmistress of the village school. Watts & Co was an architectural and interior design company established by George Bodley, Thomas Garner and George Gilbert Scott Junior, three of the 19th century’s most significant church architects who did much work for the Anglo-Catholic Movement. Watts & Co produced fabrics, furnishings and metalwork of the finest quality and was known above all for its outstanding embroidery. They designed ecclesiastical banners, frontals and vestments for cathedrals and parish churches throughout Britain, including the first vestments worn since the Reformation at Westminster Abbey (for Queen Victoria’s 1887 Jubilee) and St Paul’s Cathedral (for her 1897 Jubilee). They designed the ecclesiastical vestments for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and every coronation since. Although our St Felix banner is now somewhat decayed, its exquisite beauty of design and workmanship shine through still.March DiaryWednesday 2nd March – Ash Wednesday. 10.00am and 7.30pm Holy Communion with imposition of ashes at Holy Trinity, Bungay. Rev Josh Bailey.Sunday 6th March – First Sunday of Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Jonathan Olanczuk. Sunday 13th March – Second Sunday of Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Josh Bailey.Sunday 20th March – Third Sunday of Lent, 11am Sung Eucharist (CW). Rev Roy Wormald. Sunday 27th March – Fourth Sunday of Lent, 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Canon John Fellows.Sunday 3rd April – Fifth Sunday of Lent, 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Jonathan Olanczuk.Every Wednesday at 10am – Holy Communion (CW) at Holy Trinity, Bungay.Church correspondent: Robert Bacon 01502 710945, robert.bacon@yahoo.co.uk
NEWSThe service on Sunday 30 January is a Benefice Holy Communion to be held at Holy Trinity Bungay. With the easy transmissibility of the Omicron variant of the virus in mind, it was agreed at the PCC meeting on 6 January that for the time being refreshments would not be served after Sunday service. The Sales Table, however, would resume on the fourth Sunday of each month, starting again on Sunday 23 January.244 items were kindly donated to the Food Bank in December. Thank you for your support of the Food Bank throughout last year. Two new visitors’ guidebooks to the church will be available by the spring. One will be a handy short guide, free of charge, and the other will be a more detailed guide for which there will be a charge. FORWARD PLANNINGThe concert by the SuAnLo Trio scheduled for Friday 21 January in Barsham Church has had to be postponed due to the difficulties created by the Omicron wave of the pandemic. We can now look forward to a rescheduled concert on the afternoon of Saturday 14 May. It will be a summer afternoon concert with tea and cakes instead of a cold, dark winter evening concert! Further details will be available in due course. The Spring Equinox Event – the illumination of the rood by a shaft of late afternoon sunlight from the tower windows – will take place in the church on the afternoons of 19, 20 and 21 March. Further details to follow. FEBRUARY DIARYSunday 23 January – Third Sunday after the Epiphany, 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Canon John Fellows.Sunday 30 January – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. 10.30am Benefice Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Bungay. Rev Josh Bailey.Wednesday 2 February – Candlemas: Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.Sunday 6 February – Fourth Sunday before Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Jonathan Olanczuk. Sunday 13 February – Third Sunday before Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Josh Bailey.Sunday 20 February – Second Sunday before Lent, 11am Sung Eucharist (CW). Rev Roy Wormald. Sunday 27 February – Sunday before Lent, 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Rev Canon John Fellows.Every Wednesday at 10am – Holy Communion (CW) at Holy Trinity, Bungay.
NEWSThe Christmas Carol Service on the evening of 19 December attracted a congregation of nearly 50 people despite new public health concerns. Cheryl sang beautifully the opening verse of Once in Royal, the seven lessons were read by members of the congregation and Rev Josh led the service and preached. Thanks to the flower team, led by Diana, the church looked splendid and the candles on the windowsills and on the candelabra in front of the rood added much to the atmosphere. Regrettably, there could be no refreshments afterwards, but the raffle went ahead. Many thanks to all who donated towards the hampers, those who bought tickets, and to Jean Cooksley who made such a gorgeous-looking cake. Cheryl, who is the organiser of the Beccles area Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride, would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event this year. The total raised in Suffolk was a record-breaking £160,678, of which Beccles area made a bumper £5,968 and Barsham alone totalled £1,085, half of which comes to Barsham Church funds. The remainder goes to the SHCT central fund, which is available to make valuable grants to small churches like ours.Cheryl would like to find a successor for her role as organiser but is happy to work alongside someone else in 2022. It is not a time-consuming role: the main effort is in July with the distribution of Ride and Stride packs to the local church organizers, a task that can be shared amongst several volunteers. Please do let Cheryl know if you might be willing to take over as area organiser. A tremendous 343 items were donated to the Food Bank, including Christmas food, surplus Love Box items such as knitted gloves and scarves, and some of the teddy bears that Sarah Jane has been curating. The last Sales Table of the year raised £160. Warmest thanks to everyone who has contributed financially and with gifts in kind.When he died two years ago, Mike Learner gifted to Barsham church through his will a large collection of teddy bears that had belonged to his wife Josie. Mike and Josie, of Grange Farm in Barsham, were generous supporters of the church and Mike’s signature honey tray bake was famous amongst the Barsham congregation! Mike was responsible for the electrical installations during the post-fire restoration work of 1979-1982, so it seems appropriate now that the proceeds from the sale of the bears should go towards modernising the lighting in the church. Sarah Jane has taken on the task of looking after more than 1,300 teddy bears, sorting them and identifying those with value, including one Stieff (see below) and three from Harrods, and finding opportunities to sell them or otherwise disperse them appropriately. Over 100 were sold at the switching on of the Beccles Christmas lights, more at events in Bungay and Ringsfield, and Durrants will include a batch in their February auction. Over £250 has been raised so far. FORWARD PLANNINGSuAnLo Concert in Barsham Church at 7pm on Friday 21 January. The trio, from San Sebastian in Spain, features an organist, flautist and soprano voice. They will play a programme of music from the classical repertoire, popular film music and a little taste of Spain. Tickets cost £10 each and will be on sale from Bridget and Diana from the first Sunday of the New Year - Covid regulations permitting. THIS CONCERT HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED IN THE INTERESTS OF COVID SAFETY.
NEWSOn Sunday 19 September we celebrated Harvest Festival a lovely sunny morning for our Sung Eucharist and the church looked wonderful. The flower arrangers had filled it with beautiful harvest-themed flowers: the reds, oranges and yellows glowed in the bright sunlight. The squashes, gourds and vegetables complemented the arrangements. Evensong, led by Josh, with Bishop Norman preaching, was a beautiful service. After the service a Harvest Supper was held in the village hall and was enjoyed by just under 50 diners. The food was superb despite the lack of a serviceable kitchen. Special thanks to all the flower arrangers, food providers and waitresses! The raffle was highly successful and amongst the prizes was a jar of Barsham churchyard lime honey.For the first time in some years there were perfect conditions for the ‘light show’ at the Barsham Equinox Event on all three evenings, 21, 22 and 23 September. 82 people attended over the three evenings. Members of the Round Tower Churches Society visited on Saturday 25 September. A large congregation filled the church for Nony Ollerenshaw’s Memorial Service and Interment on the afternoon of 25 September.On Thursday 14 October the PCC held its annual Clergy Lunch, this year at White House Barn, Barsham, to thank our visiting clergy for their much-valued service throughout the year. Amy reports that 200 items were donated to the Food Bank in September, including the 70 items contributed at Harvest Festival. Sunday collections in September amounted to £1,418 and the proceeds of the Harvest Supper amounted to a further £651. The Ride and Stride event raised £1,085, which is shared equally between the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and our own church. Warmest thanks to all who made these sums possible. Thank you for your support of the Love Boxes. Please bring your filled boxes to the church any time between Sunday 17 October and Sunday 24 October, or on the 24th itself when they will be blessed by Rev Canon John Fellows. We hope to welcome some friends from Beccles Lions at the service: they are once again generously funding the cost of the boxes’ carriage. FORWARD PLANNINGThursday 4 November: The PCC will be holding its next routine meeting.Thursday 11 November: Remembrance Day Memorial Service at Barsham and Shipmeadow Village Hall, conducted by Rev Canon John Fellows. Please arrive at 10.30am for a 10.50am service and wreath-laying. Parking is available on the village hall paddock (entrance gate to the right of the telephone box). Refreshments will be available afterwards. All welcome. Friday 12 & Saturday 13 November, 5.30-8.00pm: Barsham Church Light Show -an installation exhibition by artist William Lindley. This is a repeating display of digital projections inside the church celebrating through photographic images various parts of the village of Barsham and the history of some of its principal buildings, including the church. Do drop in for 20 minutes or so at any time between 5.30 and 8.00pm. All ages, no charge & no tickets required, refreshments available.Sunday 28 November: the Sales Table will be open after the service.SNIPPETS – Remembrance and church war memorialsOur church is relatively unusual in possessing no war memorials other than for the First World War, and these are less than typical. The parish war memorial on the south wall of the nave goes further than the conventional memorial to ‘the Fallen’: it is a Roll of Honour recording the names of all the men of the parish who enlisted and their years of enlistment, along with colour-coding to identify those who lost their lives and those who were wounded. A more personal plaque hangs on the south wall of the nave just west of the door and is a rare example of a thanksgiving for safe deliverance. Recycling the lines of a 15th century song celebrating Henry V’s victory and safe return after Agincourt in 1415 (Our God for him wrought marvellously… Deo Gratis), it is the thanksgiving of Harry Stebbings, a Beccles bank clerk and regular communicant at Barsham who married in the church in 1914. He enlisted in 1916 and served in France and Italy with the Bedfordshire Regiment, taking part in continuous heavy fighting before being discharged in April 1918, having been gassed. After the war he and his wife moved to Devon and Harry lived on there until 1971. Another singular memorial, an image of Our Lady of Sorrows, hangs high on the south wall of the north chapel. It is said to have been recovered from a shelled church on a Belgian battlefield by a nurse, the wife of a Barsham churchwarden and choir member. She brought it home to Barsham and the Rector had it reframed and inscribed with the names of all the members of the church choir who had fought in the war, all of whom survived. Perhaps more poignantly, one might consider the larger of the two lecterns in the north chapel to be an unwitting memorial to its maker, the Shipmeadow carpenter Frederick Henry (‘Harry’) Shulver, of Hill Cottage, Shipmeadow. When he volunteered in December 1915, his Army attestation papers recorded a missing little finger on his left hand: a carpenter’s injury perhaps. He served on the Western Front in the North Staffordshire Regiment and was posted ‘missing’ near Arras on 21 March 1918 when his battalion was overwhelmed during the German Spring Offensive. With no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Tragically, he left three young daughters and a widow. Finally, in Charles George Napier Trollope (1854-1948) there is a Barsham church connection with the Beccles War Memorial Hospital. Napier Trollope, a regular communicant at Barsham (who commissioned in 1935 the beautiful stained-glass window on the south side of the sanctuary), was the Chairman of the Construction Committee for the War Memorial Hospital and for many years its Treasurer, as well as being three times Mayor of Beccles.
