Hartlepool, Hull and Havant

Along with the regular Christmas, Easter and even birthday cards came the most welcome gift of all –the assurance of prayer.  Kathleen, to whom I’d often taken home communion as a curate, no doubt prayerfully supported the ministries of many priests who passed through the parish of All Saints Hessle in Hull up until the time of her death last year.

I realise that much of what has shaped me derives from this particular woman’s wisdom which in turn reminded me of Hilda whose spiritual wisdom was transmitted to others through her generous and practical leadership not least through the creation of a monastery for both monks and nuns at my own birthplace of Hartlepool sometime before she founded the abbey at Whitby.  I never asked Kathleen of Hull whether she had known about Hilda of Hartlepool!

Perhaps it was because Kathleen’s understanding of church was so steeped in the concept of the Kingdom of God that my own work as a priest has so often straddled the respective societies of ‘church’ and ‘world’.  And to come finally to the parish and deanery of Havant is the result of a conscious decision to have a final attempt at discovering whether the Church of England can be a church ‘of the kingdom’ worthy of the visions of just two of the female saints who have become part of my story.

Working in the contemporary secular environments of modern universities and healthcare organisations as a chaplain the spirit of my female luminaries has enabled me to understand indispensable truths of a very practical kind.  I’ve come to see that the very best teachers typically describe themselves as lifelong learners.  Being part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team reveals that truly effective health workers of every discipline allied to medicine recognise that it is possible to receive a great deal from the very patients who benefit from the skill and commitment they aim to dispense.

Time spent as a priest working in communities afflicted by acute deprivation in both this country and Africa suggest to me that it is a serious mistake indeed to regard wealth as measurable only in terms of money.  The less well off can often readily unearth riches which are sadly unrecognisable to and disregarded by the financially secure which the poorest so often seem all too ready to share.

These are the lessons I’ve learnt; Kathleen and Hilda among countless other humble, merciful and simple women and men have helped build some capacity in me which enables me to convey to others their humanity and holiness despite my failure to emulate it.

At the beginning of any ministry, whatever form it takes, there is often much talk of the gifts, skills or especial contributions that individuals might bring to or exercise within a certain situation.  I bring to the wider community of Havant only what I have received from others which has shaped the me that I have become.  I wonder what Faith, the next woman in my life, has in store?

I’ve no doubt that the primary woman in my life, my wife Tricia of over thirty years, will not allow me to miss whatever lifelong  learning’s there are yet to be had.  I am fortunate in having someone whose dedication to the NHS extends even further in years beyond our marriage and to which she has been committed as one time nurse, health visitor and more recently clinical manager.  Ah!  There we go again....these women and their practical wisdom.  She tells me her middle name is Kathleen.

Peter Jones, Rector designate

From the Editor

It has been confirmed that our new Rector, Canon Peter Jones, will be inducted at St. Faith’s Church on Monday 1 June at 7.30pm.

In the last week of February, Beryl and I attended the funeral of a very dear friend in Chester.  The service was held at St. James’ Church, Christleton.  A church existed on the site soon after the Roman occupation of Chester.  The name “Christetone” in the Domesday Book of 1086 suggests the existence of a Christian settlement.  The name Christleton means “the village or place of Christ”, or alternatively “Cristentum” the enclosed farm of the Christians.  During the Civil War (1642-45) the church escaped the havoc and destruction suffered by the village because it was garrisoned by the Parliamentarian Army.  As the Parliamentarians remained in control of the area long after the Battle of Rowton Moor in September 1645, no revenge attack occurred, to cause further harm to the building.  The church building was brought up to date with major work on the roof, tower and the electrics in 2000.  The lighting was very impressive with spot lamps shining from the tower and the acoustics were superb – we heard every word that was spoken which we don’t in St. Faith’s

Colin Carter

St Nicholas Chapel, Langstone

The next service will be on Easter Day, 12 April at 8.00 am.  All are welcome.

 The Great Game

Last month we left the Great Game with the introduction of one of its best players, Syed Kermal Ali.  He was recruited by Captain Arthur Connolly in Tabriz and was held in great esteem by the British in that city.  He was an Indian from the holy city of Benares (now known as Varanasi) but could also speak Persian.  He was resourceful and had a remarkable knowledge of the area.  The British resident in Tabriz, Sir John Macdonald, thought so highly of Syed that he was prepared to give him Government pay and allowances to do Secret Service work in Khiva.  Instead he went with Connolly on a dangerous overland journey to India.  Connolly’s mission was to alert the British Government that Russia was preparing to attack British India.  In a memorandum he wrote, “We no longer fear France but to destroy her power we gave strength to another nation, Russia, which now threatens India more than France did.” 

Connolly sent regular dispatches to Calcutta and on one occasion wrote “It was chiefly owing to the ability of Syed Kermal Ali that I was aided from a predicament which otherwise prevented my journey and the best part of the information which I had the honour to submit to Government was collected by him.”  Somewhere on this journey, Syed disappeared from the scene as suddenly as he had arrived.  All that is known of him is that he was appointed a “News writer“ at Kandahar on a salary of 150 rupees a month.  “News writers” was an euphemism for an informant (spies) of which there was a network across Asia.  There could not have been a more dangerous assignment than Kandahar, described as a volatile hotbed of intrigue.  There is no further trace of him in official records but I would like to think he survived this and other assignments.

Connolly continued for many years repeatedly risking his life on spying missions in remote and dangerous locations.  In 1842, the Afghans committed a series of outrages which shocked the British.  Firstly, the British envoy to Kabul, Alexander Burnes, who was negotiating a treaty with the Afghans, was hacked to death by a mob which then torched the Residency.  Then the Government’s caretaker admin­istrator, Sir William Macnaghten, met the Afghan leaders for truce talks by the banks of the Kabul River.  As he dismounted from his horse, he was seized and brutally slaughtered.  Worse was to follow.  The British garrison in Kabul was besieged and terms were agreed for them and their families to leave under a flag of truce, provided they came out unarmed.    Despite the solemn assurances given, the 16,000 were slaughtered, with just one survivor, a doctor, who managed to reach the British lines despite being grievously wounded.

While all this was going on Connolly made his way to Bokhara to try to rescue a Colonel Charles Stoddart, who had been a prisoner for three years in appalling conditions of the depraved and evil Amir Nasrullah who had blinded and murdered his brother in order to gain the throne.  Connolly was captured and he and Stoddart were beheaded by the executioner’s sword in the central square of Bokhara.  He was 35 years old.  We started with Kipling and we finish with some advice given to his aspiring spy, Kim A horse trader warns him about the mysterious land beyond the Passes of the North from whence rifles would come for India’s enemies.  He does not know where they would come from and who would use them.  He tells Kim, “The Game is so large that one sees but a little at a time!”

Roger Bryant

Town Fair – 5 September 2009

This year, the town fair will be held on Saturday 5 September between 10am and 3pm.  Based on last year, the stalls will be as follows:

Refreshments	Cakes	Barbeque
Beer/Pimms Tent	Tombola	Handicrafts
Bottle Tombola	Books	Bric-a-Brac
Plants	Toys & Videos	Face Painting
Children’s Tombola	Children’s Stall	Human Fruit Machine
Guess the Weight	Name the Teddy	Guess Number of Sweets
Waitrose Word Search	Lucky Number	Treasure Map
Pick a Straw		Hook a Duck

The list is on the notice board on the wall in church by the north door entrance.  It would be great if you would like to take ownership of a stall and put your name to it.  It would be nice if we could focus on it being a traditional games fare for the children, so any new ideas would be welcomed.

I do need help in forming a committee so please come along to the next meeting which will be held in the Bear Hotel, Havant.  We will announce the dates in the notices.

Squadron Commander Flt Lt James Noble and Alan Hunter have confirmed that the Air Training Corps has agreed to help us by offering First Aid and assistance and to do tours of the Bell Tower.  Our grateful thanks to them.

Also, once again Waitrose has kindly offered the food for the BBQ and help on the day, which is great news.

Miranda Morgan

Choir

Congratulations to Lisa Edwards and Henry Jermyn who were admitted to the choir on Sunday 15 March 2009.

 Aldsworth Garden Opening (ngs - Yellow Book)

250 visitors braved the wind and rain to visit the garden in March and hopefully the weather will be much better for the April opening, when spring should be really here with fruit blossom, clematis, wisteria, peonies and many other treasures.  We are open on Sunday, 19th and Tuesday, 21st April between 11am-4pm.  Admission £3.50 - children free.  Garden hunt for children.  Plants for sale and light refreshments all day.

Sarah Williams (nee Darmady)

Hi Line Casevac

This episode happened in 1993 and, because I was so impressed with the efficiency of the Coastguard helicopter, I wrote it up for the RNSA Journal and Yachting Monthly.  The lessons are worth repeating for readers of “Faith Matters”.

At 1645 on 27 May our 33ft yacht ASTROS was 35 miles out, through the shipping lanes heading for St. Vaast when one of our crew members complained of chest pains.  I turned for home and made Pan Medico call to Solent Coastguard.  As a result I spoke to a doctor at RNH Haslar who said he must be brought in.  I went back to the Coastguard who told me their helicopter would be with us in 20 minutes.  Within 10 minutes the pilot was briefing me on the high line transfer procedure: I was to put my best helmsman (Rosemary of course) on, who was to steer a steady course on port tack and not be distracted by the helicopter; I was to haul in the high line but on no account make it fast and receive the winchman over the port quarter; I was advised to turn off all electronic equipment because of the risk of damage through static electricity; above all I must give instructions to my crew before he arrived as when he had taken station astern conversation would become impossible.  This briefing is critical to the success of the procedure.

Very soon afterwards the Coast­guard Sea King could be seen heading straight for us and soon took station abaft our port quarter.  The wind was SSW Force 5 giving a lumpy quartering sea.  The high line was lowered with two red one kilo bags on the end (the weight is varied according to the wind strength) and I hauled in the line.  The winchman came aboard after dunking the end of his wire to discharge static and went below to prepare the casualty.

After a short while our friend was brought up wearing a spare helmet the winchman had brought and with his overnight bag that we had packed.  He was placed in two strops; one to sit on, the other around his chest and winched up with the winchman whereupon I made the injudicious remark “If you haven't had a heart attack yet Guy you will now" and instantly regretted it.  They were winched up some 60ft into the helicopter.  The high line was recovered and the helicopter disappeared towards the Solent.  Just over an hour of complaining of chest pains our friend was in the Coronary Care Unit of the then Haslar Hospital.  It took ASTROS another 6hrs 40mins before she was back in her berth in Haslar Creek.

Our friend was discharged a week later.  The prompt and efficient response to my Pan Medico call could have made all the difference to his recovery.  We were very grateful to all concerned.  I offer a few thoughts on the procedure which may help members prepare for a similar emergency:

a. Have the port side of your push pit clear of such things as outboards and aerials

b. I should have asked my crew if they had any medical problems before we left

c. Have a bucket handy in which to coil down the hi line.  Although it has a low breaking strain it would be a pity if one of your crew had his foot in the bight and followed the helicopter to Haslar

d. If when cruising in the Solent you are approached by an air/sea rescue helicopter and invited to take part in an exercise do accept.  You never know when it will be needed for real.

Peter Thomas

Snohomish County Children's Choir

We have been lucky in the past to have two visiting American choirs perform in our church and once again we have been approached.  The Snohomish County Children's Choir are visiting England in July and will be performing a concert in St. Faiths on Friday 10th July in aid of our organ fund.  Among their concerts will be one in Birmingham with the City of Birmingham Junior Youth Chorus and one in Winchester with the Hampshire County Children's Choir.  We are very honoured to be included in the concerts, and like the other visiting choirs, the choir is of a very high standard and has won many awards in America.  It will be a great experience for us all.  The children are mostly girls; there is just one boy, (something in common with our choir!) - ages mostly 14-18 years.

For our part we have been asked if we can host the children and adults if possible for the Friday night, which is the 10^th July.  There are 22 children and 14 adults; if possible the children would be in pairs.  Several people have indicated to me that they would be able to host but we do need more.  If you think that you would be able to house a couple of children for this one night please let me know.

They will arrive around 4pm and we will provide a supper in the Church Hall at 5.30pm and then the concert will be at 7.30pm.  If you feel able to help either with hosting or helping with the supper please let me know.  Thank you

Sandra Haggan 023 9245 5161

Women’s World Day of Prayer

‘Oi be namo heria’ we asked one another last Friday (6 March).  ‘How are you today?’ was what we were really saying.  We were using one of the 800 languages of Papua New Guinea.  Our service had been put together by Christian women from the other side of the world and a lovely service it was.

We heard from various people living in that part of the world.  We were invited to go in our imaginations and feel the warmth and the tropical rain; to wonder at the plants and the animals; to climb up the high mountains and see how the land is farmed on the fertile highlands.  We sang the songs and hymns they had chosen and we joined together in the prayers they had written.  The service was full of praise and thanksgiving for the wonders all around us.  It also reminded us throughout that:

‘We who are many are one body in Christ.’

We gave thanks for the gift of life, for the gift of Jesus, the Christ, who lived among us suffering and dying to rise again, to give us life even more abundantly.  The women of Papua New Guinea have had special cause to be thankful as their lives have been improved considerably.  Churches and other organisations have helped to improve literacy and life skills but much more needs to be done however, especially in cases of domestic violence and health issues, e.g., TB, Malaria, HIV and Aids.

So our service in St. Faith’s Church drew to a close with the singing of that well know hymn

‘The day thou gavest Lord is ended,

The darkness falls at Thy behest’

written by John Ellerton and used every year to end the Women’s World Day of Prayer service.

My thanks go to everyone who helped on the day – especially the 15 readers drawn from Churches in Havant – The United Reformed, Havant Methodist, St. Thomas Bedhampton, St. Josephs, Bedhampton Methodist and St. Faith’s.  Special thanks to Vicki Mockford, our Verger, who was our sound music systems expert and to Sandra Haggan for her address on the theme of the service “In Christ there are many members yet one body’.  Next year if all goes according to plan the service will be held at the Havant Methodist Church, Petersfield Road on the first Friday in March.

We were able to send off £85.30 to the Women’s World Day of Prayer for Christian Literacy and Christian Educational Projects.

Shirley Caunter

 

Correspondence Column

Dear Editor,

“Time to Fling Wide the Gates”

For several months now the doors of St Faith’s have been locked in the early afternoon and as someone who is often in town during the daytime I have to confess I have found myself becoming increasingly frustrated at the sight of the church being shut.  During the discussions on the future of the church it was agreed that St Faith’s should be central and accessible to the local community.  The messages on the prayer cards by the Lady Chapel show in touching clarity just how many people do look for comfort from God in the intimacy of the Church building. 

Having farmed at Langstone with my father for many years we struggled against the vagaries of weather, disease and politics to make an income and yet also had to deal with the cost of ongoing vandalism and abuse because the public footpath network made the farm open to all; worthy and unworthy.  I know full well what it is like to have one’s temple desecrated but the fact is that the Church has a duty to remain accessible and has a much greater community to share the cost of any vandalism.

Locking the doors within daylight hours should be only the very last resort.  Have we informed the police and asked them to check the church during that critical period in the afternoon?  Have we informed local businesses and asked them to keep an eye out or asked men who attend St Faith’s to make a point of checking the building if they are in town?  Not that I am aware.  There is a War Memorial on the corner of the churchyard to remind us of the bravery of past and current servicemen and women but we do their sacrifice a disservice by collectively failing to face up to the actions of a few unruly youths.  As Christians surely we should ideally be trying to follow Christ’s example and asking ourselves “what would Jesus want us to do”.  So the key issue is would Jesus want us to lock the Church or stand up to those who defile his place of worship?

Yours faithfully, Colin Hedley

Choral Singing is Good for You

A Swedish psychologist has researched the effect that choral singing has on a person – and concluded that it is very good indeed.  Dr. Maria Sandren from the University of Stockholm, found that choral singing “had strong effects on the well-being, in that positive emotions increased significantly, and in turn, negative emotions radically subsided.  Choral singers, particularly women, are happier, more alert and relaxed after a rehearsal”.

 From Our PCSO

Dear St Faith's Resident's,

In September I introduced a new Sergeant for St Faith's and that was Jamie Allen who was going to be acting Sergeant until a replacement was found.  So I would like to introduce Sergeant Kevin Newell to St Faith’s.  Sergeant Newell took over on 4 March and is very keen to get involved with the community.  Jamie Allen will remain on the St Faith's Beat as a Police Officer though he will primarily cover Havant Town.

In the next few weeks the team have arranged for the Police Community Bus to be positioned in West Street outside St Faith's Church.  This is so that member of the public can come and meet the team and ask us questions but also to gather information on crime prevention.  Several members from the team will be conducting high visibility patrols throughout the Town particularly in Charity shops and busy stores as the Town is still being a victim to purse thefts.

Dates for Community Bus:

Tuesday 7^th April

Tuesday 30^th June

Tuesday 28th July

Tuesday 25^th August

Tuesday 22^nd September

As I've highlighted in previous newsletters please be aware of leaving bags unattended even in shopping trolleys or on push chairs.  Always make sure your bag is zipped up and the zip is closest to you and if possible try not to have too much cash on you.

If you have any queries and would like to speak with a member of the St Faith's team you could contact us on 0845 045 45 45 or email us on stfaiths.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Regards

PCSO Sarah Woodley 13389 and the St Faith's Team

Since a boarding advertising “Cosmetic Surgery” has appeared on the fence of the Portsmouth Spine Hospital in Bartons Road, a very large crane has taken up position in the hospital grounds.  Is this a sign of how many face lift operations they are hoping to perform?  Or is it just a case of needing a heavy lift!

 George Frideric Handel 1685 – 1759 Part 1

This year marks the 250^th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest composers of the Baroque period, George Frideric Handel.  He wrote the magnificent choral masterpiece, Messiah that contains the triumphant “Hallelujah Chorus” - one of the most instantly recognised pieces of classical music.  Handel’s other works include the Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks for orchestra, other music for both strings and wind, as well as organ concertos, harpsichord sonatas and cantatas.  Many aspiring young musicians will have learnt to play the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from his oratorio Solomon.  Those interested in military band music will know Scipio, from the opera Scipione, the regimental slow-march of the Grenadier Guards, often played at the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

In the first of this two-part article, Handel’s early life and compositions will be explored.  Next month’s issue will concentrate on his more philanthropic pursuits as well as his seminal work - his oratorio Messiah.

Handel was born in Halle, Saxony - now Germany.  From an early age it became apparent that he had a gift for music.  His father grudgingly allowed him to have lessons from the organist of the principal church in Halle and he became an accomplished organist and harpsichordist.  At the age of 17 he enrolled as a law student at Halle University and shortly after was appointed organist at the local Cathedral.  In 1703 he moved to Hamburg where he was employed first as a violinist then as a harpsichordist at the opera house.  Two years later he wrote and successfully produced his first opera Almira (1705).  This was a mixture of French-style overtures, German recitatives and Italian arias, with ballet scenes thrown in for good measure!

In 1706 Handel decided to visit Italy, the cultural centre of Europe.  Most new musical ideas - including that of opera - originated from here.  Historically, opera had only been performed privately for Royalty and the aristocracy.  Then, in 1637, the first commercially run opera house was opened in Venice.  This development made opera more widely available and encouraged competition between the singers to display the range and agility of their voices.  Those best suited to the principal roles were considered to be the castrati – male singers castrated before puberty to preserve their high voices.  Handel visited Florence, Rome, Naples and Venice.  Everywhere he went he enjoyed the patronage of both clergy and nobility.  The powerful ruling Medici family exerted considerable influence in Italy and were patrons of such phenomenal talents as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.  It is probable that a member of this famous family invited Handel to spend time at their court in Florence.  Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni held weekly concerts at his magnificent Palazzo della Cancelleria where, it is claimed, a keyboard contest took place between Scarlatti and Handel.  Scarlatti was judged to be the finer harpsichordist, but Scarlatti acknowledged Handel to be the better organist!  During a visit to Rome, Handel wrote Dixit Dominus (1707) - a joyful setting of Psalm 110 for soloists, chorus and string orchestra.  Today this is still one of his most popular choral pieces.  The sheer range and power of the choral writing makes it a thrilling work for both singer and listener.  While in Italy Handel met many leading composers, including Corelli, both the Scarlatti’s (father and son) and Vivaldi, all of whose influences can be heard in his music. 

In 1710 Handel left Italy and accepted the position of Kappellmeister, or music director, to the Elector of Hanover who eventually became George I of England.  Later that year he obtained leave of absence for a year because he recognised the opportunities for the production of Italian opera that London offered.  His first London opera Rinaldo (1711) received its premiere at the newly built Queens Theatre, Haymarket (later King’s Theatre, now Her Majesty’s Theatre).  In 1712 he composed a celebratory ode for Queen Anne’s birthday and the following year made his mark first in English church music with the Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate (1713), and then in instrumental music with the Water Music (1717).  He also established, and maintained, his reputation as a keyboard virtuoso.

Following a financial crisis at the King’s Theatre, Handel became composer-in-residence for James Brydges, Earl of Carnarvon, who later became the Duke of Chandos.  The Duke was an extremely wealthy man and a patron of the arts and had acquired, by marriage, an estate known as Cannons Park near Edgeware, Middlesex.  He carried out an extensive enlargement of the mansion and almost entirely rebuilt the adjoining Church of St Lawrence.  Fashionable artists of the day were employed to decorate the interior.  While staying at Cannons, Handel wrote twelve anthems known as the “Chandos Anthems”, a masque Acis and Galatea (1718) and his first English oratorio Esther.  In 1720 the Chandos lifestyle took a tumble when shares in the South Sea Company collapsed in what has become known as the South Sea Bubble financial disaster.  Investors suffered major losses – nothing new here!  Chandos died in 1744 and the estate and its effects were sold in order to pay the accumulated family debts.  The Palace was demolished in 1747 and its original colonnade now stands in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.  The gates were installed at New College, Oxford.  In 1748 Holy Trinity Church, Gosport acquired from Cannons the house chapel organ on which Handel probably played.  Much of the original pipe work including the casework remains.  Holy Trinity have currently launched an appeal to preserve this historic instrument for future generations.

By 1720 Italian opera had become fashionable in London and a new company The Royal Academy of Music (no connection to the present Royal Academy) with Handel as its principal music director had been formed to present operas in the King’s Theatre.  From 1720 to 1728 the company flourished and Handel composed some of his best operas including what is today one of his most popular Giulio Cesare (1724), and Scipione (1726).  In 1723 Handel took a lease on No.25 Brook Street, Mayfair, conveniently situated both for St. James’s Palace and the King’s Theatre, Haymarket.  It was here that he lived and worked for the remainder of his life and where he later wrote Messiah (1741).  Today the building houses the Handel House Museum.

Peter Willey

 

Parents Needed - To support young families who are finding life a bit tough.

Could you listen to a young Mum as she tells you about her frustrations with her young children?

Could you help an isolated young family get to know their new community?

If so, and you have 2 hours a week to spare then

WE NEED YOU

At HOME-START HAVANT

And we will pay your expenses

For more information please call 023 9224 1234

or e-mail: info@homestart-havant.org.uk

 Mayday Mayday Mayday!

Your help is needed – for Havant’s annual Christian Aid Bargain Shop.  It will open in St. Faith’s Church Hall from 2 – 16 May.  On May Day itself we shall be setting up the shop, so any time after 9, when you have finished dancing round the maypole, you will be welcome to join us.

Throughout the following fortnight (except on the Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May) you can be a valuable member of the team.  How?  By minding stalls, sorting goods, serving refreshments or taking rubbish to the tip.

You can also help from home by baking, growing plants or washing & ironing clothes.  Before the shop opens we need help to deliver leaflets (and in a minority of roads to return to collect goods) – just the thing for those who like to get out in the fresh air.

The current economic situation is worrying for many people in this country, but Christian Aid tells us that almost 3 billion people (half the world) live in poverty so extreme they can hardly survive.  Last year we were able to send over £9,600 to headquarters and it would be wonderful if we could send even more this year, because the developing countries are those hit hardest.  To do this we need a good team.  The commitment can be whatever is possible for you – even a single hour in the whole fortnight is of value.  Moreover, it is great fun: making new friends, meeting interesting customers – to say nothing of picking up a few bargains.

To find out more, come along to our Spring Gathering on Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm at Petersfield Road Methodist Church, when Susan Barry, one of the regional staff based in Southampton, will be telling us about her recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  She is an excellent speaker and this is always a very friendly & informal occasion when we can chat over a cup of tea or coffee.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the team. This is an occasion when Havant can see its churches working together, for in the words of Christian Aid’s motto, “We believe in life before death”.

Jennifer Moore-Blunt

Christian Aid Secretary for Havant