Since the arrival of our Deacons, Fr Charles  and Fr David, a number of people have been asking questions such as what is a deacon, and when do they become proper Vicars like you? Like any organisation the Church has its own jargon and terminology, which can be confusing. So here is an attempt to sort out a few questions. There are three orders of ministry in the church apart from the lay ministry of all believers. They are Bishop, Priest and Deacon and these titles refer more to their relationship to others than they describe what they do. It gets confusing because Bishop, as the most senior order, seems to also indicate a job description! At their ordination in June David and Charles were ordained to serve as deacons, which literally means servant. The deacon’s role is to mediate between Priest and people and to serve others in their ministries and service of the Lord. The Bishop is the person who serves an area as the representative of Christ in worship, especially at the Eucharist but also in Baptism, Confirmation and Ordinations. Because the Bishop cannot be everywhere he hands on to the Priest as his local representative, certain duties such as presiding over the Eucharist and baptising, marrying and burying people. Interestingly a Priest is still a Deacon and I remember Bishop Timothy wearing his stole (the scarf like object worn around the neck during services coloured according to the season) tied by his side in the fashion of a deacon. If we turn to titles we can see that they refer to the job or position within the hierarchy that a person holds. As you know the country is divided into areas, which we call Dioceses and these in turn are subdivided into parishes. Each parish is primarily ministered to by the Rector or the Vicar. The difference between these two titles is historical – if the parish had been owned by an Abbey it would have placed a Rector in charge. Vicars were those put in charge later to run the parish vicariously if a Rector had several parishes. Another title for the incumbent of the living, as it is called, is the Curate, who has the ‘care of souls’ of those living in the parish. This term lives on when we might refer to David and Charles as Assistant Curates, although we often say Curate for short to distinguish him or her from the Vicar or Rector (in the case of St Faith’s). I hope this helps!                         Fr. David

Looking around our lovely church, two names are very prominent in the memorial plaques and windows - Longcroft and FitzWygram. A lovely lady working in the church said to me one day that it was quite extraordinary that the Longcroft family had seven sons and yet not one survived to succeed their father. More about the Longcroft family next month but what about the FitzWygrams. Some months ago, a man from New Zealand, having visited our website, courtesy of Colin Carter's excellent work, contacted Father David and asked for details of the FitzWygram family for research he was undertaking in respect of a family in his own country. This is what we told him. A west window, adjacent to the Lady Chapel, commemorates General Sir Frederick FitzWygram and his sister Selina is remembered in the Chancel with a memorial window with the inscription "Selina Frances FitzWygram Died 17 April 1890 Aged 75." In the "History of the Catholic Church in Havant", published in 2000, there is a report of the opening of St Joseph's Church on 16 August 1875 and among those attending was Colonel Sir Frederick FitzWygram, Bart. In a Local History publication called "The Making of Havant" (1979), Sir Frederick FitzWygram Bart MP" is said to have been the President in 1892 of a Gymnasium Club which met twice weekly in the Havant Town Hall under the instruction of Mr C Duvall, late of the Royal Marine Artillery. (Are there any former members in church? We have a distinguished Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marines in church but he was not, as far as we know, a former member of the Gymnasium!) The publication also states that in 1901, the Havant Town Hall Company Ltd was wound up and the Town Hall purchased for the sum of £1,200 by Sir Frederick FitzWygram of Leigh Park, a generous benefactor of the people of Havant. After five years of ownership he enlarged and improved the building with additional cloak and ante-rooms. Later on in 1909, Sir Frederick is said to have leased the property to the County of Southampton Territorial Force for a period of seven years at a rental of £52 per annum, for use as a Public Hall and Drill Hall. Our correspondent from New Zealand E-Mailed Father David with the information that Sir Frederick lived from 1823 to 1904, yet there is mention of him leasing the Hall in 1909. Could this have been a son, another Frederick? So can any of you throw light on this subject? Do you know anything more about the family to enlighten the readers of "Faith Matters"? I cannot solve this mystery but I can name the two parishioners mentioned in this article. The lovely lady was Jenny Sagrott who has done so much over the years to beautify and clean our Church and Hall, not to mention her enthusiastic support of social events. The Lieutenant Colonel is of course Peter Thomas, who with the lovely Rosemary, has done so much for this church and St Nicholas Chapel. Only last month we read in "Faith Matters" his very moving and inspirational account of the life of John Philip Baker. As we consider our stewardship in terms of time and talent, we are very fortunate to have the example of Jenny, Rosemary and Peter.                                                                                                                                                                               Roger Bryant

Coffee morning with bring and buy sale in aid of St. Faith’s Church appeal funds on Wednesday 13^th August at 10am-12-noon. Entry £1-00, includes coffee and cakes, and will be held at Bob & Ally’s, 5 Longmead Gardens, Langstone, Havant.

This prayer is displayed in the historic Convenanters Church in Grand Pre New Brunswick and was sent to Janice Morgan by a family friend who lives in Wilberforce in Canada.

Father God:

We keep forgetting all those that lived before us.

We keep forgetting those who lived and worked in this community.

We keep forgetting those who prayed and sang hymns in this church before we were born.

We keep forgetting what our fathers have done for us.

We commit the sin Lord, of assuming that everything begins with us.

We drink from wells we did not find, we eat food from farmland we did not develop, we enjoy freedoms which we have not earned, we worship in churches which we did not build, we live in communities that we did not establish.

This day make us grateful for our heritage.

Turn our minds to those who lived in another day and under different circumstances, until we are aware of their faith and work.

Today we need to feel our oneness, not only with those of a recent generation who lived here, but those of every generation in every place whose faith and works have enriched our lives.

We need to learn from them in order that our faith will be as vital, our commitment as sincere, our worship as alive, our fellowship as deep, as many of the devout and faithful who lived in other times and places.

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ulster

Last month I wrote about John Pounds and the Ragged School, mentioning that the first Ragged School opened five years after his death. So how did it fare? But first, why was it called the Ragged School? Someone wrote of John Pounds; "His was a Ragged School. The only pupils to pass the doorway into this seat of learning were those who had dirty faces when they came, and whose poor rags of clothing hung in tattered shreds around their emaciated little bodies." The first Ragged School was opened in 1849 by a group of people who were inspired by the example of John Pounds. The school started in premises in St George's Square, Portsea, but was so successful that seven years later a new building for it was erected in nearby Richmond Place, behind the St George's Brewery. Rules for parents were as follows:

In the Report on the school in 1861, average attendance was Boys 90 and Girls 55, with 50 children fed daily. A religious service was held on Sunday mornings but this was for boys only because there was no room for the girls! (Sorry ladies but that's how it was in those days!) The Report went on to say that as a result of their education, "ragged" children went on to occupy "respectable and influential situations in the world - others are doing well in the Army and Navy! (What are they saying!)? None have been brought before the Magistrates." Over the years, a further 50 Ragged Schools were established throughout the country but, with the introduction of elementary schools, there was no longer a need for them and they closed, having done a magnificent service for the children of the Poor. Finally, who or what was "Old Benny"? This was the affectionate nickname for the Portsea Beneficial School and if you want to know more about it and of the Royal Seamen and Marines' Orphans School, you must get next month's Faith Matters".                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Roger Bryant

As you may know, there is a small band of volunteers who deliver "Faith Matters" in various parts of the parish each month and I am very grateful for their loyalty over many years. However, each month we are left with a number of unsold magazines, which is a pity because this results in a loss of income. Therefore if anyone else could help in selling these surplus magazines I would appreciate their assistance. If a few people could each take, say six magazines (or less), and sell them to their neighbours, friends or family, it would help to keep the price down. If you can assist in the distribution will you please telephone me on 023 9247 8499 or contact me at 3A, New Lane, Havant PO9 2JJ.                                                                                                                                                       Peter D Appleby

The St. Faith's Church Flower Festival was held 13-15 June 2003. It was opened by Brian Kidd from The News and the theme was "Creation". There were a large number of arrangements and many arrangers from local churches and other organisations, as well as from St. Faith's, who gave their talents and very considerable time freely. The colour, fragrance and arrangements of the flowers, with the originality and invention of the arrangers, was a delight to see and smell. For many of the contributors planning for the weekend took many months and preparation many days. Despite the meticulous planning, there is always last minute changes or details that have to be made to ensure continuity and correlation with other arrangements. Such a process of creativity that is both well planned and adaptable to the situation in hand reflects the on-going act of God’s creation. The beauty of creation is reflected in our world, but also in the hearts of God’s people as we are offered new hope in difficult times and situations.

Many thanks must go to the Churchwardens and PCC for promoting the Flower Festival and especially to the committee that put the event together. Particular thanks go to Christine Evans whose demonstration to potential arrangers last autumn and workshop this spring have been an inspiration for so many who benefited from her experience.

The aims of the festival were to encourage people into our beautiful church, and to raise money towards our Restoration Appeal. There were more than 100 people from various organisations, including St. Faith’s, and a splendid total of £2,126 (after expenses) was raised.

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Pews, perfume and petals in flower festival church - that was the headline in The News on Wednesday 18 June 2003.

Parishioner Shirley Caunter with one of the many floral displays at St Faith’s Church, Havant (picture by Malcolm Wells)

Catherine Burt wrote:

"Visitors to a local church could smell the perfume produced by displays on flowers before they can even see the exhibits at a flower festival. There were more than 62 arrangements and a number of extra pieces at the St Faith’s Church flower festival 2003. And the church, in West Street, Havant, looked blooming marvellous in aid of the church restoration appeal. The church and St Nicholas Chapel, in Langstone, have both had work carried out on their lead roofs. But it cost the churches nearly £60,000 and since January 2002 the congregations have been raising cash to pay for the work. The latest fundraising effort is the Creation flower festive. One of the organisers Sandra Haggan said: "It is such a beautiful church and it is lovely to see it full of flowers with people coming in to look at them. The perfume from the flowers hits you when you first come in the door and it has been lovely to see everyone working together to create such a marvellous display – even Father David Gibbons helped make one arrangement". The displays aim to reflect the beauty of creation and a number of them have been done by other local churches or groups, such as St Francis Church, Bedhampton Methodist Playschool and St Faith’s Sunday Club."

Unlike the Rector, I cannot see that the marriage rite implies that sexual desire is sinful or dirty. Words or phrases taken out of context can sometimes be construed as one wishes or predetermines. Taking another phrase from the marriage rite, "With my body I thee worship", this can be understood as an expression of sacramental sexuality. The marriage rite as a whole expresses the Christian ideal, the realisation of which, in our inadequate ways, we seek and strive for when we commit ourselves with vows given and received publicly under God’s blessing. No sign of a warped message as I see it. As for homosexual activity; if this matter were to be stripped of its euphemisms such as "gay", and objective assessment made of actual behaviour and consequences, then I feel sure that many people would view it in a different light. Father David invites comment on Women Priests and a Church blessing on the "union" of a homosexual couple. These are two very different issues with nothing in common. It has been accepted, even by the Roman Catholic Church, that there is no theological objection to women priests, and in time women bishops will be a logical and acceptable outcome. Blessing the union of a homosexual couple would be yet another step on the way to relativism, where nothing is solid, nothing can be depended on to endure, and belief, faith and principles are amended to suit whatever is current, popular and politically correct.

John Bradey

"What did you take?" his parish priest asked him.