From the Rector - Letter from Australia

On the day in 2009 when many citizens in the state of Victoria lost their lives in bushfires outside Melbourne my son had been caught out riding his bike when the forty-seven degree temperature hit the region sparking the fatal conflagration.  As moisture was forced from his body and wetted clothes turned crisp in a flash he just made it over the threshold into the shower avoiding the collapse he feared.  He recounted the story as we monitored the media coverage of the floods that have devastated south east Queensland during which more lives have been lost in recent days.  Australia - the land of fire and water.

Weather events on this scale certainly put into perspective the protracted cold snap which imposed widespread inconvenience and some danger to the United Kingdom across Christmas and the New Year.

As we move on beyond the first decade of the twenty-first century it isn’t just the apparent increase in extreme weather events occurring across the globe which most concern us, troubling though they are; the really worrying problem is the different levels of capacity that nations have in their attempts to respond.  It looks like the floods being reported from Queensland exceed in size those that last year brought death and destruction to Pakistan.  True, the size of population affected on the Indian sub-continent was far larger than the numbers inhabiting townships like Rockhampton and St. George.  This explains no doubt why the appeal to support the rescue and repair programme for the hundreds of thousands living within the Indus valley needed to be global in its scope.  Australia is unlikely to benefit from multi-national support and has, so far, mobilised largely only its own national resources to meet short and long term requirements.  The hundreds of millions of dollars that the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard believes will be needed to rebuild the infrastructure as well as the homes and businesses of the vast area that has been affected will no doubt be found from a still buoyant regional economy.  But make no mistake flood affected families here are hurting all the same not least because many of them suffered exactly the same fate at the same time one year ago: it will take time to reinstate what has been lost.  The capacity and wherewithal to do it, however, actually exists.  And yet, even with this relative good news, the victims need more than the promise of money; what has been noticeable in the television coverage has been the gratitude of displaced families for the personal prime-ministerial visits and hugs that were speedily administered.  Human beings, of whatever ethnic background or culture need to know that their pain is understood and acknowledged.  This seems as important, if not more so, than the guarantee of compensation.

The lesson to be drawn from these two observations, the first about the inequities that exist between people of different economic means which determines to what extent recovery can be achieved and second whether or not real sympathy can be demonstrated in the immediate aftermath of disaster, is that the churches’ response to any suffering must operate on both fronts.  We must fight the poverty that further disadvantages the disaster victim and, second, our awareness of and involvement in the plight of other human beings must extend as far from our immediate environment as necessary.  The church’s mission is practical and global.  And this is why when Christians, as part of their committed discipleship, make available a proportion of what they have received from God to be used for ministry, they do so in the full knowledge that this resource will contribute to mission at home and overseas.  It is good that the human touch is available to Pakistani and Queenslander.  How much better it would be if they could both benefit from access to similar material resources.  God’s church exists to show that this should happen.

Peter Jones - Melbourne

From the Editor

An extraordinary PCC meeting was held on 3 January, the night before the Rector flew to Australia, with two items on the agenda. 

1.  To approve the nave altar experiment, including the purchase of a plinth - to be paid from the Property Development Account (this is the account for the Restoration and Re-development, Lighting, Organ and CCTV Funds) at a cost of around £3,600.  Some members expressed doubts as to whether parishioners wanted a nave altar but the resolutions were carried by a majority. 

2.  To approve the 2010 budget.  The proposed budget showed that expenditure exceeded income (a deficit budget), and was not approved so as not to set a precedent, requiring more work before it is put before the PCC again.  The Finance Committee had almost achieved a balanced budget but the PCC had stated that 5% of our income should be allocated to Extra Parochial Giving (EPG) as recommended by the General Synod. 

It was considered that more information about the nave altar experiment and EPG should be provided to parishioners.  The lack of communication and dissemination of information had been noted and the Rector is setting up a working party to examine methods of communication in the parish to circulate information to parishioners .

At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on Sunday 13 March you will have the opportunity to ask any questions about the church.

Both the “Carols by Candlelight” service at St. Faith’s were well attended as in previous years, which is encouraging although for many C of E Christians it means coming to church at Christmas and Easter only - the previous week I attended the carol service at my grand daughter’s school which was held at the Church of the Resurrection in Drayton and that had a full congregation too.  St. Faith’s church looked lovely in candlelight with all the flowers making a beautiful display.

Please note that the Parish Office is expected to move from Church House to 2 North Street on Thursday 10 February and will be open Monday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9.30am to 12-noon.

Alan Hakim pointed out that in the Mary Lindell article in last month’s “Faith Matters”, the Vichy government got its name because it was based in the town of Vichy.  The ‘hated collaborator’ was Pierre Laval.  Roger Bryant apologies for this “senior moment”.

Bishop Kenneth Stevenson – until recently, Bishop of Portsmouth, died last month after his condition deteriorated and he decided to receive palliative care only.

Colin Carter

Come to St. Faith’s Church for the monthly

COFFEE  MORNING        

on           Saturday  5^th February 2011

10.00am until 12-noon

Jenny’s Jams        Raffle                    Jewellery

Delicious cakes    Coffee/tea/soft drinks

All proceeds to St. Faith’s Restoration & Redevelopment Fund

ALL        WELCOME –

BRING YOUR FRIENDS

 The “Coronel” Monument in All Saints Churchyard

Joy and I were married in March 1954 and bought a house in Milton, Portsmouth, in December that year, two months after I finished my national service in the RAF.  Our next door neighbour was an old gentleman of some 80 years who had served in the Royal Navy and Admiralty throughout his working life.  When we introduced ourselves to him, he told us that his closest friend in the Navy was a Richard Bryant.  He said that they had served together on warships.  He had been Chief Gunner and “Dick” Chief Armourer.  To his surprise, I told him that Richard was my grandfather who I had never seen.  He told us that when war broke out in 1914, they had gone their separate ways, with Dick joining an obsolete cruiser named the “Good Hope”.

On 1 November, 1914, the Good Hope and two other cruisers, the Monmouth and the Glasgow, under the command of Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, confronted a German battle fleet under the command of Admiral Maximilian von Spee in the Coronel Sea, so called because of the neighbouring Chilean port of Coronel.  The three cruisers were hopelessly outgunned and were sitting targets for the German fleet.  The Good Hope was Admiral Cradock’s flag ship and although already on fire, the Admiral closed in on the enemy ships.  Within minutes the action was over.  The forward section of the Good Hope exploded and the ship broke apart, sinking without a trace.  The other two cruisers sank minutes later and there was not a single survivor.  My grandmother, who never remarried, was left with five sons to bring up.

Last October, we went to a service at All Saints Church, Catherington, where our Sandra spent several weeks of her training to be a Reader.  They speak well of her!  We went to hear our granddaughter Tiffany’s Banns read and again in December through the snow to attend her wedding to Jeffrey.  For the first time, I learnt that there was a Coronel Monument between the Lych-gate and the West Door of the church erected by his family, who lived in the area, to commemorate Admiral Cradock.  We were told that a fund was being raised to do restoration work on the monument. 

If sufficient money is raised, a new engraved stone memorial would be put at the foot of the monument in memory of all those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Coronel Sea and two subsequent sea battles.  Here lies another story because weeks after this battle, the two fleets met again at what became known as the First Battle of the Falklands.  This time the German Fleet was defeated and Admiral Maximilian von Spee killed.  We now move forward to 1939 and the Battle of the River Plate when again the British Fleet was victorious.  So what is the connection to the other two battles?  The two Colin’s – Carter and Warlow – know!  The German battleship on the River Plate was the Graf von Spee.  My grandfather’s name is on the Royal Navy Memorial on Southsea seafront.  I have never seen a photograph of him but recently my grandson Darren found his service record on the internet so for the first time I had details of his career and even a description of him.  I hope All Saints are able to erect the engraved stone memorial so that on 1 November I can put some flowers there in memory of the grandfather I never knew.

Roger Bryant

Deanery Election Synod 2011

We (Incumbent and PCC Secretary) have received the annual notification from the Deputy Diocesan Secretary (Jane Dobbs) of the number of places we have on the Deanery Synod in 2011.

This is allocated according to the number of people we have on our Electoral Roll.  At the time it was reported we had 165 names giving us (as in previous years) 2 places.  The places are filled by election at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on 13 March. 

Our current two representatives, Michael Fluck and Sandra Haggan, have to stand for re-election in 2011 under the three year rule if they are to continue on the Havant Deanery Synod.

Having seen the work of representatives over the years, I would like to say that Michael, Sandra and (before Sandra) Shirley Caunter have been excellent and I cannot remember anyone doing so much for IDWAL as Michael and wife Anne.

Roger Bryant

Magazine Income & Expenditure in 2010

The income in 2010 (with the 2009 figures in brackets) from sales of “Faith Matters” was £783.15 (£692.35) and from advertisements £1,099 (£752) giving a total income of £1,882.15 (£1,444.35).  The cost of printing the 12 editions of “Faith Matters” was £1,260 (£1,260), resulting in a profit of £622.15 (£184.35).  The profit is a result of the generosity of many readers who give more than the printed price of the magazine.  The aim is for the magazine to “break even”, therefore the price of “Faith Matters” should remain at 30p during 2011 provided the printing costs do not increase and parishioners remember to buy a copy each month.

Beryl Carter

Correspondence Column

Dear Editor,

I am at present engaged in writing up the career of one of Stansted’s former owners, The Rev. Lewis Way.

In 1820 there are letters to suggest that he let Stansted House to Mr John Julius Angerstein, who at that time appeared anxious to live in this area.  He had earlier shown an interest in purchasing Leigh Park House.

I understand that Mr Angerstein, who was a wealthy and prominent citizen, his portrait collection was given to the nation and formed the beginnings of the National Portrait Gallery, had some connection with St. Faith’s Church.

If any of your readers could throw some light on any dealings that Mr Angerstein had with St. Faith’s, I would be most grateful.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Olding, Chairman Friends of Stansted

8 Towers Garden, Langstone, Havant PO9 1RZ

 

A Prayer for our Church

God our Father, graciously hallow with your blessing this parish church.

May it be a place where the sorrowing find comfort and the tempted strength;

Where the lonely find fellowship and the sinner forgiveness;

Where the faithful find grace, and all offer you a holy worship;

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notes of Worship Committee Meeting – 31 December 2010

Quarterly Calendar.  The key services and events for the first quarter of 2011 were identified and a poster sized calendar would be produced to cover the period from the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to the end of Easter Week (18 January – 30 April).  Flyers would be produced according to the incidents of ‘highlights’ during each quarter.  The bulletin would publicise the Bishop of Portsmouth’s presence on 23 January at Havant Methodist Church. 

Candlemas would be observed on Sunday 30 January. 

Prominence would also be given to the Lent lecture by Henry Rattle at URC Meeting Place on Saturday 19 March.

Lent, Holy Week & Easter.  An article on ‘Lent, Holy Week & Easter’ would be written for March “Faith Matters” explaining why the passion narratives appear on Palm Sunday. 

Ash Wednesday Eucharist at 7.30pm would be preceded by a 6.00pm pancake party publicised as ‘Feast before Famine’.  The Men’s Group would be approached to supervise and deliver a safe event.

The observance for Good Friday was discussed.  The Rector would consider the feasibility of a children’s workshop in church to follow on from the ‘walk of witness’.  This would introduce families to the key stages in the Passiontide narrative as an experimental version of ‘Stations of the Cross’.

The Triduum (the three days from Holy Thursday) would be observed by holding the Easter Vigil at 8.00pm beginning with the lighting of the New Fire and culminating with the renewal of baptismal promises.  The final part of this Easter Liturgy (the Eucharist) would be held over until Easter morning.

North Transept and Portable Plinth for the Nave.  The Rector circulated an extract from a paper prepared for the extraordinary PCC meeting scheduled for 3 January as it would be helpful if the feeling of this committee were made known to the full council.  The paper provided further detail to the article which appeared in “Faith Matters” in December.  Following extensive discussion about the accompanying features of the proposed sanctuary area, the movement of communicants, the provisions for the choir, the specification and the cost of the installation, the majority of those present felt that it was a positive investment that indicated our intentions to develop during a time of financial challenge.

Parish Communion Orders of Service.  The Rector would bring forward proposals in the spring regarding any attempt to improve on what is presently provided.               

“Old Mother Hubbard”

What a pleasure it was to attend Dynamo Youth Theatre’s Wild West Pantomime Adventure in St. Faith’s Church Hall!  62 young people aged 11 – 18 years presented “Old Mother Hubbard” by Paul Reakes.

These talented youngsters were supported by a team of adult helpers, who had been working together on the production for three months, including the Christmas holidays.  This was the first pantomime that the company had produced since it’s founding in 1981 and it was probably the first time the stage had been used in fifty years.

The show excelled in the chorus numbers which were brilliantly choreographed and exuberantly sung.

The scenery, lighting and costumes were superb and reflected much hard work by all concerned.

The direction, under the overall charge of Dynamo’s founder, Andrew Bowker and Sam Chilcott was divided up between many of the members, providing valuable experience for the future.

Havant is fortunate to have such a wonderful organisation and we wish it every success as it celebrates its thirtieth year.

Geoff Porter

St Faith’s Turret Clock

Choir Rules in the Good Old Days – 1915

As the choir returns from their Christmas break, members may like to read the choir rules of 96 years ago!

The practice shall commence at 8.30, or at such later time as a sufficient number shall have gathered together.  Members are thought more of if they arrive late.

The choir meets one evening a week for the following purposes: to discuss politics, tennis, scandal or church affairs; to arrange socials, excursions, etc., and to flirt.  NB.  If there is any time not occupied in the foregoing manner, and if the members feel inclined, it might be desirable to have a little singing.

The choir shall consist of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses.  All those ladies who cannot read music shall sing alto.  Should any lady with a high voice object to singing alto, she is recommended to consult a voice specialist, who will be almost certain to pronounce her a deep contralto with a faulty method of production.

The tenors shall consist of many fair gentlemen, who do not mind straining their voices.  All the gentlemen left over are required to sing bass.

Basses are at liberty to sing tenor, if they feel that their extensive compass is not duly recognised.  He must be a poor worm of a bass who cannot sing tenor if he likes.

No notice should be taken of the conductor.  Do not trouble to look at his beat.  He should tap.  What your next door neighbour is saying is sure to be of greater interest to you.

The conductor is always pleased to receive advice from individual members.  He likes to receive hints as to choir management, suggestions as to tempo and expression, and is delighted to be instructed in the elements of musical grammar.  If you think he has made a mistake, tell him so!

Members of the choir are recommended to take home copies of music to look over at their leisure.  It really doesn’t matter if they don’t bring them back, because choir funds are usually in a flourishing condition, and more copies can always be bought.

Russell Museum

Are You on the Roll?

St Faith’s Church Electoral Roll will be revised before the Annual Church Parochial Meeting in March.  If you are a member of St Faith’s or of St Nicholas Langstone and wish to have a vote at the meeting do please check that your name is on the list.  If you have changed your address or name or any other particulars it is important that this too should be updated.

You can be included on the Roll if:

you are over the age of sixteen,

in regular attendance at Church either resident in this parish or have been worshipping here for a period of six months or more, and,

a member of the Church of England or a Church in communion with it.

Do please contact me if you have any questions.  My telephone number is on the contacts list at the end of this magazine.

Hilary Deadman