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From
the Rector
It
certainly felt like it as I took my seat on 5 January as
the lights dimmed and the band struck up!
St
Faith’s Front doors were well and truly open over
Christmas and the New Year. Bosmere School graced us
with their Carol Service shortly before a group of them
supported Rotary’s community carols closer to Christmas.
The eve of the festival saw hundreds gather to sing
carols at the Blessing of The Crib and visit the ‘Angel
Tableau’ in the north porch which launched our
Christ-mass. But even all this was surpassed by the
thousand plus who were wowed by Dynamo Youth Theatre’s
production of Les Miserables which lit up the start of
Epiphany.
This is
the shape of things to come in this New Year and beyond
at St. Faith’s as we seek to welcome into the parish
church those groups who want to celebrate their role at
the heart of the Havant community. Down the centuries
Havant people will have been used to congregating in the
nave of the church for a wide variety of reasons and it
was only with the gradual provision of more community
halls and other public spaces that the more modest
churches became exclusively sanctuaries for worship and
latterly becoming filled with fixtures and fittings that
made them far less flexible.
Now
massively expensive to repair, renovate and refurbish we
have to return to tradition and ensure that they can
once again be re-ordered to serve, and in doing so,
consecrate all that is good in human striving.
With this
in mind we shall be seeking to link up with other groups
in Havant and beyond to forge effective partnerships
which can promote the arts at a time when so much of our
corporate life is likely to be dominated by economics
that will challenge the need for so many people to ‘keep
body and soul together’; easy to forget that the soul
needs nourishment too. Spirituality embraces more than
our religious beliefs and is enhanced by attending to
our hunger for cultural enrichment. ‘Spiritualising’
our Christian faith by reducing it to a churchy
religiosity contradicts a faith that testifies to God ‘enfleshed’.
Of course
the next great drama the Christian Church stages is the
epic that is Holy Week and Easter for which we prepare
by keeping a ‘holy’ Lent. The west end doors are open
again to make way for the Palm Procession on Palm Sunday
and the playing out of Christ’s passion begins. Holy
Week and Easter is why the church exists. Christ’s
rising from the shackles of death provides the reason
for us to live with hope in a meaningful life for
ourselves upon which the curtain can never finally fall.
We are reminded of this each time the west doors greet
a wedding couple or a coffin. This is the story
everyone needs to hear and then upon which to act.
The
welcome that the family of St .Faith’s offers springs
from our commitment to empty ourselves as Christ emptied
himself. Our mission is to make space for others so
that each can discover their human worth supremely
expressed in Jesus’ passion which offers life.
Children
and young people are a high priority in the work we
shall be doing and so we shall be making sure that our
developments focus on creating a safe and supportive
environment for our school students and pupils, new head
teachers Julia Vincent (Warblington School) and Kate
Opie (Bosmere School) join Brenda France and Alice Wood
to provide strong leadership in the nurture of our
children. We shall be doing all that we can in 2012 to
ensure that the excellence of what and how they learn at
school will be complemented by an enriching of their
lives in the community through the contribution of St.
Faith’s Church.
Peter Jones
The
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) - Sunday 11th
March St. Faith’s at 11.00 a.m.
Parochial
Church Council invites everyone on the church’s
electoral role to the presentation of the annual report
on the life and mission of the church. It is
immediately preceded by the meeting open to all
residents of the parish and those on the electoral role
living outside of the parish boundary at which
Churchwardens are elected.
The APCM
reviews the past year but this year will also make a
presentation on the plans that are being developed by
the PCC for the future mission.
Electoral Roll
Can you
say ‘yes’ to these questions?
*Are you
on the Church Electoral Roll and wish to remain so?
*Have you
changed your name or your address during the past year?
If so,
please let me know as the Electoral Roll will shortly be
revised and brought up to date ready for the Church’s
Annual Meeting in March. The Meeting gives all members
on the Roll the opportunity to have their say, to stand
for election to the Parochial Church Council and to vote
on Church matters. So – don’t miss out!
If there
is anyone who is a regular member of St Faith’s or St
Nicholas’, who is over the age of sixteen who is not on
the Roll and wishes to be included, please contact me.
Hilary Deadman
Flower Power
Saturday
17 March everyone is welcome to come along to join us in
church to make small posies ready for giving at the
Mothering Sunday 9.30 service.
On
Sunday 1 April, Palm Sunday, after the service there
will be a retiring collection for Easter Flowers in the
Church, all contributions welcome.
Les
Misérables – they were not
For the
first two weeks of January St Faith’s church played host
to the Dynamo Youth Theatre and its production of Les
Misérables. Hundreds of people packed into the church
during the performances, and the building itself became
part of the crew: the stone columns, beautifully
illuminated, stood proud as fitting background to France
in the early 1800s. The arch windows in the West End
(how namely) became enrobed in the colours of the French
Tricoleur; the stage filling the west end became a
bridge across the Seine; a harsh barricade was built in
stark contrast to the peaceful stone of the church; the
Nave bustled with both staging and audience; the pews
were perfect seating to suit the historical plot. There
are times, and this was one, where St Faith’s IS the
heart of Havant.
From the
reviews and many comments made, here are some…
Havant treated to a West End quality production of Les
Misérables
In early
January this year, seven packed audiences watched Dynamo
Youth Theatre perform Les Misérables in the wonderful
surroundings of St Faith’s Church.
Every single member of the cast was totally focused and
committed. The chorus work was outstanding and the
directing team, led by the Group’s Artistic Director and
Founder, Andrew Bowker, were able to harness the
members’ talents to produce so many memorable
highlights. Audiences would have been struck by the
quality of the singing, both from the soloists and
chorus. The group has some incredible talent and with
such amazing music and glorious sound there were lots of
moist eyes in the audience.
While the
church gave the production a unique atmosphere, it
clearly gave enormous technical challenges not least of
which was finding space for such a large cast and their
props to be “hidden” from the audience. Their discipline
and silent movement to get on and off stage was amazing.
The scene changes were handled calmly and with such
skill that it added much to the theatrical experience.
The
adults behind the scenes had clearly worked their socks
off and the whole team deserve huge thanks from
everyone. The set was inspired and worked so well, the
costumes make up and the musicians were, as always with
Dynamo Shows, spot on.
At times
Dynamo Youth Theatre must have thought it madness to
undertake such an enormous challenge but without
exception, every single member of the audience was so
delighted that they did and will remember their night
out at St Faith’s for a long time.
County Councillor Ray Bolton and his wife Pat attended
the final performance of the Dynamo Youth Theatre’s
production
“My wife
and I thought that the young cast put on an outstanding
performance of Les Misérables, and the use of St.
Faith’s Church was the perfect venue for the staging of
this ambitious production. I believe that using the
church in this way provides a further opportunity to
bring members of our local community together and it was
great to see the support that the church, the parents
and friends of the cast gave to the Dynamo Youth
Theatre. It gave members of the sixty strong cast the
opportunity to develop lifetime personal skills: working
together as a team; experiencing the discipline and hard
work involved in learning, rehearsing; and building the
self-confidence necessary to perform to an audience.
These opportunities are very much in line with
Hampshire County Council’s priorities for our young
people’s education and their cultural and community
development.
My
congratulations to everyone involved in this amazing
production and I look forward to seeing future
productions by the Dynamo Youth Theatre.”
Les Mis – views from the wardrobe!
As well as being the exceptionally proud mother of “Jean
Valjean” and a member of the “Poor Chorus”, I was
involved with the costumes for Les Mis under the
leadership of the lovely Rosie Searle whose vision and
enthusiasm knows no bounds.
Performing Les Miserables in the church was an
unforgettable experience for all involved. I had spent
the latter part of the Christmas season helping with the
“get in” to the church which involved moving the pews
and various other items normally in the church. I then
spent some time shopping for accessories for the
‘prostitutes’ and also to customise some hats for
“Javert” and the constables, making “Smurf hats” for the
revolutionaries and tricoleur rosettes, as well as
various other accessories, alterations and repairs.
There was never a dull moment!
I then helped with the “tech” and dress rehearsals and
with most of the performances, (I was audience at two).
Dressing the show in the church was a challenge to say
the least. The boys were changing in the Lady Chapel,
the girls in the temporary choir vestry with a doorway
cut in the wall to give access to the chancel where
those not on stage waited and also gave access to “hair
and make up” in the vestry and the sacristy! There were
some amusing moments with the boys walking through the
girls changing room whilst “averting their eyes….!”
It was interesting to experience the near “sauna”
conditions in the church – I never thought that I would
be too hot in church in January!
The production worked extremely well and the backdrop of
the church added greatly to the atmosphere of the piece;
it felt as though it was absolutely the right place to
stage Les Mis. The cast far from being put out by the
challenging conditions seemed to relish the different
environment to perform in. Although Dynamo has
performed in the church before, this was an incredibly
ambitious transformation of the church to provide a
“theatre”. Hopefully everyone who came to see it will
remember it for a very long time as I am sure all those
involved with the cast and crew will. I am sure that
the members of Dynamo Youth Theatre are grateful to the
family of St Faith’s for the opportunity they have all
experienced. I would also like to think that the family
of St Faith’s has also gained from the experience.
Kate Walsh
Thank
you DYT
I would
like to congratulate the whole of Dynamo Youth Theatre
on our latest performance of ‘Les Miserables’. It was
performed here in the church over the last two weeks,
meaning that our church had to be transformed into a
theatre with staging and scaffolding at the west end,
plus many lights suspended in the arches of the Nave.
Although
the sight of scaffolding in the church around Christmas
time wasn’t the best image, it paid off because the
backdrop of the church with its stone and striking
architecture suited the story very well.
I think
it was great for DYT to perform in a different venue
such as the church. The advertising attracted new
visitors; also it made people more aware of the company
itself. Along the journey of making the show happen,
there were many challenges, for example, the limited
space for makeup and costume, and only one toilet for
over 65 cast and crew members!
But we
managed to pull through and produce the emotional
performance. I am a DYT member and I enjoyed every
minute of the making and show itself.
I would
like to say a massive thank you to Andrew Bowker,
Pauline West, Mo Whiting and the whole of the DYT
directing team. All the hard work has pulled off and it
produced a phenomenal atmosphere at St Faith’s to be
remembered forever! Well done DYT!
Emily Frost - cast member Les Miserables
Words from the Stage
“Quite honestly I’d never been to church so much! Les
Mis was an exhilarating, enjoyable and exhausting
experience. Performing in the church felt weird and
disorientating having the entire church back to front,
with the stage at the rear. The show was an excellent
way to bring the Havant community together; lots of
people who never come to church came to watch. It’s an
experience I will always treasure”
Archie McKeown cast member, Brujon
Photograph by Paul Burrows
www.robpaulstudios.com
Easter at St Faith’s – something for
everyone
Holy Week, the week immediately before Easter Sunday,
and Easter Sunday itself are very special times in the
Christian calendar. We journey with Christ through his
last days on earth, his final journey to his trial and
execution, waiting whilst he lies in the tomb before his
glorious return to life.
Here at St Faith’s we are hoping to offer a range of
services that will appeal to both those who are well
used to travelling this road and those who are
interested in finding out more about the significance of
this time.
On Monday 2 April 7.30pm - A service of Evening Prayer
with an Address. A traditional service offering time
for reflection.
On Tuesday 3 April 7.30pm - Stations of the Cross. A
service in which we trace the footsteps of Jesus from
the house of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate (who
handed Jesus over for execution) as he walks the streets
of Jerusalem, carrying his cross, to the place of
execution. The beautiful wall carvings that can be seen
inside St Faith’s church will be used as a focus for
this service.
On Wednesday 4 April 7.30pm - Tenebrae (Latin for
shadows). A candlelit service of readings and music in
which darkness gradually descends upon the church as
Christ nears his arrest and death.
On Thursday 5 April 7.30pm - Sung Eucharist and Vigil
for Maundy Thursday. The service of Holy Communion in
which the actions of the Last Supper are recalled. The
altar is stripped bare and a silent vigil is kept until
midnight.
On Friday 6 April - 9.30am - Children’s workshop and
service. Craft activities aimed at primary school
children, although younger and older children welcome.
Refreshments. Short children’s service. We regret we
are unable to host children without an adult. Watch out
for more details.
11.00am - Walk of witness with Churches together in
Havant leaves St Joseph’s Church.
1.30 pm -The Liturgy and devotions for Good Friday.
On Saturday 7 April - This year we are planning to join
with Portsmouth Cathedral for the confirmations by the
Bishop as part of the Easter Vigil and Eucharist. More
details will be available closer to the date but it is
usually held at about 8pm.
On Sunday 8 April 8.00am - The Holy Eucharist will be
celebrated at both St. Faith’s and St. Nicholas
Langstone.
9.30am - Festival Sung Eucharist to celebrate Easter
Day. Alleluia!
Fun in AbunDance with Havant Chamber Orchestra!
The Havant Orchestras’ first concert of 2012 at Ferneham
Hall, Fareham on Saturday 11 February at 7.30pm includes
a special World Premiere. The former trombonist in
Havant Symphony Orchestra and now international
composer, Simon Wills has composed a short work for
chamber orchestra so that Havant Chamber Orchestra can
wish its slightly older ‘sister’, Havant Symphony
Orchestra ‘Happy 50th Birthday’. On first reading the
score, the Orchestras’ Musical Director, Peter Craddock
sent this message to Simon: ‘WHACKO FOR TRUFFALDINO!
It's lovely - I like it - it appeals to my cheeky sense
of not-having-grown-up humour - surely reflecting both
of us!!’ So there are no excruciating, clashing
harmonies, simply a very happy, fun piece for everyone
to enjoy.
The concert will open with a short work by Delius, the
Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda and this will be
followed by the new work which is sub-titled ‘A Ballet
for Chamber Orchestra’ although the players will remain
firmly seated! The exciting, Peters field-based horn
specialist Richard Steggall, will take the soloist’s
spotlight for a performance of Richard Strauss’ 1st Horn
Concerto and Beethoven’s MEGA ‘classical’ Symphony No 3
completes the ideal celebratory concert menu.
Truffaldino will be previewed at 6.30pm by David Goodall
in the Concert Hall while younger listeners can join the
Upbeat Club for their own musical fun.
Tickets, £7.00 - £18.00, with concessions for students
(50% reduction) and children (tickets just £1.00) are on
sale now at Ferneham Hall Box Office, 01329 231942 and
online at www.fernehamhall.co.uk. Tickets are also
available for the remaining concerts this season – 24
March, 19 May and HSO’s 50th Anniversary concert on 7
July.
You can see more news of the Orchestras at:
www.havantorchestras.hampshire.org.uk.
Havant Chamber Orchestra Saturday 11 February, 7.30pm
Ferneham Hall, Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7DB
Prime of Lifers
The Prime of Lifers Ladies Group met at the end of
October for a quiet day at St. John’s Rowlands Castle.
There were fourteen ladies from our Cluster Churches and
after we had a cup of coffee and a chat we went to the
upper room where it was explained after the introduction
and the opening worship we would remain silent until
mid-day prayer. We could go anywhere within the church
premises and grounds to read, meditate, pray or just to
talk with God. There were craft materials and coloured
pens and paper to express what was happening to us at
that particular time.
After mid-day prayer we then went for lunch in silence.
We next met for a second talk and for guided meditation
and we went off again for silent reflection. We
gathered together later in the afternoon to talk about
the day so far and then we concluded with an AGAPE
service which has prayers, readings, songs and
confession and finishes not with bread and wine but with
oatcakes, honey and water which we pass to one another
with a blessing.
I am sure we all went away refreshed and ready to cope
with Advent and the preparation for Christmas.
At the beginning of December we were joined by husbands
and friends for a coach trip to Bath Christmas Market.
Twenty four of us set off at 8 am and arrived at Bath at
10.45 am. I think it was the most crowded place I have
ever been to and it was a job to get near to any of the
stalls. But Bath is a beautiful city with a very good
shopping centre and lots of things to see and do. The
Christmas decorations were fantastic and several people
managed to get to the Cathedral and were lucky enough to
here carols being sung. Twenty four very weary people
returned to the coach at 6 pm and arrived back home at
8.45 pm. It was an enjoyable day but we have decided we
would not go to a Christmas Market on a Saturday again.
On 10 December we met for our Christmas dinner again at
Rowlands Castle. 35 of us sat down to an excellent
traditional Christmas dinner cooked and served by the
Ladies called the Minkies from St. John’s. We were
joined by the Vicar of St John’s and after we had eaten
we heard some poetry readings and a couple of stories.
The lights were dimmed and each church chose their
favourite carol and we finished up with the presents
from under the tree.
This was a very pleasant end to our programme for the
year and we now look forward to see what we can arrange
for 2012.
Jackie
A to Z of the Church of England
Confused by the jargon used in church? Want to know what
some of the words your vicar uses actually mean? This
issue of FM sees the continuation of our new feature,
first seen in the Diocese newspaper, Pompey Chimes in
2003. It aims to take a light-hearted look and take the
mystery out of church life.
D is for...
DEACON: An ordained minister whose ministry expresses
the servant nature of Christ. Came to refer to curates
in their first year, as a transition to becoming
priests.
DEAN: Originally referred to a monk supervising 10
novices, but came to mean the clergy person in charge of
a cathedral, supervising other clergy.
DIOCESE: Geographical unit of the church. Ours is all
the Anglican worshippers in south-east Hampshire and the
Isle of Wight, spread over 142 parishes and 173
churches, under the care of Bishop Christopher.
DISCIPLES: Followers of Christ, meaning in the time of
Christ and now.
DOG COLLAR: The thin white strip worn around the neck of
clergy. Can have a magical effect in public places -
people stop swearing, but studiously avoid eye contact
with the wearer.
E is for...
EASTER: When we remember Jesus’s resurrection from the
dead. The biggest festival of the year, as it marks the
most important moment in the Christian calendar. It is
therefore preceded by the preparation time of Lent and
Holy week.
ECUMENICAL: Projects or services in which churches of
all denominations (Methodists, Baptists, Catholics and
community church worshippers) work together.
More A-Z next issue. Thanks again to Pompey Chimes for
the original version.
Did you know this…?
St Blaise - a February saint...
If you go to Boxgrove Priory near Chichester on February
the third you will hear a service for the Blessing of
the throats. St Blaise is a joint patron saint of the
Priory and he is famed for his great power as a
physician, particularly for treating objects stuck in
the throat.
The first reference to him is found in manuscripts
written by Aetius Arminus, a court physician of the end
of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century. It is
believed that St Blaise was born to a rich noble family
in Armenia who raised him as a Christian. After
becoming a bishop a persecution of Christians began. He
received a message from God to escape into the hills and
took hiding in a cave. While he was living there it is
said that wild animals came to him, did him no harm and
were healed of their illnesses. He was discovered and
on his way to prison, he told a wolf to release a pig
that it was attacking. The pig’s owner was so grateful
to him that he brought St Blaise food while he was in
prison. Another time, St Blaise cured a boy who had a
fishbone stuck in his throat.
Brought before the Roman governor St Blaise refused to
give up his Christian faith. He was beaten and his
flesh was torn with steel combs. While he lay dying, he
promised to help those who invoked him. As well as
being the patron saint of throat complaints he is also
traditionally the patron of wool combers and of all
workers in wool. This is because of the similarity of
the combs with which he was tortured to death to those
used in wool combing.
St Blaise is venerated in his native Armenia and at
Dubrovnik in Croatia. In England, the Cornish town of
St Blazey is named after him. The little church of
Haccombe, South Devon, is dedicated to him. This church
adjoins Haccombe House, home of the Carew family who are
descended from the captain of the Mary Rose which sank
in Henry VIII’s time and is now preserved in Portsmouth
Dockyard.
Another association with the name Blaise is of course
the name of a member of our church here at St Faith’s
Havant.
Richard Acworth and Hilary Deadman
Thank you
On Sunday 20 November last year St .Faith’s marked
Sylvia Willey’s retirement as Director of Music and
Organist – a post that she held for seven years. The
capacity for music making that Sylvia established,
especially for our younger choir members, will be vital
for the future development of our worship. Thank you
Sylvia.
Peter and Rosemary Thomas presented the PCC with an
extraordinarily generous cheque as a result of
Rosemary’s sale of paintings last November. The
proceeds are designated for St. Faith’s Church
redevelopment fund.
Thank you to the army of helpers from across the
community as well as from within the congregations who
facilitated our Christmas worship and subsequent
cultural events.
Langstone Cutters Rowing Club
The annual Blessing of the Boats will take place on
Sunday 25 March at 1300 outside the Old Mill, Langstone.
The Club’s boats will be dressed overall in this unique
ceremony that is much treasured by the rowers at their
official start to the rowing season. All are very
welcome to participate.
St. Faith’s Church
Charity Shop – Retirement
Helpers from the St Faith’s Church Charity Shop attended
a tea in Church House in The Pallant on Friday 16
December 2011 to mark the retirement of Sheila Warlow
who has been the manager of the shop since November
2005.
In the 6 years during Sheila’s management, a large
amount of money has been raised for the Parish funds. A
song depicting all the things that take place in the
shop was written and sung by her friend, Marion Porter –
the words follow here.
Canon Peter Jones thanked Sheila and all the helpers for
the splendid work that they do. Sheila was presented
with a voucher from all the helpers, and a cake made by
Teresa Atchison.
Colin Carter
Sheila and the Charity Shop
(Tune: Country Gardens (trad.))
What kind of things are brought in for sale
To the Church Shop known as Charity?
There are clothes for the female and for
the male
In the Church Shop known as Charity.
Children’s clothes and books and toys
Suitable for girls and boys
Vases, saucepans and pictures in frames,
Cups and saucers, teapots, jigsaws and games
In the Church Shop known as Charity.
Who is the one who keeps
everything neat?
In the Church Shop known as Charity?
Who washes the clothes and irons every week?
For the Church Shop known as Charity?
Cleans the toys and pairs the socks,
Hangs the pictures, sorts the frocks,
Knows where to find anything in the store,
Why it’s Sheila who does all this and much more
At the Church Shop known as Charity.
Who cleans the windows
and sweeps the floor
In the Church Shop known as Charity?
Who’s there most days at 9
and at 4?
In the Church Shop known as Charity?
Who takes the money to the bank?
It’s Sheila whom we all must thank.
She covers for staff when they’re absent or late
And she knows every item that’s in number 8!
In the Church Shop known as Charity.
Marion Porter
Sunday Club News
Sunday club is open to children aged 4 and over during
term time, except on the 4th Sunday of the month which
is a family service. Where? Church House When? From
9.15am for a 9.30 start - Children are then brought back
to Church in time for communion.
What do we do? While you are in church your children
could be learning and getting creative...
Themes vary from week to week, sometimes following the
theme in church, other times covering a topic
appropriate for that week. We play games, listen to
stories, get messy with craft activities (painting,
gluing, sticking etc), questions, share a Godly play
story, colour, paint, listen to music and sometimes sing
& play with instruments...
Stop press...This
year there is a change afoot with family services.
Children will be more involved in them and occasionally
Sunday club will be asked to participate...the first of
these for Sunday club will be around the time of
Pentecost, so get those red and orange outfits ready!!
Sunday club helpers look forward to welcoming new
children. Any questions please contact: Penny Britt:
02392472054 or pennyb195@aol.com
Youth Club
We meet at Church House or Church Hall on alternate
Sunday evenings, term time: 6pm-7.30pm
Come along for fun and games. For next session date &
further details
Contact: Fiona Hedley 023 9249 8229.
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