From the Editor

A year ago I wrote in my editorial “In 2008 we should see the start of the renovation of Church House and Coach House and get approval for the church extension.  These will be financed by the selling of Christchurch Centre and the Bungalow.  So 2008 will be an interesting year for the Property Development Group and the PCC”.  Well it was an interesting year, but the optimism of a year ago did not foresee the economic turbulence and the intransigence of the planners. 

The situation one year on is that:

a. The Christchurch Centre is being leased for a period of 25 months with an option to buy and will be used for a nursery – this will satisfy HBC and will provide a community facility in the area;

b. The bungalow has been let on a short term lease and can be sold when the market improves;

c. Planning permission for the refurbishment of Church House and Coach House has been given by the council so we can proceed as soon as money is available from the sale of the Christchurch Centre;

d. The Archdeacon and members of the DAC visited the church on 3 December and agreed that our plans for the church should be in two phases – phase 1 the internal changes (re-ordering) and phase 2 the extension – the latter still needs to be approved by the planners.

So another interesting year lies ahead!

The annual bell ringers’ dinner was held on 29 November.  The food was excellent and there was after dinner entertainment.  Once again it was superbly organised by Barbara and Bill Skilleter.  For your diary, this year’s dinner will be on 28 November 2009

Did you go and see “The Inn Crowd” by the Havant Light Opera’s Christmas Concert which was advertised in the November edition?  The first half was The Light of the World, a selection from the Oratorio by Sir Arthur Sullivan and after the interval The Inn Crowd – a musical version of the story of Mary’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus by Roger Jones.  It was followed by community carol singing which ended a most enjoyable evening.

The PCC held a buffet supper in the Church Hall on 9 December and met the two applicants to be our new Rector before the formal interview by the Bishop, Archdeacon and our two representatives, Sandra and Graham, on 10 December.  However, neither candidate was offered the post so we continue to look for a new Rector for St. Faith’s.

A happy, peaceful and healthy 2009 to all our readers.

Colin Carter

The Hospital of St Cross

This is the story of the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouses of Noble Poverty in Winchester.  But first a question.  Why is it called a hospital when it has no medical connection?  The name originated in the Middle Ages and is a derivative of hospitality.  You all knew!  You’re too good for me.  There is a lovely story about the founding of the Hospital.  Legend has it that Henry de Blois, a grandson of William the Conqueror, was walking in the Itchen Meadows when he was stopped by a young peasant girl who pleaded with him to help the people who were starving because of the civil war which was raging.  He was greatly moved.  Walking on further he encountered the ruins of a religious house and decided to build a refuge on the site for the poor.  We have no way of knowing whether this story is true.  What we do know is that Henry was a very gifted young man, being wealthy, a monk, knight and politician.  He became Bishop of Winchester at the age of 28 in 1129 and founded the Hospital sometime between 1132 and 1136. 

The Charter of  Foundation read: “Thirteen men, feeble and so reduced in strength that they can scarcely, or not at all, support themselves without other aid, shall remain in the same Hospital constantly; to whom necessary clothing, provided by the Prior (superior officer) of the establishment, shall be given, and beds fit for their infirmities; and daily a good loaf of wheaten bread of the weight of five measures, three dishes at dinner and one for supper, and drink of sufficient quantity.  And besides those thirteen poor men, one hundred other poor persons, as deserving as can be found and more indigent, shall be received at the hour of dinner.”

The original building survives now in the form of a Transitional Norman Church which has been described by Simon Jenkins, author of “England’s Thousand Best Churches”, as a Norman cathedral in miniature.  Stone for its construction was brought from Caen in France, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.  The walls are over one meter thick.  The cross of St Cross is on a pillar on the north aisle.  Astonishingly, the stone surround is angled with great ingenuity so that the sun shining through the window closest to the cross falls on it only on 3^rd May (the day in the church calendar for the invention of the cross) and 14 September (Holy Cross Day).

The Hospital consists of a group of Grade1 Listed buildings including a medieval hall and tower.  The Hall is known as the Hundred Men’s Hall in recognition of its medieval role of seating 100 poor men at the hour of dinner.  The gardens are breathtaking and include the Master’s Garden which incorporates the Crompton Garden.  Her Majesty Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother, planted a tulip tree in the garden in1986.  That same year a wonderful collection of plants came from North America.  So what’s the connection with that part of the world?  Bishop Crompton was the Master of St Cross from 1667 to 1675 when he became Bishop of London.  At that time, the diocese of London included North America!  My work took me to St Cross in 1959.  No, I was not one of the 100 poor persons waiting for the hour of dinner!  To find out what I was doing there and why the comedian Charlie Drake comes into the story, you must wait for next month’s “Faith Matters”.

Roger Bryant

Correspondence Column

Dear Sir

I have come across a page on your site (the August 2003 edition of “Faith Matters”) which refers to the Fitzwygram memorial window and includes the following: "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?"

We have just discovered that one of our former churches in Southwark - St Crispin's Bermondsey, built in 1879 and destroyed in World War 2 - was originally known as the "Fitzwygram Memorial Church".  If anyone in Havant - where the family appear to have lived - knows of the connection with Bermondsey, we could be interested to find out!  What I can tell you is that the son, Captain Sir Frederick Loftus Francis Fitzwygram - was the private patron of the church up until his death in 1920.  Thereafter the patronage resided with the Bishop of Southwark, which suggests that the latter Frederick either had no children, or they were killed in the Great War, or possibly just declined to take on the patronage of the church.

The rebuilt St Crispin's, which is now redundant and used as a children's nursery, appears not to have kept up the family connection.  I am copying this to the present Vicar of the parish for information.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Craven

Administrator to the Pastoral Depart­ment, Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, London SE1 1HW

QE2 – End of an Era

Yew Trees

From Our PCSO

Dear St Faiths Residents,

Welcome to 2009. I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas?

I would like to introduce a new colleague to the team: Police Community Support Officer Tom Neale 13376.  Tom began with St Faith’s on Monday 7^th December 2008 and will be contactable on the below numbers as with the other members of the St Faith’s Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Leading up to the Christmas period there has been a significant increase in burglaries and criminal damage to properties.  Unfortunately we cannot predict where criminal damage may be committed but please try and protect your property by making sure doors and windows are secure.  Install timer lights if you’re going out for the evening or if going on holiday.  Let a neighbour or Neighbourhood Watch resident know that the property is currently vacant so that they can keep an eye on it.  If you would like any crime prevention information then please feel free to drop by the police station or any Beat surgeries.

Unfortunately Havant still appears to be a target for purse/wallet thefts. Leading up to Christmas there was an increase in the incidents particularly in the Meridian Centre stores and West Street.  St Faith’s Safer neighbourhood Team has been targeting the area in plain clothes operations to try and tackle the problem as well as shop lifting.  Please beware that Tuesdays and Saturdays are particularly busy and this is an ideal time for a person(s) to strike.  Please keep all purses and wallets secure inside jackets or handbags and never leave any personal items unattended in shopping trolleys.  If you would be interested in a lanyard which can be attached to a purse and your handbag then please contact St Faith’s Safer Neighbourhood Team on either of the below contact details or at our beat surgeries: Switchboard: 0845 045 45 45

Email:  stfaithsnt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Beat Surgery Dates:

Warblington School: 1^ST Wednesday of month from 1800-2000

St Faith’s Church: 1^st Saturday of every month 1000-1200

Havant Health Centre: 3^rd Monday of every month

Langstone – St Nicholas: Quarterly.  Next date is around about March (Date to be confirmed).

Regards

PCSO Sarah Woodley 13389

Diocese Issues Defence of Church Schools

The Diocese of Portsmouth has responded to criticism of church schools by issuing a rationale behind them.

Tony Blackshaw, director of education for Portsmouth and Winchester dioceses, claimed that critics who say such schools are divisive or socially selective are often working on flawed assumptions.

The rationale, which he has sent to all 49 church schools in Portsmouth’s Anglican diocese, explains how the Church of England played a vital role in the establishment of thousands of schools in the 19^th century.  From the creation of the National Society in 1811 until the Education Act in 1870, the Church provided elementary education for the masses at a time when the state did not.

It also debunks the notion that faith schools are educationally selective or divisive and that they cream off the best pupils.

Our schools have a tradition, derived from our history, of serving the whole of the community and neighbourhood in which they are located, he said.  Our schools are therefore serving not only children from Christian families, but also children from all backgrounds and faiths, and those of no faith.  We are simply not engaged in a separatist or sectarian endeavour.

It is sometimes alleged that church schools are engaged in a covert process of social selection, creaming off the best pupils.  This is an argument (or prejudice) often perpetuated in the media.  The reality is that, as inclusive institutions, church schools will reflect the communities in which they are located.  Very many of our schools are serving areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage, whether in urban or rural areas.

Church of England schools were established in the nineteenth century to educate the poor, and we continue that honourable tradition by maintaining our institutional presence in some of the most difficult areas in society.

He celebrated the fact that church schools were popular with parents, but said that was down to more than just good results.

Parents have confidence that church schools provide a sound moral framework and a context in which the development of the whole child is nurtured, he said. Parents welcome the fact that church schools have a culture rooted explicitly in a clear set of values and principles.  At a time when children and young people are facing enormous pressures to conform to a prevailing consumerist and media-driven construct of success, many parents want schools that are able to impart to children a sense of human dignity and a clear moral compass.

Ultimately, the argument about church (or faith) schools resolves itself into a discussion about the kind of society we wish to be.  Do we want to be a society in which religion is regarded as a purely private matter and relegated to the margins of public life and discourse (in which case it has the capacity to be a divisive force) or do we want to be a society in which religious expression is afforded an institutional involvement and presence, within prescribed limits that are generally considered acceptable?

The latter represents pre-eminently the Anglican settlement, which has served our nation so well.  As the established Church, within our educational role, we have the opportunity and indeed the duty to contribute to the wellbeing of society.  Historically, Church of England schools have been part of the national landscape, and they express the Church’s concern for the whole of society.  The vision of the founders of the National Society, in offering education to the whole nation, is still at the heart of our purposes in education today.

 The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth covers 142 parishes, from Botley in the west to Emsworth in the east, and from Bramshott in the north to the whole of the Isle of Wight.  It also includes 49 church schools.

Tony Blackshaw is director of education for both the Portsmouth and Winchester dioceses of the Church of England, after the merger of the education teams in both diocesan offices in 2006.

Hello Pud-Swan’ by B.D.B. [Bryan Beggs]

A new and unique children’s book

Naomi House Children’s Hospice in Hampshire, is set to benefit from a newly published storybook for children by Andover author Bryan Beggs.  ‘Hello Pud-Swan’ [a three-part set] is a story with a difference, which aims to capture the imagination of readers aged from 7 – 10 years, in an INTERACTIVE and EDUCATIONAL way.  It is the tale of everyday children Melanie and Angela, who travel secretly with the strangely named Pud-Swan, a life-size [but invisible] white rabbit, to lots of different and exciting places, including London, Los Angeles and St. Petersberg.  Topics of geograph­ical, historical, scientific, and cultural interest are woven into the storyline, as are the 7, 8 and 9 times mathematical tables!

In each of the three books, there are pages for the reader to do his or her own illustrations, encouraging imagination and creativity and making the book personal and special to each individual child.

All information about these books can be found on the books’ own website (www.pud-Swan.org).  Clues in the books and on the puzzle page of the website permit the reader to solve the mystery of the meaning of the name ‘Pud-Swan’.

As mentioned above, the proceeds from the sale of these entertaining and innovative children’s tales are being donated to Naomi House Hospice, a purpose-built children's hospice that provides a homely environment for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.  The hospice is situated just north of Winchester in the village of Sutton Scotney.

‘Hello Pud-Swan’ is available from all Waterstones Bookshops and from Cross Keys Bookshop in Salisbury, ‘The Faraway Tree’ in Overton and the Romsey Tourist Office, or may be ordered directly from the publisher, T.V.C. Book Society in Andover, on 01264 365190.  The complete 3 part set in a slip-case costs £20, or the three parts may be bought individually for £8.99 each.

Angel Radio

Angel Radio is broadcast on 101.1 FM in the Borough of Havant. It can also be received in Bosham, Waterlooville & Portsmouth.  It can be heard on the internet at www.angelradio.co.uk and on internet radio.

It is a nostalgia wireless station, broadcasting music composed before 1960. Its logo is “Snap, Crackle but no Pop”.

It also broadcasts information of interest to senior citizens regarding medical and other matters, including events being held in the area.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day and the number of listeners is growing not only locally, but worldwide.

The office and studios are located at 17 Market Parade, Havant and 80 volunteers are involved.

Geoff Porter

A Reflection on Taize – France May 2008

‘Bless the Lord my soul and bless God’s Holy Name

Bless the Lord my soul who leads me into life’

The words of the Taize chant in the voices of the Christ Church congregation on a Sunday morning rang over and over in my head over, as we approached the Taize community from the east.  We knew we were nearly there from our maps and the road signs. It was confirmed as we crossed a railway bridge where two young women sat talking; when we passed a man, heavily laden cycling up hill and three youngsters trudging obviously tired, casually putting their thumbs up hoping we might stop. We could have fitted one in the back seat if we moved our boxes of food and supplies but not all three, so we waved and passed.

Taize stands on a hill in Burgundy and suddenly, rounding the corner after the sign ‘Communaute’, we saw the red rooves of the village, the church steeple and old buildings. It was 11.15am – we had arrived.

In August 1940 Brother Roger, 25 years old, settled alone in Taize.  It was wartime: he began to offer hospitality to refugees, Jews in particular. He intended to create a community that would be a ‘parable of community’, a place where ways of trust and reconciliation could be opened up among Christians.  After two years, his first brothers joined him.  Today there are more than 100 brothers, Catholic and from different Protestant backgrounds, from twenty-five countries.  Small groups of brothers live among the poor in Asia, Africa and Latin America.  Since the end of the 1950s, tens of thousands of young adults, mainly from Eastern and Western Europe have come to Taize, seeking to find meaning for their lives. It is now a very unusual village where as well as the young adults, teenagers, children and older people from every continent  come to Taize for  a day, a week, a month.

That morning I had thrown open the small windows of our cottage, rented for two nights in a tiny village called Issey-L’Eveque, quite early.  Mist lay in the valley beyond as the pale fingers of dawn crept across the sky. The tiny hedgerow birds were twittering and a lone cuckoo sounded from the forest.   Then a clear bell like sound rang out – beautiful sparkling notes, reminiscent of the Australian bellbirds in the Blue Mountains. It was a glorious morning.  Now after driving across back roads in rural Southern Burgundy, through vineyards, meadows, forests and scattered small villages we were at Taize reading the ‘Welcome’ sign in French and English.

As we drove into the community we saw groups of young people in quiet study or contemplation; young children with books and papers following adult directions as they walked around; and in a large communal kitchen other young people preparing luncheon vegetables.  It was quiet and calm, yet busy with an air of anticipation.  Ian and I walked to the purpose built church, passing a large ‘Silence’ notice and the times of the three daily services- 8.15am; 12.30pm and 6.30pm.

At 11.30 few people were walking around the huge open space set up for the mid day service.  Some were kneeling heads bowed.  One young girl was lighting candles in the irregular boxes standing in the front where in another church the altar would be found.  We looked at the beautiful stained glass windows deeply set in the Eastern wall.  The stillness was broken when two teenage boys began vacuuming the carpet, in preparation for the service, so we left.

We went to find the shop near the church.  It was teeming with people of all ages looking at postcards, books, CDs, crosses and other jewellery, but mostly at the beautifully glazed, very functional pottery made by the brothers. The community accepts no donations for itself.  The brothers earn their living by their own work.  Their personal inheritances are given to the poor.

At 12-noon the lights in the shop were dimmed, the doors closed and ‘Ouvert’ signs were put up, so we with the others inside, hurriedly made our selection and lined up to pay.  At 12.10 Ian and I returned to the church, already filling.  We found seats on wooden benches up against the white stonewalls while others sat on the steps or the carpeted floor.  Some had small wooden stools.  One Taize brother was kneeling in prayer in the central section, rather like a very wide aisle, set aside for the brothers.  It was completely quiet, apart from the noise of those entering to find their place.  At 12.20 the bells tolled.  Gradually the white-cloaked brothers entered from a side-front door.  All walked reverently, silently contemplating and mostly singly, quietly finding their places all the way up the centre, then kneeling with their small wooden stools placed over their feet.  Younger brothers came in helping the very old men.  One was pushed in a wheelchair; others had walking sticks and a steadying younger arm to lean on.  They found their chairs.  Ian was quick to notice one very old brother immediately went to sleep. There were 72 brothers in the church.

At 12.30 the cantor began the chant and everyone joined in.

Jubilate, allelulia, Jubilate Deo omnis terra! Allelulia, allelulia!

[Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.  Psalm 66]

 Over and over we sang.  There had been a slight rustling as people opened the Taize songbook to find the no.142, as displayed on a column at the front.  The family next to us sang the Latin lustily, without books. I guessed they were Spanish for the father sitting next to me was reading the Bible in Spanish before the service began while a young couple –German, from the slogans on their T shirts, walked agitatedly up and down trying different places till they finally settled on the stone steps nearby, as large groups of teenagers filed quietly from both side doors filling the complete area.

Three or four chants were sung beautifully by everyone.  The Songbook had English, German, Dutch and Spanish translations alongside the French or Latin, either of which used. Following this was a very long period of silence – perhaps 5 minutes, broken then by a short prayer in French, then said by another brother in English, German and finally Dutch.  Two years ago when Ian and I were at Taize before the prayers and readings were in French, English, Spanish and Swedish - perhaps reflecting the nationalities of the young people attending at the time.  This was one of Brother Roger’s prayers:

Holy Spirit, Inner light, you shine on the happy days as on the troubled times of our lives.  And when the light seems to grow dim, your presence remains.

Following the prayer was another chant, then a Gospel reading again read first in French, followed by the three other languages.

It was May 8th – Armistice Day – or VE Day-Victory in Europe, 1945.  It is a French holiday.  At 10.00am in almost all the French villages, towns and all over cities, there had been short services at the simple or elaborate memorials to those who had lost their lives in the wars.  Wreaths were placed below inscriptions such as this one:

                Les enfants of Issey-l’Eveque morte pour La France

The Gospel reading reflected this day.  When it was read in English we heard the words,

‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’

A short period of silence was followed by the final chant led by the cantor, then joined by all the brothers, one on the keyboard and all the 1,000 strong congregation worshipping there. During the retiring chant the brothers left again in silence, while we all sang:

                Ubi caritas et amour, ubi caritas Deus ibi est.

                [Where charity and love are, God is there.]

The rest of the people gradually left the church until just a very few remained.  I quietly photographed each of the vibrant stained glass windows.  A sign in the foyer had said ‘Photos only allowed between 1.00 and 2.00pm’.  It was 1.20 when we left. 

Outside most of the young people were in long lines waiting to get their lunch under signs which said –‘Take only what you need- Do not waste food’ Others sat around in groups eating. Ian and I found a phone box to ring Sean to share a little of the experience immediately.  It was now 1.30 about 9.30pm and unfortunately he was not home.

We drove out of the community passing under the seven bells at the gate - the Taize chants now ringing in our heads, towards the town of Cluny – the site of the remains of a medieval Benedictine Abbey which had at one time been the biggest church in Christendom.  A few kms down the road we found a small stream with a stone bridge.  We stopped and listened to the water rushing over stones and the birds singing in the willows.  We spread pout our picnic on the grass- a bottle of water, a crusty baguette, two hard boiled eggs, salt and pepper and lettuce, with rich ripe strawberries from the French village market .  We were smiling and indeed felt truly blessed.

Margaret Calder

 St. Alban’s School – 50th Birthday Celebrations

On Monday 8^th September 2008, St. Alban’s C.E. (Aided) Primary School, West Leigh, Havant celebrated 50 years of education.

A Eucharist service was held in the school hall, taken by The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Reverend Dr Kenneth Stevenson and The vicar of St. Alban’s Church, Rev’d Paul Smith.

It was attended by the children, staff, governors, ex-staff, and pupils from 50 years ago.  The school choir sang beautifully and three children read the prayers.  Afterwards, guests were served refreshments and then attended the planting of a tree in the school grounds to commemorate the occasion. Guided tours of the school were offered by the senior pupils.

A photograph of the whole school was taken in the afternoon.  Each child was offered a piece of a special cake, made in the shape of the school buildings, to take home.

Geoff Porter

Fair Trade

We're trying to promote a new website www.tradingfairly.co.uk - it is an online database of hundreds of Fair Trade suppliers across the UK and is fully searchable by product line or retailer location.

It is hoped that by making access to Fair Trade retailers easier more people will be encouraged to buy fairly traded products. 

Revd Simon Butler