From the Rector - Honouring Global and Local – the Theology of Incarnation

Have you ever noticed how the gospel writers, especially St John, place the global next to the local?  For instance God sent his Son into the world, while much of Jesus’ mission is to his disciples?

Last month I wrote about the challenge that faces all humanity – namely the environmental one.  There is an increasing awareness through the media of the importance of this challenge, yet opinion is divided as to whether it is something we deal with at the local or international level.  Some argue that it is purely a global question for national leaders and the conglomerates to sort out, and that those local-level initiatives, such as ours, are a waste of time.  Their argument is based, in part, upon scale.  They would say that only big business and governments motivated by scientific know-how can effect enough change to save the world.  The problem with this argument is that ignores the value of involving people in the struggle to protect the environment and underestimates the difference that we can make acting individually.  If we all reduce energy consumption in our homes the carbon levels emitted into the atmosphere could be dramatically lowered.  If we all recycled as efficiently as we can we can further save energy while at the same time alleviate the crushing shortage of space in this country for landfill waste.  Surely there has to be room for both global and local solutions to the ecological problem?

This example of the global versus local exists in all aspects of our lives, and it certainly happens in the church.  A working group is busily employed to review our mission statement in order to suggest to the PCC ways in which we may re-structure ourselves so that the lay leadership in the church can be stronger and more readily accessible.  My vision that drives this idea is that people can be part of the church with the comfort of knowing that they can enter more fully into the life of the church (by which I mean volunteering to help or learning more about the faith) as and when they are ready to do so.  Just as important it means that it will be obvious and clear to people just how they go about dipping their toe into the next step of commitment.  This is all well and good and so far the group is making good progress, as reported to last month’s PCC.  However, I notice, in their discussions, the working group finding themselves caught, at times, between planning how to offer a process (which serves the group), on the one hand, and a facility that caters for specific individuals on the other.  The process is for all and leads to growth, while the facility is designed to care for the people who usually slip through the net.  Surely the challenge is to embrace both aspects – that for the group as well as for the individual.  If you recall the Archbishop of Canterbury’s remarks that I included in last month’s article, you will remember that he reminds us that Jesus is to be found in all his creation – in all people and all things.

His comments enforce the challenge, nay the calling to feed both the corporate body and the individual.  Global and local – these challenges face us more strongly than ever.  Just as St John noticed in Jesus aspects of his mission that were both to the world and to individuals, so is his church (and that means all of us) called to serve both the people close to us and far away.  Thus we are invited to play our part on both the local as well as the global stage.  We can act ecologically at home and in our church by following through on the pledges we made in January.  We can support the global situation by increasing our awareness of the issues that affect us all and understanding the arguments of business, government and campaign groups.  In the same way we can support the church by helping individuals and supporting programmes that the church runs.  And under-girding all this is our prayer.

May God bless you,  David

Progress from the Church’s Eco-Congregation Group

We have made contributions in the following areas:

Worship:                We held a Celtic style family Service in June.

Theology:              The Environment was included in the service on 17^th June, when forms were distributed inviting us to comment upon how successful we have been in keeping to the pledges we made last January.

Youth:                    The Youth Club has decided to integrate the theme of maintaining our environment into their spring schedule for 2008.

Premises:               We have set up recycling bins in both the Vestries and the Office.

Another update will appear next month.

You can calculate your carbon footprint on the government's Public Services website at http://www.direct.gov.uk and receive an action plan.

 

My Lord Mayor

In the long history of Portsmouth there have been many distinguished Mayors and Lord Mayors but I doubt if any can equal the achievements of Councillor Sir Denis Daley.  He was elected on 9 November 1939, just two months after the outbreak of war, and he served for a record five successive terms until he was succeeded on 9 November 1944 by Alderman A E Allaway J.P.  He was a native of Portsmouth and had served with the Royal Marines in the First World War and had seen active service in France and the Dardanelles.  The Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marines were proud to have an old member of the Corps as Lord Mayor and on 2 December 1939 a unique ceremony was staged on the Parade Ground at Eastney Barracks.  The new Lord Mayor had been a senior instructor at Eastney 20 years previous, when he was a Colour Sergeant, and was now asked by Brigadier T L Hunton, Commander of Eastney Barracks, to pass out the King’s Squad.  (I must confess that I do not know what this means but I am sure that a distinguished Royal Marine in our congregation, Lt Col Peter Thomas, can enlighten us!)

The new Lord Mayor, and the Lady Mayoress, decided to sleep each night in the Guildhall so that they were on the spot when air raids started.  They lived just outside the city but were determined to share the hardships of their fellow citizens.  As we have already read in “Faith Matters”, they left the Guildhall only minutes before it was set ablaze on the 10 January 1941.  There were over 6,000 children evacuated into the countryside from Petersfield to Eastleigh and even to Bournemouth, where Joy and her sister stayed for a few weeks before returning home only to be bombed out of their home in one of the earlier air raids.  Many of the evacuees were away for over a year.  The new Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress paid visits to the children to let them see they were not forgotten.

You may remember that King George VI had visited Portsmouth following the Great Fire Blitz and had expressed his admiration for the city and its citizens.   It was no surprise, therefore, that a few months later, on the 12 June 1941, the Lord Mayor was honoured by the King in his Birthday Honours.  He was made a Knight Batchelor and was the first mayor to be knighted during the war.  He received messages of congratulations from all over the country including the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.  However, he was very moved by one particular honour.  The Sergeants’ Mess of the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marines received the Lord Mayor as their guest on 31 July, and in recognition of the fact that he was the first of their members to be knighted, they presented him with a silver salver.  On arrival, he was heralded by the band playing the “Pompey Chimes” and after a long and enjoyable evening, the “Chimes” rang out again.  The Lord Mayor returned the honour on 1 October at the Royal Beach Hotel when he invited the officers and sergeants to a smoking concert, at which he presented Brigadier Hunton and his second-in-command, Col Weir, with silver cigarette cases inscribed “In gratitude for help given to Civil Defence”.

The Lord Mayor was active in all aspects of civil defence and, as we have read, established a fine working relationship with both Admiral James and Brigadier Hunton, who both publicly expressed their admiration for him.  This was reflected in the massive help they gave during and after air raids.  The Lord Mayor was very active in the setting up of mobile kitchens, canteens, emergency food vans and the centres to receive bombed out families (which we read about in “Faith Matters” last month).  On the morning following the Great Fire Blitz, he immediately recognized the need to get ready cash to the victims to buy food and clothing.  He managed to find a bank which was opened and withdrew a substantial sum from the Local Air Raid Distress Fund.  This he gave to members of his War Emergency Committee to go out around the bombed areas of the city and distribute money urgently and at their own discretion, to distressed victims of the blitz. 

That same morning the “Evening News” published the following message from him.  “Fellow Citizens.  At last the blow has fallen.  Our proud city has been hit and hit hard by the enemy.  Our Guildhall and many of our cherished buildings now lie a heap of smoking ruins.  To you all, however, I wish to pay tribute to the splendid manner in which you have stood up to this violent calamity, and especially I would like to thank all those members of the public services who stood to their job, as I knew they would do and, if I may be allowed to particularize, I think our deep appreciation is especially due to the Members of the Fire Fighting Services who worked so untiringly throughout the night under circumstances, which were not only difficult, but were in many cases extremely dangerous, and, at the same time those remarks also apply to the Police, ARP and the Services, both voluntary and otherwise, who stood to their job as Portsmuthians have always done.

We are bruised but not daunted, and we are still as determined as ever to stand side by side with other cities who have felt the blast of the enemy, and we shall, with them, persevere with an unflagging spirit towards a conclusive and decisive victory.

To you all, therefore, I say what I feel you would wish me to say – keep a stout heart, keep your chins firm and your heads high.  Be calm, be steadfast, be firm.  Now is the golden opportunity for you all to exercise that spirit, which is to us all, the essence of our struggle – the spirit of comradeship and mutual help.

Finally, our thoughts are with those who have been rendered homeless or who have otherwise suffered, either by bereavement or in other ways, and you can rest assured that anything I, in the name of your fellow Citizens can do, will be done.  D L Daley, Lord Mayor”.

Lord Mayor, Sir Denis Daley, was true to his word – everything was done!

Roger Bryant     

The Purpose of a Church Choir

In the last two and a half years, St Faith's choir has grown - in numbers, confidence, repertoire and expertise.  The many positive comments received have given us all - choristers and adults - much encouragement.  In addition, some generous contributions from appreciative members of the congregation have enabled us to buy extra robes and music.  However, there have also been some comments made and questions asked that require clarification, and it is these that this article hopes to address.

“Choir members just like to show off”.  Any Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) trained chorister or adult would rightly cringe to hear this said of them.  From their first efforts as probationers, it is impressed upon them that they are in the choir to LEAD the singing, not to take over but to encourage the congregation to participate in the sung parts of the service.  Music is central to our worship and was considered by J S. Bach (1685-1750) to be "An agreeable harmony for the honour of God”.  In our Sunday services there are different opportunities to express our faith.  It can be through the quietness of prayer, reflecting upon the readings, meditating on the sermon, and singing out the joyous Christian message in service settings, psalms, hymns and anthems.  The choir is involved in all of these, and always endeavours to give a positive lead by clearly enunciating the spoken parts of the service.  However, it is in the leading of musical items that a choir's main responsibility lies.

“Why so much music?"  Music has long been recognised to affect the emotions.  In the Old Testament story, we are told that King Saul - when in a bad mood - was soothed by David playing his harp.  Centuries later, the writer Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) observed:  "Music soothes us, stirs us up; it puts noble feeling in us; it melts us to tears, we know not how: - it is a language by itself, just as perfect, in its way, as speech.  Music has been called the speech of angels; I will go further, and call it the speech of God himself.”

A good choir will aim to reflect these various emotions in their singing, and to this end all hymns, anthems and supporting organ music is chosen to reflect such feelings.  Thus, quiet reflective music is played before the service to help us focus our thoughts on the service to come.  Before the Gospel is read, we sing a joyful "Alleluia".  During the taking of Communion an appropriate anthem is sung, which might be joyful, reflective or even penitential in character.  Such anthems are selected from the great variety of music written through the centuries - from the Renaissance music of Byrd and Tallis, the Baroque music of Bach and Handel, the Classical music of Mozart, the Romantic music of Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky, the late C19^th, early C20^th composers - Elgar and Vaughan-Williams, right up to modem composers still alive today, such as John Rutter, Richard Shephard and Martin How.  As it says in the preface to "The New Oxford Easy Anthem Book", such a variety of both modem and traditional anthems: "reflect with integrity the richness of the musical response to Christian worship throughout the centuries.”

“But why so many different emotions?"  Throughout the Church's year we re-live the story of Christ from His birth to His death.  Thus we move from the penitential Advent season through to the joyousness of Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas.  In the following Penitential season - Lent - we prepare for Holy Week, the sadness of Maundy Thursday, the emotion of Good Friday and then the wonderful elation of Easter Sunday.  A few weeks later we experience yet another joyful occasion - Pentecost.  Come October/November time we have the more sombre All Souls and All Saints services, closely followed by the Remembrance services.  So each calendar year we experience a complete roller coaster of emotions that reflect the diversity of the Church's year.

“Why do the service settings change?”  Our main setting at St Faith's is Thorne's "Mass of St Thomas" which is used during the long weeks between the special events in the Church's calendar.  To augment the Thorne setting, Margaret Rizza's "Mass of the Bread of Life" will soon be introduced.  This will involve our talented choristers accompanying us on both recorders and flutes.  During the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent we use the more solemn Modal and Murray settings, and instead of singing a joyful "Alleluia" before the Gospel, we use the more sombre response "Praise to you 0 Christ".  Peter Jones' cheerful "Coventry Gloria" is sung during the celebratory Christmas and Easter festivals.  Thus it can be seen that, in order to reflect the variety of the Church's seasons, the service settings alter too, keeping in step with the changing emotions of the Church's year.

In Conclusion.  The motto of the Royal School of Church Music is: “I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding also.^”  All members of St Faith's choir strive to do just that, leading our services in both the spoken word and in song. Hopefully, having read this article, there will be more "understanding also" of the reasons behind the music that is chosen with so much care throughout the year.  Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said: "Music is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.”   We are all exhorted to use our talents in the service of God.  Here at St Faith's we are extremely privileged to have such a talented group of people to sing in our choir.  They work extraordinarily hard to enhance and lead the worship here.  It would be lovely to hear all of you in the congregation singing out lustily in return!  So come on!  Support your choir with your voices, and let's all follow the Psalmist's exhortation in the Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100):  "0 be joyful in the Lord all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness and come before His presence with a song.^”

Sylvia Willey, Organist and Choir Director  

Mark Ripley & Mary Miley

We have had a letter from a Mrs Barbara Walsh of Chertsey who is trying to trace the family of her (gt, gt, gt, gt) grandfather, Mark Ripley (born 1738) who married a Mary Miley in St Faith’s Church, Havant, on 4 June 1783.  The witnesses were Richard Softley and Anne Boxall.  Mark died at the age of 106!  There is mention in our church history of a John Softly (without an “e”) buried in 1727, son of William Softly.  Mary was understood to have come from Havant or a neighbouring village and Barbara is anxious to trace any of her relatives.  She thinks that Mark was a yeoman from Portchester, although someone has him as born in Southwick.  Barbara points out that in 1783, not many people could write and that Richard Softley and Anne Boxall may not have been related to Mark or Mary.  They may have been witnesses simply because they could read and write.  If anyone has information about any of these people will you please give details to our Editor.  Barbara came to St Faith’s on 9 April and there happened to be a wedding that day.  Barbara took a photograph of the bride, Anna Laird, and kindly sent it to us with her letter.  The photograph is now with Michael and Sybel Laird.   

From the Registers - June

3^rd Baptisms of Erin May Palmer & Peter George Chalcroft

23^rd Marriage of Gemma Louise Treagus and Marc Ronald Shorten

Visit to the Holy Land – Part 1 of 4

I couldn't believe it, at last my adventure was about to begin!  The day dawned very early, Ann picked me up at 4.30am on Wednesday 11 April and we were off to meet up with six more pilgrims onto a mini bus bound for Heathrow airport where we met with three more of our party.  We were in plenty of time and just after six in the morning were sitting with a cup of tea and a pastry getting to know each other.  Ann Leonard (vicar of St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s at Hayling Island) and her husband John Preston (who looks after the sisters at the House of Bethany) were our leaders and had done this trip on several occasions and were full of very helpful advice which was especially helpful to me, as although many years ago I had flown on a small plane I had never left the country before.  I hoped I had everything I could possibly need, but as we walked through the airport I remembered being given a boiled sweet when I flew before and when I asked one of my travelling companions if this was still the case I was concerned to hear that it wasn't - so I rushed to WH Smith’s to purchase a bag of the said boiled sweets!  I don't know if it helps or not, but I did make sure to suck the sweet as we took off.  I have always been amazed that planes manage to get off the ground and then stay in the air and this certainly went through my mind as I sat waiting for take off and watched the stewards pointing to the exits in case of emergency.  We had little screens on the back of the seat in front so that you could watch a film but I was happy to watch the map with the red line moving showing where the plane was - it reminded me of the Indiana Jones films!  The plane was full with 228 passengers on the British Airways flight - when I was younger the job of an air stewardess seemed very glamorous but watching them being so busy it didn't seem so glamorous.  There were quite a few Jewish people on board and as we landed they all applauded.

At Tel Aviv airport our guide George and our driver Ahmed met us, onto our mini bus on route for the Golan Hotel in Tiberius.  George gave us each a map of the Holy Land so that we could see where we were going - we used them each day.  Tiberius is situated on the western shores of Lake Galilee and was about a two-hour drive.  George is a Palestinian Christian and spoke English with a New Jersey accent having studied there.  The hotel was very nice and it was shower, dinner and bed although it was 9.30pm - back home it would only have been 7.30pm but we were all pretty tired and I slept well. 

The first day set the pattern for all the other days - our alarm call was at 6.30am, breakfast at 7am, leaving the hotel by 8am.  We went down to Lake Galilee and got on a wooden boat and set sail for the Northern Shore, it was an open boat with part of it under cover.  They were flying the Israeli flag - they got out a Union Flag and played the national anthem while putting it up (the right way!) - we all stood up.  It was a lovely morning, quite hazy, the water was very calm but we were told that at certain times of the year storms can blow up very quickly and I thought of the disciples when they woke Jesus during a storm.  We had a Eucharist on board, what a wonderful setting.  We landed at NofGinosar and saw the hull of a wooden boat 2,000 years old; it was uncovered in the dry summer of 1986.  Two brothers made the discovery and the huge task of digging it out of the mud and preserving it began, it makes the Mary Rose look very recent! 

Back to the mini bus and onto the Mount of Beatitudes, this church is built close to where Christ gave his Sermon on the Mount.  It is set high on a hill with lovely views, palm trees line the path and the flowers give lots of colour -there were roses and bougainvillea.  As we sat outside in the warm air George said the Lord’s Prayer to us in Aramaic and to hear the words as Jesus would have said them, where he said them was quite something.  A short drive took us to Tabgha to the Church of the Loaves and Fishes - I'm sure you guessed it commemorates the feeding of the five thousand.  In front of the altar on the floor is a very old mosaic it shows a basket with four loaves and a fish on either side - where is the fifth loaf? - it is the host on the altar. 

George hurries us back on to the mini bus we still have lots to do - St. Peter's Primacy is our next stop - it sits right on the shore beside the lake and was where Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.  As we wandered along the shore you could easily imagine Jesus there calling out to the disciples to cast their nets on the other side.  I sat with my feet in the clear, cold water the atmosphere was so peaceful as I looked out across the lake, I could have stayed here a very long time, this for me was one of the most special moments of my time in the Holy Land.  But there was no time to delay George calls us back to the mini bus and we are on our way to Capernaum the town that was the base for Christ's Galilean Ministry.  Peter's mother in law lived here and the remains of the house are still here.  The family and extended family would all live together, they each have a room, it is called 'insular', within this was a room that Peter used for worship - later an octagonal church was built incorporating what was there - you can just see the shape, over this has been built a modem octagonal church, it has glass panels on all sides and bench like seats.  It was a light, atmospheric building with lovely views, just a few steps from Peter's mother in laws house is the synagogue, and this dates from the 3^rd century and in on the site of an earlier synagogue.  There is a carving on a large piece of limestone of what is thought to be the Ark of the Covenant it is the only one of its kind.

Onto the mini bus it’s time for lunch, a restaurant close to Capernaum we had the house speciality Peter’s fish and chips, we wondered what the fish was called before Peter's time!  We had fresh dates for afters - I did try one it wasn't too bad, a bit like the texture of a plum but not such a nice taste!  As we journeyed to our next visit George explained how the area of Galilee is often known as the Fifth Gospel and how if you know and understand the land it helps to understand the other four gospels.  We were going to the eastern shores Kursi (Gadara), where the man filled with evil spirits asked Jesus for help and the evil spirits were put into the pigs, which then ran off the cliff into the lake.  When Jesus went to the other side (eastern side) this is where the gentiles lived hence the pigs.  There were remains of a basilica style church here, two rows of pillars and three aisles.  Beautiful scented roses along the pathway and along the roadside we saw large areas of banana trees, palms and fig trees.  Back to the hotel for a rest and dinner.

Sandra Haggan 

Part 2 will appear in next month’s “Faith Matters”

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Lake Galilee at St Peters Primacy - where Jesus appeared after the resurrection

 Extract of a Letter from the Bishop of Portsmouth

God certainly moves in mysterious ways!  I’m afraid I am writing to you with a bombshell, namely that I am going to have to have another bone-marrow transplant.

Everything was going swimmingly well, until ten days ago, when the doctors noticed that my blood counts had fallen.  Just to be on the safe side, I had a bone-marrow biopsy, which revealed that the disease has returned, slowly, not invasively.  But the doctors have been very firm that it is worth another try (I had no idea there were such options, but evidently there are), and this time the process looks like being shorter.

Treatment will probably consist of a course of chemotherapy, using a new ‘state of the art’ drug that has a reputation for ‘shearing’ the leukaemic cells from the bone-marrow.  Some time around mid-July, I will have another bone-marrow transplant, hopefully from the same donor, but possibly from another.  Because I ‘grafted’ so well last time, this side of things is not quite so critical as before.  I will then come home, and return to hospital for short spells as before, including when they will give me a large extra ‘top-up’ from the donor, to stimulate my immune-system.

The doctors are obviously keen to proceed along these lines, and they would not be doing so unless they believed there was a chance of getting through. The strong chemotherapy drug looks like being more effective than last time. All being well, we should be looking at the same timescale as before – getting slowly back five months after the transplant, which should be around Christmas. The last thing the doctor told me when he broke the news to me was, ‘you’re very fit, and there are lots of things we can do’. So when you pray for me through this third phase of the illness, you have a positive context in which to do so!

There have been many occasions when I have wished that things had worked out differently, in all sorts of ways.  Quite what this illness is all about is beyond me.  But I am not going to let it defeat me!  I am a tough old bird, and I have come through a lot.  As Lesslie Newbigin remarked years ago, ‘there is a faith that accepts and a faith that rebels, and they belong together.’  Your love, prayers and support mean more to me than I can put into words – and I know that I speak for Sarah and the rest of the family as well.

Kenneth

Recent Confirmations

On Saturday 2^nd June a number of our congregation were confirmed in a moving service in the Cathedral.  We were privileged to have Bishop Kenneth presiding in his first confirmation service since his illness. 

With parents, relatives, Godparents, Fathers David and Charles, and members of our own congregation present, seven of our own flock were confirmed, while Angie was also baptised.

Congratulations go to Sam Hudson, Emma Smith, Zoë Poliszczuk, Emily Hopkins, Angie McKeown, Morgan Little, and Helen Belenger.  And sincere thanks to our clergy for leading them through the journey.

St Nicholas Chapel, Langstone – One Woman Art Show

The exhibition is from Thursday 9^th August until Saturday 25^th August and is open daily from 10.30am to 8pm.  Admission is Free.

Patricia Starkey trained at Portsmouth College of Art and Portsmouth & Sussex Universities.  She has tutored adult groups in the Hampshire and Sussex areas for many years.  Her work has been shown in London, Southampton, Winchester, Arundel, Portsmouth, Havant and Oslo, and may be found in private collections in the UK, Spain, Canada, Israel and Bermuda. 

Lent Lunches at St. Faith’s – Lent 2007

Vegetarian lunches were held on the first five Fridays in Lent in St. Faith’s church.  I would like to thank those who very kindly catered for them – Vicky, Mary, Rosemary and Hilary, and those who attended them.  There is now much more room to put the tables since the removal of the central pews, and it is an enjoyable and social occasion. Anyone is welcome, not just those who belong to St. Faith’s, and indeed several people ‘off the street’ have attended.

Lunches during Lent were initiated four years’ ago, as a natural consequence of the Veg4Lent campaign, which encourages Christians to observe the ancient tradition of giving up meat for Lent.  The Veg4Lent campaign has now been assimilated into the Christian Vegetarian Association UK. Overall the number of people attending has increased a little since last year.  By renouncing meat, even for just this short period, the Christian Church can show its compassion towards those animals who would otherwise be destined for the slaughterhouse.   As stewards of God’ creation, surely it is incumbent upon us to make every effort to follow the compassionate lifestyle. In this day and age of factory farming it has never been so easy or so good to buy the many delicious vegan choices on offer in the supermarkets and health food shops.

Hand-in-hand with the issue of the compassionate life-style is the burning question of global warming – the meat industry puts an enormous strain on the environment; not only from destroying natural habitats to provide grazing for animals, but also huge consumptions of water and grain and high levels of methane emission which contribute to global warming.  Meat production is hugely inefficient: the same area of land can feed 20 times as many people eating a vegetarian (or, better still, vegan) diet as a meat one.  Many independent studies have shown links between the consumption of animal products and ill health, such as cancers and heart disease.  Moreover, nearly one billion people are undernourished or starving, despite the world producing enough food to feed twice its human population of 6 billion.  Yet 1/3 of the grain we grow is fed to farm animals.  Nobody serious suggests that animal products (e.g. meat, eggs and milk) are essential for health.

For further information on the vegan diet please visit www.vegansociety.com.  For further information on the Christian Vegetarian Association UK please visit their website www.christianvegetarian.co.uk. 

Helena Youle

The Mothers’ Union Banner

Most people in church, indeed in most churches, will know the Mothers^’ Union Banner.  As yet I have not been able to find out who designed or embroidered the one in St Faith's but it is a testimony to an organisation which is now world wide and which serves to uphold the sanctity of marriage and to support the family.  It is open not only to married women but to both men and to those who do not have children but still support its aims.  In practice men do not come on a regular basis but they do join in from time to time.

Members work to provide holidays for the poor and disadvantaged, help with welfare in prisons, provide prayer and support for those in desperate situations overseas for example.  But how did it all start?

It began with a lady called Mary Sumner who was born Mary Elizabeth Heywood on 31 December 1828 in Swinton near Manchester.  She was educated at home and learnt to speak three languages and to sing well.  Whilst she was finishing her education in Rome she met George Sumner, youngest son of Charles Richard Sumner, Bishop of Winchester.  His uncle became Archbishop of Canterbury and his father's cousin was William Wilberforce who got the Bill through parliament to end the slave trade in 1807.  Eighteen months after George's ordination they married in 1848 and three years later with two baby girls they moved to the Rectory in Old Alresford.  She had long felt an urge to strengthen and support family life and in 1876 she decided to call a meeting of mothers in the parish and not just her own social friends but even the mothers and wives of the farm labourers.  However at the last minute she had “cold feet” and her husband had to take the meeting!  Nevertheless they were invited back the following week and so began the Mothers^’ Union. She lived until 1921 and saw the movement spread world wide.  She and her husband, who in turn became Bishop of Winchester, are buried in the gardens at the rear of the Cathedral.  Some years ago I did some research to try and find the beginnings of the Mothers’ Union in St Faith's.  I was not able to pin it down exactly but certainly in the 1890s there was mention in the PCC minutes of a women's meeting but was this the same thing as the Mothers^’ Union?  At that meeting it was proposed that women be invited onto the PCC but not only was there a counter proposal that they should not be allowed on to it but that they should never be allowed to sit on the PCC!  That proposal was passed.

The branch at St Faith's may have closed for now but the branch at St Thomas’s at Bedhampton held in St Nicholas's Hall still goes strong with a membership of about forty five.  Generally it meets on the fourth Wednesday in the month at 2pm unless there is a Quiet Day or a trip out. 

Sheilah Legg

Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers

If you were in the town centre around 11am on Friday 25^th May you will have heard the bells of St Faith’s being rung for a continuous period of 48 minutes.  That wasn’t our usual band practising; it was eight skilled ringers from the Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers (including our tower captain Barbara Skilleter) who successfully rang a Quarter Peal of 1,260 Plain Bob Triples.  The date was the 25^th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Coventry.  Our Bill Skilleter was on HMS Broadsword that went to the rescue.  The Quarter Peal was rung in memory of all the personnel of HM Services, including those of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Merchant Navy, who lost their lives in the Falklands War.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Left to Right: Noel Evans (Tenor), Mavis Whitehead (4^th), Bill Harris (6^th), Diana Wraight (5^th), Tim Wraight (Conductor, 7^th), Barbara Salmons (3^rd), Barbara Skilleter (Treble), Barbara Martin (2^nd).

The method (or tune) that was rung is called “Plain Bob Triples”, which is a predefined sequence of ringing the 8 bells.  The sequence can be varied so that it doesn’t repeat until all possible variations have been rung.  A quarter peal is a set of sequence variations on the basic method (tune) that consist of a quarter of all of the 5,040 possible sequence variations.  It is only a true quarter peal if no mistakes are made and all of the sequences are different without any sequences being repeated. That is why it is difficult.  The 1,260 sequence variations took 48 minutes to complete.  Well done the Royal Naval Guild!

Events in July

Saturday 7^th July at 7.45pm.  Hampshire Area Guitar Orchestra (HAGO) will be performing in concert in church on Saturday 7^th July at 7.45pm.  As well as classical guitars they play three other size guitars giving a pitch range far greater than the standard guitar ensemble, the quiet and delicate sounds impart new life and character to a whole range of music from Renaissance dances right up to some of the modern day classics.  HAGO won first prize in the 6^th Guitar Orchestra Competition of Great Britain in 2003 and play regular concerts so we shall be in for a real treat.  Come along and join us, tickets are £6 and include a glass of wine/juice and nibbles and are available from Sandra Haggan.  For further information phone 023 9247 9937 or 023 9245 5161.

 

Dynamo Youth Theatre will be performing in and around the church a production of “Roses of Eyam” from Tuesday 10^th - Saturday 14^th July. Performances begin at 7.30pm, tickets are £8 and are available from Havant Art Centre 023 9247 2700.  The play written by Don Taylor is a remarkable and true story of a village stricken with the plague through the arrival from London of a box of clothing.  In promenade style the audience will encounter the villagers' determination, under the persuasions of the present and former Rectors, to prevent the spread of the disease by remaining within the village at the certain risk of their own lives.  As the story progresses, the audience wander from scene to scene and cannot fail to be moved by the many haunting images, human tragedies and even comedies that they encounter.            

Youth & Children's Ministry Training Dates 07/08

There is a new programme of workshops and seminars starting in the autumn.  Also in the next academic year we are offering a modular evening course for youth and children’s workers who would like to go a little deeper with their training.  For further details and booking forms please contact Kay Lancaster on 023 9289 9656 or kay.lancaster@portsmouth.anglican.org.  Also please check http://dopcandy.blogspot.com for the latest information on resources and training.

Ben Mizen Youth and Children’s Work Adviser Diocese of Portsmouth