While we were away on holiday this summer I bought myself a CD of my favourite childhood band’s greatest hits. The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO for short) was more of an obsession than a favourite – I used to listen to their albums over and over again, memorising all the words and singing along with the inimitable Jeff Lynne. I used to marvel at the album sleeves and the pictures of these 70’s styled young men with long hair and even larger flared trousers. These guys were to me so incredibly creative. Somehow, their songs seemed to express something of my adolescent angst, hopes and dreams. ELO’s unique sound was made by a combination of stringed instruments (particularly violin and Cello) and contemporary guitars and keyboards. At the time I was a trumpet player, but I dreamed of someday becoming the guy to bring together the established ELO sound with a brass addition – perhaps co-founding an Electric Orchestra! Sadly I abandoned my trumpet in the pursuit of A Level results (and perhaps rugby, beer and girls) and so this ambition was quashed before it ever became any more than a childhood fantasy. But as I listen to the old songs now and realise they are not quite so musically brilliant as I had thought nearly 30 years ago, I am reminded of two other things. Firstly, that part of me that wanted to bring divergent themes, people and interests together is still alive and well. I rejoice therefore in the debate that is taking place in these pages about the acceptance, or not, of homosexuals into the Church. Colleen’s letter later in these pages expresses very well a popular view that homosexuality is largely accepted in modern society, despite pockets of homophobic resistance and ignorance, and that we, in the Church, need to get in line. For Church members, however, a further consideration has to take place – squaring our thoughts and ideas of contemporary life with scripture. As you will probably know debate is raging long and hard about this and people from both sides of the debate in the Church are insistent that they have the best interests of all people at heart and are not anti-gay. At its most extreme expression, some Christians argue that homosexuality is a perversion from which the ‘sufferer’ can be cured. Others are convinced that to be a homosexual is a genetic condition, that no-one would ever chose homosexuality in a society that has been so intolerant and judgmental as to make such a person’s life a living hell and that homosexuals should be accepted for who they are. I think my role here is to bind this conversation and to allow difference of opinion to exist within St Faith’s. This is not to say I am shying away from expressing my personal views – but rather than inhibit discussion by enforcing one line, I should prefer to enable people to come to their own conclusions having been exposed to all sides of the debate. As I listen to the old ELO songs again and recall the joy that there was someone whose music seemed to resonate with my teenage sense of loneliness and desperation to fit in with the crowd for who I was, rather than who I felt they wanted me to be, I recognise that this may also be what people on all sides of this debate are feeling. It is very easy for the church to appear to ostracise people for one reason or another and I am convinced that Jesus stood up against such intolerance and exclusivism above all else. He fought for the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable and the oppressed. In his name I call therefore for an inclusive church – however hard this may be to achieve. Maybe the idealistic little boy in me is unrealistic – but I cannot let go of that desire for inclusivity!                                                                                                                           Fr. David

The recent articles in "Faith Matters" about John Pounds and the Ragged School Movement has led to a lady in church obtaining a most interesting booklet from a friend, Alan Williams, in Forest Rise, London, about the Ragged School Museum in Tower Hamlets. We have all heard of Barnardo's and its wonderful work for homeless children but do you know of the connection with the Ragged School Movement? No, then read on! The booklet tells us that in 1868 Dr Thomas Barnardo started a Ragged School in Hope Place, Limehouse and the plight of the children attending led him to open the first Barnardo's Home for homeless boys in 1870 at Stepney Causeway. In an age of discrimination, Dr Barnardo made no distinction about age, colour, faith or disability. He opened a second Ragged School but by 1875 both had been condemned because of overcrowding. In 1877 Dr Barnardo rented a warehouse, used for storing lime juice and general provisions, at 46 Copperfield Road, now in Tower Hamlets, and converted it into a Ragged School for children aged between 5 and 10, this being the school-leaving age! The booklet tells us that the children received free education, breakfast, dinner and help to find a first job. Each floor of the warehouse became a classroom, and there were separate boys, girls and infants schools in the building. The basements served as playgrounds. By 1879, there were 144 Ragged Schools in London but the one at 46 Copperfield Road was the largest. In 1895, overcrowding lead Dr Barnardo to rent the warehouse next door at No 48 for the girls and infants schools, with the boys remaining at No 46. By the following year, there were 1,075 children attending the day schools and, wait for it, astonishingly there were 2,460 attending the Sunday School! From 1890, council schools were free and the Ragged Schools at the warehouses finally closed in 1908 when the London County Council decided that the buildings were no longer suitable. In 1983, 46 and 48 Copperfield Road were set up as a museum by the Ragged School Museum Trust. We all associate Barnardo's with the homes for children but it is incredible to think that it all stemmed from John Pounds and the Ragged School Movement. Finally, who is the lady who has given me all this information? You all know her because she is always in church on a Sunday, sat quietly with Ruth Tunks in the pew behind Sandra Haggan. She was Baptised in St Faith's in 1920 and Confirmed in 1937. She left Havant in 1939 to do war work around the country, returning here some years after the war to care for her mother. This charming lady is, of course, Elsie Yalden.                                                                                                                                           Roger Bryant

A Strategic Review Group had been set up in the Diocese to tackle some of the problems that faced the Church in terms of the increased costs of maintaining buildings and the need to make the Church more relevant to people. A review would be conducted starting in Lent 2004. The meeting approved a plan to replace the existing Fabric Committee with a Structural Planning and Restoration Committee which would oversight the implementation of the Quinquennial Report, keep restoration work on the church under review and identify improvements required to the fabric and facilities of the church. It would also be responsible for the Organ. A new Building Management Committee would replace the existing Building Committee. Its role would be to effect the repair and maintenance of all the buildings on the estate, including the church itself. The PCC decided that the parish should go ahead with Communion before Confirmation. The Rector would produce a Parish Policy Document which would recognise that the initiative should rest with parents, that the child would have to be of an age of reasoning, normally 7 or 8, and would be required to undertake a period of instruction before being allowed to take Communion. Large print Hymn Books and Service Sheets for members of the congregation who have limited vision would shortly be available on request at services. With the computerisation of parish accounts, the Treasurer, Pam Bowley, would continue her current duties but a Cashcall Operator, Colin Carter, would undertake computerised book-keeping. The three Lloyds TSB Accounts (Building, Fabric & General) would be merged into a single current account, with the balance of funds put into a CBF Account. The Restoration Fund would be retained in its present form.

I now turn to Roger Bryant’s "jottings" ("About the Parish") on the subject of coincidence. Believe this if you can, the photograph was actually taken by our neighbour in Berkeley Square, Peter Gavin, Lt Cdr RN Rtd, serving aboard the frigate HMS GURKHA which was also on the scene. It was quite something to be duly presented with the photograph some 30 years after the event!!                               Derek Bowley

Resources needed. Minimal. To obtain supplies, and put in pews for services.

Timescale. Immediately.

Resources needed. A better computer and copier.

Timescale. ASAP. (PCC has approved purchase of computer and printer)

Cost. Approx. £1000

3. A Parish Handbook would provide a central point of reference for all activities being done on behalf of the PCC. Quite often someone is trying to start work on something that is already being done by someone else. The Handbook would not only enable parishioners to find out whom to approach for a particular activity, but also prevent that duplication of effort. It should be loose-leaf, so that it can be easily kept up to date.

Resources needed. A compiler to collate the information, ring binders and printing.

Timescale. ASAP.

Cost. Perhaps £200-£300? A4 ring binders are very cheap, less than £1 singly, and we should be able to get a quantity discount.

5. Storage for Parish Archives. At present, these are kept in small parcels all over the Parish. There is a high risk that some of them could get lost. They need to be brought together in a secure place.

Resources needed. Some cupboards, or better, filing cabinets.

Timescale. 1-2 years.

Cost: Probably quite low. We need to identify some existing space.

Short - Use combined children’s/ adult choir at Festivals

Short - Arrange weekday lunchtime concerts in St Faith’s Church

Long - Set up music club for young people to learn/participate in music.

Housekeeping

Short - Set up contact list for emergency repairs in Church – lighting, heating, organ, and building damage.

Short - Expand weekly cleaning team, organise regular church/ churchyard cleanups.

Short - Replace illegal ladders and stepladders (HASAW exposure).

Long - Procure professional cleaning services for high areas.

Long - Investigate co-operation with local churches.

Long - Consider purchase of a cleaning tower for letting to other churches.

Social Events

Short - Expand team.

Short - Improve communication with congregation of church’s needs – e.g., Kitchen cupboards.

Short - Display pew sheet on external notice board.

Long - Enhance/ expand church facilities for social events – toilets, kitchen, and meeting rooms.

Short - Listening skills training for volunteers.

Short - Group for visiting the sick, newly baptised and newly married.

Short - Stewards in church outside services to assist security, support, or information about St Faith’s. Initially encourage the congregation to pop into church whenever they are in Havant

Long - Expand stewards with a rota of volunteers to cover high risk/ busy times.

Short - Develop external links with other churches in UK and abroad.

Short - Enable targeted giving, congregation to vote on concentration on specific giving projects.

Short - Review and improve collection/ offering containers in services – larger bags or a separate container.

On Saturday 11 October on a beautiful autumn afternoon St Faith's adult and childrens' choirs and Judith, our organist, met at St Jude's Church, Southsea. We were there to take part in the bi-annual Diocesan Choir Festival organised by The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). St Jude's was packed with church choirs from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and we quickly divided into trebles, sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. The rehearsal lasted from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and was conducted by Simon Lole, Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral with great expertise, humour and confidence. We rehearsed pieces from 'The Light of Life' a festival service and resource book compiled by John Harper to celebrate last year's 75^th anniversary of the RSCM. Simon guided us through the intricacies of the pieces we were to sing at the service later that afternoon. Some were more difficult than others and included hymns, plainchant, taize, traditional folk melodies and psalms rounded off with Stanford's magnificent 'Te Deum' in Bflat. After the rehearsal we broke up for a well earned cup of tea or squash and biscuits and on a personal note it was lovely to meet my old choir from Holy Cross Church, Binstead, Isle of Wight and catch up with their news. There was just time to change into robes and return to our seats for the service starting at 5 p.m. A few parents and friends arrived to support us and we were then welcomed to the church and service by Rev John Byrne of St Jude's and Archdeacon Peter Hancock who represented the Bishop. The Archdeacon started the service by giving out various awards to some boys and girls from other choirs and we clapped their achievements. Then it was the turn of the choirs and for the next hour we performed all we had rehearsed earlier interspersed with prayers and readings. We sang our hearts out under the powerful direction and encouragement of our conductor, Simon Lole. It was a wonderful afternoon and although we might have sung a few wrong notes we all felt totally uplifted by the whole occasion.

I would like to thank the five riders, including Daniel, who took part on 13 September – also the folk who waited for riders in our church. A large number of churches in the Havant area and Portsmouth were visited. The total sum collected was £160. This will mean we will receive £80 towards our Restoration Fund.                                                                                                   Audrey Currie Parish Rep

I was saddened to read the letter in the Correspondence Column (October edition) from ‘JB’.

I have a friend who is gay; a kinder more generous, compassionate man you could not wish to meet. That he should be disregarded from occupying any form of office and that his private life is laid open to debate is odious.

A gay Bishop, Prime Minister, Teacher, Tax Inspector – whatever the occupation, if a gay person is the best person for the job then they should be appointed – no questions asked.

Too much time is wasted on negativity; people must be judged on whom they really are. It is the 21^st century - let them get on with their lives, we shouldn’t be deprived of their expertise because of a few people’s perceptions.

Yours sincerely                                                                                                               Colleen Carter-Smith

Father Brown wishes to thank all those who sent him cards and their good wishes during his recent illness. They were very much appreciated.

Thanks to God for help received for James Legg. His is a long term condition which may or may not improve, so although he will no longer be on the prayer list continued thoughts for him would be appreciated. He is just nine years old.

Margaret was born in 1924 at Portsmouth, the second child of Daisy and Charles Bennett, and the family lived there until 1940. Their house was next to St Wilfred's Church and that was the centre of Sunday life until 1940 when the house was destroyed in one of the early daylight air raids. Margaret and her mother were sheltering in the "Anderson Air Raid Shelter" in the garden and escaped injury. Margaret's career had a chequered start. She started her education at St Mary's Road School but was often ill for long periods, so eventually she went to Alton Hospital for a few months, returning home in 1938, just before the outbreak of war. Margaret took a secretarial course and then started work in the Dockyard as a typist. When part of the Naval Store Department moved to Haslemere, the family was split, first living in Midhurst (in the Gas Works!) and then in three separate households in Haslemere. When peace came, the family moved to Havant in 1946 and Margaret worked in the Dockyard as a secretary to a succession of senior naval officers. In fact she worked there for 37 years, retiring in 1984. She enjoyed living in Havant and took an interest in gardening and sailing. She bought a small boat and then a small car, having learnt to drive. Her father died in 1964. Margaret became friends with Bob Peters who lived across the road from her. Bob became a regular visitor to the house and was a great support for Margaret and her mother, who died in 1976. Margaret and Bob were married in St Faith's Church in 1981. Margaret was a regular attender at St Faith's and worked for several years in the Sunday School with the late but never-forgotten Doris Norkett. She also distributed the Bible Reading Fellowship notes for several years. She was an active supporter of a number of charities. Her active life ended when she had a brain haemorrhage in 1998. In her final years, she was still a regular attender at St Faith's but was unable to play an active part. She was always cheerful and could be relied upon to smile right to the end. She is greatly missed by Bob, her family and all her many friends. May she rest in peace.                                                            Bill Bennett

Where you can find a well known television cook, an Under Secretary of State and the Rector’s wife together with eleven children and twenty parishioners? Find out by buying the St Faith’s Cookery Book which will be published mid November, costing £3 (or £3.50 by post) and obtainable from the Parish Office or by phoning 023 9247 1241. It will also be available at the 9.30am Sunday Eucharist.

Book 1

Health Partnership Funded

(Havant Borough Council/East Hampshire Primary Care Trust)

This service was adapted from the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animal’s specially printed animal welfare service, first held on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi in October 2002 and celebrated by many parishes within the Church of England on that day. As it coincided with St. Faith’s Patronal Festival it was decided to postpone it and to link it in with the Veg4Lent Campaign (calling on all Christians to give up meat for Lent in accordance with the ancient Christian tradition) and was held appropriately on the first Sunday in Lent, incorporated into the 9.30am Eucharist service. The service itself focussed on the global issues of animal suffering, and was not a pets’ service. Christians were asked to pray for factory farmed animals; battery chickens; animals reared or trapped for their fur; experiments on animals and animal testing in general. Everyone in the congregation was given the Animal Welfare Sunday leaflet and an accompanying leaflet introducing and explaining its aims. Father David dealt with some of the main issues in his sermon, especially the necessity for us to think very carefully about how animals are reared in making our food purchases, the label’organic’ indicating a more humane rearing system. I was very grateful to Father David for agreeing to hold this service and to his suggestion that I should give a talk afterwards. A friend of mine from Liphook also attended – he is the chairman of the Veg4Lent campaign. In fact it was through him that I heard of the ASWA’s Animal Welfare Sunday. My talk centred on how I came to be vegetarian after hearing about the cruelties of current cruel farming practices and the Live Export Trade and how I felt called to raise the awareness within our Church of these and other animal welfare issues. I talked about adopting a vegetarian diet in Lent and its spiritual mirror in the 40 days of Lent, when Christians imitated Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness with the animals for 40 days. The current campaign called on Christians "to extend the principles of love, mercy and reverence towards the two million animals otherwise killed daily in the UK" and to call us to action: in our case – vegetarianism. Also mentioned the ecological argument – world-wide livestock production causes deforestation and pollution from waste run-off and consumes 10 to 1000 times more land, water and energy than a vegetarian diet. World hunger – that every person on Earth could be adequately nourished if grain and vegetables were fed directly to people and not to animals. The health argument – that the world’s biggest killers – heart disease, stroke and cancer could be cut by up to 90% by eliminating the intake of cholesterol found only in meat and dairy products, and by reducing fat consumption (I obtained the information in this paragraph from the animal charities PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and VIVA!

(Editor Note: article received 2 October 2003)                                                                    Helena Youle

Two years ago Derek Bowley and I thought that a church building venue should be available for a painting group, we asked Father David for his consent to use the Church Hall on a regular basis. We were given that permission with a proviso that the group should be a part of the parish outreach work. What you might say is outreach work? My understanding is that it means to take the Gospel message to the world. Next you may perhaps ask what has the painting group to do with the Gospel? Especially since we do not have any theological or matters of faith discussion? My view is that the inspiration to paint is a God given gift and it does not matter how grand or humble the painting might be, it is the Spiritual expression of each individual that is the inspiration to express the inner-self to the glory of God. Needless to say that in the process we also enjoy ourselves hugely, in the same way that the church choir enjoy using their voices. On a more practical level we have opened our doors to people who have physical disabilities, older people, and anyone else who wishes to enjoy an activity that is stimulating and challenging. In the two years since St Faith's art group began meeting, we have grown from just 3 or 4 people to 12 or more at any one time. Not all the group members are members of our church, some come from other churches and some may not be churchgoers (or not yet!), but that does not matter because we welcome all comers. These two examples illustrate the way Derek and I have tried to meet the challenge of outreach in meeting people from all walks of life in a way, which is warm and welcoming. I must extend a huge thank you from all our members to Derek Bowley for his hard work in organising demonstrations which we have periodically (we would like more but funds do not allow for such luxury). He has been there almost non-stop during this time to put chairs and tables out and to clear away each week. Not to mention organising art exhibitions at the last two Town Fairs. He has also undertaken to collect subscriptions and to pay a contribution towards heating and lighting. Yes, we ask for a pound per session from all members for heating and lighting, we try not to be a burden on the church funds. My part has been to support Derek whenever I can and to help members in any way that is needed artistically. It has not been easy to establish ourselves and neither have we taken our project lightly. Sometimes Derek and I have felt that there are some conflicts in serving the needs of both the church and the community but so far we have managed to survive struggles and continue with our community vision. We are very grateful to the PCC for allowing us a special rate for a worthwhile project. And we would ask members of the congregation and the clergy to remember us in their prayers and more visibly to show us your support by an occasional visit. We meet on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm except at Christmas. With love and thanks to all                                                                   Carmen Stuart