Parish of Leatherhead in 2012

Sunday 4 November was a special day for two reasons. Not only was it the celebration of All Saints Day, it also marked the hand-over of All Saints Church to LYP. In a moving service led by Graham and supported by the congregation of All Saints, LYP team and young people, we were told about the rich heritage of the All Saints building and all it stood for in the community of North Leatherhead. LYP now has the responsibility of ministering to the community using All Saints church as a base. This will primarily be carried out through young people but at times it will involve the whole community.

Since September, LYP has enjoyed shared use of the All Saints Church space and won a grant to buy resources and renovate the area into a multi-use area with a coffee shop. The youth workers at BFree have been leading a Faith group on Monday nights in the new All Saints Coffee shop which started with 14 young people who wanted to know more about the Christian faith. The numbers have steadily grown and we now have over 20 young people meeting for a meal and to learn more about Jesus. In the New Year we plan to have regular worship events where young people can connect with God and immerse themselves in prayer and ministry time.

Triumph AM youth church meets at BFree twice a month for fun, food, faith and fellowship. Around 18 young people attend each time and have the opportunity to link into activities for the older groups such as Soul Survivor as they mature.

This Sunday, All Saints Coffee Shop will host "The Living Room" where young people are invited to meet with their friends, listen to music and hear an inspirational message. This is just one of the faith "threads" that LYP uses in its holistic approach to youth work which includes our after school drop-in youth cafe, various projects, and Alternative Learning Centre in BFree. All the employees, volunteers and directors at LYP are excited and privileged to be continuing the legacy of all the people involved over the last 124 years of All Saints Church.

and ... All Saints Farewell Service - from the December 2012 magazine

Sunday 4th November marked the end of an era at All Saints Church when we held our last service there. As Brian Hennegan remarked, the circumstances in 1889 when the church was built were very different from today. As he said, we have been lucky to have it for as long as we have.

Naturally, we could not help feeling sad after many years of worshipping there, but we are all pleased that LYP, who occupy the rest of the building, will have this much needed extra space. The organisers of LYP do a really wonderful task in providing premises and entertainment for the young people in that part of Leatherhead each day after school. So we are glad that the new chapter in the life of All Saints will be for such a worthwhile cause.

Brian Hennegan handed over the spade which dug the first sod in 1888 to LYP with applause and best wishes from all of us. Although I'm sure thanks will be given elsewhere to Sheila and John Sutherland for their work there as deputy churchwardens, we can't fail to record our grateful thanks for all they have done to look after the church and getting everything ready for all the services. Good wishes now to LYP!
Linda Heath

L-R: Rector - Doug Waters - Brian Hennegan with which dug the first sod at All Saints' in 1888 - Andy Gill, LYP
photos courtesy of Jay Bristow

Whose Pews – John and Sheila Sutherland - from the December 2012 magazine

John and Sheila began their married life in Bookham; they were married in St Nicholas Church in 1962. Their faith began to flourish there; Sheila was confirmed when she was 14 years old and John after they were married. Their son Ian was born in 1968 with a kidney problem and had an emergency Baptism in hospital when he was only a day old. John and Sheila had not been present at the Baptism and as they had now moved to Leatherhead they were delighted that Ian could be received into the church at All Saints with a thanksgiving service taken by Revd Norman Rom. That was the beginning of their amazing years of service and dedication to All Saints Church fellowship.

They had two other children, Diane and Glen; Diane was the first to join Sunday school and was soon followed by Ian and Glen. Later, Sheila helped to run the Sunday school with Stella Peake and remembers there being lots of children in attendance. Around that time John remembers playing his guitar at the 6.30pm youth led service where the singers were called "The Singing Saints" most of whom were also in the choir.

John became a server and was subsequently asked to take on the position of Churchwarden; he continued in the role for over 25 years. During that time they saw many changes, including the re-ordering of the church into a multipurpose building with a church area for worship. This was financed by knocking down the small hall and selling the land behind to a developer who built the five bungalows which are behind the church.

Sheila managed the hiring out of the new multi purpose building which became a popular venue for all sorts of events and activities. Pitstop started there, and it was used for badminton, dance classes, meetings, etc. Sunday services continued to be held there. Sheila became an assistant Churchwarden, and they worked unstintingly together as a team looking after the building, preparing for the services and providing refreshments afterwards.

In 2005, after a great deal of deliberation and prayer, BFree youth cafe was opened in All Saints. It was an exciting new venture, an after school cafe/activities centre which was underpinned by the Christian ethos of serving young people in North Leatherhead and by prayer. Sheila and John embraced the change and worked closely with the youth team.

BFree flourished under the umbrella of LYP (Leatherhead Youth Project) and is now well known and respected as a model for youth work within the Diocese. Sheila had by now become the Churchwarden, but together they continued their dedicated service to the small congregation with services eventually being held once a month. When the organ was removed they helped to design a small kitchen area and made coffee for the congregation to stay and enjoy fellowship after the service.

However as the congregation became smaller the success of LYP meant it grew and needed more space, and John and Sheila began to feel that it was the right time to give up their duties at All Saints. They wanted to see the continued growth and development of LYP. The All Saints congregation initially agreed to share the worship space with LYP but then felt it was the right time to hand over the space altogether.

It has been an emotional time for John and Sheila: they feel a sense of loss but more notably a sense of pride that this building which has changed over the years is again able to serve the young people of Leatherhead - a bit like the Sunday school which Sheila first encountered. There will be a history wall in All Saints - do go and have a look at it.

Sunday 4th November saw toe last regular service at All Saints. It was an emotional occasion but we also felt content that what was the church part of the building would continue to be used for the benefit of Leatherhead youth. This was emphasised in our choice of hymn "One more step along the world I go from the old things to the new". After the service there was a ceremony of handing over to LYP. Brian Hennegan handed over the ceremonial spade which will be placed on the history wall and our Rector, Graham, handed over the large old Gothic door key to Doug Waters. Afterwards there was a time of coffee and cake and more thanks.

A special thank you was given to Linda Heath for playing the piano over the years. We were both very moved indeed by the kind presentation to us from the congregation. Thank you all. God bless you and the future of LYP.

In their servant hearted way John and Sheila continue to give us their time and talents. Sheila works in the Parish office and is responsible for the hiring out of the Parish Church Hall; she is an Assistant Churchwarden, administers the chalice and has just become a server; and she is also on the Mothers Union Trustee Board for the Diocese. John is a server and chalice assistant and is a willing handyman. For many years both of them have worked hard towards the success of the Autumn Market.

I feel a huge sense of gratitude for all John & Sheila do for us, their hard work, their caring attitude, and their common sense approach. Sheila and I first met when we served on the Young Wives committee together about 25 years ago - that's quite scary!!

Thank you John and Sheila. Linda Hauxwell I couldn't have put it better myself! Thank you both.
Graham

Diocesan Synod - the new Triennium - from the December 2012 magazine

On Saturday 10th November, Kuhan and I made our way to St Paul's church in Woking for the first meeting of the new Diocesan Synod.

After separately electing the Chairs of the Houses (Clergy and Laity), the members of all three Houses (Bishops, Clergy and Laity) gathered in the body of the church for our opening act of worship, led by Bishop Ian.

Following a presentation by "Friends of the Holy Land" to thank the Diocese for choosing this charity as the focus for the 2012 Lent Call, we were all welcomed to the start of the new Triennium - the three-year life of the Synod. Colin Harbidge, the Deputy Diocesan Secretary, then gave us a very entertaining induction to the work of the Synod.

After coffee, we were updated on the work of the Bishop's Council on Strategy and how the Diocese is being aligned with the Common Purpose that Bishop Christopher set out in March 2009 (see www.cofeguildford.org.uk/diocesan-life/diocesan-common-purpose/ for the full text).

In brief, Bishop Christopher set out three aims - Spiritual Maturity, Numerical Growth and Community Engagement.

One key aspect of this alignment is the reorganisation of the Diocesan departments in line with the Common Purpose. We now have three teams - Discipleship, Vocation and Ministry under Canon Hazel Whitehead, Parish Development and Evangelism under a newly appointed leader, and Communities Engagement under Canon Chris Rich - and we heard a short introduction to their work and priorities from each team.

We then got down to the nitty-gritty of approving the 2013 Diocesan Budget before Question Time - formal questions previously submitted, questions on the minutes of Bishop's Council and Diocesan Synod, questions on any reports or papers provided and, finally, informal questions from the floor. We then closed with prayer and a blessing.

It is a little while since I was on the Bishop's Council and Diocesan Synod in Gloucester but I discovered that it is a bit like riding a bike -you never forget how to do it!
Graham Osborne

and .. Diocesan Synod - from the May 2012 magazine

What do you think that Diocesan Synods do? The overriding role is strategic – considering questions of policy and priorities, acting as a consultative body and being a communications route between parishes, the diocese and the top management of the CofE.

Our PCC appoints people to be members of the Deanery Synod, and it in turn appoints a mixture of clergy and laity to be members of the Diocesan Synod. St Mary’s has Sheila Cole, Roger Lynch and me on the Deanery Synod. At present the Deanery Synod has the Revds Robert Jenkins, Paul Boughton, Alan Jenkins and Jeremy Cresswell plus Chris Shawdon (Cobham), Humphrey Bowen (Fetcham), Bill Taylor (Great Bookham), Barry Moughton (Mickleham) and me on the Diocesan Synod. Are you with me so far?

This brings me – at last – to the meeting. It was very interesting, lively, friendly and well attended. It began with an excellent session by the Revd William Challis who you’ll remember led some of our services in January. We had prayers and Bible study on Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 16. With unity as its theme this was most appropriate as the main item to follow later was a debate on the Anglican Communion Covenant – an important unity/disunity topic if ever there was one.

The Synod also discussed Synod membership, and whether it truly represents every Parish in the Diocese. As the list above indicates, it doesn’t, but does it matter? Apparently it might, so more work will be done.

As for the Anglican Communion Covenant, Deaneries in our diocese had already declared four in favour, six against, with two not voting for the motion to adopt it. A very lively debate followed, well chaired by Peter Brunivels, with passion, reason, hopes and fears expressed by more than 20 clergy and laity. It was clear that whatever the result there would be some unhappy and disappointed people. In the event the decision was made not to support the introduction of the Anglican Communion Covenant, and the Guildford Diocese therefore helped to decide that the CofE overall would not support it.

Where this now leaves the CofE in terms of its relationship with other Anglican churches worldwide churches is unclear. It may also influence the selection process for a new Archbishop of Canterbury and it will certainly make the new Archbishop’s job more complicated than it might have been.
Donald Yeates

Annual Autumn Market News - from the December 2012 magazine

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Jane Summerfield for co-ordinating the Autumn Market over the past five years. She has decided to retire so the new co-ordinators will be Nicky Osborne and Janine Stagg, who look forward to working with you to achieve another successful event next year.

We need good quality items to sell so if you have anything that you'd like to donate at any time of year (especially those unwanted Christmas gifts) please speak to Nicky (L372313 or in Church) who will arrange storage.
Nicky and Janine

and .. Autumn Market - from the November 2012 magazine

Many thanks to everyone, too numerous to mention by name but you know who you are, for making the Autumn Market such a success. It was a most enjoyable, friendly day. At the time of writing we have reached £3,000.

Thanks must go to Alison Wright who arranged for the remainder [goods unsold] to go to Hackney which is a great help - it is a relief not to have to arrange visits to Charity Shops.
Jane Summerfield

Fairtrade in Leatherhead - from the November 2012 magazine

Most of you know that St Mary & St Nicholas is a Fairtrade church, having fulfilled the three requirements set out by the Fairtrade Foundation: we use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which we are responsible; we are moving forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar and biscuits; and we promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship, and other activities. At the moment we are exploring the possibility of Fairtrade wine at our Eucharists. And of course we have our fortnightly Fairtrade Stall in church after the 10.30 service.

Christ Church United Reformed Church, the Methodist Church, and Our Lady & St Peter are all Fairtrade churches. Many of the cafes and supermarkets in the town supply some Fairtrade products. The Social Concern Group, which is affiliated to Churches Together in Leatherhead, recently conducted a survey of shops and cafes and other outlets in Leatherhead and found that awareness of Fairtrade in the town had increased in the three years since we conducted the previous survey.

I was asked recently if, now that supermarkets in the town all stock Fairtrade products, we had found that sales from the church stall had decreased. In fact the reverse is the case – and I think that many of our customers understand that although supermarkets do indeed stock Fairtrade products they still have their shareholders to please.

They are able to put pressure on suppliers to give them the lowest price possible. This means that producers clearly cannot benefit from supplying supermarkets to the same extent that they can if they supply a retailer such as Traidcraft, which supports their producers by advising them on improving their cultivation methods and on diversifying so that they are able to build up a more secure base and improve their income, and further benefit their community.

An interesting fact is that we are able to undercut Sainsbury on the Divine chocolate and Cafedirect coffee we sell even though we buy from a retailer and add 10%, as we do on all our goods. With this 10% we are able to send £100 each March to Traidcraft Exchange, a charity which uses all the money it receives to support their suppliers all over the world – there is a map in the tower which shows all the countries which benefit from Fairtrade. This October we were able to send a further £100.

So please look for Fairtrade products when you are shopping, and ask for Fairtrade coffee and tea when in the town’s cafes.
But remember that the producers benefit even more if you buy from a Fairtrade supplier. We look forward to serving you on our stall!
Margaret Jones

and .. Fairtrade Christmas Cards and Gifts - from the November 2012 magazine

During November and December there are Fairtrade Stalls on 4 and 18 November and 2 and 16 December. We have examples of each of the 50 designs of Christmas Cards sold in aid of CAFOD, Christian Aid, SCIAF, and Traidcraft, which can all be ordered from us to arrive in good time for Christmas. In addition, some of the cards can be printed with quotations from Isaiah, Micah, Luke, or Matthew.

We will also have Advent Calendars from Divine Chocolate, and Christmas Tree Decorations from The Meaningful Chocolate Company.

Come and take a Traidcraft catalogue – there are some lovely gifts, for all ages. And if you order from us we can save you the cost of postage.
Margaret Jones

I’m Not a Great Lover of Vicars
The diary of a parish priest by David Eaton
(published by Way House Books at £7.99) - from the November 2012 magazine

If you have ever wondered what vicars do all day and if it really is a one day a week job then this is the book for you. I’m not a great lover of vicars lifts the lid on the life of a parish priest. David Eaton was Vicar of Leatherhead from 1989 to 2009. In an amusing, thoughtful, and at times touching way he opens up life in the parish and at The Vicarage. The title is a quote from Eric Sykes which appears in the book.

We travel with the author around his patch and meet everyone from wayfarer to local MP, from visiting celebrities at the local theatre to those in crisis and down on their luck. We are also taken further afield as he travels to Spain, and then to Southwell and Norwich to meet the medieval mystics who once lived there and write them each a letter.

A family holiday in Crete seemed like a good idea at the time but presented its own challenges. Getting on a plane isn’t easy when you are a nervous flyer. Down on the beach Mr Greasy turns up to serenade the sun worshippers with his disco and a conducted tour of Knossos uncovers worshippers of another kind.

The diary also opens up some of the stresses and strains of being a vicar as the author tells it the way it is and lets us into his inner feelings. It all takes place in one year of the church calendar as we journey from Advent to Trinity.
www.davideaton.moonfruit.com

Amended as in the weekly news sheet 11 Nov 2012
In a change to the details published in the November Parish magazine, David Eaton has had to postpone his book launch for the time being, but hopes to be able to publish in the New Year.

A New Future for St Mary & St Nicholas Church - from the October 2012 magazine

News from The Belfry - from the October 2012 magazine

Being a Games Maker - from the October 2012 magazine

It was calm, quiet, and quite cool as I got out at Stratford station on one of my early shifts. A sea of volunteers in uniform walked towards the gate. One girl wore her trousers as shorts; one man had his hood up against the cold; workforce security in green chatted loudly in foreign languages; and a couple discussed an argument from the day before.

As we approached the gates the volunteers headed in a swarm for the lane taking us away from the public towards security. Every time the tall, red structure seems to look more majestic and I want to take another picture. Trap, trap over one wooden bridge, over the coloured shapes, over another bridge. I see the signs for IBC/MPC and arrive at the workforce check-in tent where my manager and one volunteer are sitting behind computers shivering with cold.

I was a Games Maker for the Paralympics. On October 27, 2011, Seb Coe issued a last-minute plea to Metro readers: "I want to make sure readers don't miss their opportunity to be part of the greatest show on earth!"

I applied and got through the selection process, though some people laughed: "You have to be interviewed to volunteer?!" My role at the check-in desk was to greet the workforce with a smile, scan them in, hand out allocated meal vouchers, newsletters, treats for the day, and answer queries.

Many people came into the check-in tent: press workforce of course, but also the military, navy, police, G4S, the Chaplain and medical team. My biggest moment was when Jonathan Edwards came in and asked me where the party was!

We were told "pin-trading would be a fun and enjoyable part of our games experience". Only volunteers were allowed "rewards" but everyone was after them. I feel very lucky to have been a Games Maker, and hope that because I was given a lovely souvenir relay baton as a reward I can do my bit to help children to enjoy sport.

On the last night at the closing ceremony Seb Coe said "We'd all have a story to tell." It was about 6pm travelling home on the Jubilee line: I was dozing a little and I was suddenly aware of a small girl sitting opposite staring at me. "Wow," she said, "Have you been at the Paralympic Games?! "Yes it's over now", I said. "Which team do you support?" she said. "Team GB," I said. Then her little sister piped up "Are you going to Rio?" Now there's a thought!
Patricia Hodgkinson

LeatherHead Start - from the October 2012 magazine

In 2008 Leatherhead Night Hostel embarked on a project to refurbish the premises. The aim of the project was to upgrade the accommodation, and our vision was to introduce a 24/7 service for our homeless clients. We believed that changing to single rooms from the dormitories would have a positive effect on the atmosphere and a year on now from the opening we see this is very true.

We have a new name: LeatherHead Start, as we aim to give our clients a head start, and a new beginning to their lives as they leave us. When clients first arrive, feeling at their lowest ebb, they are immediately aware of the pleasant surroundings and discover they have spate to reflect and people who will listen, make suggestions and help them to plan for a positive future.

Being open 24/7 has given staff more opportunities to get to know clients. When clients arrive they are given a project worker with whom they have regular key working sessions to check on individual needs, adjust support plans, organise their move on accommodation as well as encouraging them to take part in the day time activities and training.

We are very pleased with the way our day time activities have progressed and are grateful to all those volunteers who have helped to make it a success and enabled us to provide a wide variety of activities for our clients. Weekly activities have included: Indian Head Massage, Cookery - sessions with individuals who will then be given a recipe book containing the recipes they have learnt to cook, Cookery - sessions when they make a meal for the house.

We have obtained an allotment and in recent weeks have been enjoying the produce - onions, tomatoes, courgettes and potatoes.

Sport & Leisure: Leatherhead Leisure Centre have given us two passes that give the clients access to the whole facility during off-peak hours including the classes that they run. Other activities have included Job Skills, Guitar Lessons, Art Sessions, a Photography Project, and Budgeting Skills. Budgeting Skills is a workshop run in partnership with the WEA (Worker's Educational Association) and we will be making this Workshop mandatory.

We also decided that in the new service we wanted to develop Tenant Support work. When clients move on to new accommodation our dedicated Tenant Support worker will continue to give support when needed. As they already know and trust her they are more prepared to share any problems which may arise, so helping to overcome these quickly and therefore helping clients to maintain their tenancy.

During the past year some of our clients have found jobs; others have obtained certificates which will enable them to find employment; and a couple of clients, after working with a volunteer to help improve their numeracy and literacy skills, are hoping to be accepted on a course in September. We are also very pleased that several of our clients are themselves involved in voluntary work in the local area.

We are pleased that we have had such a successful year and are looking forward to continuing to develop the service in the coming year. We are grateful to all in our local community who continue to support us in so many ways, helping us to provide the best service we can to our clients. If you wish to become involved with the work, perhaps helping with a short course or sharing a hobby, please ring L377790 and we will arrange for you to visit.
Myfanwy Tuthill
http://www.leatherheadstart.org

Response to Summer 2020 - from the September 2012 magazine

Wow! That's a lot to be done within 7-8 years! I am puzzled by coming down from a gallery in the tower and turning LEFT to find a serving hatch and lavatory, as I would have expected that to be in the present choir gallery, in which case surely one would turn right? In that case, where would the choir vestry be, or have we dispensed with a robed choir? I personally prefer the church as it is, but that's because I am traditional by nature. I wonder how others feel.
Linda Heath.

Barbara Fison 1927 – 2012 - from the September 2012 magazine

In the June edition of the magazine I mentioned that our mother, Barbara, had moved to a specialist home in Winchester. I think that most of you know that she died peacefully in her sleep on 9th June. Thank you to all the friends who came to the celebration of her life which was held in the Parish Church on 19th June. We recently heard that £434 was raised in the collection for the Children's Society. This was particularly good news because Barbara had done many things to raise money for that charity.
Thank you for your love and prayers.
James, John and Mary.

and .. Barbara Fison and Eric remembered on our website - from the September 2012 magazine

For those of you with access to the internet (including via family, friends or at the Library) with the help of Barbara's family I have added her remembrance to our website http://www.parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk/ (on there go via History > Remembrance then click on Barbara's name).

If you would like to add to her page (which naturally she shares with Eric) please let me know. The Remembrance page also serves to help recall many other old friends.
Frank Haslam

September 2012 Heritage Weekend Flower & Friends displays in church

For your information Aug 2012

A Summer Celebration - from the August 2012 issue

Imagine the scene. It’s a sunlit, late summer afternoon. The lawns are cut and there’s just a hint of new mown grass in the air. The garden is in full bloom. The shadows begin to lengthen on the lawn as the afternoon turns into evening. The gravel crunches under your shoes as you walk up the driveway. You hear the gentle sound of a steel band. They’re playing the beginning of an English folk song medley. A smartly dressed young man asks you if you’d like a Pimms and you turn round the corner of the house into the garden.

There’s a garden full of smartly suited men and glamorously dressed women. You know many of them. There’s the buzz of conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter as a joke is exchanged or as small children chase each other around the trees. Formally dressed waiters glide past offering you more Pimms, homemade canapés, or warm savoury nibbles.

The banqueting manager asks you to take your seat in the marquee and the band changes tempo into the signature tune of the Test Match Special TV programme to encourage everyone to find their place. You wonder now if you should have bid just a little bit higher to secure the last auction lot, but console yourself with the thought that there’ll be more to come after supper.

Supper is a buffet of fresh poached salmon, ham, salads, strawberry Pavlova, fruit salad – and more canapés if you have room. The surprising thing is the dramatic operatic performance of the waiters; they all sing! Italian, French and even English opera favourites follow one after another. Some of us find that we’re being romanced in a language not entirely familiar by an attractive young tenor! Of course, in spite of the fact that they’ve been serving us canapés and wine they are more than waiters. They’re all professional West End singers giving us their time and talents to help raise funds for St Mary’s New Future.

The evening ends with more auction lots. Did you get the apartment in France, or the theatre tickets, or tennis and tea at next year’s Wimbledon finals?

And so the evening ends. Everyone walks back to their car. Pity the duty drivers who could have only a glass or two of the delicious wine, but we thank them as they get us safely home.

Acknowledgements - we ate almost twenty kilos of freshly poached salmon, salads of many kinds, several hundred canapés, eight Pavlovas, six kilos of strawberries, ten metres of French bread, and a very big fruit salad all prepared or cooked by Sheila and Martin Cole, Linda Hauxwell, Nicky Osborne, and Jan and Donald Yeates. Helpers on the day included Sheila Ford, Sue Roberts, Holly and Luke Osborne, and Penelope Griffiths. Transport of everything, before during and afterwards was accomplished in Alison Wright’s mini bus. The music was provided by Pandemonium Steel Pans led by Nicky Fairey and played by talented young musicians from Therfield and the Howard schools www.crazyaboutpans.co.uk . The operatic waiters were “The three Waiters” – Tim English, Robin Green, and Chris Hornby www.thethreewaiters.co.uk . The sound man was Nigel Grant and the auctioneer was Howard Page.

Finally, none of this would have been possible without the wonderful generosity of Roger and Gail Partridge who gave us their house and garden for the event.

The latest – and approximate – takings show that a contribution to Parish funds of £4,500 may be achieved. Many thanks to everyone who bought a ticket, made a donation, or gave an auction lot. All of this will go into St Mary’s New Future fund and start us off on the next stage of our journey towards the church that we aspire to be.
Donald Yeates

Church Hall - from the August 2012 issue

The committee has replaced all crockery and cutlery, providing an improved feature for all hirers. The best of the old mixture has been donated to the Royal British Legion club in Leatherhead and to Hackney, and the remainder donated to a school fete. We will be happy to hire any quantity of the new equipment to church members in return for a donation.
Martin Cole

and .. Parish Church Hall - from the April 2012 magazine

Our insurers have carried out a Risk Management Report on the Church Hall. Included in that report is a reminder of our statutory obligations under Health & Safety Regulations 1999 and Food Hygiene Regulations 2006.

In order to comply Peter Leith has volunteered to act as our Health & Safety Officer for all church properties with effect from April this year with all the possible costs of remedial works that appointment may entail.

With regard to Food Hygiene, the church hall and kitchen facilities are hired to outside hirers as seen. For ALL church events where food preparation is required in the kitchen will you please note that the following requirements are in effect as of now.

When a church member contacts Sheila Sutherland (bookings secretary) to hire the hall and kitchen, you will be asked - 'is food preparation taking place at the event'. If food preparation is to take place then the hirer will be asked the name of the person RESPONSIBLE for the kitchen at that event and have they agreed. Until that information is provided the booking will NOT be accepted.. A booking form will be completed by all church event hirers

The requirements will not apply where only tea/coffee and packaged snacks are on offer.
Martin Cole, Chairman of Church Hall Committee

New Postcode - from the August 2012 issue

Please note that the Parish Office and the Church Hall now have a new postcode: KT22 8BD

Parish Funding Update - from the August 2012 issue

Kuhan’s ordination – Saturday 30 June 2012 - from the August 2012 issue

On June 30 – a bright and breezy day – a party set off from Leatherhead by minibus to join others from St Mary and St Nicholas congregation to support Kuhan upon his ordination as priest at Guildford Cathedral.

It was a very beautiful and moving service, which included the receiving of the Eucharist by all who wished to do so. The Bishops blessed each of the ordinands and received a blessing from each in return. After the service there was time for photographs of family, friends and members of the church with Kuhan. Then it was back for a sumptuous repast attended by approximately 60-70 comprising Kuhan’s family, friends and congregation celebrating his priesting. A truly memorable and special occasion shared by all in growing together as God’s family on earth.
The Editor

All Aloud! Community Choir - from the August 2012 issue

All Aloud! was set up as part of a county-wide community singing project called “Singing Surrey” and currently meets weekly at the Kingscroft Chapel, Kingscroft Road (corner of Kingscroft Road and the Leatherhead Bypass). One of the aims of the choir is quite simply to give a voice to people who like to sing - whether they have a background of music or not.

People of all abilities get regular singing practice and the opportunity to learn different styles of music and gain new singing skills. Sessions are informal and members rehearse and perform a wide variety of music ranging from African lullabies and English folk songs to modern pop songs.

The choir is led by a choir leader who is a professional musician, enthusiastic about song and committed to the aims of the choir. It is not necessary to be able to read music to join and there are no auditions. All ages are welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.

A donation of between £2 and £4 per week is requested but the most important thing to bring to the choir is an enjoyment of singing and a willingness to just have a go and be prepared to have fun.

The choir will not be meeting over July or August so why not come along to one of the Tuesday sessions on 12 June, 19 June or 26 June for a taster to see if it is the sort of choir you would like to join in the autumn? The sessions run from 6.30pm – 8pm. For further information please see the website www.surreycommunity.info/all-aloud

Bomber Command Memorial - from the August 2012 issue

I was privileged to be one of the several thousand invited to attend the unveiling of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park by Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday 28th June.

My late father, also Frank Haslam whom some you may recall, was the Wireless Operator, then aged 20, in a Lancaster of No.207 Squadron shot down on an attack on a synthetic fuel plant at Wesseling near Cologne on the night of 21/22 June 1944. He and the Flight Engineer managed to evade capture and eventually returned to the UK thanks to the bravery of Belgian helpers. The Bomb Aimer and Rear Gunner were captured and spent the rest of the war as POWs – one lives near Bournemouth and one in New Zealand. The Pilot, Mid-Upper Gunner, and Rear Gunner were killed and lie in Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries in Belgium.

Dad's crew was one of five 207 Squadron crews that failed to return that night. In one of them was Sgt Max Millward of Sunmead Close, Fetcham, a former chorister here. His father, HG Kimberley, set up a garage business in what is now the WA Truelove premises opposite the church. His widow was Practice Manager for Drs. Everett, Gavin, Williams, and Benson at the surgery which was behind the shops opposite the Theatre.

She was known to Virginia Gillett, who many of you will recall. A memorial to Virginia's husband, Flt Lt David Stapylton Gillett, is in our chancel. David was a server here. Aged 22, he was killed on 13 January 1943 in an attack on Essen as the pilot of a Lancaster bomber of No.61 Squadron, Royal Air Force Bomber Command. He and all his crew are buried in the Reichswald War Cemetery in Germany. Most of the WWII RAF names on our War Memorial are Bomber Command.

All the 125,000 who flew in Bomber Command were volunteers. They had to meet higher than the usual intelligence and fitness requirements. That almost half never returned to enjoy the fulfilling lives that could have been ahead of them is one of the tragedies of war, as is the loss of life on all sides. It is to Churchill's eternal discredit that having tasked Bomber Command with the specifics of destruction of our enemies he had to be forced to retract his political attempt to distance himself from them. And yet their sacrifice went unmentioned in his victory speech, no campaign medal was issued, and no national memorial established.

For them, their families and the veterans who survive (still wondering why them), and for those in Occupied Europe who suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Nazis and for whom for so many years the sound of our bombers was the sound of hope some justice has been done.
Frank Haslam, Bomber Command Association, 207 Squadron Association.

Barbara Fison - from the July 2012 issue

Tributes to Barbara, who died on 9th June 2012, have joined those on Eric Fison's page - please see via History > Remembrance or click her name above.

News from the PCC - from the July 2012 issue

Mothers’ Union - from the July 2012 issue

We are an international Christian charity that seeks to support marriage and families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents: men, widows, singles, and grandparents involved in our work.

The Organisation was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876 in the Church of England parish of Old Alresford, near Winchester, where her husband was rector. She wanted to bring mothers of all social classes together to provide support for one another and to be trained in motherhood. She was asked to speak at the Portsmouth Church Congress, where her enthusiasm was such that her audience went back to their own churches and formed their own Branches. By 1892 there were 60,000 members, and today there are approximately 4 million members worldwide.

The Mother’s Union is part of Make Poverty History and the Jubilee Debt Coalition. Within the UK it has successfully lobbied government to introduce the right to request flexible working for all parents, and internationally it speaks out on issues of gender equality through its representative status at the Union Nations.

What do we do?Put very simply, our members get involved at a grass roots level to support family life. M.U. believes children should be valued as children and not consumer items.

Hence our very successful campaign for Bye Buy Childhood. We have social outreach projects, such as Genesis which members of the congregation generously donated goods for. If you would like to join us we meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the Parish Church Hall at 2.30pm where we have a very varied programme. Our meeting in August will be a cream tea at the Grange but this time on a Thursday: 2nd August.
Jane Summerfield

Some Diamond Jubilee Lunch (3 June 2012) Bring & Share lunch photos

Introducing the Magazine Editor - from the June 2012 issue

I take this opportunity to write a piece in the Parish magazine by way of introduction. I am Juliet Campbell and have just taken over the privilege and responsibility of editing Leatherhead Parish Magazine. I attend St Mary and St Nicholas Parish Church, Leatherhead.

I hope you will forgive the indulgence but I want to share my views on how I see the future of the magazine and the place of editor, and what I should like to see published.

I have given serious and deep thought to this – the title of the magazine is “For Church and Town” and this I see as encompassing the whole community of Leatherhead.

As well as the excellent regular items that have appeared in the past I should like to open up some possibilities in other areas – for example, an arts and crafts section, which I see as accommodating such shared interests as gardening hints and tips; cookery and recipes; knitting and crochet patterns and sewing ideas; or any other craft of interest that I have not mentioned. There is room also for poems, recommended books, films, and music appropriate for a parish magazine. There could be recommendations of places to visit for day trips or holidays, good places to dine, places to walk – the list is only as endless as your imagination.

On a practical note, the deadline for each monthly edition is the second Sunday of the preceding month (see the box below), so July’s items need to be received by 10 June if they are to be included in the July edition. If the article is not tied to a particular month or time of year and you are happy for it to appear in a later edition please send it and I will keep a “holding” file for items that I can dip into. There will also be a box in the church clearly marked “Items for Magazine”: I and my team partner, Margaret Jones, will check this on a regular basis.

I should like to thank the Rector, the Reverend Graham Osborne, for the guidance, support and confidence he has shown in appointing me to this role. I also thank the “back room” part of the team – Mrs Nicky Osborne, who is responsible for printing the magazine, and Mrs Margaret Jones, who valiantly proofreads all submitted items.
Juliet Campbell, Editor [Having given it a trial period, Juliet's last issue was September 2012]

and .. The Magazine Editor writes - from the September 2012 magazine

This is my last edition as Editor. I took on this voluntary role on the understanding that I would “give it a go”. I have found it interesting and learnt a great deal. However due to my work commitments increasing it is with regret that I have had to step down. I want to thank the following for their support – the Rector, The Reverend Graham Osborne, Mrs Margaret Jones, Mrs Nicki Osborne, and all those who have been so kind and good natured when I have come badgering you for contributions. This part of being editor and getting to know you I thoroughly enjoyed. I know that you will want to join with me in praying God’s blessing on my successor.
Kind regards
Juliet Campbell

and .. Your magazine needs you! - from March 2012

I think most of us agree that this magazine is an important and valuable resource in this wonderful parish of ours. In these financially tough times, I had the idea of saving the parish about £3,000 a year by producing it in-house. Well, like lots of good ideas, it rather fell flat because the machine we have at present just isn’t up to the job; that is why your February issues were not up to scratch. Apologies. So for the present, we have gone back to our printers.

However, we have a bigger problem than how clear our pictures are or whether our edges have been guillotined. WE NEED AN EDITOR, and quickly. After Malcolm’s retirement, Graham took on the role of editor, and this last month while he has been off, Kuhan took over. However, these clergymen of ours just do not have the time to do this on a regular basis. In this hi tech, paper producing, form filling world of ours they have to spend far too much time already in front of their computers, so please, please could one or more of you come forward and offer to take on this job? It’s not too complicated, we have a very efficient system with Margaret Jones co-ordinating, but it is time consuming. Maybe if two or more of you felt able, you could do it on a rota system, who knows what’s possible?

It would be a huge loss if this magazine were to disappear BUT, if nobody can help, that is what is going to happen. Graham is committed to producing the April edition, but how sad it would be if that were to be the last.

If you think you might be able to help, please contact me.
Thank you, Nicky Osborne

A new booklet from Linda Heath - Leatherhead in Georgian Days - from the June 2012 issue

The arrangement of this booklet is designed as a stroll round the village, entering it from the bridge, then walking up Bridge Street and the High Street; turning right to the parish church and back along the Dorking Road and Church Street to the crossroads at the centre of the town with the Stocks House. We shall finish our tour via North Street, Randalls Lane and Kingston Road. Click here for more details and how to buy

Leatherhead Community Market – every Friday morning
- from the June 2012 issue

Have you ever been to the Community Market? You know the one; it’s advertised in the Parish Magazine every month. It’s every Friday morning in the Church Hall and is open from 10.30 until 11.30. Everything to eat is made at home or grown at home. Run by Pat Weetman and her band of helpers there’s a really wide variety of stalls selling cakes of all sizes and flavours, iced or not, plus cup cakes and scones - sweet and savoury. How about a shepherd’s pie or a veggie dish, some sausage rolls, or a meat pie or a pasty and a fruit pie to follow? Don’t get in a pickle; buy some here together with jams, marmalade and chutney.

When in season the fresh veg. couldn’t be fresher; it’s harvested early on Friday mornings from gardens and allotments, washed, weighed, labelled and packed. It’s the same with the flowers and the plants, they’re just as fresh. And there are no carbon air miles to worry about. And there’s a special provider of eggs – free range or barn – you might still hear the chickens clucking as you admire their work!! There’s also a meat stall with fresh and cooked meats delivered by someone from Conisbee’s farm.

If you need a gift or a card take a look at the craft stall. You’ll find all manner of sewn and knitted items such as cushion covers, patchwork, children’s clothes and jewellery.

Once you’ve done your shopping, stay for a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat with friends. You’ll be bound to see someone you know. Put a note in your diary; the “community market for good value and fellowship”.

At the same time, you could visit the Sewing Room. If you need needles, cottons, thread, wool, buttons, beads or anything to sew, repair knit, darn or mend you’ll find it here, run by Janine Stagg.

So, do come and see us all. Remember especially the Jubilee Community Market to be held on Friday June the first.
Jan Yeates

New Worship Pattern - from the May 2012 magazine

“Space to Think” - Marriage Preparation Day - from the May 2012 magazine

For most of you, Saturday 24th March 2012 was probably a Saturday much the same as any other. Although, as it was sunny, you may have taken the opportunity to sit in the garden, catch up with the laundry, or go for a stroll in the Surrey Hills. For around 16 couples, all planning weddings in Leatherhead or Mickleham this year, this day provided one of the milestones on the path to married life - the Marriage Preparation Day.

This is a day designed to take couples away from the difficulties of finding a pair of shoes in exactly the right shade of off-white, wondering how long it will take their fiancé(e) to notice they've switched the chair sashes from emphatically-not-pink to ... well ... pink, and debating at length whether Great Uncle Fred is best sat where Great Aunt Maud can keep an eye on him, or next to your friend who shares his passion for fly fishing, and instead take a step back and work out just what they're letting themselves in for!

As a couple, Phil and I have been fortunate in that a large part of Phil's agenda whilst “courting” seems to have been to gradually tick off his mental checklist of "Big things we should talk about before committing to marriage." Even so, having a wedding to plan, a house to redecorate and furnish, and busy work lives has meant that recently the evening's conversation has revolved more around choosing paint for the lounge (so many shades of off-white to choose from!) than around getting to know the other person (though you can learn some things from how a person chooses paint, I'm sure). Engagement, and life in general, is a runaway train - it picks you up, almost without your noticing, and takes you along with it, not stopping for a pitstop along the way. The Marriage Preparation Day is a day to take some time out, take stock, and ponder: "What is this train I'm on? Where is it headed? What does that mean? Is that where I want to go?"

Led by Graham (from Leatherhead) and David (from Mickleham), who were ably assisted by Kuhan, this is not a course to participate in if you don't like talking to your partner. Although, if you don't then why are you marrying them? How do you propose to cope with life together after the wedding? In which case, maybe you should do the course too!

Using as its basis the book "Growing Together" by Andrew Body (copies of which are available to take away with you), the course takes the format of a series of topics, each introduced with a brief talk from one of the clergy. Participants are then given an activity (drawing, generally!) or, more usually, a discussion point. These points are usually for discussion with your partner, though you may be asked to talk to other people's partners (at which point the volume increases as everyone maintains proper distance from someone else's spouse-to-be!)

Topics covered include: attraction, conflict, life after the wedding, vision for the future, sex, maintaining a healthy balance in life, ... There is a also a section taking couples through the wedding service and setting out exactly which promises they are making when they stand up in front of their family, friends and God. Graham will also provide encouragement and inspiration for anyone wishing to be creative with their wedding service (though at least one of my bridesmaids will kill me if I demand a choreographed dance in, rather than the traditional stately walk. Sorry Graham!)

Lunch is also provided and served by a team from the churches. We had delicious homemade soup (with a choice of flavours), served with bread, cheeses and grapes. There was also opportunity to make the most of the weather with a brief bask in the sunshine!

This course provides exactly what it offers – “A Space to Think”. All in all we found it a very useful day, not least due to the opportunity to sit down, with no other demands on our attention, and return to where our relationship started - and what we love doing - and talk to one another. About who we are, and what we hope to become. Together.
Poppy Stagg
Poppy Stagg grew up attending the Sunday Club. She is marrying Phil Balding on 4th August 2012

Over the Edge and You’re Down! - from the May 2012 magazine

St Mary’s tower has been a school and a fire station but there’s never been anything like this. Parishioners old enough to know better went over the edge to help Christian Aid to beat poverty.

On a fine Saturday morning [24th March 2012], in lovely sunshine, in front of a good crowd and with the promise of only sweet tea and a bacon roll at the end, parishioners and visitors abseiled down the 66 feet high tower to the sounds of cheering, screaming, clapping and shouts of “hang on darling”.

Our abseilers were Gail Partridge, Sheila Ford, Linda Hauxwell, Caroline Waters and Nicola Artiss, plus Doug Waters and Martin West to represent the men. They now have a medal, a photographic record, and the satisfaction of meeting the challenge.

Christian Aid expects that the event will have raised £4,000 when all of the pledges are in and all of the cash counted.

By the way, the origin of the abseil is attributed to Jean Charlet-Straton, a Chamonix guide who lived from 1840–1925. He originally devised the technique of the abseil method of roping down during a failed solo attempt of le Petit Dru in 1876. Of course our intrepid heroes now just say “I went abbing the other day you know”.

Well done to all of them, and thanks to helpers Peter Ford, Martin Cole, Molly Lewis, Mike Todd, Anne Ray, Jan Yeates, and press snapper Katherine Griffiths.
Donald Yeates

and .. Abseiling for Christian Aid

As many of you will have seen in the local paper, your daft, mad and crazy Verger did succeed in descending the Tower and wishes to thank those many friends who so very generously supported her in her moment of mental aberration.

I am delighted to report that I have raised £668, which is a phenomenal amount. Merci beaucoup!
Sheila Ford

and .. How high is it then? Christian Aid abseil of the Church Tower 24th March - from March 2012

The “it” in question is St Mary’s church tower. How high do you think it is? You can find out the boring way – by reading on, or you can find out the adventurous way by abseiling down it!!

On Saturday March 24th the Surrey Sponsored Abseil will see up to 40 people abseiling down the west face of the Tower to raise funds for Christian Aid. From the top you’ll get amazing views over Leatherhead and across the Surrey Hills towards Box Hill. By abseiling down you will be raising money for Christian Aid’s vital development work around the world – working with local communities in around 50 countries, giving them the tools to lift themselves out of poverty.

How much does it cost? It’s just £15 to register, and then you have to commit to raising £60 in sponsorship. Just £59 would pay for a group of farmers in Kenya to attend a training session on environmental management to help them to develop more resilient approaches to farming, using different crop varieties and agricultural techniques to adapt to changing weather patterns.

Have Christian Aid run abseils before? Yes! Last year Christian Aid organised abseils down the Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft (views of the countryside very poor apparently), down a cliff face in Millers Dale in Yorkshire, and down St Barnabas Church in Gloucester. This year churches are very popular - abseils have been booked with us, with St Mary’s Church in Swanage, St Thomas the Apostle Church in Exeter, and St Etheldreda’s Church in Hatfield.

Is it safe? The actual abseil is being managed by “Adventure Plus” www.adventureplus.org.uk – a professional, Christian abseiling provider who are licensed by the AALS (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority) and therefore certified to follow good safety management practice. They have a 100% safety track-record. Risk assessments have been carried out by Adventure Plus, Christian Aid, and the Churchwardens, designed to safeguard participants, spectators, and the Church cleaners and flower arrangers who’ll be in the Church on that Saturday morning. The Church Architect has also been consulted and all insurances are in place. In short, the church tower has been deemed safe to abseil down, and Adventure Plus strongly promote the fact that abseiling is a safe activity.

So… how high is it then?! Oh - the tower is 20.38 meters high. Go on – give it a go! Donald Yeates

Taking up the Elements - from the May 2012 magazine

From 1st July I shall not be phoning to “book” two people to take the elements on a specific Sunday. Instead, the Duty Warden will ask two people already in the Church if they would be prepared to take up the elements on that day. As above, if you have seen this please would you let me know and I can contact those who have not seen this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have, over the years, been prepared to be bothered by me asking them to take up the elements: we are all most grateful.
F Presley L372049

From the Parish Magazine May 1912 (from the May 2012 magazine)

Introduction: Mr and Mrs Collyer lived at 31 Church Walk. Their son, Harvey, and Charlotte, his wife, went to Bishopstoke with our curate, the Revd S.N. Sedgwick, when he left Leatherhead in 1904 to become rector of St. Mary’s, Bishopstoke. Harvey was a keen bell ringer and became verger and parish clerk at St. Mary’s. Charlotte suffered from tuberculosis, so in 1912 they decided to emigrate with their eight year old daughter to Ohio which had a better climate. Unfortunately they sailed on the Titanic. Harvey drowned and is commemorated in St. Mary’s Bishopstoke with a masterly understatement: “Fell asleep in the deep”. Charlotte and their daughter survived and returned to England after a few months.

For full details of the story, visit the Leatherhead Museum which has a very good exhibition and book about it by Alun Roberts.
Linda Heath

Parish Vision Project - from the April 2012 magazine

Music on Thursdays, Leatherhead Parish Church - from the April 2012 magazine

Opening Concert On the day of our first concert we launched the Music on Thursdays website, called simply: www.musiconthursdays.org. Here you will find information about the music at St Mary and St Nicholas Church - whether it's on Thursdays, Sundays, or any other day of the week.

Over eighty people enjoyed last week's opening concert of the Music on Thursdays season. As I came into the church to set things up I found it hard to believe that this wonderful violinist was being accompanied on our own piano, such was the skill Carlos Guerrero brought to his playing. Midor Komachi and Carlos Guerrero really gave those instruments their voices. We've added a few photographs to the webpage for the concert. We thank them both for getting our season off to such a terrific start and we wish them every success in their musical careers.

Feeling hungry? Well these are lunchtime concerts. One of the advantages of sponsorship by the High Street restaurant Vecchia Trattoria is that they bring sandwiches and cakes to sell at the end of each concert (at a reasonable £1 for a sandwich or a cake). We will have fruit juice on sale too. The Trattoria also put a discount voucher in their advertisement on the back of our programmes.

We look forward to seeing you at these Music on Thursdays concerts.
Peter Steadman, Music on Thursdays

and .. Review of Concert on Thursday 8th March - from the April 2012 magazine

The first of our weekly concerts at 12.30pm in the church on Thursday 8th March got off to a flying start to a good sized audience. The two artists were violinist, Midori Komachi from Japan, and pianist Carlos Guerrero from Spain. I say pianist and not accompanist advisedly, as their programme consisted of two powerful and demanding sonatas – one by Debussy and one by Prokofiev. Both of these compositions are works for violin and piano, with equally complex parts, rather than violin solos with piano accompaniment. Both performers were quite outstanding, and even those who may have found the Prokofiev a bit daunting were lost in admiration for their skill in performance, making it all seem so easy.

Vecchia Trattoria are sponsoring these concerts, for which we are most grateful, and they bring delicious sandwiches and cakes to the church, or if we feel like something more substantial, we can always walk along Church Walk to their restaurant in the High Street.

Details of April concerts will appear next month.
Linda Heath

LYP (Leatherhead Youth Project) expansion - from March 2012

LYP has made a successful bid to Surrey County Council to deliver the 'Local Prevention Framework for Leatherhead, Fetcham and Bookham', working with young people who are in danger of becoming NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). The extra workload requires an additional Youth Worker, who has now been recruited.

The resulting pressure on the BFree office space has been resolved by using the All Saints Vestry, and what used to be Claire Gannon’s office, as LYP office space.

and .. The Living Room - from the April 2012 magazine

The Living Room opened for the first time on Sunday 11 March and welcomed over 20 young people to Costa Coffee for live music and an inspirational talk. The new event (run by Leatherhead Youth Project) aims to attract young people from all over Leatherhead and enable them meet new friends and have an introduction to faith. “The Living Room was a great place to hang out on a Sunday and learn a bit more about other people’s lives, I’ll definitely invite my mates to the next one,” Matt age 16.

The Living Room will be back on Sunday 13 May: it is aimed at young people age 14 and over; doors open at 6pm.

Mission Partners - Chris and Veronica - from March 2012

Chris and Veronica came to speak to us at the Sunday services on 20th November. Chris comes from South Africa and has spent several years working in London in finance, while Veronica is Spanish and has also worked some years in London.

After a year of training they are now newly commissioned CMS “mission partners”, and are setting off to live and work in a small town in Spain. Their two young children, Samara aged 2 and Gabrio, only a few months old, also came to visit us and are very much part of the team, an attractive and endearing family.

60 years ago CMS “Missionaries”, as we were called, worked mostly in schools or hospitals or training colleges. By now many of these institutions have been taken over by governments, and missions have been able to turn to other pressing needs.

Some of the new work is among the families of the large numbers of immigrants in this country. There is also a demand for help from some of the Churches in Eastern Europe who are recovering from the suppression they suffered under Communism. And now there is the plight of refugees from the fighting in the Middle East and North Africa. Among these are Christians who are suffering more and more persecution under Muslim rule.

Chris and Veronica are going to an area where there is a great number of immigrants, as well as local people who are suffering all kinds of deprivation. She will be helping families with young children, and he will seek to befriend immigrants, some of whom will be able to benefit from his experience in finance. He will also be contacting Christians there and in Arab countries. He is learning to speak Arabic, and they are both fluent in Spanish.

Our Church is committed to supporting them, by our prayers and financially, and they will be keeping us in touch by email. So we can look out for their news in the Parish Magazine and also on the dedicated notice board in Church. Please remember them in your prayers.
Christine Bryant

Messy Church Leatherhead - from March 2012

Many thanks to all those Parish Church members who responded to Sheila’s plea for volunteers. It’s good to have you on board!

Speaking to some of you has made me realise that some people are rather mystified by the whole idea of Messy Church.

Let me try and dispel a few myths! Messy Church is NOT a playgroup, it is NOT a craft club, and it does NOT, in fact, leave the church in a mess. We are very conscientious about cleaning up afterwards!

Messy Church IS a new way of providing Christian worship. Christian music is playing. The video screen is showing images and Bible verses that make people think. The children are painting, gluing, sticking, and playing games. The adults may be joining in … or they may be having a cup of tea and a chat.

Activities are carefully chosen to introduce a Bible story and lead into productive conversations. So while we “play”, we are learning about God together. Later on we will pray, praise, and think about what the stories mean for us. And then we will share tea before everyone heads home.

Messy Church has a creative, lively atmosphere. We offer hospitality, friendship and a gentle introduction to the values and stories of our faith. At the moment, we have between 45-60 children coming along with their parents every month. For many of them this is their first exploration of church, and they are loving it!

Want to know more? Come and join in one Thursday. Next Messy Church: 15 March, 3:30-5:30, at the Methodist Church.
Jane Smith

and .. Messy Fiesta - from the July 2012 issue

Did you know that there are now over 1300 Messy Churches – not only in the UK but all around the world! Here in Leatherhead, we welcome up to 100 people every month, of all ages, to enjoy making, playing, eating and worshipping together.

To help us look to the future, we hosted a “Messy Fiesta” at the end of May. This was a chance for local Messy Church teams to get together, swap ideas and learn together. About 30 people attended, representing Leatherhead, Dorking, Pixham, Cheam, Morden and Woking. We explored the values which underpin Messy Church – Hospitality, Creativity, Celebration and being All-Age. We were inspired by our Regional Co-ordinators, Charis and Andrew, and we had a lot of fun!

People sometimes ask where Messy Church is going. How will it help people grow as disciples? Will it draw people into Sunday Church? Or will it grow into a new kind of church all of its own? The honest answer is “we don’t know … yet!” We are enjoying the process of building a new sort of Christian community and looking forward to finding out where the Spirit of God is leading.
Jane Smith

Achieving the Vision - February 2012

Christmas 2011 - from the February 2012 magazine

It began with excited children (and adults) discovering the contents of their paper bag of goodies - from which they made a Christingle! The Christingle service was loved by children and adults alike; it highlighted the key messages of the Christian faith, and culminated in the lighting of the Christingle candles and singing “Away in a manger”. The candlelight theme continued into our Ecumenical Carol Service when the church was transformed by the beautiful candlelit ambience and we were immersed in the singing of well loved carols and the familiar Bible readings of the Christmas story. To have mulled wine and mince pie fellowship after the service was a much appreciated addition.

The crib service enabled us to watch the Christmas story coming to life as children brought many important characters to the nativity scene and the story was narrated to us. The church was packed and excitement was mounting - it was Christmas Eve – but the peace and tranquillity of that nativity scene reminded me of the love which flows from Jesus, that baby in Bethlehem.

Later that evening I was back in church for Midnight Communion and the anticipation of celebrating the birth of Christ. The church was aglow with beautiful candlelight - offering a sense of wonder and spirituality; we sang some of the great carols and celebrated the birth of the baby born over 2000 years ago who brought light and life with Him. A contemplative way to start off the Christmas celebrations. On Christmas Day, the candles had gone, the church was full of bright daylight and excited children and adults (plus some very tired ones). Christ was born and this service portrayed the message in several ways. The dilemma of Mary and Joseph in the perspective of today’s computer social networking; the Bible reading accompanied by a visual presentation of a beautiful sand drawing; Graham’s acting out of the story which kept us gripped and brought the message to life. To be able receive Holy Communion at the end of this service was very special.

A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make these services so special especially Graham, Kuhan and Gail. Also to our choirs, musicians, worship leaders, children’s leaders, and those who made the church look so beautiful with floral displays and candles. To Bernard who spent many hours preparing candles and putting them in place for the stunning candlelit services (after many years of doing this Bernard has now retired so if anyone would like to take this on please contact a churchwarden). For the provision of mince pies and mulled wine and for all of our church members who worked hard behind the scenes to make this special time very special indeed. I thank the Lord for his provision and that we can use our different gifts as one body in His service.
Linda Hauxwell

“Is it better with or without?” and will the Deanery Synod sort it out? - from the February 2012 magazine

Those of you who, like me, are four eyed monsters with face furniture will recognise this phrase – “is it better with or without?” It comes when we have our eyes tested and towards the end of the consultation when the optician makes final adjustments to the lenses being proposed. Is it better with this change or without it? We are defining the quality of the vision we’ll get a few days later when we pick up our specs.

The Church of England will very soon find itself in this same situation except that it won’t be deciding on a new pair of glasses. It will be asking itself if the CofE will be better with the Anglican Covenant or without it. Does it need this new statement that will redefine the relationship between the 43 Anglican churches and provinces around the world, of which the CofE is only one?

Recognising differences What’s at issue is the Anglican Covenant, or Anglican Communion Covenant to use its full title. If passed by General Synod it will see the CofE covenanting with those other churches, out of the 43 Anglican churches and provinces across the world that also covenant, in a common and comprehensive statement of what constitutes Anglicanism; what it is, what it believes, and how it behaves. You could be forgiven for asking some questions such as ‘Do we really need the Anglican Covenant at all?’ Don’t we all believe in the same thing anyway?’ Like many of the complex issues which affect international bodies, Christian or not, it depends on where you are, how you got there and what’s happening in Anglicanism in your part of the world.

I guess that we all recognise that Anglicanism is different in different parts of the world. Worshipping in Anglican churches in Nigeria, The USA, the Sudan and Leatherhead brings that home. It is of course the same too; we believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although we have more in common than not, there is no doubt that it is the differences that hit the headlines and, left unmanaged, do the damage.

Resolving conflicts It is these differences and conflicts that have brought the Anglican Covenant to the table. Some of the better known ones include the role of women in ministry as priests and bishops, the crises in Rwanda and the Sudan in the 1990s that saw the Archbishop of Canterbury intervening in other churches, the ‘gay bishops’ controversies culminating in Canon Gene Robinson’s appointment as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, and also in 2003 the appointment and then the resignation of Canon Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading. Right now there are also issues around same-sex unions.

Archbishop Rowan strongly commends the Covenant saying that ‘it sets out an understanding of our common life and common faith, and, in the light of that, proposes making a mutual promise to consult and attend to each other’. He also says that ‘it outlines a procedure, such as we urgently need, for attempting reconciliation and for indicating the sorts of consequences that might result from a failure to be fully reconciled.

Power and discipline The underlying issue seems to be one of authority; how is it decided what is acceptable in the Anglican Church and what happens to those churches that stray over the limits? The Covenant will help to articulate and explain the traditions and faith of Anglicanism, enable churches to express solidarity with each other and support churches in times of trouble, but inevitably the issue of power and discipline will be the focus.

The Leatherhead Deanery will debate whether the CofE is better with or without the Covenant at its Synod on March 14th in preparation for the Diocesan Synod on March the 24th. Our parish sends five people to the Deanery Synod; Graham and Kuhan, Roger Lynch, Sheila Cole and me. Leading the debate will be Archdeacon Julian Henderson and Gail Partridge.

Get behind the headlines For more information, look at the ‘Church Times Guide to the Anglican Covenant’. Just put it into Google. It gives views for and against. You can also read the Church Times ‘annotated Covenant’ to see the full text with marginal notes and comments by ‘a small group of informed contributors’! It’s also interesting to look at the website of the ‘No Anglican Covenant’ group; just put it into Google. To see a list of all of the covenanting churches put ‘list of Anglican churches’ into Google.
Donald Yeates
Lay Chairman, Leatherhead Deanery Synod

Lunchtime Concerts - from the February 2012 magazine

Weekly lunchtime concerts in church will begin on Thursday 8th March at 12.30 pm and will continue until the end of November. The concerts will feature students from The Royal Academy of Music, local schools, together with professional and local musicians. Refreshments will be available. There will be free admission and a retiring collection.

Please do all you can to support this series and publicise the concerts amongst your friends. A brochure giving full details of the performances will be available soon.

These concerts will be a major opportunity for our church to reach out to the local community and also to those who come to Leatherhead for their work.

It is proposed to enlist local businesses for their support in this venture by way of sponsorship and advertising; the idea of promenade concerts in the Swan Centre is also being considered.

Make Thursday lunchtime concerts a regular date in your diary now!
Concerts begin Thursday 8th March 2012 12.30– 1.30 pm.
Graham Davies

and .. Concert in Church - from the February 2012 magazine

On Wednesday 7th March the AS and A Level students from Rosebery School will, once again, be coming to the Parish Church to give a concert. The girls are singers and instrumentalists and they are all of grade 7 and 8 standard.

Later in March they will be taking their exams and performance is 30% of their final grades, so this is a great opportunity for them to gain experience of playing to an audience and to try and get rid of any “performance” nerves before they have to face the examiners. Also, you may be hearing a soloist of the future!

This proved very popular last year and we would like to ask you to come once again and support and encourage the students.The concert will last about an hour from 6pm - 7pm and entry is free. Full information is on the orange flyers that are in the Church.

and .. Organ Recital by Graham Davies on Sunday 8th January - from the February 2012 magazine

What a lovely finale to the Twelve Days of Christmas! On Sunday 8th January in the afternoon Graham gave us an organ recital to celebrate Christ’s nativity, followed by tea and cakes and mulled wine. Graham chose his programme with great care to provide seasonal music, but with great variety. The music ranged from Buxtehude and Pachelbel in the seventeenth century to contemporary composers. He played on both the Allen and the Parker instruments, and while some of us would like to have heard more on the Parker organ, the Christmas theme restricted the music available.

Having said that, what a wonderful range of music we heard, from quiet and contemplative to some really rousing and exciting pieces – a very powerful piece by Daquin on the Parker organ and choral improvisations on “in dulci jubilo” on the Allen instrument. In gentler vein, John Ireland’s ‘The Holy Boy’ was particularly beautiful.

All the pieces were short (none of them too long for anyone!) and the whole recital, which was well attended, was much appreciated by everyone. The concert was free, but donations provided £161 for church funds which was very creditable. Thank you Graham, for a most enjoyable afternoon.
Linda Heath

How many synods make a set? - from the January 2012 magazine

Long ago in the Dark Ages, when school classrooms were heated by a fire in the middle of the floor, and lit by unused candle stubs from the village church, my English teacher used to set us entertaining problems to while away the time. ‘New collective nouns’ was his favourite. No house points were earned by handing in ‘flock of sheep’ or ‘battery of chickens’ or even ‘a screaming of wenches’. The matron offered ‘an expectation of midwives’ but this was ruled out because of her condition.

He especially liked collectives with an ecclesiastical flavour because in his spare time he doubled as the Rector’s Warden. A ‘congregation of Christians’ was one of his favourites. The more daring of his pupils, especially those who also read the Church of England Newspaper on a regular basis on a regular basis offered ‘a re-formation of Protestants’, and a ‘cheerfulness of Methodists’. Top marks went to the swot who proposed ‘an indecision of agnostics’.

So what’s this got to do with Synods you ask? Not much so far but all will become clear. Detailed research reveals that there are three types of Synod. Closest to us in the parish is the Deanery Synod. All parishes are grouped in to Deaneries so here’s the first new collective ‘a deanery of parishes’. Three people represent St Mary’s on the Leatherhead Deanery Synod; Sheila Cole, Roger Lynch and me. Graham and Kuhan as clergy also attend the Deanery Synods.

As the new boy I’m still discovering how it works, but it is evident that senior people in the diocese are pleased to talk and listen to the synod members. So far I’ve heard Tug Wilson, a member of the General Synod deliver a ‘welcome to the Church of England – but not as you know it’ looking at the future organisation of the CofE. In the next ten years 42% of stipendiary clergy will retire along with 20% of non Stipendiary ministers. They won’t be replaced at the same rate. How will this be handled? He said that there is encouragement to think ‘out of the box’. He suggested that this might be shorthand for the question ‘can we continue to support the parochial structure we know and love?’ It was at this meeting that I was voted in to be the Lay Chairman on the Deanery Synod. Is this another fine mess I’ve gotten myself into? The Rural Dean the Revd. Robert Jenkins, Vicar of Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon heads up the Deanery.

The second meeting was altogether more relaxed – the annual supper at St John’s school. This was a splendid evening with music, food and wine and good fellowship. Apparently this is an annual event so being on the Deanery Synod might not be so bad - except for the mini election that put me on the Diocesan Synod!

The first meeting of the Leatherhead Deanery Synod in 2012 will tackle the thorny issue of the Anglican Communion Covenant. We’ll have to vote for or against a motion to support it at our meeting in March so there’ll be more information in February’s mag. It already promises to be a lively meeting with Archdeacon Julian Henderson proposing that we should vote ‘yes’ and our own Gail Partridge putting the ‘Vote no’ case. (I’ve simplified this quite a bit but it will suffice for now.)

The June meeting will address something very close to home, ‘the financial challenges for parishes in the current climate’. Stephen Marriott the Diocesan Secretary will lead on this topic. Linda Hauxwell and I met Stephen when he led a workshop on the Parish Share at a churchwarden’s training course in October and he was really good. We’ll also have three or four mini case studies from parishes wrestling with this issue (perhaps St Mary’s?)

So how many synods do we have? It’s three of course but the only one that hits the press is the General Synod when Archbishops Rowan and John try to keep a very free thinking Synod of 483 members focussed on the straight and narrow. That begs the question of course about whether that’s where the Synod should be! It must feel like herding cats.
Let’s go back to the beginning now. What’s a good collective noun for synods? Answers please to the editor of the mag. care of the Parish Office. Meantime I leave you with ‘, a blaze of pyromaniacs’, ‘a complex of psychologists’ and ‘a generosity of givers’.
Donald Yeates, Lay Chairman, Leatherhead Deanery Synod.

Parish Funding Programme - from the January 2012 magazine

I write this article early December after the Parish Funding Presentations have taken place. With the use of the latest in technology (thanks to Graham's expertise in this field) I was able to give an illustrated account of the present state of our finances. Having relied a lot over many years on income derived from past benefactors, the reality now is that income has dropped and we, the living church, must give more.

Our giving currently provided for only 30% of our annual running costs. The average for every other parish in the Diocese75% .... what a shocking difference.

We have pruned our expenditure and budgets to a degree where we make no provision for future maintenance and all repairs are carried out on an 'at need' basis. Not good and, as a result repairs and renewals are continually deferred.

I am pleased to say that, in response to the presentations, our Planned Giving income will increase over the 2010 figure by 19.67% (£9982) plus tax benefit in 2012. That is a good initial response for which we say 'Thankyou' and I remain hopeful that sum will increase more, helping us to maintain all our extensive mission we currently provide. The result increases our giving to 42% of our annual running costs. Still a long way to go. It would be good if everyone on our electoral roll gave regularly by bankers order which would help us a long way towards achieving the Diocese average of 75%. If anyone did not receive an invitation to the presentations or wishes to commence a bankers order please contact me

I would like to thank Linda Hauxwell and Donald Yeates who so ably helped in the presentations and to the great team of volunteers who served such delicious food
Martin Cole, Parish Stewardship Promoter, 373330

Over the Bridge - The Southern Side
by Brian Hennegan and Goff Powell - Memories and More from Two Leatherhead Lads (The Circus Kingston Road to North Street Leatherhead)
from the January 2012 magazine

In 2009 the Leatherhead & District History Society published a book by Brian Hennegan (a former chorister for a long time a member of our congregation) entitled ‘Over the Bridge’ which related the author’s memories of growing up in Leatherhead Common in the 1940s and 1950s and in the main, covered the area to the North of the Kingston Road railway bridge.

It had been suggested that a sequel should be written which looked at the area to the South of the railway bridge. The idea was taken up, so Brian Hennegan and Goff Powell (another former chorister) have joined forces and this book is the result. For illustrated information click Over the Bridge - The Southern Side

Parish of Leatherhead in 2012

Chronology

All Saints - the next chapter - from the December 2012 magazine

and ... All Saints Farewell Service - from the December 2012 magazine

Whose Pews – John and Sheila Sutherland - from the December 2012 magazine

Diocesan Synod - the new Triennium - from the December 2012 magazine

and .. Diocesan Synod - from the May 2012 magazine

Annual Autumn Market News - from the December 2012 magazine

and .. Autumn Market - from the November 2012 magazine

Fairtrade in Leatherhead - from the November 2012 magazine

and .. Fairtrade Christmas Cards and Gifts - from the November 2012 magazine

I’m Not a Great Lover of Vicars The diary of a parish priest by David Eaton (published by Way House Books at £7.99) - from the November 2012 magazine

Being a Games Maker - from the October 2012 magazine

LeatherHead Start - from the October 2012 magazine

Response to Summer 2020 - from the September 2012 magazine

Barbara Fison 1927 – 2012 - from the September 2012 magazine

and .. Barbara Fison and Eric remembered on our website - from the September 2012 magazine

A Summer Celebration - from the August 2012 issue

Church Hall - from the August 2012 issue

and .. Parish Church Hall - from the April 2012 magazine

New Postcode - from the August 2012 issue

Kuhan’s ordination – Saturday 30 June 2012 - from the August 2012 issue

All Aloud! Community Choir - from the August 2012 issue

Bomber Command Memorial - from the August 2012 issue

Barbara Fison - from the July 2012 issue

Mothers’ Union - from the July 2012 issue

Introducing the Magazine Editor - from the June 2012 issue

and .. The Magazine Editor writes - from the September 2012 magazine

and .. Your magazine needs you! - from March 2012

A new booklet from Linda Heath - Leatherhead in Georgian Days - from the June 2012 issue

Leatherhead Community Market – every Friday morning - from the June 2012 issue

“Space to Think” - Marriage Preparation Day - from the May 2012 magazine

Over the Edge and You’re Down! - from the May 2012 magazine

and .. Abseiling for Christian Aid

and .. How high is it then? Christian Aid abseil of the Church Tower 24th March - from March 2012

Taking up the Elements - from the May 2012 magazine

From the Parish Magazine May 1912 (from the May 2012 magazine)

Music on Thursdays, Leatherhead Parish Church - from the April 2012 magazine

and .. Review of Concert on Thursday 8th March - from the April 2012 magazine

LYP (Leatherhead Youth Project) expansion - from March 2012

and .. The Living Room - from the April 2012 magazine