Parish of Leatherhead - Key Events & News 2015

updated 9 Dec 2015

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December 2015

The Licensed Lay Minister writes ...

The Gift of Grace

As I write this the Pakistani cricket team have just won the latest Test series against England.

We didn’t see much cricket on our trip to Pakistan this August, probably because we were in the desperately poor and very mountainous North-East region of the country.  But I do remember a game in the middle of a narrow, crowded, dirt road 9,000 ft. high in a mountain village where the little boys were using stones as wickets and having to dodge the traffic which wasn’t going to stop for anyone!

This was one of the few times we saw children playing.  Nor in the two weeks we were travelling around Northern Pakistan did we ever see a single toy.  From the moment they can walk Pakistani children were herding goats or looking after younger siblings.  What a contrast to the vast quantity of toys and games our children will be receiving at Christmas.  To be fair, we were mostly in villages; it may have been different in the big towns further south.

It was certainly a different story when we were in India last year.  Not so much the number of toys, but certainly the cricket being played on every possible bit of scrap ground, grass, tarmac, gravel or baked mud.  And I reflected on the “gifts” given and received between Britain and India (when Pakistan was still part of this vast country).  We received from the Sub-continent, the “Jewel in the Crown” of Queen Victoria, too much to list.  After all, our occupation started as a trading agreement under the auspices of the East India Company; and what would we all have done down the years without our cups of tea?  Our debt in human life and sacrifice, too, is immeasurable; we could never have won two World Wars without the soldiers of our Empire.

Although I am not one to be very proud of our colonial past we did bring gifts in return.  We gave them democracy, organisation, the police force, and universal education.  But the most enduring gifts must surely be the English language, the railways and CRICKET.

On 25th of October, the 100th anniversary of his death, the Rt. Revd. Michael Turnbull preached a sermon on the cricketer W.G. Grace, who was a legend in his own life time.  Extracts from this sermon were printed in a recent Church Times edition.  The article acknowledged the pun around his name … Amazing Grace.  W.G. was remembered less for his cricketing achievements, or the 54,000 Test runs he scored, as for his enthusiasm for the game and how he popularised cricket, not just in this country but all around the world. “He moulded the game in a golden Age”.  And thanks to him this lives on as an international brotherhood which has cemented friendships across the continents, long after the Empire has ceased to be.  Grace never gave up the game; after test cricket he continued to play and encourage games on various grounds all around Kent.  To quote Turnbull “I like to think that our thanksgiving for Grace is more than a sentimental memory, more than a look-back at cricket history.  It is recognising that a cutting of Grace is grafted into the spirit of cricket today.”

It saddens me that since Test Cricket became professional, gamesmanship, aggression, and plain bad manners now dominate the game.  But “real” cricket, played on village greens around the country, or by men and boys on any bit of available ground throughout the sub-continent, still expresses the friendship, the shared past, the “spirit” of Grace.  This spans both the man and the God given gift: for we play to

win, but we are gracious in defeat, united in friendship and respectful of our shared history.  We may have given India and Pakistan the game, but they gave us the drink we enjoy at the “cricket tea” which is as much part of the game as the boundary or the bails.

We were gracious when we lost this latest series, acknowledging the skill of the Pakistani Test Team who beat us, but we are united through history in so much more than cricket.  When we watch our children unwrap their Christmas presents, let us be mindful of the children freezing in the mountain villages of Pakistan, without adequate food or clothing, and certainly no toys with which to play.  Jesus was born in a chilly stable and was brought gifts by men of wealth from across the globe. And if we can share the game of cricket can we not also share some of our great wealth, much of it built on our imperial past.  For this surely is the true “Spirit” of both Cricket and of Christmas.

Gail Partridge

Church Notes - December 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the December 1915 magazine

Church Matters for December 2015

Remembrance

Derrick and I would like to thank everybody who helped with this year’s The Church looked welcoming with the Poppy Petals again laid from the front door to the altar.  The Church was also packed, and it was a joy to see the Army Cadets and Uniformed Organisations.  Thank you Graham for a meaningful Sermon, and to the Choir for their anthem and support.

The War Memorial was very moving, with more people than ever before Once again many thanks to you all.

Derrick and Jane Summerfield

Mothers’ Union

On 2nd December we shall be descending upon Chessington Garden Centre, so looking forward to seeing the decorations.

On 6th January 2016 we will have an open meeting: if you have poems you would like to share please bring them along.  Any queries please do call L811422.

Jane Summerfield

Parish Church Prayer Warriors

I am pleased to say that we are now up and running.  As I mentioned in an earlier magazine we exist to enable people who have difficulty in getting to church to join in praying for the growth of the Parish Church by using the Home Prayer Leaflet in their own homes, knowing that they are part of a group of worshippers doing the same thing and using the same prayer sheet, though not necessarily at the same time.  While we exist primarily for people who can’t get to church there is no reason for churchgoers not to join also.  Indeed members of the Parish Prayer Group have already done so.

The more people there are to pray the better; though I am not suggesting that the louder we call to the good Lord the more likely He is to respond!  Home Prayer Leaflets may be found at the back of the church.  If anyone has any queries do please contact me on L375912.

Derek Harding

The Parish Church Prayer Group November 2015

The Group has been in existence for getting on for some twenty-five years and while there is a number of the original members still with us, an influx of new members would be most welcome.  The Group was set up to answer the needs of a previous incumbent to pray for matters involving the church for which he had concern – I can hear someone saying, “Things don’t change”.  Before each meeting the incumbent provided the Group with a list of the matters he was concerned about. 

This is still the custom.  Over the years things have changed slightly and we also include matters of a more general nature.  Each meeting is led by one of the members who is a volunteer and who leads in his or her own way, thus bringing fresh material and presentation to each meeting. 

We meet at the house of Sheila Cole in Church Road on the third Tuesday afternoon each month.  I am not the only member who acknowledges the fact that Christ is indeed present when two or three are gathered together in his name.  I must admit that I can’t put my finger on anything particular, just a feeling, particularly when looking back on a meeting, that I have experienced a time of peace and fellowship.  So, if anyone would like to “dip a toe into the water” to see what goes on at a meeting do please contact either L372796 or L205720 and we will be pleased to see you.  I should perhaps add that gentlemen would be welcome: there has been only one for some years, me!

Derek Harding

Leatherhead Community Association

We want to let you know in good time what is happening in the Letherhead Institute in 2016 so that you can mark in your diaries events that you really do not want to miss.

“Tea and Talks” start off 2016 on 8 January with a talk entitled “A journey down the Thames from Lambeth to Bankside”.  This will be followed on 12 February with an opportunity to find out about Victorian leisure, and then on 11 March you can learn the derivation of plant names, for example why a Granny Smith is so called!  To round off the Spring talks on 8th April you can hear about women who broke the mould in their particular sphere.  All the talks, which are free, take place in the Institute, start at 2pm, and are followed by Tea and Cakes.

On Wednesdays from 2.15 to 4.15 there are musical afternoons, when recorded music is played: on 20 January the theme is “A New Year’s Welcome”; 17 February is an introduction to Nordic music; on 16 March “With a Spring in your Step”; and on 20 April “Spring has now unwrapped the Flowers”. Admission is £1 for members and £2 for non-members, and includes a cup of Tea or Coffee and a Biscuit.

The new Art/History programme on Wednesdays will start on 27 January when Paul Pickering will focus on Venice for two weeks.  Further lectures will be given by Dr Katy Brown and also a new lecturer – Jessica Saraga.  Subjects vary from renaissance painters to looking at the works of artists from the English Neo-Romantics to the St Ives School.

Don’t forget that on every Friday Bridge is played, starting on 8 January. 

Also Scrabble is played every other Friday, again from 8 January.  On Monday afternoons from 2.00 – 4.30 there is snooker and table tennis (£1 for members and £2 for non-members).  Even if you are not a member do come and try some of our activities. Peter is organising his usual varied programme of walks for the Spring: as usual there are long ones, short ones, and strolls, all on Wednesdays and in various venues from Bushy Park and Rusper and all points in between.  He is happy to give you full details if you telephone him on L378347.

STOP PRESS – On Tuesday 15th March the Mole Veterans Brass Band is giving a “Spring Concert” from 2-4pm in the Institute, and there will be interval refreshments and a raffle.  Admission is free and everyone is welcome.  For full details telephone the Band Secretary on L459596.

Details of everything happening at the Institute can be found in the January – April newsletter, available from Sarah on L360508.  Sarah will also tell you all about membership, which is only £5pa.  Full information can be found at http//www.leatherheadca.org.uk or email us at lca2@btconnect.com

No Abiding City

Christian presence, problems, and possibilities in the Middle East
Leatherhead Theatre – Sunday 24 January 2016

Michael Lewis, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, will give an overview of Christian presence and engagement in the whole of the Middle East region: the Gulf and Arabian nations as well as the Levant.  In particular he will give a snapshot of his own diocese, which includes among its congregations St George Baghdad and Christ Church Aden in the Yemen, and of the millions of Christians of all traditions in the lands he serves, the vast majority of them expatriate migrants.

Major Parish Churches Project Undertaken

The Church of England’s Church Buildings Council is working with Historic England and other partners to understand what special challenges may face people in managing and caring for this particular type of place of worship in our changing 21st century society.

There are more than 200 historic parish churches in England with a floor pace of more than 1000m2.  However, no research has ever been done to try to understand whether there are particular challenges or opportunities that make them harder or easier for their congregations to maintain and sustain than the 14,500 smaller listed places of worship. Historic England, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Greater Churches Network, the Church Buildings Council, and Doncaster Minster have launched a partnership project to fill this gap in understanding.

The project partners will publish the findings from this research in Autumn 2016.  This research will explore the current physical condition and the resources available to maintain, repair, manage and sustain larger historic churches.  It will focus on highly significant buildings used by the community and nation that are expected to provide functions and services beyond those of a typical parish church (civic, cultural, ecclesiastical, tourism, etc.) but only have the resources of a parish church.


Bishops Call on Prime Minister for Bigger Response to Refugee Crisis

The Church of England has recently published a letter sent to the Prime Minister in early September and signed by 84 of its bishops. 

It calls for the Government to increase the number of Syrian refugees being resettled to this country “to a minimum of 50,000” over the next five years.

Referring to the situation in Syria as “one of the largest refugee crises ever recorded” the Bishops write that “a moral crisis of this magnitude calls each and all of us to play our parts.”

Calling directly on the Prime Minister to increase his current offer to accept 20,000 refugees over the next five years to 50,000, the Bishops write: “We believe such is this country’s great tradition of sanctuary and generosity of spirit that we could feasibly resettle at least 10,000 people a year for the next two years, rising to a minimum of 50,000 in total over the five year period you foresaw in your announcement.  Such a number would bring us into line with comparable commitments made by other countries.  It would be a meaningful and substantial response to the scale of human suffering we see daily.”

The Bishops offer help from the Church of England in encouraging their churches to provide welcome, housing, and foster care to refugees as well as to support the Government in its ongoing efforts.

In their letter the Bishops also called for the creation of a National Welcome and Resettlement Board, mirroring the successful work of such boards created by Government in response to past refugee crises in the 1950s and 1970s.  Since the writing of the letter the board has been created with the Bishop of Durham serving as co-chair of the board.

... and from earlier issues

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the November 1915 magazine

Church Matters for November 2015

Pat Gardner - from the November 2015 magazine

Pat Gardner died on 8 September aged 94 years after a short illness. Her funeral took place on 22 September in Cheshire, where she was interred with her late husband, Bob.
Marian Gardner

Autumn Fayre 2015 - from the November 2015 magazine

Where do we begin with the "Thank yous"?
The most positive feedback we received on "the morning after the day before" was from someone who said that they hadn't felt great on the morning of the Fayre but coming along had made them feel a whole lot better!

This year in particular all the stalls looked stunning. The quality of the goods was superb and the stallholders had worked really hard all round. As a result we raised around £4,000 which is a very welcome contribution to Church funds at this time. So thank you whether you baked a cake, collected goods, arranged flowers, decluttered, barbecued and a whole lot more - it is really appreciated. And the sun shone!
We (Nicky and Janine) have now been organising the event for three years so it is very likely that we will hand over the reins to a new partnership or team for next year. If you have a burning desire to run the Autumn Fayre or know who might, please speak to Graham or Nicky soon without obligation.

Very many thanks again,
Nicky and Janine

Autumn Fayre - from the November 2015 magazine
What a wonderful day we had at the Annual Church event. The stalls were filled with lovely gifts. The3 flower arrangements were as usual beautiful - it was a job to choose which one to purchase.

Thanks to everyone who made the day so special, from making tea to lugging tables around.
At the time of going to print we raised £4,000.

Jane Summerfield

Happy birthday Messy Church! - from the November 2015 magazine

Leatherhead's Messy Church celebrated its 5th birthday at the October session, with a party theme based on the Wedding at Cana. About 60 children and adults joined the team for a session that involved Jane turning water into "wine" (with the help of a very sneaky packet of grape juice concentrate) and plenty of crafts and games. We decorated miniature birthday cakes, designed our own wine glasses, wedding favours and button holes, and made clay water jars. In the prayer tent we tasted different types of chocolate, decided which was most delicious ... and remembered that when Jesus gave the wedding guests wine, it was the best they ever tasted!

We were excited to welcome both Hannah and Ester to Messy Church for the first time. Ester is Leatherhead Parish Church's new Children and Families Worker and will be working closely with Hannah on ecumenical projects. They helped us blow out our birthday cake candles, alongside Maisie and Jolie, who were just toddlers when they joined us for the very first session back in 2010.
Please pray for our Messy Church and especially for the planning team, including Ester and Hannah, as we plan for the future of this important ecumenical outreach to families in Leatherhead.

Jane Smith

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby's Statement on the Migrant Crisis - from the November 2015 magazine
In a statement on the ongoing migrant crisis facing Europe and the Middle East, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, said recently: "This is a hugely complex and wicked crisis that underlines our human frailty and the fragility of our political systems. My heart is broken by the images and stories of men, women and children who have risked their lives to escape conflict, violence and persecution.

"There are no easy answers and my prayers are with those who find themselves fleeing persecution, as well as those who are struggling under immense pressure to develop an effective and equitable response. Now, perhaps more than ever in post-war Europe, we need to commit to joint action across Europe, acknowledging our common responsibility and our common humanity.

"As Christians we believe we are called to break down barriers, to welcome the stranger and love them as ourselves (Leviticus 19:34), and to seek the peace and justice of our God, in our world, today.
"With winter fast approaching and with the tragic civil war in Syria spiralling further out of control, we must all be aware that the situation could yet worsen significantly. I am encouraged by the positive role that churches, charities and international agencies are already playing, across Europe and in Syria and the surrounding areas, to meet basic humanitarian needs.

He went on: "We need a holistic response to this crisis that meets immediate humanitarian need while tackling its underlying drivers. I commend the UK Government for its strong commitment to the world's poorest people through the delivery of the aid budget. It has shown global leadership by providing £900 million since 2012 to the crisis in Syria. It has also shown moral leadership in using Royal Navy ships to save the lives of hundreds who have tried to make the dangerous crossing across the Mediterranean.

"The Church has always been a place of sanctuary for those in need, and Churches in the UK and across Europe have been meeting the need they are presented with. I reaffirm our commitment to the principle of sanctuary for those who require our help and love. The people of these islands have a long and wonderful history of offering shelter and refuge, going back centuries - whether it be Huguenot Christians, Jewish refugees, Ugandan Asians, Vietnamese boat people or many, many more.

"It has always been controversial at the time it happened, always been seen as too difficult. Yet each time we have risen to the challenge and our country has been blessed by the result.
"We cannot turn our backs on this crisis. We must respond with compassion. But we must also not be naive in claiming to have the answers to end it. It requires a pan-European response - which means a commitment to serious-minded diplomatic and political debate, but not at the expense of practical action that meets the immediate needs of those most in need of our help."

Christmas by Candlelight: 7.30pm Friday 18th December 2015 - from the November 2015 magazine

Tickets from: Sheila Shepherd, 34 Greville Park Road Ashtead KT21 2QT Tel: 01372274081
Email: sheilashepherd70@yahoo.com
Christmas by Candlelight: Friday 18th December 2015
Leatherhead Decorative & Fine Arts Society invites you to join them at 7.30 pm on 18th December to celebrate Christmas by Candlelight in the beautiful surroundings of the mediaeval Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead.
The concert will feature music by the Brandenburg singers and brass ensemble and include some seldom performed gems as well as readings and many old favourites.
Following the concert please join us in the Parish Church Hall for wine, soft drinks and mince pies. The ticket price also includes a programme and a donation to the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church.
Tickets will be £15 each
The mediaeval Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead is the oldest building in Leatherhead, it • belongs to us all. The Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church is a non-denominational charity dedicated to raising funds exclusively to maintain the fabric and grounds of the Church to ensure this beautiful building and its surroundings are preserved for future generations.
Please complete and return this slip to Sheila Shepherd at the above address or contact by email or phone. Please include a stamped addressed envelope at least 6" X 4.5"
Christmas by Candlelight: 7.30 pm Friday 18th December 2015

I enclose a cheque for £    _____for_________tickets at £15. (Payable to Leatherhead DFAS.)
Names(s):
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:   
E-mail:
Tickets will also be on sale at the LeDFAS October, November and December meetings.

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the October 1915 magazine

Church Matters for October 2015

Autumn Market details

Legacy Giving to Leatherhead Parish - from the October 2015 magazine
At St Mary & St Nicholas we welcome all gifts in Wills, however large or small, and we promise to use your gift to make a difference in our parish. As a PCC we commit to using legacy gifts to help to fund significant development projects, whether buildings, equipment, or staff.
Since needs change over the years we encourage you to leave a gift in your Will for the general purposes of the parish rather than for a restricted purpose. We will discuss possible uses of your gift with your executors when the time comes, bearing in mind your known areas of interest in the church (e.g. music, buildings, children and youth, overseas mission or aid) and the church's priorities at the time.
You can be confident that your gift will be used to make a real difference to our mission and ministry.
We will acknowledge gifts in whatever way the donor and/or his/her executors feel most appropriate, or we can make sure that gifts remain anonymous if the donor prefers.
If you would like to talk to someone in confidence about the sorts of purposes your gift might fund, and how (if) you would like your gift to be acknowledged, contact our Legacy Officer through the Parish Office (01372 362544) or email admin@leatherheadparish.com.
If you would like to make a gift to our church in memoriam, please come and discuss this with us too. It can be a wonderful and appropriate way to remember a loved one.
Jill Rosser, Legacy Officer

News of two appointments announced during September 2015

New Curate - Ian Stonehouse, joining Summer 2016.

New Children & Families Worker, Ester van Dijk, joining on October 15th 2015.

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the September 1915 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the September 2015 magazine

Church Matters for September 2015

Second Sunday Lunch - from the September 2015 magazine
As from September the arrangements have changed for the above:
BOOKINGS must be made by the WEDNESDAY before the Sunday. Also it would be helpful if (having booked) you are unable to come you let me know as soon as possible on L205720.
S Cole

Intercessors and Readers - from the September 2015 magazine
I would like to thank the many people who have been giving the Intercessions and Readings over the past few years - when I ask I always get a generous reply.
We are always in need of Intercessors, and the more there are the less number of times I have to ask for them during the year. At the moment I don't think that anyone gives them more than twice a year. I know that the thought of Intercessions can be quite daunting if you have never given them before, but once you have "had a go" you will find not only does it become easier the next time, but you do feel that you are making a very positive contribution to the Service.
If you would like to give an occasional Reading Jane Andrews very kindly prints the text out for you before the date in question.
Anyone interested please ring me -D882473 - or trip me up one Sunday morning!
Thank you.
Frances Presley

Farewell from the Children's Church Leader - from the September 2015 magazine
Well, just where have the last twenty years or so gone, since I took over the leadership of what was then called Junior Church from the ever-capable Jane Summerfield. Although the name changed to Sunday Club and then Children's Church, I hope that the ethos of introducing children to the wonderful God of the Bible in a fun and informative way remained a constant throughout.

Memories? There are so many. The fact that past members, now in their late teens or twenties, still come up to me in the town and say hello is a wonderful thing.
Any success stories arising from Children's Church are a reflection on the whole team of teachers, helpers and parents (without whom...) over the years.
I wish to express my grateful thanks for the very generous gifts of Amazon vouchers - both from the congregation and the past and present parents and children - and the First World War artefacts book - a passion of mine!

The card with the lovely comments from Children's Church will be treasured forever. (Thanks Carol!) As one parent wrote 'What will I do now to stay young?' The children always kept me young at heart so I will be eternally grateful to each and every one of them.

So what's next for me? I shall still be around as the Parish Church is my 'home' and its members are my extended 'family'. I shall continue afresh in my role as one of our two Licensed Occasional Preachers with my involvement in the monthly All Age Communion service, whether speaking or drumming. Yes, drumming, that will help to keep me young, as will my monthly radio show on Surrey Hills Radio. I often quote a well worn phrase 'You only grow old when you stop enjoying music'. Very true. I hope that Children's Church will thrive with fresh insights and a refreshed focus under the future Children and Families Worker.
Thank you all for your support over the past twenty years!
Chris Stagg

Home Prayer Warriors - from the September 2015 magazine
In the July Parish magazine Graham wrote an article about a new venture, Home Prayer Warriors, and gave my name as the co-ordinator; which has prompted me to write this note. The basic idea is to enable those of us who, for one reason or another, are unable to get to church to join in with the rest of the Parish in prayer. A prayer pamphlet will be available, probably three times a year, and we will be invited to pray, primarily for matters stemming from "Visions and Values" such as children and families and the future building project. This is in support of Graham's vision of growing disciples of Jesus Christ in the Parish.

This is very much, as I said in the beginning, a new venture. I have at present no members and no pamphlets! Graham will be arranging the first and as a result of this article I hope that I shall be joined by others. For those of you who would like to join this Prayer Group, you can contact me on L375012. How, where, and when one wishes to pray is of course a matter of personal preference.
For anyone worried about the title, I am assured that it is one used by the Church in other Dioceses. I don't feel much of a warrior, but I am happy to pray - and in this case I pray that, like Peter, I shall, with the Lord's help, have a good catch.
Derek Harding

Maureen Henderson and Edith Wright - from the September 2015 magazine
Pages on these old friends are now on the People pages of the History & Key Events part of our Parish website:
[ http://www.parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk/go_to_people.htm ] (then click on Remembrance on the left of your screen and find them in the listing)
Please let me know if you have additional memories to add.
Please also look at the listing of the others on the Remembrance page and if you have photo for someone who is currently without one, let me know. If you do not have personal access to a computer, ask a friend or go into the Library and seek their help.
Frank Haslam, Parish Archivist

New Rural Dean for Leatherhead - from the September 2015 magazine
This month will see the handover of the role of Rural Dean from the Revd Robert Jenkins, the Rector of Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon, to the Revd Alan Jenkins, Rector of Great Bookham. There will be a small ceremony at the next Deanery Synod on September 16th when the handover will take place.
The synod meeting will also welcome a speaker from the Moot Community who will support us as we consider further aspects of prayer and spirituality on the journey to discipleship and conclude our work on the Diocesan Common Purpose.
You can find out more about Common Purpose from the diocesan web site at www.cofeguildford.org.uk.
The Moot Community is a new-monastic community whose home is the Church of St Mary Aldermary, in the City of London. They seek to show that those who may not relate to traditional ideas of church can find a home in the Christian tradition. Supporters recognise the inspiration of many throughout the centuries, from saints to artists, and seek to offer hospitality and conversation to all and seek to live in a way that is both relevant to modern culture and to God, by finding God in the midst of everyday life.
Donald Yeates

Triumph AM - from the September 2015 magazine
From September Triumph AM will be run by LYP Youth Worker Martin Fuller, starting on Sunday 13 September at 10.00am. Intended for children in school years 5 to 8 it will held on the second and fourth Sundays during term time in BFree. For more information please contact Martin fmartin@leatherheadyouthproiect.com or phone L383345),
Joe Crome

Leatherhead Community Association - from the September 2015 magazine
Soon Autumn will be upon us, where has the Spring and Summer gone, and I hope that the programme that was arranged by the LCA has been enjoyed by many people.
There are three visits planned between now and Christmas: Tuesday September 8th to Buckingham Palace (there are still a few places left); Thursday 8th October to the Knitting and Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace; and Tuesday 24th November a Christmas shopping day at the Winchester Christmas Market with a short tour of the Cathedral. I don't think that you can have more varied venues than these!

Peter Humphreys has once again organised a full programme of walks, short, long, and strolls and, as is customary, these are usually arranged to include some kind of hostelry! The short walks of 3-4 miles and the longer walks of 4-6 miles alternate between the first and second Wednesdays in the month. The strolls, which are on the third Wednesday in the month, are designed for the less agile and there are no stiles or steep slopes to encounter and last no longer than an hour. There is really something there for most people and Peter is very happy to be phoned for fuller details - L378347.

The Art/History lectures will be starting up again with talks by Paul Pickering on 30th September and 7th October on "Regency and Empire Styles", nothing to do with fashion but an exploration of decorative and fine arts in the early 19C in England and France. On 14th and 21st October Paul will be talking about two Roman Art Collections, the Palazzo Doria Pamphili and the Villa Borghese, and on 4th and 11th November Dr Katy Brown will be introducing the Pre-Raphaelites. To conclude the 2015 season on 25th November Paul Pickering will give an introduction to the Goya Exhibition which will be at the National Gallery from 7th October to 10th January 2016. All the lectures are on Wednesdays from 2pm-4pm.

Don't forget that there is Scrabble every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month and new members are always welcome and needed, and there is table tennis every Monday from 2 -4.30pm. There is a newly formed Bridge group on one Friday each month - a basic knowledge of ACOL is needed: please phone the office first so that numbers can be organised; and there is a full programme of "Tea and Talks" on the second Friday of the month at 2pm.

What you may not know is that there are rooms for hire, either on a short or long term basis, and Sarah in the office will give full details.
Non-members are welcome to drop in for coffee in the library on Tuesday and Friday mornings when they can be assured of a welcome and a chat with an LCA member or the Office Administrator. Full details of membership and of all events can be found at the Letherhead Institute, so why not call in at 67 High Street Leatherhead, last building on the left at the top of the High Street, or call Sarah on L360508 any day between 9am and 12pm. Also, please click on to the website to find out more: http://www.leatherheadca.org.uk or email us on lca2@btconnect.com
Frances Presley

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the August 1915 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the August 2015 magazine

Church Matters for August 2015

We are fighting poverty - from the August 2015 magazine

Traidcraft has placed editorial in the July editions of the church press with a simple message - they're telling the Church and the wider community that they urgently need help. They need our help because the world's poorest small-scale farmers, struggling to feed and support their families, need their help.
Sound like a familiar plea? It should. It's the same message as when they first started their mission over 35 years ago - to apply practically the love and justice which lies at the heart of Christian faith to international trade, and so give the world's poorest farmers the opportunity to trade fairly and thrive.
Given that they are about to publish their accounts, which show a trading loss for the fourth consecutive year, they are taking the unprecedented step of trying to communicate directly with Church leaders and members, to try and reinforce the work that the Church and their supporters have been battling to do.

There are two general misconceptions. The first is that the Fairtrade battle is won. Chocolate, tea, coffee, and many more products with the now familiar Fairtrade Mark are stacked high on our supermarket shelves, which our supporters can be proud to have helped bring about. Flowever, it is a myth that the job is done. Unfortunately, injustice in trade and its resultant poverty is as much of a scandal now as it was 35 years ago, and right now Traidcraft are still doing everything they can to tackle it directly.

The second misconception is that Traidcraft and Fairtrade are the same. They are not. Traidcraft is an independent trading company, with a linked development charity. They do not benefit from the sales of Fairtrade products in the supermarkets. Traidcraft trades with and supports the most vulnerable farmers and artisans (who could not cope with the demands or scale required by big business or the supermarkets). They pioneer to bring new commodities into the Fairtrade arena. Their linked development charity, Traidcraft Exchange, runs projects developing peoples' potential to trade their own way out of poverty in their own countries; and they lobby big business and government for fundamental changes to the way trade works so that it benefits the poor.
They believe this is the "best of fair trade".

But they urgently need help to keep doing it because despite the growth of total Fairtrade sales, they've seen Traidcraft sales significantly decline. Why? People are buying Fairtrade products from the supermarket and not from Traidcraft or its supporters. This means their original pioneering mission is now under serious threat.

Their plea is simple...
•    Ensure there's a Traidcraft Fair Trader in your church, offer them as much support as possible and buy Traidcraft products through them.
•    Don't just serve refreshments with the Fairtrade Mark on; make sure they're from Traidcraft.
•    Watch out for their Autumn "Show you care" campaign and place whole church orders at Christmas time.

They hope their approach galvanises support. That's really all they're asking: for support. Together, we and they will continue to make trade fairer for the world's poorest producers who still desperately need help.

Margaret Jones is the Traidcraft Fair Trader in St Mary & St Nicholas church: please speak to her to see how you can help. For more information about how to take action at www.traidcraft.co.uk/churchaction

They thank you for your ongoing love and support and please keep them, and those they strive to help, in your prayers.

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the July 1915 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the July 2015 magazine

Report from the Parochial Church Council: from the July 2015 magazine - see via  Church Matters

Sister Maureen Henderson: It was announced on Sunday 7th June that Maureen had died the previous day. She had been part of us for many years. A Service of Thanksgiving for her life took place at Leatherhead Parish Church on Wednesday 8th July at 3pm.

Home Prayer Warriors - from the July 2015 magazine
You will be aware of our fivefold focus as a parish, setting out our priorities for the next five years - "the Hand":
Inspirational worship music
Intentional prayerfulness
Children & families
Community engagement
21st century buildings

The Index Finger is Intentional Prayerfulness - being deliberate and intentional about praying regularly and frequently. As you may know, Morning Prayer is said on each weekday morning, our Small Groups meet weekly and the Parish Prayer Group meets monthly.
We are now in a position to launch our Home Prayer Warriors scheme. The idea is that those who are somewhat less mobile than they used to be can still be an active part of our parish mission by praying at home - possibly even in the stilly watches of the night if sleep is elusive. Each Home Prayer Warrior will have a prayer booklet that contains the prayer intentions for the current period.
 
One of the Parish Prayer Group leaders, Derek Harding, has kindly agreed to be the Home Prayer Warriors Coordinator. If you would like to be a Prayer Warrior, or would like to know more about what it entails, please contact Derek by phone on L375012 or by email (change AT to @) d.harding40ATntlworld.com.

As St Paul encouraged us:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18 ESV)
The Rector

Goodbye - from the July 2015 magazine

We just wanted to say how touched we have been by the kind messages wishing us well as we leave Leatherhead for East Sussex.
It would have been clear to the 8am congregation on Sunday that the "Travelling Suitcase" presented by Graham took us completely by surprise but was, nevertheless, very much appreciated and will sustain us as we start this new chapter in our lives. We will, no doubt, be back in Leatherhead from time to time and hopefully this will present an opportunity to attend a service or two and to see some familiar faces. The Parish office has our new telephone number.
All good wishes
Steve and Jan Whiting

Christian Aid Week - Thank You - from the July 2015 magazine

Thank you to all who contributed toward this year's Christian Aid Week Appeal and especially to those who collected. In total 21 collectors, drawn from the Parish Church and those who were part of the old URC team, collected just over £1,600. This included just over £200 from the Parish Church Christian Aid Week Sunday collection. When the contributions that have been gift aided are taken into account this could increase to about £1,782. All collectors will have been individually thanked by the time this magazine is published.
Frank Haslam CAW Leatherhead Organizer

Church Matters for June 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the June 1915 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the June 2015 magazine

Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) - from the June 2015 magazine

The APCM took place on 29 April 2015 attended by 51 parishioners.
The meeting received and approved the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014. Alan Fleming then gave a short presentation on the Parish Giving Scheme developed in Gloucester Diocese and subsequently adopted by a number of other dioceses including Guildford. The main features were that contributions would be by direct debit (not standing order) with automatic uprating each year in line with inflation. Payments would be made to a central office in Gloucester who would return the money to the parish together with any tax refund under Gift Aid. It would be open to individuals to decide whether or not to agree to the automatic uprating of their contribution. Alan hoped that the PCC would agree to pilot the scheme.

The meeting also received reports on the fabric, furnishings and ornaments of the Parish Church and All Saints Church, the proceedings of Leatherhead Deanery Synod, and the proceedings of the PCC. It was noted that the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church had met the cost (some £14k) of the first tranche of repairs recommended by the Quinquennial Inspection Report and the Friends were thanked for their amazing generosity.

It was noted that Bill and Brenda Peetz had stood down from their positions as Assistant Churchwarden and PCC Treasurer respectively, and that Lorraine Wilmott, who was still recovering from serious illness, had decided to stand down as Sacristan and was not seeking re-election to the PCC this time. Dr Donald Yeates had retired from the position of churchwarden but remained on the PCC as one of the representatives to Deanery Synod. He was presented with a gift as a token of all the work he had done.

The following were elected to office:
Churchwardens: Sue Roberts, Martin Farrell
Assistant Churchwarden: Sheila Sutherland
PCC Members: Alan Fleming, Janine Stagg, Martin West

The Rector then outlined the highlights of the past year and his hopes for the next twelve months, including the development of the "New Future" project for buildings fit for the 21st Century.

Following the conclusion of the APCM, the new PCC met briefly to elect the following officers:
PCC Secretary: Anne Thomson
PCC Treasurer: Alan Fleming
Anne Thomson

A Recent Sermon - Kuhan - from the June 2015 magazine

There were so many requests for my notes after my sermon on 10th May based on John 15: 9-17 that I have followed up the suggestion to publish it in the parish magazine.

LOVE (III) by George Herbert

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack'd anything.
"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"
"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.

In the breaking of bread and the outpouring of wine, we see the breadth and depth of God's love for us. In what we touch, taste and enact, we are given a model for how we are to love.
Here, is love: embodied, enacted, felt, tasted, heard and seen. Love is-: remembered in liberation, service and sacrifice. It is love that stills our fears and satisfies our longings, which bears sorrows and shares joys.

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.

Human beings are fragile. Our hearts are easily broken and our hopes frustrated. We also have a tremendous potential to act with compassion; yet become brittle and defensive. Our vulnerability is our greatest gift, with its capacity for empathy, and service of the other. It is also, apart from God's assurance, our greatest weakness.

We build walls of pride and selfishness, of certainty and prejudice. We slide into patterns of thought, speech and action which despise, mistrust and undermine. Then, in the presence of Love, our soul draws back; we see ourselves as unworthy or inadequate; guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.

God knows us fully. He knows our capacity to wound and be wounded; to be self-reliant and self-serving. He knows our lack : of assurance, of trust, of faithfulness; he knows too our deepest desires, for healing, for hope, for purpose. We long for what we lack, to be fully who we are called to be. God reaches out to us and calls forth honesty about our human condition.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he.    "
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on Thee."

Often our own self-perception creates a barrier. Our flaws re-direct our gaze away from love; we both long for and resist that refining, intense love. Pride gets in the way, frustrating our response to love poured out for us in humble service.

Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"

We are welcomed, met with a tender touch and perceptive smile. We are reminded that we are made in the image of God and are full of potential.

"Truth Lord; but I have marr'd them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve.    "
"And know you not,"says Love, "Who bore the blame?"

We are reminded that our shame and blame are born for us by the servant king. The body of Christ is broken for the world. Today we touch, and taste and see what love looks like; how it transforms us and reverses the status quo.

When human weakness and vulnerability can lead us to be defensive, angry, selfish and arrogant, we see an alternative. God's love is the first and final word. Our capacity for generosity, acceptance, forgiveness and compassion is expanded as we receive those gifts of love.

"My dear, then I will serve.    "
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat.
So I did sit and eat.

Jesus does not only point us to actions - acts of peace, of shared food or acts of kindness. He embodies God's love and forgiveness in the midst of betrayal, humiliation, suffering and death. The cost of that love serves as a challenge to us - when we condemn, or judge or disappoint. The cost of that love stands in solidarity with us - when we are condemned, or judged or disappointed.

Love bade me welcome.
"And know you not," says Love "Who bore the blame?"
"Who made the eyes but I?"

There is nothing manipulative or coercive about such love. Its strength is in humility. When Jesus breaks bread and shares the cup of wine, he points to his own self-giving love. He enables our communion with God to be renewed as we become one body. He enacts generous, compassionate service. He restores human dignity.

Here is a place where we bring our whole selves; here is the place of acceptance, forgiveness and transformation; here we are commanded to remember and imitate that love.

Love bade me welcome...quick-eyed Love...Drew nearer to me

There is no place where God's love is not. Love is. The beginning; the end.
Amen.

Edith Wright - from between the May and June magazines

It is with sadness that we learned that Edith died in York Hospital on 26th May [after the deadline for the May Magazine]. She became ill during a visit she was determined to make to family to celebrate her 93rd birthday, which was on 23rd May. Her life both here and elsewhere was one of service to the community and her church and of course she would want it to be remembered as a partnership with her beloved Warner. She was one of the most supportive and positive people you could meet, "my dear". Her funeral was on Friday 26th June at 1.30pm in Leatherhead Parish Church.

Sue Siddall - from between the April and May magazines

Susan Marilyn Siddall, wife of the Ven Arthur Siddall, who formerly served in this parish, died on 30th April 2015 aged 63. May she rest in peace. Arthur writes that Sue's funeral was at noon at St Michael's, Whitewell, in the Forest of Bowland, on Tuesday 12th May. During 1996-2004 Arthur was Vicar of Chipping with Whitewell.  A page for her in the Remembrance section of this website is in preparation.

Church Matters for May 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the May 2015 magazine

A Reflection on Lent Groups - from the May 2015 magazine

Ten ecumenical groups met weekly in various homes around the parish, hosted and led by members of Churches together in Leatherhead.

Almost 100 people attended the groups and from the feedback I received they enjoyed: good fellowship, getting to know each other, inter-faith dialogue, stimulating conversation, frank and honest discussion, challenging questions, sharing experiences, sharing our faith journeys, using the Bible, and the contributions of the speakers on the CD.

During Holy Week we met for a shared supper together which was a lovely opportunity to end the journey through Lent which we had travelled together and to enjoy the delicious food which everyone had brought. Hedley Kay led us in singing and Gail Partridge reflected on the course We has studied "Songs of Praise in the New Testament" as follows.

Gail says:
"The theologian Paula Gooder reminded us in her introduction that 'The reason why it is worth studying these songs is that they remind us time and time again of who God was, and is and will be; what he has done and what he will continue to do for each one of us. When we encounter this God, the only reasonable response is to praise him.' I'm sure all the groups must have found the material we had to discuss this Lent both thought-provoking and affirming. Paula chose from the New Testament Songs ones which would lead us into discussing five different themes.

Session 1 GRATITUDE
It is not that God needs or demands our gratitude, but that we need to express it. It helps us to realize how blessed we are; it is hard to say 'thank you' without smiling, we feel enlightened, helped and healed when we are grateful. Those whose cups are half full, rather than half empty are invariably happier, they are not just 'full' but 'fulfilled'. In our group we were especially touched by the story of the children survivors of the Nazi concentration camps who slept better if they went to bed holding a piece of bread, reassured that they would have something to eat in the morning. We need both physical and spiritual nourishment.
And of this we are reminded at each Eucharist 'I am the bread of life.' And for both we give thanks.

Session 2 THE IMAGE OF GOD
To claim that we are made in the Image of God would surely be the greatest arrogance, if Jesus hadn't demonstrated that we meet God in his humanity, therefore in one another's. I think our group found this session a bit challenging. We didn't all, always entirely agree with the contributors in the booklet or on the CD, which led to some quite deep discussions of what we did believe, and as always it all boiled down, in the end, to Love. If God is Love, and we are made in his image, we too are repositories of Love. And when we love one another we increase the sum total of love in the world, and make God more visible.

Session 3 HUMILITY
God doesn't wow us into believing in him. He comes not in majesty or might, but in love; not in a show of wealth, but in bread and wine. Elijah expected to meet him in the Wind, the Earthquake or the Fire, but met him in the Still Small Voice. Our group found this session very immediate. It resonated with our experiences. Paula reminded us that Christ is not someone to be admired, but someone to be followed. We don't just say or think Christianity; we do it! 'True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less' was the C.S Lewis quote we found thought provoking.

Session 4 NEW BIRTH
Too often the world understands Hope to mean Hopeless, a slim chance of a favourable outcome. Fingers Crossed! Yet Christian Hope is synonymous with New Birth, New Beginnings, both right here and now and beyond this life. Or as contributed by Dr Alec Graham, former Bishop of Newcastle, in the booklet, 'Christian hope is not some pale virtue, with its focus principally on life after death, nor a wistful wish that in the meanwhile all will go well.
On the contrary, Christian hope derives from the resurrection of Jesus Christ.' Or IPeter 1 Verse 3 God has given us a new birth into a living hope.' So hope is not some future wistful thinking; but a present reality.

Session 5 WORD MADE FLESH John 1. 1-14 This of course is among everyone's top ten bible passages; a hymn of praise and affirmation which describes God in Jesus as mystery. Or, as Paula Gooder says, sends tingles down your spine every Christmas carol service. The Greek word 'Logos' can be translated many different ways, and our group found it quite helpful to replace 'Word' with 'Wisdom'. In the beginning was Wisdom, and Wisdom was with God, and Wisdom was God'. And this further helped us to understand Jesus coming as 'Light into the world' for Wisdom is also Enlightenment. But at the end of the day, we all agreed that the text calls us into fresh understanding each time we read it, it also leaves us with a profound humility in the face of a great mystery. Altogether I believe this year's material has prepared us well for Christ's Passion and Resurrection. We meet him now in this shared meal; and we walk with him on the way of the cross this Holy Week; and as dawn breaks on Easter morning he stands risen among us harbinger of Light, Love, Hope and Everlasting Life. Amen."
Thank you to everyone who used their gifts of leadership or hospitality to help with the groups and to everyone who participated.
Linda Hauxwell
Home Groups take place weekly throughout the Parish and if you are interested in joining a group for fellowship, fun, challenging discussions, sharing experiences, Bible study and prayer plus outings and enjoying meals together please contact me for more information on L370308

Allsaints Coffee Shop Goes From Strength to Strength - from the May 2015 magazine

Allsaints, has now been open for almost 6 months and has been getting rave reviews from its customers. 'The best coffee in Leatherhead', 'the best coffee shop for families with little ones' and 'a unique space to relax or work' have been just some of the reviews left on Trip Advisor or Allsaints Facebook page. In fact the coffee shop is now ranked 2 out of 46 for food & drink locations in Leatherhead on Trip Advisor.

As a Social Enterprise, Allsaints has been setup to support local young people.into work and provide them with excellent training through the national apprenticeship scheme. Matt Fleming (aged 19) the coffee shop manager explains how this works. 'We look out for young people who are not sure what their step into work or training is, then we offer them an employment and training solution which gives them the best chance of a long term working future.' Allsaints has already had to take on an extra member of staff with Codie (aged 16) joining the team last month. And the busier business gets, the more young people Allsaints will be able to give this life-enhancing opportunity to. Also this month Allsaints has opened up its hot-desking service alongside its meeting room - available for hire at £10 an hour. If you'd like to find out more please visit us on your social networks @allsaints_so.

Allsaints is open Monday to Friday from 8am-3pm based in All Saints Church, Kingston Road, Leatherhead.

Sandy Morris Remembered at Bletchley Park - from the May 2015 magazine

Sandy was our Vicar from 1971 and was succeeded by David Eaton in 1989. In WW2, on the day before Sandy was due to enter the Royal Navy, he was called to London and after an interview was told that as a Classics student at Jesus College, Cambridge, he was being posted to Bedford to learn Japanese! This he duly accomplished and was posted to Hut 7 at Bletchley Park to learn the mysteries of the Japanese naval cyphers. He was then posted to Colombo, in what was Ceylon but is now Sri Lanka.
Sandy's widow Anne (now Mrs Gabbott) is delighted that Sandy is commemorated in the on-line Bletchley Park Veterans Roll of Honour maintained by the Bletchley Park Trust. The family are in contact with Bletchley Park Trust to get the spelling of Sandy's middle name corrected.
http://rollofhonour.bletchleypark.ora.uk/search/record-detail/11479/
Incidentally, Alison Wright recently told me a story she heard from Sandy about him accidentally bumping into a tiny Japanese lady. He found himself profusely apologising to her - to his utter amazement after so many years not speaking a word of it - in Japanese!
Frank Haslam, Parish Archivist

Isn't History Amazing? - from the May 2015 magazine

A WWI April 1915 Parish Magazine extract in last month's magazine was about a Confirmation Service in Leatherhead taken by the Bishop of Guildford which included 12 soldier candidates.

Peter Ford, of our Bellringers, asked "was there a Bishop of Guildford in 1915?". A very interesting question. Yes - it was the Suffragan Bishop of Guildford, created in 1874 to help the Bishop of the then huge Diocese of Winchester. Since 1927 the Bishop of Guildford has been a Diocesan Bishop.

The first Suffragan Bishop of Guildford, John Utterton, is commemorated in the stained glass windows of our Lady Chapel and is buried in our churchyard. His headstone has a Bishop’s Crook carved on it.

The East Window in the Chancel is dedicated to his son, Frank Utterton, who was a much admired Vicar here from 1875 to 1907 (see the plaque in the Chancel). Frank and his wife Eveline are buried next to the Bishop. Their graves are along the "Worple Road side" path in the churchyard.

The "Utterton" East Window replaced one given in 1863 by the Henderson family of Randalls Park. With their consent that (very nice) window was removed to a church in Bishopstoke, Hampshire by one of Frank Utterton's Leatherhead curates, Sidney Sedgwick, who became Rector there.

The "Henderson" East Window here replaced one made up of assorted old stained glass that had been collected by an antiquarian Vicar of Leatherhead, James Dallaway. It was placed in storage above the choir vestry and faded from memory, only to be rediscovered years later when electric lighting was installed. It included Death on a Pale Horse, described by one of our WW2 Vicars, Gerald Coleridge (great grandson of the poet Coleridge) as "the stuff of nightmares". Eventually Death and another section went to the V&A Museum. The rest can be seen in our Chapel of Remembrance Window, which is in memory of Gerald Coleridge.

Sedgwick's housekeeper in Leatherhead was Charlotte Collyer. She and her family moved with him to Bishopstoke. The Collyers later decided to emigrate. Charlotte and her daughter Marjorie survived a nightmare crossing of the Atlantic but her husband Harvey did not. They were on the Titanic.

This is an extremely condensed version of what can be seen in full with images on a page in our website at
www.parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk/isnt-history-amazing.htm - or you can look afresh at our church and churchyard and, for the Collyers, visit Leatherhead Museum.
Frank Haslam, Parish Archivist: with thanks to Peter Ford, John Morris and the late Linda Heath

Church Matters for April 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the April 2015 magazine

Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church Quiz Night - from the April 2015 magazine

Sincere thanks as usual to Frank and Jane Haslam for putting together a Quiz with even greater originality and challenge than usual, to the Friends' team for their hard work behind the scenes, and to all of you who came along with enthusiasm and made the evening such a success.

During the evening Chris Evans, FLPC Chairman, was pleased to be able to present to Graham Osborne, Rector of St Mary and St Nicholas, cheques to the value of £15,500 towards the upkeep of the graveyard and the cost of repairs currently being undertaken to the Parish Church following the latest five year survey of the building. The sums donated on this occasion represented the largest single contribution towards repair and maintenance in the history of the FLPC, and are the result of several years of painstaking fund-raising by the Friends and the continuing generosity of its members and donors from the local community.

If you are interested in joining the Friends or helping with fund-raising in any way, large or small, you are invited to visit the website www.parishchurch.leatherheadweb.org.uk/friends/ and to contact the Membership Secretary. We would be delighted to welcome you.

June Robinson

Parish Electoral Roll 2015 (previously in Jan, Feb and March issues)

To be able to vote at our Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 29th April you need to be on our Parish Electoral Roll. It also helps in the administration of the Parish. If you are unsure whether you are on our Parish Electoral Roll please contact me. There is a copy in the Parish Office, from where an application form can be collected if required or click on Application Form to join the Parish Electoral Roll

Frank Haslam, Electoral Roll Officer (L379341)

Thank You, Cleaners! - from the April 2015 magazine

May I extend grateful thanks to all the kind people who turned up on the morning of Saturday 14th March to help Spring Clean the Church. It was wonderful to see you all and the results are well worth the effort, making a fitting background for the beautiful flower decorations of Easter. It was good to have many extra hands and it was almost "fun", with music and refreshments to keep us going, but I am especially grateful to the regular teams who keep everything in hand, week after week. Well done everyone!

Sue Roberts

Church Matters for March 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the March 2015 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the March 2015 magazine

Church Matters for February 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines - from the February 2015 magazine

News from the Belfry - from the February 2015 magazine

Church Flowers - from the February 2015 magazine

A big "thank you" to the flower ladies who have completed yet another year providing fresh flowers in church every Sunday, with special arrangements for Easter, Harvest, Christmas, weddings, funerals, concerts, and festivals. We are a friendly team who gladly give our time to this enjoyable task.The team members are:
Ann Albrow, Molly Lewis, Carolyn Trollope, Christine Gilbert, Mollie Canning, Gillian Manners, Sheila Warner, Audrey Hood, Alison Draper, Beverley Mehta, Edith Wright, Jill Goodchild, and Liz Meikle.
If you would like to join us please contact me on L373511.

Valerie Jones

Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church - from the February 2015 magazine

It is renewal time for membership of the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church. We raise funds exclusively to maintain the fabric and grounds of the church and to ensure this beautiful building is preserved for future generations. Our annual subscription is £5 per person, with any additional donations gratefully received. We warmly welcome new members. Membership forms are available in the church or please contact me on L375957.

Fran Fleming - Membership Secretary

Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church - it's Quiz Time Again - 7th March - from the February 2015 magazine

A Key Date for Your Diary! QUIZ TIME AGAIN Quizmaster: Frank Haslam. Book now! - Booking form

Leatherhead Parish Church Hall Saturday 7 March 2015 - 7 pm for a prompt start at 7.30 pm - Teams of 6-8: form your own, or join with others.

All proceeds to the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church, a non-denominational charity dedicated to raising funds exclusively to maintain the fabric and grounds of the Church to ensure this beautiful mediaeval building and its surroundings are preserved for future generations.

June Robinson

And also from the Friends - from the February 2015 magazine

You and your friends are invited to a concert at St Pauls Covent Garden on Sunday, 22 March at 4 pm. It will be approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Tickets for the concert are £18 (unreserved), with independent travel. Details of the concert are in the booking form (see below).

If you plan to travel to London earlier in the day, St Paul's is a short walk along the Strand from Two Temple Place, where you might like to visit the new exhibition Cotton to Gold: Extraordinary Collections of the Industrial North West. The magnificent mansion will be transformed into a casket for the exquisite treasures of an extraordinary group of Lancashire magnates. As the cotton mills boomed, bringing development and deprivation hand in hand, this group of prominent industrialists privately, and sometimes secretively, poured their wealth into some of the finest and most astonishing collections in the country.

Exceedingly rare Roman coins, priceless mediaeval manuscripts, Turner watercolours, Tiffany glass, Japanese prints, Byzantine icons, ivory sculptures and even preserved beetles and a Peruvian mummy. (Open on Sundays from 11 am to 4.30 pm with free entry.)
We hope you will join us. The Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church will benefit from a share of the proceeds. Booking form

Leatherhead Foodbank: A Volunteer's Perspective - from the February 2015 magazine

It is now well over a year since the Leatherhead Foodbank opened for the first time at the North Leatherhead Community Centre. All those who were there on that first morning had received training and were assisted by Jonathan Lees (Foodbank Manager, and founder of the Epsom & Ewell Foodbank) and several others who were established volunteers with the Epsom & Ewell Foodbank. It took a while to sort out a routine that worked for the new venue but we were soon up and running!

I first heard about the opening of the Leatherhead Foodbank from my husband who had attended a Men's Breakfast at which the guest speaker was Jonathan. He came home buzzing with the enthusiasm that Jonathan had projected and with lots of information about the new Leatherhead venue. I had become increasingly interested in the almost exponential rise of Foodbanks throughout the country but was unsure about how they operated. The Food Bank was being opened in Leatherhead as many of those visiting the Epsom & Ewell Foodbank were from Leatherhead and the surrounding area. After doing some research and attending the training evening I understood and was comfortable with the way in which the Trussell Trust Foodbanks operate.

Let me explain how it works. In order to receive three days' worth of emergency food supplies clients have to present themselves at a Foodbank Centre with a voucher. The vouchers are only issued through selected organisations which are carefully chosen from within the local area and which are able to identify people in crisis. I personally felt much happier with this than in some cases of Foodbanks where people can just turn up. The idea is to help people in a crisis and to assist them in moving forward. A Citizens Advice Bureau representative regularly attends to assist clients and volunteers, and is also able to identify and arrange further assistance for those who need it.

Some people have raised concerns about persons who make regular visits to Food Banks but it is my experience that the vast majority of people I have seen at the Foodbank have only visited once or maybe twice. Sadly, there are those who try to cheat the system. Indeed I was taken in by someone but he/she was later caught out by the checks in place and will not be doing that again.

For many of the clients the opportunity to sit over a cup of tea or coffee and chat or be listened to is enormously beneficial. Many clients are lonely, worried, and feeling vulnerable, and the aim is to offer them a warm welcome, friendly faces, and a safe environment. As a Christian based organisation we offer to pray for our clients. This is raised in a sensitive manner unless it is obvious that to do so would be inappropriate. I have never had a client say no, and across Trussell Trust Foodbanks the percentage of clients who welcome this is very high indeed. A highlight for me was one Saturday when a previous client came in with a friend who was in need. Whilst her friend was being assisted she came over to me and said she was so glad to see me as last time I had prayed for her and it had helped - could I please pray with her again? I was only too happy to do so.

All the food that is given out is donated and we are lucky that we are supported by some of the big supermarkets. Collecting at local supermarkets provides a great opportunity to talk to local people about the work of the Foodbank. Many people are happy to donate but there are many misconceptions about what we do and it is good to make use of these occasions to address these directly.

There are many ways in which people can help out: at the Centres after attending a training session, with collection at supermarkets, or behind the scenes with fundraising. There is lots of information on the Foodbank website www.epsomewell.foodbank.org.uk or if you would like to know more I am happy to chat about it. There is a collection box in Church for donations. Please do think about helping out in some way or another.

There is much debate about Foodbanks, a rising phenomenon in other Western Countries as well as the UK. Whichever side of the debate you are on there can be no question about the rising need to feed hungry people. Foodbanks are addressing this need and are really making a difference in the lives of those who are often in very distressing and seemingly hopeless situations.

Sally Milner

Poppy Appeal Up-Date - from the February 2015 magazine

The Church collection raised a magnificent £310.50. Leatherhead's total today stands at £19,500.00. Well done and thanks to everyone for your support.

Derrick and Jane Summerfield

Prayer 24 2015 - from the February 2015 magazine

Prayer 24 2015 will take place on June 27th/28th Please put these dates in your diary NOW. Please PRAY about this weekend.
Please get INVOLVED.

MOTIVATE any group/organisation YOU belong to PRAY and get INVOLVED.
Start thinking what you could do .... pray for a time in the Church .... try a different type of prayer .... Celtic .... Meditation .... etc .... play CDs or an instrument as worship.

I am sure you have lots of your own idea. Come on your own .... or a group .... start thinking now so that we can be prepared and organised!!!!!

Speak to me if you have any suggestions.
BUT most of all PRAY

Sheila Cole

Women's World Day of Prayer 2.30pm on Friday 6th March at Christchurch (URC) - from the February 2015 magazine

The service this year has been prepared by women in the Bahamas and is entitled "Jesus said to them: 'Do you know what I have done to you?"'. Bring your friends.
Notices/Leaflets will be available shortly.

Church Matters for January 2015

Extracts from the Great War Parish Magazines

The Story of B@titude - from the January 2015 magazine

The story started around 2004 when a group of friends began to see a gap in provision for families in Leatherhead. There were three or four very good charity shops, but none of them specialised in children's clothes or equipment, and there was only one children's clothes shop in the town.

An opportunity came to look at a shop that was closing down on the Kingston Road, and when we looked at it it was perfect in every way. The location was ideal, it was really well equipped, the size was great, and so the dream was born.

We wanted it to be a shop with a difference, to really serve the families in the immediate area but also further afield. Children's clothes can be very expensive and we set ourselves a target that nothing would be unaffordable. To be able to achieve this we knew we needed something extra to happen, and a group of friends including one business supports the shop by sponsoring the rent.

The shop opened on 24th January 2005. It has exceeded our expectations in so many ways. We have made many friends in the community, and we could not have achieved half of what has happened without the generosity of people continuing to donate great quality clothes, toys, equipment, and small items of furniture.

Having a small tea and coffee area has been a very important aspect of the shop; it has given mums and dads a chance to relax while children can play in the play area. It has become a bit of a gathering place, and community meetings sometimes take place in the shop. We also enjoy the company of the older generation who come in for tea and a chat and who feel they benefit from mixing with young families.

B@titude is more than a shop. We have many other projects within the community such as sewing and first aid courses, driving lessons and counselling in our wonderful cabin. One of B@titudes core values is to respond in any way we can. For every problem there's a solution. We feel very blessed to be able to serve our community in many ways and are overwhelmed by people's continued generosity. This is a very resourceful, lively community and we are delighted to be part of the Leatherhead story.

Our Mission is to:
be present in the community
bring people together
create safe spaces
develop relationships
listen
encourage creative and diverse solutions
to help identify potential and actively support people's dreams

Our Values are:
People
Generosity
Prayer
Freedom to be ourselves Hope
Authenticity
Compassion

And the name? The name comes from the account in the Gospels of one of the most famous stories. Matthew 5: The "Beatitudes" A talk that seemed to challenge aspects of social justice, commitment to one another, and values of life.

We are very excited to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary next year and look forward to the community joining in with the celebrations. Please visit our website http://www.batitude.org/

Giving a Legacy to your Church - from the January 2015 magazine

Each year around 5,000 people leave a gift in their wills to a Church of England parish. In total, parishes receive over £50 million each year -money to finance mission projects, maintain beautiful church buildings, or enable some other aspect of church life. These gifts make a real difference to the future work of the Church - as regular giving is often consumed maintaining the existing mission and ministry.

Legacy giving should be seen as a natural part of Christian stewardship -which simply means how we manage the resources, wealth, and possessions that have been entrusted to us.

If you would like to know how to leave a gift to our Church there are leaflets available or, if you wish, please contact me for a chat in confidence.

J Rosser, Legacy Officer L602039

Leatherhead Community Hospital - from the January 2015 magazine

On Wednesday 5th November the staff of Leach Ward at the hospital were called to a meeting in the evening and were told by their employers CSH (Central Surrey Health) that the Ward would close on 1st December and that 10 inpatient bed places would be transferred to Dorking Hospital and 5 to NEECH at Epsom. This was unexpected news and the ward staff, many of whom live locally and have worked at the hospital for many years, including one case of 35 years, were now expected to work in Dorking or Epsom.

Leach Ward is the last remaining inpatient ward in the hospital and has been used for rehabilitating patients transferred from local acute hospitals prior to going home. Leatherhead has had a community (cottage) hospital for over 100 years, the first in 1892 in Clinton Road, the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in 1904 in the Epsom Road, and now the present hospital built in 1940. When I came in 1968 the hospital had 52 beds in 3 wards, 2 operating theatres, and busy outpatient clinics. The League of Friends of the hospital has invested £2.5 million since its formation in 1960, money donated by grateful patients, legacies, and the community, and used to improve the infrastructure, supply equipment, furnishings, and amenities for the patients. Currently the Friends have allocated £500,000 to refurbish the x-ray department and supply new equipment, but are awaiting confirmation on the future provision of services for the hospital.

In relation to the closure of the 15 beds at the hospital the CSH supported by the Surrey Downs CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) state "the decision to move the beds from Leatherhead was based on recruitment issues. We are blessed with a number of Community Hospitals (Leatherhead, Dorking, NEECH, and Molesey) but are facing increasingly tough decisions both financially and keeping the recruitment levels over a number of sites." The CCG will be reviewing the situation in the spring together with relevant local groups, stakeholders, and the community.

It is of concern that the closure of the beds has been implemented at this time with winter approaching and the subsequent pressure on hospital beds. At the request of the CCG the League of Friends conducted a feasibility study recently into the potential uses of the hospital, the conclusion of which was "There is considerable potential to expand the existing services." The Friends believe the hospital has a great future in serving the community.

The Leatherhead Residents Association will be holding a public meeting in the New Year to discuss the bed closures. This is your chance to have your say. It's YOUR hospital!

Dr Fred Meynen

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