All Saints Church  -  October / November 2012

It has been a lively first month in the ministry of The Revd Martin Cawte at East Garston, which happily has allowed Martin to meet many people in the parish. We started with our Harvest Festival on 14 October when the church was filled with 100 plus people including about 40 children. We had the pleasure of The Lambourn Choir with us and also Patricia Glover’s String Ensemble. So with the congregation, including the farming community in our little country parish, singing the harvest hymns, our church was filled with music. Readings were given by Farmer Jonathan Rabbitts and Farmer junior – George Rabbitts. Martin’s address revolved around the children: using the letters of Harvest he got them to make words that illustrated the meaning of the festival – eg share: an exercise that was enjoyed by all.

After the service we served a 3 course hot Harvest Lunch to 80 people in the Village Hall. It was a great start to Martin’s first service at East Garston. Thank you to the many people who cooked, served, lent their belongings, arranged the lunch and all those who came, including friends from Lambourn. Thank you also to those who decorated the church, especially the children who imaginatively arranged the windows in the south aisle.

Sadly a week later, but perhaps at an apposite season of the year, the funeral of dearly loved David Wallis, who farmed for many years at Pounds Farm, took place. The church was bursting at the seams with 400 plus people. We extend our profound sympathy to Wendy and her family. This was another example of the strength of the farming community in the valley here.

The same weekend, significantly – a sign of new life, was marked by the Baptism of baby Gemma Hedley. Parents Debbie and Stuart as part of the Young Families Group, have already made their mark by involvement in church affairs. Chorister friends of the family sang most beautifully at the Baptism, including John Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep you, which they had previously sung at the parents wedding.

Two weeks later on 4th November it was our Patronal Festival of All Saints. We were privileged to have the Sub-Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, The Revd Canon Edmund Newell with us to preach the sermon. Sixty people were in the church including friends from Eastbury and Lambourn, when we celebrated All Saints and commemorated The Faithful Departed, as All Souls day falls one day after All Saints. We lit candles as is our custom at this service, to remember departed loved ones.

No –one present at the service could fail to have been moved by the magnificent sermon, given by The Sub-Dean. He introduced this as the season of praise for All Saints, giving thanks for the lives of departed loved ones and Remembrance coming the following weekend: this service he said was a fusion of all three.

After the service, lunch was served at the Queens Arms – again thank you friends from Lambourn that joined us. A special thank you to all our flower arrangers: the church was spectacularly decorated with red flowers complementing our red altar frontals, marking All Souls day.

The next weekend 70 people gathered at the War Memorial for our village Remembrance service, conducted by The Revd Martin Cawte. The highly accomplished and much loved Wantage Youth Brass, played again, with Last Post played by 16 year old Jennifer Culshaw and Reveille by 18 year old Elizabeth Myers. Wreaths were laid by Lt. Cdr. Norton R Lee DSC RNR (Retd.) on behalf of The Royal British Legion, Jonathan Rabbitts for East Garston Parish Council and Sally Wright for All Saints Church, East Garston. Laurence Binyon’s Lines were given by Lt. Cdr. Norton R Lee and The Kohima Epitaph by Terence Butler, formerly Sgt PWRR. The lesson was read by Andrew James – Trooper, Artist Rifles. Thank you Adam for inviting all to the Queens Arms for coffee, again on the house.

Our Remembrance Holy Communion, Sunday service was significant by a strong congregation, Dawn Tonge’s solemn calling of the Roll of the Fallen, which includes her uncle and Martin’s splendid sermon. His integration into our parish has been swift and effective.

All Saints Church  -  JULY  2012

On May 29, the pupils at Chaddleworth St Andrews and Shefford CE Federated Primary Schools, made a Jubilee Pilgrimage from East Garston to Great Shefford.

This began at East Garston Church where 57 excited children together with school staff and some parents explored All Saints Church. The Revd Mary Harwood – Chair of the School Governors, led a short service which included the Pilgrims Prayer.

The children, some as young as 4 years, then set off to walk along the banks of the river Lambourn to Great Shefford. Happily the weather was still fine so a very happy crowd of little pilgrims rested firstly in the garden of the Queens Arms for a story and refreshments and later under the willow trees at Maidencourt Farm.

It was a great pleasure to see such happy children enjoying the simple pleasure of walking together in beautiful countryside. Thank you Adam Lyddiard at The Queens Arms and farmers Jonathan and Jeffery Rabbitts for your kind hospitality to the children on a memorable day for them.

Our Jubilee celebrations at All Saints Church, were part of a whole village programme coordinated by Freddie and Sue Tulloch. But they were different in that they provided an opportunity for giving thanks for the Queen’s Life of Dedication and Duty by being reflective in mood as well as informative.

There was a Jubilee garden, coordinated by Maria Carver of white flowers, with a fountain flowing into a well, a herb garden and vegetable plot as well as attractive areas to sit and reflect. The ambience was of tranquillity in busy 21st century life. The impact of the garden on East Garston people was quite remarkable with many people coming several times to look at it again.

The churchyard paths under the guidance of Victoria Brooks, were decorated by children of the parish who also wrote cards to the Queen. These are now being sent to Buckingham Palace.

The exhibition of The Queens Life told in pictures, film and souvenirs inside the church attracted attention from children, just as much as from those who can remember The Coronation in 1953.

The whole church was beautifully decorated by Nicola Wall, with white flowers which were not only a diamond symbol but were a perfect foil for the photographs of the Queen’s life.

The Community Service on Sunday morning, which was attended by 100 children and adults was an appropriate start to the festivities and partying in the village. The String Ensemble from the Active Music Club, played again at this service, conducted by Patricia Glover, who initiated this group. A delightful duet was performed by David and Hannah Glover aged 12 and 10 years respectively, on violin and cello.

The conclusion of the weekend was A Party in the Garden on Tuesday evening, when people gathered once more to reflect on the wonderful weekend in East Garston Village. A presentation picture of the garden was made to Mrs Robert Lamplough, who generously sponsored the Jubilee Garden.

Thank you to everyone who came during the four days, to those who organised, took part or lent precious souvenirs and to all who gave generously to Church funds. Your support was tremendous

All Saints Church  -  APRIL 2012

We are in a significant period of change at present; we are looking forward in a week’s time to Mothering Sunday and then to Holy Week and Easter. Also on the horizon are our plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which some may say are a touch ambitious for a little village church, and which we may not rise to achieve, but as ever, we will strive to get there. Our major challenge at the moment though, is our involvement with our sister parishes of Lambourn and Eastbury in the selection of our new priest.

The process that we are going through now, of considering what our parishes have to offer and what challenges are ahead, has caused me to reflect on this issue of setting our sights sufficiently high. Is it being realistic that matters, or is it striving for excellence? – What of the “He who reaches for the stars........” syndrome. Whatever else, we must be a church that looks forward, that embraces 21st century life – a living church that is relevant to the lives we lead today, there for everyone and not characterised by impoverished or retrograde thoughts.

So from plans for Jubilee celebrations, I return to Mothering Sunday, where of course we will have happy hours of children making cards and posies, reading prayers in church, taking the collection, meeting and greeting people arriving at church, and so on. But in addition we will have children and adults in the Active Music Club playing in the String Ensemble that will accompany us, along with our talented youthful organist, who returns faithfully as ever, to play for us. The Active Music Club Group, trained and conducted impeccably by Pat Glover gives so much pleasure to us all and is becoming a very important part of our Family Worship.

In case anyone should wonder about this feature in our services, I have been recalling Thomas Hardy’s delightful descriptions of villagers in country parishes, before organs were installed, accompanying the congregation on their bass-viol etc. Lydia will correct me if I’m misquoting (please) – but in Mellstock Church people like Reuben Tranter served their church this way year in and year out. In East Garston next week to his great credit, one of our farmers will be playing his violin at our Mothering Sunday service.

Now we in East Garston have a healthy respect for preserving our country traditions – our Lammas celebrations in July 2011 are a testament to this but a key point is, that we need to be innovative in how we appeal to our congregations today. This involves much work and fresh thinking. Thank you Jonathan for bringing this thought to mind.