Cross Keys, Summer 2012

Paddling the Nene to improve Kenyan water supplies

Chris Walker (left) and Sarah Vassilades with Bishop Donald and the Children’s Work Cup

A NEWSLETTER FOR CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE OF PETERBOROUGH

Korean friends My place: Bretton Jubilee celebrations

Nominations are sought for the 2012 cup. Contact Rona Orme on 01604 887045.

SUMMER 2012

sponsorship total go to: www.justgiving.com/paddle4kenya

Read Bishop Donald’s article about our Bungoma link on page 4.

Curates Marcus Purnell and Kane Taylor paddled 60 miles

down the River Nene in May to raise money for a charity that works with people in Bungoma to install water tanks and wells. The tanks fill during the rainy season so that clean water is much more readily available in the long dry season.

Both men were among a group who went with Bishop Donald on a trip to Bungoma, our link diocese in Kenya, during January.

“We have witnessed the huge difference that the water projects make to people in Bungoma,” said Marcus. Both he and Kane are keen canoeists but had not attempted

then led them on foot with the canoes into the Cathedral Precincts where there they enjoyed a well earned rest and a picnic lunch.

Find out more about The Geoff and Diannah Charitable Trust at www.bungoma.org.uk. To donate to Marcus and Kane’s

a paddle of this length before.

Their journey started at Northampton Canoe Centre on a Thursday afternoon and ended on Saturday lunchtime in Peterborough, with two overnight stops in between.

At the Rowing Lake in Peterborough Canon Jonathan Baker joined the team to paddle into the city centre. He

654

For Peterborough Cathedral news turn to page 8

Above: Marcus Purnell, Jonathan Baker and Kane Taylor (from left).

Top right: Marcus and Kane with Geoff Brown of the Geoff and Diannah Charitable Trust.

Bottom right: Taking a rest in the Cathedral Precincts.

02 CROSSKEYS SUMMER 2012

Around the DioceseArchbishop backs school mealsThe Archbishop of York has lent his weight to a new campaign by the Children’s Society calling on the government to ensure that all children in poverty can get free school meals. It is estimated that there are 2.2m children in poverty in the UK. Of these 1.5m meet the current criteria for free school meals but only 1.3m are registered for them and only 1m actually receive them. Details of an online petition and prayer and other resources are available at www.childrenssociety.org.uk/fair-and-square.

Government to provide more money for buildingsThe Government has agreed to provide £30 million a year extra money to assist funding of alterations and repairs to the Church of England’s 12,500 listed buildings. This is on top of the £12 million already in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Despite not persuading the Government that maintaining zero rated VAT for alterations is the best way forward, church leaders have said that the extra money will enable the equivalent to the VAT bill to be paid out on all alterations and repairs to listed church buildings.

Getting set for OlympicsThere will be 193 multi-faith chaplains working at the Olympics this year under the Anglican head of chaplaincy Canon Duncan Green. Churches across the country are organising special events to tie in with the Olympic Torch relay and the games themselves, and there are prayer resources and ideas available for all at www.olympics.churchofengland.org and www.morethangold.org.uk.

Prayer support on lineThe annual “Pray one for me” exercise has been extended to a year-round national initiative. Anyone can post prayers on a dedicated web site (www.prayoneforme.org) and know that they will be prayed for by others. The Church is also inviting local parishes to develop rotas of people who will visit the site and pray for the matters raised.

Bishop intercedes for the less ableBishops regularly intercede in the House of Lords on behalf of many groups and causes. The Bishop of Exeter, who has a Downs’ Syndrome daughter, pleaded for funding not to be cut for agencies supporting the legal rights of disabled people. “Safeguarding the minimal access to legal aid in these circumstances is more important and necessary, rather than less” at a time of cutbacks, he said.

Charlie and Charlotte’s marathon

The Revd Charlie Nobbs (Grange Park) and his wife Charlotte succeeded in completing the Milton Keynes Marathon on 29 April, raising over £2,500 for the Toy Box charity which rescues vulnerable children on the streets of El Salvador. Despite a wet and windy day they both managed times they were happy with. Charlotte was the 31st fastest woman and 5th in her age group with a time of 3 hours 33 minutes. Charlie came 200th out of 4,200, with a time of 3 hours 21 minutes. Well done both!

Sign of churches working in unity

Church leaders from across the region have renewed their commitment to act together as a visible sign of churches working together in unity. Representing the churches were (from left): Revd Peter Hancock Methodist Chair of

Northampton District; Rt Revd Peter Doyle Catholic Bishop of Northampton; Revd Helen Wordsworth Baptist Regional Minister, Central Baptist Association; Bishop John Holbrook from our diocese; and Revd Peter Meek United Reformed Church Moderator of East Midlands Synod.

New children’s worker at Northampton St Matthew’s

Charlotte Milner (right) has recently started work in the new full-time post of Children and Families Worker at St Matthew’s Church, Northampton. She has come from the Blackburn Diocese where she held a similar post at Emmanuel Church, Preston. Her job is to champion the role of children within the life of the parish community, and to promote their spiritual formation and growth.

Slow start for cricket team

The diocesan cricket team had a disappointing start to their Church Times Cup bid this year when they lost their first match to Leicester Diocese. There is still hope of qualifying for the next round, with a match against Norwich on 11 June.

You can find out more about the Church of England on www.churchofengland.org.

News from the wider church

CROSSKEYS SUMMER 2012 03

“Those who have visited the Holy Land before will know how wonderfully

the story of Jesus comes alive in the very places where he lived, walked, died and rose again. I look forward myself to this renewal of faith and understanding, and long to share it with others,” said Bishop Donald.

The pilgrims will visit many of the sites associated with the life of

Bishop Donald to lead Holy Land pilgrimageFrom 22 April - 1 May 2013 Bishop Donald will lead a diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is something he is very much looking forward to.

Children’s work cup goes to Café Connections nativity film

video – and to hear the gospel proclaimed.

The cup was presented by Bishop John at the Starburst conference in May. Runners up this year were St Mark’s

Church in Wellingborough, St Michael’s Church in Sutton and Grange Park Church in Northampton.

To make a nomination for the 2013 Children’s work cup contact Rona Orme on 01604 887045.

New course for lay worship leadersA Certificate in Lay Worship Leaders’ Ministry is to be introduced in the diocese from September 2012.

Bishop Donald has asked the Adult Education Team

to put together the new course to help multi-parish benefices where there is a need for lay people to lead worship but not enough Readers to meet this need. Parish priests will nominate people to go on the one year course, which will take place in either Northampton or Corby. Those completing the course will receive a certificate signed by the Bishop, which will be presented in their parish or benefice.For more information contact Liz Holdsworth on 01604 887070, [email protected]

Jesus, including Nazareth, Galilee, Bethlehem, the River Jordan and Jerusalem. They will also meet and support local Christians whose numbers have decreased sharply in recent years.

You can find full details of the pilgrimage at www.peterborough-diocese. org.uk/holyland.htm

Café Connections, a fresh expression of church at Bozeat in Wellingborough Deanery, has won the 2012 Diocesan Children’s Work cup for their “Let’s Film the Nativity” day.

Children brought their friends to film Nativity scenes in and around

the old vicarage in Bozeat. They used a storyboard and a simple video camera to capture all the action. The extended families of the actors came along in droves to see the


Bishop in Bungoma

To find out more about our Bungoma link contact the Link Officer, Canon Clive Evans, [email protected]

good for us, as well as for our brothers and sisters there, that we continue to develop our links with and support for the Church in Bungoma – at the same time as we build new friendships with the Church in Seoul.

I have set up a group of Trustees in Bungoma and a system of financial accountability. I believe this will ensure that financial support sent from parishes, schools and others through our diocesan office will always reach its intended destinations, and that the donors will receive acknowledgements and evidence that the money has been used as was intended.

I hope to go back in three years’ time, possibly with another group of curates, and in the meantime to see our Bungoma link thrive to our mutual benefit. We need each other, and we need such links, in Jesus Christ’s worldwide Church.

Learning with South Korean friendsIt is almost a year now since the Dioceses of Peterborough and Seoul committed themselves to making a companion link. Liz Cowley, our link officer who has just returned from a visit to the Seoul, reports:Central to our link with the Diocese of Seoul are specific plans to learn from each other’s ministries in different fields. My recent trip to Korea with Robert Hill (Diocesan Mission in Society Officer) and Liz Holdsworth (Diocesan Adult Education Co-ordinator) aimed to develop that learning from and with each other in three areas. Firstly, Seoul particularly wanted to learn more about our training of lay ministers. Secondly, we wanted to know more about their involvement in the support of the elderly, disabled, homeless and young people and, thirdly, we wanted to share the possibilities for clergy and others to spend periods of time such as sabbaticals in each other’s parishes and places of work, learning

more of cultural differences in ministry and mission.During this visit, we had time to find out more about the current political situation between North and South Korea and learn something of the historical dimensions of a part of the world which is not usually a part of the teaching here in the UK – and come to a recognition of how little we really know about this particular part of the Far East!This year we are focussing on Lay Ministry, and shortly six people will be coming from Seoul to find out a little more about the way we do it here! Next year, our prime focus will be on what the clergy can learn from each other. We plan to take some interested clergy to Seoul in Spring 2013, and they will bring a reciprocal group in late June of the same year.

To find out more contact the Revd Liz Cowley, [email protected]

My visit to Bungoma Diocese in Western Kenya back in

January was an eye-opener in so many ways to me and to the six curates who accompanied me.

We experienced a land that is beautiful, fertile and blessed with resources, but also disease-ridden and desperately poor. A people who are magnificently generous in their welcome to strangers, but also still looking for support from their former colonial masters even 50 years into independence. A Church which loves the Lord and the gospel and can worship spontaneously and vibrantly, but is still trapped in tribalism, factionalism and even at times corruption. A country and a Church which need good leaders but where leadership elections are hotly contested and easily turn violent.

I am convinced that it is

WE NEED EACH OTHER, AND WE NEED SUCH LINKS, IN JESUS CHRIST’S WORLDWIDE CHURCH.

Liz Holdsworth, Liz Cowley and Robert Hill (from left) with the Revd Columba Lee and children at Shalom House, Namyangju, a support centre for migrant workers.


My place …

Bretton was built as part of the new town of Peterborough in the

1970s. People came here from all over the country, but especially from London. There are 14,000 people in the parish, four primary schools, a special school and an academy along with a large shopping centre, an industrial area and offices. The original idea seemed to be to foster a sense of community by building the houses close together, but often people feel they don’t have enough space.

The church building is in the middle of the parish. At the beginning the vicar acted as one of the community leaders, helping people to settle into the new estate. Everyone in Bretton was a pioneer then!

Things have changed a lot since. A sense of community is missing. I want to see the kingdom of God in Bretton and to see people

MADELEINE ALBERTBretton, Peterborough

working together and being connected.

Pioneer ministers are wary of the pull of the existing church and its structures, but The Holy Spirit Church in Bretton is rooted in the community and this helps me. As a congregation we have been learning about intercessory prayer and this feeds both my ministry and theirs. This is our community and we are praying for it.

Praying for people is one of the things that distinguishes the Church. We’re not just “being nice”. We’re here in church, twice a day, to say Morning and Evening Prayer. We pray for a different area of Bretton every day.

I want the people here to know how valuable and loved they are! The best way to do this is for them to know

I was 27 when I started as Churchwarden. Before that I was the organ blower, then sidesman. You need to let young people know they’re needed and useful. I was brought up to it. My mother, grandmother, sister and aunt were all involved in the church with over 100 years of service between them. My family have lived in

how much God loves them. God is definitely active and working in Bretton. I see glimpses of this.

A key part of being a pioneer minister is to be alert, to listen to God and to the community. I do this as I walk in Bretton Park, or spend time in the primary schools as a reading buddy, or volunteer at the Children’s Centre, or join the governing body at the special school.

My prayer is that people would have encounters with God and that there would be

Newton Bromswold for 200 years.

You have to have a thick skin to be a Churchwarden! You can’t please everyone but you have to try and keep the peace all round.

We have a service here every Sunday. People come from miles around. You don’t have to be within walking distance these days.

At one time the churchyard

community developments in Bretton that have Christ at their centre, and that are engaged in worship and mission.

The Revd Madeleine Albert is Pioneer Curate of Longthorpe and Bretton. You can contact her via [email protected]

BOB LINESNewton Bromswold, near Rushden

was all cow parsley and mowed just once a year. Another time it was cut like a lawn. Now I call it “managed wildness”.

If you get the plants right, the butterflies, bees and birds will follow. In the old days a lot of the naturalists were parsons. We’re all a part of God’s creation.

Nearly 400 people come to our Cowslip and Fritillary Days here each year and we serve teas. I always say a managed churchyard pays for itself.

Bob Lines has been Churchwarden of St Peter’s Church, Newton Bromswold, for 50 years. The Churchyard there has won the Northants Wildlife Trust Churchyard Conservation Award many times. Find out about the Award at: www.northantschurchyardgroup.org.uk


Sibbertoft ringers start the cascadeRingers at St Helen’s

Church in Sibbertoft (left) had the honour

of starting off the twelve hour cascade of church bells which rang down the length of the Welland Valley to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Monday 4 June.

Of the 35 towers that took part, 22 were from our diocese. Each took a turn to ring at an appointed time. Another 11 churches which have just one or two bells joined in by chiming as the cascade reached their area.

The 65 mile route along the River Welland took 12 hours to complete and crossed four counties.

Toby Jackson, Churchwarden

at Sibbertoft, followed the route of the cascade with his wife Caroline, calling in at several towers along the way and presenting photographs of the Sibbertoft ringers to those chiming the final bell at Fosdyke in Lincolnshire.

“The atmosphere in all of the towers was wonderful,” said Toby, “not least at Barrowden where almost all the ringers had taken up ringing only four months ago in order to participate in the day.”

“It all went far, far better than I had imagined,” said Rosalind Willatts from Wilbarston who organised the cascade. “There were some lovely surprises too, like the way in which churches without a full set of bells were so keen to take part by chiming, and how in some places the ringing became a focal point for community celebrations.”

Left: A drawing by Rosalind Willatts showing the route of the cascade and some of the churches taking part.

Above: Layla Palmer is crowned during the Jubilee service at St James Church, Thrapston.

Parishioners say thank you to Her Majesty

St Matthew’s Church at Eye near Peterborough was amongst a

number of churches to invite parishioners to add their good wishes to a thank you letter from Bishop Donald to HM The Queen.

The letter was available for signature during Eye’s Sunday afternoon Jubilee service and tea. This outdoor event had to be hastily re-arranged inside the church due to the rain. “We wondered if anyone would

come as the weather was so wet,” said The Revd Colin Hurst, “but it was a lovely occasion with all ages from toddlers through to a group from the care home in the village and their team of carers.”

The Big Jubilee Thank You is a national Church of England project. Greetings from each diocese will be gathered together and presented to Her Majesty later in her Jubilee year.


Bibles, bunting and bellsChurches across the diocese celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Peterborough Diocese, using a special mission fund.

In the midst of the pomp and ceremony of the coronation,

her majesty the Queen was handed a copy of the Bible; the Archbishop, surrounded by the world’s rich and powerful ignores the guest’s diamonds and ermine and states:

“We present you with this book, the most valuable thing this world affords. Here is wisdom. This is the Royal Law. These are the lively oracles of God.”

The British monarchy is reliant on the eternal Kingship of Jesus. The Queen has always known this and her personal faith has supported her through her remarkable reign.

Royalist or republican (or somewhere in between) none of us can fail to be impressed by Her Majesty’s reliance on her deep faith in Jesus.

Miles BakerDiocesan Mission Enabler

linking her 60-year reign and her Christian faith. There is also a suggested reading section with Bible references on various topics.

Over 400,000 were ordered across the UK, 8,000 of which were bought for the

Gleneagles Church in Wellingborough was one of several

churches in the diocese to give away free New Testaments to their local community to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee.

The Revd Melvyn Pereira gave the Bibles out to pupils and staff at Redwell Junior and Infant Schools (pictured). Junior School Headteacher Mrs Sue Peel said: “The donation of the New Testaments is such a lovely gesture. I know I shall treasure mine.”

The pocket-sized Jubilee Bibles include eight pages of

images from the coronation and the Queen’s life,

ROYALIST OR REPUBLICAN... NONE OF US CAN FAIL TO BE IMPRESSED BY HER MAJESTY’S RELIANCE ON HER DEEP FAITH IN JESUS.

The Hope in Thrapston team started early with their Jubilee

celebrations when they held a tea to celebrate the Queen’s birthday in April (pictured left).

The guests were senior residents of Thrapston, many of whom are regulars at Holiday at Home. The churches have been running this three day event during August for the past few years, offering entertainment, fellowship and food to senior citizens in the town.

As befits a regal occasion, the best china was used at the Jubilee tea and the hall was decorated with royal portraits and flags.

For information about the Mission Fund follow the links at: www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/mission.htm

Introducing our latest issue...

Welcome to extracts from the Spring to Summer edition of our Cathedral magazine, Portico. Published twice a year our intention is that Portico (also meaning door) should provide an open door for

finding out more about our magnificent Cathedral Church, which may well inspire a visit in the future.

If you would like to read the full 12 page version or our corresponding Events and Service Guide please visit our website where you can subscribe to a hard copy sent by post or an electronic

copy sent by email, alternatively call 01733 355315 or simply send an email to the ‘Portico’ editor Sarah McGhie: [email protected]

The Very Reverend Charles Taylor, Dean of Peterborough

Peterborough Cathedral announces the appointment by The Bishop of Peterborough of a new Lay Member of Chapter, John Henniker-Major FRICS FAAV. John is the Chairman of Carter Jonas and is their Senior Managing Agent for The Crown Estates (Rural) work.

The Dean comments that; “We needed to ensure that the Cathedral Chapter includes a member with strong property expertise. Bishop Donald approached John and we are delighted to welcome him on board. The next few years running up to our 900th anniversary are set to be exciting and indeed challenging and I look forward to working closely with John on these.”

The Bishop of Peterborough appoints a new Lay Member of Chapter

Canon Gordon Steele, until recently the Vicar of St John’s Church Peterborough, was Collated (licensed) and welcomed as the Archdeacon of Oakham at a special service in Peterborough Cathedral in February. As Archdeacon (he will be styled now as “The Venerable Gordon Steele”), he will assist parishes in the Oakham archdeaconry (which covers Peterborough, Rutland, and the Oundle, Rushden, Corby and Kettering areas) with practical matters, and share with the Bishop in the pastoral oversight of the clergy and people in the Diocese.

He will also play a leading role in parish share (finance raised in parishes for clergy support) and clergy housing issues.

New Archdeacon

We greatly enjoy hosting Parish Pilgrimages to our wonderful Cathedral. We see this as a vital part of our ministry and mission and one of the most effective and personal ways we can engage with the Diocese, particularly these further to reach areas in South Northampton & Rutland.

We can tailor these pilgrimages to suit individual parishes, in the same way we tailor our group bookings. If you are interested in bringing a group from your parish please call Jackie Newman on 01733 355315 to discuss how we can best bring the Cathedral to life for you. We have tour guides specialising in aspects such as the Tudors, worship, heritage and general Cathedral tours. Additionally, hospitality packages are available, as indeed is the opportunity to enjoy a picnic in our grounds either by bringing your own or we can provide refreshments. Time allowing, we strongly recommend that you conclude your visit by attending Choral Evensong. We do hope to welcome you here soon.

PArish PilgrimAge

I joined Peterborough Cathedral in October 2011 after 4 years as Assistant Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Suffolk.

Prior to that I held various organ scholarships, including that of Jesus College, Cambridge, where I read music, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music.

Moving to Peterborough offered me the opportunity of moving up a level and working in a big music department with a school attached. I love the style of liturgy here and the Cathedral itself was also a draw – it’s fantastic working in and around such a stunning building and it offers such great liturgical possibilities.

My time got off to a pretty memorable start when I had to play live on the radio after only half a dozen services! Things were a bit of a whirlwind through until Christmas – the trip to the Plaisterers’ Carol Service was a highlight – and it’s only this term that I’ve properly got my bearings. I’m hugely looking forward to experiencing Holy Week and Easter here for the first time. Away from the Cathedral I enjoy good food, nice country pubs, film and a number of sports, including badminton, cricket and rock climbing/mountaineering.

sPOTlighTon David humphreys

New Archdeacon

David sitting at the Peterborough Cathedral organ.

Introducing our latest issue...

Welcome to extracts from the Spring to Summer edition of our Cathedral magazine, Portico. Published twice a year our intention is that Portico (also meaning door) should provide an open door for

finding out more about our magnificent Cathedral Church, which may well inspire a visit in the future.

If you would like to read the full 12 page version or our corresponding Events and Service Guide please visit our website where you can subscribe to a hard copy sent by post or an electronic

copy sent by email, alternatively call 01733 355315 or simply send an email to the ‘Portico’ editor Sarah McGhie: [email protected]

The Very Reverend Charles Taylor, Dean of Peterborough

Peterborough Cathedral announces the appointment by The Bishop of Peterborough of a new Lay Member of Chapter, John Henniker-Major FRICS FAAV. John is the Chairman of Carter Jonas and is their Senior Managing Agent for The Crown Estates (Rural) work.

The Dean comments that; “We needed to ensure that the Cathedral Chapter includes a member with strong property expertise. Bishop Donald approached John and we are delighted to welcome him on board. The next few years running up to our 900th anniversary are set to be exciting and indeed challenging and I look forward to working closely with John on these.”

The Bishop of Peterborough appoints a new Lay Member of Chapter

Canon Gordon Steele, until recently the Vicar of St John’s Church Peterborough, was Collated (licensed) and welcomed as the Archdeacon of Oakham at a special service in Peterborough Cathedral in February. As Archdeacon (he will be styled now as “The Venerable Gordon Steele”), he will assist parishes in the Oakham archdeaconry (which covers Peterborough, Rutland, and the Oundle, Rushden, Corby and Kettering areas) with practical matters, and share with the Bishop in the pastoral oversight of the clergy and people in the Diocese.

He will also play a leading role in parish share (finance raised in parishes for clergy support) and clergy housing issues.

New Archdeacon


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Every Sunday in July, Kislingbury Cream Teas.3pm—5pm at St Luke’s Church, Kislingbury NN7 4AD.

Saturday 14 July, Hartwell Strawberry Teas. 2.30pm-5.30pm at St John the Baptist, Hartwell NN7 2HW.

Saturday 14 July, Jubilee Concert at Weedon. 7.30pm at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Weedon NN7 4PL. Organist Brian Astell and singer Marie-Anne Hall. Local transport available if booked in advance. Tickets £7.50 from 01327 349727 or 340124.

Saturday 21 July, Music in Lyddington: Rustem Hayroudinoff (piano). 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington LE15 8TU. Advance tickets £14 (£2 students). £16 (£2) on door. Tel: 01572 820017, [email protected] www.musicinlyddington.co.uk

Sunday 22 July, Organ recital by Bill Fudge 4pm at St Peter & St Paul, Abington, Northampton NN3 3AB. Recital followed by tea and cake, with Evensong at 6pm. Free entry, donations invited.

Friday 27 July, “Work No. 1197 - All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes (or more)” 8am - 8.03am at church towers across the diocese, and nationally, as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Thursday 2 August, Charles Timberlake lunchtime recital12.45pm - 1.45pm at Peterborough Cathedral. Pianist and composer Charles Timberlake will give an informal lunchtime recital. Visitors are invited to sit and listen or to wander around the Cathedral during the recital. Free entry, donations invited.

Saturday 18 August, Music in Lyddington: The Souza Wind Quintet. 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington LE15 8TU. Advance tickets £14 (£2 students). £16 (£2) on door. Tel: 01572 820017, email: [email protected] or visit www.musicinlyddington.co.uk

Saturday 18, Sunday 19 August, Great Brington Flower Festival. At St Mary’s Church, Great Brington NN7 4JB. Organ recital Saturday Evening. Tel: 01604 770047.

Saturday 25 - Monday 27 August, Eye Flower Festival. At St Matthew’s Church, Eye, PE6 7UP. Theme: anniversaries. Displays, stalls, lunches and teas.

Sunday 26 August: Organ recital by Roger Palmer. 4pm at St Peter & St Paul, Abington, Northampton NN3 3AB. Recital followed by tea and cake, with Evensong at 6pm. Free entry, donations invited.

Monday 27 August, Organ recital by Tom Bell. 11.15am at All Saints, Oakham LE15 6DR. Tom Bell is organist and choirmaster at St Michael’s Church, Chester Square, London. Retiring collection. Lunches £5 served afterwards in the Church Hall.

Saturday I, Sunday 2 September, Alderton Art & Flower Festival with Church Fete. 10.30am – 5pm at St Margaret’s Church, Alderton NN12 7LN. Paintings by local artists, craft stalls, home produce and many other stalls. All day barbeque.

Saturday 1 September, Abington Antiques, Books and Collectables Fair. 10am - 4pm in Abington Church Rooms, Northampton NN3 3AB.

Sunday 2 September, Badby Fayre. 2pm - 5pm at St Mary’s Church, Badby CV23 8TY and in village. Stalls, games, teas,

rides. Vintage agricultural equipment demonstrations in Fennell’s Field. Vegetable, flower, craft and photography show in the village hall.

Saturday 8 September, Ride & Stride. Annual sponsored ride and stride to raise funds for the Historic Churches Trusts. Many churches open to welcome walkers and cyclists. www.rideandstrideuk.org

Saturday 15 September, Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers Summer Festival. 3.30pm at All Saints, Oakham LE15 6DR for inter-branch eight-bell striking competition. Evening ringing at SS Peter and Paul, Uppingham LE15 9QH.

Saturday 22 September, Music in Lyddington: Anna Huntley, James Baillieu, Gary Pomeroy. 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington LE15 8TU. Anna Huntley, mezzo soprano with James Baillieu, piano, and Gary

Pomeroy, viola. Advance tickets £14 (£2 students). £16 (£2) on door. Tel: 01572 820017, email: [email protected] or visit www.musicinlyddington.co.uk

Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 September, Culworth Art Exhibition. Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm at St Mary the Virgin Church, Culworth OX17 2AZ. Refreshments. Catalogues £1. Proceeds will go towards replacing the lead which was stolen from the church roof. Tel: 01295 768184.

Sunday 23 September, Abington Church Choir Concert. 4pm at St Peter & St Paul, Abington, Northampton NN3 3AB. Director of Music, Michael Brooks. Concert followed by tea and cake, with Evensong at 6pm. Free entry, donations invited.

July

August

September

WHAT’S ON

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Our 2012 programme includes:Launde Abbey Fun Week-end 26th & 27th AugustCARM Painting & Prayer 6th – 10th AugustGardening Holiday 13th – 17th AugustAugust Working Holiday 21st – 25th AugustPainting Holiday(Landscape Drawing & Painting) 3rd – 7th September3 Day Individually Guided Retreat 3rd – 5th SeptemberTaize Week-end 21st – 23rd September Healing Through Radical Forgiveness (A Colin Tipping Retreat) 30th September – 3rd October5 Day Individually Guided Retreat 1st – 5th OctoberJohn Bell Retreat 29th October – 2nd NovemberCeltic Treasure & the Rebirthing of Christianity 12th – 14th NovemberQuiet Days 3rd September, 1st & 5th October

Launde Cross Keys 93 x 132.indd 1 21/05/2012 11:17

Whitefriars Church steps out in faith

LUNCH just got bigger!

If you arrive at Whitefriars Church in Rushden on the second Sunday of the

month, you might be forgiven for wondering where everyone was! Since Pentecost 2011 the congregation has used this Sunday to step out, meet new people and serve the community.

As the Vicar Philip Evans explains, the aim of “Stepping Out” Sunday is to take mission into the community rather than simply inviting people to come to church.

“At Whitefriars we worship in a school and we aim to be informal and accessible, but it is still a huge step for someone to come to a church service,” he said. “Most people are not in church on Sunday, so our aim is to go to them.”

Members of the congregation were encouraged to think of ways in which they could best reach out to people. Gradually, eight Stepping Out communities have been established, including Books n More which meets in a coffee shop to read a book and share opinions, Messy Church for families with young children and Handy Helpers which offers practical help in the home. Back at base, there is also a warm welcome for anyone who turns up at Whitefriars expecting there to be a service.

Alongside these activities the church offers an introductory course on the Christian faith called Explore. This can provide a pathway into the church, as Dawn, a member of Books n More explains: “The book club is a good introduction to going back into a church environment – it makes it more accessible …. I’m looking forward to the rest of the Explore course and like the fact that we were invited to ask blunt questions – you can ask anything, in a friendly social setting.”

“Much time, energy and spiritual strength has been needed for Stepping Out,” says Philip Evans, “but it has helped us to place mission at the heart of the church.”

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Cross Keys is published by the Church of England Diocese of Peterborough and distributed free to its 350 parish churches.

Editor: Liz Hurst. Tel: 01733 887012. Email: [email protected] www.peterborough-diocese.org.ukThe inclusion of an advertisement in Cross Keys does not constitute an endorsement of a product or service by the Diocese of Peterborough.

A scheme that startedin Corby in summer 2011 is set to expand

nationally due to a successful application for funds.

Last year Nik Stevenson,Pioneer Minister at OakleyVale in Corby, ran one ofthree pilot schemes offeringfree lunches to children whomiss their free school mealsduring the holidays.

He and his wife Shelly, with volunteer helpers, served more than 200 meals to about 30 children from their popup gazebo on the recreation ground.

Now an £18,500 injection of cash (obtained throughwww.crosspollinate.co.uk) means that they can offer support and information to

others who want to run a similar scheme in their own area.

“LUNCH is simple to set upand easy to run,” said Nik.“You don’t need to committo the whole of the holidaysor even every day of theweek but every meal youserve to a child living inpoverty can make a difference.”

To find out more visitwww.makelunch.org.uk orcall Nik Stevenson on01536 747507.

Whitefriars Church is hosting a conference with Bishop Graham Cray, Archbishop’s Missioner, on Saturday 13 October to explore lessons learned from missional communities and other fresh expressions. For details contact Philip Evans on 01933 316834 or [email protected]

Documents

Cross Keys, Summer 2012