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Extracts from the March edition of "Belfry", the Parish Magazine:

     PUTTING HAITI  INTO PERSPECTIVE

“My vest was falling to pieces,” a British missionary in Haiti told a visiting clergyman from the UK. “I could only use it for cleaning my bicycle chain. Then I threw it away. The next day I saw a little boy wearing my vest.”

And now the earthquake. Christians are as distressed as any by the Haiti disaster, and share in providing relief. But we are not completely shocked.  The reason is that adversity is firmly built into Christian understanding – which somewhat resembles a raft, composed of four mighty planks; Creation, our human Fall, Redemption and the final Triumph of God. With these we can negotiate today’s rocks and currents. Take the Fall:

1. We are all living in a fallen world. Our present world-order is not as originally created.  Basically we became a race of rebels, fallen from our custodianship over Creation – so bringing both ourselves and the Creation itself into the frustration of ‘bondage to decay’  (Romans 8:18-23). Even the ground we stand on was affected (Genesis 3:17,18).

2. We are all living in a temporary home. In the face of a natural fatal disaster (Luke

13:4,5), Jesus said that those killed were no more ‘guilty’ to die, than anyone else. All will die one day. But his words gave the warning: One day it will be your turn. Yes – run to the aid of those who suffer, but events like Haiti remind us that centre stage is not this life; we must prepare ourselves at any time for the next!

3. We are all living on borrowed time. Jesus went on to speak of a fruitless fig tree. Should it be cut down? No, Give it a year’s reprieve (Luke 13:6-9). The lesson is clear. If some people are cut off in a matter of seconds, those left should humbly consider how they will use the life that has been spared to them. This leads to a final truth:

4. We are all living as debtors to love. People hung on Jesus’ words because they knew that he had solid answers for this world’s sorrows. Indeed he was the answer, for at the Cross we meet the love of the suffering God himself. One prayer must be that out of the Haiti experience there will be some who will see this, and respond.

This article was written by Rev. Richard Bewes, former rector of All Souls,

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT SHIPLAKE CHURCH PARKING

Please be aware that the land on the south side of the church, through the five-bar gate, is Shiplake College property and parking of cars belonging to church visitors is not permitted in this area, due to the importance of access (especially of emergency vehicles) to the Headmaster’s house and other buildings nearby.

For many years the College has kindly allowed the area to be used as a turning circle so that cars can park more easily in

GRATEFUL THANKS FOR GIFTS

Robert Prance writes:  My dear friends of Dunsden, Shiplake and Harpsden,

May I use the pages of the magazines to thank all who were involved for the hugely generous cheque you presented me after Christmas. It was an incredible amount and I was quite overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you also very much for the Duncan Forbes painting which we shall treasure.  Thank you too for the kind words you said and for all at Dunsden who made it such a special occasion for Susie and me.

LENT AND EASTER COURSES

St. Mary’s Henley is holding a Lent Course on Thursday evenings (March 4^th, 11^th and 18^th) led by the Bishop of Dorchester, in the Chantry House starting at 20.00

Lunchtime services at Christ Church URC continue on Thursdays, the last being on March 25^th from noon to 12.30, followed by lunch.   There will be a Taizé service at St. Margaret’s, Harpsden at 20.00 on Wednesday 31^st March.

BISHOP COLIN AND PATRONS PAY US A VISIT

It was encouraging and reassuring to receive a visit from the Bishop of Dorchester, with the Area Dean, the Lay Chairman of the Deanery Synod, and two of the three parish Patrons, at a joint meeting of the two PCCs held in Shiplake Church on 28^th January.   Bishop Colin took us through the Parish Profile page by page, and asked one or two questions that resulted in agreement on a few minor changes in wording.   He seemed impressed by the standard and variety of lay leadership shown in the Benefice, and wanted this emphasised.

The two Patrons took a keen interest in the proceedings.  The patron for All Saints, Dunsden, is Rev. Canon Trevor Maines, who is on the Oxford Diocesan Board of Patronage.  He lives in Newbury and does not have any parochial duties as he works full time for the Board of Patronage.   The patron for St. Peter and St. Paul, Shiplake, is (or are) the canons of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and they are being represented by Rev. Canon Dr. Hueston Finlay, who is Warden of St. George’s House at Windsor, closely connected with St. George’s Chapel.  At the meeting he kindly offered to help with any services when we needed a visiting priest, and he is coming to Dunsden on 21^st March to take the 11.00 service there.  We hope that he will visit Harpsden and Shiplake later on, if that can be arranged.  The patron for Harpsden, from All Souls College, Oxford, declined to take part in the selection procedure but wishes to be  informed of the outcome.  

Following the meeting, the Bishop sent a draft advertisement for the post of Rector, to be inserted in The Church Times and the Church of England Newspaper.  The post will also appear on the Oxford Diocesan website.   The six churchwardens met (one on the end of a telephone) to discuss the advertisement, which they felt did not fully reflect the needs of the Benefice.  The Bishop agreed to some changes, and the five bullet points that form the main part of the advertisement are as follows:

            We offer the opportunity to ………..

·        Lead the benefice forward with its strong lay and clergy team

·        Encourage a wide variety of services from choral eucharists with vestments to informal family-friendly worship

·        Foster closer links with parents and children in local schools

·        Provide clear biblical teaching and pastoral care

·        Encourage and develop the lay-led Sunday Schools, Alpha Course, Home Group and Bible Studies

Interviews are scheduled for 24^th March and interested candidates are invited to make contact and look round the parishes in advance of this.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

Michael Bourdeaux is an Anglican clergyman who speaks fluent Russian.  He is founder of the Keston Institute, a research unit which, during the years of the Cold War, devoted its resources to helping believers in Communist lands.  The way in which he was 'directed' into this work is striking.

In 1963 he received a letter, via Paris, in semi-literate Russian.  The letter was not addressed to him personally, but it described the fierce persecutions under Nikita Khruschev, including the confinement of active Christians in psychiatric asylums. 

The following year Michael went to Moscow.  He set out to visit the church of St. Peter and Paul, only to find that it had been destroyed by order of the authorities.  As he looked at the rubble, two elderly women were doing the same.  They talked, and to his astonishment he found that these two strangers had written that all-important letter.  Those women had travelled 700 miles and its recipient had flown from Britain.  They would not have met if either of them had arrived at the site of the demolished church an hour earlier or later.  The women spoke for Michael as well as themselves when they said, "God sent you to meet us”.
                                                        FROM THE REGISTERS

Holy Matrimony – We congratulate GEN KWBAYASHI and EMMA PLEWS who were married at Shiplake on 31^st January.

In Memoriam – We offer our sympathy and the assurance of our prayers to the relatives and friends of the following:

Feb. 9^th        JOHN ALBERT (JACK) MILLS, aged 82 years                              Shiplake

Feb. 11^th        PAMELA MARGARET BERGH                                                     Shiplake

Feb. 12th     JANET DUNCAN, aged 65 years                                                     Shiplake

SHIPLAKE BELLS DEDICATION SERVICE

The Bishop of Dorchester is coming once again to the Parish on Sunday 2^nd May to dedicate the new Shiplake ring of bells and the service will be at 15.00 on that day.

Each bell is dedicated to a saint, and the initial letters of the saints spell out the name SHIPLAKE.   The treble bell is called after Simon Peter and is the gift of Mavis and Cyril Crouch.  The inscription reads “Although I am both light and small I will be heard above you all. Laus Deo”.    The second is named Hilda and is given by Joyce and Keith Vernon in memory of loved ones.   Bell three is called after St. Ignatius and is given in loving memory of May and Col Dunesky.  The fourth bell is called Paul and is in memory of Simon Grant Gallyer, 1954-2007 with the inscription “Of Love I Tell”.   The fifth bell is from the Pugsley Family and is called Luke.   The sixth is named Agatha, the patron saint of bellringers, and the inscription is “In Memory of Lilian Elizabeth Gallyer, 1921-1984, Of Love I Tell.  The seventh is named Katherine and is the gift of the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, and the tenor bell is Edmund and is in loving memory of Kathleen Partridge 1917-1999 and Joan Dove 1919-2002. 

The bellringers are extremely pleased with the tone of the bells and the ease with which they can be rung.   Listeners will have noted that they sound much less strident from outside than the old bells were, with a much sweeter tone.  

Volunteer Required for Benefice Office

Since last October a small band of volunteers has run the Benefice Office in the Priest’s Vestry at Shiplake Church and thanks to them and the resident clergy the Benefice has run extremely smoothly.  We now need another volunteer to take the place of someone who is about to go into hospital.   Please contact the Benefice Office on 940 6098 if you can manage a two-hour morning session once a week.  Training will be given and if in doubt other volunteers are only at the end of the telephone if needed

EDITH JESSIE PORTER

Jessie was born in Portsmouth on 14^th July 1921 to Able Seaman Jesse Smith and his wife Maud.  The family moved to Cookley Green, near Nettlebed, where Jessie’s father worked at the famous watercress beds at Ewelme, and from there the family moved to Henley where her father worked as a gardener at Westfield House.  At the age of 15 Jessie went into service and worked for a family in Greys Green.  She did not really enjoy the work but liked being sent to the family’s country residences in Norfolk or Scotland to prepare for the family summer holidays.

During the war Jessie worked at Stewart Turners in Henley, providing equipment for the war effort.  It was here that she met Owen William Porter, known as Bill.  They were married on 11^th November 1948.   They took over the running of the Plowden Arms in Shiplake from Bill’s father. The pub had been in the family for nearly 150 years when Jessie left in 1979, not long after Bill’s death in 1978.   Their son, Christopher, remembers that Jessie and her friends with babies in prams would walk down to Shiplake Station, get on the train to Henley and walk back to Shiplake.  They might also travel by steamer from Shiplake Lock to Henley and walk back.

After Bill’s death Jessie moved to a house in

Margaret White writes:  I met Jessie in 1950 when I started going out with my husband who lived in Blue Cottages next to the Plowden Arms.  We later joined the W.I. and our children went to Sunday School in Shiplake Church on Sunday afternoons.  Jessie and I went on many outings with the bellringers, W.I. and Rosemary Club.

Jessie had made and iced her Christmas cake, written her cards and wrapped her presents before she was taken to hospital.  She also delivered “Belfry” for many years in her area.  Our last visit to Shiplake Church together was to the Christingle service which she so enjoyed with the happy hymns.  I shall miss her greatly, as a good friend. 

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Sue Ryder Care at Nettlebed, is appealing for volunteers to help with their 3-weekly sales of second-hand books.  Sales take place between 10 am and 12 noon on Saturday mornings at Nettlebed.

They need a volunteer, preferably, though not necessarily, with knowledge of books and book-selling, to take charge of the existing team of volunteers, and to manage sales and report to the Fundraising Team. This vacancy arises as a result of the recent death of the volunteer in charge of book sales. 

One team of volunteers receives, sorts and categorises the incoming donated book stocks on weekday mornings, and another team sells and takes the cash for books sold on sales days.   Both teams need extra volunteers as the Charity receives a large volume of books for sale, and this is a very busy department.

This is a very worthwhile volunteering opportunity, to add value to this high profile local Charity, and to work with a team of like minded and friendly local volunteers.

 Please apply, whether for the main role or as a team member, to Katie Cuthbert on 01491 641070.

Duchess of Kent House in

                                                   ‘SHADDO’ AGM.

After three very successful productions in the last year, Shaddo will be holding its AGM at the Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch on March 11th at 19.30.

This year we have not had a panto, but instead had two lots of comedy play evenings as well as Kafka's Metamorphoses. All were near sell-outs and a lot of fun. If you are interested in joining us, please come along to the AGM. Don't worry, we will not make you join or be on the committee, but it would be great just to have a few new faces around.

Don't worry about not being able to act (hasn't bothered us for the last 10 years), but if you are willing to help us move pieces of set, sell a few tickets, put the chairs out or even work at the bar then it would be great to have you on board. It will not take up too much of your time, and we have a lot of fun. Please come along and find out what we have planned for the next 12 months.

NEW SHIPLAKE COMMUNITY CHOIR

Louise Rapple is hoping to start a Community Choir at Shiplake College for members of the local community, teachers and parents at the College and anyone else who wants to join.

The first meeting  will be held from 18.00 to 19.00 on Wednesday 3^rd March at the Tithe Barn Annexe, Shiplake College.  There will be drinks, nibbles, chat and a bit of a sing.  All welcome, no audition needed.

At this first meeting we will have a chat, see if this is a good time for everyone, get to know each other and have a bit of a sing. No prior experience necessary, this choir is for everyone – people who can sing, but also for those who have never tried but fancy having a go, and even for people who think they can’t sing!

Please contact Louise Rapple for further details on 0118 940 5226 or lrapple@shiplake.org.uk, or just turn up at 18.00 on 3^rd March.

Say it slow

On a beautiful late summer's day, two American tourists were driving through Wales. They reached Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogoch (yes, that place in Wales) and stopped for lunch.

Still gazing in fascination at the place name on the sign outside, one of the tourists approached the waitress and said: "Before we order, I wonder if you could settle an argument for us. Can you pronounce where we are, very, very, very slowly?

“Sure,” the girl shrugged. She leaned over the counter and said: "Burrr gurrr king".

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday 1^st May – Concert in Shiplake Church

Sunday 2^nd May – Dedication of Shiplake Bells by Bishop of Dorchester

Sunday 9^th May – Shiplake CoE Primary School 10k. Scramble

Saturday 15^th May – Shiplake Bellringers’ Outing to Wiltshire

_____________________________________________________________________

Open House Meeting

The last of the Open House spring meetings takes place on Wednesday 3^rd March at 19.30 at The Mill House, Lower Shiplake, home of Hugo and Annabel Gamble, when the subject under discussion will be “Handling Ambition”.

Royal British Legion Musical Evening

Wednesday 3^rd March is the date of a musical evening at Shiplake Memorial Hall in aid of the Royal British Legion.  Tickets, £11 including a fish and chip and dessert supper, can be obtained from Pam Hutchings 940 2252 or Pam Hudgell 940 2105.

Cancer Research UK

Please remember the big coffee morning and bring-and-buy at Shiplake Church Hall on Saturday 6^th March from 10.30.   This is a big community effort to raise funds for this excellent cause.

Women’s Institutes

At Dunsden’s March meeting at the Palmer Room, Dunsden Village Hall  at 19.30 on Monday 8^th March the speaker will be John Brearley on Hogarth, His Life and Paintings..

Harpsden’s meeting on Wednesday 10^th March at 14.30 will be the AGM and Barbara Gray will be talking about Denman College.

The March meeting at Shiplake will be at Shiplake Memorial Hall on Wednesday 17^th March at 14.30  will be the AGM.

Next Month’s “Belfry”

The April edition will be available on Saturday 27^th March.  Contributions please to Christine Bland,

Bellringers’ and Friends Outing

The annual bellringers outing will take place on Saturday 15^th May in the North Wiltshire area. A W.I. tea has been booked at Bishopstone, just east of Swindon.  Ringing should be in an area south of Cirencester and west of Swindon.  Call Rosemary Appleby on 940 3837 to book your place on the coach.

SHIPLAKE MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP

We are happy to announce that the Church Hall has now been fixed after suffering some damage in the recent snowfall and Shiplake Mother and Toddler Group is back up and running.

We would like to welcome parents and carers of pre-school age children to come along and join in. We also run all through the holidays,  when older children are welcome to come along too.

The group is held on a Wednesday morning from 10.00-12 noon. There is plenty of free play for the children with our selection of toys and a craft table for children who want to join in that activity.  Fruit and a drink are served at 11.00 and there is  plenty of tea coffee and biscuits for the adults. We close the morning with inter-active songs for the children.

The sessions cost £1.50 for one child and 50p for each subsequent child and adults go free!  You are welcome to just turn up on the day.

It is a super place to meet other local parents, with the occasional evening out to cement new friendships. It is also a great opportunity to establish local friends for your children, boosting their confidence as they approach pre-school and school age.

We have a few extra activities planned this year for fund raising.  The first is a coffee morning planned for March with a raffle of wonderful prizes donated by local companies, and a “ jumble and tumble” later in the year.  Keep looking out for the posters in the village. Also look out for us in the Waitrose Community Matters as we have applied to put in as one of the charities of the month and every vote will make a big difference to us.

If you would like more information about the group or have any questions please call Sophie on 07989 413004

The address of the group is Church Hall, Shiplake Cross, RG9 4BW

                                           LAID TO REST – IN WOODLAND

A chance conversation between two elderly women visiting the Carlisle Cemetery, and Ken West, head of Carlisle Bereavement Services, in 1991, sparked off the most radical change in provisions for the burial of the dead since 1820, when the first municipal cemetery was opened in Manchester.

The women expressed their dislike of the conventional cemetery, with “its boring lines of memorials”.  They were both single, with no family, and stated that their preference was to “be buried in their garden beneath a tree”.   This led to the opening of the first natural burial ground, in Carlisle, in 1993.  There were no headstones, and each grave was marked by the planting of a tree.  Since that time, more than 200 natural burial grounds have been developed.  The majority of them are extensions to existing local authority cemeteries, but there are growing numbers of privately owned sites that are managed by a trust or company.

Research by Andrew Clayden of the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, and Katie Dixon of Watkins:Dally landscape architects uncovered not only the origins of these sites but the social contexts to which natural burials have developed.  The writers see the move towards natural or woodland burials as part of a wider change in attitudes in the UK towards death and mortuary practice, and a desire to be more in touch with the natural rhythms of life and death.  Traditional cemeteries are often perceived as dilapidated, vandalised, and unvisited, beset by pressures over burial space and the health and safety of the sites.  All these factors have contributed towards the establishment of the Nature Death Centre, a charitable trust that promotes and co-ordinates natural burials.  Such sites are not restricted to secular funerals.  The Church of England has at least one site of its own near Cambridge, owned and managed by the Arbory Trust for Ely diocese, and clergy are as likely to be asked to conduct a natural burial in a ground that has not been consecrated as in one that has.

What natural or woodland sites may not overcome, however, is a problem that also faces traditional graveyards: a lack of burial space.  A private site may be closed for perpetuity when full, and allowed to exist as a natural habitat.  Some local authorities now guarantee only a 30-year lease on a burial plot, so an attempt to reuse a grave may involve uprooting a memorial tree, causing distress to relatives.  If use of natural sites continues to expand, the Church may want to issue further guidelines on what is acceptable for clergy.  In some dioceses, for example, full burial-services at the graveside are frowned on, but many private sites have no chapel.

The trend towards the use of such sites reflects growing concern for the environment, dissatisfaction with existing cemetery provision, and a wish to express natural and ecological life-cycles.  The implications in terms of making burial grounds more appealing than traditional graveyards may well mean an increase in demand that the Church might wish to encourage.

From an article by Dr. Bill Countryman in the Church Times, 1^st January 2010 .

Information on Woodland Burials.

Further to the article on woodland burials, a speaker by the name of Emma Restall Orr is available to give talks and further information on the subject and can be reached by email on office@nrbgrounds.co.uk.

Belfry” is written for and by the people of this parish, and contributions are always welcome.  However, the views expressed therein are those of the writers and are not necessarily shared by the Editor and Churchwardens