From Lene Bussell.
Apart from the fact that May spoils us with two bank holidays, it is also the month when we celebrate the anniversary of the Coronation of King Charles 111 on 6th May 2023, the 40th monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey since 1066. It’s hard to believe that three years have passed already since that momentous occasion. When the late Queen was crowned in 1953 I was a small child and not having a television, we listened to the proceedings on the radio, imagining the horse drawn carriages parading through the streets of London with all the Royal family decked out in their fine clothes and jewellery. It was all very different this time with wall to wall TV coverage of every detail from every angle and all in gorgeous colour on our big screens. Being able to see the whole spectacle and listen to the wonderful music filling the Abbey was certainly a day to remember so I hope we can all raise a glass on 6th May and say ‘God Save the King’.
We have three services in May, the normal Communion on the 10th and Evensong on the 24th plus a Benefice service on the 31st at 10.30 a.m. As usual our friends from our sister churches will be joining us in communion and fellowship afterwards with coffee and cake for all. It’s a warm friendly service so please try and join us.
All good things must come to an end I am told, and so it just leaves me to tell you that I have stepped down as churchwarden after twelve years in the job. During the last ten years the PCC has reroofed the chancel, the nave and the south porch, repointed some of the masonry bee damage to the walls, replaced the heating system, installed a kitchen and toilet, maintained the big trees in the churchyard and refurbished the church path and parking area. And let’s not forget the refurbishment of the bells after a silence of nearly 60 years! This is all a huge achievement for such a small village of 200 souls and I give sincere thanks to all those who made it happen.
Our good friends Jeremy Lane, Richard Betteridge and Jane Jones have also stepped down as PCC members, so for the moment there are only two members still standing, Simon and Lawrence, along with Lyndsay Baker and Rev Barry. As there is no-one to take on the role of churchwarden the future is an open book. It may well be that we merge with St John’s for the day to day running of St Mary’s, but once Rev Barry has had discussions with the Area Dean and Bishop Gavin I am sure things will become clearer. So this is my last offering of church news for you all – hopefully next month the baton will be taken up by Rev Barry. But before I sign off I must thank all of you in this lovely village whether churchgoers or not, who have given me such a lot of support over the years. I couldn’t have done it without you – God Bless you all.
Lene B.