The first benefice service at St Mary’s welcomed all our friends in St John’s and St Britius as well as our our own churchgoers here in Black Bourton. It was a very enjoyable service and good to see so many people prepared to drive round to join us in communion. This coming Sunday we are all heading off to St Britius for communion at 10.30 so if anyone would like a lift please let me know.
At our recent PCC meeting Rev Drew brought good news when he was able to tell us that a new part time priest will be joining us in August for a year which will help while Ian is working restricted hours and Katie is on maternity leave. Rev Barry Hanson will begin his ministry preaching at St John’s on 6th August at 10.30 a.m. and hopefully it won’t be long before we see him here in Black Bourton.
August is a quiet month with so many people away on their holidays but it will be a joy to welcome Baby Conrad to church for his baptism on Sunday 27th. Conrad is the great-grandchild of Viv Butler who together with his late wife Pat have lived in the village for several decades. All his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been baptised at St Mary’s over the years, coming from far and wide to do so. We wish this little one all God’s blessings as he joins the church community.
We continue with plans to commence work on the loo project and hope to hear some good news from Carterton Town Council when they have debated our request for funds to help. I expect you are aware that we have a lot of visitors from Carterton to the cemetery to see loved ones and with the church being open all day they will be able to make use of the facilities if necessary. I didn’t realise until Lawrence pointed it out, that there are about 700 souls resting out the back there – it doesn’t seem a big enough space to have so many graves and memorials compared to some town and city cemeteries.
That’s it for this month and see you all at the BBVA fete on 3rd September. Let’s hope the sun comes out again by then!