Approximately 40 people of all ages attended our Harvest Festival on 8th October. The church had been beautifully decorated the previous day by children and some of our team of flower arrangers. There was also a display of a variety of grains. Children were very much involved in the service by reading some of the prayers, assisting with the offertory and with holding up the letters of HARVEST for the Vicar during the sermon. These letters were also shuffled to make the words HAVE, STARVE and SHARE. Part of the offertory of £225 will be donated to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. After the service, approximately 30 adults and children shared a Harvest Lunch in the Village Hall. Although this was not intended to be a fund-raising event, donations and the sale of tickets raised £335. Thanks to all who helped to make both occasions so successful and enjoyable.
Our Patronal Festival will be celebrated on 29th October at 10.30 am. We are delighted and privileged that the sermon at this Group Communion service will be preached by The Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. Prof. Percy has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio Four and the BBC World Service and is a lively and excellent speaker.
There will be a Remembrance Service on Saturday, 11th November which will start in the church at 10.30 am and, weather permitting, the Wantage Silver Band will lead us to the War Memorial for the Act of Remembrance.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee has approved our application for a faculty for the installation of under pew heaters. The application now moves to the next stage and is awaiting the Chancellor’s approval.
Bob Briant
Churchwarden