Thoughts from The Vicarage with roof matters looking up & veggie plots
Greetings to you and yours! What a difference a week makes – I keep telling myself that we do need the rain and it certainly saves watering Mr Vicarage’s veggie plots!!!
Last week I wrote of how work had begun to replace the stolen lead from the South and North of St Michael’s church. However, it was discovered that more work was needed….
The good news is that thanks to the speedy response of our church wardens, Ruth Honey & Doug Kirby and Associate Archdeacon Paul Cowan we received the go ahead to continue with the planned work plus the amendments, which amount to a further £30.000. We are hoping to raise this sum through kind donations and fund raising events
For this reason we are urgently appealing to yourself, the businesses, friends of the church and residents of Lambourn to help ensure that the ancient building at the heart of our village stands strong for another 1,000 years by donating whatever they can. Any amount, however small, will be most welcome, however to those who wish to make a donation of £100 or more we plan to offer a number of specialist ‘financial roof tiles’. . Information and a donation form are attached along with this week’s Pews News.
For many of you St Michael’s has been a place of marriages, christenings, funerals and memorials in addition to a place of daily and weekly worship. And of course, we are following in the footsteps of many, many previous generations.
There has been a Christian presence in Lambourn since before 1066! In fact the records, in church by the font list the first priest being present in 1017 – how amazing is that!!! The dedication of the church to Michael the Archangel was a popular one in Saxon times, the addition of ‘All Angels’ came later. If my history serves me correctly, the Normans came later in the 11th century as evidenced in the arch of the West door which is used by many wedding couples for their just married photos!
With the passage of time …. quite a long time elements of the structure of such an ancient building require more than simply routine attention. I do hope and pray that you will share this appeal with others. Please help us Restore our Roof and make it Waterproof.
Dates for your diary
- Saturday June 6th 11.00 Ross Couch RIP Memorial service St Michael & All Angels
- July 17th – 19th – Flower Festival St Michel & All Angels
- August 8th – Summer lunch at Meridian the home of Ruth & John Honey. All welcome!
- September 12th 7.15 – Last Night of The Proms screened in St Michael’s doors open 6pm
- November tbc – Film Night with David Attenborough
- December 4th – St Michael & All Angels Christmas Fair
- December 19th – Family film event with screening of the ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’
Finally, a prayer Gracious God we thank you for our village churches. Help us to be good stewards of the buildings remembering that they are places of peace and safety for all people, places where your presence dwells, where hearts are healed, and lives are transformed. Grant us, we pray, the wisdom and discernment needed to make decisions that honour you and benefit all who enter our doors. May our actions reflect thankful hearts for the blessings you have bestowed upon us.
Every blessing
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern Vicar Lambourn Valley Benefice