Ask Gary!
No 2
foundations
Algarkirk, St Peter and St Paul – Heritage Open Day, September 10, 2011
O
ver two hundred people enjoyed a range of heritage-themed activities, exhibitions and stalls at Algarkirk, St Peter and St Paul’s Heritage Open Day in September. As well as joining church tours conducted by Heritage Lincolnshire’s Dr Matthew Godfrey, visitors were able to marvel at hand-made textiles, get advice about researching their family’s history from the Lincolnshire Family History Society and learn about Algarkirk’s past from local historians; and the parched could quench their thirst by visiting the bar in the north aisle! The Parish Council also got involved by providing a bouncy castle and other entertainment on the village green adjacent to the church. In the evening, heritage gave way to music and dancing in the church nave - a grand time was certainly had by all! Go to http://goo.gl/V8aB7 for more information about how your church can take part in Heritage Open Days 2012
Faith in Maintenance Following a rapid take-up the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings delivered a very successful training day on church maintenance this Autumn. Over fifty people attended, all receiving the excellent ‘Faith in Maintenance’ handbook and calendar. The SPAB’s own Sara Croft delivered the training, with assistance from two experience Lincolnshire architects.
Though this was one of the last training days given as part of the Faith in Maintenance programme, the second phase of the popular scheme should reach Lincolnshire soon. This will give churches a chance to form local maintenance networks, benefiting from tailored training, free advice, and hands-on experience.
no 2
Opportunities An Hour of Alfred, Lord Tennyson The Tennyson Research Centre, Lincoln, houses the most important collection of Tennyson-related material in the world—everything from the poet’s library and manuscripts to the clay pipes he would incessantly smoke can be found at the TRC. But it is possible for a number of objects from the TRC to come to you! Collections Access Officer Grace Timmins can visit your church with a selection of artefacts and tell Tennysonian tales about them and their illustrious former owner.
Featured photog raph
To book An Hour of Alfred, Lord Tennyson please contact: Grace Timmins, Collections Access Officer, Tennyson Research Centre Tel: 01522 782040 Email: Grace.Timmins@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau - Faithful Advice By working together the Citizens Advice Bureau our churches can deliver vital advice services across the whole of historic Lincolnshire. Please follow the links below for more information about how your church can work with the Citizens Advice Bureau for the benefit of your local community: Faithful Advice - www.lincoln.anglican.org/faithfuladvice Citizens Advice Bureau in Lincolnshire - http://goo.gl/InWn3
Church Tourism Group – Expressions of interest required
“The wonderfully well-kept church and grounds of St Oswald’s, Crowle” - December 2011. Sent in by Rob Cernlow, North Lincolnshire. If you would like to submit a photograph to be featured in the next Foundations please e-mail us with your name, location, and a brief description.
Photography Skills Workshop
‘Strangers In Our Own Churches?’ 17 March 2012
If a Lincolnshire church tourism group were to be formed, would you want to be involved? The group could go on a couple of arranged tours each year; keep in touch through a newsletter; and members could meet others with similar interests. What do you think? Please express your interest by emailing Ben Stoker:
The Diocese of Lincoln Children and Young Persons Service and Open Churches have set up a number of photography skills workshops in conjunction with Christian Aid. A professional photographer will lead the workshops and the best photos will be made into a number of items including postcards to be sold for Christian Aid. If you are interested please email Ben Stoker:
Organised by the Churches Tourism Association and led by Dr Dee Dyas and Louise Hempson of the Centre for Christianity and Culture, York, and St John’s College, Nottingham, this training day will help your church to engage congregations, communities and visitors. To secure a place on this course, please complete a booking form which is available at:
ben.stoker@lincoln.anglican.org
ben.stoker@lincoln.anglican.org
www.lincoln.anglican.org/strangers
foundations
Which saint am I?
Born in 1194, I am the Patron Saint of television.
I co-founded the Order of Poor Ladies, which was re named in my honour after my death in 1253.
I was one of the first followers of a notable Saint Francis and you can still visit me in a Basilica located in the Umbrian town associated with both him and me.
Who am I? – answer at the bottom of the page!
The Fight against Metal Theft The ongoing partnership with Lincolnshire Police has resulted in the printing of signage for all churches within the county of Lincolnshire. The signs state that the church is protected by Lincolnshire police. These will be delivered to all benefices and are intended to be displayed on all church buildings, not just those with lead. More information about metal theft seminars in the Humberside Policing area will be available soon.
Contact details
Ben Stoker Lincolnshire Open Churches Officer ben.stoker@lincoln.anglican.org 01522 50 40 25
Answer: St Claire of Assisi
October saw the first two Diocesan Metal Theft Seminars take place in Horncastle and Lincoln. In total 80 people attended the seminars, which saw representatives of the Diocese, Lincolnshire Police, English Heritage, Ecclesiastical Insurance and SmartWater all speak on this ongoing problem. To access the information given at these seminars contact Matthew Cooper using the details below.
no 2
Questiontime
with your host Gary the Gargoyle
L
ast issue we introduced you to Gary the Gargoyle, our resident Agony Gargoyle, who will answer all your questions about church buildings. Since issue 1 of Foundations Gary has been busy gargoyling all over Lincolnshire. You can catch up with Gary’s antics on Facebook and Twitter. In the meantime, here’s what happened when Gary visited the Lincoln Cathedral Works Department… “The life of a roving gargoyle is never dull. The other day I took a break from gallivanting around Lincolnshire’s churches and spent some time visiting a few friends at Lincoln Cathedral’s Works Department. While I was there I bumped into my carver, who agreed to have a chat with me - I’m thinking of becoming the Michael Parkinson of gargoyling, so I need the practice.
GG: Why did you decide to become a stonemason? PE: I was in engineering so becoming a mason was a bit of a career change. I became a mason 25 years ago and have been working at Lincoln Cathedral for the past ten years. I’m a carver now, so I get to do the intricate work on things like finials and capitals, as well as carving grotesques and the like. GG: How long did it take you to train to become a stonemason and carver? PE: I went to college for a year and then got a job working on Wells Cathedral. So really, I learnt on the job. I’m still learning to this day! You never stop learning in this job. GG: What am I made of? PE: Ancaster Limestone.
GG: What’s your name? PE: Paul Ellis
GG: How long did it take to carve me? PE: A couple of months
GG: How old are you? PE: 49
GG: What inspired you to carve me? PE: That’s easy, it was a gift from the Big Fella. You came from my imagination, but He inspired me.
GG: Where are you from? PE: Originally, Nottingham.
Paul hard at work carving some friends for Gary (Gary’s hoping for a Griselda)
GG: Where do you think I normally reside, when I’m not out and about visiting Lincolnshire’s churches? PE: Gary, I know where you live: on the south side of the cathedral, between two buttresses. GG: Lots of my friends are hundreds of years old. Why do you still carve us? PE: We replace any cathedral stones that fail, and sometimes that means carving new grotesques. If we can re-carve existing work, we do; otherwise, it’s up to us to use our imaginations to carve new ones, like you. GG: How many people work in the Cathedral Works Department? PE: About 30 of all different trades, ten of us are masons. Old buildings always need repairs to keep them from falling to bits. The cathedral is a house of God and we are a part of many thousands of men and women who’ve worked on this church. GG: Are you going to carve me any brothers or sisters? PE: We’ve been through this. Once I‘ve finished working on some architectural details for St Hugh’s turret, I may, may, carve you a little brother. GG: Am I a grotesque or a gargoyle? PE: How many times, Gary? You are a grotesque, but you insist on calling yourself a gargoyle because you think it sounds ‘cooler’.
Paul with Gary the Gargoyle after being installed on the Cathedral
foundations
Gary the Gargoyle Notices A Fond Farewell... The Diocese of Lincoln and especially the Church Buildings department are sorry to bid farewell to Matt Cooper, the Historic Churches Support Officer, who is to become the new Maintenance Support Officer for the Diocese of London. He has achieved so much in a short time and will be much missed.
... and A Warm Welcome On a brighter note, a new Historic Churches Support Officer has been appointed. Rebecca Burrows comes to the Diocese from English Heritage where she has been the Casework Assistant for the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire area. She will be starting towards the end of March.
Unlocking Potential
here to answer your questions! Dear Gary... My church would like to do more for our community. What sort of thing should we do?” Julie, South Lincs Well, Julie, I think it’s always best not to guess! Why don’t you ask members of your community what they’d like to see going on in church? If they’ve asked for it, they’re far more likely to attend it! All the best,
Contact Ben Stoker Ben (and Rebecca) provide training packages for parishes in a simple half-day programme. For everything from maintenance to creating a perfect welcome, we will provide a mixture of talks and exercises to help you unlock the potential of your church. Training days are free to book. Please call for details.
The door will be opened
Gary Dear Gary... There’s an old bronze monument in our church, what’s the best polish to use?” David, North Kesteven The best polish is no polish! Bronze doesn’t need to be washed or polished, just a bit of dusting a couple of times a year, and a soft brush to get into any nasty nooks. That doesn’t sound too hard, eh?, Best wishes,
Gaz Do you have a question for Gary? Write to him at foundations@lincoln.anglican.org
Luke 11: 9-10
S
o I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ” NIV
foundations
Celebrating Summer
“The summer of 2012 presents perhaps an unprecedented opportunity for churches across the Diocese of Lincoln to engage with their local communities by embracing internationally significant events. From the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations through to the Olympic Torch Relay and on to Olympic and Paralympics Games, the UK will invite the world to unify in celebration of culture, sport, peace and participation. And with the addition of UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine it is sure to be a full and fun-packed summer. “It is clear that Summer 2012 presents churches with an opportunity for Mission. As a presence in nearly every community throughout historic Lincolnshire, churches are ideally placed to play a central role in our county's celebrations: bringing people together, promoting fellowship and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate. “Of course, churches will need support in order to fully realise the potential of Summer 2012. The Diocese of Lincoln is providing this support through resource packs that will both inspire and inform churches across historic Lincolnshire as they and their communities prepare to celebrate Summer 2012. “I am thankful to those who have prepared the resource packs and commend them to you for use in your church and community.”
Download the resource packs at
www.lincoln.anglican.org/summer