Wimborne Minster Celebrating 900 Years
Parish Magazine No. 406
May 2020
Contact details Rector
Canon Andrew Rowland 01202 882340 rector@wimborneminster.org.uk
Churchwardens Mr Peter Cook 01202 885470 peter-churchwarden@wimborneminster.org.uk Mr Andrew Patrick 01202 886871 andrew-churchwarden@wimborneminster.org.uk Assoc. Priests
The Revd Suzie Allen 01258 840668 suzie-assocpriest@wimborneminster.org.uk The Revd Bill French 01258 841061 bill-assocpriest@wimborneminster.org.uk The Revd Heather Waldsax 01202 884753 heather-assocpriest@wimborneminster.org.uk The Revd Elise Harding 01202 884775 elise-assocpriest@wimborneminster.org.uk
Organist
Mr Colin Davey 01202 884753 organist@wimborneminster.org.uk
Vergers
Mr John Hughes 01202 884753 john-verger@wimborneminster.org.uk Mr Ashley Coombs 01202 884753 ashley-verger@wimborneminster.org.uk
Admin. Assist. Mrs Donna Gosney 01202 884753 adminassist@wimborneminster.org.uk Parish Secretary Mrs Jane MacCaig
01202 884753
The Parish office is open Monday-Friday, 10am-12 noon, phone and email enquiries only, please. parishoffice@wimborneminster.org.uk www.wimborneminster.org.uk http://fb.me/TheMinster1
@TheMinster1
Parish Magazine publication details Co-editors: Rosalind Jensen and Barry Gibbs. Please send articles and information, by email if possible, to parishmagazine@wimborneminster.org.uk or leave in the “J� pigeonhole in the church Copy deadline for June issue: Thursday 21st May For advertising information, contact the e-mail address above or phone Barry Gibbs on 01202 054407
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liquid and washing powder/liquid. There are donation bins in the Coop and in Waitrose. Donations can be made by bank transfer A/C Name: Faithworks Wessex, Sort Code: 40-52-40, A/C No: 00015300, Ref: Wimborne. Thank you for your support. Sue Slydel
The current situation has meant that we are 3 times busier than normal and understandably, food donations are much lower. If you would like to help, we need the following: rice, tinned meat, tea, coffee, bottles of squash, long life fruit juice, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, washing up
For updates on latest needs, please see the Foodbank’s Facebook page.
Wimborne in Anthony Oliver For over 25 years Wimborne in Bloom has provided the floral displays and hanging baskets which make our town look so good through the Summer. These are funded from many events all year round. Sadly, this year will be different as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak and the current very necessary government restrictions in place. Our events from now until at least August have been cancelled – including our annual Spring Coffee Morning (due to be held on 16th May), our Open Gardens Day (due to be held on 28th June), and our local gardens competition week (normally run in July), which includes the shop window display and the Art and Poetry competitions. Beecroft Nurseries had already received the plants for the Flower Towers and planters around the town before the lockdown. All being well these will be planted up in due course or at least all the ones in the centre of town, which will give some colour to cheer us up a little. Regretfully however, there will be no hanging baskets. For the first time since
Wimborne in Bloom was inaugurated in 1992, we will not be entering the town into the Regional South and South East in Bloom Competition. We do hope that if all goes according to plan our next event will be the Annual Duck Race on Saturday 29th August. The lack of our fundraising events obviously has a knockon effect on our finances and we are really very sorry that these changes have to be made. We hope when we come out the other side of the virus everyone will continue to support us, so that we can once again make our town beautiful and enjoyable for all.
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Dates for your diary – May
Sunday 3rd 7.30 pm Greenbelt Group virtual meeting Friday 8th 75th anniversary of VE Day celebrated Sunday 10th – Saturday 16th Christian Aid Week Sunday 17th Rogation Sunday Sunday 17th - Weds. 20th Rogationtide to limit the Thursday 21st impact of Covid-19. Ascension DayPlease pray for us in this vital Friday 22nd – Sunday 31st Kingdom Come season of prayerdonation. support us where youThy can by making an online Sunday 31st Pentecost
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With every blessing, Daily prayer and services continue on Zoom Video Conferencing Amanda Khozi Mukwashi
Morning Prayer 8.30 am Monday to Saturday Evening Prayer 5.00 pm every day Making a donation 9.30 am Sunday and Wednesday Holy Communion Worship am 2nd and 4th Sundays the the month. IfInformal you wish to make a11.30 donation, please giveofvia website
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-ai Remember you can use a standard telephone to check in and take part as well. Recently possible numbers taking part on Sunday morning have to 75. All where or call 020 7523 2269 torisen donate byare telephone. P welcome! Details for taking part are in the weekly newsletter. note, there is a delay in processing postal donations because of In Rogationtide we pray particularly for God’s blessing on the fruits of the earth Covid-19 virus. and sea, and on human labour. This may when feel a particular relevance, we We are looking forward toyear thewetime we can meet asagain in p have been reminded of the work of farmers and farm labourers, including migrant Meanwhile, look at thefood Christian website to see workers, and theplease dangers of widespread shortagesAid in vulnerable countries as what a result of the pandemic. achieved and consider signing up for the daily services and quiz - Mike The editors would particularly like to hear your thoughts on the articles aboutLunt (tel video-conferencing (p10) and the future of the church (p7), as well as comments on the resources you have used to observe Holy Week and to take part in worship. Thank you!
https://www.thykingdomcome.global Thy Kingdom Come –a glo Pray for 5 Choose five people you would regularly like to pray for and wave of prayer, Ascension write their names down onto a list. If you’re not sure who to pray for, ask Pentecost God to guide you as you choose. Once
you Kingdom have settled on 5 names, commit in 201 Thy Come started to praying for them regularly. To help invitation from the Archbishops of Thy Kingdom Come – a global wave you remember, you could tie 5 knots in a wristband or cord, or write the names of prayer, Ascension to Pentecost Canterbury and York to the Church of England, and has grown of 5 people on the bathroom mirror Thy Kingdom Come started in 2016 as so you them when brushing your international and ecumenical call toseeprayer. It invites Christians an invitation from the Archbishops of teeth. Canterbury and York to the Church of the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. England, and has grown into an interto themed podcasts by Tom national and ecumenicalfor call to prayer. at Listen Find suggestions action https://www.thykingdomcome.g Wright for each of the 11 days at It invites Christians around the world to pray forfor more Pray 5 people to come to know Jesus. Find suggestions for action at
https://soundcloud.com/thykingdomcomeglobal
Choose five people you would regularly like to pray for and wr 4 names down onto a list. If you’re not sure who to pray for, ask
Praying for the Minster and the Northern Villages, Wimborne and the world
Prayer cycle for May 17 East Borough Housing Association 18 Social workers 19 Dorset Wildlife Trust 20 Queen Elizabeth’s School 21 PCC secretaries 22 Minster guides and welcomers 23 The Minster Governors 24 The Minster Environment Group 25 Mission Aviation Fellowship 26 Our neighbouring churches 27 The Tivoli Theatre and Allendale Centre: volunteers 28 The Armed Forces 29 Refugees and migrants 30 The Reef, Streetlight, Coach in the Community 31 A cause dear to your heart, not listed elsewhere
1 Associate Priests, Villages 2 Lay Pastoral Assistants 3 The Sunday School 4 The Greenbelt Group 5 The Children’s Society 6 Bishops Nicholas, Karen and Andrew 7 Wimborne Library: staff, volunteers and users 8 Local MPs 9 Amnesty International 10 Bournemouth & Poole Hospital Chaplaincies 11 Our Licensed Lay Minister 12 Our Organist and Director of the Choirs 13 The servers 14 The Minster Green Fair: organisers and helpers 15 The Minstead Training Project 16 Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu
Please use this diary as a part of your own prayers. In this way we can pray together as a parish for our common concerns On Friday May 8th, we remember particularly the life and spiritual writings of Julian of Norwich, 14th century mystic who chose to spend much of her life in isolation in her cell. Her message is one of hope and trust in God, whose compassionate love is always given to us. Famously, Julian used women's experience of motherhood to explore how God loves us. http://juliancentre.org
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Revd. Bill French Hope and Peace On Friday 8th May to Sunday 10th May the 75th Anniversary of victory in Europe was due to be celebrated. Sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic it has had to be cancelled, including the Sunday service. As British Legion Chaplain to the Wimborne branch of the British Legion and also an ex-serviceman, it is disappointing to me that we cannot come together to give thanks and remember those military personnel and civilians who endured so much through World War II. But, in the spirit of the Second World War generation, the British Legion and the people of this generation will, no doubt, find ways for alternative commemorations. This tenacity to which our Queen referred in her message of hope to the nation, calling on us to stand firm in the face of this catastrophic time we are enduring due to Covid-19 virus, said “And those who come after us will say, Britons of this generation were as strong as any”. This is a huge compliment to all of us and particularly those on the front line, our NHS staff, all carers, our police force, pharmacists, all those keeping us supplied with food, and many more community stalwarts who have set up community links. All these and many more are joined together in hope to eradicate the virus and bring about
the peace and freedom we have enjoyed since VE day seventy-five years ago. It will be no surprise to you to learn that the Bible expresses hope throughout its pages. The prophet Jeremiah in his rallying call to the Israelites in captivity after the destruction of Jerusalem, said this: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future”. God’s plans remain the same throughout all generations, calling us to remain hopeful, looking forward to the peace that is to come. The Jewish word for peace, Shalom, is much broader in its use; it doesn’t just mean the end of war and hostilities. Offering Shalom to somebody carries with it harmony, wholeness, completeness, welfare, prosperity, tranquillity and, of course, peace. To all of you I say “Shalom”, for life lived now and the life that is yet to come, given and promised through our risen Lord Jesus, the source of all hope and peace.
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Is church history? Rob & Margaret Pearce
Our latest Greenbelt meeting listened to the panel discussion “Is church history?” The recorded conversation divided into three parts:
These local contributions tallied to a considerable degree with the Greenbelt 2019 Festival conversation. Almost all the Festival audience and panellists were pretty dismissive of church as an institution, but were inspired by a gospel of hope, of community and of risk, suggesting that church at its best offers a vision of a world transformed – resurrection – and is, at its core, a movement for change.
a) Stories/experiences which suggest that church is not over; b) Stories/experiences which suggest that church is history; c) If church is not over, how might it look? Before listening to the recording, the virtual attenders gave their own answers, including:
Lockdown provides real opportunities for fresh thinking, not least about how we can live out our shared vision. Many of us will have observed Holy Week and Easter in the depths of our hearts, aided by various media and contact with the natural world. Will we increasingly do what Jesus told us to do – take food and drink, bless it, break it, share it – around our kitchen tables? This will be so much easier when we can welcome others into our homes again. The early followers of Jesus described themselves not as Christians, but people of the Way. Their behaviour and pattern of life defined them as much as their beliefs. So how are you adapting, innovating, imagining a new world into being, building community, serving one another and being served by others?
• The encouraging number of people who had joined in the virtual Palm Sunday service earlier in the day; • The impetus which the Minster’s support for Christian Aid offers for climate change campaigning; • What church offers at significant moments – birth, baptism, marriage, death; • How lockdown is creating fresh expressions of community and, in particular, how regular online worship is bringing together people from the northern villages and from the Minster; • How lockdown has the ability to release innovation, energy and imagination.
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Shop local! Barry Gibbs
There have been many miles of type devoted to the social effects of COVID-19, but it is still worth commenting on one aspect which will be affecting Wimborne residents. Within 4 weeks of the start of lockdown, so many people have changed their shopping habits, that these habits have almost become the norm. It is worth highlighting the efforts that local businesses have made to accommodate the changing habits. With food shopping, locals are discovering (or perhaps rediscovering) the food supplies they have on their doorstep. In the centre of Wimborne, Minster Greens have become the go-to place for fruit and vegetables - they introduced deliveries, but, such was the demand that they are not able to take on any new orders. Spill the Beans, the health food shop in West St. have developed a system where telephoned orders (01202 888989) are processed
and collected at the shop door. Both Minster Greens and Spill the Beans have a ready supply of goods. Local farm shops are also coming into their own, with places like High Lea Butchers and Candys Farm Shop able to offer a range of meat and dairy products. The open-air space offered by these shops is ideal for social distancing. Providing delivery facilities has proved vital to many who are having to selfisolate: Oakhouse Foods deliver a comprehensive range of main courses and desserts weekly from their Verwood depot to the Wimborne area and are now employing 4 times as many vans as normal, whilst a local pub, The Stocks Inn on the Holt road, has introduced a telephone ordering service.
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(Photos of Wimborne shops taken on April 23rd)
As resident co-manager Sally Sibley explains: “We found that our suppliers were over-stocked with As resident co-manager Sally Sibley explains: “We found that our food as a result of so suppliers were over-stocked with food as a result of so many restaurants many restaurants being closed, that it made being closed, that it made sense to find a way of taking up that supply. sense to find a way of We were overwhelmed by local volunteers offering to deliver food to taking up that supply. Wimborne and surrounding villages, and between Monday and We were overwhelmed Wednesday, with 24 hours‟ notice, we can take a telephone order, and by local volunteers have it delivered offering to deliver “ food to Wimborne Outside the food and area, kitchen products shop Salamander is allowing surrounding villages, people to shop by appointment and will deliver. As owner David Crossly and between Monday commented “It has joy forbeen us to see food We has a joy forhow us independent challenging time. and Wednesday, with been a“It to see how independent are proud to be part of businesses and others in Wimborne have responded to the lockdown, 24 hours’ notice, we can food businesses and Wimborne and are sure take a telephone order, showcasing the benefit of shopping local and giving an almost vital others in Wimborne with your support of our and have it delivered “ feeling of a degree of normality in what is a very challenging time. have responded to the local shops it will revert Outside the food area, “We areproducts proud to be part of Wimborne and are suretowith your of lockdown, showcasing being the support special place kitchen shop the shopping we all even though Salamander is allowing our local shops it will revert tobenefit being of the special place wevalue all value even local and giving anthan we we do some things people shop bydo some things thoughtowe may differently didmay before” almost vital feeling of differently than we did appointment and will a degree of normality before” - Barry Gibbs deliver. As owner David (Photos of Wimborne shops taken on April 23rd) in what is a very Crossly commented:
Everything you need for cooking at home
We are currently open by appointment If there is anything you need please email or telephone We can arrange local delivery too We can post our popular gift vouchers out for you and will give an extra 10% off when they are redeemed after the lockdown See our website for any updates on opening arrangements
01202 840144 office@salamandercookshop.com www.salamandercookshop.com
012092 840144 office@salamandercookshop.co.uk www.salamandercookshop.co.uk
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Zooming into the future? The Minster Greenbelt Group used to meet monthly, face-to-face, but since the lockdown for COVID19 some of us have met more frequently, using Jitsi Meet as a video conferencing facility (like Zoom, but less intrusive in data gathering). People say they have enjoyed these times but there are general Pros and Cons of screen-to-screen meetings:
Pros
Cons
No travelling (1) – so saving of time.
Not face to face, so you can’t touch or feel properly close to the other people.
No travelling (2) – so no greenhouse gases or pollutants.
Connection may fail, screen freeze etc so meeting is interrupted for the affected participant.
No travelling (3) – so saving of travel costs.
Slight time delay reduces spontaneity, increasing the chance of people speaking over one another.
No booking of venue – so can meet spontaneously without booking fee.
For meetings of around 5 or more participants, someone usually needs to direct who speaks, which further reduces spontaneity.
Can easily share documents/ screens on your computer with everyone else.
Participants need to learn and follow new codes of etiquette so everyone’s experience of the meeting is optimised.
Complete social distancing so no contagion.
Some people are excluded because they don’t have the right technology or ability to use it.
Previously, relatively few workers or families used video conferencing as the main way of seeing each other. It was used only when the Pros were clearly seen to outweigh the Cons, which wasn,t often unless your family lived far away. But since COVID19, the Pro of ‘complete social distancing’ has utterly tipped the balance, turning video conferencing into a mainstream mode of communication. And as the technology improves, as it will, and we become more practiced at using it, many of the Cons will lose their weight.
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Video conferencing may become the new norm for most meetings. Just think, we could continue to live in a greener world with greatly reduced travel! But the challenge to the privileged is to find a way to live in a world that includes as equals all those who are without the technology or skills, and 12 a church where all can participate. So, although some of us have found the on-line Greenbelt meetings a lifeline, we shall resume face-to-face ones when the lockdown is lifted.- Rosemary Lunt
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07/11/2019 16:40
Christian Aid Week (10th-16th May) locally and on line Mike Lunt Normally at this time of year we would be giving details of our local arrangements for Christian Aid Week and asking for volunteers, but this year cannot be normal. Sadly, there will be no house-to-house collection, no standing on the street with collecting tins and no gathering for special services or meals. However, there are still plenty of opportunities in the virtual world for those with internet access, so Christian Aid has prepared material for a virtual Christian Aid Week and I would like to share some of this with you. Christian Aid Week - daily livestreamed worship and daily quiz Christian Aid will be live-streaming worship each day, and hosting a daily quiz to raise funds. Details will be available soon but you can sign up at https://www.christianaid.org. uk/christian-aid-week
Christian Aid worldwide Covid-19 is spreading throughout the world. Christian Aid has experience of working in many of the poorer and less resilient countries and is already helping them prepare. Here is an extract from a letter from Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, CEO of Christian Aid:12
Our global response As all of our thoughts are on the Covid-19 situation, we wanted to share an update on Christian Aid’s response. We are praying for all those affected by this new virus, both in Britain and overseas, for all those working on the frontline and for wisdom for our leaders. Christian Aid and our partners already have experience of limiting the spread of infection during the Ebola crisis, and we will build on this experience to continue to stand together with communities living in poverty during this period. If infection rates start to develop as they are in Europe, then people in poorer countries will be hit even harder. Many are already living with reduced health resilience because of extreme poverty, or in overcrowded humanitarian camps and in countries which do not have the healthcare infrastructures needed to combat widespread disease. We will be working on the ground to
help prepare communities to limit the impact of Covid-19. Please pray for us in this vital work, and support us where you can by making an online donation. With every blessing, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi Making a donation If you wish to make a donation, please give via the website https://www.christianaid.org.uk/ appeals/key-appeals/christian-aidweek where possible or call 020 7523 2269 to donate by telephone. Please note, there is a delay in processing postal donations because of the Covid-19 virus. We are looking forward to the time when we can meet again in person. Meanwhile, please look at the Christian Aid website to see what is being achieved and consider signing up for the daily services and quiz. 13
What is refreshing is how nature is Witchampton se oblivious to the abnormality ofand thedeer world Now that theofguidelines ha present. In fact, the scarcity people an car drive is permissible to traffic has encouraged animals to ventur exercise longer than the further - a fox crossing theIsCranborne just outside Wimborne, th Spring Road, a hare running along a lane outsid rivers. The celandine, woo was announced mid-March, nsince andlockdown deer seemingly everywhere. flower. Spring a day without sun, a Barry Gibbs spirits. This,you combined eurguidelines haverealised relaxed slightly on exercising, meaning Via Have that, since lockdown was an Have you realised that, meant the natural world permissible towas reach an exercise venue, providing the lan since lockdown there has earlier than usual - barely been a day without sun, a announced mid-March, pr onger than the car drive, it is possible to wander along lan woods and there haslanes, barely been welcome delight to lift our spirits. This, combine a day without sun, af d-April, whilst, inthe our adroves and by the side of the Stour and Al Wimborne, welcome delight to lift erging, wisteria ismild finding with winter, has meantand theprimroses natural world Ga our spirits.a This, combined elandine, wood anemone ,bluebells are sti
ssom,with un-encumbered a mild winter, has by has in its full glory earlier than usual meant theburst natural world provide us with plentiful has burst in its full glory . bluebells the woods and lanes, earlier than usual - are out Whatin is refreshing is how
-
sc fo Violets are around in the bluebells are out in the nature is oblivious to theand this week a cuckoo w cowslips were seen mid-April, whilst, in uplifting our s lanes andabnormality the banks of one of woods and lanes, cowslips of the world the most were seen mid-April, present. In fact, the gardens, rosesatscarcity are emerging, wisteria finding primroses are still here aroundisthe count whilst, in our gardens, of people and echoing What refreshing is how nature is roses areis emerging, traffic has encouraged spring, have definitely arri after several weeks its colour apple blossom, oblivious to theand abnormality of the world at un-encumbered wisteria is finding its animals to venture colour and apple blossom, further -of a fox crossing present. In fact, the scarcity people and un-encumbered by frosts, the Cranborne Road, a hastoencouraged animals to venture istraffic out , ready provide us hare running along a lane further - afruit foxlater crossing the Cranborne with plentiful on outside Witchampton inRoad, the year. and deer a hare running along a seemingly lane outside
frosts, Garden is out ,birds ready areto provide us with plentiful scurrying finding fruit later on in about the year.
food for their fledglings seemingly everywhere. ek a cuckoo was heard for the first timeeverywhere. this year. It is, to m Now that the guidelines have relaxed slightly on exercising, meaning a have relaxed slightly on most uplifting sounds of spring - that mellifluous distinctive to reach an exercise venue, providing the exercising, meaning a car und the countryside, that itto and drive is permissible the car drive, it is possible toconfidently wander along announcing lanes What is refreshing reach an exercise venue, the droves and by the side of theis Stour Allen providingis definitely arrived. What so and extraordinary the that exercisethis Is
wood anemone ,bluebells and primroses are still in 14
Violets are around in the lanes and the banks of
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oblivious the ab longer than the carto drive, it is possible to wander present. In fact, th along lanes just outside traffic has encour
Wimborne, the droves and by the side of the Stour and Allen rivers. The celandine, wood anemone ,bluebells and primroses are still in flower. Violets are around in the lanes and the banks of primroses are still here after several weeks Garden birds are scurrying about finding food for their fledglings and this week a cuckoo was heard for the first time this year. It is, to me, one of the most uplifting sounds of spring - that mellifluous distinctive call echoing around the countryside, confidently announcing that it and spring, have definitely arrived. What is so extraordinary is that this particular cuckoo call was heard less than 500 metres from where it was heard last year.
Who needs SatNav? The difference between a war-generated crisis and this one is that nature is relatively unaffected and we should rejoice in being able to see its beauty. All plant photos, together with the cover photo, were taken in and around Wimborne in the last month.
I thank you God, by e e cummings
I thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (I who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth day of life and love and wings and of the gay great happening illimitably earth) how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any-lifted from the no of all nothinghuman merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
The Minster Green Charities Fair, and The Minster’s 900th Anniversary While the Folk Festival has been moved to 7th-9th August, the Minster Green Fair is likely to be postponed until next year: a decision will be made very shortly (as we go to print). We were also due to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Minster building this year, beginning at Easter. Events scheduled for April and May have been cancelled or postponed. At the moment, the future of the Flower Festival is under discussion. Among other issues, it’s not clear that the quantity of flowers required will be available in September, due to the lockdown. A decision is due to be made soon.
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Holy week with Brother Sam Rosalind Jensen
Each day through Holy Week on Radio 4, Brother Sam took us through Jesus’ Passion as told in wild plants. He included yew, aspen, hawthorn, and a series of others, all in the grounds of Hilfield Priory; each day’s programme was just 15 minutes. You can still listen to all the episodes on BBC Sounds: it’s well worth being a subscriber!Thank you to John Olds for telling us about this. We (the editors) would love to hear more about what programmes, on-line services and other resources were helpful for you for observing Lent and Holy Week this year.
The prayer of Saint Francis
(with greetings from the Wimborne Companions of Saint Francis) Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. 16
Minster makes Music Appeal
Minster Makes Music
We write with our usual report on the progress of the Minster Makes Music appeal. We are delighted that the appeal made such a good start and we are grateful to all who contributed to this. As we explained in the April issue, however, the appeal like so many other activities has run up against the implications of coronavirus, which has forced us to put it on hold, for these principal reasons which we repeat as follows: • Volatility in investment markets is leading to uncertainty such that potential donors are unlikely to be generous with funding if their capital is under threat. • Such factors will likewise impact on the grant funding market. • The Government has curtailed all non-essential social contacts, and this will seriously undermine personal contact and the events which are such important elements in appeals such as ours. We must wait to see how coronavirus gets on and how long these pressures remain, and we have yet to confirm when the organ builders will be able to proceed. Realistically, we have to accept that we are not going to be able to move the appeal forward in spring or summer this year, but that we may be in a better position to do so by the autumn. Hopefully, we will at least know by then what the options are. We therefore have to plan to keep the appeal on hold, and we will be working to keep it alive. We will continue to keep you informed. A positive outcome of this situation is that it gives us time to prepare. Do please let us know if there is any way that you would like to help when we move forward again, for example by volunteering, making a donation, or running or sponsoring an event. We should be delighted to hear if you know anyone who might like to help us. Contact Andrew Curtis, Chair of the Minster Makes Music Appeal Committee, through the Parish Office. You will find more information and contact details on the website: www.minstermakesmusic.co.uk.
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Book Review: D
Moon. How Poet memory and cha
Book Reviews Over 250 favourite Dancing by the Light of the Moon How Poetry can transform your memory and change in your catego life. Arranged Reviewed by Christine Gibbs commentary by Gy Joseph, hardback,
Over 250 favourite poems to love and learn. Arranged in categories with illuminating commentary by Gyles Brandreth. (Publ. Michael Joseph, hardback, 2019) When I worked in Chester I was at a function when Gyles Brandreth, then MP for the city was drawing the raffle. He made the experience hilarious, time passing in a flash, a rare phenomenon for a raffle! His skills are wide ranging, perceptive and fluently accessible in his many volumes on many subjects. In this book he expands his theory that learning poetry by heart (and he gives many pointers on how to do this), increases one’s vocabulary, extends one`s ability to communicate fluently and most important of all, keeps dementia at bay.
Everyone can remember the poetry they learnt at school and that sense of achievement and pleasure can continue when learning at any age. The chapters are theme based, introducing the widest range of poets, subjects, eras and styles. Some are familiar, some loved and some new and surprising - Samuel Taylor Coleridge to A A Milne, Noel Coward to U A Fanthorpe, Wilfred Owen to Stevie Smith, Elaine Feinstein to Hollie McNish. Poems of humour, narration, poignancy, thoughtfulness in all aspects of living can be found. This book reads well as a “dip in” or cover to cover, for illuminating whichever mood one wants to explore. This book was published in 2019 when the phrase “lockdown” was no-where near being included in a special reprint of the OED but it is perfect companion for 2020 and its strange new world order.
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Uncrowned Queen
The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch Reviewed by Alison Francis The bonds between them were strong in spite of years of separation and, with Yorkist kings on the throne, Margaret had to play her hand carefully. But when her son became Henry VII, Margaret was the most powerful woman in England. She was extremely wealthy and owned land in many parts if the country. I did not know that she became owner of Corfe Castle and spent much money in making it a ‘splendid palace’. Throughout her life Margaret held strong beliefs and practised her faith through worship, study and prayer. She was generous and kind to poor people as well as to her own kin and promoted learning through the foundation of two Cambridge colleges and, of course, Queen Elizabeth’s School Wimborne through the setting up of the Chantry in the Minster. Nicola Tallis gives a short synopsis of the many characters that come into the story which I found helpful as the many kings, queens, dukes, earls and bishops can be confusing! Family trees also help in tracing the lines. I hope others will enjoy this book as much as I did. © National Portrait Gallery
Uncrowned Queen The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch by Nicola Tallis (Publ. Michael O’Mara Books Ltd, hardback, 2019; also available as an e-book and paperback) This new book about Margaret Beaufort is of specific interest to us because of her family connection with Wimborne Minster. There are mentions of Wimborne and a photo of the Beaufort tomb; her father, John Duke of Somerset, owned Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle. (These estates, confiscated by the Yorkist monarchs, were restored to her by Henry VII.) I found it to be a book of much historical interest. A huge background of research by the author lies behind it and it tells the story of Margaret’s life during the Wars of the Roses. She was a lady of great determination, courage and vision which eventually brought her son Henry to the throne and the foundation of the Tudor dynasty. She gave birth to Henry in Pembroke Castle at the age of 13 and both were fortunate to survive the difficult birth.
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The Bible
Not One Book but a Library! A Bite-Sized Bible Guide Part 5 The New Testament
New Testament - New, because it is about a new covenant between God and man through His Son, Jesus Christ. The whole story has run out of steam until Jesus is born. (Note: Jesus = Ye Shua = God Saves). With Jesus the Christian church is born, the (old) Jewish faith is re-interpreted by Jesus and his fulfilment of many of the Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah of God. Thus the New Testament is the story of Jesus Christ, his Apostles and the early church. The Gospels are faith-based life stories of Jesus (Gospel = Good News!), written ‘so that you might believe and be saved’ Read Luke, Acts, Romans, Ephesians and 1 John first. Matthew – The most Jewish of Gospels, with parallels of Jesus being the new Moses. Mark – Shortest but the original gospel, written in poor Greek and drawn on by Matthew and Luke when they wrote their longer Gospels with the help of another source, now lost. The end chapter is missing and the beginning is not at Bethlehem, as one might expect, but at the River Jordan and the Baptism of Christ.
Luke – The most inclusive Gospel in terms of women and the underclass. Well written by an educated Greek physician who knew Peter and Paul, but not Jesus. John – the fourth and most theologically developed Gospel, written very thoughtfully, slightly later than the others. It reflects upon and interprets the events it describes. A favourite gospel of many Christians, it merits a life-time’s study. Acts – Luke writes a follow-up to his Gospel following Peter and Paul and events in the early Christian church, especially the ministry of God by His Holy Spirit. Saul the archenemy of Christ is converted on the road to Damascus and becomes his great Apostle. Required reading for new Christians. Part 6 next month: the New Testament letters
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