Beer Hackett

BEER HACKETT REP: John Parker johnwincanton@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Susan Ferdinand

Beer Hackett 2022 calendar

Laurie MacBean designed and sold a splendid 2022 village calendar to raise funds for St. Michael’s Church. The calendar featured a selection of local images that had already appeared on the village’s ‘Happy Hacketteers’ WhatsApp group. It proved popular and Laurie raised £58 towards the Church funds.

The plan is to repeat the idea for next year and photographic contributions throughout the seasons will be much appreciated.

A warm welcome...

to Vic and Celia Rus who arrived in the village over Christmas, having moved from Beaminster.

A fond farewell…

… to long standing and popular village resident Veronica Crane, who recently moved into Sherborne after residing in Beer Hackett for 36 years. Sadly, her husband Len passed away in 2016.

Veronica was very active in supporting our local church and was for many years the treasurer of St Michael’s PCC. Her dedication and hard work were recognised in 2021 with an award of a hardback edition of ‘England’s Thousand Best churches’ by Simon Jenkins.

Christmas and New Year at St. Michael’s Church

Our carol service on 15 December included the St. Andrews Singers, Nick and Rachel Swann (Dorset church video makers from Warminster), and an enthusiastic congregation. It was taken by Revd. Tony Gilbert, Team Rector and Revd. Jenny Nelson, our new Three Valleys Benefice curate.

After a two year break, it was good to return to our traditional candlelit service of Six Lessons and Carols. Henry Johnsen opened by singing a solo first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ in the candlelit church and the choir also performed ‘In Dulci Jubilo’ and ‘Jesus Christ the Apple Tree’. We all enjoyed mulled wine, mulled cider and mince pies afterwards.

There was a eucharist service on Christmas Day which included sweet refreshment from Tony Gilbert’s Quality Street selection box.

The Christmas/bank holiday calendar this year meant that our service on 2 January (second Sunday after Christmas) was so close to, and still felt much like, Christmas.

A note for your diary for those who knew and remember the late Revd. Michael Anderson. On Sunday 30 January (Candlemass), our service at 10.00am will be in his memory and will include dedication of the votive candle stand purchased with Michael’s legacy. Being on the fifth Sunday of the month, this will be a benefice service to which everyone, especially those who remember Michael, are invited.

John Bingham

Friends of St. Michael’s Church

The Friends of St. Michael’s Church, Beer Hackett, was set up by a group of parishioners and villagers to raise funds to help preserve, maintain, and enhance the charming church building, parts of which date back to the 15th Century.

As Beer Hackett is essentially a hamlet without a village shop or pub, the church itself, whilst fundamentally a place of worship, is also regarded by many as the centre of the community and we hope it will remain so for the benefit of all current and future residents.

The Friends is a charitable trust, established in 2019 (Registered Charity No. 1185135) and is eligible to claim Gift Aid. Membership, which is open to all, is currently £10 per annum and there are 27 members, with a committee consisting of Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, plus three other Trustees. We are urgently seeking a new Secretary, and a Treasurer, so please let us know if you are interested in getting involved by emailing sclothier@symondsandsampson.co.uk or john.trench1@btinternet.com

Our AGM is planned for 7.00pm on Tuesday 22 February 2022 in St Michael’s church. Further information on the village noticeboard and website.

We also have a dedicated website, which we hope to develop further in the future. Have a look at www. friendsofstmichaelschurchbeerhackett.org

There were a variety of fund-raising initiatives last year such as producing and selling fudge, marmalade and calendars, but the main event took place in early September, the Village Get Together, which featured live music, refreshments and fun for all the family. It was well supported and enjoyed by the many who attended. We hope to organise another in 2022 and to relaunch the village lottery.

However, the next event you should look out for is the “Come and Sing”, taking place on 23 April at St. Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas, giving enthusiastic singers the opportunity to join a temporary choir for a day to rehearse and perform choral music, under the expert direction of a musical director, and with an accomplished organist.

We hope this has given you a flavour of our organisation and its activities.

Sylvia Whitman