Batcombe

REP & DISTRIBUTOR: Johnny Gibbs jg@intramar.co.uk 83187

Upper Sydling

Batcombe Church

We had some very successful Christmas services in a fabulously decorated church. The carol service on Christmas Eve was well attended with some smashing performances from the Hodges family band and wonderful singing. The children read beautifully and the service ended with a fine performance of Jingle Bells from the younger ones. Many thanks to Kerry for organising it.

Photo: Julie Gibbs

The Christmas Day service was similarly well attended, with a big group from the Friary. The collections from the services went to The Children’s Society and Salvation Army.

Simon Jenkins had an interesting article in the Guardian on 1 January 2022, titled “Our churches should be part of our future, not left to rot”. Historical buildings are his specialisation and, regardless of one’s views about declining church numbers, he makes some interesting points. For example, he says that the public will shed a tear, but few will worry.

“They should, for one reason. This ebbing tide will leave on the foreshore an astonishing litter of church buildings. Of 16,000 English parish churches, 12,500 are listed for preservation, with 3,000 in Grade 1 status. Indeed, 45% of all England’s Grade 1 structures are places of worship. No other country has a legacy as precious. These buildings are undemolishable.”

We are delighted to have a brand new sign at the bottom of Great Head Lane. This was organised and financed by the Parish Council and by a generous, anonymous donation. The prize-winners were:

November 2021

1st No. 54 Henry Straughan 2nd No. 17 Susie Graham 3rd No. 27 Rachel Jones

December 2021

1st No. 3 Jamie Graham 2nd No. 29 Marion Fudge 3rd No. 52 Harry Straughan

Thought from the Rise of the Wriggle:

“Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all.” Winston Churchill

Johnny Gibbs

Photo: Faith Bellamy