Annual Report 2021-22

Giving thanks together

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27)

Rector's Report

At some point amidst the last two years, we have all stopped trying to predict or plan too far ahead as to what the future might look like. We began the year still in lockdown, with our worship online; now we are back together, without face coverings, but deeply conscious of a world masked in the shadow of war and conflict. These times have continued to challenge us both in our responsibilities and our resources, leading us to need to lean more deeply into God, praying for wisdom in our decisions and care for one another. We have been shown once again that this is a journey that needs to be made together, and that it is lonely without one another.

Often the call along the way of this year has been to simply keep going, to hold steady, to wait on the goodness and guidance of God and to be attentive to recognising Him in our communities in all the many different ways He has been present. Whilst we have not always been able to do all the things we had planned or hoped for, much new ground has been tilled and prepared, and there has been much planting of new seeds – full of potential! We have had to think differently, try new ideas, trust and listen to each other a little more, and step beyond our comfort zones. Through it all, we have seen that God is faithful and good, and takes all that we offer – breaking and blessing it in unexpected ways. As we continue to discern into our ministry and explore our governance as a whole Benefice, so we set our eyes and hearts on Christ, the One in Whom all things hold together.

This year has consolidated not just a closer working together in our church life, but in our community lives too. The Bluebell Benefice is now joined not just as a Benefice, but as a whole Bluebell Community – with all the villages working together in new ways in service of ‘the common good’ and to help enable all our venues and projects to thrive. Many months have gone into the planning of a shared Platinum Jubilee festival, and it is a great joy to be beginning this next year with community celebrations, in recognition and thanksgiving for the faithful service of others.

In short, there have been so many shifts and turnings, and so much happening through this past year, that it is hard to capture it well – but here are some snapshots...

Some seasonal highlights this year were:

• The Stations of the Cross online services in Holy Week, with readings recorded around the four parishes with the Revellers, and music recorded by the Choir.

• An outdoor Pentecost Party service in The Old Churchyard, Waresley – with over 20 children and 40 adults attending: much fun was had! With thanks to the Revd Chris Campbell, who joined us on placement for May.

• A Harvest Evensong in Abbotsley Church and Advent Carol Service in Great Gransden. With thanks to Sheila and the Choir.

• Special and poignant services for All Saints (all age in Abbotsley) and All Souls (in Waresley)

• A shared Benefice Service of Remembrance with the RBL and Parade organisations in attendance. With thanks to Tony Bevens for his hard work in the arrangements for this.

• Barnabas Oley School Harvest and Christingle services: sadly it was not possible for these to be public due to the Covid precautions at the time, but the children led and led stories, prayers and songs joyfully and wonderfully. Thank you to the children and all the staff!

• The outdoor Community Christmas Carol service (led jointly with the Lighthouse Cafe, and in support of The Need Project) and the outdoor Crib Service in the paddock at Little Gransden Village Hall. Both had a magical atmosphere and were wonderfully attended: thank you to everyone involved in making these possible and so special.

Anne Constantine and Jane Connell have led three gentle Reflective Services on Sunday evenings, using poetry, music and Bible reading. In October 2021 at Great Gransden we celebrated Earth’s beauty, wonder and gifts and reflected on our stewardship of the planet. Our December 2021 service at Waresley and March 2022 service at Little Gransden offered an opportunity to reflect more deeply Advent and Lent and Springtime respectively. The services have been well received by those who attended them. Thank you so much to Jane and Anne for all the care they've put into these services.

It has been a very busy year of funerals, interments, weddings and baptisms – with some of the delays due to Covid bringing a backlog of occasions. We mourn those no longer with us, and rejoice with those who have begun new and special chapters in their lives.

Community Reports

Education about bell ringing and attracting new ringers is essential to ensure that we continue to have an enthusiastic band of ringers and attract new learners. A range of approaches are being used, including broad use of social media. The revamped website was launched, with many video clips of our ringing. Phillip made a Zoom presentation on “Life in the Tower” to an international audience on 8 April. This proved very popular, overrunning its expected time, and with many questions. A promotional video was launched on May 21st, and a QR code on posters allows access to a clip of ringing in the tower. We borrowed the Association mobile bell for the Gransdens Societies Fair on 24th July, allowing many people of all ages to try ringing a bell for the first time.

The ringers continued with their individual development under the guidance of Phillip and Sheila. As well as regular practices there were 23 SIM training sessions using a tied (silent) bell.

Ringing restarted on June 3rd as restrictions eased. Everyone was very enthusiastic to be back in the tower, though bell handling skills were a little rusty after a long lay-off. 120 call changes were rung on 27/7 to help build stamina. The bells were half muffled for ringing for Remembrance Sunday, a lovely effect and very fitting for this special service. Unfortunately a covid upsurge meant that Christmas ringing had to be cancelled, much to everyone’s regret.

There were several opportunities for celebration ringing during the year. The local band rang for weddings in September and December. Martin and Michael Prest (who were taught to ring by Phillip and Sheila) joined Sheila, David, Phillip and Sheila on two occasions to ring 120 call changes to celebrate their weddings to Katie Hastings and Adrienne Brayman respectively. 120 changes were also rung to celebrate the birth of Dylan to Michael and Adrienne. We rang for the church fete on 28 August which was held in the adjacent Old Vicarage. The tradition of “firing” the bells (striking all six simultaneously) was honoured on our practice nearest to Nov 5th, producing a splendid noise and great fun for the ringers. There was only one quarter peal rung during the year, on 9 August.

On a sombre note, the tenor was tolled on April 10th, following the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

We were fortunate to enjoy two social events while restrictions were eased. An evening of pizza and beer in The Chequers on 29 April, and the Ringers and Singers safari supper on 3 July. Social activities are an important part of being a ringer, it was great to be able to meet again.

Unfortunately the striking mechanism for the clock became damaged in September. While the clock continued to work there were no hourly striking or chimes for the rest of the year. Please see next year’s report for the outcome!

Ringing at St Bartholomew’s could not continue and flourish without the fantastic support and commitment from Sheila and Phillip. All of the ringers are very grateful – thank you!

As usual, updates about the bells and tower activities are on the website, and Facebook and we can also be found on Twitter and Instagram. If you are interested in learning to ring please get in touch – all are welcome!

Congregation Reports

Exploring together

Praising together

Unfortunately 5 singers have decided to ‘retire’ but in August we welcomed 1 new singer. Lower numbers, some have not escaped catching Covid, means that often we have less singers at services and this also affects what music we are able to sing. Before the congregation were allowed to sing with masks, we provided a Psalm, Anthem and Blessing at our services and also took the opportunity to sing 6 different settings of the Communion Service. With the introduction of some hymns, at the end of 2021 we were nearly back to ‘normality’.

Joining together

Deanery Synod

Our Benefice is part of the Deanery of St Neots, which joins up our different churches across our local region, so that we can stay in touch with one another, encourage one another and explore together our plans, resources and worship as the Body of Christ. Deanery Synod reps in the Benefice are Anne Constantine and Rachel Fogg.

Rachel Fogg, Deanery Synod rep:

• 4 meetings since last report - July 2021, October 2021, November 2021, March 2022

• Discussions taking place on the Deanery Plan, two visits from the bishops - Bishop Dagmar in November and Bishop Stephen came to the Deanery in April

• Encouraging reports of outreach across the Deanery - Family Fun Days, Toddler Groups, Saturday Socials in St Neots and our own Lego Church

Please do ask us if you would like any more information.

Enjoying together

We also had a busy summer with: a joint Gransdens’ summer fete – with special thanks to everyone involved, and to John Davison and his fantastic jazz band!; the Waresley cream tea celebration; the Little Gransden Air Show and return of the Gransden Show, Abbotsley Feast Week and, a full set of patronals.

In Waresley, at the start of Advent, we enjoyed a special evening talk in the freshly renovated Village Hall, (hosted by the Friends of St James – thank you!), on Pilgrimage and the Way of St James, given by art historian, Hilary Guise.

Stewardship Reports

Caring together

Waresley: Louise Wigan

It has been a great joy at Waresley to come together for services again in our beautiful church. We very much enjoy having the choir and the organist with us, and the bellringers too: they and the singing contribute to the feeling of communal happiness and delight in the glories of God that the services bring. Special services include the Patronal Festival celebrating St James, the Mothering Sunday service, led by children from Barnabas Oley School, and the Harvest Festival. At these services collections were given to Ukraine, and the Women’s Refuge Centre, as that from the carol singing outside the Duncombe Arms at Christmas went to the East Anglian Children’s Hospice. We have not only been thinking inwardly within our community, but outwardly as well.

Very special services have also been held in the Old Churchyard: the Ascension Day service and an Easter Service last year. In all these services we are profoundly thankful for the spiritual guidance and inspiration of our Rector Rachel. We are also grateful to those who have made it possible for us to continue to hold the services traditionally held at Waresley: to Jane Connell, for leading the Watch by the Cross service, to Colin Croot for leading the Remembrance Day Service, and to Reverend Rachel Blanchflower for leading the Christmas morning family service. This year the Waresley congregation attended the Benefice service on Easter morning; we are very grateful to all those who organized and participated in the preparation of the Easter Garden, the decoration of the church for Easter, and the Easter egg hunt in the churchyard on the Saturday before Easter Day.

The church building, to the visitor, and to those from Waresley or outside who come for weddings, baptisms or funerals, feels cared for and loved. This is owing to the hard work and talents of many people. Christine Badcock is sacristan, and over the last year has performed some of the functions of a churchwarden in punctilious caring for the smooth running of services and the provision of hospitality afterwards, as well as caring for liturgical and other necessary objects. Sheila Thompson has organized the rota of cleaners. Rubylette Croot has organized the flower arrangers. Sue Burgess has managed the upkeep of the churchyard. Graham Thompson and Julian Badcock have insured the smooth running of the sound system, and John Archer has managed the heating. To all these people the PCC owes an enormous debt of gratitude.

We are also grateful for the support of the village. The ‘coffee morning’ or fete at the end of lockdown last year was a tremendous success, in the atmosphere and enjoyment shared by all who came, but also in raising funds. The village was generous in its response to our Gift Day appeal. And without the Friends of St James who not only raise funds as a society to contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the church but also offer their assistance at church fund raising events, we would not be able to pay our way.

For two years we have managed without a Churchwarden. Fortunately the PCC has a very competent Treasurer, David Taine, and secretary, Neville Chapman, and we owe them our heartfelt thanks. In one aspect we have to acknowledge difficulties, that I hope will be temporary, but I feel should be mentioned. Two years ago the Quinquennial Report, while stating that the church was in good condition, recommended repairs costing the prohibitive sum of £15,000. The first element of this has been completed with a safety inspection of the stone crosses on the roof, and gutter/downpipe maintenance. Outstanding is further roof maintenance highlighted by some tiles being dislodged in the recent storm. Quotes are being obtained for this work, and once this is completed we will then move on to the other highlighted work. We agreed that we would postpone raising funds to add to a bequest for a lighting project, and concentrate on the vital maintenance work. Meanwhile the ambitious lighting project has been modified, and instead we are planning to use the bequest to improve the existing lighting, and an electrician has agreed to undertake the work. He has installed the bulbs he recommends for the nave, which anyone who wishes may go and look at.

St James Waresley has benefited from its association with the other congregations of the Bluebell Benefice. We particularly enjoy the coming of the choir, and thank Sheila George and David John. We are also grateful for the work of Rachel Fogg as representative on the Deanery Synod and of Philip George as Safeguarding Officer, and we are glad to belong to this wider church community.

Finance

Financial reports are available separately in each parish.

We are extremely grateful to our treasurers for their invaluable work: Julie Crabbe (Abbotsley), Laura Hill (Great Gransden), Joe Ward (Little Gransden), David Taine (Waresley)

I am confident of this,

that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete

it until the day of Jesus Christ.

(Philippians 1: 6)