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In our modern society, on what do we base our views on morality – on right and wrong? It is a question being asked in many places and has arisen again in the light of several recent stories in the media – more particularly in relation to a woman who engaged in many hundreds of liaisons in a single day. Modern liberal moral theory is based on the view that people can do anything they want, as long as they don’t hurt others. And yet somehow many would feel uncomfortable in relation to this story?

Another intriguing example was given in my newspaper the other day: what is wrong with eating a pet after it has died a natural death? My dog Lola may have quite a view on this! Yet who has been hurt if someone does this? However, yet again, something in me, and perhaps in all of us, recoils at this idea and would even do so if I did not have my own dog whom I love. The article gave other examples which quite honestly are not suitable for a community Parish Magazine!

When trying to talk about the Christian basis for morality, I often refer to a verse of St Paul from the last letter he wrote, (whilst he was in captivity), to the Romans. It is Chapter 12 verse 1 where he tells us to treat our bodies like a living sacrifice, a holy and pure temple before God. That interests me because it gives a whole basis not only for how I might try to live, but also how I might try and treat others – if their bodies and persons are like pure and holy temples it leads me profoundly to try and respect them and never use them for my own purposes or desires. This view also, I might say, answers why such things as pornography are wrong. This faith perspective challenges us neither to degrade others or ourselves.

There are of course still a myriad of issues and problems to work out in a faith-based morality – and the challenge here is the opposite to problems associated with “you can do anything you want as long as you don’t hurt others” seen in secular liberalism. The most challenging issue is that you can end up being very judgemental of others. The church has done that in the past. All I can say briefly about that is that, in trying to live in a good way, Jesus in many places tells us NOT to judge others – the chief danger being we end up being hypocrites and will be judged as we judge others.

Yet as a society we do need guidelines and we do great harm to young generations if we do not give them some way of navigating the wild west world of modern technology and relationships in general.

I will end with that picture from the next verse in Romans. I know I do not always live it out in practice (that’s another editorial about knowing we fall short, needing God’s forgiveness and new starts):  but it is a lovely template for life following on from the first verse treating others as holy – like a church or temple and also ourselves.

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and perfect.”

Peter

This autumn a series of events linked to “Faith in Life” are planned. This is not some course that has dropped into the Rector’s letterbox from on high. It is something very locally-planned for anyone living in our three villages who might be interested.

There is a lot of conversation and media attention at the moment about a renewed interest in the Christian faith. I am not surprised – just look at the world. Despite so many major technological advances, we seem lost – indeed the complexities and possibilities of much modern technology seem to increase the anxiety, bewilderment and often loss of purpose that is now being evidenced.

The brave new world of secular atheism, whilst it should be said rightly challenged much of the complacency, sloppy thinking and sometimes hypocrisy then around in the church, has largely been found to be the emperor’s new clothes. It does not equip us either for modern living or dealing with the problems we face both personally and as societies.

Coincidently after I had drafted this editorial, an article appeared in the Saturday “Credo” section of The Times. Since it says what I am trying to say but better, I thought I would add it in!  “So why are young people returning to Christian faith? I believe it is because of the ‘meaning crisis’ we have been living through. Psychologists coined the phrase to describe a culture that has replaced a communal religious story with an individual and increasingly materialistic approach to life. The resulting secular philosophy of ‘be whatever you want to be’ turbocharged by social media, has left many young people feeling adrift. A plethora of identities and ideologies are on offer, but as our escalating mental health crisis indicates, none of them seem to make us happier. Combined with political turmoil, economic uncertainty and global conflict, a lot of exhausted, distracted and disillusioned people are looking for a better story.”

Faith in Life is an attempt to take seriously the central story of Jesus in a way that gives us hope, healthy growth and a way of living, equipping us and our families for the complexity of modern life.

Faith in Life is not about having to believe a hundred and one weird things before breakfast; nor is it trying to give a one-size-fits-all set of solutions; and nor is it trying to give a series of answers that excludes all others. Rather, it takes science seriously; takes our different personalities and experiences as a strength not a weakness; and it is inclusive.

For families and children, it will have courses based around our Messy Church activities, especially for parents and for children the next group up from Messy Church, (last two years of Primary and first two years of Secondary school).

Then there will be an evening course for adults of four sessions initially at The Rectory to include supper for any who want to see what the Christian faith can offer in our modern world – as well as a morning course. Details of both are at the end of the Rambling Rector. The emphasis in both is on participation and sharing our experiences and views.

The title gives a clue to what this is about. The ambiguity is intentional. How can we have faith – something that gives us hope – in our time on earth?  How can that faith be relevant, helpful and life-giving? The middle tiny word “in” gives a clue. Faith “in” is about trust and relationship. And that points to the centre of Christian faith, Jesus, who says I have come that they may have life, and have it in abundance. It is that claim that Faith in Life will explore. All are welcome.

Peter

I am always moved by the support our Parish Churches receive in our villages. So many people help in a myriad of ways – those who look after the fabric, those who keep our churchyards tidy, those who deliver the magazine, the list goes on. More particularly when the church fundraises, so many people both get involved and give so generously.

There is something very right in this: the church building does not belong to the PCC and certainly not to the rector! It is the village church. All our three churches hold within their walls nearly 1,000 years of faith, sadness and grief, hope and joy. It is as if the church – the oldest building in our villages by hundreds of years – holds past and present together in one place. I often think of that when I sit in any of our churches on my own. In the same way, as I walk through the churchyards, I think of literally everyone who died here over that 1,000 years – and, until the mid C19th, pretty well everyone who lived here was buried in “God’s acre”, (and 99% of them without any memorial).

I am grateful that in our time so many people support our buildings and our fund-raising – in the first half of June alone, both Madehurst with its Dog Show and Slindon with its Fair, show how many put in time, work and money so that we in turn can hand on our buildings and a living church – its people – to future generations.

I hope this is a two-way process: because it should be!  Villagers do all the above for the local church – but a village church in turn should know it is there for everyone. It is not just there for those who come on Sundays. Our churches are intentionally open every day so that anyone can slip inside for a quiet moment.

A parish priest, when they are installed into a church, is told he has “the cure of souls,” (a lovely old-fashioned phrase meaning a care for people on their spiritual journeys) of all who live in the parish. This can be, like all good things, misused by priests thinking they know better and have all the answers! (The older I get the more I know I most certainly don’t know better or have all the answers). We all have our joys, hopes, regrets and failures. In the most profound way, the cure of souls means parish priests, however inadequately they do it, should be there for everyone on their journey.

This is actually enshrined in church law: anyone who lives in a parish has a right to be baptised, married or have their funeral in their village church. Never mind the rector! And rightly so. And again, I am called to pray for everyone in my parishes – I am not as good at praying as many, but I do try to do that.

The church is there for everyone because the faith it has held for that 1,000 years is that God is love and that love is freely available for everyone: truths shown by the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. However inadequately it sometimes does it, the church’s calling is to be there for everyone and to support them in their journey through life.

RS Thomas has a lovely poem In a Country Church:

To one kneeling down no word came,

Only the wind’s song, saddening the lips

Of the grave saints, rigid in the glass;

Or the dry whisper of unseen wings,

Bats not angels, in the high roof.

Was he balked by silence? He kneeled long,

And saw love in a dark crown

Of thorns blazing, and a winter tree

Golden with fruit of a man’s body.

Peter

Those who put up with my sermons will know that I often say the two poles of the cross point to the two central aspects of Christian faith: the vertical reminds us of our connection to God; the horizontal of our connectedness to one another.

To put it another way, it is a waste of time going to church or having faith if it does not affect how you see people and how you treat them. Jame’s in his very practical letter, says “faith without works is dead”. There needs to be a connection or what is the point? I remember an example given to me in my Confirmation classes: a car needs petrol: but then there is no point in just leaving it in the garage – it needs to be driven around. I do think both the petrol (worship and focussing on God) and the travelling about (how we live) are needed!

There are many ways that the two poles are joined together, the church’s celebration of Pentecost being one of the most important. I know the tendencies in myself to think firstly of my self – my needs, my wants, my priorities. Thinking of others doesn’t always come naturally to me. (Perhaps that’s just me; but looking at the world round about me, I don’t think so). I need God’s help to learn to put others first, to love them, certainly to love my enemies which is what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush on that one – in his typical forthright way he says anyone can love their friends, but we are to love those we find difficult. That horizontal bar of the cross is inclusive – it reaches out to everyone.

God’s Holy Spirit – which is what Pentecost commemorates and remembers – helps us to try and orientate our life towards others, though there is always the temptation to look after “Number One” (a telling phrase in this context in itself).

The New Testament is very clear on this point: Paul refers to the fruits of the Spirit. Contrasting the fruits of the Spirit with our selfishness, Paul says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”. (That, by the way, is our Church of England Primary School in Slindon’s motto).

Pentecost is celebrated this year on Sunday 8^th June – it is always a real celebration of those gifts and this year, being a second Sunday it is a Family Service. Everyone is so welcome. It is a very good week for me because three days later on Wednesday 11^th June the church’s calendar remembers Saint Barnabas – which means “son of encouragement”. That is precisely what he was – there is quite a lot written about him in the New Testament. He was always encouraging others and, in my book, being an encourager is a great gift of the Spirit.

Peter

I was browsing around another church the other day (the rector looking for ideas etc etc), when I noticed a series of pictures. They had been done by the Sunday school and were pictures of things that made them afraid. One child, rather than drawing a picture had simply written “I am afraid of nothing.”

Such confidence! My lists of “afraids” is quite long, including snakes and injections. I am not afraid, though, of ghosts in churchyards and, in my former Jersey churchyard research, spent many a happy hour in the middle of the night with a torch deciphering ancient graves. I did meet a couple of young adults, slightly the worse for wear, who did slightly unnerve me.

There is a temptation for all of us to live in the fantasy world of that child thinking we are afraid of nothing.  On Good Friday we remembered the story of Peter who had a fantasy that he was afraid of nothing: he tells Jesus he will stick with him to the end, even if everyone else deserts him. We know how that story ended – Peter denying Jesus three times to a maid servant and then bursting into tears when he realised his betrayal. Yet that wasn’t the end of that story: it was only when Peter had gone through the hard journey of learning who he really was, weaknesses and all, that he could be a real follower of Jesus. Quite strong Christian tradition has it that he died for his faith on a cross nailed upside down.

But, the young Sunday school child’s words, unintentionally I suspect, have another meaning: “I am afraid of nothing”. That is precisely what we are most afraid of: nothingness. Macbeth’s conclusion, after putting ambition above all else and seeing the consequences, is that life “is a tale full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” There is plenty of evidence that much that is unhealthy in our modern society has its roots in purposelessness. Surveys consistently show that the aim of the many is now either for fame or wealth. As if either of those on their own can bring happiness or fulfilment! Jesus says what does it profit a man if he wins the whole world but lose his soul?  Hmm.

Easter reminds us that life is not about nothingness, not a chasing after wealth or fame to fill up the hole; but is potentially full of purpose. The Christian claim is that Jesus rose from the dead. It is an extraordinary claim: but the subsequent lives of the disciples, with many of them dying martyrs’ deaths, shows they had no doubt that they had met the risen Jesus. God’s love is stronger than death and offers us new life, meaning and fulfilment in the here and now.

Peter

Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Slindon & St Margaret’s Eartham

Annual Report 2024

Highlights

• Attendance at services continued to grow and consolidate
• Momentum maintained with family involvement, building on school relationships and Messy Church and using music/singing (enhanced orchestra/children’s choir) – Elaine Foakes’ commitment key, especially while Gareth was away acting
• Hosting of a wide range of events in our churches
• Advent House Group well attended and provides a model for Lent and Advent 2025
• Eartham’s beautiful Flower Festival
• Continued involvement of Ven Lionel and Sue – a great support both for Peter and the church family

Background:

The PCC of St Mary’s with St Margaret’s is an excepted charity which has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting the mission of the church in the ecclesiastical parish of Slindon and Eartham.  It does so according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England and following the requirements of canon law.  The parish is part of the United Benefice of Slindon with Eartham and Madehurst.

Benefice:

There are three churches, a C of E Primary School and two independent schools/colleges within the Benefice.  

Parish:

The two churches in the combined parish retain their historic status; but there is a single PCC with representatives from both church communities.  The combined population of the two villages is less than 600 people.  However, the CofE Primary School in Slindon village draws most of its pupils from outside the parish and we encourage them and their parents/guardians to engage with the church.

Objectives:

The PCC has as its overarching goal that we should be welcoming churches that seek to share the love of Christ in our communities through worship, learning, action and sharing. As such, we encourage ecumenical involvement both through close working with our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ and with other church groups through Churches Together. While our primary motivation is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by enabling as many people as possible to worship in our churches, we also recognise the importance of the church buildings as historic village landmarks at the centre of our communities.  We seek to welcome and inform all who visit the churches and encourage their use for non-liturgical events, partly to raise funds, but more importantly in the hope that non-churchgoers will gain spiritual refreshment and encouragement.  St Mary’s is on the Old Way pilgrimage route and welcomes occasional overnight “champers” as they make their way to Canterbury.  We also seek to involve the wider communities in the maintenance of the fabric of the listed buildings and their churchyards.

PCC Membership:

Members are either ex-officio, elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting or co-opted in accordance with Church Representation Rules.  

Incumbent:

This was the third year with Revd Peter Dyson as rector and, since the year end, his position has been extended to 2027 when it will be reviewed again.  Ven Lionel Whatley continued to assist Peter with services and much else, as well as worshipping in our Benefice with members of his family.  Lionel’s wife, Sue, plays piano at Family Services.

Reader/Lay Minister: We do not currently have a lay reader: but Christine Tanner-Lindop is an Authorised Lay Minister and has steadily developed her participation in services and church life with growing confidence.

Churchwardens:  Mrs Debbie Stevens was elected as Churchwarden at the APCM joining Tony Richards who continued in post.

Steward/Sacristan: Since the year-end, Miranda Clarke has stood down from her Sacristan role and PCC membership, leaving Helen Ball.  We are seeking a volunteer to assist her.  Apart from preparing the Communion table for services, the role includes managing the various altar frontals and accessories and the supply of wine, wafers and candles. 

Deanery Synod Representatives: Mr Tony Richards and Mrs Debbie Stevens.  Mr Richards continues to serve on the Deanery Standing Committee. 

Honorary Treasurer:  Mrs Clare Bacchus. Mr Mark Midgley began to “shadow” Clare during the year with a view to taking on the role in the future.

Honorary Secretary:  Ms Carolyn Ball.  Carolyn also agreed to represent Eartham on the PCC when Jane Haywood asked to stand down for family reasons.

Safeguarding Officer:  Mrs Glen Hampshire.          

Ex-officio Members:  As above.                     Co-opted Members:  Annie Simson (Madehurst liaison)

Elected Members: Mrs Jane Haywood (stood down during year), Mr Paul Wilkinson (stood down at APCM), Mr David Slee, Mr Gareth Williams, Mrs Helen Ball, Mr Adam Stone, Ven Lionel Whatley, Ms Jan Diamond (stood down at APCM) and Mrs Christine Tanner-Lindop.  Messrs Andrew Foakes and Nick Horton were elected at the APCM.  Mr Mark Midgley has attended meetings on an ex officio basis and will stand for election at the APCM along with Mrs Tina Wilkinson.

Committees:  The PCC Standing Committee, which is required by law, has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council.  It consists of The Incumbent, Churchwardens, Treasurer and Secretary.  The PCC has two informal sub-committees. The St Mary’s Building Committee manages the maintenance and development of the fabric of the church and churchyard.  The St Mary’s Events Committee plans and coordinates a programme of events, primarily in the church, to promote use of the building and to raise money for our mission. 

Children’s Activities:  Messy Church (led by Tina Wilkinson) is generally held monthly in the Primary School and continues to develop.  Together with occasional “Open the Book” performances and regular assemblies, it has seeded a greater engagement with family services at St Mary’s.  Tina is handing over leadership of Messy Church to Jane Sanders in 2025: but will remain involved while they live in the area.  The involvement of Elaine Foakes and Sue Whatley alongside Gareth Williams has enabled the further development of the children’s choir and the revitalisation of the family orchestra that are now at the centre of the monthly Family Service and Family Communion Service.  Up to 25 children + their parents now participate, even though the majority do not live within the parish.

Music/Organists/Bells:  Gareth Williams leads the choir and music with Elaine Foakes taking over when he is away (as happened in Advent 2024). Ray Adams is our mainstay organist and his commitment is a great blessing: he also plays at Eartham and is in demand for weddings and funeral services.  Nigel Creasy plays at Madehurst and occasionally in Slindon.  Sue Whatley plays piano at our Family Services.  Adam Stone is Tower Captain and the bell-ringing team perform at most traditional services, as well as weddings on request.   The St Mary’s sound system enables a wide range of recorded music to be played at special services, weddings and especially funerals/memorial services. 

Foundation School Governor:  The incumbent is usually the Foundation Governor at Slindon C of E Primary School. Mrs Elaine Foakes is the parish representative on the Slindon Primary School Governing Body following Emer Cloke’s moving to the West Country.

Note:  All roles are undertaken by unpaid volunteers.

Electoral Roll:  The church electoral roll has to be fully revised every 6 years which will be carried out prior to the 2025 APCM.  It is updated in between prior to each APCM.  Currently St Mary’s numbers 78 parishioners while St Margaret’s numbers 14. We continue to qualify for two voting representatives at Deanery Synod.

Pattern of Services & Attendance:  The pattern of services ran largely unchanged through the first part of the year, although Madehurst reverted to their 10.00am start time.  A proposal was approved at the APCM to swap the Slindon Family Service and Family Communion around from August and this has worked well.  Evensong continues to be held at Eartham during British Summertime and Slindon during the winter – for safety reasons: the Eartham services are well attended by those who find the church’s intimacy magical. All special services and festivals were well attended.  Forthcoming services are available to view on the church website with the most imminent on the Home Page – along with a “Donation” button.  

Tony Richards continued the weekly pewsheet via email with materials for home worship – Bible notes, prayers, a Psalm and suitably-themed poems.  Advent discussion groups were held at the Rectory with c.18 people attending.

Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals/Memorials:  There were 2 weddings (+ one renewal of vows) and 1 baptism in the parish in 2024. Especially joyful was the wedding of our own Christine Tanner to Chris Lindop in September.  There were 5 funeral/memorial services/interment of ashes.  Slindon especially mourned the passing of Derek Thomas, a noted and much-loved figure in village life for many decades.

Charities: Refer to Treasurer’s report             Thank Yous: Refer to the Rector’s Report

Review of the Year:

The PCC met 5 times (preceded by Standing Committee meetings to finalise the agendas), including one immediately before the Annual Meeting to approve the accounts.

The Summer Fair in the Forge Field and Village Hall was held on June 15^th with Andrew Foakes leading the organising team. Despite somewhat indifferent weather, it was well attended and raised £4,727 for St Mary’s. Harvest Supper was held once more in the Coronation Hall and was oversubscribed.  It was organised with great efficiency – and bonhomie! – by Corinna and the Colman family + helpers.

On April 27^th, Professor Catherine Hall gave a talk on Edward Long and the History of Racial Capitalism to coincide with the publication of her book Lucky Valley: Edward Long’s grave and memorial is in St Mary’s. On May 21^st the church hosted another talk by Andrew Foster, church historian, delving into the archives of the new Lambeth Palace Library for information on Slindon.  On September 17^th, Adam Stone gave a talk entitled Penguins & Polyps outlining his experiences as a visiting medical consultant to the Falkland Islands.

On the 18^th/19^th May, St Mary’s hosted a children’s art exhibition.  Opera Anywhere came and mounted a performance in October of G&S’s Patience to a packed church.   There were two concerts in the autumn raising money for our associated orphanage and school in Kenya.  One was by a guitar quartet drawn from our own community and the other a visiting chamber ensemble from Arun.  Despite the limitations of fixed pews, we have yet again demonstrated the diversity of activities for which our historic church is put to use.

The Open the Book initiative continued on an occasional basis, limited by staff turnover at the school and Gareth’s acting away during the last quarter.  Slindon College continued its regular Friday services in the church.  Lionel held his annual plant sale in order to raise money for the projects in Kenya that he has been supporting over many years.

The St Mary’s website was managed during the year by Tony Richards which includes the monthly letter from the Rector as well as other news items and forthcoming services + a donation button. Many thanks once again go to Simon Howell for his technical support and hosting of the site (as well as that for the village as a whole, including the SlindonLife Round Robin email service).  Christine Tanner-Lindop has continued to maintain and develop the church Facebook page which now has over 200 followers.  Nonetheless, villagers still value the traditional monthly Parish Magazine in print form: subscriptions remain stable and it is financed by advertising revenue (many artisans and local businesses find it to be a very cost-efficient promotional vehicle).  Niki Adamson continued as its highly professional editor – a great relief since this is a precious skill.  Andrew Foakes kindly assisted with the management of the advertising.

The contactless (card) donation device in St Mary’s has been very successful with only occasional drops in service due to weak mobile signals.  There is a link on the St Mary’s website to the same donation service.

Safeguarding is a major focus in the Diocese and there is a continuous programme of renewal and training to be managed.  We are extremely fortunate that Glen Hampshire has continued as our Safeguarding Officer to guide the PCC through this process.  Both parishes remain accredited with SQP Level 1.

The PCC delivered on its pledge to pay our full ministry costs (in conjunction with Madehurst).  We have pledged to do likewise in 2025 and we made an additional donation at the year-end to help with the current Deanery deficit.  That is a remarkable achievement for a small rural benefice and ultimately reflects the success of Revd Peter’s ministry and the efforts of all our volunteers.  

The Church Fabric and Churchyard

Generally, the fabric of St Mary’s remains in good order following the extensive work carried out over the last decade or so. Chasing damp ingress remains a challenge and we secured the Archdeacon’s permission to institute a programme of minor repairs to lead work, pointing, tiles, guttering and downpipes.    While these were carried out, we know that we will need to have regular inspections and remediation work by our contractors going forward.  All other basic maintenance was carried out in accordance with the Building Committee’s schedule, including the electrical testing and certification which was carried out by a local resident supervised by Colin Stevens on behalf of the Committee.  Maintenance was also carried out on the bells in support of our active team of ringers.  St Mary’s is cleaned every 2 months (end of March, May, July, September, November and January) by contractors and, together with The Coronation Hall, we jointly purchased a high level cobweb removal brush which can be used by church volunteers to remove cobwebs that are out of reach of the cleaners.

The cold snap this winter has exposed the limitations of our heating system despite the best efforts of Boughtons.  We have been investigating options with a view to improvements during 2025.  Considerable time has also been spent by Debbie Stevens in conjunction with our architect investigating modern lighting systems as ours needs updating to efficient, low-energy working – as well as providing better lighting to areas such as our restored reredos.  A specification was drawn up and approved by the PCC and has gone out to tender.  In the meantime, Colin Stevens has replaced some units that were inadequate or broken.

A new mower has significantly helped in the maintenance of the churchyard which is kept in good order by a team of volunteers supplemented by working parties as necessary.  Colin Loveless organised a safety rail for approaching the bench that he sponsored adjacent to the gate: it remains a very popular facility with visitors along with the other benches along the south wall. Peter Fenton carried out some refurbishment to the flower arranging pedestals under Nancy Brinton’s guidance.  We also replaced the water heater under the sink in the kitchenette which had succumbed to calcification by our hard water.

St Margaret’s

During 2024 Jane Haywood was responsible for overseeing St Margaret’s church including the preparation and distribution of duty rotas.  Lucie Payton changed the altar frontals; Richard Payton turned the heating on in the winter months; Sarah Green was in charge of the flower arranging rota and Carolyn Ball cleaned the church. A member of staff at Great Ballard opened the electric gates for parking for the services. Litchfield and Fox gardening contractors continued to mow and strim the graveyards. David Hobson also assisted with tending the new graveyard.  A churchyard working party was held in the Autumn and members of the village worked hard all morning to strim and tidy the two graveyards ready for the winter. David Hobson has decided to stand down from ringing the bells after fifteen years of service to St Margaret’s church. The uplifting sound of bells pealing before our Sunday services is greatly missed.

From January 2025, responsibilities for St Margaret’s have been reallocated. Fleur O’Kelly is looking after the upkeep and maintenance of the church. Carolyn Ball is the PCC Eartham representative and is carrying out administrative tasks. Sals Radkiewicz has taken responsibility for the maintenance of the churchyard and new graveyard, along with David Hobson. Jane Haywood is organising the duty rota and preparation of services.

Two church projects have been successfully completed in 2024. New handrails have been installed for the steps coming up from the road to the churchyard, and the heating of the church has been greatly improved by replacing the high, wall mounted heaters.

In order to aid with fundraising for Eartham church and to encourage community use, a Church Events Group has been established to organise events in St, Margaret’s for 2024 and beyond.  The first successful event, in January was a very interesting talk by David Hobson about the history behind the wall plaques in the church. This was followed by a well-attended, enjoyable Pet Service organised by Fleur O’Kelly. In September a wonderful Harvest Flower Festival was held in St Margaret’s culminating in a Harvest Service. This was organised by Sarah Green and was a definite highlight of the year. Unfortunately, the Poetry Evening set for November had to be postponed because of inclement weather.

As we are a small (but growing) congregation at St Margaret’s, we are very thankful for the support we receive from the churchgoers of St. Mary’s. The Evensong Service held in the summer at St. Margaret’s is always well supported and it is lovely to enjoy the wonderful singing from St Mary’s church choir.

Endpiece

Our villages often seem like oases of calm in an increasingly troubled world and our church families are a key element in creating community cohesion.  Locally our churches are bucking the national trend by engaging with a significant percentage of the local population – even if not every week!  We cannot be complacent: but we are managing to draw in new people and to grow our mission.  That is the result of enthusiasm, commitment and dedication by so many and we should be proud and thankful for it.

The Churchwardens

This letter is written for all those who would normally not consider coming to our Easter Day services on 20^th April.

Clergy are quick to focus on Easter Day being centred on the resurrection of Jesus – I will return to that at the end of this. What I want to think about is what we see all around us at this time of year: new life bursting through after the slumber of winter. As I walk Lola through the woods in early March, the bluebell leaves have appeared seemingly out of nowhere and I look forward to soon seeing the carpet of blue. My garden is full not only of daffodils and snowdrops, but this year violets in abundance: tiny and so beautiful.

And then there is another truth: good and bad things happen in life. We have choice, not usually about them happening, but how we respond. As a parish priest I have often been amazed that in the most difficult and distressing of situations, people find a way of continuing to live and find hope in the midst of pain: though, I know, too, sometimes people feel just defeated by events in their lives – and that is a reason why sometimes we simply need each other to walk together without judgement.

The narratives faith or any belief system proclaims will only be worth listening to or following, if they resonate with truth.

Which takes me to Good Friday and Easter. Good Friday states the truth that sometimes terrible things happen – in this case a man who reached out in love to all, especially the marginalised and defeated, himself is led to the most ignominious and painful of deaths on a cross – where he knows both despair (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”) and hope, (“into your hands I commend my Spirit”). The central stained glass in Slindon’s beautiful east window, is Jesus on the cross, with his mother and others looking on in grief.

The disciples scatter – they have all failed by running away at this most critical time. Peter – the confident one “I will never leave you, though everyone else might” – denying Jesus three times to a servant. And then – a great mystery at the centre of the Christian narrative – those broken men experience Jesus risen, which propels them into a Gospel of hope and a life spreading the truth for which many of them, including Peter and Paul, were to give their lives.

It is a narrative which is true to our experience of life.

Of course, as a priest I can approach this from the other end saying why I believe the crucifixion and resurrection actually happened. (And if you would like that conversation just ask and we can discuss together).

And so, the church should be a place where we walk together, taking seriously and supporting those who hurt, being people together of hope and seeing the new life which the Christian faith sees in Jesus. A true story for living.

And, of course, enjoy the bluebells!

Peter

Following the successful History Society talk by Andrew Foster in St Mary’s entitled Slindon, the Archbishops of Canterbury and Chichester 686 – 1542, we are making the presentation available to those who were unable to attend. The presentation includes new research carried out by Andrew in conjunction with Lambeth Palace and other archives. The screen below is linked to a free streaming service where you can play the video and sound recording on your computer device. Click on the triangle/arrow to start and double click on the screen if you want it to fill your computer screen.

If you enjoy the presentation, please do visit St Mary’s over the coming weeks to view the exhibition displays. If you would like to make a small contribution to the production costs, you can do so by using the “Donate” buttons on this website.

Lent, which begins on Wednesday 5^th March, is to be honest the one season in the church’s year that I have never really liked. Self-discipline, reflecting on the cost of love, on Jesus’ journey to the cross on Good Friday, our dour and sad thoughts – so, rather you than me.

And yet, I also know giving myself time to be honest with God and myself, stripping away, if only a little, the layers of protection I put in place to avoid looking at truth, is the way to a new and perhaps better life. There is, of course, the risk that a more honest appraisal of whom I am just leads to a sense of failure and regret. Existential atheism says ultimately we are alone in this and that’s a hard place to be honest about yourself – which is why I admire those who even try.

But the Lenten journey in Christianity is not a story of aloneness – we examine ourselves but in the light of God’s infinite love and forgiveness shown in human form in the person of Jesus. So, a Christian exploration of who we are is in the context of being valued and loved – and Lent can help us do that based on honesty rather than a fantasy of the people we are.

But that is not a cop out either. When I explore the limits of my love, my self-centredness and my failures and I see the infinite love of God made real in how Jesus lives, it is a bit like comparing murky grey with infinite light. One of the more uncomfortable sayings of Jesus is that in God’s kingdom all will be revealed which, unless you happen to be a saint, is quite a salutary thought!

That, of course, is the purpose of giving things up for Lent, or, even better, doing something positive for others. It is not to make us feel pleased with ourselves – that is the opposite of what Lent is about: but to help us acknowledge we need God’s love and forgiveness in our lives.

For the light, which uncovers all things hidden, is also a light of love. Lent is not, therefore an end in itself: but takes us to the great hope of Easter Day. If we take Lent seriously and have the courage to strip off a little of our defences, the story of Good Friday leading to Easter will mean we find not failure, but new life and hope.

I haven’t quoted RS Thomas for some time: but he has a beautiful poem which, as so often in my view, gets to the heart of the matter.

Peter

Slindon, the Archbishops of Canterbury and Chichester 686 – 1542

Special Exhibition and Talk by local historian, Andrew Foster

This event is in conjunction with Chichester Cathedral’s 950^th Anniversary year and is taking place at St Mary’s Slindon on Wednesday 12^th March at 7.00pm. 

Slindon has always been famous for its close links with Canterbury, ever since several parishes including Slindon, were granted to the then Archbishop of Canterbury in 686. For nearly 900 years until the Manor was handed back to Henry VIII at the time of the Reformation, many Archbishops came to stay at their residence in Slindon.  Who came to stay and what do we know about them?   

Local historian Andrew Foster has been researching this very subject and will be revealing the famous and infamous characters who enjoyed the view across the deer park to the sea.  Andrew will be giving a talk and introducing the exhibition, drawing on art and manuscripts from Chichester Cathedral and Lambeth Palace.  The talk and exhibition arranged by Slindon History Society is taking place in conjunction with Chichester Cathedral’s 950^th anniversary year in 2025.

Rev Peter Dyson, Rector at St Mary’s, commented: “How exciting to think that characters we know from history – Thomas Becket, Stephen Langton (of Magna Carta fame) and Thomas Cranmer for instance – may once have walked the aisles of the church where we still worship today.”

Here is an image of Lambert Barnard’s painting (1530’s) in Chichester Cathedral which we use in the exhibition.  Caedwalla, Anglo-Saxon King of Wessex, gave St Wilfrid, a missionary from Northumbria, the land for the ‘diocese’ based then at Selsey in around 685. One year later St. Wilfrid granted several parishes based on Pagham, including Slindon, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore (668-690), which was the start of an important chapter in Slindon’s fascinating history.  The exhibition will remain in place until 25^th May 2025.

Price: £6 (incl. a glass of wine) to be paid at the door. No need to book.   Wheelchair access available. 

For more information please contact Moira Richards, moira.wordpower@btinternet.com on 01243 814735, or Andrew Foster, andrew@awfoster.com  on 01243 553987.