Community, Parish Council & Village
The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 11th April 2024 with topics including:
This edition of St Mary’s News starts with A Year of Jubilee, and continues with other Jubilee events, Licensing of a lay Minister, Prayer Spaces and the usual listings of services and contacts.
This month we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with an extra long bank holiday weekend and in villages, towns and cities up and down the land, there will be special events to mark this special occasion.
Over the Queen’s remarkable reign, we can all probably remember several big Jubilee celebrations.
I was five when the Queen marked her Silver Jubilee, I still remember the fancy dress parade where I was dressed up as a 50 pence piece and being given a special commemorative coin from school, which I still keep in a special place.
For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I was on a planning committee, arranging a large community event, and, much like the recent error you may have heard about with 10,800 teacups, mugs and plates commemorating the ‘Platinum Jubbly’ … we managed to order hundreds of posters, which to our horror said ‘Diamond Jubliee’ by mistake
But then jubilee is not really a word we come across in everyday language very often, so no wonder it leaves itself open to the occasional spelling mistake.
Yet it is a word that we come across a fair bit in the bible. Biblically it is a year of emancipation and restoration. In the book of Leviticus, the Lord declares that a year of Jubilee be held every 50th year and that it be a special year of pardoning sins. Slaves were to be freed, debts forgiven and land returned to its original owner. So rather radical!
Jubilee, teaches us a lot about the character of God, His mercy, generosity and love of justice. We are reminded that God is our provider. In the same way Jubilee gives an opportunity for all people to display love and grace in a remarkable way and above all it sets people free.
Jubilee then is a fitting time for celebration and rejoicing.
So as we celebrate and rejoice in the Queen’s 70 year reign, we do so giving thanks for her strong Christian faith and witness. For the mercy, generosity and justice she has shown in her reign, and we rejoice and are glad in all that God has given us.
May God Bless you abundantly
Reverend Heather
On Saturday 4th June, we will have two stalls at the Jubilee Festival on the Lorkin Daniell Field. One stall will have Jubilee themed crafts for all ages to try out; the other will be a books, games and toys stall run by our 5T’s Group (a group that meets each Thursday afternoon to share a cup of tea and a chat – all are welcome). Do come and visit us!
On Sunday 5 June we look forward to welcoming you to a special Jubilee Songs of Praise Service at the Old Church, either walking from St Mary’s at 5.30pm or joining us at the Old Church at 6.00pm.
A huge thank you to everyone who has knitted leaves for the special Jubilee Canopy which is being put together on 31th May. The canopy reflects the theme of planting trees for the Jubilee, and the knitted leaves represent every resident of West Bergholt. The leaves will be sewn into netting which will be suspended from the ceiling. Do come in and see it, it will be in place for the next few weeks.
Licensing of a Lay Minister
All are invited to attend a special service on Sun 26 June @ 3pm at St Mary’s Church to mark Liz’s licensing as a Lay Minister. Liz has recently completed three years of part-time training and is looking forward to serving in the parish of West Bergholt.
The role of a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) is varied and can include leading non-communion services, preaching, teaching, supervision and mentoring of other lay ministries, and taking funerals.
The service will be followed by afternoon tea in the Rectory Garden. All welcome!
Come and visit the prayer spaces in church from now until 5th June. They are part of the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ global prayer initiative focusing on the Lord’s Prayer. They also link to prayer spaces in Revd Heather’s other parishes of Great and Little Horkesley, Boxted and Langham, Wormingford and Mount Bures so that you can visit all the churches in a sort of mini pilgrimage!
| 4th June | Attending Jubilee Festival | |
| 5th June | 9:30 am | Pentecost – Holy Communion (also on Zoom) |
| 6:00 pm | Jubilee Songs of Praise at the Old Church | |
| 12th June | 9:30 pm | Messy Church—outdoor service incorporating the ‘Caring for God’s Acre’ Churchyard Wildlife Count. Everyone welcome to join in! |
| 19th June | 9:30 am | Holy Communion (also on Zoom) |
| 26th June | 9:30 am | Café Church |
| 3:00 pm | Special service to mark the licensing of Liz Dixon as a Licensed Lay Minister |
Festival Field 2022 is the working title for next year’s Village Fete. Planned to take place on 4th June 2022 it will be closely linked to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations with the beacon lighting on 2nd June. Planning started in September with a group of parish councillors and members of the public sharing ideas. Their outline plans for Festival Field include:
Sporting plans so far include:
Continue reading “Planning for Festival Field 2022”
Last year we had to cancel the Annual Fete due to COVID-19, but this year we cautiously open back up again after lockdowns. Taking place on Saturday 24th July between 12 – 4 pm, the Fete will be held entirely outdoors and scaled down, but we hope it will still bring joy and allow us to celebrate being together again!
Continue reading “Return of the Fete”
Day 24 of LockdownDay 24 starts off being a day of cancellations, passes by some gratitude from the NHS and moves on to an inevitable lighter moment with a musical cups game to try with the kids. Don’t forget to join the applause for those in the front line tonight!
Whilst recognising that the Village Bulletin is particularly appreciated by those without access to technology, the difficult Continue reading “Day 24 of Lockdown – The “Wot No ….” Edition”
Planning the Fete starts today – do you have some great ideas to make next years the best yet?
A team of volunteers will be meeting today, 14th October, in the John Lampon Hall at 7:30 pm. This group welcome all to come and help plan next years’ event and look forward to hearing some great innovative ideas from new faces. Continue reading “Planning the Fete – Who has the best ideas?”
The Premises & Recreation Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 2nd September 2019 and discussed online bookings, roofing, handymen schedule, VE day 75, PC Action Plan and other regular matters. Continue reading “Premises & Recreation – 2nd September 2019”
Gardeners’ Summer VisitsThe Gardeners’ summer visits this year started after their 2018/19 programme of talks came to a conclusion. They were particularly happy that the weather remained on their side.
In June, a group went on a self-drive trip to Shrubs Farm in Lamarsh, a garden in the National Garden Scheme. The owners, Robert & Sara Erith have lived at the farm since 1966. The farm has superb views over the Stour Valley. Members were given an entertaining and informative tour of the garden, parkland and ancient woodland by the owner. Robert explained the planning and ethos behind the beautiful planting and vistas.
Continue reading “Gardeners’ Summer Visits”
Edwardian West Bergholt & Gainsborough HouseThe Local History Group gave villagers an insight into Edwardian West Bergholt at the recent Village Fete. The History Group manned a stall which included a display discussing West Bergholt during the Edwardian period.
The display, drawn from the 1901 and 1911 censuses, showed that villagers had a range of employment. Significant numbers of men were either employed on the land or by the Daniell and Sons Brewery. Women were often employed Continue reading “Edwardian West Bergholt & Gainsborough House”
The Premises & Recreation Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 1st July 2019 when they discussed the MUGA, online bookings, roofing, Village Fete, handyman schedules, VE Day 2020, and other regular matters.