PLEASE NOTE: Copy deadline for the September issue of The Link is 4pm MMoonnddaayy 88 AAuugguusstt

The 3G’s p6

The 3G’s ‘On theRoad’ withDiocesanStewardshipAdvisor AlanStrachan

JULY/AUGUST 2011

Called into the desertIt could have been another groupof sun-seeking holiday makersthat emerged into the dawn lightat Sharm el Sheikh airport onEgypt’s Sinai Peninsula. But no,this party was on a mission or,rather, a pilgrimage. It was apilgrimage in the footsteps of theDesert Fathers and Mothers.

As early as the 3rd century, these werepeople who went out into the Egyptiandesert in search of an authentic relationshipwith God. The desert offered the solitudeand silence seen as necessary for prayerand praise and the study of Scripture. Thatsaid, the desert now, as then, is aninhospitable and unforgiving environment.

Led by the Rev Canon Michael Insley,Canon Theologian of Rochester Cathedral,and the Rev Sharon Francis, the firstdestination for the group of twenty six wasSt Catherine’s Monastery. This GreekOrthodox Monastery, built in the 6th centuryby order of the Emperor Justinian, lies at theentrance to the gorge at the foot of MountSinai, at the site where Moses is said tohave seen the burning bush. It was on thetop of the mountain, which many of thegroup climbed, that Moses received the TenCommandments. The church of St Catherineattracts many visitors each day, and thelibrary of this, the oldest continuouslyinhabited monastery in the world, is home toan amazing collection of ancient icons andmanuscripts.

It is St Antony (c. 251–356) who is saidto be the ‘father’ of monasticism, and thevisit to the monastery that bears his namewas a spiritual highlight of our time together.There, in the setting of a Coptic church, we

celebrated the Eucharist before visiting otherparts of the monastery, following countless‘religious’ who had trodden this way beforeus. Before we left, one of today’s monks (whoare growing in number) took a group photo forus. A visit to St Paul’s Monastery was equallymoving and we experienced great warmth ofhospitality wherever we went.

As we moved around, ‘Thoughts for theDay’ often included quotations from thesayings of the Desert Fathers and Motherswhich had a particularly powerful meaning inthis setting.

what we are used to - with congregations intwo of the ancient Coptic churches in the city.

Out in the desert again, we werewelcomed to the monastery of St Macarius,where Michael Insley was to be seen deep inconversation with our monastic host, and tothe monastery of St Gabriel. Although each ofthe monasteries on our pilgrimage had its ownspecial character, the communities all shareda devotion to the love of God in praise andworship, to the reading and study ofScripture, and to the love of their neighboursin hospitality and service.

The end of our time together was markedby a visit to the Deaf School in Cairo, run bythe Anglican Church. The staff and pupils, andthe work they do, were an inspiration to us alland our Eucharist, celebrated in the school

chapel, was a fitting end to a wonderful timeof pilgrimage and fellowship.

By the Rev Canon Chris Stone

Tabitha meets Bishop JamesTabitha Reynolds (17) is anaccomplished musician and pupilat the King’s School Rochester.

Hoping to be a professional opera singer,Tabitha has qualified at grade 5 in musictheory, grade 8 in singing, grade 8 viola,grade 7 violin and plays the piano to grade 5standard. Not surprisingly, this talented younglady also has GCSE music and is studying forher A level in music. On Monday 16 May,

Tabitha sang “I know that my redeemer liveth”in a service attended by Bishop James atRochester Cathedral.

Tabitha said, “Singing is my real passion. Ihave always enjoyed performing and getting areaction from the audience!” To thoseinterested in music but yet to really pursue it,she said, “Music doesn’t have to be all theorybased. Have a go at performing and maybeattend some courses.”

A keen singer and pianist, Bishop James

said, “It’s really encouraging to find a youngperson so enthusiastic and sure in hersinging. Her contribution to this morning’sservice was uplifting and enriched the wholeoccasion. It’s really important to nurture youngtalent and I hope very much that Tabitha findsthe right place to develop her undoubtedtalent in the future.”

For more information on music courses visitwww.abrsm.org or www.trinitycollege.co.ukand click on music.

Travelling to Cairo, we witnessed greatexpanses of desert through which modernroads have been built. Once there, we were,first of all, in ‘tourist’ mode with visits to thePyramids and the Sphinx, but our encounterwith Egypt’s capital also saw us sharingSunday morning worship – very different from

MMiicchhaaeell aanndd mmoonnkk

PPiillggrriimmss

TThhee CChhuurrcchh ooff SStt CCaatthheerriinnee

2 ochester Link

What’s onJulySaturday 2 JulyBROMLEY COMMON – ‘What has Psychotherapy to dowith God?’ exploring the interface between psychotherapyand faith in God led by Michael Insley, 10am – 12pm at StLuke’s Church. Book by 29 June by contacting 020 8464 2076 or michael.insley1@btinternet.com

GRAVESEND – Gravesham Choral Society presentsGabriel Faure’s ‘Requiem’ and Benjamin Britten’s ‘Rejoicein the Lamb’ at St George’s Church at 7:30pm. Tickets£10 - £5 from 01474 816684 or on the door.

BROMLEY – Bromley Philharmonic Choir present theirSummer Concert at St Mary’s Church at 7:30pm.Admission £8 (£6) on the door.

ROCHESTER – Evening concert with the MedwaySingers, Kent Schools Recorder Orchestra and the KentYouth Recorders at 7:30pm. Tickets £7, concessions £5,students £4 from 01634 848900 or on the door.

SHORNE – Craft Fair at Shorne Village Hall 10:30am –3pm in aid of St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church RoofAppeal and Hands of Compassion. Contact Wendy Ely01474 822683.

Wednesday 6 JulyROCHESTER – King’s School Rochester SummerConcert at Rochester Cathedral at 7pm. Free Admission.For more information call 01634 888555.

Saturday 9 JulyTUNBRIDGE WELLS – Summer’s Evening OrganRecitals at St James’ Church at 7:30pm. Dr David Flood,organist and master of choristers at Canterbury Cathedral.Tickets £7.50 on the door. Details from 01580 892641.

ROCHESTER – Concert by the City of RochesterSymphony Orchestra. Pieces include Chanson de Nuit byElgar, Bellini Oboe Concerto and Toy Symphony byHaydn. Tickets £8, £6 concessions, £1 children, fromRebecca Jackson 01634 378299.

Saturday 16 JulyTONBRIDGE – Translating the Bible half day workshop9:30am – 1pm offering insights into the challenges andopportunities met by Bible Translators. Led by Dr BarrieEvans at Somerhill House (TN11 0NJ) Free Admission butplaces must be booked. Contact Roger Millmanroger@themillmans.info

Monday 18 JulyCHATHAM - Sporty Church - fun and games centredaround a Christian message for primary school childrenaccompanied by a parent/carer concluding with a pinictea. At St Alban’s Church 3:30pm – 6pm on 18 July.Admission £2. Contact Rose Robinson 01634 683688.

VariousROCHESTER – 1-2 July ‘Lord of the Flies’ at ThePaddock, Vines Lane at 8pm. Tickets £7. For moreinformation call 01634 888555

WEST FARLEIGH - 2-3 July Flower Festival at All SaintsChurch 10am – 5pm. Garden Safari around Farleigh’sgardens on 3 July. Programmes available from the churchor helen.swan2@btinternet.com.

CAPEL – 16-17 July Flower Festival 10am – 4pm onbehalf of The Friends of St Thomas a Becket Church.

LUDDESDOWNE – On Saturdays during July, Augustand September visit Luddesdowne Church and view thewall paintings 2pm – 4:30pm. Restrictions on access on 9 July and 24 September. For more details visitwww.cobham-luddesdowne.org.

BECKENHAM - Recitals at St George’s Church. Fridays12:30pm, Saturdays 11am Refreshments available beforethe concerts. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.1 Laurence Caldecote (Organ)2 Laurence Caldecote (Piano)8 Lynn Cook (Violin)9 Ingrid Cusido (Piano)15 Dr. Harry Bramma (Organ)16 Jane Bovell (Soprano)22 Yoshe Fujiwara (Soprano)29 Pamela Harvey-Fackrell & Asta Buzoriute (Piano)

The Bishop of Tonbridge’s Diary,The Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle

AugustWednesday 10 AugustSHORNE – Sponsored Bird Watch in North Kent Area inAid of Hands of Compassion. Contact Wendy Ely 01474822683 for details.

Saturday 13 AugustROCHESTER - Pianist and composer CharlesTimberlake is giving a piano recital at Rochester Cathedralat 12:05pm. Admission is free.

VariousWATERINGBURY – ‘Cream teas and Homemade Cakes’– visit the Church of St John the Baptist on Thursdays 4,11, 18, 25 August 2pm – 4pm. Contact 01622 817974for more information.

BECKENHAM - Recitals at St George’s Church. Fridays12:30pm, Saturdays 11am Refreshments available beforethe concerts. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.5 Chieko Oguma (Soprano)12 Miki Sakamoto (Piano)13 John Upperton (Tenor), Zoe South (Soprano),

David Roblou (Piano)19 Haruka Takikawa (Piano)20 Patricia Williams 26 Beckenham Youth Voices

3 July 1000 Confirmation – Holy Redeemer, Lamorbey1500 Farewell Evensong the Very Rev Adrian

Newman, Rochester Cathedral

4 July 1500 Lay Training Meeting - Rochester1730 Bishop’s Council Meeting

5 July 0930 Bishop’s Staff Meeting

6 July 1930 Licensing - The Rev Neil Bunker - Crockenhill

7 July 1000 Ordinands’ Day – Rochester1900 Ordinands’ Supper – Bishop’s Lodge

10 July 1830 Confirmation, Southborough

13 July 1400 Overseas LINK Committee – Bishop’s Lodge1930 Licensing - Rev Linda Shuker – BART

Group

15-16 July Attend Bishops’ Meeting – Leamington Spa

22 July 1100 Consecration of the Very Rev Adrian Newman at St Paul’s Cathedral

25 July 0930 Bishop’s Staff Meeting

Bishop Brian has no engagements in AugustO for a thousand tongues

’O for a thousand tongues’ on the 17 July 2:30pm –4pm on the Castle Lawn, Tonbridge. An opportunity forpeople in the street to see that the church is vibrant,relevant and very much alive. The afternoon will featurea full worship band, the Absolute Gospel CompanyChoir and a guest speaker from Christian Concern. Sothe challenge is there for churches in the Tonbridgearea and indeed wider to come together. Visitwww.absolutegospel.org or call 01732 364517

MA in Applied Theology

If you have an honours degree in any subject andwould like to study Applied Theology this MA is taughton Mondays 11am-4pm from 26 September it takestwo years part-time or eleven months full-time. Thecore module is Theology and Social Structure. ContactCanon Robin Gill, Professor of Applied Theology atKent, on r.gill@kent.ac.uk.

For sale item

A baptism tank - blue fibre glass tank on wheels witha curtain rail round the top. 6’ long 3’ wide and 4’high. Available from St Peter’s Church, Hextable, forsomeone to collect. A donation to the church buildingfund would be appreciated. Contact 01322 662320,

MARTINCHAPMAN

Electronic Church/Home Organs & Digital Pianos

Repaired & Serviced

Installation of Audio &Hearing Loop Systems

Tel: 020 8310 3550

ORGANISTavailable as relief

SE London/ KentSundays & Weekdays

Traditional & Modern Music

Contact Ron SmithTEL/FAX: 020 8300 1527

Fee & Mileage

Jay Ford

Professional CounsellorMACC (Accredited)

Also available tounder 16’s with consent

Tel: 07788 972623

3ochester Link

Bishop James reflects....

Huge encouragement

1 July PM St Michael, Wilmington - Golf Day

2 July 0830 Ecumenical Men’s Breakfast – St Augustine, Bromley Common

1300 French Hospital visit1530 Summer Fete – Barming

3 July 1100 Confirmation – St Peter & St Paul, Edenbridge

1500 The Dean’s Farewell Service – Cathedral1830 Confirmation – St Nicholas, Chislehurst

4 July 1730 Bishop’s Council

5 July All day Bishop’s Staff – Bishopscourt

6 July All day EIG Inter-Diocesan Golf – Frilford, Oxfordshire

7 July 1300 Ordinands’ Day Lunch – Bishopscourt1500 Royal British Legion Industries visit

When you read this, I will recentlyhave ordained men and women tothe priesthood.

In September a further group will beordained as deacons. For me, ordinations area huge encouragement because they are clearevidence of God working in people’s lives.God continues to call and people continue torespond.

If you believed some of the headlines aboutthe troubles of the church in this country, youcould be forgiven for wondering why anybodywould contemplate giving up other options inorder to seek ordination. Why would any saneperson be ordained into a church which is(apparently) irrelevant and destined to fallapart? And yet people of immense qualityand manifest sanity continue to explorevocations to ministry. When I hear the storiesof these people, I am humbled and moved.

Many give up what the world would regard aslucrative and promising prospects. Othersmake considerable personal sacrifices – ofteninvolving their families as well – in order totrain and then be deployed. The stories ofcalling, conviction and commitment areinspiring.

But, whatever the qualities of those beingordained, we face some serious challenges.In the short-term, we know that those retiringfrom stipendiary ministry will exceed thosenewly ordained. It takes several years for aperson to move from exploring a vocation,through training, ordination and curacy, tobeing ready for a post of primary ministerialresponsibility – and we know there are notenough in that pipe-line to replace thoseretiring. Self-supporting clergy and layministers make a hugely valuable contribution,and I know that we should value and developtheir ministries more. But we face an

Farewell Mr Dean!

inevitable reduction in stipendiary clergy for afew years and will have to respond to that.

But that does not have to remain thepicture. Nationally we know that diocesesaspire to deploy more stipendiary clergy thanwill be available on present trends – what ismore, they think they have the resources topay them. If those aspirations are from God,then we must grow more vocations to fill thatgap. So pray to the Lord of the harvest thathe will send out labourers into his harvest(Luke 10.2). Perhaps God is calling you – orsomebody you know? If so, talk to yourminister and ask to be put in touch with oneof our Vocations Advisers.

With my prayers and good wishes,

+James

BBiisshhoopp JJaammeess

1930 Institution – Brian McHenry – All Saints, Orpington

8-12 July General Synod – York

12 July 1300 Honorary Assistant Bishops Meeting – Bishopscourt

13 July 1830 Royal British Legion’s Launch of “2016” Strategy

14 July All day British Open Golf Championship 2011 – Sandwich

15-18 Holiday

19 July 1000 Gavin Salmon – Build Africa

20 July 1330 Mayplace School Crayford visit1900 Licensing – Judy Henning – Rainham

Bishop James’ Diary

21 July 1500 Friends of Kent Churches Garden Party – Mereworth

22 July 1100 Consecration Service of Adrian Newman as the Bishop of Stepney, St Paul’s Cathedral

23 July 1500 Installation of Honorary Canons –Cathedral

24 July 1000 War & Peace Show – Paddock Wood

25 July 0930 Bishop’s Extended Staff Meeting -Bishopscourt

28 July 1200 Lark in the Park – Sidcup Place, Kent

31 July 1030 Preside & Preach – Birling Church

Bishop James has some public engagements in August.

When I was invited to becomeBishop of Rochester, one of theattractions was the prospect ofworking with Adrian Newman asDean of the Cathedral.

Adrian and I worked together inBirmingham a few years ago when he wasRector of St Martin-in-the-Bullring(Birmingham’s parish church) and I wasinitially his Rural Dean and vicar of aneighbouring parish, and then moved to beBishop’s Chaplain. To have Adrian and Gillonce again as near neighbours wassomething to which I looked forward.

But knowing Adrian’s many gifts andspiritual wisdom, I think I always knew thatany new working partnership was likely tobe short-lived. And so it has proved, for wemust now say farewell to Adrian and Gill asthey move to London where Adrian takes upa new role as Bishop of Stepney. Adrian’sministry at our Cathedral and more widely inthe Diocese and local community have been

hugely appreciated; his entrepreneurial spirit,spiritual insight and boundless energy leavemost of us puffing and panting to keep up.Adrian and Gill have warmed the hearts andenriched the lives of many – we thank God fortheir time with us, and for that which theyleave upon which others will build.

When the Bishop of London began to seeka new Bishop of Stepney he had a number ofqualities and gifts in mind. So close is the fit,that what he set down in writing could almosthave been written with Adrian specifically inmind. Adrian’s passion for the church’smission in urban areas, his desire to connectwith wider social and public life, and hisrootedness in a life of prayer will all fit himwell for what is to come. Please pray forAdrian, Gill and their family as they prepare fortheir move - Adrian will be made bishop at St Paul’s Cathedral on 22 July. And pleasebegin to pray also for those of us who mustseek his successor at Rochester.

+James TThhee VVeerryy RReevv AAddrriiaann NNeewwmmaann

4 ochester LinkAAddvveerrttiissiinngg FFeeaattuurree

Travel InsuranceArranged for Rochester Link Readers

0116 272 0500Authorised & regulated by the F.S.A.

SUPERB TOP QUALITY ANNUAL, SINGLE TRIPAND LONG STAY TRAVEL COVER

CARHIRE

FT TRAVELINSURANCE

Available with most pre-existing medical conditions accepted.Specialist cover for people cruising and for high-cost holidays.

Our insurance has a customer 24 hour helpline, full medical cover and,most importantly, an air ambulance get you home service.

WE ARE A SPECIALIST TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY,HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ESPECIALLY THE

RETIRED AGE GROUP SINCE 1996.We are based in the UK and your call will be answered

by a real person...not a machine!!!Conditions apply

Please call for details ~

The Highbury Centre,London.

Christian Guest House on quiet private road.

www.thehighburycentre.org

Free on street parking nearby. Reductionsfor full-time Christian workers.

Tel: 0207 226 2663

LYNTON DEVONA warm traditional welcome

welcome awaits you at Kingford House

✰✰✰✰ Silver AwardEnjoy excellent home cuisine Ideallysituated for coastal & Exmoor walks.Tel Tricia Morgan on 01598 752361

for brochure and tariffpatriciakingford@aol.comwww.kingfordhouse.co.uk

The Glenbourne

AA ccoommffoorrttaabbllee hhootteell iinn tthhee ppooppuullaarrAAlluumm CChhiinnee aarreeaa ooff BBoouurrnneemmoouutthh..

Near to the seafront with excellent blue flagbeaches, bus stop right outside, parking, roomsfor 1, 2, 3 or 4 people. All En-suite. Tea/coffee

facilities and tv/radio in each room.Convenient for Bournemouth, Poole and many

other attractions. Reasonable rates.Telephone 01202 761607

www.theglenbourne.co.uk • info@theglenbourne.co.uk

HHoolliiddaayyss aatt HHoommee

HHoolliiddaayyss AAbbrrooaaddIInnssuurraannccee

LanzarotePlaya Blanca

Affordable family villa

Budget Ryan Airflights now

available

Tel 01454 260619www.lanzarotevilladirect.co.uk

Self-catering in heartof medieval village

Sleeps 2-12Tel: 01865 557454

www.gitevezelay.co.uk

VézelayBurgundy

CORNWALL8 Berth 4 bedroom caravan with

Stunning views over mid Cornwall with own Private

grounds. Set on a small holding in rural area.

From £250 per week .DOG welcome.

www.solesupfront.com/holiday

01726 882506To advertise in The

Rochester Link please call 01752 225623

5ochester Link

Hangings in the CathedralBy Jan Thompson, Assistant Director of Education (Schools)

Our 89 Church schools were eachinvited to submit a hanging ofChristian symbols to celebrate the200th anniversary of the NationalSociety, which founded most of ourAnglican schools.

Fifty schools responded in time for theirhangings to be put up in the Cathedral on 1 June for three months.

In total, almost one thousand Christianimages, made by our Church school pupils,are now adorning the arches of the nave.Some are brilliant colours, others are blackand white. Some are bold and simple, othersare intricate designs. There are drawings,paintings, collages and embroidery. There arewoolly sheep and sparkling fishes. Someschools have made images in mosaics, withevery member of the school taking part. Some

have all the children’s names from their schoolfilling the symbols.

The overall effect is stunning, but it is alsoworth taking a look at the individual symbols.There are crosses, including crucifixes andcolourful Salvadorean crosses, which pupilshave used to tell their own stories. There arethe ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, such as ‘I am thebread of life’ and ‘I am the light of the world’.There are doves and flames for the Holy Spiritand symbols for God the Holy Trinity. Thereare symbols of the particular saints afterwhich the schools are named. One school hasdepicted the Lord’s Prayer, some have listedthe Christian values on which their school isbased. Many different Christian symbols aredepicted in many different ways.

Contact Jan Thompson onjan.thompson@rochester.anglican.org or call01634 560000.

St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone,will be hosting a weekend-longcelebration of “the book thatchanged the world” with anexhibition, concert and festalChoral Matins.

The church will be open from 11am to5pm on Saturday 9 July and again from12pm to 5pm on Sunday 10 July for anexhibition featuring a display of historic andmodern Bibles. There will be no charge forthose wishing to visit the church exhibitiononly and refreshments will be available in theCastle marquee. The house and WorldGarden will also be open to visitors.

In addition to shaping the way we speakand providing a handbook for Christianworship, the King James Bible has alsoinspired vast amounts of music, in hymns,anthems, spirituals and oratorios. On Saturdayevening at 7.30 there will be a special concertin the church, “The King James Bible – InVoice And Verse.”

Concert trio “In Voice and Verse” tell thestory of Genesis to Revelation using thewords of the King James Bible interspersedwith glorious pieces of music which thosewords inspired. The music will includeexcerpts from Haydn's ‘Creation’, Handel's‘Messiah’, Mendelssohn’s ‘Oh for the Wings ofa Dove’ and several modern compositions.Actor Lance Pierson is an experienced Bible

performer and singer Belinda Yates is amember of the Monteverdi Choir.Accomplished pianist Heather Chamberlaincompletes the trio.

The concert will be preceded at 6.30pmby canapés and Pimms in the Great Hall,Lullingstone Castle. Tickets for the receptionand concert will cost £10 and can beobtained from Mrs Valerie Wells, 01322 860 868.

The 11am Sunday service will be a festalChoral Matins led by the Rector, GaryOwen, and sung by the EFL benefice choirwith lessons, as always at St Botolph, readfrom the King James Authorised Version ofthe Bible.

A weekend celebrating the King James Bible

PPhhoottoo bbyy LLoouuiissee WWhhiiffffiinn

Trinity Day celebrated Lambeth Library Palace Exhibition

Lambeth Palace Library is celebrating the 400th anniversary of theKing James Bible with an exhibition called ‘Out of the OriginalSacred Tongues.

The exhibition opened on Wednesday 25 May and will run untilthe 29 July. It will be open Wednesday - Friday 11am 4pm andopen Saturdays in July.

Admission is by pre-booking only - call 0871 230 1107 or visitwww.lambethpalacelibrary.org. Tickets are £6 including a printedexhibition guide with free admission for under 17s. The pieces aredisplayed in the magnificent Great Hall at LambethGreat Hall,Lambeth Palace, London, SE1 7JU

Bishop James attended Trinity School, Erith on 20 May 2011 tocelebrate Trinity Day and present year 11 with their progress files.

During the presentations there was music from Robin Saker singing‘I write the songs’ by Barry Manilow, ‘Someone like you’ by Adele wassung by Cara Hannon, Rhiana Hill, Ellie Hughes-Martin, BlessingKayode, Melissa Kerwin and Eden Tanner accompanied by DarrenKimuli (Piano). Finally a group choir sang ‘The world’s greatest’ by RKelly accompained by Stephen Sinclair (piano) and OlasubomiOlagunju.

Following the presentations Bishop James joined students on theschool field for the release of 1000 yellow and blue balloons.

Fine furniture for church and home

Ronald Emett01308 868025 ronald@emett.co.uk

Visit me atwww.ronaldemettfurniture.com

St M

ary,

Shr

ewto

n, W

ilts

CHURCH PEWSUNCOMFORTABLE?

WHY NOT TRY SAFEFOAM’S TOP QUALITYUPHOLSTERED FOAM PEW CUSHIONS?

www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33Free Sample Pack of foam & fabrics sent by first class mail

When phoning please quote TM0711

Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green,Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN

SEEKS NEW MANUSCRIPTS IN

ALL SUBJECTSFor an appraisal contact Melrose Books (Ref:TM )

St Thomas' Place, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4GG

Telephone: 01353 646608

Email: info@melrosebooks.co.uk

MELROSE BOOKSEstablished 1969

AACCCCOOUUNNTTAANNTTFor all accounts & vat, independent examination

for charities and churches. Self-employed tax return, company accounts and returns.

Low fees. Call 02082890868 or 07957167042.

Email:oezekiel4@netsape.net

Angela DewarBA MSDC

EmbroideredVestments and

Soft Furnishings for the Church

www.angela-dewar.co.ukartdewar@talktalk.net

01892 535993To advertise in The

Rochester Link please call 01752 225623

6 ochester Link

The 3G’s ‘On the Road’By Alan Strachan, Diocesan Stewardship Advisor

I am sitting in the study at St Mary’s vicarage, Stone, having achat with the Rev Kenneth Clarkabout the Friends of St Maryscheme for the church. I am here tofind out just how the ‘Friends’ arehelping St Mary’s Church.

QQ.. Kenneth, when was the scheme first setup?KKeennnneetthh.. The scheme was set up around 10years ago in 2001. It was launched with amedieval fair in the local park where the localcommunity were invited to attend with thechurch family. It was a very successful launchand it did make the local community moreaware of their church and what is involved inits upkeep. The scheme had been running for3 years when I arrived here and I like to thinkthat my arrival helped to give fresh impetus tothe Friends.

QQ.. Why was it considered to be important toset up a Friends Scheme?KKeennnneetthh.. First of all it is theologically right todo so. Jesus calls us his friends and thescheme is a bridge to the local communitywho are not churchgoers. It is also animportant mechanism in helping to raiseawareness and funds within that community tohelp with the upkeep of the fabric of thechurch building.

QQ.. How do you engage with the localcommunity in regards to the Friends Scheme?Or do you?KKeennnneetthh.. Well, we do engage by advertisinglocal Friends’ events and through a newsletterand on our website. However, we should doso much more. There should be a greaterexplanation of what the Friends do and how itworks and there should be a definite dividebetween the work of the Friends and thechurch PCC. Too often the Friends are seen

as just another committee of the church andto the more secular members of ourcommunity this can be an obstacle to gettinginvolved. For our Friends Scheme to reallytake off we need to have more involvementfrom local business people and thosegenuinely concerned about the upkeep ofsuch a beautiful local church.

QQ.. In what ways has the Friends of St Marycontributed to the church since it started? KKeennnneetthh.. With the help of Nancy Wightman,the Chair of the Friends and her partnership,they have made an enormous contributionover the years. They had a teddy bearparachute jump from the church tower withmany people involved and along the waymaking a financial contribution. This helpedraise funds for our new church bells, I evenentered a bear myself! They have also raisedfunds for a new stained glass window,window guards, and some new tiles for theroof. It should always be remembered that thetask of the Friends is not to provide funds forthe general running costs of the church.These costs should be met by members ofthe worshiping community.

QQ.. Kenneth finally, would you recommendother parishes to consider setting up aFriends Scheme?KKeennnneetthh.. Most definitely and I would also adddon’t delay, set up the scheme as early aspossible. In many ways I wish that our ownscheme had been set up earlier as it doestake time for it to get established, that hasbeen our experience anyway. Also make surethat you have a clear resolution which gives asimple statement of exactly what the ‘Terms ofReference’ are for the scheme. The Friendsare not another task for the PCC to organise.Friends are different people working alongsidethe church family to ease the burden of caringfor our wonderful church building.

QQ.. So it is very much then that St. Mary,Stone does get a ‘Little help from herFriends’?KKeennnneetthh.. No, in this instance I think we cansay we get a ‘Lot of help from our Friends’

I am in the vicarage of the parish ofSt Mary’s church, Riverhead withDunton Green, discussing with theRev Canon Paul Francis and PCCmember Jean Woods the effects ofthe 3Gs stewardship programmethey ran in September last year.

QQ.. Paul and Jean, how did the parish respondto the 3Gs campaign?PPaauull.. Really well actually, a vast majorityresponded extremely well, especially throughtheir financial planned giving. The programmeexceeded our expectations and highlightedthe reasons why we exist as a church withinour own church family, why we are here andemphasised all of the work we do in theparish. It brought us together as a community.JJeeaann.. This was not just about the financialneed - we also ran the campaign for time andskills as well and, although the response forthis was not as good as the financial one, westill managed to receive some important offersof help within the parish. I do think that itworks very well having the time and skillsrunning alongside that of financial giving,especially for those who may not be able togive more financially but can offer more oftheir time.

QQ.. How did you find the church communityconnected with the ‘Giving for Mission andMinistry’ message?PPaauull.. The message connected with a goodmajority of the church family. There are alwaysgoing to be people who ‘get it’ and those who‘don’t get it’ but, yes, the connection wasmade. What would have made it moreeffective was having a ‘Vision’ day before thecampaign. As you know it was our intention todo so, but certain events overtook us and wehad to postpone it until after the programmewas complete. It was a successful day but itsimpact was lost a little bit on the campaign.

QQ.. How do you think Stewardship isperceived now in the parish? Is it morepositive since you ran the 3Gs programme?JJeeaann.. Well I think that there is a more positiveapproach to peoples’ own stewardship. Theprogramme highlighted why we are asked togive and the need to give as Christians, notjust financially but in our time and skills andwhat this can mean for our church ministry.PPaauull.. I agree with Jean, it also did highlight theimportance of good stewardship within thechurch and how important our own regulargiving of our resources is in growing ourmission within our community.

QQ.. So Paul and Jean, overall was the 3Gsexperience a positive one for St Mary’s?PPaauull.. Most definitely, it was a very positiveexperience for the whole parish, highlightingand making people aware of the financial andmission needs of St Mary. It also made thePCC more aware that we should have bettercommunication within the church family andthat we should make people more aware ofour situation in all sorts of ways andencourage the use of the regular plannedgiving scheme for all givers.JJeeaann.. I think that it also raised the profile ofGift Aid and what that can do for the parishfinances at no additional cost to the donor. Infact we should have had more emphasis onthis during the campaign and in futureprogrammes I think we will do just that.

QQ.. So overall do you think that the parish has‘Come Together’?PPaauull.. Oh indeed I think you could say that,yes!

If you would like to know more about how toset up a ‘Friends Scheme’ for your church orthe 3Gs Stewardship programme and how itcan help you, please contact Alan Strachanon alan.strachan@rochester.anglican.org or01634 560000.

The interviews were conducted by AlanStrachan Diocesan Stewardship Adviser withthanks to the parish of St Mary’s Church,Riverhead with Dunton Green, and St Mary’sChurch, Stone.

Coming together

With a little helpfrom our friends

SStt MMaarryy tthhee VViirrggiinn,, SSttoonnee

SStt MMaarryy tthhee VViirrggiinn,, RRiivveerrhheeaadd wwiitthh DDuunnttoonn GGrreeeenn

7ochester Link

The Rev Mike Hayes, Chaplain at Heart of Kent Hospice

All in a week’s work

By Louise Whiffin

Rev Mike Hayes has been workingwith patients of the Heart of KentHospice for six years.

While working at the hospice Mike hasnoticed the different needs of people. Hesaid, “In palliative care work there is aconcern for meaning and looking back overlife. Sometimes, when people are quiteisolated and a bit confused, there is also aneed for connection. When someone is withthem they can remember who they are.There can also be a need for reconciliation.In a religious sense that might beconfession, or in a general sense whensomething has gone wrong is there anythingto reconcile it or a way of coming to termswith it.”

Mike wears his clerical collar and saidthat some people who are angry with Godexpress this by being angry with Mike. Hesaid, “I do not think we are always very goodat expressing anger in Christian culture, but Ithink to express anger appropriately is reallygood and I always try to encourage peopleto let some of it out rather than turn it in onthemselves.”

To ease anxiety, Mike offers meditationand contemplative prayer. He said, “Peopleare sometimes very anxious about themanner of their dying or what it may be likewhen they are dead, depending on their

view of what happens at death. We don’t talkabout death very much as a society, so peopleoften feel glad that it is safe to do so with achaplain. Then they can speculate about whatmay happen after death.”

There is a chapel and some quiet roomsavailable in the hospice and every weekpatients can celebrate the Eucharist. There isan ecumenical service on Sunday afternoonsled by a number of local churches on a rotabasis. Mike added, “We do have marriageshere and have had two this year. We get afantastic service from the registry office whocome in quickly to conduct a legal marriageand, if people ask me to, I will conduct ablessing afterwards”

Mike tries to visit all patients at the hospiceand has a team of volunteer chaplains whocan be available daily on the ward and in theday centre. Mike said, “We visit each roomand introduce ourselves to new patients.Usually it is very obvious at the time ifsomeone doesn’t want visitors but very oftenthey do want to speak to chaplains. Forexample once I walked into one room and theguy said, ‘I am atheist’. So I asked him ‘doesthat mean you do want to speak to me or youdon’t want to speak to me?’ And he said, ‘sitdown’. I was with him for quite a long time andit was a conversation that affirmed his valuesand we were able to find some commonground.”

A number of support services are availableat the hospice for both patients and familiesincluding individual, group and couplecounselling, a bereavement group, pre andpost bereavement work with children andalternative therapies like aromatherapy orreflexology. Mike and his team also offerremembrance services three times a year forrelatives whose loved ones have either died atthe hospice or have been supported by theCommunity Team.

Mike said, “I think one of the things I mostenjoy is listening to stories about people’slives. I hear about people working on farms,growing crops and life for people who havebeen in the Army, Navy and Air Force.Although I do encounter a great deal of pain,struggle, anger and exhaustion, also I hearabout all of these wonderful things thatpeople have done, their achievements, theirrelationships and their families over the years.It is lovely to hear and is a real privilege.”

The Heart of Kent Hospice is a registeredcharity caring for up to 350 patients withadvanced cancer and other life threateningillnesses. It covers Maidstone and parts ofTonbridge and Malling and offers 12 beds inthe in patient unit, day therapy, family servicesand specialist community team. All hospiceservices are offered free of charge. However,it costs £3.6m a year for the hospice tocontinue to provide its services, and with only

RReevv MMiikkee HHaayyeess

29% of that coming from statutorysources, the hospice relies on thegenerosity of its local community inraising over £2.5m. If you could help inraising funds or would like to volunteerfor the hospice please contact 01622790195 or visit www.hokh.org for moreinformation.

Petertide OrdinationErratic weather favoured this years’ordinands and Saturday 25 Junestayed dry for their special day.There were eight ordinands beingpriested, and this is what they hadto say about their retreat the weekbefore and of their specialafternoon:

David Commander said, “This is theculmination of a six year journey for me. It’sbig, exciting and scary all at the same time!The retreat was fantastic and the silenceadded an extra special dimension.” David wasaccompanied on Saturday by his wife, Helenand daughters Amy and Louise.

Jill Wright said, “The retreat was lovely andgave us the space to reflect on last year andto prepare for what is ahead. Today is theculmination of what God has called me to doin his extraordinary way. I feel a great sense ofcompletion. Jill was accompanied by HusbandJasper and daughter Heather.

Sue Brooks said, “The retreat was lovelyand brought everything together. I took a bookcalled, “being clergy and staying human”which I would recommend! Today is veryspecial because it’s eight years since I wasdeaconed. Sue was accompanied by hercousin Mary and her friend Veronica.

Stephen Snelling said, “The retreat waswonderful – really good! It let us find our ownway and opened so many doors. Today is amilestone on a long journey that started 40years ago for me. “ Stephen wasaccompanied by his wife Deborah and closefriend from Toronto.

Mark Harris said, “The retreat was reallygood and I needed it! The retreat was totallysilent which was lovely. I was able to refocuson God. Today represents what I have beentraining for and working towards since I was ateenager. I’m really excited! This is aboutfulfilment on one hand and an opening out ofnew things ahead of me at the same time.”Mark was joined by his wife Katy and childrenBethany, Sam and Annabel.

Ann Richardson said, “The retreat was reallygood – very nurturing. The silence and spacewere wonderful. Today is in a way theculmination of the training and the door intoeverything that follows. I feel surprisinglycalm!” Ann was joined by her Mum Geniferand best friends Sarah and Teresa.

Gwyneth Williams said, “The retreat wasgood – I was looking forward to it. It wasgood to have the structure. Today is anamazing privilege and I just want to get onwith it all! This is really going to happen!” Suewas accompanied by Rev Mandy Carr and herhusband Patrick with their children, andGwyneth’s brother Hywel.

Clifford Stocking said, “The retreat wascalming and I needed it! I hadn’t been lookingforward to it because I didn’t like the idea ofthe silence, but it was like an oasis and it wasnice! Today is not the end of the road but

there has been a long process leading up tothis point. I feel happy, jubilant even and alittle nervous!” Clifford was joined by wifeCathy, son Daniel, daughter Rebecca and hisMum and dad, Brian and Linda.

BBiisshhoopp JJaammeess aanndd BBiisshhoopp BBrriiaann wwiitthh tthhee oorrddiinnaannddss

8 ochester Link

Churches Open for Saturday 10th September 10am to 6pm

ADDINGTON St MargaretASH (Sevenoaks) Revelation Church at

Ash Green ChapelASH (Sevenoaks) St Peter and St PaulASHURST St Martin of ToursAYLESFORD St Peter and St PaulBARMING St MargaretBESSELS GREEN Bapt Church,Bessels

Green RdBEXLEY St MaryBEXLEYHEATH Christ ChurchBIDBOROUGH St Lawrence,High StBIRLING All SaintsBOROUGH GREEN St Joseph's Western RoadBOROUGH GREEN The Good ShepherdBORSTAL St Matthew,Church StBRASTED St Martin,Church RoadBREDHURST (Gill'ham S) St PeterBRENCHLEY All SaintsBROMLEY COMMON Holy TrinityBROMLEY COMMON St AugustineBURHAM St Mary (redundant),

Church StBURHAM The Church in Burham,

Church StCAPEL St Thomas a Becket

(redundant)CHALK St MaryCHATHAM Emmaus Centre,Clover StCHATHAM St Alban,Bluebell HillCHATHAM St Pauls /All Saints,Magpie

Hall RdCHATHAM St Stephen,Huntsman

CornerCHATHAM Unitarian,Hammond HillCHATHAM (Brompton) St Barbara's Garrison

Church,Maxwell RoadCHELSFIELD St MartinsCHEVENING St Botolph,Chevening RdCHIDDINGSTONE St MaryCHIDDINGSTONE CAUSEWAY St LukeCHISLEHURST St Nicholas,Manor Park

RdCLIFFE St HelensCOBHAM St Mary MagdaleneCOLLIER STREET St MargaretCOOLING St James (redundant)COWDEN St Mary MagdaleneCOXHEATH Holy Trinity,Heath RoadCROCKENHILL All Souls,Church RdCROCKHAM HILL Holy TrinityCUDHAM St Peter and St PaulCUXTON St Michael and All AngelsDARENTH St Margaret,Darenth HillDARTFORD Christ Church,

Christchurch RdDARTFORD Holy Trinity,High StDARTFORD Spital St Methodist ChurchDARTFORD St AlbanDARTFORD St Anselm,West Hill DriveDARTFORD St Vincent,Temple Hill

SquareDITTON St PeterDOWNE St Mary MagdaleneEAST FARLEIGH Parish Church,Lower RoadEAST MALLING St JamesEAST PECKHAM Holy Trinity

EAST PECKHAM Methodist,Pound RdEAST PECKHAM Salvation Army Hall,The

FreeholdEAST PECKHAM St Michael (redundant)EDENBRIDGE Baptist,High StEDENBRIDGE St John,Marsh GreenEDENBRIDGE St Lawrence,High StEDENBRIDGE St Peter and St PaulEYNSFORD Eynsford Baptist,Dartford

RdEYNSFORD St Martin (on main A225

rd)FAIRSEAT Holy InnocentsFARNBOROUGH St Giles FARNINGHAM St Peter and St PaulFAWKHAM St MaryFIVE OAK GREEN Badsell Rd UnitedFIVE OAK GREEN The HoppersFOOTSCRAY All SaintsFORDCOMBE St PeterFOUR ELMS St PaulGILLINGHAM Bapt Ch,Green StGILLINGHAM Beulah Christian

Fellowship,Napier RoadGILLINGHAM Gillingham Methodist,Third

AveGILLINGHAM Salem Ch of the Nazarene,

Nelson RdGILLINGHAM St Augustine,Rock AveGILLINGHAM St Barnabas,Nelson RdGILLINGHAM St Luke,Sidney RdGILLINGHAM St Mark,Canterbury StGILLINGHAM St Mary Magdalen,

Gillingham GreenGILLINGHAM URC,Balmoral RoadGRAVESEND Church of Holy Family,

Palmer AveGRAVESEND Emanuel,Windmill StGRAVESEND Salvation Army,The GroveGRAVESEND St Aidan,St Aidan's WayGRAVESEND St George,Church StGRAVESEND St Mary,Wrotham RdGRAVESEND St Paul URCGREEN STREET GREEN St MaryGREENHITHE St Mary,Station RdGROOMBRIDGE St JohnHADLOW St MaryHADLOW St Peter's mass centreHALLING St John the BaptistHALSTEAD St Margaret,Church RoadHARTLEY All SaintsHARTLEY St Francis de SalesHEMPSTEAD(Gill'ham S) All Saints,Hempstaed

RoadHEVER St PeterHEXTABLE St PeterHIGHAM Congregational ChurchHIGHAM St JohnHIGHAM St Mary (Redundant)HILDENBOROUGH St John,London RoadHORSMONDEN MethodistHORSMONDEN St MargaretHORTON KIRBY St Mary,Horton RdHUNTON St Mary the VirginIDE HILL St Mary,The GreenIFIELD St Margaret,Church RdIGHTHAM St Peter

KEMSING St Mary the VirginKNOCKHOLT St Katharine,Knockholt

Main RoadLADDINGFORD St MaryLAMBERHURST St MaryLANGTON GREEN All Saints,Langton RdLARKFIELD Holy TrinityLARKFIELD Methodist CentreLEIGH St MaryLEYBOURNE St Peter and St PaulLINTON St NicholasLONGFIELD Longfield Hill ChapelLONGFIELD St Mary MagdaleneLUDDESDOWN St Peter and St PaulLULLINGSTONE St BotolphMARK BEECH Holy TrinityMATFIELD St LukeMEOPHAM South St Baptists,

Wrotham RdMEOPHAM St John the BaptistMEOPHAM St Paul,Wrotham RdMEOPHAM Zion Baptist,The GreenMEREWORTH St LawrenceMILTON-next-Gravesend Christ ChurchMILTON-next-Gravesend St Peter and St PaulNETTLESTEAD St Mary the VirginNORTH CRAY St JamesNORTHFLEET Our Lady of the

AssumptionNURSTEAD St MildredOFFHAM Methodist Church,Teston

RoadOFFHAM St MichaelORPINGTON All SaintsORPINGTON St AndrewOTFORD Holy Trinity,High StOTFORD Methodist,High StreetOTFORD St BartholomewOTFORD St Michael's Prep SchoolPADDLESWORTH St BenedictPADDOCK WOOD St AndrewPADDOCK WOOD St Justus,Mount PleasantPARKWOOD(Gill'ham South) St Paul,Parkwood GreenPEMBURY Baptist Church,Lower

Green RdPEMBURY St Anselm's ChapelPEMBURY St Peter's OldPEMBURY St Peter's UpperPENSHURST St John the BaptistPLATT (St Mary's Platt) St Mary's PLAXTOL Evang Free Ch,Dunks

GreenPLAXTOL Parish ChurchPOUNDSBRIDGE ChapelRAINHAM Christian Fellowship,

Walton Rd,TwydallRAINHAM Methodist, Station RdRAINHAM St MargaretRIDLEY St PeterRIVERHEAD St Mary,The SquareROCHESTER Friends Meeting House,

NorthgateROCHESTER Rochester Cathedral

(Refectory)ROCHESTER St Justus ROCHESTER St Luke,City WayROCHESTER St Margaret, St Margaret St

ROCHESTER St Peter,Delce RdRUSTHALL Rusthall Evang,Westwood

RdRUSTHALL St Paul Mission Church,

High StRUSTHALL St Paul, Langton RdRUSTHALL URC,Rusthall High StRYARSH Baptist ChurchRYARSH St MartinSEAL St Peter and St Paul,

Churcxh StreetSEAL CHART St Lawrence,Church RoadSEVENOAKS First Church of Christ

Scientist, South ParkSEVENOAKS Methodist Church,The

DriveSEVENOAKS Religious Soc of Friends,

Hollybush LaSEVENOAKS St John the Baptist, St

John's HillSEVENOAKS St Luke,Eardley RdSEVENOAKS St Mary,Kippington RoadSEVENOAKS St Nicholas,Upper High StSEVENOAKS St Thomas of Canterbury,

12 Granville RdSEVENOAKS URC,St John's HillSEVENOAKS URC,Littlecourt RoadSEVENOAKS Vine Bapt Church,Park

LaneSHIPBOURNE St GilesSHORNE St Peter and St PaulSNODLAND All Saints,High StSNODLAND Christ Ch,Malling RdSNODLAND United Reformed,High StSOLE STREET St Mary's Church RoomSOUTH CHATHAM (Lordswood) St DavidsSOUTHBOROUGH Christchurch,Prospect RdSOUTHBOROUGH St Dunstan,London RdSOUTHBOROUGH St John's Methodist Ch,

London RdSOUTHBOROUGH St Matthew,High Brooms

RdSOUTHBOROUGH St Peter Parish Ch,The

CommonSOUTHBOROUGH St Thomas,Pennington

RoadSOUTHFLEET St Nicholas,Church StSPELDHURST Baptist ChapelSPELDHURST St MarySTANSTED St MarySTONE St Mary,London RdSTROOD St Francis of AssisiSTROOD St Nicholas,High StSUNDRIDGE St Mary,Church RoadSUTTON-AT-HONE St John the Baptist,Church

RdSWANLEY St Mary,London RdSWANSCOMBE Methodist Chapel,Milton

RoadSWANSCOMBE St Peter and St PaulTESTON St Peter and St PaulTONBRIDGE Christ Ch,High StTONBRIDGE Corpus Christi, Lyons

CrescTONBRIDGE Higham Lane MethodistTONBRIDGE St Andrew,Hadlow Rd

TONBRIDGE St Eanswythe's Mission,Priory Rd

TONBRIDGE St Peter and St Paul,Church Lane

TONBRIDGE St Philip, Salisbury RdTONBRIDGE St Saviour,Dry Hill Park RdTONBRIDGE St Stephen,Waterloo RdTONBRIDGE Baptist Ch,Derwent RdTONBRIDGE Tonbridge School ChapelTOYS HILL Toys Hill Hall, Puddledock

LaneTROTTISCLIFFE St Peter and St PaulTUDELEY All SaintsTUNBRIDGE WELLS Christ Church High StreetTUNBRIDGE WELLS Hawkenbury URC,Forest

RoadTUNBRIDGE WELLS King Charles the Martyr,

London RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS Salvation Army Citadel,

Bayhall RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Augustine,Crescent RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Barnabas,Stanley RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St James,St James RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St John,St John's RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Luke,St Luke's RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Mark,Broadwater

DownTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Peter,Bayhall RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS St Philip,Birken RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS Baptist Church,Upper

Grosvenor RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS The Church of Christ,

Commercial RdTUNBRIDGE WELLS United Reformed Ch,

Mount EphraimTUNBRIDGE WELLS Vale Royal Methodist,Vale

RdUNDERRIVER St Margaret,Carters HillWALDERSLADE St WilliamWATERINGBURY St John the BaptistWEALD St Edward Longbarn RdWEALD St George,Church RdWEST FARLEIGH All SaintsWEST KINGSDOWN St BernadetteWEST KINGSDOWN St Edmund King and

MartyrWEST KINGSDOWN West Kingsdown Baptist

ChurchWEST MALLING Ewell Monastery - Pilsdon

at MallingWEST MALLING Free ChurchWEST MALLING St MaryWEST MALLING St Mary's Abbey,Swan StWEST MALLING St Thomas MoreWEST PECKHAM St Dunstan,The GreenWESTERHAM St Mary the Virgin,The

GreenWIGMORE(Gillingham South) St Matthew,Drewery

DriveWILMINGTON St Michael,Church HillWOODLANDS St MaryWOULDHAM All Saints,High StWROTHAM St GeorgeYALDING Bapt Church,Vicarage RdYALDING St Peter and St Paul,High

St

2011

This prestigious West Wales International MusicFestival provides Choral, Orchestral and Chamber

Music in beautiful venues in and around Fishguard.Artists include:

Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conductor - Owain Arwel Hughes, Peter Donohoe, St.

Petersburg String Quartet, Sir Richard RodneyBennett and Claire Martin,Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra

with Tony Jacobs and Catherine Sykes, John S. Davies Singers,

Orchestra of the Swan with Julian Lloyd Webber and Jiaxin Cheng (‘cellos) and David Curtis, Frith

Piano Quartet, Richard Jenkinson (CBSO), RichardParry, National Youth Choir of Wales, YoungMusicians’ Platforms, Rodolpho Bonucci and

Dorothy Singh and more....

July 22nd - July 30th Brochure - May 2011Box Office 01348 875538 (mid June)

Enquiries: 01348 891345 (Alan Caunce Artistic Director)

01348 891226 (Chairman)www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk

The Festival celebrates its 42nd year in 2011

Music and events in Fishguard, Goodwick, St. DavidsCathedral, Rhos-y-Gilwen Mansion and Newport

Cathedrals everywhere have entertained pilgrims andtravellers for centuries, their history and beauty continue toattract thousands through their doors year after year. Not so far away, Rochester Cathedral has a wealth of history dating back1,400 years! Whilst individuals are welcome to visit free of charge thecathedral has all sorts of packages available for larger groups including aPilgrimage package, which offers personal welcome to your group by theCanon in residence, the reflective audio tour, cream tea and you can join inthe Eucharist or Evensong depending on your choice of time and day. Alsoon offer are bespoke tours tailored to your needs, from Benedictinemonasticism to Norman architecture, graffiti to memorials and textiles.

July sees the return of the Fishguard International Music Festival, now in it’s42nd year. Running for just over a week, the festival can be a destinationitself or as a place to visit as a part of a holiday in Wales including a visit tothe 12th century St David’s Cathedral. Running from 22nd to 30th July artistappearing include, Welsh National Opera, St Petersburg String Quartet, SirRichard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin. Julian Lloyd Webber appearswith the Orchestra of the Swan and Jiaxin Cheng. A host of venuesthroughout Fishguard and beyond have helped to establish this importantand long lived event.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Great days out this summer

9ochester Link

Prayer request from Bishop Chad, Diocese of HarareDear Friends,Alarming developments are unfolding in ourbeloved Diocese. Last Sunday a Kunongapriest forced himself into the house of ourpriest Rev Muzanenhamo at Mubayira inMhondoro while he was on trek takingservices. He was informed and came backimmediately and pushed Kunonga's priestout of the house. The police came andinstead of arresting the intruder theyarrested our priest and charged him withassault. He spent the night in cells and wehad to bail him out.

That same evening our newly ordainedDeacon was evicted from the church houseby Kunonga's people. Police were calledand they sided with those evicting ourDeacon. In both cases there was no evictionorders as is required by the laws of the land.Then last night when we were holding a

Claire Tillotson made Honorary Lay Canon

Claire Tillotson was installed as anHonorary Lay Canon of RochesterCathedral by the Bishop ofRochester within Choral Evensongat a Service attended by the Collegeof Canons as well as Claire's familyand members of St Mary’s Church,Shortlands, where Claire isAssistant Organist.

Claire is a music therapist at RiversideSchool, St Mary, Cray, and has overseen amajor project on behalf of the Diocese towork with the SOS Children’s Village inBethlehem. Claire has trained social workersand psychologists in the West Bank to workwith music as therapy with traumatisedchildren. She has worked with Music asTherapy International to provide ongoingsupport in Bethlehem and identified aPalestinian musician to come to London totrain at the Guildhall School of Music tobecome Palestine's first music therapist.

The Diocese launched an appeal in

Christmas 2007 to fund this opportunity andworking in partnership with the McCabeEducational Trust, who were represented atthe Installation, have raised sufficient funds to

pay for the training of Basel Zayed. Basel hasalmost completed his first year of training andhe too, was present at the Installation.

By the Rev Canon Paul Miller

Harare Churchwardens meeting we wereinformed that Kunonga's people werebreaking into the house of Rev JuliusZimbudzana and some of our people wentthere to try and stop both the break in andforced eviction.

When they got there they managed toapprehend one of the thugs and the othersran away. They took the thug to the policestation and this time the police arrested him.They went back to the rectory to be with thepriest and to comfort him and his family. Theywere surprised that riot police (the blackboots) came and rounded everyone and tookthem to Highlands police station where theyare detained as I write this. In all, they havearrested 16 people as of last night, includingpriests and 3 ladies - one of who is Fr JuliusZimbudzana's mother. I am still to get thenames of all who were arrested.

When Fr Julius tried to give a report to thepolice station on Monday concerning theeviction of our Deacon I am told the policerefused to open a docket which in turnmeans the incident never happened. I amreally concerned about this.

We shall be running around to try and bailthe whole group out today if the police willlisten. Please pray for our registrars as theytry to sort out their bail. Pray for thosearrested. Pray especially for the families ofall who were arrested last night. They aregreatly traumatised by all this. I am told bysome of my priests about their children whoare affected and are worried about theirfathers. Please continue to pray for us as aDiocese.In Christ,+Chad.

Consecration of the newBishop of Lynn

Photo: Jonathan Meyrick after his consecration as Bishop of Lynn(Norfolk) at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 2011 He isphotographed here with some of the Rochester Cathedralcongregation who supported him. Mrs Rebecca Meyrick is picturedon the far left.

A centenarian in the choirJack Wreford celebrated his 100th birthday in May at St Mary,Kippington, Sevenoaks, where he has sung in the choir since 1982. His century has been an active one! He served in the Royal Navy inWorld War II and took part in the D-Day landings. He later worked ininsurance, practiced as a barrister, and lectured in civil law well intohis 80s. He moved to Sevenoaks with his family in 1960 andcontinues to live in that same home with the support of one of hisdaughters. His wife died tragically in 1982 in a road accident. Theywere always active members of the church in Kippington, Jack havinga hand in the building of the beautifully appointed church centre there– our conference room is named the ‘Wreford Room’ in gratitude tohim. At his party in that centre with 100 guests he gave, withoutnotes, a speech! To God be the glory!

Tel:01373 462069

FOR BIBLE READING NOTES,SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIALS

AND ALL YOUR CHURCHREQUIREMENTS

Church and School agencies welcome,please ask for details

Sevenoaks Road, Pratt’s Bottom,Orpinton, Kent. BR6 7SQTelephone 01689 854117

Award winning

church furniture makers

Makers of the revolutionary Canterbury and York Lecterns

www.fullersfinerfurniture.co.uk

10 AAddvveerrttiissiinngg FFeeaattuurreeochester Link

I have incredible news to share with you! Formore than two years Cross Rhythms has beenrunning a one hour radio show on an FM radiostation in Bethlehem, and through this our contact has built with many leaders in the city.Then, 3 months ago a possibility arose to go toBethlehem and meet with Arab Christian leadersto explore serving the people of Bethlehem with a radio station.

Well, in May we made that trip, and I am thrilled to reportthat every single one of the 11 leaders we met were fullysupportive of the vision: they endorsed it, they want to beactively involved, and they want to see it happen! I amthrilled at the sense of the favour of the Lord over thisventure, and the doors he has flung wide. Let me sharewith you some examples:

WHO DID WE MEET?

• Four key city church leaders would all be willing to offeradvice and consultation to help position the station in theincredibly complicated cultural, political and spiritual mix

that is the Bethlehem Palestinian Authority.

• Another brave Arab Christian leader runs a Palestiniannews service and he wants to work with us, supplyinghourly news, news features and other programmes.

• The leaders of a significant Palestinian ministry were sosupportive, and they want to supply programmes aimed atyoung people. Plus they may have a location for thestation near Manger Square at the heart of Bethlehem!What better place to 'birth' such a vision!!

• The leaders at a Christian training college in Bethlehemwant to partner with us, building their students into workingas presenters, interviewers and producers!

• The Manager of two of the main local commercialstations wants to run some of our shows on his stationsand said these could point people to our own station!What an amazing marketing opportunity!

• One young Christian man who works as a mediatechnician shared how the Lord has been directing his lifein training in these areas. He believes the Lord showedhim there would one day be a Christian station in the cityand he has a real heart to see this come to pass.

Phew! So we went out to meet some leaders, check the lieof the land, get their thoughts; and we've come back witha possible location, technician, presenters, producers,local news, strategic programmes, high profile marketing,local church endorsement and a board of reference!

WHY CROSS RHYTHMS?

Cross Rhythms has been prepared for this day. Ourunique model of community radio undergirded by Christianvalues is the perfect vehicle to serve people across adiverse community. We are not 'church on air' forChristians; like being 'salt & light' we contribute toKingdom transformation within communities. Also, ourcontemporary Christian music format is perfect. FromBoston to Bristol, Bombay to Bethlehem, young peopleacross the world relate to the Christian rock, rap, r&b andpop that we play. In Bethlehem a staggering 48% of thepopulation is under 18 years old! What an incredibleopportunity to contribute to the values and mindset of theemerging generation in that region!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Cross Rhythms will need to grow in size to manage anddeliver this responsibility. We need to develop a wholenew station, in a foreign country, with new production, newplaylists, new programmes, new internet links, a newdedicated website, a fundraising dept, training of youngArab Christians in media, travel costs when required, andthe administration and management of all the above. Wewill also need to rent a property, purchase equipment, set up a studio and then employ a local station manager.

A GIANT STANDS IN OUR WAY

This is truly a time for Cross Rhythms to 'crossover'

into a new season of effectiveness, yet paradoxically atthe same time as this opportunity is being offered we facethe giant of one of our greatest challenges to sustainingthis ministry, and with it the unique 'wineskin' of our modelof community radio. This year alone we need to find up to£100,000 extra to our normal projected income. Specifically now, Cross Rhythms needs to find an additional £24,690 to meet our requirements.

WE'RE UP FOR IT! ARE YOU?

Cross Rhythms stands at a crossroads of opportunity. Wehave the faith, courage and desire to go forward into theopportunities the Lord is leading us towards, but we areclearly seeing that we cannot do so without more partnerssharing the vision with us. We are caught up in a greatadventure and we need to run it with you. We need manyfaithful Friends and donors to go with us. At the original'birth' in Bethlehem, both shepherds with little and kingswith much shared what they had. Whether you have littleto give or much to invest, please would you help us tobring this incredible God-given opportunity to birth?

HOW DO YOU SUPPORT?

If you are inspired by what God is setting before us,please do not ignore that stirring.

Specifically, will you give today towards our immediateneed of £24,690?

Whether you are a shepherd or a king simply offer whatyou feel stirred to give. Every gift given is an answer to our prayers, and another step towards delivering a unique gift for the people of Bethlehem.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Jonathan BellamyCross Rhythms CEO

Charity Reg No 1069357

How you can help...YYeess,, II ssttaanndd wwiitthh CCrroossss RRhhyytthhmmss aatt tthhiiss ppiivvoottaall ttiimmee

ooff ooppppoorrttuunniittyy aanndd cchhaalllleennggee!!

I would like to give a one off gift of £________________I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross

Rhythms’)Please debit this sum from my VISA/MASTERCARD/MAESTRO as a

one off giftCard number Issue number_______ Expiry date

Please send me information on becoming a regular supporter of Cross Rhythms

Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list

Name:_________________________________________Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________Postcode:_________________Tel:___________________E-mail:_________________________________________Please cut out this form and post it to: Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.Alternatively you can call 01782251000 to make a donation or go towww.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations

✁

THRILLINGSUCCESS FOR CROSSRHYTHMS INBETHLEHEM!

www.crossrhythms.co.uk

11ochester Link

Praying the wayWorldFor peace in the Middle East and NorthAfricaDioceseFor holiday clubs and ‘holidays at home’.BTCS - that church members will pray aboutwhom to invite. Quiet Morning for DiocesanPray-ers 6 July, West Malling Abbey, the RevCanon Jean Kerr leading

BBrroommlleeyy aanndd BBeexxlleeyyBBrroommlleeyy DDeeaanneerryyTThhee AAnnnnuunncciiaattiioonn,, CChhiisslleehhuurrsstt:: For God’sblessing on our parish retreat

EErriitthh DDeeaanneerryyCChhrriisstt CChhuurrcchh,, BBeexxlleeyyhheeaatthh:: For inspireduse of the coming of the Olympic Torch toDanson ParkSStt AAuugguussttiinnee,, BBeellvveeddeerree:: For young peopleattending the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage

SSiiddccuupp DDeeaanneerryyHHoollyy RReeddeeeemmeerr,, LLaammoorrbbeeyy:: For the RevCanon Nicholas Kerr on his retirement, andfor the interregnumHHoollyy TTrriinniittyy,, LLaammoorrbbeeyy:: For our Readers,that God’s arms will surround them with loveJJooyyddeennss WWoooodd:: For our new vicar, Ren, andher husband SteveFFoooottssccrraayy ww NNoorrtthh CCrraayy For our Rector,recovering from illness. For 2 house groupsSStt JJoohhnn,, SSiiddccuupp:: For “Lark in the Park” andfamily outreachSStt MMaarryy,, BBeexxlleeyy:: For future mission plans

RRoocchheesstteerrCCoobbhhaamm DDeeaanneerryyFFaawwkkhhaamm aanndd HHaarrttlleeyy:: For Year 6 as theymake the transition to secondary schoolNNuurrsstteeaadd:: That our new ministry patterns willbear fruitMMeeoopphhaamm:: For the final stage of our churchrefurbishmentLLuuddddeessddoowwnnee:: That visitors to our church mayfind a sanctuary of peaceSSnnooddllaanndd:: For our open air service duringSnodland Carnival Week. For our parishretreat on 30 August

DDaarrttffoorrdd DDeeaanneerryySStt EEddmmuunndd,, DDaarrttffoorrdd:: For the right person tobe appointed vicarWWiillmmiinnggttoonn,, HHeexxttaabbllee aanndd SSwwaannlleeyy VViillllaaggee::For success for the “Holiday/Seaside@home”for the elderly

SSttrroooodd DDeeaanneerryySStt FFrraanncciiss,, SSttrroooodd:: For young people going toorganised Christian holidaysCClliiffffee:: For our evangelistic work on the HooPeninsula. For our Summer Fayre on 2 JulyCCuuxxttoonn aanndd HHaalllliinngg:: For Ray Maisey who hasaccepted the office of deputy mayor ofMedway. For Halling’s Fun Weekend

TToonnbbrriiddggeeMMaalllliinngg DDeeaanneerryyBBAARRTT PPaarriisshheess:: For the Rev Dr Linda Shukeras she begins her ministry on 13 July

SSeevveennooaakkss DDeeaanneerryyWWeeaalldd:: For our Service on the Green on 10JulyKKiippppiinnggttoonn:: For permission to be given forrewiring of our church. For our Open Day on9 July

TToonnbbrriiddggee DDeeaanneerryyPPeennsshhuurrsstt:: For project to renovate churchbuilding

TTuunnbbrriiddggee WWeellllss DDeeaanneerryySStt BBaarrnnaabbaass,, TTuunnbbrriiddggee WWeellllss:: For thoseselecting new incumbentsSStt LLaawwrreennccee,, BBiiddbboorroouugghh:: For our outreachprogramme “Faith in the Local” and for ourlink with Kibaigwa, TanzaniaSStt LLuukkee,, TTuunnbbrriiddggee WWeellllss:: For our vicar,Caroline Glass, marrying Alan Gower 9 JulySStt MMaarrkk,, TTuunnbbrriiddggee WWeellllss:: For Fun Day on16 JulySStt TThhoommaass,, SSoouutthhbboorroouugghh:: Thanks for thework of Age UK in Southborough; for allwho live alone

Intercession during July/August1 July: Oru – (Nigeria); SStt MMaarryy,, GGrraavveesseenndd2 July: Osaka – (Japan); AAddvviissoorryy CCoouunncciill ffoorrCCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss,, RRoocchheesstteerr LLiinnkk3 July: Osun – (Nigeria); Osun North East(Nigeria); IIsstteeaadd RRiissee4 July: Ottawa – (Canada); CChhrriisstt CChhuurrcchh,,MMiillttoonn5 July: Oturkpo – (Nigeria); SStt PPeetteerr aanndd SStt PPaauull,, MMiillttoonn6 July: Owerri – (Owerri); MMootthheerrss’’ UUnniioonn7 July: Owo – (Nigeria); TThhee TThhaammeess GGaatteewwaayyMMaannaaggeemmeenntt GGrroouupp8 July: Oxford – (Canterbury); Oxford -Buckingham; Oxford - Dorchester; Oxford –Reading; GGeenneerraall SSyynnoodd 88--1122 JJuullyy9 July: Oyo – (Nigeria); CChhrriissttiiaannss wwoorrkkiinngg iinntthhee mmeeddiiaa10 July: Panama – (Central America); SSeeaaSSuunnddaayy11 July: Pankshin – (Nigeria); NNoorrtthhfflleeeett &&RRoosshheerrvviillllee12 July: Paraguay – (South America);MMeemmbbeerrss ooff PPaarrlliiaammeenntt && EECC RReepprreesseennttaattiivveess13 July: Patna – (North India); PPeerrrryy SSttrreeeett14 July: Pelotas – (Brazil); SShhoorrnnee15 July: Northwestern Pennsylvania – (USA);Pennsylvania (USA); SSoouutthhfflleeeett16 July: Perth – (Australia); Perth - GoldfieldsCountry Region (Australia); Perth - NorthernRegion (Australia); Perth - Southern Region(Australia); KKeenntt CCoouunnttyy CCoouunncciillss aanndd TToowwnnBBoorroouugghh aanndd DDiissttrriicctt CCoouunncciillss17 July: Peru – (South America); CChhaappllaaiinnss,,AAiirr TTrraaiinniinngg aanndd SSeeaa CCaaddeett CCoorrpp18 July: Peshawar – (Pakistan); SSwwaannssccoommbbee19 July: Peterborough – (Canterbury);Peterborough – Brixworth; RRoocchheesstteerr DDeeaanneerryy20 July: Phulbani – (North India); FFrriieennddss oofftthhee CClleerrggyy CCoorrppoorraattiioonn21 July: Pittsburgh – (USA); BBoorrssttaall22 July: Polynesia – (New Zealand); Polynesia- Vanua Levu and Taveuni; Polynesia - VitLeu West; EEccuummeenniiccaall PPaarriisshh ooff SStt JJoohhnn,,CChhaatthhaamm

23 July: Popondota – (Papua New Guinea);MMiinniissttrryy ttoo ttoouurriissttss aanndd vviissiittoorrss24 July: Port Elizabeth – (South Africa); SStt PPaauull ww AAllll SSaaiinnttss,, CChhaatthhaamm25 July: Port Moresby – (Papua New Guinea);BBrroommlleeyy HHoossppiittaallss NNHHSS TTrruusstt26 July: Port Sudan – (Sudan); SStt PPhhiilliipp && SStt JJaammeess,, CChhaatthhaamm27 July: Portsmouth – (Canterbury); SStt SStteepphheenn,, CChhaatthhaamm28 July: Pretoria – (South Africa); KKeenntt AAiirrAAmmbbuullaannccee29 July: Puerto Rico – (USA); OOxxlleeaass NNHHSSTTrruusstt30 July: Pune – (North India); LLuuttoonn31 July: Qu’Appelle – (Canada); PPrriinncceess PPaarrkk

1 August: Quebec – (Canada); QQuueeeenn MMaarryySSiiddccuupp aanndd QQuueeeenn EElliizzaabbeetthh HHoossppiittaall NNHHSSTTrruusstt2 August: Quincy – (USA); DDaarrttffoorrdd &&GGrraavveesshhaamm aanndd MMaaiiddssttoonnee && TTuunnbbrriiddggee WWeellllssNNHHSS TTrruusstt3 August: Rajasthan – (North India); SSoouutthhWWeesstt KKeenntt aanndd DDaarrttffoorrdd,, GGrraavveesshhaamm &&SSwwaannlleeyy PPCCTT4 August: Rayalaseema – (South India);MMeeddwwaayy NNHHSS TTrruusstt5 August: Bishop of Recife – (Brazil); SStt JJuussttuuss,, RRoocchheesstteerr6 August: Rejaf – (Sudan); SStt PPeetteerr ww SStt MMaarrggaarreett,, RRoocchheesstteerr7 August: Remo – (Nigeria); KKeenntt && MMeeddwwaayyNNHHSS && SSoocciiaall CCaarree PPaarrttnneerrsshhiipp TTrruusstt8 August: Renk – (Sudan); SSoouutthh CChhaatthhaamm9 August: PRAY for the Anglican IndigenousNetwork; Rhode Island – (USA); MMeeddwwaayyPPCCTT10 August: Rift Valley – (Tanzania); SSttrrooooddDDeeaanneerryy11 August: Rio de Janeiro – (Brazil);Coadjutor – (Brazil); CClliiffffee ww CCoooolliinngg12 August: PRAY for the InternationalAnglican Youth Network; Rio Grande –

(USA); CCuuxxttoonn && HHaalllliinngg13 August: Ripon and Leeds – (York); Riponand Leeds – Knaresborough; SSoouutthh EEaassttCCooaasstt AAmmbbuullaannccee NNHHSS TTrruusstt14 August: Riverina – (Australia); FFrriinnddssbbuurryyww UUppnnoorr aanndd CChhaatttteennddeenn15 August: Rochester – (Canterbury);Rochester – Tonbridge; GGrraaiinn ww SSttookkee16 August: Rochester (USA); HHiigghh HHaallssttooww wwAAllll HHaalllloowwss && HHoooo,, SStt MMaarryy17 August: Rockhampton – (Australia);BBuurrrrsswwoooodd CChhrriissttiiaann CCeennttrree18 August: Rokon – (Sudan); Rumbek –(Sudan); Ruaha – (Tanzania); HHiigghhaamm wwMMeerrssttoonn19 August: Rupert’s Land – (Canada); SStt WWeerrbbuurrgghh,, HHoooo20 August: Ruvuma – (Tanzania); SStt FFrraanncciiss,,SSttrroooodd21 August: Ruwenzori – (Uganda); HHoossppiicceesssseerrvviinngg tthhee ddiioocceessee22 August: Bishop of Sabah – (South EastAsia); DDiioocceessaann CCoommmmiitttteeee aammoonnggsstt tthhee DDeeaaff&& DDeeaaff//BBlliinndd ppeeooppllee23 August: Sabongidda-Ora – (Nigeria); SStt NNiicchhoollaass ww SStt MMaarryy,, SSttrroooodd24 August: Saldanha Bay – (South Africa); HH MM PPrriissoonn SSeerrvviiccee25 August: Salisbury – (Canterbury);Salisbury - Ramsbury; Salisbury – Sherborne;KKeenntt EEccuummeenniiccaall PPoolliiccee CChhaappllaaiinnccyy26 August: Sambalpur – (India); TToonnbbrriiddggeeAArrcchhddeeaaccoonnrryy27 August: San Diego – (Province USA);MMaalllliinngg DDeeaanneerryy28 August: Pray for all those involved inTheological Education, Colleges andUniversities of the Anglican Communion.Santiago – (Philippines); AAyylleessffoorrdd29 August: San Joaquin – (Province USA)BBaarrmmiinngg30 August: Sao Paulo – (Brazil); BBAARRTT GGrroouupp31 August: Sapele – (Nigeria); PPaattrroonnssrreessppoonnssiibbllee ffoorr aappppooiinnttmmeennttss ttoo LLiivviinnggss

Prayers RequestsFor SEPTEMBER LINK to JudithHoward, 10 Mount Pleasant Road,Weald, Sevenoaks, TN14 6QE,01732 458285,judithhoward@weald.plus.com by29 July

Birchwood House Rest Home

Residential Home forthe ElderlyRespite care & shortstay available

A beautifully refurbished Georgian manor house, setin 6 acres of glorious Kent countryside, within easyreach of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.• All rooms have en-suite facilities & nurse call

system. Lift to all floors.• Excellent home cooking, with special diets catered

for.• Hairdressing, chiropody, library and mobile shop.• Monthly in-house Holy Communion and links to

the local church.Stockland Green Road,

Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TUTelephone: Langton (01892 86) 3559

Fancy a day out?Take part in the Friends of KentChurches Annual Sponsored

Saturday 10th September 201110am to 6pmDetails from your local church or fromCarolyn Millen on 01622 843383e-mail: carolynmillen1@btinternet.comwww.friendsofkentchurches.co.ukFKC Registered Charity No: 20721

Metalsmith and woodworker

Conscientious and reliable,Ian Marshall provides newwork and maintenance for a

number of churches.

To join his list of satisfied

customers

call: 020 8850 7851 or 077 6666 2747

To advertise in The

Rochester Link

please call 01752 225623

12 ochester Link

Anthem competition 2011

Abbey Road Studio

The rededication of the grave of theHonourable Ivo Bligh and Florence Morphy(8th Earl and Countess of Darnley) tookplace at St Mary Magdalene Church, Cobham on Wednesday 18 May.

The occasion followed a very successfulfund-raising campaign by The CricketSociety to restore the grave of the couple,who were major participants in the eventswhich led to the creation of the “Ashes”back in 1882.

A congregation of around 140 gatheredat the church, led by the present Earl ofDarnley, the couple’s grandson, HisExcellency the Australian High Commissioner,the Honourable John Dauth, representativesfrom the Kent County Cricket Club,including the President John Shepherd andthe Chief Executive Jamie Clifford, and theKent County Cricket Supporters’ Club.

The service was conducted by theArchdeacon of Rochester, the Ven SimonBurton-Jones and Priest-in-Charge,Cobham and Luddesdowne, the Rev AngelaWalker.

The gathering was addressed by DerekBarnard, Chairman of The Cricket Societyand Canon Christopher Byers, PastPresident of the Kent County CricketSupporters Club. Howard Milton, Librarian ofThe Cricket Society spoke of the grave’ssignificance as the “end of the beginning ofthe Ashes”. Michael Baker, grandson of thefamous architect Sir Herbert Baker whodesigned the grave, spoke of its architecturalimportance.

A brief ceremony at the grave followed,during which flowers in memory of thecouple were laid by members of theyoungest generation of the Darnley family. Areplica of the famous Ashes urn was much inevidence and in the manner of 1882 waspresented to Lord Darnley at the tea andreception provided by Cobham Cricket Club.

The Cricket Society hopes that, with thisrestoration, this memorial will be given itsplace among the historical attractions ofCobham village, offering cricket followers anopportunity to pay their respects to a couplewhose place in cricket history is assured.

To celebrate its 80th anniversary,the world famous Abbey Roadstudio in London is running aworldwide anthem competition tofind original, unsigned andundiscovered composers.

Composers of all ages and abilities are inwith a chance to record their anthem at AbbeyRoad Studios with the internationally regardedLondon Symphony Orchestra and some of theUK’s finest singers, conducted by renownedcomposer Eric Whitacre.

Any anthem may be submitted as long as ithasn’t been published or recorded forcommercial release.

The winning anthems will be recorded inStudio One, home to the recording of many ofthe greatest anthems of all time, from Land ofHope and Glory to the Star Wars titlesequence and The Beatles’ live satelliteperformance of All You Need Is Love.

An esteemed jury of professionalcomposers including industry legends EricWhitacre, Harry Christophers, George Fentonand Rob Mathes will choose the winninganthems. If required, winners will receiveassistance from leading arrangers to ensurethe competition is accessible to composers of

all ages, abilities and backgrounds and thenrecorded by engineers using world-classmicrophones and equipment.

Jonathan Smith, manager of the studios,said, “This competition will give composers anopportunity to have their work performed andrecorded to the very highest standard. SirEdward Elgar opened Abbey Road Studios80 years ago with a great anthem, Land ofHope and Glory, performed then by theLondon Symphony Orchestra. All composerswill have the chance to record their anthemsin the same studio with the same world-classorchestra. It’s a thrilling prospect and awonderful way to celebrate Abbey RoadStudios' 80th anniversary.”

Eric Whitacre said, “I can’t think of a betterway to celebrate 80 years of excellence at theworld’s most famous recording studios thancreating new music, giving everyone thechance to participate. From Elgar toRadiohead, Abbey Road has hosted the verybest. We want to find the great anthems ofour time. It is an honour to be involved in theselection process and to record the winningentries. I encourage all writers/composers tosubmit their music; inspire us.”The closing date for entries is 15 July 2011.Find out how to enter:www.abbeyroad.com/anthem

Rededication of the grave of Ivo Bligh Bishop James visits Bracton CentreOxleas NHS Foundation Trust offers a widerange of health and social care services insouth east London, specialising incommunity health, mental health and learningdisability services.

They have been the main provider ofspecialist mental health care in Bexley,Bromley and Greenwich for more than tenyears and have developed a comprehensiveportfolio of services in community andhospital settings. They also provide adultlearning disability services across Bexley,Bromley and Greenwich as well as forensicmental health care across south east Londonand in Kent Prisons.

The Bracton Centre provides a range ofspecialist forensic mental health services forpeople aged 18 - 65 living in the boroughsof Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich andLewisham and other boroughs whenrequested. The centre offers assessment,treatment and rehabilitation.

Bishop James visited the centre on 14May to lead a short service and meet someof the patients as part of his Deanery visit.

BBiisshhoopp JJaammeess wwiitthh PPaauulliinnee aanndd GGiillll

CONTACT USNews and letters to the Editor:Email: linknews@rochester.anglican.org Telephone: 01634 560000 NEXT COPY DEADLINE Monday August 8th for September Link ADVERTISEMENTS Email: roy@cornerstonevision.com CCooppyy ffoorr TThhee LLiinnkk nneeeeddss ttoo bbee ttyyppeedd aanndd ssuubbmmiitttteedd bbyy eemmaaiill pplleeaassee.. IImmaaggeess mmuusstt bbee ssuubbmmiitttteeddaass eeiitthheerr aa TTIIFFFF oorr aa JJPPEEGG ffiillee ooff 330000ddppii.. ((SSeett yyoouurr ddiiggiittaall ccaammeerraa ttoo tthhee hhiigghheesstt qquuaalliittyy sseettttiinnggaanndd wwee wwiillll ttrryy ttoo ddoo tthhee rreesstt ffoorr yyoouu..))