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LUDLOW TOWERS
Parish Magazine for
Ludlow St Laurence
and
Ludlow St John
St Laurence
50p
St John
2
LUDLOW ST LAURENCE PARISH OFFICE
2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 1AN
Telephone: 01584 872073
e-mail: [email protected] website: www.stlaurences.org.uk
The office is open to the public on Tuesdays
between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm.
Parish office 01584 872073
Shop Manager Kitty Massarella 01584 872073
Parish CD & Ops. Manager Sally Newman-Kidd 05602 092043
Parish PD & Exec. Manager Shaun Ward 05602 092043
Treasurer Michael Hunt 01584 872073
Book-keeper Lyddia Pearson 01584 872073
St John’s parish office Grace Johnson 07432 563545
Ashfords Group office Sam Adams 07493 132802
Northern Group office Grace Johnson 07493 247184
CLERGY (Days off in italics)
Acting Rector Revd Kelvin Price Fri 831886
Assistant Priest Revd Prebendary Ann Barge Wed 877307
Associate Minister Pastor Brigitte Malik Fri 878464
Vacancy Chaplain (StL) Revd Canon Jeffry Wilcox 872073
NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICES
St Laurence 8.00am Holy Communion BCP
9.30am Parish Eucharist
Sung Eucharist once a month
11.30am 2nd and 4th Sundays Choral Matins
3.30pm 1st and 3rd Sundays Choral Evensong
(No 3rd service on the 5th Sunday of the month)
St John 9.30am 1st & 3rd Sundays Holy Communion
2nd & 4th Sundays Lay-led Worship
St Giles 11.15am 1st Sunday Family Service
2nd & 4th Sundays Holy Communion
3rd Sunday Morning Prayer
3
CONTENTS
Clergy letter - Kelvin 4
From the Registers 5
Letter from Bishop Richard 6
Letter from Dean Michael 7
Regular Services & Events 8
Outward Concern Giving 2016 9
Parish Events in February 10
Churchwardens' Corner 11
PCC Meeting report - November 2016 12
Fair Trade Fortnight - 27 February - 12 March 13
CTAL Lent Groups 14
News from St John's Parish Church 15
Christian Aid 16
Visitors to St Laurence’s - 2016 report 18
Life & Learning @ Ludlow 19
Children’s Page 20
Messy Church 21
Conservation Trust for St Laurence 21
Food Bank - December Report and Annual Report 22
Choral Services at St Laurence’s 24
Who was St Valentine? 25
Lost & Found 25
Dates for your Diary - Forthcoming Events 26
Magazine deadline dates and Guidelines 27
Advertisements 38-34
Contact List 36
4
CLERGY LETTER
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn….
Thus begins TS Eliot’s great cycle of poems, Ash Wednesday 1930, a
work of complex and allusive language that paints a picture of the
human spiritual condition both as intricate and stark as an ancient
Celtic cross; incised with interfolded patterns and standing naked to
the weather’s onslaught.
The picture painted is of us torn by love of God yet risking being
rooted too much in the present to respond to his voice,
Wavering between the profit and the loss
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
The dream crossed twilight between birth and dying…
The poems speak to me of the urgency of Christ’s call to turn again to
him, which the Christian season of Lent voices. Behind Eliot’s opening
lines lies the idea that behind the Christian concept of repentance lies
the New Testament sense of a literal turning about, a turning towards
Christ and a turning aside from evil,
And pray to God to have mercy on us
And pray that I may forget
Those matters that with myself I too much discuss…
Lent is a season looking towards rebirth, a passage of time that takes
darkness seriously, and like a seed lying in the soil, leads us to the new
life of Easter. It is a time of renewal and recovery, and if we use it well
and let God use us well in it, then we can be transformed in it, we can
become vessels of light.
So as we’re now in February, Ash Wednesday only a few weeks away
on 1 March, let's begin to ready our minds and hearts to be focused
more closely to God.
Yours in Christ.
Kelvin
5
From the registers
Baptisms
4 December Connie Preece
Weddings
31 December Alexander William Bugler & Amber Mary Grinker
Funerals
19 December David Lawrence Monk St Laurence’s
28 December Gerald Sidney Price St Laurence’s
5 January Ernest Dennis Pugh St Laurence’s
6 January Muriel Curry (Harvey) St Laurence’s
16 January Dorothy Wootton Shrewsbury Crematorium
17 January Edith Betty Berry St Laurence’s
20 January Doris Eileen Bertha Wainwright St Laurence’s
The Diocese of Hereford is recruiting
We are seeking two Parish Giving Advisors with a passion for mission and the ability to
help our Parishes and Diocese achieve a sustainable financial position to enable us to
grow.
You should have the skills and experience to encourage and advise parishes on ways to
make the best use of their resources to generate income and encourage Christian
stewardship.
£30,000 pro rata Closing date 4pm on 10 Feb 2017
Interview date: 23 Feb 2017 For further information and to apply please visit our website:
www.hereford.anglican.org following the link to “Vacancies”.
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE DIOCESE OF HEREFORD
Parish Giving Advisors
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Letter from Bishop RICHARD
Happy New Year!
Two years ago I wrote a magazine letter giving my first impressions of
the diocese; this time last year I wrote an update. Now it’s time for
that update to be updated.
I pay tribute again to what I have described each year as the “the
heroic, faithful and imaginative Christian ministry being exercised across
the diocese by clergy and laity alike”.
As last year too, I want to highlight two major issues, namely growth,
both spiritual and numerical, and money.
Spiritual growth: At its last meeting, the Diocesan Synod spent
some time not just talking about prayer but actually praying for the
life of the diocese. I really hope that this can serve as a sign of a
deepening commitment to prayer. Watch out for “Thy Kingdom
Come”, the Archbishops’ call to prayer in 2017.
Numerical growth: Each year I have written, “I long to see more
people becoming Christians.” I rejoice whenever I see this
happening. By making spiritual and numerical growth our number
one priority, we are proclaiming that we have a faith to be shared.
Money: Our financial situation is very serious, but within our grasp
to remedy. The good news is that the principles of the Offer system contributing to the Common Fund are widely understood; so too is
the need for generosity, and there is indeed much evidence of such
generosity. The bad news is that there are significant numbers of
places where the understanding and commitment in principle have
not been responded to with increased offers. Please do all you can
to ensure that your own giving, and that of your PCC, represents a
generous, realistic and joyful response to the Christian good news.
+Richard
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Letter from THE DEAN
The Same Old Routine…..
In January I spent four days at a favourite Landmark Trust property – a
16th century house, deep in the Welsh countryside, about 3 miles from St
Asaph. I realise it was the seventh time I’d stayed there – and that,
whenever I go, I do much the same walks and have the same routine.
Perhaps you re-visit places with pleasure? I find this with my own regular
walks from the Deanery – I travel the same route up Dinedor Hill –
either 5 or 7 miles and I see the same countryside, tread the same paths
and yet, strangely, it’s always different – different weather, different
seasons, different thoughts in my head. This repetition isn’t something of
which we should be ashamed for it’s something which is at the very heart
of prayer and worship. Many of us were brought up in a tradition where
we repeated by heart – prayers, poems, songs – and the very repetition
wove those prayers and poems into our very souls. Often, the words
come unbidden, in times of uncertainty or crisis.
Many spiritual traditions remind us of the importance of doing things
again and again and not tiring of them. And in a world where we’re
encouraged always to be doing something ‘new’, it can be a real liberation
to be told that ‘repetition is ok’. And it’s not just me who thinks this! I
like these words by Archbishop Robert Runcie, when he speaks of ‘the
ordinary’ as something to celebrate and cherish:
The world of the stay-at-homes is smaller than that of the traveller, but maybe
they see more deeply into it and gain a wisdom as valuable as the broadening
of the mind, said to be the result of travel. Each of us, whether traveller or
stay-at-home, needs a still centre where we sense the things that hold life
together. The world needs innovators and pioneers, relishing new challenges and opportunities, even stimulated by uncertainty. But it needs also stablilisers,
the people who keep us rooted, the home-makers and home-builders.
God is leading us always into new ways, but he is also the stabiliser, holding us
secure in his love.
Let these words encourage us, when we feel we may be in a rut or a
groove. We may be but often those routines can be entirely positive and
life-giving!
8
PATTERN of REGULAR Weekly SERVICES
AND Activities
AT ST LAURENCE’S
Monday 08.00 - 08.30 Morning Prayer
15.00 - 16.00 Rector’s teatime
16.30 - 17.00 Evening Prayer
19.30 - 21.30 Bells Practice
Tuesday 08.00 - 09.00 Morning Prayer and Holy Communion
16.30 - 17.00 Evening Prayer
18.00 - 19.15 Handbells Practice
Wednesday 09.45 - 11.15 Toddler Group
12.00 - 12.45 Holy Communion
Thursday 08.00 - 09.00 Morning Prayer
10.30 - 11.00 Open Prayer Group (2nd Thurs only)
16.30 - 17.00 Evening Prayer
17.30 - 18.30 Practice for Junior Choristers
18.45 - 20.30 Choir Practice
Friday 08.00 - 09.00 Morning Prayer and Holy Communion
09.45 - 11.15 Toddler Group
17.30 - 18.00 Compline
Saturday 14.15 - 15.15 Guided tours of church
Sunday 08.00 - 08.45 Holy Communion
09.30 - 10.45 Parish Eucharist
11.30 - 12.30 Matins (1st and 3rd Sundays)
or
15.30 - 16.30 Evensong (2nd and 4th Sundays)
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Outward Concern Giving
The following charitable donations were made by the St Laurence
congregations in collections taken during the calendar year 2016:
6 March Mothering Sunday
Mothers’ Union ‘Away from it all’ holiday scheme £112.30
22 April Collections taken during Lent for Poverty Sunday
Ludlow Foyer for Young Homeless People £250.00
Ludlow Home Start for families £250.00
22 May
Shropshire Historic Churches £140.76
26 June (Petertide)
Maramba Deanery Tanzania, Ordinands’ fund £185.35
2 October Harvest
Christian Aid £609.55
13 November Remembrance Sunday
British Legion £580.04
24 December Christingle Service
The Children’s Society £490.00
The following charitable donations were made from a proportion
of the St Laurence, Ludlow, congregations planned giving for the
financial year 2016:
USPG Rapid Relief Fund for Refugees £500.00
Church Urban Fund £500.00
Ludlow Foyer for Young Homeless People £200.00
Ludlow Home Start for families £200.00
Ludlow Youth Club £100.00
Thanks to everyone who gave so generously.
Jane Robinson (chair Outward Concern Group)
10
ST LAURENCE Events calendar
FEBRuary 2017
Date Time Event Details
Sat 11 Feb 7.30pm Edge Chamber Choir concert
Mon 20 Feb 7.30pm Quiz Night at Ludlow Brewery
Sat 25 Feb 10-11.30am Church wardens' & volunteers'
coffee morning
Mon 27 Feb Fair Trade fortnight begins
Quiz Night
Monday 20 February at 7.30pm
Admission £5pp
Fish & chips/sausage & chips available - £5
Raffle Teams of 4
IMPORTANT NOTICE
We are aware that we are legally responsible for people’s safety in the
church all the time that it is open.
If there is an incident in the church a member of staff should be
informed immediately. There is a telephone contact list held in the
shop in case a member of staff is not at hand straightaway.
Most incidents involve frail, older people who have had a fall so it is a
wise precaution to get a paramedic to assess their needs. Health and
Safety matters are continuously monitored, and practice in this area will be too. Churchwardens and PCC
11
Churchwardens' corner
The darkest days of winter are past and thoughts
turn to Candlemas. I enjoy this short season that
reminds us that spring is around the corner, even if
the weather does not. Like many things in life it is a
bitter-sweet moment liturgically because although there is the looking
back to Christmas we know Lent and Passion-tide are coming over the
horizon.
The bishops have agreed to the process for starting to appoint a new
rector for the two parishes of St Laurence's and St John's. The PCC
has been drawing up a “job profile” for this post. This will reflect the
needs of St Laurence's church while St John's will be drawing up its
own profile but it is important that everyone understands that the
“person profile” will combine our needs with those of St John's.
I recently completed figures for the diocese relating to congregational
numbers for services at Easter, the whole month of October and
Christmas 2016. I am delighted to report that the numbers for
services at Easter and in October held up well when compared with
those for 2015 and indeed earlier years. The really noticeable point
was that numbers attending Christingle, Midnight Eucharist and the
Carol Service on Christmas Day were all up by quite a high percentage.
For me there were two special things about the Christmas Day
services: the opportunity to sing my favourite Christmas hymn
"Christians awake salute the happy morn" along with an explanation of
how the hymn and tune came to be written (thank you Andrew Body);
and the hilarious rendition of "the twelve days of Christmas" by month
of birthdays. As a Taurean we May people got the best line to sing (I think) in "five gold rings" and many times! I'm not sure that the
November and December birthdays had much to sing. As always the
Carols in the Castle drew terrific numbers as did the most enjoyable
Nine Lessons and Carols. Many thanks to all who make these big
services possible. Much effort goes in on the days concerned but there
is also a great deal of preparation and practice needed, so well done
everyone. I'd also like to thank the team of volunteers that ensured
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candles were lit around the stone plinths, set things up and cleared
away after each service. This was a great help and I am writing up
standard operating procedures to keep on file for future years so that
it does not rely on any one individual's memory but can be easily
accessed by the person(s) organising volunteers for such services.
A reminder that the Quiz in the Brewery will now be held on Monday
20 February. This spreads our events across a wider period and is still
before the more solemn Lent season.
Finally a summary of the minutes of the PCC meeting held on 28
November 2016. The full minutes are on view in the church porch.
Banking: Restricted Fund account opened as agreed previously
Rector's Teatime: Acting Rector pleased with initial take-up
Staff workloads: high - more volunteer help to be sought by
public appeal; need for clarity on to whom the volunteers were
answerable Youth worker/chaplain: post established at Ludlow CoE
School funded by local church charity; CTAL may help in future;
Acting Rector to meet school head and chaplain to review
School governor: vacancy soon at St Laurence's Primary
School.; volunteers to be sought from St Laurence's congregation
Piano fund: £1,450, given to PCC by Arts at St Laurence's for
using the church during the June 2016 Festival, allocated to piano
restricted fund
Display boards: successful exhibitions in church (Children's Art
at St Laurence's and Young at Art); need for church to have own
boards in future
Health and Safety: Fabric Committee to draft proforma and
terms of reference so volunteers know what is expected of them
Outward Concern Group: PCC unanimously agreed
recommendation to share £1,500 (sum already agreed by the
PCC) between three nominated charities
PCC Away Day: 11 February 2017, outside diocese boundaries
Parish Plan: almost ready to go to the two bishops
Break-ins: full report on break-ins at 2 College Street and St
Laurence's church on 26 November; for details see full minutes.
Jim Hooper & Brian Gardner, Churchwardens
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Fairtrade Fortnight 2017
Monday 27 February - Sunday 12 March
The food on our tables, the tea and coffee in our mugs, all from
farmers who toil, sweat and slog. However hard they work to
provide the things we depend on, millions of farmers in developing countries aren’t paid what they deserve. It’s not a new problem. We
need to amplify the voices of marginalised producers as much as
ever in 2017.
A variety of events is planned in Ludlow – more information in the
March Towers, posters and publicity in the churches and around
Ludlow.
Traidcraft stall - St Laurence’s
24 February - 17 March
Chocolate of Peace film - Clun Methodist Church
Thursday 2 February
Speaker Event - Ludlow Methodist Church, 7.30pm
Saturday 4 March
Children’s Fairtrade Painting Competition Entries
welcomed by 3 March. Details from: [email protected]
Mayor’s Reception - St Laurence's, 1.30-2.30pm.
Wednesday 8 March
Presentation of prizes for children’s competition, followed by
light refreshments. Take a Fairtrade Break
Display of children’s art work - St Laurence’s
Wednesday 8 - Friday 17 March
Special Fairtrade stall - Local Produce Market
Thursday 9 March
Traidcraft Spring Fayre - Ludlow Mascall Centre
Saturday 11 March
Library Display and a variety of Fairtrade outlets will all be
involved
Do join in and consider planning a Fairtrade Break at home, work or
church!
Penny Bridstrup
14
CHURCHES TOGETHER AROUND LUDLOW
The CTAL Lent Study Groups 2017 will start in the week beginning
Monday 6 March and will last five weeks. In the York course chosen,
‘Receiving Christ’, Canon John Young asks us to consider how we can
receive Christ and what it means to have a relationship with God.
We are sure that those who have previously taken part in the CTAL
Lent Study Groups will agree that they are an excellent way to get to
know people from churches other than our own. Please encourage
others to join too. Transport can probably be arranged for those who
need it. There is no charge to attend the groups, but we do ask you
to refund the cost of the course booklet (£5.00) if you are able.
We can offer a choice of seven groups, each meeting weekly five times
during Lent at venues across Ludlow.
The times are:
Monday 10am-12noon
Tuesday 2-4pm
Wednesday 2-4pm
Wednesday 7-9pm
Thursday 2-4pm;
Friday 10am-12noon
Friday 7.30-9.30pm
Full details are on forms at the back of church at St Laurence’s, which
should be completed and returned on or before Wednesday 8
February. We will hopefully be able to let you know which group you
are in by Wednesday 15th February.
Mike Beazley
15
NOTES from St John’s Parish Church
2017 has started with the loss of two of our good friends. Betty Berry
was born in Temeside in 1924, went to Ludlow High School, then at
the age of 19 joined the army where she met her future husband,
Leonard. She loved animals and was a founder member of The Ludlow
Cats’ Protection League. She also loved St John’s where she was a
respected member for many years.
Dot Wainwright, the mother of Sue Thomas, was born in London in
1916, though she was brought up in Onibury. She was married to Joe
Wainwright at Onibury Church in 1941 by the then Rector, Darcy
Ward. Dot was a very active person who walked a lot and was often
out and about. She had numerous interests which included cooking
and gardening, whist and bowling as well as her large family which
included great grandchildren. Dot also loved St John’s, a love which
was reciprocated by those of us who knew her.
Preparations for the refurbishment of the building are continuing with
architect’s plans on display in the church. These have come out of
extensive consultation with our partners ‘Living Waters Fellowship’,
‘Hands Together Ludlow’ and other potential stake-holders. Although
nothing is as yet, set in stone, the plans reflect a high level of
concordance between the parties as to the ways in which the building
might best facilitate our respective missions. The plans can be seen on
Tuesdays between 10am and 12noon at our weekly coffee morning.
One element of this preparation is the commissioning of an expensive
‘measured survey’ which involves assessing subterranean features by
ground radar. Another job to be done involves the cutting down of
two fir trees just inside the main entrance gate, the roots of which have distorted the ground and path up to the main door. Hence, the
stumps also need to be ground out. Town Council permission and a
Diocesan faculty have been granted to undertake the work which is
part of a radical appraisal of whole site.
Wayne Davies, in his role, which might be described as ‘wandering
missioner’, is now into his third month with us. He has made many
contacts with individuals, families, churches and organisations around
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the area and has that ability ‘to go where others might fear to tread’,
bringing care and counsel to people in many kinds of need. We wish
him success in his mission.
Finally, although it occurred back on 11 December, we should like to
thank all who helped to make St John’s Christmas Celebration such a
lively and heart-warming occasion, Ludlow Concert Band for their
expert and thrilling renditions of Christmas themes, St John’s Choir
who sang with feeling, the organist of Shrewsbury Abbey and those
who provided such a generous spread of refreshments. Thanks also
to Shaun Ward for his unstinting help on the day, to Revd Tom Leary
for his welcome and benediction, to Colin Reeves for his inspired
musical direction and to Sheila French for her initiative and drive both
in the planning and implementation of this striking event.
John French
CHRISTIAN AID
First the "good" news: in 2016 Ludlow collected the grand total of
£14,359.92p for Christian Aid, thus exceeding by £1,962.13p the
previous record, set in 2012. The street collection on 17 December
also broke the, 2013, record by £60, raising £951.14p towards the
total. This may be due to increased awareness of great need across
the world. However here in Ludlow it is largely due to the
commitment of our helpers. We could not have achieved this without
you,. The committee is very grateful to you as well as the many of you
who contribute so generously.
And yet it is somewhat ironic, surely to call this "good" news, given
the grim news we hear via charities such as Christian Aid, Oxfam and
Cafod. I quote from The Guardian of 17 December: "For the past
two years crop failure in Africa has led to devastating food shortages
across the continent NEARLY 50 MILLION PEOPLE now need
emergency food aid. Seven countries have declared a state of
emergency. Ethiopia is facing its worst drought in 50 years”.
17
Among the main reasons for this are climatic factors such as El Niño
and the promotion, by both African countries and the West, of
maize, a crop ill-suited to local conditions.
What is it like to be hungry? Lucia lives in Malawi. Her husband died
10 years ago and she has eight children to feed (four are orphans).
She tells us, "I was given a 50kg sack of sorghum in November,
enough for two and a half weeks; it was supposed to last a month.
We eat just one meal a day. Last month I was so hungry, I had to eat
water lilies. I walked about 6 hours to the Mozambique border to
find them. Ugh, they are really bitter. Children who cannot eat do
not go to school. I've thought of putting salt in hot water, but they
won't drink it'. She goes on, "Sight is affected by hunger, your heart
runs fast. Your stomach hurts, your head hurts. You are confused
and it consumes you. I have prepared my land to grow maize, it is all
ready for the rains, but I have no seeds. Even if we can plant in December, it will be April before we have any food. Until then, we
will need help".
So Christian Aid has to balance meeting the immediate needs of
those who are starving and helping communities to develop
sustainable, self supporting projects, whilst simultaneously drawing
the world's attention to the deleterious effects of man-made climate
change, as well as to how some leaders are holding back
development.
Currently there is a special appeal for the people of Yemen where 7
million people do not know where their next meal is coming from,
and children are dying from malnutrition. We have also been warned
of famine in north east Nigeria, where 6500 people are already
starving, with a further million just one step away. This is because of
the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram.
So it's not really good news, but this should make us all the more
determined to continue to support the work of Christian Aid. To
that end please remember our Lent lunches every Friday during Lent,
beginning on 3 March. Anglicans host the lunch on 17 March. Please
make a note to attend as many of these lunches as you can.
Claire Wilcox
18
Visitors TO ST LAURENCE’S in 2016
The annual volunteers’ gathering in December offered, along with tea,
mince pies and chat, a chance to review the visitor experience in 2016.
Yet again it was a record year. Visitor numbers were at least 66,000.
the largest number ever (we changed during the year from manual
counting to our automatic system, so this is a conservative estimate).
Tower visits were a little down, but not income which means that our
shop assistants are now even more effective in inviting visitors to Gift
Aid their contributions. We are now the ninth most visited Free
Visitor Attraction in the West Midlands, up one place from 2015 (by
comparison Malvern Priory attracts just 40,000 visitors).
The shop has received much attention during this past year. First, we
were delighted to learn that Di Corston's guardianship of the shop
across more than 30 years has been recognised by the diocese with
the award of the Order of St Ethelbert. Now, with Kitty Massarella in
post as shop manager and much new stock in place, profitability has
increased by some 45% over the second half of the year.
Overall, income from visitors (donations, tower visits, shop) reached
the highest ever figure of £73,000, up 4% on 2015. This represents an
average contribution of just over £1.10 from each visitor. It is worth
noting that currently only about one in three enters the shop, so the
challenge for our welcomers in 2017 is to steer them in that direction!
As usual, we had visitors from every corner of the globe: from Austria
to Australia via Iceland, India, Palestine and Patagonia. Their comments
make fascinating reading, with a great emphasis on the warmth of the
welcome that they receive. Here are just two of them, the shortest –
“Wow!” and the longest – “ How tremendous to be visiting with the
orchestra rehearsing in this truly magnificent civic church. The whole
building yearns skywards, as if straining to lift off, but a stronger force
anchors it – a solidity that is the essence of being rooted to the bustling
heart of this ancient Shropshire town.”
So, a huge thank you to all who volunteer as welcomers or shop
assistants for all that you do for St Laurence's.
Ewart Carson
19
LIFE & LEARNING @ LUDLOW
Our Life & Learning @ Ludlow adult learning programme continues in
February with a series of four talks entitled ‘Women in the Early
Church’ given by the Revd Canon Dr Maureen Palmer.
Maureen writes, “Women clearly played some important roles in
ministry within the early Church. We have numerous names in the
letters of St Paul, all adding to evidence that they played a major role
in the operation of the Church - as deacons, as hosts to the Church,
as ministers to women and children. However they were much more
than this. There were women scholars - not able to write in their
own names but able to influence their male colleagues, women who
travelled extensively and brought back much information about
worship and operation of the Church. Some of the Church Fathers,
such as Jerome, had a following of women with whom they discussed
faith and practice”.
The lectures comprise:
on 2 February: Women in the New Testament
on 9 February: Women and their pursuit of scholarship
on 16 February: The women friends of Jerome
on 23 February: Women travellers in the Holy Places
The number that can be accommodated is limited, so those wishing to
attend are encouraged to reserve their place as early as possible. Full
details, with booking form, can be downloaded from the website
(www.stlaurences.org.uk/lifeandlearning). Copies of the programme
can also be obtained at the Welcome Desk in church or by contacting
me on 01584 878872.
Barry Forrester
20
21
Messy Church
The ‘Preparing for Christmas’ Messy Church was held at Ludlow Elim
Church and went well. We had about 45 people who made or
decorated angels of various sorts, and made paper chains, cards and
biscuits. We heard about Christmas journeys, and about the light that
the angels brought to different parts of the story. After the time of
celebration we all enjoyed afternoon tea.
We are going to try and fix four ‘Messy Church’ dates throughout
2017 so there will be one a quarter. The next will probably be in
March or April so look out for more information in the next Towers
magazine. Sue Thomas - 01584 874352
Conservation Trust for ST Laurence
Palmers’ Talk & Tea - Rebuilding History: Flying
Grandad's Aircraft
When Theo Willford suggested to David and Rick Bremner that they
reconstruct the aircraft their Grandad flew in 1916, none of them
knew where the journey would take them. One hundred years on, the
aircraft, the only airworthy Bristol Scout in the world, was flown from
the identical spot their grandfather flew from on the Greek island of
Thassos, and on many other adventures. This event is held on
Thursday 16 February between 2.30 and 4.30pm at the Ludlow
Methodist Church, Broad Street. Ticket price: £5 on the door (tea
and cake included).
St John’s Chapel Appeal - Help Us Reach the Goal
The Conservation Trust for St Laurence is in the midst of raising
£12,000 towards the urgent restoration and preservation of Tudor and
Georgian woodwork in St John's Chapel, the mediaeval Palmers'
Chapel. We are almost there - only £1800 short of what is needed to
start work. Now is the time to help us reach our goal. A £10
donation turns into £22.50 with gift aid and matching grant. Please
send donations (cheques made payable to CTSLL) to Hon Treasurer,
CTSLL, 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1AN.
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Ludlow CTAL FOOD BANK
December was, as usual, the busiest month of
the year with special efforts made by all those
involved to try and ensure that Christmas was a
touch different and special. A great deal of effort was made by all the
helpers involved and we can be confident that their work was very much
appreciated by all recipients.
The number of parcels at 33 was, predictably and as in previous years,
the highest monthly total for the year. The total parcels for 2016 was
163, down 27% on last year and 38% down on 2015. The downward
trend continues.
An analysis of the reasons given for receiving food parcels showed
"Benefits" at over 50% of the total. If there is still an element of delay in
receiving benefits then this needs sorting out – again. Against this
increase, the number claiming food parcels for "Financial" reasons has
nearly halved which is to be greatly welcomed.
The Ludlow food parcels centre still serves several outlying towns and
villages, but this total is down by 65% on 2015. Increasingly, it serves
Ludlow alone. The outlook for 2017 is uncertain but, as long as the
trend continues to be downward then the number of parcels will soon
be below 100 in the year. We look forward to that day.
Tony Cant
ANNUAL Report for 2016
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has
supported Ludlow Food Bank, this year, and to thank all our wonderful
volunteers who have been so reliable in manning the food bank.
The first nine months of 2016 were very much quieter for us than in
recent years. However October and particularly December have been
much busier, and we have again had referrals from many of the agencies
who were not in touch with us earlier in the year. One social worker
informed us that “people have got used to living on less, and seem to be
better at budgeting”. Probably lower food prices also helped.
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Other food banks in the region have been busier this year, which may
have also reduced the burden on us.
At the end of November the benefits cap was introduced, which could
very well explain the sudden increase in need. Some families are £90-
£100 worse off per week than before the benefits cap
The total number of parcels was 163. The amount of food given out
was enough to feed 328 people for a week. The number of different
individuals helped (removing repeats) was 223. The number of children
helped, as part of a family, was 133 (37 in December)
We are still constantly amazed at the generosity of local people. Food
comes in very reliably, and we have even had to advise local churches
that we have had too much stock at times. However, everything
changed in December. Several large families were referred to us, so
supplies started to dwindle quite rapidly. We were able to do some
shopping with donated money, but that food soon disappeared. Then we suddenly had offers from all sorts of places, and whenever we
thought that we would not be able to make up a food parcel, somebody
would arrive with boxes or bags full of food. We felt very blessed.
We have had major donations from schools, businesses, surgeries, CAB,
churches and families. At Christmas time someone made up their own
“reverse advent calendar”, where they put a treat into a box every day
and gave it to us. There was a fund raising event, where a Christmas
hamper was made, but instead of raffling it, they gave it to the food bank.
One family decided that they would not buy Christmas presents for each
other this year, but would buy food for the food bank instead. Some
churches collected Christmas goodies to put into Christmas hampers,
Those donations were well used, as we were able to give Christmas
treats to families who were victims of domestic violence and others
suffering from poor health, financial difficulties or other problems.
It will be interesting to see what 2017 brings, I have learned that it is
very difficult to predict what may happen. Our plan is to carry on while
there are people who need us. One thing we do know is that we could
not continue without the support that we have received, and we are so
grateful to everyone who has helped us. Thank you.
Ruth Davies (Co-ordinator)
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25
ST VALENTINE’s day—14 February
There are two confusing things about this day of romance and
anonymous love-cards strewn with lace, cupids and ribbon. Firstly,
there seems to have been two different Valentines in the 4th century -
one a priest martyred on the Flaminian Way, under the emperor
Claudius, the other a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome. And,
secondly, neither seems to have had any clear connection with lovers
or courting couples.
So why has Valentine become the patron saint
of romantic love? By Chaucer’s time the link
was assumed to be because on these saints’ day
-14 February - the birds are supposed to pair.
Or perhaps the custom of seeking a partner on
St Valentine’s Day is a surviving scrap of the old
Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place in
the middle of February. One of the Roman
gods honoured during this Festival was Pan, the
god of nature. Another was Juno, the goddess
of women and marriage. During the Lupercalia it was a popular custom
for young men to draw the name of a young unmarried woman from a
name-box. The two would then be partners or ‘sweethearts’ during
the time of the celebrations. Even modern Valentine decorations bear
an ancient symbol of love - Roman cupids with their bows and love-
arrows.
There are no churches in England dedicated to Valentine, but since
1835 his relics have been claimed by the Carmelite church in Dublin.
Parish Pump
LOST AND FOUND
Ladies, do you worry, when you put on your hat, that your head has
shrunk? Fear not, you probably just mistook Val
Hardwick’s hat for your own after the Nine Lessons &
Carols service in December. Val would love to have her
black hat back and you’ll find yours by the till in the shop.
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Samaritans, Herefordshire
Charity lunch Friday 17 March 11.30am The Haywain, Lyde Arundel
Talk and Q&A session with
Linda Bennett, founder of L.K.Bennett £30 pp incl coffee & biscuits and sit-down lunch
Ludlow and District Riding for the Disabled Association
Cosford Military Wives Choir Friday 24 March 7.30pm
Ludlow Methodist Church
Adults - £12, under-16s - £6
Tickets from Wesley’s Café, Myriad Organics or 01584 875220
The Edge Chamber Choir
sings Stephen Frost’s Parapraxis
Saturday 11 February St Laurence’s Church 7.30pm
Tickets £10, under-16s free
27
Thank you to all our contributors.
COPY FOR THE MARCH TOWERS TO THE OFFICE BY
7 FEBRUARY 2017 PLEASE
Material arriving after the preferred date cannot be guaranteed to be
included. Material arriving after the final date will definitely
NOT be included until the following month:
Issue Preferred Date Final Date
March 7 February 14 February
April 7 March 14 March
May 11 April 18 April
Please send articles by email to [email protected]
Please send information about events and subjects that you would like to
appear in the magazine. We ask contributors to limit their articles to:
No more than two A5 pages or 600 words (Gill Sans 12pt)
There may be special circumstances when more space is required but we
ask that you please check with the Editorial Committee and request
larger space at least two weeks ahead of the submission date to
determine if sufficient space will be available in that month’s issue.
Editor’s Note
Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this magazine are those of the
contributor and do not necessarily represent the position or opinions of the
PCC or the Editorial Committee.
Towers Editorial Committee
The present members of the Towers editorial committee are:
Sally Newman-Kidd Parish Office 872073
John Burley 72 Dahn Drive, Ludlow 873155
Lesley Gosbee-Harper Flat 6, 3 College Street 879265
Lesley Harling Ottie’s Lodge, Steventon, Ludlow 318309
28
THANK YOU to these local retailers and businesses who have supported us by purchasing advertising space.
Diocesan News Service for Magazine Editors.
Copy in writing for March issue by 1 February to:
Communications Office, [email protected]
The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BL
We ALFI
f u rn i tur e maker s
Locally made to measure traditional kitchens and pine furni-
ture
Wednesdays - in the Market Square
Marcus Field and Sarah Redway
4 The Terrace, Norton, Presteigne, LD82EL
01544 260033 w w w . w e a l f i . c o . u k
R I B A
Trevor Hewett
A R C H I T E C T
▪ Planning applications ▪
▪ Listed building consent ▪
▪ Building regulations ▪
▪ Alterations and extensions ▪
▪ Church inspections ▪
▪ Green building ▪
The Architecture Studio 22 Broad Street, Ludlow SY8 1NG
Tel: 01584 877992 Email: [email protected]
www.trevorhewett.co.uk
29
30
Victoria Allen
Funeral Services
Traditional and Green
Funerals
Private Chapel of Rest
Pre-Paid Funeral Plans
All Areas Covered
Ludlow
01584 879035
24 Hour Service
8 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, SY8 1ND [email protected]
Castle Bookshop 5 Castle Street, Ludlow Y8 1AS
Tel: 01584 872562
e-mail: castle-
31
The real beauty is the service we offer
Best of all agencies for local knowledge
Specialists in the town market from small
cottages to grand
residences Ludlow office
26 Bull Ring
Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8 1AA
Tel: 01584 873711 [email protected]
32
Say Cheese! Say Mark!
Market Square, always there (Look for the cheese van)
FARMERS
Fruit, Vegetables &
Flowers
1 Mill Street, Ludlow
Extensive range of
quality local produce
Specialist Suppliers to
Hotel and Catering
Trade
Tel: 01584 873534
SARAH NASH
Qualified Foot Health
Practitioner
For all your foot care needs from the comfort of your own
home.
Nail Trimming
Removal of corns & callus
Contact 01584 878866
Mobile 07903638274
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HINGE & BRACKET
Top Quality, Reliable Service with a Smile!
RICK BREMNER
All aspects of home Improvements.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
My priority is a satisfied customer. My prices are very competitive and all my work is guaranteed.
Pride in my work
I love what I do, and this is reflected in my work. I always give great attention to detail and leave the site clean and tidy.
I love a job with a challenge, or one that’s a bit out of the ordinary!
Tel: 07866975429 (If unavailable please do leave a message)
Email: [email protected]
34
Old Downton Lodge
Come along and celebrate the arrival of our new Head Chef Karl Martin by trying our new Tasting Menu!
Our Restaurant is open Tuesday through until Saturday night from 6pm until 9pm and is offering a set tasting menu, a True
taste of the Shropshire countryside.
We look forward to welcoming many guests from the surrounding counties and hopefully further afield as our
reputation grows.
For reservations please contact David on: [email protected] or call on 01568771826
AA Hotel Services is delighted to announce that
Old Downton Lodge has been awarded a two AA Rosette
Award and maintained the 5 gold stars for the hotel
DISHLEY FOOT HEALTH AT GRANGE COURT LEOMINSTER
NAILCARE, THICKENED NAILS, CALLUSES, CORNS
PROFESSIONAL FOOT CARE SERVICE
Pedicure and Qualified massage also available
ANITA HARVEY
REGISTERED NURSE AND QUALIFIED FOOT HEALTH
PRACTITIONER
CALL TO BOOK: 01568 613298 0R 07816988196
[email protected] – Home visits possible
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CONTACT US…
LUDLOW ST LAURENCE
Parish Office 2 College Street, Ludlow SY8 1AN 872073
Churchwardens Mr Brian Gardner, 29 Lower Broad Street, Ludlow 318020
Mr Jim Hooper, 37 Beech Close, Ludlow SY8 2PD 878766
Deputy Churchwarden Mr Michael Davies, 5 Hosyers Almshouses, College St 07970434822
PCC Secretary Mrs Val Hardwick, Culmington 861658
Electoral Roll Mr Dick Franks 7 Angel Bank, Bitterley, Ludlow 892019
Bible Reading F’ship Penelope Bridstrup, 4 The Vineyard, Lower Broad Street 876992
Children’s Church Children’s Committee, Parish Office 872073
Communion Rota Mrs Fay Carson, Fairfield, Linney, Ludlow 879155
Conservation Trust Mr Hugh Wood, 38 Charlton Rise, Ludlow 876901
Custodian Mr Matthew Lenthall c/o Parish Office 872073
Director of Music Mr Shaun Ward, c/o Parish Office 872073
Flowers Mrs Liz Gardner, 29 Lower Broad Street, Ludlow 318020
Gift Aid Secretary c/o Parish Office 872073
Mothers’ Union Mothers' Union Office, Hereford 01432 373306
Pastoral Links c/o Parish Office 872073
Sacristan / Servers Sec.
Sidesmen’s Rota 8am Mrs Barbara Burns, 8 Poyner Road, Ludlow 872419
Stewarding Mrs Fay Carson, Fairfield, Linney, Ludlow 879155
St Laurence Shop Miss Kitty Massarella, c/o Parish Office 873778
Tower Captain Mr Tony Greatrex, Church House, Bell Lane, Orleton 01568 780764
Tower Floodlighting Forms at St Laurence Shop
Towers Editor. Lesley Harling, Ottie’s Lodge, Steventon, Ludlow 318309
LUDLOW ST JOHN
Church Wardens Mrs Sheila French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Rd 876142
Dr Brian Childs, 12 Vashon Close, Ludlow 878871
Treasurer Mr Peter Phelps, Hill Crest, Gravel Hill, Ludlow 873179
Secretary Mr John French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Road 876142
Electoral Roll Mr John French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Road 876142
Organist Mr Colin Reeves 875608
ST GILES LUDFORD
Churchwardens Mr Merlin Unwin, 8 Corve Street, Ludlow 872987
Treasurer Mrs Barbara Foster, 6 James Close, Ludlow 318298
Minutes Secretary Mrs Karen Unwin, 8 Corve Street , Ludlow 872987
Electoral Roll Mr Rob Downes, 30 Wheeler Road, Ludlow 874095
Flowers Mrs Elizabeth Woodall 878565
Organist Mr Colin Reeves 875608
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LARGE PRINT Copies in large print are available from
the St Laurence Parish Office
01584 872073
