August 2001 Parish News

Parish News August 2001 Issue

The Rector’s Letter

Rector: The Reverend G B Austen M.A. M.Phil. KHT

The Rectory, Barnack, Stamford, Lincolnshire. PE9 3ET
Telephone: Stamford 740234 E-mail: austenglobalnet.co.uk

The Rector's Letter

About once a month the clergy of Barnack Deanery hold what is called a Chapter Meeting, for the exchange of information and for discussion. We met today and discussed the theme: Models for Ministry. This is not some arcane debate of interest only to the clergy, but something which affects every parish in the land.

Since the end of WW2 the Church of England has been in crisis management mode. As costs have soared the numbers of stipendiary clergy have dropped, with the result that parishes have been amalgamated into larger and larger benefices. This has happened in our own villages: Ufford had its own resident Rector until the early 1950s. The Rector of Barnack even had a curate in the early part of the 20th Century! Some benefices over the diocesan border in Lincolnshire now run to as many as ten or twelve parishes. There have been lots of closures of church buildings, too.

How much longer it can - or should - go on was the topic of our debate today. There has to be a limit to the process, and there has to be a time when the Church stops trying to patch over the tears in the system and respond with a radical strategy aimed at the future. The reality is that the Church of England can no longer afford to sustain so many full time paid clergy, nor to maintain so many costly medieval church buildings.

This is not an admission which gives me any pleasure, but I think it is true. We can foresee that the time is coming when many, many more village churches will be closed and handed over to the Redundant Churches Fund. Then there will be no services in those ancient buildings, and people will rue the day they allowed their local church communities to die. And don't assume that this is just a prospect for somewhere else: it isn't.

I can understand an atheist or an agnostic not caring - it's entirely reasonable! What is hard to understand is the response of the majority who claim to be members of the Church of England, and who want the parish church to be there for Christmas and Easter, for weddings, funerals and baptisms, but who show little interest in the church building - or, more importantly, the Christian community - the rest of the time.

It is time to be counted. The challenge is not to the atheists or agnostics among my readers, or to the Catholics or Methodists or those who actively support other denominations. The challenge is to those many who consider themselves to be members of the Church of England: do something about it now, otherwise you will wake up one morning in the not too distant future and find that there is no parish church, no priest, no funeral, no wedding, no baptism, no Christmas carols, no Easter Communion. It is not so far away as you might think.

Fr. Glyn Austen

GENERAL CHURCH NOTICES

BARNACK SERVERS FOR AUGUST

Baptism
At St. Andrew's Church, Ufford, on 1 July 2001 - Hannah Elizabeth Bassett

Funeral
At St. John the Baptist's Church, Barnack, on 13 July 2001, followed by interment in Barnack Cemetery - Rose Irene Betts

Interment of Ashes
At St. Mary's Church, Bainton, on 17 July 2001 - Rachel Mary Hardy

Service Changes During the Holiday Season
Barnack Choir will continue to be on holiday throughout August. Practices will resume on Friday 7 September and Choir will resume on Sunday 9 September. During the holiday period all 10 a.m. services at Barnack will be Said Eucharists with hymns. The Wednesday morning Eucharists at Barnack will remain as normal throughout August, but there will be some cancellations of the Thursday evening Eucharist. Please see the Calendar for full details.

Children's Church
Children's Church will continue to be on holiday during August. We shall resume on Sunday 9 September. There will be a meeting of the teachers to plan the Autumn Term at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday 5 September at the Rectory. Children's Church would still like to recruit one or two more teachers, so please speak to Heather Austen (740234) if you can help.

Women's Fellowship Group
The Women's Fellowship will not meet in August. Meetings will resume at 8.00 p.m. on Thursday 20 September.

Youth Music Group/Ikthus
The Youth Music Group and Ikthus will not meet in August. We hope to resume in September. It would be nice to welcome some new members in September, so if you would like to know more about either group please speak to me. Rector

Royal British Legion
On Tuesday August 14 there will be a cheese and wine patio party at the Millstone Inn, Barnack 7pm. Tickets £4.50.
On Tuesday 25 September we will host the Stamford Town Band in Concert with Classic Harmony , Peterborough Ladies Barbershop Chorus at St John the Baptist Church, Barnack 7.30pm. Tickets £6.
These events are both open and everyone is most welcome. For tickets and further information contact the secretary on 740865, Charles Clark 740441, Ken Wheeler 740305, Ken Waller 740396, Philip Richards 740359 or Barnack Post Office.

New Collector for Bainton and Ashton:
Thank you to Julie Stanton from Bainton for volunteering to act as collector for the villages of Bainton & Ashton. Julie will take over as collector in September. Please continue to give your Parish News contributions to Lisa in July and August.

Barnack Horticultural Show and Family Day
Another fun packed afternoon has been organised for The Horticultural Show and Family Day this year, which will be held on the School Field from 12.00 noon to 4.00 p.m. The schedules for the show are currently being sold. We are visiting every house, but if you were out when we called you can buy one from either the Village Shop in Barnack or Barnack Country Store. Please do enter the Horticultural Show itself this year. It is great fun and the more entries we have the better the competition. Remember it is your show, if we don't have support it won't survive. Entries should be registered on Thurdsay 16 August at the Village Hall between 6.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m., so that sufficient space can be allocated for each class. Entry forms are in the schedule or can be obtained from the Village Shop.
There will be a good selection of attractions for children and adults on the School Field throughout the afternoon, together with games, competitions and stalls, not to mention the excellent lunches and teas served by the WI. There will also be a Car Boot Sale. Please either book your pitch on the day for £5 or ring 740276 for a pre booking for £4. Don't miss this most enjoyable village event. If anyone has prizes suitable for the tombola stall or any paper back books for the book stall please do contact either Brian and Cynthia Dailey on 740418, Patrick Knights on 740774 or Peter and June Woollard on 740276.

Ufford Ladies Group
There will be no meeting during August. We would like to invite members of Barnack Women's Institute and Bainton Buttercross Club to our meeting on Tuesday, September 25, starting at 7.45pm. 'The Life and Times of Jane Austen' presented by Hurluberlu will include dances in costume and readings, and an opportunity to join in some of the dances. There will be a bring and buy sale of produce, so please be making an extra jar or two of jam and chutney. As the renovation of Ufford Village Hall may not be complete, we shall probably be meeting in Barnack Village Hall. Details in the September issue of the Parish News. Frieda Gosling

St Andrew's Church, Ufford
A very happy and successful evening was held at St Andrew's Church, Ufford on Friday 29 June, when Collegium Regale gave a concert. Thank you to everyone who supported the occasion. The eats were delicious and we were able to spend the interval outside. A profit of over £600 was made for Church funds.
Sally Hudson

Barnack Church Patronal Festival Grand Draw Results
The following people won prizes in the draw on 23 June.
James Ward Dinner for two
J Sutcliffe £25 John Lewis Voucher
I Crowson Sandwich Maker
C Longman Marks & Spencer gift voucher
L Harley Bottle of gin
A Sinclair-Ball Basket of fruit
J Longman Rollerball pen
21 Bainton Road Coffee & biscuits
B How Box of Chocolates
Mrs O'Malley Flan dish
B Groom Apron
S Howells Tea towels
O Shelton Jigsaw puzzle
J Sutcliffe Gents' wrist watch
M Groom Umbrella
P Groom Golf Balls
P Sindall Wine
B Dailey Bottle of Asti Cinzano
Mr Griffiths Barbados goodie basket
Mr Foroze Tray
S Howells Port & cheese knives
A Longman Wine
C Fotheringham Polo shirt
Mrs O'Malley Jewel box
Mrs Huckerby Basket of toiletries
C Fotheringham Stationery
Mr Brown Jigsaw
E Young Eau de toilette
A Sinclair-Ball Computer training voucher

Barnack Church Fete
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success. Special thanks to the ladies of Barnack WI for providing excellent teas and to Ivor Crowson for transporting tables and chairs to and from the churchyard. Just under £1,500 was raised for Barnack Church.

Barnack Parish Council meeting 9th July 2001
The persistent problem of bad odours from the Uffington Road Sewage Treatment works continues. Previous attempts to urge Anglian Water Authority to take action have so far drawn a blank and so the Parish Council will be making immediate contact with AWA to insist something is done. Something that has been attended to is the filling of potholes around the village. A few remain in need of attention and they will be done shortly. Residents are requested to report any future potholes as they appear to the Clerk.
The village will soon benefit from traffic calming measures. A sub-committee will draw up outline plans for a scheme that will be put before the Parish Council on 23rd July at an extra Parish Council meeting. The key objectives for the first phase will be for safety to children and residents in and using Millstone Lane, Jack Haws Lane, School Road and the school crossing on Bainton Road. Reducing the speed of traffic on the B1443 and all entrances into the village is also a priority.
The Victorian post box and telephone box in Pilsgate, will be recommended for listed status along with the weighbridge in Station Road, the folly at Cedar House, and the privvies in Main Street.
The village is supporting Peterborough City Council with the Adopt a Path scheme that is requesting all walkers to monitor footpaths and bridleways and report any repairs that may need doing. This should help keep our footpaths maintained.
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 23rd July at 7.30pm in The Wilfrid Wood Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Barnack Methodist Chapel
We are grateful to all who supported our July coffee morning and cake stall which raised the sum of £122.15 for our funds - including donations of £5. We will be taking a break from baking in August, and so look forward to seeing you again at our September coffee morning which will take place on Saturday 1 September, at the usual time of 10 to 11.30am.

Children's Shoes Wanted
Have your children outgrown their shoes? Is there some wear left in them? If so we would love to have them to send to Romania. All kinds of footwear acceptable, ie. Sandals, trainers, shoes and wellington boots. If you are able to help please give to: Allison Alexander at Holbeck Cottage, Pilsgate or Jose Irving-Bell at Alderley, Pilsgate or Catherine Wright at Skipport, Main Street, Barnack. Thank you for your help. Allison Alexander.

Barnack Bowls "200" Club
Winners in June's mega-draw were:
1st J Woollard £50; 2nd R Logue £30; 3rd P Knights £20;4th W Harris £10.

Barnack WI
President Adrienne Collins welcomed 31 members to the July meeting. Birthday buttonholes were presented to J Miller, V Cheyne, L Pollock, T Alston and J Graham.
Mr Duncan Manley was the speaker for the evening, his subject being 'There is fun in Biscuit Manufacturing'. Everyone enjoyed his talk, which included slides and very amusing anecdotes of his travels to many parts of the world.
There will be no meeting in August, the next meeting being September 11th at 7.30pm. New members are always very welcome.

Bainton Family Day 2001
Once again everyone present had a great time at this year's family day, with record crowds attending. The weather kept fine and warm so that we could all enjoy all the activities including the water sports!!
Many thanks must go again to Major and Mrs. Birkbeck, not only for the use of their wonderful gardens, but also for their own generosity and hard work. Also, we thank all those villagers who gave their time and resources to supplying, preparing and manning the stalls, competitions and sideshows, and to Nigel and David for organising the games. A record amount for Church funds was raised, the final figure being £1400.87 (last year we made £1087)
PS Look in the photographs section of this website to see photos of the event. - Editor

Bainton and Ashton Parish Council
The planning applications for the village signs have been submitted to Peterborough City Council. The sites chosen are near to the Buttercross in Bainton, and on the Green in Ashton. The new Bainton post-box should be installed on the corner of Tallington Road and Church Lane. A police notice-board is to be put next to the existing village board on the outside wall of the Reading Room. This will provide residents with up to date police information.
The Parish Council has decided to join the Adopt-a-Path scheme, organised by Peterborough City Council. Volunteers agree to walk the local footpaths two or three times a year, and report any problems so they may be investigated.
It has been reported that dog fouling is once again a problem, especially in Bainton. Would all dog owners and walkers please act in a responsible way and clean up after their dogs.
At the next meeting Sarah Barwell from Peterborough City Council will discuss the schemes put forward in the Rural Transport Plan: traffic calming in Church Lane and road-narrows information in Tallington Road, Bainton, kerbing on some bends and a 20 mph speed limit in Ashton.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 August in the Reading Room at 8pm. Everyone welcome.

Christian Aid Collection
This raised £165.20 in Ashton & Bainton. Grateful thanks to everyone who donated, and to Janette, Judith and Mary for collecting. Cheryl Buckley.

The Buttercross Club
The meeting for July was held at Bainton House where members and their families and friends enjoyed an evening of Boules. The weather was lovely, which contributed to making the evening such a success. Many thanks are extended to the Birkbecks for their generosity in hosting the evening in their beautiful garden.
Our August meeting will be on Friday 3 (please note Friday not Wednesday) when we are having an evening of frog racing. This will be held at the home of Zena Coles, who is very kindly hosting the evening in her garden in Ashton. The proceedings will start at 7.00pm and tickets are available from Sheila Dalton in Bainton (740019) or Zena Coles in Ashton (740550), priced at £5 to include a fish and chip supper. Bring alsong your family and friends and enjoy a really good evening.

Bainton Fun Club
There will be no meeting during August. The club will begin again on Thursday 6 September.

First Friday in the month, 7.00pm Roman Catholic Mass at St Mary’s Church, Bainton

Priest: Fr Martin Hardy, St Oswald’s RC Church
933 Lincoln Road Peterborough Tel 01733 322750

The Parish Volunteers scheme, under the auspices of the Church in our parishes, exists to support the wider community of our villages in ways that are helpful and practical. Please feel free to contact the persons below if you need assistance in their areas of involvement. There is a friend and helper only a telephone call away.