Current 2007 Parish News

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BARNACK CHURCH SERVICES & EVENTS SPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN:
Children’s Church
Children’s Church meets on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, during the service. Children of all ages are most welcome.

Family Services
A Family Service is held in St John’s Barnack on every 3rd Sunday. This service is specially for families and their children and is not a communion service.

Church Mice
Time for small children to meet with their parents / carers in St John’s Church on Mondays during term time 2.00pm – 3.00pm

The Future of Ufford Church
As people will know we have spent a great part of the last year talking about the future of Ufford Church and I felt I really should write to tell people about where we are at present. Ufford PCC met recently and decided that they would conduct a survey of the people living in Ufford to see what they wanted from their church. Shortly they will be bringing a questionnaire to every household in Ufford to help with this survey. They have invited Tim Sledge the Diocesan Missioner of Peterborough Diocese to meet with them later in June to share his experience with them. The PCC also decided that apart from the small repair to the roof where it is leaking they will not undertake any other work to the building this year. They will also continue with the policy of having services on ‘special’ occasions. There was one of these on Rogation Sunday in May when the church was full of people from the Benefice. There will be a mid-week service on June 7th for Corpus Christi. Apart from the magazine, notice of services may be found on the church notice board. The regular prayer group meeting at 6.00pm on Mondays will continue. The PCC are in good heart and are determined to build a strong Christian presence in Ufford. I really hope and pray that they will receive the support for which they are praying. Margaret

Ufford Art Society: 2007 Art Demonstrations in the Village Hall
Thursday June 7th 9.30am - 12 noon, Paul Howard, Watercolour Pencils. Thursday September 20th 9.30am - 12 noon, Charles Evans, Oils.
Ufford Art Society members £2 per session. Non-members - £3 per session.

The Ufford Art Society is holding an Art & Craft Exhibition and sale
This will be held in the Ufford Village Hall on Saturday June 9th & Sunday June 10th from 10am till 4pm. Craft items for sale will include hand blown glass, herbs, handbags, jewellery, books, bric a brac etc plus a wide selection of paintings in watercolour, acrylics & pastel.

Invite For New Members
The Friends Of Barnack Church 200 Club have been helping to conserve the fabric of our church for a great many years now. So, why not consider joining? The 200-club subscription is only £15 per year with great cash prize draws each and every month. To join this wonderful cause and become a Friend of Barnack Church please contact John Ward Tel: 01780 740016.

Village Ladies Group (Ufford Ladies)
April 24th saw Frieda Gosling give an informative talk on John Clare, our local poet. A brief discussion about our charity, Anna’s Hope, brought the evening to a close.
On May 22nd Ollie Mayhew will give a talk on his world challenge, Tanzania. Please come and support Ollie and listen to the positive side of youth today. We start at 7.45pm in Ufford Village Hall.
Tuesday 26th June will be a visit to the Surprise Garden at Burghley House. We start at 5pm.
If you wish, you may continue into the Sculpture Garden after our visit to the Surprise Garden. We shall be taking names at our next meeting for this visit or you may give me a ring after May 26th on 01780 740844 if you have any problems about this visit. We look forward to you joining us.

Bingo at the Acres
Cash bingo at the Acres community hall every Thursday evening books on sale 6.45pm. We have a snowball that can reach £100, rules apply to the snowball. All welcome. Come along and enjoy a nice friendly evening out.....

Tennis at Bainton House
We should be very pleased if our hard Tennis Court could be of more use and pleasure to more people. It is always available to anyone wishing to play from all three villages but of course especially to those from Bainton and Ashton.
Ring us on 740227, particularly if wanting to play regularly on a special day. Bill and Mary Birkbeck.

Thanks from Sue Cowin
I would like to say a big thank you to all the people of Barnack, especially my neighbours who have supported me since my partner Simon died in a motorbike accident in October, and subsequently following the birth of our son Teddy in November.
It has been a difficult time coping with losing Simon and having a new baby, but i have found the support, offers of help and friendship from my close neighbours, and people in the village both touching and of great comfort. People who I had not met before have come up to me, or called at the house to introduce themselves, offer support and let me know that i don’t need to be alone, and just knowing that makes a big difference.
It has made me realise what a wonderful place Barnack is to live, and how many caring and thoughtful people live here.
Thank you, Sue Cowin

Barnack Cricket Club
The new season started in glorious weather with some new players at senior and junior levels. New playing members are always welcome and anyone interested should contact the Chairman Steve Ross on 781244.
The Club will be hosting two Huntingdonshire County matches in June. On Thursday 14th, the under 14’s play Norfolk (12 noon start) and on Wednesday the 27th, the over 50’s play Northamptonshire, starting at 2.00 pm (a shorter match for the elderly!)
Sadly two of the club’s younger players died during the Winter and each will be remembered in a memorial event. On Saturday June 30th, there will be a four-team cricket competition in memory of Colin Jones. Proceedings will start at 11.00, the bar will be open, food will be available, and in the evening there will be a music quiz.
On Friday July 6th, staring at 6.00., there will be a match between the Chairman’s Select eleven and the RAF Bomb Disposal Squadron 5131, in memory of David Croft. The evening will have a Caribbean theme with outrageous shirts compulsory. Once again there will be food and music.
Members, guests and visitors are all welcome at these events.
A small team is working on the design for a new pavilion which will be needed sooner rather than later. Some members of the Committee have worked hard to make the inside more welcoming but as you will all know the external appearance leaves much to be desired. The major fund-raising campaign is under way and any support will be most appreciated.

The Good News Library Van Coffee Morning
I’m sorry I left it too late to send everyone details of the library visit last month. However, The Good News Van will once again be visiting Barnack on Tuesday June 19th from 10.30 until 12 noon. This month it will be at the home of Margaret Durdey 12 Canon Drive, Barnack. She will make everyone very welcome, whether you come every month, or you have never been before. Coffee and tea will be served, and of course there is the opportunity to chat with friends and even make new friends, and also browse the books, if you so wish.

Ufford Art Classes
Art Classes run every Thursday in Ufford Village Hall from 9.30 - 12.30. New members welcome.

Bainton And Ashton Family Day
The big day in the village is getting closer. Don’t forget the date- it’s on 8th July this year, once again in the beautiful grounds of Bainton House. Put a note in your diary/on your calendar NOW. Whether or not you want to be involved with the organising, please come to a preparation meeting on 23rd. May 7.30pm at Bainton House, and give us your ideas.

The Bainton Housegroup
The Church has started a new housegroup for all those interested, usually on the first Sunday evening of the month at 7pm. The next one is on June 3rd. We discuss all sorts of Church related issues, chaired by the rector over a glass of wine or cup of coffee. Try and get along!

Barnack Pre School
Open Meeting for Parents and Prospective Parents and users of the Pre School 11 June 8 pm.
Barnack Pre school is run by a parents committee. Although we feel the care of our children by the pre school staff is exemplary, we have recently voiced concerns over the ability of the Pre school to comply with changes in legislation and staff training; and the willingness of the committee to take on financial and legal responsibility for any claims that could be made against the Pre school. The ability of a voluntary committee to cope with the demands of an ever changing legislative background, staff requirements and financial planning is difficult.
There will be a meeting in the Pre school mobile at Barnack School on 11 June at 8 pm to discuss some of the concerns of the Pre school committee over its continued ability to be run as a charity with a voluntary board. Some other options include becoming a limited company to limit liability and losses, becoming a charitable incorporated organisation, being run by the pre school alliance or becoming incorporated into Barnack school.
We would like to invite you to an open meeting to discuss the issues involved in these decisions, which may affect the future of the Pre school. Please come and help us to decide the best future for our Pre school. Important changes to the pre school may be discussed at this meeting and we would encourage as many parents or prospective users of the Pre school to attend. Many thanks
Barnack Pre School Committee
Helen Johnson (Chairman) Michele Goodwin (Deputy chairman) Helen Huyton (Secretary) Liz James (Treasurer)

Garden Opening - Walcot Hall
Sunday 10th June the gardens at Walcot are open from 2pm - 6pm in aid of the National Gardens Scheme charities. There will be teas and refreshments served in the old cobbled stableyard, where you will also find various craft and plant stalls, children’s games and Morris Dancers, all in aid of the Barnack School Association. The entrance will be at the stableyard gate (with the letterbox) and car parking in the field opposite. The main front gates will be closed. Admission is £3.50 with children under the age of 12 free. No dogs.

Barnack Bowls Club
The winners of the April draw were:
No 57 Alan Rice £25
No 16 Mima MacKellar £15
No 13 Steve Gyles £10

Barnack Methodist Chapel
We are very grateful for your support at our May Coffee Morning and Cake Stall which raised £129.90 for our funds and we look forward to seeing you at our next Coffee morning which will take place on Saturday, 2 June from 10 am - 11 am.
We very much enjoyed our Chapel Anniversary service on Sunday ,6 May which was led by Rev Brian Lewis and the collection from this service which amounted to £63.10 has been donated to SHYP.

A Musical Evening in a Country Garden
A Music evening with Nick Penny and David Garrett. There will be a musical evening in the garden of The Old Millhouse, Stamford Road, Barnack on Friday , June 22nd at 7.30pm.
Tickets will be £6.50 to include a glass of wine. If the weather is inclement it will be held in the village hall. This will be another opportunity for those of you who missed the musical evening in the parish church to enjoy the delightful entertainment provided by this enthusiastic pair. Please contact Ann Davies on 740403.

Barnack Parish Church Summer Festival, June 30th
Anyone wishing to contribute items to the following stalls please bring them to the church yard in the morning between 9am and 12noon. Cakes and produce, Garden stall, Children’s Jumble Jars, Books and Granny’s Attic. Please make sure that any books or items for the Granny’s Attic are in good condition. No broken or chipped items, thank you.

Coffee Morning Cancelled
We are very sorry that our monthly coffee morning, which should be taking place on June 16th in Barnack Parish Church has had to be cancelled. This is due to the very best of reasons, the fact that a wedding will take place, at midday, in the church.

Women Connect Summer Supper
The summer supper will be at 15 Bishops Walk, Barnack . Please be there at 7.45pm to dine at 8. Numbers to Maureen, please, by Monday, June 18th.

Buttercross
An array of exquisite blooms greeted us at Little Bythams Nurseries and what followed was an inspiration to all budding and experienced gardeners alike.
We had a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse of a vast expanse of bedding plants and shrubs which were being carefully nurtured in greenhouses by means of sophisticated humidity and temperature control systems.
Afterwards we had a convivial ploughman’s supper at the Castle Inn where we warmed up after the chilly evening air.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 6 June at 7.45pm when Janette Abbot-Donnelly will talk about Guiding and Hautbois House. Also, there’ll be a Bring and Buy plant stall. JJ

Fair Weather Walkers!!
But we are doing it for pleasure - due to persistent rain (good for the gardens but not for walkers) on the evening of 16 May it was decided to postpone the planned walk. This will now take place on Wednesday 20th June starting from the Millstone pub in Barnack at 7pm. Please come along and join in, meet your neighbours and explore the walks round Barnack. All welcome. ZC

Bainton Spring Fayre
A very big thank you to EVERYONE who supported the Bainton Spring Fayre and Preview Evening. We raised over £3,500 which will be shared by Cancer Research UK and St Mary’s Church Bainton.

Barnack Parish Council
PARISH CLERK (part time)
required
Applicants must be: PC literate be able to take meeting minutes and be prepared to undertake training.
Starting Salary £4082
Please apply in writing to:
Mrs June Woollard The Old Mill House Barnack Near Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 3HA
Closing date Friday 14 November

Wiki in the Garden
Thank you to everyone who supported the Wiki cafe in May at Bainton Gardens. Our next garden will be Oak House, 2 Beever Way, Bainton, home of David and Elke Hare, on Sat 16th June. Look forward to seeing everyone there.

Crime In Bainton And Ashton
Our local PC, Norm McCallum came to the Parish Council AGM to give us the low-down on local crime. We had 6 incidents in the year to 30th April ’07 in Bainton/Ashton: 1 theft of a caravan, 2 criminal damage to vehicles, two incidents of theft and one of theft from the telephone kiosk. If you would like to be kept informed of what the police are doing to prevent crime, either fill in a registration form (Tony Gowers has some) or register on www.cambs.police.uk/signup/ecops.
Norm also mentioned some contact numbers. For all emergency incidents continue to phone 999. If, however, you wish to report non-urgent suspicious incidents or discuss policing issues, phone 0845 456 456 4. We are assured that the phone will be answered by a human being within 16 seconds! If you just want to speak to Norm, ring either Bretton police or 07753 577479.

Hautbois House, Norfolk 16-19th July
If anyone else is interested in joining the Buttercross Group on their residential visit to Hautbois (Girl Guiding Centre) in this beautiful part of Norfolk, please contact Mary Gowers for further details, Tel 740097. It should be a great 3 days!!

Parish Council Reports and Notices

Bainton And Ashton Parish Council
Your Councillors are: Chris Agnew (Chair) Tel. 740007, Sheila Dalton (740019) Andy Totten (740381) Judith Morrice (740865) and Zena Coles (Ashton) (740550). If there’s anything locally that concerns you, get in touch with any one of these neighbours of yours. They’re there to help, and quite approachable!
The meeting on the 10th May included the AGM and the Annual Parish Meeting. Full details of these are on the notice boards, but briefly Chris Agnew was re-elected as Chairman. All councillors come up for re-election next May- these are all voluntary positions, but the thrill of serving your local community is reward enough!
If you feel you might like to be considered, start thinking now! The Annual Parish Meeting gives all the public a chance to air their views about the village. Nothing really contentious came up this year (presumably that means everyone’s perfectly happy!) but we all agreed that we should look for any means that would help our villages become even greener from an energy saving and recyclable perspective. Any ideas on this- please feed in. The Chairman gave a summary of all the progress we have seen over the last year. He thought the running of the parish council is now done very professionally, with standards of service virtually up to the high levels requested by the City Council. The other improvements made or being planned are:
• There will soon be a restriction on HGVs along the B1443. After a lot of pressing there will be a weight restriction right from the Glinton turn to Burghley Park. Those making local deliveries are obviously excluded, but any others will be breaking the law, and the police will have power to stop and prosecute those offending lorries. It’s on a six month trial but hopefully will become permanent.
• A network of local footpaths will be published , with brochures available to all walkers and cyclists.
• Bainton Green Road, Ashton is to become Cambridgeshire’s first ‘Quiet Lane.’ This will mean it will retain its rurality and will also incorporate a 20mph speed limit. Our trusty Ashton councillor has calculated that reducing your speed by 10 mph over all the area affected will only cost you a few more seconds in travelling time, yet will be so much better and safer for residents, walkers, and local wildlife.
• New notice boards are planned for both villages, the Ashton one to be re-sited near the post box.
• We hope to have a Parish Council website soon.
• The councillors continue to try and improve the beauty of the villages. Presently we are clearing brambles and debris along Helpston Road (adjacent to ‘Stoneycroft’) and re-seeding the verge.
The next meeting is to be held at 7.30pm on 3rd July, 2007.

Barnack Parish Council
The Annual Parish Council Meeting was held on Monday 14 May. The councillors were sad to say goodbye to Mrs Janet Banks who has been the clerk to the council for the last four years. She will be sadly missed. The clerk’s post is currently being advertised and it is hoped that a new clerk will be appointed at the beginning of June.
Other item included: The rubbish alongside the wall on the B1443 in Pilsgate is soon to be cleared. An officer from the tree and woodland department has been asked to inspect trees in the lime avenue in Bishop’s Walk that are situated on the PCC land. As the ragwort in the Hills and Holes has not yet grown the ragwort pull planned for Sunday 20 May may have to be cancelled. It is hoped that as many residents as possible will attend the ragwort pull planned for 10.30am. on Saturday 9 June.
Reports were presented from three meetings attended this month: The CALC meeting addressing 106 agreements, the Community Leadership Fund meeting addressing the spending of the 2006/7 budget and the meeting with the highways department on the weight limit for the B1443. Planning applications were discussed and the financial reports were presented and agreed. The statement of accounts for 2006/7 were approved together with the budget control and the bank reconciliation reports for the current month. The village information plaque was discussed. Two councillors had researched the design and wording for the plaque and the materials to be used. A final decision will be made at the June meeting. A request will be made for the loose granite kerbstones in Main Street to be secured, the trees in Chapel Lane to be cut back as these have become very overgrown and for oak posts to be positioned around the apex of the war memorial triangle to prevent further damage. Residents are requested not to park cars on the footpaths especially in Main Street, Orchard Road and Millstone Lane.

Ufford Parish Council April 21st
1.Members carried out the quarterly review of the budget, the asset register and the risk assessment. Transfers to specific reserves were approved.
2. It was noted that cars parked on the hill and in Main Street had again been causing problems.
3. Authority was given to FG to buy a hose and fittings to water the trees on the hill.
4. The date of the next meeting had to be changed because it has to be held after the receipt of the auditor‘s report on May 16th and before the end of May. The Annual Village Meeting, starting at 7.30pm will be followed by the Annual Parish Council Meeting on Wed May 30th.
Apologies are given to residents who were expecting these meetings to be held on May 9th.
Ufford Environmental Priorities for 2007-8
In 2006-7 the parishes in Barnack Ward agreed to spend the £10,000 allocated by Peterborough City Council on a lorry ban on the B1443, a series of 6 leaflets giving details of inter-connecting Circular Walks between Wothorpe and Helpston and informative village signs to be erected in Barnack, Bainton and Helpston.
Ufford PC would welcome guidance on residents‘ priorities for 2007-8. Suggestions include:
• A circular walk starting in Ufford, down the drift *1 from Marholm Road to Southey Woods, across Langley Bush Road and down the bridleway for a short distance, along a field boundary. *3 into Castor Hanglands and back into Southey Woods along a path. *2 almost opposite High Field Road. *1 and *2 are not public rights of way but have always been used by village residents. It is suggested that they should be registered by UPC as they do not appear to be owned by anyone.
*3 It is hoped that Milton Estate will agree to its designation as a Permissive Right of Way.
• Other circular walks.
• Creation of bridleways as there are none in the parish yet a large number of horse riders.
• Quiet lanes for cyclists.
• ·A roadside sign at Langley Bush, formerly site of an open air court and gibbet.
• Improved access and facilities at Southey Woods.
Ideally proposals should benefit local residents and also attract visitors from further afield into John Clare Country, the countryside west of Peterborough. Ufford received no direct financial benefits from last year‘s allocation, so come to the Annual Village Meeting on Wednesday May 30th or share your thoughts with a parish councillor.

I like a challenge. So when a Deanery Chapter asked me to talk about the understanding of the Church which lay behind our Diocesan Strategy, I was delighted.

Most of us experience “Church” as a building, a worshipping congregation, or a “fresh expression”. Some of us might think of the diocese, or the Church of England as “The Church”. The more theologically-minded might talk of “the mystical body of Christ” embracing all those from all ages and all places who believe in Jesus Christ.

The New Testament doesn’t use the word “church” very often. Jesus talked to Peter about “building his Church”; Paul, writing to the Colossians, refers to the body of Christ “which is the church”, and to the Ephesians likens the church, of which Christ is the head, to the bride whom Christ loves and nourishes. Paul also wrote a number of his letters to the church in Corinth, in Thessalonica, and “the churches in Galatia”. John, in Revelation, is told to write to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna etc.

That suggests that for the New Testament writers the Church is an organism bigger than any of us, or even all of us, intimately related to Christ and in his care. It is locally expressed in every place where people gather for worship, but the individual congregation, or congregations (the church in Ephesus probably met in a number of different houses), were always conscious that they were part of something which embraces other local expressions of the organism – the body of Christ. It had, if you like, “ecclesiality” (church-li-ness) as called by God, and “locality” – they belonged to a place and reflected its characteristics, but were part of something which transcended it.

But what is “local”? In the early church perhaps it was easier, with the Church in the major towns gathered round their bishop - meeting in a number of places but still “the Church in the locality”. So the diocese was the local church, possessing the full order of ministry, “catholic” in reflecting their nature as the body of Christ, and “local” in being earthed in that locality.

This is held together in the person of the bishop, whose “chair” (a piece of old and often uncomfortable furniture) is not just in the cathedral but in every parish church, brought out from its corner and dusted down for every Episcopal visit! In English society the diocese became entangled with units of administration, but the idea is still there amid the complex and confusing sets of relationship which now govern our lives – living in one place, possibly working in another and taking our leisure in another!

In our diocese this lies behind the invitation to develop Deanery Mission Plans – a strategy for mission appropriate to that locality. It lies behind the request to meet our parish share – to care for each other in the wider locality of the diocese as an expression of Christ’s care for his Church.

City centre workers begin to build Christian network
A new network for Christians working in Peterborough City Centre has made a quiet but purposeful beginning at St John’s church in the heart of the city. Meeting weekly at lunchtime, on different days to enable as many as possible to make contact, the fledgling group has already attracted a score of participants.
The idea for pc3n - Peterborough City Centre Christian Network - emerged from conversations between a small group of city centre workers who are also members of local churches. A few of them met to pray for several months, with City Centre Chaplain Ian Houghton, before deciding to launch the group in Spring this year.
“What sparked it off was the suggestion that we should run a city centre Alpha course for people in the workplace”, says Ian. “We realised this would be difficult to achieve as we didn’t have a network of contacts with Christians working in the city who might like to invite colleagues to something of that kind.”
It’s still early days but the network has begun to develop friendships and it is expected that gradually ideas will emerge for ways to offer a bridge between Christians and their colleagues who might like to explore faith issues.
You can find out more about pc3n and when it meets by visiting their website: www.pc3n.org.uk

600th birthday for St John’s, Peterborough
St John the Baptist church in Peterborough city centre is celebrating its 600th anniversary this year. Throughout June it will host a series of concerts (including a “come and sing” Vivaldi’s Gloria), an art exhibition and, on 23 June, a Medieval Activity Day when visitors will be able to experience what life was like for people in 15th Century Peterborough. For more information call 01733 564899 or visit: www.peterborough-stjohns.org.uk

Personal stories to inspire
People speaking of how they express their love of God by work for the local church were a key part of a Peterborough Deanery Vocations Sunday event at St Mary’s Boongate. Visiting the sick, setting up a Young Mum’s group and taking Communion into a nursing home were among the examples. “The stories were truly inspiring and several people who came have asked for advice in exploring their vocation further,” said Maggie Taylor, who co-ordinated the event.

Caring for creation should be “as natural as worship”
With Environment Sunday on 3 June there’s never been a better time to take a serious look at our energy consumption, both as individuals and as churches, and to take good advice on how to consume less. Stephen Trott, a member of the diocesan Environment Group, has been looking at a new book, How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take To Change A Christian? by Claire Foster and David Shreeve, and finds it an encouraging guide:
As we learn more about the impact our own lives have on the planet, so that the implications of switching on an electric light, which always seemed pretty harmless, are now understood much more clearly. This little book provides some encouraging statistics. Replacing one light bulb with an energy-efficient one saves 75kg (165lbs) of carbon dioxide a year. Turning down the central heating thermostat by one degree can save 10% of the energy requirement for our houses. Double glazing can cut energy consumption by 50%. At current energy prices, these measures are well worth considering!
Transport consumes massive quantities of fossil fuels, but buying locally-produced food cuts out long journeys by road or even air from farm to supermarket. Travel by train rather than in the car minimises the damage caused by burning motor fuels.
Above all, this is a Christian thing to do. The world belongs to God and that we must answer to him for the ways in which we use or abuse it. Caring for his creation ought to be as natural a part of our religious lives as worship or bible reading, not only for our own benefit, but as a prophetic witness to society at large. This pocket guide is an excellent starting point. Church House Publishing, £4.99.

Youth workers “enlivened” by challenging behaviour
An ecumenical youth ministry training programme in Northamptonshire was launched in April with a free session on “Engaging with Young People with Challenging Behaviour” (left). The series, under the title enliven, continues with monthly sessions into 2008. For details call Paul Niemiec on 01604 887044 or visit www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/youth

Fri 1, Music in Quiet Places:
Rioplatenses play South American music. 8pm at Glapthorn St Leonards. Tickets & info: 01832 274333.
Sat 2 and Sun 3, Brixworth All Saints Flower Festival. Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 11.30am - 4.30 pm. Fete from 2pm Sun.
Sun 3, Open gardens Preston Capes & Little Preston, 12 noon - 5pm. Lunches/plants sold in aid of church. Tel: 01327 361263.
Sun 3, Creaton in Bloom. Gardens open from 1pm. BBQ, teas & stalls in aid of St Michael & All Angels Creaton.
Thurs 7, Corpus Christi Celebration, 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Rothwell. Celebrant and preacher: Bishop John Flack. Tel: 01733 553372
Fri 8, Music in Quiet Places: Morgan Szymanski, classical guitarist. 8pm at Polebrook All Saints. Tickets & info: 01832 274333.
Fri 8, Honey from the Hive – John Dowland & Elizabethan Patronage,
7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Higham Ferrers. Tickets & info: 01933 312582.
Sat 9 & Sun 10, Rutland Elgar Weekend: Sat, 7pm Violin Sonata & Piano Quintet. Sun, 6pm Anthems, Part Songs & Wind Quintets. At St Mary’s Church, Ketton. Tickets: £8 (or £12 for both concerts). Tel: 01780 721005 for details.
Sat 9 and Sun 10, Twywell St Nicholas’ Fete and Flower Festival, from 2.30pm. Tel: 01832 733862.
Tues 12, Riding Lights Roughshod Theatre in Flight Cases. 7.30pm at The Castle, Wellingborough. Tickets £8 (£6). Tel: 01933 270007.
Fri 15, Music in Quiet Places:
Collegium Regale close harmony singing. 8.30pm at Fotheringhay St Mary and All Saints. Tickets & info: 01832 274333.
Sat 16, Proms in the Paddock with Kettering Blue Rhythm Orchestra. 7.30pm at Home Farm, Cold Ashby. Tickets £5. Tel: 01604 740280.
Sun 17, Woodford village Open Gardens, 2-5pm. Entry £3. Cream teas £3. Tel: 01832 734024.
Sun 17, Abthorpe Open Gardens, nr Towcester, 2-5pm Tel: 01327 858316.
Fri 22, Corby St Peter & St Andrew’s 40th Anniversary service with Bishop Ian. Tel: 01536 267620.
Sat 23, Northampton Philharmonic Choir Songs of Praise & Courage. 7.30pm at Northampton Christ Church. Tel: 01604 880135.
Sat 23, Music in Lyddington: Catherine Manley, soprano; Nathan Vale, tenor; Paul Plummer, piano. 7.30pm at St Andrews Lyddington. Tickets and info: 01572 820017.
Sat 24 and Sun 25, Cogenhoe St Peter’s Fete & Flower Festival. Open 1-4pm. Tel 01604 891166.
Thurs 28, Listening Skills introductory workshop, 7.30pm at Rushden Full Gospel Church. Tel: 01933 314292.
Sat 30 and Sun 1 Jul, Werrington St John the Baptist Flower Festival. Open 2-5pm Tel: 01733 576541.
Sat 30 Ordination of Priests, 4pm at Peterborough Cathedral.
Sun 1 Jul, Ordination of Deacons, 11am at Peterborough Cathedral.

Creative prayer with children
Led by Rona Orme. Fresh ideas for parents, godparents, children’s leaders, teachers and worship leaders.
Please book by 11 June.
Tuesday 19 June at St Leonard’s, Yardley Gobion or Thursday 21 June at St Columba’s, Corby. Both sessions run from 7.30-9.30pm. Tel: 01604 887045.