The Rector’s Letter

A Mediaeval English Mystic

On the 8th May 1373 a young English woman living in Norwich fell gravely ill, and the last sacrament was administered to her. During her illness she had a series of visions or as she called them, “showings”. Happily she recovered and for twenty years reflected on this most significant event, and then wrote about it, in a work entitled “Revelations of Divine Love”, which has the distinction of being the first book written in English by a woman.
She was Julian of Norwich. Little detail of her life is known, but her probable dates, 1342 to 1416, make her a close contemporary of Chaucer. She lived in an age when England was suffering from war abroad and distress at home. The battles of Crecy and Agincourt were fought in her lifetime, and in 1348-9 there occurred the terrible Black Death, when a quarter or even a third of the inhabitants of England died. Julian, then a young child, survived but one cannot help feeling that anyone who lived through such a cataclysmic event must have been marked by it in some way.

Later in her life, probably after her illness, she became an anchoress attached to and supported by the church of St. Julian in Norwich. An anchorite or anchoress was one who withdrew from the world to an enclosed life of prayer and contemplation, and in Julian’s case this allowed her to write.
She describes the “showings” that she experienced and then reflects on them. At their heart is her wish to identify with Christ’s Passion. She tells of seeing Jesus crowned with thorns, “I saw the red blood trickle from under the garland, hot and fresh and plentiful, as it did at the time of his Passion, He who was both God and man who suffered for me.” Through her mediation on the Passion she comes to understand the all-embracing nature of God’s love for his creation.
In a famous passage she writes, “He showed me more, a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, on the palm of my hand, round like a ball. I looked at it thoughtfully and wondered, “What is this?” And the answer came, “It is all that is made.” I marvelled that it continued to exist, it was so small. And again my mind supplied the answer, “It exists, both now and forever, because God loves it.” This passage echoes for me the experience of seeing the pictures from Apollo 8, the first spacecraft to escape from earth’s orbit and travel to the moon, and the awe with which the commander read the creation story from Genesis while we looked at the small bluish disc seen from afar that was our world with all its triumphs and disasters.

For her the triune nature of God is all-important, and perhaps because of this she often groups her ideas together in threes. In another passage which might strike a chord with the modern reader she writes, “As truly as God is our Father, so just as truly is he our Mother. It is I, the strength and goodness of fatherhood. It is I the wisdom of motherhood. It is I the light and grace of holy love. It is I, the Trinity. It is I who teach you to love.”
She wrestles constantly with the problem of sin, but in another famous passage hears our Lord say to her, “The cause of all this pain is sin. But all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

We are encouraged to remember and give thanks for Julian on May 8th. Her book, with all its perceptive reflections and insights, remains in print today almost six centuries after her death.

Elizabeth Young

GENERAL CHURCH NOTICES

BARNACK SERVERS FOR MAY

UFFORD

Ufford Parish Council Meetings
An emergency meeting was held on Monday, April 5th to discuss the Parish Council response to the proposed bay windows at the front, and the sun room at the back, of the proposed house behind Old Forge Cottage.
Mr and Mrs Groom had appealed against Peterborough City Council’s decision not to allow these changes to the plans approved a year ago. Ufford Parish Council voted 3:0 against the bay windows. It took into account (1) the Village Design Statement and the Peterborough Local Plan, (2) its consistent policy against bay windows in the Conservation Area because they are not in keeping with the plain fronts of the other buildings.
After discussion it was decided by 2 votes: 1 abstention not to oppose the sun room. It was felt that the neighbours' privacy had already been lost when planning permission was given for the house a year ago. The sun room, extending 2 metres beyond the back wall of the house, was not going to make a significant difference.
At the previous meeting on March 10th the playing field was discussed. A suggestion was made that an approach could be made to the Church Commissioners to find out if there is a possibility of renting a small strip of land so that the football pitch could be of minimum regulation size. We would welcome comments from young people who are keen to play football in Ufford. There is still no progress regarding replacement of our playground equipment.
The next meeting, which will also be the Annual Village Meeting, will be on Wednesday May 5th at 8pm in the Village Hall. In addition to the Village Reports this is your opportunity to raise topical issues and we would welcome your opinion on the appearance of the footway at the top of Ufford Hill when it is re-surfaced. Would you prefer a tidy kerbed edge to prevent car parking on the verge or a rough wavy edge more or less as it is now? Frieda Gosling

Ufford Event
Saturday and Sunday, June 5th & 6th.
Arrangements are well in hand for the Open Gardens/Art Exhibition/Treasure Hunt/ Cream Teas and other refreshments and we have offers to run some stalls etc. We would like one or two more gardens to be opened as, from past experience, we know that visitors travel for miles to visit gardens. They do not expect gardens to be vast or professionally landscaped or tended by a team of gardeners. The interest is in discovering what we can make of the little plot which is ours. Please let us know if you would like to open your garden or run a stall or sideshow. If you are away that weekend perhaps you will give a donation or buy a raffle ticket. Profits will be shared between Ufford Church and the Village Hall. More importantly, this is a rare opportunity for us all to meet socially and to open our attractive village to visitors. Sally Ward and Frieda Gosling

Ufford Ladies Group
What to do when your speaker doesn’t turn up? A 7.45pm phone call to his home in the Fens beyond Spalding elicited the response that his car had broken down! Our choice was to give the money back to our members and friends or for the Secretary to give an impromptu talk on her visit to Texas and Tennessee, having returned from there the day before.
We are investigating the line of the medieval walls and gates of Stamford at our next meeting on Tuesday May 25th. Meet by Bath House in Bath Row at 7pm. Bring brollies if wet. The plan is for a gentle stroll for about an hour. Those who wish can go for a pizza afterwards. FG

Ufford Park Cricket Club
A successful Auction and Car Boot Sale raised over £600 for Club Funds, and thanks to Bertie at the White Hart for allowing the Club to use the Function Room and the Car Park for these events. The next fund raising event will be Frog Racing at Limrose, Bainton on 18th June.
The Junior Section are meeting on Sunday mornings (for further information contact Nigel Clough 740043). Four Senior and Coaching Sessions have been organised during May. For further details contact Terry Rawlings 740112 or Elaine Ward 740323. New Members are always welcome.

BARNACK, PILSGATE AND SOUTHORPE

Music at the Millstone Inn
Calling all singers and musicians (and spectators). Come along to the Acoustic Sessions on the first Tuesday of each month. All musical styles welcome: Blues, Jazz, Folk, Roots.
If you play an instrument or enjoy singing, come along to these music sessions - it’s your chance to perform live!
Admission is free, so enjoy a great evening’s entertainment listening to talented local musicians. See www.acousticsessions.co.uk for more details.

Barnack Parish Council
Barnack Parish Council meeting was held on April 5th in the village hall. The seven councillors were present, together with the clerk, Councillor David Over and two members of the public.
The posts for the activated light have now been installed but an electricity supply has to be provided before the lights can be put into place. This may take some months. Rubbish at the Hills and Holes car park has been removed.
Concern was expressed at the size of the notices erected by English Nature at the entrance to the same car park. The meeting was informed about the latest developments concerning the proposed Burghley Industrial site on the Barnack Road. The planning request has now gone to appeal.
Proper rumble strips are to be erected behind the War Memorial and there is a possibility of realigning the end of the road joining the C40 to help cut down the speed of the vehicles.
Planning permission has been granted for extensions at Cayman House, 1 Kingsley Close and 6 Saxon Road. There is a possibility of the Dial-A -Ride bus service running a bus to Stamford Market for the elderly, complete with wheel chair facility. Requests had been received for donations to The Community Association and the School Grounds Project. The Council has requested more information from both of these groups before a decision is made. A full record of the minutes is displayed on the notice boards in the village and on the web site-www.barnackparishcouncil.org
The next meeting will be held on May 10th in the Wilfrid Wood Hall at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

Lost Walking Stick
After the memorial service for Mrs Dennis in March, I left my walking stick in Barnack Church. Since then it has gone missing. If anyone knows of its whereabouts, please could you let me know? Mrs Grant.

Darby & Joan Club
The Spring Flower competition was won by Mrs. L. Grant, second Mrs. L. Bell and third Mr. R. Green. Members played Cards and Dominoes.
A version of the television game ‘Blankety Blank’ caused great amusement and the eventual winner was a visitor to the Club.

Carpet Bowls Club
The AGM for the Carpet Bowls Club was held on Thursday 8th April 2004.As this was the last session it was followed by a Fish and Chip supper.
The Autumn season will commence on Thursday 16th September 2004 and Tuesday 21stSeptember 2004. Pat Barton

Barnack Bowls Club
The winners of the March 200 Club Draw were:
No 23 Mr Bill Jones £25
No 65 Mrs Sandra Jones £15
No 1 Mrs Ann Butland £10
The registration for the coming season took place at the Village Hall on Saturday, 27th March and afterwards about 56 enjoyed a fish and chip supper, together with delicious sweets provided by the ladies of the social committee. This was followed by a quiz, which was once again devised by Frank and Doreen James, and the evening was a good forerunner for the coming season. It is hoped the greens will be open by the time you read this newsletter. A working party has been very busy during the winter, decorating and renovating the clubhouse and all is now ready for the busy bowling months ahead.

Barnack Methodist Chapel
Your support for our April Coffee Morning helped us to raise £123 for our funds – including donations of £10. Many thanks.
The next Coffee Morning will take place on Saturday, 1st May at the usual time of 10 to 11.30am when we hope to see you once more.
We will be having our Chapel Anniversary service at 6pm on Sunday, 9th May which will be led for us by Mrs Pat Hinks of Stamford. Do come and join us if you can.

An important note for your diary!
Don’t forget the Village Hall Plant Sale, which will be held this year on Saturday 8th May in the Village Hall. The doors will open at 9.30am and we recommend that you come as early as you can. We are planning for this to be a really good sale. There will be the usual high quality plants for sale for the house and for the garden, together with tubs and planters ready for display. There will also be cakes and preserves and an opportunity to join in the raffle. There will even be coffee or tea to sustain you and give you the energy to go and find yet more bargains. If you want your garden to look really good this year don’t miss this important village event.

The Barnack & Pilsgate Parish Plan
This, which will include the Village Transport Plan, is progressing well. Following the public meeting last summer twelve residents volunteered to form the working group. Ian Burrows was elected the chairman and the group have now had four meetings and have circulated a survey to all the village associations to seek the opinions of as many village residents as possible. Two public meetings were also held, to give individual residents an opportunity to voice their opinions. The next task is to assess the survey results and then to begin writing the documentation. Peterborough City Council Planning Department has agreed to work with the group, so that the final document can be adopted by Peterborough City Council as part of the planning guidance.

Friends Of Barnack Church
The propitious winners for January’s 200 club draw were:
167 R Thain £5; 20 D Leeton £10; 118 A Howells (Rtd) £20
Anyone interested in joining this superb foundation and becoming a Friend of Barnack Church, please get in touch with Mr. Martin Goodwin, 24 Bainton Road, Barnack. Tel: 01780 740145.

Barnack’s Leading Weekly Social Happening
Do you know who said: “Exterminate, exterminate”; “I’m not a number, I’m a free man”; “He’s dead Jim”; “I love it when a plan comes together”; “I’m Julian and this is my friend Sandy!” These could be some of the questions you may be asked at Barnack’s leading weekly quiz.
Come on down and experience a really fun quiz evening at Barnack Cricket Club. Always the most charming company every Sunday evening from 8.30pm -10.30pm. Lots of free parking, excellent bar with outstanding bar-steward and always a very warm welcome. Plus, the perfect opportunity to meet up with village idiot elder Mr Pete Farrar. Pete likes nothing better than to personally welcome new teams and to explain the quiz in his own inimitable style. Oh you lucky people!
Barnack Cricket Club Quiz - the leading weekly village social event.

Barnack WI
24 members attended the April meeting. Birthday buttonholes were presented to Pat Barton and Peggy Riddell. Speaker for the evening was Mr. Lionel Broome whose subject was ‘Pyrography, Artwork made from wood burning'. Mr. Broome brought many items of his work to show us and talked in great detail of his very interesting hobby. A vote of thanks was given by Mrs Pollock. Margaret Broadbent won the first and second place in the competition with the third prize going to Sylvia Baker. Next month's meeting is on Tuesday May 11th at 7.30pm in the Wilfrid Wood Hall. The WI Resolutions for 2004 will be discussed followed by a social evening.

Fun Run – Saturday 8th May
There’s still time to enter the Barnack School Fun Run! Entry forms are available from Barnack Post Office. Entry cost for a child is £2 and for an adult £3, or you can enter on the day for an additional £1 per person. The race is open to everybody, not just to those with a connection to the school. There‘s a choice of 2.5km and 5km around village roads and footpaths, starting at 2pm from the school field. There’ll also be a barbecue on the school field. In the previous two years it’s been lots of fun with serious and not so serious runners (and walkers)! So on your marks, get set and go for it! Barnack School Association.

BAINTON AND ASHTON

Collector Wanted for Bainton
We are looking for a replacement collector for contributions for the Parish News for the village of Bainton. This is not an onerous task. The collector accepts contributions either via email or on paper via their letterbox, places all the contributions into one file and emails it to the editor once a month on the deadline. If you would like to help by providing this local collection point for villagers, please contact Lisa Chadwick (details on the back of the magazine).
Many thanks to Julie Stanton who has been the collector for the last three years.

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.

Bainton Parish Council
All five parish councillors come up for re-election this year, and any adult resident may apply. If you are interested in serving your local community in this way, please obtain an application form from Chris Agnew tel 740007.
At the Parish Council meeting on 30th March, a variety of local issues was discussed, including an initiative proposed by Cambridgeshire Police, that we have additional uniformed officers to patrol villages, albeit at an additional extra cost to residents. It was agreed not to support this idea as stated. Additionally, we have been asked by Peterborough City Council to have names allocated to the three main roads in Ashton. This would not change postal addresses in any way, but be of help to council workmen and emergency services to identify properties quickly. It was decided to put the choice of names into the hands of Ashton residents, and a poll of suggestions will be voted on. If you have a suggestion for inclusion in the poll, please give this to Hilary Smith, Berry Cottage phone 740036 by end April latest. One resident has suggested ‘No Through Road’ !!!
Next meeting 22nd June, 8pm. Reading Room.

Bainton Reading Room Website
The Reading Room now has its own website produced by Ian Abbott- Donnelly. Visit the site at www.baintonreadingroom.com .

Bainton and Ashton Buttercross Club
Our April meeting was very well attended and we were shown how to create many different looks using just a few items from the ‘Weekender’ range of clothes. Linda Parrish-Smith demonstrated how to mix and match these versatile garments, and she was ably assisted by Margaret Haynes, a colleague from the company. A few of our ladies were also on hand to model and everyone had the chance to try on and order from the new range.
On 5th May we shall be entertained by the Bourne Borderers Morris Dancers and this is sure to be a fun evening! Come prepared to join in (comfortable clothing and shoes are a must) and enjoy yourselves. There will also be our annual plant stall at this meeting when real bargains can be found. If you have any plants you are dividing, or cuttings potted up, do please bring them along on 5th May, labelled and priced if possible.
If you haven't been to Buttercross Club before, do give it a try and bring a friend if you wish. We meet in the Bainton Reading Rooms on the first Wednesday of each month and our meetings start at 7.45pm. You will be very welcome. MG

Charity Bridge Day
On Friday 21st May there will be a Bridge Drive at The Granary, Manor Farm, Bainton (by kind permission of Mr and Mrs M Bratley) in aid of the mental health charity Rethink.Tickets for the day, including morning coffee and lunch are £12. Please ring Helen on 01780 740091.

Visit the Potters
As part of ‘Art on the Map’ Lincolnshire Open Studios, you have the opportunity this month of paying a visit to your local potters and seeing them at work.
In Bainton, at Vine Farm on the Barnack Road, you can visit Carlos Versluys’ workshop and see his beautiful carved stoneware vessels and a variety of domestic ware.
In Barnack, at the Old Butcher’s Shop, you can see Katherine Winfrey at work and view her colourful slip-decorated earthenware pottery. Also showing will be paintings by local artist Billah Fletcher.
Carlos’s workshop will be open 29th~30th May, 5th~6th and 12th~13th June, 11am~6pm. Katherine’s will be open 29th~30th May and 5th~6th June, 11am-6pm. All welcome.

St Mary’s Church
At the Annual Church Meeting it was noted that we no longer had a cleaner and those present felt this was something the ladies of the village might like to do themselves. We plan to do this once a month on the first Thursday of each month, starting at 2pm. If you have an hour to spare on these days please come along with polish and dusters and join the merry band. Our first date, Thursday 6th May, 2pm. For more information please contact me on 740269 – SRB.

VILLAGE COLLECTORS FOR PARISH NEWS

Bainton and Ashton	Mrs Julie Stanton Sandpipers, Ufford Road, Bainton Email: SandpipersJulieaol.com	749123
Barnack, Southorpe and Pilsgate	Mr Roy Beck The Grange, Barnack Email: royshadows-on-the-wall.com	740808
Ufford	Mrs Lisa Chadwick Walnut Cottage, Ufford. Email: lisa	740893

Articles by email or typed wherever possible please. COPY DATE for the June 2004 issue of the Parish News: Friday 14th May 2004 at 6pm E-mail: Lisa

CHURCH CALENDAR FOR MAY 2004
		ST. MARY, BAINTON	ST. JOHN BAPTIST, BARNACK	ST. ANDREW, UFFORD
2nd	4th Sunday of Easter	6.00 pm Evensong (BCP)	10.00am Sung Eucharist (CR)	9.00 am Eucharist (TR)
9th	4th Sunday of Easter	9.00am Eucharist (TR)	10.00am Sung Eucharist (TR)	6.00 pm Evensong (BCP)
16th	6th Sunday of Easter	6.00 pm Evensong (BCP)	10.00am Sung Eucharist (CR)	9.00 am Eucharist (CR)
20th	Ascension Day	No service	7.00pm Said Eucharist (TR)	No service
23rd	7th Sunday of Easter	9.00am Eucharist (TR)	10.00am Sung Eucharist (TR)	6.00 pm Evensong (BCP)
30th	Pentecost ( Whit Sunday)	No service	No Service	10.00am Sung Eucharist (TR) United Benefice

 

KEY: BCP = Book of Common Prayer; CR = Contemporary Language Rite; TR = Traditional Language Rite

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

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

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BARNACK METHODIST CHAPEL

The services for May are:

2nd 6.00 pm Rev I Pruden
9th 6.00 pm (Chapel Anniverary) Mrs Pat Hinks
16th 10.30 am Mrs Ros Hussey
23rd 10.30 am Rev M Peach
30th 10.30 am Rev L Oakley

Minister: The Revd Malcolm Peach

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BARNACK BAPTIST CHURCH

Meets in Barnack Village Hall

2nd 10.30am ‘At the Beach’
9th 10.30am ‘On the Mountain’
16th 10.30am ‘At the Beautiful Gate’
23rd 10.30am ‘On the Desert Road’
30th 10.30am Pentecost All Age

Minister: Rev Antony Wareham,
Tel 01733 268068 (office).

PARISH VOLUNTEERS SCHEME

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.

Contact Names Phone Areas of Involvement

Ann Addison 740414 Bereavement/Housebound/General Support

Sheila Berrill 740482 Education/Children/Housebound/General Support

Chris Fotheringham 740208 Practical Assistance

Yvonne Goodwin 740145 Bereavement/Housebound/General Support

Ken Waller 740396 Help with Form-filling

Jenny Walsh 740991 Family & Step Family Problems

EVENTS THIS MONTH AND FUTURE EVENTS

Please see the interactive year planner for full details. Add your own event to the calendar or just browse and see what other people are planning!