The Parish Of Mudeford Happy Easter

FROM DAUGHTER CHURCH TO PARISH CHURCHIn 2000 All Saints Church was a daughter church of The Priory inChristchurch along with St. George’s Church in Jumpers and St. John’sChapel In Purewell. Father Andrew Saunders was mainly responsiblefor the duties in the area of Mudeford and was based at All Saints withsome responsibility and duties at The Priory. At this time Mudeford wasgrowing rapidly and the population had reached over 8000.The Priest’s Pro Warden, Mrs. Daphne Kelson, and the People’s ProWarden, Mr. Jimmy Thomas, were beginning to feel there was agrowing need for Mudeford to become a Parish in its own right with AllSaints it’s Parish Church and with its own Priest in Charge. Theytherefore began a period of consultation and distributed a survey puttingthe pros and cons of such a proposal trying to judge if the time was rightfor this to happen.In 2002 they presented their findings to the Church Committee and itwas agreed that they write to the Archdeacon of Bournemouth, TheVenerable Adrian Harbidge, to ask what was the next step to take tobecome a stand alone Parish. The reply was that he did not consider acase had yet been made in the current climate.Daphne was not to be deterred by this and continued to canvas opinions. The Church Committee supported her wholeheartedly as didFather Andrew Saunders. The Revd. Canon Hugh Williams , the Vicarof The Priory was quoted in the Bournemouth Echo saying “Anindependent All Saints will make Christchurch Parish more manageablebut, more importantly , Parish status acknowledges the excellent wayAll Saints has managed its affairs. The time is now right for change”.Jimmy Thomas now handed over his People’ s Pro Warden duties toChris Bull and he and Daphne pursued all avenues for change withBishop Paul, the Suffragan Bishop of Southampton. Finally in 2005 aletter was received and read at a Church Meeting which stated that theproposal for Mudeford to be a Parish in It’s own rights with All Saints asits Parish Church was to go ahead. The necessary papers anddocuments would be presented to the Queen for signature by themiddle of the year. It was a great achievement.Sadly just as this momentous decision was made Daphne Kelson has tostand down because of severe health problems.

Father Andrew asked me to stand in her place as Priests Pro Warden and Iagreed to do this with her help and the help of Chris Bull. We workedclosely with Bishop Paul and the Deanery Synod to finalise the boundarydetails.It was an exciting and challenging time. Most churches at this time wereamalgamating or becoming team ministries and yet here was Mudefordgoing it alone.Father Andrew who had worked tirelessly with Daphne to achieve this wasexperiencing family and health problems and sadly tended hisresignation and the newly created Parish went into an interregnum.Canon Hugh paid tribute to Father Andrew saying “Father Andrew hasbeen a very valuable colleague for over six years-a wonderful friend- andan extremely good priest for All Saints and the community of Mudeford.Looking to the future, it is uncertain now, due to his ill health, that he will beable to continue his ministry. We will all miss him and wish him well.”Arranging the Consecration service for the redrawn ecclesiastical Parish ofMudeford with All Saints Church was daunting, exciting and full of red tape!There had been no new Parish created in this way in Winchester dioceseso there was no precedent, we were virtually writing it from scratch. Iworked closed with Bishop Paul and the Rural Dean preparing this to takeplace in April 2007, after the new priest was appointed.As we were now in an interregnum the newly elected PCC began to drawup a Parish Profile and a Job Description for the new priest and a smallcommittee chaired by Bishop Paul, worked long hours. Chris Bull and Irarely saw our homes or our families during this period. Eventually after avery lengthy process everything came together and in April 2006 Revd.Helen Griffiss was Installed and Licensed as the first Priest in Charge ofthe new Parish of Mudeford. Over 250 people filled our little church for herinstallation which was a wonderful, joyous occasion full of love andanticipation. With the help of a very supportive congregation Revd. Helenhelped to establish a growing, caring church which had a missionstatement saying, “This Parish seeks to be inclusive in extending God’sKingdom, by encouraging the whole community to grow in Christian faiththrough prayer and worship and to care for others through pastoral andpractical support”.Anthea Bell

A Tribute to Vera Galegiven at her Thanksgiving Service onMonday 9th March at All Saints ChurchVera was my close friend and colleague. She was an important and muchloved member of our Church family and I would like to share with younow just a few memories that members of the congregation offered tome.Vera came to All Saints Church in 1998 when Eileen and Jimmy Thomasasked her to help them with the bric a brac stall known as ‘arrodsupstairs. Every Wednesday morning she helped them set up andwelcome people from the whole community of Mudeford. Eventually shewas promoted and allowed downstairs to be made welcome by Barbaraand to serve coffees, and then being asked to make scones, marmaladeand jams for sale. But Eileen and Jimmy were not satisfied with her justbeing a backroom person and persuaded and encouraged her to go onthe Parish Council and join the Social Committee. With growing confidence and enthusiasm I am told Vera took on more and more.helpingto run social events, her quizzes were famous for miles around as werethe raffles she organised. Becoming Chair of the Social Committee Veraorganised three very successful flower festivals, arranged coach trips notonly to Winchester and Salisbury Flower Festivals But to stately homesand shopping outlets. Vera also took on the church flower arrangementsand, once again, her wedding arches became an important part of anywedding held at All Saints. I was reminded over and over again howshe organised both the summer and Christmas fairs. How many of youfound yourself roped in to help. In November she was the main leader inthe Shoebox appeal.During all of this time many people told me how practical and particularshe was. A real perfectionist who like things done her way. We used tolaugh together about this at times and I called her the titivating Queenwho always wanted things to be just so. It’s jolly hard being aperfectionist.

How many of you remember Vera’s black bag. It was a real MaryPoppins bag and seemed to hold everything from spare batteries,screwdrivers, spanner’s and endless lists. She could turn herhand to everything and as a Church Warden following Chris, Ieven saw her repointing bricks just like he had done and clearingthe flat roof over the Vestry. I know many of you have fondmemories of all she did. Revd. Helen shared with me how sheremembered Vera as her Church Warden moving tables andchairs, then rushing on her vintage drop head racing bike in highheeled shoes (always high heels), organising everybody andeverything and always there to open up for wedding rehearsalsand all sorts of things over and above her duties as ChurchWarden.Perhaps your memories are of her taking over the editing of theAnchor Church magazine when Rachel’s work load meant shehad to resign. What a good read this is.And then.there was the garden maintenance. Every week shemowed the lawns and organised working groups to weed andprune.And then there was the preparation of the Easter garden, theEaster cross, The Christmas crib and tree, the Shrove Tuesdaypancakes, the Remembrance garden .the list is endless.Everyone remembered something else she did.Barbara Miles remembers how grateful she was when Vera tookon the Verger’s duties as well as the Hall bookings. Vera becamethe Secretary of the Guild of Vergers locally arranging manymeetings and gatherings., including visits to other Churches,bbqs, skittles and meals out. Thanks to her we all had great funand have lots of happy memories.In 2013 Vera helped me to found CAMEO a group to supportwidows and a friendship group for ladies living on their own. Shebecame our catering expert and quiz provider. Each month shegave us an appropriate quiz to keep our brains active. I leave youto do the Maths as to how many she produced.

I was quoted at the time as saying “All Saints has always embracedthe challenge of change and will continue to make every effort tomeet the spiritual and social needs of the diverse and rapidly changing andgrowing Mudeford community”.As I have said the list of what she did is endless but whenspeaking to people they mostly remembered her as a “doer” but oneof her friends reminded me of another side of Vera - Vera the carerof others.Did you know for example that every Thursday she would take a carload of ladies shopping and often unpacked it for them.On one occasion when her brother arrived in his camper van shepersuaded him to take her and her “canasta” friends into the Forestfor a cordon bleu picnic complete with her cream scones.I also witnessed to what lengths she would go to help people.An elderly member of the congregation was struggling to look afterhimself and his wife and his mind was becoming wandery and attimes confused. His family persuaded him to move into a homenear them the other side of Dorchester. He confided in Vera howworried he was so off we set together to visit him to reassure him hewas not forgotten. How good we felt because after our visit hiswhole demeanour changed and he was able to persuade his familyto move him nearer to his church family who could visit more often.Vera was also very good at visiting people in care homes. She waspatient and allowed them time to talk. She truly gave of herself. Onefriend told me how Vera spent a whole day just sitting with her inhospital while she waited for treatment.I’ve only just scratched on the surface of how Vera helped so many.I will miss her so much. Since her death I’ ve often picked up thephone to ask for her advice.as I’m sure many of you have too.Rest in peace our dear friend and rise in glory.

Our theme this month was memorableEaster Customs & TraditionsLesley Wright says ‘In 1989 I was on holiday inMalaga during Easter. I was amazed at theprocessions and the weight of the tableaus being carried through the streets. It was a beau ful sight to watchwith all the lighted candles’.Heather Trenchard says: “My job was Personalassistant to NASA Air Force O cers and their familiesat Cocoa Beach Florida USA at Airforce Eastern TestRange NASA where I worked for several years. TheEaster Military tradi on was to take a large coach load of militarychildren with the NASA base minister (Methodist) every Easter to aSunrise Service to re-enact the Passion Story outdoors in the open elds”.The Winchester PassionIn 2006 I joined thousands of people packing the streets of Winchester onGood Friday as the cathedral city played host to a spectacular re-crea onof the Easter story. Winchester was taken back to thedays of Roman-occupied Jerusalem as the WinchesterPassion told the Easter story around the city's historicloca ons - Oram's Arbour, the Great Hall, LawCourts,Westgate, Bu ercross and of course, the cathedral.The part of Jesus was taken by the actor Israel Oyelumade and the narrator was Radio Solent’s Rev Tim DaykinThe oodlit cathedral was the spectacular se ngfor the Passion's emo onally-charged endingwhen Jesus was put to death on the balcony of thecathedral high above the audience on theCathedral Green who looked on trans xed. It trulywas an amazing and emo onal experience.Maggie Raine

OUR DAWN WALKOn 23rd March 2008 (Easter Day) in the small village ofCrowland in Lincolnshire, our alarm summoned usfrom our beds before dawn and we made our way,along with folk from all across our circuit, to the smallMethodist Church, where we worshipped. This yearwe were to host the Easter Dawn Walk. However, thisyear was going to present a further challenge becauseas you can see from the photos it was snowing! We usually celebrated communion at some point on our walk but this year Plan B kicked in. We wrappedup well, donned our boots, and set o on the walk, through the village and outinto the countryside, which looked beau ful with its blanket of snow. As usual wehalted at various points to sing and re ect.Our Minister decided to wait un l we returned to church for the service. We wereencouraged on the walk by the thought ofthe cooked breakfast we would share together when we returned to the church.The rst photo shows some of us standingon the famous Triangular Bridge in Crowland (where three rivers used tomeet). The second depicts us at a commemora ve Charm Tree (made by thechildren of the village) and the third shows us wai ng for breakfast.Paul Smith

EASTER IN SEVILLE, SPAINSome years ago we were invited to staywith some friends at their home in Seville.We drove down from Santander to Cordoba, through to Ronda and on to Sevilleduring Holy Week or Semana Santa as it isknown in Spain. This is the annual tributeof the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Holyweek processions and the wailing music are characteris c of many townsand ci es par cularly as we travelled South. Many churches organise oatsdepic ng scenes from the last week of Jesus’ life. The oats are organisedby a brotherhood a ached to each church and the images on the oats areo en full size and carried by a team of “costaleros”, young men 30 to 40strong, who carry the oat on their shoulders. These oats can weigh upto a tonne and there is a curtain around the base of theoat so that it appears to be moving on its own. Everyoat is followed by another carrying a Madonna depic ng the sorrows of the Virgin Mary. The oats are accompanied by marching bands and a very large team ofpar cipants wearing the peniten al robes and a hoodwith a conical p. These “Nazarenos” as they are knownalso carried candles which are lit for the night me processions.We arrived in Seville on Maundy Thursday and joined a very large congrega on in the Cathedral. The Mass was led by the newly appointed Cardinalof Seville. The highlight of the weekend for us was the Saturday evening.Our friends arranged for us to have a view from the third oor above ashop very close to the Cathedral. All the oats processed very slowly upthe street and then entered into the Cathedral by one door and leaving byanother. There was no music on the Saturday just a very respec ve silenceas each of the 20 or so oats went by. The huge crowds were very seriousand wearing their Sunday best. The whole evening was very moving.Then on Easter Sunday as we were leaving Seville for the journey home,the processions that we saw had changed from black to white to celebratethe risen Christ. Sadly this year all the Semana Santa processions have hadto be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.Judy and Tony Eden

Mothers’ Union Report for April 2020We gathered for our monthly branchmee ng on 2nd March to share Lentenprayers and poems. There was a beau fulselec on and we enjoyed listening to themall.We also arranged our programme for thenext six months but now that iscancelled along with all mee ngs and eventsna onwide.Although we cannot meet in person onMonday mornings, perhaps we can s ll praytogether at home. The MU have wri en aprayer with prac cal and spiritual ideas forCovid-19: -You may have seen, on socialmedia perhaps, that people arepu ng pictures of rainbows intheir windows so when childrenand those feeling lonely leavetheir homes for their daily walksthey can hunt for the rainbowsand hopefully it will bring thema smile.Whenever the rainbow appearsin the clouds, I will see it andremember the everlas ngcovenant between God and allliving creatures of every kind onthe earth."Genesis 9:16Loving Lord,we pray for your love and compassion to aboundas we walk though this challenging season.Think of some prac cal ways that you can showGod’s love and compassion at this me.We ask for wisdom for those who bear the loadof making decisions with widespread consequences.Take a moment to pray for those in posi ons ofin uence at local, na onal and interna onal levels.We pray for those who are su ering with sicknessand for all who are caring for themPray par cularly for any known to you personally,including those who work in the health profession.

We ask for protec on for the elderly and vulnerableto not succumb to the risks of virus.Consider if there is anything helpful you can do forthose in this category – shopping or other errands?We pray for misinforma on to be curbedthat fear may take no hold in hearts and minds.Take any opportunity to reassure those who are feelinganxious, especially over unsubstan ated concerns.As we exercise the good sense that you in your mercy providemay we also approach each day in faith and peace,trus ng in the truth of your goodness towards us. AmenGive thanks to God for his constant presence with us throughevery circumstance of life.Ann SmithMa hew 6:26-27“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow orreap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much morevaluable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”Why not re ect on this Bible verse as you takesome me to birdwatch?

FROM THE ARCHIVESIn 1935, a Mudeford Fair was organised at Bure Homage. This wasrepeated in1936 and 1937 as the Bure Pageant. This fascina ngli le brochure is to be found in the Christchurch History Archives.WH Gay, the Vicar and Rural Dean ofChristchurch says in his foreword: “ Again Icommend to Christchurch and District thissecond venture,organised by Mr and Mrs Ricardo. Thosewho were fortunate enough to have beenpresent at last years “ShakespeareanRevels” will know what to expect ofMudeford Fair, which will be presented onJuly 30 and 31st.” He con nues: “ we willbe transported back to the days of theRegency1780-1820, and we shall beenabled to enter the light-hearted spirit ofthose mes, which is so vividly depicted inthe pages of the “Scarlet Pimpernel”.Readers of this magazine will remember the stories last year about theMor mers, the Bure Homage Estate and the infamous Baroness deFeucheres, otherwise known as Sophie Dawes. This pageant focussed onthe French Revolu on and Sophie Dawes life. In the brochure, there arepages of arrangements made to transport people to the Event. Hants andDorset provided extensive bus services. Southern Railway organised freebuses from railway sta ons. The centre of our area must have beenbuzzing.The programme started at 2pm and went on un l 10pm. The content andthe me-table are shown below, together with some interes ngadver sing present at that me.

There was a Programme of Plays,involving The Leamor Players, whopresented, “The Betrothal of LadyMary”. There were historicalscenes, arranged by Mr AWLawrie, involving The FrenchRevolu on, Outside the Star andGarter, Richmond, the Queen ofChan lly and Bure Homage 1831.To the outsider, a some confusing,but interes ng mix.The object of the fair was to assist the purchase of the Priory House and grounds,at that me in a poor state. The target published to be raised by the Fair was 2700. The Proceeds of July 30th went to The Priory appeal and July 31st to“Parochial Debts and Mudeford Church in equal propor on” ThePriory Appeal was graphically illustrated as follows: “In 1929 grave dangerthreatened Christchurch Priory. The House known as Church Hatch, with twoacres of land adjacent to the northern boundary of the Churchyard wassold . immanent risk of development” The property was acquired thanks tothe generos

high-heels as Vera we will need new people to step into her shoes. A precious point in my week is the Wednesday Prayer, Coffee and Communion. A big thanks to Peter and Marion and to the many others who make that a special morning. Thanks too to all who help with Sunday coffee. Lovedy’s art group is also such a vibrant and creative space.