December 2001
Churchwardens: Mrs. J. H. Mannings, Mr. J. R. Wyld
THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…'
These famous words highlight for us the mystery of the Incarnation. The words are part of the introduction to St John's Gospel, which, for me, stands in contrast to the Christmas story as told in the Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke.
Most of us have heard the Christmas story every year since childhood. It has become part of our culture: the traditional crib scene is part of the 'fabric' of Christmas, together with snowy-pictured Christmas cards and the turkey and mince pies.
Yet what an extraordinary story it is!
A young couple arrives in a crowded town; they cannot find any accommodation, but an innkeeper takes pity on the girl because she is about to give birth and he offers the couple his stable for the night. There is nothing spectacular or unusual in the story so far. The baby is born. But then strange things happen: shepherds arrive at the stable claiming to have been visited by angels who had told them that a Saviour has been born.
Wise Men from the East visit the child, having followed a star. They saw this special star and thought that it signified the birth of the King of the Jews. They bring costly gifts and lay them in front of the child and they bow down and worship him.
The story now becomes far from ordinary. It seems to me that there are two extraordinary features in this story. Firstly, there are the supernatural signs and exclamations concerning the baby who was born. Secondly, there is the actual place where the birth took place.
If a great ruler or king were born, surely it would be not unusual for shepherds - ordinary men and women - to go near the birthplace and make their allegiance to their sovereign. Wise Men or other kings would also visit the new ruler, the future king of that territory. All this would be quite normal if the baby had been born in a palace or royal house.
But the baby was born in a stable! A stable behind an Inn. A totally unimportant and unspectacular place. A person reading this story for the first time, who had never heard of it before, would be utterly surprised at the birthplace, if not surprised at the supernatural occurrences.
But then if that person also read the first few lines of St John's Gospel, they might begin to understand what is related in the other story. They might not understand it at all.
There is one passage which might stand out in their mind: the one which says, 'He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.' This passage might explain why this special baby was not born in a special place.
So a picture is built up. A special child is born; his birth is accompanied by special signs and exclamations. Yet this child is born in an unspectacular place.
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God entered human history in an ordinary place.
The miracle of Christmas for me has two astounding messages. God is interested in us human beings and loves us so much that he actually entered into human life. But also God enters the ordinary lives of you and me.
I hope that you and I will open our hearts to God this Christmas and allow the Infant Christ to dwell among us.
Hugh Bonsey
For details of Church Services in Wellow CLICK HERE
For details of Church Services in Peasedown St. John CLICK HERE
DECEMBER SERVICES @ St. Julian's Church
Sunday December 16th at 6.00pm Candlelit Carol Service This service is a wonderful celebration of the Christmas Story with carols and readings.
Christmas Eve at 10.00pm First Mass of Christmas Again by candlelight, we celebrate the Eucharist thanking God the gift of the Christ Child - what a truly awe-inspiring way to begin the Christmas season.
Christmas Day at 11.15am Family Eucharist On Christmas Day we welcome families and children to the Eucharist (even though we often have children attending the night before, and it's wonderful to see them). This is an occasion for everybody who cannot attend the evening service to receive the Christmas Communion and make the Christmas celebrations complete.
CHURCH NEWS The Christmas Bazaar was well attended with Father Christmas being kept busy with a queue of children receiving a small gift. Stalls did brisk business and resulted in £473.83 being made. Thank you to all who helped in any way or gave items for sale and, of course to everyone who came to buy, an excellent effort all round. Now to Christmas itself our first celebration will be the Candlelit Carol Service at 6.00 pm on Sunday, 16th December. This year WADS choir, with a few volunteers, will sing some special carols. This Service is always popular with families so we hope you will fill the church as usual. There is no reason why you should feel cold as our new heating will be on and everyone young or old will be welcome.
The First Eucharist will be on the 24th December Christmas Eve at 10.00 pm with a Family Eucharist on Christmas Day at 11.15 am. Do try to get to one of these services to celebrate the birth of our Lord and pray together in these troubled times.
A Peaceful and Happy Christmas to you all and all God's Blessings in the year 2002 from all of us at St. Julian's Church.
Churchwardens
CHRISTMAS DECORATING OF ST. JULIANS The Carol Service is being held on Sunday, 16th December. The decorating of the church with berries and greenery will take place on Saturday, 15th December from 10.00 am onwards. Flowers will be added to the arrangements on Monday, Christmas Eve, 24th December at 10.00 am. All donations of flowers, greenery and help would be greatly appreciated.
Libby Kerr 833589
CHRISTMAS CARDS The lovely cards of St. Julian's Church in the snow at dawn are proving very popular. There are still some available at the Parlour Shop but they are selling fast. They cost 25p each or £2.50 for ten, excellent value and all profits to the Church.
WELLOW PARISH COUNCIL PC Carrow of Radstock Police held a Beat Surgery before the Parish Council Meeting on Monday, 19th November 2001. A steady flow of parishioners came to air their concerns, and PC Carrow told us that time has been allowed for him to walk the village weekly.
Before dealing with the month's business the Chairman, Mr R Whittington, expressed the sorrow of the Parish Council on the death of Councillor Dr R Bazeley that day. In tribute to him he said that Dr Bazeley had served the village from 1987 and had been chairman from 1990 to 1999. A minutes silence to his memory then followed.
Planning:
The following applications were considered and given support
App 01/02332/FUL Mr A Elvin for Summerhouse in rear garden
App 01/02141/FUL Mrs J Vening for all-weather menage and wildlife pond
App 01/02180/FUL Mr D Nixon for retention of garden shed. Consent given.
App by Mr and Mrs Hurdle for Single Storey Office Building.
Opinion has been sought by Mr and Mrs Barr of Honeysuckle Cottage to add 1 metre to the existing planning permission. There was no objection.
The signpost in the Square has now been repaired and can be put back in place. Erica Smith reported on a presentation for "Most Improved Village Reward". She has received a tree - to be planted in playground area - and a cheque for £40.00.
Mr Watson reported that planning permission had been granted re earthworks at Folly Down, but subject to restrictions, and also that Bath Press are not now coming to the site at Peasedown St John. Next meeting will be held on 17th December at 8 o'clock in the Village Hall.
J Morphew Clerk
ST. JULIAN'S SCHOOL The new head at St Julian's School has settled into her role in Wellow. Sarah Jones, who had previously been the acting head at Croscombe School near Shepton Mallet, has overseen a busy first half term at the School.
The children have been visited by radio presenters from GWR FM, who judged a contest to chose which children's artwork would be included in a metre square mosaic that will be made during November by a specialist educational team that will spend the day making the mosaic with the children.
One of the presenters was so taken by the school and its pupils that she has offered to come back on the day and help lay some of the pieces.
The end of half-term was marked by a special day in support of the efforts of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Staff and pupils alike dressed up as animals and pledged money to the worthy cause.
SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAYRE The school are having a Christmas Fayre on 14th December from 2 - 4.30 pm. Please come and join in! The children will be designing and running their own stalls and there will be tea, coffee and cakes. Father Christmas will be visiting. All money raised will go towards new equipment and resources for the school
Claire Chapman
VILLAGE HALL The Quiz held on the 9th November raised £176.62 for hall funds, very many thanks to Alan Taylor for another enjoyable evening.
Les Venton
CHRISTMAS AT THE PARLOUR SHOP We shall as usual be getting locally-reared turkeys, geese and ducks, as well as other meats, from Mitchard's for Christmas. If you've had them before you will know how very good they are! Now is the time to order, so let us know as soon as you can what you would like. Supplies are not unlimited! We have of course other essentials too: cheeses, ham, fruit, vegetables, chocolates, wines, cards and possible presents. Send in an order and it will be made up ready for you to collect - no queuing, no jostling, no hassle, - the way to stay relaxed for Christmas! We have a new line to help you with your party giving. Up to sixty wine glasses are available for hire at 20p per glass, or free if you buy your wine at the shop.
You will find other details, including our Christmas and New Year opening hours on the enclosed leaflet. Season's Greetings to all our customers and friends from all at the Parlour Shop.
CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT, THURSDAY, 6TH DECEMBER @ 8PM This month's Charity Quiz night is being held in aid of The Bristol Area Kidney Patients Association and takes place as usual, on the first Thursday of the month, Thursday, 6th December at the Fox & Badger, starting at 8 pm. Last month's quiz and raffle raised £100.00 and was donated to The Macmillan Nurses. Since the start, in March, of the regular monthly quizzes we have raised a total of £917.25 towards the various charitable causes. Thank you to all who entered teams and particularly to Eric and Susanne Hobbs for their generous donation of the raffle prizes and as usual, for hosting the event. Remember that entry is only £1.50 per quiz team member with a maximum of 6 people in a team and the winning team get to choose next month's charity recipients. If you haven't done so already why not join us in a bit of local fun and fundraising.
Richard Holland
FROM THE PAST
A Victorian Workhouse Story
In 1874 the Master of the Workhouse obtained private funds for brass instruments, enough to form a boy's band. The orphans and pauper children in the workhouse led deprived lives within a rigid disciplinary regime, which included work for the Superintendent of Field Labour. Every boy wore the rough clothes supplied to inmates and we have an idea of their school life when it is recorded that one master was dismissed for striking a boy on the head, part of his offence being that the boy's workhouse clothes were stained by the blood.
Very soon the band had become proficient and were in demand for events at Lady Huntingdon's Chapel School, the Baptist Chapel School and others. What joy it must have been for the boys to escape those forbidding walls and bleak exercise yard for a brief afternoon. Very soon the Guardians, ever mindful of keeping the Poor Rate down, began to charge, first 10/- and then 15/- plus "a free conveyance" for the band's appearances.
The Revd G W Horton paid for them to play at Wellow for the School Festival, in 1875, and on several other occasions. We can imagine the boys excitement when, by horse and cart, they travelled along the fragrant green lanes in May from Odd Down to the village.
Even more exciting things were to greet them at Wellow, 105 lbs of plum cake, lemonade and other goodies to be shared with the village children. This, at a time when puddings or other sweet things did not appear on the workhouse diet sheet, must have seemed as food from the gods. To complete their pleasure each was given a toy costing 3 pence.
Peasedown St John was not to be so lucky, the Revd R Lawton wanted them for Whit Monday 1879 but was refused, the reason given was that "the boys were going out too frequently and the distance was too far".
Perhaps we should also spare a thought for the hundred or so boys who remained behind in the workhouse, having to listen to the chatter of the band on their return.
Wellow Home Guard.
I have a few references to the Home Guard Sunday morning parades in the Square and of exercises against the Radstock men. If anyone can expand the record, however small the contribution, I would be grateful.
Gordon Hewlett 833781
DO YOU NEED A HOUSESITTER and someone to feed and care for your pets while you are away on holiday? My recently retired parents live a long way off in South Africa and miss seeing their children and grandchildren. They visit us a couple of times a year but it is now a bit of a tight squeeze in our small cottage. So if you live in the village and need a couple of good reliable housesitters they may be able to help out in return for the proximity that it would provide to their family here in Canteen Cottage.
Their next visit will be in December. If you might be interested in a house-sitting arrangement at this or any other time please contact me, Di Dalgliesh, at my email address (didalg@doctors.org.uk) or by telephone (01225 833765).
THE QUIET GARDEN AT ST JULIAN'S WELL The annual conference of the Quiet Garden Trust was held in Hertfordshire in November. The movement continues to flourish. A pilot project is underway in the Oxford diocese taking Quiet Spaces into Primary Schools providing packs for assemblies teaching children the value of silence and reflection. 90 schools are involved. Developing Quiet Spaces in prisons and hospitals is being discussed. St. Julian's QG closed in October, we had more visitors than ever this year. The garden will be open again in May when we welcome people on the first Thursday of every month who are seeking a time of quiet.
Colin and Jill Tremellen
WELLOW LUNCH CLUB Our Christmas Lunch will be held on Thursday 20th December at 1.00pm cost £2.00 come along for a lovely Christmas meal. See you there.
Janet Earp and Marian Osborne 832561
WELLOW W.I. The next meeting will be on Thursday, 13th December at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, our speaker will be Mrs. J. Parrott, her subject Monologues is said to be after the style of Joyce Grenfell with Stanley Holloway. The competition will be the prettiest "Paper Serviette". Members are reminded that the group Carol Service will be on Wednesday, 12th December at Paulton. New members are always welcome please just come along.
Pam Brigden
Please may I have all copy for the January Newsletter by the 10th December. The closing date is earlier this month because of the amount of printing St. Philip's & St James' Church undertakes around Christmas. It can be left in the shop or delivered to me at St. Julian's Well. If you have email that would be very helpful and even better if you could send it Times New Roman Font Size 12! Thank you very much.
Jill Tremellen 833506 email julians.well@virgin.net