From our new vicar……………..

I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce myself and my family to you. Jane and I and our seven year-old daughter, Hannah, will be moving into the Vicarage in Peasedown St John in early December in the hopes of getting ourselves settled in well before Christmas. I shall also be using this time preparing myself before taking full responsibility for both the parishes of Wellow and Peasedown as of January 6th 2005.

Prior to moving to Wellow and Peasedown, we have spent three and half very happy years living and working in Combe Down where I was the Curate for the United Benefice of Combe Down with Monkton Combe and South Stoke. So we have not moved far. This has many advantages as Hannah will be able to remain in her school and we will be able to keep up with the many friends we have made over the last three and half years. Before moving to Combe Down we spent two years in Oxford where I studied for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall theological college. Before going to Wycliffe my career had been in business, originally training as a cost and management accountant with H.J. Heinz before moving into marketing where I worked for Allied Domecq and for Canada's biggest brewer John Labatt. My last job was working in the Personal Computer Division of Samsung Electronics where I was the European General Manager responsible for sales and marketing.

Jane and I met when we both worshipped at St. Barnabas Church, Kensington (the first church plant from Holy Trinity Brompton). We were married in 1995 at St. Barnabas and before moving to Oxford we lived in Acton, West London. Jane also worked in the computer industry until Hannah was born, since when she has been a full time wife and mother.

We were very pleased to have had the opportunity of meeting a number of you at the Harvest Festival barbeque and we certainly look forward to meeting more of you in the New Year. It would be great if a good number from the village could come and support my institution at St Julian's which will be at a special service on Sunday 9th January 2005 at 11am.

I am being formally licensed to the United Benefice of Peasedown St John with Wellow on Thursday 6 January 2005 at 7.00 pm at St John the Baptist Church, Peasedown St John by the Bishop of Taunton and you are very welcome to come. Please note however that places will be very limited.

I am certainly extremely grateful to God for this opportunity to come and minister in such a beautiful and vibrant village as Wellow and I look forward to doing His work and seeing His kingdom grow.

Matthew Street

For details of Church Services in Wellow CLICK HERE

For details of Church Services in Peasedown St. John CLICK HERE

CHURCH NEWS FOR JANUARY 2005 Thank you to everyone who came to the Christmas Bazaar on November 20th a profit of five hundred and six pounds was made, our best ever. Thank you to all those who helped in anyway, planning the stalls, setting up and clearing away after, to those who gave donations, brought gifts to sell, and to those who made such super items, it must have taken up a lot of their time, also a special vote of thanks to Santa for coming at his busy time of year. Well done every-body.

Our Christingle service took place on Sunday, 5th December at 4.00pm. The service was led by Revd Christopher Hare, with the children performing a play about the lost sheep. The church was a hive of activity with excited children making cards and Christingle oranges before the service. The Christingle candles were lit and a circle was formed around the church with the candles glowing. Refreshments were served afterwards, around 60 attended. A great and enjoyable event for all. Thank you to all those who worked so hard, so hard.

We hope you all have a lovely Christmas. On going to press none of our Christmas Services have taken place so I will report on them in the February issue.

On Sunday, January 9th at 11.00 Clock we are holding a special service to welcome Matthew our new Vicar, his wife Jane, and daughter Hannah to Wellow, we do hope for a large congregation. Refreshments will be served after this service.

Now we wish you all God's blessings for a happy healthy, New Year and we hope for lasting peace throughout the world.

Churchwardens

DR GRAHAM MOORE We were all very sad at St. Julian's to hear of the sudden death of Graham. Let us hope he has found peace. To Sarah and her children we send our deepest sympathy and trust they will be given strength to see them through this difficult time.

Churchwardens

POPPY APPEAL This year the wonderful sum of £435.61 was collected in the village for the Royal British Legion. This far exceeds our previous best. A big thank you to all who collected and all who contributed.

Colin Tremellen

LUNCH CLUB Happy New Year. Now you have hopefully all recovered from the festive season, we look forward to seeing you at the January lunch which will be in the Village Hall at 1pm on Thursday 27th.

Janet Earp 835254 and Marian Osborne 832561

PARISH NEWS Please may I have all copy for the Parish News by the 20th of next month. The print day is always a Friday following the 20th so sometimes there is a bit of flexibility, similarly the day the Newsletter arrives on your doorstep varies. Please send copy to Jill Tremellen 833506 or preferably to jilltremellen@onetel.com Thank you.

WELLOW & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Membership and renewal of membership for the year 2005 is now due on 1st January 2005.

We would love more members which in turn will bring fresh ideas and thoughts to the Society. The Programme Secretaries have some interesting talks for the coming year with two outings scheduled in the Summer. One to a garden at Litton and one to Westbury Court in Glos. We are hoping to visit our Vegetable Judge's own garden too and gather some good tips. Our first meeting of the year will be mid February with a Quiz Night. Watch this space for the date and bring a team along. The date for our annual plant sale will be Saturday 7th May where bargains can be had! So if you have never been to one of the meeting, do come along and discover more about the Society. There is a good library from which people can borrow books, and also with your Membership Card a discount can be had from Prior Park Nurseries and Norton Green Nursery. Other nurseries and garden centres may well offer a discount when you show the Card.

Membership includes free entry to all talks and demonstrations throughout the year and the annual Flower Show and Country Fair, plus some subsidizing if a coach is arranged for one of the outings.

Libby Kerr

WELLOW & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Membership/Renewal Form.

I/We ………………………………. would like to join/renew my/our membership for the year 2005.

£6 - Individual Membership

£10 - Family Membership.

Name:………………………………….

Address:…………………………………. ……………………………………..

e mail: ……………………………………..

Telephone Number: .....................................

Please make cheques payable to the Wellow & District Horticultural Society and send to:

Janet Plater & Sue Wilford

The Old Station,

Station Road,

Wellow.

Tel: 01225 837944