WELLOW CHURCH AND PARISH NEWS

May 2004

Churchwardens: Mrs. J. H. Mannings, Mr. J. R. Wyld

ST JULIAN'S CHURCH - JUST A MUSEUM?

'The true pleasure of Somerset churches lies in the experience of visiting them. They invite us into a landscape of warm contours and gentle villages. They offer the perfection of English building set in the perfection of English countryside.'

St Julian's sits easily with Simon Jenkins' description, set in the middle of the village with its tall west tower clearly visible from the surrounding hills. Our church was built; tradition has it, by Sir Thomas Hungerford, the first speaker of the House of Commons it was completed in 1372. It is believed to have been consecrated by John Harewell, Bishop of Bath and Wells on May Day of that year, and it has been lovingly maintained and cared for to the present day.

St. Julian's, as with other parish churches enshrines the history of the local people their art architecture and faith. Amongst recent illustrations we can see in the central niche above the south porch a recent statue, of St. Julian with oar in hand, blessing the parish carved by Gilbert Sumsion a Wellow craftsman. In 1975 Peter Watts carved new stone corbels of the current Bishop and Patron, which are found on either side of the West door. In 1950 the Warrior chapel was restored to commemorate the sons and daughters of Wellow who served in the Second World War. Over the Porch stands a cross carved by the village policeman, and Laurence Curran, also a Wellow craftsman fashioned the wrought iron hinges of the oak door of the rood loft.

A church is not a place of revealed truth, maintains Jenkins, but rather a shrine of impenetrable mystery, a symbol of humanity's everlasting quest for explanation. Every civilisation has such places and we should respect them all. Until the past century the church was at the heart of every community, it registered, christened, taught, married, adjudicated sustained comforted and buried. It found its public expression in architecture and art, the church is a museum and should be proud of the fact. No crusading faith can renounce its past. Nor should any parish church forget that it owes its splendour to the love, labour and taxes not just of today's Anglicans but of its whole community through history.

Even non Christian visitors to St. Julian's find they can not be immune to the spirit of the church who's walls have absorbed the faith the hopes, the tragedies and the joys of the local people and which has offered in return peace and humble consolation. For 'it is through the churches of England that we learn who we were and thus who we are and might become'.

Jill Tremellen

For details of Church Services in Wellow CLICK HERE

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

CHURCH NEWS St Julian's looked lovely once again on Easter Sunday with all the flowers so beautifully arranged, our thanks to all who gave their time to do these. Also to the children and Steve and their helpers who made the delightful garden by the North door. Revd Brian Sutton preached and led the Easter service to a fairly good congregation. We are most grateful to Brian for his help and for all the services that he takes in the future during the interregnum.

On 25th May a Fashion Show will be held in the church. We do hope lots of you will support this event, money raised will be divided by various organisations in the village.

Congratulations to our village school on their success in winning the Birmingham-midshires cup for folk singing, as well as a certificate of merit at the mid Somerset competitive festival recently. Well done everyone we are proud of you and our appreciation to those who train you.

Churchwardens

MAY CHURCH SERVICES The family service held on the first Sunday in the month will begin at 11.15 am and last half an hour. We hope the service will appeal especially to children and young families and look forward to seeing you. The service will be taken by parishioners.

THANKS My thanks to everyone who sent me cards, gifts and flowers, or phoned me during my recent illness. Your good wishes meant a lot when I was at a low ebb. I am glad to say I am much better and hope to be back in circulation soon. Many thanks again.

Joyce Mannings

CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT @ THE FOX & BADGER Just a quick note to remind regular, or indeed new, teams to the monthly Charity Quiz Night at The Fox & Badger. Due to a conflict with a Morris Dance troupe visiting the Fox & Badger on the usual first Thursday, 6th May, the Quiz will be held on WEDNESDAY, 5th MAY @ 8 pm this month. Please make a note in your diary so as not to miss this fun filled and money raising event. For those who were not at last month's quiz you may like to know that we raised £156.00 on the night (bringing the total raised to date to £4118.75 for the numerous charities you have supported). Last month's money was donated to Barnardo's and was given in support of local residents Siobhan and Steve Carter who are running this year's London Marathon also in aid of Barnardo's. We trust that all has gone well with their sterling efforts....as at time of writing the marathon has not taken place?

We look forward to seeing you on the 5th and our thanks to Eric and Suzanne for generously hosting the evening.

Richard & Clover Holland

WINNERS OF THE WELLOW VILLAGE HALL 150 CLUB PRIZE DRAW FOR May 2004

1st £30.00 Mrs Y. Small 17

2nd £11.00 Mrs. J. Hawkins 5

3rd £7.00 Mr. R. Williams 95

4th £5.00 Mrs S Kyte 6

Thank you for your support

B Messer Chairman

WELLOW AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY murder mystery evenings raised £649.00. 50% of which will be donated to the Village Hall Funds. Thanks to all who attended and made the two evenings so successful and worthwhile

Mary Messer (Chairman)

WELLOW & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Saturday, 8th May - Bring & Buy Plant Sale 2-4 pm at the Wellow Village Hall. Bargain prices. Entry is Free with a plant or £1! Tea and cake available - so do bring friends. All proceeds will be divided between the Horticultural Society and the Village Hall. Plants can be received in the Village Hall on the day from Noon, alternatively ring Marie Barthlomew on 01225 840889. Please label everything with name and the variety, if possible.

Thursday, 20th May - Illustrated talk entitled "The A-Z of Climbers" by Margaret Morris She used to run the Sherston Parva Clematis Nursery, Nr. Chippenham. 7.30 pm at the Village Hall. Guests will be very welcome - £2. We are pretty certain that there will be plants to buy too!

Thursday, 3rd June - Visit to Hestercombe There are still a few places available so do get in touch with the Treasurer, Duncan Hammerton, Windy Ridge, High St, Wellow Telephone 01225 835840. The subsidized trip will cost £10 which includes travel by coach, the entry fee and tour round the garden. We leave the Square 8.45 am to depart 9.00am. The garden is about 1 1/2 hrs away and we expect to leave the garden by 2.45pm. Refreshments are available in the Tea Room (lunch approx. £5, teas £3.75) however we do need to let them know if you intend to eat there.

Friday, 2nd July - The Annual Garden Party will be held this year at the lovely garden of Mr and Mrs L Layzell, Bachelors Orchard more details next month.

JUNIOR GARDENING CLUB The next Club morning is on Sunday, 16th May 10.30-12.00 at the Village Hall. Do ring Liza Layzell-Davis for more details or if you can help too she would love to hear from you. Her telephone number is 01225 30700

Libby Kerr

LUNCH CLUB Our May lunch will be on Thursday, 27th at 1 pm in the Village Hall. Hope to see you there.

Janet Earp and Marian Osborne 832561

WELLOW WALKERS Our Tuesday evening walks start again shortly. We usually walk about 4 - 5 miles and try to end up at a pub for a pint and chips! Please ring me on 834834 or Mary Messer 832732

Andy Elvin

FUND RAISING EVENTS FOR THE VILLAGE HALL 2004 A huge thank you to Martyn and Anneliese Smith for running such a brilliant, informative and fun Emergency First Aid evening. It was an excellent night and wonderful to learn/refresh on so many First Aid situations, and to top it all, they managed to raise £240 for the Village Hall.

Why not come and watch your friends & neighbours strutting their stuff at the Wellow Fashion Show - Saturday, 15th May 7.30pm at St Julian's Church. This should be a really fantastic evening and will be raising money for the Church and the Village Hall. This wonderful setting provides a ready-made catwalk for the fashion show and there will be live music, bar and a fabulous raffle to follow. Today Wellow, tomorrow Paris, Milan, New York….?

Thank you to everyone who has come forward to help already. We look forward to seeing everyone at this exciting event. Places are limited, so please buy your tickets (£8) in advance from the Parlour Shop (835438). If anyone would like to donate a raffle prize please phone Sarah (833331) or Steph (835977)

FROM THE PAST The village celebrated Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in some style in 1887, everyone had had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Later, when the organising committee was being wound up, Mr Graves, the secretary, was aggrieved about the way some of the funds had been used, the bad feeling rumbled on and in April the following year Mr Graves tried to raise the matter again.

Under a heading, 'AN AMUSING INCIDENT at WELLOW' the Chronicle reported the following: The members of the late Jubilee Committee, dissolved last September, received notices from Mr Graves, secretary to the dissolved committee, saying a meeting was to be held in the schoolroom the object for which the meeting was called was not stated. Among those who attended were the Vicar, the Rev Le G. G. Horton, the Curate the Rev Barham Foster (Victoria Cottages), Messrs. William Light, (Manor House), William Cole snr. (West End Fm) and William Cole jun, G. Gough (White Oxmead), J Harris the schoolmaster, Thomas Hooper (Wellow House), George Steeds (New Inn), W.E.S Stanley, District Medical Officer (Bath Hill House), and Mr Graves (Wisteria House). On the proposition of Mr Cole snr. and seconded by the Vicar, Mr Stanley was elected to the chair. He read the notice which had convened the meeting and said he should like to know what they were assembled for; at which there was much laughter. Mr Gough rose and said he could not conceive why Mr Graves had called a meeting of a Committee that in reality did not exist and moved the meeting be dissolved. Mr Light seconded, saying that as no Jubilee Committee existed there could be no meeting and if Mr Graves had any grievance with anybody he must settle it in the best manner that he could. At the vote the meeting ended abruptly.

Everyone, except poor Mr Graves, appeared to find the matter amusing; the person who had caused his discontent remains a mystery and he apparently never achieved satisfaction.

G H

HELP NEEDED AT THE SHOP Summer draws on, and most of the regular helpers at the shop are planning holidays. While they're away it will be difficult to find cover for all the shop's opening times. Can you help out? Especially if you have served in the shop before and so are familiar with its routine, it would be enormously useful if you could come in even for the odd morning or afternoon here and there. Please let Lorraine know if you can.

In the longer term, regular helpers are needed too. More of this in June (and July and August and - - I expect).

Marian Osborne

WELLOW WOMEN'S INSTITUTE The next meeting of the Wellow Women's Institute will be on Thursday, 13th May at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. Resolutions for the AGM will be discussed, - also a "Try and Buy" recipe exchange session, this will be an opportunity to share your favourite dish, cake or any recipe with other members. Please note a date for your diaries - Trip to Evesham with a boat ride and guided tour on Thursday, 12th August. This event is open to non-members' please come along and join us, details available from any member

P.R. Brigden 833873

ST JULIAN'S SCHOOL Easter Service was held on 26th March and the church was full. The congregation heard brilliant choral singing by the school chamber choir and the choir and orchestra gave beautiful renditions of Easter music, led by Danny Madden (B&NES peripatetic music teacher). The collection raised £60 for the Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land and the school is adopting a donkey called Rufus. Any small rugs, blankets or head collars can still be accepted.

Our Easter Craft morning raised £100 for the new wildlife pond in the woodland area (and the children were visited by a 6 foot white Easter Bunny during their Easter Egg Hunt!) A recent Skittles Evening at the Fox and Badger raised a further £59.45 for this project. Many thanks to mine hosts Eric and Suzanne at the Fox and Badger.

Forthcoming Events: A reminder that our plant sale will be on Sunday, 16th May and the last date for orders is Wednesday, 5th May. Our Silver (May) Fayre to celebrate Sue Rodford's 25 year's of service at the school, will be held on Saturday, 22nd May from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm, even if the weather is wet. There will be May Pole Dancing, a BBQ, refreshments, stalls and children's games. The new play area will be officially opened at this event and we hope to see as many as possible of the people who helped us to raise funds for this project. Money raised by the Fayre will go to school funds.

Message from Sue Rodford to all ex-pupils, parents, staff, and governors of St Julian's: I would like to invite you to our May Fayre to say hello and maybe reminisce a little! I feel very privileged to have taught at St Julian's for 25 years. We have had our 'highs and lows' over the years at the school, but it is a place I see as my second home. I never expected to reach my silver anniversary but everyone at St Julian's has always provided such love and support that I feel part of a large, extended family. Looking forward to seeing you on 22nd May

LABRADOR PUPPIES Nigel and Jo Vening have some puppies for sale: dogs and bitches, black and yellow. For further details contact 01761 437724

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 Newlsetter arrives on your doorstep varies. The Church office at St Philip' and St James' Church, Odd Down prints it for us at a very reasonable cost. We then collate it and deliver it to our distributors throughout the village and to White Ox Mead and Twinhoe. We rely on our volunteers. Please send copy to Jill Tremellen 833506. Or preferably to: jilltremellen@onetel.com. Thank you.

WOODYS AUTO REPAIRS, THE WORKSHOP, STONEY LITTLETON LANE, WELLOW. FOR SERVICE, REPAIRS, WELDING TO ALL MAKES AND MODELS, MOTS ARRANGED CALL 01225 853333

Details of The Fashion Show on Saturday 15th May 2004 in Adobe Acrobat PDF format HERE

If you don't have a copy of Acrobat Reader click on the logo