the parish of little st mary’s cambridge in … churchwarden elected by the pcc: josephine mary...
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THE PARISH OF LITTLE ST MARY’S CAMBRIDGE
IN THE DIOCESE OF ELY
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL
CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017
Background
The Parochial Church Council (“the PCC”) of Little St Mary’s (‘LSM’) has its responsibilities
to the Church vested in it by law. These include responsibilities relating to the financial affairs
of the Parish, the care, maintenance and preservation of the fabric of the church and the
churchyard and to the protection by the Parish of the whole mission of the Church: pastoral,
evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The correspondence address is the Parish Church of St Mary-the-Less, Trumpington Street,
Cambridge CB2 2QG. Tel. (01223) 366202. Registered Charity No. 1130017.
Membership
The membership of the Parochial Church Council is governed by the Church Representation
Rules, certain members sitting on the Council ex officio and others being elected at the Annual
Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
Fr Robert Michael Mackley, vicar
(Rural Dean, Cambridge South Deanery)
Fr Gregory Lipovsky, assistant curate From July 2017
Fr Mark Andrew Bishop, associate priest
Fr Maxwell James Kramer – resigned 2017
Churchwardens: Patricia Elizabeth Davies From May 2013
(PCC Lay Chair from May 2014)
Janet Eileen Nevitt From May 2014
Member of General Synod: Richard Gareth Llewelyn Morgan (2017-20)
(Lay Chair, Cambridge South Deanery)
Members of Diocesan Synod: Sheila Winifred Bennett (2015-18)
Shirley Christine Dex (2015-18)
Richard Gareth Llewelyn Morgan (2015-18)
Josephine Mary Wibberley (2015-18)
Members of Deanery Synod: Robert Shaw De Wolf (2017-20)
(Cambridge South) Lucy Rosamond McKitterick (2017-20)
(Hon Secretary, Cambridge South Deanery)
Jon Sanders (2017-20)
Elected Members: Date elected: Term expiring:
Fiona Blake APCM 2015 for 3 years Until APCM 2018
Christine Shirley Tipple APCM 2015 for 3 years Until APCM 2018
Ann Auger APCM 2016 for 3 years Until APCM 2019
Patricia Boulhosa APCM 2016 for 3 years Until APCM 2019
Anthony Clive Gordon Brown APCM 2016 for 3 years Until APCM 2019
Stuart Camile Jenkinson APCM 2016 for 3 years Until APCM 2019
Mary Janet Ward APCM 2016 for 3 years Until APCM 2019
William Victor De Quick APCM 2017 for 3 years Until APCM 2020
Ruth Elizabeth Jackson APCM 2017 for 3 years Until APCM 2020
Heidi-Louise Thomas McGann APCM 2017 for 3 years Until APCM 2020
Helen Thompson APCM 2017 for 3 years Until APCM 2020
Alexander Whiscombe APCM 2017 for 3 years Until APCM 2020
Richard Martin APCM 2017 for 1 year – co-opted Until APCM 2018
Deputy Churchwarden elected by the PCC: Josephine Mary Wibberley
Committees
The PCC operates in the main through full meetings of its members. As required by law there
is a Standing Committee which meets regularly in order to transact the business of the PCC,
subject to any direction given by the Council. Formal committees have been constituted to
direct and administer particular interests of the Council as follows:
LSM’s missionary work at home and abroad
Management of an annual Christian Giving Review
Social Responsibility
Administration of the Music Fund
The Friends’ of Little St Mary’s
Welcome Committee
Social events
Building and Maintenance
In addition, informal groups have been set up to:
represent work with children at LSM
organise the Summer Festival
maintain the churchyard garden
reflect on LSM’s work with the homeless and in particular the church’s
participation in the Cambridge Churches Homeless Project
ensure that health and safety standards are met in the kitchen
and Parish Centre, particularly with regard to lettings
facilitate payment of bills etc. during quinquennial building work
Two members of the congregation represent the parish on Churches Together in the centre of
Cambridge.
Church Electoral Roll: Susan Coote
206 members, 11 of whom reside in the parish. 8 names have been added, 10 names removed
(3 deaths, 1 ordination, and 6 people moved away or left). A net decrease of 2.
Review of the Year
The PCC met six times during the year; committees and groups met between PCC meetings,
reporting discussions and making recommendations to the Council.
The particular objectives for 2017/18 remained unchanged from last year and discussion during
the year focussed upon them, namely: to develop a ministry for the Parish Centre for both the
Church and the wider community; work with children and young people; corporate prayer, and
welcome. In addition, there was ongoing discussion relating to poverty and homelessness in
Cambridge.
Financial Report: Richard Martin
Overview of the Accounts for the year ended 31st. December 2017
Total net assets increased by £62,144 to £552,982 over the year. The main factors in the
change were an increase in share prices, a General Fund (GF) surplus, expenditure on the
Lady Chapel, replacement of the central heating boiler and three legacies. The total value of
investments increased by £36,834 reflecting share price changes over the year. Income
shares in the Church of England Investment Fund, which accounted for 97.4% of our total
investments at the year end, increased in value by 8.76% and produced a dividend yield of
3.58% for the year.
The investment and reserves policies were reviewed by the PCC on 17th. January 2018.
The level of funds held in short term deposits at the year end (£116,619) reflects requirements
for work to the Lady Chapel and liquidity during the current year. Net expenditure relating to
refurbishment of the Lady Chapel during 2017 was £27,720.
The John Hughes memorial fund, set up in 2016, is accommodated within the VCWs’ deposit
account at Barclays by agreement with the Vicar and Churchwardens. This is not, however,
an LSM fund and the year end balance (£10,692) is therefore shown as a current liability in
the Balance Sheet.
The Sally Head Garden Fund, also accommodated as a restricted component within the
VCWs’ deposit, had a year end balance of £3,444.
General Fund income exceeded expenditure, after adjustments for creditors, by £6,896
compared with a corresponding surplus of £11,255 for 2016. Income increased by 2.61% and
expenditure by 5.89%. GF Income has, therefore, enabled us to carry forward the ministry
and mission of LSM at the levels of previous years and to provide a small reserve for future
initiatives and contingencies. It reflects continued generous giving by our congregation and
sustained efforts by those responsible for expenditure in their stewardship of resources.
Investment and Reserves Policies, reviewed by the PCC on 17th. January 2018
Background
The Charities Commission strongly recommends that charity trustees decide on an
investment policy and a reserves policy for their charity, record it clearly in writing and keep
it under regular review.
For investment policy see Charity Commission publication CC14
For reserves policy see Charity Commission publication CC19.
1 Investment Policy
Charity Commission Guidance
- Take a prudent approach to investment;
- Strike the right balance between providing short term income and long term
sustainability.
Requirements of the investment policy
The investment policy should address the following considerations:
- The need for enough resources for the charity to carry out its present and future
activities effectively;
- The level of acceptable risk and how to manage it;
- The charity’s stance on ethical investment, if any.
St. Mary the Less PCC (the charity) - Investment Policy
Surplus funds will be invested to give the maximum return to the charity subject to the
following:
- Funds will be invested in ethical investments unless this would be to the
significant financial detriment to the charities;
- Funds will not be invested where there would be any conflict with the aims of the
charity;
- Funds will be invested in markets where financial services are closely regulated
and, where possible, compensation schemes are in place;
- Funds will be invested where the trustees consider the risks to be low, and
- Funds approximately equal to annual, General Fund expenditure will be invested
on a short to medium term basis to ensure accessibility in the event of unforeseen
expenditure.
The performance of investments will be reported in the Annual Report and accounts.
The performance of investments and the Investment Policy will be reviewed by the trustees
on an annual basis.
2 Reserves Policy
Charity Commission Guidance
- The level of reserves should be justifiable;
- Reserves policy should be based on a realistic assessment of the charity’s reserve
needs.
Requirements of the reserves policy
The reserves policy should address the following considerations:
- The reasons why the charity needs reserves;
- What level of reserves the trustees believe the charity needs;
- What steps the charity will take to establish or maintain reserves at the agreed
level, and
- The arrangements for monitoring and reviewing the policy.
St. Mary the Less PCC (the charity) - Reserves Policy
Due to the listed status and historic nature of the church building managed by the trustees of
the charity, maintenance and improvement work is expensive. The trustees anticipate that the
building will require significant on-going investment which will include, from time to time,
substantial one-off costs.
The charity will, therefore, aim to maintain reserves of three times annual, General Fund
expenditure (currently around £435,000) to be used for the extraordinary maintenance and
improvement of the church buildings and, at the discretion of the trustees, to initiate and
support activities in furtherance of the church’s ministry and mission in accordance with the
stated objectives of the charity.
The Reserves Policy will be reported in the Annual Report and accounts.
The level of reserves and the Reserves Policy will be reviewed by the trustees on an annual
basis.
Churchwardens’ Report: Patricia Davies, Janet Nevitt
The Churchwardens wish to highlight the following points which have contributed towards the
busy life at Little St Mary’s (LSM).
The main church boiler was eventually renewed and we commenced the winter with a fully
functioning system.
The refurbishment to the Lady Chapel was unfortunately delayed until the autumn as the delay
in receiving the faculty meant that the Building Contractor had to reschedule his work. (This
has progressed well up to now and we will have the benefit of using it at Easter although the
final works are due to be completed shortly after).
The Stations of the Cross, in memory of Fr. John Hughes, are progressing well. Fundraising
has been successful and we have been assured by the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop that the
stations will be in place by Lent 2019.
Work has started in obtaining a quotation for a new Sound Enhancement System and following
a very successful demonstration on Advent Sunday we are awaiting a second quotation.
The pigeon problem between LSM and Peterhouse College continues and a solution is yet to
be found.
The security and nurturing of the camomile lawn causes us great concern and we are
considering gating off this area with a combination lock to enable the bereaved families and
others to gain access.
The churchwardens would like to be told immediately of any points of concern regarding the
life and fabric of the church as they endeavour to keep this under constant review.
Jo Wibberley continues to do sterling work in respect of Health and Safety. We are extremely
grateful to Jo for the many hours she spends preventing and putting right any hazards.
A new appointment of an Administrative Assistant was created in the autumn. After some
initial problems the role is proving of great benefit to the parish. It is good to know that the
office is manned each weekday morning in a very efficient and friendly manner by Emma
Bourne.
The Churchwardens wish to thank the clergy, lay pastoral assistant (Yaro until August), Jo
Wibberley (deputy churchwarden), servers, organists and choir, flower arrangers, launderers,
sidesmen and women, Vicky Farmer together with her social committee for the provision of
refreshments, and all those who help with preparation for the services. We would also like to
thank all the people who help to provide a welcome and help with the organisation required at
the back of the church during services, for all that they do, Malcolm Munro and his team who
help with the garden, Lucy McKitterick and Amie who are the regular church cleaners, and the
little team of people who help with maintenance work in the church. Lucy is also very helpful
in the sacristy. All this work is done loyally and often inconspicuously, but it is what keeps
the church fabric and services functioning and is invaluable. We are very grateful to everybody
involved.
It is an honour to serve as Churchwardens at LSM and we thank the members of the
congregation for all their support.
Children’s Report: Helen Thompson
The Children’s group has seen an increase in numbers this year with a more regular set of
children joining us.
Numbers are looking healthier and more consistent as we welcome new families. Of course,
the numbers have been swelled by families of our ordinands and the babies that were using the
crèche area are now starting to join us at the table and developing their colouring in skills and
interacting with the older children. The younger members of the choristers still join us bring
the average age of the group up a little, but we have also seen a natural drop of the older
choristers staying in the service which is a wonderful sign of them growing up and becoming
more involved with the service itself.
We continue to use different resources to deliver the teaching. Depending on the leader the
sessions will vary every week but will always be focused on the Gospel or one of the set
readings for the Sunday. We will read or act out the bible reading and respond to it with
discussion and frequently a drawing or piece of craft work.
We continue to add toys and suitable books to the crèche area and the back of church for when
the children re-join the service to ensure a comfortable and welcoming space for families.
As always, I am very grateful to all the leaders and helpers both on the rota and those who
support when they can.
Music & the Choir: Simon Jackson
It has been another busy year for the Choir at Little St Mary’s. Singing in a Choir is hardwork,
mentally and physically taxing, and it is vital for singers at every stage of their development to
check that they are using their voices in the best way. So I am delighted to report, in a new
innovation this year, that we have been able to provide a modest number of singing lessons to
all members of the choir. It has been wonderful to welcome Rachel Godsill, a local singing
teacher who works with a number of choirs in Cambridge, to come in every few weeks to work
with adults and children of the choir.
The Choristers have sung for a number of extra events this year – including the now annual
Carol services and St George’s, Six Mile Bottom, and in Trinity Chapel. They also provided
the “headline act” at Gift Day this year – an expanded Choristers’ Concert, featuring
performances of Richard Rodney Bennett’s two short song cycles The Aviary and The Insect
World. Children and adult members of the Choir also participated – both acting and singing –
in the Passion Play that took place in the run-up to Passiontide 2018.
My work with the Choir would not have been possible without the help and support of a number
of individuals whose contribution should be noted. David Warren, Organ Scholar at Robinson,
was our Assistant Organist throughout the Academic Year: we were very sorry to lose him over
the Summer, when he took up a place for further postgraduate study in the USA. His successor,
Alex Coplan, took over in September: Alex is a graduate of St Catharine’s College, where he
was Organ Scholar. Sarah MacDonald has also continued to play regularly for us on a Sunday
morning: it is splendid to enjoy her support. Tricia Davies continues to help behind the scenes,
helping in particular to support our work with the Choristers and Probationers; and Eleanor De
Wolf has contributed a great deal administratively to the smooth-running of the Choir Library.
Lizzie Davies, Bob De Wolf and Alexander Harrison all support Mary Ward in her invaluable
work with the Junior Choir (more of which below) – and I am grateful to them all for their
contributions to this important facet of our musical life. I am hugely grateful, too, for the
continued interest shown by members of the congregation in the music at LSM. I’ve said it
before, but it’s important to repeat: one of the pleasures of my work at LSM is the sense that
the entire congregation is engaged in the music-making – not just listening to the choir and
organ, but joining in fully in the singing of hymns, psalms, and the ordinary of the mass.
On Mothering Sunday 2018 it was a great delight to admit 5 Probationers to full Choristerships
in the Choir: we end the year with 11 Choristers and 6 Probationers. Edward Bellett-Travers
continues in his role as one of our sixth form Choral Scholars; over the course of the year we
bade farewell to Ali Austin, who goes on to a Choral Scholarship in the Choir of Peterborough
Cathedral. I am also very happy to report that Agnes Pethers (a former Chorister) took up a
Choral Scholarship at Worcester College, Oxford in Michaelmas.
Though it may not perhaps be the place, I would like to end this report on a very personal note
– thanking the choir not only for their music-making and companionship throughout the year,
but also in particular for their singing at my wedding to Simone in August. It was a privilege,
both humbling and moving, to sit between the choir stalls and to hear such splendid singing
surrounding us on all sides: we are both so grateful for your contribution to the day.
Junior Choir: Mary Ward
The Junior Choir continues to meet at the same time as the Junior Probationers, at 5.00pm on
Friday evenings. On Mothering Sunday, three former members of the Junior Choir became
choristers and the Junior Choir joined with the Probationers to sing A Mass for Children,
written by Simon Jackson, our Director of Music.
Several families attend the Junior Choir and this year the children have sung their usual Harvest
Song, attended the Children’s Service on Christmas Eve and sang the Offertory on Mothering
Sunday. During Lent we look towards the events of Holy Week and the children attend the
Liturgy at 5.00pm on Good Friday.
I am very grateful for the loyalty and commitment to the choir shown both by the families who
attend so regularly, and also by our helpers, Lizzie Davies, Bob DeWolf and Alexander
Harrison. The children appreciate their kindness and good humour as well as their singing and
dramatic skills. It has been lovely too to have had the theological wisdom of Fr Gregory, this
year.
Cambridge Churches Homeless Project: Lucy McKitterick
The CCHP (for those new to it or to LSM!) is a local scheme to reduce rough sleeping in
Cambridge during the winter months by offering accommodation in church buildings, and
which aims to build pastoral relationships with those in our care leading hopefully to longer-
term housing and help with our guests’ other needs. At the time of writing we have offered
shelter to 43 people this winter, of whom 15 so far have been helped into a variety of
accommodation.
2017-18 has been the Project’s fifth winter of operation and has been a time of growth, greater
organisation and deepening understanding of the issues facing rough sleepers in the city.
During the summer of 2017 we became a registered charity, with a founding board of six
Trustees: it has been very good to see continued at this level the strong ecumenical emphasis
which has been a mark of the CCHP since its beginning, with each Trustee coming from a very
different church tradition. This group, with some additional members, also currently forms the
“core team” who run the project from night to night and meet fortnightly after work on
Tuesdays throughout the year. The rota of “host churches” has expanded this year to include
St John’s Hills Road and Wesley Methodist Church (staffed by a team of volunteers from
Trumpington Church): vital help which has enabled LSM to stage a Passion Play and the
Project to run for the first time through Holy Week until Easter Monday. The nights are still
very cold so this is something for which to be thankful!
Recruitment and training of new volunteers ran as in previous years during November, with
LSM hosting much of the training: this season we have grown from c.300 to c.400 volunteers
from almost every church in Cambridge (including the Mormons), several colleges, and local
business groups. Volunteers offer either evenings or “overnights”, as many or as few as they
are able: each night is also supported by a “team leader” from among the volunteers. There is
a strong ethos of mutual support and good communication: all team leaders attend focused
training every autumn and all receive the reports from each night of the project. We are very
grateful to Franco Basso from our own congregation and Julia Smith from Trumpington for
sharing this responsibility at LSM. On an operational level the Project has been much blessed
this year by the appointment of Jemma Strachan as a part-time paid “co-ordinator”: not only
does she manage the “guest list” with grace and compassion, we have never been short of
sleeping bags since!
LSM hosted on Tuesday nights in December and January this year, with a holiday on 26th
December which fell under the Christmas period hosted by our friends at Our Lady and the
English Martyrs. As in previous years our volunteers were a mix of our own congregation and
help from elsewhere: this year the Mothers’ Union stepped forward to wash our sheets and
pillowcases which with 15-17 guests a week is a substantial task! It was especially good to
enjoy Fr Gregory’s cooking on one of the evenings, and throughout the two months to see how
much our guests appreciated staying at LSM with the peaceful atmosphere and warmth of
hospitality we were able to offer. A number returned in March to see our Passion Play which
was something of a testament to what this place has meant to them. Our guests were once again
a mix of British nationals and those from overseas: Polish, Lithuanian and Romanian have been
this year’s languages and we are always keen to hear from volunteers who are able to help with
conversation and interpretation. This year has seen a number of serious health concerns among
our guests, with the “blue lights”, medication checklists and hospital negotiations which go
with these: we can be confident that two guests would not be alive today had they spent the
winter on the streets. Inevitably these worries put an additional strain on our volunteers, and
the “core team” sought to help by clear notes in the nightly files so that team leaders would
have the information they needed.
This year has also seen the strengthening of our links with the City Council’s Street Outreach
Team and other workers, with Heather Yeadon on secondment to us to work with guests on
follow-on accommodation. As last year, the CCHP will rent a shared house from April for 6
months to give likely candidates among our guests a chance at holding down work and
accommodation and move towards supporting themselves. The 2017-18 season however has
also reinforced what we already knew: not only is housing next to impossible for some of our
guests due to addiction, mental health, or no access to the housing benefit which makes possible
a first step into the hostel system; but equally, a lack of housing is for some of our guests only
one among several more difficult needs. It is always a shock to realise one is being presented
with a letter by a (British national) guest because he cannot read it himself: when that letter
contains a list of the written application or training needed for housing or a job, the problems
in the way of getting off the streets are only more visible. Many of our guests are victims of
trauma or child abuse and have no opportunity for counselling or psychotherapy which might
help their sense of self and worth: others are caught in cycles of guilt and addiction which are
driven by much more even than the continuous stress of being without a home. Then there is
still the problem that Cambridge has many more rough sleepers than hostel spaces (or spaces
at the CCHP): and, significantly, a number are choosing not to use even the emergency “cold
weather” beds offered by the City Council at Jimmy’s on the worst winter nights. These are all
problems which are facing our brothers and sisters in Cambridge today, and the CCHP is
grateful for the support of this church in our work.
Christian Giving: Clive Brown
Our annual review of Christian Giving is a regular opportunity for all members of the
congregation to reflect on the ways in which they contribute to the church, not only financially,
but also by giving of their time and talents.
Each year, the Vicar writes to everyone on the Electoral Roll. The letter, and a now familiar
pack of documents, were available to hand out from Sunday 7th May. The document pack was
also sent electronically to everyone who had provided an e mail address, and electronic
reminders were sent each week after that. There is a small committee to help with the surprising
amount of administration that is needed in running the process and preparing the documents.
The response was again gratifying and generous. This is evident from the active ministry of
the Parish, which would not be possible without the support, not only financial but in time,
energy and talent, which is unstintingly given.
LSM Global: Alexander Whiscombe, Clive Brown
The Global Group is responsible for maintaining LSM’s links with the wider Church overseas.
This is done not only by financial support, but by regular prayer and personal contact, and with
visits where possible.
There were considerable changes last year. Gillian Beard stepped down as Chair, having
served in that capacity for many years, and she was replaced by Alexander Whiscombe. The
other members of the Group are the Vicar, Clive Brown and Masha Cleminson. Particular
thanks are due to Gillian for her long and energetic service to the Group, as well as to other
past members who stepped down last year after having given their active support to promoting
overseas mission
There was a review of the role of the Group, and the nature of the relationship which should be
fostered with our links overseas. Cardinal aspects were identified as cross-cultural encounters
which contribute to the growth of discipleship; the development of friendships; and mutual
support in prayer. While financial support also plays a role, it should be seen as part of an
overall relationship by which we express our love and friendship.
As a consequence of this review, a Mission Statement has been adopted by the Group as
follows:
“The Global Committee hopes to expand LSM’s vision and act against parochialism by
facilitating and promoting opportunities to share our Christian experience with other church
communities across the world, as well as learn from and appreciate differences in life and style
of worship. This will be done by focusing on four key areas:
Cross-cultural exchange: listening and learning, growing our common discipleship
Developing friendships: both personal and corporate friendship between communities, thereby
sharing a common identity in Christ
Prayer: sharing prayer across the geographical divide and mindful of specific needs
Mutual Support: practical, if necessary, and spiritual”
We also reviewed our existing links. Over the years, some of our links have grown and
developed, while in other cases, personal contacts have moved on, and some groups which
were reliant on our support have become stronger. The Committee has decided to focus on
links with which LSM has most contact and mutual support, in line with our mission statement.
The current links are as follows:
Friends of Calcutta Cathedral Relief Service (Clive Brown):
CRS is an NGO operating under the aegis of St Paul’s Cathedral in Kolkata. It works in city
slums and surrounding villages to provide primary education, healthcare, and women’s
empowerment (the latter through training women trapped in poverty to lea skills they can use
to earn a living). We support CRS through the Friends of the Calcutta Cathedral Relief Service,
which is a UK charity of which Clive Brown is one of the trustees. The Friends not only raise
funds for CRS, but play an active role in supporting its activities. The Director of CRS in
Kolkata, Rig David, visited Little St Mary’s in May.
Papua New Guinea Church Partnership (Alexander Whiscombe):
The Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea is supported through PNGCCP. Alexander
Whiscombe attended the annual Conference in London in September. The new Archbishop,
the Most Reverend Allan Migi, was present. The Right Reverend Peter Ramsden, the former
Bishop of Port Moresby preached at Little St Mary’s on Sunday, the 22nd January, and then
spoke about PNG after coffee in the Parish Centre.
The Makeni Ecumenical Centre in Zambia (Masha Cleminson)
LSM continues to support the St Nicholas Aids Orphanage which is part of the Makeni
Ecumenical Centre. In addition to the annual funding from the LSM General Fund, a number
of people in the congregation give regularly to the orphanage. AIDS continues to devastate the
poor in Zambia, and many children are left without parental support, and are often themselves
HIV positive. There are enormous practical problems in maintaining communications with
Makeni. Little St Mary’s personal link is with Anton Dil, the son of Fr Pierre Dil who was the
founder of the Centre, and who lives in Northampton. Anton Dil came to Cambridge and spoke
about the Centre at Mass on St Luke’s Day.
St Cyprian’s, Sharpeville (Clive Brown):
We maintain personal contact with St Cyprian’s through the Rector, the Reverend Canon David
Mahlonoko, who writes to us regularly. We provide news of Little St Mary’s by sending him
copies of the Parish Newsletter on which he frequently comments. Fr David sent a lengthy
Advent Letter to LSM, which gave an illuminating picture of life in the parish of St Cyprian’s.
Regular articles about the Global links are published in the Parish Newsletter.
The PCC allocated £6,000 out of the 2017 General Fund to be distributed to our overseas links.
The following donations were made. (These are in line with past giving.)
CRS, Kolkata: £1,400
PNGCP: £1,000
Makeni: £1,400
St Cyprian’s: £500
An amount of £1,700 was retained to enable us to support specific projects which may arise,
or to make emergency donations.
Little St Mary’s Forum Lunch Club: Bob De Wolf
Forum Lunch club has had another successful year with typical attendance around 16 – 22,
with a maximum of 25 in March’s event.
We are grateful for the entertainment provided after the lunches, both from within the parish
and beyond: Tricia & Friends on Recorder, The Coming of the Railways to Cambridge, Songs
of Spring, Making Call the Midwife, Jazz Encounters, and Hellenistic Poetry to name some of
the titles from the year. A list of suggested contacts for possible speakers has recently been
received from Christina Rowland-Jones, who set up the original Lunch Club at St James.
We are missing Tim Wheatley’s huge contribution to running Forum Lunch. Christine Tipple
has taken up for now the routine of contacting our members and new referrals before each
event.
Thanks are due to all those who have helped through the year by cooking, which is always
delicious. And thanks to all others who help with setting & clearing up, serving, or just chatting
- all jobs that make the lunches possible.
LSM Passion Play: Lucy McKitterick
On Friday 16th and Saturday 17th March (two weeks before Easter), LSM staged a Passion Play
in church.
The Play was a year in the making and was supported by a working group of around 8 people
who met every six weeks or so from September onwards to talk about logistics, funding and
every aspect of work behind the scenes. Casting was held in November over two informal
sessions, with rehearsals beginning for the largest roles in January and for the full cast at the
start of February, two evenings each week plus Saturday mornings. Around 60 people were
involved in the project, including 36 speaking parts, two choirs (adults and children or
“Cherubim”), technical/lighting and wardrobe teams.
The script was a new one written especially for LSM, in the blank verse tradition of the
medieval mystery plays with some passages of prose or rhymed metre for effect. The music
was a mix of classic (current and less familiar) “Evangelical” or “mission” hymns, all of them
outside our regular Sunday repertoire: in addition Simon Jackson our Director of Music
composed original music for a couple of the scenes. The Play followed a broadly Gospel
narrative with some more freely imaginative passages dealing with the demise of Judas, the
lives of Roman conscript soldiers, the dream of Pilate’s wife and the interior thoughts of
characters such as Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Our Lady. The imagery was richly
Catholic (Angelus bells, Christ on the Cross vested in alb and purple stole, angels scattering
the Precious Blood (rose petals!) through the congregation) but the theology of the Atonement
deliberately ambiguous: we saw Death conquered, “baited by a cross like a hook to reel me in”
after Augustine, but Barabbas’ declaration that “you in some great and strange new battle/Took
all my punishment without complaint” would perhaps resonate with Christians of other church
traditions. The Play concluded with the Collect for Good Friday (“look with mercy on this your
family”) read by the Vicar (now out of costume!) and a final Amen: it was both drama and act
of worship.
The Play was “trailered” in a live interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Sunday Breakfast
thanks to Heidi Thomas from our congregation; we were awarded £940 from the Ely Diocesan
Mission Fund in recognition of the potential of such a production. Performances were free,
with a retiring collection which raised just over £1,050 for the LSM Stations of the Cross
Appeal and the Cambridge Churches Homeless Project, whose volunteers made up around half
of the cast and whose “guests” (rough sleepers) joined us for the Friday evening performance.
Thanks are especially due to Wesley Methodist Church and Trumpington Church, who hosted
and organised “our” Tuesday nights for the CCHP in February and March making both
rehearsals and direction possible: to the 8 ordinands from Ridley Hall and Westcott House who
took part (and the Principal of Westcott for allowing them to miss some compulsory sessions
in college): to the Rev’d David Karoon, Assistant Curate of Trumpington who prayerfully and
courageously accepted the part of Jesus: to Pierre Riley (Fitzwilliam College) who stepped in
as pianist: and to all the cast and production team for their hard work, fine performances and
unfailing good will.
“It moved me to tears” was a comment heard several times in the days following production: a
good review for a Passion Play, and it was tremendous fun as well.
Cambridge South Deanery Synod: Lucy McKitterick
The Deanery Synod has met three times since the last APCM: in June, November, and in
March. LSM is always well represented at these meetings as we supply both Rural Dean and
Secretary besides five other members of either Deanery or Diocesan Synod, and (since Richard
Morgan’s election in June) also the Lay Chair!
The agenda for our meetings usually contains a small number of “business” items along with
a presentation on a topic of mutual interest among our parishes: Fr Robert has also encouraged
the host church for each meeting to speak briefly about its own work and latest initiatives, and
each meeting also has time and space to socialise and meet other parish representatives.
At St Martin’s in June we heard a presentation from the Rev’d Jon Canessa on his work as
Bishop’s Advisor for Homelessness and in the new housing in St Paul’s parish, particularly in
social housing and among single parents and with flats taken over for prostitution. He spoke
movingly of his initiative to provide a group where the homeless or formerly homeless could
talk through issues around addiction: in their honesty he felt “on holy ground”. St Paul’s has
also been the first church in Cambridge to be offered the status of Ecochurch, and the Synod
heard about this work and how the parish became involved.
November’s meeting took the form of Evening Prayer at St James’ Wulfstan Way and (as last
year) the commissioning of Lay Ministers (LLMs), this year two from St John’s Hills Road.
The March meeting at St Bene’t’s included a presentation from the Rev’d Olivia Coles,
Diocesan “Baptism Plus” Co-ordinator, who shared statistics for baptisms (now officially
called Christenings) in the Diocese and Deanery and spoke of the ways the Diocese is
encouraging parishes to use these encounters with families as the beginning of a relationship
with their local church and its members.
Business through the year has included the administration of the Ministry Share, the sharing of
reports from Diocesan Synod, and an encouragement to pray for each other, especially for the
new Assistant Curates who joined our parishes in June, and for ordinations in the summer and
(for the Rev’d David Karoon, who played Jesus in the LSM Passion Play) in December. The
meetings are always good-humoured and convivial, and attendance from the laity is
consistently fairly high: it is sometimes a pity that so few clergy are able to come (only three
out of a possible 31 for our last meeting) as it would be good to share these times with them!
The work of the Deanery is however far more than happens in Synod meetings, and thanks as
always are due to Fr Robert for his gracious and generous leadership as well as prayers for his
work.
Ely Diocesan Synod: Jo Wibberley
The Synod met three times, in March, June and October. Ely 2025 with the 5 levers of change
was a common theme which ran through the meetings: Nurture a confident people of God;
Develop healthy churches and people; Serve the community; Re-imagine our buildings; Target
support to key areas.
In March, the Archdeacon of Cambridge presented his draft leaflet “Way of Life” (Nurturing
a confident people of God) and at the following meeting he introduced a discussion with visual
aids concerning Ely 2025: Development Action Plans (Lever 2).
Lever 4 of Ely 2025 “Re-imagine our buildings” was taken up by the Diocesan Secretary who
gave a presentation on our future accommodation requirements, stating that Bishop Woodford
House was built in 1970/2 and it was designed for 25 years. This will be a huge undertaking
with many facets to be considered in looking to the future, including greater provision for
training. There will be a consultation process with stakeholders facilitated by the Judge
Institute to help formulate the way forward. Two new DAC (Diocesan Advisory Council)
members were introduced: Frances Godden, Head of the Church Buildings and Pastoral
department and deputy Diocesan Secretary, and Geoffrey Hunter, a diocesan church buildings
consultant as well as being a member of the Churches Building Council in London. Also in
their team is Sue Dickinson, an administrative assistant who used to work for the heritage
Lottery Fund and knows about grant applications. Not only are they re-imaging our buildings
but also re-imaging the DAC by a) revising the number, frequency and length of meetings, b)
making better use of technology, c) committee members to have the necessary skills and
background to complement each other, d) adding new website pages, e) providing an online
faculty facility (produced centrally by Church House) which is already in use.
Bishop Stephen gave two presidential addresses. In the first he spoke of the concerns which
face us, but he was also upbeat in his outlook for Ely diocese as a place where all may flourish,
with a greater need for lay leadership – not only how we are called but how we are sent, and
quoted Isaiah’s vision “Who shall I send….” “Here I am, send me”; to grow more lay
participation within the church so that they can reach out in the world of work and in
community action; trying out new ideas and equipping to transform communities. He was
enthusiastic about the appointment of the Revd. Mike Booker as the Bishop’s Change officer
for market towns and of the central Strategic Development fund available for their growth in
which we can work in partnership with others agencies and charities e.g. the local authority
and the Mothers’ Union, and by working towards the common good in the wider community
such as schools, so that we can enable children of all backgrounds to flourish.
In the second, which was in the month of the 500 anniversary of the Protestant Reformation,
he spoke of Luther’s 1520 treatise ‘On Christian Liberty’ which explored the freedom that
comes through the Gospel message of abundant life freely held out to us in Jesus Christ. As
children of God, called through our baptism into his service, we are free. The vision to which
we are committed as a diocese is a vision of ‘People Fully Alive’. To be fully alive is to be
free to be the people God created us to be; free to serve in the ways God has called us to serve;
free to live lives which bear witness to Jesus Christ; free to live lives that overflow with
generosity and hopefulness, witnessing to the abundant life and love of God made known in
Jesus Christ. A new vocations strategy for the diocese is being finalised, which aims not only
to encourage and nurture vocations to ordained ministry, but also to foster a culture of vocation
among all the baptised, as we seek to discern together how to respond to the divine address.
This is true for laity and clergy alike: our first call is that of our baptism. Ely is a pilot diocese
for the national church’s report Setting God’s People Free. This seeks new ways of liberating
the gifts of lay people – the 98% of the Church of England who are not ordained – and growing
lay leadership. It looks at how we might nurture a confident people God who are free to live
their Christian discipleship Monday to Saturday, not just in church on a Sunday, or in church-
related activities, but in every other aspect of life.
Setting God’s People Free is part of the Church of England’s programme for Renewal and
Reform. The diocese has been peer reviewed by the national church. This process which looks
at a variety of aspects of the diocese – strategic, financial, cultural and structural – is another
dimension of Renewal and Reform, which is about imagining the future of the church for
generations to come. When the report is received its suggestions for development will be
shared because we believe that we are only fully alive as a church, when we are alive together,
and that means being accountable to one another. The purpose of the review is to hold up an
honest mirror to the diocese, and we expect that mirror to reflect both what we are doing well
and what needs some more work, further attention, and deeper thought.
Other presentations given were A) about the Children’s Society by the Revd. Mike Todd from
their head office and Robert Wheeler, Ely Diocesan Ambassador for the Children’s Society
and manager of their shop in Sawston. Tribute was paid to churches in the diocese who had
raised £22,960 for the Society in the last year. They have a history of 135 years of working
in partnership with the church, relating their work to lever 3, Serving the Community. They
asked for support for their shops in Sawston, Cherry Hinton and Mill Road, Cambridge by
recycling their goods, buying and volunteering. B) from The Revd David Kinder, chaplain at
HMP Littlehey near Huntingdon and chairman of the Criminal Justice Forum, who gave an
elucidatory talk, ably assisted by the Hope Players, on how life can spiral out of control and
into prison if we don’t ask for help when help is needed. C) an annual review of Safeguarding
by Rebecca Boswell, diocesan safeguarding officer who drew attention to five new policy and
guidance documents published in 2017.
Frequently Synods include the commissioning of officers. In March two LLM area sub-
wardens were commissioned, the Revd. Julie Norris for Cambridge South and the Revd.
Christine Deacon for Cambridge North. In October the Revd Dr Hannah Cleugh was licensed
as senior chaplain to the Bishop and the Revd Olivia Mary Kana Coles was licensed as Baptism
Plus Co-ordinator. In addition, Richard Morgan was congratulated on his election to General
Synod.
This triennium ends on 31 July 2018 and elections for Diocesan Synod will take place shortly
after that date. Cambridge South Deanery laity currently occupy 8 seats on Diocesan Synod,
4 of whom are members of LSM.
General Synod: Richard Morgan
Most parishioners will have received my earlier report by email on proceedings of the February
session of General Synod so I won’t reproduce that here. Hard copies can be obtained from
me on application. The next session takes place in York 6–10 July – there is no horse racing
that week! As I write the agenda is not yet published but there is one Private Members Motion
which I am hoping the Business Committee might bring forward. Andrew Gray (Norwich
Diocese) submitted the following:
'That this Synod, noting:
(a) the substantial levels of homelessness in the United Kingdom and
(b) initiatives to address this problem by Her Majesty’s Government, such as the
Homelessness Reduction Taskforce announced in the 2017 Autumn Budget
(c) and celebrating the good works already being undertaken by the Church of England,
other Christian denominations, faith groups, charities and social enterprises, call upon
the Archbishops’ Council to enable the formation of a Church of England led
Homelessness Taskforce including representatives from the Houses of Bishops, Clergy
and Laity to undertake:
(d) (i) the formation of plans at national, diocesan and parish levels to utilise Church
resources (whether financial, volunteers or buildings) to provide shelter and support
services for the vulnerable on a nationwide basis, building upon the wide experience of
government and Third Sector initiatives in this field; and
(e) (ii) the implementation of those plans in partnership (where appropriate) with local
authorities, homeless charities, voluntary organisations, faith groups and social
enterprises.’
We garnered the requisite 100 votes (122 at the latest count) and given the amount of work and
effort Lucy McKitterick and others have done for and with the Cambridge Churches Homeless
Project; and Ruth Jackson and others for and with the Whitworth Trust I thought this was a
positive PMM to support and I will try and speak to the motion should this be debated.
The General Synod is so good at talking, affirming and welcoming that it sometimes neglects
that it has the potential to be doing. Cambridge, with its Plantagenet honey coloured walled
colleges, modern Brutalist science laboratories and research facilities can often be spoken of
as a shining city upon a hill but there is another part which is far too often swept aside and
ignored - a tale of two cities.
Live broadcasts of the Synod’s deliberations can be viewed on the Church of England website;
and past sessions can now be seen on YouTube.
Catholic Societies: Bill De Quick
The Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary (GSS); Society of Mary (SOM); Confraternity of the
Blessed Sacrament (CBS) and the Guild of All Souls (GAS) are Catholic Societies within the
Church of England.
For the first time a programme was produced featuring dates and venues of the various Catholic
Societies. This was experiment for 2017 and was well received. The programme will be
repeated in 2018. It was agreed there should be at least one meeting per month of the Office
from one of the Catholic Societies (if more they should be kept apart as much as possible)
GUILD OF SERVANTS OF THE SANCTUARY: St. Etheldreda Chapter.
The Guild met in churches and chapels around the Ely diocese. Our first meeting of the year
was at Peterhouse in January for Epiphany Office and procession to Little St. Mary's for
Benediction. In February we visited St. Mary the Virgin, Fen Ditton for the Guild Office and
Benediction. Then in March to St. Giles for Stations of the Cross and A.G.M. Our next meeting
was a mass in July at St. Mary, West Stow, Suffolk. This was a joint meeting with the Chapters
of SS Felix and Fursey and Sacred Heart. In November all the Catholic Societies met at Little
St. Mary's for the Annual Requiem and names of past members were read out. The December
meeting was postponed
Guild Chaplain: Fr. Robert Mackley.
Secretary: Tim Adams.
SOCIETY OF MARY: Cambridge Ward (of Our Lady of Mount Carmel).
In February the Ward met for Vespers and Benediction at All Saints, St. Ives. In May the
Society met for the May Devotion held at LSM; this was followed by a Procession through the
streets, ending with Benediction. The joint SOM and LSM annual Day Pilgrimage to
Walsingham took place in July. In October the Society of Mary joined members of the
Walsingham Cell in Ely Cathedral's Lady Chapel for a Walsingham Mass. Also in October
Vespers and Benediction were held at LSM. The Annual General Meeting was held after the
Sung Mass on the Conception of the BVM on 8th December at Little St. Mary's. There is no
secretary at the moment but one of our members kindly took minutes.
Ward Superior: Fr. Stephen Anderson.
Secretary: Vacant.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:
Ward of Our Lady and Corpus Christi
Fr. Geoffrey Smith, for many years our Ward Superior died on 12th October 2017. He was a
true, good and faithful servant to CBS and also to the other societies. His funeral was held at
St. Mary's, Newmarket where he was vicar from 1985-2000.
* In June the Confraternity was involved in the Corpus Christi Concelebrated Mass at St. Bene't's
followed by a street procession and ending with Benediction at Little St. Mary's. A festival day
was held at LSM in September for the whole of the Eastern District of the CBS. It started with
a Sung Mass, lunch, AGM and ending with Vespers and Benediction The confraternity joined
other catholic societies for the Annual Requiem Mass for Departed Members.
The Chaplain: Fr. Robert Mackley, acting chaplain.
Secretary: Paul Huskinson.
GUILD OF ALL SOULS: Cambridge Branch
The Guild met three times during the year. The first meeting was held at LSM in March for
Vespers and Benediction. In August the Guild met at St. St. Peter's, Ely also for Vespers and
Benediction. November: Vespers of the Dead was sung at 7.15pm before the Catholic
Societies' Annual Requiem at 8.00pm
Guild Chaplain: Fr. Robert Mackley.
Joint Secretaries: Bill de Quick and Julia Norman.
The calendar of events for the Catholic Societies for 2018 is as follows:
January
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
8.00pm Wednesday 31st January at Little S. Mary’s, Cambridge.
Vespers & Benediction.
February
Society of Mary
7.00pm Thursday 22nd February at Little St. Mary's, Cambridge
Vespers & Benediction.
Preacher: The Revd Gregory Lipovsky, Asst Curate of Little St. Mary's
March
Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
7.30pm Thursday 8th March at St. Peter's, Ely.
Guild Office & Benediction & A.G.M.
Guild of All Souls
7.30pm Wednesday 21st March at Little. St. Mary's, Cambridge.
Vespers & Benediction
To allow a full keeping of Holy Week, Easter and Easter Week there are no meetings of the
Societies in April 2017.
May
Society of Mary
7.00pm Thursday 17th May at Little S. Mary’s, Cambridge.
May Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Preacher: The Ven. Gavin Kirk, Archdeacon of Lincoln
All Catholic Societies - Celebration of Corpus Christi
7.00pm Thursday 31st May at S. Bene’t’s & Little S. Mary’s, Cambridge.
Concelebrated Mass, Street Procession & Benediction.
Celebrant: Bp. Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely
June
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
8.00pm Thursday 21st June at Little St. Mary's, Cambridge
Vespers & Benediction
July
Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
Joint meeting with the chapters of SS Felix & Fursey and Sacred Heart.
8.00pm Thursday 19th July at St. Mary's, Newmarket, CB8 0HP
Guild Office & Benediction.
Society of Mary & all Catholic Societies
Saturday 21st July.
Day Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham.
August
Guild of All Souls
3.00pm Saturday 12th August at All Saints, St. Ives.
Vespers & Benediction.
September
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
12 noon Saturday 15th September at Little S. Mary’s, Cambridge.
Sung Mass, lunch, AGM, 2,30pm Vespers & Benediction.
Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
8.00pm Thursday 20th September at St. Mary's, Sawston.. Guild Office & Benediction
October
Society of Mary
7.00pm Tuesday 2nd October at Little S. Mary’s, Cambridge.
Vespers & Benediction.
Preacher: The Revd. David Addington, Local Superior Ely, Society of Our Lady of
Walsingham
November
Guild of All Souls & all Catholic Societies
7.15pm Thursday 15th November at Little St Mary’s, Cambridge.
Vespers of the Dead followed by Requiem Mass for Departed Members.
December
Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
7.30pm Thursday 13th December at Little St. Mary's, Cambridge
Guild Office for Advent & Benediction.
Advance note for 2019
Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
7.30pm Thursday 10th January at St. Giles', Cambridge
Guild Office, Procession & Benediction for Epiphany
Society of Mary
7.00pm Tuesday 29th January at Little St. Mary's, Cambridge
Vespers & Benediction followed by A.G.M.
NOTABLE OCCASIONS SINCE OUR LAST ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday 25 February: Fr Robert Mackley PhD
Sunday 26 February: Drinks & Cake to celebrate the recent graduation of Fr Robert
as a Doctor of Philosophy
Sunday 5 March: Shirley Dex celebrates 50 years in LSM Choir.
Monday 17 April: Mary Rayner RIP. Requiem, St John the Baptist, Timberhill, Norwich
(widow of Maurice Rayner, LSM Churchwarden 1970-96; Treasurer -02)
Monday 24 April: Scilla (Catherine Priscilla) Hall RIP, aged 93 years.
(widow of Philip Gibbens Hall 1918-2007)
Thursday 4 May: Archdeacon’s Visitation, Ely Cathedral
Churchwardens’ admitted to office
Sunday 14 May: Janet Marsh RIP. Requiem, Holy Trinity, Bottisham
Thursday 25 May: Ascension Day. Pontifical High Mass, Baptism & Confirmation
Franco Basso, Rosanna Price, Fiona Howe
(Celebrant & Preacher: Rt Revd David Thomson, Bishop of Huntingdon)
Saturday 10 June: Fr Max Kramer installed as Minor Canon & Precentor, Canterbury Cathedral
Sunday 11 June: Bishop Geoffrey Rowell RIP, aged 74 years (longstanding Friend of LSM)
Thursday 15 June: Corpus Christi. Mass at St Bene’t’s, followed by
Procession to LSM for Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Wednesday 21 June: Richard Morgan elected Lay Chairman, Cambridge South Deanery
Saturday 1 July: Licensing of Fr Gregory Lipovsky, Ely Cathedral
Sunday 2 July: Welcome to Fr Gregory Lipovsky – our new assistant curate
Thursday 6 July: Yaroslav Walker selected to train for ordination
Saturday 8 July: Summer Fete – with Katie’s Jumping Fleas
Sunday 9 July: Launch Appeal: Stations of the Cross. Lida Kindersley, Hywel & Janet Hughes
St Neots Concert Band
Saturday 15 July: The Revd John Bradbury was welcomed as the new minister for Emmanuel
and St Columba’s Church
Saturday 29 July: Day Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Thursday 3 August: Richard Morgan elected to General Synod as lay member for Ely Diocese
Sunday 13 August: Yaroslav Walker’s last Sunday. Lay Pastoral Assistant 2016-17
Tuesday 15 August: Feast of The Assumption – Patronal Festival
(Preacher: Fr Simon Jones, Chaplain of Merton College, Oxford)
Saturday 19 August: Marriage of Amy Pether to Yaroslav Walker
St Germain’s, Bobbingworth, Essex
Sunday 20 August: Assumptiontide Barbecue, Vicarage Garden
Profits for Papua New Guinea Church Partnership
Thursday 24 August: Richard Charles Collis RIP, aged 82 years.
Funeral: Thursday 14 September at LSM
Friday 25 August: William Ashton Sanders RIP, aged 82 years.
Funeral: Wednesday 13 September at Holy Trinity, Balsham
Eulogy given by James W.A.Sanders, son & heir
As most of you will know my father was of a High Church persuasion and often used to miss
services here in his Parish Church to head off to the delights of the smells and bells of a High
Mass at Little St Mary’s in Cambridge. It may, therefore, seem curious to you for me to say
that it was highly appropriate that he spent much of the last day of his life at a day care centre
run by the Methodist Housing Association. It was highly appropriate because, by being in the
care of the Methodists, his life had come full circle. Like many Cornish families – my father
was very proud of his Cornish ancestry – the Sanders family were a strongly Methodist family
and my father’s grandfather, father, and three uncles were all Methodist Ministers. I trust,
therefore, that you will all appreciate why one of today’s hymns just had to be by Charles
Wesley. My grandfather was Revd John Kingsley Sanders.
Given my father’s interests were of the intellectual rather than the physical variety it is hard to
imagine him as a child but I am reliably assured he had a happy childhood and did childish
things – the story of him whitewashing his parents’ black Scottie. Jock, immediately comes to
mind – and he thoroughly enjoyed his time at his Prep School, Priors Court, a Methodist
Foundation in Hermitage, near Thatcham, in West Berkshire (now a school for autistic
children). This was where he met his best friend, Bill Roberts, subsequently his Best Man and
my Godfather. Together they went on to Kingswood School in Bath – founded in 1748 by
John Wesley for the sons of Methodist clergymen and therefore the oldest Methodist
educational institution – and then parted ways for University and National Service before
reuniting in London and sharing a flat for many years.
Oxford and my father suited each other very well although three books of Homer every week
meant that he switched from Classics to English in his first term rather than after Mods as
planned (and therefore didn’t have a leg to stand on when I too changed subjects midstream 34
years later!). There weren’t many men less suited to the army life style than my father but, in
those days there was then the inevitability of National Service. Having been born in Scotland
and having done some good research beforehand he joined the Black Watch and served as
Company Clerk for their training company. He remained devoted to the Black Watch and
regularly wore the kilt.
After the Army it was into insurance and the turning point in his life since it was there that he
met, and made friends with my Uncle, which, of course, led to his meeting my Mother, Joanna
Kathleen Harrison, daughter of Sir James Harwood Harrison, 1st Baronet (MP for Eye, Suffolk
1951-79) and Peggy Stenhouse. They obviously got on well from an early stage since my
father was one of the few people to send a 21st Birthday card to my mother in 1960 – not so
easy as it sounds given that she was part way through nine months in Africa. In due course
they were married in 1966 and my father was extremely pleased and proud to celebrate his
Golden Wedding with many of you last year, as his parents and both sets of grandparents had
also reached this landmark. The two years after the wedding saw two further important
developments, moving to Nine Chimneys in December 1967, and my arrival in 1968. Having
lived an extremely peripatetic early life as a child of the manse, my father was always
determined to establish firm roots and I think that I can safely say that over 49½ years those
roots grew deep here in Balsham – and by dying at home he proved that they couldn’t even be
pulled out in death.
The recession of the mid 1970s led to my father leaving the City, where he had latterly worked
as a Public Relations Officer at the Stock Exchange, and he then principally worked from home
doing a portfolio of part time jobs in Church and Charitable Administration, most recently as
the Appeals Director for the Anglican Centre in Rome. His involvement with the Church was
considerable ranging from serving as Churchwarden here to serving for ten years (1995-2005)
on the General Synod. He even considered ordination. He was, therefore, delighted when I
got my current job at Church House.
My father’s great interest apart from the Church was heraldry and genealogy (especially that
of European Royal Families and the British and Irish aristocracy). Should you need to know
something about a Nineteenth Century princeling from a minor German Duchy my father was
the man to who to turn. He actually wrote to the College of Arms as a young man to see
whether there were any vacancies but the salary was too low. I still can’t make up my mind
whether the tabard of a King of Arms would have suited him or not! His interest extended as
far as applying for a grant of his own arms and paying for the restoration and repositioning of
the Royal Arms here in Balsham Church.
Many of the letters and cards that my mother and I have received since my father’s death refer
to him being such a gentleman and also a gentle man. He was certainly both of those. As such,
he was always very well turned out. Indeed, Dian Rynberg, his final carer, will tell you that
even in the last few weeks he was always very precise regarding what he wanted to wear to go
to Church. Would it be the blazer with the Black Watch buttons, or the Fleur-de-Lis buttons,
or the Oxford University buttons?
There is much more that I could say about my father – no doubt you all have your own special
memories of him but let us remember with love and affection a faithful servant of the Church,
a loyal subject of The Queen, a devoted husband, father, grandfather (not forgetting being
Master to Ocky and many other dogs), and a good friend to many. May he Rest in Peace.
Requiem Mass held at LSM on Saturday 18 November at 10.00am
Saturday 26 August: Marriage of Simone Kotva to Simon Jackson
Saturday 2 September: Marriage of Hannah McManus to Simon Richardson
Saturday 9 September: Marriage of Emily Thorpe to Charlie Burgoyne
Monday 11 September: Fr Robert’s 10 Day Ecumenical Study Tour, St Petersburg & Moscow.
Sunday 17 September: Baptism, Tara Anastasia van Ryneveld
Saturday 23 September: Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament District Festival
Sung Mass followed by lunch and AGM
followed by Vespers & Benediction
Sunday 24 September: Harvest Festival
Monday 25 September: Consuelo Moorsom, new parish administrator
Saturday 30 September: Annual Pilgrimage Walk to Ely
Wednesday 18 October – St Luke’s Day. Speaker after Mass, Anton Dil,
Makeni Ecumenical Centre, Zambia
Saturday 21 October: “All For Your Delight” – an evening of Songs from the Shows, Ballads
and Gilbert & Sullivan classics with Rosemary Wheeler and friends.
Wednesday 1 November: All Saints’ Day. Preacher, The Rev’d Nicholas Walters, assistant
curate of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London NW3.
Monday 6 November: Michael Ramsey Lecture. Revd Canon Simon Oliver, Van Mildert
Professor of Divinity at Durham University “The Church of England and Priesthood.”
Saturday 11 November: Fr Kyle McNeil inducted as priest in charge of Horden, and of
Blackhall, Castle Eden and Monkhesleden (Durham). Fr Kyle has spent the last 3 years as
assistant curate at St Mary’s, Cockerton (Darlington); and was LSM lay pastoral assistant
2009-10. Fr Kyle’s predecessor at Horden was Fr Kevin Smith, now administrator at the
Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham.
Friends of LSM: Mass at Most Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell; tour of The Charterhouse, EC1
and attendance at the Lord Mayor’s Show
Sunday 12 November: Remembrance Sunday. Preacher, The Rev’d Deiniol Morgan CF
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Sunday 3 December: Advent Carol Service, 6.00pm
Wednesday 6 December: Advent Group, 7.30pm – exploring the meaning of three great words
and themes in Christianity: Faith, Hope and Love. Talk, discussion and finish with Compline
at 9pm.
Wednesday 13 December: Advent Group, 7.30pm.
Thursday 14 December: Alan Ashton RIP, aged 75 years.
Alan was a Methodist minister who retired to Cambridge in 2008 and served all his ministry
in the East Anglia District. His first appointment was for 8 years in the then Thetford Circuit,
living in Mildenhall. He moved to the Cromer and Sheringham Circuit, as it was then, for 12
years and finally came to the then Newmarket Circuit where he spent 9 years before moving to
Cambridge. Alan had 3 married children and 7 grandchildren. Between March 2011 and 31
August 2012 he worked at Castle Street Methodist Church. Alan was also a board member of
the Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society.
Outside of church life his great passion was flower arranging and he was Secretary of the
Burwell & District Flower Club. A keen listener to Classic FM, he was fond of opera and
ballet attending whenever he could manage it – or afford it! Alan also enjoyed history and
reading biographies.
Looking back on 29 years of ‘active’ ministry and at the Church today he said he would very
much still want it to be a Church that was a missionary church, a compassionate church, a
learning church, an expectant church, an inclusive church, a generous church and a prophetic
church.
Since moving to Cambridge Alan was a faithful member and regular communicant at LSM
where he also assisted in arranging flowers for the statue of Our Lady and elsewhere. He died
suddenly on his way to London just 3 weeks after celebrating his 75th birthday.
Sunday 17 December: Gaudete Sunday. Baptism, Stephen Edward Perry
Nine Lesson & Carols, 6.00pm
Tuesday 19 December: LSM Choir, Denbigh Ward, Fulbourn Hospital
Wednesday 20 December: Advent Group, 7.30pm
Tuesday 2 January: Emma Bourne, new parish administrator
Saturday 6 January: Epiphany of the Lord. Preacher: The Rev’d Andrew Hammond
Chaplain, King’s College, Cambridge
Saturday 13 January: Funeral, Janet Louise Crozier RIP, aged 80 years
(mother of Catherine Pickstock)
Sunday 14 January: Epiphanytide Carol Service & Benediction
including music by Marenzio, Mendelssohn & Howells
Sunday 21 January: Third Sunday of Epiphany
Preacher & Celebrant: Fr Andrew Davison,
Starbridge Lecturer in Theology & Natural Sciences
Friday 26 January: Whitworth Trust Burns Night Ceilidh: St Giles Church, 8-11.30pm
Thursday 8 March: Jon Sanders selected to train for ordination.
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 March: LSM Passion Play, 7.30pm