Advertising Enquiries Are Welcomed, and Should Be Directed to Lin Edgar

May 2005PARISH PUMP is published every month except January, and should be distributed to every household in the ShillValley and Broadshire benefice. If you do not receive a copy, please contact Jane Brylewski.

Advertising does not cover all our costs, and we welcome donations (suggesting at least £5/year) which you can send through your Parish Pump Correspondent (see inside back cover), the person who delivers your Parish Pump, or directly to Ellie Maughan. If you have not already done so, please send your £5 to cover 2005’s issues.

We welcome articles, letters, diary items, or just good ideas for future articles (and criticism, whether good or bad! Ed). Please submit through your local Parish Pump Correspondent, or directly to Richard Martin. Photographs are also welcome. We prefer all copy to be sent electronically by email to , although good old paper is fine tool

All copy for inclusion should reach the editorial office by the 10th of the month preceding publication.

Advertising enquiries are welcomed, and should be directed to Lin Edgar.

We are indebted to all the Parish Correspondents, and all those in all the parishes who make possible the publication and distribution of Parish Pump every month.

EDITOR

Richard Martin

Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins, Nr Lechlade, Glos GL7 3JJ
Tel: 01367 860491Email:

TREASURER

Ellie Maughan

Home Farm, Kelmscott, Lechlade, Glos GL7 3HD

el: 01367 252220Em ad:

ADVERTISING

Lin Edgar

The CotswoldWildlifePark, Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxon OX18 4JW Work Tel (Tuesdays - Fridays, 10.00am - 5.00pm): 01993 823006

Home Tel: 01993 845544 Email:

DISTRIBUTION

Jane Brylewski

The Willows, Signet, Burford, Oxon OX18 4JQ,

Tel:01993 822479Email:

Any views expressed in Parish Pump are not necessarily those of t%the benefice clergy; nor of the editorial team.

EDITORIAL

ots of stuff again this month: In no particular order, Neville Usher-Wilson beats the meaning out of Rogation Sunday, and Mike Clark waves his bladder at the Morrism en. You are invited to join Burford Scouts, and listen, in Filkins, to John Allison’s tales of life in the air.

Peter Seldon returns from Sri Lanka with news of on-going Tsunami relief work, and Camel Pong’s driver, Patrick Coleman returns to his crossword puzzle duties.

It’s a dog’s life in Shilton, and we learn about Class 1 from St Peter’s, Alvescot tangling with a wash-tub and posser, and we go to Witney for nine bob with Langford Ladies.

Ann Greenwood swoops around some more GreatBritishGardens, and David Roberts meticulously (as ever) records the feathered birds that swoop his way.

John Shelly writes from Tokyo for information about his Langford ancestors, and Martin Rowlands brings news of mains drainage coming to the benighted Broadshires.

Sue Trotter offers us gentle horn eopathic therapy, and Samuel Pepys shows us how to deal with adversity.

Harry Maclnnes reviews his first few months in the Benefice, and Jeremy Taylor looks forward to British Legion celebrations later this year.

My grateful thanks for all these pieces, and to everyone else who has contributed to this month’s Parish Pump.

We do hope you enjoy reading about the exploits in the eleven vibrant parishes which make up our united Benefice.

And once again, if you enjoy Parish Pump, do send your donation for 2005 via your village representative/ correspondent or directly to Ellie Maughan (our Treasurer).

I leave you with this gloriously evocative epitaph (in the AbbeyChurch at Dorchester) to Sarah Fletcher, who died in 1799 aged just 26:

‘When nerves were too delicate Y spun to bear the rude shakes and jostlings which we meet with in this transitory world, Nature gave way, S/ sunk and died a maryr to excessive sensibily.’

Did ever so few words so vividly conjour up an image? Richard Martin

SELECTED CONTENTS

3 Benefice Services5 The Rector’s Letter

8 After The Tsunami10 Round the Villages

27 Who was this chap Morris?31 Camel Pong’s Crossword

33 Letters34 Gentle Homeopathy

EDITORIAL

Peter Seldon returns from Sri Lanka with news of on-going Tsunami relief work, and Camel Pong’s driver, Patrick Coleman returns to his crossword puzzle duties.

It’s a dogs life in Shilton, and we learn about Class 1 from St Peter’s, Alvescot tangling with a wash-tub and posser, and we go to Witney for nine bob with Langford Ladies.

Ann Greenwood swoops around some more GreatBritishGardens, and David Roberts meticulously (as ever) records the feathered birds that swoop his way.

John Shelly writes from Tokyo for information about his Langford ancestors, and Martin Rowlands brings news of mains drainage coming to the benighted Broadshires.

Sue Trotter offers us gentle horneopathic therapy, and Samuel Pepys shows us how to deal with adversity.

Harry Maclnnes reviews his first few months in the Benefice, and Jeremy Taylor looks forward to British Legion celebrations later this year.

My grateful thanks for all these pieces, and to everyone else who has contributed to this month’s Parish Pump.

We do hope you enjoy reading about the exploits in the eleven vibrant parishes which make up our united Benefice.

And once again, if you enjoy Parish Pump, do send your donation for 2005 via your village representative/ correspondent or directly to Ellie Maughan (our Treasurer).

I leave you with this gloriously evocative epitaph (in the AbbeyChurch at Dorchester) to Sarah Fletcher, who died in 1799 aged just 26:

‘When nerves were too delicatey spun to bear the rude shakes and jostlings which we meet with in this transitory world, Nature gave way, S/ sunk and died a maryr to excessive sensibily.’

Did ever so few words so vividly conjour up an image? Richard Martin

SELECTED CONTENTS
3Benefice Services / 5 / The Rector’s Letter
8After The Tsunami / 10 / Round the Villages
27 Who was this chap Morris? / 31 / Camel Pong’s Crossword
33 Letters / 34 / Gentle Homeopathy
BENEFICE SERVICES
1” May - Rogation Sunday
Midday Broadwell
6.00pm B Bourton
6.00pmShilton
5t° May - Ascension Day
7.30pmFilkins
8t° May - Easter VII
8.30amKencot/Broadwell
8.30amWestwell
10.00am Alvescot/B Bourton
10.00am Filkins
11.00am LFaringdon
6.00pm Holwell
6.00pm Langford
15 t° May - ‘Whit Sunday
8.30amAlvescot
10.00am Holwell/Westwell
10.00am Langford
10.00am Shilton
11.00am Broadwell/Kencot
6.00pm B Bourton
6.00pm B Poggs
22nd May - Trinity Sunday
8.30amB Bourton/Alvescot
8.30amShilton
10.00am Filkins
10.30am Kelmscott
11.00am Broadwell
11.00am L Faringdon
6.00pm Kencot
29t° May - Trinity II
8.30amLangford
8.30amWestwell/Holwell
10.00am Shilton
11.00am Kencot/Broadwell
6.00pm Alvescot/B Bourton / Benefice Service & Picnic
Holy Communion
Youth Service
(followed by Confirmation Group)
Benefice Communion Service
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Communion
Parish Communion
Morning Prayer
Evensong
Evensong
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Service
Parish Communion
Parish Communion
Evensong
Evensong
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Communion
Parish Communion
Adorning Prayer
Parish Communion
Evensong
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Communion
Parish Communion
Evensong / HM, EJ, & NUW
EJ
HM
HM & NJW
RM
NUW
HM
EJ
NUW
RM
EJ
NUW
EJ
FSG
HM
RM
NUW
HM
HM
NUW
EJ
NUW
TF
HM
NUW
HM
NUW
HM
NUW
HM
SERVICE CELEBRANTS
EJLiz JohnsonFSGFamily Service Group
HMHarry MaclnnesNUWNeville Usher-Wilson
RMRoland MeredithTF

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

Confirmation classes will be held between 6.00 to 7.30pm as follows:.

Youth: 1st May in Shilton Church, 8th May at Shilton Vicarage, and 22nd May in LangfordChurch.

Adult: 4th May at Shilton Vicarage, 11th May at Filkins Vicarage, and 22nd May in LangfordChurch.

The confirmation service will be at 6.30pm on 5th June in LangfordChurch. Please telephone me (01993 845954) for further information. Harry MacInnes

BENEFICE SERVICES
The dates of Benefice Services for the rest of 2005 are:
5th JuneLangford at 6.30pm
7th AugustKelmscott at 10.30am / 3rd July
4th September
4th December / Holwell at 10.30am.
Black Bourton at 10.30am
Langford at 10.30am.
6th November LFaringdon at 10.30am
THE LECTIONARY
1” May - Rogation Sunday (\V)
Acts 17. 22-31 / Psalm 66. 8-20
1 Peter 3. 13-22 / John 14. 15-21
5th May -Ascension Day (G)
Acts 1. 1-11 / Psalm 47
Ephesians 1. 15-23 / Luke 24. 44-53
8th May - Easter VII (W)
Acts 1. 6-14 / Psalm 68. 1-10
1 Peter 4. 12-14: 5. 6-11 / John 17. 1-11
15th May - ‘Whit Sunday ®
Acts 2. 1-21 / Psalm 104. 24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians. 12.3b-13 / John 20.19-23
22nd May - Trinity Sunday (G)
Isaiah 40. 12-17, 27-31 / Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13. 11-13
29thMay - Trinity II (G)
Genesis 6. 9-22; 7.24; 8.14-19 / Matthew 28. 16-20
Psalm 46
Romans 1. 16-17; 3. 22b-28 / Matthew 7. 21-29
5th June - Trinity III (G)
Genesis 12.1-9 / Psalm 33. 1-12
Romans 4. 13-25 / Matthew 9. 9-13. 18-26

THE RECTOR’S LETTER

Dear Friends

ollowing Easter, each of the church parishes in our Benefice is holding an annual parochial church meeting. This is a synopsis of my report to them for this year. During my First six months as your new Rector I have been coming to terms with the transition from a suburban ministry with one church to look after to a rural ministry with twelve churches. There are many contrasts apart from the obvious one of having so many churches.

One striking contrast is the seasonal nature of parish ministry here in the country. Harvest and rogations services connect far more here than they ever do in the suburbs. The Christmas readings of the light of Christ shining in the darkness and the darkness not overcoming it seem all the more poignant in the winter darkness of many of our villages, spared the light pollution of the city. The celebration of Easter is graphically illustrated as the land around bursts into life with the beginnings of Spring.

There are a number of things which have come home to me since I arrived. Although it may seem obvious to say, we have some of the most outstandingly beautiful churches, which contribute enormously to the attraction of our villages, as well as providing for the soul of the community. It is a wonderful heritage, for which we can be thankful to past generations.

Within these churches, there are so m any who give freely of their time and energy, both to prayer and worship, and also to cleaning the buildings, maintaining the churchyard, providing flower arrangement and keeping everything going.

There are those like Chris Fox, the retiring Benefice treasurer, and his successor Richard Matthews. There are the Church Wardens who carry much of the load, and we also have a pastoral team, set up and nurtured by the Revd Liz Johnson, which is providing additional pastoral care. There has been a Lent group too, exploring the Christian life in more depth.

I am grateful for the service of Marjorie Barstow and Debs Price and the family service group in leading our family services, which are drawing in some of the children and to Jane Bryleweski’s work with the young people. We are very fortunate in having our two Church of England schools of St Peter’s and St Christopher’s in which the staff and governors are doing a vital service in the lives of our children.

I am particularly grateful to the staff team of the Revd Liz Johnson the Revd Neville Usher-Wilson, and Canon Roland Meredith for all they have done, and to Pat Pratley my secretary.

I would also like to thank Richard Martin and all (especially the distributors) who have helped to make Parish Pump self-sufficient and successful.

What of the future? Our supreme vision is to spread the love of Christ to everyone in our benefice. In practical terms we shall be looking again at the pattern of our services, encouraging musical gifts, pioneering a children’s church in Shilton, and looking for other ways to make the church vibrant in faith and outward looking in its practical witness.

Harry Maclnnes

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

n September we are planning to pioneer a children’s church in Shilton, for the Benefice, which would run concurrently with the main service. This would provide, worship, teaching and prayer for the children during the first part of the service the children would then join the main congregation for a blessing during communion. Do contact Debs Price on 01993 847039 if you think that you might like to contribute to this ministry.

Harry Maclnnes

ROGATION SUNDAY

ogation, derived from the Latin word’rogare’ to ask, has become a regular feature of this benefice. It is particularly relevant to us in this essentially rural benefice and with so many people taking pride in their gardens, for we ask God especially on that day for a blessing on all crops and farming and gardening activities. Originally it was an occasion when the people of each parish used to ‘beat the bounds’, ensuring that all knew where the boundaries were, but later it became common to do the rounds of the farms and conduct a short service of blessing These days with the far greater size of farms and the size too of our benefice that would be impossible, but we do have a short service at the most central church, Broadwell, to worship and ask God’s blessing on the whole benefice.

For the last few yearspeople have walked, ridden and driven from all the quarters of the benefice, starting at their churches and congregating just before noon at Broadwell. Pets (under control) are very welcome and a paddock is available for horses. Afterwards many of us, if not all, have a picnic outside, it has always been outside so far as the weather has always been kind, but we can eat inside if necessary. Hopefully there will also be a barbecue for folk to grill sausages or whatever too.

From Westwell we start at about 10-00am, picking up others at Holwell on the way. Other start times will, of-course, be staggered according to distance.

Please contact your church wardens to find out what the organization will be for your parishes and do please come, its a great time of year to be walking round our beautiful countryside. See you there!

Neville Usler Wilson

CHRISTIAN AID

elp make poverty history Join a sponsored walk/run for Christian Aid on Saturday Eh May. The fun starts at 2.00pm at CotswoldWildlifePark. For more details, contact Tom Farrell on 01993 823951.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

e meet again at 2.45pm on Wednesday 4th May in the Schoolroom of Filkins Methodist Chapel. Our speaker will be Miss Bernice White of Wantage, who is making a return visit. We shall welcome her and anyone from the Benefice who would like to join us.

MAB

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

he Royal British Legion is the prime ex-Service charitable organisation. Its principal concern is the welfare of former Service personnel and their dependants, offering financial, social and emotional support to some 15 million people. Legion members - men, women, and young people of all ages and backgrounds - include those who are, and have served, in the Armed Services as well as those individuals wanting to be involved in the Legion’s charitable and welfare work.

The Filkins & District Branch has members from the former Broadshire villages - Filkins & Broughton Poggs, Broadwell, Kelmscott, Kencot, Langford, and Little Faringdon. We realise that there are ex-Servicen en and people sympathetic to the Legion’s cause that would like to establish closer links with either the Branch or the Royal British Legion as a whole.

The forthcoming 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II offers an opportunity to recruit new members. Village representatives will make them selves known during May and June. Readers of the Parish Pump from other villages, who would like to become members of the Legion, will also be most welcome. Please contact either Mick Hambidge (01367 860381) or myself (01367 252205).

A service to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II will be held in St Peter’s Church Filkins on Sunday 10th July. This day has been chosen as the national commem oration day to mark both VE and VJ days.

During the service, a new Branch Standard will be dedicated and the ageing old one will be laid up in the church. It is very much hoped that Legion members, those sympathetic to the Royal British Legion, and church-goers alike will attend this unique service.

Jeremy Taylor

HERE COME THE SCOUTS!

ould you like to join the Scout Movement? It’s a great organization which although it will soon celebrate its 100” birthday is still vibrant, exciting and constantly developing. In the last twenty years, it has doubled its membership and there are now more than 28 million members spread through 216 countries.

Here at Burford Scouts, we are looking for new members to join our group. We have four sections for different age-groups:

Beavers for boys aged 6-8 years who meet on Mondays between 6.00 and 7.00pm

Cubs for boys aged 8-10 years who meet Thursdays between 6-7pm

Scouts (aged 10-14 years) and Explorer Scouts (aged 14-18 years). Both of these groups are for either sex, and meet on Mondays between 7.30-9.00pm.

All meetings are held at the Burford Scout HQ,Tanners Lane, Burford.

At present we are working towards attending Eurojam 2005 which is being held in Essex during July and August when over 5000 Guides and Scouts from Europe will have ten days of fun-Filled activity, cementing friendships etc in preparation for the 2007 celebration of 100 years of Scouting.