New Report on Fen Drayton Church
A NEW Survey of the structure of St Mary‘s Church in Fen Drayton has identified what needs to be done to ensure that the building has a continuing future in the twenty-first century. Church architect, Julian Limentani, warns that most of the walls must be repointed if serious damage to the rubble construction of the walls is not to take place. Both the glass and the stonework of most of the windows also need attention as do the wooden floors in the choir if the Vicar is not to disappear onto the sub-floor some day soon. The floor of the bell chamber also needs serious repair.
Mr Limentani identities which jobs are really urgent, which need to be done during the next two years, and which can be phased over a five-year period. The Parochial Church Council has already put in hand the most urgent repairs - mainly to the roofs and gutters - at a cost of over £2,000 - and it is hoped that these can be completed before Christmas. At least the rain shouldn‘t come in on the Carol Service this year!
The Council is looking at possible sources of grants towards the further work but it is clear that a considerable sum will also have to be raised locally. But then we in our generation owe it to our children and posterity to pass on our heritage in even better condition than we have received it from our forebears.
The Children‘s Society
The Christingle Service at St Andrew‘s, Swavesey, was held on Sunday 3rd December and was a great success. £109.19 was collected for the work of the Children‘s Society.
Thanks are due to many people, but in particular to the Sunday School children who raised money by asking friends and relatives to sponsor them in various activities so that they could fill in their paper Christmas trees with Star Family stickers. They contributed £31.56 towards the total. Thanks too to Jackie Few, Verna Moyse, Wyn Oakman, Janine Parkinson and Freda Wake who spent the previous Saturday afternoon assembling the Christingles; to Peter Marriott for supplying the oranges and to the music group, who added greatly to the service with their music.
As in the past, toys were collected for the children‘s wards at Addenbrookes Hospital - thank you for those also.
Maybe you are asking yourself why we should raise money for the Children‘s Society. Among many other aspects of its work, the Society is the leading charity working with youngsters on remand in prisons and young offenders institutions. Re-offending rates are high; prison is more of a crime school than a deterrent. However, the Society can demonstrate that 70% of the young people it has supported do not re-offend while on bail. The youngsters begin to turn their own lives around.
I believe that this one aspect alone of the Society‘s work merits our continued support. Thank you again on behalf of the Society for your continued support.
I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year. Please note that my telephone number is now 01954 205254. Dorothy Gilbert
Sponsored Cycle Ride
The annual cycle ride in aid of The Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and local churches was well supported again this year. Over £600 was sponsored through St Andrew‘s, Swavesey, almost exactly half of it collected by one rider, Wyn Oakman, who thanks her sponsors very warmly for their support.
Riders from St Mary‘s, Fen Drayton, raised £129, with smaller sums collected through the other two parishes. Thank you to all concerned. Next year‘s CHCT sponsored cycle ride is on Saturday 8th September. Now is the time to start on your training!
Confirmations in 2001
There is to be a confirmation service conducted by the Bishop of Huntingdon at St Andrew‘s, Swavesey, on Thursday 22nd November 2001.
Those considering the possibility of being confirmed should have a word with the Vicar in due course. Courses of preparation for confirmation will begin later in the year.
Fisherman distributors
The Parochial Church Councils of the benefice are very grateful to everybody who helps to distribute The Fisherman. There are at present one or two vacancies for distributors in Swavesey. If anyone can help, please see Diane Amure (Estelle, Market Street, Swavesey).
back to Fisherman index