THE OTHER CONINGTON Those who drive up the A1(M) towards Peterborough may have noticed signs to a village called Conington which is not our Conington. They may even have spotted a church tower standing proud in the trees some way back from the road. This is the other Conington, formerly Conington (Hunts) as opposed to our own Conington (Cambs), though both are now in the present-day Cambridgeshire.
The 15th-century church of All Saints in the other Conington was closed some years ago because of severe structural problems and was handed over into the care of the Redundant Churches Fund.
Although the Fund has beautifully restored the church, it may now only be used on three occasions in each year. This year, one of these openings will be a service of Evensong at 3.00pm on 13th May and the Revd Tom Heggs, Vicar of Yaxley and Holme with Conington, has invited the congregation of Conington St Mary to join with him on this occasion. Others from our benece will also be most welcome.
Details of how to approach the church will be sent out nearer the time - lifts can be offered to consolidate transport arrangements. There will be no service of Evensong at St Marys, Conington, on 13th May.
This is a rare opportunity to see All Saints, Conington, which in the early 18th century belonged to a different branch of the same Cotton family that built Conington Hall and the nave of St Marys, Conington.
Collections were made for the Childrens Society at the Village Carol Singing in Fen Drayton (when 115 was raised) and Lolworth (117.73). Thank you to all who joined in and contributed.
Also a reminder to Childrens Society box holders that I shall be collecting in the boxes for the annual opening during the last week of March.
Dorothy Gilbert
The annual Choir Supper for adult members was held at the Trinity Foot on 12th January and was a most enjoyable event.
Two anthems were sung on the 1st Sunday of Lent with others to follow on Passion Sunday (4th March) and Easter Day. Members will also be joining with other choristers from all over the Diocese for the Choirs Festival in Ely Cathedral on Saturday 19th May, when we will be able to hear the newly restored cathedral organ.
Some of our choristers from St Andrews also joined in the choir for the recording of BBC Songs of Praise from Great St Marys Church, Cambridge, which was broadcast on 11th March.
Keith Lofts
This year, Christian Aid Week runs from 13th to 19th May. In 2000 the total raised in the four parishes was 1243.89 a 10% increase over 1999. Can we can do even better this year? Nationally, refunds of tax under Gift Aid raised 600,000 of the 12 million collected in 2000. If you can help by making your donation under Gift Aid, please do so. Just ll in the form on the collecting envelope. The work of Christian Aid, helping some of the worlds poorest people, goes on throughout the year and not just when a natural disaster hits the headlines. Please do help.
This years Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust sponsored cycle ride (and walk) is on Saturday 8th September. Its never too early to be planning your route!
There is to be a confirmation service conducted by the Bishop of Huntingdon at St Andrews, 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.
The Vicar is always happy to offer the sacrament of holy communion to the housebound at home, particularly at Easter and Christmastime. Please ring him on 01954 231903 to arrange dates and times. A regular monthly or bimonthly pattern of visits can also be established.
This year, it is planned that the Fen Drayton Festival will focus on St Marys Church, with a Flower Festival over the weekend of 15th-16th September and a concert in the church on Saturday 15th September. Offers of help to the Vicar, please, and watch out for further announcements.
At last years Festival Exhibition, the Vicar lent his copy of Archaeology of Cambridgeshire by Alison Taylor Vol.2, to someone, but cant remember who. Help?!
THE nal part of our lenten journey towards Easter begins on Palm Sunday, the rst day of Holy Week, when we commemorate our Lords triumphal entry into Jerusalem a few days before this crucixion. Palm Crosses, made by Christians from Nongoma in Zululand, are distributed to all worshippers in church on this day. At main communion services, the bible account of Jesus trial and crucixion is read in dramatic form by members of the congregation.
The morning of Maundy Thursday sees the clergy of the Diocese gathering in the Cathedral at Ely for a service in which they renew their ordination vows. Also during this service, the Bishop blesses oils which will be used throughout the coming year at baptisms, conrmations and the anointing of the sick. All are welcome to come to this service - but please be at the Cathedral in good time.
Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian Year as in our worship we stand before the cross and wonder how this has come to be. The service includes the Song of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah chapter 53, the Passion of our Lord according to Saint John and the Nine Reproaches from the Cross.
The worship of Easter Eve begins with the church in almost total darkness as we read from scripture the story of our salvation, punctuated with prayers and psalms. And then the mood changes as we begin our celebration of the joy of Easter when with new re we light our Easter Candle and share its light among the congregation. The hymns Exsultet and Thine be the glory are sung before the worship is broken off, to be resumed in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) of Easter Morning. Easter Day is the greatest of the festivals of the Christian Year. It is traditional for all Christians to make a special effort to come to communion on that day. It is the celebration of our Lords resurrection and of our salvation. Alleluia!