New Service time at St Andrew's, Swavesey

From Sunday 17th February, the time of the principal mid-morning worship at St Andrew‘s, Swavesey, will move from 10.45am to 11.00am. It is anticipated that the new service time will allow the service to begin promptly at the advertised time. St Andrew‘s Sunday School will also move to begin at 11.00am in the Sunday School Room during school term time.

Swavesey Eight Bell Appeal

The bell ringers at St Andrew‘s, Swavesey, have launched an appeal to buy two new bells for the church to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Queen‘s reign. At present there are six bells in the tower with room to add two bells, creating a full octave ring of bells.

We have already received sponsorship to cover the cost of a bell and it‘s fittings. This will be a lasting celebration of the Queen‘s fifty years of sovereignty. The existing bells were all made in 1753 except one, which was cast about 1625, and have been hung in the church ever since.

If you would like to make a donation to the appeal, would like to see the bells, or learn to ring the bells, please contact, Andrew Stevens, 27, Over Road. Tel: 01954 231433. Email: andrew@overroad.co.uk

Retirement of the Venerable John Long

The Ven. John Long first retired as Archdeacon of Ely some twenty years ago, in 1981. But this did not end his many ministries and for a number of years he has taken services at All Saints‘, Lolworth, particularly on the first Sunday of each month.

Sadly, John has decided that through failing health he must now retire from these duties also. His final regular service at All Saints‘ will be on Sunday 3rd March at 9.30am.

The Parochial Church Council and people of Lolworth are very grateful to John for all the love and care that he has shown them over the years and hope to mark his retirement in a suitable way on Sunday 3rd March.

Churchyards Survey

There are quite a number of graves in our churchyards which are not identified by any form of memorial or marker. Sometimes relatives have chosen to have no memorial over a grave; sometimes a wooden cross has decayed with the passage of time. Often there is no record of who is buried in a particular grave. Before 1993 the location where a burial took place was not recorded in the Register of Burials.

The Vicar will be pleased to hear from anyone who can identify unmarked graves in our churchyards, particularly Swavesey, so that appropriate plans can be drawn and spaces identified which are available for new burials. A simple sketch showing adjoining marked graves would be very helpful.

Parishioners are reminded that no alteration should be made to any grave or memorial without the written permission of the Vicar. According to Diocesan Regulations, permission is required (and a fee is payable) even for the introduction of a memorial flower vase.

St Andrew's Choir

The Christmas Carol Festivals at both Conington and Swavesey were successful, with a record congregation present at Conington.

The Choir Supper on 3rd January, held as usual at Trinity Foot, was enjoyed by all. In the course of the Supper a presentation was made to Jackie Few in recognition of her forty years of singing with St Andrew‘s Choir.

Preparations are now well in hand for anthems on the first Sunday of Lent (17th February) and on Easter Day.

Keith Lofts

Communion at Home

The Vicar is always happy to offer the sacrament of holy communion to the housebound at home, particularly at Christmas and Easter. Please ring him 01954 231903 to arrange dates and times. A regular monthly or bimonthly pattern of visits can also be established.

Alternatively you may like to join the regular monthly communion service in the Community Room at Thistle Green, Swavesey. This usually takes place on the first Monday of a month, but please see the Diary pages for details of planned dates.

The Children's Society

Further to the announcement in the last issue of The Fisherman of the money raised by the Christingle service in December, I would like to thank Jackie Few for taking over the organisation of the Christingle-making this time. I was away attending my nephew‘s wedding.

She wishes me to thank Helen Cage, Jill Henderson, Sarah Jane Herrington, Verna Moyse, Wyn Oakman, Sally Robinson and Caroline Stevens for all their help in assembling the Christingles.

Our thanks are also due to St Andrew‘s Music Group who add so much to the service and to Peter Marriott for obtaining such delicious oranges for us. The letter of thanks from the Children‘s Society is in the church porch. The amount raised was £105.06.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind box holders that, as usual, I shall be collecting the boxes during March for the annual opening at the end of March.

Dorothy Gilbert

The Children's Society have also acknowledged receiving £50.00 from the Fen Drayton Village Carol Singing. Also for various kinds of childern‘s work, some £125 from the Lolworth Carol Singing was sent to Milton Children‘s Hospice together with £250 from the Lolworth Christmas Services to Meldreth Manor School (Scope).

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