THE BELLS of St Andrew's, Swavesey, have been silent for the last couple of weeks while work continues to install the two new bells which will were cast last autumn at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and to adjust the existing ring of six.
The new bells arrived at St Andrew's on 23rd February and were visited by several classes of children from Swavesey Primary School before being raised up into the tower on the following day.
Although the original six bells will be available for ringing again before Easter, the full ring of eight will not be rung until they are dedicated to the glory of God and for the benefit of his Church by the Bishop of Ely when he visits St Andrew's on 17th April.
The bells will be dedicated at a special Evensong on Sunday 17th April at 3.30pm. The service will be followed by light refreshments. Everyone is most welcome to join us on this happy occasion.
News from St Mary's, Fen Drayton
The work to re-roof and repair the stone-work of the South Porch of St Mary's Church is now completed and the repair of the outer door is scheduled for the beginning of April. Because of the unexpectedly poor condition of some of the dressed stonework, these works have cost rather more than expected - over £7,600, though some of the VAT will be recoverable.
The Parochial Church Council next plans to continue with their project to repair the rubble walls on the south side of the church. The main gate to the churchyard is also due to be replaced in the next few weeks.
St Mary's Gift Day and our annual blitz on the churchyard to get it ready for the summer growing season takes place on Saturday 2nd April this year. All are invited to come and join in the fun.
Annual Meetings are not usually the sort of event that you get really excited about. But they are important and deserve our attention and attendance.
The Annual Church Meetings take place in all four parishes during April. In each church there are two consecutive meetings. At the first, the Meeting of Parishioners, Churchwardens for the coming year are elected. And then, at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, the Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council is received, the membership of the Parochial Church Council is refreshed and, this year, representatives are elected to the North Stowe Deanery Synod. As an added bonus, parishioners may then raise any other matter of local or wider church interest.
Details of the dates and times of the meetings in the four parishes are in the Diary on page 4.
(Oh well, at least I didn't claim it would be very exciting.)
A further £10 has been received for Christingle at St Andrew's, Swavesey, bringing the total raised to £102.05. Thank you to those who contributed. Dorothy Gilbert
Following the Christingle Service at St Mary's, Fen Drayton, on the third Sunday of January, and the village carol singing before Christmas, £80 is being sent to the Children's Society.
Please remember Christian Aid Week on 15th-21st May this year.
People have been very generous following the Indian Ocean Disaster at the end of 2004 - and we are thanked for the £530 collected in our churches and channelled through Christian Aid - but the ordinary work of Christian Aid goes on and desperately needs our continuing support.
An induction loop system to assist those using hearing aids is to be installed in St Andrew's, Swavesey, at the beginning of April.
A proportion of the cost, some £3,000, has been met through generous donations, though further gifts will also be warmly received.
Those who attended the special evensong at Lolworth marking the 200th anniversary of the ordination of Henry Martyn in 2003, can find the text of the sermon preached by Bishop Simon Barrington-Ward at www.martynmission.cam.ac.uk/CSBWard.htm .
The Vicar is very willing to offer holy communion in their homes to those who are housebound, particularly at Easter. Please contact him to arrange a time.