The month of May has seen two important events in the Parish Church.
We had the Archdeacon of Totnes, The Ven. Richard Gilpin’s Visitation to the Holsworthy Deanery. Our own Rector, Richard Dorrington, was elected Rural Dean and the churchwardens were ‘sworn in’, as also were the sides people. Our churchwardens for the coming year are Peter Lynch and Richard Boughton. I heard someone ask Samantha B if her father being a churchwarden would make any difference to the way she respected him - she gave a hearty laugh and commented ‘ I don’t think so’ - so watch it Richard!
I knew that Sunday the 20th, was going to be a special day, because Helen Carey and her mother came and decorated the whole church with beautiful flowers. This Sunday was Rogation Sunday, and very poignant this year, because of foot and mouth disease, no chance of a service on a farm. The farming community was remembered by the congregation wearing green ribbons, and as usual, prayers for all those suffering because of FMD were said. Then, after the service, a retiring collection raised £73.40 for the ARC-Addington Fund. (There’s a leaflet with some notes on the church porch notice board which explains the fund, set up, at the beginning of the FMD crisis, to provide rapid financial support to those in agricultural and kindred industries. So far over 4200 people have been helped with this lifeline of financial aid.)
During the service Helen and Andrew Carey’s baby son Linus John, was baptised by his grandfather. The young man, looking very cool in a yellow suit, behaved impeccably. In fact, all the children in church were delightful, free roaming but quiet with it, totally unawed by the occasion.
It was also good to see Cecil Collacott back in church after him being poorly for several weeks.
Looking ahead to next month, on Wednesday, 13th June, Michael, Bishop of Exeter, comes to Bradworthy to confirm 12 people from the village and the surrounding parishes - another happy event to celebrate at the parish church! (and, as a church mouse, I’m reliably informed that there’ll be refreshments afterwards, so I’ll be OK for now - and probably be able to send you another report next month!)
Cheerio for now, Church Mouse