CENTREPIECE
April/May 2017
Free but donations always welcomed
Happy Easter
Easter card on sale in the church
Inside this issue:
Spotlight on George Smith
Easter Quiz
Clarinet Festival
Julian Meetings
The John Young Reading
Room
New Sound System approved
CENTREPIECE 1
RECTOR Rev. Preb. Richard Grigson,
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01785 526001
CURATE Rev. Alison Thomas
Email:[email protected]
ASSOCIATE PRIEST & TOWN CENTRE CHAPLAIN:
Rev. John Davis ························· 01785 661382
Email:[email protected]
LAY MINISTERS
Mr. Phillip Taylor ……………….. 01785 780717
Email:[email protected]
Mr. Andrew Sillito, Mr. R. Button (Readers Emeriti)
Mrs. Pauline Shepherd (Pastoral Assistant, Emeritus)
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Mrs. Pauline Roycroft
Tues 9am-5pm Wed 9am to 12:30 Thurs 9am - 4pm
Tel: 01785 223600
Email: [email protected]
For Baptisms and Weddings: Please contact the Parish Administrator
SERVICES IN STAFFORD CHURCHES
Sunday
Eucharist, St. Mary’s
Sung Eucharist, St. Mary’s
Family Eucharist, St. Mary’s 3rd Sunday in
month
Sung Eucharist/Morning Prayer, St. Chad’s
Eucharist/Morning Prayer, St. Leonard’s
Evening Worship, St Mary’s
8.00am
9.30am
Eucharist, St. Chad’s
1.05pm
Wednesday Praise & Play, St. Mary’s
Eucharist, St. Mary’s
Thursday
Eucharist, St. Mary’s
Healing Rest & Peace, St. Mary’s 2nd Thursday of the month
Friday
Midday Prayers, St. Mary’s
Eucharist, St. Chad’s
10.30am
1.05pm
10.05am
Tuesday
CENTREPIECE 2
9.30am
11.00am.
11.15am
6.30pm.
1.05pm.
12.30pm
1.05pm
Rector’s Ramblings
Hadrian’s Ramble
A visitor to the border counties of Cumbria and
Northumberland will soon come across Hadrian's wall.
The 73 mile long wall was begun in AD122 and finished
in about six years. According to Hadrian's biographer it
was built 'to separate the Romans from the barbarians'.
It was abandoned shortly after it was built, but soon brought back into use
and the wall served for 300 years.
Although we have an official explanation for why the wall was built, that
doesn't quite give the whole story. The might have had a political as well as
a military role. It would have been useful in keeping a check on who was
passing through the region, Roman and non-Roman alike. Indications that
the wall was whitewashed suggest that it was there as a display of Roman
power. And if the gateways in the wall regulated passing travellers, they
also gave an opportunity to tax those same passing travellers. Even with the
taxation income, it is difficult to see how the wall made sense economically.
Three hundred years after construction, the wall was abandoned as the
occupying Roman army withdrew. But it wasn't useless! The neatly dressed
stones of the Roman wall were reused in local building projects. Just five
hundred years after Hadrian had inspected the work, and three hundred
years after the Romans abandoned the site, some of the stones found their
way into the building of Jarrow Priory. From it's first days the Priory was a
centre of Anglo Saxon learning and mission. What is more, the Priory had
a rather longer life than the wall: it lasted for 900 years before it was
destroyed by Henry VIII.
And today? The wall is a world heritage site and plenty of businesses trade
on the fame of the wall. The so-called border between the barbarians and
civilisation has been completely overtaken because it runs through the
middle of the two border counties. The wall is visually striking, historically
important, yet pointless.
There is much making of walls. Physical walls go up all the time. Invisible
walls are hastily built in the imagination to keep out the supposed
undesirables. A wall runs across the Holy Land. There is talk of a wall to
separate the United States from Mexico (or is it the other way round?).
There are the walls in the mind: where the terrorist treats most of the world
as an enemy to be attacked. The political walls are being touted: if Britain
builds a political wall facing Europe, why not build another facing
Scotland?
CENTREPIECE 3
But even the great statement Hadrian's wall eventually became nothing
more than a social and historical curiosity; a politically irrelevant tourist
site.
I'm writing this as we approach Holy Week. Holy Week begins with Palm
Sunday, when Jesus rode down the hill towards the walled city of Jerusalem,
and through the, doubtlessly well guarded, gateway to the city. All the while
being acclaimed by the crowd. Holy Week ends with the Last Supper of
Maundy Thursday and the builders tools of hammer and nails being used in
crucifixion. Then we gather again, in the darkness of Holy Saturday, to
celebrate the resurrection before returning for Easter Sunday day.
Saint Paul, when he wrote to the Ephesians, looked at the different groups
who were hearing the Good News that Jesus is alive. He asked them to
remember that their unity in Christ was far more important than their fearful
enmity. Perhaps he had in mind the various fortresses and security walls
which he saw right across the Roman empire when he said this to them:
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and
has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has
abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create
in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might
reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to
death that hostility through it.
‘Be Still and Know.....’
From Sheila Young
Listening to Fr John’s sermon on the First Sunday in
Lent, when he called us to find time to be still in God’s
presence and to listen to him, seemed a good time for a
reminder about the Julian Meeting in Stafford.
Julian Meetings provide opportunity to try stillness in the company of
others. Of course we need to do this on our own as well but it helps to do it
as a group. The meetings give a regular time to be still and focus on God.
They have also produced a helpful booklet ‘Try Stillness’, which gives some
useful pointers to how to practice this.
The Julian Meeting in Stafford takes place on the 3rd Monday afternoon in
each month. Further details of this from Sheila Young.
Julian Meetings encourage people to practise contemplative prayer and
meditation in their daily lives, and to explore ways of doing this which are
appropriate for them. More detail can be found on the website.
www.thejulianmeetings.net
CENTREPIECE 4
CENTREPIECE 5
Update from the PCC – March 2017
From Sue Savage
At its sixth meeting of the year the PCC were updated on the following:
The work on the vestry: a quotation has been received for the work and the
architect has been asked to consider design elements for a requote.
The sound system: this has been signed off by the Diocesan Sound advisor
and statutory notices have been displayed.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held at 11am on Sunday 30th
April.
Reports were received from:
the finance group with regards to the financial situation at St Mary’s; the
One World Group. A verbal report from the Children and Families Group
was given which reported on the recent pancake party and informed us that
there will be a meeting of this group on 17/3/17.
The rest of the meeting was taken up with a review of the Committee
Structure which included exploring the function of the PCC; the mission
statement and review of current activities.
The next meeting of the PCC will be Tuesday 25th April, 2017 where this
discussion will be continued with a view to having committees ready for the
new PCC following the APCM.
Would you like to become a server?
If you would like to join the band of servers in St
Mary’s, you are invited to join us in church on
Thursday 6th April at 7pm. For more information
please speak to any of the clergy or to Claire
Miller.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Sunday 30th April
11am in St Mary’s
All are invited
CENTREPIECE 6
Friends of Saint Mary’s
Go-ahead for New Sound System
For the last year , the Friends of St Mary’s have been raising money to fund
a new sound system for the church. Being a Grade 1 Listed Building,
detailed planning was required before permission could be granted.
We are pleased to announce that the go-ahead has now been given! We will
give you more information when we have it..
Do you have any suggestions for other improvements in the church that
perhaps the Friends could help to finance?
New Easter card
Following the success of his ‘Thinking of You’ card which has been on sale at St
Mary’s, we now have an Easter Card by the same artist, local man Peter Farrier.
Peter is allowing us to use his ‘Daffodils’ watercolour free of charge, (featured on
the cover), all proceeds go to the church. One of a range of cards by local artists and
photographers, it is on sale just inside the door, priced £1.
For more information or to book your place, contact:
Lynne Mills on 07721 767963
CENTREPIECE 7
CENTREPIECE 8
Clarinet Carnival
at St Mary's
Over 120 people turned out to listen to
the First Clarinet Carnival at St Mary's
church on Saturday 25th March. There
were children from schools all over
Staffordshire who gave a varied
program of music directed by Jim
Milgate-Scarrott. A standing ovation
came at the end of the morning as the
children finished off the carnival with
‘Memory’, from Cats. £192:00 was
raised for the Toilet Twinning project
being run by St Mary’s One World
Group this year.
Pictured here is soloist Megan Millen,
from Blessed William Howard School.
Photography Paul Milgate-Scarrott
This was one of a series of Saturday morning concerts in St Mary’s
featuring a variety of musicians. No tickets required - just drop in.
See the programme of April/May Coffee Concerts on page 17.
CENTREPIECE 9
Address: Unit 3, Baswich Business Park, Tilcon Ave.,
Stafford, ST18 0YL
Phone/fax:01785 241135
Mobile:
07973 113663
Email:
[email protected]
Website www.staffordplumbers.co.uk
CENTREPIECE 10
Easter Quiz
From Jan Morgan
1 what language is spoken on Easter Island?
2 who wrote the Palm Sunday poem "the Donkey"?
3 The garden of Gethsemane was situated at the bottom
of which hill?
4 Name the High Priest who had Jesus arrested?
5 After a dream, who warned Pilate to have nothing to
do with "this innocent man"?
6 what colour was the robe put on Jesus during his trial?
7 How do Christians know the stretch of road Jesus walked to his
crucifixion?
8 It is believed the Roman crucifix a condemned man had to carry weighed
how many pounds- 200, 275 or 300?
9 The inscription on the cross of Jesus was written in three languages,
Greek Latin and what other?
10 What rank was the Roman soldier who stood by the cross of Jesus?
11 At noon darkness came over the land, how long did the darkness last?
12 How many short phrases did Christ speak while on the cross?
13 Into whose care did Jesus place his Mother Mary?
14 Who was the first person to see the resurrected Christ?
15 In 1972 Paul Nicholas sang the lead role on the opening night of which
Lloyd Webber musical?
16 Who directed the controversial 2004 film 'The Passion of Christ"?
17 To which village were two men walking when joined by Jesus after his
resurrection?
18 How many days after his resurrection did Christ ascend into Heaven?
19 Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection beside which sea?
20 Many years after Christ's death, which disciple was believed to have
been crucified by the Romans upside-down.
Answers on page 12
CENTREPIECE 11
Spotlight on George Smith
This month the spotlight is on George
Smith, a regular at St Mary’s for many
years now and an imposing but friendly
member of the congregation.
George lived in Jamaica until 1961
when at the age of 19 he chose to come
here to Stafford to live with his uncle
and have a very different way of life.
At home in Jamaica his family were
farmers. They had a large farm, growing crops such as ginger, chocolate, sugar cane and bananas. But it was not as
exotic as it sounds. It was hard work.
All the work was manual, no help from
tractors and machines. The sugar canes
and bananas were cut down by hand,
and heavy loads were carried on the
head. George decided this was not for
him - he wanted to be a mechanic and hence made the decision to come to
England.
He began work at the Gas Works, where Sainsbury’s is now. Then went to
English Electric when the Gas Works closed, first as a labourer then as a
fettler for 20 years or so. They were on piecework and George managed to
earn more than the other men because he was strong enough to pick up the
castings without having to wait for the crane! This caused trouble amongst
the men - so George was promoted to foreman to solve the problem!
George was brought up as an Anglican, in Jamaica, so it was natural to
come to St Mary’s. One of the first people he met was Mavis Wilson, who
befriended him, and he has been a regular ever since. He has seen a lot of
changes since then!
Back home, he had 22 brothers and sisters - both his mother and father had
married twice! But now he lives with his wife, Margaret, and they will be
celebrating 40 years of marriage this year.
Mavis’ brother-in-law introduced him to the Royal Antediluvian Order of
Buffaloes, better known as the Buffs, which he joined in 1992. It is sill a
male only organisation. The Queen is their patron, but she wouldn’t be allowed to join!
CENTREPIECE 12
He rose through the ranks, spending the first year as a Brother, or
Kangaroo, then became a Certified Primo wearing a navy sash, 3 years later
it was the Knight Order of Merit with a red sash and after 10 years Role of
Honour with the pale blue sash. Now George is Registrar of Stafford and
District Lodge for 12 months and proudly wears the purple sash.
The Buffs are a brotherhood, looking after one another as well as raising
money for local charities. They take an oath which says that “widows and
orphans of the order may never want”, and so they arrange day trips,
pantomimes, pocket money for the children etc. They have raised money in
recent years for Headway, Motor Neurone Disease, Katherine House
Hospice, Donna Louise, Oak Tree Farm, Multiple Sclerosis and more. Last
year their chosen charity was Parkinson’s, and they have just presented the
Stafford branch of Parkinson’s with a fantastic sum of £6,250.
This coming year they will be supporting the Air Ambulance and Katherine
House.
In 2003, George’s year of office, they raised £5,500 and kindly donated £500
of it to St Mary’s for the Shoe Stained Glass Window. At about the same
time George and Margaret celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and
asked for donations to the Shoe Window instead of anniversary gifts. They
were able to give £1100! George describes this as one of his proudest
moments, and we at Centrepiece would like to thank him for it.
News from St Leonard’s
The 100 year old, Good Shepherd stained glass window in
St Leonard’s Church is in urgent need of repair and
£10,000 is needed to finance this.
Two fundraising events are coming up.
Firstly, a Beetle Drive on Friday21st April. (Ask for more details at the
Parish Office.)
Secondly, a Ukelele concert by Uke 3A. This is on
Saturday 20th May starting at 7:30pm, at the North
End Community Centre. Tickets, priced at £10
including light refreshments, are on sale at the Parish
Office, St Mary’s Mews.
CENTREPIECE 13
GEOFF
WHEAT
GEOFF WHEAT
(Over
18 Years Experience)
CARPENTER,
JOINER,
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
CARPENTER, JOINER,
Loft Ladders
GENERAL MAINTENCE
Door hanging
Wood
Flooring UPVC
Loft Ladders
Stairs Re-styledCladding
Door hanging
Wood Flooring
Security Locks
Glazed Wall Tiling
Stairs Re-styled
Glass Replacement
Flat-pack
Construction
Glazed Wall tiling
Coving
UPVC Cladding
Flat-pack
Painting &
Security Locks
Construction
Decorating
Glass Replacement
Coving242882
Tel: 01785
Mobile:
07946
304598
Tel:01785
242882
Estimates
with 304598
Pleasure
Mobile: 07946
Estimates with Pleasure
ANSWERS TO EASTER QUIZ
1 Spanish, it belongs to Chile.
2 G.K. Chesterton
3 The Mount of Olives
4 Caiaphas
5 His wife
6 Purple
7 The Via Dolorosa
8 300 pounds
9 Hebrew
10 A Centurion
11 Three hours
12 Seven
13 The disciple whom Jesus loved, thought
to be John.
14 Mary Magdalene
15 Jesus Christ, Superstar
16 Mel Gibson
17 Emmaus
18 Forty
19 Tiberius (Sea of Galilee)
CENTREPIECE 14
One World Group: Toilet Twinning
Flushing away poverty by helping to bring clean water, toilets
and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest people
Thank you to everyone who’s supporting Toilet Twinning this year. We’ve
had a great response to the appeal, and have really made a difference to the
lives of fourteen individual families, as well as to lots of school pupils, and
refugees escaping war and persecution.
So far, we’ve raised £2563.61 and have sponsored:

3 toilet blocks for schools in Central America and Africa

4 toilet blocks for refugee displacement camps in the Central African
Republic and

14 individual toilets for countries in Central America, Asia and
Africa.
Look for the
certificates on
the
window
sills in the
south transept.
FLUTE
FESTIVAL
On Saturday 6th May at 7.30pm Stafford Flute Festival is coming to St.
Mary’s – sixty plus young (and older!) flautists from around the area
performing ensembles and solos of all sorts. Admission is free but the
director, Jim Milgate-Scarrott, has kindly agreed that a collection will be
made in aid of our Toilet Twinning project so why not put the date in your
diary and come along to enjoy an evening of music in support of our
current charity.
Further details about the work of the charity can be found on the website
www.toilettwinning.org along with the latest updates on Toilet Twinning.
CENTREPIECE 15
St Mary’s Mothers’ Union Schedule
April/May 2017
From Christine Banham
Thursday April 27th 10.45am in church.
A talk on this year's theme "Faith in Action" by Pauline Shepherd
Thursday May 11th 7pm at Doxey Church.
Diocesan spring council, speaker Mrs Beverley Jullien, Mothers' Union CEO.
Bring packed lunch, tea available.
Thursday May 25th 10.45am in church.
Members' meeting, topic to be arranged.
Help for Refugees
Many refugees and asylum seekers (not economic migrants) have ended up in
Staffordshire.
If you feel you might like to join a group of people offering them practical help
and wish to know more, you are invited to a meeting on Wednesday 5th April,
at 7:30pm in St Dominic’s Church Social Centre, Station Rd, Stone, ST15 8JP.
A speaker from the group already established will explain what is involved and
how you can do as much, or as little as you wish, to help.
Former Bishop of Lichfield dies
The former Bishop of Lichfield, the
Right Revd Keith Sutton, has died aged
82.
Bishop Keith (captured by artist Andrew
Festing) was installed as the 97th Bishop
of Lichfield in 1984 and served in the
role until his retirement in 2003.
Following retirement, he moved to
Cornwall before relocating to the Isle of
Wight to be closer to his family. He died
on Friday 24 March, at a care home in
Surrey after living with dementia for
several years.
CENTREPIECE 16
The John Young Reading Room
From Sheila Young
The John Young Foundation’s library was formed originally from John’s
own books, making them available to
many. Over time more books were
donated or purchased with grants. When
the Foundation had to leave St Mary’s
Mews the library was less
accessible and largely ceased to be used.
The books were rehoused in the Webster
Room at Shallowford House where they
could be read by guests.
Recently Shallowford’s own library has
been refurbished and fitted with more
bookshelves so the Foundation’s books
could be placed there.
It is a beautiful room enhanced by lovely
new furnishings and has been renamed ‘The John Young Reading Room’.
This was movingly dedicated in a simple but dignified
ceremony on 12th February by the Bishop of Lichfield before an invited
group of guests who then enjoyed a magnificent Sunday afternoon tea!
It was a truly splendid occasion and the room is a wonderful tribute to John
who loved is books.
John Young was a Psychiatrist and an Anglican Priest
After taking early retirement from the NHS in 1987 he was awarded a
Research Fellowship at Queen’s College, Birmingham. The following year
he became Director of the Churches Council for Health and Healing. He
travelled widely and did much to promote and encourage the Christian
Healing Ministry. He saw the need to
regionalise for this largely London based
organisation and opened an area centre in
Stafford where he was known and respected in
both medical and church communities.
The John Young Foundation was established
after his early death in 1991 to continue in
some measure what he had begun in the new
centre. The Foundation closed in 2016 after
25 years and its books are now housed in the
Shallowford House library.
CENTREPIECE 17
Five generations of Personal Service
W M EMERY & SONS
Est.
1890
Funeral Directors
Tel: Stafford 251205 or 255378
Rugeley 585285 (24 hours)
The Laurels, 13 County Road, Stafford ST16 2PU
M.J. Emery, NLW Emery, CGK Emery Dip FD, M.B.I.F.D.
CENTREPIECE 18
There is no Planet B!
The week long
green arts festival at
St Chads included a
full programme of
talks & workshops,
art exhibits of all
kinds and a host of
musicians and
entertainers.
The festival, which
encourages us to
think about how we
can look after the
planet, was
officially opened by
the Mayor and Mayoress Geoff and Cathy Collier. They also officiated at
the closing awards ceremony, seen here with Fr Richard and organisers.
Thank you Paul Milgate-Scarrott for the photo.
Saturday Morning Coffee Concerts at St Mary’s
All begin at 11:00am. All are welcome. Admission free.
April 8th
Richard Walker (Organ)
April 22nd
Seighford Singers
May 6th
St Mary’s Children’s Choir & Music Group
May 20th
String Players from Birmingham Conservatoire
May 27th
Tim Sagar (organ)
St Chad’s, Shrewsbury
Directed by Sue Alderson
Directed by Margaret Outen
Playing Brahms Sextet no. 1
Assistant organist at St Mary’s
For more details check our website at www.stmarysstafford.org.uk
or the Facebook page - Stafford Churches
CENTREPIECE 19
Brian Stafford
Hatherton
Tree Management
Quality Professional tree and
hedge care
NPTC Qualified staff and
fully insured
Please call for a free quote
Office: 01543 422585
Mobile: 07803 601928
Established 1982
For a written quotation
and
high quality decorating
at affordable prices
just call:
01785 711383 or
07971396799
CENTREPIECE 20
A Prayer by John Taylor
Sheila Young sent us this prayer which she found in the Church Times recently
in an article about Bishop Taylor who was well known as the author of ‘The Go
Between God’.
It was written for his enthronement as Bishop of Winchester in 1975.
He asked those present to pray this prayer at the start of each day.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Alive and at large in the world,
Help me to follow and find you there today,
In the places where I work, meet people, spend money, make plans.
Take me as a disciple of your kingdom,
To see through your eyes,
And hear the questions you are asking,
To welcome all with your trust and truth,
And to change things that contradict God’s love
By the power of your cross
And the freedom of your spirit.
Amen
Corns
Callous/Hard skin
Verrucas
Ingrowing Toe nails
Nail Trimming
Fungal Nail Infections
Foot Health Practitioner (Dip CFHP)
For all your chiropody and podiatry needs we do
appointments in the comfort of your own home.
Telephone 01785 242882 or 07930 760 635
for friendly advice and professional service
CENTREPIECE 21
The Soup Kitchen
This beautiful 16th Century
eating house offers the
ideal place to meet your
friends and is described in
The Times as “Stafford’s
hidden gem”. Visitors from
all over the world regularly
return and comment ‘there
is nowhere else that
compares in atmosphere,
traditional old-fashioned
service and genuine warm
welcome which is unique to
Stafford’s Soup Kitchen.
CENTREPIECE 22
CHURCH CONTACTS
St. Mary’s
Churchwardens ............... Ian Miller .............. 251899
Bob Perkin ............ 253546
Bellringers
Selwyn Jones ........ 242116
Mothers Union................ Monica Srinivasan
House Group .................. Monica Srinivasan
One World Group ........... Pauline Roycroft... 244556
Open Door St. Mary’s ....
Julian Meeting ................ Sheila Young ........ 252023
Sunday Lunch Club ........ Sheila Young ........ 252023
Director of Music…… ... Margaret Outen….253182
[email protected]
Planned Giving Secretary….Jon Clifford…..282688
Email:[email protected]
St. Chad’s
Churchwardens ............... Ian Carr
St. Leonard’s
Churchwardens ............... Gail Wray …..01889 271176
Mary Dunn ........... 245434
WEBSITES:
Website for StaffordChurches: www.staffordchurches.uk
St Mary’s Website: www.stmarysstafford.org.uk
St. Chad’s Website: www.stchadsstafford.co.uk
Why not follow us on Twitter? @staffordchurch
Facebook: staffordchurches.uk
MAGAZINE EDITOR:
Steve Turner …………….Telephone 01785 229437
Email [email protected]
Mobile 07779091021
FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S
Dee Turner...................... 01785 229437
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @FriendsStM
Facebook: www.facebook.com/friendsofstmary
CENTREPIECE 23
Email:
Saturday 11th March
One day but two very different concerts!
In the morning we
had the Manchester
Reed Trio.
In the evening it was
the Good Cause
Rock Band.
A good example of
the wide variety of
music performed in
St Mary’s.
Photography:Paul Milgate-Scarrott
Contributions to Centrepiece:
If you would like to advertise an event, or comment on one you have attended – then please
CENTREPIECE
24
do so. Send it to my email
address: [email protected]
Deadline is about 10 days before the first Sunday of the month.