A WELL DESERVED PROMOTION

We were delighted to hear about Mgr Edwin’s elevation; it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.    In his own blog, Ancient Richborough, he explains it away by saying that the Holy Father's decision to make him and two other former Anglican Bishops Papal Chaplains automatically gives them the title of Monsignor.   Typically, he doesn’t mention all the work he has done for the Bournemouth Ordinariate, all the travelling he does to support his fellow clergy, or the time he finds to come and support Fr Danny by celebrating or concelebrating Mass at Our Lady of Mercy.     Our best wishes to him for all he does for the Church, and to Jane for all the support she gives him.

AN ENJOYABLE VISIT TO ST PATRICK’S DALE

                                                                                                                                       photo by Pat

Louise and Pat M had a short holiday in Patterdale where this photo was taken.     Pat writes:     
 “It was on a walk from Patterdale along Ullswater that Dorothy and William Wordsworth saw the daffodils which inspired the poem. We also went to the Beatrix Potter Museum - what a Lady - she owned 14 farms and founded the Herdwicke Sheep Society and insisted all her Tenant farmers bred them.    She is largely responsible for farming being in such good shape up there today.   Patterdale is situated at the Southern tip of Ullswater and has Helvelyn to the West  .We do not mind admitting our ignorance  that we did not know the connection between Patterdale and St Patrick. Historically early in the 5th Century  he landed at Duddon Sands and walked the 30 miles to the Valley that is now called Patterdale converting many to Christianity.  There has been a St Patricks Well and Chapel there since very early days.   This knowledge added another dimension to our holiday and we raised our glass to him every evening.” 
                                                       Our thanks to both of you, for letting us share your memories.

A VERY ENGLISH SUMMER AFTERNOON

                                                                                                  photo by Barbara
A peaceful scene at the Bath Road Recreation Ground in Lymington as the band plays last Saturday afternoon.

THE SUMMER FETE AT ST ANNE’S PARISH

We had thought that we would not be able to publish any photos of last week’s fete at St Anne’s, but fortunately Derek came to our rescue and supplied us with these pictures.

  Unfortunately, says Derek, I was so busy on the raffle that I only had time for these four photos!

Thanks, Derek, for sending them to us.    It looks as though everyone had  a good time!

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN GRAVES ON LUNDY

Recently a pair of your fearless editorial staff boldly crossed to the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel, and saw these ancient Christian standing stones from the fifth and sixth centuries.      There are a few other places in the south west or in Wales where such stones are found individually, but this is reputed to be the only spot in the United Kingdom where as many as four Christian standing stones are found in such a small area.       More recently, they have been moved and placed together just inside the churchyard, slightly apart from the other more recent gravestones.

                                                                                     photo by Nicky

Lundy is also notable for the work which is done there to assist research into bird migration under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology (www.bto.org)    This willow warbler has been caught, measured, weighed and ringed, all in a few minutes, and is just about to be released. 

THE CHEAM PRIEST HOLE IS CONFIRMED

Two weeks ago on this blog we showed a photo of what we thought was a genuine priest hole in the Red Lion pub at Cheam.     In response Pat M. has sent us a copy of a page from Cheam Councillor Mary Burstow’s website confirming that it is of the right period, that it was certainly used to conceal people wanted by the authorities, and giving examples of Catholics hiding up in Cheam at that time.    She adds an account of the bravery of the Anglican Rector of Cheam during the Commonwealth, when threatened with death by a Cromwellian soldier for using the Book of Common Prayer in the Church.      These fascinating accounts are on her site at www.cheam.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/05/01/the-red-lion-and-its-priest-hole/
                                                                                                                               Many thanks, Pat.

PARISHES JOIN FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

At Our Lady of Mercy last Sunday twelve children from this parish and St Anne’s took the most important step in their lives since their baptisms.      To mark the occasion the St Anne’s singers joined ours and the old rafters rang with the concerted choral celebration rising from the crowded choir loft.     The conduct of the children, coached by Cathy, was impeccable as they received Our Lord for  the first time, and Fr Danny made sure that the youngsters will remember this day for many years to come.

GREEN PASTURES HELPING THE HOMELESS

The photo shows John with Joy Bingham, Michael Crofts and Janet High all of the River of Life Church, and Rory Paget-Wilkes (nearest the camera).       Rory, who addressed the Council of Lymington Churches Together on Tuesday, is from Green Pastures, a non-denominational Christian Community Benefit Society which started in Stockport in 1999 but now is spreading rapidly throughout the country.    It has already provided accommodation for more than a thousand previously homeless people.      It is largely funded through the housing benefits of its tenants, but is supervised and administered by volunteers.      For more information visit www.greenpastures.net

FULL STEAM AHEAD FROM THE PARISH

                                                  Our thanks to John, who sent us this photo and his account of the trip.
Mary and I went on a Steam Train excursion last Wednesday, 6th June. This was part-funded as a gift from Fr Danny and the Parish in association with the Apostolic Blessing I received from the Pope, earlier this year.
We joined the train at Brockenhurst and travelled to Windsor, at the height of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. We had excellent, first class service, with refreshments provided throughout the journey there and back. Along the way, there were one or two stops to replenish the water for the locomotive. 
The photo shows Mary and me beside the loco (the 'Duke of Gloucester' a Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive).

MORE HOSPITABLE THAN EVER

Thanks to the PPC's hard work, and especially to Jacqui’s determined investigations, a 50” television/computer screen with DVD facilities is installed in the Paul Duffy room.

The new blinds being safely fitted in the hospitality suite.    

                                                                                                                                       photos by Jacqui

LABYRINTH MYSTERY REVEALED TO ALL

                                                                                                                                 photo by Mary
There was a revelation for visitors to the fete arranged by the Brockenhurst Parish Council on Saturday, for the indefatigable parishioners of St Anne’s presented them with a labyrinth, and explained its religious significance and value to anyone who ventured near.

……. FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE …..

                                                                                                                
When you have the misfortune to slip and tumble from the narrow path into a patch of brambles and vicious stinging nettles, how would you expect your life’s dedicated companion to respond to your plight?       Would you expect her to ignore your anguished cries for help, pull her camera from her pocket, slowly adjust the focus and then take a photograph of you lying there before even offering to help?