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A successful 2019 and more exciting developments in the pipeline
At the AGM of the Village Hall & Playing Fields on Thursday, December 5 , our Chairman, Gerald Shervington, outlined the developments at the hall and playing fields together with the progress and successes of the various affiliated clubs and users of the hall during the last year.
Mervyn Beecroft (Treasurer) explained that our income was keeping just ahead of expenditure, though good reserves are necessary as the building is now 15 years old and maintenance work is needed. Funds must also be available for any replacement of vital maintenance equipment as well as for new projects and progressing the hall, such as the veranda at the front of the pavilion and broadband/wifi. Bookings are fairly healthy but a review of the rates and rentals are in hand to ensure that they are at market levels.
The three principal officers are willing to stand again and were thanked by Bob Upton for all of their negotiations with Kebbell (and the ensuing benefits) and also for their ongoing involvement, particularly Lesley Shervington who ably undertakes both the role of Secretary and the very demanding Bookings Co-ordinator work. The meeting was attended by less than 15 with about 10 being committee members - a rather disappointing turn out!
For more details go to NEWS/Successful year.
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Christingle Service sees start of Advent
To start our Advent Celebrations a delightful Christingle Service was led by the Rev. Ruth Parry who challenged us all to look forward to the coming of Jesus and marvel in his world
God’s world of many wonders and many problems that Jesus came to save and to give hope to its people. We shared the meaning of the Christingle and delighted in ‘Spreading the Light’ as we lit the candles till the church glowed with warmth and hope.
During the after service coffee we were surprised to be told that this year’s Christingle Service was the latest in over 20 years of us starting Advent in this way with this hopeful and reflective service'
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The Village is alive with the Sound of Music
Bishop Monkton’s newest group, Singing for Fun, is keeping the village alive with the Sound of Music. Started in September and led by Angie Archbold, the group now has 45 people registered, and gets a regular attendance of between 35 and 40 singing a variety of songs to suit everyone. Catherine Jennings plays the piano and Tina Harper takes care of the refreshments. The group, which because of the support it has received, will now continue on a permanent basis, meets on a Thursday evening each month in the Chapel Schoolroom. Its next meeting is on 9 January 2020 - for more dates Click here.
To find out more about the group contact Angie on 677834.
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Awarded a medal 100 years ago
A hundred years ago John Lee, who was born in Bishop Monkton, received a Merchantile Marine Medal as shown in this certificate loaned to us by Bishop Monkton Local History Group. Does anyone have any knowledge of the Lee family in the village?
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Wreaths laid at Remembrance Service
Wreaths at this year's joint Remembrance Day service at St John Parish Church were laid in front of the altar instead of outside at the War Memorial which is the norm. The change was necessary because there is still a temporary exclusion zone outside the front of the church because of the danger of falling masonry. The wreaths were to be moved to the front of the War Memorial after the service.
For full report go to NEWS/Remembrance Day.
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Sound of the past
The Old Smithy at work in Bishop Monkton years ago. Since then the same building has become a garage, a shop and is now transformed into a private dwelling house
For more go to LOCAL HISTORY/From the Past.
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Making waiting for the bus more comfortable
The observant, and the weary, will have noticed the renovated circular seat at the bus stop in the centre of the village. The work was done by Gordon Horrod, pictured, who moved to the village last year. Gordon owned a sawmill in Cumbria, later moving to France with his wife Jane where they refurbished several properties before they returned to the UK and to Bishop Monkton. Repairing the seat around the tree was tricky but ‘on trend’ in this enlightened age of environmentally friendly repairs rather than wholesale replacement.
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A warm farewell for The Rev. Sheila
Villagers from both Bishop Monkton and Burton Leonard gathered in the Village Hall to say farewell to Rev. Sheila and her husband Andy. Bishop Helen-Anne (pictured left) thanked Sheila for her hard work over the past two years. Gifts from both villages were presented to the couple. Rev. Sheila explained that she and Andy wished to be nearer their family and to spend more time together and this had contributed to their decision to move back to Taunton. We all wish Sheila and Andy well in their retirement.
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Harvest Festival at Parish Church
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The Parish Church was beautifully decorated for the All Age Harvest Festival with lovely displays of flowers, fruit and vegetables both outside and inside the church.Traditional Harvest hymns were sung and the service was led by The Rev. Sheila and Stuart Newsome. Our lower picture shows four of the church's younger generation reading Harvest prayers. On the theme of thanksgiving and giving, the base of the font was piled high with tins of food which were later to be distributed to those in need.
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Venturing back into the big glad world
Helen Bagnall with one of the three baby hedgehogs she has fostered back to health before they are released back into the wild.
For full story click on NEWS/Back to the Wild.
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Timetable fixed for urgent Church repairs
The wonderful sum of £33,269 has now been raised for the Parish Church's Fabric Fund which means that urgent repair work needed to make the Church tower safe and the roof watertight will be able to start in March 2020 and should be completed by May. For several months the front entrance to the church has been out of use and entry has been through a rear door. Plans for the longer term repairs to the roof and the future use of the buildings are now being worked out.
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Could you join our team and perhaps save a life?
Two long-time members of Bishop Monkton Life Savers, David Banks and Jonathan Beer, receiving training from Yorkshire Ambulance Trainer Neil Marsay at a recent meeting of local community first responders at the Village Hall.The Bishop Monkton team is in urgent need of additional members to join the team. If you would welcome a challenge and wish to do a great community service, contact Life Saver Co-ordinator Richard Field on bmlifesavers@aol.com or tel. 677795. He will explain more a about what the voluntary job involves. Newcomers to the village would be particularly welcomed.
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