St. Werburghs Church

Sunday 21^st September saw the village of Kingsley and its wider parish coming together to commemorate the centenary of the start of the first world war.

The day was chosen as it was on the eve of the centenary of the parish’s first fatality when George Harris Smith lost his life when his ship was sunk in the north sea whilst serving with the Royal Navy.

A very fitting and at times moving service in St Werburgh’s Church was conducted by the Reverend Carol Richardson with over a hundred persons present including school children from the local school who gave their thoughts on what the war meant to them.

A cross of  candles was lit by the congregation with readings and the poem  In Flanders Field by John McCrae recited during the act of commemoration.

This saw the 27 names on the villages war memorials read out plus the addition of Leonard Edwards who died as a result of his war service but seems to have been missed out.

Present were descendants of some  of those remembered as well as the small committee that have been working on the event for the last few months.

Either side of the church service the village hall was open and again over a hundred people visited a display of research conducted into the 28 from the area who are on the war memorials with of course the exception being Leonard Edwards.

Some  of the families bought photographs and other mementos of their descendants and shared them with the community.

Martin Clewlow who is a descendant of James Millward from Kingsley Moor (who survived the war) and featured in a Cheadle and Tean Times article earlier this year attended and put on a display of memorabilia from the war which was of great interest to both young and old alike.

As a result of event several families provided additional information and lines of enquiry to the committee in their quest to document as much as possible about the lives of those who died and their links with Kingsley.

The day  was a real community event and one that allowed everyone  to pause and reflect in a most appropriate way. Those who had spent several months researching these men felt this time was different  when their names were read out. It was ninety four years that week since Leonard Edwards died as the result of his war service and this event was the first time his name had ever been read out.

The research and display created by the committee will now be loaned to St Werburgh’s school to allow the children studying the war to better understand its impact on the local community.

Meanwhile the project is continuing in its research and proposed works around the war memorial. If anyone has any information on those listed below or anyone that might have been missed off the memorials to date then they can get in touch with Martyn on 01538 750657 or via martyn_hordern@hotmail.com. They would particularly like to hear from Peter Capewell from Tean who’s story of the Capewell brothers from Kingsley Moor also featured in this newspaper earlier this year.

 

George	Harris	Smith
Robert	Myles	Heywood
Rowland	Auriol.J.	Beech
Thomas	Salt
James	Poyser
Charles	Allen
Isaac	Hammond
George	Price	Bevans
Arthur	Keene
Thomas	Clowes
Earnest	Upton
George	Fallows
Edward	E	Bradshaw
George	S	Wheawall
Thomas	Barker
Roland	John	Burston
James	Meakin
James	H	Wildgoose
Colin	Capewell
George	Ramsell
Moses	Holland
William	Brindley
John	W	Salt
Kenneth	Roy	Lovatt
Rowland	J	Beech
Leonard	Edwards
George	William	Hood
J	Tideswell

 

A speical service will be held at Foxt to celebrate 10 years

since the Church almost closed.

Refreshments will be served at 5.15p.m in the Village Hall followed by a service in St. Marks Church at 6.30p.m.

Everyone Welcome.

2014 sees the centenary of the start of World War One.

Kingsley Parish has recorded on its memorials the names of 27 men who lost their lives as a result of their service in the war.

A small group has been quietly working away in the background to ensure that the parish commemorates this anniversary.

On Sunday 21st September there will be an exhibition in the village hall from 1pm until 3.30pm.

This will reveal the results of the groups research to date, what is planned in the future and a general display from the period in the parish’s history.

Tea and cakes etc will be on sale.

At 4pm there will be a service held in the church.

This date was picked as on 22nd September 1914 the first parishioner George Harris Smith lost his life serving with the Royal Navy in the North Sea. It seemed a poignant date to pick to hold the service.

The village hall will remain afterwards until 6pm for those wishing to visit the exhibition.

We look forward to lots of people from the parish coming together to mark this occasion.

 

 

 

The Newcastle Amateur Operatic Society will be presenting a concert called ‘Musical All Sorts’ on Friday 19th July at 7.30pm in the Church.

Described as a very good choir with modern songs and grammar which should appeal to a wide audience.

Tickets are available on the night at  the door or from Ian Hough on 01538753782 or Peter Johnson 0158752410

Tickets are £7 a head

 

 

The Church is holding  an Open Gardens Event on July 27th 1p.m-6p.m.

Programmes and Maps are now  available from Paul and Christine May- 754966 or from St. Werburghs itself or the Church Wardens and lastly from Reverend Carol Richardson on 01538 372082.

In addition they can be purchased on the day from the church or from anyone of the nine gardens that are open helping to raise funds for the church.

Cost of entry by programme is  £5 for 2 people.

Children Free.

Raffle to be drawn at Malcwin at 6p.m

Cream Teas , Cakes, Plants available for sale.

 

The Open Gardens are:-

1. Dams Farm, Cheadle Road
2. 140, Churnet Valley Road.
3. Churnet Meadows, Kingsley Holt
4. Paul and Christine Mays Garden, near the village hall.
5. Westlea, Hazels Cross Road
6. Church Farm, Holt Lane
7. Malcwin, SunnySide,- Cream Teas only
8. Elm Trees Farm
9. Russell and Jo Bevans Garden, Cheadle Road.

 

Conducted by

The Bishop of Stafford

The Rt. Revd. Geoff Annas

On Sunday, 25^th May at 4.00p.m. after several weeks of preparation, six candidates Lindsay, Emma, Millie, James, Shannon and James C. were confirmed by the Bishop of Stafford.

The candidates were all well known to the congregation of St. Werburgh’s.

It was lovely to see the church full of family, friends and supporters of the candidates. The bells were ringing and the choir were in attendance. The young daughters of 2 of the candidates were in the congregation along with grandparents and family members of all ages, so it was a great time of family celebration. The children were all pupils from St. Werburgh’s School and a teacher was a candidate, along with a leader from J.A.M. Bishop Geoff put everyone at ease and gave an amusing but thought provoking sermon. During the presentation of the candidates, Millie gave her testimony why she wanted to be confirmed. The candidates gave their responses in strong voices. When Bishop Geoff asked the congregation for their responses, these too were strong. Sue Hough led the Prayers of Intercession helped by James. The Bishop addressed the newly confirmed which was followed by the congregation applauding them. The exchanging of the peace was a joyous part of the service. Everyone in church wanted to exchange the sign of peace with the newly confirmed, who later received communion along with the people who had helped Reverend Carol prepare them for Confirmation. This was a very special moment for the confirmation candidates, one they will always remember. Bishop Geoff lit their candles and Reverend Carol presented them. The service ended with Bishop Geoff leading the Confirmation candidates through the church, carrying their candles. There was also an opportunity to take photographs.

After the service refreshments were served, including a special Confirmation Cake that had been specially made for the occasion. Everyone was able to chat to Bishop Geoff and his wife over cake and enjoy the celebration.

 

Two more candidates, Toni and Henry will be confirmed on 6^th July at St. Michael’s Church, Chell.

 

 

At 10 o’clock our guests started to arrive, slowly at first, then suddenly we heard the sound of excited voices as the door burst open and the children flooded in!

We had 27 children and 20 adults come into church, the youngest was 6 months old.

During the “Welcome” all the leaders introduced themselves and the craft they had at their table, before the serious business of Easter crafting got underway!

 

Cress Seeds to pot

Cakes to decorate with Easter designs

Easter Cards to make and Crosses to personalize

Easter baskets to construct and Foam Bunnies to draw clothes onto

Decorating the cress seed plant pots

Easter Bags to decorate and take everything home in

 

We had worship after the crafting. All the leaders took part. We asked what the children knew about Easter. We also used the J.A.M. and I.C.E. “On the third day He rose again”, display and Peter Johnson’s amazing ‘Stations of the Cross’ paintings as part of the service. The church was filled with the sound of children and adult voices singing “When I Think About The Cross”.  The instruments were passed around and accompanied the singing of “Jesus Love”. The 6 month old baby joined in shaking the sleigh bells. The service concluded with a prayer. The children were given Easter chocolates and a plastic egg containing a chick as they left church clutching their bags filled with homemade Easter goodies.

 

Thank you to everyone who helped in any way.

 

 

 

Confirmation classes take place in church and will start on Thursday, 1st May, 6.00p.m. – 6.45 pm

The Confirmation Service will take place on Sunday, 25th May 2014 at 4.00 pm

The next meeting of the Mid Churnet Craft Club will take place on Wednesday, 30^th April, 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. If you are a crafter or would like to learn a craft you would be most welcome to come and join us. We have a church kneeler for our project and everyone is welcome to add a few stitches. Our members work on a wide range of crafts and would be happy to get you started or to give advice. Sessions cost just £1.00 and include refreshments.

The Parent and Toddler Group has had a busy few weeks. We were pleased to welcome guests from Your Moorlands Housing Group, who presented Reverend Carol with a cheque for £100.00. The children were so excited and showed our guests all the toys and books. We have also had a new family join our group.

As we follow the liturgical year of the church we have been finding out about Jesus on a donkey, the Last Supper and Good Friday. Our final service before Easter will take place on Tuesday, 15^th April.

New members are always welcome to Parent and Toddler, it is open to all parents and carers from all over the Benefice and we have members from the surrounding area. There is no charge.

We meet at Kingsley Village Hall during term time on Tuesdays 2.00pm – 3.00pm.

Below are crosses made by the children