Canon Patrick writes… As I write, there are real hopes that President Trump and Iran have thrashed out a peace deal that will bring peace to the Iranian region, including Lebanon, and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The price of
Hopes and Fears
Grave Talk
Keeping the Churchyards Tidy
Canon Patrick writes… There is always steady background work going on to keep the local churchyards tidy, each in its own characteristic way. All three PCCs pay to have contractors do the mowing, but a lot of other work is
June 2026
Canon Patrick writes… In our Church of England calendar, we spend 50 days celebrating Easter and then return to so called “Ordinary Time” where the liturgical colour is green, unless the day is a festival like Trinity Sunday on 31st
Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)
Canon Patrick writes… In the Church of England, a day of thanksgiving for Holy Communion is often observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The day is often referred to as “Corpus Christi” (Body of Christ) and this year it
Environmental Update
Canon Patrick writes… Since 2012, I have had a diocesan role as Bishop’s Adviser for the Environment. In this capacity I recently attended the CofE’s national conference on the Environment. Most dioceses had at least two representatives, so there were
Easter Peace
Canon Patrick writes… This year April starts with the big days of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day fall on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th of April. In John’s account of Easter Day (John, chapter 20) the
Update on the Parish Magazine
Canon Patrick writes… I would like to thank the many people who have made donations to support the parish magazine, in response to the envelope included with the February magazines. Donations are still coming in, but more than £2,700 has
Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCM)
The APCM is the Annual General Meeting for a local Church of England parish. Reports (including the Annual Report and Accounts) are presented and questions can be asked of church officers. Churchwardens and PCC (Parochial Church Council) members are elected.
Introducing Bishop Esther
Bishop Esther is from Malawi, but grew up mainly in Zimbabwe. She came to England to study theology in 1999 and was ordained in 2003. Since her curacy she has served as a School Chaplain, a Young Offenders’ Prison Chaplain,