Faith & Flowers January 2020

January 2020 Web.qxp_Layout 1 07/04/2020 16:05 Page COV1

Faith & Flowers

The Magazine of the Church of England

Flower Arrangers’ Association

Issue 25 – January 2020


January 2020 Web.qxp_Layout 1 07/04/2020 16:05 Page 1

Letter from the Editor

I have been made aware that some members of the Anglican

Church in England are very perturbed by the proliferation of

Christmas tree festivals and other displays during Advent. The

usually sombre period of preparation for Christmas has changed

completely in very many churches over the last few years. Whilst

I am sorry that people are upset, I am delighted with the

explosion of individuality, imagination and ingenuity which has

occurred up and down the country. Ordinary members of the

congregations, groups and firms have produced so many

interesting displays it makes me wonder where all this talent goes

during the rest of the year.

I can only hope that the concerned members of our congregations

come to realise that people are using God given gifts to create

joy and to brighten people’s lives.

In the dull, wet days of this winter, in the midst of political

turmoil this has been a welcome interlude of brightness and joy

which we all needed.

I hope that you all have a healthy, happy New Year and that you

use your talents all the year round. Like dogs, talents are for life

and not just for Christmas.

Ruth

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Greetings from Barnet!

Dear Friends

It hardly seems a year since I was last writing about Christmas,

and now we are about to enter a new decade – 2020s! Just where

did the last twenty years go? Do you remember all the scare

stories about the Millennium Bug? It was thought that all kinds

of problems would occur as Big Ben chimed in the year 2000. In

fact, nothing of the sort happened; planes did not fall out of the

sky, computers continued to work, and life continued as usual.

At the turn of the year I like to look back at my outgoing diary

and remind myself of what has happened during the last twelve

months, people I have met and places I have visited – a chance

to reflect. Nationally, and in the world, this last year has had its

challenges; shocking violent events on our streets, a General

Election and associated anxiety about the future, along with

continued concern about climate change have featured widely in

the media. Sometimes it is with sadness as I think of friends and

relatives who are no longer with us, but more often it is with a

smile and joy as I recall meeting friends and family. Certainly,

my diary for 2019 has shown quite a few CEFAA events.

In June we had a very successful AGM in Scarborough, thanks

to our members in Yorkshire. Who can forget the well-sherried

trifles served to our members and the sight of the non-alcoholic

trifle, sitting untouched at one end of the dessert table! And a

visit to Walker’s Fish Restaurant the night before, shared by 18

of us – plenty of laughter, delicious food and stimulating

company.

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During April I spent a delightful weekend with the Derby branch,

staying with Ada and Keith Fawthrop and sharing experiences

with members at their CEFAA meeting on the Saturday, followed

by a meal together and more smiles and laughter. I also visited

Birmingham and met with Judith Whalley at the Cathedral. We

look forward to June 6th and the National AGM to be held there

for the first time.

Summer months saw me visiting Yorkshire in some of the hottest

temperatures on record in this country. Members travel a

hundred miles, literally, to arrange white and green flowers in

York Minster in CEFAA’s name so it is a great joy to be invited

to join them and to share lunch and fellowship afterwards in the

Earl Grey Tearooms’ garden. I even wore my flowery dress for

the occasion!

Advent and Christmas are busy times for many of us around the

country with Advent wreaths to make and maintain and then the

planning of, and decoration of, our own churches in preparation

for Christmas. Several members have told me of Christmas Tree

festivals in which they have participated. I never cease to be

amazed at the imagination and creativity shown in displays.

This last year has certainly shown me that CEFAA is very much

alive and active around the country. Members continue to

enhance worship in their churches and beyond. Indeed, we

welcome new branches and members in Birmingham and Bolton.

May I thank you for all you do and wish you a very happy,

healthy New Year and many more hours of enjoyment in your

flower arranging.

Averill

3


Should we change our name and re-structure the

Association?

These are the questions that came out of our discussions at the AGM

back in June. Council met in October and spent some time considering

these thorny issues and came up with some proposals on which we

would like your opinion. Once we have the feedback from this

consultation process, we will, I hope, be able to present some formal

proposals to the AGM in June 2020 in Birmingham.

Proposal 1. On the question of name, Council thought it should be

made clear that we welcome members from other denominations,

which is already allowed. They felt that it was not the time to change

the name, partly on the grounds of cost implications, but also because

it was our identity.

Proposal 2. On the question of membership; do we need separate

classes of membership? In the past the associate membership was

really meant for members of other denominations. Associate and full

members pay the same subscription and receive the same benefits.

Council therefore felt that there should be simply one single

membership with no need for a junior membership – all should be

equal members. Current item 3(a) of the constitution would need to

be amended to read 3(a) Membership of the association shall be open

to any individual of any Christian denomination sharing an interest in

flower arranging.

Proposal 3. In the light of this the wording of the application form was

discussed; it was agreed unanimously that we would no longer ask for

the signature of an applicant’s incumbent or minister nor should we

specify that a member has to be a baptised Christian, simply a member

of a Christian denomination.

Proposal 4. Council had a lengthy discussion on the current branch

structure. However, it was felt that organising on a regional basis

would not relieve us of the current geographical problems i.e. of people

needing to travel long distances. Existing branches would have to be

subsumed into larger areas requiring greater management and it was

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thought that this would not be welcomed. There will always be the

concern about singleton members and how we accommodate them and

make them feel part of the association.

Council’s view was that we should retain the existing branch

organisation but require a branch to have a minimum of one meeting

per financial year at which the members would elect a leader/facilitator

(combining the role of chairman and secretary. A treasurer would only

be necessary if they expect to derive income/expenditure) and a person

to serve on National Council. This would allow areas like York to

become a formal branch (they currently meet at least once a year and

deliver a report to the National AGM) and the members in Bolton and

Birmingham to form branches. Branches would not need to be coterminus

with a diocese but should represent the best grouping of

members who could meet together.

Singleton members would be asked to nominate an existing branch to

which they would belong until such time as one is established in their

own or connecting areas. New members could be asked to nominate

the branch to which they want to belong on the membership

application form. This idea found favour with members of council as

something that might be workable and acceptable to members.

Council would be grateful for your views on these proposals. These

should be sent to the National Secretary either in writing or by e-mail

by the end of March 2020. His contact details are on the inside front

cover of this magazine.

Laurie Little, National Secretary

December 2019

A very warm welcome to three new members:

Mrs Sarah Lacey, Derby Branch

Ms J. Miller, Liverpool Branch

Mrs J Embers, London Branch

It is with regret that we report the death of

Mrs Monica Staley of the Derby Branch.

5


Southwell and Nottingham Branch

It has been the tradition that Southwell and Nottingham Branch

members annually provide a pedestal arrangement at Southwell

Minster, using CEFAA colours.

2019 was no exception and, as the agreed weekend coincided

with the Golden Wedding anniversary celebration of the writer,

I and Rosie Smith, representing St. Mary Magdalene, Newark on

Trent, undertook the arrangement.

The branch summer meeting saw a visit to Floral Media at

Caunton, near Newark, where a group of 37 members and friends

heard about the owner’s journey from farming, through to

nurseryman and now to providing a function venue with garden

‘rooms’ and countryside vistas. Stephen and Paula still exercise

their first love of plant propagation, which they use for their

entries to national flower shows such as Harrogate and Chelsea,

and for sale to visitors.

After a walk around the whole site, Members enjoyed tea, coffee

and home baked cakes. Joint owner Paula, who is a NAFAS

demonstrator and past Gold Medal winner at Chelsea, prepared

and raffled a hand tie to raise funds for a local charity.

Twenty-eight members and guests attended the Newark and

Southwell branch pre-Christmas meeting at St. Leonards church,

Newark. The meeting enjoyed a demonstration by our National

President Hillary Brian, on Advent rings before lunch after which

followed by an opportunity to have a go ourselves. Hillary

provided encouragement and advice during the workshop and

can be seen in the photograph providing feedback on our efforts.

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Fran Yates

Chair, Southwell and Nottingham Branch


7


Flowers for Remembrance Sunday at

Liverpool Cathedral

At the Cathedral the Regimental chapel is decorated for

Remembrance Sunday. The flowers on the altar used were red

carnations, red alstroemeria and red spray chrysanthemums, with

foliage of laurel meaning ‘to bestow an honour’, rosemary for

remembrance and ivy meaning ‘faithfulness’ in the language of

flowers.

Beside the altar arranged by Diane Harrison, our branch

chairman, a tribute to ‘the Unknown Soldier’. A polystyrene

shape covered with ivy leaves, poppies and a sprig of rosemary.

To complete the tableau a burning candle, a soldier’s helmet, a

piece of cloth to represent a cape and a length of barbed wire. All

making a very moving image.

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Diane Jackson’s arrangement at the pulpit included similar

flowers and foliage to those used at the chapel altar. Crosses

placed at an angle made by Diane were of lengths of willow and

poppy wreaths. The poppy is a reminder of Flanders fields when

poppies sprang up from the muddy fields of battle to cover the

corpses of those men who fought bravely. Sometimes the poppy

is associated with sleep. All created a poignant image.

Alethea Fielding

9


Autumn Workshop Day at Ashbourne, Derbyshire

About 30 of us set off in torrential rain on a late October Saturday

and travelled through flooded roads to Ashbourne in Derbyshire.

Our spirits were not dampened at all, as it is one of the highlights

of Derbyshire’s flower arranging year. We arrived with our

buckets of flowers, greenery, twigs, canes and packed lunches –

all raring to go. But first we settled down to watch two lovely

demonstrations by Gill Mills of Southwell – both using beautiful

Autumnal colours.

The first used 5 furling large chrysanthemums – set within a cane

framework. Someone commented that the rugby semi-final was

taking place – it was reminiscent of rugby posts!! Very, very

effective!

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The second was a TWIGGY circle. The twigs were put round a

posy ring and the flowers arranged in such a way that you could

see through the twigs. In the afternoon we all had a go!! All the

different colour combinations of flowers and foliage produced

such infinite variety.

Gill went around and encouraged and helped and appraised each

display. We all went home feeling very happy and inspired and

stimulated to try the arrangements at other seasons of the year.

Margaret Phypers

11


Christmas Tree Festival at the

Crooked Spire in Chesterfield

As a committee we thought it would be good to advertise CEFAA

to the public and church flower arrangers by having a Christmas

Tree on display at the annual Christmas Tree Festival held in the

Chesterfield Parish Church. The festival is so popular it is

oversubscribed each year. It was suggested we decorate the

balcony as there was no room for any more trees. Ada had the

idea of sewing autumnal leaves onto spool wire, drying them

before spraying them gold. However, with the wet weather and

floods in the area it proved a challenge. The leaves suggested

were sycamore. I know now where to find every sycamore tree

in Chesterfield. Ada, June and I arrived at church on the Friday

morning with everything we needed. Everyone else was arriving

with Christmas trees under their arm and bags of decorations.

We got our steps in that day, running up and downstairs checking

the curves were evenly spaced. We were given a long string of

lights to add to the garland of leaves. Three arrangements were

placed evenly along the balcony thanks to Ada’s Pampas grass

bush and some strong choir boys carrying the stands upstairs.

Once the festival is over, the garland will be used to decorate the

Revolution House in Chesterfield for Christmas.

12


Christmas Outing to Riverside House Hotel,

Ashford-in-the-Water

Thirteen members of the Derby Branch met for a Pre-Christmas

get together at the Riverside House Hotel on a damp November

morning. Not a turkey or Christmas pudding in sight. We had

time to chat before the meal in a lounge area overlooking the

gardens. The food must have been good, I don’t think anyone left

anything on their plates.

We all left with ‘A Merry Christmas’ to each other and ‘see you

in the New Year for the next get together’.

Julie Franks

13


If only...

If only I could draw. Countless times pictures come into my

mind, but I am totally incapable of transferring them to paper.

One such occasion was at the Harvest Festival Service at a small

village church when I was asked to read the first lesson, Joel 2.

21-27.

Please enjoy verse 25:

“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath

eaten, the cankerworm and the caterpillar and the

palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

I was asked how I managed to read the last phrase without

smiling. The answer was “with difficulty” as I mentally pictured

columns of caterpillars marching along with military caps

perched jauntily on their heads, locust with Army machine guns

on their backs.

Oxford Concise English Dictionary:

Palmerworm – a destructive hairy caterpillar

Cankerworm – a caterpillar or larva destroying leaves and buds.

I have no idea what they look like, but I am sure they are a force

to be reckoned with. If only I could draw. I cannot but I know

someone who can. Please enjoy her effort.

Ruth

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15


The Twelve Days of Christmas

St. Martin’s Church in Scarborough hosted The Twelve Days of

Christmas in December. Members of the congregation were

invited to take part and depict each of the “days” in whatever

way they wished. The results were simply stunning and so

imaginative. Which were my favourites? It really was impossible

to choose just one or two, but I have to confess that I have a soft

spot for the “Four Calling Birds” who were depicted by four

parrot decorations. One was sitting on the dial of a Fisher Price

child’s telephone, whilst another was perched on the receiver,

listening to the conversation!

Ruth Thomson, our Editor, and June Wilkinson also took part.

Ruth created a partridge using feathers kindly provided by a

member of the congregation at a village church nearby and June

depicted “Five Gold Rings” in a fulsome arrangement on the font.

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Ruth’s beautiful “Six Geese A-Laying” were elegantly depicted

using white feathers and white eggs positioned carefully in straw

nests. It was an opportunity for the congregation to gather and

use their skills for visitors to the church to enjoy and share in the

month before Christmas.

Averill Lovatt

17


Durham’s Secret Garden

Last summer the T.V. programme ‘Gardeners’ World’ gave a

tantalising view of Durham Cathedral’s secret garden. The head

gardener and his three staff who tend the Cathedral’s grounds

also grow flowers for cutting in a hidden gem. The Bailey Garden

provides flowers for arrangements in the Cathedral throughout

the year. The garden is relatively small at 400 square metres and

a large number of dahlias and chrysanthemums are grown as well

as fill in perennials. This is despite the problem of the height of

the garden, the wind and the consequent amount of staking which

is necessary. The head gardener introduces different varieties of

plants each year.

Viewers were also shown carts full of flowers being pushed into

the Cathedral and the arrangers at work. In many ways this is an

enviable position for the flower team to be in but perhaps restricts

the arrangers choice in other ways. In one arrangement I saw one

white flower in the middle of lots of colour which struck me as

being incongruous.

Ruth

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Conditioning Plant Material

Two excellent articles on conditioning plant material came to my

notice late in 2019. I can recommend them both if you can source

the magazine in question or bring the article up online.

“Fresh flowers for longer” appeared in the March 2019 edition

of ‘The Gardener’. This is the magazine of the Royal

Horticultural Society. This is a good general article. It might be

worth inquiring about a copy from

RHS Media, Churchgate, New Road,

Peterborough PE1 1TT

E-mail: thegarden@rhs.org.uk.

“How to condition your plant material” appeared in ‘The Flower

Arranger, Spring 2018’.

This is the magazine of NAFAS. The information is detailed and

constructive.

E-mail: flowers@nafas.org.uk.

Tel: 020 7247 5567

Whilst I would love to reproduce large chunks of these articles,

I have to be careful of copyright restrictions. I don’t want to be

editing the April magazine from a prison cell!

Ruth

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The Association Prayer

O Lord the creator of all things of beauty,

grant to those who serve you with their gifts of floral art,

a sense of your majesty and a desire to heighten the worship

of the Holy Church by the dedicated use of their gifts.

This we ask in the name of Him, who with the Father, is the

Creator and Sustainer of all good things,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

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Faith & Flowers January 2020

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