Spofforth and Kirk Deighton Parish Magazine - July Issue

THE PARISH OF SPOFFORTH AND KIRK DEIGHTON

WITH FOLLIFOOT AND LITTLE RIBSTON

July

2020

PARISH MAGAZINE

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Spofforth Parish Magazine July 2020

Thank You!

A huge thank you to both shops in our parish.

Alison in Spofforth and

Anne and Andy In Follifoot

who are doing amazing selfless work.

Alongside numerous volunteers -

some in the shop, others delivering food and medicines

whilst others with marshalling duties to help keep

us all safe, we are all indebted to every one of you

for your hard work.

Thank you all so much, you are truly

valued and appreciated.

With love and blessings from

Revd. Barbara and the community.

Priest in Charge:

Reverend Sylvia Earle sylvia.earle@leeds.anglican.org 01937 573 975

Associate Priest:

Reverend Barbara Ryan revbryan@hotmail.com 01937 590 377

MAGAZINE CONTACTS & DEADLINE DATES

The deadline for the July magazine is Friday 10th July.

For editorial content please contact simon@collaborator.ltd.uk

Advertising: Lisa Cosway - lscosway@gmail.com

Distribution: Rita Watcham - ritawatcham@btinternet.com - 01937 590396

Spofforth Parish Magazine July 2020 1

From the

Reverend Barbara

As I am writing this article, there is much in the media about the killing in America of

George Floyd, the 46 year-old black man and the consequent widespread protests and

accompanying violence around the world.

There has just been a toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, a notorious slave trader in

Bristol, and the strapline along with many protesters is, ‘Black Lives Matter.’ The toppling

of the statue made me think about, and be grateful for my home town – Hull or to give it

its ‘proper’ name Kingston Upon Hull and along with it came great pride for a former

Hullensian, William Wilberforce. In 1780, he became member of parliament for Hull, later

representing Yorkshire.

Born into a wealthy family, initially he had a rather self-indulgent lifestyle, but this

changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian. In 1790 he joined a leading

group known as the Clapham Sect. His Christian faith prompted him to become

interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain.

We know him more for his lifelong and influential work in the abolition of the slave trade

and eventually slavery itself in the British empire.

The place of his birth, known as Wilberforce House in Hull (In the Museums Quarter –

well worth a visit), is a place I have visited numerous times. One of the many things on

display alongside shackles and drawings of the appalling conditions and facts around the

slave trade was a cameo. It was produced by Josiah Wedgewood with the words, “Am I

Not a Man and a Brother”? It became a catchphrase of many abolitionists and hit deeply

into my heart and still resonates with me today. We remember Wilberforce on 30th July as

you will see in the Holy Days section.

What does the Bible teach us about slavery and racism? Surprisingly neither Jesus, nor St.

Paul, nor any other Biblical figure is recorded as saying anything in opposition to the

institution of slavery.

Slavery was very much a part of life in Judea, Galilee, in the rest of the Roman Empire,

and elsewhere during New Testament times. Having said that however, there are

numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments that I believe are anti-racist.

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From the very first chapter in the Bible we find, “So God created humankind in his own

image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1;27)

So, no matter what the colour of our skin or gender, we are all made in the image of God

and as such none of us are more or less worthy or deserving of dignity and respect than

any other human being.

A little further in the Old Testament, we find how, as made in the image of God, we

should treat one another. From Exodus, “The stranger who dwells among you shall be to

you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself, (Exodus 22:21) In the book

of Leviticus, we find the Holiness Code (chapters 17-26). Chapters 18 -20 concern moral

and ethical laws and we find the same message reiterated. (Leviticus 19:34).

This love for all, including the foreigner or stranger is also mirrored in the New Testament.

St. Paul clearly states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there

is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:28).

Throughout the Gospels, there is a great emphasis on the idea that Jesus' message is

meant for all people, from every walk of life, and no-one is excluded. He himself was born

as an outsider and became a stranger – a refugee when he had to flee to Egypt.

Jesus cured the untouchables (lepers), the possessed and the foreigner – all of whom were

despised by society but were accepted by Jesus. Women had lower status in society at the

time, yet they were important to Jesus, so much so that the first appearance after the

resurrection was to a woman. When he was asked, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus told the

parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the Samaritan, a member of a despised

community in Jesus' time, helped his fellow man when others failed to do so (Luke 10:30-

37).

And of course, Jesus himself echoes the same theme from the Old Testament, Matthew

25:34 – 40, when he talks about caring for someone who is hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, in

prison and welcome for a stranger. When ever we do any of this, Jesus tells, is like doing it

for Christ himself.

We are far more alike than different because we all stem from the very same source –

God, and therefore we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Our most important identity is

Continues on next page


not our gender, socioeconomic status, colour, ethnicity or race; it’s that we are Christian.

Christ came down to earth to break down the walls between people, not to build them up

(Ephesians 2:14).

Ultimately, as all are made in the image of God, we all carry Christ within us and it is the

love of Christ that reaches out through the Holy Spirit to meet the Christ in others. We

need to have open hearts for all God’s people, we need never to judge another - that is for

God alone, all we can do is keep the two great commandments as Jesus told us to do and

to spread that to all. In his discourse called the Mission of the Seventy (Luke 10), where we

find the story of the Good Samaritan we also hear Jesus give us what we generally know

as the Two Great Commandments,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all

your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.”

This is our mission; All Lives Matter. We are not only “a Man and a Brother”, but a

Woman and a Sister, a Partner, Friend a Neighbour – ultimately a child of God carrying

the love of God in our hearts and minds. Amen.

God Bless

Revd. Barbara

PASTORAL CARE & BEREAVEMENT GROUP

A group of trained volunteers was set up in 2013 to serve all the villages in the

wider Parish. Members of the group are based in Collingham, Spofforth, Kirk

Deighton and Follifoot and offer home visits to anyone who is, or has been,

associated with any of the churches and is ill or housebound and unable

to get to church at present.

They will also willingly visit anyone who has suffered a bereavement.

If you would like to be visited, or know anyone who would, please

contact any of the following, who will gladly pass your message on :

Rev. Sylvia Earle 01937 573975 Rev. Barbara Ryan 01937 590377

Any of the Church Wardens.

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Spofforth

In Bloom

Hope everyone is keeping well and

staying alert.

Earlier in the year our Oak Leaf

sculpture on the corner of Manor

Garth was unfortunately vandalised, as

it had been wrenched the holding

screws and bolts had cracked the

bottom of the sculpture, we thought it

may be beyond repair but after a lot of

head scratching Ian (Mr Fixit)

successfully managed to salvage it and

after a few weeks of repairing it is now

back in pride of place.

There were a lot of people who noticed

and commented on its absence. Photo

of repaired Oak Leaf.

The Oak tree is one of the most loved

trees in the world, its England’s

national tree and with good reason, the

oak leaf is a powerful symbol of

strength, morale, endurance, and

knowledge. Much needed in present

times a symbol of the village pulling

together with one aim – to help others

to get through this crisis with dignity,

humour and determination.

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Over the last month you may have seen the SIB committee and our volunteers

out and about preparing and planting up the village, all adhering to social

distancing rules, Duncan and his able assistant Ann have done a splendid job

repairing where possible or replacing some of the barrels and topping up with

compost. Please see photo of two new barrels at the Village Hall.

We are running a similar colour theme as last year throughout the village this

summer as …. Bright, Bold and BEE....utiful! planting the barrels, village signs,

lamppost baskets, beds and all the various containers with bright colourful pollen

rich plants, complemented with bee and insect friendly herbaceous, the displays

should not only be a feast for nature but also a feast to the eye. Colourful, orange,

yellow, reds and shades in between may even make it feel tropical which will give

a wonderful exotic floral display hopefully giving everyone a much-needed boost.

Thank you to all those who are helping and supporting SIB.

Lynda Parkinson

Chair Spofforth in Bloom


SPOFFORTH WI NEWS

All future meetings continue to be cancelled until further notice, but the Committee

will continue to hold a monthly meeting via Zoom and keep members up to speed

with what’s going on and checking everyone is managing in these very difficult

times.

We have had to cancel our Summer Market but we are hoping to hold a Christmas

Market in the Village Hall on Saturday 28th November. Many of our members

have been busy during lockdown making goods for our craft stall which will make

good Christmas presents.

We have some very talented knitters in our WI who have been making these lovely

NHS dolls. Watch this space as there may be others such as posties, refuse collectors

and other people who continue to deliver vital services.

It’s interesting to get photos of what

some of our members have been

doing during the lockdown.

See the garage door that has been

given a new character!

Programme for 2020

August Trip: TBC

September 8th: Guide Dogs for the Blind

October 13th: Plastic Pollution

November 10th: Christmas Craft Workshop

December 8th: AGM and Christmas Party

Spofforth WI would normally meet every

second Tuesday of the month at 7.30 in the

Long Memorial Hall. Visitors are always

very welcome as are new members.

Contact Charlotte on 01937 591461 or

follow us on Facebook

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SPOFFORTH

NEWS

RECYCLING & WASTE

Waste - Wednesday 8th July,

Wednesday 22nd July.

Recycling - Wednesday 1st July,

Wednesday 15th July,

Wednesday 29th July.

Garden Waste - Thursday 9th July,

Thursday 23rd July

KIRK DEIGHTON

NEWS

KIRK DEIGHTON PRAYER GROUP

The Kirk Deighton Prayer Group meetings

are cancelled until further notice. A monthly

prayer sheet will be issued to members to

ensure that the circle of prayer continues.

Please notify Maureen Slocombe of any

items you would like to have held in prayer

- telephone 01937 584497.

RECYCLING & WASTE



FOLLIFOOT

NEWS

RECYCLING & WASTE







Thursday 23rd July





Thursday 23rd July

KIRK DEIGHTON COFFEE MORNING

As is the case for many meetings and

social get-togethers, the Kirk Deighton

Ladies' Coffee Mornings have been

suspended until further notice. We trust

everyone will keep well and hope it won't

be too long before we can meet again.


PRAYER FOCUS

Weekly arrow prayers for the month of July

6 July: Extend your hands and prayers to those who suffer

– those you know and those you do not know.

13 July: For inspiration and confirmation of our faith

read the Beatitudes (Matt 5: 3-11).

20 July: If we have a cloud of darkness in our life,

pray for God’s light to bear it away.

27 July: Lift your hearts to God and pray for His peace

and contentment in your lives.

Photo by Christine Blunt

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A REMINDER - ongoing collection of

Unwanted or Broken JEWELLERY

re-cycled to help funds for

‘Release International’

working for & with persecuted

Christians world-wide.

(Used STAMPS collection for ‘Release’

has ceased, but they are still needed

by local Leeds charity ‘Caring for Life’)

Donations of either item can be handed

to/collected by Christine Blunt

(33 East Park Rd, Spofforth; - 590775)

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Useful Numbers

Clergy

Sylvia Earle Priest in Charge sylvia.earle@leeds.anglican.org 01937573975

Barbara Ryan Associate Priest revbryan@hotmail.com 01937590377

Spofforth

Shirley Fawcett Chair of the Parish Council 01937590303

Rachel Marston Parish Clerk/Village website marstonrachel@googlemail.com 01937585506

Barry Nickels Churchwarden bknickels23@gmail.com 01937590637

Robyn Farmer Spofforth Village Society robynfarmer@ymail.com 01937590339

Lynda Parkinson Spofforth in Bloom parkLJ@btinternet.com 01937590507

Joan Steggles Village Hall Bookings joan.steggles@btinternet.com 01937590363

Charlotte Franks W.I. President charlotte.franks@btconnect.com 01937591461

John Chilton Wetherby News chiltonjohn2@gmail.com 01937590606

Little Ribston

Maggie Bell Chair of the Parish Council maggiebell79@gmail.com 01937583362

Melanie Spencer Clerk to the Parish Council lemonyspencer@gmail.com 01937583578

Maggie Bell W.I President and Village Hall maggiebell79@gmail.com 01937583362

Follifoot

Nigel MacDermid Chair of the Parish Council follifootpc@gmail.com 01423872035

Mike Richards Clerk to the Parish Council follifootpc@gmail.com 07885768787

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Follifoot Continued

Anne Dewsnip W.I. President anne.dewi@btinternet.com 01423871164

Sally Keenan Asst Churchwarden/Deanery Synod sallypkeenan@gmail.com 01423872593

Mike Keenan Chair Village Hall Committee mickkeenan09@gmail.com 01423872593

Mike Hammond Neighbourhood Watch mikenwfollifoot@hotmail.co.uk 07836522970

Samantha Gallimore Follifields Fundraising Team fofwrap@gmail.com 01423815300

Kirk Deighton

David Richardson Chair of the Parish Council chair@kirkdeighton.com 07860119927

Nancy Fairbairn Clerk to the Parish Council parishcouncil@kirkdeighton.com 07562310856

Ann Richardson Village Hall Bookings kdhallbookings@sky.com 01937583505

Margaret Clark PCC Secretary margaret.clark154@btinternet.com 01937586720

Maureen/ Lay Reader/Churchwarden malcolm.slocombe@ntlworld.com 01937584497

Malcolm Slocombe

Nicola Sanderson Parish Treasurer trackrod.rally@talktalk.net 01937583615

Parish Website

Spofforth & Kirk Deighton Parish Website

www.spofforthandkirkdeightonparish.co.uk


Words For Today

A collection of news and views with a focus on faith.

News

The Coronavirus, Church & You Survey

You are invited to take part in this national survey…details below

The Covid-19 pandemic has obviously had a profound effect on churches.

The lockdown has severely restricted ministry in areas such as pastoral care,

fellowship groups, and serving the community. On the other hand, for those

with online access, worship has taken on new and creative forms over the

last few weeks. Many clergy and ministry teams have risen to the challenge

of operating in the virtual environment.

As we pass the most severe period of lockdown, it seems a good time to

assess how churchgoers have responded to the experience, and what they

think the future might hold. How well have people coped with the pandemic?

Has it strengthened or weakened their faith? How has it been for clergy and

ministry teams trying to work in this new environment? How have those

receiving ministry found this novel experience? Will virtual ministry

become part of the post-pandemic landscape, and will this be a good move

for your church?

We have developed a survey over the last few weeks in discussion with

bishops, clergy and lay people which we hope will enable you to record your

experience of the pandemic, the ministry you have given or received, and

what you think will happen to churches in a post-pandemic world.

In an article to launch the survey in the Church Times, the Bishop of

Manchester, David Walker, wrote: “This survey is an attempt to go beyond

anecdote… It will capture evidence of both excitement and fears for the

future, of where stress levels have changed, and whether personal faith has

weakened or grown.”

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This is an online survey, which we estimate it will take you about 20-30

minutes to complete. Most of the questions simply require you to tick boxes,

though there are options to specify your particular circumstances, and an

opportunity at the end for you to tell us your views in your own words.

Alongside questions about the pandemic and ministry there are sections

which ask about you: these are important because they will allow us to see

how the lockdown is affecting different sorts of people in different contexts.

The survey can be completed on mobile phones, though it is more quickly

completed on devices with larger screens such as tablets or computers. You

can access using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ycsq9fy2

Please forward this link to any churches or churchgoers you feel might want

to take part in the survey and support this research. We should have some

initial results within a few weeks and will make these available as widely as

we can.

The Revd Professor Andrew Village,

York St John University a.village@yorksj.ac.uk

The Revd Canon Professor Leslie J. Francis,

Visiting Professor York St John University

New Archbishop of York to be confirmed

Bishop Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop

of York this month.

The service, at 11am on Thursday 9th July, will be broadcast entirely via

video conference due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

The service, which had been due to take place in York Minster, will be in

two parts. A legal ceremony with readings, prayers and music, will be



New Archbishop Of York To Be Confirmed (Continued)

followed by a film marking the start of Bishop Stephen’s ministry as

Archbishop of York.

Bishop Stephen Cottrell says: “I am looking forward to beginning my

ministry as the 98th Archbishop of York. This isn’t quite how I imagined it

would begin. It is certainly the first time an Archbishop’s election will have

been confirmed via video conference. But we’re all having to re-imagine

how we live our lives and how we inhabit the world.

“These are difficult times. My hope is that through this service the love of

God that is given us in Jesus Christ will shine out, perhaps even to those

who while never attending a service in York Minster, might have a look

online

Following in the footsteps of my many predecessors, I look forward to

serving our nation and bringing the love and peace of Christ to our world,

especially here in the north.”

The service will be available on the Church of England website. Arrangements

for Bishop Stephen’s enthronement service will be announced later in the

year.

Online ‘Talking Jesus’ course FREE during

the Covid-19 lockdown

HOPE Together has made the hugely popular Talking Jesus course available,

rent free, to watch online during the Covid-19 crisis.

Roy Crowne, executive director of HOPE Together, said: ‘We have had lots

of requests during the Covid-19 lockdown to make the Talking Jesus course

available online. There seems to be an increased interest from non-Christians

in spiritual issues. People are searching for hope. We want to help equip

Christians to tell their story and to talk about the hope we have because of

Jesus.’

The Talking Jesus course includes six video-based teaching sessions with

inspirational testimonies. To access the course free until end of August visit:

www.hopetogether.org.uk/talkingjesus

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Online book of remembrance

opened at St Paul’s

St Paul’s Cathedral has launched Remember Me, an online book of

remembrance for all those who have been living in the UK who have died as

a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. People of all faiths, beliefs or none are

invited to contribute to Remember Me.

HRH The Prince of Wales , who recorded a video message, said: “This

virtual book of remembrance is here not just to recall our loss and sorrow,

but also to be thankful for everything good that those we have loved brought

into our lives.”

Family, friends and carers of those who have died can submit, free of charge,

the name, photograph and a short message in honour of a deceased person

via the Remember Me website. The deceased person must have been living

in the UK. Remember Me will be open for entries for as long as needed. It

is intended that the Remember Me site will become a physical memorial at

the Cathedral.

Looking At You

Your garden is good for you

Spending time in your garden will do your wellbeing as much good as if you

were living in a wealthy neighbourhood.

So says a recent study by the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural

Society (RHS). It has found that 71 per cent of people who used their garden

went on to report good general health, as compared to 61 per cent who did

not use their outdoor space. A similar difference in wellbeing was seen

between the highest and lowest income groups.

The study also found that those of us who love our gardens are far more

likely to have greater levels of physical activity and much higher psychological

wellbeing.


Coronavirus and our young people

A recent survey by the Prince’s Trust has found increased levels of anxiety

among young people because of the crisis. Half of them say that finding a

job now felt ‘impossible’.

Seven out of ten young people reported feeling that their life is “on hold”,

and a third feel that everything they have worked for was now “going to

waste”.

Jonathan Townsend, UK chief executive of the Prince’s Trust, says: “An

alarming proportion of young people are feeling increased levels of anxiety,

and fears are building about their future. We cannot allow this crisis to

cripple the aspirations and prospects of our nation’s young people.”

What effect will coronavirus

have on society?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that, following an initial

period of great anxiety and confusion, now almost half the population

understands that life will not return to normal within the next six months.

Other findings include:

75 per cent of us are “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about the effect

that coronavirus is having on our lives now.

Many parents have struggled with home schooling, with 33 per cent saying

it has put a strain on family relationships.

41 per cent of us expect our financial situation to get worse over the next 12

months.

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41 per cent of us think that the wellbeing of our child or children is being

negatively affected.

But it is not all bleak – a huge 57 per cent of us think that Britain will be

more united in the future, and 67 per cent of us say that Britain will be

kinder after coronavirus. That is good news!

Looking At

Your Church

The reasons for going to church

Strange times we are living through. The future consequences of coronavirus

are going to be challenging, to say the least. How will our churches fare

when our buildings are allowed to re-open?

One could say that the reasons for churchgoing can be put into three slots,

‘Culture’, ‘Faith’ and ‘Community’. Many churchgoers would probably

recognise in themselves elements of more than one.

Culture is for those who feel comfortable in church. They like the history,

the language, the buildings, the liturgy and the music, which have probably

been a part of their lives since they were children. All hold comforting

memories.

Faith is a link with the meaning of life and its eternal promise, somewhere

to seek guidance through worship and sacrament, and on which to lean in

times of trouble. A belief in the words of Jesus that they are not on their own,

even if sometimes it feels like it in this world.


Community is for those who like coming to church or being associated with

it as a flying buttress (a phrase of Winston Churchill, who described himself

as someone who supports the church from the outside). They don't have to

have a commitment to the faith of the Church but are sympathetic and don't

mind being with those who do.

It is likely that the ‘old normality’ will not be the ‘new normality’ and this

provokes a few thoughts:

* How many people, now out of the habit of regular community worship,

will wish to return to it?

* How many people on the periphery of church life, will come back to it, at

least in the short term?

* How many of those who have had a regular commitment to the church, for

example by serving at the altar or in its refectories, singing in choirs, doing

flowers, ringing bells and polishing brasses will feel that this is a good time

to make a break and do something different?

As church people, we must consider where we go from here. The Church,

everywhere in the infected world, will need to know our answer to its call.

To thrive, it needs us back.

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Looking at Your

Community - July

Remembering the man who founded

Barnardo’s

It was 175 years ago, on 4th July 1845, that Thomas Barnardo, the humanitarian

and philanthropist, was born in Dublin. He founded Barnardo’s, a charity

which continues to care for vulnerable children and young people.

The son of a furrier, he worked as a clerk until converted to evangelical

Christianity in 1862. He moved to London, intending to study medicine and

become a missionary in China. He never qualified as a doctor – despite

being known as Dr Barnardo – and soon decided that his real calling was to

help poor children living on the streets of London, where one in five children

died before their fifth birthday.

He opened his first home for boys in 1870 and soon vowed never to turn a

child away. Most Victorians saw poverty as shameful, associating it with

poor morals and laziness, but Barnardo refused to discriminate. He made

sure boys were trained and found them apprenticeships.

When Barnardo died in 1905, he left 96 homes caring for more than 8,500

vulnerable children, including those with learning difficulties. Because he

believed that children should ideally grow up in a family setting, in 1887 he

introduced an early form of fostering – boarding out children to host

families.


Buttercups – treasure in our countryside

Buttercup! What a delicious name! Rumour has it that, as they were

frequently to be found in meadows where cows grazed, they were responsible

for butter's yellow colouring. So the name was an obvious choice.

However, since buttercups are poisonous and therefore are avoided as far as

possible by our four-footed friends, this is somewhat unlikely. But surely,

we all remember having a buttercup held under our chin to see whether the

reflection proved that we liked butter! The shiny surface of the petals

actually has two real purposes. Firstly, to help attract insects and secondly

to act as a kind of mirror to aid the temperature regulation of the plant's

reproductive organs.

We are fortunate that buttercups do not suffer from the same unpopularity

as other poisonous plants, because if eaten, not only do they taste nasty, but

the poison will also cause blisters in the mouth of the consumer. Extensive

handling can also damage the skin, but presumably the size of bunch that

many of us picked as children did not count as 'extensive'. Fortunately,

Health and Safety experts do not yet seem to have forbidden this source of

pleasure for little people. Incidentally, the poison is reduced as the plant

dries, and hay that includes buttercups is safe for cows and horses to eat.

Buttercups help form the traditional view of the British countryside.

Differing varieties range in height from small to quite tall and although at

their peak in early summer, the golden blooms can often still be seen in

mid-autumn. Jan Struther, who wrote 'Lord of all hopefulness' also wrote a

children's hymn entitled 'Treasure' It starts:

Daisies are our silver, buttercups our gold:

This is all the treasure we can have or hold.

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July Holy Days

6th July: Thomas More,

Reformation martyr

These days, lawyers and politicians are held in the lowest esteem by the

public, along with tabloid journalists and estate agents. St Thomas More was

both a lawyer and politician, who is today much admired for holding

steadfastly to his faith-based principles. He lived in dangerous times, when

anyone, even queens, who displeased King Henry VIII could find themselves

in a condemned cell in The Tower of London.

Sir Thomas More held the office of Lord High Chancellor and at one time

was the king’s most trusted adviser. But when King Henry took personal

control of the Church in England in order to divorce his first wife, More

courageously opposed him.

Thomas More was a social philosopher and the author of ‘Utopia’. This book

described an imaginary republic governed by an educated elite who

employed reason rather than self-interest for the general good of everyone.

He was himself one of the pre-eminent scholars of his age.

As a Christian theologian he supported orthodox doctrine, vigorously

opposed heresy and argued strongly against the new Protestant ideas taking

hold in Europe. Although holding the highest political and legal office he

was far from being a pragmatic politician and opportunist lawyer. In every

matter he was a man who held firmly to what he believed was right in God’s

eyes.

When Thomas More fell from favour with the king, as a result of his

unflinching views, he was falsely accused of taking bribes. When this charge

failed, his enemies accused him of supporting a celebrated seer of the times

who was strongly critical of the king. This too failed. He was then required



to swear to the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging Henry’s position as head

of the Church of England. This he could not do in conscience. He was put on

trial and condemned to be hung, drawn and quartered for his treason, a

punishment later changed to beheading. He died in 1535 and on the scaffold

his final words were ‘I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.’ He has

been officially declared a martyr saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

11th July: St Benedict,

author of the famous Rule

St Benedict (c.480 – c.550) was an abbot and author of the famous Rule that

bears his name. Because of his Rule, Benedict is also the Patriarch of Western

Monasticism, and Patron Saint of Europe.

Surprisingly little is known about his life. Born at Nursia, Benedict studied

at Rome, which he then left before completing his studies to become a

hermit at Subiaco. After a time disciples joined him, whom he organised

into twelve deaneries of ten. After an attempt on his life, Benedict moved on

to Monte Cassino, near Naples, where he wrote the final version of his Rule.

Benedict’s Rule is justly famous and respected: not only did it incorporate

much traditional monastic teaching from revered monks like Basil, but

Benedict went on to modify this in a way characterised by prudence and

moderation within a framework of authority, obedience, stability and

community life.

Benedict’s great achievement was to produce a monastic way of life that

was complete, orderly, and workable. The monks’ primary occupation was

liturgical prayer, which was complemented by sacred reading and manual

work of various kinds.

Benedict’s own personality shines through this Rule: wise, discreet, flexible,

learned in the law of God, but also a spiritual father to his community.

Benedict’s Rule came to be recognised as the fundamental monastic code of

Western Europe in the early Middle Ages. Because of his Rule, monasteries

became centres of learning, agriculture, hospitality, and medicine. Thus,

Benedict came to influence the lives of millions of people.

30


15th July: St Swithun (or Swithin),

saint for a rainy day

St Swithun is apparently the saint you can blame for rainy summers. It is

said that if it rains on his special day, 15th July, it will then rain for 40 days

after that. It all began when Swithun was made Bishop of Winchester in 852

by King Ethelwulf of Wessex. It was an important posting: Winchester was

the capital of Wessex, and during the 10 years Swithun was there, Wessex

became the most important kingdom of England.

During his life, instead of washing out people’s summer holidays, and

damping down their spirits, Swithun seems to have done a lot of good. He

was famous for his charitable gifts and for his energy in getting churches

built. When he was dying in 862, he asked that he be buried in the cemetery

of the Old Minster, just outside the west door.

If he had been left there in peace, who knows how many rainy summers the

English may have been spared over the last 1000 years. But, no, it was

decided to move Swithun. By now, the 960s, Winchester had become the

first monastic cathedral chapter in England, and the newly installed monks

wanted Swithun in the cathedral with them. So finally, on 15 July 971, his

bones were dug up and Swithun was translated into the cathedral.

That same day many people claimed to have had miraculous cures. Certainly

everyone got wet, for the heavens opened. The unusually heavy rain that

day, and on the days following, was attributed to the power of St Swithun.

Swithun was moved again in 1093, into the new Winchester cathedral. His

shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the middle ages. The

shrine was destroyed during the Reformation and restored in 1962. There

are 58 ancient dedications to Swithun in England.

22nd July: The ‘Other’ Mary

As the traditional Easter story is remembered again this month, you may

notice that there is one name that frequently occurs. It is that of the ‘other’



Mary – not the mother of Jesus but Mary of Magdala, who stood by her at

the cross and became the first human being, male or female, actually to

meet the risen Christ. That’s quite a record for a woman who, the Gospels

tell us, had been delivered by Jesus from ‘seven devils’. As a result, her

devotion to Him was total and her grief at His death overwhelming.

In church history Mary Magdalene became the ‘fallen woman’, a harlot who

was rescued and forgiven by Jesus. And while there is no evidence to prove

she was a ‘fallen woman’, the contrast is sublime: Mary the virgin mother,

the symbol of purity and Mary Magdalene, the scarlet woman who was

saved and forgiven, the symbol of redemption. Surely, we all fall somewhere

between those two extremes.

What we do know is that the two Marys stood together at the cross, the

Blessed Virgin and the woman rescued from who knows what darkness and

despair.

The second great moment for her was as unexpected as it was momentous.

She had gone with other women to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty. An

angelic figure told them that Jesus was not there, He had risen – and the

others drifted off. But Mary stayed, reluctant to leave it like that. She became

aware of a man nearby, whom she took to be the gardener. She explained to

Him that the body of ‘her Lord’ had been taken away and she didn’t know

where to find Him.

The man simply said her name ‘Mary’ and she instantly realised it was Jesus.

She made to hug Him, but He told her not to touch Him because His

resurrection was not yet complete. She was, however, to go to the male

disciples and tell them she had met Him. She did – but they couldn’t believe

her.

Her words – ‘I have seen the Lord’ – echo down the centuries, the very

beating heart of the Christian gospel.

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St Mary Magdalene,

the woman with a past

Later this month Christians all over the world will commemorate probably

the most unlikely saint in the Bible, Mary Magdalene. There was something

in her background that has always fascinated people. All we are told

about her ‘past’ is that Jesus had cast ‘seven devils’ out of her, but on that

slender if intriguing evidence she has become the patron saint of ‘fallen

women’.

Some see her as the woman ‘who was a sinner’ who washed Christ’s feet

with her tears at a respectable dinner party. Of that person Jesus remarked

that ‘she had been forgiven much’ and consequently ‘loved much’. Whether

she was that woman or not, the description perfectly fits her. No one who

has heard or read it could surely fail to be moved by her tearful encounter

with the risen Jesus in the garden on Easter morning, the man she had taken

to be the gardener revealing Himself in one word, Mary, as her beloved

Teacher.

The problem with a good story – and hers is as good as it gets – is that

people can’t leave it alone. Down the centuries she has been John the

Apostle’s fiancée until he left her to follow Christ. She has gone with Jesus’

mother and the same John to live in Ephesus and died there. In art and in

literature she has become an alluring, sexual figure, disapproved of by the

mother of Jesus. There is no historical evidence whatsoever for any of this.

In fact, the Gospels suggest the two Marys were close in their shared devotion

to Jesus.

Her popularity is shown in the fact that 187 ancient churches in Britain are

dedicated to her, and a college at both Oxford and Cambridge. Whatever

the details of her story, we cherish it because it shows that having a ‘past’

is no reason not to have a future.



St Mary Magdalene,

patron of repentant sinners

It is easy to understand the popularity of Mary Magdalene over the centuries:

she is the patron saint both of repentant sinners and of the contemplative

life.

Jesus drove seven demons from Mary, who came from near Tiberius in

Galilee. She became His follower to the bitter end. She followed Him to

Jerusalem and was present during the crucifixion, standing heart-broken at

the foot of the cross. Her love for Jesus did not end there, for she went to the

tomb to anoint His body on the Sunday morning.

Such faithful, humble devotion was richly repaid; it gave her a unique

privilege among all mankind: she was the first person to whom the Risen

Lord appeared on Easter Sunday morning. She thought He was the gardener

at first.

Mary Magdalene has sometimes been identified with the woman who

anointed Christ’s feet in the house of Simon (Luke 7:37). Over the centuries

many artists have painted this scene. Mary Magdalene’s feast has been kept

in the West since the 8th century. England has 187 ancient churches

dedicated to her, as well as a College in both Oxford and Cambridge.

What do we really know about

Mary Magdalene?

Fake news is not new. Perhaps one old example is the assertion that Mary

Magdalene was a prostitute. Back in the 6th Century, Pope Gregory is said

to have confused her with two other women in the Bible. Medieval Bible

scholars also attempted to name an unidentified sinful woman who had

washed and anointed the feet of Jesus. As Mary Magdalene is mentioned in

the next chapter, they regarded her as the same person! After this, many


34


classical artists painted Mary in various states of undress, perpetuating a

falsehood.

So what do we really know about Mary? The Gospels tell us that she came

from Magdala, a town in Galilee, and Jesus healed her by casting out seven

evil spirits. After this she followed Jesus, with other women, on His ministry

providing resources. Later, Mary watched Jesus die on the cross, and having

cared for His needs while He was alive, wanted to care for Him after His

death.

It was when Mary went to anoint the body of Jesus at the tomb that the risen

Jesus appeared to her. He told Mary to go to His disciples and tell them

about His return to Heaven. She was obedient and became the first emissary

of the resurrection. In those days, the witness of a woman was worthless.

Despite ridicule, Mary had the courage to speak about Jesus in a place of

great disbelief. We have to ask ourselves, do we have the same courage as

Mary? How prepared are we to stand our ground to share Jesus with others

in the face of those who mock and scoff at us?

Although we usually associate Mary with the Easter story, this month on

22nd July, the Church celebrates her Feast Day. In this snapshot of Mary’s

life we know she had experienced great distress and suffering. After Jesus

healed her, Mary expressed her gratitude by being utterly committed and

devoted to Him.

Jesus can give everyone a new start; a new purpose and direction in life.

Like Mary we can thank Him for blessing us, loving us and forgiving us and

moving into practical forms of service. Only Jesus can transform our lives so

that we can glorify God in all that we do.


25th July: St James the Apostle,

apostle to Spain

James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and fishermen from Galilee

- the ‘sons of thunder’, as the gospel writers describe their impetuous

characters and fiery tempers.

James stands out on three accounts: he was one of the three disciples who

witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ. Jesus took him, along with Peter

and John, to ‘watch’ with him in the garden of Gethsemane. Finally, he went

on to be the first apostle to die for the Christian faith, when in AD 44 King

Herod Agrippa put him to the sword in Jerusalem at Passover time.

In the centuries following his death, James became associated with the

evangelising of Spain, and as a powerful defender of Christianity against

the Moors. The heyday of the cult of Santiago de Compostela was from the

12th to the 15th century, and the pilgrimage to Compostela became one of

the most important of medieval Christendom. This in time transformed the

iconography of James, and his emblems became the pilgrim’s hat and the

scallop-shell of Compostela. Over 400 English churches have been dedicated

to James.

St James the Great, following Him

Jesus, fresh from His baptism and fired with His new calling, bursts into

Galilee. Coming upon four fishermen working on the shore of the lake, He

says to them, ‘Follow me’.

Without further ado or even a second thought, they abandon what they’re

doing (and in the case of two of them, James and John, leave their poor old

father alone in the boat with the hired crew), and set off with Jesus, they

know not where. That is how Mark’s Gospel records the recruitment of four

of the apostles of Jesus. Talk about a sudden change of life!

36


All our understanding of human behaviour tells us that this is not how

people normally respond to such a peremptory invitation: no questions, no

explanation. Take it or leave it. Just ‘Follow me’.

That however is on a superficial reading of the text. In fact, because we have

four Gospels rather than just three, we know from John that one pair of

brothers, James and John, and the other two called on the same day, had

been disciples of John the Baptist, who had pointed Jesus out to them as the

‘Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’.

Subsequently two of them had sought Him out and spent some time with

Him in the Jordan area. This was not quite the instant ‘conversion’ described

by Matthew and Mark, though undoubtedly it evoked an instant response.

For many of us on the journey of faith the experience of James and John -

and the other two, Peter and Andrew - mirrors our own experience. First,

we know about Jesus, perhaps as children at Sunday school, or later as

adults. Then we begin to ask questions and look for answers. Finally, there

may come a time when we hear His voice, as it were, calling us to accompany

Him on a life of love, service and commitment.

For James (whose feast day falls this month) this moment was to turn his

whole life upside down. He became a leader of the church in Jerusalem after

the resurrection and was the first apostle to be martyred, being put to the

sword by Herod Agrippa in 44AD. His brother John, in contrast, lived on as

a senior figure in the life of the emerging Church.

For all four who were called by the lake that day, nothing would ever be

quite the same again. But then all those who set out to follow Jesus wherever

He leads them are usually in for a few surprises.


25th July: St Christopher,

patron saint of motorists

The legend goes that St Christopher was a Canaanite who lived in the 3rd

century. He was a giant of a man, of fearsome appearance. At first, he

decided to serve the devil, but when he discovered that the devil was afraid

of Christ and His Cross, Christopher decided to serve Christ instead. A

nearby hermit instructed Christopher in the Christian faith and assigned to

him a place near a river: Christopher’s job was to help travellers cross it

safely.

All went well, and Christopher helped lots of people on their way until one

day a child came along and asked to be carried across. Christopher put him

on his back and set off, but was soon staggering under the astonishing

weight of this child. The child then told him that He was in fact Jesus Christ,

and that He carried the weight of the whole world. The Christ-child then

told Christopher to plant his staff in the ground: the next day it bore flowers

and dates – confirmation that the child was indeed who He claimed to be.

After some time more of helping travellers cross the river, Christopher went

to the city of Lycia, where he preached the gospel with such success that the

Roman emperor (Decius?) had him arrested and imprisoned – especially

when Christopher refused to sacrifice to the gods. Two women sent into his

cell to seduce him came out converted Christians instead. So, Christopher

was beaten, shot with arrows and finally beheaded.

Christopher has been well-loved of the English down the centuries. Many

wall-paintings of him have been placed on the north wall of churches,

opposite the porch, so that he would be seen by all who entered. There was

good reason for this: as patron saint of travellers, it was believed that anyone

who saw an image of St Christopher would not die that day. As the ancient

saying goes: ‘Behold St Christopher and go thy way in safety’.

38


A kind of daily insurance policy against death - this was so good that in due

course St Christopher became the patron saint of motorists. There is even a

church in the Javel area of Paris where Citroen cars are made, that is

dedicated to St Christopher. In modern times, with the increase in air and

motorway travel, Christopher has remained popular.

When in 1969 the Holy See reduced his feast day, there was a sharp protest

in several countries, led in Italy by a number of popular film stars. If you

ever travel in a taxi on the Continent, look out for a little St Christopher

hanging from the rear-view mirror beside the driver. Now you know why it

is there!


High Five!

Faith based fun

for the whole family

40


THE 'CROSS' WORD

Across

1 ‘I pray that out of his glorious — he may strengthen you

with power through his Spirit in your inner being’ (Ephesians

3:16) (6)

4 ‘Saul’s father Kish and — father Ner were sons of Abiel’ (1

Samuel 14:51) (6)

7 ‘Praise the Lord, O my — ’ (Psalm 103:1) (4)

8 See 5 Down

9 Laws (1 Kings 11:33) (8)

13 ‘Who of you by worrying can — a single hour to his life?’

(Luke 12:25) (3)

16 Artistry (Exodus 31:5) (13)

17 ‘Your young men will see visions, your — men will dream

dreams’ (Acts 2:17) (3)

19 How David described his Lord (Psalm 19:14) (8)

24 ‘If this city is built and its — — restored, you will be left

with nothing in Trans-Euphrates’ (Ezra 4:16) (5,3)

25 ‘The holy Scriptures, which are able to make you — for

salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3:15) (4)

26 Intended destination of arrows (Lamentations 3:12) (6)

27 Eve hit (anag.) (6)

Down

1 ‘For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find —

for your souls’ (Matthew 11:29) (4)

2 Where Peter was when he denied Christ three times (Luke

22:55) (9)

3 Remarkable early 20th-century Indian evangelist, a convert

from Hinduism, — Sundar Singh (5)

4 ‘Now the king had put the officer on whose — — leaned in

charge of the gate’ (2 Kings 7:17) (3,2)

5 and 8 Across The Lover describes this facial feature

of the Beloved thus: ‘Your — is like the tower of Lebanon

looking towards — ’ (Song of Songs 7:4) (4,8)

6 ‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled — your

waist’ (Ephesians 6:14) (5)

10 Trout (anag.) (5)

11 Easily frightened (1 Thessalonians 5:14) (5)

12 The ability to perceive (Ecclesiastes 10:3) (5)

13 One of the clans descended from Benjamin (Numbers

26:38) (9)

14 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who — bread into

the bowl with me”’ (Mark 14:20) (4)

15 Resound (Zephaniah 2:14) (4)

18 Traditional seat of the Dalai Lama (5)

20 Precise (John 4:53) (5)

21 Build (Ezekiel 4:2) (5)

22 Beat harshly (Acts 22:25) (4)

23 Darius, who succeeded Belshazzar as king of the Babylonians,

was one (Daniel 5:31) (4)

See page 49 for the 'Cross Word' solution


WORD SEARCH

St Mary Magdalene, the woman with a past

Mary

patron

repentant

sinners

contemplative

anoint

feet

follower

end

Jerusalem

morning

faithful

humble

devotion

privilege

disciples

return

obedient

resurrection

witness

courage

life

seven

demons

Tiberius

galilee

Crucifixion

foot

cross

tomb

body

mankind

risen

appeared

easter

gardener

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42


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44


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THE 'CROSS' WORD SOLUTION JULY

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Spofforth and Kirk Deighton Parish Magazine - July Issue

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