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3 The signs of preparation for Christmas are everywhere in Ludlow - the Winter Festival is behind us, the tree in the Market Square is up, the street lights are on and the shops are full of tinsel, gifts and cards. In this final issue of the Ludlow Tower for 2023 we focus on the more profound meaning of Christmas (p5), look for ways of making our celebration of the birth of Jesus more environmentally friendly (p39), learn how we can use a Christmas tradition to commemorate a loved one (p33) and find out what the members of the choir at Uncle Eustace’s church get up to at Christmas (p41). After what can be a frantically busy time leading up to ‘the big day’ many of us use the long break to take stock and plan changes in our lives. This month we are challenged (p7) to broaden that to encompass the state of the planet and of our society, and give thought to how Christians should respond to it. We wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing many of you at our special services over the festive period (p34). Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309 This month’s cover: Photograph: Lesley Harling Nativity figures at St Laurence Graphic design: Nicky Luck Nickyluck@nannolica.co.uk Printing: Signworx Hereford Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire CONTENTS Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this magazine are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the position or opinions of the PCC or Editorial Committee. Why does Christmas matter? 5 The Church’s business 7 From the registers 9 Will you host the Holy Family? 9 Introducing … Kristian Speke 11 A Great Day for Ludlow 13 Outward Giving - Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) & Emmaus UK 15 Outward Giving - Christians Against Poverty, South Shropshire 17 PCC news 17 Equal opportunities? Not yet 19 Sunday services in Ludlow 20 What’s on in December 25 Grave matters - Sir Laurence of Ludlow 27 Arts@StLaurence in December 28 News from St John’s 29 The Parvise 31 Rotary Tree of Light 2023 33 Walk a mile to end polio 33 Christmas services 2023 34 Poets’ Corner - Anthem for doomed youth 35 Mulling it over 37 Zip it - bags to choose from 38 An eco worrier at Christmas 39 Children’s page 40 On how to make the most of carol singing 41 Parish directory & copy deadline 42
4 Seafood bar now open Friday & Saturday Open Wed & Thur 10am-1pm Fri & Sat 10am-3.30pm
5 Why does Christmas matter? One of the things we, as clergy, do is to help our congregations and parishes journey through the church seasons. As we go through Advent we are drawn towards asking obvious questions such as: why does Christmas matter? How should Christians approach Christmas and the birth of Jesus as a season? Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “A good conscience is a continual Christmas”. Why? Because we view things differently. We are emboldened to becoming Christlike (loving, forgiving, joyful) in order to do something positive and lasting that comes from within us. Christmas is a marker not just of the holiday season but, in the broadest sense, of love for family, friends, neighbours, our community and our church. After all, the most important two commandments in the Bible are: ‘Love God’ and ‘Love others’! The impact of this goodwill is immeasurable since it often reaches way beyond the boundaries of our homes and our town. When we help someone that blessing is often passed on with a multiplier effect. The ‘continual Christmas’ message reminds us that we should live in a Christ-like way not just on Christmas Day, but every day. On 25 December we shall celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the wonderful mystery of God’s dwelling among us in the fullness of humanity as Emmanuel, historically foretold by the Old Testament prophets and born of Mary. Jesus was, and is, the light for people who walk in darkness, a light that shone (and still shines) on all where death casts its shadow. He and only He is the light of the world for us in the present and the future. So as God's children you/we are to go and shine that light in the world through each and every day in all we do. May this Christmas Day be a new birth of the Holy Spirit in your life to take into the world. On behalf of all at St Laurence's and St John's may I wish you and your families the love of Christ this Christmas season and every day of the New year to come. Love and blessings in Christ, Revd Preb Kelvin Price Why not join us for one of our Christmas services? See p34 for details.
6 Third services every month CHORAL EVENSONG 3.30pm In the chancel None in December First Sunday Celtic Prayer An Evening Liturgy St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow Fourth Sunday of the month 6pm A simple service in a style used by the Iona Community Call Pat Helm 01584 877683 Helen Blyth 01584 875041 None in December Fourth Sunday CHORAL MATINs 11.30am In the chancel Sunday 17 December Third Sunday All-age informal worship Hot dogs, pool table, air hockey football table, Mario Cart and more Conversation, play, food and a simple sharing of bread and wine Sunday 10 December Second Sunday The Living Room Fifth Sunday - Benefice Service
7 We are in a mess. As I started to draft this we were shattered by the appalling disaster of Gaza - thousands slaughtered; hundreds taken hostage; man's inhumanity to man seems to plumb new depths. In a long life which began in the year Hitler came to power, I have witnessed many a crisis but find myself now perhaps just a bit nearer despair. Local authorities are going bankrupt through a combination of savage cuts in central government grants, poor management and expenditure on vanity projects, unable to provide care and welfare to those for whom they carry statutory responsibility. Public transport is meagre and unreliable, homelessness a profound problem. Our economy is weak with the growth promised by politicians unlikely to emerge to fund the quality of public services we looked for in the welfare state. Inequality is increasing dividing those in a position to pay from the rest. We see medical consultants and nurses on the picket line, a failing criminal justice system, overcrowded, rat- and drug-infested prisons with no attempt to rehabilitate. Racism and antisemitism are on the rise. Globally we face the devastating effects of climate change as migration develops into an exodus from uninhabitable areas while better-placed countries like ours striving to limit entry. Alongside this the lurch in many nations to support populist far right politicians. Then the horrors of war: no hope of an early resolution in Ukraine while other areas of potential conflict stack up with major players stockpiling nuclear weapons, controlled by leaders with only their own national interest at heart. Some ten years ago the eminent Lord Rees of Ludlow judged that mankind had no more than a 50% chance of surviving this century. The odds may have shortened. So how should the church respond? What hope can it offer? Witnessing the scale of human suffering, many may question the existence of a loving and merciful God. Why does he not intervene? But he did. It ended with his beloved son Jesus Christ hanging on the Cross and bearing our sins. He weeps with us now. With his disciples he founded the Church with the gift of the Holy Spirit to carry forward his mission of love and reconciliation, working to establish his Kingdom on earth. That transformation demands that Christians play a full part in the life of a community or nation, engage in the political process and challenge unjust and oppressive policies without embracing one political party or seeking to control in the church’s name - that has led to disaster in the past. But the church cannot take refuge in its own world simply praying and reaching out to those in need. It must also seek to influence policies which shape our world and strengthen our community. Its prophetic message is of a higher order than party politics. In worship and prayer it witnesses to the power of love but reaches out to a suffering world. cont on p9 The Church's business
8 We specialise in all aspects of building, from new construction to work on scheduled monuments to the restoration of Georgian and half-timbered houses. The company employs 40 time-served craftsmen and has worked recently at: Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle, St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury and many private houses in the West Midlands and border areas. The company is delighted to be working with Ludlow St Laurence and the family and friends of Stephen Treasure on the Stephen House Project transforming 2 College Street into a mission space to support those in need or distress in the community he loved.
9 The Church’s business - cont from p7 Church magazines - even the admirable Tower - can tend to be inward looking. But they must seek to declare the Christian gospel and take on social issues in the wider community. Perhaps in future editions, space might be given to consider the Christian position on such issues as migration, racism, criminal justice and homelessness. Yes, they are all political concerns but in its wider sense the New Testament is a political manifesto. Michael Day FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERALS & MEMORIALS 21 October Christopher Charles Jackson 4 November David Bicker-Caarten Will you host the holy family? St Laurence’s has adopted the Mexican custom of taking a travelling crib (posada) from home to home during Advent. The Holy Family sets out on Advent Sunday (3 December this year) with the first hosts, who take it home for the night, then accompany it on the next stage of its journey, to the next host home. The crib, accompanied by a sheet of prayers that can be said on arrival at each home and a candle that can be lit beside the figures, continues, from family to family, home to home, each day or night until it is brought back into St Laurence’s at the Christingle Service on 24 December. This is something for everyone, not just for families with children. It is also for those who cannot get to church easily and for those unable to travel. It is a lovely way to engage with the Christmas story, as well as meeting and offering hospitality to people in the town whom you may not know. To host the crib for a night, please phone or message Kathy Cowell on 07794 275065 or email cowell.kathy@sky.com with: the dates you could receive the Posada your name, address and phone number. Privacy Notice. Yout details will only be passed to the hosts before and after you on the list to make arrangements for the handover.
10 5 The Angel, Broad Street, Ludlow, Sy8 2PG
11 INTRODUCING ... Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m Kristian (Kris) Speke. I’ve lived in Ludlow pretty well all my life and done all sorts of work, paid and voluntary. I started a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) bricklaying course but the firm sponsoring me went bust. I did odd jobs for a while then got into traditional plasterwork (horsehair, lime mortar and all that). I wasn’t that interested in bricklaying or plastering but I met some great people. Working on John Challis (Boycie)’s house was brilliant. Carol cooked us a full English every day before work and they both visited me in hospital after a bad car accident. I went to Somerset for a few years, driving for supermarkets mostly. I made lots of friends but I didn’t like the way the bosses didn’t care about us, only about making money. I came back to Ludlow and nothing seemed to have changed (apart from Costa). Someone suggested I try volunteering at the Furniture Scheme. I’d never heard of volunteering but said I’d give it a go for a day. I loved it – helping people, being treated right, no two days the same. I ended up going in pretty well every day, for 7 years – until Covid. That was a hard time but by then I’d found St Laurence’s and Christ. What brought you here? I was having a down patch, not going out much. For some reason I ordered some aftershave online and got chatting to Louise when she delivered it. She invited me to the Alpha course. I wasn’t too sure but I really clicked with Kelvin and Wayne. At first I was a bit suspicious - everyone was too nice. Then I realised that they were just a good bunch of people and looked forward to the sessions. Louise took me round a few churches but I knew St Laurence’s was the place for me. First impressions? My early memories are all really good – school visits, adventure trails, family weddings, being in nativity plays (I was the vicar in one play!) and my grandads. They were both big church goers and one, Jock McPherson, was in the choir. Obviously I don’t remember being christened in St Laurence’s but now I’ve been confirmed here too. One feature of St Laurence’s which is special for you? The people but also the music, the light through the west window at the midweek evening communion. What do you do at St Laurence’s? Whatever anyone asks me to do – helping set up for shows, concerts, services, Fairtrade stalls, Sunday coffee, pushing wheelchairs, manning the bar. How do spend your spare time? Meeting friends in the pub, doing pub quizzes (I’m a hot shot on films). A memorable holiday experience? The Tower of Terror ride at Disney World – I was terrified. What might we be surprised to know about you? The first time I ever flew was on Concorde.
12 We are delighted to be open in Ludlow, and believe that our store will be a valuable addition to the local business community. We offer: wines and spirits from around the world prices to support all budgets miniatures and gift packs - ideal presents friendly staff under Ben Templeman always on hand tasting events - to be announced via notice boards dog-friendly environment Special opening offer: 10% discount on production of this advertisement up to 31 December 2023 Open Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm Sunday 10am-4pm 17 King Street, Ludlow SY8 1AQ Tel: 01584 547433
13 A great day for Ludlow No one in Ludlow on 23 April 1582 could possibly forget a day which had been months in the planning. A long procession included members of the Council in the Marches of Wales together with bailiffs, aldermen and burgesses of Ludlow Corporation and representatives from the town’s guilds. What made the event particularly memorable was the great array of flags being carried aloft. Sir Henry Sidney was the Lord President of the Council and he was a Knight of the Garter. Each year, on St George’s Day, all the Garter Knights were expected to be present at the annual ceremony of the Order, to be held that year at Greenwich Palace. A Knight had to have a good reason not to attend, and somehow Sir Henry got permission to be absent. The rules said that any Knight not attending must re-create the Garter Ceremony in a suitable church wherever he was. This is what Sir Henry was doing and he wanted it to be a big event. As the other Garter Knights were not present, he had flags made for all of them, showing their coats of arms. For the Garter Ceremony the church had to be set out in a certain way, with a ‘throne’ for the absent sovereign. Sir Henry’s own seat was to be placed in the same relation to Queen Elizabeth’s as it would have been at the main event. As the procession entered the church, the flags of the Garter Knights were carefully positioned around the church, making a wonderful sight. They remained there for weeks afterwards before being placed in the New House, forerunner of the Buttercross. Hugh Wood Arms of Sidney and Dudley
14 LUDLOW CAR SHARE Cut your travel costs and help beat climate change Our club is a community run, not-forprofit enterprise We operate low emission, automatic Toyota hybrid cars Book a car for as long as you need from 30 mins to several days Smart card technology - book online or by phone You pay only an hourly charge plus mileage We pay fuel, insurance, road tax and breakdown cover As a member you can book Co-wheels cars across the UK No age limit with valid licence – introductory teach-in if required Join at: http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/ shropshire Local contacts: 01584 875017 or 875501 or 01584 875501 R I B A Trevor Hewett A R C H I T E C T ▪ Planning applications ▪ ▪ Listed building consent ▪ ▪ Building regulations ▪ ▪ Alterations and extensions ▪ ▪ Church inspections ▪ ▪ Green building ▪ The Architecture Studio 135 Corve Street Ludlow SY8 2PG Tel: 01584 877992
15 OUTWARD GIVING St Laurence’s aims each year to donate the equivalent of 10% of the planned giving received from congregation members, dividing it between an international charity, (30%) a national charity (30%) and a local charity (40%). Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Doctors without Borders Doctors Without Borders is an independent, international charity, founded in 1971 to provide emergency humanitarian medical aid to people caught up in conflicts, disasters and epidemics and raise international awareness of potential humanitarian disasters. In 1999 it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and has general consultative status within the UN Economic and Social Council. This year alone it has: responded to the Syria/Turkey earthquake, treating patients and delivering essential supplies; is providing lifesaving surgical care in a hospital in South Khartoum amid the Sudanese civil war; and is supporting emergency trauma care to the war-wounded and to patients cut off from essential medical services, in Darfur and the border with Chad where people have fled to escape the violence. In the current war between Hamas and Israel, it is experiencing extreme difficulty delivering aid and healthcare due to the insecurity and unpredictability of the bombardments. In addition to emergency responses, MSF supports preventative medicine with vaccination programmes against a range of diseases and helps local hospitals by improving sanitation, providing equipment and drugs and training local hospital staff. Revd John Perry Emmaus UK Have you ever been homeless? Probably not - but a remarkable number of people in Britain are. Government statistics tell us that 2,893 people were sleeping rough in England in June this year and, including Wales and Scotland, the figure for the UK is at least 5,000. Hence St Laurence's Outward Concern Group has chosen Emmaus UK as the national charity to support this year. Emmaus was founded in France in 1949 by a remarkable man - the Abbé Pierre, a Catholic priest and French MP. One night, a man called Georges was brought to him after a failed suicide attempt and spending 20 years in prison. His family couldn't cope with his return home, and he had nowhere else. The Abbé Pierre took him in. Together they built temporary homes for those in need and so the first Emmaus was born. The first Emmaus in Britain opened in 1991, and now there are 30 communities (as they call their residential sites) across the UK, the nearest to Ludlow being in Stoke-on - Trent, where there is also an Emmaus furniture warehouse and retail store. The charity offers shelter and individual care, and encourages independent living. Revd Peter Cope
16 Ludlow Curtain Company The Stables, Station Drive, Ludlow SY8 2PQ Tel 01584 875533 ludlowcurtains@hotmail.co.uk Here for all your soft furnishing needs, from curtains and all types of blinds to cushions, upholstery and curtain poles. Fabrics now available on the roll. 141A Vintage & Retro Collectables Centre Open Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat 10am - 5pm Closed Tues & Sun 141A Corve Street, Ludlow SY82PG 01584 877 572 /141A @godsellmark Proud to be the architect for the Stephen House Project Creating a mission space for St Laurence’s Garden maintenance Michael Doyle Plantsman Over 30 years’ experience 07855 930641 doylemj@hotmail.co.uk LOCAL MAN wishes to buy Antiques, Bric à brac, Collectables and Deceaseds’ Effects Please call 01584 892128 07508 809710 Victoria Allen Funeral Services An Independent Family Business Pre- Paid Funeral Plans Home Visits Always Available 24 Hour Service 01584 879035
17 PCC NEWS Summary of PCC meeting held on 16 October 2023 9 members of the PCC attended Resolutions: to approve charities to support with outward giving in 2023; to nominate Sandi Burley as Local Missioner Finance: new budget format under six headings (Stewardship, Church Services. Church Life, Fabric & Maintenance, External Use of Church and Opening) with more detail; £6k grant received from Shropshire Historic Churches Trust Policies: reviewed and adopted Data Protection Policy and Data Privacy Notice Discussions: agreed to reintroduce welcome pack for new members of congregation; approval granted to trim churchyard yews Committee Reports: received from Local Pastoral Care, Liturgy, Arts@StLaurence committees, National Lottery Heritage Fund. Auction of Promises and Winter Festival working groups Date of next meeting: Monday 15 January 2024 Copies of the two latest confirmed PCC minutes is available on the noticeboard at the back of the church. All confirmed minutes can be viewed in the parish office. OUTWARD GIVING The local charity to be supported this year is Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in South Shropshire. According to CAP manager Mark Triggs Half of all UK adults went without heating at some point last winter and one in four was forced to skip meals due to cost. Those are the findings of a recent YouGov poll commissioned by Christians Against Poverty (CAP) into the reality of living in poverty. CAP exists to see transformed lives, thriving churches and an end to UK poverty. Bridgnorth Baptist Church established a CAP debt centre in 2015, which engaged with 29 client cases, bringing 17 out of debt and two people to Christ, before closure in 2021. Now the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis has led to the centre reopening across South Shropshire. The centre has seen 60 new client cases of whom 24 are already debt-free. Eleven more are coming out of debt, three are paying back their debts independently working to CAP’s budget – and five have made a new commitment to Christ. Please contact debt centre manager Mark Triggs on marktriggs@capuk.org or 07943 669727 if you want to donate, train as a debt coach or a money coach, serve as a befriender, or pray for our work. Revd Peter Cope
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19 Equal opportunities? Not yet Dame Sue Carr was recently sworn in as the Lady Chief Justice, head of the Judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales, the 98th holder of this historic office - and the first woman. Women have been playing an increasingly prominent part in public life in this country, at least since Lady Nancy Astor became the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons in November 1919. But decades after the Equal Opportunities Act, there is still some way to go before we see full parity. But how about women in other parts, of the world? I'm thinking principally of women in Muslim countries. Until a few years ago women In Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive. This is an extreme example but millions of women worldwide are deprived of their human rights. In 2021, Christian Aid held an online event: Women and the planet - time for a new social contract. How are we doing? The climate crisis has a disproportionate impact on women and girls in many parts of the world. A (female) Anglican bishop in Brazil has highlighted some key issues, from the perspective of indigenous communities and women living in the Amazon forest. The region has suffered from huge inequality due to a lack of funding and of effective policies. Many problems have been exacerbated by the pandemic eg many in the rainforest suffocated due to poor air quality. Here we see women doing all they can to protect the Amazon and their communities. In Thailand the Executive Director of Climate Watch has described the amazing work women are engaged in, in relation to climate justice; workshops are being established for women to learn more about climate change and its impact on communities. They are documenting their experiences and have gone on to join regional and local advocacy groups. This is particularly significant as Thailand's political sphere is male-dominated making the fact that women are now reclaiming the political space through advocacy movements particularly significant. As we take for granted our freedoms, let's remember and pray for women's groups across the world, striving to be recognised and to have their contribution to combating the climate crisis acknowledged. May they be empowered to become national leaders. Please remember our annual street collection on Saturday 16 December. It would be wonderful if you could hold a tin for an hour in town that day - please let me know. And please put Christian Aid on your present list, giving as generously as you can. Thank you. Claire Wilcox
20 Anglican St Laurence, College Street 8.15am Holy Communion (BCP) 10am Parish Eucharist For livestream/recording - link at https://stlaurences.org.uk/live-stream 11.30am Choral Matins 3rd Sunday only 3.30pm The Living Room 2nd Sunday only 3.30pm Choral Evensong 1st Sunday only 6pm Celtic Prayer - evening liturgy 4th Sunday only 5th Sun Joint benefice service with St John’s Contact office@stlaurences.org.uk 01584 872073 St John, Gravel Hill 10am 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays Holy Communion 2nd & 4th Sundays Morning Prayer 5th Sun Joint benefice service with St Laurence’s Contact wayne.davies@stlaurences.org.uk 07545 438892 St Giles, Ludford 11.15am 1st Sunday Family Worship 2nd & 4th Sundays CW Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Lay-led Worship Contact ashfordspa@outlook.com Ludlow Baptist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact church@ludlowbaptistchurch.org.uk Ludlow Elim 10.30am Service at Elim 11.30am Online Contact www.ludlowelim.com 07791 483284 dainpritchard@googlemail.com Ludlow Methodist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact Ludlowmethodist@outlook.com Ludlow Quakers 10.30am Meeting for worship Contact Cynthia Prior 01584 831855 St Peter's Roman Catholic Church Mass 11.00am Sunday 9.30pm Monday-Friday 6.00pm Saturday (Sunday Vigil ) Morning prayer 9.15am Monday-Friday 9.45am Saturday Contact st.peters.ludlow@talktalk.net SUNDAY SERVICES in Ludlow
21 You can advertise in this listing for one year (12 issues) for just £30. With 600 copies circulating in Ludlow every month, free of charge, this is an ideal way of publicising your business, shop or service. We also accept advertising from clubs, societies and social groups - perfect for publicising your group’s activities and attracting new members. All entries must fit the standard 4-line box (approximately 40 words). To discuss details or to place an advertisement please contact the parish office on 01584 872073 or email office@stlaurences.org. LUDLOW LOCAL LISTING Ludlow Castle Gallery Quality affordable picture framing & original objects. Fast friendly service. Gifts & cards by local artisans. Find us just before the Castle Café or contact on 01584 878527 Info@ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk www.ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk Artwork Books & Stationery Castle Bookshop 5 Castle Street Ludlow Booksellers and Stationers Free ordering service 01584 872562 castlebookshop@btconnect.com Myriad Organics 22 Corve Street 01584 879373 myriad-organics.co.uk Ludlow's widest range of organic produce: fruit & veg, wholefoods, groceries, meat & dairy, vegan & vegetarian, natural cleaning products, bodycare & cosmetics. Waste-free shopping options & refills for cleaning products. Local delivery and our popular organic box scheme. Firenze Catering Jackie Thomas - Catering for all occasions. 07526 212176 / 01584 877190 firenzecatering66@gmail.com Food If you use the services of any of our advertisers please mention that you found their details in the Ludlow Tower.
22 Fitness and Sport Pearce Cycles Friendly, knowledgeable and experienced - your local bike shop for all your cycling needs. Fishmore Road, Ludlow, SY8 3DP. Tel. 01584 879288; shop@pearcecycles.co.uk; www.pearcecycles.co.uk. Open Mon-Fri 9.00am to 5.30pm. Bike sales - repair - hire. Reynolds of Ludlow furniture Wanted by local collector and researcher; any condition considered; will collect. Good prices offered. Tel: 07967 134116. Reynolds Furniture Wanted Frames by Sebastian Bespoke picture framing 6a Pepper Lane Tel: 07815 111554 Picture Framing Matthew Lenthall IT Services Computers, phones and all things technical. Support and maintenance. 12a Corve Street, Ludlow 07828 081163 or 01584 877946 matthew@matthewlenthall.co.uk IT Services Teme Valley Insurance Brokers For your Home, Car, Business or Farm quote Call Mark or Sue on 01584 290055 enquiries@temevalleyinsurance.co.uk Insurance Services William Griffin Memorials erected in marble, stone and granite. House name plates – Doorsteps & windowsills. 33A Corve Street, Ludlow SY8 1DL. Tel: (01584) 872893 (01584) 877422 evenings Mobile 07967 126451 Monumental Sculptor Silver Swan Adult Ballet Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swan. Weekly adult ballet classes in Ludlow. For more information go to www.pointeworksdance.co.uk or contact Debbie at pointeworks@aol.com or 07887 856182.
23 ADVERTISING RATES 2022-23 (for 12 issues) Full page - £325 Half page - £200 Quarter page - £105 Eighth page - £65 Classified - £36 Rates for part-year available on request See above for contact details. ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS, CLUB OR SOCIETY HERE Contact the Parish Office on 01584 872073 or office@stlaurences.co.uk Dan Pritchard Garden Services Fully insured - reliable - experienced - competitive. Lawn mowing / hedge cutting / tree surgery / pruning / turfing / planting / landscaping. Call Dan on 07779182636. Covers Ludlow and surrounding areas. Gardening Ian Mackay Quick response, local and reliable. No-obligation fixed quotes. Domestic installation and repairs. Landlord & homeowner safety inspections. Condition reports for house sales. Contact Ian Mackay on 07736 303297 or email ian.gf.mackay@gmail.com Electrical Marie’s Alterations and Repairs Well-established Ludlow business. We can shorten or alter most items, new or old. Open: 9am- 5pmTuesday to Friday. Now in new premises so contact us for details 01584 318185 07967 447935 marie.yapp@outlook.com www.mariesofludlow.co.uk Alterations Send those special greetings to your loved one HERE for just £7.50. To book email office@stlaurences.org.uk
24 Property services and maintenance James Mackenzie Carpentry & Joinery Reliable / High Quality Work. Building Services, Gosford Cottage, Little Hereford, Ludlow SY8 4AR Call 01584 711326 or 07870428948. Email j.mackenzie590@btinternet.com Carpentry Cleaning Hydroclean Services carl@hydrocleanservices.co.uk Carpet & Upholstery cleaning : Leather cleaning : Hard floor cleaning and stone polishing : Gutter cleaning : Fully insured, fast response, reliable and local. Members of the National Carpet Cleaning Association. www.hydrocleanservices.co.uk 01568 630000 Ken Dodd & Son Chimney Sweep Rotary sweep and vacuum-assisted. Cowls/bird guards supplied and fitted. Woodburners serviced and bricks supplied and fitted. Fully insured and certificates issued. Available for weddings. 01584 873178 • 07702 102044 www.kendoddandsonchimneysweep.co.uk Chimneys & Stoves General Maintenance Steve Wilson Painting and Decorating Internal and external work carried out. Please telephone Steve on: 07818 400764 Email address: steve.decorating@yahoo.com R Aimson Property Services Carpentry, Home Improvement, Painting & Decorating Mobile: 07864 015086 email:rapropserv@gmail.com Property Services
25 WHAT’S ON AT ST LAURENCE’S IN DECEMBER Saturday 2 Ludlow Choral Society 7.30pm Concert - Salieri, Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt Sunday 3 Advent Carol Service 7.00pm Monday 4 Open tea 3.00pm Friday 8 A Christmas Carol 7.30pm Radio play version Sunday 10 The Living Room 3.30pm Sunday 17 Choral Matins 11.30am Service of Light 7.00pm for the Bereaved Friday 22 Carols in the Castle 7.00pm Saturday 23 Nine Lessons and Carols 7.00pm Sunday 24 Christingle 4.00pm Midnight Eucharist 11.15pm Monday 25 BCP Holy Communion 8.15am Family Christmas Service 10.30am Sunday 31 BCP Holy Communion 8.15am Benefice Service (St John’s) 10.00am School Christmas Services Thursday 7 (provisional) 2.00pm Lucton School Tuesday 12 1.30pm Ludlow Primary School Thursday 14 2.00pm Ludlow CofE School Friday 15 2.00pm Bedstone School Monday 18 10.30am St Laurence Primary School MIDWEEK Daily prayer Mondays 9.30am Holy Communion Wednesdays 6.00pm Intercessory Prayers 10.30am Fourth Thursday in month Tower bells practice Mondays 7.30-9.00pm Handbells practice Tuesdays 6.00-7.15pm Choir practice Thursdays 6.00-8.30pm AND AT ST JOHN’S Daily prayer Wednesdays 9.30am Tea and toast Wednesdays 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesdays 11.30am https:// stlaurences.org.uk/google-calendar/ For the latest news about services go to
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27 GRAVE MATTERS: Sir Laurence of Ludlow Born around 1300, the grandson of Laurence the great wool merchant of Edward I's reign and builder of Stokesay Castle of the same name, this Laurence inherited the estate in 1316. Serving in Edward II’s war in Scotland in 1322, he was knighted, married between 1324 and 1326 and became a ‘knight of the shire’ representing Shropshire in parliament in 1328. Through his mother, Mathilda de Hodnet, he inherited the estates and castle of Hodnet, as well as the seneschalship of Montgomery Castle. In 1337 he was named to collect the Crown tax on wool in the county, then a royal monopoly. In March 1342, he was arrested for not delivering the wool. All his lands and goods were held by the king until he made good the deficit. In the end, he did so and was freed. Even by the standards of the day, Sir Laurence's life was a troubled one. In 1338 he brought lawsuits for theft from his property in Downton, for an attack on his house in Ashford Bowdler and for personal assault and robbery in Ludlow. The family was clearly not popular, as in 1343 he brought an action against two men for the murder of his brother William, in Worcester. He was outlawed in 1345 for refusing to appear when accused of trespass, and then in 1346 violently assaulting his accuser. He had prudently transferred most of his property to other family members so there was little for the crown to confiscate. Eventually he surrendered, made a settlement and was pardoned in 1348. By 1350 he had survived the two-year pandemic known as the Black Death and - partly in thanksgiving, and perhaps partly to salve a guilty conscience - founded the Carmelite friary of St Mary in Ludlow (the site of Saint Leonard's churchyard today). In 1353 John de Haighton, with William, son of John de Hopton, and Thomas de Hopton (Cangeford) were accused of his murder. The two were later pardoned as self-defence was claimed. The de Ludlows had interest in land in the very large Stanton Lacy parish which at the time included Hopton Cangeford so his death may have been the result of a land dispute. He was buried in the choir of the friary church (roughly the site of the present church) on 9 November 1353 by the Bishop of Hereford, despite the main body of the church still being unfinished. He may have been arrogant and overbearing, the entitled scion of a pushy family of nouveaux riches, an upper-class thug with the business ethos of a Mafia capo di famiglia, but that does not make him different from many of his peers at the time - and at least we owe him gratitude as the primary source of one of Ludlow's pleasantest green spaces. Nick Ford
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NOTES FROM ST JOHN’S Wednesdays at St John’s There is always a warm welcome at St John’s Church on Gravel Hill on Wednesday mornings. Why not come along, meet the clergy and see for yourself? 9.30am Daily Prayer 10.00amTea & Toast Open house for anyone in the community to drop in for a chat and a cuppa 11.30amHoly Communion Informal service We would love to see you for the whole morning or just a part. Adults and children took an active part in an informal Harvest Communion at St John’s, making collage pictures with autumn leaves and wild bird seed. Great fun was had by all . Carla Phelps was awarded the Order of St Ethelbert at Hereford Cathedral on Sunday 22 October in recognition of her long service to St. John’s. Carla has been part of the congregation for over fifty years, giving her time and skills to uphold the life of the church and parish. FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERALS 30 September Derek Rankin Owen 2 October Kenneth Joseph Price 7 October Albert John Gough
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31 The parvise St Laurence’s porch, with its upper 'parvis room', is one of only three hexagonal church porches in England, with the distinction of probably being the first of its type built in this country. It was originally built in the early 14th century, most likely between 1305 and 1308, in a style described as Decorated. In 1327, one Matthew de Hoptone was paid for repairs. However, the plinth round the outside base is Perpendicular in style, giving rise to a theory that it was rebuilt in the late 14th century. Parvis derives from the Latin paradisus, meaning 'paradise'. It denoted a walled floral garden, or enclosure maintained by clerics. Later the parvis, or parvise, became an open space outside a cathedral or church, especially one surrounded by colonnades and latterly walls. In mediaeval London, Serjeants-at-Law (lawyers), used the parvis at Old St Paul's Cathedral to meet and advise clients. The early purpose of the room above the parvis (the parvis room) is unclear but it was generally used for secular duties. The room provided immediate access to the porch, where functions such as baptisms, absolution, swearing of oaths and marriages were undertaken. By the 16th century 'the clerkes', 'the dekyn' or 'the Decons’ used the room. Deacons assisted with liturgical functions but were laymen, with administrative responsibilities. Thomas Higgs, a centenarian in 1606 when he died, was a deacon for 50 years. In 1626, ‘according to the Lord Bishop's desire’, the room was converted to a library. Traces of early wall paintings of roses, stars and a priest's face, probably defaced during the reign of Edward VI, remain. The rose was an emblem of the House of York. The stars may represent the sun in splendour, a favoured emblem of Edward IV. In 2015 the Ludlow Palmers funded conservation of the church wall paintings to the sum of £20,000. The doorway has a shouldered corbelled arch, which was economical with stone and particularly strong for load-bearing in narrow spaces. The other, now sealed, doorway once led to a balcony overlooking the nave. In the floor are three slabs, two memorial and one decorative. The latter is incised with the pattern of either ivy or vine, each having a meaning in the Christian faith. Two lead wall plaques, recovered from the roof in 2017, likely commemorate those engaged in restoration work in 1752, including one, A J Ketelbey, whose family history sheds light on some interesting historical events. Eric Griffiths Priest’s head
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33 ROTARY TREE OF LIGHT 2023 Again this year, the Ludlow Rotary Club offers residents the opportunity to shine a light in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a special occasion or to send good wishes to friends or family. The Tree of Light in Castle Gardens will be lit from 5pm on Saturday 25 November and throughout the Ludlow Winter Festival. All dedications received by 13 December will be published in the Christmas edition of the Ludlow Advertiser. A complete list of dedications received before Twelfth Night will be recorded on the Ludlow Rotary Club website. A minimum donation of £5 per dedication is invited with all funds received earmarked by Ludlow Rotary for local community projects. Forms with full information on how to submit a dedication may be obtained from St Laurence’s Parish Church, Nock Deighton Estate Agents or downloaded from www.ludlowrotaryclub.org.uk The 2022 Tree of Light - each light represents a dedication Ludlow Rotary Club’s Walk a Mile to End Polio event in October was a great success raising £900 - enough to save 4,500 children from polio and to advance the day when polio becomes the second human disease, after smallpox, to be eradicated. Donations can still be made through: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/ walk-a-mile-for-polio. Open tea at st laurence 3.00pm First Monday in the month All welcome. Monday 4 December A grandfather was talking to his granddaughter, ‘When I was a child all we got for Christmas was an apple and an orange’. The little girl clapped her hands in amazement. ‘Wow! A new computer and a new mobile!’
34 The Conservation Trust for St Laurence Ludlow & the Ludlow Civic Society will be hosting CHRISTMAS TEA THURSDAY 14th DECEMBER 3 till 5pm Methodist Church, Broad Street Enjoy a break from the Christmas preparations with a friendly cuppa, lovely cake and festive mince pies Tickets - £8. Purchase on-line at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ christmas-tea-with-cakes-and-mincepies-tickets-753176169197? aff=oddtdtcreator or call 07887 710140 or email treasurer@ludlowpalmers.uk Proceeds to be shared between Ludlow Palmers and Civic Society
35 FUEL POVERTY FUND As the weather gets colder, and energy costs remain high, spare a thought for all those living in our town who have to manage on Universal Credit or a pre-payment meter. If you have received a Winter Fuel Payment, please consider donating some (or even all) of it to Ludlow Fuel Poverty Fund, which is managed by Ludlow Food Bank. The details of the account are: Ludlow Baptist Church (a business account) Sort Code: 40-30-30 Account No: 01274554. We have already helped more than 40 people this year through this Fund and I know just how grateful they are. Peter Cope Poets’ corner Anthem for doomed youth What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes, The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds. Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) Owen, regarded by many as the greatest of the First World War poets, was born in 1893 near Oswestry, later attending Shrewsbury Technical School. Owen was raised a devout evangelical Anglican and started writing poetry at the age of 10. Taught English and French at the Berlitz School in Bordeaux. Enlisted in Artists’ Rifles in 1915, was commissioned, wounded in action and sent to Craiglockart Hospital in Edinburgh suffering from shell shock (PTSD) where he met Siegfried Sassoon. Returned to active service in July 2018 by choice to record the horrors of trench and gas warfare. In October he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) but was killed in action just a week before the Armistice.
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37 Did you know that Icon has a liquor licence, and that it sell a small selection of wine and beer and, during these cold weeks up to Christmas, a very delicious mulled wine. I am sworn to secrecy on Icon Manager Melanie’s recipe for the mulled wine but, suffice to say, it is delicious and definitely includes red wine, orange juice, nutmeg, cinnamon and a couple of other secret ingredients! I can mention fresh ginger for that extra zing! Nothing is more warming than glugging warm wine (hardly intoxicating once it has been heated), and just ‘so’ right, a mediaeval-style drink in a mediaeval church. Also known as Glühwein (German), Glogg (Swedish and Icelandic), or spiced wine (Old English), there are many recipes for a warmed wine from Roman records in the 2nd century BCE onwards. Mrs Beeton includes one in her Book of Household Management, with her recipe she does warn, ‘It is very difficult to give the exact proportions of ingredients like sugar and spice, as what quantity might suit one person would be to another quite distasteful’. I can assure you that Icon’s mulled wine is very tasty, and of course there are non-alcoholic options, fresh coffee included! Icon has other festive treats on the menu - mince pies of course, and some inventive options in cake form. Mull over your Christmas shopping list in the calming environment of St Laurence’s Church and then fulfil that list in The Shop. MULLING IT OVER… Icon Coffee Closed 24 - 28 December Icon Coffee Open Mon-Sat 10.00-4.30
38 The Shop at St Laurence has an eclectic mix of small, zipped bags that will most definitely allow you to tick off some of those on your Christmas list, or maybe even help bring some organisation into your own life. Luxuriously soft small and medium-sized velvet bags from Vanilla Fly are the perfect way to present smaller gifts (soap or jewellery) or to give just as they are, fabulous for anyone. Then there’s a gorgeous classy velvet bag with handles that exceeds sumptuousness in feel – maybe just include it as a ‘necessity’ for your own shopping! Colourful and inexpensive art-inspired small zipped bags from Loqi coordinate with their wonderfully water-resistant shopping bags and would effortlessly please everyone: who doesn’t need a striking yet practical carrier? Changing the subject entirely, we know that you should never judge a book by its cover, but who would not enjoy the cover of this glorious anthology of poems collated to be read daily and inspire happiness. Now that is a thought for the day! Remember, all the proceeds from ALL purchases in the Shop at St Laurence directly benefit St Laurence, so do think of shopping there as a way to donate to the Church. Surely that is a true ‘winwin’! Bag it, zip it and even book yourself in for a curated tour of gifts available in The Shop. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful in finding just the right thing to please you and the future recipients of your purchases. Zip it … Bags to choose from to cover your Christmas list The Shop at St Laurence Mobile: 07833 866485 www.theshopatstlaurence.co.uk Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
39 An eco-worrier at christmas I love Christmas, not only because of what it means for us as Christians – the birth of our Saviour – but also the decorations, presents and family time. I inherited this from my mum, who always bought a real tree and decorated it to the max. After Christmas the tree was cut up by my dad and used in our garden no landfill involved. Close to where we lived there was an area of coast where old Christmas trees were used to shore up sand dunes and prevent paths and carparks being covered by sand. An excellent eco-use for these trees. Sadly my husband is allergic to real pine trees so I reluctantly agreed to have an artificial tree when we started our own Christmas traditions. I now realise that not all artificial trees are eco-friendly, although as long as you use them for a number of years that balances out their lack of green credentials compared to using a real tree. As we are only on our second tree, the first having completely collapsed, and we have been married nearly 40 years, I don’t think we are doing too badly. Decorations also have a strong family tradition. Although I like to buy one or two each year, I continue to adorn my tree with decorations that used to be on our family tree when I was a child. I also use LED lights on a timer to cut down on power usage. I think I am doing reasonably well on the eco front! I was delighted to learn that the decorations on the magnificent tree provided for St Laurence’s each year by the Powys Estate are all eco-friendly, many of them hand-made by young people from natural materials. The other eco worry during the festive season relates to paper recycling. Wrapping paper comes in a baffling array of colours and textures. The temptation to indulge in the brightest and most glitzy, particularly for the grandchildren, is very real. However many types of wrapping paper are unsuitable for recycling. If you scrunch it up and it springs back it cannot be recycled. Fortunately my love of handicrafts leads me to wrap presents in recycled and recyclable brown paper, adding decorations and reusable ribbon. Sellotape must be removed before putting the paper in the recycling bag. Christmas cards can also be problematic. Any card with glitter on it cannot be recycled. But these days there are many good cards that are not only recyclable but are made from recycled materials - a real win-win. And such cards which also result in donations to charities are the icing on the cake. Perhaps there are ways that we can all enjoy a greener, more eco friendly Christmas this year whilst still remembering the real reason for the celebration – Christ’s birth. I wish you all a happy green Christmas. Hilary Walters
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41 On how to make the most of carol singing Festive cheer from Revd Dr Gary Bowness The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Carol singing is not what it used to be. My fond memories of a group of choristers, muffled in scarves and overcoats, carrying lanterns, and walking from door to door in the snow, as they sang ‘While shepherds watched …’ had to be suddenly revised when I saw your own music group, in T-shirts inscribed with ‘Jesus loves You’, singing ‘Little donkey’, in your shopping centre. I suspect any money you raised would just about have paid for the electricity used to power your banks of electronic equipment. Singing in the main square of the centre next to the fountain may have looked good, but it seemed to mean that the men in the choir were obliged to make constant trips to the lavatory. Here at St James the Least of All, carol singing is regarded as a rare perk for the choir. The year when the Boys’ Brigade tried to break their monopoly was suppressed with a ruthlessness that would have impressed Genghis Kahn. Our annual carol-singing route involves months of meticulous planning. We find that a transparent collection box is vital, so that donors can see what earlier patrons have given. This means that those who are bound to put in notes must be visited first – ‘pour encourager les autres’. It also needs a detachable base, so that if coppers are given, they can be removed from sight before the next call. Those homes that contain several children are visited just after bedtime, so that parents will give generously simply to get the choir to go somewhere else. Veiled threats to stay and sing more carols (unless they give generously) are usually very effective. Getting whoever looks the most innocent and photogenic to ring the bell and ask for money is a far more subtle way of ensuring a donation than planting any number of mafia lookalikes (such as our church treasurer) on the doorstep. The choir always finishes its evening at the local pub – but again, the timing must be carefully managed. Too early and there will only be the landlord, his wife and their Labrador to listen. Too late and people will be so full of Christmas cheer that any carols will be hi-jacked and become the equivalent of back-of-the bus rugby songs. Your loving uncle, Eustace (Image by Oberholster Venita)
42 Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office 01584 872073 Office Administrator Nicky Luck Finance & Strategy Director Peter Nield Gift Aid Secretary Michael Hunt Director of Music Michael Oakley Custodian Matthew Lenthall Conservation Trust Chair Ian Marshall PCC Churchwardens Dick Franks 892019 Lesley Harling 318309 Assistant Michael Davies 07970 434822 Churchwarden Electoral Roll Officer Dick Franks 892019 Safeguarding Officer Dick Franks 892019 PCC Minutes Secretary vacant Bible Reading Penelope Bridstrup 876992 Fellowship Flowers Sue Thornley 872292 Monthly Prayer Group Sandi Burley 873155 Tower Captain Richard Bracher 811514 Ludlow Tower editor Lesley Harling 318309 Find this and previous issues of the Ludlow Tower on line at www.stlaurences.org.uk Ludlow St John Parish Office Nicky Luck 872073 Churchwarden Mike Beazley 873570 Treasurer Mike Beazley 873570 PCC Secretary Mike Beazley 873570 Electoral Roll Sue Thomas 0792990671 Ashfords Benefice Rector Revd Lynn Money Parish Office Sarah Davies 319381 Bromfield Benefice Rector Revd Justin Parker Parish Office Martin Scott 07493 247184 COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER There is no guarantee that material submitted will be included. Please send articles by email to office@stlaurences.org.uk We are happy to receive contributions and suggestions for inclusion in the magazine. Please limit items to no more than 400 words, except by prior agreement with the editor. Parish of Ludlow Saint Laurence Registered Charity No 1132703 PARISH DIRECTORy Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office, 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 1AN (currently closed for refurbishment) e-mail: office@stlaurences.org.uk website: www.stlaurences.org.uk For appointments (Monday or Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm at Hands Together Ludlow (Lower Galdeford) call 01584 872073 Rector: Revd Preb Kelvin Price 07799 243867 Pioneer Curate & Intergenerational Missioner: Revd Wayne Davies 07545 438892
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