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3 This issue of the Ludlow Tower reflects the sombre mood which often prevails in February. A shortage of sunshine, and even daylight, contributes to a general gloom. The excitement of Christmas is behind us and the joy of Easter a long way off, which makes it an ideal time to take stock and consider what comes next. For Christians this is formalised in the 40 days of Lent, starting on Ash Wednesday (p7), when we are called on to reflect, consider our failings, and resolve to do better in future. On the same principle we look at challenges facing churches in decline (p17), challenges facing the British prison system (p27) and challenges facing the world in the Middle East (p5) - areas where ‘could do better’ might seem a fair verdict. On a lighter note we learn about a fantastical beast and its representation in St Laurence’s (p15), ecologicallyfriendly approaches to a traditional seasonal domestic activity (p39) and hear how Uncle Eustace relishes the challenges of winter (p41). Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309 This month’s cover: Photograph: Lesley Harling Blackbird among snowdrops Graphic design: Nicky Luck Nickyluck@nannolica.co.uk Printing: Signworx Hereford Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire CONTENTS Becoming one family 5 The ashes of repentance 7 Remember the Sabbath day 9 Growing confidence in the word of God 9 Introducing - Philip Watts 11 Christmas at St John’s 13 Good news for everyone 13 A pelican in its piety 15 How do churches grow? 17 Safeguarding Ludlow Tower 19 Sunday services in Ludlow 20 What’s on in February 25 Out of sight 27 Grave matters - John Towers 29 Tea for two and two for tea 31 Do you remember Nova Kakhovka? 33 Touching cloth 35 Poets’ Corner - A E Housman 37 Have a heart! 38 Is cleanliness next to godliness? 39 Children’s page 40 On why rural churchgoers like to freeze 41 Parish directory & copy deadline 42 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.
4 Seafood bar now open Friday & Saturday Open Wed & Thur 10am-1pm Fri & Sat 10am-3.30pm
5 becoming one family In the late 1980s and 90s I was much enamoured of a group of classicallytrained American musicians, the Kronos Quartet, who played new and experimental music. In 1992 they recorded a piece including the words of I F Stone, a visionary, idealistic and independent Russian Jewish journalist and commentator on American society. In 1982 Stone gave a lecture to the Ford Hall Forum, the oldest free public lecture series in the United States which was broadcast on National Public Radio in April 1983. Kronos used Stone’s voice and words from this lecture. They became part of my mind memory and remain there still. The calm, quiet, reflective voice of Stone begins: ‘You know I have so little to say here this evening, but there’s so many things that have been said over and over again that need to be said again and again … It’s too small a planet … We are becoming one family …’ He believes there is a race underway and a real ideological conflict between those universalists who think broadly about humankind and ;those reversions to barbarity and tribalism, who are still hung up in ancient and anachronistic hatreds like we see in Ulster, like we see in Israel, Palestine.’ The message is as potent now as it was in 1983 when first broadcast. So here we are 40 years on. Of course I am writing this at the end of December ’23 and maybe when you read this page in February ‘24 the calm voices of peace makers will have brought us to a different place. I hope it will be noted that trying to annihilate the enemy is a risky strategy. It may forge a steel will, a diamond hardness and a heart of flint, qualities that will enable fearful and determined survivors to achieve more than they believed possible. But it also risks barbarity, a blindness and deafness, that denies survivors their own humanity. I hope it will be noted that there is huge potential for fruit, that those who were so badly abused can reject anger and become compassionate, going beyond empathy to alleviate the suffering of others - becoming universalists. Both voices can be heard in Israel and Palestine today. It is such a delicate task to hear the pain of past woundings, to watch in sorrow the dark clouds of future tragedy forming. And to listen to the gentle, patient voices of those who struggle daily to embrace the richness and needs of our common humanity. This week I watched a documentary about Daniel Barenboim in Gaza with an orchestra drawn from many European countries. He talked to the Palestinian audience about his passports (Israeli and Palestinian) and his hopes for the future before conducting a concert of western music, music from outside the culture of his audience. Becoming one family - it went well and was much appreciated. Stone ended his lecture, ‘Is it necessary to have to repeat after 2,000 years all the things you people read in Sunday school?! How - absent minded - how forgetful … there’s very little time left … either we learn to live together, or we die together’. Revd Sylvia Turner
6 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.
7 The Ashes of repentance Everyone knows when it’s Shrove Tuesday - the shops urge us to buy in plenty of eggs and lemons and the media are full of tips on how to toss our pancakes successfully. Most people have some idea of the origins of Shrove Tuesday – the day to consume the last of your eggs and fat before embarking on the Lenten fast leading up to Easter. We hear rather less nowadays about the day after Shrove Tuesday, an altogether more solemn occasion and the real start of Lent – Ash Wednesday. But why ‘Ash’ Wednesday? The reason has to do with getting things right between you and God, and the tradition goes right back to the Old Testament. The Israelites often sinned. When they finally came to their senses, and saw their evil ways as God saw them, they could do nothing but repent in sorrow, mourning for the damage and evil they had done and they covered their heads with ashes. For the Israelites, putting ashes on your head, and even rending (tearing) your clothes, was an outward sign of heart-felt repentance and acknowledgement of sin. In the very early Christian Church, the yearly ‘class’ of penitents who were to be baptised at dawn on Easter Day had ashes sprinkled over them at the start of Lent. They were turning to God for the first time and mourning their sins. Soon many other Christians wanted to take part in the custom, heeding Joel’s call to ‘rend your hearts and not your garments’. As the ‘beginning of the fast’ or ‘the day of the ashes’ Ash Wednesday was a day to remember the readiness of God to forgive and renew us. The formal custom of ‘ashing’ was abolished at the Reformation, though the old name for the day remained and many churches, including St Laurence’s, hold a special service during which the congregation can receive a mark of ashes on their forehead reminding them of their mortality: ‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return …’ (Genesis 3:19). In the Middle Ages the branches from the previous Palm Sunday were burned to create the ashes. At St Laurence’s we burn the small palm crosses carried by the congregation in the Palm Sunday procession. The Lenten period ushered in by Ash Wednesday has been marked over the years as a period of self-discipline, fasting and spiritual journeying. It is a period of penitence and self-examination and seeing ourselves from God’s perspective. Even if we don’t have a strong faith we have learnt through the work of educational neuroscientists that intentional self-reflection helps us to learn and enhances how we apply, transfer, retain and recall new ideas and information. Lent Courses provide an opportunity to explore these issues (see p9).
8 5 The Angel, Broad Street, Ludlow, Sy8 2PG Proud to be the architect for the Stephen House Project Creating a mission space for St Laurence’s Skip Hire, Waste Management & Recycling Tenbury Wells, Ludlow, Leominster, Craven Arms and LOCAL MAN wishes to buy Antiques, Bric à brac, Collectables and Deceaseds’ Effects Please call 01584 892128 07508 809710
9 One of the first events in Hereford Diocese’s Year of Faith in 2024 will be a Teaching Day at St Laurence’s on Saturday 10 February. The day is designed to help us all to deepen our understanding and strengthen our faith. It will begin at 10am with worship before Bishop Richard shares his insights. This will be followed by seminars in smaller groups and the event will close at 1pm. There is no charge but you will need to register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bishopsteaching-event-growing-confidence-inthe-word-of-god-ludlow-tickets768378870887 Whether you're a seasoned saint or just starting your spiritual journey, this event is open to all. Come and be inspired! Growing confidence in the word of God … and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Exodus 20:8l The Sabbath is a 24-hour time period set aside to stop, rest, delight, and worship. It does not have to be Sunday but it is the best day of the week. In our era of chronic exhaustion, poor mental and emotional health and spiritual stagnation, few things are more necessary than the recovery of this ancient practice of setting aside a day every week to focus on being, rather than doing, reflecting and giving thanks. Are you interested in following Jesus more closely and balancing your life in a way that God intended? If so, then this course is for you. There will be open discussion, and refreshments. Put the dates in your diary now: 6.30pm-8.00pm Wednesdays 21 and 28 February 6 and 13 March St Laurence’s To book a place contact the Parish Office - office@stlaurences.org.uk or 01584 872073. Remember the sabbath day
10 Third services every month CHORAL EVENSONG 3.30pm In the chancel Sunday 4 February 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 Sunday 25 February Fourth Sunday CHORAL MATINs 11.30am In the chancel Sunday 18 February 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 11 February Second Sunday The Living Room Fifth Sunday - Benefice Service
11 INTRODUCING ... Tell us a bit about yourself. I am Philip Watts and I first came to the Ludlow area in 1963, at the age of 5. My father, Hugh Watts, along with Derek Henderson founded Moor Park Prep School and that was to be home until my parents retired and moved down to Cornwall in 1982. In their first term they had just 11 boys and the school is still going strong, 60 years later! After school I trained as a teacher at St Mary’s, Twickenham and spent the next 37 years teaching, at the Dragon School in Oxford, Farleigh House in Andover and Cheam outside Newbury. I taught Maths to those who struggled with the subject but I was at my happiest on the games field, coaching cricket, football and cross country running. I retired, early, to North Cornwall where we had all our family holidays but found myself rater isolated – a strange feeling after years in busy schools. What brought you to Ludlow? I have loads of family in the area, including five great nephews and nieces who I am enjoying watching grow up. Also Ludlow was ‘home’ for nearly 20 years and so I came ‘home’. What is your role at St Laurence's? I steward once a week and I organise the tombola at the Winter Fair, with huge support from my fellow residents at Betjeman Lodge. I am a regular member of the 8.15 congregation on Sundays, a very precious 45 minutes in the week, which leave me the rest of the day to go cycling (on my e-bike) or walking. I love walking and take 2-3 walking holidays a year, usually with HF (Holiday Fellowship). Is there a feature of the church which is special for you? I love the chancel especially the misericords. There is nothing I like better than sharing my limited knowledge of it and I marvel constantly at the beauty and detail, wondering how they did it all 600 years ago. How do you spend any spare time? I love to keep busy and have a number of volunteering roles during the week. I help in the gardens at both Berrington Hall and Burford House, I help out at the Assembly Rooms when they are short of stewards and I am an assistant green keeper at Brimfield and Little Hereford Bowling Club. I am also a season ticket holder at Hereford FC - I have supported them for over 50 years. A memorable holiday experience? Taking a school group from Oxford to Davos on a National Express coach – three teachers with 50 11-13 year olds and no toilet on board. We got lost then got stuck in snow. And back the same way a week later. The next year they flew. I went to Cornwall for a rest. What might we be surprised to know about you? I was nearly caught up in a war in 1982. I was on another school trip on the SS Uganda in the Mediterranean, when it was requisitioned as a hospital ship to go to the Falklands. So, 1000 children and their teachers were offloaded at Naples to find their way home.
12 COME AND JOIN US Looking to give your business a boost? Advertise in one of the top parish magazines in the country. Full-page splash or a simple small ad, we have the perfect option for you. Published monthly in full colour. In print and on-line. Find out more at https:// stlaurences.org.uk/ news/ socialmedia@ stlaurences.org.uk 01584 872073
christmas at st john’s In December a large congregation enjoyed a lovely Christmas Carol Service, courtesy of the Ludlow Town Band. The Toddler Group had a visit from Father Christmas. Does anyone recognise him? There is a prize for the first person to identify Santa. Email your guess to Sue Thomas at suethomas465@gmail.com. FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERAL 13 December Colin Dubberley Good news for everyone And it really is good news. Last year we started placing copies of the Testaments (New Testament and Psalms) in the porch at St Laurence’s with an invitation to take away a free copy. Since then more than 300 of these small red and blue books have gone out into the homes of local residents, visitors and pilgrims where we hope they are offering comfort and solace, especially in times of trouble The books are provided by Good News for Everyone, formerly known as Gideons (UK). Its mission is to introduce others to the Lord Jesus Christ by placing, presenting and/or distributing Scriptures. The work began in 1908 when a group of Christian businessmen set out to place a bible in every hotel room but the organisation has widened its scope to include schools, hospitals, prisons, the fire, police and ambulance services, sports clubs and many other areas of public life.
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15 One of these mythical creatures is called a ‘pelican’ and the Physiologus tells a strange story about it. This bird is said to have very strong maternal feelings. As her young grow, they take to striking her in the face. She retaliates and kills them. Repenting of this terrible deed she weeps over them, and on the third day she wounds herself deliberately in the breast. As her blood spills onto the dead chicks they revive. If we ignore the bit about actually killing her offspring, it’s easy to draw parallels with the Christian message: we strike God in the face by not following His ways, but Jesus gave his blood for us and thereby we are saved. Over the centuries the story became rather tamer, removing most of the violence. A pelican pecking her own breast to feed her young is described as ‘a pelican in its piety’. About 1260 Thomas Aquinas wrote: Like what tender tales tell of the pelican Bathe me, Lord Jesus, in what Thy bosom ran Blood that but one drop of has the power to win All the world forgiveness of its world of sin. Christian art has always made great use of fantastical beasts, and several of these are to be seen on our misericords. The first text to describe these beasts was the Physiologus, probably written in the 2nd century. Each creature is described, together with an anecdote which highlights its particular moral or symbolic qualities. A PELICAN IN ITS PIETy A ‘pelican’ striking its breast to revive its young was a common image in the Middle Ages. The two examples in St Laurence’s, however, are both in 19th century windows. One (L) is in the west window, just to the right of the seated Christ. The other (R) is in the westernmost window in the north aisle, at the top of the right-hand light. Hugh Wood
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17 In the Book of Acts the church grew, as it grows in much of the world today. In the West there are growing churches but also a great deal of decline. In recent years many studies have been done into the principles of church growth by such as Eddie Gibbs (Bible Society), the Archbishops’ Springboard Trust, the Barna Institute, the Issachar Trust and Christian Schwarz, a German researcher, who published his findings under the caption of ‘Natural Church Development’. Researching over 1,000 churches on all continents, he brought down his conclusions to eight points, which have remarkable similarity to the conclusions of the other projects: Empowering leadership: Supporting, mentoring and motivating one’s flock to attain their potential. Where there is no vision the people perish (Prov. 29:180) and where there is no strategy the vison perishes. Peter Brierley of Christian Research reckoned this to be the most important factor as it is positive leadership that ensures all the other characteristics are implemented. Gift-orientated ministry: Schwarz discovered that 80% of Christians do not know what their spiritual gifts are, so people take on tasks they are not gifted for and many fail to make the contribution they could. Various courses are available to help people discover what gifts the Holy Spirit has given them, whether currently patent or latent. 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-16 and other Scriptures hold out a voyage of discovery for many! Passionate spirituality: In the Book of Acts, people were led to repentance and faith to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, leading them to live out their faith with contagious enthusiasm. Prayer was in the lifeblood of everything the church did; Scripture was alive and determinative of all that occurred. Functional structures: Tradition takes second place to making disciples and helping people to grow in their faith. The main leaders are relieved of admin to devote themselves to the word of God and prayer (Acts 6). Inspiring worship services: Liturgy is a servant not a master; an uncommitted person would come in and find an absence of ecclesiastical jargon but be able to say ‘Surely God is in this place’ (1 Cor. 14:25). Holistic small groups: People have an arena where they can learn to express their faith, share their problems and joys and feel supported. Much development of gifts can take place here, plus outreach to the uncommitted friends of group members (viz Acts 2:42-47) Need-orientated outreach: Surrounded by an ocean of need, we can show the difference Jesus can make to the lives of both individuals and communities. We can help people see how the Good News of Jesus applies to so many of the issues commonly faced today, eg Romans 12. (cont on p 19) HOW DO CHURCHES GROW?
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19 (cont from p17) Loving relationships: Quality relationships, demonstrated by a lot of laughter! People stay if they make six meaningful friendships. Most people come to faith by belonging before they believe; then in relationship they learn the maturity of ‘behaving’, in accordance with God’s will and blessing for their lives. Humble service to one another shows we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:31-35). I personally found there was a huge amount to learn about church leadership, but as God brought certain people alongside at certain times, He led me to see much fruit, by His working! The above is my prayer agenda for our churches here in Ludlow! Richard Hill safeguarding ludlow tower Last month we promised details of how you can help safeguard the future of this parish magazine as a shortfall of advertising revenue to meet production costs. If you value the Ludlow Tower and are able to make a single annual donation of £10 please Put your contribution, in an envelope marked ‘Parish magazine donation’, in the donations box in church, completing the Gift Aid declaration if appropriate; cash or cheque payable to ‘Ludlow PCC’ or Pay by BACS CAF BANK, Sort 405240 Acc 00016766 using the reference ‘Parish magazine’ Don’t miss out on your copy If you are not always able to pick up a copy of the magazine at the beginning of the month and would like reserve a copy you can Make sure there is a name on the envelope with your donation and give your name to a steward when you come in to St Laurence’s to pick up your copy. We will hold reserved copies until the 24th of the month. If you would like to receive the magazine by post please increase your donation to £20 and provide a full postal address. This will cover 12 monthly issues.
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 ludlowbaptistchurch@outlook.com 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 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
24 ADVERTISING RATES 2023 - 24 (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
25 WHAT’S ON AT ST LAURENCE’S In FEBRUARY 22 January - 3 February Christening gown display 10am-5pm Sunday 4 10.30pm Choral Evensong Monday 5 3.00pm Open tea Saturday 10 10am-1pm Bishop’s Teaching Day Sunday 11 3.30pm The Living Room Wednesday 14 7.00pm Solemn Eucharist for Ash Wednesday Saturday 17 7.30pm Concert - Edge Chamber Choir Sunday 18 Choral Matins 11.30am Wednesday 21 6.30pm Lent Course session 1 Thursday 22 10.30am Intercessory Prayer Meeting Sunday 25 6.00pm Celtic Prayer service Wednesday 28 6.30pm Lent Course session 2 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 For the latest news about what’s on go to https:// stlaurences.org.uk/google-calendar/ FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERALS 19 December William (Billy) Preece 5 January Florence (Betty) Hooper 16 January Joyce Nash (Garden of Remembrance)
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27 Out of sight ... In an article in the December Tower I listed a number of threats to our nation and the world. I suggested that a church publication should share with a wider readership a Christian response to the challenges which face us. I hoped that others might contribute. Perhaps what seemed a rather gloomy forecast was discouraging. But pessimistic? I maintain not. Faith in a loving God who triumphs over evil precludes pessimism and allows us to believe that through all the turmoil of this world of suffering, love will prevail. His Kingdom will come. The Church is committed to engage in the struggle to bring that on: to uphold justice and relieve suffering. The squalid state of our prisons was mentioned. The Church helped to develop a more humane and rehabilitative prison system over the past centuries especially in providing institutions for young offenders. By no means perfect, with too much reliance on harsh discipline and deportation, but we saw off capital and corporal punishment. Prison chaplains and movements like the Howard League brought more compassion and programmes of rehabilitation into the system. Post-war emphasis was laid on developing alternatives to custody with an expanded Probation Service providing opportunities through Community Service for offenders to contribute to society. Sadly, much of that has fallen away in recent years and the prison population has doubled to near 90,000. Some new prisons were built with an emphasis on training but staff shortages and overcrowding mean that even in those better conditions it is three prisoners to a cell where they are locked in for 23 hours a day. Generally, no recreation or preparation for release and the forbidding city prisons built in the 19th century are infested with vermin and dominated by drug trafficking. They are violent places and with rapid staff turnover and an entry level at 20 it is hardly surprising that shutting people up in a cell seems the best way of maintaining some degree of control. The longer-term investment of money and manpower has to compete with more vote -winning causes and instead of being a world leader in criminal justice we accept a high level of incarceration as the easiest option. All of this is happening in our name so should be of concern, but we have little personal exposure to it. In the past, local magistrates' courts and jails meant that the public knew rather more of what was going on. Nowadays, the courts with their long delays between charge and trial, a shortage of criminal lawyers and of legal aid risk bringing the whole system to breakdown. The Church needs to be better informed about the failing system and become involved. More than a hundred years ago a Home Secretary declared that a mark of a civilised society was the way it dealt with its offenders. That was Winston Churchill. We are failing him. Michael Day Editor’s note: Do you have a view on the role of the Church of England in addressing such challenges which you would like to share? You will find guidance on submitting articles for the Ludlow Tower on p42.
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29 GRAVE MATTERS: John Towers (1821-1871) Nick Ford introduces us to another Ludlow character buried in St Leonard’s churchyard. John was the eldest of five children, son of Sarah and John Towers. He followed his father into the butchery trade. In July 1844 he married Louisa Pearce, the daughter of a publican in Gaolford. He became a wealthy, respectable pillar of the community despite a fairly colourful life. In October 1844 he is fined 1/6d costs at Ludlow Petty Sessions for assault and 'pound-breach' - illegally retrieving his sheep from impoundment for trespassing into a meadow off Dodmore Lane. In those days it was not unusual for a butcher to raise his own stock, and cattle raising and showing became the basis of John's career. In 1850 he and two friends were fined 5/- and 11/4d costs at the Petty Sessions for riding through Cleobury Mortimer drunk and yelling ‘FIRE!’. I imagine they had had a good day at market. The 1851 census sees John and Louisa living above their own shop in the Narrows with a 3-year old son John and a servant girl aged 13. That year he, and no fewer than 23 other local tradesmen, was found guilty of using false weights and scales, and fined 2/6d, with 7/4d. costs. From 1853 he was a juryman at the Ludlow Borough Court quarter sessions. By then he had a slaughterhouse in Tower Street, and stables on Upper Linney, and was renting extensive grazing at Ludford Farm. 1854 saw him engaged in one of several lawsuits against the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Company, demanding £50 compensation for four cows run down by a locomotive, after they wandered onto the unfenced line. The railway company claimed that the cows had damaged their locomotive!. Despite the County Court judge's directions to the jury that the railway company was not obliged to fence the line, the jury (all Ludlow men) found in John's favour. By now John was winning prizes at sheep and cattle shows in the West Midlands and supplying cattle to the markets of Wolverhampton and Birmingham. In 1861 he was still in the Narrows with Louisa and John Junior, 13, who was still at school - presumably the Grammar School - and the establishment had swelled to four servants. John was renting extensive grazing land between Clungunford and Ludford, owned his own land in Whitbatch and off Corve Street and was showing as far afield as London. In 1868 he was elected a member of the Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture, and the 1871 census, a few months before his death, lists him as a farmer of 600 acres employing ten men. He died at Whitbatch Farm on 13 September the same year, well known as a farmer and cattle dealer - quite an achievement for a man of humble origins. John Towers’ grave
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31 Tea for Two and Two for Tea February is the time for love … well Valentine’s Day is and that falls smack in the middle of the month, although not quite this leap year. So what about a tête à tête over a pot of tea? Shock headline: More Brits are drinking coffee in preference to tea! But tea is so quintessentially British, isn’t it? Yet apparently 63% of us will reach for a coffee first, while 59% will have tea. Figures and research aside, many of us still relish a cup of tea and, whilst Icon Coffee is primarily a coffee shop, complete with fabulous cakes, they do serve an abundant selection of teas, from a marvellous supplier. Teapigs are committed to sustainability and ethical practices, sourcing their tea from Rainforest Alliance and Ethical Tea Partnership-certified tea estates, donating a percentage of sales to support a tea-growing community in Rwanda and using recyclable packaging There is, of course, ordinary (green) tea, but Icon also offers a range of other infusions - you can’t really refer to a hot drink made without any leaves of the Camellia sinensis (green tea) plant, tea. You can enjoy peppermint, lemon, chamomile and several combinations of fruits, I quite fancy the liquorice and peppermint. Peppermint alone is a super balm for colds and coughs, and upset tummies. Matcha green tea is a new one to me. It is actually ‘tea powder’ and is consumed differently from tea leaves or tea bags, as it is whisked into a liquid, typically water or milk. Cultivating matcha tea is also slightly different, with the leaves kept in the shade for the critical final weeks of growth. The leaves are the harvested by hand, deveined, destemmed and stone-ground. Grinding the leaves is a slow process because the mill stones must not get too warm, lest the aroma of the leaves be altered. Up to one hour may be needed to grind just 30 grams of matcha The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is all about the preparation, serving and drinking of matcha as hot tea, embodying a meditative spirituality. So let’s embrace that for February - tea for two with added spirituality, in the delightful setting of St Laurence. Icon Coffee Open Monday - Saturday10.00-4.30
32 Wood stoves, open fires, Rayburns & Agas NACS qualified and insured Chimney Sweep Ring Miss Sooty 07931405111 or 01547540838 Victoria Allen Funeral Services An Independent Family Business Pre- Paid Funeral Plans Home Visits Always Available 24 Hour Service 01584 879035 Garden maintenance Michael Doyle Plantsman Over 30 years’ experience 07855 930641 doylemj@hotmail.co.uk 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. Open tea at st laurence 3.00pm First Monday in the month All welcome. Monday 5 February Christian Aid Lent Lunches 2024 Friday 1 March Friday 8 March For details or to offer assistance call Claire on 01584 877199
33 Christian Aid is probably associated in most people’s minds with responses to major emergencies and natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes and earthquakes and less well known for its ongoing development work, as featured in the most recent articles in the Tower. This month we return to an example of Christian Aid’s response to a man-made national disaster - one of which we heard little at the time and I, for one, had forgotten. As if Ukrainians were not suffering enough, the huge Nova Kakhovka dam collapsed in June 2023, for reasons which remain unclear (catastrophic failure or Russian-laid explosives?). Torrents of water swept downstream at huge speed drowning people and animals in their path and submerging homes, roads and farmland in areas that had already endured months of conflict and occupation. Christian Aid, with its partner, Blythswood Care, who were already in the area delivering humanitarian aid, was able to respond immediately, rescuing survivors, sheltering them in a hub in Odessa and supplying safe drinking water, hygiene kits, bedding and generators. Christian Aid immediately channelled funding towards support for local relief efforts and renewed its emergency appeal for Ukraine (which we supported here in Ludlow), contributing another £350,000 to the joint relief effort. Christian Aid is focusing its continuing humanitarian response on the villages in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. These areas are hard to reach, having suffered heavy shelling in the early months of the war and spent many months under Russian occupation. The dam disaster compounded their problems. As we, with our lights, heating, warm beds and food, bemoan winter can we even begin to imagine how hard life has been, and still is, for the people affected? As well as ensuring emergency water and electricity Christian Aid is concerned about the availability of health services in the flood-affected areas and further afield. With other aid agencies Christian Aid has provided four ambulances to deliver mobile medical services to inaccessible villages through the winter and beyond. The media spotlight may have moved on from Ukraine but please remember in your prayers the victims of the dam disaster, those affected by the war in Ukraine or by the East African famine and the innumerable communities worldwide who ‘routinely’ suffer from, often unreported, violence and oppression and the ongoing situation in the Middle East, the cradle of our faith. Claire Wilcox Do you remember Nova Kakhovka?
34 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
35 The belltower was one place where gentry could get exercise whatever the weather. But of course ringing the bells too much, without ringing proper methods or even changes, would have annoyed the local populace. So a series of ropes were rigged up with large lumps of wood on the end instead of bells. As these made no noise, they were known as dumb bells. To this day, if you go for exercise in a gymnasium you might use dumb bells. Church speak - did you know? Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie Transworld Publishers £16.99 From Fergus Butler-Gallie, author of the hilarious A Field Guide to the English Clergy (some still alive!), comes a laughout-loud memoir about his own 21st century journey into priesthood in the Church of England. He starts in his ‘Author’s notes’ by declaring that our own St Laurence is his favourite saint because he has such a sense of humour – for that reason alone the book’s worth a read. Touching cloth is a humorous tale written in the style of a diary following the liturgical year in a city centre church in Liverpool. It is filled with many funny stories of clerical mishaps and spiritual reflections. Butler-Gallie acknowledges that everyone’s journey into priesthood is different. Through his adventures you can find out random facts such as a black cassock is actually slimming, how to keep a straight face when someone is inadvertently smoking dope at a funeral, how to manage when you knock over a biscuit tin setting off a very loud personal alarm that no-one is able to turn off, strategies for surviving the relentless number of Christmas carol services (which repeat the same carols and the nativity readings), and coping when your cassock is blown over your head à la Marilyn Monroe while taking a remembrance service. What is clear from this book is that Butler-Gallie loves being a priest, and especially loves the amazing number of ordinary people who help keep the Church going. In his epilogue, he relates that, after Liverpool, he moved on to a curacy in central London, where things did not work out and he subsequently failed to find a living. However, the good news is that he is now happily installed as assistant curate at his old school, Tonbridge in Kent, where he leads services, provides pastoral support, teaches divinity and coaches rugby. touching cloth: Confessions and communions of a young priest
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37 Poets’ corner Loveliest of trees Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with blossom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide Now of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again And take from seventy springs a score It only leaves me fifty more. And since to look at things in bloom Fifty springs are little room About the woodlands I will go To see the cherry hung with snow. A E Housman We welcome contributions to this series. If you enjoy reading it and have a favourite (short) poem which you would like to share please send it to the Parish Office: office@stlaurences.org.uk A E Housman 1859-1936 Despite the enormous popularity of his poetry A E (Alfred Edward) Housman saw himself as a classical scholar rather than a poet. He was born and brought up in Worcestershire - and had never set foot in Shropshire when he wrote his best-known poem A Shropshire Lad. Housman failed his finals at Oxford and went to work in the Patent Office, studying Latin texts in the British Museum in the evenings and publishing papers privately. Nevertheless he became Professor of Latin, first at University College London and later at Cambridge, spending 30 years annotating and emending the work of Manlius, a first century CE Latin poet. Housman’s introversion and an awareness of his homosexuality contributed to a reclusive nature. The death of his mother on his twelfth birthday affected him deeply, infusing his poetry with a Romantic pessimism and a sharp awareness of the passing of time and the inevitability of death. Housman’s ashes are buried here at St Laurence’s, which houses a fine piece of stitchwork commemorating his most famous poem as well as a memorial cherry tree in the churchyard. Happy moments - praise God. Difficult moments - seek God. Quiet moments - worship God. Painful moments - trust God. Every moment - thank God.
38 HaVE A HEART! Every saint, however famous or obscure, has a special day. Many fall on the date the individual died, thus achieving sainthood, but many were simply assigned a date by the Church. One of the few saints whose Saint’s Day everyone knows is Saint Valentine, celebrated on 14 February, a date now known as Valentine’s Day and associated more with affairs of the heart than with celebration of the life of a saint. Historians know little of Valentine’s early life so his story starts after he became a priest. Valentine became famous for marrying couples who were in love but could not legally get married in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, who had outlawed weddings. He needed lots more soldiers for his army and thought that marriage would hinder his recruitment campaign and distract men from the work of soldiering. There are various different stories about St Valentine, but the most consistent is the idea that he was marrying Christian couples, and this did not please Claudius. Valentine was arrested by Judge Asterius. While held under house arrest he discussed Christianity with Asterius who brought his blind daughter for Valentine to restore her sight, which he did and, so the story goes, Asterius and his household of nearly 50 converted to Christianity. When Valentine was imprisoned he wrote a note to Asterius’ daughter, Julia, and signed it ‘your Valentine’ thus, inspiring the tradition of signing love notes in February in that way. Another story says Valentine used to cut out hearts from small pieces of paper and give them to persecuted Christians to encourage them to ‘take heart’ and this is credited as the start of the custom of giving hearts on his assigned feast day in February. Of the multitude of Valentine messages, the sweet naïve childhood rhyme suits the Saint’s day perfectly! Roses are red Violets are blue, Sugar is sweet And so are you. Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, inventor, philosopher and writer said of the perverse course of love: The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. The Shop at St Laurence stocks an assortment of lovely hearts, buy one for your true love, or indeed anyone to whom you would like to send love. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm The Shop at St Laurence Mobile: 07833 866485 www.theshopatstlaurence.co.uk
39 Is Cleanliness next to godliness? Notes from an eco worrier There is an event that occurs in many houses at this time of year, though there is no exact date, called ‘spring cleaning’. It is not something I subscribe to myself, but it got me thinking about how ecofriendly cleaning can be. There are a number of theories about the origins of the practice, but my favourite is that it started in North America and Northern Europe before the advent of vacuum cleaners. As the weather got a little warmer in spring it was a good time to dust the house to within an inch of its life and open up the windows. The winds would carry the dust away, but it was too early in the year for insects to be a problem. This all sounds very ‘green’ to me. In my youth I recall cleaning involving strong chemicals. If the house didn’t smell of bleach it wasn’t properly clean. If you weren’t lucky enough to have a pair of strong rubber gloves the outer layer of skin would be removed in the process. Goodness only knows what all those chemicals were doing to the environment! But that didn’t matter as long as the house had had a good ‘bottoming’ as it was known. The phrase ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’, beloved of my grandmother, seems very inappropriate when considering the care of the earth that God entrusted to us. These days there are many excellent, naturefriendly alternatives to these strong cleaners. Social media is full of good advice. Vinegar or bicarbonate of soda, with or without the use of lemon juice, appears to be a popular one. There are ‘magical’ micro-fibre cloths that need no chemicals at all, merely water and some of them even attract dust. There are environmentally-friendly dishwasher tablets, which can also be used to clean carpets it seems. I watch these media posts about eco-friendly cleaning with interest. So much so that I find time has run away with me and I have no time left to clean. Ah well, maybe next year. A Rocha UK’s Easy Eco Tip for February Why not go green for Lent? The weeks leading up to Easter are a great time to start or give something up in a way that benefits nature and helps address climate change. Is there a change you can make to care better for creation and improve our lives and the lives of others through healthy, eco-friendly and sustainable living?
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41 On why rural folk like to freeze in church The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Winter certainly exposes the difference between those of you who live in cities and us rural folk. While you bask in your centrally-heated flat, and complain about the half an inch of slush outside, we country folk wear overcoats in our houses, open all doors and windows to let the heat in and battle through snow drifts, measured in feet, to get the morning paper. Colonel Wainwright has a new toy: a snow blower, of sufficient power that I believe it could clear the Antarctic. He kindly offered to clear the paths around the church, working outwards from the church door. The path was soon snowfree. Unfortunately, he only then realised the blown snow had formed a ten-foot drift under the lych gate. Miss Margison, ever helpful in the worst sense of the word, decided to unfreeze the pipes in the church hall. A blow torch was not the ideal solution, although the resulting burst did make some rather attractive ice sculptures round the kitchen equipment. The village badminton team that uses the hall has now temporarily changed sport to ice hockey. Inevitably, congregations have soared. There is nothing like adversity for making people want to prove they have the moral fibre to overcome it. Satisfaction seems to be obtained on discovering who has not dared venture out, which is taken as judgement on their strength of character. The Prentices upstaged most people by arriving on a sleigh. Mr Prentice was warmly wrapped in a travelling rug, while his wife pulled it. As they both explained, they couldn’t possibly let the pony work in such conditions. What I momentarily thought was applause during my sermon was merely people keeping their hands warm and the hymns were drowned out by the stamping of feet. Our organist complained that the cold made his fingers so numb that he couldn’t play properly – although I didn’t notice that things were much different from normal. No, my dear nephew, a few flakes of wet snow may close your car park for health and safety reasons, but we shall continue to triumph heroically over adversity. We return home after Matins, knowing we have proved our Christian commitment in being utterly uncomfortable. Your loving uncle, Eustace
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 30 JANUARY 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 BEM 07545 438892
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