Ludlow Tower January 2021

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CONTENTS

It is traditional for the January issue of The inevitability of change 5
publications to imitate the Roman god 5
after whom the month is named. Janus, From the registers 7
the god of beginnings and transitions, is 7
usually depicted with two faces: one Incarnation - Ann Lewin
looking back to the past; and one 9
looking forward to the future. Few of PCC meeting summary - 11
us will be looking back to 2020 with November 13
any great affection, concentrating 13
instead on the prospect, offered by the Introducing - Stuart McLaren 15
arrival of Covid-19 vaccines, of a change 16
for the better in 2021, Follow the star 17
21
So this month we too focus on what Is this what the three kings saw?
lies ahead and on the changes the 23
future may bring. We look forward to Staying dry in 2021 and beyond
Epiphany and the coming of the Magi 25
(p5), contemplate the star of Bethlehem Notes from St John’s 27
which they followed (p11 & p13), 29
consider the future of UK funding for Sunday services in Ludlow
overseas development (p25), hear of 31
plans to ensure a flood-free Ludlow Ludlow local listing - small ads
(p13) and ponder some of the lessons 32
we might draw from 2020 to make for a What’s on at St Laurence’s in 32
happier 2021 (p27), which is exactly January
what we wish all our readers. Life and Learning @ Ludlow - 33
lectures in January 34
LMH
The future of UK overseas aid
Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309
Five things I’d like to see in 2021
This month’s cover:
Bring light into your home this
Photograph: Richard January

Orttewell Uncle Eustace - On dealing with
correspondence
Ludlow Castle snowscape
Celtic Prayer

Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity - 18-25 January

Children’s page

Parish directory & copy deadline

Graphic design: Nicky Luck Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this
[email protected] magazine are those of the contributor and do not
necessarily represent the position or opinions of
Printing : ABC Print Group
Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire the PCC or Editorial Committee.

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THE INEVITABILITY OF change

‘I see him - but not in the present. Change is of course inevitable, wherever
I perceive him - but not close at hand, we are and whatever we may be doing.
A star is emerging from Jacob.’ We like church to be cosy and familiar.
However, the virus has, I believe,
Numbers 24: 17 changed much about our ‘normal’
services: our liturgy, our music, our deep
‘And suddenly the star they had seen rising longing to feel comfortable and safe, but
went forward and halted over the place the virus has given us opportunities we
where the child was.’ would never have believed possible. Live
streaming has given thousands of people
Matthew 2: 9b (many of them unable to attend a
church service even occasionally, let
The Magi had come a long way, and now alone every week) a chance to, as some
what stood before them was an have said,‘come back to church’, which
ordinary stable, in an ordinary town. can only be good news!
Their exhausting journey was over:
They stand at a threshold. And as we Yes, change is both inevitable and very
begin a new year, we too stand at a necessary and we should not be fearful
threshold. of it. As these words from the Ancient
Office of Compline remind us,‘We who
Our Church, our world, all stand at a are wearied by the changes and chances
threshold. Could anyone ever have of this fleeting world may rest on God's
dreamt of such a year as 2020? How eternal changelessness’.
much has changed and will we ever
again have ‘normal’? We, like the Magi, Epiphany has much to teach us as we
have taken a journey of unknowing. As ponder ‘heaven in ordinary’ in the tiny
the world battled the powerful Covid little Baby God, but we have to let go of
virus, it seemed as though everything him, too, as Ann Lewin writes in her
had changed for ever. And change is not poem ‘Incarnation’ (see p7).
something most of us enjoy. Having a
virus control what we do is very Revd Ann Barge
uncomfortable.
FROM THE
The virus has caused unbearable
suffering worldwide, made thousands of REGISTERS
people homeless, jobless and without
hope. But it has also given us (in a FUNERALS
strange kind of way) an opportunity to
re assess what is important in our lives 21 December Simon Lissauer
and in our world, time to really look at
poverty, racial justice, homelessness and 22 December Geoffrey Stuart Wilson
the environment - how we use or
waste the wonderful gifts God has 23 December Mary Doris Price
entrusted to us. But we are not too
keen on change, especially, dare I say, in
our church life!

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PCC meeting incarnation

16 NOVEMBER 2020 He's grown, that Baby

Summary of main points Not that most people have noticed.
9 members of the PCC attended. He still looks the same,
 Resolutions: to co-opt Stuart Lying there in the straw, with
Animals and shepherds looking on.
McLaren to the PCC; to elect Dick He's safe there, locked in that moment
Franks as Vice Chair; to elect the Where time met eternity.
Standing Committee; to resume
work on revised lottery bid from Reality of course is different.
January 2021; to authorise payment He grew up, astonished people with his
of architect’s fees for drawings of Insight, disturbed them with
new boiler house, re-modelling of Ideas that stretched them into
Clive Arch and potential coffee shop New maturity.
 Covid-19: agreed arrangements for
opening during November lockdown Some found him
and for ticketed Christmas services Much too difficult to cope with,
 Fabric: two roof re-leading projects Nailed him down. to fit their
completed; minor leak in south aisle Narrow minds.
noted
 Policies review: safeguarding We are more subtle,
policies re-adopted Keep him helpless,
 Discussions: draft agreement with Refuse to let him be the Man he is,
Ludlow Choral Society to transfer Adore him as the Christmas Baby,
staging to PCC; options for on-line Eternally unable to grow up
shopping donation schemes; review Until we set him free.
of committee reporting structure
 Date of next meeting: Monday By all means let us pause there
25 January 2021 At the stable, and
Marvel at the miracle of birth;
A copy of the two latest sets of But we'll never get to know
confirmed PCC minutes is available on God with us, until we learn
the noticeboard in church. To find him at the Inn,
All previous minutes can be viewed in A fellow guest who shares the joy and
the Parish Office. sorrow:
The Host whose life we celebrate.

He's grown, that Baby.

Ann Lewin

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INTRODUCING ...

Please tell us a little about yourself. Eventually we
wanted to
I am Stuart McLaren. I grew up in the move closer
Black Isle, north of Inverness. My colour to shops and
blindness prevented me from joining the amenities and
Navy so I joined the merchant navy as a Ludlow was
radio officer spending seven years at sea, the obvious
mostly on liners - a great experience for choice.
a young man. I met my wife, Glenys, on
a port call to London when we And to St Laurence's?
telephoned the nearest nurses’ home to
invite them to a party. Knowing Kelvin was a start but the
church is very special. I love it for its
When the time came to stop sailing I age and because, despite its size, it is not
worked for the Diplomatic Wireless ‘grand’. It is a community church,
Service. Overseas postings took us to looked after for centuries by ordinary
Jakarta, St Helena, Pretoria and Darwin, members of the community, like me.
Australia before the service was closed Wherever you are in Ludlow,
down. I transferred to the mainstream St Laurence’s is there, its spiritual centre.
Foreign Office, doing my time in And the music is so special – in
(tedious) admin jobs but, after a posting particular the psalm singing.
in Accra, Ghana I spent seven years
doing commercial work in Malaysia, What is your role at St Laurence's?
firstly Kuala Lumpur then Koching in
Sarawak, where I found myself I have just been co-opted onto the PCC.
unexpectedly taking the Remembrance I’ll be assisting Stephen Treasure with his
Day service at the huge Labuan work maintaining the fabric of the
Commonwealth War Graves cemetery. church, which is a little daunting but I’m
I finished my career on a high with a looking forward to being of use, and to
posting to Georgia soon after the Rose learning more about the building.
Revolution, an exciting, if stressful, job
which took us to the ambassador’s And in your spare time?
residence as I became chargé d’affaires.
I am a passionate supporter of U3A,
After all that what brought you to serving until recently as chair of the
Shropshire? Ludlow group where I run a Middle East
study group and the Café Society. I am
With no ‘roots’ in the UK we decided to also a member of Worcestershire
retire close to our daughter and first County Cricket Club.
grandchild in Bewdley. We spent 14
years in Hopton Wafers, living next to Which is your most memorable
the church - so I found myself holiday experience?
immediately on the PCC, which is where
we first met Kelvin who was the curate We have lived in or visited so many
in the benefice. places but my favourite holiday location
has always been Italy, Rome by choice,
the Forum to be specific.

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FOLLOW THE STAR

Jesus’ welcoming committee included Finally, the bright astronomical object
Eastern scholars who learned about His that drew the Magi could have been a
birth through their study of astrology. I comet. This idea came from Sir Colin
can’t help thinking that the arrival of Humphreys, Professor of Materials
these people at Bethlehem is a link Science at Cambridge University, and
between a very early form of science Oxford astronomer WG Waddington,
(albeit mixed in with their own form of who found that a comet was recorded
religion) and Christian faith. What by Chinese astronomers between March
better way to discover God than to and May, 5BC. Humphreys then
explore the world and follow the speculated that the ‘no room at the inn’
evidence wherever it leads? But what scenario came about because Jesus was
exactly was the star of Bethlehem? born during Passover, and the Magi
Scientists have investigated this question visited Jesus in May or June.
over the centuries, coming up with a
variety of answers. People interpret the biblical account of
Jesus’ birth in all sorts of ways, but
First, there is the idea of a supernova: there’s very little argument from serious
the massively bright explosion caused by historians that Jesus of Nazareth actually
a dying star. On rare occasions a existed. Whatever the true explanation
supernova can be seen from Earth with for the ‘star of Bethlehem’ may be,
the naked eye, remaining visible for there’s plenty of evidence that an
several months. We now know that astronomical event could have happened
Herod the Great died around 4BC, so at the time of His birth.
the actual date of Jesus’ birth must be a
little earlier. The supernovae that might I think it makes perfect sense that if
match this timing were one in the God was going to enter His own
Andromeda galaxy between March 8BC creation and take on the form of one of
and September 7BC, and another in the His own creatures, it should be marked
constellation of Capricorn in the Spring by a very significant physical event!
of 5BC.
Dr Ruth M Bancewicz
Next, comes a planetary conjunction.
The alignment most commonly Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
associated with the star of Bethlehem
was between Jupiter and Saturn in the
constellation of Pisces in 7BC, but not
everyone is sure whether this would be
extraordinary enough to be the ‘star’
mentioned in the Bible.

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Is this what the Staying DRY IN

three kings saw? 2021 - AND

2020 was an extraordinary year in so BEYOND
many ways but it had one more
’unprecedented’ experience to offer us. The Ludlow Flood Forum is being
Just four days before Christmas we may relaunched to prevent a repetition of
have seen for ourselves the star which the devastating floods which hit our
drew the magi to Bethlehem. historic town last year.
Weather permitting, we will have been
able to view a Grand Conjunction of Corve Street
Jupiter and Saturn, one of the residents whose
astronomical events which Dr
Bancewicz suggests (p11) as an homes were
explanation of the Star of Bethlehem.
For the first time since 1623 the two affected by the
planets were due to appear so close
together in the sky that they seemed to floods in February
merge into a single, very bright ‘star’. have come together

Jupiter (L) and Saturn (R) and started to

All you needed to do to enjoy this once develop an action
-in-a-lifetime experience was to go out
in the early evening of 21 December, plan. This includes
find an unobstructed view to the south
west and look up at the sky. Clearing up re-affiliating the
You could see it with the naked eye, local group to the
although a telescope or binoculars
would have helped you pick out Jupiter National Flood Forum to gain the status
with its four moons and Saturn with its
rings as they aligned. and recognition needed to work

alongside government agencies, local

councils, the Highways Authority and

Severn Trent Water and to engage with

the work of the government’s

Accelerated Study Project to ensure its

actions are implemented and future

flooding prevented as far as possible.

To be involved with Ludlow Flood
Forum, as a member, active committee

member or advisor, please email

[email protected].

Panorama of flooded area

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RIBA

Trevor Hewett

A R C H IT E CT

▪ Planning applications ▪
▪ Listed building consent ▪

▪ Building regulations ▪
▪ Alterations and extensions ▪

▪ Church inspections ▪
▪ Green building ▪

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Tel: 01584 877992

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tel:
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Notes from st john’s

With the advent of new vaccines we confidence has also been boosted by the
may have some reason to hope that the awareness of the Rector’s involvement
uncertainties caused by Covid-19 will at benefice level and by the strong
give way to more confidence for the support of retired Revds Tom Leary and
New Year. One of the many strange Richard Hill enabling the worship
things about life under the restrictions programmes to endure especially in the
has been to see the spiritual
authority, perhaps to be period before Lawrence’s arrival.
expected from the church, It is good to note that the newly
subsumed by the fallibility of appointed churchwardens,
government. It seems that we Anthony Sibcy and Mike Beazley,
have been going through a are taking care of church
period of deeply mixed activities, having defined their
emotions, including disgust at respective roles – Anthony in
those who betrayed their pastoral matters and Mike with
positions of public trust and admiration regard to the fabric.
for the dedication of those in the health
services. Before the onset of lockdowns the path
from the front gate to the main and
At St John’s we have been delighted to vestry doors was under-surfaced with a
welcome Revd Lawrence Gittins rough tarmac. This has been ready for
attached as curate to the church and top-surfacing for several months. The
community. We consider his presence issue of getting it done has become
here to be a key factor in our urgent now since the surface has
community’s emergence from the slough become dangerous to walk on and
of Covid restrictions, back towards deters some people from coming to
health and vigour, with generous service church. We hope that the builder finds
and goodwill unconditionally given. Our time to do the job before Christmas.

John French

AN EPIPHANY ECHO CAROL

How long ago from that Natal Star How far, how far did that Natal Star
Did light depart? Did light depart? Traverse the cold, galactic night?
Faith-drawn Magi, yearning, burning, Waken in us, wondering Magi,
Can but divine - The child divine,
Questing, questioning, Questioning, questing,
Questioning, questing - Questing, questioning.
Whether that light Quicken our delight
So rarely bright, That through the night
Was born of a long-extinguished star. Still shines a long-extinguished star.

IB

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SUNDAY SERVICES in Ludlow

St Laurence’s plans to maintain the pattern of services adopted since church services
resumed after the initial lockdown for Covid-19. Under current regulations this will
be the case regardless of the tier in which Ludlow is placed. If circumstances change
and attendance at live services is banned details of alternative arrangements will be
found on the church website: www.stlaurences.org.uk

St Laurence, College Street St John, Gravel Hill

Every Sunday 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays
10.00am Parish Eucharist 10.00am Holy Communion

1st Sunday in the month 2nd and 4th Sundays
8.30am Holy Communion BCP
11.30am Choral Matins Open for private prayer or

3rd Sunday 10.00 Lay-led service
8.30am Holy Communion BCP
3.30pm Choral Evensong (to be confirmed)
6pm Celtic Prayer - evening
liturgy Contact
[email protected]
Contact
[email protected] Ludlow Baptist Church
01584 872073
10.30am Sunday worship service
Arrangements for all activities in the on Zoom or in
church, including services, are subject to
change, depending on the latest church by
government regulations, CofE guidance reservation only if permitted
and PCC risk assessments.
Contact
For up to date information see the [email protected]
weekly notices or visit the church
website. Living Waters

www.stlaurences.org.uk Sunday services on Zoom
for members only

Contact [email protected]

Ludlow Methodist Church

10.30am Sunday worship
live on Zoom - follow

link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675471538
or by telephone dial 0203 481 5237 and
enter ID - 836 7547 1538

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LUDLOW LOCAL LISTING

You can advertise in this listing for one We also accept advertising from clubs,
year (12 issues) for just £30. societies and social groups - perfect for
publicising your group’s activities and
With 600 copies circulating in Ludlow attracting new members.
every month, free of charge, this is an
ideal way of publicising your business, All entries must fit the standard 4-line
shop or service. box (approximately 40 words).

To discuss details or to place an advertisement please contact the parish office on
01584 872073 or email [email protected].

Artwork

Ludlow Castle Gallery

Quality affordable picture framing & original objects. Fast friendly service. Gifts & cards
by local artisans. Find us in the Castle, just before the tea rooms or contact on

01584 878527 [email protected] www.ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk

Alterations

Marie’s Alterations Repairs & Haberdashery

Friendly & experienced staff always willing to help. Coffee Shop Upstairs with locally
sourced cakes and artisan coffee in a unique setting. Please call in or contact us on:

01584 318185 [email protected] The Stables, Station Dr Ludlow

Books & Stationery

Castle Bookshop

5 Castle Street Ludlow
Booksellers and Stationers
Free ordering service 01584 872562

Fitness and Sport

Ludlow Runners www.ludlowrunners.org

A small friendly running club catering for all running abilities; meets every Thursday at 7pm
at Ludlow Leisure Centre; regular ‘Walk to Run’ courses; respected races; teams in county

Cross Country leagues; new and visiting runners always welcome; regular social events.

Pearce Cycles

Friendly, knowledgeable and experienced - your local bike shop for all your cycling needs.
Fishmore Road, Ludlow, SY8 3DP. Tel. 01584 879288; [email protected];
www.pearcecycles.co.uk. Open Mon-Fri 9.00am to 5.30pm. Bike sales - repair - hire.

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Floral services

Twigs

Flowers and gifts for all occasions
4 Old Street, Ludlow Call in or telephone 07522139928

Local home consultation also available

Property services and maintenance

Carpentry

James Mackenzie Carpentry & Joinery

Reliable / High Quality Work.
Building Services, Gosford Cottage, Little Hereford, Ludlow SY8 4AR
Call 01584 711326 or 07870428948. Email [email protected]

Chimneys & Stoves

Smokerite Chimney Service

For all your chim’needs.
Call Jerry Street 07968 282078 or Jorden Street 07920 832164
Email: [email protected]. Website: www.smokerite.co.uk

Ludlow Stoves www.ludlowstoves.co.uk 01584 878552

Showroom with over 50 stoves & cookers, fireplaces, flue systems, electric & gas stoves.
Boilers, biomass & full central heating systems installed. Chimney sweeps. Stove mainten-

ance. Fully insured inhouse local engineers, reliable. Hetas & Gas Safe registered.

Cleaning

Hydroclean Services
Carpet & Upholstery cleaning : Leather cleaning : Hard floor cleaning and stone polishing :
Gutter cleaning : Fully insured, fast response, reliable and local. Members of the National

Electrical

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 [email protected]

Gardening

Dan Pritchard Garden Maintenance
Fully insured - reliable - experienced - competitive. Lawn mowing / hedge cutting / tree
surgery / pruning / turfing / planting / landscaping. Call Dan on 07779182636. Covers
Ludlow and surrounding areas.

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IT Services

Matthew Lenthall IT Services
Computers, phones and all things technical. Support and maintenance.
12a Corve Street, Ludlow 07828 081163 or 01584 877946
[email protected]

Medical services

Acupuncture 07816 303742

Are you in pain, not sleeping, or anxious? Don’t ignore it, it can be relieved.
Qualified insured therapist, Samuel Jones, offers remedial massages and acupuncture

treatments for a variety of conditions. See www.massageludlow.co.uk for details.

Organic food

Myriad Organics 22 Corve Street 01584 879373 myriad-organics.co.uk

Ludlow’s widest range of organic produce. Specialists in vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free
food, natural bodycare & natural remedies. Waste-free shopping & refills for your cleaning

products. We also offer a free local delivery service and organic box scheme.

Picture Framing

Frames by Sebastian

Bespoke picture framing
6a Pepper Lane

Tel: 07815 111554

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS, CLUB OR SOCIETY
HERE

Contact the Parish Office on 01584 872073 or
[email protected]

ADVERTISING RATES 2020-21 (for 12 issues)

Full page - £280 Quarter page - £90

Half page - £170 Eighth page - £55

Classified - £30

Rates for part-year available on request

See above for contact details.

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GOING LIVE WHAT’S ON in

St Laurence’s new live-streaming facility JANUARY
was undergoing final testing in mid-
December in the hope that it would be All events are subject to Covid-19
up and running in time for the regulations. Please check the
Christmas services. website https://stlaurences.org.uk
for the latest news.
We expect to be live-streaming some
services in January. To find out how to Every day 11am-3.30pm
join us from home log onto our
website (https://stlaurences.org.uk) Open for private prayer and for visitors,
where you will also find a weekly
message from St Laurence’s and a series including tower visits
of homilies and sermons by Revd
Andrew Body. Every Wednesday 11.30am
BCP Holy Communion (St John’s
ACCOLADE chapel)

FOR THE Sunday 3 January 8.30am
BCP Communion 10am
LUDLOW Parish Eucharist 11.30am
Choral Matins
TOWER
Thursday 7 January 10am
We are pleased to report that the Life & Learning @ Ludlow lecture
Ludlow Tower took second place in the
A5 category of this year’s National St Theodore, England’s Eastern Archbishop
Parish Magazine Awards. Revd Canon Chris Pullin

The full results were: Sunday 10 January 10am
Parish Eucharist
1st and Best Overall Magazine
Loddon Reach (Berkshire) Sunday 17 January 8.30am
BCP Communion 10am
2nd and Best Content Parish Eucharist 3.30am
Ludlow Tower (Shropshire) Choral Evensong 6pm
Celtic Prayer
3rd and Best Design
Roundabout Lightwater (Surrey) Thursday 21 January 10am
Life & Learning @ Ludlow lecture
4th and Best Print What happens when we die?
Whitton Ways (Wiltshire) Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John

5th and Best Editor Sunday 24 January 10am
Clymping Village News (W Sussex) Parish Eucharist

There were 262 entries. Thursday 28 January 10.30
Monthly Prayer Group

Sunday 31 10am
Parish Eucharist

21

Victoria Allen
Funeral Services

An Independent Family Business
Pre- Paid Funeral Plans

Home Visits Always Available
24 Hour Service

01584 879035

3 Parkway, Off Corve Street, Ludlow,
Sy8 2PG

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

The 2021 ‘Life & Learning @ Ludlow’ adult learning programme gets underway in
January with two contrasting lectures.

The programme begins on Thursday 7 This is followed
January with a lecture by the Revd on Thursday
Canon Chris Pullin, Canon Chancellor 21 January
of Hereford Cathedral, looking at the with a lecture by
life of ‘St Theodore, England’s Eastern the Very Revd
Archbishop’. Dr Jeffrey John,
Dean of St
Chris writes,‘Born in 602 of Byzantine Albans.
Greek descent, it was not until middle-
age that Theodore of Tarsus – having Dr John is an Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John
lived through wars and Persian rule – accomplished
settled in Rome to live in the monastery
of St Anastasius. Completely theologian with a reputation as an
unexpectedly, at the age of 66, he was
sent to England as Archbishop of accessible preacher and teacher as well
Canterbury and reshaped, reinvigorated as a dedicated pastor. He studied
and educated the English Church in the
wake of the Synod of Whitby. He is the Classics, Modern Languages and
man who created the Diocese of
Hereford and is one of the most Theology at Oxford, and after a curacy
significant figures in the history of our
church and nation, yet almost in Cardiff returned there to be Chaplain
completely unknown. Come along and
find out more!’ and Lecturer in Theology at Brasenose
College, then Dean of Divinity at

Magdalen. He was subsequently Canon

Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark

Cathedral, and Director of Ministerial

Training in the Southwark Diocese.

His lecture will look at the development
of belief about death and the afterlife
through the Old and New Testaments,
and the way it emerged in conflicting
teachings within the Church and is

entitled ‘What happens when we die?’.

Barry Forrester

LIFE & LEARNING

Revd Canon Chris Pullin @ LUDLOW

Unscrambling issues of life and faith

Advance booking is essential for all Life & Learning lectures with the guarantee of
full reimbursement should any need to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The combined programme and booking form can be downloaded from the website
www.stlaurences.org.uk/life-and-learning. Copies are also available in church or by
contacting Barry on 01584 878872.

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24

the future of uk overseas aid

This was going to be a short article  The UN says we are facing the worst
thanking you all for your continuing, global food crisis for over 50 years
committed generosity to Christian Aid –
which I do happily, reflecting enormous  No-one wants our disadvantaged
thanks from all at Christian Aid and, communities to lose out but it is not
doubtless, from our brothers and sisters a matter of either/or - it can be both;
who have benefitted. Then came the a question of government priorities
idea of a cut in government overseas aid
funding from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross  Many cite wasteful use of overseas
national income. The timing could not aid and question whether some
be worse. Covid-19 is unaware of countries should be recipients at all,
national boundaries. However many but the government is guilty of waste
doses of vaccine are available, they will at home. Surely this calls for careful
have little effect if given only in the UK, monitoring of how and where the
not worldwide. Overseas aid will be money is spent, and the enforcement
needed to supply ‘fridges and vaccine of strict criteria for any grants?
and to administer vaccinations.
 Does it really matter what other
Hence this article has got longer - countries are giving? The UK should
please read on. For over 20 years the come to its own conclusion as to
UK has led the world in development in what is appropriate regardless of the
difficult environments, using a blend of thinking of other nations.
non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) specialist development Through all the global upheavals and
contacts and international aid agencies catastrophes Christian Aid and other
such as Christian Aid in a model development agencies go on supporting
regarded as flexible and cost effective. small communities aiming to become
self-sustaining. There is no point
The April budget had already cut foreign vaccinating us all here in the UK, if the
aid by £2.9B. A potential further cut of virus is not stamped out worldwide.
£3.5B would have a severe impact on And aid will be needed to help post-
programmes aimed at the people virus recovery.
hardest hit by the pandemic.
I hope this has helped our thinking
Points to ponder about the UK's contribution to
international aid. Christian Aid can only
 we can afford to increase defence be a small, albeit essential, part of this.
spending by £16.5B Voluntary effort can never make good
any government default.
 the latest cut means 1.3p in every
pound of income will go to overseas Here's to our efforts this coming year,
aid; that strikes me as rather mean let's hope sans Covid-19. Christian Aid
needs us.
 Yemen is suffering a national famine
due to bombing by Saudi Arabia, using Claire Wilcox
bombs largely bought from the UK

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K & J Davies Gas Services

NATURAL AND LPG GAS BOILERS & APPLIANCES SERVICED AND
INSTALLED

RADIATORS AND HEATING INSTALLATIONS
AND SMALL PLUMBING WORK UNDERTAKEN

Ludlow Landscaping

Excellence in Garden Design and
Construction

Fencing, Stonework, Structures, Turfing,
Block Paving, 3-tonne & Micro Digger
Compact Tractors with Operator

Tel: 01584 874214 or 07973 842029
[email protected]
www.ludlowlandscaping.co.uk

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Five things I’d like to see in 2021

I keep hearing that 2020 was a ‘year like trees, and how unexpected plants have
no other.’ Friends have been writing a taken root in our garden. Pets have
special journal recording the year, to played a major part in helping us endure
pass on to their grandchildren. Others the lockdowns, especially for people
just want to leave 2020 behind and look who live alone. Let’s all learn to value
to a happier new year. Both reactions the natural world on our doorsteps in
are completely understandable. But I’ve the year ahead and beyond.
been looking ahead to 2021 and
thinking about the five top things I’d like Let’s bless technology.
to see in the year ahead. I wonder if
you’ll agree with them or not? Maybe Without the internet, email, Zoom,
you could put together your own list. Facetime and other technologies, 2020
would have been a whole lot tougher.
Let’s make sure the vaccines are Churches across the country moved
distributed fairly and speedily. services online, and soon adapted to a
different way of worshipping – not the
Those who need the vaccine most same, but still helping us to worship
urgently should receive it first, with a together and see familiar faces. Let’s
fair system for ensuring everyone else continue to give thanks for the science
can be vaccinated quickly and efficiently. that made that contact possible in 2020.
We need to ensure that everyone
receives the vaccine wherever they live Let’s value our church family.
in the world – from the poorest to the
richest - especially, in those parts of the Imperfect we may be, like any family.
world where there is war and people But the months without being physically
are living as refugees. able to worship with them, share
communion with them, sing alongside
Let’s learn from the pandemic them have been hard. I value so much
how many churches have risen to the
Not just going back to how life was, as pandemic challenge and sought to serve
quickly as possible. Many of us learnt to their communities in all kinds of ways.
appreciate our family so very much May we take all this experience into
more – especially when we could not be 2021 and build upon it.
with them for months on end. We
learnt how important our neighbours Whatever 2021 holds for you and all
and local businesses are, how precious those that you love, I pray that you may
our NHS, medical researchers, care know the love of God in your life, and
providers and other frontline workers be able to pass it on to others.
are. Let’s not forget them.
Revd Peter Crumpler
Let’s value nature. Former CofE Communications Director

Those of us with gardens, or with parks
or fields nearby, have been massively
blessed. I’ve learnt to pay attention to
birdsong, to the changing colours of the

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Bring light into your home this

January

As the New Year begins it is still a dark Amongst the extensive range we have
time here with short days, albeit scented candles made especially for us,
lengthening imperceptibly, and the best fragrances that reflect Peace, Harmony
antidote to this is to
light lots of lovely and Serenity (with
candles around your matching diffusers), a
home. guaranteed way to
bring such feelings
In The Shop at St home.
Laurence we have a
fantastic selection of There are plenty of
candles, candlesticks, unscented candles,
tea light holders and Chapel candles in all
very realistic sizes and lots of thick
imitation candles (with an option of a candles in many
remote control!). vibrant colours as well as standard
‘dinner’ candlesticks also in an array of
The chunky-cut glass tealight holders in hues…so don’t forget ‘Candles are not
claret and pine colours and four just for Christmas’!!
different styles, are a particular favourite
- quite ‘retro’ and opulent looking and Shop opening hours from January
yet extremely affordable (even
inexpensive). 11am - 3.30pm

Every day

Silliest Questions

asked on a Cruise Ship

1. Do these steps go up or down?
2. What do you do with the beautiful ice

carvings after they melt?
3. Which lift do I take to get to the front of

the ship?
4. Does the crew sleep on the ship?
5. Is this island completely surrounded by

water?
6. Is it salt water in the toilets?
7. What elevation are we at?
8. What time is the Midnight Buffet?

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On DEALING WITH CORRESPONDENCE

Revd Dr Gary Bowness continues his system or spammed email. After letters
tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle and emails have ricocheted round the
Eustace’… country for many months, the person
complaining will either have lost energy
The Rectory to pursue the matter, or the will to live.
St James the Least
The second file receives
My dear Nephew Darren, all other correspondence,
emails or letters in
You may have had several years of chronological order. The
intensive training on biblical earliest letters and emails
interpretation, preaching and church will be at the bottom of
history, but that doesn’t cover the really the pile and the most
important matters in parish life: how to recent on the top.
evade disgruntled parishioners, run a
brisk Summer Fete and, in your case at In my experience, the postal file only
present, deal with correspondence, needs attention when it reaches a height
either by letter or email. of about two feet and becomes unstable.
The practice then is to discard the
My regular practice, which I recommend lower six inches and allow it to continue
to you as a New Year Resolution, is to its steady growth. If the stack is kept in
read all the letters and emails you the church vestry, then mice usually
receive and then discard them. If the attend to the papers on the bottom of
matter is truly important, you will the pile.
receive a second message, to which you
respond; more likely, the sender will Sadly, your own church, with its
either have forgotten all about his first electronic systems for filing, sorting and
letter or email after the second month retrieving correspondence and with its
or will write to some other cleric parish secretaries, removes all of these
instead. In either case, you will be saved blessings at a stroke. You have therefore
a great deal of trouble. no excuses for not dealing instantly with
every note that comes your way. As ye
You only need two folders for your filing sow, so shall ye reap.
system, either for post or emails. The
first is for complaints; they are to be May I also remind you that not even St
filed and ignored, no matter how many Paul, that unflagging letter-writer, ever
duplicates you are sent. Should you be ended one of his letters with a request
confronted personally, you simply say for a prompt reply. Need I say more?
that the matter has been passed on to
the bishop. Those truly dogged Your loving uncle
complainants who pursue the matter
will eventually receive an episcopal reply Eustace
saying he knows nothing of the matter,
for which you then blame the postal

31

Celtic Prayer Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
18-25 January 2021
An Evening Liturgy

St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow
3rd Sunday of the month at
6pm

A simple service in a style
used by the Iona Community

All welcome

Pat Helm 01584 877683
Helen Blyth 01584 875041

for more information

Sunday 17 January

Proud to have built The Shop at St Laurence’s

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PARISH DIRECTORy

Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office, 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 1AN
Telephone: 01584 872073

e-mail: [email protected] website: www.stlaurences.org.uk

The office is open to the public on weekdays between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm.

Rector Revd Kelvin Price (available Sunday-Friday) 07799 243867

Curate Revd Lawrence Gittins (available Sunday-Friday) 07786 625565

Assistant Priest Revd Prebendary Ann Barge 01584 877307

Ludlow St Laurence Ludlow St John

Parish Office 01584 872073 Parish Office Grace Johnson 07432 563545
Office Administrator Nicky Luck 873570
Finance Manager Peter Nield Churchwardens Mike Beazley 874331
Gift Aid Secretary Michael Hunt 873179
Director of Music Michael Oakley Anthony Sibcy 876142
Custodian Matthew Lenthall 876142
Treasurer Peter Phelps 875608

PCC Secretary John French

Electoral Roll John French

Conservation Trust Chair Sylvia Turner Organist Colin Reeves

PCC Ashfords Benefice

Churchwardens Dick Franks 892019 Rector Revd Lynn Money
Parish Office
Lesley Harling 318309 Clare Bicker-Caarten
01584 831585
Deputy Churchwardens

Michael Davies 07970 434822 Bromfield Benefice

Carole Perrett 879406 Rector Revd Justin Parker
Parish Office Grace Johnson 07493 247184
Electoral Roll Dick Franks 892019

Officer

Safeguarding Officer Dick Franks 892019

PCC Secretary Nicky Luck 872073

Bible Reading Penelope Bridstrup COPY DEADLINE FOR THE
Fellowship NEXT ISSUE
876992
Flowers TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Monthly Prayer Sue Thornley 872292
There is no guarantee that material
Group Sandi Burley 873155 submitted will be included.
The Table
Tower Captain Sandi Burley 873155 Please send articles by email to
Tony Greatrex 318309 [email protected]
Ludlow Tower 01568 780764
editor We are happy to receive contributions
Lesley Harling and suggestions for inclusion in the
magazine. Please limit items to no
Find this and previous issues more than 400 words, except by prior
on line at agreement with the editor.

www.stlaurences.org.uk

Parish of Ludlow Saint Laurence Registered Charity No 1132703

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