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3 Since the pandemic started to recede the centre of Ludlow has felt at times like a different place from one week to the next as businesses close and familiar names disappear from shopfronts. Those who come into St Laurence’s church, for whatever reason, have been adapting to one more change in the townscape with our normal access route closed, albeit on a temporary basis. We often notice and lament such changes, yet so much remains the same. With the seemingly simultaneous arrival of the swifts, the May Fair, the tourists and the sunshine Ludlow has sprung back to life and the festival season has resumed. The Spring Festival and the new Piano Festival are behind us but this month brings the Fringe (p8) as well as the popular lunchtime concerts in St Laurence’s chancel (p27). In this issue we find other examples of timelessness and continuity, in the historic building of the church (p11), the beautiful countryside all around us (p37) and a familiar hymn (p35). Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309 This month’s cover: Photograph: Harry Webb View of Clee Hill Graphic design: Nicky Luck [email protected] Printing : Signworx Hereford Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire CONTENTS Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this magazine are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the position or opinions of the PCC or Editorial Committee. Time to live dangerously 5 Introducing … Ven Fiona Gibson, Archdeacon of Ludlow 7 Local Pastoral Visitors commissioned 9 St Stephen and the last PreRaphaelite 11 From the registers 13 Café Communion at St John’s 15 Everything I need to know 15 Steamboat in a snowstorm 17 Arts at St Laurence 18 Celebrating the Coronation 19 Sunday services in Ludlow 20 Ludlow local listing - small ads 21 What’s on in June 25 Return of the chancel concert 27 Wedding dress display 28 A genial and kindly manner 29 Improved stoves for improved lives 31 Does everyone who goes to church actually believe in God? 33 Story behind the hymn: Lord for the years 35 Wow! Walking the old ways 37 Tray-ding places 39 Children’s page 40 Beware the church microphone 41 Parish directory & copy deadline 42
4 Garden maintenance Michael Doyle Plantsman Over 30 years’ experience 07855 930641 [email protected]
5 time to live dangerously The month of May has been challenging. The May Fair transformed Castle Square and surrounding streets with its vitality, colour, noise, vibrancy – an annual ‘rite of spring’. The following week our new King, Charles III, was crowned. Then Christian Aid Week reminded us of our wider, global, responsibilities – that we are part of One World. These events may disturb our equilibrium, potentially evoke change: quietude or excitement; monarchist or republican; global or local. Through all that month and into June young people face exams in schools, colleges and universities. A further local complication for those visiting St Laurence’s, difficult to find at the best of times, is the long-term closure of the access alleyway while an unstable building overhanging it is made safe. ‘Regulars’ and visitors have to travel a different way, around the back of the Church Inn. And on the last Sunday of the month, 28 May, we celebrated Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the third of the great festivals of the Christian Church. The story of Pentecost is a story of renewed communication: ‘filled with the Holy Spirit (they) began to speak in other languages’, yet people heard the message ‘in our own native language’ (Acts 2:8). In June we may (want to) relax into more settled routines as does the Lectionary of the Church which calls the next five or six months ‘Ordinary Time’. That does not mean nothing happens. The scriptural word-pictures of fire, flames and wind challenge us to activity, not passivity. The movement of the Holy Spirit is like the movement of tectonic plates - often hidden, living by a different timetable, and from time to time causing eruptions of energy or creativity, which can leave us with a mountain to climb, or an earthquake that shakes the very foundations of life. The challenge of Pentecost is to live dangerously and question the status quo. Poverty and the level of universal credit; the growing need for food banks; the state of the NHS; the ‘Irish question’; climate change; justice – be it human rights, or a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work; problems of migration; an effectively halved aid budget; repairing the ravages of Covid – all these are moral issues. So what would be a moral approach to each of them? Like the disciples after Pentecost we have to work out how to communicate our Gospel, our ‘Good News’. One way might be to resist, individually and collectively, the practice of ‘othering’, distancing or dehumanising a targeted group, such as migrants or ‘the poor’, identified as ‘them’ in opposition to an ‘us’: removing their rights and any dignity worth respecting, as if they were less than fully human. Revd John Perry
6 Alexandra House Diamond Life Healthcare Fully trained carers provide high-quality personalised care We provide Domiciliary Care 24-hour Live-in Care Domestic Care We are always looking for reliable caring staff Please ring and speak to our friendly team 01584 872233 Email - [email protected] Website - www.diamondlifehealthcare.co.uk
7 INTRODUCING ... Please tell us a bit about yourself. I am Fiona Gibson, Archdeacon of Ludlow. I was born and bred in North London and always meant to be a primary teacher. I studied for a BEd (Hons) at Cambridge and taught in Hertfordshire before moving to Enfield as a SENCO (Special Education Needs Coordinator), carrying on part-time after our first child, Matthew, was born but planning to stay at home when Anna came along. Then the church I had attended from the age of four, and where I met my husband, asked me to apply for the new post of Lay Children’s Minister. I declined, several times, but was persuaded when a wise friend said, ‘God would not have called you to this and forgotten about your children’. I applied and got the job - and a childminder in the congregation suddenly had the perfect vacancy. I still planned to go back to teaching when Anna was settled in school and dismissed suggestions that I should consider ordination. In October 2006 I finally went to the DDO (Diocesan Director of Ordinands) and embarked on discernment, the formal process of exploring an individual’s calling to ordained ministry. By September 2007 I was in training, a full-time student at Oak Hill Theological College, close enough to home to avoid any disruption for the family. It was a bit of a shock to be studying again but I emerged with a Master’s degree, had a lovely curacy at Christ Church, Bedford and was appointed incumbent of a group of three churches in rural Bedfordshire. Out of the blue came a phone call suggesting I look up the application pack for Archdeacon of Ludlow. I dismissed the idea .. so here I am now. So what does the role entail? It used to be described as ‘discipline and drains’. Nowadays it covers statutory responsibility for all church buildings in the Archdeaconry (roughly the northern half of the diocese) - inspections, permission for works etc; clergy recruitment; and oversight of clergy wellbeing. The archdeacon is the link between the bishop and parishes so I preach and lead services in as many churches as possible. I chair the Diocesan Board of Education working with our 78 church schools. I am an elected member of General Synod and I often represent the diocese at civil ceremonies at county level. What is the greatest challenge? Absorbing a huge amount of information on a wide range of issues - canonical, legal, building regulations, appointments But I relish the diversity and challenge. And your next goals? To focus on clergy wellbeing and help people grasp the reality of a changing world – how to move forward to be the church of Christ in a new setting. (cont on p9)
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9 (cont from p7) What are your impressions of St Laurence’s? I love the welcome I receive whenever I am here. Participating in a service is a delight but I but I can also just slip in and worship God . During my training I had the great privilege to work in Westminster Abbey which has a dual vocation as a World Heritage site and a living church. It seems to me that St Laurence’s occupies the same space – a national treasure and a beautiful historied place where prayers have been said for centuries but a living church, built from stone but not set in stone. How do you spend any spare time? Reading - everything and anything; walking; dabbling in gardening. The garden at the Archdeacon’s House in Craven Arms is enormous, far larger than anything we have ever had before. Last year we turned ‘no mow May’ into ‘no mow summer’ and the orchard was a riot of colour. What is your most memorable holiday experience? A trip to Iceland for our silver wedding. The landscape is just stunning. What might we be surprised to know about you? As a second-year ordinand I led and preached at an evening service at Westminster Abbey. One of my ancestors was knighted by the King of Sweden for killing a wild boar and later died after a duel for the honour of a lady. He won the duel only to be murdered by his opponent’s second. Local pastoral visitors commissioned Four Local Pastoral Visitors were commissioned on Sunday 30 April at St John’s, to serve with Revds Melia Cope and Richard Hill as part of the pastoral care team for the Ludlow benefice. Elizabeth Wild (Diocesan Local Ministry Team Leader and Warden of Readers) said, ‘It was such a pleasure to see Sue, Sasha, Pat and Lucy commissioned as Local Pastoral Visitors with wonderful support from the local church. I pray that they will continue to be a blessing to others as they serve God in this important role as part of the team in Ludlow’. (L to R): Revd Melia Cope, LPV Sasha Griffiths, LPV and team co-ordinator Pat Helm, Revd Kelvin Price, LPV Sue Thomas, Revd Richard Hill. Not in photo: LPV Lucy Treasure Local Pastoral Visitors offer pastoral care including listening and prayer ministry. This may involve visits at home or in hospital and the distribution of Holy Communion.
LUDLOW CAR SHARE Join at: http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/ shropshire Local contacts: 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
119 St Stephen and the last pre-raphaelite St Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian church in Jerusalem. In the Acts of the Apostles he lectures the religious council, the Sanhedrin, saying, ‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it’. These words were, predictably, treated as blasphemy and Stephen was taken out and stoned to death, the rabbi Saul of Tarsus looking after the coats of those who threw the stones. The incident clearly haunted St Paul after his conversion. As we’ve no idea what most saints looked like, artists and sculptors needed to include some ‘attribute’ of the saint to help us identify him or her. St Laurence has his gridiron and St Stephen is always shown with some stones. He can be seen on the reredos behind the high altar carrying some in his arms (top row, fifth figure in from the south wall). There is another St Stephen in the church. He appears in a window in the north aisle designed by Louis Davis in 1928. Davis knew William Morris, Burne -Jones and Rossetti and was active in the Arts and Crafts movement, working as a watercolourist and book illustrator as well as in stained glass. Described by Nikolaus Pevsner as the last of the pre-Raphaelites, his obituary in The Times pointed out that he ‘inherited the side of the pre-Raphaelite movement which was concerned with medieval glamour and Celtic twilight rather than with fidelity to nature’. Our St Stephen strongly supports that assessment: the beautifully-dressed Stephen looks a picture of health and there are just a few innocuous-looking rocks scattered about to let us know who he is supposed to be. St Stephen occupies the right-hand half of a twolight window, the other half being devoted to St Agnes. The total composition makes a glorious addition to the church. Hugh Wood
12 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.
13 FROM THE REGISTERS BAPTISM 23 April Archie John Siveter FUNERALS 21 April Frances Eileen Griffiths (Hereford crematorium) 22 April Roger Kean (Garden of Remembrance) 22 April Oliver Ugo Frey (Garden of Remembrance) 4 May Donald Robert Archer Elliot (Hereford crematorium) 11 May Jonathon Ormond 18 May Georgina Kay Pardoe All-age informal service Hot dogs, pool table, air hockey football table, Mario Cart and more Conversation, play, food and a simple sharing of bread and wine No service in June Next Living Room Sunday 19 July 3.30pm AUCTION OF PROMISES FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Promises for our autumn fundraiser are coming in steadily, ranging from eight hours of ironing to 60 words of calligraphy, from a rocking horse to a magnum of champagne. If you have a skill or service you would like to share, Richard would love to hear from you: [email protected] 07901 658737 And if you would like to bid for a lot just put the date in your diary and look out for details in the autumn.
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15 Coronation Café communion AT ST JOHN’S Members of the St John’s congregation held a special ‘Café Communion’ on Sunday 7 May to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. Activities included crown-making and a chance to act out a dramatised version of the gospel. The service was designed for all ages and was particularly welcomed by the parents of the children who were able to attend. It is hoped that this ‘Café Communion’ will become a regular feature of the worship at St John’s and it is wonderful to worship together with people of all ages. The pictures here show some of the crowns made by those present at our special coronation service. Everything I need to know … I learned from noah’s ark Don’t miss the boat. Remember that we are all in the same boat. Plan ahead - it wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. Stay fit - when you’re very old Someone may ask you to do something really big. Don’t listen to critics, just get on with the job needing to be done. Build your future on high ground. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. Speed isn’t always an advantage - the snails were on board with the cheetahs. When you’re stressed, float awhile. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting. Author unknown
16 LOCAL MAN wishes to buy Antiques, Bric à brac, Collectables and Deceaseds’ Effects Please call 01584 892128 07508 809710 Victoria Allen Funeral Services An Independent Family Business Pre- Paid Funeral Plans Home Visits Always Available 24 Hour Service 01584 879035 Skip Hire, Waste Management & Recycling Tenbury Wells, Ludlow, Leominster, Craven Arms and Proud to be the architect for the Stephen Treasure Memorial Project Creating a mission space for St Laurence’s 141A Vintage & Retro Collectables Centre Open Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat 10am - 5pm Closed Tues & Sun 141A Corve Street, Ludlow SY82PG 01584 877 572 /141A @godsellmark Ludlow Curtain Company The Stables, Station Drive, Ludlow SY8 2PQ Tel 01584 875533 [email protected] 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.
17 Amid the hectic, busy lives we lead, many of us fall under the control of ‘the hurry syndrome.’ We have to do ‘A’ as soon as possible and we have get to ‘B’ as soon as possible. And along the way, we have phone calls to make, emails to open and Facebook and Twitter and all the social media to check. As a result we often go through the world without giving that world a second glance. Here we pause to ‘stand and stare’, looking at a painting that celebrates the wonder, the joy, the mystery and the marvel of the created world in which we live. Joseph Turner (1775-1851) was one of the great artists of the 19th century. He did little to conform to that accolade but he was passionate about his vision of the world around which inspired his art. Wherever he went, he sketched and painted. The ending of the Napoleonic wars meant that people could travel safely through Europe, and he visited Italy many times. That country and its scenery taught him the place of light in art, which in many ways was the foundation of the paintings of his last 15 years. Ruskin hailed Turner as ‘a great angel of the Apocalypse … sent as a prophet of God to reveal to men the mysteries of the universe.’ Turner was not particularly religious himself, but in the paintings of his old age, he was like a creator grappling with the elemental forces of light and sky, of water and sun. In 1842 he painted ‘Steamboat in a Snowstorm.’ Clouds, driving snow and churning water cascade around each other; in the midst of it is the steamboat trying to keep afloat and make its way through the forces of nature. Without that title we might think this painting is a modern abstract. With the title, we sense the wildness and wonder of the great forces of sea, sky, snow and clouds - an image of human life tossed around by circumstance and event. But I think Turner wanted us to see something of the extraordinary power great forces of nature have over life, not to make us fatalistic and gloomy, but to proclaim that here in our world are mysteries and marvels that can stop us in our tracks. It is like the voice of God speaking to Job, who has questioned the justice of God’s ways in His world. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ God asks Job. ‘Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?’ Job’s response is to question no more. He puts his hand over his mouth and looks out at the world God has created in wonder and amazement. Michael Burgess Steamboat in a snow storm Steamboat in a Snowstorm J M W Turner Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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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 (not in June) 3rd Sunday only 3.30pm The Living Room 2nd Sunday only (not in June) 3.30pm Choral Evensong 1st Sunday only (Sun 11 June) 6pm Celtic Prayer - evening liturgy 3rd Sunday only 5th Sun Joint benefice service with St John’s Contact [email protected] 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 [email protected] 07786 625565 St Giles, Ludford 11.15am 1st Sunday Family Worship 2nd & 4th Sundays CW Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Lay-led Worship Contact [email protected] Ludlow Baptist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact [email protected] Ludlow Elim 10.30am Service at Elim 11.30am Online. Contact www.ludlowelim.com 07791 483284 [email protected] Ludlow Methodist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] www.ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk Artwork Books & Stationery Castle Bookshop 5 Castle Street Ludlow Booksellers and Stationers Free ordering service 01584 872562 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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; [email protected]; 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 [email protected] IT Services Teme Valley Insurance Brokers For your Home, Car, Business or Farm quote Call Mark or Sue on 01584 290055 [email protected] 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
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 [email protected] Carpentry Cleaning Hydroclean Services [email protected] 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: [email protected] R Aimson Property Services Carpentry, Home Improvement, Painting & Decorating Mobile: 07864 015086 email:[email protected] Property Services
24 ADVERTISING RATES 2021-22 (for 12 issues) Full page - £280 Half page - £170 Quarter page - £90 Eighth page - £55 Classified - £30 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] www.mariesofludlow.co.uk Alterations Send those special greetings to your loved one HERE for just £7.50. To book email [email protected]
25 JUNE Saturday 3 1.00pm Organ recital - Rebekah Okapoti Sunday 4 Holy Communion (BCP) 8.30am Parish Eucharist 10.00am [Note - no Choral Evensong] Monday 5 3.00pm Open tea Thursday 8 7.00pm Solemn Eucharist for Corpus Christi Saturday 10 7.30pm Ludlow Choral Society summer concert Sunday 11 3.30pm Holy Communion (BCP) 8.30am Benefice Eucharist 10.00am Choral Evensong 3.30pm Sunday 18 Holy Communion (BCP) 8.30am Confirmation service 10.00am [Note - no Choral Matins] Celtic Prayer 6.00pm Wednesday 21 1.00pm Chancel concert Thursday 22 10.30am Intercessory Prayer Group Sunday 25 10.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 8.30am Parish Eucharist (baptism) 10.00am Monday 26- Sunday 9 July Wedding dress display 10am-5pm Monday 26 Bishop’s visitation service 7.00pm [for Ludlow deanery churchwardens)] Wednesday 28 1.00pm Chancel concert MIDWEEK Daily prayer Mondays 9.30am Tuesdays 9.30am Thursdays 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 Fridays 9.30am Tea and toast Wednesdays 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesdays 11.30am WHAT’S ON AT ST LAURENCE’S For the latest news go to https:// stlaurences.org.uk/google-calendar/
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27 This summer sees the third season of Chancel Concerts in St Laurence’s. We have invited a varied collection of musicians to come and play in the glorious mediaeval chancel, where you are surrounded by some of the finest stained glass and carved choir stalls in the country. They will perform each Wednesday lunchtime (1.00pm) from 21 June to 19 July. Each year the concert series seems to evolve, with tempting additions to the fare on offer each week. This year we shall welcome back Northwick Baroque, a fine ensemble of four instrumentalists (harpsichord, viol and recorders) and a singer, as well as the more unusual soundscape ofYpotryll, a Gloucesterbased ensemble who specialise in music of the medieval period. They bring along a dizzying array of instruments to play music evoking a long distant time - very atmospheric! New performers include a recorder consort drawn from musicians of our own parish, who will be performing a concert on the theme of ‘Byrd and Birds’! We also welcome another ’homegrown’ group who will be very familiar to those who attend St Laurence’s for the great service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas - the St Laurence’s handbell ringers. This should be a special treat for us all, with the sound of their bells ringing out in the wondrous space of the Chancel. All the Chancel Concerts are free. Just come in, find a seat and enjoy the music. Or you can listen as you wander around our fine church. You can even bring your lunch with you - no noisy crisp packets please! Michael Oakley Return of the CHANCEL CONCERT Northwick Baroque Ypotryll
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29 a genial and kindly manner Sergeant-Major John Procter (1827-1888) Grave Matters - interesting burials in St Leonard's churchyard by Nick Ford. Close to the Linney Gate, as you turn left along a side path, the gravestone at the end of the third row on your left bears a trefoil enclosing a shield on a column, with crossed rifles below. The inscription reads: In memory of Sergt. Major John Proctor, late of the 96th Regiment of Foot and for 19 years drill instructor to the G. (Ludlow) company of the 1st Shropshire Rifle Volunteers, who died at Ludlow April 20th 1888 aged 61 years. This stone was erected by the past and present officers, non-commissioned officers, and provtes of the above company as a token of esteem and respect to an old comrade and as a small tribute to his efficiency in drill combined with a genial an kindly manner. Such a memorial would generally have been beyond the means of a Company Sergeant Major, whose pay at that time was around 25 shillings a week while the very cheapest funeral cost about £4. This speaks volumes for the high regard in which John Procter was held. In the Army reforms of the 1870s the Manchester-based 96th Regiment of Foot was merged with two other units to become the Manchester Regiment. If he enlisted as a young man, John Procter may have fought in the First Maori War, possibly went with the regiment to Canada in 1862 (when the British government considered intervening in the American Civil War) and almost certainly served in India, where the regiment was posted in 1865-1874. Many Volunteer Rifle Corps, founded in 1860, were composed of civilian volunteers, the forerunner of the Territorial Army, now the Army Reserve. The Rifle Volunteers proved immensely popular in Britain, largely as a response to the increasing militarism of her continental neighbours such as France and Prussia. The Ludlow Company of the 1st Shropshire Rifle Volunteers was formed in the same year. The volunteer regiment became 4th Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry when the Territorial Army was formed in 1908. Unfortunately we know very little of Company Sergeant Major John Procter as, surprisingly, no obituary to him appears in the parish magazine at the time. This is a great pity, as the combination of drill efficiency and geniality in a sergeant major would have been a most valuable talent in a man used for most of his working life to a hierarchical society based on command and obedience, in an organisation dependent on the willing co-operation of civilian volunteers. To adopt a grave or help the Friends of St Leonard’s churchyard in some other way, please contact Nick Ford at: [email protected].
30 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
31 Improved stoves for improved lives "Did you enjoy your family's visit?" “Yes thanks, except the cooker broke down. Cooking for seven with no power? Total nightmare!" We can all identify with that. We have cookers and we expect that a flick of the switch gives us power. What happens elsewhere in the world? In 2015 Christian Aid recognised that communities in Nigeria did not have appropriate appliances for cooking. Until Rita Munton, a widow in the Amper community, bought an ICS (Improved Cook Stove) she was using all her money to feed her three children. That purchase reduced what she needed to spend on firewood by 60%. She was able to put the money saved towards her daughter's education and now she had money to grow enough vegetables not just for her family but also to sell. The cookers use firewood but need much less than an open fire, with no smoke. Rita noticed another significant difference. ‘Using ICS has really improved my health in terms of the eye problems I had when I was using the old method. Now that I use ICS my eyes feel better.’ Another project participant Esther commented, ‘Using ICS has allowed me more time to attend to my grinding business and make money’. Seventy percent of Nigeria's 170 million people rely on traditional woodstoves for cooking and heating despite the health dangers. Christian Aid used demonstrators and trained volunteers to encourage women like Rita and Esther to buy an ICS, thereby improving the health of poor and marginalised households. The project aimed to: Increase awareness and knowledge of the benefits of using an ICS by sharing information and training Support the emergence of active cook stove markets, ensuring their availability at affordable prices with opportunities for women to set up small businesses selling them. Once established, Christian Aid expanded the project within the Plateau state as well as into neighbouring states. The long-term aim is to replicate the scheme across the whole country with the potential to end energy poverty and its associated deadly health and safety implications Thanks to everyone who contributed to the retiring collection at the end of Christian Aid Week. Late donations are always welcome or please give direct via the Christian Aid website. Next up is the summer coffee morning. The date for your diary is Thursday 10 August - see you there. Thank you for your continuing support. Claire Wilcox Rita Munton cooking on her ICS
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An English vicar had a regular church attender who came to church on average twice a month, and who volunteered to keep the church hall tidy. He also frequently helped out by doing practical repairs or improvements. And yet he didn’t believe in God, in Jesus or the Bible. In another church, a lengthy PCC discussion of worship was disrupted when the church treasurer suddenly said, ‘Yes, that’s all very well but what about those of us who don’t believe?’ An American university survey undertaken in 2022 by the Public Research Institute found that 29% of people who said they were atheists also said that they went to church ‘sometimes’ . A Christian Today survey found that 1% of atheists went to church regularly, even weekly. The obvious response to these findings is - why? Why does someone who clearly doesn’t believe in God go to a church whose specific purpose is the worship of God? An article in Backyard Church published on 3 April 2023 suggested three possible reasons: • Some go to keep their spouse happy, usually the wife dragging the husband along • Some go for the sake of their children, to increase family bonding • Some go because they want to feel part of a community, and church communities are usually very friendly, welcoming and open In the 2021 Census, while 37% of English people said they had ‘no religion’. This is of course not the same as being an atheist. In fact just 14,000 (0.02% of the population) wrote in the word ‘atheist’ in answer to ‘other religion’. Sadly, no survey in Britain seems to have ever asked atheists if they go to church. In a 2011 study, 12% of the UK population said they were spiritual AND religious, and 34% said they were spiritual but NOT religious. Clearly this is a debatable subject. Dr Peter Brierley Does everyone who goes to church actually believe in god?
34 Open tea at st laurence First Monday in the month at 3pm. All welcome. Monday 5 June 5 The Angel, Broad Street, Ludlow, Sy8 2PG VISIT OUR CHURCH TO SEE our Mediaeval stained glass Mediaeval misericords View from the Tower Bells and Carillon Icon Coffee shop Snetzler organ Gift shop
35 This well-loved hymn was written in 1967 by the Revd Timothy Dudley Smith, who later became Bishop of Thetford. He later confessed, ‘I wrote it on a train when I was very pressed for time. I’m thankful if something I write gets picked up, but I suspect anyone who does something in a rush later regrets that they didn’t find time to apply the sandpaper a bit more!’ Dudley Smith had been asked to write a hymn for the centenary service of the Children’s Special Service Mission, now Scripture Union, in St Paul’s Cathedral. His commission was to write words that could be fitted to Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia, as it was to be accompanied by an orchestra with this tune in their repertoire. And so – ‘Lord for the years’ was written. Dudley Smith need not have worried about lack of time – his lyrics were a ‘hit’ in the cathedral on the day and went on to become so well-loved that George Carey chose the hymn to be sung at his consecration as Bishop of Bath and Wells, and then again later, in 1991, at his consecration as Archbishop in Canterbury Cathedral. The hymn continued to be widely sung and loved, until in 2002 Timothy Dudley Smith was asked to write an extra verse for it so that it could be sung around the time of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Many of the words in the hymn were true for the late Queen herself. She did indeed thank God ‘for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way’… The ‘extra’ verse, added for Queen Elizabeth II, can now become our prayer and hope for King Charles III. Parish Pump The story behind the HYMN: Lord, for the years Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today. Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us, speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: Lord of the word, receive your people's praise. Lord for our hopes, the dreams of all our living, Christ and his kingdom one united aim, Rulers and peoples bound in high thanksgiving, Lord of our hopes, our trust is in your Name.
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37 Another real find from the Shop at St Laurence is this great book full of South Shropshire walks. This handy sized book (it would fit in a large pocket or small backpack) describes 26 circular walks ranging from 3½ to 9½ miles. The walks take you along country lanes, and across the countryside past churches and castles, stone circles, ancient burial grounds, dykes, rivers, woodlands and even industrial remains. For every walk there is a map, clear instructions, lots of photographs and, even better, features on the history of any notable landmarks that you might pass along the way. Many of the walks include a pub where you could visit to break your journey – or end your walk… It’s a real celebration of everything about South Shropshire. The routes in Walking the Old Ways of South Shropshire have been chosen, researched and described by two local authors who between them have lived and walked here for more than 30 years and obviously know and love the area. This is a great for book for every home, whether you want to explore the area yourself, find new dog walks, or take friends and family around this historical county. There are two companion books, by the same authors and from the same (local) publishers, Walking the Old Ways of Radnorshire and Walking the Old Ways of Herefordshire, so they have the whole of the Marches covered. Jemima Lord Walking the Old Ways of South Shropshire Andy and Karen Johnson Logaston Press £12.95 WOW! WALKING THE OLD WAYS SECRET GARDENS OF LUDLOW SUNDAY 18 JUNE 12 - 6pm Ten stunning gardens, all in walking distance of the town centre, will open to raise funds for Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Plants, ice creams, tea, homemade cakes and Prosecco bar in various gardens. Tickets from LAR Box Office or www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk £10 adults; accompanied under-12s - free
38 CLUN GARDENS OPEN Saturday 24-Sunday 25 June Visit 12 glorious gardens Weekend ticket £6 from Memorial Hall carpark Teas, plants, bookstall, music Proceeds to St George’s Church Fun for the whole family www.ludlowdog day.org.uk STOKESAY COURT SATURDAY 23 JULY 2023 LUDLOW DOG DAY Wednesdays at St John’s There is always a warm welcome at St John’s Church on Gravel Hill on Wednesday mornings. Why not come along, meet the clergy and see for yourself? 9.30am Daily Prayer 10.00am Tea & Toast Open house for anyone in the community to drop in for a chat and a cuppa 11.30am Holy Communion Informal service We would love to see you for the whole morning or just a part. Celtic Prayer An Evening Liturgy St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow Third 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 18 June
39 Inside for outside, trays are the perfect transport! June is such a glorious month: the longest days, the brightest sunshine, the perfect time for living al fresco and what is more useful than some delightful trays to ferry the food and drink to your chosen spot, and indeed use as portable tables, the original intention of a tray. The earliest example of a tray is a black earthenware Etruscan artefact, said to date from the sixth or seventh century BC. While there is no certainty that it is the oldest tray in existence, it does suggest that the concept of a tray developed in ancient times. Moving swiftly on to silver salvers of the 1600s we know that these were used for royalty to serve food that had passed the ‘poison test’, meaning that offerings on a silver salver were fit for royal consumption! A silver salver denoted a home of wealth and importance. And, now to more modern trays, usually with a ‘lip’ or edge to stop things sliding off, made from all kinds of metal, melamine or wood, and easy to clean! The Shop at St Laurence stocks some glorious designs manufactured in Sweden from FSC-certified birch wood in bright designs from Images D’Orient. They make perfect gifts for housewarmings or weddings, or indeed any occasion, a delightfully original addition to any home. Indulge yourself this summer, enjoy al fresco dining and transport your food in style! FSC - Forest Stewardship Council Tray-ding Places Open Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm The Shop at St Laurence Mobile: 07833 866485 www.theshopatstlaurence.co.uk Oh what is more sweet than the month of June When our senses thrill and our hearts keep tune To the song of the birds and the rose in bloom? Lottie Brown Allen
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41 The elderly Anglo-Catholic vicar, Eustace, continues his correspondence to Darren, his nephew, a low-church curate recently ordained… A humorous series by the Rev Dr Gary Bowness The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Despite my assurances that it was unnecessary, it was kind of you to loan us your sound equipment, so we could experience the advantages of using radio microphones in church. Your assurance that everyone would then be able to hear with absolute clarity seemed to miss the point that everyone does not necessarily want to do so. I have no doubt that members of your congregation hang on to your every word, eager to make sure you remain theologically sound. But for us, those who had blissfully slumbered throughout my sermons for the last 30 years found themselves unable to filter out a single syllable. Colonel Wainwright decided to change the start of his Bible readings from the customary “Here beginneth ...” to “Testing, testing” before giving the microphone a good biff, which made the verger dash outside to check if yet another mediaeval gargoyle had fallen from the roof. Also, forgetting that microphones pick up asides just as effectively, his own comment to his wife in the front pew ‘I thought I read that rather well’ did nothing for the muchcherished pride he has always taken in his humility. I was also not convinced that the 16th century workmen who had devoted the greater part of their lives to reverently carving the Lady Chapel altar had intended it to support an electronic console that would have looked more at home in an aeroplane cockpit. However, the event which finally decided us against microphones came about an hour after the service. Several of the choirboys had crept back into the church and decided to improvise a rock concert with their guitars and the mics turned up full blast. The church exploded in a perfect cacophony of noise which panicked a horse and rider going by. The horse bolted down the road, which caused two cars to veer violently to avoid it. One car ended up in a pond, the other in a field, having ripped off a great deal of old fencing. Whoever fixed the fencing failed, and later that night all 43 cows in the field escaped and ended up in the Colonel’s flower-filled front garden, where they spent a comfortable night slicing his velvet turf with their sharp hooves and chomping everything in sight. Your loving uncle, Eustace Beware the church microphone
42 Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office 01584 872073 Office Administrator Nicky Luck Finance Manager 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 Churchwarden Michael Davies 07970 434822 Electoral Roll Officer Dick Franks 892019 Safeguarding Officer Dick Franks 892019 PCC Minutes Secretary Jacs Higgs 872073 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 Churchwardens 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 01584 319381 Bromfield Benefice Rector Revd Justin Parker Parish Office Martin Scott 07493 247184 COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE TUESDAY 30 MAY There is no guarantee that material submitted will be included. Please send articles by email to [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 Curate: Revd Lawrence Gittins 07786 625565 (available Sunday-Friday) Pioneer Curate & Intergenerational Missioner: Revd Wayne Davies 07545 438892
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