Wed	1	St Mary's Guild. Advent Meeting	2.30 pm
Thu	2	MU&OG 'Christmas Music and Readings'. Church Centre	8.00 pm
Sat	4	Christmas Fair. Church and Centre	11 am to 3 pm
SUN	5	ADVENT 2
		Churches Together Annual United Service for Advent Wallington URC (No Evensong at St Mary's)	6.30 pm
Mon	6	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
SUN	12	ADVENT 3
		Christingle and Toy Service	4.00 pm
Tue	14	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
Wed	15	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
Thu	16	Carew Manor Christmas Service at St Mary's	10.00 am
SUN	19	ADVENT 4
		Service of Nine Readings and Carols	6.30 pm
Tue	21	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road (Last meeting until Tuesday, 11 January)	8.00 pm
FRI	24	CHRISTMAS EVE
		Family Carol and Crib Service	6.00 pm
		Midnight Mass of Christmas	11.30 pm
SAT	25	CHRISTMAS DAY
		Said Eucharist with Carols	9.00 am
		Churches Together Christmas Lunch at Holy Trinity Church, Wallington	Midday
SUN	26	FIRST AFTER CHRISTMAS
Mon	27	St John. Eucharist	9.30 am
Tue	28	Holy Innocents. Eucharist	9.30 am

What’s On In January?

Sat	1	The Name of Jesus. Eucharist.	TBA
SUN	2	CHRISTMAS 2
Tue	4	Magazine Panel meets at 35 Vanguard Way	6.00 pm
Wed	5	St Mary's Guild. New Year Resolutions?	2.30 pm
Thu	6	The Epiphany. Sung Eucharist	7.30 pm
		MU&OG. 'At Home' evening	8.30 pm
Sat	8	Trustees of St Mary's Court meet at St Mary's Court	10.00 am
SUN	9	BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Mon	10	Finance Committee meets at The Rectory	8.00 pm
Wed	12	St Mary's Court New Years Party	3.00 pm
SUN	16	EPIPHANY 2
Wed	19	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
Thu	20	MU&OG. 'The Royal National Lifeboat Institute' - a talk by Steve Eggleton. Church Centre	8.00 pm
Sat	22	'Prohibition Evening' at the Ringers' Speakeasy (aka the Centre) in aid of Tower & Bells Fund	7.30 pm
SUN	23	EPIPHANY 3
		Unity Service at St Elpheges followed by 'Agape' social event. (No evensong at St Mary's)	6.30 pm
Mon	24	Friends of Beddington Park meet at The Grange	7.30 pm
Wed	26	PCC meeting. Church Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	30	EPIPHANY 4

Carousel

The Eucharist will be celebrated additionally on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December at 9:30 am (St John and The Holy Innocents); there will be a Sung Eucharist for The Epiphany on Thursday 6 January at 7:30 pm. There will also be a Eucharist on New Year’s Day (The Name of Jesus) at a time to be confirmed – please watch the weekly Notices.

Saturday, 4 December. 11 am to 3 pm: join in the fun of our annual Christmas Fair with craft stalls, cakes, competitions, raffles, live music, refreshment, etc.

There will be a guest president and preacher (name to be announced) on the morning of Sunday 5th as Selwyn and Cassie will be returning from the last performances of The Shakespeare Revue, taking place the previous day in Budleigh Salterton . . .

. . .and on the evening of Sunday 5th there will be no Evensong at St Mary’s. Churches Together hosts its annual united service for Advent, this year taking place at Wallington United Reformed Church at 6:30 pm.

Our Christingle and Toy Service takes place on Sunday 12th December at 4 pm

There will be no Evensong on Sunday, 19 December. Instead there will be our traditional Service of Nine Readings and Carols as a traditional preparation for Christmas, with Bible readings, carols old and new sung by the choir and congregational hymns

Christmas Eve: don't miss the Family Carol and Crib Service at 6 pm. Especially for families and young children, it will include the building of the crib and contributions from members of the Sunday School.

As usual the Christmas Midnight Mass will begin at 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning itself there will be one service only – a simple said Eucharist with familiar carols, at 9 am.

Dates for your diary

Ringers’ Prohibition evening takes place on Saturday, 22 January at 7.30 pm in the Ringers' Speakeasy (aka the Centre!)

On Sunday 23 January (the Sunday in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) there will be no evening service at St Mary’s. Instead there is a joint service organized by Churches Together in Beddington and Wallington – this year it will take place at St Elphege’s, beginning at 6:30 pm. From 6:30 till 7:15 it will follow the ‘official’ order of service suggested by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and from 7:15 onwards there will be a shared ‘Agape’ in St Elphege’s church hall – a time of fellowship and friendship helped along by the foods of different countries which people attending are asked to contribute. More details nearer the time.

It feels very strange to be talking about Lent when we are still preparing for Christmas; but Lent next year is of course about as early as it can be. Please therefore take note of the following dates, and make sure they go at once into your 2005 Diary!

Wednesday 2 February – Candlemas. Sung Eucharist at 7:30 pm (beginning as usual in the Centre)

8 February is Shrove Tuesday - and that means a Pancake Party in the Centre.

Ash Wednesday is on 9 February and there will be a Choral Eucharist including the imposition of ashes at 7:30 pm. The choir will sing the ‘Collegium Regale’ Eucharist by Herbert Howells. Please make this your first reminder that the ashes are made by burning last year’s palm crosses, so could these be returned to Selwyn either in church or through the Rectory letterbox by Shrove Tuesday afternoon.

On Sunday, 13 February the 9:30 Sung Eucharist will be attended by the Guides and Brownies. The speaker will be Alison Saunders, diocesan representative of USPG (United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) who will be talking specifically about some of the Society’s work in the shanty towns of Brazil.

… and may I be the first to wish you all a very happy Easter!

From the registers

Baptisms

14 November Bailey Warwick

Funerals

1 November Alice Edith Fido, aged 81,

2 November Olive Margaret Smith, aged 71,

9 November Lilian Winifred (Scottie) Bishop, aged 92

Saints in December

Mon 6 Nicolas, Bishop of Myra, c326

Tue 7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, teacher of the faith, 397

Wed 8 Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mon 13 Lucy, martyr at Syracuse, 304

Tue 14 John of the Cross, poet, teacher, 1591

Mon 27 John, Apostle and Evangelist

Tue 28 The Holy Innocents

Wed 29 Stephen, deacon, first martyr

Saints in January

Wed 12 Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rielvaulx, 1167

Mon 17 Antony of Egypt, hermit, abbot, 356

Wed 19 Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095

Fri 21 Agnes, child-martyr at Rome, 304

Mon 24 Frances de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, teacher, 1622

Tue 25 Conversion of St Paul

Wed 26 Timothy and Titus, companions of Paul

Fri 28 Thomas Aquinas, priest, philosopher, teacher, 1274

Mon 31 John Bosco, priest, founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888

Readings for Sundays and Festivals in December

Year A

Sunday, 5 December

Advent 2

Isaiah 11: 1-10 Page 4

Romans 15: 4-13 Page 6

Matthew 3: 1-12 Page 7

Sunday, 12 December

Advent 3

Isaiah 35: 1-10 Page 8

James 5: 7-10 Page 10

Matthew 11: 2-11 Page 11

Sunday, 19 December

Advent 4

Isaiah 7: 10-16 Page 12

Romans 1: 1-7 Page 13

Matthew 1: 18-25 Page 14

Friday, 24 December

Midnight Mass of Christmas

Isaiah 9: 2-7 Page 15

Titus 2: 11-14 Page 17

Luke 2: 1-20 Page 17

Saturday, 25 December

Christmas Day

Hebrews 1: 1-12 Page 24

John 1: 1-14 Page 26

Sunday, 26 December

Christmas 1

Isaiah 63: 7-9 Page 27

Hebrews 2: 10-18 Page 29

Matthew 2: 13-23 Page 30

Readings for Sundays and Festivals in January

Sunday, 2 January

Christmas 2

Jeremiah 31: 7-14 Page 31

Ephesians 1: 3-14 Page 34

John 1: (1-9) 10-18 Page 35

Thursday, 6 January

The Epiphany

Isaiah 60: 1-6 Page 38

Ephesians 3: 1-12 Page 40

Matthew 2: 1-12 Page 41

Sunday, 9 January

Baptism of Christ

Isaiah 42: 1-9 Page 42

Acts 10: 34-43 Page 44

Matthew 3: 13-17 Page 45

Sunday, 16 January

Epiphany 2

Isaiah 49: 1-7 Page 45

1 Corinthians 1: 1-19 Page 47

John 1: 29-42 Page 48

Sunday, 23 January

Epiphany 3

Isaiah 9: 1-4 Page 49

1 Corinthians 1: 10-18 Page 51

Matthew 4: 12-23 Page 52

Tuesday, 25 January

Conversion of St Paul

Jeremiah 1: 4-10 Page 1062

Acts 9: 1-22 Page 1063

Matthew 19: 27-30 Page 1066

Sunday, 30 January

Epiphany 4

1 Kings 17: 8-16 Page 56

1 Corinthians 1: 18-31 Page 58

John 2: 1-11 Page 59

Music at Evensong in December

Sunday, 5 December

No Evensong at St Mary's

Sunday, 12 December

Canticles: To be advised

Anthem:Let My Complaint - Morley

Sunday, 19 December

Service of Nine Readings and Carols

Sunday, 26 December

Music to be advised

Music at Evensong in January

- not yet available. Please note there will be no Evensong on 23 January.

Daily prayer topics in December

Wed 1 Thank God for the gift of each new day

Thu 2 Preparations for Christmas

Fri 3 That we may increase in awareness of God's presence

Sat 4 All attending our Christmas Fair

Sun 5 That we may grow in holiness and hospitality

Mon 6 Kingston Area Council meeting tonight

Tue 7 All teachers and preachers of the Christian faith

Wed 8 Thanksgiving for May, the Mother of our Lord

Thu 9 Croydon Area Council meeting tonight

Fri 10 Vocations to the priesthood

Sat 11 Friends and loved ones who are ill

Sun 12 The Children's Society

Mon 13 Save the Children Fund

Tue 14 Christian poets and hymn writers

Wed 15 Bishop's Staff meeting tonight

Thu 16 Staff and pupils of Carew Manor

Fri 17 All going away for Christmas

Sat 18 The new Canon Missioner for Church in Society and the new Canon Chancellor

Sun 19 That we may grow in faith and trust in God and Jesus Christ our Lord

Mon 20 Those who will be alone this Christmas

Tue 21 The homeless and unemployed

Wed 22 All who maintain essential services over Christmas

Thu 23 Refugees and asylum seekers

Fri 24 That the true spirit of Christmas may dwell in our hearts

Sat 25 Thanksgiving for the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World

Sun 26 Thanksgiving for the new life we receive in Christ

Mon 27 All who are martyred for their faith in Christ

Tue 28 Thanksgiving for the Gospel of St John

Wed 29 Children who suffer as the result of war and violence

Thu 30 Churches Together in South London

Fri 31 For the blessings of peace in the New Year to come

Daily prayer topics in January

Sat 1 Thanksgiving for a New Year and a new start

Sun 2 That the Light of Christ may shine through us

Mon 3 The 'Make Poverty History' campaign

Tue 4 For international action to overcome poverty

Wed 5 Media coverage of the 'Make Poverty History' campaign

Thu 6 Thanksgiving for the revelation of Christ to the world

Fri 7 For our local schools as they begin a new term

Sat 8 That the European Union may make wise decisions

Sun 9 Thanksgiving for our baptism into our Lord's family of the Church

Mon 10 The political will to bring justice and peace to our world

Tue 11 WWDP Conference being held at Leatherhead today

Wed 12 The leaders of the nations of the world

Thu 13 The Queen and all in authority under her

Fri 14 Forgiveness for our shortcomings and failings

Sat 15 For family members and their needs

Sun 16 That we will find in Christ all that we really need

Mon 17 The Community of the Resurrection

Tue 18 All organisations promoting Christian Unity

Wed 19 All churches in dialogue with the Anglican Church

Thu 20 Orthodox Churches in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople

Fri 21 Our PCC meeting tonight

Sat 22 All churches in communion with the Bishop of Rome

Sun 23 All schools, colleges and universities

Mon 24 Churches whose roots are in the Protestant Reformation

Tue 25 Thanksgiving for the Conversion of St Paul

Wed 26 For all who are burdened by sickness or anxiety

Thu 27 For the Jews, the ancient people of God

Fri 28 For an increase in vocations to the priesthood

Sat 29 For our multi-faith, multi-cultural society

Sun 30 That we may channel all our resources into the way of love

Mon 31 Our link dioceses in Zimbabwe

Christmas recipe for an old testament cake

4½ cups of 1 Kings IV 22

1½ cups of Judges V 25

2 cups of Jeremiah VI 20

2 cups of 1 Sam XXX 12

2 cups of Numbers XVII 8

2 cups of Nahum III 12

2 tsp of 1 Sam IIV 25

Season to taste with 2 Chron IX 9

Six Jeremiah XVII 11

1½ cups of Judges IV 19

2 tsp Amos IV 5

A pinch of Leviticus II 13

Directions Proverbs XXII 14

Bake 1-2 hours

Solution: Operative words in each verse are: Fine flour; Butter; Sweet cane; Raisins; Almonds; Ripe figs; Honey; Spice; Eggs; Milk; Leaven; Salt; Beat.

Extracted from Elizabeth David's Christmas by Jill Norman, published by Michael Joseph

Scottie Bishop

died 26 October 2004, aged 92 years

For the many friends of Scottie who were unable to attend her funeral on 9 November, here is Selwyn's address from that day which conjures up a marvellous image of her…

"Today we are saying good-bye not only to a good friend, but to one of our last links with the era in which, to most of us, she felt most at home. It is difficult to think of Scottie and not to think of the 1930s. Scottie was one of the last of those who preserved, in her manner, her attention to details of dress and behaviour, her appearance, and to some extent in her attitudes, the picture of those days when life was slower and more gracious than today, and everyone was called Bunty or Squibs and knew how to mix a decent cocktail.

She was born Lilian Winifred Scotchbrook. Her father, who was an engineer of some kind and spent quite a lot of time abroad, died when she was ten. She and her mother lived in a maisonette in Tooting. Above them was a theatrical couple who rather took the young girl under their wing, and certainly encouraged her to be interested in music and drama. As a teenager (though of course the word and the concept hadn’t been invented then) she took part in many concerts and plays, very often coached by this couple, and even then had great poise and presence on stage. It’s difficult to imagine her playing anything lower down the social order than, say, a duchess.

She attended the LCC Central School at Ensham, where she acquired shorthand, and night school at the LSE where she studied economics. At the age of sixteen, leaving school, she got her first job in town, in an office in Shaftesbury Avenue. There she found there was someone called Scotchbrook already – and as the junior, of course, it was she who had to adapt. Scottie she became, and Scottie she remained, to all of us even now.

She was ambitious. She wanted to build a career for herself as what today we would call a PA, and thoroughly enjoyed the well-defined lifestyle of someone who wanted to move in such circles; going up to town each day, smartly and correctly dressed in hat and gloves; parties and balls in the evening and the tennis club at weekends. She was an attractive girl, in all senses, and not least an attractive personality. To quote someone speaking to me last week, “She did not lack for suitors”.

It was a lifestyle that might have come to an abrupt and horrid end. When she was only 21 she was out with three other friends one evening in a car. The exact details of the crash are hazy now, but there was certainly a lorry or some other large vehicle, stationary and without lights, and with no chance for evasive action the car ploughed straight ahead into it. Scottie, in the front passenger seat, took the brunt of the impact and was lucky to escape with her life. Her eye, nose and jaw were appallingly damaged, and she spent a long and painful period in hospital with her face in a wire cage, being effectively stretched and rebuilt. It was a period when she revealed the most astonishing courage and ability to cope resiliently, though she remained sensitive about her appearance for the rest of her life. Many of us have been present on occasions when group photos were being taken, and have heard Scottie either refuse to be in the photo at all or insist on turning away. In later life, while being by nature very fond of children, she found being in their company difficult as she felt they would notice and comment on her disfigurement; and she firmly believed she should not be around in the presence of a pregnant woman in case the baby should be somehow ‘struck’ by her appearance.

But once her traumatic time in hospital was past, and Scottie returned to work and play, she discovered that neither her career nor her social life was over. She met Wilfred Bishop, who was also a Tooting resident, and they were married in October 1941. There is a story (slightly embroidered, I feel, over the years) of going out to watch the bombs falling in the middle of their wedding reception.

At the end of the war Scottie and Wilfred settled in Lytton Gardens, just across the main road from this church, and into the life in which many of you will remember not only both of them but Scottie’s mother, who came to live with them. Wilfred ran his own business as a radio wholesaler in Wardour Street, Soho (Scottie, typical of her generation, was the only person I have ever heard call it, correctly, So-HO). She was Wilfred’s company secretary, managing the finances very skillfully, ensuring people’s bills were paid on time, and they drove up to town and back together every day. The correct social niceties were properly observed. Going up to town to business Scottie always sat in front (which must have taken a particular courage of its own); going out to a party or a ball in the evening she always sat in the back, so her gown would not be crumpled and she could make the right impression as the car door was opened for her and she stepped out.

She loved London (“town”) and was very knowledgeable about its geography and its history. There were particular places which were discovered early in their married life and to which they remained loyal for years: Ambrose’s Restaurant; Bourne & Hollingsworth. While it existed no-one can remember Scottie ever shopping anywhere else (“I’ve just been to Bourne’s, dear”). And at the weekends still there was tennis, and all that being members of the tennis club implied. Scottie was a member of the Elmwood Club in Mitcham for more than fifty years, and Wilfred ran the bar. They spent many a happy hour not only actually playing (immaculate in white) but also winning many club championships. They ran many of the club’s social events – Wilfred in white tie and tails, Scottie dancing the Charleston and once famously pictured doing so in the local paper.

Their home in Lytton Gardens, too, was famous for its hospitality and for the good-neighbourliness which Scottie, Wilfred and her mother showed to so many. People who were children living nearby years ago remember her generosity, her kindness at birthdays, the beautiful way in which presents were always wrapped. At first it was Scottie’s mother who looked after the house, washing, ironing, cooking, while Scottie and Wilfred pursued their business career, but after her mother’s death Scottie quickly became a successful and generous hostess in her own right. She was an excellent cook, and enjoyed catering for large parties even at otherwise inconvenient times like Christmas Day. When Wilfred died in 1991, just short of their fiftieth anniversary, Scottie was no doubt devastated – but true to her upbringing she had learned never to show she was taking anything badly and never to cry, at least, not in public.

She began now to be more involved as a member of the Townswomen’s Guild and of their choir, and as a member of St Mary’s. Here her long tradition of hospitality found new outlets. Residents of St Mary’s Court remember her as the lady who used to buy them all Easter eggs. And for people of my own generation at St Mary’s it’s impossible to think of Scottie anywhere but in the kitchen with a tray of tea-cups in front of her (and the good Lord defend you if you wanted to help out!) She also began that great institution: the Sunday morning after-church sherry club. It was one of the best social occasions of the week, and the nibbles she provided grew to such proportions that some of its members gave up cooking Sunday lunch altogether. On one occasion, just as a way of expressing thanks, one of its members bought Scottie a bottle of sherry in return. She was, or pretended to be, mortally offended, and kept it, conspicuously unopened, for years.

I remember Scottie’s hospitality reaching new and strange heights when, I suppose about ten or eleven years ago, some church committee on which she was serving needed to plan a forthcoming social and fund-raising event. It was decided that, to tempt the punters in, we needed to do the thing in style and offer them a fish & chip supper. Unfortunately all the members of the committee had their own favourite local chippy, and we looked like coming to blows over which establishment should be asked to provide the food. Less than half seriously I suggested that on the night of the next committee meeting we should all visit our favourite place, buy one portion of straightforward cod and chips, and convey it to the meeting for a tasting so that we could choose the best. Scottie physically leapt at the idea, hosted the meeting and, if I recall correctly, made sure that we had the best china and silver to eat from when we turned up. I don’t know how long it took for her house to lose the smell of vinegar; and I did feel that it was probably a new experience both for her and for the house; but it was an experience she certainly enjoyed, or we should have known all about it. Scottie was never afraid to speak her mind (as those who have cared for her over the last two or three years have sometimes discovered from their own painful experience).

Here at St Mary’s we remember her best for her love and support of our choral music, and her cleverness and persistence until recently as a member of the flower-arrangers’ team. I remember her fulfilling a quiet, unspectacular but very necessary ministry as responsible for washing the smaller items of altar linen, which were returned every Sunday morning immaculately pressed. When finally she moved into residential accommodation, two of the things, I think, that she found it hardest to adjust to were not only her rapidly-increasing disability but her inability to be useful, and her dependence on others, rather than being able to be the gracious hostess. And we at St Mary’s also pay tribute to Margaret Freeman, for the ways in which her long-standing friendship with Scottie was sometimes severely tested over these last few years and stayed constant. Thank you for the care you took.

It was typical of Scottie that only a few weeks ago she said to a visitor, “I must have been very wicked; I think the Lord’s forgotten all about me; I can’t imagine what I’m doing, still here.” For a long time she had wanted to slip away; and when the end finally came it was peaceful and gentle. We thank God for her fun, her persistence, and above all her quiet courage over so many years."

Thank you

As this is the end of the year when we originally hoped that our mortgage would be paid off, it seems an appropriate time to say a final Thank-You to all that huge number of people who have given so generously over the last decade to enable the 'new' church Centre to be paid for. If you have been able to give once or regularly, small sums or large, you have made a major contribution to the total effort; and we couldn't have paid the debt off several months in advance without your support.

St Mary's has grown together as a family, too, while all those fund-raising events have been going on, and the building-up of our fellowship has been just as important as the bricks and mortar we've been paying for.

Thank you for helping to bring all those Living Stones together as well as dealing with the financial ones!

Selwyn Tillett

Churches Together in Beddington & Wallington : Update

CTBW are hoping that many will attend the joint services and events planned for the last few weeks of this year and in 2005. It is always a pleasure to be present at these services and discover just how much we all have in common. It's good to meet new people and perhaps bump into old acquaintances. Let's aim for a strong St Mary's presence at these events:

Advent Carol Service

5 December at 6.30 pm

Wallington URC

Christmas Lunch

25 December at noon

Trinity Centre, Holy Trinity Church

Unity Service and Agape Social Event

23 January at 6.30 pm

St Elphege's

Lent Meetings

16 & 23 February; 2, 9 & 16 March at 7.30 pm

St Elphege's

Walk of Witness

Good Friday, 25 March at 11.45 am

Christian Aid Week Service

May

CTBW Music Festival

June

Further details will be in notices and magazines as the events are coming up.

Carolyn Churchyard

The Final Push For The Last Few Pounds

Kath Chilcott, a ringer at St Mary's, writes to the Parish and the neighbourhood …..

Beddington bells will soon be swinging in their new frame - that is if we can raise the final sum towards the cost of replacing the old wooden frame and the necessary repairs to the tower.

Spearheaded by the ringers, St Mary's Church has raised £50,000 towards this by donations, a sponsored swim and sponsored cycle ride, quizzes, concerts, fairs, ringing for special anniversaries, an auction and various other social events - but we still need to find up to £10,000 more.

At St Mary's Christmas Fair we shall have a display and a stall. We would like to invite anyone to come and donate something towards this final target. Any other donations, however small, may be sent to The Treasurer at 18 Bloxworth Close, Wallington, SM6 7NL (cheques made payable to 'St Mary's Tower & Bells Fund'). If you are at the Fair, donations may be given to the ringers in a sealed envelope. Donors of £5 will receive a free mug (while stocks last!).

It may be of interest that the cost of one rope is £100 - and we need ten of these. The cost of all items to be renewed will be illustrated on the stall at the Fair.

Once the new frame is in place, anyone who thinks they would like to become a ringer would be welcome to come and try their hand, or just watch before committing themselves. If you'd like to know more, contact Jean Kimber on 020 8660 4254.

Happy Birthday To You...

Congratulations and best wishes to FREDA DAVISON who will be 90 on 11 December

Prohibition

Prohibition in America officially began at midnight on January 16, 1920, with the passing of the 18th Amendment. From that exact time, America went dry and there wasn’t a place in the country (including your own home) where you could legally drink alcohol.

The idea behind Prohibition was to reduce crime and poverty and generally improve the quality of life by making it impossible for people to get their hands on alcohol. But this so-called “Noble Experiment” was a colossal failure. Overnight almost everyone in the country became a criminal!

One unanticipated result of Prohibition was the creation of “Speakeasies”, establishments where people could obtain illegal liquor as long as they could “speak easy”. This meant they had to whisper (speak “easy”) a password to gain entry. Illegal liquor was carried in hip flasks, false books or hollow canes and the patrons of the speakeasies drank out of cups - just in case there was a police raid.

Not only was more liquor drunk but crime and poverty rose significantly, with the increase in “gangster culture”. Mob-controlled liquor created a black market economy. Gangster-owned speakeasies replaced neighbourhood saloons and Al Capone was in his hey-day.

As reaction to the dark days of the First World War, jazz music became a symbol of freedom. People such as Hoagy Carmichael, Bix Beiderbecke and Duke Ellington became household names. Just six months after Prohibition, women got the right to vote. Having lost so many of their men-folk to war and the great flu epidemic, they wanted to break out, to underline their freedom and some began to live what was considered quite outrageous lives.

Flappers became the heroines of the Jazz Age. They were easy to spot. They wore short skirts and had bobbed hair; they smoked cigarettes from long holders and drank cocktails; they hung out in speakeasies and danced the Tango, the Black Bottom and the Charleston. People were scandalised by them and their boyfriends, who wore knee-length racoon coats and kept their hip-flasks full of gin. It was all blamed on the music!

Jean Kimber

The sound of silence

By the time you read this, our bells will be silent. The promise of bells for Christmas has had to be broken! As was reported in the September magazine, because of the delay in sorting out our Faculty, we lost our slot at the Foundry. To try to make up for this, they offered to do our work in a different order from usual. They now find they need to take out our wheels and clappers for renovation and although the bells themselves won’t go until January, they aren’t a lot of use without their wheels and clappers! We shall be there for John Read’s memorial service and Sunday 21st and then - silence.

So you will miss us over Christmas and the New Year - and we shall miss serving you. But we hope you will be doubly glad to have us back in February. A date for the re-dedication is being sought and will appear in the February magazine.

We are continuing fund-raising to try to make up the shortfall incurred by the delay. Leaflets have gone out to the entire parish and we are hoping to reap the benefit at the Christmas Fair. Elsewhere in this magazine is information about our next event - the Prohibition Evening. Put it in your diary and come along for a “different” evening out!

Jean Kimber

PS - I persuaded the Foundry to leave the bell we use as the Sanctus Bell, and for announcing the weekday services, until January, so at least we have that over Christmas.

Traditions

Do you ever wonder about some of our Christmas traditions? Here are a few answers …….

The Christmas Tree

Traditionally, Christmas Eve was the day that we put up our Christmas trees, though these days most of us have begun long before this! Christmas trees began as a German custom. In 1841 Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, was one of the earliest to introduce Christmas trees into England, though not the first - German merchants in Manchester had had Christmas trees for several years by this time, for one William Howitt reported in 1840 “it is spreading fast among the English there - pine tops being brought to market for the purpose, which are generally illuminated with tapers....”

But with Prince Albert the custom grew rapidly in popularity. Two months before Christmas 1841 a Prince of Wales had been born, and Albert in his joy set up the Christmas tree. “This is the dear Christmas Eve,” he wrote. “Today I have two children of my own to give presents to...they are full of happy wonder at the German Christmas-tree and its radiant candles.”

Each winter after this, more trees appeared in the castle. Soon there was one for the Queen, one for the Prince, one for the children, and several for other members of the household, and two in the dining room. These were 6 to 8 feet high, all fully decorated and loaded with trinkets, carefully arranged by Mr Mawditt, the Queen’s confectioner.

A charming lithograph of 1848 shows the six royal children with their mother and father grouped around their tree, over six feet high, which stands on a table covered with white damask. About the roots the larger toys are arranged - soldiers on horseback and dolls. The six tiers of branches are crowded with candles and with sweetmeats, bells and paper toys. On the apex floats an angel with spread wings, holding a wreath in each hand.

In 1850 is was still to Dickens “the new German toy”, but by 1854 there were hundreds for sale in Covent Garden Market and a prodigious glittering fir tree on view at the Crystal Palace.

Why Christmas stockings?

These were not found in England earlier than 1854. The practice also came from Germany, but not exclusively; for in certain French and Italian convents, the nuns had long been hanging stockings on the abbess’ door, with notes inside asking for St Nicholas’ protection; and next morning they would be found to be full of sweets and trinkets. Traditionally, children woke up at dawn with these weighing down their toes. A lit candle was brought in, and if the family were “decently traditional” the stocking contained at the toe, an orange, followed by many objects done up in foil or coloured paper, including a new silver sixpence. This was all topped off with an apple.

Why does Christmas Day begin at midnight with Holy Communion?

The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fifth century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mystical idea in no way hindered by historical evidence! No one knows the hour of his birth.

Certainly in recent times, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with modern families. One British writer pointed out its “domestic convenience” in 1947: “for where there are children and no servants, husband and wife may be unable to communicate at any other time.”

What was the Christmas log?

These huge logs burned in open fireplaces all Christmas day. Traditionally, they were of ash: ash that burned green, and was therefore sacred to the sun on whose birthday nature was reborn. One Devon-based tradition had it that burning ash had warmed the water for the Christ Child’s first bath. The Scandinavians believed that ash was the wood of the world-tree, Yggdrasil, with its roots knotted in Hell and its boughs supporting Heaven.

In the late 19th century, a time of smaller fire-places, the ashen faggot became popular in many homes. Sometimes it would be sprinkled with corn and cider, and sometimes it would be dragged in with a girl enthroned upon it, and then there would be glasses raised to her health.

In any event the log (once the girl was removed!) would be kindled with the last fragment of the previous Christmas log, kept throughout the year for this purpose – a rule that was no pretty fancy, but a profound recognition of continuity. By the time dinner was brought, the symbolic brand would be ablaze.

What about the menu for Christmas dinners?

In England rank has divided people down the centuries, but on Christmas day master and servant sat down in the great hall to banquet together in genuine though brief equality. The Romans at the Saturnalia had done the same, and the Scandinavians at Yule. St Francis of Assisi had urged that even the animals ought to share in our joy, thus introducing the custom to give extra food to the cattle and dogs on Christmas morning, and even to fix a sheaf of corn to the roof for the hungry birds.

In great houses of the past, the main dish was the boar’s head, garnished with rosemary and bays for the summer returning, and still with its mouth propped open on a solar apple or orange. At Hampton Court Christmas dinner consisted of roasted swans, peacocks or bustards. But the dishes proved “too gross and too splendid for the century of the kitchenette” and in due course they went the way of the plum pudding and frumenty and Christmas pie.

Traditionally, it was the goose that appeared on most English tables, but the turkey, imported into England about 1542 from Mexico, gained steadily in popularity. By the end of the 18th century, Norwich alone was sending to London nearly 1,000 Christmas turkeys in a single day.

Mince pies were already popular by the time of Shakespeare’s England – popular and varied. There were pies of minced chicken, of neat’s tongues, and of eggs, in addition to the pies full of spiced raisins.

As for our Christmas pudding, it was originally a sort of plum porridge that finally hardened into a pudding about 1670. This was made of raisins and spices, together with breadcrumbs, wine and fruit juice. Every member of the household took a hand in the stirring and secretly wished a wish. A silver coin (once a threepenny bit), a ring and a thimble were stirred in: the coin to bring fortune to the finder, the ring a wedding, and the thimble a life of single blessedness. On the Day, a sprig of the reddest holly was stuck in the top of the pudding, and then brandy heated above a candle, and poured over it in a river of fire.

Christingle and Toy Service

If you have not been to a Christingle service before, maybe this year you could experience the special wonder of a dimly lit church with lots of children in a circle holding their Christingles with the candles burning and all singing 'Away in a Manger.' It all happens on Sunday, 12 December at 4 pm. (Do I hear you ask “What is a Christingle?” - just come along and find out.)

The retiring collection at this service is given to The Children's Society.

You are invited to bring presents to this service: good toys that are no longer needed. The toys should be wrapped and labelled with the age and sex of a suitable recipient. They will be delivered to a local organisation that will make sure they go to children whose lives are so disrupted they will not receive presents from family and friends.

Emma Thompson, our Children's Society representative, will be pleased to accept money towards the cost of the oranges used in making the Christingles.

A Safe and Sound Protection Policy for young runaways has been implemented by over 35 local authorities, The Children’s Society is campaigning for all 150 local authorities to follow Government guidelines which recommend that each local authority:

appoint a manager with responsibility for young runaways;

have a plan to meet the needs of young runaways;

and an agreement to evaluate the plan.

Over 100,000 children under 16 run away from home or care every single year. Most are fleeing abuse or conflict but as yet there is no national network of safe places for them to go to. All these children are vulnerable. 25% of first time runaways are under 11 years old. A quarter of runaways end up sleeping in unsafe places and are taken in by strangers, 13% are physically hurt and 8% are sexually assaulted. Maybe these figures represent only part of the whole story.

So, how can we help? The collection from the Christingle Service has already been increased by over £400 from sponsorship received by Emma and her son, Oliver, on the 'London Bridges Walk'. If you are unable to come to the Christingle Service, there will be special envelopes available in church on the 5th and 12th December for you to make your contribution.

If you would like to add your name to the 26,000+ people who have already signed, there will be copies of The Big Safe and Sound Sign-Up petition available for you. Please be sure to print your name as well as signing and to include your post code.

Heather Cosgrove

Stamps

Many thanks to those who have brought in stamps during the year. These are passed on to USPG to be sorted and sold . The money raised helps to support our mission partners in many countries.

The stamps particularly wanted are special issue and high value UK and all foreign ones.

Please put the stamps in the box on the table under the tower, or give them me.

Betty Walker

Smiles

Two snowmen were standing next to each other. One said to the other: "Can you smell carrots?"

Of course, I had expected that by the age of seven it was inevitable for my son to begin to have serious thoughts about Father Christmas. Sure enough, one day he said, "Mum, I know something about Father Christmas, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy." Taking a deep breath, I asked him, "And what is that?" He replied, "They're all nocturnal.”

A night out in town

It’s surprising what you can find under some of the larger railway termini in London. Who would have thought that under Waterloo station, close by the hurry and bustle of international travel that there would be an intimate theatre? A theatre the size of a generous shoe box, it must be said, but a theatre nonetheless.

The Shakespeare Revue, a compilation of sketches and songs made surprisingly late, in the 1990s supplied an evening of light-hearted commentary on the Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon industries.

With a cast of six plus Selwyn at the old Joanna, alternating between solo and ensemble numbers the pretensions of the theatrical world in its sometimes over-precious, over-elaborate or aggressively iconoclastic approach to the oeuvre were examined. There were also numbers that joyfully poked gentle fun at those things now considered odd.

Selwyn, though generally chained to the piano, rose masterfully on one occasion and in a tour de force of memory, ran through a pastiche of one of those speeches where the various Lords on stage are addressed by their title, leading to such egregious lines as, “Surrey get you to Westmoreland and Essex hie thee to Wessex while gentle Lancaster will haste to Kent lately arrived in Norfolk…..”

Among the familiar numbers like “The Night I Appeared As Macbeth” and “Brush up your Shakespeare” there were less well known works by a large range of writers both old and contemporary.

The members of the cast were many talented: dancing, singing and reciting with, if not equal facility, then certainly with gusto: responding to Cassie’s direction which clearly enabled the performers to give of their best and therefore offer a polished, professional and pleasing performance to a small but appreciative audience. Congratulations to all concerned.

Kevin Winstone

Benedictine Oblate

Having recently returned from four weeks in Australia, I must apologise for being absent once more from St Mary's at the beginning of November, but for a very good reason. As some of you may know, I spent 5½ years in a contemplative order of nuns, in what was called temporary vows, testing my vocation. It was a time of immense value spiritually and in many other ways, but not for me a lifelong commitment. I returned, with the blessings of the Community, to secular life, with the intention of maintaining my link with the Sisters of St Mary's Abbey, West Malling, in a different capacity. After two years as a Novice Oblate of the Community, I returned on 6 November to the Abbey to offer myself as an Oblate of the Monastery of St Mary's, promising the conversion of my life according to the Rule of Saint Benedict.

The Office of Oblation is simple but very moving and significant, being set within the context of the Eucharist, just before the Peace. There were six of us being admitted that weekend and we each received a beautifully designed letter of Confraternity, welcoming us into the Oblate family of the Community and giving us a share in its spiritual life and work for the glory of God. It was a tremendous privilege and a culmination of something which God had begun in my life as far back as 1992.

I shall not be wearing a habit, of course, and shall be going about my normal round of duties in the usual way. The 'conversion of life' is really something that God will do in me, if I remain faithful to my personal rule of life based on the Rule of St Benedict. It involves the reciting of the Daily Offices, prayer, worship, work and study, and recreation. St Benedict was a wise and loving 'father' to his monks and saw to it that they lived balanced lives, which included time for resting. Our modern society with its stresses and strains would benefit greatly from learning more of the wisdom of that great spiritual leader. His Rule is immensely practical and down-to-earth, for as far as he is concerned there is no division between the practical and the spiritual sides of life - they are inextricably combined. He says that 'to work is to pray and to pray is to work'. Remember the old hymn which has the words "We sweep the floor as for the Lord"? When we work like this doing everything as for the Lord, it is indeed a kind of prayer. And prayer, when we are tired, out of sorts or feeling spiritually dry, can become a labour of love. To become a Benedictine is to commit oneself to this labour of love through work and prayer and to do it all relying on God's help, being only too well aware of one's frailties.

After making their oblation, the Oblate says to all present "Pray for me my brothers and sisters". Let us also, here in the parish of St Mary's, Beddington, pray for each other as we journey on together in the Way of the Lord.

Jenifer Davison

Christmas Lunch Is On Us!

Churches Together in Beddington and Wallington are once again organising a Christmas Day Lunch. As last year, it will be held at the Trinity Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Malden Road, Wallington. To book a place, arrange transport (locally) or for more information, ring: Christine on 020 8395 2872 or Frances on 020 8647 2688

We don't need to ask for any money this year, but Nectar vouchers would be welcomed (please sign the backs). Helpers will be needed on Christmas Eve and for transport to and from the lunch on Christmas Day. It is a wonderfully happy occasion and people who come to help once often cannot wait to come again. Pam Vernon will have details.

Remembering John Read

John Read was Rector of Beddington for 17 years. He left in 1978. But listening to the tributes at his memorial service in November, you would think he only left yesterday. These tributes were the most vivid memories from one of his churchwardens; from a former Sunday School member who has never forgotten the fun they always had, and from John's son, Tony, remembering the day the pantechnicon came to move the family to the Kentish countryside, two new parishes and life after Beddington.

The service was full of the music John loved - the solo flute, Fauré's Pié Jesu, sung by his great niece, the organ and of course the hymns. Then followed tea, renewing old friendships, and reminiscence - a very moving and happy afternoon.