Monday, 4 April - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Monday 25 April - St Mark: although no special services will take place, morning and evening prayer will be said at the usual times.

10-16 April is Global Week of Action for Trade Justice.

Following the Women's World Day of Prayer held on 4 March, there will be a Coffee Morning held at Wallington Methodist Hall at 10 am on Friday, 15. Tickets can be obtained from Jenifer Davison or Mary.

On Tuesday, 19 April, the Priests and people of St Elphege's Roman Catholic Church will make their annual visit to St Mary's for their Patronal Festival. Please come and join them if you can. Father Paul will celebrate the Mass at 8 pm, and after the service there will be an opportunity to meet and chat over coffee.

What’s On In April?
SUN	3	EASTER 2 Low SundayEvening Prayer will be Said
Mon	4	The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
		Magazine Panel meets at 2 Peaks Hill	6.00 pm
Tue	5	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
Wed	6	St Mary's Guild. 'Australia' by Jenifer Davison
Thu	7	MU&OG. Bring & Buy, Raffle & Refreshments	8.00 pm
Fri	8	PCC meeting. The Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	10	EASTER 3
Tue	12	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
Wed	13	Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The Centre	8.00 pm
Fri	15	Women's World Day of Prayer Coffee Morning at Wallington
		Methodist Hall. (Tickets from Jenifer Davison or Mary Tapp)	10.00 am
Sat	16	Surrey Association of Ringers meeting.	7.30 -9.00
SUN	17	EASTER 4 Archdeacon Tony Davies presides and preaches
Tue	19	St Elphege's Patronal Mass	8.00 pm
Wed	20	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
Thu	21	MU&OG. A talk by Marion Hartington of Age Concern. Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	24	EASTER 5
Mon	25	St Mark
Tue	26	Social Committee meets at 2 Caraway Place	8.00 pm
		Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm

Dates for your diary:

Thursday, 5 May - Ascension Day

Sunday, 15 May - Pentecost. Christian Aid Week begins.

We have a Confirmation booked at St Mary's on 4 September at the 9.30 Eucharist. Jenifer and Heather will run some Confirmation classes later this year. Anyone interested please speak to one of them

What happens next? …. an update

The Archdeacon of Croydon, Tony Davies, came to talk to the March meeting of the PCC. He and all the PCC members were given a copy of the Parish Profile written by Selwyn and the Churchwardens. This document sets out information to help those who will be involved in the selection of Selwyn's successor and also used in the writing of the information pack to be given to the applicants.

The Profile follows a standard format. It gives a wealth of facts about the local community - everything from shopping facilities to the name of the local MP. Details about the church include a description of our pattern of worship; lists of church organisations and groups meeting for study and prayer; statistics of church attendances; our financial situation and even how many times a year this magazine appears.

The 'Other relevant information' section offered an opportunity to mention our music, the successful paying off of the mortgage, our lively programme of concerts and social events, as well as the strong sense of community felt by St Mary's people.

Very many thanks to everyone who completed the questionnaire. The Churchwardens are most grateful for your thoughtful comments. As we go to press, these comments are being collated in time for discussion at the special PCC meeting in April.

We look forward to welcoming the visiting clergy who will be presiding and preaching at the Sunday morning Eucharists from the beginning of April. Some will be new friends. Some will be familiar faces. All will be here to help us to ensure that worship at St Mary's continues strong while the appointment process continues on its way.

Pat Kingsbury

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

If you are not on the Electoral Roll of St Mary's (Anglican-speak for our official membership list) but would like to be, you have the opportunity soon when the Roll receives its annual update before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Simply obtain an application form from Eileen England any time from Saturday 5 onwards, and return it to her, duly completed, at any time up to the end of Saturday 19 March (in other words the actual revision process runs for a fortnight). Eileen or the form itself will explain the necessary qualifications, and once she has your returned form the system will do the rest. You will then be eligible to vote during the Annual Meeting itself, which takes place in the Centre at 8.00 pm on Wednesday 13 April, and this year will be chaired by our Rural Dean, Chris Wheaton, Vicar of the Good Shepherd, Carshalton Beeches.

The minutes of last year's Annual Meeting, this year's Annual Report and Financial statement from the PCC, and the Agenda for this year's Meeting, will all be available in good time, from Saturday 2 April at the latest. Among the business of the Meeting is the election of Churchwardens, PCC, and Deanery Synod members for the coming year. If you are considering standing for election in any of these capacities, then once again you need to be on the Electoral Roll, and the relevant forms will be available in plenty of time, from Saturday 2 April if not before. If there have been no applications for postal votes, the PCC will be declared during the Annual Meeting and commissioned by Tony Davies, Archdeacon of Croydon, when he comes to preside and preach at 9:30 on Sunday 17th April.

However, you may want to take part in this year's elections, but are not able to attend the meeting itself. In that case you can apply beforehand for a postal vote. Application forms for these will also be available in plenty of time. Once again the system would then spring into operation. It works like this.

Return your application form to Pat Kingsbury or to Pam or Ian Akhurst before the Annual Meeting. Should an election be necessary, a voting paper will be got to you by the late evening of Friday 15 April. You then have up to 12 days in which to think, pray, vote, fold your paper and return it to The Rectory. Papers must be returned there sometime during the week from Wednesday 20th to Wednesday 27th, and they would be stored safely and unopened as they arrive, together with the papers filled out during the Meeting itself.

Voting papers would be counted on Thursday or Friday 28th or 29thApril, by people who have not been candidates in any of the elections. All candidates would be notified of the result that same day, and the new PCC would be announced and commissioned during the 9.30 Eucharist on Sunday 1 May.

The interregnum does not technically begin until Selwyn has been handed his Licence to officiate by the Bishop of Norwich at his installation on Friday 13 – but the first meeting of our new PCC will happen as soon as possible after that date, that is on Monday 16 May.

PCC Notes

The Archdeacon of Croydon, Tony Davies, was present at our meeting on 8thand led the opening prayer.

He had come to explain to the PCC the procedure and steps that will need to be taken before a new Rector may be appointed. He reminded us that the benefice is a piece of property which Selwyn owns until he takes up his next post in May. However, in order to avoid unnecessary delay in appointing a new incumbent, the Bishop is prepared to issue a notice of impending vacancy soon after Easter which will enable us to publish an advertisement for the living (with the Patron’s permission) and to send out information documents to prospective candidates.

Meanwhile, we must prepare a statement of need based on the parish profile and the qualities we would like to see in a new Rector. The Archdeacon commended the churchwardens on already seeking to engage the parish in a discussion of these qualities through a questionnaire. He stressed that an interregnum should be seen as a time to be positive. We should:

- enjoy worshipping together;

- pray for church officers, particularly the churchwardens, who will be

under great stress during the interregnum; and

- see this as an opportunity for members of the congregation to offer

help with little jobs.

Candidates will be shown around the parish – our church life and local life needs to be seen to be attractive - and shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. The Archdeacon’s opinion was that St. Mary’s is a warm, friendly community, a lively parish which springs from worship; that it has worked off its debt shows that it has dynamism and drive. He reminded us that the rural dean will be our pastor during the interregnum and that he, himself, will speak to the congregation at both morning services on 17th April and be available at coffee afterwards.

He left us two points to ponder:

- An inter-regnum is an exciting time – an opportunity for new ideas.

- There will be no angels – only human beings will apply.

The Archdeacon was warmly thanked for attending the meeting and for his past and promised help.

The PCC authorised the admission of Dr Hugh Ian Crozier to the electoral roll and a formal proposal, agreed unanimously, was made from the chair to co-opt him to the PCC and to create him Assistant Treasurer.

More good news came in the report from Ian Akhurst that the work on the tower and on rehanging the bells had been completed and that the rewiring would be finished in time for the re-dedication service on 13th March. Those who had worked very hard to ensure the completion of this project were commended for their efforts.

Progress had also been made in other areas. Selwyn told us that a DAC meeting had decided to recommend the granting of a Faculty for a Garden of Remembrance in the churchyard. He also reported that, prior to restoration work, the cleaning of the Hamilton window had been started. We heard from Ian that Granville and Burbidge had completed their cleaning survey of the church interior and that they will submit a report in 3–4 weeks.

Cassie presented the Financial Statement for 2004 and gave a detailed explanation of the figures. The report was accepted and Cassie was warmly applauded as she was offered our congratulations and sincere thanks for the excellent work she had done with the accounts during her time as Treasurer.

We have had an appeal from the Bishop asking us to contribute towards the purchase of centenary chairs for the cathedral. He suggests that each parish should try to contribute three chairs (at a cost of £150 each). The PCC agreed that we should undertake a fund-raising drive in aid of the chairs appeal.

The PCC asked Jenifer to pass on our congratulations to her parents who had, that day, become great-great grandparents.

Selwyn, at his last PCC meeting in this parish, thanked everyone for their support, hard work and friendship. He mentioned particularly Heather Cosgrove, Jean Kimber and Margaret Treasurer, all of whom had served on every PCC during his incumbency.

The meeting closed with prayer at 10.20.

Pam Akhurst

Secretary to the PCC

Hoppy, Choccy, Party Fun...

And the sun shone, oh how it shone! As we laid tables with bright sunny daffodils and arranged heaps of choccy eggs onto a table it was a sure sign that spring had sprung.

For the first time in three Easter parties for Families we were able to hide our egg hunt clues in the churchyard which was excitement enough for the team of hiders!

At the stroke of three, 26 little darlings burst through the Centre doors bedecked in cardboard, yellow fluff, and all manner of tape, string and ribbons. The theme this year was The Easter Egg - there were prizes to be had and the competition was stiff.

On arrival the SMYLE girls - suitably bunnied up for the occasion - helped the children decorate hard boiled eggs with faces, little stick-on foam feet and hands and woolly hair, adding their own designs on the way.

That done, on to the egg hunt. The first one back was young Mrwho took about three minutes to find his clue ... and claim his booty. Lots of dear little faces appeared clutching their tickets and smiled like Cheshire cats when they were handed their eggs ... some were almost as big as the children! Some opened them and tucked in so fast mums and dads didn't get the chance to utter those immortal words "Save it until Easter", or, "You'll not eat your party tea".

We had a couple of rounds of musical chairs (closely, and might I say very physically, fought out by George Evans and Emily De Ritter) and musical statues run by SMYLE.

Then our guests of honour arrived in the guise of Selwyn and Cassie. They were welcomed in and given tea whilst the games came to a close. As we gathered the Families' children around Pam at the piano, it dawned on me that not only had Selwyn married nearly half of the couples there, but had baptised almost all of the children.

We had been thinking of a suitable way for Families to say goodbye and Emma suggested the Goodbye song from Sound of Music - which Lizzie Atkins rewrote to suit the occasion and the recipients. The children performed it beautifully and we were able to present Selwyn and Cassie with a photo of our little horrors (decorated by Emily) and a bottle of wine (hoping of course that everything in Norfolk's garden would be Rosé for them - sorry!).

After a lovely party tea and just in case not enough chocolate had been eaten, the children were given Easter chocolate lollies, and little bunnie boxes (hand made by SMYLE) full of little chocolate eggs.

"What a lovely party" seemed to be the consensus. And it was due to St's generosity with the eggs - a million thanks, every child got a big egg this year; SMYLE's dedication in helping Families at these parties - we think you are a wonderful bunch and we're very proud of you; Pam for tinkling the ivories - it made such a difference from our combined chopsticks skills; and of course Selwyn and Cassie - especially Selwyn who let me run with the Families idea nearly three years ago.

It's a brilliant group to work with and getting bigger - Helena + bump, Catherine + bump, Emma + bump, Lizzie, Sharon, Ann and we hope that Yvonne will join us.

Here's to planning May ... watch this space!

Carolyn Churchyard

Readings for Sundays in April

Sunday 3 April

Easter 2

Acts 2: 14a, 22-32 Page 221

1 Peter 1: 3-9 Page 223

John 20: 19-31 Page 224

Sunday 10 April

Easter 3

Acts 2: 14a, 36-41 Page 225

1 Peter 1: 17-23 Page 227

Luke 24: 13-35 Page 227

Sunday 17 April

Easter 4

Acts 2: 42-47 Page 229

1 Peter 2: 19-25 Page 230

John 10: 1-10 Page 231

Sunday 24 April

Easter 5

Acts 7: 55-60 Page 232

1 Peter 2: 2-10 Page 233

John 14: 1-14 Page 234

Farewell

In the February issue of the magazine I wrote about the timetable before Cassie and I leave for our new home and my new post in Norfolk, and I gave a brief explanation of our reluctant decision to move on from St's at this particular time.

That timetable has now ticked on with alarming speed, and as I write this at the start of Holy Week there are just ten days to go before we move out of the house which has been my home, study, office, retreat and rehearsal room for nearly twelve years, and Cassie's for ten. My last official duty will be a wedding on Easter Monday afternoon - there hasn't been an Easter wedding since our own, and this year is our tenth anniversary, so there are all kinds of layers of memories in our thoughts as we look around and hope that the removal men really will be happy to pack up everything that has been so much part of our lives together here.

I ended my article in February by thanking you all for your enthusiasm, your support, your hard work, your prayers and your friendship over the time we've been here. In terms of the Christian 'journey' that I often talk about, it has been wonderful to have such good companions on the way for so long - the longest I've spent so far in any of the three places where I've worked. But one of the good things about the Christian journey is that although our ways will diverge after Easter, we will all still be travelling in the same direction. As all our separate journeys go on, we will hear about various stages on yours, and we'll make sure that you hear about important stages on ours - and I hope there will be plenty of opportunities for our paths to cross at significant places, when we can thoroughly catch up with one another. (Norfolk's a wonderful place for a holiday . . .) The whole community of St Mary's will stay regularly in our prayers, and they will mostly be prayers of thankfulness.

There is one prayer which I have often used to end meetings, because it seems to sum up the trust and confidence God has in us as well as the source of the strength and ability we need for all our tasks. Perhaps I can use it again now, to end a 'meeting' which has lasted twelve years and has given us all plenty of resources with which to tackle the future:

Almighty God,

by whose grace alone we are accepted and called to your service;

Strengthen us with your Holy Spirit,

and make us worthy of our calling:

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord - Alleluia, Alleluia!

Selwyn Tillett

Flowers Festivals begin here ….

And weddings too, or so it seemed to the carload of flower arrangers from St Mary's making an early morning visit to Covent Garden Flower Market. An enormous covered market, Covent Garden is filled from corner to corner with every kind of cut flower of every colour from all over the world. Many of the flowers come from the very big Dutch horticultural industry, but some come from as far away as South America. Only a small proportion now are actually UK-grown. As well as all the usual characters to be found in any busy market, we spotted the mothers and daughters clutching swatches of wedding dress material and holding them critically against different coloured blooms. We also spotted others, like us, 'just looking' - notebooks in hand, before coming back to put in their orders.

St Mary's planning continued over a full English breakfast in the market café. Our order will be placed in good time for work to start on our arrangements, based on ideas of fire, nights and days, sun and moon and all the other works of the Lord for which we give praise in the Benedicte.

And music ….

The concert on Saturday evening, 29 May, will be given by Anna Wynne and Linda Howarth, accompanied by Pam Akhurst. Anna and Linda are becoming well known for their recitals of music for harp and flute and we are promised an occasion not to be missed.

Tickets, including light refreshments, £6, students £2, under 12s free, will be available nearer the time and at the door.

Pat Kingsbury

Then Finally ….

In the on-going saga of our rehang, we left you with the bells in the Foundry and our entertaining visit to see them, ably recounted by Jean and Pierre Delahunty. The next chapter was a very rewarding one for the ringers in particular.

February 3rd saw the return of Steve Westerman (the bellhanger) and our new frame, all painted a lovely shiny red - but not quite dry! There was more drama when several sections of frame slid off the trolley onto the church floor. Steve’s instructions to “pick them up” were received with consternation but he relented and came to our aid.

There was excitement in the air on Ash Wednesday, not for the start of Lent, but for the arrival of the bells. Cameras clicked and passers-by stopped to watch. A local play-group came out in force to admire the bells, all lined up along the church path. By knocking-off time, all but one were safely up in the bellchamber. For the next four days, it was a matter of fixing and bolting everything in place.

A week after their arrival and the moment of truth had arrived - the Try-out! Shortly before five o’clock, 10 of us took hold and launched into the unknown. (Steve was nowhere to be seen!) But - relax - they were fine, except………… they were SO LOUD we were lip-reading the instructions!! With heads still reeling, we cracked open a couple of bottles of fizzy and then took Steve out for a meal to thank him for everything and for being so long-suffering with us.

So the next problem was how to preserve our eardrums. On the Saturday, Chris went up and spread a layer of fibreglass matting all over the floor of the bellchamber. The following Tuesday he chopped up the chipboard we’d used on the church floor and we put that over the top, plus some more fibreglass matting. None of this seemed to make much difference. In conversations with other ringers, we concluded the sound was being channelled down the rope chutes. These are drainpipe-like structures placed between the floors to guide the ropes down. We had never had a need for these but they are inserted as standard nowadays. It was suggested that we should try removing these, so I rang the Foundry for permission to vandalise their installation. It was granted. The job was done and the problem solved!!

Now came the really tricky bit - decorating the ringing room. The initial colour scheme - blue and green sallies and pink mats sent by the Foundry - had seemed a bit bizarre. We painted the walls a pale Chardonnay but couldn’t decide on the woodwork. With instructions to try to match the mats, the purchasers returned with a lovely shade of pink; well, it was lovely until we got it on the walls. Those of you privileged to see it, will have mixed feelings when I say we painted over it a week later! It’s now Tawny Crest - come and see it for yourselves. Rob Churchyard laid our lovely new carpet for us at the 11th hour and everything looked great for the Bishop.

And so we came to the SERVICE OF RE-DEDICATION….

Sunday morning, March 13, saw the ringers setting up the hall with the refreshments and nervously going up to ring. We knew there would be several ringing worthies in the congregation and we wanted to do our best.

The church was very full. The Mayor and his wife joined us, as did the Master of the Surrey Association, representatives from the Foundry and the DAC, the architect and the builder.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Reverend Tom Butler, preached the sermon, in which he described the various uses of bell of all kinds. He went on to explain the main reasons for bells in churches - the reminder of the presence of the church in the community and the call to worship.

We heard how bellringing has a long history in Beddington. Eight of the present bells were installed in 1869 and a further two on 1877 but there had been ringing here long before then. It had certainly been continuous since that time and St Mary’s has been an acknowledged centre of excellence in the ringing community. It was a founding member of the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers in 1880 and in view if that, and in recognition of the tower’s long years in the forefront of ringing activities, the Surrey Association had made a most generous grant of £15,000, believed to be the largest amount ever given to one tower. He thanked them for their generosity.

He mentioned that, while all this was going on, the church had been paying off a loan of £100,000 for the Centre and last year had had to find a further £30,000 for complete new wiring and lighting. That we had all this while raising £71,000 (including the Surrey grant) was an astonishing achievement. He paid tribute to Stewart Kimber, who had kept the problem of the frame in the minds of generations of PCCs and incumbents since the late 1960s. It was a fitting memorial to have this completed so close to the anniversary of his death.

After the sermon, the ringers led the Bishop and the Archdeacon up the tower. The Bishop blessed the bells and exhorted the ringers to continue their work into the future. We then had to ring while the Bishop and Archdeacon made their descent. We couldn’t get them to go, though, as they both stood watching intently. The Archdeacon is a former ringer, so perhaps he was reliving his past. At last the Bishop suggested they went and we continued ringing until the Bishop was ready to share the Peace. Everyone was nervous but we didn’t disgrace ourselves.

After the service, we all adjourned to the Centre for wine and refreshments. The Master of the Surrey Association presented us with an outsize cheque and cameras clicked. There was open ringing for visitors and the bells were put to good use. Comments on the bells, the service and the refreshments were all very favourable and everyone agreed that it was a most enjoyable occasion.

As the ringers draw breath, we are looking to the future. We need to recruit and when our feet are back on the ground, so to speak, we shall be attempting to do just that.

Planned for Easter Monday is a Farewell Quarter Peal for Selwyn and Cassie, rung by a local band and conducted by Nick Kimber. We shall start after the 2.30 wedding, so if you’re close enough, you can open your window and listen!

Thank you all for your support over the past years. It was much appreciated.

Jean Kimber

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel

Daily prayer topics in April

Fri 1 Christians in Iraq and Iran

Sat 2 Poor countries, their people and environments

Sun 3 For faith and trust in our Lord at all times

Mon 4 Thanksgiving for the love and obedience of Mary,

the Mother of our Lord

Tue 5 Our Bible Discussion Group

Wed 6 St Mary's Guild

Thu 7 Southwark Diocese Retreat Centre at Wychcroft

Fri 8 Leaders of the nations and governments and all in authority

Sat 9 Southwark Cathedral and all who work and worship there

Sun 10 For a closer walk with God

Mon 11 The people and Church of New Zealand

Tue 12 For fair trade and justice for all peoples

Wed 13 The Annual General Meeting of our PCC

Thu 14 Our local community shops and offices

Fri 15 The International Day of Families

Sat 16 Thanksgiving for our friends and colleagues

Sun 17 Vocations to the priesthood and lay ministries

Mon 18 All suffering from mental health problems

Tue 19 The over-anxious, the depressed and the dispirited

Wed 20 St Mary's Mothers' Union and Open Group

Thu 21 Spiritual directors and counsellors

Fri 22 Our local funeral directors and all who work with the bereaved

Sat 23 England, its government, Church and people

Sun 24 Inter-church relationships

Mon 25 Thanksgiving for the Gospel of St Mark

Tue 26 The United Nations and all who work for peace

Wed 27 Christian schools in Bethlehem, their teachers and pupils

Thu 28 Families where there is breakdown in relationships

Fri 29 For knowledge and true understanding of God's word

Sat 30 Our link dioceses in Zimbabwe

Free trade is being forced on poor countries, with disastrous effects. Poor-country governments are being forced to open their markets to goods from rich countries and reduce the support they give to vulnerable farmers and industries. Thousands of the world's poorest people are struggling to survive. In the unfair competition between rich and poor the poor will never win.

Global Week of Action for Trade Justice

The Global Week of Action for Trade Justice offers a unique opportunity to:

Take action in solidarity with millions of people across the world.

Challenge our Government to deliver trade justice - not free trade.

April 2005 is particularly significant for the UK campaign. In July Britain hosts the G8 summit of world leaders and from July to December holds the presidency of the European Union. This gives our Government a unique opportunity to change the unjust trade system that keeps millions of people in poverty around the world. By campaigning in April 2005, we have a chance to influence the agenda of these vital meetings.

What you can do:-

10 pm Friday 15 April - 8 am Saturday 16 April.

Join thousands of campaigners in Whitehall and Westminster for a night to change the world. Take part in an all-night vigil at the very heart of government.

See Whitehall lit up with thousands of candles and lanterns

Hold a constant vigil on the Prime Minister's doorstep

Learn the truth about trade from campaigners around the world

Join a dawn procession past Downing Street

Support the global delegation of trade campaigners as they meet decision-makers

This event will be safe and suitable for everyone. There will be activities and workshops throughout the night, with stewards, hot drinks, a fair-trade café, and warm, dry places to go.

Monday 11 April: Fast for Trade Justice

Fast for a day in solidarity with the 850 million people who go to bed hungry every night. It can be a private act, but why not encourage others to fast with you.

Organise a local Vote for Trade Justice anytime throughout the week.

Get everyone you know to vote. In Brazil 20 million people have already voted for trade justice!

If you would like any more information on how to join in any of the above, just contact Jane Seymour on 8395 8821.

Jane Seymour

Carousel

What’s On In April?

Dates for your diary:

What happens next? …. an update

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

PCC Notes

Hoppy, Choccy, Party Fun...

Readings for Sundays in April

Saints in April

Farewell

Evensong in April

From bell frame to platter in one easy turn

Flowers Festivals begin here ….

Then Finally ….

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel

Daily prayer topics in April

Southwark Diocese Centenary Celebration in Lambeth Palace Gardens

2 July 2005

The fly

Global Week of Action for Trade Justice