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Reflections Blog
Whilst Revd Ginni is on holiday we welcome Revd Don Dowling and Doug Richardson to St Ippolyts who will be taking the 08:00 and 09:15 services
Revd Ginni is on holiday until 14th September and during this period Wednesday Holy Communion is cancelled. Thank you for your understanding
Over 60 people and 22 horses attended our annual horse blessing service on 12th August. Our intrepid vicar, Ginni, conquered all her fears and conducted the service on horse back. What a magnificent sight to behold, Ginni and her trusty steed in front of 21 other horses gathered outside our church.
A big thank you to everyone that came and supported us and our heart felt thanks to Courtlands Riding stables who kindly gave Ginni riding lessons so that she could conduct this special service on horse back.
A collections was taken for our local "Riding for the Disabled" charity and a magnificent £217.70 was raised.
Well done Ginni you were brilliant.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR GALLERY WHERE THERE ARE LOTS MORE PHOTOS!!
Sorry but Holy Communion 11:00 Wednesday 15th August 2018 is CANCELLED
Holy Communion Wednesday 8th August at 11:00 - CANCELLED
According to tradition, whatever the weather is like on St Swithin's Day – whether rainy or sunny – it will continue for the next 40 days and 40 nights.
St Swithin (or St Swithun) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop at WinchesterCathedral who died in 862. At that time Winchester was the capital of the kingdom of Wessex.
He is believed to have been a trusted counsellor of Egbert, King of the West Saxons, and educated his son Ethelwulf who appointed him bishop.
Very little is known about his life and there's hardly any mention of him in documents from the time that he lived. However he was famed for his charity and church building and was made patron saint of Winchester Cathedral about 100 years after his death.
He supposedly performed just one miracle during his lifetime - making an old lady's eggs whole again after workmen smashed them while building a church.
Swithin is derived from the Old English word for "strong" and St Swithin's symbols are raindrops and apples.
Where did the legend originate?
As he lay on his deathbed St Swithin asked to be buried outside the Old Minster in Winchester, in a lowly grave where his body would be trodden and rained on.
However more than a century later, on July 15 971, Winchestermonks moved his remains to an elaborate shrine inside the cathedral where pilgrims flocked, believing his bones to have miraculous healing properties.
But legend has it that St Swithin wasn't happy about his body being moved. On the day of the removal, ferocious and violent rain storms arrived lasting 40 days and nights which apparently represented his displeasure.
This story soon became folklore and now British people keep an eye on the weather on July 15. The superstition is expressed in the well-known rhyme.
St Swithin’s Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin’s Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t’will rain no more
Nothing remains of St Swithin's shrine which was destroyed during King Henry VIII's Reformation, but there's a memorial to him at Winchester Cathedral.
Other western European countries observe a similar day, dedicated to different saints.
In France, people keep watch for rain on July 19 (St Gervais' Day) and Germany's Seven Sleepers day (July 7) refers to the weather patterns over the next seven weeks.
Thanks to the Daily Telegraph
Holy Communion, 11:00 Wednesday 11th July Cancelled
Apologies but Revd Ginni is away on a course today
ST. MARY’S GREAT WYMONDLEY
CHURCH UPDATE
A great deal has been happening both with the works up at the church and with our fundraising so we thought it was a good time to provide an update as we move into the summer period.
In terms of our building works, our contractor Between Time has now almost finished the initial work of re-plastering, redecoration and replacing masonry and re-pointing at the base of the tower.
Whilst the work has been going on we have applied to the Diocesan authorities to level the flooring in the nave and the chancel so that we have a consistent level floor and most importantly to seek their agreement not to reinstate the pews at the back of the church. They have now given approval in principle so we can move on with the details, including costing the options. As a Grade 1 Listed Building we do also need the approval of the local planning authority and English Heritage so there are a few hurdles to get over yet! Following the ‘in principle approval’ we can also start to plan our heating and lighting solutions.
None of this would have been possible without the tremendous fund raising efforts that have been undertaken over the last few months. The latest was the hugely successful Motown Dinner Dance at Redcoats. Our thanks to all who worked so hard to make it such a roaring success, our organising team, our sponsors, every one that came on the night and donated or bid at the auction. Overall the dinner made over £6,000 which added to the outcome from a wonderful Fête and Village BBQ (£2,600) and the activities earlier in the year bringing our overall total to date to around £12,500 which we have now been able to fill on our fundraising gauge on The Green.
We now look forward to our Sports Afternoonof tennis, table tennis and croquet on Sunday 22ndJuly(details from Doug and Sue Richardson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). All are welcome to join in the fun and raise money in the process!
Paul Harding
CHURCH RESTORATION BARN DANCE
Saturday 22ndSeptember in St. Ippolyts Parish Hall
Music with The Time of Your Life Trio and Caller Barry Goodman are all booked for an exhilarating evening of dancing and fun for all ages. There will be a delicious Ploughman’s Supper with Desserts, a Bar and a Raffle. Tickets from Cherry Carter at 2 Church Green, Great Wymondley. Tel: 01438-724919 or 07814-837773 or email cherryandThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Adults £15 and under 14’s £8.
Other Events:
CAR RALLY and TREASURE HUNT - Sunday 16thSeptember
Details from Steve Arnold: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or Mike Bradley-Russell: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CHARITY STALL IN HITCHIN MARKET SQUARE - Saturday 29thSeptember
Cherry Carter
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The Holy Communion this Wednesday, 4th July, is cancelled as Ginni is away on a training course, come along to the community lunch instead.