Please do not remove any sticks you see popped in at various locations around the churchyard - they are usually there as a marker for the grave-digger of a new grave or cremation plot, or in readiness for an additional interment to be added to an existing grave or cremation plot. The sticks are often of poor quality because the previous, better, versions were thrown away! If in doubt, please ask! Thank you. Fr Stephen

To everyone who supported the Summer fete in any way—allowing us to use your land, tents, tables etc, sponsoring activities, helping to set up and clear away, donating items, entering the mini show, manning activities on the field or coming and spending your money. The financial results are in the church porch and will be published in the September Parishioner. Thank you again.

Father Stephen and the Churchwardens

The Jubilee weekend was marked at St Mary's by a magnificent tea party, thanks to Ann Wade and her Team, and a Songs of Praise service on the Saturday afternoon. We chose our favourite Hymns and the Choir sang 2 favourite anthems, the Mozart Ave Verum Corpus, and 'I will Sing with the Spirit' by John Rutter, and there were three beautifully read readings interspersed between the musical items. A collection in aid of the New Rooms Project was taken up.
 Many residents opened their gardens over the Jubilee weekend, also in aid of the New Rooms project. Between these events we have raised over a thousand pounds towards the new building!

On SundayJune the 10th we held a Gift Service, a Choral Evensong at which we were delighted to welcome the Dean of Chichester Cathedral the Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling. The Dean preached an excellent and inspiring sermon, and joined us for tea and cakes afterwards. The Gifts and Pledges made at this service, added to our existing activities means that we are half way to our projected target for the Building Project. In the mean time, the submission of plans continues and we hope that we will be able to report progress in that direction soon!

Jubilee Tea in the Church Hall

Jubilee flowers in church

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Dr Martin Clive Warner

On 3 May we learned that the priest who is to take over from Bishop John Hind as 79th Bishop of Chichester will be The Right Reverend Dr Martin Clive Warner. Born in 1958 he studied at St Chad's College, Durham and then prepared for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford, between 1982 and 1984, being ordained Deacon in 1984 and priest the following year. He served as Curate in Plymouth and then became Team Vicar in Leicester between 1983 and 1992. He was then made Priest Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, where he stayed until 2002, undertaking this role concurrently with that of caring for a group of parishes in rural Norfolk. During this time Fr Martin became an honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. Until he became Bishop of Whitby (a suffragen of York) approximately two years ago, Fr Martin was, from 2003, Canon Residentiary at St Paul's Cathedral. He is expected to be enthroned in Chichester Cathedral later this year.
Fr Stephen

The Dean of Wakefield's wife Pamela Greener has written and performed a campaigning ditty in the demolished nave of Wakefield Cathedral as part of the CofE campaign to halt Government VAT plans unveiled in the budget. The YouTube recording has been sent to the Chancellor, George Osborne's Office and HMRC.

The cathedral is one of thousands of CofE buildings that will be affected if the Government goes ahead with introducing VAT on listed building alterations. Campaigners are being urged to sign the two e-petitions to bring back zero rate VAT to alterations to the CofE's 12,500 listed churches.

Access Epetition 1 here »

Access Epetition 2 here »

St Mary Our Lady Sunday School have decorated 'egg candles' which will be on sale after the 10am service on Palm Sunday and both services on Easter Sunday.