Dear Everyone,

Our normal church services timetable starts again this sunday, February 2nd, on the first sunday of the month at 11 am. Everyone is welcome. The service this week will be taken by John Evans, with Sue Plant as preacher. She took our Carol Service in December and is a very welcome visitor to the parish.

As I explained at the carol service, our next service, on March 1st at 11 am, is to be taken by Archdeacon Hilary Dawson. She came to her post from Devon a year ago, and has generously spent a good deal of time in Wotton since then during our time without a vicar, because the decision was made to sell the vicarage so we cannot yet re-advertise to fill the post. I have met her several times, and value her support very much. We hope as many people as possible will come to her service so they can meet her and chat afterwards, flapjack in hand. We also hope that the purchase of the new vicarage will soon end its delays so the advertisement can be published and we can make progress on an appointment. Hilary is proving to be a great support to our local parishes, and is a good listener and very experienced in rural life.

Before that, our diocesan Bishop Rachel Treweek, the first woman to be appointed to this role in the UK, will be taking the service at St. Kenelm’s church in Alderley on sunday February 16th at 11 am. Everyone from Tresham is also very welcome to attend that service; St Kenelm’s is the main church in our joint parish. It has recently been redecorated including gold leaf highlights, and is looking particularly splendid. There is parking available courtesy of Alderley House, through the gates on the Wotton side of the house frontage. I have attended services taken by Bishop Rachel three times now, at Wotton, Gloucester cathedral, and at another parish church, and I have talked with her at a function she held in the Bishop’s garden. She seems to be interested in everything, and is very easy to talk to. I know she hopes to get to know all corners of the diocese, and enjoys the variety of types of parish in Gloucestershire, so I do commend this service, too, if you are interested.

Our services in Alderley and Tresham are not only intended for worshippers, but also for those who are interested in our local communities and in what church communities can offer in terms of friendship and support generally. Churches are adapting to the many changes in our society, and adjusting their activities to be of ‘service’ to all. We are very aware in our small community how important it is to be able to keep our only public space for community events of all sorts, for current and future residents.

With best wishes
Sue

Apologies for posting this with little notice for tomorrow. Ed