The monthly Church Magazine is delivered to subscribers in Stoke Rivers and Challacombe as well as Bratton Fleming. Additional copies are available in the church.
Some of the articles from this month's magazine are found below.

The annual subscription for the magazine is currently £6.20 (+ postage if applicable). For further details contact Terry Squire (please see 'Who's Who' page).

The Team Rector Writes . .

Whilst on holiday in early April, Bob Shadbolt died. His death will have an effect on the parish-life, the life of the Shirwell Team, and on the wider Anglican Christian community. It is somehow typical of Bob that we yet know very little about his death here where he made his home, as he managed to keep much of his family life quiet and relatively unknown, except by a very few close acquaintances.

Bob played a part in so much that is the Church and community life of our area. Apart from his work on the Bratton Parish Council from which he recently retired, the obvious first item in the list is that Bob played the music for worship services in five separate Church-buildings Sunday by Sunday. Bratton Fleming, Stoke Rivers, Loxhore and Challacombe in the Shirwell Team, and Trentishoe in the North Devon Coast Team, all benefited from Bob's self-taught organ playing.

As an enthusiast for old-style things, and at a bit of a loss with “new technology”, he was proud of the instruments in these buildings, and the sound he got from them. Bob was also an enthusiast for bells and bell-ringing, and rang with Teams in several local towers as required for weddings and special occasions.

He was a Church Warden for Stoke Rivers for many years, as well as its treasurer, and was the Lay Chairman of the Shirwell Deanery Synod  for as long as there has been a Deanery Synod, which is more than thirty years, as well as a member of the Diocesan Synod.

Many of us have attended one of Bob's talks about his Sponsored Walks to various unusual parts of the world, among them, Nepal, the Inca Trail, and latterly, New Zealand; most done for and with The Children's Society, but some also for the YHA.

Yet it was the quiet things that Bob did that may well be missed the most. He was a good visitor to those who were house-bound, and both a visitor to those in hospital and transport-provider for others who wanted to visit or who had to have a lift to the doctor or hospital. He was often to be seen in Tesco with a shopping list – or two – for others who couldn't make the journey. Practical outworking of his sincere Christian faith, things about which he seldom spoke and never made a big show.

He will be sadly missed not only by his many friends and acquaintances, but by his sisters, Helen and Sarah, and by his nieces and nephews to whom he was a loving and caring uncle who was always game for a laugh and up for a trip on some unusual mode of transport.

We give thanks for his time among us. He is one of life's real characters.

 

Annual Meetings

At the annual Vestry Meeting two nominations were received for the posts of churchwardens for 2008/09.  As there were no other nominations Daphne Dallyn and Terry Squire were duly elected.

Daphne and Terry will take up their posts for the coming year at the Archdeacon’s Visitation on 14 May.

This means that after a break of  several years, St. Peter’s will again have a lady as churchwarden.

At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, Caroline Adams, Margaret Perry and Gill Williams were elected as Church Councillors, bringing the Church Council up to its full number.

One of the posts for Deanery Synod Representative remains to be filled. 

Gill Williams has replaced Caroline as Sidesman, who has had to step down in order to lead the young people.   

 

25 Years Service

This year was the 25th that Terry has been elected churchwarden.

To mark the event Terry was presented with a cheque after the morning’s service on 16 April.  At the same time Sue was presented with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her continual support.

Terry and Sue would like to express their most grateful thanks for the gifts which came as a totally unexpected   surprise.

Les’ advice to put the money towards some photographic equipment was quickly followed!

 

Agape Supper

This year it was St. Peter’s turn to host the Agape Supper on Maundy Thursday. We were joined by  members of congregations across the Team for this very moving service.

We are very grateful to everyone who contributed food for the supper and to everyone who helped on the evening.

 

Locked Church

We apologise to anyone who on  occasions has found the church locked during the day.

This action was necessary following a couple of acts of vandalism on church property, and the theft of items from the church itself.

Locking the church is something that we only do as a last resort, but on these occasions have considered in necessary to prevent further damage.

The police are being kept aware of all incidents.

 

Easter

Despite the weather being far from ideal, the church was full for Family Communion on Easter Day.

Following the service there was the usual scrum as children scoured the church for cardboard eggs, which were quickly changed for those of the chocolate variety.

Walking into church on Easter morning we were greeted by the sight of displays of spring flowers, a marvellous sight especially after Lent.

We are grateful to everyone who decorated the church so beautifully. 

 

 

Bob Shadbolt

We were all shocked to hear of Bob’s sudden death whilst on holiday in Mauritius last month. There is no doubt that Bob will be very much missed, not just in Bratton Fleming, but in many other parishes where he was well known.

Bob carried out many roles within the Church, including Churchwarden and Lay Chairman on the Deanery Synod. As well as playing the organ and ringing the bells at St Peters, he could often be found doing the same in churches around the Team and further afield.

Outside the Church he was equally busy - only recently retiring as Parish Clerk after guiding the Parish Council for 19 years. He was often seen either taking people to the shops, or doing the shopping for them. He was also on the list of volunteers to take people to the doctor or to hospital.

During his time of organising the Poppy Appeal and Christian Aid collection, the total raised increased year on year.  

Christmas often saw Bob on the back of a tractor and trailer providing music for a group of carol singers.

These are just a few of the ways in which Bob took his ministry into the parishes. There are many things that Bob quietly did which few people know about. All in all Bob was a  person of many parts. His passing will leave many holes which will certainly prove difficult to fill.

 

Archdeacon’s Visitation

This year’s Archdeacon’s Visitation for the Shirwell will take place at St. Peter’s Combe Martin on 14 May, with the service starting at 7:30pm.

It is at this service that all Churchwardens and Sidesmen appear to make their ‘Presentments, and their Declaration for the due execution of their office’.

It would be good to see as many Sidesmen as possible at this service.

As well as churchwardens and sidesmen, everyone is invited to this service, especially those who support the ministry in any way.

 

Farmers Market

This month’s Farmers Market will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 24 May, 9.30am - 12 noon.

Forthcoming markets will be held on: 28 June; 26 July; 23 August; 27 September; 25 October and 22 November.

Tribute to Bob Shadbolt from Sam Heath

It was with great sadness that we learned of Bob’s death.  He was a great character, doing so much for bell-ringing and it was through him that this skill was brought back to this area.

There must be a number of people who remember the outings he used to arrange. 

I was Churchwarden at East Buckland Church for 37 years and a bellringer for 30+ years and if we didn’t have enough numbers and a team had to be made up, Bob was always there, willing to help.

He will be greatly missed, not only for the things we knew he did for so many people, but for the many things he did quietly, without any fuss which a lot of us never knew about and perhaps never will.

 

Lambing Service

We are very grateful to Marion and Roy for providing the lamb for this year’s lambing service.

‘Angel’ certainly proved popular with children (and adults), who took turns during and after the service to stroke the quiet and well-mannered lamb.

 

Church Heating

Despite emergency repairs being carried out early in the year, the boiler began leaking again in April, confirming that it is definitely on ‘borrowed time’. This has meant that is has often been necessary to pump the system by hand in order to reach the required pressure. It is hoped that this (unwanted) task will enable the boiler to keep going until the end on this month.

 

Churchyard

Due to the lack of those willing or able to help in the churchyard last year, it has been decided to employ a contractor this year to maintain the churchyard.

Dry weather meant that Gordon has been  able to start cutting the grass last month in areas where there are no daffodils. As soon as these have died back work will commence on cutting all areas.

 

We would like to take the opportunity of thanking all those who have worked hard in the churchyard over the past years.

 

 

How well do you know your Chocolate?

Chocolate and quiz lovers will enjoy this challenge and help raise funds for the church at the same time.

I am organising this event to specifically purchase toughened  almost unbreakable glass for the Station Road noticeboard which, as you will know, has suffered terrible vandalism and is continually being smashed. Not only has the church not got the funds to keep on replacing the glass, but it isn't fair on those who kindly offer to do the repairs - they have enough to do anyway without taking on yet more jobs.

So, we are going to beat the vandals (not literally) and get some super duper glass which will withstand anything they literally throw at it. Trouble is – it’s expensive. It will cost about £75 and also a new frame has to be made as well which will be one opening and not the two as at   present and this will make it easier to read the posters inside.

Will you help please? I have quiz sheets giving cryptic clues which will test your knowledge on all things chocolate and they are priced at a very modest £1. The prizes are, yes you guessed it, chocolate products and will be awarded on Sunday, 15 June.

Please encourage your family and friends to buy a sheet as well because we want this to be a really fun and profitable event. The more you tell, the more interest there will be. Oh, and by the way, there is no restriction on going into Woolies or Tesco and eyeing all the chocs on the shelves to try and solve the clues.

 

Sue Squire ('Phone me on 710526 or email susan.squire@virgin.net for a copy)

 

 

 

 

 

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