Author: Jo Claridge

Remembrance Sunday                                                                                                           Services at each of our churches were well attended on Remembrance Sunday as our villages paid their respects to the fallen and the two minute silence was kept at 11 am. 

In Sandford people assembled at the memorial to lay wreaths and listen to the names of those who died. At the church the standard was laid on the altar and Sandford Hand Bell Ringers played peals and chimes giving  the congregation time to reflect. Poignant displays of poppies and artefacts were a reminder of the role of the Army, Navy and  Air Force in conflicts past and present. There were also white and purple poppies representing peace and the contribution of animals.

St James’s was decorated, once again,  with knitted poppies. The Royal British Legion paraded their flags together with over 40 young people from the various Girl Guiding and Scout sections in Winscombe. The Last Post was played by a young trumpet player, followed by the two minute silence and then Reveille providing a very special atmosphere in the Church.  Scouts and Guides also read the names of the fallen. Wreaths from a number of community organisations were laid on the altar before being placed on the War Memorial at the conclusion of the service.

At St John’s a small congregation led by Rev Warren Williams took part in the service of at which a poppy wreath was placed on the two war memorial tablets in church and  the two boys who lost their lives on Dolberrow Warren were remembered.

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‘Somewhere to Go’ is a support centre providing  day  and night  services to help rough sleepers and disadvantaged and vulnerable  people. 

I am collecting once again this year before the onset  of winter, bedding, sleeping  bags, blankets  and warm clothes.

Please  help by donating items,  leave in my porch or personally  deliver  to        Weston-super-Mare. 

Angela  Morris  81 Green Hill Road  Sandford  01934 852327 

Please see below for details of two vacancies.

For further information about this role please download the full document.

Andrew was licensed as ‘Priest in Charge’ at Churchill and Langford (with particular responsibility for Churchill) on Monday 26th July. This was another step on the way to Churchill joining us but we’re not quite there yet!

We are in the process of furnishing and equipping Birch Cottage in readiness for the arrival of our Ukrainian Family.

For more information about how you can help please visit the Churchwardens Notices page

On Sunday 3rd July we welcomed Jacqui Kier-Bucknall, our new curate, to our churches in Winscombe, Sandford and Churchill at a special Cafe Chruch.

We look forward to working with Jacqui over the next few years.

A Platinum Jubilee High tea for retired residents was held on Thursday 2nd June supported by a generous grant from St Monica’s Trust.

A great time was had by the retired residents who tucked into sandwiches, cheese scones and  sweet scones with jam and clotted cream.  The tea finished off with a selection of cakes. 

A toast was raised to Queen Elizabeth with glasses of Prosecco.  Entertainment was by the FAB TWINS from Bristol who sang songs from 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and everyone joined in at the end with the Platinum Jubilee song ‘Sweet Caroline’.

Thanks to all those who helped on the day, baked cakes and scones and made sandwiches.  This was truly a day to remember.  A commemorative book was also given to each household as a memento of this special occasion.

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Christian Aid Week: 15th to 21st May 2022

The horrific war in Ukraine and the impact on refugees is rightly getting priority for charitable giving, but Christian Aid Week gives us an opportunity to think of other challenges around the world. The war in Ukraine will drive up food prices in Zimbabwe, over 7,000 miles away, and in many other struggling societies around the globe. Without the fertiliser and food – like wheat and cooking oil, which Ukraine and Russia produce – vulnerable families will be pushed even deeper into long term hunger. 

Your gifts this Christian Aid Week could help set up water taps on a farm, enable families to grow food, and provide seeds that thrive in drought – giving the people all they need to turn the dry, dusty land into a garden of hope.

Donation envelopes will be available in our Churches and during the week look out for collection tins at key locations. (There will be no house-to-house collection)

You can also give online to our Bank Account:

Sort Code: 60-23-32

Account No: 53356640

With every gift, every action, every prayer, we celebrate and share hope with our sisters and brothers facing crisis around the world, from Ukraine to Zimbabwe.

Thank you for your support.

Our appeal closed on 31st March. We raised just over £8000 which once gift aid and matched government funding has been added should total some £20,000. An amazing response.

From Sandford to Poland and on to Ukraine

In Sandford, Angela Morris, set up her house as a hub for donations to Ukraine. It started in a very small way in early March with a place where people could drop off clothing and other items to go to Ukraine. It soon became part of a major network, set up by Joanna Krupa on Facebook. Joanna is a 42 years old Polish-born American model, actress and animal rights activist, whose husband Douglas Nunes is in Poland trying to help evacuate refugees from Ukraine. She has her own TV show in Poland.

Angela took the items to Worle Community Centre where they were sorted. They were then sent on to a huge barn in Kingston Seymour, where volunteers packed and crated them and loaded them onto vans and articulated lorries going to Poland.

The first lorry left on 7th March

Angela received items from Sandford, Winscombe, Banwell, Churchill, Langford, Cheddar, Axbridge and Blagdon. She had a cash donation of £100 specifically to be used to buy fuel for the lorries and vans going to Poland. The response was absolutely fantastic.

Joanna was interviewed on local TV. She said “My husband is there trying to organize some transportation.” “It just warms my heart to see how much good is being done at this really emotional and critical and sad time,” she said. When the whole war started, Douglas said, ‘I can’t just sit back and do nothing.’

The priorities have changed now. Huge amounts of clothing have been donated, but the real need now is for medical supplies for those injured in the conflict. The best way for these to get where they are needed is through the Disasters Emergency Committee – DEC Ukraine Appeal. Angela is still much involved and she can be contacted by telephone on 01934 852327.

House on the Rock!

A memorable restart to Messy Church thanks to Reverend Robin Mann’s sandcastle versus rock-built house demonstration in a sandpit outside the Church Centre! We sensed our loving Father God’s hand upon us with fine weather for this and with enough willing helpers available to welcome the 20 children from 10 local families.

Three craft activities included decoration of wonderful house-shaped cookies provided by Enid Clark, individualised sandcastle flags for future use, and pictures of the children’s houses to be fixed to the ROCK on our wall frieze in the Church Centre.

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Then 3 songs: Remember “The wise man built his house upon the rock”? -we sang with actions and with enthusiasm, old favourite “Our God is a Great Big God” and “My Lighthouse”. This was followed by a short drama with the two house-builders building their houses in alternative ways, a prayer, and drinks and snacks to finish. We thank God for the positive restart to Messy Church.

Please do PRAY for enough ongoing willing helpers to welcome the children and their parents, and most of all, please pray that a small seed of God’s Word will be sown and grow in the hearts of the children and families who come, and that the younger families will be able to come to the future sessions. Liz and Tim Harland

If you would like to see all three videos visit the Messy Church page