Parish Jottings

Back to Church

The church family is steadily returning to communal worship after the disruption caused by the pandemic. The morning congregation is growing and Trinity at Four is already back to, or surpassing, pre-pandemic levels. It is particularly encouraging to see not only old faces returning but new people coming along to join us, both morning and afternoon. Though some people are understandably cautious, fortunately our building is large enough with high ceilings and lots of air and ventilation, to give people plenty of space and minimise risk. Many stay on for refreshments after the service and have been enjoying chatting to friends old and new, a pleasure we have all been missing for so long.

Greener Churchyard

Working parties have been busy in the upper churchyard this autumn, organised by Sally Rankin with helpers from Greener Henley and Henley Gardening Buddies as well as some church members. Our friends from Gardening for Good strimmed the grass in September but if the cut grass is left to lie it inhibits growth of wild flowers in the spring and summer, so a lot of raking up of cut grass was done as well as some overdue maintenance work in the Millennium Garden. Hopefully we should all be able to enjoy the benefit next year.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults is, sadly, much in the news currently and even churches, in a few cases, have allowed things to happen which should not. We have to take the problem seriously and therefore the P.C.C, at its meeting on 11^th November, adopted a revised Parish Safeguarding Policy. Sarah Cook kindly took on the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer for Trinity Church, including Trinity at Four, last March and all relevant people have undergone, or are shortly to undergo, the training recommended by the diocese and those most involved have nearly all completed DBS checks. If anyone has any concerns regarding a safeguarding issue they should go to Sarah for advice and help.

Remembrance Sunday

Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday were marked by several events in church this year. An act of Remembrance at 11:00 o’clock was included at the end of the morning service on Sunday and Trinity at Four had a special talk for children about the significance of the day. On Armistice Day Trinity School held a very touching ceremony when the whole school gathered in the lower churchyard and planted poppies they had made, while a pupil played the Last Post on the violin. On Saturday Duncan led a meeting in the churchyard of an organisation that celebrates the service of members of the Home Guard.

Holy Trinity church, Henley-on-Thames (January 2013)