Parish Jottings

Roof repairs

It is almost expected that old churches will have a leaky roof and for years our church has certainly been typical in this respect, the main problems centring on the vestry / toilet area. Now, we hope, things should be much improved in this corner of the building. Extensive repairs have been carried out including complete reconstruction and relining of 4.2m of the box gutter. We are most grateful to Glynn Williams for his help with this long running problem.

Bread and wine

Following mention in last month’s edition of how and when to reintroduce receiving wine at communion as well as bread, a practice that was suspended during the Covid pandemic, Duncan has come up with a happy solution. For those who want it (most of us it seems) Duncan himself dips the wafer in the common cup before handing it to the communicant, thus avoiding any risk of passing on infection though the common cup. Soon we can perhaps return to going up to the front of the church to receive, instead of staying in our seats as we have been doing for the past two years. Let’s hear your views on that.

No news is good news

An asbestos survey was carried out in the church in May and the good news is that no asbestos was found. Whatever risks we run attending church at least we don’t need to fear catching asbestosis!

Blooming nice

We have still to arrive at a satisfactory plan for managing the churchyard following the withdrawal of Gardening for Good who have been looking after it for some years. The consolation is that nature provides its own compensation. We now have a cluster of pyramidal orchids to the right of the path up to the top gate and more in the lower churchyard and a bee orchid on the side of the path to the vicarage, as well as a host of other lovely wild flowers.

Queen’s jubilee

The Queen’s platinum jubilee was on the same day as Pentecost this year so we had a combined service. The reading and sermon was about the first Pentecost and Peter addressing the crowds. After that, the prayers included special prayers for the Queen and then we finished off singing the first two verses of The National Anthem.

Thameside, Holy Trinity parish, Henley-on-Thames