Parish Jottings

A week of mourning

In the week before the funeral of our dear Queen Elizabeth II Trinity Church was kept open for prayer and a framed photograph of the Queen displayed on a stand in the centre of the chancel. Free leaflets about Her Majesty and her firm faith in Jesus were available to all who came in. Her passing was marked at both morning and afternoon services on Sunday 18^th September. God bless her; will we ever see her like again?

Our previous Curate

In the last edition of Trinity Times I asked, while welcoming Andy Cowan as our new Curate, if anyone knew when we last had a Curate at Trinity Church. Many thanks to John Burton for supplying the answer. Andy’s immediate predecessor was Reverend W. A. Penyston, who was Honourable Assistant Curate from 1919 to 1926 – a hundred years ago! He served during the ministry of Reverend R. M. Willis, Vicar from 1912 to 1944. It is safe to say there is nobody left who can remember either gentleman in person.

Harvest Lunch, and Supper!

Harvest Festival was certainly celebrated well in Trinity Church on Sunday 2^nd October. The traditional Harvest Lunch was enjoyed after the morning service for the first time since the pandemic and Trinity at Four held a Harvest Supper after the 4:00 p.m. service as well. A few people managed to get to both! Trinity School held a Harvest Festival in church on Tuesday 4^th October. A massive collection of goods for the Henley Food Bank was donated at these three events. Many thanks to all who contributed.

A small token of our thanks

Last May, after 25 years, Michael Forsdike stood down in his role as a Licensed Lay Minister in the Henley Deanery (as previously reported in Trinity Times). At our Harvest Lunch Duncan took the opportunity to thank him for all he has done and presented him with a gift of a case of wine, which we hope he will enjoy. Duncan also gave Lucia a present of flowers in thanks for allowing him time off, without complaint, to cover for incumbents in various churches over the years. Michael continues as Churchwarden so Lucia still won’t have him getting in her way at home too often.

Ride & Stride

The Ride & Stride in September was a subdued affair this year with fewer visitors than ever before, perhaps because it was on the Saturday after the Queen’s sad passing and people were in no mood for activities. Just two of our members took part, Mike Hails and Sally Jones but, thanks to the generosity of church members, they raised some £320 (including Gift Aid). Half of this will go to our church and half will be kept by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust to help make grants to churches needing restoration.

Greener Henley

You will have noticed how lovely the churchyard is looking this Autumn. This is partly because we have been paying for some help from contractors but it is also due in no small measure to Sally Rankin and volunteers from the Greener Henley group who have been holding working parties in the churchyard once a month throughout the summer. We are most grateful to them for their work and for the focus on nature conservation they have brought to the care of our green space. If you would like to know more about Greener Henley, have a word with Sally or go to greenerhenley.org.uk.

Harvest Festival, products for the local Food Bank