The latest church and benefice news.
For anyone wishing to view the details of Inkpen's graveyards, including burial details, grave stone inscriptions and the location of the graves, please click here. Inkpen Burial, Marriage, Baptism and Birth records covering the period 1607 to 1837 can be found on the Inkpen history website, here.
A Christmas Like No Other. This year Christingle was replaced by
the Crib Service when, as the story was told, the children with
their parents brought up the figures to create the nativity scene.
It was much enjoyed and was a great success. In addition, the
collection in aid of The Children's Society amounted to £200 - a
figure which far exceeded the normal.
But no singing! So instead, on the evening of the Sunday before
Christmas we listened in the candlelit and beautifully decorated
church to some of the readings and music that make Christmas so
special. However later in the week - Carol Singing - as more than
20 of us assembled on the evening of the 23rd in the Churchyard in
some pretty miserable weather and we gave it our all!
Christmas Morning was exceptional. So that we could sing we met
once more in the Churchyard - but this time over 100 of us. The
temperature remained at around freezing but we welcomed the birth
of Jesus as we should - with reverence and enthusiasm. Thanks to
so many.
Services in January. For the Parish Communion on the 10th which
will be led by Revd. Patrick Whitworth, we are breaking with the
tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas by leaving the Christmas
decorations in place. We thought, because of the Tier 4
restrictions and so few had been able to enjoy them, we would give
ourselves a final opportunity. We will celebrate Epiphany on the
6th at the same service. All are very welcome whether they take
Communion or not. The quiet and reflective service of Compline
which is on the 24th will be led by Christopher Sears and the
Parish Communion on the 31st will be led by Revd. Tim Wood. There
is no need to book for any of these services.
But for each of these three the obvious caveat is that Government
dictum might change and clearly, we would be bound by that. And
the same applies for the regular opening for personal prayer and
meditation which at the moment is every Wednesday and Sunday (when
there isn't a Service) from 10am to 4pm.
Gerald Atkinson. Churchwarden and Hon. Treasurer.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AF Parish
Priest - Fr Zbigniew Budyn 01635 40332. Sunday Mass - every Sunday
at 9.00am Weekday Mass - every Wednesday at 10.00am. For further
information contact Paul Burrough 01488 668882 Mobile 07836 292976
Email paul.burrough@talktalk.net
The images of St. Michael's past and present are shown here