News Bites
Advent and Christmas 2011
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Patronal Festival 2011 |
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Friendly football involving ourselves and the Congregational Church |
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Ascension Day 2011
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Easter Monday Football Match
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Palm Sunday 2011
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Holy smoke - Vicar's Anniversary marked by fireworks!
Vicar Philip, as he has been known to an entire generation of local people, said: 'It was a really happy occasion, and my family and I were overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and support. After 20 years I feel I am still learning and we're still trying new things: what a great community in which to work!' These are just a few of the photos taken by professional photographer, Nicki Westlake. You can see her entire album for the event and order copies from her for £5 each: she will donate 3/4 of all proceeds back to St James' Church. Go to www.nickiewestlakephotography.co.uk and click on 'clients' albums' and then 'events.' More photos of the event are here.
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Baptism and confirmation at Salisbury Cathedral
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Churchyard Clear-Up
Each year we arrange a 'working party' to carry out some of the bigger tasks and this year's was well supported by volunteers young and less young, all of whom were rewarded by fish and chips at the end of a jolly and hard-working morning. |
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Welcome Lewis
Lewis's appointment is for two or three years and is made possible by a partnership between the Church and the Aldhelm Mission Fund. He will have as a focus (though not his sole one) the village school which is centrally located in this large, rather scattered village - unlike St James' Church which, although we try to be at the heart of village life in many ways, is situated a long way from where most people live.
Picture courtesy Salisbury Newspapers WWW.journalphotos.co.uk |
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St James' Festival 2010 The event is the biggest get-together each year for the whole village community. The giant's procession from the village school to Church was this year announced by a drumming band formed especially for the occasion. There was the usual vast array of attractions at the fete, plus a visit by some friendly and inquisitive fox hounds (one found its way into the refreshments' hall, pursued by one of the hunt staff.) The Church was beautifully decorated on the theme of 'Celebrating God's Gifts.' On Sunday evening an uplifting service celebrated and encouraged all who give something of themselves to their local community. Tim Palmer, High Sheriff of Dorset, attended, dressed in his fine array. The 20th anniversary of the building of our Church Hall saw a presentation to John Cox, the project manager, and a reunion of many of the original building team.
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Another Crazy Night!
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Vestry Group Overseas Tour We stayed at the amazing Westbrook House (superb grounds and good food) and had a great time: much fun and a bit of thoughtful time too, with several of the leaders sharing something of their own spiritual journeys. In the photos you will see something of the range of ages (from 10 to 18 among the youngsters); there's an advance peek at the Superheroes' pants that will be in use at the Easter workshops for children and youngsters April 7-9; you can wow to the sight of Wii dancing among the leaders - and meet our captain prepared to go down with the ship from Lymington to Yarmouth.
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Christmas at St. James' 2009
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A Village Remembers
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Teady Bears' Picnic
Our Vestry Group (for youngsters aged 10 plus) had a fashion show in which their teddies and other toy creatures strutted their stuff on the catwalk! |
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Giant Puzzle …
More on the Festival Festival Photos
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Sing Choirs of Angels
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An old tradition climbs the heights
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Midges and Mystery: Ascension Day morning:
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St James' 2011 Festival had the theme: Fiesta - putting faith and fun in the community. There were a few Spanish touches, most notably the 'pañuelos', neckerchiefs we had specially made for us in Spain where they are a traditional feature of village fiestas. The giant procession through the village was well attended by youngsters and adults. Morris dancers added a rustic touch. The music during the fete included the band (?) in addition to the Riverside Jazzers and the Millstream Orchestra. The Church was filled with flowers and displays representing a wide array of village life. On Sunday evening the Church was filled for the Fiesta community service. We raised over £3,500 pounds for the Church and for community work. Thank you to everyone involved, and we hope you like these photos that only give you the merest hint of what was an amazing and encouraging weekend! 
Following a weekend of activities celebrating the opening of their new Chapel building, members of the Alderholt Congregational Church ,joined with St James' to celebrate a friendly football match in which sides were mixed and included adults and youngsters. It was a hugely enjoyable occasion, if a little damp for the cheerful spectators watching amid the drizzly rain. Our photo shows all the players gathered before the second half. 
Ascension Day 2011, lovely weather for the 6.30am Communion service on top of the local heathland summit, Kingbarrow. Some folk went a more overgrown way...while a fire at the top made a cheerful focus. Breakfast followed in the Church Hall back at St James'. 
On Easter Monday a team of players from St James' and the Alderholt Congregational Churches played at Alderholt Recreation ground against a St Mary's, West Moors, team. It was played in a good, friendly, competitive but sporting spirit, aided by referee, Fran Mathers. Here in these pictures you can see...the impressive home squad...some of the ecstatic home support...vicar and community worker united in red...some goal mouth action...and the solitude of a goalkeeper... The the final result was a close 3-2 victory for West Moors. here's looking forward to the next time! 
A beautiful Spring morning...a home-made music group to aid our singing of 'Lift high the cross'...a mixture of palm crosses and traditional hedgerow branches...two massive bamboo plants to head the procession and then shroud the Church's chancel arch for Holy Week...a cheerful, inflatable donkey...a moving reading of the Gospel by three members of the congregation: St James' Palm Sunday liturgy somehow seemed to evoke both the joy - and the solemnity - of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. 
Alderholt parishoners celebrated the 20th anniversary of Vicar Philip's ministry in the village and the 25 years since his ordination as a priest in spectacular style. A special Parish Communion was celebrated on the Sunday evening of Hallo'ween, which is the evening before All Saints' Day. The church was filled with friends and supporters from the village as well as members of his former parishes in Wantage in Oxfordshire and Pontefract in Yorkshire. Three members of the congregation, baptised and confirmed the previous evening at Salisbury Cathedral, led the candlelit procession at the beginning. Afterwards, there was a party atmosphere with a barbeque and rockets to mark the anniversary. 
Three members of the same Alderholt family - Sandra, Luke and Danni Marshall - were among the more than 60 candidates confirmed at Salisbury Cathedral on Saturday 30th October. Luke and Danni were also baptised in the amazing new font there, with this part of the service (involving the candidates' heads going completely under the water!) conducted by Vicar Philip. Afterwards, the Bishops of Ramsbury and Sherborne both posed with our group for a photo. The following evening our three newly baptised and confirmed led the candleight procession into St James' for the All Saints Parish Communion. 
Our churchyard is a special place, treasured as a place to remember loved-ones. We try to ensure it is kept tidy and safe for all visitors, and we seek also to conserve its value as a beautiful and wildlife-friendly place. It is cared for by volunteers, although a grant from Alderholt Parish Council has enabled us to improve the network of gravelled paths. 
There was a full Church with a wide cross-section of the village present for the servixe of welcome and commissioning for Lewis as Parish Community Worker in Alderholt. The police, school, other Churches and Parish Council along with lots of village organisations were represented. The service included some clips from a 'vox pop' recorded outside the village shop asking passers-by their immediate thoughts when shown the words 'Alderholt', 'Community' and 'St James' Church.' These reminded us of the opportunities - and challenges - awaiting us as we seek to engage with our community in new ways. After the service, a barbeque was very popular and, being prepared by a group of men from the Church, perhaps was itself a statement of our determination to do a few things differently! 
Our Festival weekend, with St James' Day (25th July) falling on the Sunday, saw a return to the perfect English summer weather that used to be associated with this event prior to the past few years of rain and murkiness. 
Flying the flag for Alderholt!
Easter 2010 
This was the third Crazy race Night brought to the people of Alderholt by the leaders of our Vestry Group, an activities and support group for youngsters aged 10 and over. Races included a race into the sea filmed on the Isle of Wight during our trip in February! Another featured some of our youngsters in an all-over 'morph suit' sprint. Again, the event proved a winner with young and old. This time our smooth-talking auctioneer was the vicar in his rarely-worn suit and tie and the £800 raised will be divided equally between supporting our Church's work with young people and the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre in Bristol. A big thank you to all our sponsors, donors - and punters! 
21 of our youngsters and leaders made their first overseas trip during the February half term holiday: to the Isle of Wight... 
Our photo gallery contains a selection of photos that give a glimpse of some of the services and other activities that featured as part of our Christmas celebrations : The Christmas Bazaan, Christingle Service, the children's nativity and 'Blessing the Crib' service and 'Carols be Candlelight'. 
Young and old gathered on Remembrance Sunday by the war memorial and afterwards in Church where 10 candles were lit by members of the congregation ranging from under 9 years to over 90 years old. All were drawn together in remembrance - and in hope and resolve to help make a better future. 
Our second Teddy Bears' Picnic again invited all our families and those who have brought a child to be baptised at St James' during the past several years. It began with a short service of blessing in Church and continued with a picnic and games in and around the Church Hall and Vicarage garden.
The curious spectacle of the Alderholt Giant rumbling through the streets again caused a stir. Jeff Pink's tiny Noddy-like car in the vanguard, bearing a grand sign saying ‘Giant', seemed to both slow the oncoming drivers down and bring a smile to their faces. The police stewarded the parade with their usual care and good humour. Salisbury has its ancient giant, but theirs is now confined to a museum. Only ours braves the streets and brings the traffic to a halt in favour of children in fancy dress. But several voices asked the question, what are the origins of this unique local custom? One heard speculation about its origins in the ancient pilgrimage to the burial place of St James in Spain . For a thousand years English pilgrims set sail from Poole to La Coruna and walked the remaining 140 miles to Santiago de Compostela. There they would have encountered carnival giants and perhaps on returning might recall their adventure of a lifetime by such means. Vicar Philip remains impartial on the question, simply expressing the view that if the Alderholt giant makes people smile, and reminds them that all of us, like James the pilgrim, are on a spiritual journey, and challenges us to ‘think big', then it's OK by him, and never mind the history! 
St. James' Choir had an inspiring day at the Salisbury Diocesan Choral Festival. We sang a wide variety of music, and it was good to catch up with old friends again and to enjoy some relaxiation by way of a communal picnic on the cloister lawn following the afternoon rehersal. 
For generations, the people of Cripplestyle Chapel near Alderholt, have climbed Kingbarrow Hill to celebrate Whit Sunday with an open-air service. The Alderholt Family of Churches (made up of St James' Parish Church, Crendell Methodist Church and Camel Green Tabernacle) arranged this year's 'pilgrimage up the hill' to gather around the traditional flag erected for the day and to enjoy the stunning view for miles around and a short service with hymn singing that could be heard back across the fields in Crendell. 
Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, 40 days after Easter, and we celebrate an early morning service at St James' followed by a legendary big breakfast. This year our communion at 6.30am was outside in mild, still weather: it was beautiful and prayerful - but also ideal for little bitey things! People's devotions, as a consequence, were punctuated by much waving of arms - and everyone was keen to be close to the incense! 