IN MEMORY OF CLAUDE

Claude had a difficult life as a stray for 8 years in the district around our house.
Two years ago he used to sit on the table in the garden in the sun and my other cats used to accept him. He was too wild to pick up but gradually we enticed him nearer and nearer the house with food. One day he appeared in the doorway, obviously unwell, and I put him in the cat basket and took him to the vets. He was there for 10 days with a bad infection due to a cat bite. The vets cured the infection, stitched up his wounds (he was always in a fight) , castrated him and took some bad teeth out. We then took him on as our cat. He turned out to be a gentle, loving cat who enjoyed his home comforts. A few weeks ago he wasn't well, so I took him to the vets again - they thought it was an infection that could be cured by antibiotics. He didn't improve so I took him back to the vets again this week. The vet said he was badly dehydrated and took him in to put him on a drip and check his blood. The vet rang me later that day to say that Claude had a serious infection that was untreatable. She recommended that he be put to sleep. So I said yes as I didn't want him to suffer another day. I brought him home and we buried him in the garden that he loved. We sang 'All things bright and beautiful' and did a little prayer hoping that he was playing in cat's heaven. The other cats in the house have been quiet since he has gone. Bless you Claude for the joy and love you gave us while you were here.

N E W............'FRIENDS' of St Andrews's Church Cherry Hinton

To help maintain the Church building and Centre, and to fund repairs, the FRIENDS of St Andrew's has recently been formed.

St Andrew's is the oldest building in Cherry Hinton and the maintenance and repair of the building is becoming an enormous burden on the congregation. This group is appealing to the wider community to become involved in any way, however small, to help raise funds for this purpose.

The FRIENDS, headed by Louise Dobson, is hoping that people will contact her to offer their services involving fundraising or to give their talents in some way to help with events. So if you are interested in any way, or feel you can be called upon at some time to use your talents .......CONTACT LOUISE email: louisemac@ntlworld.com

The FRIENDS (and Louise) will be on a ST ANDREWS stall at the Cherry Hinton Festival on 6 September 2008 on Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground. COME AND SEE HER THERE

OUR CHURCHWARDENS

Roger and Gerald are our Churchwardens. Their role can be traced back to the l4th Century and is defined as 'elected to assist the incumbent in the discharge of his administrative duties, to manage such various parochial offices as by custom or legislation devolve upon him, and generally to act as the lay representative of the parish in matters of church organisation'. The role is very extensive, but here is a summary:


To inspect the fabric of the Church and produce an annual report
To keep proper records of lands and articles belonging to the Church
To keep the Bishop advised any matters they feel need to be brought to his attention
Responsibility for sidespersons
To maintain order and decency in the Church
Responsibility for cleanliness and overall appearance of the Church
To care for the safety, warmth and well-being of the congregation
To have a duty of care towards the incumbent

Nowadays this would include checking the electrical systems, lightning conductor and fire extinguishers. Keeping an eye on the churchyard and church finances, Health and Safety issues.
All as a volunteer!!!!!!

Roger is on the right and Gerald on the left.

Trees

There are some wonderful trees in the churchyard. This photograph does not do justice to this beautiful tree which I think is a horse chestnut?! I can understand why the poem Trees was written.

Pam and Gill and their work for the church

Pam is one of stalwart ladies of the church who works hard to keep the Centre kitchen and hall
in good order. She is involved in any functions where catering is required. Gill organises the flowers for the church and is involved in many fundraising functions. Where would the church be without people like these who give their time readily and voluntarily to keep the Church and Centre going? Many people help to 'keep things going' - in the church, the Centre, the graveyard, etc.etc. plus all those people who help with administration. St Andrew's is blessed with those generous people who 'do their bit'. Pam is the lady on the right (in a coral cardigan) and Janet(who is always helping) is on the left. Gill is on the right of the lst picture in a dark jacket (and Janet is on the left again). Here is a (silent) round of applause to everyone. (clap, clap, clap, clap)

Alex and Tom's leaving day

Our theological students from Westcott House have been wonderful during the time they have been with us. We miss them. Here is a photo of them through the carved screen on their last day with Zoe our lay reader.

YET MORE ROSES!!!

I can't believe the roses that are in the churchyard.

I keep coming across different ones!!

Ladies who make coffee

More ladies who make the coffee after church on Sunday - they are always hardworking. And the coffee is good!!!

The Vicar on holiday with his family

Here is our Vicar - Barry Linney having a well-earned holiday with his children in Devon.

ST. ANDREW'S SOCIAL ACTION AND PRAYER GROUP

This blog is written by Alison. All the people named are part of St Andrew's Church congregation but the Social Action and Prayer Group is open to anyone who is concerned about social issues.

Zoe had the idea of starting this group for people who are concerned about justice and peace issues. We do not have grand ideas for solving the world's problems but we feel that each little thing we CAN do we WILL do and together we can encourage and support ideas.
We meet in Ayleen's house on a Monday evening - usually the second Monday of the month but this does vary.
We focus on a particular subject each time. At Christmas we had an information pack from Amnesty International about prisoners of conscience and we wrote to some of them following the excellent instructions given.
In May we went out helping deliver Christian Aid envelopes.
Recently we showed a film 'The Lord of War' starring Nicolas Cage about the Arms Trade. B.Ae has been in the news and I have heard reports about it, but still the film shocked me. The sheer callousness and inhumanity was horrific. Having seen the film Beryl was thinking about ways of 'doing something'. She was in Cambridge in the Oxfam shop and saw their display of (very attractive) cards - and decided to buy all birthday/occasion cards from them in future.
We end with a time of prayer together for the situations we have discussed.
We would welcome your input - ideas, suggestions or perhaps some sort of link up !
Please do get in touch. Alison tel. 248 541.

ST ANDREW'S CHURCH CHOIR

St Andrew's has a small but enthusiastic church choir that are
looking for new members who are interested in church music and
want to sing. You don't have to read music, although it helps.
So if there are any young people or adults out there that would
like to come along, choir practices are on Thursday from 7.30pm
for an hour in the Church Centre. Church services are on a Sunday morning
from 10a.m. Being part of a choir increases musical knowledge
and you meet and make friends with people in your local community.
Come and have a taster on a Thursday in the Church Centre at 7.30pm.
Or email panwrites@ntlworld.com
if you want to contact someone to find out more. Our musical director is Dr Peter Harland (see above) and Rachel Godsill ( a professional singer) comes along from time to time to help the choir improve their singing.

LADIES WHO MAKE COFFEE

Some of the ladies who work hard on Sunday mornings serving refreshments to the congregation after the service.

More plants in the Churchyard

Here are more roses in the churchyard

FRIENDS OF ST ANDREW'S -WINE AND CHEESE PARTY

There will be a Friends of St Andrew's
WINE AND CHEESE PARTY on
FRIDAY 27 JUNE from 7.30pm

We are encouraging people to join our new Group whose goal will be to raise funds to repair and maintain this beautiful medieval building and meeting place.

If you would like to ensure St Andrew's Church and Centre remains an important part of the heritage of Cherry Hinton - and a meeting place for many groups in the community, please come along to find out what's going on.

If you think you can help, or if you would just like to come along and see what the 'Friends' is all about, then you are very welcome.

MORE DETAILS FROM Louise Dobson 4 Speedwell Close
Cambridge CB1 9YZ or louisemac@ntlworld.com

ANGLO SAXON BURIAL GROUND

In 1999 building work in Church End in Cherry Hinton (a short distance from the church)
during excavation work, workers found one of the most important cemeteries in this country. Over 660 burials dating from the 10C to the 12C were found with a little chapel bounded by a large ditch. The remains represent an unique resource and an assessment by English Heritage concluded that they were of national importance for future study. (Remains are kept to study to help illuminate the lives of previous generations and to help with modern scientific studies.)
It was hoped at one time that the bones could be buried in St Andrew's cemetery, but because of their importance, this is now not possible. However they are commemorated in the churchyard (see picture).

The Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Department have prepared a full report for anyone interested in seeing more details

Our Westcott House student

Here is Alex snuffing out the candles after Sunday morning church

ROSES ALL THE WAY!!

Here are a few pictures of the roses in the churchyard.

The ALTAR CANDLES

I love these candles, particularly the colour of them. They stand on the altar looking simple yet beautiful

UNUSUAL WINDOW

The vestry in the church is not open to casual visitors, but I thought you might be interested in seeing a very unusual window - very different from normal church windows. If anyone knows anything about this type of window, please comment.

The churchyard in May

I do love the churchyard at this time of year, with all the new growth coming along. I guess the gardeners don't enjoy it quite as much - there is a LOT of grass cutting to do. If anyone retired feels they would like to help keep the churchyard tidy, get in touch with the Vicar, Barry Linney.

In the meantime, we can enjoy the bluebells, the primroses, the cow parsley and the new roses.
Come and walk around the graveyard on a nice day. It is very relaxing, quiet and peaceful.