Advent and Christmas 2011

Parish magazine for Holy Trinity, St Johns

Curbridge, St Johns Hailey, and St Marys
Wi tney Way









Ofce 01993 358161
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3
From our rector
Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the life of the
Church. As we prepare ourselves for the joy of Christmas we
are invited to enter into a season of preparation.
As we begin this preparation we also begin an adventure into
a new Church year which marks the start for us as a parish of the
year in which we shall have our week of Renewal and Mission. As
such, it is a special opportunity for us to begin by praying for the
renewal of our common life in Christ and the chance for us to
become re-focused on the way in which we come together in order
to be sent out.
And as we are sent out we can say to others the words from
the beginning of our Gospel of the year: The Kingdom of God
has come near you (Mark 1.15) indeed, The Kingdom of God
is among you (Luke 17.20). The ancient Advent cry of
Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus is a cry of longing for the time
when this Kingdom will be fulfilled. And at this present time we
are called to help God build this Kingdom in the places where
we live and work. And we come together in church in order to
be sent out to work to bring in Gods Kingdom out in the world.
What is this Kingdom? One modern theologian has brilliantly
put it as Gods domination free order characterised by partnership,
interdependence and equality of opportunity, and mutual respect
between men and women (Walter Wink).
And our focus (both for our week of Renewal and Mission
and for our whole vocation, or calling) as a parish, is to be open
to Gods loving work in the world. To see and to serve this
Kingdom life around us and among us is our task. We are called
to work together to build up this partnership of interdepend-
ence, equality of opportunity and mutual respect. It was for this
reason that a baby was born in Bethlehem all those years ago: to
sow the seeds of a new Kingdom. We are the fruit of that seed
here and now and this coming year we have a particular
opportunity to participate in the work God is doing.
So, as we begin a new Church year and move through Advent
into the Christmas season of joy may our prayer be that we may
see the signs of Gods Kingdom. And may we be focused on
what God is doing around us to usher in the new age.
4
Witney Team Parish and High St Methodist Church
Christmas Fair
High Street Methodist Church
Saturday 3 December, 10am2pm
Opened by our Rector at 10am
Live entertainment including Yarnton
Brass Band and carol singing.
Refreshments available throughout.
Fairtrade goods Cakes and preserves
Jewellery Bric-a-Brac
Childrens Games Books
Crafts and stalls upstairs ... and many other stalls!
Proceeds to USPG, Methodist World Church Funds and Base 33.
The words I came across recently seem pertinent:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your church life, what
you will sing or pray or about your building, how you will main-
tain it. Is not the Christian life more than words and events and
the body more than a building? Look at the life of the disciples;
they did not get everything correct nor did they worry about
pleasing everyone, and yet your heavenly Father used them. Are
you not just as valuable as them? Can any one of you by wor-
rying about your quota and rota add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about maintaining the life of the
church? See how the Holy Spirit works throughout history and
around the world. It is Gods Church that has a mission and not
vice versa. If God is at work in the world, then He is calling us
all to participate in that work and He will provide the resources
we need. So do not worry, saying, We are too few or We are
too old or We are too poor. For the world considers these
things to be important, and your heavenly Father understands
that they can bring you stress. But rather seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will get sorted out
along the way. Therefore do not let your imagination be
constrained about running the church, for the church has
enough problems of its own. (The Sermon on the Mount for
Church Members [based upon Matthew 6.2534])
5
Witney Community Olympics
The 2012 Olympics will see over 200 national teams coming to
the British Isles, a 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, three weeks of
exciting competition with thousands of visitors and the whole
world watching. And then that is repeated with 195 nations for
the Paralympic Games. More than Gold is a charitable trust
with the support of all main denominations and over 60
Christian organisations and mission agencies working to get
churches involved, receiving mission teams, running community
festivals, hosting the families of athletes, providing/training
Games Pastors etc. Churches in Witney will be involved through
prayer, and by being a part of CiTWs plans
In the spring a couple of Ministers started to dream about
what the churches in Witney could/should do to engage the
community with the London 2012 Olympics, an event(s) that
would bring together families and communities across the town.
A community event led by the churches partnered with the Town
and District Council and other local organisations and businesses.
The vision is a Community Olympics, for teams of up to five,
at around 4 or 5 different venues in Witney on Saturday 28 July.
Each venue will offer different activities/sports and be run by
one or two churches partnering together. Three venues have so
far been secured New Yatt Road site, Witney Rugby Club and
St. Marys Church Green with others hopefully to follow.
Our heart is to enable as wide a participation as possible,
plans so far include bowling, chess and badminton at St Marys;
a family version of Olympics field events and table tennis at the
New Yatt Road site; and basketball at Wood Green School.
The week before (the first week of the summer holidays),
there would be events at the venues where people can brush up
on their skills in preparation. These would also provide parents
with good affordable quality care and ensure children remain
active during the holidays. Jeff Hill will be running a town-wide
holiday club for younger children, based on an Olympic theme.
The event(s) will culminate with a bbq and awards ceremony at
Cogges Priory for the participants.
Watch this space as plans develop!
For more information on More than Gold, visit: www.morethangold.org.uk
The countdown to
the London Olympics
continues...
In the Western churches, the Epiphany (manifestation) became
an occasion to celebrate one element in the story of Christs birth,
the visit of the magi, understood as the manifestation of Christ
to the Gentiles. Epiphanytide is therefore often kept as a season
in which to pray for the worldwide mission of the Church.
To mark this as a parish we shall be focusing on Mission during
the season. Part of this will be linked to the recently established
group: Witney Wider World. This will help us to focus on looking
out across the world to our sisters and brothers in other countries.
Also, we shall be holding a Prayer Boiler from Saturday 14
January 12 noon to Sunday 15 January 12 noon. Therell be an
opening ceremony at 12 noon on 14 January do come along!
Then at the end of the prayer time the candle will be brought in
to the end of the Eucharist at Saint Marys to mark the close.
A prayer boiler is a focused period of prayer over 24 hours
or more. It will be a space to pray in which we can both pray for
worldwide mission and also focus our prayers on our
preparations for our week of Renewal and Mission next year.
Prayer Boilers began in Reading and have now sprung up
around the world some running continuously. They are creative
prayer spaces where both art and music are used to aid people
to pray. The name Prayer Boiler was originally a nickname which
then seemed to stick. Later on, the community discovered that
the great preacher C. H. Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers
of the late 19th century, attributed the fruitfulness
of his entire ministry to something he called
Boiler Rooms. These were prayer meetings
often established in basements that interceded
while Spurgeon preached to crowds of thousands
above their heads. Spurgeon considered them the
power source of his own ministry.
It is hoped that it will be a power source for our
ministry and mission here in the parish and a chance
to look beyond ourselves to the needs of the world.
More details will follow but if you have any
questions do contact the Rector.
6
The Season of Epiphany in the
Parish of Witney
7
Celebration as old as society
Graham Downie, Chairman of the Fairground Association, shares with
us his address from the Witney Feast Songs of Praise.
We are gathered here on the eve of one of the fairground
calendars great events Witney Feast. We all know something
of this marvellous kaleidoscope of movement, colour and noise
but how did it begin, and why is it held?
We must first look at the origin of fairs in general. We can
only speculate on their beginnings but they must lie in that time
when our ancestors gave up their original existence as hunter
gatherers to become farmers.
Although initially gradual in its pace, that change led to the
development of settled communities and the establishment of
a social order. It was this fledgling society that built such struc-
tures as Stonehenge whose purpose we can still only guess at.
But it was at such ancient monuments that the early settlers
of this island probably congregated each year in order to celebrate
an important landmark in the calendar such as the longest day.
These gatherings may have had a wide significance, attracting
people from neighbouring tribes. This coming together at a place
where any former differences were put aside, would have
provided opportunities for the exchange of goods and produce
and the joining together in acts of celebration.
This latter aspect is fundamental to the history of the fair.
The word itself is derived from the Latin word feria a festival,
which in turn gives us the word feast. Following the Norman
Conquest fairs took on a new importance as they became the
countrys principal means of trade.
The pleasure aspect of the fair may have been relegated to
the sidelines but it was still, nevertheless, the fairs reason for
being. And as other forms of sale and exchange developed and
the fairs importance as a trading event waned, pleasure once
again became the dominant theme. From the 17th century
onwards many of the countrys major fairs such as St
Bartholomews Fair in London became the haunts of the major
theatrical companies and other performers whose displays were
the main attractions of the fair.
8
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9
Witney Feast has a slightly different history. Since as early as
Saxon times it was the custom to celebrate the opening a new
church with an event that would be repeated on its anniversary
in subsequent years.
The date of that celebration would be governed by the ded-
ication of the new church. In the case of Witney Feast, it was 8
September, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the
county town of Oxford the Giles Fair is always held on the first
Monday after the first Sunday after the first of September 1
September being the Feast of St Giles. A similar formula applies
to the dating of Witney Feast.
Those original celebrations were three days in length. On the
eve of the feast the people would gather in the churchyard where
they would remain awake overnight in anticipation of the fol-
lowing day. It was this vigil that led to some feast fairs being
known as wake fairs.
On the day of the feast itself there was, no doubt, a service at
the church to mark the occasion followed by sports and pastimes
the revels of the day. And on the third day the morrow you
perhaps repented at leisure of any excesses the day before!
But tomorrow, Witney Feast, is not a day for repentance. It
is a day of entertainment at the fair, whose amusements are
inclusive and open to all regardless of age, colour or creed. It
represents a great tradition of celebration that is as old as society.
Enjoy it while you may.
Graham Downie
St Marys Appeal
There is a new website with information regarding the
repair and renewal of St Marys Church. All the latest news
and background information may be found at
www.stmaryswitney.org.uk
If you would like to make a donation to St Marys Church
Appeal please place your gift in an envelope marked Appeal
Donation. If you are gifting via a cheque, please make this
payable to St Marys Preservation Trust. Donations can be
handed in to the Parish Office or forwarded to Jeremy Lewis,
Treasurer of St Marys Appeal, Witheridge Farm, Hailey,
Witney OX29 9UH.
10
Jonathan Keen 19522011
A Big Thank You
We would like to thank everyone, and we mean everyone who
was involved with making Jonathans funeral such an uplifting,
memorable occasion. The church looked beautiful with the won-
derful flowers. The teas and cakes were fantastic with an amazing
array of cakes and a constant supply of tea and coffee.
We would also like to thank the organist for his excellent
playing and the choirs for leading the service with their splendid
singing.
Our special thanks go to Toby, whose help and guidance was
invaluable on this sad occasion.
Jonathan, we know, would have loved it all. THANK YOU.
Please remember Jonathan with love and with a smile on
your face.
With love and best wishes from Neville Keen and family.
Safeguarding
If anyone has concerns over the safeguarding of a child or vul-
nerable adult, please would they initially contact one of the
safeguarding officers for the parish, and not the clergy. This is
so that the clergy can be involved with the pastoral support for
any live safeguarding issues. The safeguarding contact details are
displayed on the safeguarding notices in all our churches.
The parish is advised by the Churches Child Protection Ad-
visory Service (CCPAS), which has been advising on safguarding
since 1983. It focuses upon giving rigorous, professional and
compassionate advice and support to places of worship and in-
dividuals on how best to safeguard children and adults. CCPAS
has pioneered many policies that have since been adopted by
major denominations, other faith and non-faith organisations
and government. For more information visit their website,
www.ccpas.org.uk. They also run a helpline 0845 120 4550
which is staffed by social workers and counsellors, serving
individuals, and providing advice to church leaders, organisations,
social workers and other professional bodies.
11
A Joyous Christ Mass
In 1742, whilst contemplating Eton College, Thomas Gray
famously wrote, Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise.
Now for you and me this might be true, but not so for the likes
of David Cameron, George Osborne and Boris Johnson. On
the other hand, it has also been anonymously suggested that, If
you are not confused, you are ill-informed.
So where shall I start? Have you ever thought how an event
which took place before the birth of Christ was dated? After all,
they didnt know when Jesus was going to be born! Well, before
the adoption of our present calendar, years had been expressed as
AUC (Ab Urbe Condita From the foundation of the city
Rome) that would be 753BC on our present Gregorian Calendar.
A Russian monk, by the name of Dionysius Exiguus (the Lit-
tle), moved to Italy in 533AD and started to refer dates to the
birth of Christ, based on Matthews Gospel, Jesus Christ was
born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, who
died in March AUC750. So the date was probably three years
earlier. Scholars are still undecided, but they suggest it could have
been as early as 8BC; indeed it has been hinted elsewhere, that it
could have been as early as 15BC. So Jesus was born in 3 or 8 or
15BC Before Christ! (Or as it is now often referred to as BCE
Before the Common Era, or as I prefer, Before the Christian
Era.) However, the newly appointed governor of Syria,
Quirinius, apparently called a census, which would took place in
6AD, or were there two Quiriniuses as some suggest?
And what date in the favoured year? Well, there is no mention
of a date in the Bible, and no directive that the birth of Jesus should
be celebrated, and no mention in the writings of the early Church
Fathers during the first two centuries. In fact, at that time, celebra-
tions of birth anniversaries were regarded as pagan practices.
Let us pause for a moment and consider the New Testament
of the Bible. Marks is the earliest of the four Gospels chosen for
inclusion, and makes no mention of the incarnation. The Epistles
of Paul, which were written earlier than the Gospels, also make
no reference to Jesus birth. Matthew and Luke, writing later to
differing audiences, give differing accounts of the nativity, but nei-
ther mentions a date lambs on the hillside might suggest spring.
12
Eventually around 200AD, Clement of Alexandria comments
that several dates had been proposed by various Christian groups.
Some said it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in
[sic] the 25th day of (the Egyptian month) Pachon, that would
make it 20 May on our present calendar. Others say that He was
born on 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi, that would be 20/21 April.
Hippolytus of Rome (170235AD) calculated that Jesus was
born on 25 December, as did Tertullian of Carthage in 200AD.
Both of them showed that Christ was crucified on 25 March
(so why isnt Easter a fixed date like Christmas?) now recognised
as the Feast of the Assumption, and nine months before 25 De-
cember, so Jesus was believed to have been conceived and cru-
cified on the same day of the year.
In 274AD, the Roman emperor Aurelian established 25 Decem-
ber as a feast day for the birth of Sol Invictus, the sun god (or
Chrishna, or Mithra (Mithras), or Horus...). A mid-fourth-century
almanac provides the first published date: December 25th natus
Christus Betleem Judaea Christ was born in Bethlehem of
Judea. It has also been suggested that Emperor Constantine de-
clared 25 December as Jesus birthday when he declared Christianity
to be the state religion in the early 4th century. Augustine of Hippo
wrote in around 400AD For he is believed to have been conceived
on the 25th of March, upon which day he also suffered Appar-
ently Pope Julius 1 in 394AD decreed 25 December to be a public
holiday to coincide with the winter solstice. (c.f. Aurelian 274AD)
A prior in a monastery in Rome, Augustine, not to be confused
with Hippo, was sent to Britain by Pope Gregory I in 595AD to
convert King Ethelberg and his subjects. On Christmas Day (25
December 598AD), Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canter-
bury, converted thousands of subjects at a mass baptism. The
same Pope Gregory in 601AD wrote to Augustine suggesting that
he should adopt the old pagan festivals and customs of the Brits,
and to give them new Christian meaning. Whence cometh many
of our present-day obscure customs associated with Christmas,
mid-winter, darkness to light and fertility.
In the East, particularly Egypt and Asia Minor, the dates of
Jesus conception and crucifixion were also linked, but they used
the Greek calendar and arrived at 6 April. So nine months later
Jesus was born on January 6, which is also the Feast of the
Epiphany, when traditionally the Magi arrived 12 days later in
An early 15th-
century Nativity
scene.
13
Bethlehem or four years later in Egypt! But not in the Armen-
ian church, that is 7 January!
Mormons however still believe that Jesus birthday is 6 April,
since their founder, a 24-year-old farmer by the name of Joseph
Smith, received the information in a revelation. So conception, birth,
and death now occur on the same day! As the mighty Bard might
have written, A myth, on any other date, would mean the same.
But we havent finished yet! Martin of Tours was born around
315/316AD into a non-Christian family. He yearned to become a
monk, but was forced into the Roman army aged 15, because his
father was in the army. Eventually Martin did become a monk,
founded a monastery, was made a bishop by the people, performed
many miracles, and is now the patron saint of soldiers. He died aged
80 and was buried in a cemetery for the poor on 11 November.
The day is now celebrated as the Feast of St Martin, or Martinmas.
His festival coincides with the end of harvesting and preparations
for winter, and the readiness of new wines for quaffing. In many
countries, celebrations traditionally begin at the 11th hour of the
11th day of the 11th month. Was the date and timing of the
armistice between the Allies and the Germans in 1918, perhaps cho-
sen deliberately so that there could be double celebrations? Armistice
Day now rather overshadows Martinmas, at least in Britain, but not
so in Germany, where they still celebrate St Martins Day.
From St Martins time until sometime in the Middle Ages, the
day following Martinmas was the first of 40 days of fasting in prepa-
ration for Christmas not unlike Lent hence the word quarantine.
The first recorded reference to Advent was made at the Synod of
Lerida (Spain) in 524AD. Later, and it seems no-one knows when,
the idea of fasting was dropped and Advent was reduced to the
four Sundays before Christmas; unless you buy an Advent candle
or calendar, and then it starts on 1 December: or as one source puts
it, according to 1907 usage beginning with the Sunday nearest
to St Andrews Day, 30th November. In the Eastern church it starts
on 1 September and is known as Nativity Fast.
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus meaning
coming, or adventire to come to. Now I was excluded from
Latin classes after two years, but I like to think of Advent as ad
meaning towards, and vent wind, a wind blowing towards me,
may be a breath of fresh air. Anyway it puts me in mind of Pentecost
and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is a time of waiting, expecta-
14
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15
tion, longing and personal preparation, in readiness for the celebra-
tion of the nativity of Jesus. It also reflects the anticipation of the
return of Christ at his second coming in glory to judge both the
living and the dead. But of course, it is importantly the beginning
of the Churchs New Year. Personally, I regard Advent as three-fold,
the coming of Christ for our salvation, anticipation of his coming
again, but also his continuing coming into our lives, here, and now.
Oh, and by the way; modern biblical scholars dispute Beth-
lehem as being the birthplace of Jesus, it was probably Nazareth;
and the stable wasnt a wooden shed in a field, it was more likely
to have been a cave; and there is no mention in the Gospels of
any animals being present at Jesus birth; it was Francis of Assisi
who staged the first live nativity scene using people and animals,
in a cave near Greccio in Italy in 1223, Pope Honorius III gave
his blessing to the project! Confused? You should be! Maybe
ignorance is bliss after all.
Ah well I wish you A Very Happy Liturgical New Year
Howard Brayton
Those wanting an update on
Howards piece on Christianity
or Churchianity
in the last issue can visit
howardbrayton.blogspot.com
Evensong at Merton College
On 5 November, choristers from Holy Trinity and St Marys choirs,
supported by a number of additional voices, sang Choral Evensong
in the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford. The setting was very
atmospheric with the chapel illuminated by candlelight, and the
acoustics were fabulous. The choir found the experience a
challenging one partly because of the distance between the choir
and the organ but rose to it superbly. Particular mention should
be made of the anthem Rest in peace (and rise in glory) which, with its
very poignant words and memorable tune, was sung in a very
moving manner. My thanks go to every choir member for the effort
that they put into the music, and particularly to Sarah Durham for
her help in keeping organ and choir together during the service by
conducting most of the music a job that she hadnt bargained on!
The choir were also grateful for support from a number of
members of our congregation who attended the service.
We were very privileged to have been allowed to sing at Merton
and our thanks go to Revd Simon Jones for allowing us to do so.
PF
Children and Communion
Two people come to church every Sunday. Lets call them Joe and
Alice. Joe gets a lift. Alice lives nearby so she walks. They like dif-
ferent things about the service. Alice likes the space its the biggest
building shes in all week. Joe likes the singing and the biscuits af-
terwards. They were both baptised as babies, too young to remem-
ber it. But they have plenty of opportunity to learn about the
Christian faith in church and from the people they know as part of
the church. At the Peace, Alice is usually sitting quite near Joe so
they always shake hands. Then when it comes to communion, they
both line up. But Joe receives communion, and Alice doesnt.
This is because Joe is 72, and was confirmed long ago when
he was 12; and Alice is 7.
Alice and Joe are both members of the church. Everyone who
is baptised has entered fully into the life of the church. All of us,
whether were baptised as infants or as adults, grow in faith, each
of us in a different way. All of us need help to grow, and we find
it in learning and encouragement and in encountering Gods grace.
We meet that grace in the sacraments. So wed have to have a very
good reason to say that anyone cant receive a sacrament.
This is why, since Joe was 12 and for some time before that,
churches have been thinking about how best to include baptised
children as members with everyone else. The pattern thats fa-
miliar to most of us is infant baptism followed by confirmation
at about twelve. However, since confirmation is the time when
people can make their own decision, as adults, to affirm their
faith, it often makes sense to do it when theyre at the beginning
of adult life later than twelve, for most of us. So confirmation
gets later. Meanwhile, we have children in churches every Sunday,
old enough to sing and listen and pray, and old enough to un-
derstand as much as any of us does about communion.
So a newer pattern is emerging, where children who are bap-
tised and part of the church community can be prepared for
communion when theyre ready; about seven years old. Weve
talked about this in this parish before, and were familiar with it
because of children who visit us, who receive communion in
their home churches. A working party has been planning what
the preparation should involve. Were now at the stage when
16 16
17
Curbridge Church News
It is exciting to report that roof repairs and painting of the
rainwater goods have been completed and with a contribution
from the Friends and a grant from the Oxfordshire Historic
Churches Trust the money has been raised. We had a good
Harvest Festival celebration. The Friends of Curbridge Church
had a stall at the Village Fete; a Quiz at the Lord Kitchener at
the beginning of November; and on the last Saturday of
November a Christmas Bazaar in the afternoon and a Concert
in church at 7pm by the Junior Town Band. The Friends of
Curbridge Church have some bone china mugs for sale with a
picture of the church. They cost 6.50 each. If anyone would
like to become a Friend do contact me on 864926.
Tim Partridge
Hailey Harvest Supper
The Harvest Supper at Hailey this year combined a delicious
meal, good company and some very taxing quiz questions. The
result was a great evening , and 511 for Base 33, the youth
centre in Witney. A big thank you to everyone who contributed
to making the evening so successful.
Haileys Wide Reach
Im in the soup for forgetting to mention the Lent Soup Lunches
held in Hailey and Crawley on each Thursday of Lent. All
moneys raised at these popular lunches is given to Christian Aid.
Apologies for the omission.
John Haskell
were going to apply to the diocese for permission, and if thats
given, were hoping to begin admitting children to communion
next year.
If youd like to hear more about this, or if you have questions
or comments, please contact Elizabeth Thomson.
18
Renewal and Mission
2027 May 2012
On Saturday 22 October about forty members from across the
parish joined together for a day to look at our preparations for
the week of Renewal and Mission. We gathered at Witney Lakes,
a wonderful setting for our work and enjoyed much laughter,
great food and super company.
The day began with a bible study on John 1.3542. We noted
that Jesus needed a team to help him with his work and how this
is important for us remember and encourage. We saw the passage
as a model of searching, finding and moving forward. And that
all mission begins by meeting people where they are in ordinary
ways.
We discussed how Jesuss emphasis is to nurture disciples not
make converts. And this led to an image of life in Christs church
being about resourcing ourselves to move out into the world: the
Church is called to be a leaf blower not a vacuum cleaner! We
looked at how mission asks us to share in loving attentiveness,
and that it is to be attractive and grounded in intentional joy.
In the later session we identified nine specific areas to focus
our attention on:
1. Spiritual growth + discipleship of congregation
2. Families
3. Schools
4. Older people
5. Existing contacts
6. Peace + Justice
7. Communication with Community
8. Logistics
9. Communications
The next stage is to develop each of these areas and to build
up a programme for our week. Each group identified areas to
work on and the home mission team will begin working soon to
expand this.
So what next for you?
Soon you will all receive prayer cards the most important thing
is that we are praying for our week of Renewal and Mission.
19
The Home Mission Team will soon be developing the pro-
gramme and gathering people to support each of the areas above.
If you would like to help with a particular aspect do please
contact the Rector.
From midday on 14 January to midday 15 January there is going
to be a special period of 24 hours of prayer in preparation (see
page 6). Do please join in with this.
We also need offers to house our Visiting Mission Team during
the week if you have a spare room please contact Elpie Lewis
to let her know.
The day at Witney Lakes was certainly a great encouragement
and it helped to focus on the purpose and practicalities of the
Renewal and Mission.
As one of those who attended said, It was unbelievable.
There were so many people. Every angle was considered and it
was good to think about the logistics and practicalities. We dont
want to be perceived as imposing on others, but to let others
know we are here for them and ask them, What can we do for
you? Where are you at? Where would you like to be. The day
was fantastic, and I cant wait to see where we go.
20
Hailey Churchs 250th
anniversary the music
In the weekend that followed the 250th anniversary of Anglican
churches in Hailey the culminating event was a Parish service in
Hailey Church. The theme was Songs of Praise, an evening
service, but with a large helping of informality.
As parishioners indulged in tea, scones and large helpings of
victoria sponge with extra jam and cream, the author together with
Elizabeth Thomson, set about establishing the Parishs favourite
hymns. These would form part of the following service.
A choice cost 50p, in aid of Parish funds. What better co-cam-
paigner than a persuasive Scotswoman with native skills in extracting
shekels! You canna choose a hymn if ye canna givme your money...
Without duress twenty hymns were nominated, each receiving
between one and nine votes. Of course this was a money-making
exercise as well as a useful piece of research so surely it was not
one person one vote multiple voting was to be encouraged!
Ye can surely give me all of your money?
Anyway these were the top hymns which we sang with
considerable gusto during the service, and I add some biograph-
ical detail on their authors.
Tell out my soul 9 nominations was written by Timothy
Dudley-Smith when he was Archdeacon of Norwich. He was
born in 1926 and the hymn is one of the few traditional hymns
to establish their popularity in recent years. Dudley-Smith went
on to become Anglican Bishop of Thetford and in 2009 was
awarded an OBE for his hymnody. Joyfully, but alone amongst
our authors, he is alive and well. He lives in Salisbury. The tune
Woodlands was composed by Walter Greatorex (18771949).
...To childrens children and for evermore.
The Lords my Shepherd 6 votes was adapted from the
Psalmist by William Whittingham. He lived in the sixteenth cen-
tury. The more familiar tune is Crimond composed by 19th-
century musician Jessie Irvine but a significant minority
suggested Brother James Leith Macbeth Bain, more familiar as
the Brother James Air would be the desirable tune, so in a fine
The sophisticated
counting system
employed for the votes
in the hymn contest.
21
Anglican compromise we sampled both, moving with great
dexterity, but not a little confusion, from one tune to the other
between verses three and four.
Lead, kindly light amid encircling gloom 6 votes was
written by John Henry Newman (180190) whose more famous
poem formed the basis for Sir Edward Elgars great work The
Dream of Gerontius and from which our hymn Praise to the Holi-
est in the Height was drawn. It is a melancholy hymn and in at
least one hymn book finds itself in the section entitled Pilgrim-
age, Guidance and Perseverance!
The story goes that Newman contracted a fever whilst on
holiday in Sicily and thought himself to be dying. Desperate to
return to England he finally found an orange boat to take him
to Marseilles. He wrote this hymn whilst becalmed on route.
Its familiar tune Sandon was composed by Charles Henry
Purday (17991885). The irregular metre is unique to our current
hymn book although at least two other musicians have had a go
at setting these words to music. Sandons harmony is good and
encourages valour amongst bass voices.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
Surprisingly O Lord my God finds its origins in Sweden where
both the words and the tune were written. Karl Boberg wrote the
music, the words are unattributed other than to a Swedish folk
tune. It was popularised by the Billy Graham crusades and has
been voted the UKs favourite hymn by BBC Songs of Praise.
When I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim:
my God, how great thou art.
Our final hymn made the top five even before Bishop Bill Down
(whose favourite hymn this is) had arrived. Will your anchor
hold in the storm of life? was sung with much enthusiasm.
Priscilla Jane Owens (182999) is credited with the words and
William James Kirkpatrick with the music (18381921).
Will your eyes behold through the morning light,
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Well theres a thought.
Jeremy Lewis
Baptisms and Weddings
Felicity Raphael Mary Wright, Mason Joe Carr and Theo David
Charlton were baptised at St Marys in September.
Joshua Paul Barrett and Keeley Olivia Ada Archer were baptised
at Holy Trinity in September.
Lola Catherine Grace Jackson was baptised at Hailey in September.
Leah Isabel Joy Cooper and Thomas Ryan Cooper were baptised
at Curbridge in September.
Amelia May Hudson and Matthew Elliot Rapley were baptised at
St Marys in October.
Grace Mary Ward and Alfie Orlando Bull were baptised at Holy
Trinity in October.
Grace Karmann Joan Morris was baptised at Hailey in October.
James Ritchie Wheeler, Charlie Arthur Joyner-Richards and Joshua
James Young were baptised at Curbridge in October.
Sophia Mary Holsen-Dodds, Annabelle Elise Butterworth, Sophia
Marianne Butterworth and Alfie Lewis Daniel Cox were all
baptised at St Marys in November.
Harry James Wilkins was baptised at Holy Trinity in November.
Charlie Junior Collins was baptised at Hailey in November.
Geoff Keed and Jo Borer were married at St Marys on 3 September.
Jeremy Barker and Elizabeth McGrath were married at Holy
Trinity on 3 September.
David Naidoo and Vicky Wondrak were married at St Marys on
16 September.
Mark Aspinall and Nicola Amos were married at St Marys on 17
September.
Jonathan de Fraine and Elaine McAnulla were married at St Marys
on 17 September.
Adam Drake-Brockman and Rowena Deans were married at Holy
Trinity on 24 September.
Stephen White and Samantha Thomas were married at St Marys
on 8 October.
Henry Tedd and Lauren Taylor were married at Holy Trinity on
15 October.
John Cullby and Julia Latton were married at Hailey on 5
November.
22
23
St Mary the Virgin, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AW
Holy Trinity, Wood Green, Witney OX28 1DN
St John the Baptist, Curbridge OX29 7NW
St John the Evangelist, Middletown, Hailey OX29 9UD
Team Rector Revd Toby Wright 704441
Toby-wright@btconnect.com
Team Vicar Revd Dr Elizabeth Thomson 834875
Associate Priest Revd Sally Wright 704441
Team Evangelist Captain Jeff Hill 358226
Parish Wardens Steve Holborough 703497
Elspeth Lewis 703070
Parish Office Michelle Bailey Wells 779492
& Gift Aid 9am12.30 MondayFriday
St Marys, Church Green
wtparish@btinternet.com
Baptism Enquiries Esther Partridge 864926
Wedding Enquiries Revd Dr Elizabeth Thomson 834875
Witney Way editor Ruth Sheppard 866127
WitneyWay@gmail.com
Copy date for next issue: 31 January
Home and Hospital Visits
To arrange Communion for anyone who is unwell, please
contact:
Hailey 708582
Holy Trinity 771750
For Curbridge, St Marys or general enquiries, contact the Parish
Office, or one of the clergy.
Parish Contact Information
24
Christmas Services
Sunday 27 November
6.00pm Advent Carol Service Hailey
Sunday 4 December
9.15am Christingle with Holy Communion Hailey
Friday 9 December
7.00pm Mayors Carol Service St Marys
Sunday 11 December
10.45am Nativity with Holy Communion Holy Trinity
3.00pm Christingle St Marys
6.00pm Carol Service Curbridge
Sunday 18 December
9.15am Christingle with Holy Communion Curbridge
12.00 Junior Church Christmas Party St Marys
6.00pm Carol Service Holy Trinity
6.00pm Carol Service Hailey
Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 December
3.00pm Crib Service St Marys
6.00pm Carol Service St. Marys
11.30pm Midnight Mass St Marys
11.30pm Midnight Mass Holy Trinity
11.30pm Midnight Mass Hailey
Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) St Marys
9.15am Holy Communion Hailey
9.15am Holy Communion Curbridge
10.45am Eucharist St Marys
10.45am Sung Eucharist Holy Trinity
These are the normal service times; please see website and the
weekly notice sheet for any changes or special events.
Sunday Services
Weekday Services
St Marys 8.00am Holy Communion
(Followed by breakfast on 4th Sunday)
10.45am Sung Eucharist
(With Junior Church)
Holy Trinity 10.45am Sung Eucharist
(Including Sunday School)
St Johns, 9.15am Holy Communion
Hailey (Occasionally Matins)
6.00pm Evensong
(First Sunday of the month)
St Johns, 9.15am Holy Communion
Curbridge
MondaySaturday
St Marys 9.00am Morning Prayer
MondayThursday, Saturday
St Marys 5.30pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday
Holy Trinity 10.30am Holy Communion
Wednesday
St Marys 11am Holy Communion
Thursday
St Johns, 10.00am Holy Communion
Hailey
Holy Trinity in the
snow last winter.
25
Y
.
m
.
o
x
o
n
Upcoming Events
Christmas Fair, 3 December, 10am5pm, High Street
Methodist Church
Terry Hester 50th Anniversary Celebration, 6 December,
6.30pm, St Marys. Celebrating 50 years of bell-ringing.
The Rectors Arms, 10 December, 7.30pm, St Marys.
Ready, Steady Cook, 9 January, 7pm, St Marys. Two
professional chefs will be competing live on the evening to win
your votes and create some culinary delights. Come along and
share in the fun.
Prayer Boiler, 1415 January, St Marys (see p.6)
Ongoing Groups/Activities
Acorns Toddler Group
Thursday 9.4511.45am and 12.45pm, Holy Trinity
(term time).
X Group
Fortnightly get-togethers for teens of the parish. For more
information contact Jeff Hill on 358226.
Holy Trinity House/Fellowship Groups
Groups meet fortnightly on Monday and Tuesday evening. For
information on the Monday group contact Malcolm Ryland-
Jones and for the Tuesday group contact Alan Gentry.
Life Begins at...
Social group for parishioners in their 30s and 40s, meeting
monthly. Christmas party on 13 December. Contact Louisa
Nutt on 772883.
Book Circle
Third Tuesday of the month, 2.30pm, Winchester Room,
St Marys. Open to all. Contact Freda Nicholls on 772564.
Mothers Union
Second Wednesday of the month, 2pm, Winchester Room,
26
Whats going on in the Parish?
27
St Marys. Corporate Communion is held on the third
Wednesday of the month at 11am at St Marys.
Hailey Village Lunch
Third Wednesday of the month, Hailey Village Hall.
Parish Wives Group
Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7.45pm, Winchester Room,
St Marys.
Weekly Prayer Meeting
Wednesday prayer meeting praying for the church at the
home of Jeff and Julia Hill, 81 Burwell Meadow, 89pm.
Contemplative Prayer Group
Every Wednesday, 4.305.00pm, St Marys.
Thursday Walks
Informal weekly walks leaving from St Johns Hailey at 11am.
Just turn up, or contact Elspeth Lewis on 703070.
Parish Surgery Thursdays, 55.30pm. An opportunity to have
a word with the parish clergy.
Acoustic Room
Third Thursday of the month, 7.30pm, Winchester Room,
St Marys. 3 on the door, free for performers. For further
information contact Colin or Jean Greenway on 705026.
Faith with Spice
An opportunity for the men from the churches to get together,
and discuss some of the issues we face in life and with our faith.
Next meetings on 4 December, 29 January, and 4 March. Contact
Jeff Hill for more details.
Choir Practice: Holy Trinity
Wednesdays, 7.30pm. Contact Paul Francis 01235 848215.
Choir Practice: St Marys
Sundays, 9.45am. Contact Francis Rumsey.
Bell ringing at St Marys
Ringing on Sunday, 9.4510.45am. Practice night Tuesday,
7.309pm. Contact Wendy Wastie 07773 391886
Make sure your events and ongoing activities are listed here,
email WitneyWay@gmail.com, or ring 866127 with details. St Marys during the
Feast 2011.
28


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Ofce 01993 358161
Mobile 07943 353032
Email info@woapa.co.uk
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ADVERTISING
Meet our wardens
We have two churchwardens. Churchwardens are appointed to the Parish Church; they
have a duty of care across the whole Parish, not being confined to their particular church
or place of worship. The Canon Law of the Church of England (Canon E1 paragraphs
4) states that churchwardens are the officers of the Diocesan Bishop. They shall discharge
such duties as are by law and custom assigned to them; they shall be foremost in
representing the laity and in co-operating with the Team Rector; they shall use their best
endeavours by example and precept to encourage the parishioners in the practice of true
religion and to promote unity and peace among them. They shall also maintain order and
decency in the church and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service.
In addition there are up to two deputy churchwardens from each district. The deputy
churchwardens exercise the functions, powers and duties of churchwardens under the
supervision and direction of the churchwardens within their particular district church rather
than across the parish. Churchwardens are called to special responsibilities within the Body
of Christ, indeed, this the highest position of trust and responsibility that the Church
gives to lay-people. So please do pray and support our wardens we are very fortunate
to have such a talented group of people working across the parish.
29
Elpie Lewis, Churchwarden
I became church warden in 2010, having
previously been warden at Hailey. What I
particularly enjoy about the role is the
contact it brings with so many people, for
many different reasons, in many different
places. I used to work as an occupational
therapist in neurology and elderly care,
and am now kept busy with our
smallholding (cattle, hens and a horse),
working for SeeSaw (see p.36), and
an ever-
expanding
family life.
L i t t l e
k n o w n
fact: I was
chased by
a warthog
in Uganda.
Steve Holborough, Churchwarden
I became St Marys Warden in 2006 and
after a couple of years I stepped up to
be Churchwarden. I am Witney born
and bred; baptised, confirmed and
married at St Marys. Ive sung in the
choir, rung the bells for a short time, and
attended both St Marys and the Batt
School (where I am now governor). As
warden I enjoy being able to use my
skills and talents in a leadership role in
the service of
God.
Little known
fact: My biggest
regret in life is
being too young
to be a Hippy
and too old to
be a Punk!
30
Jean Greenway
Deputy Churchwarden, St Marys
I have worshipped at St. Marys for 34
years and been warden since March
2007.
I enjoy researching the history of
our parish, taking photographs of the
architecture and encouraging people to
achieve.
Sue Drew
Deputy Churchwarden, Hailey
I was first a Churchwarden of St Johns
Church, Hailey, 19972001. This time I
started in 2009 and will finish in 2012.
I am also DCC Treasurer and a
sacristan. I enjoy the great fellowship
and involvement we have in this village
community of Hailey.
I first trained in floristry and horticul-
ture in London in the late fifties. We
came to Hailey
in 1978.
My family,
especially my
three five-year-
old grandsons,
as well as many
other interests
keep me fully
occupied!
James Mills
Deputy Churchwarden, St Marys
Whilst I have lived in Witney and the sur-
rounding area most of my life, I only started
coming to St Marys regularly about two years
ago. I was baptised at Easter 2010 and con-
firmed earlier this year. I have enjoyed meeting
lots of different
and inspiring
people across the
Parish. So many
people have been
really kind and sup-
portive thank
you. Always happy
to have coffee with
anyone who wants
a chat.
Clare Musson
Deputy Churchwarden, Hailey
I became deputy church warden at St Johns,
Hailey in the spring. The date is a little vague,
but I think it was when our lovely Monica
Hester received a big bunch of flowers and
thanks for her stint. I can see that its a role
you grow into and Im grateful for Sues wise
counsel to make what you want of it.
I enjoy greeting people and am
unexpectedly delighted that Im able to
think more
clearly, particu-
larly about the
Church with no
walls, which is a
nice irony, as
Im supposed
to be looking
after the build-
ing
31
Keith Jameson
Deputy Churchwarden, Holy Trinity
I have been churchwarden at Holy Trinity
since April. Before coming to Witney in
2010 I worshipped at Guildford Cathedral
and was a steward there.
Its a demanding job which carries a
great deal of responsibility behind the
scenes but important for the welcome we
are able to give in Gods name.
Little known
fact: born at
Salisbury while my
father was build-
ing Spitfires there
in WW2, I can
claim to be a
Moonraker.
Jill Carter
Deputy Churchwarden, Holy Trinity
This is my second year as Deputy Church-
warden of Holy Trinity, a role which I re-
ally enjoy (most of the time).
The best bits are feeling part of a proac-
tive team, and helping to decorate the
church to reflect the changing seasons.
I also enjoy the countryside, social his-
tory, embroidery especially drawn thread
work, and my
grandchildren.
Little known
fact: to celebrate
my 59th birthday,
I abseiled off
a viaduct in
Dartmoor.
Jean Chittey
Deputy Churchwarden, Curbridge
When I became warden at St Johns I
knew it would be a learning curve, if
not a desperately steep one, and I have
enjoyed so much friendliness and kind-
ness ever since from all our churches.
Soon after my arrival in 1993 I
became a founder member of the Wit-
ney Golf Club. I was first Ladies
Treasurer and afterwards Ladies Match
Secretary. I really enjoyed my golf, little
skill but socially most rewarding.
Val Pole
Deputy Churchwarden, Curbridge
Following a Masters degree from London
University, I worked for a number of large
corporations including the Unipart Group of
Companies, and eventually becoming Director of
Purchase and Supply for the RAC.
I married my husband, John, in 2008 and
moved to Curbridge. Soon after I decided to
take early retirement to be a full-time wife.
However, it wasnt long before I became secre-
tary to the PCC and earlier this year I took on
the additional role of
deputy churchwarden.
I have begun to
realise how challenging
these two roles, com-
bined, can be even
more than I ever faced in
the commercial world
so much for retirement!
32
Those who went before us
As part of Holy Trinitys contribution to the Cotswold Open
Churches Weekend this summer, we put the parish records on dis-
play. These proved very popular with our visitors. One couple,
having seen the event advertised, came especially to confirm the
dates of their ancestors. Several other people also spent time work-
ing on their family tree finding new information and connections.
One lady went away to check her birth certificate as the alleged
birth date in the register was different from the one she knows.
Several people took pleasure in finding their baptism and marriage
details and showing them to their children. It was not only those
with family connections who found interest in the parish records.
People living in the area found the occupations of those who
worked here most absorbing especially the changes over time.
Baptism records include the names of the candidate, usually
a child, and the names of its parents. The date of the service is
recorded as is the alleged birth date. This is useful information
for establishing family connections and relationships. The ad-
dress and the fathers occupation are included. This information
shows the structure of society, the divisions of labour and the
variety of different trades that enabled society to function.
The occupation, linked with the address of the parent shows
where different trades were carried out. This can show local pros-
perity and environment. The propensity of curriers, butchers, fell
mongers, labours, and grease extractors, not to mention weavers
and blanket manufacturers, in and around Woodgreen area, in the
latter part of the 19th, and early 20th centuries, suggest that the
area was an industrial landscape quite unlike that we see today.
A few fathers are recorded as unemployed and at the other
end of the scale one is recorded as a gentleman. Women how-
ever feature little, in spite of their known contribution to society
and the family economy.
Before blanket making was industrialised, weaving and spinning
was a cottage industry, with men weaving and women spinning. As
weaving became a factory operation, women took on the power
looms in the factories. The record of a man as a hand loom weaver
in the 1920s stands out as an exception rather than the rule. This
division of labour means we see too few spinners (women) in the
Hand loom workers.
33
early records and too few weavers (women) after industrialisation.
Gloving shows a similar pattern. Most of the work of glove
making was put out to women workers and only a few men are
recorded as glove makers or glove cutters.
In stark contrast with the hidden women of the parish, those
who stand out in the baptism records, are unmarried women. A few
of these have occupations, a maid servant, a hairdressers recep-
tionist and a labourer are three that stand out. More often the
record states unmarried or single mother. During the 1860s and
again during the 1890s, the record is very pointedly aimed at the
child, which is described as illegitimate. Some unmarried mothers
appear in the record more than once and there is an instance of un-
married sisters having their children christened in the same service.
A small group of children of no known parentage were bap-
tised between 1890 and 1899. These are from the Witney Chil-
dren Infirmary. Baptisms of the children of single mothers and
unknown parentage are recorded as being carried out privately
then entered into the church.
That all unmarried mothers brought their children to baptism
is indicative of a social attitude that frowned upon births out of
wedlock, yet even so all children were expected to be christened.
It is also indicative of an active clergy ensuring that all children
were brought into the Church.
A change in social attitude reflecting the status of women can
be seen in the parish registers from the 1980s. From this time
women were no longer invisible and their contribution to the econ-
omy and to the household is recognised. This is seen with the in-
clusion of their occupation in the parish register. The first entries
of spouses appear in 1984 and rises to 9% of all records by the
1990s and then to 11% in 21st century. This trend is also mirrored
by the recognition of womens role in the household. Housewife
becomes a common entry in the 1980s, being as high as 13%, the
figure rises to 20% in the 1990s, when mother and homemaker
are also recorded. Since 2003, occupations are no longer recorded
in baptism records, a sad loss for future historical research.
The burial records show the name of the deceased, their ad-
dress, age and date of burial. This data can be used to calculate
life expectancy and child mortality. The address given includes
union or union house referring to the workhouse; Almshouses,
on Church Green and Townsend Almshouses. Burials are also
recorded from the Witney Childrens Infirmary.
Between 1891 and 1901, there were several burials from the
Witney Childrens infirmary; one of them was 14 years old, old
enough to be at work. The average age of the children from the
infirmary was however, only 28 months.
The burial records do not give the cause of death, except
under very rare circumstances. On two occasions the curate has
made a note in the margin. In 1875, it was noted along side the
burial entry of a child of 2 years 11 months, that they died having
drowned after falling into the river Windrush at Newland Mill.
Soon after this is noted the sad occurrence of a child who died
from the result of drinking boiling water from a tea kettle.
Until the 1890s, 1 in 3 of all burials at Holy Trinity were of
children. This proportion halved in the following 20 years up to
the First World War. The high child mortality rate was a contrib-
utory factor in bringing the average life expectancy of those
buried at holy Trinity as low as 31 years of age between 1849
and 1860s. This increased to 41 years between 1870 and the
1880s. A further rise, to 50 years old, was seen through 1900 and
1920s period. In the 1930s life expectancy was 88 years, due to
the total absence of any childrens deaths. Life expectancy in the
1940s to 1970s period settled down to 68 years.
In spite of the fairly low life expectancy, some burials are of
nonagenarians, one person buried in 1855 was born in 1759 (dur-
ing the Seven Years War), another in 1763.
Those who were buried from the almshouses received some
support from local charities. However, those with no support
were taken into the workhouse. We have the burials of husband
and wife who died at the workhouse, where they would have been
separated in their old age and poverty. The average age of those
who died in the workhouse before the First World War was 68
years, a figure brought down by the deaths of young adults.
The marriage records include the date, names and address of
the couple and their occupations. The names of their parents are
also recorded along with the fathers occupation and place of res-
idence. Unlike the baptism and burial registers, the marriage reg-
isters are legal documents. Therefore the inclusion of the witnesss
signature and that of the officiating priest are officially important.
Holy Trinitys marriage records only cover the period from
1980 to 1991; this limited sample makes it difficult to recognise
34
35
any significant historic trends. But they do show that over this pe-
riod the average age for men to marry was 25, and that of women
23. Most couples chose a partner from Witney or the immediately
surrounding villages. Only 5% took partners from further away
than Oxford. Over the period, the register shows an increasing
trend of couples coming for marriage from the same address. By
1991, this was the case for 50% of all marriages.
The parish registers are a window into the past and show aspects
of daily life and society in and around the Woodgreen area, over
the last century and a half. The baptism, burial and marriage records
bring alive the congregations at Holy Trinity who went before us.
Phil Platt
The parish records, housed in the County Record Office, comprise Baptism records
from 1849 to 1970s; Burial records from 1849 to the 1970s; and Marriage
records from 1980 (when Holy Trinity was first licensed for weddings) to 1991.
Later baptism and marriage records have not yet been deposited.
Talents Unlimited!
This year as part of our fundraising it was suggested that people
might like to use their talents to raise a sum of money for our
parish funds. The idea was based on the parable of the talents
which Jesus told in St Matthews Gospel go out and see what
you can make from a small sum of money using your own abil-
ities. So off we went.
Below are some of amazing variety of activities that have
taken place, all of which have contributed to the running total
to date of 4,811.67.
Many people took part in the parish sponsorship day, some
walking from Burford, North Leigh, Shorthampton or Minster
Lovell. Despite the damp conditions, everyone seemed to enjoy
themselves, finishing up with sore feet, Cream Tea and Songs of
Praise at Hailey. Here there was more sponsorship as we paid to
choose our favourite hymns in a rousing Songs of Praise.
Books have been written; one of local walks which has been
selling county-wide in retail outlets, and the other being a parish
Quiz Book, with lots of challenging questions (and fortunately
answers too). Used books have also been sold as well, to great
effect. And songs have been sung from around the world.
36 36
Cakes, biscuits, meals, jams, pickles, coffees and teas have all
contributed to our waistlines and to the total. Perhaps a recipe
book might be in order another year? And our gardens and
greenhouses have produced a plethora of goods: vegetables,
fruit, flowers and plants have all been for sale.
Many of us would currently not be able to view our televi-
sions were it not for the enterprise of one parishioner with great
technical skills, who was sponsored to re-tune many TVs ready
for digital switchover a brilliant use of his talents.
Artistic skills have been evident as well in the making of cards,
sewing of useful items, and producing of photographs. And the
list will grow as we continue to use our talents through the year.
Above all, the use of our talents, such as they are, has
contributed towards good will and outreach in the parish. We have
perhaps got to know each other a little better within the parish, and
hopefully those outside our immediate congregations have seen
Witney Parish as in inventive and outgoing place. So, a big thank
you to everyone who has contributed so generously either in the
provision or purchase of the products of our talents.
Helping bereaved children in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire childrens charity SeeSaw has been called The
great little charity with the big heart. One-third of bereaved
children can experience severe difficulties coming to terms
with the death of a close family member. SeeSaw supports
children at this critical time, so that they can move forward
and face the future with hope. SeeSaws service includes
tailored grief support for children, guidance and support to
families, advice and training to professionals and accessible
literature and resources. Weve helped over 2,000 children since
the year 2000. As a charity we rely on donations in order keep
going.
If you are concerned about a bereaved child in your care,
then please contact the SeeSaw team on 01865 744768 for
advice and support.
Further information can be found at www.seesaw.org.uk.
To find out how you can support SeeSaw contact Jane Elliott,
SeeSaws fundraising coordinator: fundraiser@seesaw.org.uk
or 01865 744768.
37
The Ministry of Wholeness
and Healing
Following the article in the last Witney Way, a group from across
the four churches went on St Lukes day to the Convent at
Wantage to explore Wholeness and Healing. The convent hosted
us and Sister Valeria accompanied us through the day and led
the day with the Rector. We looked at biblical examples together
to inspire us. We heard from each other about our experience of
the ministry of wholeness and healing. We prayed together often
during the day, joining with the community for the Midday
Office. In the afternoon there was space to enjoy some silence
and the gardens before we met in three groups to look at
practicalities of wholeness and healing; the power of prayer and
laying on of hands and anointing. After we had fed back together
we then had a time of reflection and prayer which ended with
the laying on of hands and anointing.
It was a healing day for us and showed that there is a very
significant amount of experience from within the parish to build
on. We are excited about developing the ministry of wholeness
and healing and have identified three areas to work on.
So where from here?
First, a small group are working to establish a Guild of St
Raphael. (See http://www.guild-of-st-raphael.org.uk for further
information.) The Guild of St Raphael is concerned with healing
in its widest sense. This will ground all of our work together in
prayer.
Second, on Tuesday 31 January 2012 at 7.30pm we shall meet
as a group in the Winchester Room with others who are
interested (if you are, speak to Tim Partridge, Toby Wright or
Rosemary Peirce). This will be an opportunity for us to discern
where we are called to put our energies, and to focus on possible
topics for on-going training.
Third, during our week of Renewal and Mission we hope that
an aspect of the week can be to offer a service for Wholeness
and Healing.
If you would like further information please speak to the
Rector.
Our Master,
Jesus Christ,
visit the sick among
your people and
heal them.
Amen.
(Abyssinian Jacobite
Liturgy, 6th century)
St Luke, 11th century
Georgian miniature.
38
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39
Bye Buy Childhood, at Christmas
Three-fifths of parents feel that advertising seen by children can
be harmful to them. While we may know that it is what we are,
not what we own that is important, young people today struggle
to separate the two when constantly bombarded by aggressive
marketing campaigns.
The good news is that the Mothers Union Bye Buy Child-
hood campaign to empower families to challenge the commer-
icalisation and sexualisation of childhood continues to grow
apace. Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mothers Union carried
out the Bailey Review, Letting Children be Children, an independent
review looking at the pressures on children to grow up too
quickly, which was published in June. Action on the
recommendations of the review has been swift, and to support
these positive steps, the Mothers Union is asking us all to
consider five things we can do to help in 2012:
1. The Advertising Standards Authority has now produced a
Statement on sexual imagery in outdoor advertising, outlining what
is and is not acceptable on billboards, bus stops and other outdoors
adverts. If you see something inappropriate, report it: www.asa.org.uk
2. Internet Service Providers now have to offer an active choice for
new customers to activate parental controls, which can block access to
websites unsuitable for children. Make sure your familys internet is safe.
3. The British Retail Consortium has now issued guidelines on retail-
ing clothes to under-12s. Lobby retailers to sign up to it, see brc.org.uk.
4. Parentport is a new website run by the UKs media regulators di-
recting people to the right bodies to make complaints about advertising,
marketing and retailing to children. Try it out: www.parentport.org.uk
5. Contact your political representative, letting them know about
progress on the Bailey Review and raising any concerns you have.
In the meantime, when buying gifts for children, or helping chil-
dren spend their Christmas money, remember the Bye Buy Test:
Why do I want to buy it?
How often will I use it?
Can I afford it?
What will happen if I dont buy it?
Information on the campaign can be found at www.byebuychildhood.org
DCheck my consumer habits
both children and adults
DSpeak or write to
manufacturers, retailers and
marketers asking them not to
market goods of a sexualised
nature to children.
DSpeak or write to my political
representative asking them to
keep the issue on the agenda,
promote awareness, and take
further action to protect children
from the sex sells approach.







Childhood is now a
marketing opportunity worth
99 billion in the UK.

But we believe that children
should be valued as
children, not consumers.

How can we challenge
the commercialisation of
childhood?

Mothers Union has
launched a campaign
to address this issue.

Here is how
you can help!
To do list:
Contact your local Mothers Union at:
Childhood is now a
marketing opportunity worth
99 billion in the UK.

But we believe that children
should be valued as
children, not consumers.

How can we challenge
the commercialisation of
childhood?

Mothers Union has
launched a campaign
to address this issue.

Here is how
you can help!
Contact your local Mothers Union at:
DCheck my consumer habits
both children and adults
DSpeak or write to
manufacturers, retailers and
marketers asking them not to
market goods of a sexualised
nature to children.
DSpeak or write to my political
representative asking them to
keep the issue on the agenda,
promote awareness, and take
further action to protect children
from the sex sells approach.







To do list:
Reflections from the West Bank
Ann Marsden, Co-ordinator for Christian Aid in our Parish, and a
member of our Witney and the Wider World Group, sends us these
reflections. The author, Amy Merone, is a Regional Coordinator in
Christian Aid's Oxford office. She visited the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (IOPT) for the first time in April this year as part of her
MA programme. While she was there she had the chance to see the work
of several Christian Aid partners.
The soldier at the checkpoint asks me what I think about He-
bron, one of the occupied cities in the West Bank where I am
staying. I can hardly put into words what I feel. What do you
think about Hebron? I ask him. I think its a test for humanity,
he replies. He cant be older than 23 and yet he is serving as an
Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldier in one of the most volatile
places in the occupied Palestinian territory. Will you remain in
the army? I ask him. No. I want to leave and travel. Perhaps Ill
go to France. There are things that I wish that I could say, but I
cant.
Theres an unspoken understanding between us. The young
soldier is one of approximately 1,500 serving in the Old City of
Hebron, which is under Israeli military control. Once a busy
Palestinian market city, its now more like a ghost town. Walk
around in the evening and apart from passing the odd person
eager to get home, the only people you are likely to see are the
soldiers patrolling the streets and stationed in watch towers dot-
ted throughout the city.
Hebron, site of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, is a Palestinian
city that is also home to Israeli settlements, which, illegal under
international law, were established in 1968 following the Six-Day
War when Israel captured and occupied the West Bank and Gaza.
The presence of the settlers means that for Palestinians, much
of the Old City of Hebron is now restricted by checkpoints, road
blocks and road closures.
Shatha and Sunduz are best friends. They live with their
families in Tel Rumeida, the most heavily restricted part of He-
bron and home to settlers. Living with Shatha and her family
during my stay in Hebron, I experienced what life is like living
40
under occupation. The family home is next to a settlement; there
is barbed wire everywhere and soldiers with guns are positioned
close to their home. For Shatha and Sunduz, even walking to
school is an intimidating experience.
Shatha and Sunduz have been supported by Christian Aid
partner, BTSelem. The Israeli organisation, which works to
monitor and prevent human rights abuses and educate Israeli
decision-makers, the Israeli public and the international commu-
nity about human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian
territory, has given video cameras to young Palestinians in the
West Bank to record violence committed against them.
The project has been a way of empowering young people
who witness human rights abuses on a daily basis, experience
restrictions on their movements and limitations on their lives.
The footage gathered has been used by BTSelem to campaign
and raise public awareness of the injustices in the occupied
Palestinian territory, as well as being used as evidence in court.
For Shatha, the support of BTSelem and the video
distribution project has helped to empower her: One day BT-
Selem came and gave us video cameras to try and stop the
violence. It has made our lives more bearable. Now if I am film-
ing the soldiers are more careful. They sometimes run away.
Having worked in the Middle East region since the 1950s,
Christian Aid now works with more than twenty Israeli and
Palestinian partner organisations to protect human rights,
provide access to services and resources, and to build a peace
based on justice for all.
For the Israeli organisation Physicians for Human Rights
(PHR), this means taking mobile clinics into West Bank towns
and villages that are cut off from healthcare. Early one Saturday
during my time in IOPT I joined the group of volunteers as they
travelled from Jerusalem to a village outside Nablus. It was im-
mediately apparent that one of the purposes of the organisation
is to create dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. The clinics
only go into the West Bank if there are both Israeli and Pales-
tinian volunteers onboard and if everybody is allowed to enter.
I chatted to two young Israeli men onboard and asked them
what they did and how long they had been volunteering with
PHR. Studying medicine at university in Jerusalem, it was their
first time going into the West Bank not as IDF soldiers. I asked
41
them why they wanted to volunteer, To see things from a
different perspective.
Poverty has been one of the most significant impacts of the
occupation. More than 67% of the Palestinian population now
lives below the poverty line. For Adnan, one of the men I spoke
to in the village we visited with PHR, this has had a devastating
effect on him and his community. It is very hard to live here.
There is no work. There are too many problems that come to
us. You cant feel good here, so dont ask me about my life
because it is too dark.
Its a feeling that Sabra, an Arab-Israeli nurse who volunteers
with PHR, shares. I ask her as we leave the village what the most
common health problems that people experience are. Heart and
leg problems, mostly, but perhaps more than doctors they need
to share their stories. They need to tell. I remember as I write
this, the words of an Israeli volunteer with PHR talking about
going into West Bank towns and villages. Were coming in peace
with our hand outstretched. In a conflict that has become as
polarised as this one, PHR is testament to the need for Israelis
and Palestinians to meet and talk to one another.
One of the most important lessons that I learnt during my
time in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory was the
importance of listening to the people I met; both Israelis and
Palestinians, and being prepared to see things from a different
perspective. Before I left for IOPT, I made the decision not to
talk to IDF soldiers; mainly out of fear. But were it not for my
conversation with the young soldier at the checkpoint in Hebron,
then I might not have come to understand that this is a conflict
that brutalises and oppresses everybody.
I still think about the conversation that I had with him. I
wonder what he would have told me if he could. Hebron is a
test for humanity, he had said. It seems to me that he was right,
but that more than that, the conflict in the whole of Israel and
the occupied Palestinian territory is a test for humanity.
Amy Merone
42
CTiW website
There is now a new website for Churches Together in Witney
up and running: www.witneychurches.org.uk
Life at The Batt
The last few months have been very busy at The Batt School
with several memorable events and achievements in the summer
term, our second open-air music festival, and most recently, an
Outstanding report from the Ofsted inspectors in October.
In May, our rugby team won the Chairmans County Rugby
Cup, beating schools from all over Oxfordshire. Having qualified
for the finals earlier in the Spring, our team won the group stages
at Cowley and then beat Sacred Heart Primary School, Henley,
after extra time in the final.
Also that month, we had the traditional May Dancing on
Church Green with St Marys Infant School. This is always a
colourful occasion with the children performing a variety of
country dances, the Year Six children parading through the town
and the May Queen being crowned on the Green. This is an
event that has been part of Witney history for well over 100 years
and this year 635 was raised for Helen and Douglas House
from the sale of posies of flowers.
In June, a group of our children entered a competition, organised
by the Oxfordshire Education and Business Partnership, to design
a board game with an environmental theme. We set up an Eco club
who, as well as designing the game, investigated environmental issues
and created a TV advertisement. A prototype of the game was pro-
duced by West Oxfordshire District Council in conjunction with the
re-cycling firm May Gurney. The children then presented their ideas,
the advert and the game to a panel of experts at The Holiday Inn,
Oxford. They were up against six other schools from around Ox-
fordshire and our presentation was judged to be the best. As well as
Children from The Batt
School performing in
Joseph, July 2011.
44
receiving a certificate, the children won 500 worth of vouchers do-
nated by Science Oxford. May Gurney are now considering pro-
ducing the game to give out to all the schools in West Oxfordshire
and some may be available to purchase. The children were really en-
thused by this venture and really enjoyed liaising with and learning
from local and national businesses.
In July, the school put on a wonderful production of Joseph
with a cast of over 300! This production followed on from the
successes of previous whole-school musicals Annie, Wizard of
Oz and Oliver. The performances took place at The Henry Box
School and included a band, microphones, a professional back-
cloth, make up and costumes. There were some excellent indi-
vidual performances and all the children sang superbly. It was a
great experience for the whole school community.
The Joseph production coincided with the news that the school
had been given the governments prestigious Platinum Sing Up
Award. This is an award that celebrates the quality and enjoyment
of singing across the school and we were thrilled to be the first
school in Oxfordshire to receive the award.
In September, we had our second music festival, Battstock,
in the school grounds. There were a great variety of bands play-
ing and plenty for the families to enjoy, and we raised over 2,000
for school funds.
The whole of The Batt
School performing in
Joseph.
Children at St Marys
Infant School.
45 45
St Marys Infant School
The new year has started at St Marys Infant School new
Foundation Stage children and a new Acting Headteacher:
Mrs Yvonne Kyriacou. She has worked in many schools across
Oxfordshire and across different age ranges. Mrs Kyriacou has
come to us from the Local Authority as a Leading Practitioner.
The youngest children were out and about during the first few
weeks of school, visiting Witney Feast when it was closed so they
were able to get a good look at the rides and think about how
each ride works.
Year 2 children have started swimming lessons and they all
seem to really enjoy this experience. These children also took part
in the West Oxfordshire School Sports Partnership team building
Congratulations
from the Rector
and parish
to everyone at the
Batt School for
their Outstanding
Ofsted report!
In October, we were visited by Ofsted inspectors. They were
very positive about the school, particularly the teaching and
learning, the childrens attitude to school, the excellent singing,
the care, guidance and support of the pupils, the childrens art-
work and their behaviour. The inspectors were very complimen-
tary and judged the school as Outstanding, the first primary
school in the Witney partnership to achieve this grade. The suc-
cess of the school is a testament to the hard work and enthusi-
asm of everyone in the school community.
We now look forward to a busy time in school, preparing for
the Christmas festivities.
Chris Payne, Headteacher
Witney Way: Magazine for the Parish of Witney
Editor Ruth Sheppard Printed by LDI, New Yatt. Cover design by Myriam Bell Design.
All views expressed in this magazine are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or
the Parish of Witney. The appearance of an advertisement in this magazine does not imply endorsement of
the advertiser or its products and services by the Parish of Witney, nor does it constitute a recommendation.
The Parish of Witney does not accept liability for any loss, injury or damage arising out of goods or
services sold through any advertisement in this newsletter. Any discount offered to readers by any adver-
tisement is done so entirely at the discretion of the advertiser. Businesses wishing to advertise in this mag-
azine should contact Ruth Sheppard, WitneyWay@gmail.com, 866127. The acceptance of an advert for
inclusion is at the discretion of the editorial team.
46
event held at The Henry Box School. A good time was had by all.
You may have seen in the paper that the children of St Marys
Infant School won the Witney Schools Challenge for our
gardening projects. The school was thrilled with this success and
ambassadors from the school went to Langdale
Hall to receive the awards.
The Harvest Festival service was held in the
school just before half term and after the break
the school will be preparing for Christmas and the
Nativity. There will be numerous performances
so all the parents can see their children involved
in the Nativity play and the end of term assembly
will be held in St Marys Church on 16 December.
Also planned is a carol concert in the church for
the parents of all the children at St Marys on the
evening of 14 December.
A Foundation Governor of
St Marys Infant School
Receiving the awards for
winning the Witney
Schools Challenge.
Visiting Witney Feast.
Alice Shadbolt, Year 2.
Ella Rose OConnell,
Year 2.
A few weeks ago, we invited the children at St Marys Infant School
to paint a Christmas picture to adorn the front of this issue of the
Witney Way. We were delighted to receive a whole sheaf of colour-
ful and imaginative images to
choose from. Toby and Elizabeth
pored over them one afternoon,
and their favourite, by Alysha-
Paris Godfrey, Year 1, is on the
cover. Second place goes to Alice
Shadbolt, Year 2, for her lovely
Christmas house with Angel and
Cat made out of snow. Also
from Year 2, Ella Rose
OConnells jolly and colourful
Christmas tree, complete with
some roast dinner as decoration,
was chosen as third.
Well done to Alysha-Paris,
and a big thank you to the
children of St Marys Infant
School for using their creative
skills to such great effect!
47
Christmas painting competition
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Schola Cantorum at Choral Evensong, October 2011
ibrant and dynamic independent day school for Vibrant and dynamic independent day school for ibrant and dynamic independent day school for
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providing a rich, varied and broad education.
attention to the overall development of our pupils and
nurturing family inspired by our environment, paying AA nurturing family inspired by our environment, paying
660 girls and boys aged 4 to 18 near Witney
ibrant and dynamic independent day school for V
.cokethorpe.org.uk
providing a rich, varied and broad education.
attention to the overall development of our pupils and
nurturing family inspired by our environment, paying
. 660 girls and boys aged 4 to 18 near Witney
ibrant and dynamic independent day school for
attention to the overall development of our pupils and
nurturing family inspired by our environment, paying
ibrant and dynamic independent day school for