1. food and drink
2. desserts and baking

The Stanegate Magazine
117, April 2015
The
Stanegate
Newbrough, Fourstones and Warden
Inside this issue
Letters .................................................... 2
Return of the Scarecrows .............. 3
Newbrough WI ................................... 4
Recipes .................................................. 5
Stanegate Readers ........................... 7
Nature Notes ....................................... 7
February Weatherwatch ................. 8
April skies ............................................. 9
News from Newbrough Primary
School .................................................... 10
Editorial
Easter traditions ................................ 11
John Clark, who oversees the printing and collating of The Stanegate
at Haltwhistle Methodist Church Hall (a cottage industry indeed) is full
of apologies for the delay in the publication of issue 116. Some
essential part of the equipment failed and needed to be replaced. We
are very grateful to our distributors who waited so patiently for their
‘bundles’ to materialise and to all our readers waiting, of course, for
the review of the pantomime. We are especially grateful to Chris
Wilson, resident of this parish, who in a very short time used his own
presses to produce the March number. Where would we be without
volunteers and their gifts and skills?
Newbrough Parish Council ........... 12
Warden Parish Council ................... 13
A thank you from Jeremy .............. 14
Church Pages ...................................... 15
For legions of willing volunteers visit Amritsar in India. Visit the Golden
Temple there or one of the gudwaras in Delhi (or in London for that
matter). These are large complexes hosting thousands of visitors and
pilgrims every day. Alongside the temples are vast kitchens producing
great vats of curry to feed all callers. At the heart of Sikhism is the
principle of unlimited hospitality. No Sikh need go hungry. And all the
work is done by volunteers. No Sikh need go poor. What a contrast to
our western values centred so much on greed and profit. A contrast
too to those parts of India falling ever more for our ways.
What kind of a country do we want? Is there any chance that former
values might find a home again here? Do we want to be governed by
greed and for profit for ever? Can we make a difference? There is not
much to distinguish between the values of our political parties at
present. Nonetheless as citizens we should take our vote seriously and
at least do something. Otherwise we have no reason to grumble at
what happens, e.g. bad government by default. Polling Day is 7 May;
the Town Hall, our polling station, will be open from 7.00am–10.00pm.
It will soon be Easter. The first lambs and daffs indicate that despite
the current dull spell spring is close. It would be good to have a fresh
sense of spring in our political lives as well. Dear old Blighty could be
changed by us for the better, for us and for the world.
Janice Baylis, Pat Johnston, Stephen Pedley & Lucinda Reed
Send material to Lucinda at: [email protected]
The deadline for the May issue is Friday 17 April
Produced and published by The Stanegate Editorial Committee
Calendar of Events
Letterstotheeditors
Dear Editorial Team
I am absolutely fascinated by the
current obsession with raking up
the past and seeking someone to
blame for both disasters and
miscarriages of justice. I daresay in
some cases there may be monetary
motives. The police regularly seem
to be targets for doing something
wrong, or standing still and doing
nothing, years ago. The Greeks are
proposing to seek damages of
zillions from the Germans for war
damages.
Now why does this fashion for
retrospective justice and
To whom it may concern
Would the person or persons
who allow their dogs to poo on
the small patch of grass and the
public footpath opposite the
green chapel in Fourstones,
please stop this filthy practice. It
is a serious health hazard.
compensation interest me? It just
happens that one of my ancestors
was Togrid the Saxon, a peaceloving peasant. Along came Billy
Bully the Conqueror who, not only
marched over my ancestor’s
cabbage patch but kidnapped his
sow and piglets and gave them to
one of his French mates.
Perhaps one of your lawyer-minded
readers could advise me as to
whether it would be better to sue
the present French government or
Normandy District Council.
Yours, as ever
Adam Neavitt
I noticed recently that some
person had inadvertently pushed
a pram through this mess which
no doubt, would then be carried
into their home. If you are too
idle to pick up your dogs mess
then get rid of your dog.
Mick Dowling, Fourstones
Please write to us ...
April
3 Good Friday
5 Easter Sunday
12 Newbrough WI 7pm
13 Newbrough Primary School
start of summer term
24 Coffee Morning at
Fourstones Methodist
Chapel 10am-12noon
26 Messy Church, Newbrough
School Hall 2.30–4.30pm
May
6 Newbrough Parish Council
meeting 7pm
7 General Election voting at
Newbrough Town Hall
7am–10pm
9 Fourstones Methodist
Chapel evening of music,
song and puppetry 7pm
11 Warden Parish Council
meeting 7pm
15 Miss Caledonia, Newbrough
Town Hall 7.30pm
24 Messy Church, Newbrough
School Hall 2.30–4.30pm
30 Table Top Sale at
Fourstones Methodist
Chapel 10am-1pm
The Editorial Committee at The Stanegate welcomes your letters.
Please write to us with news and views from the community. This is a
community newsletter and we would like to hear from you.
Advertising
Please send letters to:
The Stanegate
8 Broadacres, Fourstones NE47 5LW
Commercial advertising
rates/year (11 issues).
or email Lucinda at:
[email protected]
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advertising rates available
on application. Please call
01434 674095.
Private and community
advertising is free.
2
Methodist Chapel coffee
morning
Return of the scarecrows
Our next Coffee Morning will
be on Friday 24 April from
10am–12noon.
The scarecrows will be visiting the valley
again. They are coming for the Whitsun
Bank Holiday half term week (22 May –
1 June). Get your thinking caps on and
give us some more wonderful, clever and
creative scarecrows like we saw last year.
Cakes and craft cards will be
on sale, there will also be a
bring-and-buy and Traidcraft
stall.
Entry forms will be available, after Easter,
from the Boatside Inn at Warden, The
Railway Inn, Fourstones, Fourstones
Service station, The Red Lion at
Newbrough and can also be downloaded
from the village website:
www.fourstonesandnewbrough.co.uk.
Many thanks to all those who
supported the Big Brew, it
was quite a turn out on such
a cold and blustery day.
Messy Church
The scarecrows need to be assembled on
the Whit Bank Holiday weekend and left
up for the school holiday week. They will
be judged over the bank holiday weekend
and then prizes will be awarded. There will
be prizes for: the best Children's entry,
(children 12 and under), the funniest scarecrow, the
scariest scarecrow, for a scenario e.g. men at work,
dance, party etc., and finally a prize for the overall
best scarecrow. As previously an online map of the
scarecrow locations and descriptions will be
created.
Messy Church will be on
26 April from 2.30–4.30pm in
Newbrough School Hall.
There will be activities, a
Bible story, songs and
prayers. Afterwards there will
be something to eat for the
children.
Parents/carers are very
welcome to join in.
Please can all entries be in by Saturday 16 May.
Entry forms should be dropped off at The Boatside
Inn, The Railway Inn or sent by email to
[email protected]
Old sayings for April
April and May, key to the
whole year.
A cold April brings both
bread and wine (i.e. good
harvests)
If it thunders on All Fools’
Day,
It brings good crops of corn
and hay.
Bonus Ball Draws
Steam trains through Fourstones ...
6 April
16 May
17 June
10 October
Union of South Africa heading East
Union of South Africa heading West
Union of South Africa heading East
Union of South Africa heading East
16:30
10:00
15:10
15:10
The Bonus Ball Draws for the
Over 60s Christmas Party:
February:
21st 36 Michelle
28th 43 Kenny
March:
7th
th
14
31 Gillian
45 S Smith
3
Newbrough WI
Lynnwood Interiors
Made-to-measure curtains,
blinds, cushions and
headboards.
For a free consultation call
Sam Burnish on 01434 344 968
or email [email protected]
www.lynnwoodinteriors.co.uk
Lynnwood Interiors
Bardon Mill, Hexham
Neil Denham
Wedding Photography
Natural relaxed
wedding photography
www.denhamweddings.co.uk
01434 22 11 79
Blossie Pearce
COUNSELLING
Affordable,
Effective Therapy
for Adults & Young People
Tel/Text: 07584 940 415
www.blossiepearcecounselling.co.uk
Emily Blossie Pearce
February
The February meeting was held on 19 February due to the pantomime
which the members of the WI all enjoyed. The meeting was opened by the
rendering sounds of Jerusalem. Apologies were given and after the
business and financial matters were discussed we embarked on the life of a
sausage. Claire from Northumbria Sausages based in Wark talked about
how they use prime pork and other choice ingredients for their sausages
which come in a large variety of flavours, including mushy pea and
vegetarian. She explained how they have grown from making a few kilos of
sausages a week as a by-line for her family's butcher shop to now doing 3½
tons for outlets ranging from our humble garage to Fenwicks in Newcastle.
She explained the difference between the legal requirement of meat
content in a sausage to Northumbria Sausages’ much higher content. We
were then given a long string of sausage which, with the help of Claire and
her husband, we proceeded to make into links fit for the butchers
window ... amid much laughter. Unfortunately none of the WI members
were offered a job but we were allowed to take our efforts home which
were enjoyed for tea the next day.
The hostesses for the evening were Sandra Hodgson and Julia Waugh. The
raffle was donated by Mary Robinson and won by Julia Waugh. The
competition was two sausage rolls; won by Dorothy Sowerby and second
was Ella Sowerby. A lovely supper was enjoyed by all members.
March
The March meeting opened with Jerusalem which we sang with our winter
voices. After the business and financial matters, apologies were given, also
apologies were given to the members for not being asked to help with the
tea for pantomime performers, but due to the short notice The Committee
decided to roll their sleeves up and do it themselves.
We were then put in the capable hands of Rob Tindall who, with the aid of
slides, took us through the interesting journey of his younger life. He started
outside of Haydon Bridge, then to Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Cambridge
University, Portugal and various other countries and ended up in
Fourstones. We all enjoyed his talk and look forward to a return visit.
Hostesses were Dorothy and Ella Sowerby, the raffle was donated by Laura
Watson and won by Margaret Bogie. The competition was an egg cup; won
by Julia Waugh and second was Doreen Dodd. Once again a lovely supper
was enjoyed by all members.
PgDip, MBACP Accred
Restaurant & Bar
Good food, wines, real ales
and Take-away service
Meals: 12.00–9.00pm (Sun 8.00pm)
Bar Open: 11.00am to 11.00pm
(Sunday: 12noon to 10.30pm)
Warden, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 4SQ
01434 602233
4
[email protected]
www.theboatsideinn.com
Recipes from an Orchard Kitchen
Iain Bennett
There are several types of raising agents or leavens. Fresh yeast or
sourdough cultures are usually used for breads and laminated dough
(croissants etc). But there are also pure chemical raising agents. These
consist of bicarbonate of soda and baking powder. Bicarbonate of soda is
basically pure sodium hydrogen carbonate and, when moistened, starts to
release carbon dioxide which is what raises the mixture. Bicarbonate of
soda is about four times as strong as baking powder but can give a bitter
taste to the finished product. For this reason it is usually used in stronger
tasting cakes such as gingerbread or has the taste balanced by adding an
acid such as buttermilk in scones or vinegar in fish batter. Cooks tip: if you
don’t have buttermilk to hand you can make it by adding 1tsp lemon juice
or vinegar to 250ml/just under ½pt milk.
Baking powder, because of its milder flavour, tends to be the main raising
agent for biscuits and cakes. It consists of bicarbonate of soda mixed with
an acid such as cream of tartar, cornflour or rice flour to absorb moisture.
Most modern baking powders are dual action; they release a little gas when
moistened but produce the most rise when heated. This means that you
have time to produce a larger batch of something such as scones and can
allow them to rest before baking. Commercially baked scones are rested for
10–15 minutes before baking. Baking powder is the ingredient that makes
self-raising flour self-rise. If you need to make self-raising flour you can add
4tsps baking powder to 225g/½lb plain flour.
The following scone recipes both use plain flour and baking powder.
Cheese scones
Ingredients
400g/14oz plain white flour
28g/1oz baking powder
28g/1oz milk powder
200g/7oz butter
4g/1tsp salt
80g/3oz vintage cheddar, grated
232ml/8fl oz water
1 egg, beaten
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/
Gas Mark 6 and line a baking sheet.
baking sheet; continue until all the
dough is used. When there isn’t
room to cut another scone, gently
gather it together and flatten it out
again. Brush the tops with beaten
egg and rest for 15 minutes. Just
before baking place a little grated
cheese on top of each scone. Bake in
the oven for 15 minutes or until
golden brown and firm to the touch.
Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
Cheese cobblers
This recipe can also be used to
produce cheese cobblers instead of
dumplings for a stew. Make about
half the amount above and for a beef
stew add about half blue cheese to
cheddar. For a vegetable stew chop
some chives, spring onions or herbs
into the dough.
Mix all the dry ingredients together
and then rub the butter and cheese
into the mixture. Add the water and
cut it into the flour mix with a blunt
knife or a palette knife. Only work
the mixture until it comes together
as a dough. Lightly flour a worktop
and place the dough on it. With your
hands evenly flatten the dough out
Divide the dough into balls about the
until it is about 4cm/1½” thick.
size of a squash or golf ball and drop
it into the stew when almost cooked
Dip a fluted cutter in flour and cut
and bubbling well. Return to the
out scone rounds; don’t twist the
oven uncovered and bake for about
cutter as this stretches the dough.
15 minutes or until the scones are
Place each cut round on the lined
nicely golden brown.
Methodist Chapel Table
Top Sale
The chapel is hoping to have
a Table Top Sale on Saturday
30 May, 10am–1pm. The
charge for a large table will
be £8.
This is a great opportunity to
clear out the shed,
garage and the back of
cupboards to find unwanted
and unused things that
‘seemed a good idea at the
time’. Refreshments will be
available.
If we don't have much
interest, the sale won’t go
ahead. Thank you in advance!
Contact Margaret on 674207
to book your table.
Stanegate Festival
This year’s Stanegate festival
will be held on 27 June from
12 noon to 8pm in the field
opposite the Red Lion – more
information to follow!
Anyone interested in having
a stall please phone The Red
Lion on 01434 674226
Back in 1878 ...
27/04/1878 The new Town
Hall at Newbrough was
opened on Thursday 25 April
1878 by Mr W Benson,
Allendale Hall. The land and
building being the gift of Miss
Todd of Newbrough Park.
200+ Club Draw
The winning numbers for the
March draw are:
First
141 P Wilson
Second 197 B Cheasney
Third
8 Janet Hodgeson
5
Cranberry and White Chocolate Scones
PATRICIA J ARNOLD & CO LTD
Chartered Accountants
For a personal service to
individuals, families,
trusts and the smaller business
We will make your business our business
West Orchard House
Allendale Road, Hexham NE46 2DE
Tel: 01434 606624 Email: [email protected]
www.pjarnold.co.uk
Ingredients
400g/14oz plain white flour
28g/1oz baking powder
28g/1oz milk powder
200g/7oz butter
200g/7oz caster sugar
100g/4oz dried cranberries
100g/4oz white chocolate chips
224ml/8fl oz water
1 egg, beaten
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/
Gas Mark 6 and line a baking sheet.
Mix all the dry ingredients together,
except the fruit, and then rub the
butter into the mixture. Add the
water, fruit and chocolate chips and
cut them into the flour mix with a
blunt knife or a palette knife. Only
work the mixture until it comes
together as a dough. Lightly flour a
worktop and place the dough on it.
With your hands, evenly flatten the
dough out until it is about 4cm/1½”.
thick.
Dip a fluted cutter in flour and cut
out scone rounds (again don’t twist
the cutter). Place each cut round on
the lined baking sheet and continue
until all the dough is used up. Brush
the tops with beaten egg and leave
to rest for 15 minutes.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or
until golden brown and firm to the
touch.
Turn out on a wire rack to cool.
If there are any recipes that you would like to share or if you would like a suggestion
for a recipe please contact me via email at: [email protected]
J & J CUNNINGHAM
Approved Coal Merchants
3 Causey Brae,
Hexham NE46 2BG
Depot:
2 Colliery Yard,
Acomb NE46 4AU
Telephone:
01434 603056 or
01434 603154
6
Stanegate Readers
Newbrough Town Hall
Hazel Page
Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
This month, we read Northanger Abbey – not by the
original author, Jane Austen, but a reworked version
by Val McDermid, more usually associated with
crime novels. This was part of the Austen Project,
where contemporary authors have updated and
rewritten Jane Austen's six works. Val McDermid has
stuck closely to the original story but has made
some changes to the characters and the plot to
make it fit better in a modern world.
Cat Moreland, the leading character, is just a
teenager with teenage issues and interests and the new setting of the
Edinburgh Festival in the 21st century, instead of the Bath Assembly Rooms
in the 19th century, is an excellent backdrop to fuel her Vampire-fuelled
Gothic romantic fantasies. Cat reads Twilight, instead of letters brought in
by maids, texts and posts on Facebook etc.
As usual our group had differing views on the book! Some thoroughly
enjoyed the light hearted, easy reading and romped through it, whilst
others felt that the story was aimed more for the teenage reader and found
it a bit tedious. We probably needed to read the original version again (as
one member did – gold star for Norah) to compare the two books more
knowledgeably!
Hiring the Hall and Bar
(i) A booking form must be
completed by anyone wishing to
hire the hall
(ii) Anyone wishing to use the
bar facility for any event must
do so through the Town Hall
Committee
Please contact the Caretaker
[email protected]
or telephone 674315) if you
would like to know more or to
book the Town Hall for any
future event, and if you would
like to know more about any of
the current activities in the
Town Hall, please speak to any
member of the Committee.
Newbrough Town Hall
Committee members
Chairmen
Dennis Bowman
674208
George B Shaw
674071
Secretary
Laura Blenkinsop 07799 891984
Treasurer
Dorothy Bowman
Nature Notes
In the absence of any pulses of warmth
to stimulate growth the countryside at
large in mid-March looked very much
the same as it had done in midFebruary. The hawthorn hedgerows
that define many local field boundaries
and which had begun to carry pale
green leaves from the beginning of
March last year remained bare.
Ella White
Sheila Bell
Dawn Walker
Chris Tong
Michelle Scott
Ken Page
Resident Caretaker
Ken Craig
674315
Accountant
Pat Johnston
674095
Wild garlic – just emerging
But before this there were some encouraging signs of an advancing
spring. After a month of being in what seemed to be a state of floral
suspended animation the first small clump of St Peter's daffodils finally
began to flower on 17 February. By then the first fresh green leaves of wild
garlic that will carpet Crow Wood in April had already thrust inches up
through leaf litter. There were more signs of an emerging spring in early
March with the leaves of ground ivy, dock, nettle, cow parsley and lesser
celandine all to be seen in various mixes in roadside verges.
By the 12th white cherry plum decked
the hedge at South View at the same
time that snowdrops were still in
flower. This year the weather, like
Goldilocks’ ideal porridge, was neither
too hot nor too cold for them, but just
right. As a result their season extended
much longer than usual and they were
still flowering nine weeks after first
recorded in flower by Nature Notes.
674208
Committee
Advertise
your
business here!
Promote your business to
the local community
Excellent one-off or annual
advertising rates
For further
information contact:
[email protected]
Dense cherry plum blossom
7
Rainbow Tiny Tots
From Birth to 4 years old
Wednesday 9.15am – 11.15am
Newbrough Town Hall
£3 per family or £2.50 per child
(includes tea/coffee/juice &
healthy snack)
A range of Activities for all
Contact:
Laura Blenkinsop 07799 891948
or
Rebecca Sutton 01434 674504
[email protected]
HEXHAM CHIMNEY
SWEEPS
PROFESSIONAL AND QUALIFIED
SWEEPS
Certification issued for
insurance purposes
Nest removal – CCTV inspection
Power sweeping
Stoves, AGAS, Rayburns,
Liners and Open fires swept
Contact Richard:
07858 392934 or
[email protected]
hexham-sweeps.webs.com
Aydon Road,
Corbridge
Brushes
Painter and
Decorator
Domestic & Commercial
4 Leadgate, Allendale,
Hexham NE47 9PR
Telephone: 01434 683384
Mobile: 07957243996
8
February Weatherwatch
Cold northerly winds at the tail end of January blew into early February to
bring a continuation of frosty weather and further snow. Light snow fell
overnight into the 1st although the little that settled in the valleys soon
melted away in bright morning sunshine. But together with the snow that
had accumulated over the last days of January it remained on surrounding
hills and was added to by heavier snow that fell late on the 3rd. With the 6th
being the only day from the 2nd–8th without an air frost thawing was a slow
process and snow was still lying in places on high ground on the 12th. It also
lingered here and there along shady hedge-backs on lower slopes,
including a streak on the north-facing bank at Frankham Fell.
The -3.5°C (25.7°F) minimum recorded at Park Shield overnight into the 2 nd
was followed by the lowest February daily maximum of 2.1°C (35.8°F) in the
afternoon, while the hardest of the frosts was the -5.3°C (22.5°F) recorded
an hour before sunrise on the 3rd. This was the February minimum and also
the lowest temperature of the three winter months. After a white frost on
grass and a daily minimum -2.7°C (27.1°F) on the 8th the cold spell ended as
winds turned to the west on the 9th to sweep milder air in. February's
weather was at its mildest from the 14th–19th with the mid-afternoon of the
18th providing the month's maximum of 10.6°C (51.1°F) before the warmest
February daily minimum of 7.2°C (45.0°F) recorded overnight into the 19th.
Until then rain had barely featured in the February weather picture as the
prevailing westerlies and the previous northerlies carried almost no rainbearing clouds. By the 15th a slim 4.7mm (c0.2") had been recorded at Park
Shield and although there was some extended rain in the early morning the
16th the running total for the month stood at only 12.6mm (c0.5") by midday
on the 22nd. But in a rapid change in the weather high winds began to blow
in mid-evening and blew on through the night and over the next two days.
These drove in some lashing rains and occasional wintry showers, including
fine snow on the 23rd and flurries of heavier snowflakes on the 24th.
After a dry 25th rain fell overnight into the morning of the 26 th, by which
time the Park Shield rain gauge was registering 43.0mm (c1.7") for the
month to date. Much heavier rain had clearly fallen to the west, however,
as a brown South Tyne was swollen to the extent that the river backed up
Newbrough Burn to swamp the section of public footpath under the railway
bridge at Allerwash Mill, blocking access to and from the riverside walk.
Brief showers of snow pellets, or soft hail, on the 26th and light rain fell
towards the end of the 28th to bring a Park Shield total precipitation for
February of 41.5mm (c1.6") making it the driest February only since 2013.
With further regard to February temperatures, despite the frosty start to the
month and some strong winds in the second half that made it feel much
colder than it actually was, the mean monthly temperature for February
was a little above average. Temperatures over the winter overall were also
higher than average. It may not have been as mild as the previous winter
but it was much less wet and a great deal sunnier, and by Northumbrian
standards canny enough.
February Weatherwatch Factfile.
Temperature. Park Shield mean monthly max: c6.3°C (43.3°F). Mean monthly min
c1.2°C (34.2°F): Monthly mean: c3.7°C (38.7°F). E&NE England mean monthly max:
6.6°C. Mean monthly min: 0.5°C. Monthly mean: 3.5°C and 0.1°C below the 1981–2010
average. UK max: 15.6°C (60.1°F) at Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire) on 18 th. UK min:
-10.9°C (12.4°F) at Bewcastle (Cumbria) on 3rd.
Rainfall & Sunshine. Park Shield average February rainfall: c65mm. 24hr max: 11.0mm
(c0.4") to 07:30 on 25th. E&NE England rainfall & sunshine: 70% and 129% of the 1981–
2010 average respectively. Note: E&NE England was the UK’s driest & sunniest region.
Winds. Generally light to moderate in the first half of the month with prevailing high
pressure, but appreciably stronger in a much more unsettled latter half dominated by
low pressure weather systems. Park Shield maximum gust: 64.3mph at 22.55 on 23 rd.
April skies
Malcolm Rowe
We have passed the Vernal Equinox and are now into both Astronomical
Spring and BST with our opportunities for early evening star viewing
considerably curtailed. The spring constellations are coming into
prominence and we can welcome back some familiar acquaintances. By the
end of the first week in April the Sun will be setting around 8pm and if we
wait an hour or so the sky should be dark enough to pick out the brighter
stars, though the waning Moon will be lurking in the E ready to wash out
the fainter objects. High in the S is the unmistakable (mag -2.3) JUPITER –
still well placed for telescopic observation. He is situated in CANCER (the
Crab), to the E of the crab's ‘shell’ – the small, faint ‘Beehive’ star cluster (a
couple of finger-widths across). Lower and to his right is the bright but
fainter star Procyon (mag 0.4) – situated in CANIS MINOR, well below the
rectangular GEMINI.
ORION and TAURUS are already getting low in the WSW, with the dazzling
(mag -4.0) VENUS hovering in the W at similar altitude. High above Venus
is the stellar curve of AURIGA leading round to Capella (mag 0.8), the sixth
brightest of the stars. In the NNW is PERSEUS with his starry string lying
almost parallel to the skyline and pointing the way to the steeply tilted 'W’
of CASSIOPEIA. Between them is a faint double cluster of stars (Chi- -and h
- Persei). Meanwhile, CYGNUS and LYRA are busy disappearing over the N
horizon with their bright stars Deneb and Vega locating all that remains of
the Summer Triangle.
POLTROSS
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all kinds of pets
Dogs & Cats
Horses
Poultry
Small animals
Free Delivery
Unit 8b West End Industrial Estate
Haltwhistle NE49 9HA
Tel/fax 01434 321111
www.feedthebirds.co.uk
Ridley's Fish & Game –
Not your average kettle of fish
HERCULES, CORONA BOREALIS and the ‘kite’-shaped BOOTES
(containing Arcturus) are in the NE, well below the downward-pointing
handle of the Plough (aka URSA MAJOR). Arcturus (mag -0.04) is the
brightest star in the Northern stellar hemisphere and is a reddish giant
situated 34 light years away. Try a binocular scan round the ‘keystone’ of
Hercules and see if you can locate M13 – a Globular Cluster of ancient,
tightly-packed stars which is out on the fringes of our galaxy.
The star magnitude system was developed by Hipparchus (a Greek
astronomer and mathematician) around 2,100 years ago. He arranged the
stars in his catalogue into six classes, the brightest being of first magnitude,
the faintest being of sixth magnitude (naturally, there were many more of
these). Each magnitude step corresponds to a brightness difference of
about 2.5, as the mean brightness of mag 1 stars is about 100 times that of
those in group 6. Later, astronomers decimalised the system and extended
it into the range of negative numbers, so that planets etc. could be included
(see Jupiter and Venus – above). (Phew ....!!).
PLANETS:
JUPITER ceases its retrograde motion during April and begins to head back
towards Leo. MERCURY overtakes the Sun on 10 April. Look for it late in the
month, low in the WNW to the right of VENUS. MERCURY and MARS will
be close together on 22 April. SATURN rises in the SE in the late evening.
Venus is close to the Pleiades on 11 and 12 April – could be a nice view
through binoculars in late evening twilight.
METEORS:
The swift, bright LYRIDS are due from 19–25 April – several per hour at
peak.
Full Moon: 4 April
Specialist suppliers of top-quality
fresh fish, smoked fish, seafoods,
poultry, homemade fayre
and wild local game
Find us in Hexham Market Square
every Tuesday, Friday & Saturday
Or drop in at Acomb
Monday–Saturday
www.ridleysfishandgame.co.uk
Unit 15 Acomb Industrial Estate, Acomb,
Near Hexham NE46 4SA
01434 609 246
[email protected]
IAIN KENDREW
JOINERY
Specialising in all
internal and external
joinery, general building
and maintenance
Fully time-served
Over 20 years experience
Contact:
New Moon: 18 April
07825 304033
Happy sky gazing!
01434 674729
9
Rod Henderson
Painter & Decorator
All aspects covered i.e.
Paperhanging, colour wash,
rag rolling, interiors and
exterior
Quality tradesman est 1985
Prompt and hassle free
quotes
Tel 01434 674682
55 sidgate newbrough
Hexham ne47 5ae
Haydon Bridge
Pharmacy
Free Prescription Collection
and Delivery
Your prescription will be
collected from your surgery
and delivered to your home
 Saving you time
 Hassle free
 Prompt, reliable service
 Completely free of charge
Haydon Bridge Pharmacy
5 Church Street, Haydon Bridge
01434 684354
10
News from Newbrough Primary School
Ofsted Inspection
Parents should have received a copy
of the Ofsted report. It confirms the
school’s self-evaluation that
Newbrough Church of England
Primary is a good school with some
outstanding teaching. The staff and
governors will work together to
address the areas for improvement,
which we had already identified as
priorities.
but double parking on the road. This
is irresponsible and potentially
dangerous. Ms Dixon has asked the
school to put Polite Notices on cars
parked incorrectly. Thank you in
advance for your co-operation in this
important issue.
Salmon in the classroom
We have received 100 salmon eggs
which will be incubated in Class 3 for
four weeks; children will return the
Safer Internet Day
young salmon to the Newbrough
This was a very successful day, where Burn after Easter as part of their
children and staff from Newbrough
topic about Raging Rivers.
and Humshaugh worked and played
together. There were five different
Gardening Club
workshops throughout the day.
This started again with two dates in
Thanks to all the staff for organising
March for children in Class 3. For the
these workshops, especially Mrs
first two sessions, children planted
Blythe and Mrs Long who had a very snowdrops in the Millennium garden
busy start to their week! Thanks also and potatoes in pots. The club, which
to Mrs Jones for her parents’
runs from 3.30–4.15pm, will continue
workshop and to Mrs Briddock for
on Thursdays after the Easter
running the crèche.
holidays. Children need to bring
wellies and warm outdoor clothing.
Road Safety
The school had a call from Zoe Dixon,
Police Constable in Hexham
regarding the parking situation. It has Dates for your diary
been reported that some parents are Monday 13 April: Children return for
not using the Cricket Pitch car park
start of Summer Term.
At 7.30pm one Thursday evening recently, an intruder was spotted in a garden
in Broadacres. When challenged he made the excuse that he was looking for his
puppy, although he didn’t appear to be carrying a torch or any puppy/dog stuff
such as lead and treats. He walked slowly and calmly away from the property
and onto the Stanegate.
The police were informed and have taken a description and asked that we
remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as a matter of urgency.
Fourstones with Warden Methodist Church Saturday 9 May 7.00pm
A special evening of music, song and puppetry.
Introducing ‘The Bell Family’ from Haydon Bridge.
Chaired by Mark Knowles and followed by a Finger Buffet
Easter traditions
Sheila Smith
DODDS of HEXHAM
Eggs, chickens, rabbits, lambs,
flowers and bonnets ... In the popular
mind, Easter is a spring festival, a
season of renewal and new life in the
world of nature.
In many European languages its
name derives from the Hebrew
Pesach or Passover but origin of the
English word Easter is uncertain.
Bede believed that it was ‘borrowed’
from a pagan spring festival called
Ostara, a festival at the spring
equinox in honour of Eostre the
goddess of dawn. She was believed
always to carry a basket of eggs, and
be accompanied by a hare or rabbit.
So in Germany we get the Oster Hase
(Easter Hare) who hides chocolate
eggs in gardens for children to find
on Easter mornings. The giving of
eggs was also a custom from the
Ostara festival. It was adopted into
the Christian Easter custom of
bringing eggs (food which had been
forbidden during Lent) into church to
be blessed. Eggs were the pagan
symbol of new life returning to the
world after the long dead days of
winter. For Christians, the egg can be
said to resemble the tomb of Jesus –
when it breaks it is like the bursting
of the tomb at the resurrection and
new life breaks forth.
In Poland a tiny hole is made at each
of the egg and the contents are
blown out of the shell which is then
decorated using a pattern made with
wax, and then dipping the shell into
bright dye. On Maundy Thursday the
Greek custom is to dye or paint hardboiled eggs bright red, to signify the
blood of Christ – the eggs are then
distributed on Easter Sunday. How
Complete Funeral
and Cremation Service
PRIVATE CHAPEL OF REST
A. J. DODD
Mitford House
41 Hencotes, Hexham
Northumberland NE46 2EW
Tel: 01434 603362
many of you have ‘booled’ eggs,
rolling your hard-boiled dyed or
decorated Pace eggs down a hill to
see which egg can go the farthest
before it breaks? Or have you ever
‘japed’ or ‘jarped’ your hard-boiled
egg, holding it in your fist and
knocking it, end on against your
opponent’s egg – to see which has
the stronger shell?
The Mobile Post Office
now parks at
Fourstones Filling Station
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday 2.35–3.50pm
Lambs are associated with Easter too
– Jews traditionally sacrificed a lamb
during the course of Passover. For
Christians, Jesus became the
necessary ‘Lamb of God’ dying on
the cross to provided freedom from
death through his resurrection.
During the Middle Ages roast lamb
became the traditional main course
of the Pope’s Easter dinner.
Easter bonnets (or new clothes for
Easter) may stem from the fact that
during Lent weddings could not take
place, so the period following Easter
became a traditional time for
marrying – hence the new clothes, or
at least a new bonnet!
CORBRIDGE
COOKSHOP
Speciality Cookware
Garden Centre
DIY & Hardware
15 Middle Street, Corbridge
NE45 5AT
01434 632582
01434 633954
[email protected]
COMPUTER/BROADBAND PROBLEMS?
Help is on the Doorstep!
Broadband/Wireless/Internet
TV/Email/Virus/Software/Data Transfer
No Fix — No Fee
JOHN TAYLOR
LOW WARDEN
Tel 01434 609777 or 07587 210300
email: [email protected]
11
LOGS 4 WOODBURNERS
Well seasoned
Barn dried logs
Available all year round
01434 230050
or
07791 468347
For more information go to:
www.warkforestlandscapes.co.uk
Newbrough Parish Council
Report from Meeting held 4 March 2015
Pavingstone Work
Phase I of the Whitebeam project
has been completed and Phase II
which will address work required
because of the trees’ expanding
roots, is scheduled for March. When
repairs to the wall surround are
carried out it is proposed to add the
Stanegate Festival Queen’s Jubilee
commemorative stone.
Tree Stump
The old stump of the diseased
sycamore opposite St Peter’s is to
be removed and a new tree planted.
The Council thought a Copper
Beech would be appropriate.
Road Safety
The Highway’s Inspector has visited
Newbrough and has identified areas
where there are dark stretches and
street lights are more than 183m
apart. One area identified is the
stretch between the west junction
of Sidgate and the Stanegate,
running to the Lodge.
Planning Application
14/04156/52/FUL Change of use
from B1 ‘Business’ to Sui Generis
‘overnight tourist accommodation’
along with the internal alterations
and construction of an external
store to suit the new use. WI House,
Newbrough. Application granted.
Frankham Fell
Boarding Kennels
Located in the beautiful
Hexhamshire countryside,
Frankham Fell is the ideal
place to board your
dog, cat, ferret or rabbit!
Frankham Fell Farm
Fourstones
Hexham NE47 5DZ
Tel: 01434 674243
www.frankhamfellkennels.co.uk
12
Northumberland Council Local Plan
Core Strategy
Local Plan – Small Settlements and
the Green Belt
NCC is also undertaking a
comprehensive review of the Green
Belt boundaries around settlements
as part of the Core Strategy. The
Chairman attended a meeting on
12 February along with members of
Warden and Wall Parish Councils.
Councillors expressed a concern
that any future development should
not be restricted to just affordable
housing and that the Green Belt
seems too limiting.
The Council believes that the
community (pub, church and local
school) would all benefit from some
form of housing development in the
community. In principle the Council
would favour development to the
south west adjacent to Sidgate and
Lowfield, and also the north west of
Sidgate Lane opposite Sidgate. The
Council wouldn’t want development
on sites opposite Newbrough
School or in the Conservation Zone.
Deloittes Report
The external reviews by Deloitte
and Planning Officers Society
Enterprises (POS Enterprises) were
commissioned in 2014 to build on
NCC internal review work. They
were tasked with looking at
performance across the board,
including the planning committee
system and decision making.
Steven Mason, Executive Director of
Northumberland County Council,
wrote an article (1 March, The
Journal) ‘Why Northumberland's
Planning Regime Has To Change’.
The content is both contradictory
and condescending and flies in the
face of democracy. If these
recommendations are adopted they
will be against the spirit of Localism
and any third party involvement in
the planning process. The Council
objects strongly to the
recommendations of Deloitte which
would both get rid of Area Planning
Committees and also give parish
councils less say in planning
matters.
Sidgate Play Area
Development of the Playdale led
scheme on the Isos play area in
Sidgate has started. The old football
goals have been removed – clerk to
contact Isos to ensure they are
replaced. Financial assistance is
available from Stanegate Festival
funding, parish council funding and
106 Planning Fund monies. Clerk to
liaise with Isos.
Next Meeting
The next Parish Council Meeting will
be held at 7pm on 6 May 2015 in
Newbrough Town Hall.
Warden Parish Council
Report from Meeting held 2 March 2015
Fibre Broadband
The Council has been informed by
iNorthumberland that fibre
broadband is now available in the
Warden parish. As this isn’t the case,
the Chairman will contact
iNorthumberland.
Footpath Volunteers
As part of an initiative by NNPA
Joint Local Access Forum, the
Council agreed to act as facilitator in
encouraging local residents who
regularly walk local footpaths to
provide feedback. Cllr Heminsley will
write an article for The Stanegate.
The Council’s Assets
With the addition of the Light and
Solar Panels at the Beacon and the
Pole for the Interactive Speed Sign
at Frankham, the Council’s assets
amount to £11,131.
Street Lights
NCC will deliver a £25m Street
Lighting Modernisation Project over
a period of three years, starting in
March 2015. The West of the County
which includes Warden is in year 3
of the project; some time in 2017. As
part of the procurement process,
NCC has negotiated a discounted
rate for new column installations of
£900, where an underground supply
is readily available. Several ‘dark’
spots have been identified but in
addition to this the Council is
concerned that some of the existing
street lights may be more than the
required (183m) distance apart. This
may affect the enforcement of any
speed limits.
Northumberland Local Plan – Small
Settlements and the Green Belt
Councillors expressed a wish that
any future development should not
be restricted to affordable housing
alone. The Council believes that the
community (shop, pub, churches
and local school) would benefit from
some form of housing development.
The Council has no great objection
to any of the NCC proposals in
principle but wouldn’t want them all
to be developed; the site north of
Broadway is very unsuitable.
J. P. WESTALL Ltd
PLUMBING & HEATING
WORKS CARRIED OUT
INCLUDING
BOILER SERVICING
Water House, Burn Lane,
Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3HN
Telephone: 01434 602740
Email: [email protected]
www.jpwestall.co.uk
Anaerobic Digestion Plant
Planning Application 14/02186/FUL
Anaerobic Digestion and combined
heat and power plant facility.
Application appealed. Cllr Heminsley
will co-ordinate a meeting to
prepare for the Hearing.
Northumberland Council Planning
Applications
14/04127/RENE Proposed
installation of 400 ground mounted
photovoltaic panels to generate
electricity for the Boatside Inn and
Bridge End Cottages – Granted
15/00017/LBC Listed building
consent for conversion of loft to
useable space Low Warden
Farmhouse NE46 4SN – Granted
Straw Poll
The Council resolved to oppose the
move of County Hall from Morpeth
to Ashington.
Next Meeting
Next meeting: 7pm, 11 May 2015 in
Newbrough Town Hall.
Saturday 27 June 2015
12 noon – 8pm
Fun for all the Family
Live music
Food and Craft stalls
Dog Show
Cumberland Wrestling
Motorbike Championship
Rides
The Calvert Trust
and much, much more!!!
FOURSTONES FILLING STATION
Incorporating Stanegate Country Store
Telephone : 01434 674978
Your traditional village store which offers a warm and friendly atmosphere.
A variety of provisions from fuel to food and more.
Tuesday: corn beef, ham and egg pies and delicious quiche Thursday: Mouth watering warm scones
Friday: enjoy curry and rice or chips
A good selection of homemade CAKES available. Orders welcome
Please support your traditional village store and facilities in order to
maintain the future of our community.
Opening Hours : Monday – Friday 7.30am to 7pm
Saturday 8am to 7pm
Sunday 8am to 6pm
13
HAYDON BRIDGE
PLAYGROUP & TINYTOTS
Tinytots - Birth to 5 years
Tuesday 9:15-11:00am
Haydon Bridge Fire Station.
Cost: £1.50 per family
Includes juice & snacks
Playgroup - 2 years onwards
Monday & Friday 9.15-11.15am
A qualified playgroup leader plus
assistants run the playgroup.
Cost: £6 per session.
For further information contact:
Nicola Grint: 07879 999 289
or call into one of the sessions
D.J. Forster Building
Services
Stonemason/
General Builder
New Build Extensions
Alterations Restoration
Garden Walls Patios
Roof Repairs
Building Maintenance
All work carried out to a high standard
Previous work can be viewed on request
Contact: 01434 674503 or
07879 637633
ANTHONY WRIGHT
PROFESSIONAL TILING &
PLASTERING CONTRACTOR
All Types of Tiles Fitted
to Walls & Floors
Ceramic, Limestone, Slate,
Travertine, Porcelain
Internal Re-Skims, External Rendering,
Bathrooms, Kitchens & Conservatories
References/Portfolio of
Previous Work Available
NVQ Levels 2 & 3 Qualified
All Work Guaranteed & Fully Insured
9 Kern Green, Stonehaugh,
Hexham, NE48 3DZ
Tel: 01434 230042 Mobile: 07803 038875
Email: [email protected]
14
A thank you from Jeremy ...
Dear Friends,
They say you should be careful what
you wish for. This time last year I had
so many things I needed or wanted
to do that I kept thinking to myself
that three months off would be good.
Well as we know I got my wish – but
not quite the way I hoped for! I’ve
been away from work for over three
months now and I’m no further
forward getting all those things done
that I so much wanted to do last year.
Some will eventually get done, others
will remain as just nice ideas which I
might get round to one day. These
last few months haven’t all been bad.
Yes there were times when I felt
pretty ill, and for my family especially
there were some very troubling
times. As I look back I’m aware that I
and my family have received some
really special blessings and that our
churches have done pretty well too.
day-to-day running of our churches
has been positive; that our ministry
with those who have been bereaved
has been up to the mark; that our
care of those who are sick or are in
distress has shown forth the love of
Christ. Again, to thank everyone
individually would be difficult, not
because there are too many, or for
fear of missing someone out, but
because so many people have just
got on, quietly, making sure tasks
were done, phone calls and visits
made, and so on. To be honest, I
don’t even know who some of those
people were; and that I think is really
great. Just as my own family were
able to support each other in a
difficult time, so too has our church
family. So, thank you all.
We are a pretty close knit family. This
time of difficulty served to highlight
just how close we are. The way the
children pulled together to support
Gill and each other was very
affirming. I guess we must have done
something right as parents!
Our God is the God of Resurrection
and of new life and new beginnings.
On Easter Sunday we will join
together to celebrate this. Our God is
also the God who promises to be
with us wherever we are, be it in the
Valley of the Shadow of Death or
walking by still waters in pastures
green. Praise be to God who has
been with us over these last months,
and praise be to Him who promises
to walk with us in the days to come.
So where am I up to in terms of my
getting back to work? Well medically
I am all back in order. My heart is
Perhaps for me the biggest personal probably better than it was before
blessing I received was the
October last year. My head too has
tremendous support in the form of
healed and is as good as before
prayers and well wishes from so, so
(sadly when the surgeon had my
many people here and across the
head open he was unable to get any
world. I’m not one of those people
more sense in!) Since the beginning
who usually gets lots of Birthday
of March I have been on a phased
cards, so to receive well over 100 get return to work in line with the
well cards, and many, many emails, all Diocesan Long Term Illness policy. In
wishing me, and Gill and the family,
practice this means I will continue to
well was really very, very touching. I
work three days a week including
haven’t been able to respond to all of Sunday mornings as I have been
them individually, so I would like to
doing since the middle of February.
take this opportunity of thanking you Over the next 6–8 weeks I will
all very much for your kind and
gradually build up to full time by
generous support. It has meant a lot
Palm Sunday; I’m delighted to say
to Gill and I, and I’m sure has played a this means I will be back full time for
very big part in my recovery.
Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
One of the most pleasing aspects of
my time away from work has been
how the members of the church
family have taken responsibility for
ensuring that our church life has
continued. So many people have
played their part in ensuring that the
With all my love and good wishes,
Jeremy.
Church Pages
Who’s Who
April Saints
An English hermit and a French missionary and martyr
Sheila Smith
We begin with St Guthlac, who was born about
673 in the Kingdom of Mercia, which extended
from south of the Mersey and the Humber to the
Thames. Little is known of his family or of his early
life except that he apparently fought in the army of
King Aethelred of Mercia. When he was about the
age of 24 he entered the double monastery of
Repton. He was very austere in his habits and
these, especially his refusal of any intoxicating
drink aroused some comments from his fellow
monks, but he lived down the criticism, and gained
their respect. After some time, he left the
monastery and settled as a hermit in a bend of the
river Welland in the Fens, making his home against
a barrow (an early burial site) where he spent the rest of his life. His life was
extremely austere. His clothing was made of skins and his food was a small
portion of barley bread and a cup of muddy water – this once-daily ‘meal’
taken only after sunset.
Sometimes he was troubled by attacks by the local inhabitants, but he
seems to have endured much more from visions of demons, and from
spiritual trials and temptations. He also suffered from malarial fevers.
Guthlac, like other ‘solitaries’, cultivated association with birds and animals,
and never complained of the thieving crows and magpies, saying that
human beings ought to set an example of patience even to wild creatures.
Many people, attracted by his pious life, came to him seeking spiritual
guidance, and he gave sanctuary to Aethelbald who, as Guthlac predicted,
later became king of Mercia. In 714 he became aware that his death was
approaching and is said to have conversed with angels in the few days
before his death. He sent for his sister St Pega, who was living as an
anchorite in the same area and after his death she buried him in his
hermitage, but later moved his body to a nearby chapel. Aethelbald
established a monastery at the site of the hermitage, and this later
developed into the great abbey of Crowland. Guthlac’s feast day is 11 April.
In 1803 Peter Chanel our French missionary and
martyr was born to a peasant family near Belley.
After three years working as a priest in a rundown rural parish to which he brought new life, in
1831 he was accepted as a member of the
missionary Society of Mary in Lyon, and in 1836
was one of a group of missionaries sent to the
Pacific territory of Wallis and Futuna. Peter was
stationed on Futuna, an island where cannibalism
had only recently been forbidden by the ruler,
Niuliki. Peter, and his companions, a lay-brother
and English layman Thomas Boog, were well
received at first, but as they learned the language
and gained the confidence of the people, Niuliki
became jealous and afraid, especially when his
son and other young men were converted and baptised. While his
companions were away Peter Chanel was set upon by Niuliki’s men and
clubbed to death. One of the young men said of Peter, the first martyr in
the South Seas ‘He loves us. He does what he teaches. He forgives his
enemies. His teaching is good.’ Peter Chanel’s life, work and martyrdom, is
remembered on his feast day 28 April.
Church of England
Vicar: Rev Jeremy Thompson
During his convalescence
please contact the Curate,
Jane Penn
Tel: 01434 674518
Methodist
Deacon: Anne Taylor
Woodville
Redesmouth Road
Bellingham NE48 2EH
Tel: 01434 220283
Roman Catholic
Parish Priest: Fr Leo Pyle
St John’s Presbytery
North Road
Haydon Bridge
Tel: 01434 684265
From the registers
Baptisms:
In baptism you have been raised
with Christ through your faith in
the power of God.
There were no baptisms in
February.
Weddings:
Jesus said ‘As the Father has
loved me, so I have loved you:
remain in my love’.
There were no weddings in
February.
Funerals:
If we have been united with
Christ through baptism into
death, we will certainly be united
with Him in his resurrection.
There were no funerals in
February.
15
Jane Penn writes ...
During Lent a group of us have been meeting at
Newbrough Primary School to reflect on the
Eucharist; that sacramental meal shared by
Christians the world over. Do this in remembrance of
me, Jesus said at the first Eucharist, the meal he
shared with his friends the night before he died.
Churches vary in their understanding of the
Eucharist and the way they celebrate it. It's also
known as the Mass, the Lord's Supper, and Holy
Communion. But all Christians would agree that in
the Eucharist we're spiritually fed by Christ, and that
through it we're called by him to offer our lives in
service to him and our fellow human beings. What
follows reflects my view of the Eucharist from my
particular Anglican viewpoint.
That feeding is a deep and wonderful mystery. A
mystery in the sense that the more we look into it
the more deep and wonderful it becomes. The
Eucharist is a sacrament – it’s a way that God acts in
our lives and in our communities, brought to us
using symbols and signs that we humans can relate
to. Or in the words that some of you may remember
from confirmation classes, it’s an outward and
visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. It’s a
gift to us freely given by God in Christ.
The Eucharist is a remembering, a special kind of
remembering. In it we remember Jesus’ gift of
himself which he made for us all as he died on the
cross. That once-and-for-all sacrifice for God’s
forgiveness and make right all that is wrong in the
world. The remembering of the Eucharist is more
than recalling an event in the past. It actually brings
Jesus’ passion, his death and his rising to new life
into the present, so that we can all witness and
participate. In a mysterious way Jesus is actually
present in the bread and wine at the Eucharist. He’s
present in a way that we can all share. In a way that
brings us very close to him.
The Eucharist is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
Now none of us here on earth know what heaven is
like, but a great, joyful banquet is one of the images
that come to us from the Bible. In the Eucharist we
gather symbolically round a table and share a
celebratory meal in one another’s company; we are
God’s guests. God offers us hospitality, and we learn
from God’s hospitality how to be hospitable
ourselves.
Of course, God is everywhere, Jesus Christ is
everywhere, and we can pray and worship anywhere
at any time. But gathering together for a celebration
of the Eucharist is a wonderful opportunity to
receive Christ’s gift of himself in a deliberate and
focused way. It’s a coming together, a communion,
with God in Christ and with one another. It’s a
special remembering. It’s a foretaste of heaven. It’s a
deep mystery. It’s a sign of God’s grace, God’s free
gift of love to us.
Church Services
2
3
3
4
5
12
19
26
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
7.00pm
10.00am
2.00pm
8.00pm
10.00am
8.30am
10.00am
8.30am
Maundy Thursday, Eucharist with stripping of the alter and vigil at St Peter’s Newbrough
Good Friday Liturgy of the day, following last night’s Eucharist, at St Peter’s Newbrough
Good Friday, an hour at the foot of the Cross at St Aidan’s Fourstones
Easter Eve Service of light and renewal of Baptismal Vows at St John Lee
Holy Communion (BCP) at St Michael’s Warden
Second Sunday of Easter, Holy Communion (BCP) at St Michael’s Warden
Third Sunday of Easter, Holy Communion (BCP) at St Michael’s Warden
Holy Communion at St Peter’s Newbrough
If you have any queries about services please see the church notice boards or call the Curate, Jane Penn on 01434 674518
Fourstones with Warden Methodist Church
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April
Bob McAlpin/Rev John Howard
(Holy Communion)
Nigel King
Peter Smith
Matthew Barrick
Services at 10.30am Everyone welcome
16
St John of Beverley, Haydon Bridge
Mass Times: No Saturday vigil mass
Sunday Morning 9:30am
No Sunday evening mass
If you have any queries about service times please contact
[email protected] or call 01434 684265
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