Chorlton Unitarians
Spring 2015 Newsletter
Minister’s Musings
It seems that much has happened since our
last newsletter and chief amongst those is the
loss of our wonderful and much-loved chair
Sheila Jones, who died on 28th of December.
Her funeral at Manchester crematorium was
well attended as was the special celebration
of her life at The Nightingale Centre in Great
Hucklow in the Peak District. It was a special
place for Sheila and is where her family
scattered her ashes. Although we miss her
physical presence, we still feel Sheila very
much with us.
Mary Crumpton has been acting chair since
Sheila went into hospital and hopes to be
elected Chair at our AGM on March 22nd.
As you know she is a very energetic person
who has lots of ideas for us and is keen that
we keep involved in the community.
This is a time of transition and change for our
small church, but I am encouraged by the
willingness of so many to take over tasks that
need doing and feel that the future, even if
unknown, is bright.
Nicky Jenkins
I am available for Pastoral matters and Weddings,
Baby Namings and Funerals and can be contacted
on 0161 224 5289 or by
e-mail on [email protected]
A little corner of our church garden last April
Tribute to Sheila Jones
by Amanda Birchenough
I first met Sheila Jones at a Unitarian course
meeting, held at her house in Northenden
when Cross Street Chapel was being
redeveloped. That corny phrase ‘our eyes met
across the room’ really did happen – we
glanced across, took the measure of each
other, smiled and knew we would be friends.
It hasn’t been an easy ride being Sheila’s
friend. She was always challenging,
demanding and questioning. We talked about
everything – poetry and philosophy, power
and powerlessness, poverty and politics,
people and places – and playing the piano.
Our friendship grew, and we worked well
together, whether applying for a grant,
preparing a presentation for the MDA
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The gift of the right person at the right time
appeared, and our Minister Rev. Nicky
Jenkins is a focus for our community’s
spiritual growth: we feel ourselves blessed
that she is our Minister. Each time a new
person joins us for worship, or decides to
become a member, we are given a gift:
Sheila’s project has borne fruit.
A week before she died, I saw her in
hospital and she said “We’ve done it
Amanda”, meaning Chorlton Church
Community is alive and kicking. Then she
talked of ‘her babies’, all the new people that
have been attracted that (in the paraphrased
words of Carolyn McDade) have found roots
holding them close, wings setting them free
in Chorlton’s steadily growing congregation.
So many memories –
AGM, leading worship at Chorlton, or
meeting at least once a week to prepare for
the new challenges ahead at Chorlton. When
I came close to leaving Chorlton, because I
had lost my ‘umph’, Sheila persuaded me to
go to Hucklow and experience the Summer
School; and she was right, I came away reinvigorated.
Some of you will know what it is like with a
small group of people, a small congregation –
all the tasks of running a Church take
precedence from appreciating the worship,
and looking outwards; we struggled for some
time. But when I suggested to Sheila that she
should think about becoming Chairperson
again, she told me that she would only
consider it if she could have a project. That
project was all-or-nothing: approaching the
MDA for financial support for a part-time
Minister for Chorlton Unitarian Church, to
develop and grow the congregation, “because
if it can’t grow in Chorlton (with its vibrant,
diverse and cosmopolitan community) then it
can’t survive anyway”.
Candles of memory for Sheila Jones at Hucklow
Social Scribblings
from Mary R. Crumpton
As our AGM approaches, a few reflections
from your "Social Secretary" on some of the
social and spiritual activities that have been
going on beyond our services in recent
months, and a look ahead to things to
come.
The Festive Quiz & Pot-luck Supper, held in
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December, was a great success: much fun was
had and we raised £200 for church funds.
Best head-gear awards definitely won by
myself and our Rev. Nicky
In the autumn we walked round the first half
of the Manchester Social Justice trail - very
thought-provoking - and we plan to complete
this trail soon. The picture shows my
husband Tim Crumpton reading out some of
the notes to a couple of us.
The New Unitarians “sharing” house-group
continues to meet monthly, though we have
recently re-branded ourselves as the “Owls”
because we don't feel very new anymore. We
joke that it stands for the Old Wise Ladies
Society! In addition, a new “New Unitarians”
house-group is planned, coordinated by
Jackie - we warmly invite any new, or
newish, church attendees to participate. It is
my hope that several reflective house-groups
will evolve over time.
For the last year we have been donating our
tea money to the Chorlton Mad Dogs
homeless charity, and they have been
very grateful for our support.
I have been leading regular 5th Sunday
“Spiritual Walks” (around Longford Park)
after each Café Church; short, mindful walks
with some gratitude sharing and walking
meditation. The next ones are 29th March
& 31st May. The photo shows a group of us
on a recent walk.
In the first half of the trail, we were very
moved by the LGBT memorials in Sackville
Gardens, particularly the statue of Alan
Turing there. I am pictured with him below.
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And another local resident marvels at the hot
chocolate he has been
presented with.
To extend our online outreach, I have created
a Chorlton Unitarians “Meetup Group” on
the Meetup.com website. I intend to list
church events, outings, etc. there. Let me
know if you want your event added. You can
join the group at
www.meetup.com/ChorltonUnitarians
I continue to organise regular monthly
Community Breakfasts, most recently at
Juniper Café in January and at The Beagle in
February.
They are intended to provide a friendly space
for locals to meet and get to know one
another. We usually get about 10-12 people
coming each time, some from church and
some not.
Below, our Minister and a friend enjoy the
breakfast at Juniper.
Suggested future outings include the People’s
History Museum; Buddhist Café; MOSI and
Whitworth Art Gallery. Other ideas are most
welcome.
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Thanks to my boyfriend John Hulls who took
all of the photos above.
Love and Light,
Mary R. Crumpton,
Social Secretary & Acting Chair, Chorlton
Unitarian Church
[email protected]
07751 696 055
Touching the Spirit
Tuesdays at Chorlton have taken a new
direction with Touching the Spirit.
This is an alternative format to explore
spirituality on an informal basis.
Averaging over 7 in attendance and
including a significant number from outside
the church the evening is designed to test
Spiritual development for new seekers and
members alike. We have listening, discussion
and meditation.
"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a
creative force. The friends who listen to us are the
ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it
creates us, makes us unfold and expand." --Karl
A. Menniger
In the opening thirty minutes we reflect on
some chosen words and phrases. Individuals
share their thoughts on the card presented
and their spirituality in the moment. We have
pondered : Paris; Do I think I can ?; At
seventeen….; Salvation ; Willingness; Do I
think I can’t? This is a period for us to take
something form the listening process.
to Thich Nat Hahn and Osho with recurring
texts : ‘The Prophet’, ‘Eternal Echoes’,
‘Manuscript found in Accra’ and ‘Twelve
steps to a Spiritual Life’ by David Usher who
shows that spiritual health is improved with
ritual and commitment. The format is
designed to allow a new space for this
purpose for regular seekers and those new to,
or revisiting the journey.
With prayers and reflections dotted through
proceedings we conclude with a twenty
minute period of silent meditation concluded
with poetry or prayer as closing words. All
are welcome starting at 7:30 with meditation
at 8:30. Ok to arrive a little late, leave before
the silence or join us for the silence only. It is
a flexible, supportive and loving space for
exploration, connection and truth.
Mark Hutchinson
Our new Charity
Last year we had a visit from Katie Cass who
is the Head Teacher at Lancasterian School on
the Didsbury Chorlton border. Lancasterian
School is for children aged 2-16 who have
physical, complex medical and or complex
communication difficulties and takes children
from throughout the Manchester area. Their
mission statement is ‘enabling quality, access
and achievement for all’
The staff believe that every single pupil has
the right to control his or her own life, and
share opportunities, challenges and
experiences with their peers.
The second period is of readings sometimes
related to the earlier discussion, sometimes
not. Ranging from Paulo Coelho‘s ‘Adultery
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A group café outing, organised by Sheila
Cass, went to Lancasterian School’s café on
Friday 30th Jan: delicious cake! We intend to
make this a termly visit. And at the
community meeting held recently we
decided that following the AGM our tea
money would go to support the work of
Lancasterian in developing the play area.
For many of the pupils the school
playground is the only outlet they have for
outdoor play and exercise. They want to
break down existing barriers within the play
areas and enable everyone to be able to move
around as independently and freely as
possible and create interesting play spaces
that are age and developmentally appropriate
to pupils.
The grassed areas and uneven paths were a
particular concern for pupils who use heavy
electric wheelchairs. The pupils themselves
felt very strongly that the grassy areas need
to be changed and that lots of outdoor space
was unused because of the grass and uneven
paths.
Last year they raised funds to completely
redesign the Rainbows (children aged 2 – 5)
play area with special matting surfaces and
equipment. Now they need to improve the
senior outdoor play area to provide play
facilities more appropriate for this older age
group.
Pupils themselves have chosen the outdoor
equipment they would like to see included, a
roundabout and a wheelchair trampoline.
See more at
http://www.lancasterian.manchester.sch.uk/p
age/playgrounddevelopmentandfundraising/
258/
Miriam and Nicky chat to Katie Cass Head Teacher at Lancasterian
Tenebrae Service
This year for the first time Rev Nicky Jenkins
will hold a Tenebrae Service on Good Friday
3rd April. The name comes from the Latin for
darkness and it is a solemn and meditative
service, remembering the betrayal, anger and
suffering of the Crucifixion. It is an evening
service.
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Dates for your Diary
Coming up, here are some future events that
you might like to go to. Some organised by
us, and some from other local groups which
may be of interest:
Tuesday 10th March, 7.30pm - Chorlton
Civic Society's bi-monthly meeting at
Chorlton Library. This month, as well as
providing the usual forum for residents to
discuss local issues, the invited speaker (from
Manchester City Council's Regen team) will
be updating the group about regeneration
projects in Chorlton and surrounding areas.
Admission is free, though you may wish to
join the society to support its work, for the
grand sum of £5 per annum.
Wednesday 11th March, 7.30pm - Happiness
Group Meetup at The Lloyds Pub. This
month, 20 Ways to Happiness and Health take away some ideas, and share some of
your own. Further details at
www.ManchesterHappiness.com where you
can join the Meetup group (free to join) and
RSVP to this month's Meetup.
Saturday 14th March, 10am for 10.30am Stroll around the second half of the
Manchester Social Justice trail. A church
outing, informally led by my husband Tim.
Further details at
www.Meetup.com/ChorltonUnitarians where
it would be helpful if you could RSVP to let
us know you are joining us.
Sunday 15th March, 10.30am Mothering
Sunday Service, led by Rev. Nicky Jenkins.
Tuesday 17th March, 7.30pm - Armchair
Philosophers Meetup at The Royal
Oak Pub. This month we are very informally
exploring the question "If money is
formalised barter, why is one hour of work
unequal to another?" An RSVP in advance is
needed for this group, and you can do so
here:
www.ManchesterArmchairPhilosophers.com
Sunday 22nd March, 10.30am Sunday
Service “Spirit in Nature” led by Mike Rutter
followed by our AGM
Saturday 28th March, 10am for 10.30am Our Breakfast club. This month we are trying
out the Village Sandwich-maker on the
corner of Oswald Road and Kensington
Road. Don and Pat opened the café just a few
weeks ago and have kindly offered us all 10%
off that day. A range of meaty/veggie options
and gluten-free bread will be available.
It would help the café enormously if people
could RSVP at our Meetup page, to give them
an idea of numbers attending:
www.meetup.com/ChorltonUnitarians/event
s/220901540/
Sunday 29th March, Café Church followed at
11.45am for 12noon - Spiritual Walk
departing from the church. A gentle and
mindful walk around Longford Park, with
some walking meditation and gratitude
sharing. This time, Nicky has kindly offered
to lead the walk in my absence whilst I attend
the GA meeting in Birmingham.
Mary Crumpton
April
Thursday 2nd – Committee meeting
Good Friday 3rd-Tenebrae Service 7.30pm
Sunday 5th Easter service
May
Sunday May10th- Flower Celebration
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Saturday 16th May- Provincial Assembly
AGM: Using social media to raise your
church’s profile. Rochdale Unitarian Church
10.30am
Sunday 31st May- Café Church followed by
Spiritual Walk
What’s On Nationally
Annual Meetings of the General Assembly
of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches at
Birmingham 29th March-1st April 2015
Summer School, Great Hucklow 22nd-29th
August 2015
https://www.unitarian.org.uk/getinvolved/events
Where to find us
Facebook page: Chorlton Unitarian Church
Website www.chorltonunitarians.org
Chorlton Unitarian Church
Rear of Regency Court Flats
Wilbraham Rd,
Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
M21 9LB
999993999
Chorlton Unitarian Church is grateful
to the
for the contribution to their part-time
paid Ministry
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