St John the Evangelist Church - Summer Newsletter.

It’s Summer 2019 – I think! 

We’re into the third week of June and the changeable weather is proving a challenge to our congregation with soggy holidays.

 In the church garden we have enjoyed hundreds of daffodils and drifts of bluebells, now replaced, and braving the rain, by large numbers of perennial purple geraniums and the welcome return of pink and yellow roses, planted in memory of Bett & Reg Podmore and Derek Smith.

It was a sunny morning on Sunday 9th June as we met with St Thomas’s Church Penkhull at Holy Trinity Church Hartshill for a joyful service, led by Revd Chris, to celebrate Pentecost, the decent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples and the Church’s birthday.

In his sermon, Revd Chris told us to seek the Holy Spirit and we would find Him. The children in the congregation were sent to seek large painted flames hidden around the church (a symbol of the flames in which the Holy Spirit came to earth). There was a very happy atmosphere as we enjoyed the service and fellowship.

Changes have been happening at St John’s. A smart new red notice board has appeared in the porch, kindly made and donated by our friend Geoff Hemmings.  Earlier in the year Geoff had asked us to donate craft materials for his nephew and wife who were going to Ghana. We were pleased, indeed Audrey and I were quite moved, to read a very interesting folder that told of their visit to see a young pupil they are sponsoring at The Volta Meridian Academy. The materials had been put to good use. The children had never seen a button sewn on and that, along with many other projects, was something David and Carol set about teaching. The fact that a safety pin with a small piece of lace attached became a prized possession and a queue soon formed to own one. Most of us own lots of oddments of ribbon and lace and old tins of buttons, new items easily bought. Cash donations were put to good use to buy materials and to replace a desk eaten by termites.                                            They are planning to return and so any items for crafting or cash donations will be most welcome.

We were delighted to meet Geoff’s niece at one of our services. Joanna had been on our prayer list for some time and it was wonderful to see her looking so well. Praise the Lord!

Our hardworking Churchwardens, Eileen and Steve, spend much time on works we take for granted, such as accounts, downloading music and graphics for our services etc and, after much time spent setting it up, we now have our new website - www.stjohnschurchtrentvale.com                                                       This will be a valuable asset to us. This newsletter began as a half page letter to those unable to attend services due to illness etc. It has grown to at least three pages published four times a year. Now with pictures, these newsletters will reach a wider audience as it will appear on our website also.

A few weeks ago, a member of our congregation, Councillor Jackie Barnes, after a year as Deputy, was elected to be Lord Mayor and along with her sons Grant and Brandon, invited Steve Copner to be one of her Consorts. Revd Chris has taken up the position as the Lady Mayor’s Chaplain.                                                                                                           What an exciting time and honour to help promote our wonderful city. The title of LORD MAYOR was conferred on the city on the 10th July 1928. There are only 23 cities in this country who have received the honour of having a Lord Mayor. In Stoke on Trent the Lord Mayor ranks 3rd after the monarch, the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sherriff being the 2 in front. The Queen is always represented at council meetings and in her absence the mace is brought into the Council Chamber and placed on a rack on a table. Without this “presence” council meetings cannot take place.

We are impressed with the hectic schedule, come rain or shine. The Lord Mayor’s engagements are wide and varied and they have the opportunity of meeting people from a variety of backgrounds and settings. Jackie has attended quite a lot of engagements so far in the presence of one of her consorts. She has attended such diverse engagements as the AGM of Kibblestone Scout camp, Stoke Pride, Awards Evenings, civic church services, Armed Forces Day and met school pupils in the council chamber and Lord Mayor’s Parlour.

As the Stoke City Football Fixture list has been released, our church diary can now be worked out. The months are whizzing by.

Richard George continues to do an impressive monthly display in church, showing details of the fallen in WW1 who left this area never to return. Much more work is being done to develop the facts further. If you have any additional information, it will be gladly received and added to the important historical collection.

Each year barley can be found growing in the church grounds, a reminder that even within living memory our church was surrounded by fields and small cottages with pretty gardens. Revd Pat Dunn has been a resident in Trent Vale since 1948 and shared her memories of growing up in a village that had all people needed. A School, Church and Church Hall, businesses large and small, and elegant houses.

As we watch building on a plot of land near to Tesco, Pat told me that the large house recently demolished, was called ‘The Hollies’. The maid was named Mrs Bosson and was our Church’s verger’s wife.                                                                                                           It was the custom to whiten front doorsteps with a stepstone. This was a block of chalklike stone that had to be dunked in a pail of water and then rigorously rubbed on the step. This Mrs Bosson did to all the steps both inside and outside the church. She also scrubbed the tiled floors of the church on her hands and knees. I wonder what she would make of the floors that are now all carpeted. Her husband was always seen wearing his long black cassock as did the Vicar Revd Knowles, affectionately called Mr Knowles. His memorial is near to the altar, underneath the Icon of St John.

Pat says her mother used to walk the tree lined lane to Trentham that is now the bustling A34. Changing times indeed.

We sincerely thank Revd Chris and the Lay Readers who take our services.

On June 4th our part time Community Development Worker, Revd Mike Bridgewater, was licensed as Assistant Minister in the Bucknall Team Ministry by Bishop Geoff. Several of St Johns congregation went along to watch the delightful service and to support Mike. It was a joyful service and we were made most welcome. Well done Mike.

We would also like to congratulate Mike’s wife Fran who has been accepted for theological training, starting later this year. We wish her well as she sets off on her 3-year training to become a priest

All our warmest wishes to them both.

Thank you to so many folk who work so hard to make our Church and Church Hall such valued places in our community.

However you read this newsletter I hope you enjoy it and the “hazy days of Summer to come”!

Bobbie Salt.