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Mill Hill Chapelill Hill Chapelill Hill Chapel

City Square Leedsity Square Leedsity Square LeedsLS 5EBS 5EBS 5EB

RegisteredCharity

No1081978

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Letter from the EditorI write this with no certainty of whether thisedition of the Record will go to press on time dueto technical gremlinsso if you pick a copy up at the

Chapel Carol Service on December 22nd, all went well,and if you have had to wait until January, we apologise forthe delay and normal service will be resumed as soon aspossible! Ah, the joys of modern technology when itbreaks.

However, hopefully the gremlins are not a portent for 2014!As it happens I saw the film of the same name on the big

screen at Leeds Town Hall in DecemberI admit to beingpartial to creature featuresand had forgotten what a goodfilm it is, especially as a non-traditional Christmas film. Butof course the good guys win inthe end, as Im sure willeventually be the case againstthe vagaries of the printer.

Happy 2014, and I hope it willbe a good one for all of us.Even though the news is as fullof gloom as ever, a littleoptimism can go a long way,and things will always turn outright in the final reel.

Happy gremlin-free New Year!

Eleanor ickenson

The Record Mailing ListsIf anybody would like to receive their copy of The

Recordby email or by post, please pass your details on

to the Editor, either in person at the Chapel, or by email

to millhillrecord@gmail.com

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Joan Gamble 1930-2013

Joan came to Mill Hill shortly after World War 2, when Rev Eric Shirvell

Price invited teenagers of Leeds to attend a Sunday night youth club. Shewas an enthusiastic member along with many others, including Esme Hall,

and later became a member of the Chapel. Joan was appointed a trustee and

also became a member of the Management Committee. One of the tasksshe undertook was as Flower Secretary, where she was responsible for

displays in the Chapel, and she also arranged flower festivals which were

enjoyed by very many people. In addition she was a keen participant in the

Dramatic Society in both performing and supporting roles.

In conjunction with John, Joan ran the Dance Club for many years

providing a programme of old time and sequence dances to a large number

of people in Leeds in addition to which she arranged short holidays inseveral parts of the country. She was Aunty Joan to many related andunrelated young people and was particularly generous in her

encouragement of their social and career prospects.

Joan played her part in ministerial interregnums by conducting services

during which the congregation came to feel they had personal connectionswith Aunty Maud, whose diary entries formed a prominent part of Joans

addresses.

She took great delight in assisting to assemble the Millennial Tapestrywhich is now on display in Leeds City Art Gallery where the religious

panel includes the wedding photograph of John and Joan. Joan will surely

be remembered by citizens of Leeds and members of Mill Hill Chapel for

many years to come.

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Brian Rollinson

It was with some shock and consternation that we heard ofBrian's illness. Brian and Margaret missed the Committee

meeting in November, which is unusual for them, but we didn'trealise then how serious his condition was. It was only laterwe discovered that he had contracted encephalitis which is aviral problem affecting the brain.

Margaret has been understandably upset and distracted andas she doesn't drive, getting to and from hospital has beendifficult, though Sarah and Daniel have been a big help. Brianis improving, and while it will be a long slow recovery, he hashad a home visit with more planned so Margaret is hoping hewill be at home for Christmas. Our thoughts are with them andwe send our best wishes to them all for Christmas and theNew Year.

Roy Coggan

Unitarian TV Christmas Message

UKunitarianTV has put together a Christmas message for our community. The

Christmas Video is nowon YouTube at hp://youtu.be/q6LuWewAP0Yand willsoon be on hp://www.ukunitarian.tv/

Our intenon was to provide some thoughul readings on the season and a bit of

singing. We have had to leave out material to keep it to a reasonable length. It is atrial run to see if people enjoy it and we are asking for suggesons for next year.

Some people may have the ability to download the video and burn onto a DVD for

those people who cannot get out to aend a Christmas service.With very best wishes to you all, from everyone at UKunitarianTV. Louise Rogers

On behalf of UKunitarianTV

(I received this too late for the Nov/Dec

edion, but thought you might be interested. Ed)

http://youtu.be/q6LuWewAP0Yhttp://youtu.be/q6LuWewAP0Yhttp://www.ukunitarian.tv/http://www.ukunitarian.tv/http://www.ukunitarian.tv/http://youtu.be/q6LuWewAP0Y

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Valentines Day

Every February 14 around the world, candy, flowers and

gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name ofSt. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where

did these traditions come from?

The history of Valentine's Day--and the story of its patron saint--is shrouded inmystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of

romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of

both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, andhow did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or

Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a

priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius IIdecided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families,he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the

decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers insecret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put

to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help

Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten andtortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first

"valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his

jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it isalleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that

is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, thestories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine

would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February tocommemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial-

-which probably occurred around A.D. 270

--others claim

that the Christian church may have decided to place St.

Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effortto "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.

Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15,Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the

Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman foundersRomulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order ofRoman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where theinfants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were

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believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. Thepriests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, forpurification. Later in the day, according to legend, all the

young women in the city would place their names in a bigurn. The city's bachelors would each choose a name and

become paired for the year with his chosen woman. Thesematches often ended in marriage.

Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity and butwas outlawedas it was deemed un-Christian--at the end of the 5th century,

when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day. It was not untilmuch later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love.

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England thatFebruary 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea

that the middle of Valentine's Day should be a day for romance.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though writtenValentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still

in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to hiswife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the

Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of theBritish Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that KingHenry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to

Catherine of Valois.

Valentine's Day is celebrated in around the world. In Great Britain, Valentine'sDay began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of

the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchangesmall tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to

replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-madecards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct

expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates alsocontributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings.

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.

In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines

in America. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate

creations with real lace, ribbons and colourful pictures known as "scrap." Today,according to the Greeting Card

Association, an estimated 1 billionValentines Day cards are sent each year,making Valentine's Day the secondlargest card-sending holiday of the year.

(An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent

for Christmas.). Women purchaseapproximately 85% of all valentines.

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Biography: William of Malmesbury

William of Malmesbury (c. 1095/96 c. 1143) was the foremostEnglish historian of the 12thcentury. C. Warren Hollister ranked him

among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede,"a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively

well versed in the literature of classical, patristic and earlier medievaltimes as well as in the writings of his own contemporaries. Indeed

William may well have been the most learned man in twelfth-centuryWestern Europe."

William was born about the year 1095/96, in Wiltshire. His fatherwas Norman and his mother English. He spent his whole life inEngland, and his adult life as a monk at Malmesbury Abbey,

Wiltshire.

Though the education William received at Malmesbury Abbey included a smattering

of logic and physics, moral philosophy and history were the subjects to which hedevoted the most attention. The evidence shows that Malmesbury knew at first hand

at least some 400 works by two hundred-odd authors. During the course of hisstudies, he amassed a collection of medieval histories, which inspired in him the idea

for a popular account of English history modelled on the Historia ecclesiastica gentisAnglorum(Ecclesiastical History of the English People) of Bede. William's obvious

respect for Bede is apparent even within the preface of his Gesta Regum Anglorum,

where he professes his admiration for the man.

In fulfilment of this idea, William completed in 1125 his Gesta Regum Anglorum

("Deeds of the kings of the English"), consciously patterned on Bede, which spanned

from AD 4491120. He later edited and expanded it up to the year 1127, releasing arevision dedicated to Robert, Earl of Gloucester. This "second edition" of the Gestaregum, "disclosing in his second thoughts the mellowing of age", is now considered

one of the great histories of England.

He wrote of William the Conqueror inHistoria Anglorum:

He was of just stature, ordinary corpulence, fierce countenance; his foreheadwas bare of hair; of such great strength of arm that it was often a matter of surprise,

that no one was able to draw his bow, which himself could bend when his horse wasin full gallop; he was majestic whether sitting or

standing, although the protuberance of his bellydeformed his royal person; of excellent health so

that he was never confined with any dangerousdisorder, except at the last; so given to the

pleasures of the chase, that as I have before said,ejecting the inhabitants, he let a space of manymiles grow desolate that, when at liberty from

other avocations, he might there pursue his

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pleasures. His anxiety for money is the only thing onwhich he can deservedly be blamed. This he sought allopportunities of scraping together, he cared not how;

he would say and do some things and indeed almostanything, unbecoming to such great majesty, where the

hope of money allured him. I have here no excusewhatever to offer, unless it be, as one has said, that ofnecessity he must fear many, whom many fear.

William's first edition of the book was followed by the Gest ponificum Anglorum

(Deeds of the English Bishops) in 1125. For this vivid descriptive history ofabbeys and bishoprics, dwelling upon the lives of the English prelates saints,

notably the learned wonder-working Aldhelm, Abbot of Malmesbury, Williamtravelled widely in England.

Around this time, William formed an acquaintance with Bishop Roger ofSalisbury, who had a castle at Malmesbury. It is possible that this acquaintance,coupled with the positive reception of his Gesta regum earned him the offered

position of Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey in 1140. William, however, preferred hisduties as librarian and scholar and declined the offer. His one public appearance

was made at the council of Winchester in 1141, in which the clergy declared forthe Empress Matilda.

Beginning about 1140, William continued his chronicles with the HistoriaNovella, or "modern history", a three-book chronicle that stretched from 1128-

1142, including important accounts of the anarchy of King Stephens reign. Thiswork breaks off in 1142, with an unfulfilled promise that it would be continued.

Presumably William died before he could redeem his pledge. He also wrote ahistory of his abbey and several saints' lives.

He is lauded by many, including John Milton, to be one of the best Englishhistorians of his time, and remains known for strong documentation and his clear,

engaging writing style. A strong Latin stylist, he shows literary and historicalinstincts which are, for his time, remarkably sound. He is an authority ofconsiderable value from 1066 onwards; many telling anecdotes and shrewd

judgments on persons and events can be gleaned from his pages. Some scholarscriticize him for his atypical annalistic form, calling his chronology less than

satisfactory and his arrangement of material careless.Much of William's work on Wulfstan, Bishop of

Worcester is thought to derive from a first-handaccount from Coleman, a contemporary of Wulfstan,William merely translating the document from OldEnglish into Latin. William's works are still

considered invaluable, and despite these shortcom-

ings, William of Malmesbury remains one of the mostcelebrated English chroniclers of the twelfth century.

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Chapel Management Committee Susan CogganChapel Management Committee meetings will be on:

Wednesday 15th January and Wednesday 19th February

ANTHEMS DURING JANUARY 2014

Jan 5th: What cheer? Good cheer! - Peter WarlockJan 12th:Kings in glory - Martin ShawJan 19th:From the rising of the sun - Frederick OuseleyJan 26th: God be in my head - Henry Walford DaviesANTHEMS DURING FEBRUARY 2014

Feb 2nd: Sanctus (from German Mass II, 1826) - Franz Schubert

Feb 9th:Incline thine ear - Friedrich H. HimmelFeb 16th:Jesu, joy of mans desiring (from Cantata No. 147) - J. S. Bach

Feb 23rd: Worship - Geoffrey Shaw

Flowe rslowe rs Welcomerselcomers for Januaryor JanuaryFebruary 2014February 2014

Jan 5th: In memory of Alice Johnson

Hunslet Memorial Flowers in memory of Alice Johnson Roy Coggan

Jan 12th: In loving memory of Geoff Hurst Roy Perry

Jan 19th: In loving memory of Molly & Stan Maney Roy Coggan

Jan 26th: In memory of Clarice & Harold James Roy Perry

Feb 2nd: In memory of Mary Hodgins, Edith & John Fisher,

& Joyce Susan Coggan

Feb 9th: In memory of Dorothy & Austyn Barran Roy Perry

Feb 16th: In memory of John & Joan Gamble andDaughter Karen Isobel Honnoraty Roy Coggan

Feb 23rd: In memory of Ernest, Percy & Joan Dalton Roy Perry

If anyone would like to make a donation to provide flowers in memory of aloved one, to celebrate anniversaries or remember a birthday, then please

contactJoan Perry orSusan Coggan (Flower Secretary). A few dates in the calen-dar are still available . . . . .

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Dates for your diaryLeeds is a vibrant city with a great variety of events goingon. Some of those listed below may be of interest, all ofwhich are free. (The Editor receives no recompense for

mentioning events here, honest!).

Knitting and Weaving 2-4pm4th Jan S&A Burton Gallery, Leeds UniFamily-friendly knitting and weaving workshop with artist Claire Evans

Eblana String Trio 1-2pm 8th Jan Leeds College of MusicWith oboist David Currington, the Trio plays Mozart, Britten and Dohnanyi

Beginners Embroidery 2-4pm 11th Jan S&A Burton Gallery, Leeds UniFamily-friendly workshop based on Regency embroidery with expert Becki Harper

Organ Recital 1-2pm 13th Jan Leeds Town Hall

Recital by HM Chapels Royal Organist Huw Williams

Cornet Recital 1-2pm 20th Jan Leeds Town HallCornet soloist Phillip McCann, accompanied at the organ by Simon Lindley

Organ Recital 1-2pm 27th Jan Leeds Town HallProf Ian Tracey plays Bach, Delius, Copland, Mendelssohn and Respighi

Play Reading 6-7.30pm 27th Jan Leeds Central LibraryReading from and discussion of classic plays at the Central Library

Talk Art 1-2pm 30th Jan Leeds Art GalleryGallery staff introduce and discuss works in the Gallerys collection

Music without Distraction1-2pm 3rd Feb Leeds Town HallOpera North violinist David Greed plays Handel and Purcell with Simon Lindley

String Masterclass 1-2pm 14th Feb Clothworkers Hall, Leeds UniThe Brodsky Quartet present a masterclass on string repertoire and technique

Choral Concert 1-2pm 17th Feb Leeds Town HallSt Peters Singers present Anglican music based around World War One

Student Showcase 6-7.30pm 19th Feb Clothworkers Hall, Leeds UniA chance to hear performance students at Leeds University showcasing their work

Chapel ChatSunday services duringJanuary and February 2014Always at 10.45am

Jan 5th: Rev George Callander Feb 2nd: Kate Taylor

Jan 12th: Tim Moore Feb 9th: Roy Coggan

Jan 19th: Janet Gadsby

Feb 16th: Rev George CallanderJan 26th: Jonathan Coggan Feb 23rd: Jo James

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Facilities Manager / LettingsMalcolm Clarke Chapel (0113) 243 3845

Chairman of the Congregation

Director of Music Anthony Norcliffe Home (01274) 637 535

The Record Editor Eleanor Dickenson Mobile (0773) 631 7215Email millhillrecord@gmail.com

@millhillchapel

CONFLICTor UNITY?

There is no greater cause of conflict in our world todaythan the diversity of race, religion, culture and creed.Israel, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Russia, Spain, Africa,

India, Indonesia and elsewhere : this is fundamentally the case. Yetwhether we are Jew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Bahai or a

member of any other religious faith, we share the same universe; thesame planet Earth; the same environment; the same human biology andthe same evolutionary process of nature. Clearly then, without a move-ment toward greater unity as one world and one people, there will be nopeace.

Leeds is a modern city, which incorporates people from a variety of cultur-

al and religious backgrounds. Their children sit alongside each other inschools, and lie alongside each other in hospitals. Yet the traditions of pre-vious generations present obstacles and barriers to the natural and neces-sary integration of modern-day communities. It is now imperative that hu-man beings everywhere embrace a vision of the oneness of God and ofHumankind. Peace and harmony for future generations depends directlyupon the success of this challenge. Of course, such unity will not comeeasily or overnight, and there will be many objections along the way. Nev-ertheless an attempt must be made, and where better to begin by way of

example to the world, than in our fine city of Leeds?

This matter will not go away, and it is of little use hiding in our Syna-gogues, Temples, Gurdwaras, Mosques and Churches, and thinking thatwe can continue safe in our exclusive, cultural and religious, traditions. Asintelligent and responsible adults, we have a duty to our children and toour world to address the problem now. If you share our vision, or are insympathy and agreement with our views, then perhaps you would like tomake contact with us, and together - whatever our differences - we might

begin to find and establish that vital path to greater unity.