Bowdon Church News

Vicar Vacancy For enquiries, please contact the Parish Office, 0161 929 1537 Associate Priest Rev Gordon Herron revgordon@bowdonchurch.org 0161 928 1238Curate Rev Myles Owen myles@bowdonchurch.org 0161 928 0949 Parish Development Will Sudworth Will@bowdonchurch.orgJulia Dow Julia@bowdonchurch.orgJo Oughton Jo@bowdonchurch.org Kirsten Wood Kirsten@bowdonchurch.orgAdult DiscipleshipAnne-Marie Naylor ambi@bowdonchurch.org

ReaderJohn Fenton 0161 926 8190 Reader EmeritiAlan Marriott 0161 928 9045Vivienne Plummer 0161 928 5051 Churchwardens Alec Bonson 0161 980 4055Katharine Perera 01925 753086Susan Redford 0161 929 1219William Tyler 0161 929 9700Director of Music Michael Dow music@bowdonchurch.orgOrganist and Associate Music Director Roger Bryan organist@bowdonchurch.org

Parish Recorder (Donations) Barbara Clift 0161 928 6585 parishrecorder@bowdonchurch.orgParish and Lettings Administrator Kay Holt admin@bowdonchurch.org 0161 929 1537Editor Katharine Perera 01925 753086 Katharine@bowdonchurch.org

St Mary’s, Stamford Rd, Bowdon, WA14 2TR

St Luke’s, Vicarage Lane, Bowdon, WA14 3BA

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BOWDON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL, A CHARITABLE BODY REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION—REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1133830; REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS: BOWDON PARISH CENTRE, STAMFORD ROAD, BOWDON, ALTRINCHAM, WA14 2TR.

A number of adults and teenagers will be confirmed by the Rt Revd Graham Dow, former Bishop of Carlisle, at St Mary’s on Sunday 22 November at 10.45 am.

Everyone is warmly invited to the service, so that together we can support and encourage the candidates as they publicly affirm their Christian faith and declare their intention to live a life of committed discipleship.

Afterwards, at about 12.30 pm, there will be an opportunity to congratulate them over cakes and a cup of tea or coffee in the Parish Centre.

Confirmation

At this time of yearly remembrance, one of our abiding memories of 2014 is the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London, which marked the 100th anniversary of Britain’s entry into the First World War. There were 888,246 ceramic poppies filling the Tower of London’s moat, each one representing a British military fatality during the war.

When we heard about the opportunity to buy some of these poppies, we thought that, as well as supporting the various charities that were beneficiaries, it would be a wonderful way to help us, and four generations of our family, remember and honour those who died in conflict for their country. Each of these unique ceramic poppies will last for many years and hopefully will be passed from generation to generation to help those who come after us reflect on those who gave their lives.

This year in particular our family remembered a great uncle, John McIver, who was lost at Gallipoli, on 28 June 1915, aged 18—the centenary of his death was a special day for us. We also remembered his brother, Tommy McIver, who was killed at Monchy in France on 22 February 1918 at the age of 19.

There are many families in our parish who have been affected

by the loss of those killed not just in World War I but in all conflicts since them. We owe an enormous debt to all of these individuals who gave their lives so that we can be free.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them

Ian and Christine Scott-Dunn

Remembering

No 671 November 2015 When the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, the buildings of Hiroshima Girls’ High School were destroyed and hundreds of its pupils killed. But the school reopened on a different site just two months later and its Principal, Dr Takuo Matsumoto, encouraged the surviving pupils to paint.

After the war UNESCO fostered art education as a way of promoting international harmony. Under its auspices, exchanges of children’s art works were arranged between different countries and Dr Matsumoto brought two sets of paintings by Japanese children to the west. Here they came into the care of Prue Wallis-Myers, a distinguished artist, eminent art teacher, and much-loved member of St Mary’s congregation until her death in 2010 at the age of 92.

When Prue retired she passed the paintings to Mike Stevenson, Art Adviser for Trafford. In this 70th anniversary year, Mike has arranged exhibitions of the paintings in the House of Lords and in Japan House in London.

In November, the Mayor of Hiroshima will visit Manchester as part of the Mayors for Peace initiative and the plan is that the art works will be returned to Japan, where they will be curated as ‘The Prue Wallis-Myers/Michael Stevenson Bequest’.

Katharine Perera

Art from the devastation of Hiroshima

Last summer 36,000 scouts from around the world travelled to Japan for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree. I attended as part of the UK contingent, representing Greater Manchester West.

It was an amazing experience that I will never forget and I am grateful to everyone who helped to make it possible.

The 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred while we were there and we visited the memorial museum at Hiroshima to learn more about the event and remember those who were killed or injured. We were told that the Japanese call the crane the ‘bird of happiness’ and that a young girl, Sadako Sasaki who developed leukaemia from the blast, heard a legend that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, a wish is granted to you. She decided to do this in hospital and many people supported her, producing more than a thousand cranes. Sadly, she died from the effects of radiation, so in memory of her

Hiroshima’s powerful impact

Alice (far right) with her fellow Scouts against the background of the Genbaku Dome, Hiroshima (photo: Doug Selley, Scout leader)

Ceramic poppies filling the moat at the Tower of London in 2014 (photo: Katharine Perera)

and of all of the other children who died as a result of the bombing, a statue of a crane was erected in Hiroshima. People from all over the world visit it and place cranes there as a tribute to them and as a symbol of our hope for peace.

Our group made a thousand cranes and placed them at the memorial. It was a moving sight to see the people gathered there and to hear all about the effects of the bomb. The devastation caused is unimaginable but it was amazing to see that the Japanese we spoke to were gracious towards the Americans and spoke of their desire that everyone should learn from this tragedy and pursue peace.

Alice Preece

The Royal British Legion, civic leaders

and uniformed organisations will join us for the service of Remembrance and the laying

of wreaths at St Mary’s Cenotaph

Remembrance SundaySunday 8 November 2015

St Mary’s 10.45 am

Remembrance DayWednesday 11 November 2015 at 11 am

An Act of Remembrance at St Mary’s Cenotaph

‘Flowers’ (1945) by Toshiko Tsukamoto aged 16, Hiroshima Girls’ High School (photo: Mike Stevenson)

Forthcoming EventsWednesday LunchWednesdays at 12 noonBowdon Parish CentreContact: Margaret Sykes, 0161 928 9191 Friends of Rosie Festive FairSaturday 7 November, 2 pm - 5 pmFine stalls and raffle. Admission £4, including drinksIn aid of research into children’s cancerBowdon Parish CentreContact: Louise Cheyne, louisecheyne@btinternet.com Joint Men’s and Ladies’ Breakfast Saturday 14 November, 8 am - 9.30 am‘Zimbab’Way’, Rev Myles OwenBowdon Parish CentreContact: Mark Oakes, mens_breakfast@btinternet.com Sue Coles, lcb.bowdon@outlook.com Sunday SessionsSunday 15 November, 6 pm for 6.30 pm - 7.30 pmContemporary evening worship, open to all ages. St Luke’s Church, Vicarage LaneContact: Emily, emilybowyer1986@googlemail.com Bowdon History SocietyMonday 16 November, 8 pm‘Meriel Leicester of Tabley Old Hall’, Sarah WebbBowdon Downs Church, Bowdon RdContact: Ann Redford, 0161 928 8975 Coffee, Cake and ConversationTuesday 17 November, 2 pm - 3.20 pmEnjoy a cup of tea or coffee and friendly conversationBowdon Parish CentreContact: Christine Barrat, 0161 928 4048 Eugene Halliday AssociationSunday 22 November, 2.15 pm‘Quest for the Holy Grail’, Shibat WhardellSt Luke’s Church, Vicarage LaneContact: Eugene Halliday Association, 07917 406 689 Bowdon Festival at St Mary’s: Handel’s MessiahArranged for brass and organSaturday 5 December, 7.30 pmBowdon Festival Chorus with international soloistsMilnrow Band and Organist Roger BryanAdults £12, Children/NUS £5, Families £30See www.bowdonfestival.co.uk Bowdon Lecture SocietyMonday 7 December, 7.30 pm for 8 pm‘The pursuit of the Holy Grail of writing’, Jim WilliamsAltrincham Boys’ Prep School, Marlborough RdContact: Beryl Hunwick, 0161 928 3644

Each week we pray for people living in the ParishWk/begin We pray for: 1 Nov Marlborough Rd, Bowdon Rise, Blenheim Close and Ashley Rd8 Nov South Rd (Hale), South Downs Dr and Ashley Mill Lane North15 Nov Stamford Rd22 Nov Chesham Place, Garner Close and Hollywood29 Nov Heald Rd, Heald Close and Heald Dr6 Dec West Rd, South Rd (Bowdon), Belfield House and Handsworth

I’ve recently been in Zimbabwe running between churches, schools and orphanages. From the suburban swimming pools of Harare to the thatched round houses of rural Marondera, my experiences (and washing facilities!) were as varied as the country itself. The link with Zimbabwe came through The Community of the Resurrection, a monastic community based in West Yorkshire with a long history of missionary work in southern Africa.

However, it was not all work; for the last few days I headed to Victoria Falls … and white water rafting! Amidst the excitement of the rapids there were calmer stretches during which one could relax in the sunshine admiring the scenery. Making a drop-off, we gently paddled our inflatable raft to the river bank and slowly glided to a halt. While my companions were clumsily disembarking, I idly cast my eyes into the water next to me; we had unwittingly berthed alongside a crocodile.

The crocodile was only five-and-a-half ft long but its business end was intimidating enough, just below the water and only an arm’s length from me. After a short stand-off the crocodile seemed to feel the more exposed and so sank into the darker waters, span and swam away passing underneath our feet.

Recent generations of Zimbabweans have passed through some seriously choppy waters and now Zimbabwe has the appearance of a calm and harmonious nation: democratic elections, unarmed police, a common identity. However, just beneath this serene surface lies a menacing set of teeth: economically the country is surely on its last legs; extreme poverty looms; the government revels in a rhetoric of social division and those elections are far from democratic.

Mugabe is 91 years old but to suggest that his ruling party, Zanu-PF, will die with him is naive—that crocodile will continue stalking the waters of Zimbabwean politics. However, as Zanu-PF are exposed, which can be dangerous work, one senses that just as the crocodile proved to be more afraid of me, so their politics of division and corruption will slip away and leave Zimbabweans be.

Myles Owen, Curate

Designed by Will Sudworth. Printed by County Print, Altrincham, 928 5333

Baptisms:Harriet Rose Jackson Florence Rose Jean KilloranCharles Peter Kenny Thomas Stephen Kenny

Wedding: We congratulate:Mark Andrew Robinson and Lucy Kate Janet Galbraith

Funerals: We commend to God:John Abbott Erika Tully-Turner

Registers

Lurking danger in Zimbabwe

Regular Weekday ServicesSt Mary’s

8.30 am

11.30 am

8.00 pm

Morning Prayer

Holy Communion (BCP)

Silent Meditation

Every weekday

Every Wednesday

Every Wednesday

1.30 pm First Steps, Parish Centre Every Thursday

St Luke’s

7.00 am Morning Prayer Every Tuesday

BCP: Book of Common Prayer (1662) CW: Common Worship (2000) SW: Service of the Word (2000)

Sundays in November - December1 Nov 1st Sunday: All Saints and All Souls

10.45 am

6.30 pm

Oblations: The Welcomers

Service for All Souls’ Day, with Mozart’s Requiem: the parish names and remembers those who have died.

8 Nov 2nd Sunday: Remembrance Sunday10.45 am Service of Remembrance followed by laying of

wreaths at St Mary’s War Memorial. No Holy Communion.

Zone2 and Kids’ Church mark Remembrance Sunday in the Parish Centre and join St Mary’s congregation at the War Memorial at 11.40 am

6.30 pm Choral Evensong, Harwood in A flat and ‘Faire is the heaven’, Harris

15 Nov 3rd Sunday: 2nd before Advent

22 Nov 4th Sunday: Sunday before Advent, Christ the King

10.45 am Confirmation service with Holy Communion (CW) Bishop Graham Dow (former Bishop of Carlisle)

29 Nov 5th Sunday: Advent Sunday

10.45 am

6.30 pm

Oblations: Bowdon Church News Distributors

Advent Carol Service

6 Dec 1st Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent

10.45 am Oblations: Confirmation group

Regular Sunday Services(purple boxes)

St Mary’s 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)

9.30 am Matins (BCP)

10.45 am

Holy Communion (CW)

Holy Communion (BCP)

All Age Worship followed by Communion

6.30 pm

Evensong (BCP)

Choral Evensong (BCP)

Sacred Space

Parish Centre

10.45 amZone2 (SW) and Kids’ Church

St Luke’s

9.30 am

Holy Communion (CW)Kids’ Church

All Age Worship

Myles with two Sisters at St Augustine’s school and orphanage, Penhalonga, Zimbabwe (photo: Fr Nicholas Stebbing)

It was a day of looking back and looking forward, of laughter and tears, of moving tributes, beautiful presents and

glorious music, of feasting and praying. At all four services on 11 October, the congregations of St Luke’s, Zone2 and St Mary’s, and members of the wider community, said goodbye to Roger, and to Catherine and their daughters Sophie, Christina and Alice, as they prepare to move when Roger takes up his post as Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington.

At each service, one of the churchwardens—Alec Bonson, Sue Redford and William Tyler—spoke of some of the many things that have been introduced or developed under Roger’s leadership. During all age worship at 10.45, the children of Bowdon Church School presented him with a large book they had made themselves, reflecting their memories of the happy times they had spent with him. A quartet from the church choir had written their own version of a psalm, which wittily captured some of the lighter moments of Roger’s ministry.

After a memorable Choral Evensong, featuring music chosen by Roger, there was a Harvest Hot Pot supper for 180 in the Parish Centre, when the Bowdon tradition of marking all special occasions by eating and drinking together was well and truly honoured.

But the central moment of the day came when Roger was invited to kneel on the chancel step, encircled by members of the Ministry and Mission team, the Standing Committee and the PCC, with arms outstretched to touch his shoulders. Father Gordon laid his hands on Roger’s head and pronounced the blessing. The whole congregation responded, ‘Roger, go in peace, to love and serve the Lord!’

Katharine Perera, Churchwarden

‘Go in Peace’

The Preece Family (photo: I-Lee Millward)

Sunday 1 November, 6.30 pm Mozart Requiem

St Mary’s Church, Stamford Road, WA14 2TRThe Choir of Bowdon Parish

Director of Music: Michael Dow Organist: Roger Bryan

A Service for All Souls’ Day

By cycling 50 miles round all the Anglican churches in the Bowdon Deanery on ‘Ride and Stride’ Saturday, Margarette Murdie raised over £1,300, which will be shared between the Historic Churches Preservation Trust and our own church. She offers her thanks to all those who contributed to this fine total; we offer our congratulations to her on this fine achievement.

Congratulations are also due to the 107 teenagers in our DofE Centre who have completed their Bronze, Silver or Gold expeditions and are working towards their full awards. Amy Carter and Anna Welford are our very first young people to achieve the Gold Award, which they received recently from Dame Helen Mirren and the Duke of Edinburgh himself in a ceremony at St James’s Palace.

Noticeboard

My family and I were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown to us on the day of my last services in Bowdon. We had moving farewells from each congregation and received, among other gifts, beautiful silver candlesticks, and a cheque which will help as we set up house. The donation of £1,000 to my ‘catalyst fund’ will help struggling churches in the Liverpool diocese.

The supper laid on by an incredible team that fed 180 of us in the Parish Centre was a great example of the parish working together. The happy memories will be with me all my life. Thank you!

Rev Roger Preece roger.preece@gmail.com

Thank you from our Vicar