The Churches’ Magazine for Sandwichwww.stclementschurchsandwich.org.uk £1

The Signal

April 2020

A Prayer for this time

Keep us, good Lord,

under the shadow of your mercy.

Sustain and support the anxious,

be with those who care for the sick,

and lift up all who are brought low;

that we may find comfort knowing that nothing

can separate us from your love

in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen

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The Parish Church of St Clement SandwichOur Mission Statement – to worship, serve and make known to all the living Jesus Christ

www.stclementschurchsandwich.org.uk

Rector: The Revd Canon Mark Roberts, AKCRector of Sandwich and Worth

The Rectory, Knightrider Street, Sandwich, CT13 9ERTel: 613138 Email: revdmarkroberts@supanet.com

(The Rector is also a surrogate for the granting of Marriage Licences)

Assistant Priests: The Revd Robin Bendall, 24 Delfside, CT13 9RL 617458 The Revd Howard Pashley, 56 New Street, CT13 9BB 612018Deacon: The Revd Jasmine Roberts, The Rectory, Knightrider Street 613138Churchwardens: Mr Barry Brooks 32 St Peter’s Street, CT13 9BW 614758 Mrs Diane Coller 49 Dover Road, CT13 0BX 619403PCC Secretary: Mrs Janet Dean, 74 St George’s Road, CT13 9LG 617274Parish Treasurer and Gift Aid Secretary: Mr Richard Palmer, Little Acorns, King’s Avenue, Sandwich Bay, CT13 9PG 614583Electoral Roll Officer: Mrs Maggie Kasap, 12 John’s Green, CT13 0DE 615207Director of Music: Dr Andrew Larner, Melrose House, Lower Street, Eastry CT13 0JG 721965Assistant Director of Music: Mr Julian Sampson, Keymer Cottage, Longmete Road, Preston 01227 721697Assistant Organist: Mr Robert Tapsfield, Flat 4, 16 Bridge Close, Sandwich, CT13 9QG 373005PARISH MAGAZINE – ‘THE SIGNAL’Editor: The Rector 613138Advertising: Miss Sophie Friend, Courtyard Offices, Harnet Street, CT13 9ES 629000Distribution: Mrs Beryl Sampson, Keymer Cottage, Longmete Road, Preston 01227 721697Churchwatch Mr David Senior, 3 Mill Close, CT13 9JD 612782Toddler Group: Mrs Lucy Dent, 2 Coronation Cottages, Jubilee Road, Worth CT14 0DW 07936 416672Pastoral Care Group: Mrs Brenda Turnbull, 3 Gardners Quay, Upper Strand Street, CT13 9DH 611389Events Group: Mrs Susan Pashley, 56 New Street, CT13 9BB 612018‘Coffee Pot’: Mrs Carole Brown, 78 New Street, CT13 9BD 614120Bellringers: Mr Martin Thorley, 8 Hastings Place, Sandwich, CT13 0RE 07968 065123Servers: The Revd Jasmine Roberts, The Rectory, CT13 9ER 613138Flowers: Mrs Mo Hare, 10 Upper Strand Street, CT13 9EE 614792The Children’s Society: Mrs Gillian Robertson, Hedges, St Georges Lees, CT13 9JS 612876ST CLEMENT’S HALLSecretary (Bookings): Mrs Carole Brown, 78 New Street, CT13 9BD 614120Parish Safeguarding Coordinator: Mrs Pam Eccles, 87 Sandwich Road, Whitfield, CT16 3LV 826716Parish Disclosure Officer: Dr Kathy Bennett, Alwoodley, John’s Green, CT13 ODE 614067

SERVICESSUNDAYS WEEKDAYS8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 10.00am Wednesdays – Holy9.30am Sir Roger Manwood’s School Service Communion (BCP) (in term time)10.30am The Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)

For other services and events see Church NoticesEnquiries concerning Baptism and Marriage should be made to The Rector.

To make a donation online. Log on to www.stclementschurchsandwich.org.uk. Click on the Donations Page. Select the Just Giving (sponsor me) box and follow instructions.

For Privacy and Safeguarding Notices please see our Website

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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, CATTLE MARKET, SANDWICHMinister The Revd Bernard Fidder

Email: rev@fidder.uk Manse tel: 01227 767561 Mobile: 07341 967218Local Contact Kath Gifford 617834/07790299394www.sandwich-urc.co.ukThe news letter can be viewed on the web site www.sandwich-urc.co.uk and also be received by email by contacting Kath on Keka15scl@aol.com

ST ANDREW’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, ST GEORGE’S ROAD, SANDWICHPriest in Charge Father Christopher Lindlar, 149 St Richard’s Road Deal 374870

THE CARPENTER’S ARMS, SANDWICHAnna Upton 01304 614894

e-mail: aupton69@hotmail.com

ST PETER & ST PAUL, WORTHRector The Revd Canon Mark RobertsAssistant Priests The Revd Dr Jeanne Males, Collingwood House, 53 High St 275027 The Revd Robin Bendall, 24 Delfside, CT13 9RL 617458 The Revd Howard Pashley, 56 NewStreet, CT13 9BB 612018

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN SANDWICHChairman The Revd Canon Mark RobertsSecretary Mrs Anna UptonTreasurer Mrs Sallie Greenhalgh

Other Churches Contact Details

LIGHT OVERCOMES DARKNESSGood Friday and Easter 2020

This month’s Cover

COPY FOR THE SIGNALPlease note that if you have any copy for the next issue of The Signal it should be either:

Delivered to: The Rectoryor emailed to: jasmineroberts@supanet.com

by: 10th April 2020

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The Rector Writes 26:11

HOW WILL WE CELEBRATE EASTER?This edition of ‘The Signal’ is unlike any other. Absent are the diary pages of events both in our churches and in the town. Absent are a number of notices and advertisements for events this month. These are not normal times. Our life is on hold. Like me you will be fearful, anxious, sad, confused – all these emotions and more – as we face the Coronavirus crisis.

As I write we have just received the guidance, indeed the instruction, that all public Services in our Churches should be suspended. This is unprecedented. In many ways it is shocking because it has never happened before, not even in our darkest times and our times of war. I know that this is deeply unsettling for us and the timing is extraordinary as we move from Lent to Holy Week and to Easter. ‘How will we Celebrate Easter?’ says one of my correspondents writing they say, ‘in sorrow’.

We think of times of war, but a pandemic is something else. You can’t touch the virus, see it or even know where it is. It as unseen enemy.

The effect of the virus could drive us apart. To some extent it must do and it is. How we are already missing our usual social interaction. Being ‘isolated’ is hard, it is depressing, it is lonely.

The answer to conquering our fear is the love that we show and the love that we receive. How do we still cling on to hope? How can we still celebrate Easter when we very much feel we are in a dark place? You can be sure I am asking myself that question. Hope comes from what we can do and who we are. There are things we are being asked to do, and told not to do, as individuals, but above all we are to look after one another and that is what we are doing. Pastoral care, concern and practical help for our neighbours, for the vulnerable, the isolated is exactly what is happening. It’s to be expected, knowing this community, and it’s going to have to go on, we think, for quite a time.

There is a further thing that everyone can do. We can pray. We can pray at home, we can pray for ourselves, for our loved ones and neighbours. We can pray hard for our country and the world, the vulnerable, worried and the NHS. As individuals we can pray in church at the times when the church will be open for visiting, prayer, meditation, and candle lighting.

Where is our hope? It is in acts of love and the reaction to those in need. It is in the love and faithfulness of God. This is the God who shared the pains and fears of our lives in Jesus Christ, who faced death but overcame it. We have to believe that God will see us through what we are now facing.

Yes Good Friday, but yes too we will celebrate Easter.

Mark RobertsRector

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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) GUIDANCE FOR PARISHES FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

At St. Clement’s Church we are committed to the safety of our Congregation and will implement all aspects of the Church of England’s

Guidance as follows:

• As the magazine goes to print we have received the very latest guidance that states that sadly all churches must be closed until further notice.

All public services are suspended.

• The Rector will celebrate Holy Communion for the Parish and the People of Sandwich, on Sunday mornings at 10.30am, and on Wednesday mornings at

10am. Please note these are NOT public services.

Revd Canon Mark Roberts – RectorBarry Brooks and Diane Coller – Churchwardens

The sermon preached by the Right Revd Michael Turnbull at St Clement’s Church on Sunday 15th March 2020 (The Third Sunday in Lent)

Dressed in my dog collar I was waiting for the last bus from Canterbury back home. I suddenly realised I had no money in my pocket. The only other person around was a young woman dressed in a Muslim headscarf. I plucked up courage. ’Can you possibly lend me my bus fare. I promise to pay it back’

She looked at me and screamed. ‘You are man speaking to me a woman at this time of night? You are a Christian minister asking me, a Muslim, for a favour? You look well-dressed so why are you asking me for money?’

Of course I’m making it up to try and emphasise what a scandalous situation Jesus found himself in. (Not for the first or the last time). Samaritans and Jews had hundreds of years hostility between them. They had different beliefs. Samaritans were a despised minority in a remote part of Palestine. Men and woman would not speak to each other.

I don’t believe this encounter was an accident. It was part of Jesus’ intention to meet her. We are told that Jesus had to go via Samaria to get back to Galilee from Jerusalem. That is puzzling because Jesus could have chosen safer routes – there was the Roman highway which carried the main trade route and there was another route via the Jordan valley which was well populated. But the route he chose was through the central highlands with its steep hills and ravines – dangerous today let alone on foot 2000 years ago. Apart from the likelihood of meeting thieves the main reason for avoiding this route was that it went through Samaritan territory.

Jesus and a foreigner – and the Coronavirus

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But Jesus deliberately chose it. Why? Because he had something absolutely crucial to say to the people he met and equally to his disciples.

In our Thursday groups (it’s never too late to come!) and daily readings we have been noticing how Jesus takes the fundamental needs we have and uses them for teaching about God at the heart of our existence – light, bread, water. With this Samaritan woman he extends his teaching by using water as a sign of the different levels of life on which God works. We read this passage about water alongside the ones about water of baptism, of water turning into wine, being born with water (Nicodemus), washing water on the disciples’ feet and the water which flowed from his side at the crucifixion. What a treasure trove of truth we are discovering.

But this morning we have only time to ponder on what Jesus intended to show by this scandalous conversation with the Samaritan woman. He is commending the development of a mind-set which requires deep change.

Let go of the petty laws and prejudices which build barriers between people.Knock down the walls which mark a false superiority of one person over another.Change your way of thinking about people who are different from you.Remember we are all in this humanity business together.We make life more difficult by emphasising the differences rather the more important things we have in common. Our needs of light and bread and water are the same whoever and wherever we are.

This is not how we normally think because through our animal like instinct for self-preservation we cultivate keeping ourselves apart from, and in competition, with others. Jesus is saying you must abandon that mode of thinking for your welfare is inextricably bound up with the welfare of others. Anything which hinders that kind of thinking – let it go. Knock it down. Search for the ways in which we can make sure that our common life is restored and built up.

We are not immune from building barriers and differences in the church. As the people of God in this place we need to recollect that it matters not a jiffy whether some are high church or some are low church, whether some like ancient music or some modern. Those barriers need to fall and we should build up the common life which says to the world we are all children of God.

I don’t believe God keeps a register of when we come to church but he does notice what a difference coming to church makes in our lives. In the end what we want people to say about us is not ‘what a nice person he is’ but ‘what an amazing God he serves’

The Coronavirus epidemic provides many opportunities to live out what Jesus is saying. To take the route through Samaria.

In the first place the virus clearly is no respecter of persons. It can attack presidents and paupers.

Jesus and a foreigner – and the Coronavirus

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It makes us aware of our heavy dependency on each other. Unwashed hands may leave behind an infection for others – any others – to catch.

I am appalled by evidence of stockpiling loo roles by the sort of people who would knock others overboard to be first to the lifeboats. Sharing rather than hoarding should be the name of the game.

For the elderly and infirm who live on their own this is going to be a particularly challenging time. If it comes to isolating it is a very fearful prospect for some. A telephone conversation, a bit of shopping, collecting some medication. Speaking and engaging with people in the street who we would not normally speak to will allay fears and encourage people to live through this. It takes a bit of courage but sometimes we have to take the route through Samaria.

A Jesus frame of mind will also be conscious of people who are in much more vulnerable places than us. 24 miles from here are people living in insanitary conditions in Calais. We are tempted say well that’s their fault or they are someone else’s responsibility. And what about thousands of people living in refugee camps because their homes have been shelled in wars which they don’t understand.

We’ve been talking about the fundamental need of all human beings to have water – more so in a global epidemic. We are told to wash our hands but what about people who have no clean water to wash with? Water Aid and your Lenten box is a response to that.

These things seem so small amongst a huge problem but they are signs that a Jesus way of thinking is taking a hold of us. Taking the road through Samaria. And we will leave church today not simply having satisfied our own spiritual needs and met nice friends but changed so that we can see the world, with its potential and its epidemic, in a new light.

Our Bishop Rose tells a story about a film producer who had become a Buddhist because, he said, ‘Buddhism is a way of life but Christianity only happens once a week’

May that not be true of us.

Michael Turnbull

Jesus and a foreigner – and the Coronavirus

Coffee and Crêpes

Just a quick thank you to those who supported the Coffee and Crêpes morning on Shrove Tuesday, 25th February. We raised £148 for the Children’s Society.

Anna Upton

Age Concern are suspending their day Centre services from 4pm Friday 20th March.We are expanding our meals on wheels service,

(meals need to be booked the working day before)and telephone befriending.

We will continue to be a telephone support service offering information and advice.

If you know of anyone who may need support during this time please do contact Age Concern on 01304 614237 (option 3) and ask to speak to Jane or Kim

CORONAVIRUSA Message from the Leader of the Council

These are unsettling times, but I wanted to reassure you that we are doing everything to maintain the delivery of the Dover District Council services that you rely on.

We have well-rehearsed contingency plans and moved quickly to make sure that our frontline services, such as waste and recycling collections, street cleaning, and housing continue as usual.

Our offices remain open at this time, although we’re not encouraging people to visit in person to help with the current guidelines on social distancing. Remember, you can access the vast majority of council services online at www.dover.gov.uk, where we’ll also be posting regular service updates. You can also telephone us on 01304 821199. Please bear with us as the telephone lines may be busier than usual.

The majority of our back-office staff are now working from home. We had already invested in the technology that allows us to do this with ease. We’ve also introduced measures to protect our front-line staff and contractors. Please respect the social distancing guidelines should you need to interact with our staff whilst they are working.

There may be challenging days ahead, and we will continue to focus all our efforts in helping you through this period. We all need to do our bit, and I am already impressed with the sense of community spirit that is coming to the fore.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett

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Sandwich in Bloom

As I write this the poem that starts with the line 'Spring is knocking on the door' comes to mind. Around us we see the bulbs flowering, bringing colour to our town. The dark, wet and windy days can soon be forgotten as we look forward to filling the town with colourful floral displays once again.

We have been very pleased with the barrier baskets along the Quay which we planted for the first time this winter. We regrettably had to empty six, due to the pole on which they were placed needing repair, we hope they will be able to be filled again and this will be done as soon as DDC complete their work. The Sandwich in Bloom team have not stopped working throughout the winter months, we have been busy planning and preparing for the eventful year ahead. As well as the 149th Open coming to Sandwich this year, we are entering Sandwich into the South East in Bloom competition. This requires a great deal of preparation as it not only involves plant displays. We need to also show how we are promoting bio diversity and good environmental practice as well as how we engage with the community in Sandwich.

We are working with DDC to make the town clean and litter free as much as possible and sprucing up the benches and street furniture. DDC and their contractor Veolia are very supportive and we really appreciate their efforts to make Sandwich look as pristine as possible. We are organising a town clean up on 4th April and hope to see lots of people taking part.

Essential to our success is our valued group of volunteers, without them we would not be able to continue. They help in planting and deadheading and most importantly watering the baskets and troughs around the town. Everything we do and plan is guided by how we support the displays once planted and how we transport water to the areas where they are needed. We are grateful for DDC who have this year provided us with a new hose for the Quay. This will make the job a great deal easier for our volunteer team.

We are so very grateful to all our Sponsors and to the Co-op, from whom we received a generous contribution from their Community Fund scheme. This has assured our position for this year and next.

The future requires us to look for the next project for us to turn our attention to, we already have some exciting ideas which we need to check are possible but we hope to be able to share these with you very soon. Keep up to date by logging on to our Facebook page or if you want to help or contact us please do so via sandwichinbloom88@gmail.com

Janet Haines

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DEAL AREA EMERGENCY FOODBANK

Since preparing my original article the current Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated to a situation none of us could have anticipated. I will still start though by including some extracts from a recent letter sent by the Food Bank administrator.

“Generally we expect March to be one of our busiest months for vouchers because tax credits are stopped on 16 March until they have been recalculated for the new financial year.

An additional concern now is that coronavirus and/or the measures to counter it and/or panic relating to it mean that the most vulnerable people, who have no savings to cushion them, lose income which is fundamental to them coping and then depend on Universal Credit whose administration is already overwhelmed.

Statistics for vouchers in the Sandwich catchment area are that we issued 109 food parcels in the year to 29 February 2020 supporting 192 adults and 138 children for three days each. I would be fairly sure that church members also donate via collection bins at local supermarkets, but obviously that is not measurable. So a special thanks to you and to all those at St Clement's who support us and through us the vulnerable people in the Deal and Sandwich area who are in food crisis. Every blessing”

James Archer Administrator Deal Area Emergency Foodbank

Sadly just at the time the Deal Area Food Bank needs our support, as you are no doubt aware by now, St.Clement’s has had to cease being a Food Collection Point for the foreseeable future. This is partly because there are now no church services and partly because we have no way of transporting goods to the Deal warehouse. (Both volunteers involved with the Food Bank at St.Clement’s will soon be part of the ‘stay at home’ brigade.)

But PLEASE continue to support the Food Bank by either donating pre-packaged foods and household items at the Co-Op store, or consider giving money. The latter allows staff to purchase goods which are in short supply at the Bank. For information either go online at www.dealarea.foodbank.org.uk or telephone 01304 728428 (Tuesdays – Thursday 8.30 – 11 am). There are also Foodbank Gift Aid envelopes at St.Clement’s to use and the church will be open at certain times. (If you are not Gift Aiding then just leave the details blank.)

Many thanks as ever for your continued support.

Maggie Kasap (Food Bank Church Rep.) 615207

THE PARISH CHURCH OF SANDWICH (ST CLEMENT’S) MEETING OFPARISHIONERS AND ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING 2020

At the Meeting of Parishioners held on Tuesday 10th March 2020 the following were elected

The following were elected as Churchwardens:

Mr Barry BrooksMrs Diane Coller

The following were elected as Representatives on the Sandwich Deanery Synod (2020-2023):

Mr Ken Young Dr Kathy Bennett Mrs Susan Pashley

The following were elected to the Parochial Church Council:

Dr Kathy Bennett Mrs Susan PashleyMs Janet Dean Mr Ted PriceMr Paul Graeme Mr David SeniorMr Anthony Johnston Mr Robin ShephardMr Derek Kirkaldie Mr Aaron WorthingtonMr Richard Palmer Mr Ken Young

The following were appointed Sidesmen:

Dr Kathy Bennett Mrs Ann Harrison-Brooks Mrs Susan PashleyMrs Lin Connor Mr Hugo Jordan Mr Ted PriceMr Geoffrey Cornelius Mrs Maggie Kasap Mrs Gillian RobertsonMiss Patricia Crawhall Mrs Carol Knight Mr David SeniorMs Janet Dean Mr Peter Knight Mrs Leena ShahMrs Linda Elliott Miss Margaret Leeson Mr Aaron WorthingtonMrs Jenny Gates Mr Nick McConnell Mrs Charlene WorthingtonMr Paul Graeme Mr Andrew Motion Mr Kevin WrightMrs Sue Graeme Mr Richard Palmer Mr Ken Young

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A GOOD READ

For those who have enjoyed the Lenten habit of daily bible reading and wish to continue, The Bible Reading Fellowship publish a number of excellent helps. One of the best is ‘New Daylight’ which contains a daily short bible passage followed brief comments. The latest edition (£4.70 from BRF online or through me 01304 611389 by 15 April, pay later) covers 4 months from May to August 2020.

Now for a novel to entertain you – but only if you are prepared to laugh at yourself. The book starts in April 2010 and ends in September 2018, years when we were all embroiled in the confusion and embitterment of Brexit. However we approached the subject itself, it seemed as though it not only divided the country politically but, far more significantly, it tore holes in our social cohesion, when we lost trust in close friends and questioned the sanity of some family members. All this is reflected in the stories built around the credible characters of this smoothly written saga.

It has all the dark undertones of a nation uncomfortable in its own skin and yet it is one of the most amusing books I have read in recent years. This is partly because I recognise the people in it (including bits of myself) and, looking back from the safe haven of Brexit (almost) Done, I can now smile at the rough seas we all made for ourselves.

‘Middle England’ could mean middle class, which all the main characters are; it could be the geographical setting which is largely Birmingham or London; it could be the avoidance of extremes which the English are very good at and most of the squabbling is good natured at least on the surface. Hence we move from set piece to set piece in order to provide comical situations which carry a serious message in a light hearted way. Ingenious and enjoyable.

My only regret is that the real north of England has only two passing references and then it is as a place where ‘the light is as grey as it gets’. And yet it was the north which made Brexit possible. But then it is not Middle England in any of those senses.

Middle England by Jonathan Coe published by PenguinMichael Turnbull

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ST CLEMENT’S CHURCHYARD REDISCOVERED (April 2020)

I am pleased to say that February’s winds and rain did no long-lasting damage to the Churchyard but the weather has limited physical activity by the volunteers beyond tidying up of the Garden of Remembrance and collecting and removing some of the small branches brought down by the storms. However, whilst our activities have been limited the same cannot be said of nature as the plant-life continues to flourish and enjoy the newly found light created by last year’s ground clearing. In the last month I have discovered swathes of pale yellow primroses appearing through last autumn’s leaves in the south part of the Churchyard, and I was astonished to see a patch of lime green euphorbia standing erect and proud on the edge of one of our wild flower areas. Euphorbia is not a native of the English countryside so their appearance is a surprise. The seeds may have been spread by birds or planted by relatives of those buried in the vicinity; either way; we welcome their appearance and will nurture them in the coming years.

What last year’s clearance work has done is to confirm that St Clement’s Churchyard has been cherished and nurtured in the past and all that we are doing is to allow the work of others to flourish once more and be enjoyed once again. I have recently spotted a group of white tulips by a grave which until last winter was hidden under an elder. They have now been able to emerge and shimmer in a place where previously there was only darkness and shade. We are also able to enjoy the appearance of the purple and white hyacinths from the bulbs that were planted last December and donated to Sandwich in Bloom by Dover District Council (DDC).

As regular readers will be aware, in the March article I admitted that my own knowledge of plants was somewhat limited and I have had to rely on the expertise of others as well as Google and this has been the case with my latest ‘discovery’ just to the north of the path by the Knightrider Street entrance to the Churchyard. There is a clump of beautiful white flowers which I understand are white wood

anemones. They are, as their name suggests, usually found in woodlands but disappear once the canopy returns, as they need light to thrive. I hope that in time they will flourish and we will have our own ‘galaxy of stars’ across the Churchyard floor in early March. Wood anemones are also part of the buttercup family so the Churchyard is home to three members of the family: aconites, celandines and anemones.

For those of you who are interested in the progress of our application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) I thought that you might be interested in an update on the

Primroses gathered round the obelisk memorial

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responses to our questionnaires now that the closing date has passed. We were thrilled by the number of people who took the time to respond and share their ideas, thoughts and views. We would like to thank every one of the eighty-two people who returned a completed questionnaire. There was almost universal encouragement and support for what the volunteers had done or were planning to do. Where there were concerns it was a genuine fear that we were intending to create a sanitised space that would drive away the insect and bird life and destroy the habitats that they have enjoyed to date. I trust that as time passes everyone will come to see that we have no such intentions and what we are seeking is harmony and balance.

One concern expressed in the questionnaire was that the early cutting of the ground in the north part of the Churchyard would destroy the wild flowers. As I have discussed above, I trust that this concern has been allayed by the way the wildflowers have already blossomed this spring. A further concern was the loss of the cow parsley in the north Churchyard. As regular visitors to the Churchyard will have noticed this season, we have attempted to respond positively to various requests by identifying a section of the Churchyard where we have retained the cow parsley. The aim is to allow this section to grow, flourish and flower before cutting it back. This decision has been made in consultation with DDC so I trust that the information and instruction are passed down the line to the team that

maintains the Churchyard.

Those working on the HLF bid had something of a shock early in March when an article in the Daily Mail celebrated a ‘new partnership’ between the Church of England and Atlantic Geomatics. Describing the project as preserving the past and embracing the future the programme is a national programme designed to digitally map and record all of the graves in every Church of England

ST CLEMENT’S CHURCHYARD REDISCOVERED (April 2020)

Euphorbia to the south east of the Churchyard

White Wood Anemones in the north of the Churchyard

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Churchyard in England by 2026 and place these on-line. The information will then be available to genealogists and others interested in tracing their family history. Rather than wringing our hands that someone had ‘stolen one of our ideas’ Linda Elliot has been in touch with Atlantic Geomatics and it is clear that there are synergies rather than duplication between the projects and she has agreed with her contact that when the project moves to Kent we will work in partnership with them. Rather than fearing for our HLF bid we believe that such a partnership will strengthen rather than weaken our future application. In the meantime, work has begun on checking the monumental inscriptions with a transcription made in the 1990s. Condition reports for the tombs have been completed and genealogical research has started. Already the researchers have found that there are some wonderful stories to be recorded and shared.

By the time this latest progress report reaches readers the big moment will have taken place. By that I am not referring to submitting the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF); I am referring to my use of the superb strimmer that the DDC gifted TO the volunteers last year so that we could finesse those areas of the Churchyard that we felt require additional attention. As someone who has spent almost a lifetime studiously avoiding machinery of any kind, the sourcing of ‘two stroke’ petrol and differentiating between a spark plug and choke have been something of a mystery! However, I have now added using a petrol-driven strimmer to my skill set and I trust that these efforts will pay dividends during the coming growing season.

It will not have passed many people in Sandwich by that this summer Royal St George’s Golf Club is hosting 149th Open Championship. This means that the eyes of the ‘golfing world’ will be on Sandwich or at least on Sandown Road as it is the only way to reach the hallowed ground. At the beginning of March, as a representative of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), I attended a meeting at Sandwich Guildhall to hear about the Green Initiatives Grant Programme. It appears that the R&A, DDC and Sandwich Town Council have set aside £52.5k to be shared among green community projects. The applications are competitive AND a panel will select those that they best meet the criteria. As we believe that there are elements of our ‘Rediscovery’ project that meet the required outcomes we have decided to submit an application. I will provide more information on whether our application was favourably received in my next article.

Finally, as we are now entering the real growing season I am looking for as many volunteers as possible to dust off their gardening gloves, oil their secateurs and join me in the ‘green gym’ that is St Clement’s Churchyard. As ever there is much to be done, much to discover and, if last year is anything to go by, much fellowship to be enjoyed. Please contact me if you would like to join the gang.

Barry BrooksChurchwarden

ST CLEMENT’S CHURCHYARD REDISCOVERED (April 2020)

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A Celebration of Kent Cricket’s 150 Years

One hundred and fifty years ago this year a momentous decision was taken at a meeting held in the Bull Hotel, Rochester that changed the sporting landscape of Kent. For years there had been a local, and not always friendly, loyalty between the Men of Kent from the east of the Medway and Kentish Men, to the west. And it was on the cricket field that the change took place. Those to the east of the river had played the game as the “Beverley Kent Club” whilst those to the west played as the “Kent County Club”.

This year is therefore, a very special one for Kent County Cricket Club, celebrating its formation as such. And with the famous and lovely St Lawrence ground, Canterbury, becoming its headquarters. The year was launched at a packed Canterbury Cathedral on 4th March with a Thanksgiving Service in the presence of the Club’s President for the year, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, local dignitaries and many past and present cricketers of Kent.

For someone who has been an enthusiastic supporter of Kent cricket for almost half of those 150 years, initially as a Junior Member, in more recent times a Life Member and a few months ago receiving the great honour of a Vice-Presidency, the occasion was a very moving and emotional experience.

The congregation was warmly received by the Dean, who expressed his delight that the Club had chosen Canterbury rather than Rochester for this Act of Worship. For an Act of Worship it really was, both to Cricket and to God, with which the sport, at least locally, has had a close link throughout the Club’s life.

The organisation for the occasion had been overseen by Jeremy, the second son of the late Lord (Colin) Cowdrey, in consultation with the Dean and the Cathedral authorities.

Photograph by kind permission of Kent County Cricket Club

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A Celebration of Kent Cricket’s 150 Years

There were four rousing hymns, led by The Crypt Choir of the King’s School of Canterbury Cathedral, who also sang the Jubilate Deo and, one of the highlights of the occasion, performed as a Psalm with words by Jonathan Rice, Kent’s 2018 President, “The Kent County Cricket Club Role of Honour”. It was comprised of ten verses that listed the names through the decades, of those who became the heroes of their generations and today live on as legends. The music for this was a very familiar setting for a psalm specially arranged by the Choir. It fitted perfectly with the words and drew prolonged applause from the congregation.

The History of Kent Cricket was presented in three parts: “1870 – Heading for Glory and War”, which covered the time from 1870 to the outbreak of WW1 during which time Kent won the County Championship four times in nine years; then from 1919 through to 1970, “The Kent Centenary” and first Championship success for 57 years and then “2020 – Looking Forward”. The first two of these were narrated by Jim Carter, perhaps best known for his role in Downton Abbey. His mellifluous tones dramatically brought to life the doings of the many famous cricket names to which tribute was paid and amusing anecdotes told. For the final part of the trilogy, Jim Carter was joined by Matthew Fleming who captained the “white ball” players in the early years of the C21st and today’s popular and charismatic young captain, Sam Billings.

Prayers were led by the Dean and a special “Prayer for Kent”, written by the Dean was led by the Kent President. Kent’s young batsman, Daniel Bell-Drummond read from Isaiah and England Selector Ed Smith talked on “The Character of Kent”.

The Dean’s sermon, tailor-made for such an occasion, was sprinkled with delightful cricket anecdotes and the Christian message. The Service concluded with the inspiring words and music of Jerusalem.

“The Spirit of Kent” – verses written for the traditional Epilogue of “The Old Stagers” the oldest amateur dramatic society in the world, who have performed in the historic Canterbury Cricket Week since 1842. Their 1910 performance included the following words. They will have echoed the emotions of everyone in the congregation as they left the Cathedral. The words were beautifully read by Lady (Rose) Kingsdown during the Service:

I wave my staff with the hop leavesAnd though you sleep afarOn wide lone veldt or Frozen BeltOr under the Southern Star,I conjure up the white cliffs,Where the broken waves are spent,And leafy ways and old sweet daysIn the garden land of Kent.

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I bring again the orchards,And the oast house, kiln and thatch,And the village green and all the sceneOf your first cricket match.I bring again the greensward,Where your Kentish heroes play,And eager eyes and cheers that riseWhen Kent has won the day.

'The following day the Cathedral Company of Ringers rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Royal to celebrate the Club's anniversary

David Robertson

A Celebration of Kent Cricket’s 150 Years

ST CLEMENT’S LENT 2020Lent with St John

It is a real blow that we cannot meet on Thursdays but, as Bishop Rose has said, the church is not closing but changing. Though our group will not meet we will continue to be in touch.

We very much hope that you are continuing with our daily readings from St John’s Gospel. We both feel that the more we are reading the more revealing it becomes and we have enjoyed the contributions which you have made when we have met together.

At Mark’s suggestion we are continuing our series of Themes and then Study of one reading electronically.

We welcome any contributions, questions and insights you would like to share so do email us and tell us if we can pass your comments on to others.

With our thanks and prayers for every member of the groups.

Michael amichaelturnbull@yahoo.co.uk

Anthonyfranthonyfletcher@tiscali.co.uk

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BAPTISMWe welcome into God’s family

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