Tag: St Cyrs

Thankfully, the days are drawing out and spring is approaching but it’s been a wet cold year for all of us. It seems that even the Toads are hiding away and delaying their migratory visit to the pond to date. Only the snowdrops seem to be flourishing and in greater profusion than ever especially in the field behind St Cyr’s church and in the church yard.

Bell Ringers

Meanwhile, we can look forward to enjoying the sound of the St Cyr’s church bells again on a regular basis. Andrew Ward from the local Wotton Bellringers branch is arranging a series of bi-weekly advanced minor practices for Wotton Branch ringers. On the second and fourth Monday evenings each month. 7:00 -8:30 pm Please let him know if you’re likely to attend, and if there are any particular minor methods you’d like to ring. The emphasis will be on Surprise minor, with the aim of working through the ‘standard 41’ – the ‘new’ method for this first practice will be Allendale (2nds place Norwich above, Allendale below). Other methods will be rung, especially if any local (Stinchcombe) ringers are able to attend.

Sponsored Walk

Looking ahead, another event to include in your diary is the St Cyr’s Sponsored Walk which is taking place on Saturday 29th March 2025. This year the Sponsored Walk will start from Gloucester and conclude at Slimbridge. It is in aid of two good causes namely St Cyr’s church and the Stroud Food Bank. As ever we are seeking support in the form of sponsorship for this event, so your help is warmly requested, but additional walkers are welcomed. Further details can be obtained from Pippa Leggate: email pleggate@aol.com

Mothering Sunday 30th March – 10.30am St Cyr’s Church

There will be a simple service of praise and thanksgiving centered on Mums and all those wonderful carers of our children. Please come and join in with family and friends of all ages for a time together with music, story, craft and thanksgiving. More details to follow but be sure to put the date in your diary.

Electoral Roll

Would you to consider being on the electoral roll for St Cyr’s church? This could be a small step in showing your support for the church as part of the heritage of Stinchcombe and a sacred centre for our community. Joining the electoral roll gives you official membership of the church, a way to show that you belong. It enables you to vote at the annual meeting and to be eligible to join the PCC (Parochial Church Council) which makes decisions about the direction and future of the church. There is no financial obligation or expectation for you to be on a committee! Every six years the electoral roll for Saint Cyr’s church is to be completed. All those already on the roll will need to reapply and we welcome new supporters. The media often use the Electoral Role figures when they write articles such as ‘the church is dying’ – so joining is a way of showing that the church community is alive and a reflection of all those involved in making St Cyr’s such a special place in our community.

Application forms for the electoral roll can be collected from Joan Jelfs or from the church. Alternatively, you may want to print one off by following this link and selecting Form 1 https://parishresources.org.uk/the-pcc-as-a-charity/apcms-and-electoral-roll/#Preparation_new_roll

In all cases, please return completed forms to the church.

The roll will be open from April 15th to April 29th and published in St Cy’rs church after its completion. If you are resident in the Parish, the only requirements for you to join the roll are that you are baptised, over 16, and for you to consider yourself a member of the Church of England. Finally, thank you again to all those who have generously supported the church over the last few years and who hold it as a central place within this wonderful village whether you worship with us or enjoy this special building.

The approach of Easter:

Please note that Easter falls rather later this year towards the end of April with Ash Wednesday marking the start of Lent on Wednesday 5th March. This will be marked with a service at St George’s, Cam and a Holy Communion service at St Cyr’s at 11.10 on Sunday 9th March. Full details of the Easter services will be provided nearer the time, although there will be a reflective service at 2pm at St Cyr’s on Good Friday 18th April March and a Eucharist on the 20th April – Easter Sunday.

Pippa Leggate – Church Warden

Church Warden’s Report from St Cyr’s – December 2024/January 2025

As usual in November two services of Remembrance were held at St Cyr’s church with the All-Souls service at 6pm on the Sunday 3rd November to honour and give thanks for those who have departed this life and the Remembrance Day services on Sunday 10th November to remember those who gave their lives to our country during the World Wars. Once again, we gathered by the War memorial for a short service to honour those who died with a two-minute silence marked by the bugler and the immortal words “We will remember them.” The names of the fallen were read out by Howard Cordle and the poppy wreath was laid by Albert Wyatt whose uncle lost his life in the First World War. Maintaining such poignant family links in Stinchcombe is important and it was good to see so many members of the village present. A special Holy Communion service then followed in the church.
Meanwhile it’s hard to believe that once again Christmas is fast approaching, and it will soon be that wonderful time of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus! In preparation, we look forward to Advent and to the services that tell the story of the arrival of the son of God.
With our smart new Notice Board at St Cyr’s firmly in place, we hope that you will have no difficulty in knowing what is taking place over the next couple of months!

Please note in anticipation of Christmas there are several dates at St Cyr’s church to mark in your diary as follows:

Sunday 1st December 6pm – Advent Evensong at St Cyr’s church

Sunday 15th December 5pm – Candlelight Carol Service followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Prior to the Carol service, the Scratch Choir will meet for several practice sessions, please contact Jayne Kirkham if you are interested in joining.

Saturday 21st December 10.30 a.m – 12 noon – Christmas Coffee Morning.
All are welcome to enjoy the festive decorations, Christmas cookies and coffee in aid of St Cyr’s church plus a special Book sale and Raffle. Also there will be a highlight on the new leaflet that focuses on “St Cyr’s Stinchcombe: Your Church” and ways you can offer support.

Saturday 24th December – 2pm – Christmas Eve – Once again on Christmas Eve there will be a special Live Nativity Service for all to take part in starting at 2.00pm, meeting first in the yard are at Church Farm opposite St Cyr’s church, to follow the Star and tell the story of the birth of Jesus in a manger with the animals watching round.

Sat 24th December 9.00 pm – First Holy Communion of Christmas First Holy Communion service to celebrate Christmas in St Cyr’s church will be a held at 9pm on Christmas Eve. All are welcome to celebrate this joyful time of year.

Christmas Day – 25th December – This year there will be no church service on Christmas day at St Cyr’s. The church will be open however throughout Christmas day for private prayer.

Sunday 29th December at 11.10am – Benefice Eucharist – the last Holy Communion prior to the New Year 2025.

As we look forward and prepare for Christmas, do please share details of the forthcoming dates and events with your friends and neighbours. All are welcome here at St Cyr’s church especially as we continue to enjoy the improved access facilities following the “Open to All project” that has extended the opportunities offered.

Looking ahead to January 2025, the sequence of services will continue to be as follows:

First and third Sunday of the month- Evensong
Second and fourth Sunday of the month – Holy Communion

With all good wishes for a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year 2025
Pippa Leggate

Photo taken by Caroline Marshall

Funds for St Cyr’s Church

The PCC is delighted to have produced a Stinchcombe Village Calendar for 2022 for you to buy, reflecting certain local aspects, some of the photographic talent from the village and a way to generate funds for St Cyr’s Church.

A copy of the 2022 Calendar can be seen in the porch at St Cyr’s church, but copies of the Calendar can be purchased from Pippa Leggate at Church Farm, Wendy Hamilton at Manor Farm, Cherry Brown at the Old Post Office and other members of the PCC.

The cost of the Calendar is £10.00 and all proceeds go to St Cyr’s Church.

A Gift for Christmas

Named Individual recognition has not been given to all those who contributed, but we would like to express sincere thanks to everyone who assisted with this project in aid of the church.

We hope you will enjoy the Calendar throughout the next year and that it will be a provide welcome gift for Christmas.

Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust “Ride and Stride” Event

On Saturday 11th September 2021 it will be the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust “Ride and Stride” event.

Andy Hamilton, Phil Joynson, Paul Creamer and Richard Bartlam, will once again be cycling on behalf of St Cyr’s. The route this year can be found HERE. Starting from Street farm and will involve loads of churches, 90km, hills and dales, but coming back to St Cyr’s during the afternoon.

They will be visiting as many churches as they can along the way, – so please encourage them with your generous sponsorship!

You can pledge your sponsorship at the “justgiving” website (search on the justgiving website for “St Cyr Stinchcombe”) or use this link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stcyrstinchcombe

or complete the form at the back of St Cyr’s Church.

Thank you for your support and generosity. This Charity provides valuable funds and expertise to maintain all our amazing Churches in the county, and 50% of all funds raised will be directly returned to St Cyr.

Help! It would be nice to have other cyclists with us as I struggle to keep up with Andy! – Richard

• Church Warden’s Report – March 2025
• VE Day 80th Anniversary
• Stinchcombe Village Hall update January 2025
• Auction of Drawings and Paintings
• Please Complete our Household Survey

Saturday 22nd May 2021 March to Gloucester

The good news is that we completed the Sponsored Walk last Saturday from Slimbridge to Gloucester both on land and on the canal!

A big thank you to all who took part and to everyone who supported us in this initiative. The support of our local community here in Stinchcombe is really special, so thank you all.

For those of us who took part, it was a wonderful day, great fun and successful on all fronts as we are thrilled to have raised over £1,000 for St Cyr’s church and the Stroud Food Bank. As the funds are still being collected the final figure has yet to be confirmed, so there is still time to donate online through the link if you have missed out so far! Here is the link  Meanwhile we are thrilled at the likely outcome.

There were ten of us walking the tow path and two in their canoe peacefully paddling their way to Gloucester and they were the first to arrive! Not that it was a race, but rather a lovely day in the open air out when even the recent uncertain weather was kind to us and we escaped the heavy rain experienced elsewhere.

On route we managed to walk and talk in a very sociable manner, so catching up on news and views, as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery and enchanting birdlife especially several families of swans with their goslings.

Once again, many, many thanks to all involved.

Pippa.

Lost but not to be forgotten

We lost Angela Tocknell this week. A forceful character who spoke her mind but who I always liked.

Bob and Angela Tocknell lived in the Quarry in Cam but they were always stalwart supporters of St Cyr’s for over 40 years.

Angela was on the PCC for many years and also served several times as churchwarden and verger.  She could always be relied on to organise and help with functions to do with the church, especially planning a delicious spread of food.

She was a founding member of the Friends of St Cyr’s, when the church was struggling financially. The Friends have enabled the PCC to maintain the fabric of the church and the condition of the church and churchyard has benefited from their support and attention.  She will be greatly missed by the village.