May 2014 - St. Andrew`s Church

St Andrew’s Church Magazine for the Parish of Soham
30p
May 2014
Services at the Parish Church
Sundays
8:00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
Thursdays 10.00 am Eucharist (BCP)
10.00 am Sung Eucharist (CW)
3rd Sunday 10.00 am Family Service
A VISIT TO AMSTERDAM
As Delia and I helped to steward the Anne Frank + You exhibition in the Lady
Chapel in February, we became acutely aware that, to our embarrassment, we
had not visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. And so we acted quickly
to put that right.
We knew that the museum which
houses the Franks’ hiding place
is a huge tourist attraction. As
it happened, perhaps because
it was midweek during termtime, we only had a 20-minute
wait to get in. (Did Justin
Bieber have to queue?) At
fi rst, visitors shuffl e through
the warehouses and offices
where Otto Frank worked,
before being confronted by
the bookcase which hid the
entrance to the secret annexe. A
notice says ‘Please do not touch
the bookcase’, but it is impossible to resist placing a reverent hand on such an
iconic relic before squeezing into the narrow passage leading to the quarters
which housed the Frank family and others for two years. The rooms are left
unfurnished, on Otto Frank’s instructions, to symbolise the void left behind.
There are, however, some reminders of their occupation, most poignantly
the lines marked on one wall to show how much Anne and her sister Margot
had grown.
On 4th August, 1944, having been betrayed,
the eight people in hiding were arrested and
eventually ended up in Auschwitz. Anne’s
father Otto was the sole survivor. On his
return to Amsterdam in June, 1945, he found
that Miep Gies, one of those who helped the
family in hiding, had rescued Anne’s diary
and associated papers. The original diary is
kept here, and it is another highly-charged
moment to see such a document.
The museum houses a space which is given
over to a changing sequence of displays.
Like the exhibition in the Lady Chapel, it
highlights modern issues and features young
people whose stories may be compared
to Anne’s, such as Stephen Lawrence and
Malala Yousafzai. When I looked in, a video
was focusing on the English Defence League,
which is still making its ugly presence felt
on our streets.
[Continued on the next page
P May 17th Teddies on the Tower It’s time again to see
how brave your teddy is! We shall be parachuting teddy
bears from the tower between 10.00am and 12 noon.
There will be the usual Teddy Hospital on the ground
(for emergency running repairs) and refreshments will be served. All teddies
who make the leap will receive a certificate of bravery.
P The March 200+club winners were: £5-Lucy Constant and £10-Chris Madden
P Items for the June edition of LodeStar should be submitted by Friday, 23rd
May. E-mails should be sent to [email protected] or printed copy
left at 22 Sand Street, Soham CB7 5AA.
[Continued from previous page
Delia and I also had time to visit two other places which told stories parallel
to Anne Frank’s. The Dutch Resistance Museum tells how Dutch people stood
up to the Nazi occupation. The staging of the exhibits tells of how, despite the
increasing cruelty perpetrated on Dutch Jews, ingenious and daring means of
resistance were ever-present. Part of the story is told through the testimony
of four Dutch youngsters, and I was delighted to recognise Eva Schloss as
one of them. As Eva Geiringer, she was a friend of Anne Frank, and her
family’s hiding and betrayal almost exactly mirrors Anne’s. Eva and her
mother survived the Holocaust, and, after the war, Otto Frank married Eva’s
mother, making Eva Anne Frank’s posthumous stepsister. I had the honour
of meeting Eva several years ago, when she visited SVC with a production
of ‘And Then They Came for Me’, a play about her wartime experience in
hiding. By an eerie coincidence, Eva was featured recently on the Inheritance
Tracks slot on Radio 4 – the music she wants to pass on is Louis Armstrong’s
‘What a Wonderful World’.
There was one other place to visit which we found utterly devastating. The
Hollande Schouwberg, originally a theatre, is now a memorial. During the war,
it was used by the Nazis as a deportation centre. Jews from Amsterdam and
the surrounding area were dragged there before being transported, eventually
to the death camps. An exhibition shows its transition from a theatre to a place
of horror. Little of the theatre remains. An obelisk in the shape of the Star
of David was erected where the stage was, and, in the entrance hall is a list
of the 6,700 family names of the 104,000 Dutch Jews murdered during the
war. As theatrical types, Delia and I were sickened to discover that a place of
spectacle, magic and gaiety should have been appropriated for such evil ends.
Amsterdam has many other attractions. Some are exciting, uplifting, even jolly.
But, should you visit this most cosmopolitan and accessible of cities, take
time to witness its part in the darker times of our recent past. David Tickner
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William Case Morris
One of Soham’s sons who deserves to be better known in this country is William
Case Morris. He was born here in Soham in 1864 and, after being ordained, went
off to Argentina (known then as The Argentine) where he set up ‘Hogar el Alba’ - an
orphanage in Buenos Aires. It was founded in 1925.
Last month the present director
of the Orphanage and his family
visited Soham to see where Morris
was born (and is buried). They
were very moved by their visit. In
Argentina, there are schools, streets
and districts named after Morris,
such is his fame and legacy. Yet in
the country and town of his birth he
is virtually forgotten.
The picture shows the director
with his wife and family on their
recent visit to Soham. They were
presenting a plaque to St Andrew’s
Church to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of Morris’ birth. They
are standing in front of the stained
glass window at the back of the
south aisle in the church which was
dedicated in memory of Morris
and his work by the Argentinian
ambassador in 1957. The theme of the window is, appropriately, Christ blessing
the children and two of the children are dressed in the El Alba uniform of the time.
The orphanage is home to 50 children in Argentina; ranging from the ages of 2 to 18
years old. The majority of the children are from very under-privileged backgrounds.
The orphanage aims to replicate family life as much as possible by keeping siblings
together and having couples acting as parents of each house. The children regularly
arrive in poor health and lacking any formal education. Through the support of the
orphanage the children are integrated into appropriate schools and provided with the
opportunity to learn a skill that can be used in later life.
Antonio and Karina Fafulas are the directors of the orphanage. Due to current
nationwide economic problems, the number of children living on the streets in
Argentina is growing. As a result, Antonio and Karina are hoping to expand the
orphanage to meet the increasing need for homes for children.
They have been visiting the UK in April and early May to strengthen existing links
with organisations and create new links in order to raise the profile of Hogar el Alba
and continue its work. Please visit hogarelalba.com for more information.
Services for May
Sunday, 11th
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am Sung Eucharist (Common Worship)
Sunday, 18th
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am Family Eucharist (Common Worship)
Sunday, 25th
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am Sung Eucharist (Common Worship)
Ascension Day
Thursday, 29th 10.00 am Holy Communion
June
Sunday, 1st
Sunday, 8th
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am Sung Eucharist (Common Worship)
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am Sung Eucharist (Common Worship)
6.30pm Festal Deanery Evensong in Isleham with the Bishop of Ely
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Our April meeting began with Mr. Ken Cranfield taking up the spot allotted for
Public Comment Time. He asked the council if they would give all the support
they were able to the County Council in their bid to gain final approval for the
proposed Ely By Pass.
This was an issue which was brought up in the meeting and other councillors
suggested that our council not only give support to the County Council but write to
higher authorities in order to get approval because this has been going on to long.
Applications For Financial Support: We had three; one was for insurance to
cover the wild life garden, where children come to learn to grow plants. The
second was for support for the Citizens Advise Bureau at Newmarket, and the
third was for The Ladybird Boat. This is based at Hartford Marina, Huntingdon.
During 2013 the Ladybird did over 100 trips on the river for more than 1,200
disadvantaged adults and children from 90 different organisations in the county.
This scheme was run by St Johns Ambulance but they no longer fund it, having
donated the boat to this new trust. People from Soham have used this boat in
the past on more than one occasion and, although we were in favour of giving
support, it was suggested that the scheme be made more widely known so that
more local people could make use of it.
The Annual Town Meeting will be held at the Pavilion at 8pm on 19th May.
Councillor Ginn
Drama at St Andrew’s
In June we are pleased to be hosting not one, but two dramas at St
Andrew’s. At the beginning of the month KD Productions will be staging
the ever-popular Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat for
three performances (on Friday 6th and twice on Saturday 7th):
Friday, 6th June 7.30pm,
Saturday, 7th June 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
All Tickets £9.00 available from Susan Taylor (01353 721380), or email
[email protected].
At the end of the month the adult group of Viva will be staging a
wonderful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This will be on over three
nights (Thursday 26th – Saturday 28th) Tickets are available from the
Viva Centre (£10 and £8 for concessions). The part of Mr Collins – the
fawning and obsequious clergyman - is being played by a rather nervous
local clergyman who hasn’t trodden the boards for well over 30 years….!
Both these productions promise to be great fun and very entertaining.
Please book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Request from the FoodBank
We are still quite busy at the foodbank and it is clear
that we are giving away more then we are getting in
the Soham and surrounding area. We are also a bit
concerned about the balance of items being donated in the we have
rather a lot of pasta and beans.
Any donation is welcome but we are currently a bit low on canned
meat, fish, sponge and rice puddings, tomatoes, instant potatoes, tinned
vegetables and fruit.
If every family who attends St Andrew’s gave one or two cans it would
make a big difference. Thank you, Howard
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Restoration of Wall Paintings in St Andrew’s
Last month we were pleased
and privileged to see some
conservators at work in our
chancel. They were working
on the wall painting of Saint
Felix on the north wall and
the ornate painted niches on
the east wall, which date to the
late 14th or early 15th century.
These are just about all that
remain from a time when St
Andrew’s would have been
far more colourful and when
it was customary to decorate
churches with rich and striking
colours.
The Bishop portrayed on the
wall is believed to be St Felix of
Burgundy (sometimes known
as Saint Felix of Dunwich). He
was reported by Bede to have
brought Christianity to East
Anglia in c.630 and not only
built the first church in Soham
but also founded a monastic
school here. He is remembered
in the Church’s calendar on
March 8th.
St Felix was buried in Soham until the mid 11th century when the monks of
Ramsey removed his remains by crossing over the frozen mere by night. When
the residents of Soham complained to the King (Canute) he judged in favour of
Ramsey, because the freezing of the mere
was deemed to be a sign by God.
Historic images of St Felix are very
rare, one of the few being the statue at
Norwich Cathedral showing the saint
holding a crosier in his left hand, across
his body, while his right hand is raised
in blessing, in the same way as is shown
on the wall paintings here at Soham. The
layout of the figure is not unusual with
bishops often being shown in this stance
in medieval manuscripts.
The niches on either side of the
altar would originally have been
ornate carved structures containing painted sculptures. However, as with
much else, they were badly damaged at the Reformation and during the
Civil War. Nevertheless, the detailed medieval architectural painting
above the arches gives us the impression of their original appearance.
The early depiction of perspective
is particularly striking.
We are grateful to Mr Timothy
Clarke whose generous support
has made this conservation
possible; the work was undertaken in memory of Miss
Hazelmary Lyon 1900-1993.
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Dear Friends,
Last month saw the great festival of Easter, which means that this month we
shall be celebrating another important Christian Festival – the Ascension.
Whereas Easter and Christmas have made it into the secular world and are
celebrated with – amongst other things – public holidays, the Ascension is
something of a Cinderella festival. It is the third most important festival in
the annual cycle that commemorates Jesus’ life. Easter is the first and most
important because without Jesus’ death and resurrection we would have no
need to celebrate his birth at Christmas.
We are all used to the forty days which precede Easter, the period of Lent.
Ascension Day comes forty days after Easter, which is why is always
happens on a Thursday. The season of Easter lasts for forty days and the
Ascension is the culmination of the church’s celebrations of Jesus’ mighty
victory over death. Surely this is an important enough reason for major
celebrations. In recent years, however, the observance of Ascension Day
has fallen off quite dramatically.
At St Andrew’s we shall be observing the festival at our usual weekly service
of Holy Communion. Other ways of celebrating the Ascension have included
making a visit to a high place – such as a hill or mountain top or perhaps the
top of the church tower. I have heard of people lighting rockets and sending
them up into the sky on Ascension Day. Given the scarcity of hills and
mountains round here and the effort involved in climbing the 125 steps to
the top of our tower there is another Ascension Day tradition which is a little
less demanding: the horse chestnut tree is sometimes called the Ascension
Tree because it is often in full flower on the feast day. (Since Easter fell
so late this year and the horse chestnut trees are already in full flower, it
is unlikely that they will still be so beautifully in bloom on Ascension Day
itself, which falls on 29th May this year). The idea is to cut a few large
flowers and put them in oasis with some of the leaves from the tree filling
in the spaces. The flowers are like big candles pointing to up heaven and
the leaves point in all directions – to the ends of the earth.
You could, of course, join us at 10.00 am for our celebration of Holy
Communion on the day which is followed by coffee and biscuits – you
would be very welcome.
With every good wish, Tim Alban Jones
Baptism
30th March
Aiden Roger Steward
Funerals
2nd April
Barbara May Sporikou (84)
29th April
Baby Holly Mitchell
Weddings
12th April
Joe Stearn and Amy Donkin
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