HPR July

MAGAZINE OF THE PARISH OF ST LEONARD
Mr Seagull enjoys the view!
80p
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHEETS
CANTERBURY OAST TRUST
July 2014
No 828
Church Services
Sundays
ST LEONARD’S PARISH CHURCH, Oak Walk
8.00am Holy Communion BCP (said)
9.30am Parish Communion
6.30pm Sung Evensong
ST MICHAEL’S METHODIST-ANGLICAN CHURCH CENTRE
Rampart Road
7.30am
11.00am
11.00am
11.00am
Holy Communion (BCP) – alternate Sundays
Morning Worship – 1st & 3rd Sundays
Matins and shortened Holy Communion (BCP) – 2nd & 5th Sundays
Methodist Holy Communion Service – 4th Sunday
HOLY CROSS CHURCH, Jubilee Close, Palmarsh
11am
Holy Communion – 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays
Morning Worship – 2nd & 4th Sundays
Weekdays
St Leonard’s
St Michael’s
Monday &Tuesdays
Thursdays
Tuesdays
8.00am
9.15am
11.00am
Morning Prayer
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Baptisms and Marriages: Apply to the Parish Office (Tel 262370)
Parish Office open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9.00am – 12.30pm
Website: www.stleonardschurchhythekent.org
T
The Parish is served by three churches: St Leonard’s, Holy Cross and the
St Michael’s Methodist-Anglican Church Centre.
Our mission is summed up in the following statement:
Proclaiming the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ and showing that love
to all people.
The whole worshipping congregation in each church in our parish has responsibility for
the delivery of that message but you may find useful information in the Parish
Directory on the inside of the back cover.
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HYTHE PARISH REVIEW
July
Dear Friends,
There’s a certain irony about the way that as people get older and their
memory banks become that little bit harder to access – they end up
remembering more and more. Take for example the way we’ve just been
remembering the D-Day landings, and will shortly be remembering the
outbreak of the First World War. But given that there are now no people
left alive who saw active combat in the latter, and only a small (and
rapidly-decreasing) number of people who were involved in the former,
what it actually means ‘to remember’ such events is bound to be called
into question.
I can obviously remember certain events from my childhood – but I can’t
remember any events from my parents’ childhood. I’ve heard about some
of them – but that’s very different to being able to recall where I was (and
what it felt like) when so-and-so happened to me at the age of 7. Proper
remembering of necessity has that ‘insider’ quality of the participant –
whilst the ersatz version involves being forever an outsider.
There’s something very odd about the whole idea of second-hand,
essentially vicarious, memory and it shades uneasily into the bizarre
scenes associated with the death of Lady Diana, with people (who were
often – but by no means always – quite vulnerable) apparently grieving
for someone they’d never met (maybe in the same sort of way that letters
of condolence are apparently sent to the production team on soap operas
when one of the characters ‘dies’?) Reality seems to take on a certain
fluidity in such circumstances and it’s debateable how far others ought to
collude in this.
I have absolutely no recollection of the outbreak of the Second World
War, or anything associated with it, as I wasn’t born until long after it all
finished. But although I can’t therefore remember the D-Day landings, I
can of course observe them and recognise the awful carnage involved.
Not in the same way that the participants can – as there are no personal
memories involved and for which I’m extremely grateful.
But for people like me, the vast majority, who were not personally
involved in any way – what are we to do with all the emotions that get
aroused by such commemorations? Those who were at the sharp end do
their own painful and entirely appropriate personal grieving – but what
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about the rest of us? The danger is that this ‘remembering-that-isn’treally-remembering’ can easily lapse into a sort of grotesque pantomime,
with people enjoying the bands and the marching and the choreographed
theatricality of the occasion. But in the process failing to engage even
remotely adequately with events that were awful beyond measure.
It’s obviously important to respectfully mark events (such as D-Day) that
helped ensure we were subsequently able to enjoy the benefits of a
democratic society. The loss of life involved was so great that simply to
ignore it would seem disrespectful and ungrateful. Of course we need to
honour the dead of such encounters. But it can’t stop there – because as
Christians, the test is always how we take things and use them to
advance the Kingdom. So what should we be doing now to combat evil
and help to build a world that is a great deal more like the Kingdom of
God than the one we’ve currently got?
It’s significant that so many of those who were involved in armed conflict
resolutely refused to talk about their experiences in later years. The
remembering that would have entailed was just too painful to bear. Our
remembering is not of that order – which is why we can do it almost at the
drop of a hat. Given that the First World War lasted for four years, from
now until 2018 there are bound to be a whole series of centenaries,
especially of the infamous battles in which hundreds of thousands of men
died for no obvious purpose. Next year will see the 70th anniversary of
the ending of the Second World War, which was obviously a cause of
great rejoicing. But what then? When 2019 arrives, will there be 80th
anniversary commemorations of the declaration of the Second World
War? When 2039 arrives, will there be 125th anniversary observances of
the outbreak of the First World War? And so on and so on. Or by then will
both World Wars have faded into the mists of history? How long should
these events be actively preserved in our collective memory? Will there
come a time when we need to let at least some of them go? Is there a
danger of memory-fatigue because the sheer number of commemorations
is so great? Do you think we’re nearly there?
Yours in Christ,
Tony
Editorial Jottings
Despite a bumper edition this month there is very little room for my
editorial so bullet point jottings they really are this month!
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 I know many of our readers enjoyed the visit of Canon Norman
Woods on Trinity Sunday. If you would like to have a copy of his
sermon please e-mail me or ask. I have a copy which can be emailed out or I will print off on request for those who find computers
too daunting to tackle!
 Please see page 17 for details of our new charity Canterbury Oast
Trust and make a note of the date for the Parish Garden Party –
Sunday August 17th – profits will go to this charity.
 I was sent a not entirely flattering picture of the two churchwardens –
also on page 17. Do have a guess at what we are doing and come
up with a caption! Answers next month.
 The deadline for the August Hythe Parish review will be Friday July
18th – magazine available on Sunday July 27th.
Pat Chipping
Readings for July
July 6th (Third of trinity)
July13th (Fourth after Trinity)
Zechariah 9:9-12
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19,25-30
Isaiah 55:10-13
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
July 20th (Fifth after Trinity)
July27th (Sixth after Trinity)
Book of Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
1Kings 3:5-12
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 31-33, 44-52
21st Annual Garden Safari – Sunday July 6th 2 – 5pm
Full details from Nettie Wren (01303 487285)
Maps priced £5.00 obtainable from Sunday 29th June
and on the day from:
Vergers, Church Road, Hythe.
All monies raised will go to Wateraid
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Through the month of
JULY
Tuesday 1st
12 noon
Janet Hughes – organ recital, St. Leonard’s Church
Thursday 3rd
12 noon
Adrian Oldland – piano recital, St. Leonard’s Church
Friday 4th
2.30pm
Meeting Point
St. John’s Hall,
Albert Lane, Hythe
Speaker: Malcolm Dearden - Wills
Sunday 6th
6.30pm
“Raise the Roof”, St. Leonard’s Church
Tuesday 8th
10.30am
Julian Meeting, St. Leonard’s Church
Thursday 10th
7.30pm
PCC Meeting, Holy Cross Church, Palmarsh
Saturday 12th
7.30pm
Narropera (Dorothee Jansen, Hydn Rawstron &
Hanns Heinz Odenthal) St. Leonard’s Church
Mozart – La Clemeza di Tito
Sunday 13th
3.00pm
The Grier Trio, St. Leonard’s Church
Mozart – Violin Sonata;
Bach – Prelude from Cello Suite No. 6 in D major,
Ligeti – Sonata for Solo Cello;
Cessadó – Requiebros; Brahms – Piano trio in C
Major
Saturday 19th
7.30pm
JAM – Mousai Singers conducted by Daniel Cook
with Onyx Brass, St. Leonard’s Church
Handel – Coronation Anthems;
plus music by Tavener, McCabe, Swayne
Saturday 26th
7.30pm
Nigel Ogden - BBC’s “The Organist Entertains”
St. Leonard’s Church
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PARISH REGISTERS: 1ST – 30TH JUNE
Baptisms
29th June
Amelie Marie McArdle
Weddings
7th June
Hannah Carr and James Hollingsbee
Rest in Peace
11th June
Robert Geoffrey Anthony aged 80 years
17th June
Eileen Evelyn Hawkins aged 93 years
Reading Error!
As someone who is rarely on duty in the Crypt I was talking with a few
visitors the other day and informing them about the recent article in
the Hythe Parish Review stating that the bones on display are without
doubt a 'normal representation of the population in Hythe and the
surrounding area in the medieval period.'
'That's interesting', said
one of the visitors, 'My pamphlet informs me that that they come from
the CHANNEL TUNNEL.' Concerned, I asked to see the pamphlet and
was glad to read that 'The bones were dug up when the CHURCH
CHANCEL was extended in the 13th century.'
An amusing reading error that could lead to interesting consequences,
but do we sometimes also mis-read our Bibles!
Dudley Shipton
News from Sue Bethel
I am nearly unpacked now. My daughter Mandy will be moving into a
more supported living environment in the not too distant future. I am glad
that I am on hand to make the transition a little easier for her. I have not
yet gained employment. I am being licensed as a Reader in the St Asaph
diocese on the 14th of June. All things being equal, I hope to pay a visit to
Hythe during July, when I will be able to catch up with folk properly.
Missing you all and with much love and prayers.
Sue Bethel
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Prayer Prompts for July
1st - Hythe Bay School
2nd - The Mayor and Town Council
3rd - Bishop Trevor
Prayer for July
4th - Our Lay Readers and ALMs
Lord of every pilgrim heart, you are
beside me and before me on the
way, surprising me through your
Spirit at every turning of the path.
I confess that too often I fail to
recognize you in the world around
me and the people I meet.
Whatever today may hold, open
my eyes to see your presence that
I may celebrate with you the gift of
this day.
Amen.
5th - Tony and Pat
6th - St Leonard’s
7th - Archbishop Justin
8th - The Julian Meeting
9th - Our Churchwardens
10th- The PCC
11th - Our choirs
12th - Our Treasurer
Adapted from “An Iona prayer book”
13th - Holy Cross
14th - The bereaved
15th- Holy Cross after school club
16th - Church finances
17th - Palmarsh School
18th - Suzanne Murray-Jones in Pakistan
19th - The Methodist ministry team
20th- St Michael’s Methodist – Anglican Church Centre
21st - Servers in our churches
22nd - The work of Canterbury Oast Trust
23rd - The work of CINDI(K)
24th - Local industry
25th - Peace in our world
26th - The Rainbow Centre
27th - Local hospitals
28th - Age UK
29th - The Social Committee
30th – The Standing Committee
31st - Pilgrim’s Hospice
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Gay Weddings – a personal perspective
With no intent of becoming the spokesman on gay issues, many of our
congregation have asked me about gay weddings and whether Michael
and I will get married, so here we go. I hope that all weddings are gay
[joyous mirth; light-hearted, exuberantly cheerful – Oxford English
Dictionary] but the perceived issue is marriage where the couple are the
same gender
The long battle of gay activists [as was fought by the
Pankhursts for women] was for equality – not the
words, but the practical rights and responsibilities.
The rights of joint ownership, of next-of-kin in the
event of sickness or death, of probate and
inheritance, of pensions, mortgage and insurance
[our last home was “mine” because “we” could not
legally exist], of tax codes for a dependent, of a joint
bank account, of a double bed in a hotel without
comment or prejudice [the days of “no blacks, Irish or DSS” may have
gone but legal challenges are still being fought by male couples refused
at hotels – yet female couples are assumed to be travelling companions
and accepted]. The responsibilities include loss of housing and jobless
benefits if one party is earning, joint asset splitting with the same legal
timescale and process in the event of divorce or dissolution.
In ‘The Old Days’ a man could be prosecuted for ‘breach of promise’
where an engagement was broken [only repealed in 1970]. Yet the
‘promise’ was never a written signed contract imposed by priest or
registrar, but was the couple saying, “Will you …” and, “I will.” Marriage is
the only sacrament not conferred by a priest, but mutually conferred by
the couple [they marry each other] and the state of the new union
proclaimed by the priest [or Registrar once Civil Marriage was established
in 1836]. The latest Roman Catechism states, “the spouses as ministers
of Christ's grace mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of
Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. In the tradition
of the Eastern Churches, the priests (bishops or presbyters) are
witnesses to the mutual consent given by the spouses,” [1992 revision by
John Paul II para 1623]. The marriage, regardless of gender, happened
when each said “I take you …” and the piece of paper was, and is, the
ticket to the legal rights while The Register is the guardian imposing the
responsibilities.
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Publicised criticisms and fears include the devaluation of marriage, which
I find as daft as believing a male priest would be less of a priest when a
woman is ordained. And what happened to the joyous, exuberant
cheerfulness for the new state of another couple - the green demon
perhaps? If Michael and I marry, would our marriage directly cause a
reduction in the love between each of the couples living in our road? I
think not. Critics also said, and still say, that gay relationships don’t last
and will make a mockery of the institution of marriage, yet real statistics
[which can only exist since the registration of Civil Partnerships in 2005]
as stated in the Daily Telegraph of 8th October 2013 show, “The surge in
dissolutions last year suggests breakdown patterns are likely to mirror
those for heterosexual divorce,” which also implies that ‘gay’ divorce has
not yet reached the same high level as ‘straight.’
Civil Partnership was the stepping stone used by governments in 2005 to
confer all the rights and responsibilities while appeasing the fearful by not
using the word “marriage.” Nine years on, it’s time to stop using a second
class terminology and to use the same word. New marriages are fine, but
plans are still being made on how to convert Civil Partnership into
Marriage because you can’t marry someone if still married – even if still
married to the same person.
So will Michael and I get married? We were the first in the Borough of
Hounslow to “Declare Intent” [publish banns] and we deliberately chose
not to have our Civil Partnership ceremony in a castle or a ‘beautiful
setting’ but in the local Register Office just the same as anyone else and
not in pink morning dress with everywhere swathed in pink chiffon like
some tasteless makeover programme. Mayors and clergy both Roman
and Anglican participated [all friends], and our newly-licensed Registrar
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conducted her first ever ceremony using the script I wrote for several
London Boroughs. Afterwards family, friends and all moved on to a long
boozy lunch with a free bar instead of the line-up greet and champagne
canapés which nobody really likes. It was a great day, although I missed
the end of the evening as I was sent home early from my own reception –
somewhat inebriated!
We already have all the legal entitlements for which so many
campaigned, so why convert our Partnership to Marriage; yet we also
have a wonderful new circle of Hythe friends and a welcoming church
with whom we would wish to celebrate. 25 years together feels a bit daft
to ‘start again,’ so we’re still thinking about it. If the C of E ever gets its
head into the 21st century to allow us to marry in church (all our friends
wouldn’t fit into the Town Hall), then maybe we’ll get married in St
Leonard’s with Tony celebrating and assisted by a woman bishop.
Hmmm!
Sean McNally
The Other Side of the Sheets
For the past 60 years I have worked in close contact with people coping
with illness, malfunction of body parts, infections and a wide range of
poorly defined malaise. During this time I have taken my own body for
granted, rarely having anything worse than a slight snuffle and an
occasional broken bone. With this good fortune and many other things to
think about I spent last summer attributing increasing tiredness to the
ageing process. Imagine my surprise when the GP confirmed my
suppressed self-diagnosis of heart failure and admitted me to hospital
that morning!
There and then my life changed, I had become a patient and more than
that, a patient spending nearly 3 months in hospital, most of it some 60
miles from home. The concept of being in charge of my own life,
contributing to the lives of family and friends together with my local and
widespread interests, to say nothing of commitments, had all been
withdrawn in a flash. Making decisions, getting up and going to bed when
it suited, eating food I'd cooked (especially bread) and of course
preparing for Christmas was not for me. I was unable to listen to the
radio, watch television or go shopping( anything from fresh fish to
Christmas and birthday cards). These "normal " activities were of course
provided, (I'm not so sure about the fresh fish…) but very restricted. Bedbound people are often reluctant to ask for help when access to the
outside world is impeded by tubes and wires and various gadgets.
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All life was confined by hospital routine, wake up at 6 am, washing,
various checks and medications, breakfast about 9am (by which time the
desire for coffee was intense!). The doctors round preceded this when I
and others would be told what procedures were planned…. rarely
something I wanted to hear, more X-rays or back to theatre and always
the question from me "When can I go home?" It was several weeks
before I realised that the food was not as bad as I had thought; my
distaste was the side-effect of unaccustomed strong and somewhat toxic
medication and as I improved so did the hospital food!
During my stay I was encouraged to use a special mattress (designed to
avoid the development of the dreaded bed sores). It was a new and
somewhat disturbing experience, waking suddenly from a deep sleep
when part of the mattress moved and I wondered who was in bed with
me!
Soon after my initial admission I experienced at William Harvey Hospital a
well-organised 2 minute silence for the Armistice and so expected some
celebration on the ward for Christmas at Kings. All I heard was a choir
rehearsing in the Chapel below. I realised sometime in late November
that I would not be home for Christmas and I felt I was not making
progress. Every meeting with the surgeons seemed to have more
interventions planned. One night I asked God for guidance - should I hold
on or should I let go? The next morning I woke up full of beans and
feeling much better. The nurses told me spontaneously I was looking
"good".
No doubt I have been helped enormously by this and by my family and
friends. The staff at Kings were examples of the best in the NHS but what
happens to those who have no professional knowledge of a hospital
hierarchy or no friends or families to support their healing process? May
God bless them.
Zoe Phillips (Dr)
We’re in the SUN!
Were you one of the 22 million homes that received a copy of a historic
edition of the SUN newspaper? If so you may have noticed that according
to this august publication a visit to the Crypt is one of the “50 Fab things
to do in England”. Since the paper was published to celebrate the start of
the World Cup, from which England made a swift exit, you may speculate
on the reliability of that recommendation!
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The Church’s Former Reredos
We think these pictures (which used to be sold as postcards) were taken
in the early 1930’s. They show the Altar with the reredos in its original
place. Carved from a single block of Carrera marble, it was the gift in
1880 of the Curate, the Rev’d Claud Brown, in memory of his late wife; he
must have been a wealthy man, for he had it designed by GE Street ARA,
who also designed our Pulpit in its earlier form, though he was better
known as an architect (e.g. of the famous gothic-cathedral-like Law
Courts in The Strand), and it was then sculpted by HH Armstead RA, at a
cost of £800 – a very large sum indeed at that time. Armstead also
created sculptures for the Palace of Westminster and the Albert Memorial,
and executed a large number of public statues and funerary works so was
very much the top man of his day at the time. With his contribution, with
Street’s, and with that of JL Pearson RA (who created our Chancel Roof
in stone, and went on to design Truro Cathedral) there is no doubt that in
the 1875 Restoration, St Leonard’s Church was served by the very best
talent available at that time.
The close-up photograph (opposite) shows the detail of the design: the
reredos is surrounded by a wide carved frame in darker-toned alabaster
(pieces of this are still to be seen stored away in the Crypt). The scene
shows the Deposition from the Cross. Jesus appears as a rather older
man than we might expect; his women-folk, the Virgin Mary, Mary
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Magdalene, and presumably Mary Salome are depicted offering reverent
care, and the curtains are held back on each side by Pre-Raphaelite
Angels creating a theatrical framework very much of its period.
As our Church Guide says ‘Its deep swirling lines give it an almost sultry
appearance’.
The bearded man in the left is surely ‘the rich disciple’, ‘good and
righteous’ Joseph of Arimathea, the ‘honourable counsellor’ (he was a
member of the Sanhedrin) who features in all four Passion narratives: he
had offered his own tomb, new and unused, though he is stated by John
to have hidden his discipleship for fear of the Jews – yet interestingly he
is also said to have gone boldly to Pilate to request he be given care of
the body. We might have seen Nicodemus depicted, since he too is
reported as sharing the task of ritual preparation with Joseph, but the
placing of the figures, the focus on Jesus as they lean tenderly over him,
and the overall design are perfect as they are, leaving little space for
another person. The details presented in the various Gospels about
Joseph bring him to life as a real figure. Later, in Apocryphal writings, he
is said to have cared for the Mother of Jesus afterwards (as did John of
course). But in Medieval times his name became linked with the
Arthurian cycle as the keeper of the Holy Grail, and it was claimed he
15
travelled to Britain and became the patron of Glastonbury.
without such accretions Joseph is an interesting man indeed.
With or
The reredos was moved, with its frame, to its present position in the
South Choir Aisle in 1938 because the Vicar said (according to the Vestry
Minutes) ‘that the doctrine teaching is incorrect’. There was certainly
debate in the Church of England at that period on where the Vicar should
stand when administering Communion – whether at the end of the Altar,
or facing the congregation, or facing East in the older High Church
position. So was the Reredos in the way? Or was the carving itself with
the three Marys, a very Roman Catholic concept, out of tune with his and
his congregation’s feelings?
We may wonder how moving it to a different location, only slightly less
prominent, would correct its doctrine? Then in 1957, according to the
information board in the Crypt, the alabaster border was removed, leaving
just the central tableau. Perhaps someone remembers this happening,
and why?
At least we can be thankful that this fine and reverent artwork remains,
albeit no longer in its original central position.
Mike Umbers
2nd July
Early Morning Safari Train
Jump aboard the RH&DR Safari Train and discover more about the
special landscape and wildlife of the Romney Marsh. Fully guided
by an expert from the Wildlife Trust’s Romney Marsh Visitor Centre,
our very own “Bug” will gently steam its way across the Marsh,
stopping to explore the flora & fauna at key points.
If you are interested in the history & heritage, landscape & wildlife of this
most special corner of Kent, then this is for you.
The train departs from Hythe Station at 7.30am. Please arrive in good
time to meet your guide and take your seats.
At 9.30 an RH&DR “Big Breakfast” will be served in the Heywood
Buffet at New Romney station.
Your ticket includes all the above, plus the Romney Rover ticket.
Tickets must be booked and paid for in advance. Just call our friendly
sales team on 01797 362353 or book on-line at www.rhdr.org.ukGreat
value at just £20.00ad & £12.00ch (preferably over 8yrs).
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. What in the world are the Churchwardens doing?
Please provide a suitable caption or suggest what is going on here – send me an email or drop a note into the church mail tray. Answers next month with the best
caption!
Pat Chipping
Charity Update
Ladder of Hope
We are very pleased to report that £1,140 has been raised in support of
the Ladder of Hope (CINDI) towards their work in support of orphans and
vulnerable children living in the township of Nkwazi on the copperbelt of
Zambia.
Canterbury Oast Trust
Being able to make choices about your life, about how you spend your
time, choosing friends, having freedom to express yourself - these are
things that most of us take for granted. If you have a learning disability
sometimes the choices offered to you may be limited and you often face a
lack of understanding about how you interact with the world.
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Having a learning disability should not define a person. Over the next six
months, the Parish is very pleased to be supporting the Canterbury Oast
Trust (COT), a charity which exists to make sure that adults with a
learning disability are supported in making choices about their own lives
and to be more independent and equal in society.
The trust provides quality homes and training, and places a strong
emphasis on supporting independence, developing skills and changing
people’s perceptions of disability. Across Kent and East Sussex, COT
provides 100 individuals with a home. Each house is unique with its own
individual character, but all focus on family-style living.
Additionally, COT supports a further 70 people at any one
time to develop their skills and capacity through their Life
Skills projects. And more people are being supported all
the time!
COT have a number of vibrant commercial enterprises
that not only generate income for the charity, but enable
disabled adults to train and develop their skills in a
commercial environment:

The 100 acre Rare Breeds Centre and Granary Restaurant

The Mariners Tea Room - a café in the heart of Rye

Poulton Wood Nature Reserve - a
beautiful 10 hectare conservation area
The Rainbow Gallery - producing quality fine art
and crafts


Rare Breed Plants and Produce
Carolyn Flanagan
Stop Press – Important Date for your Diary
On Sunday 17th August we will be holding a Parish Garden Party at
Vergers. There will be refreshments, produce for sale and a whole host of
other events. All proceeds will be going to our charity – the Canterbury
Oast Trust.
Full details in next month’s magazine
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For a quote at a time that
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[email protected]
For all your insurance needs.
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Concerts in St leonard’s church, hythe
Monday 30 June, 7.30pm – Norton Knatchbull Jazz and
guitar ensembles
Tuesday 1 July, 12 noon – Organ recital: Janet Hughes
Bach, Bridge, Dupré, Farrington, Franck, Mendelssohn,
Wagner, Widor
Thursday 3 July, 12 noon – Piano recital: Adrian
Oldland
Schumann, Chopin, Kabalevsky
Sunday 6 July, 6.30pm – ‘Raise the Roof’
Songs of Praise with The Medway Towns Band
Saturday 12 July, 7.30pm – Narropera (Dorothee
Jansen, Haydn Rawstron, Hanns Heinz Odenthal)
Mozart – La Clemenza di Tito
Sunday 13 July, 3.00pm – The Grier Trio
Mozart – Sonata for Violin and Piano in B flat, K378;
Bach – D minor Prelude from Cello Suite No 2;
Shostakovich – 2nd movement from Sonata in D minor;
Ligeti – Sonata for Solo Cello; Cassadó – Requiebros;
Brahms – Piano trio in C major
Saturday 19 July, 7.30pm – Mousai Singers conducted
by Daniel Cook, with Onyx Brass
Handel – Coronation Anthems; plus music by Tavener,
McCabe, Swayne
Saturday 20 July, 7.30pm – Nigel Ogden
BBC’s ‘The Organist Entertains’
For further information about these and other concerts organised by Friends of St
Leonard’s Church, contact 01303 264470, email [email protected] or visit
www.stleonardschurchhythekent.org
Tickets available from Brandon’s Music Shop, 55 High Street, Hythe CT21 5AD (tel 01303
264429)
20
Moved by the Holy Spirit
I am sure readers of last months “Review” will have been fascinated by
Mike Umber’s excellent article concerning the life and achievements of
Dr. Barnado. There are, as we are constantly reminded, many other
charitable organisations which undertake the same sort of work
amongst the poor, unemployed, elderly and inadequately-housed
people and children. They too deserve our support and interest.
What prompts people, like Dr. Barnado to devote their life, energy,
abilities and maybe personal resources to engage in such work? The
Christian will say “God the Holy Spirit”, whose festival was celebrated
last month, namely Pentecost. This strange experience of the fulfilment
of a promise is described in the Acts of the Apostles in some detail. It
was a sort of religious deployment of the disciples and their followers to
go out from Jerusalem and spread the good news (“Gospel” in
theological terms) throughout the world. To do this, they would be
strengthened with power from above and we know this as they obeyed
by reaching out into the surrounding countries as extensively recorded
in the remaining chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.
But this experience is variously repeated without realising it when I hear
someone say “I was moved to do this or that”, not being conscious that
it was the prompting of Holy Spirit leading them to do so. Sometimes
very big decisions are made, to the surprise of those around us, often
involving a complete change of life. In large and often small ways this
happens and not without some resistance on the part of the person
concerned. It may be very inconvenient to make a big change in one’s
personal life and costly too, as I know from my own experience. But
looking back I can vouch for claiming that I would not have it otherwise.
We often hear someone say “God knows best” and that is true, but it
goes further than that, and if we accept the challenge of whatever He
suggests, He will give us the strength to fulfil it. Whilst we refer to God
as creator and sustainer of all that exists, He cannot claim to be the
“managing director” as we understand it. He cannot force us to do this
or that, for it would deny us our freedom.
The account of Dr. Barnado’s life work reminds me of another fantastic
man whose life was completely changed, namely Dr. Albert Schweitzer
who was born in Alsace in 1875. He became renowned as one of the
most scholarly and gifted men in Europe, having degrees in philosophy,
21
theology, medicine and music. Even in his day publications and
unwanted pamphlets were thrust through his letter box most of which
were despatched to the w.p.b. Yet on one occasion an article entitled
“The needs of the Congo Mission” caught his eye: on reading it he
announced in his diary “my search is over”. In 1913 he gave up his
career and devoted himself to the hospital for sick natives at
Lambaréné in French Equatorial Africa, one of the worst disease-ridden
countries in the world. Being a German citizen he was interned by the
French government in 1917, but once the war was over he was
released. He returned to Lambaréné, restored his destroyed hospital
and spent much of the remainder of his life there tending the sick and
preaching the gospel. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1954.
The power of the Holy Spirit to challenge our lives is something we
need to acknowledge with a deeper trust – God is more patient than all
of us and, looking back over our lives we should be ready to realise
(though not necessarily at the time) how he has stared in our direction
and hoped for our “yes” to one of his plans!
Desmond Sampson
Church Cleaning
A quick reminder about church cleaning; this takes place on the first
Monday of the month from 9.30 am at St Leonard’s. A splendid team
has assembled on each occasion over the last three months. Not only
does this appear to be a better way of ensuring that the church is clean
and tidy, but it’s a great opportunity to get to know other members of the
congregation. Do come and join us – the next date will be Monday July
7th.
22
Review of recital by Meinhard Holler and Caroline
Bergius on 7 June 2014
Any regular attendee of the series of concerts organised in St Leonard’s
Church will assure you that the quality of music and the standard of
performance is invariably impeccable. This concert was certainly no
exception. Characteristically, it featured extremely accomplished
international performers. Austrian cellist Meinhard Holler studied at the
Richard-Strauss-Konservatorium, Munich, with Professor Jan Polasek,
and subsequently with David Grigorian, a highly-acclaimed pupil and
assistant of the legendary Russian cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich. He has
also taken part in courses and performances of chamber music with other
distinguished and internationally acclaimed cellists; Paul Tortelier and
Heinrich Schiff, amongst others. Caroline, originally from Argyll, studied at
Trinity College of Music, London before travelling to study in both Munich
and Paris. Both spend much of their time teaching and encouraging
young people, Meinhard with master-class courses in Austria, Germany
and Serbia, and Caroline with chamber music courses in Germany and
on the island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides.
The remarkable musical rapport between these two was apparent from
the outset for this was very much a cello and piano recital with equal and
complementary contributions from both instruments. A varied and welldesigned programme took us on a journey from the courtly baroque style
23
at the outset of the 18th century to the bold innovations of 20th century
Soviet Russia.
The programme began with Handel’s Sonata in G Minor, HWV 287.
Handel was nothing if not versatile with his own music and often recycled
it for performance on a variety of different instruments, as was common
practice at the time. As I had not heard of any cello sonatas by Handel, I
was correct in assuming that this was an arrangement, but in this case
not by Handel himself. It had begun life as an oboe concerto written when
the composer was only 18, where a cello would have been used as
continuo accompaniment, but in 1879 cellist (August Lindner) arranged it
for cello and keyboard. The arrangement seemed to work well and,
although the modern piano had a tendency to predominate in places, at
least from where I was sitting, the brisk tempi of the outer movements
were wonderfully controlled and the slow Sarabande was courtly with a
beautifully sustained melody.
The second item, Fünf Stücke im Volkston, op 102 (Five pieces in folk
style) by Robert Schumann was delightful throughout. As the name
suggests, it was full of good memorable melodies but arranged in full
romantic style with emotionally charged interplay beween the two
instruments. I particularly enjoyed the slow movement (Langsam) which
began with a serene and tranquil theme in a major key followed by a brief,
more melancholy section in the minor before a reprise of the first followed
by a coda echoing the second, but in the major.
Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso, op 62 set a much more sombre mood.
The capriccioso apparently refers to the composer’s fanciful and inventive
treatment of the work’s theme in a series of variations and
transfigurations. The composer was suffering from depression at the time,
brought about in part by the illness of a close friend. Something of the
profound tragedy of his Pathétique Symphony, with which it shares the
key of B minor, was apparent in this work, yet our performers avoided
indulgence and gave us a taste of Tchaikovsky at his more profound in a
strong and virtuosic interpretation.
The major work of the evening, and certainly the highlight, as far as I was
concerned, came after the interval with the Sonata in B flat major, op 71
(1962) by Dmitri Kabalevsky. Born in St Petersburg in 1904, the
composer had lived through two world wars, revolution, famine, the
Purges of the Stalinist era, and numerous other traumatic events which
resulted in unimaginable suffering for the Russian people and an
24
enormous death toll. Soviet censors demanded artists to conform to
conceptions of proletarian heroic struggle and the glories of the Russian
nation. It is to the great credit of the best of the composers that they
managed to work creatively and produce works of great originality and
individual character in spite of these strictures; to me it seemed that this
composition manages to reflect the profound tragedies and the heroism,
yet transcend official strictures and encompass the eternal unchanging
essence of Russia and its people. The work began (and ended) with the
distant sound of the tolling of Orthodox church bells; this in a nation
where Christianity had officially been abolished! Strong, at times
discordant and often frantic passages alternated with reflective nostalgic
episodes. A ghostly waltz played with muted cello sul ponticello (bow very
near the bridge) was followed by a frantic and impassioned final
movement constantly gathering momentum until finally fading away to the
chimes of the bells. It was certainly a technical ‘tour de force’ by both
performers who were as always in this concert playing ‘as one’; they
matched each other’s phrasing and dynamics with skill and sensitivity
throughout. Where the cello seized the melody I was taken back to a
memorable concert I attended some years ago at the Barbican where the
elderly Rostropovich was playing one of Shostakovich’s cello concertos
with his inimitable passion and commitment. The plaintive singing of the
cello in both concerts seemed somehow to echo the soul of Russia.
In short, this was an excellent concert by artists of the first order. What is
remarkable is that music of this standard has become the norm with the
concert series organised by the Friends of St Leonard’s Church. We really
are very privileged here in Hythe to have such wonderful music making
taking place on a regular basis in such a beautiful setting. If you do not
already attend these, I do hope you will consider it for the future; the
schedule is very varied in terms of genre including jazz, wind-bands and
gospel choirs as well as the more traditional classical repertoire, so
hopefully there will be something for everybody. Do pick up a brochure
from the back of the church, or indeed consider becoming a ‘Friend’ and
receive a discount on the admission charge for each concert. The more
people that we can attract, the more money we can raise to maintain the
upkeep of this wonderful building. If you know of anybody who is a music
lover, please spread the word – and if they live at a distance, tell them
that it is well worth the journey to experience a concert in our Church.
After all, our artists travel to perform here from many different countries.
Roger Parker
25
26
Friends of St Leonard’s Church – Executive Committee
At the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of St Leonard’s Church held on
16 June 2014 the following were re-elected to be Honorary Officers:
Dr Berkeley Hill – Chairman
Brinley Hughes – Secretary
Christopher Melchers – Treasurer
Other elected members of the Executive Committee are:
Sybil Melchers
Roger Parker
Sean McNally
Terry Whybrow
Rosie Vale
Rev Tony Windross continues as President of The Friends and ex officio member
of the Executive Committee.
For more information about the Friends of St Leonard’s Church
contact Brin Hughes:  01303 264470 or email: [email protected].
Guided walks around Hythe
Do you know what the ‘Moot horn’ is, and where you can see it?
These and many other questions about our town are answered every
week by the Hythe Civic Society town guides. They are a mine of
information, so if you are interested in history or just local gossip from the
past; have lived in the area for one or for 40 years; are 10 years old or
110, we guarantee that you will learn something you didn’t know from our
experts!
Come and join us! The leisurely walks take place every Thursday and
first Saturday of the month, June to September inclusive; meet
10.30am outside the Town Hall – no need to book.
Cost 50p including leaflet (crypt extra).
Parties of 10 or more by appointment –call 266118
Also every day (Mon – Sat) during Hythe Festival week, 30th June to
5th July – see programme for details.
27
28
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01303 265441
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01303 266782
01303 262421
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29
STADE
STREET
GARAGE LTD
EST 1964
Air Conditioning Specialist
Diesel Specialist
Hythe’s longest established family garage.
We provide a friendly & professional service.
We supply nearly new Fords and other guaranteed used cars.
All sales vehicles are fully serviced and come with a minimum of 1 year
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Batteries – Bodyshop
Courtesy car available by
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Stade Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 6BD
Phone 01303 267726 www.stadestreetgarage.co.uk
30
Parish Directory
Vicar
Rev Tony Windross
266217
Readers
Miss Flora Laundon
Mr Mike Cox
266447
260144
[email protected]
Churchwardens
Dr Pat Chipping
Mrs Jane Spencer
267857
260524
[email protected]
[email protected]
ALMs
Mr Geoff German
Mr Tony Clarke
237056
261693
[email protected]
[email protected]
Treasurer &
Freewill Offering
Mr Brian Bishop
269871
[email protected]
PCC Secretary
Mrs Christine Blackman
269179
[email protected]
Director of Music
Bell Ringers
Secretary
Friends of St
Leonard’s Church
Hythe Parish
Review Editor
Advertising
manager
Proof reader
Dr Berkeley Hill
Mr Mike Swan
265312
265212
[email protected]
[email protected]
Mr Brin Hughes
264470
[email protected]
Dr Pat Chipping
267857
Mr Sean McNally
263883
12, Coastguard Cottages CT21 6HN
[email protected]
8, Summer Close CT21 4DR
Mrs Joy Robertson
266186
“Haytor”, 85 St Leonards Rd CT21 6HE
Methodist
Minister
Local Preacher
Secretary
Treasurer
Revd. Kevin Taylor
261500
[email protected]
Dudley Shipton
Rosemary Walls
Alan Ewart-James
260291
279196
265316
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
The Vicarage, Oak Walk CT21 5DN
[email protected]
[email protected]
PCC members: A list of all PCC members is posted in each of the Churches, or a list may be
obtained from the PCC Secretary on request.
Deanery Synod Representatives: Mr Brian Bishop, Mr Geoff German, Mr David Owen.
We are also extremely fortunate to have the help of the following Ministers to whom we express
our thanks - Sister Christine Morris, Church Army; Rev Desmond Sampson; Rev Canon John
Wright.
PCC Registered Charity No 1144695
Parish Secretary: Mrs Pat Henley
The Parish Office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.00am – 12.30pm.
Telephone: 01303 262370
E-mail: [email protected]
All post to: The Parish Office, c/o The Vicarage, Oak Walk, Hythe, Kent CT21 5DN
Website: www.stleonardschurchhythekent.org
31
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