Bury Parish Church

On a glorious Sunday afternoon at Bury Grammar School cricket ground, the choir and members of the congregation ‘locked horns’ in the annual challenge match. 

Led by the maestro that is John Findon Jnr, the choir felt confident that victory would be theirs.  However, the congregation had a different agenda and, put into bat first, set about building up a ‘cricket’ score with Keith Evans, David Clarke and Andy Page all prominent with the bat.  Wickets did fall; partly due to the introduction of the LBW rule, which, for some odd reason, was not recognised in the parish of Tottington St. Anne’s last year!  At the end of their 20 overs, the congregation had amassed 119 for 5.

The choir responded with a slow start – at one stage they were 9 for 3 wickets!  However, John Findon Jnr and others started throwing the bat and the target was in sight.  Alas, it was not to be and the choir ended their 20 overs on 101 for 9.

The game was won!  The congregation had recorded a famous victory, with some fuel left in the tank and the choir were left to lick their wounds…at Evensong!  Unofficial reports suggest that John Findon Jnr is already planning next year’s game…against the mighty Mothers’ Union!

Seriously though, both teams served up an excellent afternoon’s entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by a very large and appreciative crowd.  Thanks must also go to the volunteers who provided and served the refreshments throughout the game.

Some water companies are proposing to charge small charities, voluntary groups and churches in England and Wales a lot extra for the amount of rain that falls on their roofs and hard surfaced grounds like car parks and paths. Because the water drains into sewers it has to be treated like sewerage, which is expensive. Churches are currently charged according to rateable value but have had significant discounts on their bills until now.  Increases in bills up to 1,300% are feared. In Scotland, however, no such charges will apply for at least 6 years.

Our Treasurer, Nigel Rushworth is currently in negotiation with our water company. A Member of Parliament has set down a motion that draws attention to this problem and seeks to maintain the status quo for churches and other groups.

This also exists as a petition on the Government website which you can sign up to if you can access the internet. By late June nearly over 16, 000 signatures had been received. The petition will run until 6 December 2008 and if you want to add your name, please click on the following link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ChurchWaterBills/ - and follow the simple instructions.

Our popular annual outing which ends with a service of Evensong, accompanied by our choir, will this year take us to Carlisle on Saturday 20 September. Coaches are already booked and sign up sheets are at the back of church for the congregation and in the vestry, for the choir. We shall be travelling to this cathedral city and will have a personal tour of Carlisle Cathedral, with plenty of free time to explore the city. Then we shall move on to St Mary’s, Wreay (pronounced “Reeah”) for our service. The church is about 5 miles south of Carlisle and features in Simon Jenkins’s book “England’s best 1000 churches.”  Begun in 1835 and commissioned and designed by Sarah Losh in memory of her sister and parents it is in Lombardic style and truly wonderful to behold. The “Visit Cumbria” website has some great photographs, which will be displayed shortly at the back of church. You can look at them by visiting the website: http://www.visitcumbria.com/car/chc2.htm

The church featured in “Songs of Praise” on 1 June 2008, when Jonathan Edwards explored the church.

The cost of the trip is estimated to be £13.00 per head, not unreasonable, in view of the distance and the cost of fuel. We look forward to having a great day exploring the city, its cathedral and one of Cumbria’s most unusual places of worship.