Join us for our Annual Parochial Church Meeting - Monday 28th April
Dear Friends of All Saints Church,
This is a Friends update, firstly a reminder that our monthly evening meetings commence in October, first Thursday of the month, so 3 October at 7pm in All Saints, next week in fact. We have Jan Jauncey, whom many of you know, speaking about the Story of Montconny, its resistance activities during the war and the links with Linton on Ouse.
The November talk is by Alex McCallion who will update us on the exciting developments with Centre of Excellence at York Minster again to be held in the Church.
We have decided to move to the Parish Hall for the December meeting, as we wished to extend the evening and give the opportunity to make it a more social and relaxed event as a means of showing our thanks for your support over the year in offering the option to stay for a reasonably priced two-course meal to commence the Festive period, for which there will be a nominal charge. Wine of course will be available too, by the glass or bottle, or bring your own, should you prefer. Tickets, £15, for the supper will be reserved initially for Members of FoASC only, as space will be limited; for non-members the price will be £20. Tickets will be for sale at the evening meetings in October and November too. Chris Cade is speaking/acting the famous Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’, appropriate for December, attending for the talk only, is of course, free for Members.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those of you who have helped in any way over the year, the plant stall was very well supported both in terms of people providing plants for sale, lending items for use, such as tables or gazebos, or in providing refreshments and of course your valuable time in the setting up, dismantling and serving. As you will have noticed the plant stall has continued throughout most of the summer on a trolley in front of All Saints, and my appreciation and thanks go to those who have added plants or goods to its contents. We cleared over £1000 on the plant stall in May and the trolley has since taken over £600, so worth the effort. We are so lucky in that we have the passing traffic to Beningbrough Hall and that Newton is a popular walking destination so it seems wise to continue the plant stall in future years and build on our experience thereby hopefully increasing the potential income. We do need your continued support for this, particularly with the provision of plants. Please, if you divide or dispose of plants, think of us, or if you are propagators too, so much the better. We are very willing recipients. The equivalent Sunday next year is 19 May 2024, please put it in your diaries. I surprised myself having successfully taken cuttings of various shrubs and herbs, but particularly of hardy fuchsia and everlasting wallflower. I plan to try taking autumn cuttings of dahlias soon.
We also held a most successful Quilt & Needlecraft weekend in July that proved to be an excellent event with the right mix of quilts and styles of needlecraft as well as the Fulford Tapestry that we were fortunate in exhibiting. The weekend, Saturday in particular, was so well supported with queues down the path to the church. Apologies to villagers disrupted with parking that must have been a problem, but with community generosity I have had no complaints. This event cleared £2500 and this was down to huge support from villagers in making bunting, helping decorate the church and assisting over the weekend. You really are gems that come out and help at these events. The refreshments generously donated, all contributed to the total amount. I am very grateful to both Kath Russon from Tollerton and
Dr Stephanie Dow, the two ladies who donated Quilts for the raffles we held on each day. Without such fabulous contributions the raffles would not have been worth holding. The quilt event was initially Dr Stephanie Dow’s idea and I am grateful to her for her initial list of contacts and guide of things to do. I do now know what a fat quarter is, but my knowledge beyond that is still limited.
I must also give thanks to Sheila Ritchie for heading up the catering in the Parish Hall at both events, Jennifer Ascough and Sue Chadwick for their plant enthusiasm and major plant contributions and not forgetting Sue’s quiz, and also Angela Instone for heading up and leading on the bunting and stalls selling related items in the Parish Hall, as well as her contacts with quilting groups and sewing individuals and her general related experience of sewing/crafts that complemented my lack of knowledge totally.
These two events reminded me in a small way of the support villagers used to give to Newton Feast many years ago; we are a good community; and I am pleased to have got to know more helpful and generous villagers many of whom are not members of the Friends, but good supporters of its aims. Of course many members of the Friends contributed goods and in some cases also time and I am indebted to all of you too.
On behalf of the PCC, I also enclose the following information about an upcoming project as I am sure you will be interested. The PCC are planning to decorate both of All Saints Lych gates for Remembrance Day using Little Bear & Bird Co, Haxby; many will have seen her wonderful earlier arrangements. The wish is that there will also be many poppies to decorate the adjacent area. Volunteers are therefore being sought to make poppies. The patterns for both knitted and crochet patterns (either is acceptable) are on display in the church. These can be downloaded from the church Facebook page @allsaintsnewton, or from the church website. Finished poppies can be placed in the basket just inside the door of the church or, in the case of Linton, in the box provided in the post office at Linton Village Hall. Details of how to sponsor a poppy will be circulated by the PCC shortly. Proceeds will be shared between the Royal British Legion and the church, at the florist’s request.
I look forward to meeting you again at our future evening meetings.
Marion Blacker
September 2023
Friends of All Saints Church Committee
Marion Blacker, Stephanie Howe & Sheila Ritchie
Bank Details for those wishing to subscribe to The Friends £15 pp:
Account Name: Newton on Ouse Parochial Church Council
Sort Code (Barclays Bank 20 98 98
Account Number: 53285138
Ref: Friends sub
Email: friends@allsaintsnewton.org.uk