CWW

The latest edition of Church Without Walls can be seen here.

RIDE & STRIDE on 12 SEPTEMBER 2020

(Sponsored cycling and/or walking between churches to raise money for Dorset Historic Churches Trust.)

A wonderful effort from Tony Smale who reports as follows:

“I set out from Wool and visited the other six active churches of the enlarged West Purbeck benefice: E & W Lulworth, Winfrith, Chaldon, Affpuddle and Bere Regis. For good measure, I also visited the three disused churches within the benefice: Coombe Keynes, Turners Puddle and East Stoke.

Churches visited:

*Wool 09.30

*Coombe Keynes 09.45

East Lulworth 10.15

West Lulworth 10.45

Winfrith 11.15

Chaldon Herring 11.40

Affpuddle 12.50 (lunch break)

Turners Puddle 13.30

Bere Regis 14.15

East Stoke 15.20

* = not pictured

"Most of the churches visited are pictured above, with bicycle in the foreground to prove I was there! The two ladies walking into my photo at Bere Regis were there to man the signing-in desk (they sat outside on a churchyard bench between customers!). Some of the other churches had also arranged signing-in facilities – most impressive was the gazebo with tables and chairs in Affpuddle churchyard. Between Turners Puddle and Bere Regis, I walked the bike up and over Black Hill, enjoying the views from the top.”

Many thanks to his sponsors, both via the sponsorship sheet and via his online page at:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/woolholyroodts

– Tony Smale

(And thank you Tony for your excellent effort.)

A message of thanks from Revd Judy Hill (27th September)

(As we know, Judy retired from Parish ministry in September 2020. She was presented with an engraved cakestand, flowers, and a cheque from the whole benefice.)

Judy writes:

“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for the wonderful gifts on my retirement, as well as an extremely large cheque.

I haven’t decided what I will spend it on, but intend to use some of it to book a mini retreat at Sheldon next year.

I would like to thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement, both during my training and ministry.

It has been an exciting, sometimes challenging, and memorable time ministering here in this community, the place I had always felt God had called me to live and be.

Although I have retired from active ordained ministry, I will always be true to my calling as a Christian here in the community, and across the West Purbeck Benefice.

Blessings to you all.”

Update on the West Purbeck Benefice (including Holy Rood) being joined by the Benefice of The Lulworths, Winfrith Newburgh and Chaldon — 4th August 2020

There is a legal notice about the formal consultation available in all the church porches of the affected churches and a copy is posted on a supplementary page here at the Holy Rood Website, as well as on the West Purbeck Benefice Website.

Update on opening the Holy Rood (Wool) church building for services – 25th July 2020

We now plan to open the building for a few services, but we need to start slowly to make progress.

Holy Rood will also continue to be open for private prayer on Sundays and Wednesdays from 2pm - 4pm.

There will be a Communion Service on two Sundays in August 2020 in our church building in Wool, one held at 8am on Sunday August 2nd and the second at 8am on Sunday August 23rd.

There will of course have to be 2 metre social distancing and also quite extensive modifications to the way Communion is administered in order for us to do this safely.

When attending, please let us know in advance (see below for details) and consider all relevant Government guidance. This includes first considering: your own health, your risk factors (including risks due to age), wearing a mask if at all possible, and observing safety signs. It is essential to avoid attending the building if you are recently unwell for any reason, especially if you have developed a cough, cold, raised temperature, or loss of smell or taste. (And it will be very important not to form groups of people in the porch, doorways, aisles, etc.)

The resumption of in-church services will not affect our popular 10.30am Sunday services held online for the whole Benefice, using Zoom. You are most welcome to contact the church by phone (or email with your name and address*) to receive details of how to take part online using your home computer or other device.

Please note that the requirements of social distancing mean that the number who can attend the church services held in buildings at this time is restricted. You must let us know in advance that you will be coming to the Service via the Church Office (details below) or your local Churchwarden please.

*Church Office Contact Details

The Church Office, The D’Urberville Centre, Colliers Lane, Wool BH20 6DL

07729 484866

westpurbeckoffice@gmail.com

(Personal details are only used in confidence to ensure online security of the services to protect all attending, and are not shared with commercial advertising agencies etc.)

Save the Bells

A CENTURY OF RINGING TAKES ITS TOLL

We’re very fortunate at Holy Rood to have an enthusiastic team of bell ringers, who

sound out the call to worship every Sunday morning. Four of the six bells at the top of

the tower were originally installed in the 17th and 18th Centuries (the earliest in 1606)

but when in 1907 two more bells were added they were installed inside a massive

cast-iron frame. The complete assembly needs regular attention to ensure that the

ropes, wheels and bearings remain in good condition.

Phil Miles, one of the experienced members of ringers, works tirelessly to keep on top

of maintenance, filling the oil reservoirs, replacing rope, and when necessary fitting a

replacement stay fashioned from a piece of ash - an important safety feature which

prevents the bell turning full circle and carrying a hapless ringer skywards.

The pierced-stone openings of the bell chamber allow the sound to radiate in all

directions …but they also let in the wind and rain, so corrosion of the century-old

ironwork is a constant problem. Phil keeps on top of this, wire brushing and painting

the exposed metal surfaces as required. However, where the ends of the support

girders enter the walls of the tower, it’s impossible to see the condition of the metal or

to apply any protective coating.

At the 5-yearly inspection of the church in 2017, the visiting architect recorded his

concern that the masonry above these girder ends was lifting slightly, possibly due to

corrosion. With that in mind, we recently called in an expert from a Loughborough firm

of bell founders (the only bell foundry left in the country), who spent a couple of hours

climbing around the frame, taking notes but also giving plenty of useful tips. His report

says that the bell fittings are generally in good order, but that the girder-ends are indeed

rusted and need some remedial work which involves removing overlying masonry – not

something we can undertake ourselves.

The foundry has quoted us £6,849 + Vat so total cost is £8,218 for the basic work to

return the bell frame to good order so that it will hopefully last for another 100 years. If

we are able to assist their technician, we can reduce the cost a little – but conversely, if

the girders have been severely weakened, there may be additional costs associated with

welding in steel plates.

Whichever way, the money has to be found to carry out these expensive repairs. We’re

hopeful that grants are available but no doubt some of the cash will have to be raised

within our village community.

Tony Smale

There are more details and pictures about the bells in the Spring 2019 "Church Without Walls" and some historical notes about them on this website, here.

Cycle to raise money?

RIDE AND STRIDE - Saturday 12th September - - Start training as Dorset Historic Churches Trust are once again inviting YOU to raise money for your local church. More information to follow - contact Jenny Hunt 01929 462570. Or go to www.dhct.org.uk

A very Happy Easter from Revd Carol and all in West Purbeck Benefice

Easter Service

It was possible to hold an Easter service online by the above method, and here are some screenshot pictures (courtesy of Bere Regis - many thanks!) that give an idea of how it works and what happens:

Alan George Brown

Daphne, Susie & Steve would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of sympathy following the loss of a beloved husband and father, also for their attendance at the Service celebrating his life. Please accept this as their personal message of thanks.

New to our church, a combination of food and fellowship in an informal setting in the D'Urberville centre.

Supper Church (see notice above re cancellation)

It’s an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a fun and informal way. It’s ideal for families and people of all ages as you can choose to join in with what suits you. The world today gives us a great many challenges be it health, finances, parenting or just day to day living. Supper Church is a get together where you can discuss these issues and find friendship and support.

The interactive part is followed by a tasty two course supper, so you won’t need to worry about tea. We aim to finish before 6:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you.

The first meeting on 19th January 2020 was very successful. We thought up to 50 people might come and we found in the event it was nearer 90 - great! - although that first time the puddings started to run out.

The second time in February we were even better prepared (with extra puddings!) and despite a cold wet night we had a very good size gathering.

Sunday 26th January 3pm

The start of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”; there was a 3pm Service at Holy Rood, followed by tea and biscuits.

Supper Quiz Night with Ploughman's - on Saturday 1st February at 7pm

We had 50 tickets printed and all were sold, raising much needed funds for the church's Bell Repairs Appeal.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers whilst I was off and for people’s hard work in taking on extra duties during this time. It is very good to be home.

Rev Carol

The Wool and District Friends, Cancer Research UK raised £445 at the Annual Quiz held last Saturday. Thank you so much for your support Gill.

Wednesday 26th February - Ash Wednesday - Start of Lent

A simple service of Holy Communion (with imposition of Ashes), at 10am in the main D'Urberville Hall.

Holy Communion also was held at 7pm at St John the Baptist Church, Bere Regis.

Monday 2nd March ‘Wool Does Lunch’

Holy Rood’s new Lunch Club, held in the KoW building.

Booking essential ! so we can cater for you.

Tel Danzella Trask 462555

Email: danitrask@gmail.com

Monday 2nd March– Messy Church in the KoW (Kids of Wool) Building at 3.30pm

Hot Supper provided. NB note change of date and venue.

Started Tues 25th February

Knit and Knatter Group

Tuesday 25th February - Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)

From 10am til 12.30pm - Coffee/Tea and 2 traditional Pancakes (Gluten Free available) for ONLY £3.

All served in the Kids of Wool Hall (KoW). There will be a raffle, books and produce on sale.

Any profits will go towards the work of Holy Rood Church.

Supper Church on Sunday 19th January at 5pm

New to our church, a combination of food and fellowship in an informal setting in the D'Urberville centre.

What is Supper Church?

It’s an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a fun and informal way. It’s ideal for families and people of all ages as you can choose to join in with what suits you. The world today gives us a great many challenges be it health, finances, parenting or just day to day living. Supper Church is a get together where you can discuss these issues and find friendship and support.

The interactive part is followed by a tasty two course supper, so you won’t need to worry about tea. We aim to finish before 6:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you.

The first meeting on 19th January was very successful. We thought up to 50 people might come and we found in the event it was nearer 90 - great! - although the puddings started to run out.

Next time we'll be even better prepared for more people (and have extra pudding!).

Sunday 26th January 3pm

The start of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”; there was a 3pm Service at Holy Rood, followed by tea and biscuits.

Supper Quiz Night with Ploughman's - on Saturday 1st February at 7pm

We had 50 tickets printed and all were sold, raising much needed funds for the church's Bell Repairs Appeal.