Matt Earwicker

Remembrance 2021 Heddington

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This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. Although we no longer have a limit on how many people gather in church for a service, we still need to be cautious.

This Sunday’s service will therefore start in the church, but we will be moving outside a little earlier than usual, and holding the entire Act of Remembrance (including the reading of names and the two minutes’ silence) at or near the Garden of Remembrance. So do make sure that you come prepared for the weather.

I know this is a break from tradition, and we all hope that next year will be more normal, but we feel that this is a way to pay our respects in an appropriate way without putting anyone at unnecessary risk.

Remembrance 2021 Cherhill – outside the Manor House

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Although there are no legal limits this year on numbers who can attend a service in church, we are still operating on a 50% capacity basis just to be on the safe side.

As we will be joined by the 1st Cherhill Scout troop as usual, we felt that there was a high chance that we will be (considerably) above this limit, and that the service should therefore take place outside.

So please come prepared for the weather as we will stay outside even if it rains.

To avoid everyone having to find somewhere to stand in the churchyard, Oliver and Belinda Haslam have very kindly given us permission to use the car parking area outside the Manor House to hold the service. There should be plenty of space, but please could I remind you that this is someone’s private property, and to make sure any little ones in your care don’t go wandering off.

This was a difficult decision, as it will be cold, and I know some of you find it hard to stand for long periods, but I hope this allows us to gather as a village in remembrance without people worrying about whether they might get sick.

Harvest 2021

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Harvest this year is back to normal (mostly). So come and join us to celebrate the food we have to eat and to pray for our farmers and those involved in providing us with food. Gifts of food (packaged rather than fresh, please) will be taken as usual to the Calne food bank to be shared with those less well off than ourselves.

The services this year are:

Calstone, 26th September at 9.45am
Cherhill, 26th September at 10.00am
Yatesbury, 10th October at 9.45am
Heddington, 10th October at 11.15am

We would love to see you if you can make it. The services are suitable for all ages.

The Oldbury Benefice

Back to school Sunday, 29th August 2021, St Andrew’s Church, Heddington

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A new school year begins in early September. This can be a nervy time for children, parents and teachers alike, and perhaps even more so this year after the chaos and disruption of the last 2 school years.

So we have decided to make our last service in August a “Back to School service”. It will be a family service, with less formality than usual, as we prepare for the new school year. We’ll be thinking about how to start well, and asking for God’s help for all of us.

It would be great to see you if you can make it. We’ve been through a lot together and separately. Hopefully this service can help mark a new beginning for us all.

End of lockdown update

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As you are all aware, we have reached stage 4 in the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. This means that all social distancing rules have been relaxed, including in places of worship.

However, we do not wish anyone to feel at risk either of catching covid or (via contact tracing) of having your summer plans ruined. We are also aware that some of us will need some time to return to feeling normal around larger groups of people. We have therefore decided to continue to follow the guidelines as much as possible for the foreseeable future. This means:

  • Please continue to wear a mask if you can – and you must wear it if you wish to join the singing, which will be kept to 2 songs
  • Please keep your distance from other people unless you know they are happy for you to sit next to them
  • Make the most of the weather – have your conversations outside in the fresh air
  • Where there are one-way systems, these will continue
  • While there is no legal limit on numbers, we have decided to limit capacity to 50%. This means that everyone can be certain that there is a space either side of them if they need it.

While we are sad that life has not yet returned to normal, we feel these voluntary actions on our part will reduce the risk of someone catching coronavirus, or being asked to self-isolate, thereby missing out on something they are looking forward to.

We hope to be in a position to relax these guidelines further in September.

For those who wish to continue to keep away from indoor gatherings, for whatever reason, we will endeavour to provide something online, although that will not always be possible.

Stay safe, and enjoy the holiday!

Matt and team