We hope to be holding be four services this December, plus a Short and Sweet Crib Service on the 23rd at 4.30p.m. We will be holding our candlelit Carol Service on Sunday 12th December at 5.00p.m. followed by mince pies and mulled wine. The Christmas Eucharist will be on Christmas Eve at 7.30p.m.
Saturday December 11th is for decorating the Church from 10.30am. Come and enjoy the atmosphere with refreshments. We will need help with the tree decorating and hopefully the crib will be returned after its makeover of a new thatched roof, so we will need helpers to arrange the figures in the straw. Any flowers, greenery, twigs etc will be most welcome for the windows, altar, font and the porch. Pop the date in your diary.
For the last two years we have encouraged everyone in Whitchurch to put a star somewhere in their decorations that can be seen from the road and we hope that everyone will continue to support this. We will reuse the paper bag stars in church that the children made at Short and Sweet before Covid struck.
Congratulations to Margaret – 100 years old in 2021.
Margaret MacDonald Smith (known to many of us as Margaret Woollet) who lived in Whitchurch Canoicorum for many years and then Ryall celebrated her 100th Birthday at the beginning of June in Basingstoke. She was a stalwart of St Candida and long term Churchwarden. She was very active in the WI and village activities. Her friends have written messages of congratulations, Liz and Nigel Carter recorded Happy Birthday and a specially made card was sent. The messages were read out to Margaret as she is now blind. She said she was lucky to have good weather when she celebrated her birthday outside and was very appreciative of all the messages she received.
An Ode to Ride and Stride 2021, Whitchurch Canonicorum
We rode, we strode, we "tractored" and ran!
The weather was 'Fair' and we took to the land.
Thirteen striders strong and one runner to boot,
set off from St Candida on a ten mile set route.
Four cyclists met at St Giles,
contemplating the thirty-four miles
Late joined by a fifth,
reinforcing the 'it's-going-to-be-a-hilly-ride' myth
Ten tractor drivers came on later
with revving engines and tuned carburettors
Setting off from the Five Bells
Shining from front grills to wheel wells
In vintage Massey, Ford and Brown
Gathering from farms all around
We rode, we strode, we "tractored" and ran!
The weather was 'Fine' and we took to the land.
The striders rambled off southwards to take in the sights
Of sea and coast path, navigating stiles of great heights.
Visiting two different St Gabriel's, one standing, one a ruin
Stopping to rest in the sunshine of the autumn afternoon
One brave runner, fleet of foot,
From the walkers the lead he took
Garnering local support on social media
Finished and first returned he was to St Candida
Up Wootton, Up Lyme Hill, Up up dingly dell,
The path that the cyclists rode went (sometimes?!) downwards as well.
Stopping at Saint Giles and Ignatius then Saints Gabriel and Paul
Saints Michael, Mary and John, Seventeen churches in all
Through the Vale trailed the tractors, a row of red, blue, grey and brown
Drivers lunched in a sheep shed between Broadoak and Seatown
They putt-putted the crest of Stonebarrow and could be easily seen
Chuntering through Charmouth, then back to Whitchurch by fields green
We rode, we strode, we "tractored" and ran!
The weather was 'partly sunny' and we took to the land.
At the end of the day,
All finally found their way
Walkers, fast group and slow,
Tractors, after thirty miles on the go
Cyclists, delayed by a puncture
At the very last juncture
What a merry day we had
And were we ever more than glad
To reach St Candida and Holy Cross
And see tables hosted by Sue, Kay, Judith and Ros
Sandwiches and cakes and tea
All kindly produced by Whitchurch PCC.
We rode, we strode, we "tractored" and ran!
The weather cooperated and we took to the land.
We had a terrific day Riding and Striding on 11th September. Thanks to Team Whitchurch for a great effort and to all of our sponsors throughout the community who have donated £1520 (not including Gift Aid) as of the end of October. Richard Benjamin, Parish Organiser for Chideock rode for St Giles and St Ignatius, joined the riders and, separately, raised money for both churches in Chideock. All money goes to Dorset Historic Churches Trust which returns half to our nominated church and uses the rest to fund its generous grants for churches throughout the county. It’s not too late to donate to this year’s appeal:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/whitchurch-canonicorum2021
On behalf of the Church PCC and Co-Ord Group we would like to send an enormous thank you for all your help and effort to get our first event off the ground. It was amazing to see so many people in and around the Church on Saturday afternoon in a relaxed atmosphere.
There are too many people to thank individually, but all the hard work from advertising, getting the allotments ready for inspection, decorating the Church on Friday, the FOSC and all the stall holders we hope you had a good afternoon with sales. And the Cake Squad, a big thank you for all the beautiful cakes and my ladies who spent part of the morning working out how to make the Covid rules work, spaced out, yet friendly. Then more help in the afternoon serving everyone at their tables, we never had a slow moment but kept busy and did not run out of cakes or tea !!! The total of £162.00 was raised from the tea and cakes.
It was a brilliant effort by everyone, a pity the weather was a little unseasonal, but we all managed to make the most of the afternoon.
The Whitchurch Canonicorum PCC and The Friends of St Candida are planning a Summer Celebration of Open Allotments, Village Street Market and Teas in the Church.
More details will be available shortly, but offers of help to Briony 01297 489546 or to Sue Johnson 01297 489375.
In July 1980 the church at Whitchurch Canonicorum in Dorset celebrated its 900th Anniversary. The church is the only one in the country other than Westminster Abbey to have the bones of its own saint, St Wite, in the church itself. Part of the celebrations was a play, Legends of St Wite written by Christopher Dilke, exploring the possible identity of St Wite. The play was performed in the church.
As well as the play a Fair was also organised to take place at the same time. Craft and produce stall were erected on the church path between the War Memorial and the church gates. Games and other fun activities took place in the field to the South of the church.
In July 1980 the church at Whitchurch Canonicorum in Dorset celebrated its 900th Anniversary. The church is the only one in the country other than Westminster Abbey to have the bones of its own saint, St Wite, in the church itself. Part of the celebrations was a play, Legends of St Wite written by Christopher Dilke, exploring the possible identity of St Wite. The play was performed in the church with the central character being Guntard, the then Rector of the parish. Guntard was also chaplain to William the Conqueror. The Legends of St Wite entry contains the programme produced for the play with additional photos added.
We are delighted to announce that St Candida and Holy Cross Church will be celebrating it’s first Eucharist since the COVID19 pandemic crisis restrictions came into force in March 2020.
Rev Anne Howson will be presiding. We hope you will join us on Sunday, 25th October 2020 at 11 am.
Time changes back to GMT overnight, so remember to set your clock!
At last, some good news! Ginny Luckett will be leading a Harvest Festival Service this Sunday, 11th October at 11 am in the church. Masks must be worn and social distancing will necessarily restrict numbers. Details on the below poster.
