ST JAMES THE GREAT HAYDOCK
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S T J AMES THE G REAT
H AYDOCK
February 2021
2nd February is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
50p
Registered Charity Number 1153937
www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2849
Fr Andrew Welsby
The Vicarage, 169 Church Road, Haydock, WA11 ONJ.
t: 01942 727956 e: andrew.welsby@hotmail.co.uk
KALENDAR February 2021
Tuesday 2nd The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
7.30pm Said Mass – streamed online
Sunday 7th Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
10am – Parish Mass – streamed online
Holy Communion available from the Reserved Sacrament
afterwards by appointment
Sunday 14th Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
10am – Parish Mass – streamed online
Holy Communion available from the Reserved Sacrament
afterwards by appointment
Wednesday 17th Ash Wednesday
7.30pm – Mass for Ash Wednesday – streamed online
Sunday 21st First Sunday of Lent
10am – Parish Mass – streamed online
Holy Communion available from the Reserved Sacrament
afterwards by appointment
Sunday 28th Second Sunday of Lent
10am – Parish Mass – streamed online
Holy Communion available from the Reserved Sacrament
afterwards by appointment
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Major celebrations of the Kalendar continue to be celebrated, albeit in a
simpler way. At the time of writing, we are told that the current lockdown
will last until at least March 8th, so public worship remains suspended.
Communion from the Reserved Sacrament will continue to be available as
long as this is possible. Please do all you can to join us online.
2From the Vicar
Dear Friends,
In the December / January edition of the Magazine, I reflected on the three great
things that will last forever: Faith, Hope, and Love (1 Cor. 13) and ended by hoping and
praying that the New Year may be filled with these things for all of us. I am still praying
for that for everyone, but goodness knows, it feels hard right now.
You will all know by now that Fr Denis died in the early hours of January 18 th. I cannot
tell you how sad I am about this; Fr Denis was a greatly loved and respected Priest, but
beyond that, he was the gentlest and kindest of men and I will miss him enormously.
Beyond our personal loss however, we must keep Joyce and Denis’s family in our
prayers in the days and weeks that lie ahead. Fr Denis’s funeral will take place on 11 th
February, but it will sadly have to be restricted to the immediate family. We will be
‘streaming’ the funeral on the day, and when conditions permit, there will be a
Memorial Service, open to all, when I hope that we will all come together to express
our thanks to God for Denis’s ministry and our ongoing love and prayers for Joyce.
There will be space in next month’s Magazine for a more detailed Obituary for Fr Denis:
in the meantime, for those of you who would like to make a donation in his memory,
Fr Denis left instructions that any donations should be passed on to the Shrine of Our
Lady of Walsingham, in gratitude for all he received there as a pilgrim.
Our Worship remains constricted by the lockdown regulations: although we are
allowed to remain open for public worship, my colleagues and the Wardens and I
believe that for the time being it is better to continue with ‘online only’ services, with
the option to come to church to receive Holy Communion from the reserved
Sacrament. This system has worked well for the last couple of weeks, and although it
is a compromise, we feel that it is better than nothing at all. Please rest assured that
we will do everything we can to re-open as soon as it is safe and prudent to do so.
As I write, we have just passed the 100,000 death toll and the weight of grief, pain and
fear all around us feels almost unbearable. I know from conversations with many of
you that this third lockdown is so much more difficult to bear, and there are no easy
words that can take this pain away. I close then, with a poem I heard read on the BBC
News yesterday, written by a woman grieving for her sister:
MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC
Tomorrow, when the latest Deathometer of Covid is announced
in sonorous tones,
Whilst all the bodies still mount and curl towards the middle of the curve
Heaped one atop and alongside the other
My sister will be among those numbers, among the throwaway lines
Among the platitudes and lowered eyes,
3an older person with underlying health conditions,
A pitiful way to lay rest the bare bones of a life.
MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC
Her underlying conditions were
Love
Kindness
Belief in the essential goodness of mankind
Uproarious laughter
Forgiveness
Compassion
A storyteller
A survivor
A comforter
A force of nature
And so much more
MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC
She died without the soft touch of a loved one’s hand
Without the feathered kiss upon her forehead
Without the muted murmur of familiar family voices gathered around her bed,
Without the gentle roar of laughter that comes with memories recalled
Evoked from a time that already seems distant, when we were connected by the
simplicity of touch, of voice, of presence.
MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC
She was a woman who spanned the seven ages.
A mother
A grandmother
A great grandmother
A sister
A friend
An aunt
A carer
A giver
MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC
And so, she joins the mounting thousands
THEY ARE NOT STATISTICS ON THE DEATHOMETER OF COVID
They are the wives, mothers, children, fathers, sisters, brothers,
The layers of all our loved ones
If she could, believe me when I say, she would hold every last one of your lost loves,
croon to and comfort them and say – you were loved.
Whilst we who have been left behind mourn deep, keening the loss, the injustice, the
rage.
4One day we will smile and laugh again, we will remember with joy that, once, we
shared a life, we knew joy and survived sadness.
You are my sister........ and I love you.
Dorothy Duffy
4TH APRIL 2020
This poem -a tribute and a lament for my sister was written in the hours after her
death amidst the swirl of news briefings announcing the daily C19 death toll.
With my love and prayers,
NOTICES
Guild of Health & St Raphael
Happy new year everyone. It seems that it may be quite some time until we
can resume our monthly Guild Eucharist and laying on of hands services.
Although it has been a long time since we last met for those purposes the work
of the Guild has continued and I know that every member of our branch will
have continued to pray for those who have asked for our prayers and for
healing of the world and its many problems. It is obviously particularly
important for us to do so in the midst of a global pandemic and world-wide
chaos. Never has healing in its many forms been needed so much as it is now.
As many of you know, Edna has stepped back from leading the branch due to
her own health difficulties. At some point, when we are able, we will mark the
long and dedicated service that Edna has given to St James’ and to the Guild of
St Raphael but, until we can do that, please keep her in your prayers.
When it is safe to do so, we will arrange a meeting to discuss re-launching the
Branch. Much has changed over recent months regarding how the Guild of
Health & St Raphael head office want us to engage with them and I feel we
need to discuss their proposals and determine how you want our branch to
operate going forward.
Until then stay safe and confident in the knowledge that the Lord is with us.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us trust in you. We place our future in your hands
as we follow where you direct us. Inspire us with your vision and empower us
with your Spirit. May we walk together into the future knowing you are our
guide. Amen
Elaine Wallwork
5The Cell of Our lady of Walsingham
February 2nd - Candlemass (The Christian festival of lights).
Candlemas commemorates the ritual of purification of Mary, 40 days after the
birth of her Son, Jesus. This was cleansing women from impurities incurred at
childbirth. On Candlemas night, many people placed a lighted candle in their
windows at home.
Our late departed cell member David Martlew would have taken a great
delight in the old tradition of blessing and distributing candles and carrying
them in procession before mass. The light of the candle is symbolic of Christ as
the light of the world. To stick to tradition, all candles should be made of
beeswax which David used to make candles for our church, for cell use and
especially Baptism candles. (I did ask Susan's permission to use David's name).
I looked up some other traditions from different places:
ROMANS had a custom of lighting candles to scare away evil spirits in winter.
ITALY celebrated with Bonfires.
FRANCE they eat Crepes on Candlemas day.
SCOTLAND children brought candles to school so they could have light on dull
days. This was before gas lighting took over.
IRELAND celebrate with a Boxty - a traditional potato pancake.
SPAIN & MEXICO celebrate by eating a Roscon De Reyes. It’s a sort of large
Choux pastry ring filled with cream and candied fruit. Frs Rodney and Robin
have eaten this many times. Before COVID-19, shops would offer small
portions on a plate so you could help yourself to - sadly no longer!
(I did ask Fr's permission to use their names)
Donations to Cell Funds.
£20 Ronnie and John.
£5 Sue Bamber.
Dot Beesley
6GEOFFREY TITHER
It will be 50 years to the day 13th February since Geoffrey (he has always been
Geoffrey to me) first became an Altar Server at St. James. He was asked by
Canon Wilson and his first mass was on Saturday 13th February 1971. I was
expecting and Canon Wilson asked if the baby had been born yet. Geoffrey said
no but when he got home our fourth boy, Gareth had been born and Geoffrey
was sent to Canon Wilson to tell him the good news.
I am so proud of Geoffrey not least for his 50 years of dedicated service on the
altar at St. James.
Rose Tither
Dave O’Neil writes….
Geoff will celebrate, God willing, 50 years as a Server on 13/2/2021.He was
under the guidance of the legendary Head Server Billy Corless. Billy was a
stickler for perfection and attention to detail.
Geoff told me he will always remember the first time he served a was a
Saturday 13/2/1971, the day his baby brother Gareth was born. Canon Wilson
was the incumbent at the time. When Geoff went home the baby had been
born so George, his dad, made him go back to tell the vicar that they had a new
baby. So now Geoff was the big brother to Graham and Gareth.
Just a few memories to share from his Church life that you possibly may not
know.
Geoff has a long association with Walsingham, He holds it very dear. I was
informed by a reliable source the first trip he made there, around 1984, he
actually drove the Minibus. Geoff has done the annual pilgrimage every year
since with a probable exception of one or two years. Sadly 2020 was another.
I also learned that under the incumbency of Father Paul Nener he had the
privilege of being Lay Assistant, serving the wine at his cousin Susan's Wedding.
This was very special for her and her husband having a close family member
share such an important role on their special day.
Another lovely memory was hearing quite recently, Father Norman, in his
sermon on 13/9 told us it was his Sapphire Wedding Anniversary and turned
to Geoff and told us that 45 years ago Geoff was the Altar Server at his
Wedding.
7It’s only fitting to finally say that Billy Corless will always be remembered with
love. This love was shown in abundance at his funeral in April 2016, when Geoff
along with other Servers carried Billy out of the church he loved and served, to
his final resting place.
Thanks, Geoff, for 50 years of Service and your continued Service at St James
the Great, Haydock.
250 Club
December Draw
1st 56 :: 2nd 151 :: 3rd. 324 :: 4th 119 :: 5th 98 :: 6th 102
We will carry on with the club. Please continue to pay your agent. The draw
will be held at the end of the month. Thank you for the hard work of the
agents and thank you for all who support the draw.
Offertory
The offertory procession is suspended for the present, but I will make sure
no-one is missed off the list. Nancy
Monday Domino Group
This select group of ladies, started by Pat Twiss and Joan Martin, is like all
other church groups not able to be enjoy their afternoons of socialising but will
begin again as soon as normality returns.
After thirteen years of helping run this group Pat Twiss has decided to retire,
she has kept the accounts with great care. Someone will be taking over and
the dominoes will be rattling again. Pat will be hard to replace. A big thank you
to Pat for all her hard work. A thank you to all the ladies for the money they
have raised over the years. They all contribute and have raised a magnificent
£13000! Well done to everyone and a thank you to Pat.
‘SWEET CHILDHOOD DAYS’
‘Talk of sunshine and of song
And summer days when we were young
Sweet Childhood Days that were as long
As twenty days are now’
8Words written by William and Dorothy Wordsworth two centuries ago. Would
you believe that some words written around that time, and an article in a
magazine which I read only a few months ago, could arouse such similar
memories, and in a very modern age?
The village of Haigh holds many childhood memories for me. My maternal
grandmother, Elizabeth Frances Foy, was housekeeper to a wealthy
gentleman, Mr. Parkinson who lived in the old bungalow, Copperas Lodge,
Copperas Lane, Haigh. The Lodge is opposite the windmill you pass on the way
to Haigh Hall. This was built on the site of an old manor by James Lindsay, 7 th
Earl of Balcarres and 24th Earl of Crawford between 1827 and 1840.
Whilst staying with grandma I walked there once or twice for her on some
business matters (no tradesmen’s entrance of course). In those days it was
quite safe for a child to walk down this road alone. At that time Haigh Hall was
occupied by David Alexander Robert Lindsay, 11th Earl of Balcarres and 28th Earl
of Crawford. (In 1947 it was sold to Wigan Corporation, for the benefit of all
the people in Wigan. Unfortunately, that has proved not to be the case). He
moved back to his family home in Fife, Scotland, where the present Earl, now
12th Earl of Balcarres and 29th Earl of Crawford, is living in retirement aged 93
years).
For a vehicle to use Copperas Lane, a toll of six old pennies had to be paid to
pass through the toll gates outside Mr. Parkinson’s home. Every Christian
holiday time he would go away and I was taken to stay with grandma. It was
my job to collect the six old pennies and open the toll gate (how important was
that!)
Walking down Copperas Lane, and starting from St David’s C of E Church,
where some of my relatives are buried, and with the Balcarres Arms opposite,
you passed Haigh C of E school, then a few minutes later Haigh Vicarage I lovely
woodland. The Vicar, the Reverend Howard Senor was a real country
clergyman. I often went to the Vicarage with a message or ‘goodies’ from
grandma and was always treated like a queen on my visits there.
Further along the road was a private narrow path to Joe’s farm and I can
remember Joe bringing eggs to the Lodge for grandma. Passing by the Lodge
and onwards down the lane there were two tiny, terraced cottages where
Auntie Hesford (a friend of grandma’s) lived. She was an elderly, refined lady
who lived alone and where I often took ‘goodies’. I was fascinated seeing all
her treasured belongings. Grandma appeared to know everyone and have
9friends everywhere. Frequently I took messages to two sisters (one called
Evelyn) who ran the Balcarres Arms pub.
The walk along the road from the Lodge into the village I remember well, as it
was bordered by lovely trees and thick hedges, and where dragonflies were
always flying around. I was terrified of them when I was small, but they seem
to be less evident in modern times. However, I wasn’t afraid of them when
grandma took me to a very small shop which sold lots of sweets. (Tante Emma
Laden)* That was a treat!
What about the Lodge itself? The kitchen and the bathroom areas the rear of
the bungalow were rather gloomy and in the evening time a little frightening
and eerie as the owls and the night birds began their evensong from the
surrounding woodlands. There was no electricity and I remember grandma
pulling down a little lead to light the gas mantles in all the rooms. When
darkness fell I would sit on her knee in her rocking chair and we would listen
to the wireless.
Then things changed. Builders came and began to build a big house close by.
Mr. Parkinson died and in 1974 after I married I heard that the Copperas Lodge
was up for sale. I also learned that the Vicarage had been demolished and
replaced by houses. That made me feel very sad.
I have not visited Haigh for many years – I expect it is a very different place
from those days when: ‘Sweet Childhood days those were as long as twenty
days are now’
I know how William and Dorothy felt.
Dorothy Finch
*Tante Emma Laden is literally German for Aunt Emma’s corner shop but is
used in certain parts of Germany colloquially as a small corner shop
From the ninth pew
As we can see some light at the end of the tunnel with the roll out of a vaccine,
perhaps this an opportune moment to reflect on how the Church of England
has handled the situation over almost the past twelve months.
From not very well to disgraceful are comments which spring to mind.
However perhaps this is a tad unfair as if we are to discuss ‘The Church’ we
10should be looking at some of the sterling work carried out by parish priests and
their people.
The Archbishops and the bench of Bishops have indeed shown themselves to
much further removed from the grass roots than we even suspected. Closing
churches to not only congregations but their own priest was not the best of
ideas.
In times of crisis people want their vicar and be able to come together for
worship. For us in the Catholic tradition the mass and the sacraments are
central to our faith and we have been denied them. Celebrating online is just
not good enough even for those who have the facility and of course many
don’t. At St. James’ our clergy and of course Matthew have worked wonders,
but it is not the same. And to see the Archbishop of Canterbury celebrating in
the kitchen at Lambeth Palace when he has a perfectly good chapel is being
parody!
Like many other churches we have been helping with food banks and a
network of parishioners using social media and the telephone have help keep
us in contact with each other.
A story I picked up from The Spectator. Fr Pat Allerton, a London based priest
had a brainwave. Nicknamed the Hot Priest and the Walking Priest he says, “I
had an idea to take a hymn and a prayer to the streets of my parish, to lift
spirits and bring a bit of joy.
Over the following weeks, Fr Allerton did 64 walking services around London,
helped by the amazing weather. Each service with a hymn, a prayer and a 60-
second sermon took seven minutes. He invited people up to 50 at a time to
join in from a window or doorway. “So many people,” he explains,
“commented on social media, saying things like, I’m not religious but I’ve got
goosebumps. There are tears coming down my face. God’s presence was
touching people.”
There are many such stories of great work most of course unknown other than
to those whom they touch. But the Church’s response to the situation at the
‘grass roots’ shows the real value of our parish clergy and people.
Yet unfortunately at the same time the Archbishop seemed more concerned
with the removal of controversial statues from churches. He’s even taking a
11three-month sabbatical this May, when the country is dealing with its worst
crisis since the war, attracting considerable criticism.
According to author Karen Armstrong the Archbishop seems to be saying that
his personal well-being is paramount and that the anxiety, suffering, fear and
grief of a country in the grip of a deadly pandemic and an economic crisis is, at
best, a secondary concern.
The Telegraph’s Tim Stanley adds, “This does not look good. We are in the
middle of a national crisis, and it’s a crisis about death. This should be the
Church’s big moment because the central message of Christianity is that while
death is bad and we will accompany you through it, it’s not the end.”
There is no doubt that the church has lost a lot of money during this crisis and
there will have to be some ‘belt tightening’ Let’s hope and pray that this is not
going to be left solely to our Bench of Bishops as I think we all know where cuts
will fall first!
Geoff Lightfoot
Articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect
the views of the Clergy or the PCC
DONATIONS
The churchwardens gratefully acknowledge the
following donations to Church funds
General Fund
£10 in loving memory of Mary Holmes from Debra Le Noan
£10 in loving memory of Mary Holmes from Dorothy Clark
£40 in loving memory of Florence Mulvanny from Alice, Marie and nieces
£100 in loving memory of loved ones from Alice, Marie, Karen and Michelle
£? In loving memory of Olive and Reg Chadwick, Doris and Jack Briscoe
from Pauline and Allan
£10 loving birthday memories of mum and friend Jan, and to loved ones.
from Yvonne Cummings
£100 in loving memory of Lily and Jack Lawrenson from Janet and John
£130 from Tony Ormrod
£25 Christmas memories of Edie and Jim from Margaret Meadowcroft.
12Graveyard fund
£30 in loving memory of Annie and Joseph Lee, Albert E. Lee, Brian and Eileen Lee,
Grahame and Kenneth Clough from the family
£50 in loving memory of Brenda from Wilf Frodsham
Parish Centre Fund
£10 Christmas memories of Eileen Lee from Rose
£100 money raised from sale of Christmas cakes from Kath Rayner
£100 from the Briscoe Family
Childrens Society
£50 From Hilda O’Connor
£5 donation to Children’s Society. Anon
Epiphany gift
£200 from Sylvia and Gordon Turner
£50 from Gill and Bill Haydock.
Intercessions February 2021
Day Intentions and Observance Anglican Communion and our parish
Mon 1st Parishes of The Society Church of Kenya
Arrowsmith Road
Tue 2nd Women’s religious orders Alualuak S. Sudan
Ash Road
Wed 3rd All missionaries Amazonia Brasil
Ashbury Drive
Thu 4th Society parished in Amichi Nigeria
interregnum Askett Close
Fri 5th Our School Amritsar N. India
Aster Road
Sat 6th The Queen and Royal Family Adaman and Car N. India
Bradbury Close
Sun 7th People of the Parish Church of Burundi
Balharry Avenue
Mon 8th Archbishops of Anglican St Andrews Scotland
Communion Beech Avenue
Tue 9th Space for God in busy lives Igreja Brasil
Beilby Road
Wed 10th All affected by unemployment Angola
Birch Road
13Thu 11th Our Country Ankole Uganda
Bishop Reeves Road
Fri 12th Our School N. Ankole Uganda
Bluebell Avenue
Sat 13th Servers and Sacristans NW Ankole Uganda
Branchway
Sun 14th People of the Parish Church in Canada
Buckfast Avenue
Mon 15th Eucharistic Ministers S. Ankole Uganda
Canon Wilson Close
Tue 16th Those on Pilgrimage W.Ankole Uganda
Wed 17th Remember that we are but Antananarivo Indian Ocean
dust Case Road
Thu 18th Prayer before the Blessed Antsiranana Indian Ocean
Sacrament
Fri 19th Those whose relationships are Iglesia Anglicana de Chile
in difficulty Cedar Grove
Sat 20th Mission and Bible Societies Artic Canada
Chapel Street
Sun 21st People of the Parish Central Africa
Chirton Close
Mon 22nd Those suffering persecution Argentina S.America
because of their faith Chisledon Close
Tue 23rd All Walsingham Cells N.Argentina S.America
Church Road
Wed 24th Childrens’ Societies Argyll and the Isles Scotland
Clipsley Lane
Thu 25th Children studying at home Arizon USA
Compton Close
Fri 26th University Students Arkansas USA
Cook Avenue
Sat 27th Winwick Deanery Armagh Ireland
Cooper Lane
Sun 28th People of the Parish Iglesia Anglican de las Central
America
Coronation Drive
1415
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