August Services at Ansley Churches
| 3rd August
Trinity 7 |
St John’s
|
10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 10th August
St Laurence |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 17th August
Trinity 9 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 24th August
Trinity 10 |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| 31st August
Trinity 11 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Songs of Praise |
From the Registers
Wedding
The wedding ceremony for Share Taylor and Jamie Roberts was held at St Laurence Church on Saturday 21st June. Their friends and family were there for their special day. We wish them every happiness for the future.
Funerals
Jean Waller, who lived in Ansley for many years before recently moving to Nuneaton, died on 6th May 2025, aged 95. The funeral service took place on Tuesday 17th June at St Laurence Church. She was buried with her husband in the churchyard. We remember her daughter and grandchildren at this sad time.
Andrew Niblock, who lived in Birchley Heath for nearly forty years, died suddenly on 31st May, aged 77. The funeral service was on Monday 30th June at St Laurence Church followed by the committal at the Heart of England Crematorium. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, their two sons and granddaughters and his friends and neighbours.
Ansley Ringing Team
On Friday 15th August out team of ringers will be ringing Ansley’s bells to commemorate the end of World War Two. This will take place at 6.30 p.m. when other teams in the Coventry Guild will also be ringing.
Prayer Meeting
The next meeting will be Tuesday 19th August at 2.00 p.m. in St John’s Hall.
Visiting Ringers
The visiting team from Bathampton rang an excellent quarter peal of 1296 changes called Salsiford Delight Minor in 43 minutes.
The visiting team were enjoying a week’s holiday and were ringing in four or five churches each day. It is quite a while since our bells have been used for a quarter.
Ansley Open Gardens 2025
The group organising this year’s RHS National Gardens Scheme for Nursing Charities and the garden hosts/hostesses must be very satisfied with the outcomes of this event. Here are some facts and figures. Two hundred and three visitors took the opportunity to visit gardens across Ansley. (One hundred and seventy eight came last year.) £1033 was donated to the charity above £467.79 was raised through the sale of plants and refreshments. This will be split between Mary Ann Evans Hospice and the Ansley Village Gardening Group. The latter’s share will be used to help fund Ansley in Bloom 2026. £25.00 was raised through the sale of jams at Park Cottages. This sum has been paid directly to Macmillan Cancer Support.
The gardens’ owners received some lovely comments from people who visited for the first time this year and want to return in 2026. Some were even looking with interest at houses for sale in the village!
Party in the Park: Sunday 6th July
After weeks of sunshine there were heavy rain showers and strong winds during the morning setting up and the first hour or two of Party in the Park. Ansley Parish Council organised this event and the members and all who had been involved in the morning’s preparations must have been very relieved when the rain stopped. In the end all went well and a pleasing number of people came along to enjoy the afternoon. Photos can be viewed on the Ansley Village Community Facebook page.
The church was represented with a stall which included a lollipop game run by St John’s. St Laurence’s were selling donated Bric a Brac items, and books. Homemade jam and marmalade were also on sale. Hand outs about St Laurence church included our Vision Statement and other details. Flyers about the Back in Time event at St Laurence Church on August Bank Holiday Monday were also available.
Britain in Bloom
The judging for this project will be taking place a few days after this issue of the magazine goes to the printer. It is an all year round commitment to encourage community involvement in improving the local area, not just with flowers to cheer the spirit but also by developing, supporting or acknowledging initiatives from within the community, such as Re- Treeing Ansley which was Highly Commended last year. Evidence of preparations for this year’s judging have been visible around the village for some time as areas have been tidied, planters filled with colour and regularly watered by dedicated volunteers. The church grounds greet visitors with colourful displays and areas have been weeded and tidied. Church leaders and members are very appreciative of the volunteers’ efforts.
St John’s Church Hall
The front of the building had been looking very shabby for a while. The last time work was carried out on the building was the major refurbishment and extension in 2009. The name plate has already been repainted, ready for reinstallation on the front elevation now it has been redecorated. This work has made a vast difference to the building’s appearance.
This project has cost £2,502 which has been paid from the reserves that the St John’s Hall account had acquired in the past.
The improvements made in 2009, have lasted well but the fabric of the building now needs more capital expenditure to ensure it is kept in good condition for the future.
St John’s Hall can be hired by contacting www.ansleychurch.org and using the search icon (magnifying glass) to find information about St John’s Church Hall, Ansley Common. Or you can contact Wendy on 07833 301655.
Churchyard
Churchyard Gates
You may have noticed the new gates to the churchyard entrance by the tower. We are very grateful to Andrew Morewood of Parker Morewood for this work. He thinks his father Ron made the ones that have been replaced. The new gates have been made from oak. We were fortunate that he was able to use the existing ironmongery on the new gates. Sourcing suitable metalwork is a specialised area and would have added considerably to the cost. This entrance is not used often as visibility is very difficult, especially in a car. It is however very important when vehicular access is required to that part of the churchyard.
Car Park Gates
One of the car park gateposts was demolished recently by a car attempting to turn. We are very grateful for the donation of a new post and for all the help we received in both getting the base of the old post out and inserting the new one. Hopefully this new post will remain in position for many years to come.
Back in Time Event August Bank Holiday Monday
At St Laurence Church 1.30 to 5.30 p.m.
Preparations, Setting Up, During and Clearing Away
The planning for this event has gone well. At this point the organising committee could do with as many offers of HELP as possible, especially
as detailed below.
Preparations
Churchyard: Although there has been work done in the churchyard for Britain in Bloom in July there will still be tasks to do before Back in Time. We would welcome help with annual tree and hedge trimming and any tidying or maintenance tasks that you see are needed. This will begin on Wednesday 13th August. Even if it is for a short time, the moral support or offering a cuppa to the workers would be much appreciated and the churchyard is open each day.
Church: August is the time of year when a special effort is made to clean the inside of the building by removing cobwebs around windows etc – as far as we can reach at least. Visitors will be coming into the building and we hope to welcome them into a clean and tidy space.
The steps up to the middle room and the bell chamber in the tower will need a clean as guided tours will be offered during Back in Time.
Setting Up, During and Clearing Away
Please offer any help you can on the day itself before, during and/or after the event. Many hands will make light work! Contact Janet on 07947 898220 for details of how you can help.
Many people expressed their regret last August that the Bank Holiday Weekend Flower Festival had come to an end. We very much hope that this new one day event will bring everyone together for a very enjoyable afternoon. Do help to publicise the event and bring along lots of family and friends.
Churches of Warwickshire Book
The PCC has been advised that Aidan McRae Thompson has produced a book entitled ‘Churches in Warwickshire’ which has just gone on sale. It tells of sixty churches in Warwickshire, one of which is St Laurence. We are told that there are three photographs of the church, including the carving on the Norman Chancel Arch and the West Window.
Aidan is an artist and restorer who has worked in stained glass for over twenty years. He has designed and made the windows in several churches in the area. The book is available on Amazon and also in local bookshops.
Service of Dedication of the Memorial Garden
Following the Sunday service at St Laurence on 22nd June, we gathered by the Memorial Garden for its dedication. This prayer was used, repeating the line in bold type after each section.
To the glory of God the Father, who has called us by grace;
To the honour of the Son, who loved us and gave himself for us;
to the praise of the Holy Spirit, who illumines our lives;
For the comfort of all who mourn;
As a place of peace and refuge for those who seek solace;
For the beauty of God’s creative hand revealed in nature;
In faith that the whole family of Christ will be inspired by love and goodwill to all;
We dedicate this garden.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Prayer Requests
If you would like someone, or a particular situation, to be remembered in prayer, please make contact by email or phone one of the contacts on the front cover.