June Services at Ansley Churches
| 1st June
After Ascension |
St John’s
|
10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 8th June
Pentecost |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 15th June
Trinity |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 22nd June
Trinity 1 |
St Laurence’s | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| 29th June
Trinity 2 |
St Laurence’s | 10.30 a.m. | Songs of Praise |
From the Registers
No entries this month
Installation of the Tenth Bishop of Coventry
The installation of the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley as Bishop of Coventry will take place on Saturday 7th June at 2.00 p.m. in the Cathedral. Everyone is welcome. Please book your place by searching ‘Installation of Bishop of Coventry’. This should take you to a page which allows you to book a place through ‘eventbrite’.
Songs of Praise at St Laurence
We would love to receive suggestions for hymns to be sung at this service. Please give the title of one of your favourites to a church member. Do not worry if you cannot be present in person, we will be pleased to sing your choice. The service planners and our organist will appreciate some advance notice!
Church open
From 1st June until end of September the church will be open on Sunday afternoons from 12 noon to 6.00 p.m. for visitors to come and look, take time to be quiet and to pray. The church will also continue to be open on Tuesdays from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. over the summer.
Prayer Meeting
The next prayer meeting will be held at 2.00 p.m. in St John’s on
Tuesday 24th June. All are welcome to join us for an hour of
reflection and prayer.
VE Day 80 Report
On the 80th anniversary of VE Day the flag was flying from the church tower. Following the two minutes silence the bells were rung for an hour. We rang rounds, call changes, Bob Doubles
and Grandsire. This enabled all our ringers to have a go as well as the two people from Fillongley who have come to learn how to ring.
The church was decorated in red, white and blue flowers for the special service on Sunday 11th May, which commemorated the end of the war. The readings and hymns were chosen for the occasion and the sermon reminded us that the effects of the war have impacted people’s lives over the last eighty years.
For soldiers who served through the war years there have been emotional, physical and mental tolls on their health and well being. Civilians suffered in similar ways and even those who were very young experienced loss and disruption.
We looked back in gratitude and thanksgiving for the peace that was established eighty years ago but also with sorrow at the conflicts that have taken place in the world since 1945 and that are continuing at this time. We prayed for peace and justice for all who are suffering from violence and that the Peace of Jesus may reign in our hearts.
Tools with a Mission (TWAM)
This is a charity we at Ansley Church had supported some years ago. This charity accepts pre-loved tools and refurbishes them before sorting them into trade tool kits which are then sent to the developing world for livelihood creation. If you have any spanners, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers etc. Fillongley Church are now supporting this worthy cause. Do have a word with one of the wardens if you have any such items.
National Gardens Scheme – Ansley Open Gardens
Nine gardens will be open in Ansley on Sunday 29th June between 1.30 and 5.30 p.m. The combined ticket cost of £6 gives entry to all nine gardens. Light refreshments will be on sale at certain venues, with proceeds in aid of Ansley Gardening Group and other local charities. This group of gardens includes small to large, traditional to modern and new build to mature examples. In 2024 the village won Gold in the Britain in Bloom Competition. Some of the gardens are opening for the first time this year.
Party in the Park: Sunday 6th July 12.00 noon to 5.00 p.m.
Ansley Village Recreation Ground
This event will be hosted by Ansley Parish Council and will have a 1940s/VE Day theme. Live music will include Ashby Big Band and Cathy Morris, Vintage Singer, dancing performances will be from Ansley Morris, Wartime Dance Class and Luv2 Disco. Various street food and drinks stalls will be present plus craft outlets and lots of activities.
Nominations are open for The Heather Norgrove Community Spirit Cup which will be awarded on the day. More details about how to nominate are on the Ansley Parish Council Party in the Park web page. Details of the programme, stalls activities etc. can be seen on the same page. Entry is free and all are welcome.
St Laurence and St John’s will be sharing a stall at this local event. Marmalade and jam will be sold. We have been given various items for which we would appreciate donations and St John’s ladies will be organising a game for children. If you are coming to this event please visit our stall.
St John’s Church Hall, Ansley Common,
In 2009 St John’s Hall was extended and refurbished. The weather has taken its toll and the front of the hall is looking very tired. The hall committee have agreed that the exterior front will be repainted in the same colours as before. This work will be carried out when the contactor is available.
We have already had the name plate for the hall repainted. It will be replaced above the main entrance once the render has been completed. We say a big thank you to the volunteer who re-painted the name for us.
The kitchen window is in need of repair. We hope this work will be
completed before the winter.
This hall has lost one of its main regular hirers. Consequently the income has been reduced and it will therefore be necessary to use hall reserves to pay for the repair and decoration detailed above.
If you know of a group or organisation which is looking for a venue please do let them know that there are times available at St John’s.
Ansley Village Church Hall
We are grateful to Andy Down who has completed the access path to the additional car park. As soon as he can, he will improve the latch on the gate between the two areas and a new lock will be fitted.
We will shortly have a new fan fitted in the gents toilets which will reduce the condensation that arises during cold weather.
The PCC members appreciate the work of both hall caretakers.
Coffee Morning Report
A good number of volunteers arrived at the Annexe on Saturday 10th May to help prepare items for the ‘Back in Time’ event at St Laurence on August Bank Holiday Monday. There was time to chat as scissors and glue were put to use and paper folding skills resurrected from the past. The World War Two cake recipes had been baked and were ready for taste testing. There was no shortage of volunteers for this task! The time flew by very agreeably.
‘Back in Time’ Planning
Planning for the ‘Back in Time’ event on 26th August at St Laurence Church is progressing well. If you would like to be involved or help with this exciting new event please do let us know. We are going to need a lot of help on the day.
Ansley Gardening Group Plant Sale
Ansley Village Church Hall was full of quality plants for summer baskets and borders. Many more plants were on sale than last year and there were plenty of customers to make their choices of colours and varieties. Refreshments were on sale, with an excellent choice of cakes. Proceeds contribute towards the cost of plants for the containers that provide welcome splashes of colour in the community.
St Laurence Churchyard – Memorial Garden
We are pleased to say that we have now had the individual plots identified on a detailed plan. Plans are in progress for the dedication of the area. Once this has been carried out, the interment of ashes into the new area can be arranged. We are mindful that some families have been waiting patiently for the new plots to be available.
Excess soil has still to be moved away and grass seed will be sown once there has been some rain to help it germinate.
Churchyard regulations
The Church of England brought in new regulations for all churchyards from 20th April 2025. Most of the requirements are still the same but there are some changes especially with regard to memorial stones on traditional graves. The new application forms are much longer than the previous ones. They are comprehensive to ensure there is no ambiguity.
Families need to complete the new application form, with a monumental mason. All new memorial stones and additional inscriptions will need to meet the new requirements. Permission must be obtained before a gravestone is altered in any way. Local funeral directors have been sent the latest requirements to help inform families of the regulations. Please remember that gravestones remain the family’s property and it is necessary for them to be kept in good order.
Please remember all burials and interments of ashes need to be arranged through the proper authorities.
If you have any queries or concerns with regard to the churchyard please do have a word with the vicar or one of the wardens.
St Laurence Church
External woodwork
The PCC has obtained permission to preserve the external woodwork of the church. in particular on the porch and the west and the north doors. Before preservative can be applied we need to rub down the woodwork and also the metal hinges which will need a rust prevention coating. If anyone can help with this preparative work, even for just a few hours on a dry day please let the wardens know. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
The Churchwardens and Deputy Churchwardens will be taking their oath of office on 16th July, following their re-appointments at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in April. They, the PCC Members and our Priest –in-Charge, the Reverend Steve Medley would much appreciate your prayers as they take up the responsibilities of their various roles.
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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.