News
To keep up to date with news and events click on the Pews News button on the home page.
Click on the link to view our recent Pews News
Pews News for the 2nd Sunday of Advent 8 Dec
Pews News for the 1st Sunday of Advent 1 Dec
Pews News for the Sunday next before Advent 24 Nov
Pews News for 2nd Sunday before advent 17 Nov
Pews News for Remembrance Sunday 10 Nov
Pews News for All Saints' Day Advent 3 Nov
Pews News for the Last Sunday after Trinity 27 Oct
Pews News for 21st Sunday after Trinity 20 Oct
Pews News for 20th Sunday after Trinity 13 O
Easter Service at St Saviour's Dottery
Askerswell set ready for their Easter Benefice Eucharist service.
On Wednesday 22nd March Symondsbury School presented Noye's Fludde and Bishop Stephen Lake went to meet the children and staff as they were rehearsing for the performance.
Bishop Stephen also visited Powerstock school where the children asked several inciteful questions ranging from the creation story in the book of Genesis, to how he came to faith and how he felt to be ordained.
Remembrance Sunday
They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Harvest Service
St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell
On Sunday we gave thanks for the harvest and there were some wonderful displays of the produce that was kindly donated.
We mourn the death of our Dear Queen Elizabeth.
Everyone in our Benefice will feel great sadness. Our churches will fly flags at half mast, some will toll muffled bells for an hour from noon on Friday 9 September, and there will be books of condolence in each of the 4 main parish churches for everyone to visit and leave a message or a name should they wish.
We offer our prayers and send our condolences to all the Royal Family.
May Elizabeth our Queen, rest in peace and rise in glory.
God save the King.
Melplash Show 25th August
Rev Chris and the team at the Rural Hope tent at the Melplash Show on 25th August.
West Milton Open Air Service
On Sunday 14th August we had our open air service at West Milton. The weather was perfect for the event and it was great to see so many people there.
7 July 2022
We have a new Benefice Administrator!
Welcome Jeanette ... here's her brief introduction
My name is Jeanette Wedge and I moved to Dorchester in the beautiful county of Dorset in 2019, having spent 20 years living in Rutland.
I’ve been married to my husband Neil for 36 years and we have two grown up children. In my spare time I love exploring the stunning local scenery, either on foot or by bike (which is electric to help with the hills around here!) and I’ve just taken over the running of a local book club. I have also started taking an early morning dip in the sea, which I’m hoping to do more of! The majority of my working life has been in administration, within a school office, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the team at the Eggardon and Colmers Benefice.
Presentation at North Poorton
26 June 2022
Sunday’s well attended Evensong service at North Poorton also served as a thanksgiving for 35 years of John Pritchett’s organ playing in both Mary Magdalene, North Poorton and St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock.
A presentation was followed by the usual North Poorton nosh-up!
We need a new Benefice Administrator!
Post now filled
Do you have admin experience and enjoy working on your own initiative? We have a vacancy for an administrator to assist us for between 8 and 10 hours a week. Mostly working from home, you will help arrange weddings, funerals and baptisms, publish services, keep records and spreadsheets updated, maintain our website (full training given) and deal with incoming mail, emails, etc.
This is a well paid role which has plenty of scope to get involved for this Benefice covering eight beautiful churches. As you may need to visit our churches from time to time, the use of transport would be an advantage.
If you are interested, send your CV and covering letter to either Rev Chris at cgrasske@outlook.com, or Sandy, the current administrator at admin@eggardoncolmerschurches.org.
Closing date is 24 June 2022
Rogation Service At St Paul's, Broadoak
15 May 2022
This year’s Rogation Service from St Paul’s, Broadoak, was well attended. The rain even stopped during the procession!
The blessing of fields and prayers for the workers and the fruits of their labours has taken place in Dottery for the past 30 years.
Christian Aid Week – 15 – 21 May 2022
Watch out for donation envelopes coming through your doors
as part of this year’s appeal.
You can find out more about this year’s campaign:
The war in Ukraine cannot help but be uppermost in our thoughts with the toil it has taken. many millions of Ukranians have had to flee their homes, there is devastation and ruin as well as tragic loss of life in this desperate and brutal conflict. Christian Aid (as part of the DEC and in it’s own right) is working with 3 partner organisations in the ACT Alliance; Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) in Ukraine and Hungary, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Poland, and Swiss Church Aid (HEKS) in Ukraine, Hungary and Romania. These local partners are in Ukraine to offer assistance to internally displaced peoples and to refugees with lifesaving aid, shelter, truckloads of food, water, sanitation and health support, as well as being able to offer vital information.
Many of you have responded to the DEC appeal most generously, and even offered homes and support for displaced refugees. In Zimbabwe, (the country that Christian Aid is focusing on this year), the climate crisis is causing aching hunger for families like Jessica Mwedzi’s. Jessica and her children often only eat one bowl of porridge a day. The combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, conflict, and drought have robbed her of the power to provide for her children. Jessica is at the mercy of the climate crisis. Drought makes women like her hungrier, poorer and robs them of the chance to earn a living with dignity.
And 7,000 miles away, the war in Ukraine will drive up food prices in Zimbabwe and around the globe. Without the fertiliser and food - like wheat and cooking oil - that Ukraine and Russia produce, vulnerable families will be
pushed even deeper into hunger.
Rt Revd Stephen Lake was consecrated as Bishop on 25 April during a service at Southwark Cathedral presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury
This marks the next stage in the journey towards Stephen becoming the 27th Bishop of Salisbury. He has moved to Salisbury with his family and will be
enthroned in Salisbury Cathedral in June.
Warm congratulations and welcome to
Rev Carole Peters-King
Rev Carole was licensed on the 13 April and now an Associate Priest in the Benefice of Eggardon and Colmers! We are delighted that she joins the team.
With Bishop Karen and Rev Chris incapacitated homebound with Covid, the licensing service was conducted via Zoom with many
from the parish joining online.
Carole will be a cherished addition to our team.
1 April 2022
Songs of Praise - Askerswell
Sunday 22nd May at 6.30pm
As part of our celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we will be holding a “Songs of Praise” style evening in our village church, St Michael & All Angels.
We would like to invite requests for your favourite hymns (we plan for 8) old or new, perhaps in memory of a loved one or in memory of some special event.
Everyone in the village and across the Benefice is invited but priority for requests will be given to residents of Askerswell.
If you would like to request a favourite hymn please email Godfrey at:
godfrey.lancashire@btinternet.com before 30th April.
After the service there will be an opportunity to get together with wine and nibbles provided.
There will be a retiring collection for the DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Everyone is welcome. We hope to see many of you there.
1 April 2022
Deanery Confirmation Service
The Deanery will be hosting a Confirmation Service at St Mary's,Beaminster at 3pm on Sunday 2 October 2022. If you or one of your children (year 6 and over) would like to think about being confirmed, then do please get in touch with us.
Please email Rev Chris on cgrasske@outlook.com.
You can read all about confirmation in the Church of England here.
6 March 2022
Wedding Preparation Morning
Many of the couples marrying this year met up with the team on 5 March at St John the Baptist Church in Symondsbury for our annual Wedding Preparation Morning. On a chilly morning, warmed by ample tea, coffee and biscuits, we met to share thoughts about the meaning of marriage, as well as informal chats about the couples' experiences and their reasons for marrying in church. Practicalities, such as the reading of the banns, how marriages are registered, and qualifying connections were also discussed. It was a great morning, with couples stating how useful it was to meet up with each other and share their thoughts, hopes and worries.
We were joined by Rev Deb Smith and Helen Croud from the Bridport Team who also led the concluding act of worship. Helen will be taking some of our wedding services this year and we welcome her.
We wish all the couples a great wedding day and long and happy lives together.
5 March 2022
Help for Ukraine
There are many ways that you can contribute to the relief of the Ukrainian people, as well as donate to help the surrounding countries that are providing safety for fleeing Ukrainians.
Financial donations can be made through the Disasters Emergency Committee.
24 February 2022
Ukraine
The Archbishops have issued this statement following the Russian Invasion of the Ukraine. They ask churches to pray for Ukraine on Sunday and to make Ash Wednesday a day of prayer and fasting for peace:
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have also issued a special prayer
God of peace and justice,
We pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion
to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
The band loved the church setting and found the acoustics ideal for their performance.
20 February 2022
Jazz at St Mary the Virgin
The eagerly awaited jazz concert at Powerstock church took place on Saturday when BBC Radio 3’s Alyn Shipton and his band delighted the audience with their traditional New Orleans jazz.
Alyn is a jazz bassist, author and broadcaster, being the presenter of the hugely popular Jazz Record Requests programme for BBC Radio 3.
Alyn Shipton’s New Orleans Jazz Friends is made up of musicians who have all spent time in New Orleans learning from the founding fathers of the music, and in these concerts they re-explore the repertoire that leading clarinettist George Lewis made famous.
6 February 2022
A great turnout for a wonderful afternoon at this month’s CAKE Café, looking at some of the many Bible references to music, followed by sharing musical favourites and associated stories, ranging from traditional hymns to the Beatles, all by the light of candles to mark the
feast of Candlemas.
Don’t miss next month’s Café at Uploders Chapel when the
theme will be in other peoples shoes
See you at Uploders Chapel on Tuesday 1 March at 2.30pm!
14th January 2022
New Bishop of Salisbury
It has been announced that the Queen has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester, for election as the 79th Bishop of Salisbury, in succession to The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam following his retirement.
Stephen trained for ministry at Chichester Theological College. He served his title at Sherborne Abbey with Castleton and Lillington in the Diocese of Salisbury and was ordained Priest in 1989.
He became Vicar of Branksome St Aldhelm from 1992 and was additionally appointed Rural Dean of Poole in 2000. In 2001, Stephen was appointed Sub Dean of St Albans, and took up his current role as Dean of Gloucester in 2011.
Stephen is a Church Commissioner and Lead Dean for Safeguarding. He is married to Carol and they have three adult children.
An important note from Rev Chris – 17 December 2021
We have decided to continue with church services this Christmas.
The following precautions will be in place to ensure that everybody can feel as safe as possible.
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Everybody attending is asked to take a lateral flow test on the day of the service and ensure that their vaccinations are up to date.
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Masks will need to be worn at all times other than singing, although if you feel you can sing with a mask that is preferred.
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There will be no refreshments after the service.
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Please follow the directions of the stewards who will be asking you to leave in a socially distanced manner.
For each service, there will be a maximum number that can be socially distanced in the building, and unfortunately, we will need to stick to this limit. Your understanding in this is appreciated.
There is always a risk to anything, and if you feel in any way uncomfortable with this, we fully understand if you don’t attend, in which case we look forward to meeting you next year.
A carol service will be broadcast online, either YouTube or Facebook. Broadoak carol service may be in church, or may be in one of George’s barns, please keep an eye on local advertising.
3rd December 2021
The Church of England's First Ever Christmas Single
The single, a new carol version of In the Bleak Midwinter by one of the country’s top young composers, Rebecca Dale, will form the soundtrack to this year’s Church of England Christmas campaign. The single is released on all streaming platforms from Wednesday 1st December onwards. It can now be streamed or downloaded online here. '#AtTheHeartOfChristmas' is the Church of England’s theme for Advent and Christmas 2021.
Local churches all over the country will be welcoming their communities – onsite and online – to celebrate and share the good news of Christ’s birth with special services and events, supported by a wide range of national resources.
The new carol’s composer Rebecca Dale is one of the country’s most exciting young composers who has been hailed as a household name in years to come.
11th November 2021
Another major cliff fall happened this week at West Bay. Fortunately, occurring at 7.30am, no-one was injured. This is another reminder of how unsafe our cliffs can be, especially with an increase in rainfall and stormy weather. The advice is to stay away from the beach and the footpath along the top of the cliffs.
6th November 2021
The Service of Love, Light and Loss at St Mary the Virgin Powerstock of 30th October 2021 was commemorated again this year with the lighting of candles as we remembered those we have lost.
This service is an annual event.
At introduction to Reverend Carole Peters-King - in her own words...
Hello!
I’m the Revd Carole Peters-King, priest, author, journalist and communication specialist and I’m absolutely delighted to be helping out, here in the Eggardon & Colmers Benefice.
I am honoured to hold permission to officiate in the Diocese and living locally (Fishpond Bottom) I have been delighted to be able to offer to help here in the Benefice.
In introducing myself to you, I thought I would tell you a little bit about me.
I am married to Barry, (we met and married just over 6 years ago). We share a love of gardening, entertaining and two aging collies.
I became a priest after a long career in the media, working in newspapers, radio and finally as a television documentary film maker. A career which saw me among other things nominated for a Bafta (Aberfan), gain a posthumous pardon for a 40-year miscarriage of justice (Derek Bentley), survive war zones (Rwanda and Haiti), decorate people’s homes (changing rooms) and dig up their gardens (Timeteam).
It was my self-acclaimed passion for rural ministry, rather than my eclectic media career, that led me to take on the incumbency of 7 rural parishes in south Northamptonshire.
The Astwell Benefice, where I served, was very similar in so many ways with the Benefice here. Beautiful churches with a deep history spread widely across a landscape of villages and hamlets with their own personalities. Friendly congregations and people committed to serve the church in myriad of ways. It means I already feel right at home.
But I also understand all the problems we face.
In 2018, I left parish ministry because I felt called to serve as the Director of Communications for the Diocese of Salisbury, Bishop’s Press Officer and co-editor of Grapevine. I have loved my role, especially when I’ve been able to tell the stories of, and from, our many parishes.
22nd October 2021
This weekend we celebrate the last of our special Harvest Services at St Saviour's, Dottery. Thanks to the congregations, the churches have all been beautifully decorated and the thanksgiving services well attended. Here'a few pictures taken from St Michael and All Angels, Askerswell, to remind us of the beauty and abundance that we enjoy:
10th October 2021
Joint Wedding & Baptism
Guests arriving at St John the Baptist Church on the afternoon of Sunday 3rd October expected to witness the baptism of baby Phoebe Raison. A big surprise awaited them when Pheobe’s parents, Vikki and Craig, married prior to their daughter’s christening!
Congratulations to the family, pictured here
with Phoebe’s Godparents.
The Reverend Gregory Page-Turner
The Reverend Gregory Page-Turner passed away on the 19th September, peacefully listening to Wagner. Rev Chris has sent condolences on behalf of this Benefice to his family, saying how much he was loved in the Benefice and is still fondly talked about by many of you.
The family funeral will take place on 28th October, but there is an opportunity to pay quiet respects on the previous evening, 27th October, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, when the coffin will lay in St Mary Magdalene, Loders.
There is a Service of Thanksgiving on 28th October at 2pm in St Mary's, Beaminster, when every one is welcome.
May Gregory rest in peace
And rise in glory
Amen
28th September 2021
Weddings and Blessings
After so much uncertainty, it's been a busy summer for weddings in the Benefice, and continues into the autumn, with three weddings in the next week.
And it's not just weddings. Some couples, unable to have the type of wedding they wanted, had settled for a much smaller ceremony either in church or a civil ceremony in one of Dorset's licensed venues. So, it's been wonderful to be able to celebrate these couples' marriages with a wedding blessing.
Kathleen and Alan Todd had their marriage blessed at a ceremony in St Saviour's Dottery on the 13th August. The photograph is reproduced here by kind permission of the couple.
If you are interesting in having your marriage blessed in one of our beautiful churches, please visit our weddings page here, or contact admin@unitedbenefice.net for further information.
Details of our next monthly café, Cake, are below.
Arranged jointly with our friends at Uploders Chapel, everyone in the Benefice, plus friends and neighbours, will be warmly welcomed. Come and try!
Date: Tuesday 1st November
Time: 2.30pm – 4pm
Venue: Uploders Chapel
Theme: Mary's Message
For details, please call Liz Guard on 01308 485463
7th August 2021
Celebrating Harvest 2021
Symondsbury: 26th September 11am
North Poorton: 26th September 6.30pm
Loders - 3rd October 11am
Eype - 3rd October 6.30pm
Askerswell - 10th October 11am
Broadoak - 17th October 6.30pm
Dottery - 24th October 9.30am
Powerstock - 29th October, time TBC
More details to follow....
A bit about Harvest...
Harvest Festival used to be celebrated at the beginning of the Harvest season and was called Lammas, meaning 'loaf Mass'. Farmers made loaves of bread from the new wheat crop and gave them to their local church. They were then used as the Communion bread during a special mass thanking God for the harvest. The custom ended when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, and nowadays we have harvest festivals at the end of the season.
At the start of the harvest, communities would appoint a strong and respected man of the village as their 'Lord of the Harvest'. He would be responsible for negotiating the harvest wages and organising the fieldworkers.
The end of the harvest was celebrated with a big meal called a Harvest Supper, eaten on Michaelmas Day. The 'Lord of the Harvest' sat at the head of the table. A goose stuffed with apples was eaten along with a variety of vegetables. Goose Fairs were and still are held in English towns at this time of year.
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16th July 2021
Local Businesses and 'Freedom Day'
Many of our local businesses have opted to continue with the Covid restrictions after Monday - the so-called 'freedom day'.
July 19th will see all legal limits on social contact removed, restrictions on large scale events lifted, and hospitality venues which have remained closed - such as nightclubs - can reopen.
Bridport South and West Bay currently has 15 cases of Covid-19 - with a rolling rate of 270.2 case per 100,000 people - whilst Bridport North has reported 23 cases - a rolling rate of 351.2 per 100,000 people.
Both North and South Bridport currently have less than three cases each. Many local businesses have declared they will not be 'returning to normal' and will stick with some safety restrictions.
With a lot of visitors expected to flood the area from next week, this will help to keep us all safe. You can read about the decision to maintain restrictions from local businesses here.
Welcoming Rev Lorna Johnson
25th June 2021
We look forward to welcoming Reverend Lorna Johnson from the Bridport Team, who will be joining the Benefice for the month of July. She will be accompanying Rev Chris, as well as officiating at some services.
Rev Lorna was ordained in February of this year.
Fourth time a success!
25th June 2021
Janet and Jeffery finally got married at St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock on Saturday 12th June! Due to the pandemic, their wedding had been postponed no less than three times, but perseverance certainly paid off.
Nothing was going to stop this wedding - even when the vicar due to take the ceremony was taken into hospital a couple of days before, Rev. Deb Smith stepped in to save the day!
Congratulations to Janet and Jeffery, pictured here with Rev Deb. (Thank you Rev Deb for rearranging your life to help us out!)
27th May 2021
Having navigated the country lane, making note of each passing spot, you are rewarded with the beautiful 19th century church of St Mary Magdalene at North Poorton.
Nestled in the fields, the church was built in 1861 by local men as a replacement for an older church. It was designed by renowned architect John Hicks, built in local stone and has a minaret tower. You can read more about the church on their dedicated page here.
Early records from 1381 mention a Chapel at Poorton dedicated to St. Nicholas, but it seems from 1405 onward there has been a church here dedicated to St. Peter. The adjacent burial ground was declared full and closed in 1768. Thomas Sanctuary had been Rector for over ten years when he commissioned the new church for Poorton because the old church was “dilapidated and inadequate.”
24th May 2021
Thursday 3rd May is Corpus Christi; the day of thanksgiving for the institution of Holy Communion, and this year there will be a service at the lovely St John's Church in West Bay at 6pm.
Enjoy coming together for this service, led by Rev Philip Ringer, and a lovely fish and chip supper afterwards.
You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins,
and are in love and charity with your neighbours,
and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God,
and walking from this day forward in his holy ways:
draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort;
and make your humble confession to almighty God.
15th May 2021
On 4th May 2021 the new Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration) Act became law.
For us, this means a change in the way we have been registering marriages since 1837. All the registers in the Church safes have been gathered up and officially closed (by fixing a modest little label to the front covers). These registers will be taken to the Dorset History Centre.
In place of the registers, the registering of a marriage now involves a Marriage Document, signed by the couple, witnesses and the vicar and which is later sent to the Register Office in Dorchester to be entered into the online registers. Marriage certificates are sent to couples from the Register Office following their ceremony.
Our first wedding using the new system is next week –
watch this space!
7th May 2021
Powerstock Castle - a motte and bailey castle dating from the 11th century. The motte is an irregular oval 150 feet by 140 feet and now about 19 foot above the ditch.
Motte and bailey castles are mediaeval fortifications introduced to Britain by the Normans. Powerstock Castle formed part of Poorstock and was acquired by King John in 1205. King John is known to have stayed here at least four or five times, and Henry III stayed in 1230.
Both the baileys and mott have been subject to quarrying and partial excavations in 1840 revealed a midden which produced pottery, animal bones, a spur and a horseshoe!
23rd April 2021
Wedding Preparation Morning
Several couples marrying this year in the Benefice met up with Rev Chris on Saturday 17th April for our annual Wedding Preparation Morning. On a beautifully sunny morning, we were able to meet outside in the churchyard and share in the meaning of marriage. We shared God's gift of love, our experience of living together, as well as our reasons for marrying in church. Practicalities such as reading of the banns and qualifying connections. The couples enjoyed meeting each other and sharing their hopes and worries.
We were joined by Rev Lorna Johnson from the Bridport Team who led the concluding act of worship. Rev Lorna will be taking some of our wedding services this year and we welcome her.
This year, for the first time since 1837, the way England and Wales register marriages is changing, and this was explained to the couples.
We wish them all long and happy lives together.
16th April 2021
Visitors
From Monday 12th April, visitors could take a self-catering break and enjoy the wonderful countryside and fresh air and judging by the traffic coming into Dorset, many decided that's exactly what they would do after so long at home.
However, our length of coastline is not the benign photographic backdrop that it may appear to be, and last week saw the largest cliff fall for 60 years in the whole of the UK, just down the road at Seatown.
The 300 metre stretch of cliff deposited 4,000 tonnes of rock and even the odd tree right across the beach below and into the sea. The Council warn that now that the ground is drying out there is a danger of more rockfalls, and have advised that for our own safety we should avoid the cliff tops and bases when out and about.
Be careful, and make sure your visiting friends and relatives are aware of the dangers along our coast.
Photo by James Loveridge (https://www.jamesloveridgephotography.co.uk/)
12th April 2021
Welcome back!
From Good Friday we welcomed back the congregation to our Churches.
Some services will continue to be streamed and a schedule of services can be found here.
A downloadable word document of services in all our churches over the next couple of months is available via the link to services on the home page.
Covid restrictions continue to apply, and in the event that services need to be cancelled, please continue to check our services page for the latest information.
26th March 2021
Stations of the Cross
Download the leaflet, produced by the Bridport Team, which helps us make this Good Friday journey. You can make your journey anywhere, even in your imagination.
"Each resting place - or station – has a focus. Words which could be read out loud; an action, and a prayer. You walk with others in this community today – and you walk with Christ. Some of the story is sad and is about death, but at the end it is about life.
Take your time, and remember that even in the sad moments, this is a story of hope."
14th March 2021
How can we contribute to
Vaccination Equity Campaigns?
If you want to give thanks for receiving your vaccination or donate to charities who are helping to ensure that every community is supported, here are some suggestions:
The Church of England helped to bring about the https://www.vaccinaid.org/ campaign with Unicef and Crowdfunder, which seeks to help provide more than 2.5 billion vaccines worldwide
Christian Aid’s Give Thanks Campaign focuses on humanitarian support including food, water and healthcare in areas where the vaccine is currently not available.
The Church of England has worked with yourneighbour.org on the
Give Hope Campaign which works to target misinformation and encourage everyone to take up the offer of a vaccination.
11th March 2021
Light an Online Candle
As our churches open to congregations, many still prefer to stay at home, and the Church of England has launched 'Light an Online Candle', remembering someone special and thanking God for their lives.
You can light an online candle for someone you remember, here.
10th March 2021
Census 2021
10th March 2021
Don't forget that March 2021 sees the 10-year Census of all households in England and Wales. With the exception of 1941 this survey has been carried out since 1801! This time, it is going to be run predominantly online, accessible via a code which is being posted to households. Those residents who are unable to complete the Census digitally will be supported by a phone helpline, a network of Census Support Centres or by ordering a paper Census.
Census day is 21st March 2021 and whilst the data is used for many purposes, our personal records will be locked away for 100 years, when future generations can research all about us! This means that the 1921 census should soon be available for us to research and discover where our grandparents/parents (and even great grandparents) were a hundred years ago.
For more information visit census.gov.uk, follow @CensusDorset on Twitter
The Night Sky from Askerswell
Many thanks to William Harding of Askerswell for sharing his wonderful images of the night sky taken from the grounds of St Michael and All Angels
12th February 2021
The Church of St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell
A virtual organ recital given by our organist, Paul Cheater
Click here to enjoy the recital
Paul begins his recital with a Prelude and Fugue in D minor, originally thought to have been composed by J S Bach. New research suggests that in fact it was in all likelihood by one of Bach’s pupils, possibly Johann Krebs. Whoever the composer was wrote a particularly ‘catchy’ fugue subject and it is quite fun to count the number of times the theme appears!
We travel to 17th century Italy for two sections from ‘Canzona dopo l’Epistola’, by Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583 – 1643), composed to be played after the Epistle in a Communion service.
Paul then plays two contrasting pieces by the German composer, Siegfried Karg-Elert (1877 – 1933). The first, ‘Am abend’ or ‘In the evening’ is quiet and reflective, despite being almost avant-garde in its chordal structure. The second piece is the triumphant chorale prelude on ‘Nun danket alle Gott’ (‘Now thank we all our God’), which is now one of the most celebrated and widely-recognised pieces in the organ repertoire.
The recital concludes with the spectacular grandeur of J S Bach’s Prelude in D major (BWV 532), composed while Bach was living in Weimar, after being hired by the Duke of Weimar as organist and member of the court orchestra. During this time Bach’s fame grew rapidly and many students of the organ came to hear him play and learn from his remarkable technique.
The organ was built by organ builder, Ernest Lifford in 1919. It acts as a memorial
In memory of the men of the village who laid down their lives in the 1914-1918 Great War
serving their King and Country
If you enjoy the concert, please consider donating to St Michael and All Angels by clicking here
20th December 2020
Aerial Photographs of Loders Church
A big thank you to Simon Willmott for sharing his photographs of the church as we've never seen it before.
And if you want to visit for private prayer, with your feet firmly on terra firma, the Church is open until dusk daily. Check out the Church page HERE.
