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St Hilda’s Church Magazine
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February & March 2015
St Hilda’s Church Clergy, Officers & Contacts
Priest-in-Charge: Revd Chris Collison
Also Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers, North Tees & H/pool
The Rectory, Church Close, Hartlepool, TS24 0PW, Tel. 267030
Email [email protected]
Associate Priest: Revd Verity Brown
75 Eamont Gardens, Hartlepool, TS26 9JE, Tel. 423186
Email [email protected]
Churchwardens
Ian Pounder (also Organist), Tel. 870310 ([email protected])
Tony Metcalfe, Tel. 264403 ([email protected])
PCC Secretary
Ann Turner, Tel. 282198 ([email protected])
Treasurer
Tim Jones Tel. 295790 ([email protected])
Authorised Pastoral Assistant
Sacriston
Keith Faint, Tel. 265674
Parish Children’s Worker
Anne Collison, Tel. 267030
Reader/Magazine Editor
Stewart Burton, Tel. 408373 ([email protected])
Photograph taken by Mr G Holdsworth Dorothy Kitching, Tel. 269729
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The Reverend writes…
Dear friends, If I were an animal, I would definitely be one that hibernates during the cold months – perhaps a squirrel or a hedgehog. If I were a plant, I would be a flowering bulb – perhaps a crocus or tulip – hiding away underground then tentatively emerging in springtime. I am not a fan of these short, cold, winter days and long for springtime with its fresh growth and the rebirth of nature. However, in spite of my tendency to wish away these winter months, I do realise that there is a reason for the season; as the biblical author of Ecclesiastes writes; “for everything its season, and for every activity under heaven its time.” Church-­‐wise the time between Epiphany and Holy Week is a bit of a mellow time. A time of ...not hibernation exactly... but of slowing down; a breather between the excitement of Christmas and the drama of Holy Week and Easter. It can be a time to take stock and to ask questions. A time to pause and to consider if we are heading in the right direction -­‐ as a church and as individuals. It can be a time to refuel; to feed our minds by reading a lent book or by deepening our relationship with God with a greater commitment to prayer. Perhaps our souls need this period of rest and re-­‐creation just as much as the natural world around us? Perhaps it is during this time of fallowness that God plants the seeds of his imagination within our hearts? Seeds that will lie dormant until God decides the time is right for them to germinate and grow. One of my favourite programmes at the moment is ‘The Big Allotment Challenge.’ Individuals are given a plot of land and during the following few weeks they have to turn this barren plot into an allotment full of flowers, fruit and vegetables which are then used in various challenges. Sometimes they have to produce and show their best examples of carrots or beans; another time they might have to design a 2
spectacular flower arrangement or a jar of home-­‐made chutney. Every week one competitor has to leave the show until in the final week the champion gardener is crowned. I like the image of God as a master gardener, carefully preparing and enriching the soil of our hearts and minds so that the seeds and bulbs of his Spirit will have the best possible growing conditions. God, like those TV gardeners, waits patiently for the fruit of His labours to emerge. Even then, there is plenty for Him to do: some plants have to be given supports; others have to be pruned to encourage maximum growth; pests have to be controlled. In fact every aspect of the plant’s life is nurtured. One of our greatest British spiritual writers, Dame Julian of Norwich says this: “No words can express the tenderness which Our Lord devotes to our spiritual growth” Read those words again. God devotes himself to our spiritual growth. We are his passion, his joy, and he delights in our fruition -­‐ even more than a champion gardener delights in his prize dahlias! Remember that the next time you get the winter blues. With love, Verity A TIME TO REMEMBER Every year on the Saturday afternoon before Mothering Sunday (or Mother’s Day) St Hilda’s Church is open for visitors, but for one group in particular. They are those who have lost a child of whatever age over recent years. At 2pm there will be a short service in church to which any parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and other family members and friends are invited. Within the afternoon there is an opportunity to light candles in thanksgiving and remembrance, to bring flowers and cards, and to chat over tea in the church café. This year the service is at 2pm on Saturday, 14th March. It is a time to remember – but to do so with thanksgiving. Hartlepool Churches Together
Lent Course
York Course – ‘Praise Him’
Songs Of Praise In
The New Testament
2pm Tuesdays
February 24th, March 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th
Church of the Nazarene
Lowthian Road
7pm Tuesdays
February 24th, March 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th
Oxford Road Baptist Church
Caledonian Road
Copies of ‘Praise Him’ are on sale
at St George’s Traidcraft shop in Park Road
Giant Print and Braille copies can
be ordered from Torch Trust for the Blind –
Tel: 01858 438260
Copies of “Praise Him’ cost £3.50 1
2015 Flower Rota
January
4th
11th
18th
25th
Grace & Albert Winn
George Boagey & Robert Pounder
John Jones
Faint Family, Albert Goodchild, Joyce Newbury, Edward
Williams, Wilf Gant
February
1st
8th
15th
Mary Hopper, Robert Milburn
Eric Kennedy, Ruth & Eric Hutchinson
Lightfoot & Dobson Families, Susan & Albert Longmoor, Peggy
Swan
NO FLOWERS DURING LENT
April
5th
12th
19th
26th
Easter Day - David Turner and Easter flowers in memory of
loved ones
Gladys & Philip Stevenson, W & J Jones
Hastings Family
Audrey Turner
May
3rd
10th
17th
24th
31st
Rennie Family
Eric Bantoft, Peter Wood, Charles Bantoft
Margaret & Bob Strong, Mary Milburn, Dorothy Green, Caitlin
Faint
Calvert Family
John Harland
June
7th
14th
21st
28th
Simmonds Family, Harry Turner
George & Margaret Holdsworth
Derek Short
John Stonehouse, Susan Donkin, Dorothy & Jack Green
2
July
5th
12th
19th
26th
S & K Crisp
Hogg Family, Alec Hopper ,Ian Harland
Robert & Jane Graham, Arthur Mayes
VACANT
August
2nd
9th
16th
23rd
30th
Hilda Browell, Thomasina Horsley
Jack Green, Addison & Remmer Families
Margaret & Fred Burton, Temple Family
Arthur Mayes, Brian Armstrong
Emmie Walters, Charles Hopper
September
6th
13th
20th
27th
Rene Storey, Brian Armstrong, Thomasina Horsley
Susan Elizabeth Graham
Walter & Madge Shaw, Beryl Meakins
Brian Armstrong
October
4th
11th
18th
25th
Dave Foster
Benjamin Ray
Robertson & Williamson Families
Lister Family, Bill & Betty Waller, Jack & Vi Winter
November
1st
8th
15th
22nd
Joe Mallam
Ada Pounder
Tommy, Winnie & Jeffrey Pounder
Susan Elizabeth Graham, Kenneth Milburn, David, Audrey &
Harry Turner, Mark Lister
NO FLOWERS DURING ADVENT 1
2
L A D I E S G U I L D The December meeting took the form of our annual Christmas meal which this year was held at the Duke of Cleveland. We were very curious to see how the refurbishment had gone and were very pleasantly surprised to encounter a well furnished, inviting room with a glowing fire. Sixteen members were present and we enjoyed a festive meal, perfectly prepared and most acceptable. The staff were very helpful and met our every need. At the end of the evening we were invited to play bingo… and that turned out to be quite a hilarious session, thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. We very much appreciate the work put in by June Ray and Joyce Addison for organizing the evening, and extend our thanks to them for the Christmas gift they provided for each member. Joan Noble Flower News
Please can I pass on my thanks to everyone who made flower donations over the last year, especially for the flowers at Christmas and from those who may not always get to church but still remember to donate. I’d also like to give a special thanks to Madge & Marie Maiden for the lovely flowers they gave us from their own garden. Jean Armstrong and all the flower ladies
We Thought of Seafarers this Christmas…
Please can I pass on a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made and donated gifts for seafarers over Christmas. The gifts were very much appreciated by all who received them. Evelyn Bantoft The Girls’ Brigade
Happy New Year to everyone. The New Year has started well with an enjoyable enrolment service and 8 new members joining our ranks. It was good to see so many of the girls attending church over the Christmas period, joining in the Nativity etc. Leadership Training is in February when 4 of our young leaders will have a day of training with others from North Tees to gain valuable experience. Camp is very much on the agenda at the moment. We are waiting for confirmation from Castle Howard but the dates we hope will be 18th to 28th July with visitors’ day on 26th July. We are joining 3rd Darlington G.B. for a sleepover on 31st January that is always a good night! We join in their morning service before coming home on Sunday. Ana Bonus Ball Update
You might be aware that the church runs a ‘Bonus Ball’ game to raise money for good causes, organised by Derek Cooper. Derek would like to announce that the latest donation of £600 has been given towards the vital work of the Mission to Seafarers. A big thank you to all who continue to support it. This little bit of fun each week is making a real difference to our chosen charities. Sunday Monkeys
Sunday Monkeys – a group of our younger church
family – meet on alternate Sundays at The Rectory from
10am. We have an hour of fun and games, stories and
songs, sharing, creating and praying before we join the rest
of the church family for Communion and refreshments.
Children of Primary school age are very welcome to join us –
those who are smaller will need someone to stay with them until
they are confident.
Dates for February and March are Sundays 1st and 15th
On the other Sundays, the worship in church is accessible for all the family
We’d love to see you whenever, and wherever, you can make it
For more information speak to Anne Collison at The Rectory, Tel: 267030
Fusion
At Secondary School?
Need a Crazy mix of lively games,
teamwork challenges,
thought provoking Godslot
and good food
on a Sunday evening
before starting a new week at school?
Then come and join us at the Baptist Church,
every Sunday evening from 7-8.30pm
We’d love to see you!
Fusion Plus now meets in the Prayer room with Bethany
meeting on 8th February, 1st and 22nd March.
For more information speak to Anne Collison at The Rectory,
Tel: 267030
!
or Text 07774003878
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How do you like your scallops? For some people, scallops are a seafood delicacy second to none, and can be particularly enjoyed at restaurants during the Rye Bay Scallop Week in the Sussex town at the end of February. You can have scallops – so I am told – with lemon or lime, black pudding or chilli! But I have never had them, and since Christmas have been put off ever trying them. Christmas saw the arrival of 8 scallopers in the port of Hartlepool. They were all second-­‐hand Dutch ships, many of them over 30 years old, and all of them Scottish-­‐registered with Scottish skippers and a few crew members from northern waters. The rest of the crew were left on the ships, all of them from India, Ghana and the Philippines. There were up to 20 men on board, many of them young Indians from Kerala who had no idea they were going to end up on these small fishing ships, working outside, enduring long hours in the North Sea with very little protection. The three seafarers’ agencies worked hard for the men over Christmas, New Year and beyond as the severe winds of early January returned them to port. Peter Barrigan, the new chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea, Supt Peter Dade of the Fishermen’s Mission and I in visiting these ships found people without much money, food or clothing. On each count, we helped them. We distributed clothes, especially jackets and trousers, boots and gloves for work, and warm underwear. They had come from India with very little, and found they were only supplied with rubber boots, sou’westers and leggings. We provided them with phone cards so they could talk to their families, and we brought them to the seafarers’ centre when they felt they could come. It is not much of an incentive to go the Mission when you have so little. Promises of a bonus payment to crew members never materialized. On a number of occasions, we bought food for them, AoS supplying a large amount of food and drinking water for 2
Christmas. There were also other issues around. One Ghanaian engineer had lost his wife at the end of November, and had been trying to get help to go home to organise the funeral. Some other seafarers needed financial support, and so it was appropriate that the £600 Bonus Ball gift from St Hilda’s Church for the Mission to Seafarers came at that very moment. It was amazing timing, and the financial gifts and the gifts of clothes by churches across the deanery enabled us to clothe, feed and practically care for these men at this desperate time in their lives in our cold northern climate. At least two of the men – one Filipino and one Ghanaian – were doing this work to help their wives who were expecting their first child in the next few weeks. It was also a great joy and delight to work together with colleagues across the three agencies, not only chaplains but also volunteer ship visitors who worked hard to help these men. There appeared to be some level of neglect towards these crew members, and so we also tried to help in terms of justice and not only welfare. This raised many issues for us, as did understanding what scallop dredging does to the seabed around our shores. For me, it was a salutary lesson about the differing lifestyles of the haves and the have-­‐nots, and has put me off scallops for life! I have learnt how destructive some forms of scallop dredging can be to our seabeds in the North Sea, and whilst some may enjoy the fine taste of these clams with a glass of white wine, those who man the ships are in some cases Third World crews feeling abandoned and abused on contracts of 15 months. When sitting in the mess room of one of their ships I realised that I did not need to go very far to be in the Third World. Chris Collison Celebrate!
As we go to print we are preparing for an exciting time Celebrating Christingle with light and sweets, oranges and ribbon and lots of activities around the world, seasons, God’s good gifts and light in the dark! Come and join the fun, and support the work of the Children’s Society (who are working in many Hartlepool schools!). Whether you were able to join us this time or not put the date of March’s Celebrate! in the diary now and plan to come along and join the faith and fun as we Celebrate! Cuthbert – The shepherd of sheep who became a shepherd of people! Saturday March 7th, 2-4pm, in St. Hilda’s
IMPORTANT DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
ST HILDA’S CHURCH ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
SUNDAY 26TH APRIL 2015 FOLLOWING THE 10.30am SERVICE
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is held every year in church, when there is an opportunity for members of the church to review the work of the Parochial Church Council over the past year and for those on the Electoral Roll, to vote on the appointment of members to the Parochial Church Council and church officers for the coming year. As well as the election of officers, the meeting allows for the Church Wardens and Priest-­‐in-­‐Charge, Reverend Christopher Collison to review, with those present, the past year in church and to thank those who have served the church in various ways and will provide an opportunity to present any plans for the coming year. Members of the church can also ask that consideration be given to discussing certain other matters of interest at the meeting. Please speak with the Reverend Christopher Collison or Ann Turner if you wish for an item to be included on the agenda for the m eeting. Ann Turner Secretary to the Parochial Church Council of St Hilda’s Church L A D I E S G U I L D Apologies were received from Joan Noble, Janet Harrison and Jean Roberston Prayers by Ana Bates opened the meeting. Sixteen members of the Guild attended and after an initial catch up of everyone’s Christmas and New Year happenings, Bingo Pens and Books were issued and a hush came over the Borough Hall as the numbers were called. It seemed like an age before the first line winner shouted and it was Claire Dixon and then even longer before Vera Shipley won the full house! Further conversations on just how close they had all been to winning! Then again, the hush and concentration returned as another first line winner was declared by me, followed by further discussions and again the full house was won by Vera Shipley. A selection of Chocolates were given as prizes; followed by laughter and happy talk of the New Year and what it might bring, whilst a very good “Faith Supper” with contributions from all followed. Pat Kennedy won the Raffle. Linda Cook and Dorothy Graham organised the meeting. Jennifer Turner Thought for today…
“The Christian life is not about pleasing God the finger-­‐shaker and judge. It is not about believing now or being good now for the sake of heaven later. It is about entering a relationship in the present that begins to change everything now. Spirituality is about this process: the opening of the heart to the God who is already here.” (Marcus Borg, liberal theologian, who died in January) Deanery Discussions in Lent with Bishop Mark
Bishop Mark will hold 3 evening Lent discussions for our deanery, on the theme of discipleship, on March 9th, 16th and 23rd at St Luke’s church. You are all welcome. If you wish to enquire further please contact Rev’d Janet Burbury via email at [email protected] or telephone 01429 262340. Please note that the time is yet to be confirmed but you can find out more nearer the time in the Hartlepool deanery website events section by visiting www.churchofenglandhartlepool.org.uk Donations for Flowers
Donations are invited for flowers in church at Easter in memory of loved ones. Please pass any donations, no matter how small, to Jean Armstrong or Dorothy Kitching by Sunday 22nd March and include details of the loved one(s) you wish to remember. Congratulations Belated congratulations to Ann Turner, our PCC Secretary, who received a special recognition award at the Hartlepool Borough Council Celebrating Achievement awards held at the Borough Hall last November. Well done Ann. Hartlepool Town Pastors
Volunteers are needed to provide support to the teams patrolling the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights taking care of those who might be at risk or vulnerable. No experience is needed other than a willingness to help and all training will be provided. For further information contact the editor who will put you in touch with HTP. Christingle
at Candlemas
St. Hilda’s Church
2-4pm
Saturday 31st January 2015
Hands- on discovery fun for all the family.
Lig
ht
s and
Song ies
stor
Sweets
ld
Wor
Ribbon
Tea
and
ca k
es
Any Questions?
Contact Anne on Tel: 267030
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Telling the Stories Sitting in our church during Morning Prayer, I am often struck by the thought of how privileged we are. We regularly sit, listening to familiar and time-­‐honoured stories read to us, stage by stage. It is as if we are children again. We are all well aware of every bit of the stories, but this does not prevent a kind of gathering excitement as the tale develops. We know what comes next, but none of it must be left out. Sometimes the day’s instalment ends at a very dramatic moment, a sort of cliff-­‐hanger, and we wait until the next day to hear the result. There are some wonderful moving and human tales in the Old Testament. The family saga of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob reads like an ancient version of The Archers. But these stories are different; they are our own family’s history, come down to us from our ancestors, passed to us from generation to generation. When it comes to the stories about Jesus, we are close to our very own chapters in time. What we are listening to are the foundations of our faith: the reason we are hearing them read to us. Some years ago I asked a Romanian priest where the vast influx of young folk coming into the Church at that time, filling the seminaries and entering the monasteries and convents, had received their faith (during the Communist era teaching children Christianity was not allowed). He said that when they asked these young people, the answer, just as it was many years before in Russia, was Grandma. 2
As tiny children they spent time with Grandma and she told them the stories. This made me realise what an opportunity grandparents have today in our present culture. Many children spend a lot of time with their grandparents, while their parents are at work. There is an amazing invitation here to hand on the stories of Jesus and the Gospel to those who will never forget them. The Gospels are full of exciting moments which, in their dramatic unfolding, would be loved by children. They would quickly enter the stories – however joyful or sad they might be. The future of the Christian family is in these little ones. So next time you are looking after these children, realise you could be the channel of faith to the next generation of the Christian family; you are invited to be an apostle and teacher today, handing on the BIG STORY which has been given to you. So, why not just DO IT?! Fr Simon Holden CR A CIVIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE – for all There will be a special service for the communities of Hartlepool on Sunday evening, February 8th at 6.30pm. The ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, Councillor Stephen Akers-­‐Belcher, will be attending along with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Borough Council. It is an opportunity to celebrate our life together, and all that has been achieved in recent years in the borough and through the Mayor’s Charities. Two years ago when a similar service was held, the charities were all young peoples’ groups. This year, the Mayor’s Charities are organisations that many people will know, and representatives of them will be present and speak about their work. The four charities are the RNLI, the Great North Air Ambulance, Hartlepool Hospice and Miles for Men. Members of our churches are warmly welcome to attend, along with Company section (and older) of our Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades. The Girls’ & Boys’ Brigades
at St Hilda’s
Girls’ Brigade Captain – Ana Bates (Tel. 07722 154809)
The Girls’ Brigade meets on a Monday evening during term time at the
Borough Hall starting at 6pm.
Boys’ Brigade Captain – Mark Craggs (Tel. 890952)
The Boys’ Brigade meets on a Wednesday evening during term time at
the Borough Hall starting at 6pm.
For more information, come along to one of the sessions or contact the
relevant Captain.
No cash, no problem… It takes a lot of money to keep a church going and St Hilda’s is no exception. We rely very heavily on the money we get donated by our congregation and others who come along less frequently to weddings, baptisms and funerals as well as visiting us at other times. We need to make sure that we can continue to fund mission and ministry in our own parish as well as make our contribution to the work of the diocese as well but we understand that it isn’t always convenient to make a donation by giving us cash. To solve this problem, you can now donate to us via text by sending a free message to 70070 with the word HILD00 (that’s HILD followed by two zeros) and then the amount you wish to donate which needs to be £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. You will then get a text back asking you to reply ‘Yes’ to GiftAid your donation if you pay enough tax. This gives us an extra 25p for every pound you give. Thank you. 1
Worship with us… Regular acts of worship take place each Sunday at 8.30am (Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer) and at 10.30am where the service is Parish Communion, Family Communion (less formal service with fewer readings) or All-­‐Age Worship (non-­‐Eucharistic). Sunday Monkeys (our junior church) meets at the rectory at 10am on the Sundays where there is a Parish Communion. We also have a service of Holy Communion on Wednesdays at 10.30am and we worship at other times to celebrate the various festivals and seasons of the Church year. You are very welcome and encouraged to join us at any of these services. Below are the details of the services coming up over the next few months (in addition to Sundays @ 8:30 and Wednesdays @ 10:30) Sunday 1st February (Candlemas) 10.30am Parish Communion Sunday 8thFebruary (Second Sunday before Lent) 10.30am Family Communion with the Brigades 6.30pm Civic Service Sunday 15th February (Sunday before Lent) 10.30am Parish Communion 5.30pm Churches Together service at St Mary’s Wednesday 18th February (Ash Wednesday) 10.30am Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes Sunday 22nd February (First Sunday of Lent) 10.30am All Age Worship Sunday 1st March (Second Sunday of Lent) 10.30am Parish Communion 2
Saturday 7th March 2pm to 4pm Celebrate! Sunday 8th March (Third Sunday of Lent) 10.30am All Age Worship with the Brigades 6.30pm Holy Communion at the Mission to Seafarers Centre Saturday 14th March 2pm Time to Remember service (Compassionate Friends) Sunday 15th March (Mothering Sunday) 10.30am Parish Communion Sunday 22nd March (Passion Sunday) 10.30am Family Communion 6pm Boys’ Brigade Battalion service Sunday 29th March (Palm Sunday) 10.30am Family Communion (procession at 10am from the Lighthouse) Monday 30th March to Wednesday 1st April 8pm Compline (a short service of Night Prayer) each evening Thursday 2nd April (Maundy Thursday) 7pm Seder meal and Holy Communion Friday 3rd April (Good Friday) 10am Good Friday service followed by a united procession of witness Saturday 4th April (Easter Eve) 8pm Easter Vigil and renewal of baptismal vows Sunday 5th April (Easter Day) 6.15am Sunrise service (meet near Heugh Battery) 10.30am Easter Parish Communion Visit us… Our current regular opening times for visitors is from 2-­‐4pm on Saturdays and Sundays and from 11am-­‐1pm on Wednesdays. In addition to these times we hold concerts and other events throughout the year to which all are welcome (tickets are needed in some cases). Below are the details of the special events (in addition to the times above) coming up over the next few months: Saturday 21st February 10am Coffee morning Saturday 4th March 7.30pm Handel’s ‘Samson’ performed by Northern Voice Saturday 21st March 10am Coffee morning Evening Tees Valley Music Service concert (time TBC) Saturday 28th March 2pm Easter tea at Anchor Court Friday 3rd April 7pm Performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion You can now follow St Hilda’s on Twitter – search for @StHildaHpool and join us! On a need to know basis… Some of the things which go on at St Hilda’s are of specific interest to certain people or groups and so they are included in this section. This section also contains events being held in other places. If you’d like to know more about any of them please speak to one of the clergy, churchwardens or deputy wardens who will be able to tell you more or point you in the right direction… Tuesday 10th February – Deanery Synod (St Columba’s) at 7pm Tuesday 10th February – Ladies Guild at 7.30pm Thursday 19th February – PCC meeting at 7pm Wednesday 4th March – St Aidan’s CofE School visit Monday 9th to Thursday 12th March – Holy Week Experience Monday 9th March – Evening Northern Voice rehearsal Tuesday 10th March – Ladies Guild at 7.30pm Monday 9th March – ‘Discipleship’ with Bishop Mark at St Luke’s (tbc) Monday 16th March – ‘Discipleship’ with Bishop Mark at St Luke’s (tbc) Monday 23rd March – ‘Discipleship’ with Bishop Mark at St Luke’s (tbc) Monday 23rd March – Springwell School end of term service at 1pm Thursday 26th March – St Helen’s School end of term service at 10am 1
M O N E Y
Looking back over the past decade, we have seen a lot of changes in means of payment. Many of us remember the pre-­‐decimalisation coinage… the farthing, halfpenny, penny, sixpence, shilling, florin/two shillings, half-­‐
crown, crown, pound and guinea. There were quite a lot of coins to deal with! There were also the white £5 notes, rather large to get into a wallet or purse. Then suddenly we were told that decimalisation was to take place… what consternation there was, many people were extremely apprehensive and everyone worried that they might receive or pay the wrong amount. The big day was on 15 February 1971, although the new coins were introduced gradually… when it all happened we were extremely relieved when it all went smoothly and everyone soon got used to it. In those days most of our bills were paid in cash. Headlanders will remember going to pay their gas bill at the showroom in Bond Street, and wandering up Clifton Street (now known as Old Cemetery Road) to enter the Electricity Board office, a place of flashing blue lights, in order to settle their electricity bill. As for paying the insurance premium, that was easy because the insurance agent called at your home to collect the money, was inevitably a friend of the family and often enjoyed a cup of tea whilst there. Credit cards were unheard of – the careful Hartlepudlians would have considered them as tokens of debt, although they weren’t averse to taking out ‘clubs’ for use at large stores in the town. There were no cash machines and, of course, no debit cards for use with those machines. Who would have thought at that time that the day would come when you could pay for your purchases by submitting a plastic card for the payment to be deducted from your bank account? Can you imagine, in Northgate shops, the shopkeepers’ hilarity at 2
someone offering a plastic card to pay their bill? In those days I worked in a bank and customer personal accounts were mostly items of cash, deposited in the form of savings and withdrawn when money was needed. There were not many cheques credited to personal accounts although businesses used them a lot. Standing orders, where payments of a set amount were made on a regular date each month, were quite popular but direct debits were unheard of. Once again, people were suspicious of irregular amounts being deducted by creditors from their bank accounts – and yet, nowadays, the majority of us accept that way of paying our telephone bill, our council tax or water rates, etc. Pensions were all paid at the Post Office, where there were always regular queues of recipients. It is much easier these days, to have money paid directly into a bank account. This method was advocated, partly on the basis of the fact that not only was it more convenient to do this but also that it was safer (as was the case with debit cards which means cash is not being carried on a person) and yet we just accept the fact that we stand in front of a public cashpoint machine in a street and extract cash from it. Large companies usually paid the management employees by crediting their bank account but the main section of the workforce was paid in cash. This meant companies having to employ a large number of people in their wages department who monitored the workers (do you remember having to ‘clock in’ each day before commencing work and ‘clocking out’ as you left the premises). Wages staff would, of course, scrutinise the cards to ascertain any absences or lateness (both of which would mean deductions from your wages) before making up the wage packets. Payday was usually Friday and the workers would be handed a brown paper packet, perforated at one end so that coins could be seen and a small opening at the other end which allowed the notes to be counted. As a young housewife, eager to be a thrifty manager, I had a metal box 3
which had compartments designated ‘rates’, ‘mortgage’, ‘coal’, ‘gas’, ‘holidays’, etc. and each Friday a relevant amount was deposited in the appropriate slot. I am sure many of you magazine readers did the same! I would think we all remember, too, going into shops such as the grocery store, to buy a whole list of items – the assistant would jot down the prices and very competently total them up, first the pence column, then the shillings and then the pounds. In the bank, I was always in awe of one cashier who could add up columns of money, £ s. d., adding line to line. Not many calculators were around in those days and even they were hand-­‐operated ones. So payment, in my time, has veered towards a cashless society…. I wonder what the next step will be? Joan Noble THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING Our annual church meeting and election of officers will be after the morning service on Sunday, 26th April. It will include the election of Churchwardens and the Church Council members. The secretary, Ann Turner, will need reports from all officers and organisations in the coming weeks. I do hope that all members of the Electoral Roll will try to be present, and that those who come to St Hilda’s Church regularly but are not on the Electoral Roll will make sure they complete an application form and give it Joan Noble, our ER officer. Rev’d Chris SAFETY FIRST!
Thanks to Ian Mitchell for – some time ago – painting the kerbs white around the edges of the churchyard outside the church’s south-­‐west door. This is a great help to us, particularly after evening concerts. Hartlepool Churches Together Prayer Meetings 2015 All meetings start at 8am nd
2 Wednesday of the month @ The FE College 14th January 11th February 11th March
8th April 13th May 10h June 8th July No meeting in August Further dates to be confirmed th
4 Wednesday of the month th
28 January @ Stranton Church th
25 February @ Owton Manor Baptist Church th
25 March @ 161 Burbank Street nd
22 April @ 55 Hutton Avenue th
27 May @ St George’s United Reformed Church th
24 June @ the Church of the Nazarene nd
22 July @ St Columba’s Church th
26 August @ the Salvation Army 23rd September @ Oxford Road Baptist Church 28th October @ 15 Mitchell Street 25th November @ Grange Road Methodist Church No meeting in December GREAT TRUTHS
FROM LITTLE CHILDREN: 1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats. 2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair. 3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person. 4) Never ask your 3-­‐year old brother to hold a tomato. 5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food. 6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair. 7) Never hold a Dust-­‐Buster and a cat at the same time. 8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. 9) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap. FROM ADULTS: 1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree. 2) Wrinkles don't hurt. 3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts. 4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. 5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside. 6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy in the box. FROM THE ELDERLY: 1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. 2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get. 3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there. 4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster. 5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. 6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a terrible beautician. Architectural Wordsearch
Announcements
We welcome into the family of the Church
All who have been Baptised recently
Shine as a light in the world…
We pray for the family and friends of
Julie Coverdale
Alan Smith
Wilfred Langhorne
Dora Pouton
Vera Shaw
Tommy Moorhead
Bill Hunter
Edna Sanderson
John Stephenson
Dennis Bentley
Annie Swales
Thomas Johnson
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace…
As well as being Priest-in-Charge of St Hilda’s, Rev’d Chris is also
the Mission to Seafarers port chaplain to the North Tees and
Hartlepool.
If you would like to find out more about the important work of the
Mission in this area or get involved as a volunteer please speak to
Rev’d Chris or the Seal Sands Centre Manager, Aidan Webster, on
01642 546424.
St Hilda’s Church Visitors Centre
Autumn/winter opening – see the calendar for details
We are always on the lookout for more volunteers to help.
Please speak to Tony Metcalfe to find out more.
O God by whose grace the blessed Abbess
Hilda, enkindled by the fire of your love,
became a burning and shining light in
Thy Church:
Grant that we may be inflamed with the
same spirit of discipline and love and
ever walk before Thee as children of
light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Collect for hilda, 614-680
Please note that the deadline for submissions to the
next edition of the magazine is Sunday 22nd March
f
c u s - on the community We are a group who meet during term time at the
Abbey Centre each Tuesday from 12:30 to 2:30
and we are always looking for new members.
Everyone is welcome to join us.
One of the aims of the group is to promote and
develop new life skills as varied and diverse as
knitting, using computers and learning to swim.
If you think you have something to offer or would
simply like to join to make new friends and learn
something new then contact Rachel Reynolds to
find out more at [email protected] or on
867904.
f
c u s - on local businesses Askew Bunting
S O L I C I T O R S
L L P
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Wills
Probate
Selling & Buying Property
Family Law
Personal Injury
For friendly, helpful advice please call
Andrew Dixon on
0800 0274127 or 07977 700874
or contact him by email on
[email protected]
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