Back where it belongs

It’s great to see the millennium bench back in place, and looking grand. Thanks to Neil Haire for all of the restoration work.

Giving nature a helping hand

Wild flowers planted in the churchyard. How many can you identify? Download the explanatory leaflet here to check your answers.

Unfortunately 97% of our lowland wildflower-rich grassland across the UK has been lost since the 1930’s. We have joined lots of other churches who are doing their little bit to help halt that decline.

With support from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Riseholme College has donated a number of wild flowers to plant in the churchyard to create a small wildflower meadow area.

We have introduced flowers that overlap in their flowering period throughout the year, providing a much needed continuity of nectar supply for long tongued pollinating insects like butterflies and moths

The wild flower area is close to the stream which will bring additional wildlife benefits. A number of small frogs have been seen in amongst the grass and flowers.

Nesting boxes and bat boxes have also been installed in the church yard to encourage nesting birds and a roost for bats.

The increment of wild flowers in the church yard will also provide an educational opportunity for children from Scampton and Pollyplatt Schools to wander around and identify the different species using a newly designed leaflet. You can get a preview by downloading it here.

Spring is springing

With the very mild weather during the third week of February the snowdrops, aconites and crucus are doing their thing and the churchyard is filling with colour to herald the forthcoming Spring.

A very successful open churches weekend

The open churches weekend was a real success, raising £343, and was uplifted by the wonderful sunshine. There was lots going on including the royal wedding live on TV and a reflective walk around the Commonwealth War Graves and Churchyard. If you missed it you can still take the ‘virtual tour’ on the above video.

Alleluia – He is Risen – He is Risen indeed – Alleluia!

Well 75 people came along to celebrate the Risen Christ. The service represented what the disciples must have felt like when they encountered the risen Christ. In fact following His resurrection Jesus was seen not only by His disciples but by other people on 11 occasions, and on one occasion was seen by over 500 people.

Jesus disciples were suddenly transformed from defeated, despairing and dejected to being overwhelmed with joy. Just like all those who came along this morning and enjoyed watching some videos of the Easter story, the Easter egg hunt, Pete the puppet up to his usual antics, pass the Easter prayer parcel, and the Easter Conga. The Easter Conga you might ask – what is that! Here are some photos…. so make your own mind up what the atmosphere was like.

Summer picnic ready

The teak bench seat dedicated to William and Margaret Lockwood and their son Jack who died serving his country in 1943, has been stripped re-oiled and re-secured. It’s now a lovely place again for quiet reflection and prayer or a summer picnic!

Decisions to be made

The application for the Faculty to replace the pews with chairs has been completed but the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee) would like some further information putting on the application.

This will be done in time for the case to go before the next DAC meeting, along with the faculty to move the font from its current position, in the entrance to the tower, to its previous position next to the last pillar in the North Aisle.

The List B application for the installation of the new screen and projector will also be submitted.

Following a meeting with the DAC we have now been advised that they have discussed the future of grant funding with the Heritage Lottery Fund, particularly in relation to the ‘Our Heritage’ grant stream. We were led to understand that a gap of two years between grants would be preferable. However, I cannot find anything in the guidance notes that specifies this! The grant goes up to £100,000 and I think we could make a case to run two ‘Our Heritage’ schemes back to back to reduce costs on site such as scaffolding.

A follow-up meeting will be held to discuss how we progress the next stage of the restoration of the church roof and the provision of a community space for the use of all people in the village.

Barbara Young (Church Warden)

Sad to see it go

It is believed that this 150 year old sycamore tree has probably been in the churchyard since 1876 and may have been planted when the church was totally restored during the years 1876 – 1878. Sadly the top half of the tree had died off and branches were falling causing a danger. Although always sad to see such a large tree go, its removal has opened up a lovely vista across the park towards Scampton Hall.

Spring is on its way!

A walk around the churchyard in late February reveals swaythes of snowdrops and aconites… Yes spring is on its way.