News: Calverleigh Autumn Update 2025: News: Calverleigh Autumn Update 2025

News: Calverleigh Autumn Update 2025

Date Added: 01/11/2025 @ 9:00am

As summer has drawn to a close for another year the trees are showing off their beautiful colours in the autumn sunshine while the nights are drawing in. We have enjoyed a good summer with gardens still looking colourful and continuing to produce blooms at the time of writing. We have so much to be thankful for at this time of year especially as the news from Steph is looking very positive and her thoughts are turning to a phased return to work. We are very much looking forward to that day, Steph, and continue to pray for you.

Way back on 17 August we held a special Explore & More service at Calverleigh led by Tash and Nik with David Edwards providing lively music, some of which had some lively actions. After the service we moved to the village hall for tea and coffee which was then followed by fun and games which included lego, junk modelling and water games on the green. Picnic lunches were enjoyed and then a couple more games and a treasure hunt rounded off the event.  Thank you to all who came along and to all who helped to organise the day!

The Calverleigh Produce Show was held on Saturday 24 August, thanks to organisers Maureen and Paul Furneaux. We were very pleased with the number of entrants across a variety of sections - with lots of fun and friendly competition along the way. The organisers wish to thank everyone who helped, entered, donated and supported the event, which raised a total of £480.00 towards the church.  Congratulations to Rita who gained the most points, winning by just one point, and Maureen who received the ‘Best in show’ award with her miniature scarecrow.  Our thanks go to Maureen and Paul for organising this enjoyable but stressful day, especially when sharing a kitchen with other competitors!

The church was beautifully decorated for our Harvest thanksgiving over the weekend of 20/21 September. The smells and colours were amazing and there was such an abundance of fresh produce.  Our harvest supper, held on the Saturday was well attended, with a good variety of food for the bring and share supper.  Jenny Tuckett was our guest speaker who gave an interesting and informative talk and slide show on her work with Shire horses. She also brought along some of the regalia worn by the horses when they were presented at shows. Thank you, Jenny.  A couple of competitions were played before and after supper along with singing two harvest hymns. Thank you to games master Aubrey for taxing the brain, providing the entertaining ‘bag game’. Thanks also to those who brought food along for supper, to all who helped in any way to prepare the room before and after and with washing up.

The following morning, we held a Family Harvest Thanksgiving service which was led by Julie. We were challenged by Nik to peel an orange making the longest continuous piece of orange peel that we could.  There were many very determined looking faces around the congregation and two worthy winners while others failed miserably. It was a great challenge though and a lovely aroma of oranges filled the whole church. We later moved to the village hall afterwards for refreshment and all age fun and games, including balloon volleyball, beanbag throwing and (of course) potato rolling. Whilst our picnics were eaten indoors because of the weather, good fun was had by all, nonetheless.

A collection of goods was received for CHAT as part of our celebrations and the fresh produce was taken to The Salvation Army who distributed it to those in need.

The service on 5 October was Songs of Praise led by Jackie with eight hymns chosen by members of the congregation, ranging from the traditional to the more modern.  Lovely hymns full of praise and thanksgiving, Inspirational poems were read by Nik and Tash. Thank you to all who chose their own special hymn or praise song.

The funeral of James Butler took place on 5 September, with burial in the churchyard.  James was our PCC Treasurer in the late 1990s.  Our thoughts and prayers are with James’ family who had also lost a brother, Bob, back in April.

It was with great sadness that we heard that dear Myrtle Webber had passed away.  For many, many years Myrtle was our church organist before her eyesight began failing. She was instrumental, along with the late Margaret Goldsworthy, in forming our church choir.  Myrtle had a lovely way of introducing us to new tunes by playing them before services a few times before being sung in a service. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Myrtle’s family and friends on their loss. She will be greatly missed by many.

Diana would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, many cards, flowers and visits following the loss of her daughter Ruth. This has been much appreciated by her and all her family at this very sad time.  Thank you so much.

Our thoughts and prayers are also very much with all those who have lost a loved one, whether recently or longer ago. 

We send our best wishes and congratulations to Aubrey and Sheila who have recently celebrated 60 years of marriage and wish you many more to come. Best wishes go to those others who have also been celebrating recently whether it be a wedding anniversary, significant birthday, birth of a child or any other special occasion.

The Mowing rota finished for this year. Thank you to all who have been on the mowing rota once again this year – especially those who organise the mowing rota. The PCC appreciate your generosity in giving so much of your time and energy to keep the churchyard looking so lovely and well cared for, for parishioners and visitors alike. We’d also like to thank those who help with the cleaning of the church and with the beautiful altar flower displays throughout the year.

Many happy returns to those who have celebrated a birthday recently and congratulations go to those who have been celebrating a birth in the family or special anniversary. If you have something that you want to share, whether it’s a thank you to someone who helped you, or someone celebrating a significant life event, please get in contact with Dave Burton (calverleigh@exevalleychurches.org) or call 01884 561499.