Light up the Church - This year we once again have the opportunity to illuminate the Church and make it a focal point of the village during the Christmas period.  The cost is just £10 a night.  You can pay by cash or directly in to the bank account.  To reserve or to select a date, please contact Jon Brierley (843380) (email)

Future of the Church

Coffee, cake and a chat with the Rev. Andrea Watkins took place on 2nd December in St Andrew’s.  Rev. Andrea met as many people as possible from Whilton Parish to discuss issues concerning the future of the Church which are amplified below.

CHURCH UNDER THREAT - HELP NEEDED

Following our Annual Meeting, the church no longer has a churchwarden as neither Linda nor I stood for re-election.  I have been doing the role for 8 years, which is long enough, and Linda Treacy has not lived in the village for some years now.

There are currently no volunteers to take on this role and the result has serious implications for the continued viability of the church.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is made up of myself, Linda, Tricia Wood and Phil Grant.  We have legal responsibility for the church building, organise events and activities and work with the Rector.  This is too large a task for just four people to deliver effectively and what we need is more people to come forward to help with the PCC’s responsibilities.

We hope that there is enough goodwill around that even if you are not a practicing Christian or active church-goer, villagers would want to see the church remain open and available for use both for religious and other purposes.

There are three alternatives:

1) New Churchwardens. There may be people who would be willing to be churchwardens or PCC members.

2) Festival Church. A Trust which would take responsibility for the fabric, finance and services and be made up of a team of lay volunteers and a leader from the village, willing to help out.  They would undertake a number of tasks including opening the building as required, setting up for services, maintenance and keeping the village informed about events. The church would probably be open for a limited number of services.  This is the most realistic practical solution.

3) Closure. If the local community decides that there is no need for a place of worship, the Church Commissioners would seek a new use for the building but if no one takes it on, the building and churchyard could fall into disrepair.

What the church needs is for a number of people to take responsibility. You do not necessarily have to become a member of the church or attend services in order to help.

Too much is taken for granted, but if you want to have the church open for christenings, weddings, funerals and other activities, we need you to step forward now in order to safeguard its future. It would be awful if after so many years, this generation is the one which allows the church to close due to lack of support.

If you are concerned by this and would be willing to volunteer, please send me an email.

Jon Brierley on behalf of the PCC.

Dedicated to St Andrew, the parish church is one of six within the Spencer Benefice of the Diocese of Peterborough. Built in the 12^th/13^thcentury the only original parts of the building remaining are the base of the tower and parts of the nave. The remainder of the nave and the upper parts of the tower were built in the later part of the 18^th century. A ring of 6 bells was given in 1777 by the patron of the time ~ William Lucas Rose ~ who also paid for their installation and the building work. In 1779 he also gave a gift of communion vessels which are still in use today.

Considerable restoration work was carried out in 1878/9 when the chancel was reconstructed and the vestry and organ aisles added. Most of the existing windows were also restored. The tower and nave roofs were restored in 1957/8.

The east window contains the only stained glass in the building – the subject is Christ’s Crucifixion and dates from 1878. It is believed to be the work of Burlerison and Gryll – the purple/blue colouring being typical of their work and the stained glass designs used based on those of Germany and the Netherlands around 1500.

The Reredos behind the altar is a picture in mosaic depicting the Last Supper – a copy of the painting by Leonardo da Vinci, with the inscription beneath “Do this in remembrance of me”. The mosaic continues on either side depicting on one side ears of wheat, and on the other a grapevine.

The church clock is unusual as it was originally a one handed clock divided into ¼ hours and therefore does not have 60 minutes.

The church is surrounded by a churchyard of 0.649 acres with lovely country views looking eastwards. The earliest known gravestone is that of Thomas Embry Woolwinder who died in 1687.

In April 1994 the 6 bells and the frame were removed. The bells were taken to Whitechapel foundry in London, recast, and 2 new bells added to make a ring of 8.Tenor weight 13-1-5.

All the bells have inscriptions on them. The treble having “The Rose Bell, in memory of William Lucas Rose who gave the original six bells in 1777”. The new bells were rung for the first time on August 13^th for a village wedding and were dedicated by the Bishop of Peterborough at a special service on September 29^th1994.

The Bellringers practise on Monday evenings 7.45 to 9.00 pm.  Anyone from 10 years can learn to ring – contact Justin Baker on 01327 844263 (e-mail) or Janet Bowers on 01327 842851 (email).

Visiting bands of ringers please contact the tower correspondent Janet on 01327 842851 (email).

St Andrew's is a small church with a friendly atmosphere which welcomes you to any of the services.

Special services include Pet Blessing, Christingle and others which rotate around the Benefice.