St Johns and Clayton Brook Churches

Curate -- The Revd Tom Donaghey    01772 497687

Church Wardens          St Johns -- Jean Grindrod       Clayton Brook -- Janette Digney

Verger        Don Harris

 

The vicar writes ......

Dear Friends,

At this time of 'World Cup Fever' I'm reminded of NickyGumb;e's description of how the church is like a football match, where you have 22,000 people who desperately need exercise cheering on 22 people who desperately need a rest.

The church is a body made up of members in the same way as the human body. Each of us has our God-given gifts and abilities that we are called to use for the good of the whole - much as each member of a football team.

But as in any church, we have those who take this responsibility very seriously, and work tirelessly for the builing of God's kingdom, but we also have a much larger group who are content to remain on the fringes and watch.

Jesus told a parable about workers waiting in the market place to be hired for work in a vineyard. Some were hired early, and others only at the end of the day. The master, in his generosity, paid them all the full day's wage. Jesus didn't comment on those who remained on the edge of the group and were not hired at all - and many of us are in danger of finding ourselves in that position.

Of course, anyone who wants to be part of a football team needs to put considerable effort into training. As a church, we offer training, not for football but for life in the Kingdom of God.

The first step we recommend is to take part in a ten week ALPHA Course. The next one will be starting in the autumn, and details will be in the September Gazette. Watch this space.

For those who have done ALPHA we offer a longer course on 'The Life of Christ - based on Matthew's Gospel'. This course, produced by SEAN is spread over two or three years, depending on how quickly the participants want to work. It sounds frightening, doesn't it, but those who have begun the course soon find it addictive, and suffer suitable withdrawal symptoms when it's over. There is a course that is just beginning, so if you move fast, you may be able to catch it. See me as soon as you can.

For those hardy souls who complete the SEAN Course, and there are twenty of them to date, there are various diocesan courses we recommend. Details are available from me.

Of course, the purpose of football training is to be part of the team, and able to play well in a match. The purpose of discipleship training is to be able to play your part as a member of the Body of Christ, and to work with us for the building of His kingdom.

So, let me encourage you to make up your mind not to be among the 22,000 who simply cheer on those who do the work. Get into training, and come and fulfil God's plan for your life. (We especially need people to help run a 12+ group on Sunday mornings.)

Your friend and vicar

Alan

   Discover ALPHA www.alpha.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Admission to Church of England Schools

Parents considering applying for a priority place at either of our Church primary Schools, Whittle le Woods CE or Clayton le Woods CE (Back Lane), on the basis of their church attendance, need to be aware of our registration scheme.

It is stongly recommended that you begin to register your church attendance at least two years before your child would be due to start at school. That way, we can be sure to have a full, twelve-month period on which to base any reference you need.

For those wishing to apply to St Michael's CE High School, it requires a three year period of registered attendances to give us the time necessary to form the basis of any reference. So, as soon as your child begins in Year 4 at primary school, church attendances need to be registered.

Forms are available from the desk at the back of St John's.

The current primary school criteria give priority to those who attend Sunday worship at least once a month, and St Michael's give priority to those who attend fortnightly. These criteria may change from year to year, and will need to be checked with the relevant school.

Alan

>Click these links to our two Church Schools.

www.whittle-le-woods.lancsngfl.ac.uk                               www.clayton-le-woods.lancs.sch.uk

 

Thought for the week

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 9:9  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noticeboard

Rhos on Sea -15-17 October

Booking forms at the back of both churches

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  •        Did you know???  
  •     

Part of the manor of Whittle was granted about the time of Henry 1 (1100-1135) to Gilbert de Witul, whose descendant - Thomas de Witul - (in the reign of Henry 111) (1216-1272) gave it to Richard le Boteler by a deed which describes the boundaries and mentions the park of Witul.

Its stone quarries - which are a familiar aspect of the place - are stated to have been worked by the Romans. To substantiate this fact, a great hoard of Roman coins was discovered about the middle of the last century benbeath some rocks above the canal bank.

The canal has also played an important part in the history of Whittle because by this means of transport, coal was brought to the Duke of York basin and unloaded for Swansey Mill. Beer from Whittle Springs was also transported by the canal. There was a tunnel for rolling the barrels straight down to the barges. The public house near the hump back bridge was called 'The Anchor' and was built for the canal trade by a quarry owner.

At the end of the 17th century Whittle is reputed to have had a lead mine on land owned by the Standish famuily. For generations, Whittle Hills - which rise to about 500 feet - were popular with picnickers; wagonettes used to collect people and take them to the site where they enjoyed family picnics.

In 1836 springs of alkaline and calybeate were discovered while boring for coal. Consequently, in 1847, a fine hotel was built by Mr H Heys who fitted up baths and laid out pleasure grounds for visitors - many of whom testified to the healing properties of the mineral water. Later, the Springs were used by the Whittle Springs Brewery which was closed some years ago when taken over by a Blackburn firm.

Several old family names feature prominently in the history and well being of Whittle le Woods. eg Crosse, Crook and Clayton. The Crosse family in particular were great benefactors to St John's church - Whittle le Woods.

 

 

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