THE BISHOP’S LETTER

Such Devoted Sisters

There was a time when Lincolnshire boasted more Monasteries per square mile than any other part of England. Bardney was one of the largest and most influential of them, and some were pioneering in their habits and lifestyle like the co-ed community founded by Gilbert at Sempringham.

However, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in the 16th Century these religious communities all but disappeared from the landscape of England in general, and Lincolnshire in particular. It took until the 19th Century before a movement to refound religious communities took hold with Anglicans discovering for themselves the value of such power houses of prayer which had for so long been treated with suspicion as hotbeds of Roman Catholic subversion.

Some of these new foundations had houses in Lincolnshire, but during the course of the 20th Century they attracted fewer and fewer men and women prepared to commit to such lives of poverty, chastity and obedience. So here we are without even one such Community in our Diocese ...

... until now. For I am delighted to report that we have reached an agreement with the Community of St Francis. They are moving from their house at Compton Durville in Somerset and as part of their reshaping of the life of the province three sisters will relocate to Metheringham, and establish the Vicarage there as one of their houses, to be known as San Damiano. Whilst they will be relatively few in number, they will be made very welcome as they re-claim part of our religious heritage which we thought had been lost for ever.

Of course, monastic houses were about more than prayer several times a day and a regular cycle of worship throughout the Christian year. They provided hospitality to pilgrims and wayfarers when travel on the roads could be hard and dangerous. They were committed to education and learning not only in biblical and theological studies, but many other disciplines as well. They provided spiritual direction and opportunities for retreat and reflection for those needing to come aside a while from the busyness of daily life. By no means least, they often pioneered new farming techniques as part of the agricultural revolution.

But what attracted the Franciscan Sisters to come to us was our insistence that we simply wanted them to pray for us and with us day by day. Yes, they will offer a ministry of service and care whenever and wherever they are called upon to do so, but Metheringham is right at the geographical centre of our Diocese, and we rejoice in the knowledge that a Community committed to lives of praise, prayer, petition and intercession will be the beating heart at the heart of all we seek to be and to do as the people of God in historic Lincolnshire.

+ John Lincoln

LINCOLNSHIRE RURAL SUPPORT NETWORK
Formed to work with anyone in the farming community who is having a tough time.
We offer
. A free & confidential service
. A sympathetic ear
. Emotional support over the phone or on the farm
. Practical solutions in partnership with a wide range of professionals
. A countywide team of volunteer helpers from an agricultural background
. Opportunities to influence rural and agricultural policy
lrsn Helpline 0845 123 2306
 

HOME START

Volunteers are at the heart of Home-Start. We depend on volunteer skills, their generous gift of time, the sharing of their knowledge. Volunteers help parents build better lives for their children
THE MAIN FOCUSES OF HOME-START’S WORK ARE:
. Volunteer visiting in the families own home
. Helping at one of our Family Groups in Stamford, Bourne and Mkt Deeping
. Acting as a trustee to help guide and govern the scheme. Trustees aren’t responsible for the day-to-day running but are responsible for making the
charity effective.

IF YOU:
. have an understanding of the pressures facing parents today and a genuine interest in supporting parents in your community
. are a parent or have parenting experience
. can give at least one hour a week to volunteer for Home-Start
We are running a Preparation course for new volunteers starting on Tuesday 3rd Nov 9.00 – 1.00. The course runs for 10 weeks. All expenses paid. Trustees do not need to attend the Preparation Course, but have an induction within the scheme.
WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF IT?
What you get back is the satisfaction of knowing you have made a difference in your community
WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Find further information about Home-Start www.homestart.org.uk Contact us to arrange an informal interview Tel: 01780 752983. E-mail: homestartswlincs@btconnect.com

Is your child due to start school in 2010 or 2011?
BASTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Come to our
OPEN MORNING
WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2009
Starting with Head’s welcome at 9.30 a.m.
A SCHOOL WITH HIGH STANDARDS FOR THE 21st CENTURY
We offer a caring and stimulating environment
with attractive facilities on a pleasant and spacious site
within the village. We have places for children in the
Baston, Bourne, Deepings and surrounding areas.
Visit our purpose-built Reception classroom & enclosed outdoor play area.
You are most welcome to come and look around our successful and happy school! Come and see our pupils hard at work!
Come and meet our dedicated staff!
We look forward to seeing you!
For further information please contact the Assistant Headteacher / Reception Teacher Mrs Day on 01778 560430

Not only wild orchids but also flowers and insects of Bourne
an exhibition by Dr Nigel Turnbull
30th Sept to 28th Oct at Corby Glen
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 to 5pm
Dr Nigel Turnbull has recently retired from over thirty years of general practice in Bourne. Despite his busy working life he maintained his lifelong interest in wild flowers, particularly orchids. “When I did biology at A-level part of the exam consisted of submitting a biological collection, in my case wild flowers. This would be very much frowned upon nowadays but stimulated an interest in me that I have never lost”
When an old friend Doreen Hunt, a botanist and Old Stamfordian, died in 1988 Dr Turnbull produced a book in her memory describing all the wildflowers in the Bourne area.
This is still available from local libraries and will be available to view at a forthcoming exhibition of his art work at Corby Glen Memorial Gallery. “I have always loved to illustrate wild flowers, firstly in watercolour but latterly by digital imaging. I have travelled the world in search of wild plants and flowers of South Africa, Cuba, Australia and Costa Rica also feature in the exhibition.” Dr Turnbull is also a keen photographer and member of the Deepings Camera Club. He has recently won a national award with his photograph of black African oystercatchers (illustrated). “It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences. I only had my close up lens with me but the birds, although rare, were not shy and allowed my close approach. Perhaps that is why they are rare as I got within six feet of them and they never moved!”, he joked. An active member of Toft Golf club, he has recently reintroduced a rare local wild flower, the elecampane, to the course and has helped to preserve a colony of rare bee orchids there. His digital image of bee orchids is on display in the main corridor of the Edith Cavell Hospital. “The original photograph was taken in Derbyshire when I was a junior hospital doctor in Sheffield so I had a great sense of closure when it appeared in the Edith Cavell in the year of my retirement” said Dr Turnbull. During his busy work as a GP Dr Turnbull still found time to study for an A level in graphic design at Peterborough Technical College and went on to study surface decoration at Leicester De Montford University . He is currently creating a stained glass window specifically for the Exhibition as he felt “The windows just cried out for it”. The Exhibition is open every day except Mondays from noon until 5pm from the 30th of September to the 28th October. “I have made notes on several of the exhibits, museum style. I will be surprised if you don’t learn something interesting as well as enjoying the colourful works. Admission is free, why not go along?” The first weekend in October coincides with the Sheep Fair and there are two excellent pubs in the village.

N.O.D.A. AWARD WINNING SOCIETY PRESENT AN EVENING OF ONE-ACT PLAYS AT THE CORN EXCHANGE, BOURNE,
ON THURS 15TH, FRI 16TH AND SAT 17TH OCTOBER 2009 DOORS OPEN 7PM, PLAYS BEGIN 7.30PM
NASTY THINGS, MURDERS – A thriller by Arthur Lovegrove
All is not quite as it seems in the serenity of The Grantly Home for Retired Gentlewomen. Could one of these sweet and gentle elderly ladies be a murderess?
KECKS – A comedy by John Chambers
During a shopping expedition for wedding and honeymoon lingerie, a mother and daughter end up revealing more about their personal relationships than they had expected.
TIME FLIES – A comedy by David Ives
Two lonely but sweet young mayflies meet at a pond and find themselves falling in love.
TICKETS £6.00 FROM DEEPING TRAVEL IN BOURNE - 01778 423224
BAR REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE
AFFILIATED TO THE NATIONAL OPERATIC & DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION

www.bourneplayers.co.uk