Author: Sue

Last Sunday, 2nd December, marked the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the church’s year and a time to start looking forward to the birth of Christ.  Following our Advent Service at which the first candle in our Advent wreath was lit and singing such wonderful Advent hymns as ‘Lo! he comes with clouds descending’ and ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel!’ we sat down to share a lovely lunch in a most festive setting.  Thank you to all who helped prepare and serve the meal and cleared away afterwards.

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11 month silence fell at the Bradninch War Memorial just as it did over the battlefields of Europe exactly 100 years ago, marking the end of the First World War.

      

A Remembrance Service at St Disen’s Church followed the laying of wreaths. Afterwards there was an opportunity to look at the St George’s Chapel set out with some of the gifts donated in 1917 when it was renovated as a War Memorial.  These included the recently restored bog oak cross and silver candlesticks on the altar.  The congregation was also able to admire and  reflect upon the beautiful cross stitch tapestry, on its especially made stand, bearing the names of 66 men from Bradninch and Hele who died as a result of the war.  They are more than names.

A collection of £269, made at the service, has been forwarded to the Royal British Legion.

A beautiful candlelit memorial service was held in St Disens on Sunday 4th November.  Moving and yet comforting as the long list of names was read out and as people came forward to light candles for their loved ones.  They are more than names.

 

Sunshine on the reredos, the wooden screen behind the altar yesterday afternoon.

Forthcoming services and events in St Disen’s Church to mark All Souls Day on 2nd November and Armistice Day on 11th November.

4th November  All Souls Memorial Service  4.00pm

A reflective service to remember loved ones.

10th November  Bradninch Remembers, 7.30pm

An evening of reflection and performance to mark the centenary of the end of WWI, with David Davies and Heloise West.

11th November  Armistice/Remembrance Day

Armistice Day begins at the War Memorial outside the Guildhall at 10.45am before moving down to St Disen’s Church for the Remembrance Service.

And, in memory of all the men and women of Bradninch who paid the ultimate price in the service of their country we have a new page on our website: Lest We Forget.  They are more than names.

The silhouette of a WWI soldier has been set up outside the Guildhall.  The soldier is part of a nationwide art installation called ‘There But Not There‘, as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many during the war and in doing so raise funds for the charity Remembered.

Close to the war memorial, ‘visible’ to all passers by and backed by a wall of poppies, this is a good place for a soldier.  The beautiful poppies, crafted by the Bradninch WI and others  have blossomed profusely, just as their real counterparts did on the fields of Flanders a century ago.  The purple poppies are a reminder of the thousands of animals that also served, and died, during the war.

 

Come and join us in the Guildhall on Saturday 13th October for a Harvest Hoedown with JAMAS.
Ploughmans and pud from 6.30pm. Barn Dance from 8.00pm
Adults £5.00, under 16s £2.50, under 5s free.
Tickets available from Bradninch Spar

Congratulations to Sam and Bryn who were married in St Disen’s Church last Saturday, 15th September. The looks on everyone’s faces, especially Sam and Bryn’s says it all.

A poster put together by our Tiddlywinks Group to remind us that God is the creator of all lovely things.
Tiddlywinks is especially for babies and young children with their parents/carers. We meet in the church hall every first and third Wednesday of the month, 9.30am-11.30am.

A cheerful, chatty group of church friends came together on Sunday afternoon to enjoy a special tea, including egg sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, Victoria sponge and apple cake, to celebrate the end of our Gift Week.