It seems to have been a quiet summer at Sarnesfield, but there is good and varied news, and much of it concerns the churchyard, our future plans for the altar rail, and the prospect of a unique christening.

Those who visit the church regularly will know the fencing by the main road was badly broken by a runaway scaffolding van, and as a consequence this part of the churchyard looks a little untidy. The good news is that the insurers are now happy for us to get on and repair this, and so this area should look a lot better soon. And doubly so in fact, because Jake Leech has been giving a bit of his holiday time to re-discovering the proper width of the path to the church - not an easy job as we'd let the grass encroach on the path and it was taking a strong hold.

Also in the churchyard, there are plans for a 15 metre section of the dry-stone wall on the western side of the churchyard - nearest to Sarnesfield Court - to be dismantled and then re-constructed. This is scheduled for October and once completed should take us to the point where the old, but now no longer there, gate to the Sarnesfield Court gardens was located.

Inside the church, we've been looking at the way the positioning of the altar rail works in relation to the new, away-from-the-wall, positioning of the altar, and we've concluded that a new altar rail which can be safely set up against the first of the two steps up to the altar in the Chancel would now do the job very well.

With a design that compliments the Arts & Crafts style of the existing Chancel furniture accepted at the last St Mary's PCC meeting, we've now submitted our plans to the Archdeacon at Hereford and hope to have permission to go ahead soon. It was agreed also at this last meeting that the cost of the new rail would be met by using a part of the legacy Miss Josephine Marshall left St Mary's in her will.

Another slice of cake………..

- yes, we've got another Sarnesfield Ladies Cake Stall coming up soon and it's at the usual location in Weobley, just outside Madeleine and Peter Dixon's house by the Corner Shop Newsagent at the top of Broad Street on Thursday September 11th from about 9am onwards as usual.

Our last stall, back in June, was a terrific morning's work and we raised about £285 from a sell-out. And the icing that topped off the day was a kind donation to take us up to the £300 mark. As ever, we had a lot of fun, and so thank you for all the cakes you baked, or bought, or both. I know I say it every time, but it's quite true that the money you help us raise makes all the difference to St Mary's funding, and I hope you can help us once again in September. If you are able to help maintain the standard, do please drop off your cakes with Hilary Havard or Viv Leech, or bring them to the stall on the morning from about 9.00 am onwards.

Also in September…………

Last year's Weobley & Staunton Inter-Parish Croquet Tournament was won by Byford and so it's all over to Garnons this year. The tournament is on Sunday 7th September and I would hazard a guess that it will commence after lunch, probably at 2pm as in past years. Despite no practice yet, I'm sure Sarnesfield will be putting up a fierce challenge!

On Saturday 13th September, it's the traditional Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust Great Stride and Ride, and as usual St Mary's will be open to welcome visitors hoping to get their sponsorship forms stamped.

This year, we thought it would be positive to put our time to a bit of productive, good use and so we're going to get polishing! With expert instruction from Richard Putland, who lives in Sarnesfield and knows all there is to know about how to look after wooden furniture, we plan to make a start on smartening-up the furniture in the Chancel - the choir stalls, the lectern, and the altar no doubt.

Now, if you'd like to come and join us, that would be wonderful. You know what they say about 'more hands making light work'! Richard has kindly agreed to make sure we have the correct materials for the job and so I suggest, if you'd like to come along for an hour or two, you bring a picnic lunch for yourself and join us from about 11am when Richard will be there to show us what to do.

On Sunday 28th September, we'll have our regular Sunday service but at a different time and with a charming difference on this occasion. Janet Thomas, who was both christened and married at St Mary's, and who some of you will have met at St Mary's, recently gave birth to three young girls - delightfully named Grace, Emily and Alice - and so the service, which will begin at 3pm, will include a very special christening, which we are welcomed to celebrate with Janet and her family. I wonder if triplets have ever been christened at Sarnesfield before? I doubt it!

And in October, the harvest festival………

For this year's Harvest Festival, we've opted for a change of day and time. In the past we've held it on a Friday evening, but this year we've decided to hold it on a Sunday morning, which we hope will be a better time for our congregation. And so it'll be at 11am on Sunday October 12th, with a harvest lunch after the service.

Not breaking with tradition entirely, we will be having a harvest meal after the service - lunch on this occasion - and the PCC will provide some cider and soft drinks. If, as in the past, some of you would be prepared to bring with you a plate of something savoury for lunch, then I think we should have a happy lunchtime discussing the harvest, and the price of fertilizer!

Services at Sarnesfield

• Sunday August 24th - Family Communion: 9.15am
• Sunday September 28th - Family Service: 3pm (Includes Christening)
• Sunday October 12th- Harvest Festival: 11am
• Sunday October 24th - Family Service: 9.15am
• Sunday November 23rd - Family Service: 9.15am
• Sunday December 14th - Carol Service: 3.30pm
• Thursday December 25th - Christmas Communion: 9.15am

Also for your diary………..

• Sunday August 31st - Weobley & Staunton Group Eucharist: 10.30am at Weobley
• Thursday October 23rd - Church of St Mary, PCC Meeting, 9.30am at The Vicarage, Weobley
• Thursday December 4th - Sarnesfield Ladies Cake Stall: 9am , Weobley

All the best,

Roger Marshall