Pauline & Bob - co-editors..   

Updated  1st March 2026

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March 2026 Magazine

Country’s most deprived parishes receive over £22m investment across three dioceses

Three Church of England dioceses are receiving over £22 million to support parishes in some of the country’s most deprived areas, with programmes focused on revitalising churches, nurturing young disciples, and equipping leaders for mission.

The Diocese of Exeter has agreed investment of £10m with the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) in a programme across Devon to energise clergy for mission, empower lay leaders and resource outreach to children and young people. It includes a specific plan to reshape the Church in Plymouth, the largest city in Devon and with one of the highest levels of deprivation.

£9.9m has also been agreed with Manchester Diocese, to support a programme to provide practical support to parishes, expand ministry with children and young people, revitalise and plant new churches, and develop missional leaders

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Meanwhile, £2.3m has been invested in a programme to help the Diocese of St Albans grow younger and more diverse by nurturing new missionary disciples and leaders, revitalising and planting churches and increasing mission to multi-faith and multi-ethnic communities.

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Record number of young adults join ministry experience year

A record number of young adults have joined a year-long placement scheme to experience ministry in the Church of England.

The Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) intake this year is 121, the largest the scheme has had since it was founded more than a decade ago. This year’s total means that more than 1,000 young adults, including this year’s intake, have been part of the Scheme since it was set up in 2013.

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Disability Project awarded £5 million in funding

The Church of England is awarding £5 million over the next three years to the Disability Project as part of its commitment to the participation of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in the life of the Church.

The Disability Project is to receive funding for a series of programmes between 2026 and 2028 including leadership training, children and youth work, further training for members of the diocesan disability advisers’ network and learning disabilities research.

By the end of next year, more than 50 disabled and neurodivergent church leaders, both lay and ordained, will have had the chance to take part in accessible and in-depth leadership development.

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House of Bishops shares letter as Living in Love and Faith approaches conclusion

The House of Bishops has shared a letter to the wider Church of England setting out an agreed position as it prepares to bring the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process – which explores the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage – to a conclusion.

The letter, in the form of a statement from the House, speaks about proposed new bodies to be set up once LLF comes to a conclusion; confirms an agreed approach to any further changes and rules out so-called Delegated Episcopal Ministry at this stage.

Following a General Synod vote in February 2023, same-sex couples can now receive public prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and asking for God’s blessing – known as the Prayers of Love and Faith (or PLF) – as part of a regular church service.

At a recent meeting, the House confirmed the decision taken at its meeting in October that, based on legal advice, new special or ‘bespoke’ services using Prayers of Love and Faith would need full formal authorisation under canon law.

They also acknowledged that general permission for clergy to be in a same-sex civil marriage would require a formal legislative process and agreed to explore what legislation would be needed.

And they made clear they could not agree to placing some parishes under the care of bishops with “separate and independent jurisdiction” as a result of the Prayers of Love and Faith at this stage.

The bishops’ letter details how a new working group would carry out the theological and legislative preparatory work needed and report back to the new General Synod – which will be elected later this year – with recommendations within the first two years after the election

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The House recognised and regretted the deep hurt, particularly to LGBTQI+ people, caused by the decisions.

It agreed a letter to the Church, bringing LLF and the process initiated by the February 2023 Synod vote to a formal conclusion and setting out steps to be taken next. A vote of bishops to issue the letter achieved overwhelming consensus across traditions and the range of theological views on questions of sexuality and marriage. Those steps include establishing a Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group to support the House of Bishops and enable it to: Engage in preparatory work and explore the approval process under Canon B2 that would be necessary for bespoke services of Prayers of Love and Faith;

Explore what legislative changes would be required to enable clergy to enter same-sex marriage;

Continue to explore what pastoral episcopal provision and reassurance would be required, proportionate to any further proposed changes;

Report back to General Synod with recommendations within the first two years following the upcoming elections.

A new Pastoral Consultative Group will also be set up to advise bishops and archdeacons on specific cases in the interim and facilitate consistent practice across the Church.

“We dare to hope that the LLF process will leave a legacy of greater inclusion of LGBTQI+ people in the life of the Church of England, together with deeper understanding of the theological issues and greater honesty about, and tolerance of, individual differences,” the letter explains.

Speaking of the need for careful consideration of next steps, it adds: “Lessons need to be learned from the process of the last three years.

“It is important to avoid a further cycle of hopes or anxieties being raised only to be disappointed.”

Detailing the process the Church has undergone since the 2023 Synod motion, including the introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith, the bishops write: “We believe we have fulfilled, albeit imperfectly, the February 2023 General Synod motion as best we can, given the range of views across the Church of England, including replacing Issues in Human Sexuality after the July 2025 Synod motion, without departing from or indicating any departure from the Church’s doctrine of marriage.

“We believe, as a House, that the time has now come formally to conclude this Synodical process in February 2026 and to identify the next stages of work which will need to be considered by the House of Bishops and the General Synod in the coming years, including the ongoing structures for development, dialogue and discernment.”

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APOLLO CHOIR CONCERT

On Friday 20^th February the Apollo Choir gave a wonderful concert in church in memory of Martin Bell, a former member, who died in August 2025.  Martin was also a member of St Mary’s Choir.

The concert was very well attended, with the main nave pews packed, and everyone enjoyed a varied program of lovely music, including various Welsh pieces, which were favourites of Martin.

It was obvious that Martin was very well thought of by listening to the comments given throughout the evening by choir members. 

It is hoped that the choir will be back to do another concert sometime next year.

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QUIZ TIME

On Saturday 18^th April St Mary’s Church will be having a social get together in the form of a Quiz which will take place in church at 12 noon.

Tickets - £7.50p – will be on sale in church, and the cost will include a Pie and Peas lunch. 

There is a prize for the winning team (no more than 6 people per team) and we will also be holding a Raffle.  We hope you will be able to join us!

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 March 2026 Diary Page

Bible Study (via Zoom) Every Wednesday at 7pm during term time

Prayer meeting first Monday in the Month 7pm in church.

SUNDAY 1^st MARCH

LENT 2

NO Morning services due to local road closures

6.30pm            Parish Communion

SATURDAY 7^th MARCH

Churchyard tidy  9.30am onwards

SUNDAY 8^th MARCH

Lent 3

9.00am            Holy Communion

10.00am          Parish Communion

6.30pm          Evening Prayer

WEDNESDAY 11^th MARCH

Coffee Morning  10am -11.30am

PCC Meeting  7.00pm

SUNDAY 15^th MARCH

MOTHERING SUNDAY

9.00am            Holy Communion

10.00am          Parish Communion

6.30pm            Evening Prayer

WEDNESDAY 18^th  MARCH

12.30pm          Agape Lunch

SUNDAY  22^nd MARCH

LENT 5

9.00am            Holy Communion

10.00am          Parish Communion

 6.30pm           Evening Prayer

WEDNESDAY 26^th MARCH

12.30pm          Agape lunch

SUNDAY 29^th MARCH

PALM SUNDAY  (with Blessing of Palms)

9.00am            Holy Communion

10.00am          Parish Communion

6.30pm            Evening Prayer

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PILGRIMAGE – The Road to Holy Island

 ‘Pilgrimage’ returns to BBC Two in April with seven celebrities embarking on a 390km journey across North East England. The series explores faith, belief, and life’s big questions while showcasing breathtaking landscapes.

The Road to Holy Island takes the group through Whitby Abbey, Durham Cathedral, and Lindisfarne, blending history with personal stories.
Over three 60 minute episodes, fans can expect challenging walks, stunning scenery, and heartfelt exchanges. The pilgrims’ reflections and interactions add depth to the journey, making it both inspiring and emotional.

Ashley Banjo, Hermione Norris, Tasha Ghouri, Hasan Al-Habib, Jayne Middlemiss, Ashley Blaker, and Patsy Kensit all share unique perspectives. The series promises thought-provoking conversations and memorable moments

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Why we should be like donkeys

Are you a pet-lover? Many people own a dog, a cat or a budgie, but most of us don’t own a donkey! Yet in Bible times, donkeys were essential to daily life. They did everything from helping to grind corn, to ploughing, to carrying people, to transporting their belongings.  Despite their small frame, donkeys are surprisingly tough. They are content with poor fodder like thistles and can travel an average of 20 miles a day.

There are two occasions in the Christian calendar where donkeys walk into the picture. At Christmas, Mary travelled the 100 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a donkey. And although a donkey doesn’t get a specific mention in the manger story, that same one that transported her was probably there at the birth; where else would it have been?

On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus deliberately chose this animal rather than a horse. Why?  In Bible times, the horse was associated with war, conquest and worldly might. But the donkey was a symbol of peace and humility. Jesus used this animal to show that He had come with the dignity of the King of peace. His entry into the Holy City also fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah.

Donkeys are hardworking and undemanding. They wait for their master to put them to the work he has chosen for them. And, remarkably, each one bears the mark of the Cross on their backs!

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By the Revd Roy Shaw, a retired but active priest in the diocese of York, where he is a spiritual director. 

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday – the fourth Sunday of Lent- offers families an opportunity to honour the women who have nurtured them. Lots of different streams and traditions have come together to make today’s Mothering Sunday the special day that it is.

In the Middle Ages it was an occasion for everyone to visit their ‘mother’ church – the place where they had been baptised. Later, an opportunity for those who worked away from home to visit their mothers became added to the mix of reasons to make it a special day.

Today we honour all women who have in one way or another been special to us, and in church this is usually signalled by small bunches of flowers for every woman present.

Treating mums and grans to Sunday lunch, chocolates and flowers is also part of the present mix. And will there be a simnel cake to be seen – a tradition from ages past – with its rich layers of marzipan, and eleven balls of marzipan on top, reminders of the 11 disciples who remained faithful to Jesus?

Not everyone has enjoyed a wonderful or enduring relationship with their mum, so lest we get carried away on a wave of love and sentimentality, there is usually space in the Mothering Sunday church service to reflect on and pray for those whose relationships with their mother were not all they might have been.

Also, there are the families blighted by the lack of, or death of a child; families remembering a mum who died tragically young; women who never had a child but would have dearly loved the opportunity; all these and more are a recognition of the imperfections of human love, human life.

These imperfections can be brought in prayer to the God who mothers us. In the Old Testament, Isaiah speaks of God comforting His people like a mother hen. In the New Testament, both Matthew and Luke bear witness to Jesus expressing His desire to gather His people as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Yes, God has strong maternal qualities which He invites us to discover and enjoy!

Have you discovered the mothering, nurturing, maternal qualities which God offers to all people? It’s lovelier than flowers, more long-lasting than simnel cake, better than a visit from family, and it’s free to everyone who wants it – it could be yours!

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15th March – Mothers and children

Whatever our childhood was like, it was formational. We learned from our earthly parents, good things ideally, although not everyone’s childhood is great.

In the Bible, St Paul refers to the importance of up-bringing and of spiritual heritage. When he greets Timothy in his second letter to him, he calls him his ‘Dear Son’, praises his ‘genuine faith’ and then goes on:

“You share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

Timothy’s childhood had been rooted in the Old Testament scriptures that he had been taught by his mother and grandmother. Their example had set him on the right path, until he was old enough to choose for himself to follow Jesus.

Physically, we when we are young, we need nurturing by mothers and fathers. Spiritually it is the same. When we come to faith, we need spiritual mothers and father to help us grow into maturity as God’s adopted children.

We also need spiritual sustenance: regularly reading the Bible, spending time in God’s presence in prayer, and worshipping with the family of the Church.

God – our heavenly parent provides our personal nurturing through prayer and the Bible, but He also gives us each other, to encourage and share our experiences of his faithfulness.

However imperfect our earthly upbringing was, God is a good, good Father, a perfect parent who will only teach us goodthings. And gradually, as the fruit of the Holy Spirit ripens in us, we will become more like Jesus. We will gain more of the family likeness!

Is there someone in your life who has helped you to grow spiritually? This Mothering Sunday, thank God for them.

Is there someone your life whom you have ‘mothered’ or ‘fathered’ along the way? This Mothering Sunday, pray for them.

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Two donkeys

Two donkeys were walking the streets of Jerusalem. One said: “Just a few days ago I came down that hill carrying Jesus, and the people were all singing and shouting and throwing down their cloaks and palms for me to walk on. But today they don’t even recognise me.”

The other donkey replied: “That is how it is, my friend. Without Jesus, none of us amounts to much.”

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Dog walkers now face unlimited fines if pets chase livestock

 As of the 18^th of this month, The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 will become law for England and Wales.

This means that police officers can seize dogs which pose a risk of repeated attacks on farm animals. It also means that dog walkers now face unlimited fines if their pets chase livestock.

Up until now, the maximum fine for worrying sheep, cattle and poultry was £1,000. But the fine is now unlimited, and also now protects llamas and alpacas.

Baroness Coffey, the Conservative former deputy prime minister, said the change was necessary. “Livestock worrying has devastating consequences, both for animals and farmers, and it can be horrific, causing brutal injuries that are tragically often fatal,” she said.

Rachel Hallos, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) vice-president, hailed the rule changes as “a huge step forward. This legislation will act as a real deterrent and will make a real difference to farmers and their livestock.”

Farm animals worth an estimated £2.4 million were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2023, up nearly 30 per cent from the previous year, according to figures from the insurer NFU Mutual.

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 Earth Hour 2026 – a time to turn off your lights

The Earth Hour 2026 takes place on Saturday 28^th March, when at 8.30pm in their local time millions of people worldwide will turn off their non-essential lights for one hour.

Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the 20^th anniversary of this global initiative will aim to raise awareness of the earth’s climate crisis, and to encourage environmental action through sustainable, actionable lifestyle changes.

The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia, on 31^st March 2007, and has since become a global movement.  The 2025/26 theme is ‘Giving an Hour for Earth’ is encouraging people to adapt sustainable habits in their daily lives.

And while our lights are off for an hour, Earth Hour will encourage us to spend the time in nature, or stargazing, or engaging in environmental, educational, or sustainable activities.

More info at:  https://www.earthhour.org

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March 2026 Crossword

CLUES

Across

1  Arouse (Song of Songs 2) (6)

4  Extinguish (Isaiah 1) (6)

8  ‘“They — — ,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!”’ (Proverbs 23) (3,2)

9  Unhappiness (Nehemiah 2) (7)

10 Jewish (7)

11 Dirge (anag.) (5)

12 ‘A truthful witness gives honest — ,  (Proverbs 12) (9)

17 Paul quoted from the second one  (Acts 13) (5)

19 ‘Do not use your freedom to — the sinful nature’ (Galatians 5) (7)

21 ‘As you can see, he has done nothing to — death’ (Luke 23) (7)

22 Name applied by Isaiah to Jerusalem (Isaiah 29) (5)

23 ‘All the people — — one man, saying,  (Judges 20) (4,2)

24 Lazarus, who was carried by angels, was one (Luke 16) (6)

Down

1  Appalled (Job 26) (6)

2  ‘In an — to escape from the ship,’ (Acts 27) (7)

3  Expel (Acts 18) (5)

5  ‘But I have a baptism to — , ’ (Luke 12) (7)

6  ‘Of the increase of his government and peace there will be — — ’ (Isaiah 9) (2,3)

7  Hurry (Psalm 119) (6)

9  ‘For I desire mercy, not — ,’ (Hosea 6) (9)

13 One of its towns was Sychar,  (John 4) (7)

14 Shouting (Acts 7) (7)

15 Arachnid (Isaiah 59) (6)

16 Lydia, a — in purple cloth (Acts 16) (6)

18 Donkeys (5)

20 Raked (anag.) (5)

Answers to February Crossword

ACROSS: 1, Credit. 4, Tackle. 7, Cain. 8, Kenaniah. 9, Strength. 13, Beg. 16, Salvation Army. 17, ARC. 19, Every day. 24, Admonish. 25, Dire. 26, Sneeze. 27, Bronze.

DOWN: 1, Cock. 2, Epistolic. 3, Taken. 4, Tenet. 5, Cane. 6, Leave. 10, Erase. 11, Guide. 12, Honey. 13, Barbarian. 14, Guys. 15, Asia. 18, Rod in. 20, Voice. 21, Rahab. 22, Hope. 23, Mene.

Winner   Peter Warren

Crosswords reproduced by kind permission of BRF and John Capon, originally published in Three Down, Nine Across, by John Capon (£6.99 BRF)

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 March 2026 Anagrams

Compiled by Peter Warren

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February Anagram Answers  

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March 2026 Soduko Puzzle

February Sodoku Solution

Winners    Jack Thompson

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Poverty, the care crisis and mental health – Synod discusses modern challenges

A call for renewed commitment to supporting people who live in poverty was among the motions recently debated at February Synod (9^th to 13^th).

The debate, marking 40 years since the landmark Faith in the City report, was among a series of key social challenges up for discussion, alongside the care system and the nation’s mental health in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally led a debate on care for older and disabled people. Synod also explored how the Church can best respond to people’s mental health needs.

Key items on the agenda also included progress on Church Safeguarding and the next steps after the Living in Love and Faith process – which explores the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage – concludes this year.

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£8.7 million a year – how much churches in a single community give the nation

The value of support from churches in a single community in the West Midlands has been calculated at £8.7 million a year, Bishop Rob Wickham, chief executive of Church Urban Fund said recently.

Bishop Rob was speaking just before the February meeting of the General Synod, which debated a motion on poverty and the Church. The debate marked the 40th anniversary of the publication of the landmark Faith in the City report.

Churches collectively are estimated to contribute over £55bn a year through initiatives like food banks, lunch clubs and night shelters.

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The Revd Dr Jo White continues her series on aspects of Christianity.

Reflected Faith Series: Togetherness

Last month we began our Lenten journey with ashes on Ash Wednesday, reminding us of our beginning and our ending; soon we will conclude that time with Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Such a relatively short time for so great a distance. I’m reminded of this by the opening words used in Church of England services at the Palm Sunday services:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. Christ enters His own city to complete His work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with Him in faith and love, so that, united with Him in His sufferings, we may share His risen life.

It’s all about togetherness. Together as a small group of people in that one church where we worship. Together with ‘the’ Church across all denominations and throughout the world. Together with Christ Himself.

It’s one of the reasons that we process on Palm Sunday. Ideally it will be a joyful and noisy procession with banners and rejoicing – reminding us of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as much as into our own lives. 

This month

It’s in this joy wherein lies the contrast with our solemn and silent procession on Good Friday. We need them both. One on its own doesn’t tell the full story. Just like a play on Good Friday without its follow-up on Easter Sunday leaves you hanging.

We all know that social media tends to only show happy occasions but that underneath all those meals and holidays and smiling faces there can be great heartaches and sorrows.

It’s the togetherness of both of those emotions where the true depth of joy is to be found and not on the surfaces.

How do we greet Christ anew on Resurrection Sunday without the devastating loss of Good Friday, or that long week travelling in and out of the city walls?  May you find real joy in togetherness this Eastertide!

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Canon Paul Hardingham considers the crowds of Jerusalem…

The Way of the Cross

‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.’ (Luke 9: 23)

These words of Jesus are spoken at a turning point in the gospel. Jesus challenged the disciples about His identity and their commitment to Him: ‘who do the crowds say I am?’ (Luke 9:18). It is at this point that He ‘resolutely set out for Jerusalem’ (9:51). On our journey through Lent, as we look to the events of Good Friday and Easter, what are our priorities as Jesus’ disciples?

To deny ourselves: this means to saying No to ourselves and Yes to God, as we humbly submit our will to His. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane ‘not My will but Yours be done.’ (Luke 22:42). It means putting Jesus first in everything: our work, family, ambitions, possessions, marriage, finance and future. We will not be guided by self-interest, but by allowing God to show us how to live in His way.

To take up our cross: this reminds us that the disciple is not immune from suffering, as we follow Jesus along the way of the cross. Just as He carried His cross to Golgotha, we cannot avoid experiencing suffering in a fallen world. Every day we are to live in way that demonstrates to everyone that we have died to ourselves, our selfish ways and ambitions, and seek to live for God. It means breaking old selfish habits and ways of thinking, as we allow God to renew us by His Spirit.

Perhaps that is something we should learn—to wait for Jesus our Master, to be always obedient to Him, to serve Him with all our hearts, and to bear the mark of His grace in our lives.

In all of this we cannot lose, because like Jesus, it is only through death that we find God’s new life. ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.’ (Jim Elliot).

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Canon Paul Hardingham continues his series on the books of the Bible, which will run until the end of 2025.

What’s the Big Idea? – An Introduction to the

books of the Old Testament: Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is described as ‘a true, honest, and God-revealing companion for the worst of times.’ (Eugene Peterson). He was a priest from the village of Anathoth, near Jerusalem. His ministry to Judah began in 626 B.C. and continued until after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Jeremiah brought a message of judgment and hope: ‘See, I have set you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.’ (1:10).

During Jeremiah’s ministry, Judah had rejected the Lord for idols (2:13). They claimed to be God’s people, yet they refused to heed God’s word by refusing to be corrected and following false prophets who spoke what the people wanted to hear. Therefore, Jeremiah was the prophet of judgement. He called Judah to repent, but they refused (6:16-17). However, he also brought a message of hope. He preached that they should trust God (9:23-24) and that a faithful remnant would be restored to the land (23:3; 31:7-9).

Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet, who felt compelled to speak God’s word (20:9). His life was characterised by sorrow, ‘O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.’ (8: 18). His people continually refused to listen to him, rewarding his labour with rejection and persecution.

Much of Jeremiah’s message remains relevant today, because we still fall into idolatry, whether it is wealth, talents or social standing. Sin requires repentance and restoration; obedience brings blessings and joy with it. However, Jeremiah also points to Christ, as the one who makes this possible. He showed great compassion for His people and shed tears for them. He suffered their ingratitude, but still forgave them.

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 Remembering the Dunblane Massacre

Thirty years ago, on 13^th March 1996, the Dunblane Massacre took place in Scotland.  Thomas Hamilton, a former Scout leader, entered Dunblane Primary School, shot dead 16 children and a teacher, wounded 15 more, and then committed suicide.  As a result, the private ownership of handguns was banned in the UK.

There was no obvious reason for the massacre, though Hamilton’s behaviour had previously made the police raise questions about his fitness to own firearms. He was said to have had a grudge against some prominent members of the community for being labelled a “pervert” – and this “persecution” was said to have affected his business, which was fitting kitchens.

The allegations arose after he was ejected as a Boy Scout assistant leader and had to give up as organiser of several boys’ clubs after he had behaved strangely towards young boys – though nothing illegal was ever proved against him. Future tennis star Andy Murray had been a member of some of the clubs.

The teacher who died, 43-year-old mother Gwen Mayor, was killed while trying to protect her pupils, who were in the youngest class. Another teacher and an assistant teacher were wounded while similarly attempting to keep the children safe.

After the massacre, residents of Dunblane, which is a few miles north of Stirling in central Scotland, started the Snowdrop Campaign and gathered about 750,000 signatures for a petition against the private ownership of handguns. This resulted in a law being passed the following year and a subsequent fall in the number of gun killings in the UK.

A service in Dunblane Cathedral the following Sunday – Mothering Sunday – saw locals united in a determination to find “peace, hope, calm and joy”. Tears naturally flowed – except for a minute when the crying unaccountably stopped and everyone was silent.

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Afternoon tea, anyone?

Do you take afternoon tea? Ever wondered where it started? The custom seems to date back to the mid-19^th century, and the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell. The Duchess got hungry at about 4pm each day, calling it “that sinking feeling”. As it was still four hours until dinner (at 8pm), she began to have sandwiches or a small cake with some tea. Her friends thought this was marvellous, and the idea spread quickly through (hungry) upper class circles.

Soon, it seems, everyone in England was looking forward to Afternoon Tea, and a great British tradition was born. Though, during the last century, the sandwiches and cake gave way to biscuits, still we reached for the teapot each afternoon. Not so much anymore, it seems. In the last five years, sales of tea and biscuits have dropped. Perhaps we are drinking coffee?

The research was done by retail analysts Mintel.

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Canon Paul Hardingham begins a seven-part series. This will run until the July issue.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Anger

Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.’ (Benjamin Franklin).

Who or what makes you angry? In the third of our 7 Deadly Sins, we are looking at anger (or wrath).

It describes uncontrolled feelings of hatred and resentment, and it can lead to resentment and grudges, quarrelling and damaged relationships. Jesus warns us about the consequence of anger: ‘I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.’ (Matt 5:22).

Jesus Himself got angry, notably when He saw the Temple being exploited by the money changers (Matt 21:12-13). Such righteous anger is a measured response to injustice or evil, motivated by love not vengeance.

However, it is important for us to deal with unrighteous anger in our lives: ‘In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.’ (Ephesians 4:26,27). What practical steps can we take to do this?

Acknowledge your anger: What are the root causes of our anger? Often it comes from deeper feelings, like fear, inadequacy or the desire to control 

Control your anger: Stepping back before reacting can prevent anger from controlling us: ‘everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry’ (James 1:19,20).

Seek to forgive: Practising forgiveness, not seeking revenge or holding grudges, will enable us to overcoming anger: ‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.’ (Colossians 3:12,13). Christ died to take the wrath of God we deserve, that we might know God’s forgiveness.

‘People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing’ (Will Rogers).

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Crufts 2026 – bigger than ever

The nation’s favourite dog show returns to the NEC this month, from 5^th to 8^th March.

Organised by The Kennel Club, Crufts attracts more than 20,000 dogs from 49 different countries. They will be watched by 150,000 people, and over eight million TV viewers via Channel 4, More4 and All4 broadcasts.

This year Crufts is extending into Hall 8 for the Young Kennel Club, and it is also staging brand-new dog grooming competitions among the top dog groomers. Altogether, there will be over 200 breeds on show, including the newly recognised Hungarian Mudi, Icelandic Sheepdog and Pyrenean Mastiff.

The 2026 group schedule is:

Thursday 5^th – Working & Pastoral Groups

Friday 6^th – Terrier & Hound Groups
Saturday 7^th – Utility & Toy Groups
Sunday 8^th – Gundog Group and Best in Show Final

The Stand Up to Cancer Crufts Walkies Challenge also returns, encouraging dog owners to walk 60 miles in April 2026, and raise funds for cancer research.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has long had a patron saint of dogs: Saint Roch. He lived in the early 14^th century in France and caught the plague while doing charitable work. He went into the forest to die, but instead he met a hunting dog. The dog licked his sores clean, and brought him food, until he recovered. That dog was obviously a ‘Good Boy!’

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By Tim Lenton

Remembering the Hindenburg

Ninety years ago, on 4^th March 1936, the German airship Hindenburg made its first flight. It was the largest airship ever constructed, and when it was destroyed in a fire in May 1937, it ended the era of airship travel.

Airships had been developed from balloons – the first attempt at lighter-than-air travel pioneered in 1783 by the Montgolfier brothers – because they could be steered using rudders and engines. Representing advances in science, engineering and exploration, they fascinated creative minds.

Foremost among them was Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who founded the Zeppelin Company that designed and built the Hindenburg.

The causes of the crash were primarily the fragile nature of airships, their use of highly flammable hydrogen gas and combustible construction material, and in the case of the Hindenburg, the fact that it was attempting to land during a thunderstorm at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirteen passengers, 22 crew members and one ground worker died. The horrific fire was caught live on camera. Not surprisingly, it heralded the end of the airship era as far as commercial aviation was concerned.

However, that was also hastened by the destruction of the British-made R101 nearly seven years earlier, when it crash-landed safely in France during its maiden flight – again during bad weather – but immediately burst into flames and incinerated 48 of the 54 people on board.

The Church of The Holy Family and St Michael at Kesgrave in Suffolk was constructed in memory of Squadron Leader Michael Rope and those who died with him in the blaze. He was an early and successful designer of airships who worked on the R101 at Cardington in Bedfordshire.

Airships exist today in advanced and safer form. Their ability to land almost anywhere and carry large payloads makes them useful for observation and providing humanitarian aid in disaster-hit areas.

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Granny retired?  You’ve got to be kidding….

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Our love affair with our phones

It was 150 years ago this month, on 10^th March 1876, that the world’s first telephone call was made.  Alexander Graham Bell called his assistant and said: “Mr Watson, come here. I want you.”

That phone call was the beginning of a worldwide addiction to phones. Phones spread quickly, constantly improved, and after more than 100 years of landlines, mobile phones arrived.

The first was introduced by Motorola in 1983 in the USA. The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X weighed nearly two pounds and cost around $3,995.

The first smartphone, the IBM Simon Personal Communicator, was released in 1994, combining phone calls with PDA features like email, fax, and a calendar on a touchscreen. It was so expensive it sold only about 50,000.

But by the late 90s, the BlackBerry had become a top favourite, with its popular email and messaging services beloved by Barak Obama, among many others.

Then in 2007, Apple released the first iphone, informally known as the iPhone 2G, with an advanced multi-touch interface and app ecosystem.

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and there are now about 7.5 billion active smartphones in the world. The total number of all connections (SIMs/devices) now even exceeds the human population of about 8.3 billion.

The Rectory

St James the Least of All

My dear Nephew Darren

Clearly, the sight of your vicar running out of the room halfway through your last church council meeting, saying he should have stayed as a traffic warden, where he was universally liked, has unnerved you. It would have unnerved me too, since a universally popular traffic warden is an exceptional creature.

But perhaps it is necessary to give you some advice for the day when you do have to chair your first church council meeting.

1. Consider every agenda issue carefully beforehand and decide what you would like to do. Then, at the meeting, consult widely, listen to every opinion, weigh all the arguments, and then do precisely what you had decided before the meeting ever took place.
2. Never, ever, let council members discuss hymns, which avoids getting blood on the carpets.
3. Arrange the seating in rows, all facing the front, so that everyone must respond directly to you. The last thing you want is for council members to be able to discuss matters freely with one another.
4. Start smoking a pipe. At those times when you are faced with an issue when you really are unsure of how to respond, taking out your pipe, dismantling it, searching for a pipe cleaner, squinting down the stem to see if it is clean, mopping out the goo in the bowl, searching for your tobacco pouch, filling the pipe, tamping it down, asking if you can borrow matches and attempting to light it several times over, will give you more than sufficient time to formulate a reply. Once you have perfected the routine, the silence will have been so protracted, that most of the committee will have long forgotten what the question was anyway.
5. If someone is talking too long, consult your diary, noisily and obsessively, about next month’s appointments, or write a note to a committee member who is at the back of the room and get it passed to him. The speaker should soon get the message.

These are the simpler techniques of committee management. The advanced procedures must wait until you are strong enough to bear them.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

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BOOK REVIEW

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 All in the month of March.

It was:

300 years ago, on 26^th March 1726 that Sir John Vanbrugh, architect and playwright died. Best known for designing Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.

250 years ago, on 24^th March 1776 that John Harrison, carpenter and clockmaker died. Known for inventing the marine chronometer, which enabled sailors to calculate longitude at sea.

175 years ago, on 11^th March 1851 that the premiere of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto, was held in Venice.

150 years ago, on 10^th March 1876 that the world’s first telephone call was made.  Alexander Grham Bell used his telephone to call his assistant, Thomas Watson, after spilling acid in his laboratory. The first words ever spoken on a telephone were: “Mr Watson, come here. I want you.”

100 years ago, on 30^th March 1926 that Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish businessman, was born. He founded IKEA, the furniture retail company, in 1943, when he was just 17 years old. (Died 2018)

90 years ago, on 4^th March 1936 that the German airship Hindenburg made its first flight. It was the largest airship ever constructed, and was destroyed in a fire in May 1937, ending the era of airship travel.

80 years ago, on 11^th March 1946 that Rudolf Hess, former Commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, was captured by the British forces in Germany. At the Nuremberg tribunals in April, he admitted to being responsible for the deaths of the 2.5 million people who had been killed at Auschwitz. He was executed on 16^th April 1947.

Also 80 years ago, on 25^th March 1946 that London’s Heathrow Airport first opened as London Airport. It was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966.

75 years ago, on 15^th March 1951 that Dennis the Menace first appeared in the British children’s comic, The Beano.

70 years ago, on 23^rd March 1956 that Pakistan became the world’s first Islamic Republic.

65 years ago, on 6^th March 1961 that George Formby, the ‘Ukulele King,’ comedian, singer and actor died. Known for his comic songs.

Also 65 years ago, on 8^th March 1961 that Sir Thomas Beecham, British conductor and impresario, died. He had founded several major orchestras and transformed the operative and orchestral scene in Britain.

50 years ago, on 14^th March 1976 that Busby Berkeley, American film director and choreographer died. Known for his elaborate musical production numbers, which often featured large numbers of dancing girls forming kaleidoscopic patterns.

40 years ago, on 3^rd March 1986 that Queen Elizabeth II signed the Australia Act, severing Australia’s remaining legal ties with Britain and granting it full independence.

Also 40 years ago, on 17^th March 1986 that Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. They married in 1986 and divorced in 1996.

30 years ago, on 13^th March 1996 that the Dunblane Massacre took place in Scotland.  Thomas Hamilton, a former Scout leader, entered Dunblane Primary School, shot dead 16 children and a teacher, wounded 15 more, and then committed suicide.  As a result, the private ownership of handguns was banned in the UK.

25 years ago, on 26^th March 2001 that the UK Post Office was rebranded as Consignia, at a cost of around £2million. The name was so unpopular that the following year it was renamed The Royal Mail Group.

20 years ago, on 1^st March 2006 that the Senedd – the National Assembly for Wales’s debating chamber – was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Cardiff.

Also 20 years ago, on 21^st March 2006 that Twitter, the online social networking/micro-blogging service, was founded. Its website went live on 15^th July that year.

10 years ago, on 31^st March 2016 that Ronnie Corbett, Scottish films and tv comedian, actor, screenwriter and broadcaster (The Two Ronnies) died.**

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Smile Lines