St Aidan and St ColumbaHartlepool

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Parish Directory

Priest in Charge: Mother Gemma Sampson revdgemma@gmail.com Mobile 07780675322St Luke’s Vicarage, 5 Tunstall Avenue, Hartlepool, TS26 8NFAssociate Group Minister: Revd Canon Norman Shave

nshave1@btinternet.com Mobile 07985148034

Reader Mrs Linda Dott Mobile 07876406919

Parish office: St Aidan's Church Vestry Presently closed Administrator Mrs Kathrine Batty – telephone 871814

Mobile 07836796374 staidans.hartlepool@btconnect.com

batty.home@ntlworld.comChurchwardens Miss Jane Spears Tel 277773

Mrs Helen Rochester Tel 273727Deputy Wardens Mrs Vera Thompson Tel 278055

Miss Liz Halford Tel 267575P.C.C. Secretary Mrs Kathrine Batty Tel 871814 P.C.C. Treasurer Mr Tony Batty Tel 871814 Gift Aid Secretary Mrs Helen Rochester Tel 293727 Magazine Mrs Kathrine Batty Tel 871814St Aidan's School - Loyalty Road Head teacher Miss L Chambers Tel 273695

St Columba’s - St Columba's Court Due to the current conditions St Columba’s is closed for all bookings.

Mother Gemma writes …………. Brighter times are ahead!

Dear friends,

Spring is definitely on the horizon! The days are getting longer, the sun is beginning to shine again, I actually walked the dog without a hat the other day, and the flowers are all starting to poke through. Isn’t it great? Doesn’t it cheer the heart up a bit? What a long and tough winter we have had, and all so isolated from one another. But brighter times are ahead there too!

The vaccines are rolling out, the infection rates are decreasing, and we have a roadmap to get out of lockdown. Thanks be to God!

I’m writing this at the end of February and conversations are being had about how and when we can get back into church and be together once again, and the time is definitely coming. It really is. We are hoping to find a way back into church in time for our Easter celebrations, and how glorious that will be!

Please be reassured that we will make sure that safety is top of the priority list and that means that things will not immediately be “back to normal” but they will be familiar and recognisably ‘church’. And I know we are still in Lent, but we know how the story goes, don’t we? We are an Easter people, and we know that resurrection is coming. Darkness doesn’t win. Death doesn’t win. Disease and sickness don’t win. Light and life and hope and joy wins out in the end, always.

The dark days of lockdown have been like an extended – very extended – Lent, in so many ways. So much has been taken from us; so much has been given up, and yet we know where this road goes. So, may we take heart from the words that St Paul writes, in his letter to the Philippians (chapter 3: 10f)

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow, I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his

own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

So keep safe friends, and stay well. Keep your eyes fixed on the prize and we will be together again soon. Please God.

See you in church!

With love and blessings,

Mother Gemma x

Online ServicesIf you can, you are welcome to follow Services online LIVE from the homes and churches of the priests in our group. Services are also uploaded for watching later if preferred.

Sunday online services9.15 am St Luke’s – Holy Communion

10.45 am St Aidan’s – Mass

11.00 am Stranton – Morning Worship

Daily online services9.15 am Mass every day except Fridays

3.00 pm Afternoon prayer and reflection Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

8.00 pm Night Prayer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Update on Central Hartlepool Group Ministry

Dear Friends,

You may remember at the end of 2018 when the PCC formally agreed to become part of the Central Hartlepool Group Ministry that this was initially for a three-year period, with interim Priest-in-Charge appointments made to Revd Norman and Mother Gemma at St Luke’s and St Aidan’s respectively. In that agreement a review was to take place at the end of 2020 to discern a more permanent way forward.

Over the past few months, the Group Council and three PCC’s have been having such discussions and all three PCC’s have voted in favour of us continuing as a Group Ministry and asking the Bishop for permission to advertise for two permanent posts of incumbent status. A letter has been being written to the Bishop and will be signed by the Churchwardens of all three churches with this request.

In the short term, not a lot will change, but when Revd Gemma moves to Australia there will be more discussion around advertising and appointing the two permanent posts.

Please continue to pray for all three parishes, our clergy and each other as we continue to seek unity in diversity and to continue to grow God’s Kingdom here in Hartlepool.

Andrew McAlisterSt Luke’s

Communities of Hope

Hello everyone, as I write my update to you, the day looks cold and beautiful and I find myself in an ‘enduring’ frame of mind. The work and Gospel ministry of our Communities of Hope carries on, as we continue to step out in faith, inspired by the words of the prophet Isaiah:““Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58Somehow his words feel particularly relevant as we approach Lent.So, what have been up to since Christmas? The ministry of the team proceeds well and steadily, and God is making his presence felt.

Jess has started a new on-line group centred around tea, toddlers and prayer, called ‘Tea and Hope’. 8 families are engaging regularly and good relationships are forming, as the mums support and encourage one another around arts & craft sessions, relaxed prayer and a cup of tea. We are hoping that this group will start meeting in person once Covid restrictions are sufficiently lifted.

Jess and I are also running an on-line Alpha group, with 9 people exploring faith and 2 volunteers supporting us; we all share the same snack, which Jess circulates beforehand, and talk about God and Jesus over crisps and chocolate.

Jo has continued to establish herself at the Kitchen, along the ladder streets and amongst the homeless; this has enabled her to continue to build relationships with those most marginalised in our town. Relationships have been furthered by her being able to provide some elements of practical support, such as assistance with obtaining white goods, help with benefits and housing, and signposting to other services. Prayer walking, door-step visits, one to one walks, prayer and

even a one to one Bible study group are all contributing to the development of the spiritual lives of the people she is engaging with.

Jo seems really excited by her ministry to the ladder streets, as she anticipates it being a very community-led and inspired part of the project. Her hope is that the community will take shape and play an integral role in the activities and events we will hold in the area; this should, in time, develop to form a very local expression of church. Jo’s relationships with the homeless community have also received a further boost by her attending the Soup Run on a Wednesday night, as well as the recruitment of 4 volunteers to support her with her ministry in pairs. We have identified some good opportunities to develop this ministry inside, once Covid allows it; please continue to pray for us, that this ministry may bear good fruit.

The aftermath of Tea and Hope in Jess’s sitting room

Sensory bottle and ‘Teddy Express’ Car made at Tea and Hope

Emma

We were so grateful here at Communities of Hope to receive such generous donations of food, toys, help and prayer over the Christmas period as we sought to serve some of our town’s most vulnerable families. This Easter we hope reach out once again and bring Easter eggs to those we made contact with over the festive period as well as users of the kitchen at St. Aidan’s. If you think you may be able to support us again in prayer or donations, we would be most grateful. As a note, if you are not able to get to St. Matthew’s on a Friday Strathmore House (Co-op Funeral care) have kindly said they will accept donations of Easter eggs at their offices in Stranton during working hours Mon-FriThanks so much!! Jess

From Bath to Buenos Aires: Virtual Trips!

In the absence of being able to travel for real, readers with an interest - and online access - may enjoy a Virtual Trip. This involves a simple process to log on and create an account, then choosing from a wide range of fascinating tours both in the UK and much further afield and it’s all free.

Tours are on set dates at set times and last for approximately 40 minutes with a knowledgeable tour guide. There are opportunities to ask questions and even to take and send virtual postcards! So far, I've "visited" Venice, Lisbon, Oxford and Moscow.

In times of Coronavirus and/or health, mobility or financial restrictions, this is a brilliant way to explore new places or re-visit old favourites.

I've taken some trips on my own and others with friends, who live in different parts of the UK. You could even enhance a tour experience by having themed food and drinks whilst on route!

For more information, see www.virtualtrips.io

Virtualtrips - Bringing the world closer togetherSee, discover and learn through the eyes of a local. Join a live-streamed tour today.www.virtualtrips.io

Best wishes

Wendy

A church, looking for a Minister is reported to have received the following application…………………

Gentlemen, I understand that your church is looking for a new Minister, and I should like to apply for the post.

I have many qualifications that I think you would appreciate.I have been blessed with the power to preach, and have some success as a writer, some say that I am a good organiser.

I have been a leader in most places to which I have gone. Some men, however, think I am too old – at fifty.I have never preached for more than three years at any one time.In some places, I have known my work to have caused riots and disturbances.I have to admit that I have been in jail three times – or was it four? – but not because of any wrongdoing.

My health is not too good as I suffer from fits; however, I still manage to get a great deal done.The churches in which I have preached have been small though situated in large cities. I have had to work at my trade to pay my way.

I am not on harmonious terms with the religious bodies, who have taken me to court and threatened me. I am not too good at keeping records and have been known to forget whom I have baptised. However, if you want me, I shall do my best for you, even if I have to work to help with my support.

The people who were responsible for the appointment were indignant; they were not interested in an unhealthy, contentious, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird.They thought the application was an insult and demanded to know the applicant’s name.

The applicant was finally identified as - - - - - St. Paul!

From Patricia

Jerusalem a personal experience

It was the eve of the Jewish feast of the Passover, or Unleavened Bread, and Jesus and the disciples retired to an upper room to partake of the traditional Passover celebration. During this meal Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and foretold the coming betrayal. It was to this room that Tony and I started our tour of Jerusalem.The Cenacle as it is called is at the top of a set of steps that lead from a small court yard. The pictures below show what the court yard looked like from the steps and what the room was like. The original room was probably much darker and not painted white but you can just imagine the disciples and Jesus lying on cushions eating their Passover meal between the columns.And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave to them and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, this is my blood of the new testament, at I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mark 14:22-26

We then moved onto the Mount of Olives, which is outside the walls of Jerusalem and across the Kidron Valley. At the foot of the Mount of Olives lies the garden of Gethsamane, after the last supper Jesus walked with his disciples to the garden of Gethsamane. The name Gethsamane means oil press, and its not realy a garden more olive grove. The olive trees are ancient and can live for thousands of years. It was wonderful to think that maybe some are old enough to have heard Jesus’ final prayer, “not my will, but your will be done”. It was also on the Mount of Olives that we entered the Church of All Nations, also known as the church of the Agony. Inside, the light is dim and reflected on roof which was dotted with stars to represent the night sky. The stone, on which

Jesus knelt to pray on that night dominates the floor, while the walls are painted with scenes of that fearful night.It was here I knelt and prayed, touching that stone, which over the years had become smooth, lost in my own thoughts I wondered if I woud have been one of the disciples who fell asleep, or would I have stayed awake and watched not wanting to miss anything.Three times Jesus prayed that “this cup pass from me” but it was not to be and the temple guards, led by Judas, came and the Romans took Jesus away.We cross the Kidron valley again and went to Caiaphas’ house, on Mount Zion, only the garden remains but near to the spot where Caiaphus questioned Jesus is some ancient steps and pavement. These stones can be dated back to the time of Our Lord so that is is likely that Jesus walked them many times on his way to the Kidron valley and Gethsamane and also lastly on his way to Golgotha. Near to Caiaphas’ House is the Church of St Peter in Galliagantu (cock-crow). We know that Jesus was imprisoned overnight and through that night Peter denied him three times. A golden cock sites high on th top the churches dome as you can see in the picture.

The next morning, we went into Jerusalem old town and walked the Via Dolorosa, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. We all know that Jesus carried His cross from the Praetorium (court of law) where he was brought to trial before Pilate to the site on Mount Calvary where he was crucified. As you walk along the Via Dolorosa each station is marked with a small chapel built on the site where something happened to Jesus. Even though you walk the narrow streets of Jerusalem, even though the markets are busy and there are men moving spices and clothes in barrows from one place to another along the narrow streets we were still able to follow the stations read the verses from the bible and follow the Way of Sorrow.

I have just written about the few of the chapels we were able to seeThe first station is the church of the condemnation, it depicts Pilate washing his hands. The four station is said to be on the site where Jesus mother stood as she watched the sufferings of her son.The sixth station has a fragment of an ancient column in the wall marking where Veronica wiped the brow of Jesus leaving an impression of his face on her veil. This veil has been kept in St Peter’s in Rome since 707.A roman column stands where Jesus fell for the second time, the seventh station. It is said that the gate of Judgement stood here, and Jesus passed through on his way out of the city. It was on this gate that the authorities would post notices announcing sentences passed on criminals.

The last five stations are in the church of the Holy sepulchre,

a building sitting at the end of a large court yard. Inside the church is a narrow flight of steps ascending up to what is said to be the final slope to the summit of Calvary. There is a chapel at the top marking where the roman soldiers stripped Jesus and divided his clothing among them. Calvary is made up of two chapels, one is Greek Orthodox and the other is Catholic. The Greek Orthodox chapel’s altar is over the rock of Calvary, also the 12th Station of the Cross. The rock can be touched through a special hole in the floor beneath the altar, we did not stand in the enormous queue, some of you may asked why, we did not want to touch

the rock that had held that cross, that hung Our Lord with nails and so much pain. Remember after Jesus had died on the cross, his close family and disciples still had several hours of agony before they could ask for his body. Hours of watching from that rock.The stone we wanted to touch was the Stone of anointing, believed to be where Jesus’s body was prepared for burial. We came back down the steps passed a modern mosaic along the wall which depicts the anointing of Jesus’s body. Lamps with candles and incense hang over the stone. Mary received the body of her son from the cross helped by Joseph of Arimethaea they took his body down the hill and laid it on a stone to prepare for burial. It was this stone I touched and prayed near, this stone that through all the agony of the hours before was a resting place for a broken body, now asleep and peaceful. You can go into the ornate structure near the anointing stone which is believed to be built over the tomb of Jesus. Which stand beneath a dome, the centre of the world, so some believe. Or follow the crowds to the altar of Mary Magdalene, which is said to mark the garden which surrounded the tomb. Of course, we did all that, but it was to the Garden tomb we went next. This is located just outside the city walls of Jerusalem near to the Damascus Gate and stands in the shadow of Skull Hill. You walk this beautiful garden with its ancient empty tomb, with its sense of peace and beautiful flowers and shrubs a completely different place to the cluttered Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.Despite its lack of authenticity, the Garden Tomb has an aura of calmness. You walk around the gravel paths between the simple flower beds and the shrubs, and under the dark pines into an open space working your way down and towards a first century Jewish tomb. You then go one by one or two by two into the tomb, and pray for what lies nearest to the heart. It is a place in which you should meet with God alone, quietly, without distracting words, in tranquillity.

The writing on the door says He is not Here For He is RisenKathrine Batty

(Pet owners know how close the bond is and how bereaved they feel if anything happens to their pets …this article from The Church Times 22 JANUARY 2021 seems to reflect a lot of owner’s views. Warning: if you are a pet owner you may need a hankie ready as you read this)

Grieving our beloved pets Simon Buckley reflects on the death of Betty, his companion in ministry

I KNEW it was coming. The metaphorical batteries on my Jack Russell, Betty, had been running down for a while.

But, suddenly, her demise accelerated, and one morning her back legs gave way as she walked slowly down the hallway, and it was time. Unable to get up, she looked pleadingly at me with her big brown eyes; so, saying morning prayer went on hold as I scooped her up in my arms and phoned the vet.

I was barely able to speak, but my vet knew what I was asking. And, though it was heart-breaking, I was able to do for Betty what countless humans wish someone could do for them when their health and quality of life fails. The following evening she died peacefully in my arms, wrapped in a blue bone-patterned blanket and covered in kisses.

SHE was a peculiar little thing: the most undemonstrative of dogs, but incredibly pretty. Almost 17, she had been in my life for nine years since I collected her from Battersea Dogs’ Home.

I have lost not just a pet, but a creature who, for those years, played the various parts of partner, child, and pastoral assistant. When I moved to my parish, nearly eight years ago, she was instantly my greatest asset — far more useful in mission and ministry than anything I learned at theological college.

Betty outed me to the parish before I had even been inducted. “Accompanied by a bandy-legged Jack Russell” was the most obvious, give-away feature in the description of me by the Archdeacon. From then on, she ensured that I was visible in the parish every day: wandering the streets at just the right pace for a dog with six-inch legs and for humans who — for a variety of reasons — wanted to catch up with a man in a dog collar.

Thanks to her, even before breakfast I would have spoken to parents and children on their way to the school’s breakfast club; sundry builders; shopkeepers; a postman who subsequently started coming to morning prayer; the NCP attendant who then turned up for the Good Friday liturgy, head to toe in hi-vis; Big Issue sellers; and people camped in theatre doorways — along with traders setting up their market stalls, neighbours, and road sweepers.

Betty was the one who caught their eye. I was merely her domicile, but she repeatedly broke the ice and enabled conversations with random strangers to happen. In a world in which people frequently avoid eye contact with other humans, she grabbed their attention and led people to me — and, sometimes, literally, to church.

Of course, children would come running to pet her; but she exercised a particular pastoral ministry with old ladies. Hearts melted at the sight of her tiny form tottering along the corridor of an old people’s home, where she would rest on laps, in arms, and (don’t tell) on beds, providing physical contact and warmth with no hidden agenda other than, perhaps, the unarticulated hope of a biscuit.

Beside a dying parishioner when an exchange of words had become impossible, the touch of Betty’s velvet ears to 98-year-old Mary’s hand brought the most beautiful smile, though her eyes remained shut. Betty brought comfort and a sense of presence when neither the requested can of Guinness that I had brought, nor the sacrament in my bag, could be received.

I KNEW I would feel bereft without her. Her needs punctuated my day just as the hours for prayer give rhythm to the life of a convent. But I was unprepared for the level of sadness which has been felt by others. People have commented: “I feel like we’ve lost a member of the congregation”; “She was a much-loved member of our church family”; and “She was part of you.”

I don’t know what happens to the pets we have loved (or the chickens we may have eaten, for that matter) after death. The 1989 animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven may have been wishful-thinkingly titled. Aquinas was clear that animals did not go to heaven, not being gifted with an immortal soul, their purpose and destiny being complete on earth; and scripture offers no certainty on the matter.

But I find it a persuasive thought that those creatures that have become part of us leave more than just an imprint on our hearts, and that, as C. S. Lewis mused, they might share in the immortality of their masters who named and loved them. In some way. where we go, there they will also be.

Whatever the future holds in heaven, what I had on earth was certainly not “just a dog”, but truly a blessing.

The Revd Simon Buckley is the Rector of St Anne’s, Soho, in London.

The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) Glasgow on 1 – 12 November 2021.The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UK is committed to working with all countries and joining forces with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change to inspire climate action ahead of COP26.

Prayer for UN Conference of the Parties

Sustaining God in November, at great cost and with great urgencythe leaders of our speciesand those with concern for their common homewill gather in Glasgow,we ask for your welcoming, affirming presencein the many layers of gatheringwhich are part of that event.

Give to those who make decisionsa freedom from the burdens of a pastwhich have pushed us to this cliff-edge.

Give a dawning vision of your offer of healinggreater than the blocked horizon of what it might cost

Argue and wrestle with the powers and principalities of expediency and despair

Open every human ear to the voices of the Earth, and of sisters, brothers, siblingswho already suffer sharply

Save us from the despair of complacencyand the toxic temptationwhen the visitors have departedto embrace ‘business as usual’for that ‘normal’ has gone

And our only futurewill be in wakefulnesstrust,hope,yes, joyas we live out your love for the Earth we are part ofthrough your Word made FleshJesus, our Friend.Amen

Submitted by Andrew Craig

DonationsIf you would like to make a donation to our church which helps towards our mission and our community, you can do any of the following things

1. Send a cheque made payable to St Aidan’s PCC to Mr T Batty

St Aidans and St Columba’s Treasurer C/O 36 Newark Road Hartlepool TS25 2JX

2. Send by BAC to account 15415262 sort code 050974

Please remember to Gift Aid your donation if you canVic Branfoot's Sunday School Memories

Several weeks ago, I had occasion to write an article for the Grange Road Methodist Church Magazine in which I recalled my time as a (rather naughty) pupil at Wesley Sunday School over sixty years ago. It has been suggested that I submit a version of that article to our Magazine.

I am pleased to agree to this although I wonder about the extent to which the folk of St Aidan's and St Columba's would be interested in such a mémoire. One reason why I am happy to go ahead with this is that several folk who saw my Grange Road article have felt moved to share their Sunday School memories with me. Thus, I wonder how many of you will feel moved to share with us their memories of the St Aidan's Sunday School of yesteryear.

With the passage of so many years since I attended Big Wesley, my memories are somewhat sketchy. But here goes … … ...

As I think back, I become aware that my memories, although many of them are clear to this day, are to an extent separate from each other. Thus, I am left with memories which, after all this time, do not gel into a coherent whole. I therefore ask readers to bear with me as I work my way through a miscellaneous collection of reminiscences.

I do not recall how I came to attend Wesley Sunday School. My father's ancestors were leading Primitive Methodists in Sunderland some 200 years ago but my father had no faith and he would not have encouraged me to go to Wesley.

My mother's immediate family – named Crowther – were prominent Methodists on the Central Estate and they emanated from Upper Weardale. Alas, my mother was housebound with arthritis and she could not have taken me to Wesley. Indeed, she was not able to attend any church even though I am sure she retained her Methodist faith.

My mother's parents and other close relatives held senior positions at Central Estate and I have a walking stick bearing a ferrule on which is engraved: Presented to T. Crowther by the Teachers of the Central Estate Methodist Sunday School 1935.

I must have started at Wesley before I graduated in 1958 from Jesmond Road Junior School to the Grammar School. I recall attending Wesley in my smart

new school uniform and I recall those who had just passed the eleven-plus being congratulated from the school room stage. It was observed that the successful pupils had very likely been rewarded by being given new bicycles by their parents.

Sunday School typically met during the afternoon and the image which I have in my mind was that sessions began with everybody being together in the school room with Messrs Lewis, Brunner and Longhorn leading from the stage. Then, we split up into our classes which met around the edge of the room with each group forming a small circle of pupils together with their teacher.

To this day, I can picture Messrs Lewis, Brunner and Longhorn in my mind'seye……….

The Sunday School Superintendent was Mr Harry Lewis. He would be of average height, rather portly and distinguished in bearing. He had a 'presence' whilst at the same time being avuncular rather than intimidating. I don't recall hearing Mr Lewis sing but the image which I have of him is that he may have had quite a powerful baritone or bass voice.

The next member of the leadership team whom I bring to mind is Frank Brunner. If I recall correctly, he was the Weights & Measures Officer for the Council. Small in stature and quietly spoken, he was a real gentleman. Many years later, I got to know Frank quite well when we were fellow members of the Hartlepool Retired Men's Forum.

I recall meeting Frank's wife, Mavis, and their son, Paul, whom I met at a few Grammar School Old Boys' Association reunion dinners. At one such dinner, Frank was a guest speaker and I recall him poking fun at his diminutive stature by announcing that he was about to give a 'short speech'.

Also on stage at the Sunday School was the pianist, Arnold Longhorn, whose wife, Madge, lived such a long life until she passed away late last year. I recall Mrs Longhorn and Mrs Connie Mullen being part of the team of Wesley Sunday School teachers.

From 2002 until 2012 I was Registrar (Membership Secretary) of the North-East Methodist History Society and Mrs Longhorn was one of 'my' members until she resigned her membership during my period in office. More recently, I

encountered Mrs Longhorn when I was the visiting guest speaker at a Grange Road Women's Fellowship meeting.

I have two trivial memories of Mrs Longhorn from my time at Wesley. Occasionally, the Sunday School joined the adults for their service in the church. On one such occasion, I found a shilling in the pew where I was sitting. I made the mistake of telling Mrs Longhorn about what I had found. She said: “Put it in the collection. It belongs to the church.” I obeyed whilst regretting that I hadn't kept my mouth shut. But I didn't emerge from this incident empty handed: having put the shilling in the collection, I kept the tanner which I had been given by my mother to put in the collection.

On another occasion, some of the boys pressed Mrs Longhorn to tell us what our annual outing had in store for us. She said that she would tell us if we correctly guessed where we would be going. For several weeks we failed to guess correctly and we only found out what our treat was going to be when we were on the way there on the bus the Sunday School had hired to take us to … the circus.

Another person whom I recall from these years was Alec Thompson. When we joined with the adults at their services the powerful bass voice of Mr Thompson could hardly be missed. As several readers may recall, Alec founded the Regent Travel Bureau travel agency in the town.

I am not confident as to the number of youngsters who attended Wesley Sunday School. However, there must have been several dozen because there were several teachers in addition to Messrs Lewis, Brunner and Longhorn.

In addition to the above-mentioned Mesdames Longhorn and Mullen, one of our teachers was a young Mr Peter Robinson. I don't recall how often groups changed teachers but I certainly remember being in Mr Robinson's class for a while.

I regret to say that, although I don't think I was a 'nasty' boy, I was sometimes not well behaved at Wesley and my poor behaviour came home to roost many years later whilst I was on the teaching staff at Brierton School.One of the lengthy corridors in the school had lots of offices leading off it as well as a number of classrooms. One such office 'belonged' to one of my colleagues,

Mr Harry Walker. Harry was a pastoral leader and one of his tasks would be to meet with the parents of pupils with problems and with relevant social workers.

One day, I happened to see, from a distance along the corridor, Harry emerging from his room with somebody whom I immediately recognised from my childhood … the above-mentioned Peter Robinson.

I was too far away from Harry and Peter readily to intercept them but I speculated in my own mind that Mr Robinson was a social worker and that he had visited the school in order to discuss one or two pupils with Harry. I was later to learn that Mr Robinson was the Hartlepool Team Leader within the Cleveland Educational Social Work Service.

Later that day, I encountered Harry in the staff room and he told me what had passed between he and Mr Robinson when they had seen me in the corridor.

Even after all the years that had passed, Mr Robinson thought he recognised me. “Is that Victor Branfoot?” he asked. Upon Harry confirming that it was indeed I, Mr Robinson said, “I was his Sunday School teacher. He ran rings round me.” I had obviously made an impression on Mr Robinson for him to remember me for so long.

I estimate that my above 'near miss' with Mr Robinson will have taken place some forty years ago and, since then, I have occasionally seen Mr Robinson out and about or in Grange Road Methodist Church when I have had occasion to attend there. On such occasions I often felt an urge to approach him and apologise for my behaviour all those years earlier. A few years ago I encountered Mr Robinson again in Grange Road Methodist Church. This time, I did approach him. He recognised me and I did apologise.

Another manifestation of my naughtiness at Wesley was that, with a fellow pupil, we sometimes went 'exploring' at the close of Sunday School. We explored the many corridors and twists and turns of the Wesley building and its sizeable annexe and we often found ourselves in rooms of varying shapes and sizes. Sometimes we ended up on the church balcony. I recall being slightly frightened as to what my friend and I would find behind the doors which we opened and in the corridors along which we crept.On one occasion, we opened a particular door to find ourselves confronted by three gentlemen. They were obviously holding a meeting and, curiously, they

were all standing, Privy Council style. I readily recognised one of the gentlemen. It was one of the chemistry teachers from the Grammar School: Allan 'Doc' Greenhow. I wouldn't say that my friend and I ran away but we certainly didn't hang around. I was relieved during the following few days that I was not tracked down at school by 'Doc' Greenhow and asked to explain myself.

One of the pleasures of my adult life has been that, one way or another, I have become friends with several of my former teachers. I am delighted to say that 'Doc' Greenhow was one such friend and it was my privilege to write an obituary in tribute to him for the Annual Journal of the West Hartlepool Grammar School Old Boys' Association. Any reader who knew and remembers Allan and would like to have a copy of what I wrote, please ask.

From time to time the church held some form of quiz afternoon in one of the large lower rooms. My image of this room was of it not being very high and that it had thick circular pillars at various points of the room. I suppose it must have been a basement. I don't know who organised these occasional quiz afternoons on, I think, Saturdays but they were well-attended by adults and children. I seem to recall that the events were known as Beetle Drives. I certainly enjoyed them!

I have only a vague recollection of attending some form of youth club at Wesley during my time as a Sunday School pupil there. In general terms, my image of youth clubs is that they were for teenagers. However, I don't think I was still attending Wesley when I became a teenager. I don't recall there being any structure to the youth club which I attended. Perhaps there wasn't any structure and I don't recall who supervised what I think was the small group of attendees.

I recall the youth club met in the same room as that which accommodated the Sunday School. The room occupied much of the first floor of the block which was attached to the north-west corner of the main church building. The door into this annexe was opposite the Grand Hotel in Swainson Street. The room had windows which looked across the street at the Grand and which looked northwards towards the Town Hall and beyond.

Just about my only distinct memory of these youth club sessions was that, from time to time, we would look out of the north facing windows and see, virtually

opposite the Town Hall, what seemed to me to be a scene which embraced a most remarkable splash of assorted colours.

What comprised this vivid scene? It was an outdoor boxing ring … in the grounds of the Engineers Club. Fight nights occasionally coincided with youth club nights and on sunny summer evenings, the buzz of the crowd and the blaze of colour, highlighted by the floodlights above the ring, made quite an impression on me.

As I now wade my way through my seventies - made all the more trying by the virus and its consequences - I look back and am struck by the number of trivial and unimportant events which made an impression on me over the years. More to the point, I bring to mind people whom I encountered only fleetingly but whom I remember, often with gratitude.

One such person was the Minister at Wesley during my time as a Sunday School pupil there, Rev. Liddle. I don't recall him being involved with the Sunday School and I don't recall how he came to be aware of my interest in car registration plates.

One evening, there was a knock on our door in Wynnstay Gardens. At the door was Rev. Liddle and he had visited in order to give me his recently-expired copy of the AA annual members' handbook. In those days, at the back of the handbook was a list of registration letters, town-by-town and county-by-county. As many folk will recall, the then registration letters for West Hartlepool were EF.

I loved that book and I was very grateful to Rev. Liddle for his kindness, all the more so because it was unexpected and unsolicited. I have never forgotten this act of kindness ... and I have never forgotten Rev. Liddle.

And so, I feel prompted to ask: whom do you recall from your early years at St Aidan's?

Vic Branfoot

Book review …Three Vicars Talking

The three vicars are Richard Coles, Kate Bottley and Giles Fraser and the book recounts some of their discussions from BBC Radio 4 series.They discuss birth, marriage, funerals, Christmas and Easter in a time of coronavirus. Richard Keith Robert Coles FRSA FKC (born 26 March 1962) is an English musician, journalist and Church of England parish priest. Now vicar of Finedon in Northamptonshire, he was formerly the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the CommunardsKate Bottley (née Stevenson; born 19 February 1975) is a Church of England priest in North Nottinghamshire, a role which she combines with the other part-time roles of journalist, media presenter and reality television star. She appears frequently on British radio and television as well as in newspapers. If you watch Gogglebox you may know her from that or the YouTube video where she started a flash dance at a wedding (bride and groom’s idea!) to “Celebration”Giles Anthony Fraser[3] (born 27 November 1964)[4] is an English Anglican priest, journalist and broadcaster. He is currently the priest-in-charge at St Mary's, Newington, near the Elephant and Castle, south London. He was formerly a visiting professor in the anthropology department at the London School of Economics and was previously Canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and director of the St Paul's Institute from 2009 until his resignation in October 2011.(biographies from Wikipedia)

If you have heard any of the vicars talking then, I am guessing, you will hear their voices as you read their anecdotes. It is a mixture of serious and amusing. All three are funny, thoughtful and genuinely interested in the others viewpoint. It’s not a ‘laugh a minute’. They have serious discussions on Death, Marriage, Birth, Christmas and Easter.Some of the anecdotes had me giggling - occasionally with embarrassment at the situation in which the vicars found themselves.The book is not in chapters but in scripts. Scripts from the date mentioned.To give a flavour of the book examples of amusing and serious anecdotes are below:

Death (Broadcast 19th August 2019)Kate arrived to offer last rites for the first time to discover she’d left holy oils in the car and time was limited … she used what she had in her bag and anointed him with Clinique moisturizing cream! (Kate did promise God if chap lived, she’d return and do it properly. The chap lived for another eight weeks!)

Marriage (Broadcast 26th August 2019)Richard gave a military bride and groom instructions at their rehearsal to follow him to the vestry for the signing of the register. On the day, Richard thought something didn’t seem quite right… the bride and groom were following him on their knees! (Being military they follow orders and , you guessed it, he hadn’t explicitly said they stood up and followed him!)

Birth (Broadcast 2nd September 2019)Giles explains his feelings at seeing his two younger boys circumcised in an Anglican vicarage. His wife is Israeli and the boys are Jewish. During the conversation it is revealed Giles has Jewish heritage…his dad is Jewish…and Giles was circumcised on the kitchen table (obviously when a baby!)

Christmas (Broadcast Christmas Day 2019)They recount their usual Christmas routine. Giles describes how one year he asked his daughter to decorate the tree…bad move but you really need to read to find out why.!!Richard admits to how he and a former vicar could not be seen by the congregation so would nip out during Nativity plays and back in time for last carol.Kate loves Christmas but hates the build up …Nativities, Carol services and school dinners (several when more than one parish is involved!).

Easter (Broadcast Easter Day 2020 …in lockdown)All lament the closure of churches. In a serious moment Richard reflects on how priests have their own burdens to carry as well as others. How priests are also wounded and scarred.They talk about how they sit and cry in church,The serious conversation changes to lighthearted when Richard adds about sitting in church crying when the gas bill arrives.I’d recommend this book as it is easy reading. A mix between very serious, lighthearted seriousness and downright funny.If anyone wishes to borrow the book please just contact me.

Patricia 07708131650.

Beloved Is Where We Begin

If you would enter into the wilderness,do not begin without a blessing.

Do not leave without hearing who you are:Beloved,

named by the One who has travelled this path before you.Do not go without letting it echo in your ears,

and if you find it is hard to let it into your heart,do not despair.

That is what this journey is for.I cannot promise this blessing will free you

from danger, from fear, from hunger or thirst,from the scorching of sun,

or the fall of the night.But I can tell you that on this path there will be help.

I can tell you that on this way there will be rest.I can tell you that you will know the strange graces

that come to our aid only on a road such as this,that fly to meet us, bearing comfort, and strength,

that come alongside us, for no other causethan to lean themselves toward our ear

and with their curious insistencewhisper our name:

Beloved. Beloved. Beloved.—Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace

Church Legacy - a Lasting Gift to your Church

At St Aidan’s and St Columba’s we welcome all gifts in wills, however large or small, and we promise to use your gift to make a difference in our parish.

You can be confident that your gift will be used to make a real difference to our future mission and ministry.

Church Legacy - a Lasting Gift to your Church

At St Aidan’s and St Columba’s we welcome all gifts in wills, however large or small, and we promise to use your gift to make a difference in

our parish.

You can be confident that your gift will be used to make a real difference to our future mission and ministry.

St Aidan’s Church

Weddings Funerals £606 £358to include statutory fees, organist, service sheets, light & heating.Also included in wedding fee are flowers.Bells may be rung for an additional charge of £135.

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Alice House, Wells Avenue Hartlepool, TS24 9DATel: 01429 855555www.alicehousehospice.co.uk

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