Parishes by the Wall - Living Faith on the Frontier
What a splendid feast we enjoyed at the General Havelock in Haydon Bridge for our joint parishes Harvest Supper. Jo and her team produced an outstanding collection of dishes for our delectation – including crayfish, ribeye steaks, duck, fish, sticky toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding, ice creams and a lovely selection of cheeses.
There was a brain aching quiz, where the table with John Harrison, ace quiz master in Haydon Bridge, emerged as the winners but they were closely challenged by others. The raffle prizes included a dinner for four at the General Havelock, a gift voucher for Michael’s shop in Bardon Mill, and biscuits, chocolates, toiletries and wine.
Many thanks to Jo and her team for a really great evening.
On Friday 27 October at 7pm there a Food and Film night at Haydon Old Church.
In the atmospheric setting of Haydon Old Church we will be showing the 1929 silent-classic "The Phantom of the Opera"
Tickets are £10 and are available by calling 01434 684376.
Parking will be available and please remember to wrap up warm and bring a torch to find your way in the dark!
On the exact anniversary of Benjamin’s first service in our parishes, we held a celebration Evening Prayer at St Cuthbert’s Beltingham, with top secret plans to surprise him when he arrived for his usual 5.15 pm service. More than 30 parishioners got themselves into the church in excellent time, with cars all cunningly hidden, so that when Benjamin arrived, he was greeted by the Very Rev’d Michael Sadgrove who led the service, and took the opportunity to give thanks for all that Benjamin has done since he arrived. After a rousing final hymn, Autumn Days when the grass is jewelled, the event took on a changed direction, as it was a splendid opportunity to celebrate Benjamin’s 40th birthday, complete with cake and candles, and the unexpected appearance of Steph and the children. With tea and scones, and birthday cake and prosecco, Benjamin must have wondered when the surprises would end!
We are delighted that one of our young parishioners, Victoria Furlong, has recently become Countryfile Young Farmer of the Year. Vicky, from Shaftoe Young Farmers Club, was nominated by her employer, Mary Dickinson, where she is the very young manager of the Crowhall Estate, with 120 cattle and 700 sheep. She was one of three young farmers to make it to the final, where she beat off competition from men from Gwent and Newport Pagnell. While studying, Vicky had worked as a part time gamekeeper at Crowhall, and had been steeped in farming all her life, growing up on the family farm at Ridley. Her parents, Stuart and Dorothy Furlong, are rightly proud of their award winning daughter, and accompanied her to the awards ceremony in September. We send our warmest congratulations to Vicky.
