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Sandal Magna Parish

3 weeks ago

NEW ALTAR FRONTALS AT ST PAUL'S, WALTON

Now that St Paul’s is open again for worship on Sundays at 11am, you can see and appreciate the beautiful altar frontals which have been created by Amanda Cornish, Teressa’s mum. The four frontals were commissioned from the legacies of Peggy Ritchie and Eileen Calkeld who loved St Paul’s.

The colours represent different seasons in the church calendar:
White/Gold: Christmas, Epiphany & Easter
Purple: Advent and Lent
Red: Palm Sunday & Holy Week, Pentecost, Remembrance Sunday
Green: Ordinary Time, 4 weeks before Lent and the c.25 weeks after Pentecost and before Advent. (The number varies because Easter and Pentecost are movable feasts)

Gold and white symbolise the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. It reminds us of the bright light of the star, and the dazzling radiance of the angels at the empty tomb.

Purple symbolises the seasons of penitence and preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas and his death and resurrection at Easter.

Red symbolises the passion of Christ on Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and coming of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire on the Day of Pentecost.

Green symbolises the growth of the church after Pentecost, and the presence of God's Spirit in everyday life. Ordinary refers to the fact that the Sundays before Lent and after Trinity are numbered. They also remind me of the description in George Herbert's poem, Prayer, "Heaven in ordinarie".

The inspiration for the designs come from Amish quilts which have a pleasing simplicity of pattern. The abstract shapes have been expertly and beautifully quilted by Amanda over many weeks. The most complicated design is the bargello pattern of the green frontal, with its multi-coloured lozenges.

The frontals are laid over a simple backcloth of blue with gold. They provide a focus in the sanctuary and blend well with the banners designed and painted by Rachel Chapman. We are very grateful to Amanda Cornish for her patience and skill in crafting such beautiful works of art to enhance our experience of God in worship.

The frontals were going to be dedicated on 29th of March but this was the Sunday when we had to close our churches. It is good to be able to worship again, and see both our churches in all their beauty. Everyone is welcome to come and experience these holy spaces on Sunday mornings. ... See MoreSee Less

Sandal Magna Parish

4 weeks ago

Having operated now for a couple of weeks we felt it was safe to introduce a small amount of seating in the Cafe as well as the garden, doubling our seating capacity from Tuesday 14th July and giving us the opportunity to serve even more of you lovely folk.
We are still unable to offer our Full Spring Menu, but we can guarantee that our Spring Breakfast & our Fish Finger Sandwiches will definitely be back on the menu, along with a wide range of sandwiches, paninis, bagels, salads etc.
Thank you again to you all for your wonderful support, we will get through this together. 🥰 ... See MoreSee Less

Sandal Magna Parish

4 weeks ago

ALL CHANGE IN THE PARISH OFFICE.
Thank you to Marisa, and welcome to Ruth, Denise and Anne.

Marisa Kapp has stepped down as Parish Administrator after five years in the post. She has been a wonderfully enthusiastic presence at the heart of parish life. Many have appreciated the warmth of her welcome, the depth of her faith, her understanding and sympathy, and the practical help she has given to many who have come to the parish office to arrange baptisms, weddings or funerals. The worship services and outreach ministries of St Helen’s and St Paul’s have benefited greatly from her support.

Marisa is remaining here at St Helen’s, exploring a new calling and carrying on as the leader of the popular Boogie Woogie Toddler group which meets at St Paul’s, Walton, (although we don’t know yet when meetings will be able to resume).

She is succeeded as Parish Administrator by Ruth McCallum who was one of our Christians against Poverty debt coaches working alongside Sarah Cutts. Ruth previously worked as the head of a Charity, and brings a great deal of experience to this post. She will be ably supported by Denise Chivers as Administrative Assistant and Anne Francos as a volunteer Administrative Assistant in the vital and varied work of the Parish Office. Many will know Denise as the leader for the last 27 years of the wonderful Toddlin toddler group at St Helen's.

Although the Parish Office isn’t open to the public, contact can be made on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, by telephone, 01924 259966, or at any time by e-mail, sandalmagna@gmail.com. ... See MoreSee Less

Sandal Magna Parish

4 weeks ago

HISTORIC HATCHMENTS RESTORED AND REHUNG IN ST HELEN'S

Now that St Helen's is open for Worship on Wednesday, 10am-12noon and Sunday morning 9.30am-1pm, you can take the opportunity to see some beautiful restored paintings hung near the entrance.

A Hatchment is an armorial shield painted onto a square or ‘lozenge’-shaped frame. It was usually placed over the entrance door of the deceased's residence at the level of the second floor, and remained there for six to twelve months, after which it was placed in the parish church. The practice developed in the early 17th century from the custom of carrying an heraldic shield before the coffin of the deceased, then leaving it for display in the church.

The Pilkington family Hatchments have hung above the family memorials in the Pilkington Chapel, St Helens’ for 170 years. They were damaged, damp and discoloured.

With the permission and sponsorship of the present Baronet, Sir Thomas Pilkington, the two Hatchments have been expertly restored by Francis Downing, a leading Fine Art Restorer based in Leeds since 1976. He writes about the history of Hatchments: www.buildingconservation.com/articles/hatchments/hatchments.htm

They have been rehung on a dry wall near the entrance to St Helen’s where they can be more easily seen and appreciated.

The Hatchment of Sir William Pilkington marks his death in 1850. It depicts his Crest and the Coat of Arms and bears the legend – ‘Fax Mentis Honestae Glorea’ (Glory is the Torch of an Honourable mind). Only the left hand side of the design was painted against a black background, indicating the death of the male spouse.

The Hatchment of Mary Pilkington marks her death in 1854. The whole design was painted against a black background, indicating the death of both husband and wife.

They were painted by a local artist, Walter Scott of Thornes. Both show the Pilkington crest; a mower with his scythe.

The legend is that an ancestor of the family, escaping at the time of the Norman Conquest, disguised himself as a mower but was discovered because he was holding the scythe in his wrong hand. The ‘mower’ was murmuring ‘Now thus, now thus’ to himself as he wielded the unaccustomed blade implying the rapid change from a man of arms to a man of peace. ‘Now thus, now thus’ was adopted as the family’s motto and the mower with the scythe as the family crest.

Two mowers holding their scythes the wrong way round also stood on the gates leading to the family seat, Chevet Hall, which was demolished in 1955, owing to mining subsidence.

This restoration is part of the ongoing restoration of historic artworks and memorials in the Church and Churchyard. ... See MoreSee Less