St Peter and St Paul’s Church News
A very special few days for your Parish Church!
It began on Thursday 7th September with an uplifting service of welcome and commitment to shared Ministry in the parishes of Syston and East Goscote for Reverend Rosalind (Ros) Harper. The service, held at St. Hilda’s Church, East Goscote, was conducted by Bishop Saju Muthalaly. Despite the intense heat the church was packed and a truly joyful service was enjoyed.
Ros was presented with signs of Christian ministry, and during one of the hymns she was personally welcomed by representatives of the church and community. A convivial time followed as refreshments were enjoyed.
Heritage Open Day
The days continued with our very first Heritage open day on Saturday 9th September. The event was a great success coordinated by a great group of volunteers led by Wendy Hardy, Theresa Morgan and Sue Essex.
The spectacular 100 years of Weddings exhibition was expertly put together by our own Felicity Austin, tirelessly labouring over details. Many generous people had loaned their beautiful wedding dresses, bridesmaid’s dresses and other pieces of memorabilia.
Wonderful people popped up with items to include, a generous offer of the loan of amazing memorabilia from the Dambusters era to view in our World War 2 area under the tower.
Each window was decorated with a fascinating display of extraordinary wedding hats and memorabilia created over quite some time by Janet Burgin.
Sue and John had installed part of their history exhibition on mobile boards and these had a lot of interest across the weekend, as did the albums of weddings and scrap books carefully curated by Felicity.
In the afternoon we set up our tables with bone china and, with the urn bubbling and team in place, we took on the might of our last summer cream tea. Lashings of cream and jam scones washed down with copious cups of tea. Fewer pew picnics were taken and the trail outside was sadly lacking in visitors due to the blistering heat. This was not a problem in the cool of the church!
We had a very special guest during the afternoon, Rev. Ros Harper, our very new Priest, only two days into her new job joined in with the cream teas.
On Sunday 10th the congregations of St Hilda’s Church, East Goscote, and the people of Syston in St Peter and St Paul’s Church Syston joined together as Reverend Ros was to celebrate the Communion Service for the first time in Syston. A full church worshipped together with great joy, singing enthusiastically some lively hymns.
After the service the refreshments were in church and Ros was able to meet members of both congregations.
In the afternoon Matthew, our organist, played some wonderful wedding related music, and more tea and scones were happily consumed!
We are hoping to have raised close to £300, pushing us ever closer to our goal of a toilet and servery in the church. Thank you to everyone who supported the event
Ride and Stride
Meanwhile in amongst all this excitement the annual Ride and Stride event took place on Saturday! The partakers were able to enjoy the church exhibition when they came to sign in and enjoy a moment of coolness, and have some refreshment if they wished. Our own cyclists Dave and Theresa Morgan rode round many of the local, but more remote, churches despite the great heat! Young Christian Adair and Ben Morgan rode round later in the afternoon. It is hoped a that we will have raised just over £200.
The money raised will go the Historic Churches Trust.
