Eastry Benefice News
Eastry Flower Festival 2008
We are pleased to announce the 46th annual Eastry Flower Festival is nearly here! One of the original founders of flower festivals in 1962, the event makes a welcome return.
The festival is to be held over the three days of 17th, 18th and 19th of July, 2008 in St. Mary's church. Eastry.
In addition to the magnificent festival itself we are delighted that The Aumbry, Church Street, Eastry will also be hosting the traditional Garden Fete in its grounds; offering morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. You will also be able to listen to the peal of the recently refurbished bells, now increased to eight in number.
For further details call 01304 611400 or 01304 611518.
St Mary's Bells Return!
We were delighted to see the return on Thursday and Friday, 20th and 21st December 2007, of the bells ready to be re-hung in the tower in the New Year.
It is hoped that the new peal consisting of eight, rather than the previous 5, bells will be rung for the first time during mid-January.
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Eastry's Christmas Star 2007
Here we see Bob Barwick and Jeremy Kemp assembling the Christmas Star at Eastry.
I'm sure few of us would be valiant enough to attempt this! Well done both...
Eastry Bell-Ringers: a message from the new Tower Captain
"My
name is Mick Johnson and I have taken on the task of Tower
Captain at Eastry. Jenny Merrington, the previous Captain has
moved to Carslisle in Cumbria. The previous peal of bells at
Eastry was a ring of 5, which weighed a total of 3.5 tons and
was one of the heaviest in the UK — The Tenor alone weighed 20
cwt. The 5 bells have been recast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry
and will be supplemented by 3 new bells, to provide a ring of 8.
The Local pub at the Cross in Eastry will therefore have its
name changed from “The (5) Bells” to “The 8 Bells”!
I have been ringing on and off for about 40 years. The present band of bell ringers, mostly learners, consists of: Jinny, Jacqui, Margaret, Pat, Angela Sharon, Joyce, Barbara, Carey and the newest is John—I felt a bit alone being the only male ringer ! As our bells are still not hung at Eastry we are currently practising at St Leonards Church, Deal."
Victorian Christmas Market Success!
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The Victorian Christmas Market, held in the Village Hall, was a great success with a number of stalls selling gifts, crafts, books, plants and Christmas decorations. Mr Douglas Welby sold several copies of his book "The Kentish Village of Eastry 1800-2000" and Dr Charles Coulson's new Eastry Church Guide.
Mr Aldred Wright brought some of his wooden ornaments and Rani Baine her jewellery. Mulled wine and mince pies were served as refreshments. The produce stall did a good trade in various pickles, vegetables and freshly-made bacon and cheese baguettes from France.
The steam engine outside had a steady stream of visitors and hot chestnuts were available to warm onlookers.
Almost £900 was raised, which was a wonderful result, and many thanks must go to all those who helped and came to support us.
£200 will go to "Action Kenya" for children with disabilities; the charity through which Angie Lawton sponsors a child.
Eastry Benefice Rector Resigns
It is with great regret that our webmaster has learned of the resignation of Revd Frank Kent, Rector of the Eastry Benefice. In his Statement of Resignation, dated 24th June 2007, Revd Kent says:
"It is with regret that I have to tell you that I am struggling with my treatment (..for cancer - Ed.) and it is with great sadness that I have tendered my notice of retirement to the Bishop from this benefice and he has accepted this.
I will be on holiday for the next three weeks and then during and after my treatment I will be on sick leave. My final service will be on the 7th October (2007) at Eastry.
It is of great sadness to me that I cannot complete the final 18 months with you and I am sorry for this. However, for both medical and personal reasons this will not be possible. Anne and I have enjoyed the great fellowship of this Eastry Benefice and will miss the positive attitude that you the parishioners have to the church and to the special place that the church holds in each community.
With our love and best wishes
Frank and Anne Kent"
"The Universe: What's it All About?"
Have you ever wondered how we all got here? Indeed, why are we here? How long ago was it all created? How do we know that? Although these questions may seem rather "deep" they are the sort of questions that Dr Ken Smith hopes to shed some light upon in his course at Dover Adult Education Centre, starting on 25th September at 7:00pm.
The course itself is 20 weeks long and can earn participants up to 30 academic points towards a degree from the University of Kent on submission of an essay. The course has proved very successful at Faversham, Thanet and Canterbury and now looks to prove equally as popular in Dover.
Dr Smith is a popular local speaker and educator and lives locally. His other interests include Amateur Radio and Electronics and he is President of the Hilderstone Radio and Electronics Club.
For more information on this exciting and thought provoking course, please telephone: 01304 813175.
Women's World Day of Prayer
Friday 2nd March was Women's World Day of Prayer. To mark this world event the Revd Jennifer Pilcher led a Service prepared by the Christian Women of Paraguay entitled "United Under God's Tent". The service started at 2pm in Eastry church hall and the congregation consisted of men, women and young people.
Art & Craft Exhibition
The Art and Craft Exhibition was a great success with several
artists
selling both pictures and craft work. The children's art
in the Church Hall
was much admired and encouraging comments were noted in the
Great Oaks School comments book. Six residents from Eastry House
exhibited work they had done at the Day Centre. All the children
and Eastry House Residents will be given a Certificate for their
work. Thank you to Douglas and Doreen Welby without whom the
Exhibition would not take place and to all those who gave their
time stewarding in the Church and Hall. Also to those who helped
on the Thursday evening to stage the exhibition and on the
Saturday to take it all down again!
We are grateful to all those who visited the Exhibition and
bought or gave
donations. We raised £301 - 40 towards the bell fund. Thank you
all.
Contact from Australia...
The Benefice has had an email from an "old boy" of Eastry, circa 1930 - 1942, by the name of Reg Newham. Currently living in northern New South Wales, Reg would like to get in touch with anyone who remembers him or his family from the 1930s and 40s. Naturally we would love to know if anyone does remember Reg, but in the first instance please email him directly at chopin3@bigpond.com
Our Website
Welcome to the "revised" Eastry Benefice Website!
Our website was launched on 21 July 2006. We have experienced a huge number of visitors to the 'site from all over the globe since its "revamp" and have been fortunate enough to have several contributors to help make it both interesting and, we hope, informative.
There are further developments we hope to make as time goes on with the assistance of contributors from within the Parish and elsewhere, and look forward to your continued support.
All those who wish to contribute photos or general information should, in the first instance, contact: webmaster@eastrybenefice.co.uk .
Our webmaster, and Ex-Chairman of Eastry Parish Council, David Carr, continues to work hard on the new website to ensure it remains as up-to-date as possible with information received, that is more easily navigable, quick to load and looks "easy on the eye". It has been designed specifically to give Eastry Benefice, and its companion site Eastry Parish Council, a common theme. We hope you enjoy the improvements, find it easy to use and will return again soon for the latest news and information from the Benefice.
Flower Festival & Church Fete
The Flower Festival and Church Fete was held from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th July 2006. It was a huge success with many beautiful arrangements on display within the church. Our thanks go to Carole Finch, and all our flower arrangers, for all their hard work and for making it the best Festival yet!
Coffee Break
Every Friday from 9:30am in the Village Hall. All are most welcome. For more details see the Eastry Parish Council website here.