The Vicar's Eastertide Epistle

Dearly Beloved Parishioners, 

This joyful Eastertide we have a litany of Church news and upcoming events for your diaries.

First, at our APCM, Mr Christopher Rees, our Senior Churchwarden, stood down after six years of exemplary service. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Mr Edmund Townend continues on and steps into the Senior Shoes. 

We are delighted to have elected Miss Louise Ireland DL as our second Churchwarden and look forward to benefiting from her wisdom and brilliance in the years to come in her new role. 

We also elected Sarah Duncan and Mercy McBrayer as Deputy Wardens to assist the work of the Wardens. 

This Sunday, the 28th of April at 18:00, in place of our normal Choral Evensong, a liturgical performance of festive Baroque works celebrating the season of Eastertide . Our singers from the professional choir, accompanied by Baroque players, will perform Part III of Handel's 'Messiah' prefaced with J.S. Bach's exuberant cantata for soprano solo and trumpet, 'Jauchzett Gott in allen Landen', with a sermon. There will be a drinks reception afterwards in the Petyt Hall. 

On the 5th of May we have an extravaganza of events. 

Of note, the Pet Service will be taking place at 10:00.  The Deputy Mayor Cllr Dori Schmetterling will be attending the service with his wife Fariba Schmetterling. They will be judging the Pet Prizes; oldest, youngest, most loyal, and most like the Vicar. 

On the same day there will be a Parish Lunch, please email the Office or sign up in the church porch. 

And Penny Pocock’s Plant Sale will also be in bloom, so bring your pocket money to restock your gardens for the summer. All proceeds go to the marvellous church garden which Penny and her team maintain so beautifully. 

Lastly, it is with sorrow that I also write to inform you all of the death of our friend John Griffith-Jones. John died in Hospital in the early hours of the morning 23/04/24. He was a Churchwarden of Chelsea Old Church for over a decade, up until 2009, and was instrumental in the building of the Petyt Hall and the Vicarage. John was greatly loved by all who knew him. He had a sturdy faith and loved this church of ours. We give thanks that even now he rests in the care of God, and we keep Sharon, his partner, and Sarah, his daughter, in our  prayers. Details of the arrangements of his funeral will follow.

As ever,

Max

The Reverend Max Bayliss

Vicar

Chelsea Old Church