Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

At the February meeting of the First Wednesday Group we had a very interesting talk on Alpacas by Caroline Trotter from Duncote.  Alpacas originated in Peru and are related to camels and llamas.  They were exported from South America in the mid 1980s and are highly prized for their luxurious coats.  The fleece is lightweight, warm, durable, soft and not itchy.  Caroline brought some of the fleece from the Alpacas that she keeps in addition to some yarn and knitted garments.

Our next meeting on 7^th March at 2 pm will be dedicated to the Women’s World Day of Prayer when we will follow the theme of “Let Justice Prevail” prepared by the Christian Women of Malaysia.  All are welcome to come along and join in this special afternoon and feel the experience of life in this far off land.

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on 22^nd March from 9.30am to 11.30am.  Please feel free to pop in for a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or simply for a chat.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

The First Wednesday Group will meet on 1^st February at 2 pm when the speaker will be Caroline Trotter telling us about the World of Alpacas.  Everyone is welcome to join us for what promises to be a fascinating afternoon.  Refreshments will be served and there will be a sales table for group funds.

The next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on 23^rd February from 9.30am to 11.30am.  Please pop in and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or just a chat.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

First Wednesday Group.  Unfortunately the speaker for our last meeting in November was unable to come.  Our thanks go to Lotte Wallace for standing in, literally, AT THE LAST MINUTE.  She told us about her love of lace making and how the craft has changed over the years.  She brought samples of her work which was so intricate and must be very time consuming.

If anyone is interested in lace making Lotte is running a ten week course starting on Monday, 9^th January 2012 from 10.00 am to 12 noon in the Baptist Schoolroom.  You can get in touch with her either on 01327 340126 or at

3A, Watery Lane.

Our next meeting is on 7^th December at 2 pm when all are invited to share with each other readings, verses and songs around the seasonal topic that  It’s Christmas Again!  Light refreshments will be served.  We each bring a wrapped gift, costing no more than £2 and receive a gift in return.  There is no meeting in January but on 1^st February we will hear about the world of Alpacas from Caroline Trotter at the usual time and place.

There will be OPEN DOOR Coffee Mornings with a difference on Thursday, 22^nd December and 26^th January from 9.30am to 11.30am.  The refreshments are free and you are welcome to drop in for a friendly chat.

Finally, thanks to all who supported our Coffee Morning on 12^th November in aid of the Gangama Orphanage in Uganda.  We raised a total of £274.

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

First Wednesday Group.  I’m sure we all have collections of photographs, newspaper cuttings, school reports, certificates, the list is endless.  Where are they?  Are they in cupboards, in drawers, in the loft, anywhere where you have space?  At our last meeting Val Knowles showed us what she had done and is doing to display all her paraphernalia in scrap-books.  But scrap-booking is not just cutting out pictures and articles and sticking them in a book.  It’s an art.  Val brought us some albums she had put together which showed how the use of a focal point and varying shapes of articles or photographs affected the display and how added information, with relevant notes, could make a display self explanatory.  Her first scrap-book was for her parents’ 60^th wedding anniversary and she is now working on books for the rest of her family.  A very interesting afternoon.

Our next meeting on 2^nd November will be a talk by Bill Rose on the work of the Royal British Legion.  Everyone is welcome.  Light refreshments will be served and there will be a sales table for funds.

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on Thursday, 24^th November from 9.30am to 11.30am.  The drinks and biscuits are free and you are welcome to drop in for a friendly chat.

On Saturday, 12^th November, from 10 am to 12 noon we will be holding a Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Gangama Babies Home in Uganda, a hospital for orphan babies founded by the family of Chris Scanlan, the Head Teacher at Bliss Charity School.  To support the event the School Choir will be singing during the morning.  Please come along to hear the choir and to lend your support for this worthy cause.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

The next First Wednesday Group meeting will be on the October 5^th at 2.00pm when Val Knowles will be telling us about her scrapbook collection. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a sales table for funds.

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on Thursday October 27^th from 9.30am to 11.30am. (Please note the new times.) The drinks and biscuits are free and we hope you can find time to join us.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

Unfortunately the speaker for the June meeting of the First Wednesday Group did not turn up but we had a “do-it-yourself” meeting reminiscing about life in the village and school during the early 1940s.

The next meeting will be on 6^th July at 2.00 pm in the Chapel Rooms when Jackie Watson will be telling us about the ongoing work in Sri Lanka following the 2005 tsunami.

There will be no meeting in August but on 7^th September the Revd Sarah Brown will be talking about the Farm Crisis Network.  All are most welcome to both meetings and light refreshments will be served.

Our OPEN DOOR coffee morning will be on 28^th July and 25^th August when we invite anyone to pop in to the Chapel Rooms for a relaxing chat and free coffee or tea.  Please note that we have changed the times to 9.30 am – 11.30 am.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

At the May meeting of the First Wednesday Group Mr Clive Leakey gave us an interesting talk about his holiday in the Caribbean and showed us some of his splendid photographs.  At our next meeting on 1^st June Chris Mounteney will be talking on the subject of “Soldiers off the Streets”.  Everyone is welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Thanks to everyone who supported our Plant Sale on 14^th May and to our own ladies for the floral displays in the Church which were admired by a number of our visitors. 

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on 23^rd June from 9 am to 11 am.  The Coffee is free and we are not seeking to raise money, merely to provide an opportunity for you to pop in for a chat over a relaxing cup of tea or coffee.  Why not come and join us?

P Thackray

 Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

At the beginning of April the First Wednesday Group heard a very interesting account of the visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play last year by Marjorie Jenkinson and Vivienne Brown.  This play is performed every ten years, but this was not always the case.  It was first performed in 1634 in thanks for having been spared from the effects of the Black Death and subsequently annually until 1680 when music was added, and every ten years since then.  All the villagers in Oberammergau, from the age of four take part except for the ladies over 40 whose task it is to look after thousands of visitors.  The play is performed every day from mid May to mid September and visitors can only be accommodated for one night.  One has to be born in the village to take part, except the donkey!  Characters are chosen three years before the performance to allow the men to grow their beards and if a person has acted in a particular part they have first refusal for that part the following year.  The organisation must be chaotic but everything turns out fine in the end.

Our next meeting will be on 4^th May at 2 pm when we are invited to go on another journey with Clive Leakey, this time to the Caribbean.  Everyone is welcome and light refreshments will be served.

On 14^th May we will be holding our Plant Sale, Flower Festival and Gift Day from 9 am to 2 pm.  The Church will be open to welcome friends, old and new, to look at the floral displays or for a relatively quiet period of meditation.  Refreshments will be available in the Hall.

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on 26^th May from 9 am to 11 am.  The Coffee is free and we are not seeking to raise money, merely to provide an opportunity for you to pop in for a chat over a relaxing cup of tea or coffee.  Why not come and join us?

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

The First Wednesday Group will be meeting on 6^th April at 2 pm when Marjorie Jenkinson and Vivienne Brown will be talking about their visit to Oberammergau last year.  This promises to be an interesting afternoon to which everyone is welcome.  There will be a sales table for group funds and light refreshments.

Thanks to all who supported our Coffee Morning on 12^th March when we raised £288 towards the upkeep and maintenance of our premises.

Our next OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference will be on 28^th April from 9 am to 11 am.  We were pleased to see a couple of new faces last month but there is still room for more.  The Coffee is free and we are not seeking to raise money, merely to provide an opportunity for you to pop in for a chat over a relaxing cup of tea or coffee.  Why not come and join us?

On 14^th May we will be holding our Plant Sale, Flower Festival and Gift Day from 9 am to 2 pm.  The Church will be open to welcome friends, old and new, to look at the floral displays or for a relatively quiet period of meditation.  Refreshments will be available in the Hall.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

First Wednesday Group. Last month, Wendy Lovell gave us a very interesting talk on her “Day in London”.  Someone suggested it might have been a shopping trip!  She started by asking if we could remember where we were or what we were doing on 31^st August 1997.  We all racked our brains until at last someone remembered that it was the day on which Princess Diana died. Wendy then told us of her invitation to the funeral in Westminster Abbey as a representative of Relate, a charity of which Princess Diana was a patron.  She took us through her first thoughts in the build up to the funeral which was only a few days away.  “Whatever shall I wear?”  she thought.  It had been stipulated that black was not to be worn.  She told us of the people she saw and how, in the Abbey, they were sat just behind the Royal Family.  Afterwards, she walked through the crowds to Buckingham Palace.  It was a very sad but uplifting time.

Our next meeting on 2^nd March will be dedicated to the Women’s World Day of Prayer when we will follow a theme of “How Many Loaves Have You” prepared by the Christian Women of Chile.   All are welcome to come along and join in this special afternoon and feel the experience of life in this far off land.

On Saturday 12^th March we will be holding a conventional Coffee Morning from 10 am to 12 noon with the usual stalls for cakes, cards and books etc.  Proceeds will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of our premises.  Please come along and share this morning with us.

Then, on Thursday 24^th March from 9 am to 11 am we have our next OPEN DOOR Coffee morning with a difference, when the coffee is free. We are not seeking to raise money, merely to provide an opportunity for you to pop in for a chat over a relaxing cup of tea or coffee.  We are grateful for the support we have received from a number of people since the launch of the event last September but there is room for more.  Why not come and join us?

P Thackray

Sunday Services: 10.30 am and 6.00 pm

The First Wednesday Group will meet on 2^nd February at 2 pm when the speaker will be Mrs Wendy Lovell talking about a “Day in London”. There will be a warm welcome to everyone with light refreshments and a Sales Table for Fellowship funds.

Advance Notice. On Saturday 12^th March we will be holding a Coffee Morning from 10 am to 12 noon with the usual stalls for cakes, cards and books etc. Proceeds will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of our premises.

But before then, on Thursday 24^th February from 9 am to 11 am we have our OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference, when the coffee is free and we are not seeking to raise money, merely to provide an opportunity for you to pop in for a chat over a relaxing cup of tea or coffee. Come and join us.

P Thackray

The Benefice churches’ talent evening will take place on Saturday 5^th March 2011 in the Village Hall, starting at 7pm. Entrance is free and light refreshments will be provided. There are still performers’ slots available, all ages and talents welcome, individuals or groups. We are anticipating an interesting and varied programme, and would love to include you!

If you would like to take part please contact Shirley (342459) or Karen (342515) as soon as possible, but at the latest by February 26^th.

At the November meeting of the First Wednesday Group David Walsh gave a very interesting talk, with pictures, about his involvement with Daventry’s Friends of Iganga, a town in Uganda, Africa with a population of approximately 29,000. The Friends have visited Iganga many times and helped the inhabitants by extending an orphanage, renovating a hospital and helping “Water for Kids” supply clean water to the district. This work is ongoing and money is raised by local activities.

At the next meeting on 1st December we will be having a collection of verses, readings, poems and carols as we look forward to Christmas. You are welcome to join us. We each bring a wrapped gift, costing no more than £2, and receive a gift in return. There will be no meeting in January and on 2nd February Wendy Lovell will tell us about “A Day in London”.

Many thanks to all who helped and supported our Coffee Morning on 13th November to raise money for another Ugandan orphanage, this one at Gangama, about 75 miles from Iganga and one that we have been supporting for the last few years. Particularly we thank the children of Bliss School for their excellent singing during the morning and for the advertising posters they drew in October. A total of £286 was raised for the care of the children and babies and we know that it will be very much appreciated by the orphanage. Thanks again.

If you have half an hour to spare on 23rd December please join us for our OPEN DOOR Coffee Morning with a difference between 9 am and 11 am. Enjoy a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or just pop in for a chat. The tea or coffee will be free and there is a possibility of something more substantial. Come and see. In January we will be open on Thursday 27th between the same hours.

Finally, the members and friends of the Baptist Church cordially welcome everyone to our Special Christmas Services and send you Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for 2011.
P Thackray

Baptist Church Sunday Services: 10.30 am and 6.00 pm

Dec	Morning	Evening
5	Mr R Darby	Mr C Leakey (Communion)
12	CHRISTMAS GIFT SERVICE Mr L Britten	CANDLELIT SERVICE Mr T Boys
19	Mr M Buckby	LESSONS AND CAROLS
25	CHRISTMAS MORNING FAMILY SERVICE Mr L Britten
26	No Service	No Service
Jan
2	Mr C Leakey and Mr L Britten	Mr R Chapman (Communion) United Service with Parish Church
9	Revd S Litchfield	No Service
16	Mr T Boys	No Service
23	Mr L Britten & Mr C Leakey	No Service
30	Mr L M Buckby (Communion)	No Service

At the First Wednesday Group meeting in October we had a visit from Val Knowles who is a member of the Northants Miniatures Association which meets every week in Northampton. She brought many samples of work she had done, mainly scenes in unusual containers. The first thing she ever made was a garden in a miniature terrarium. She had a lovely garden in a boxfile; a model of herself making a model in a frying pan, two lanterns decorated for Christmas and a picture of bowls being played in Abington Park. Every so often the Association puts on exhibitions. There will be one in 2012 to celebrate the Associationís birthday but Val made it clear that it wouldnít be anything to do with the Olympics.

Our next meeting will be on 3rd November at 2.00 pm when David Walsh will be talking about “Friends of Iganga”. There will be a warm welcome to everyone with light refreshments and a sales table for the Group funds.

On Saturday 13th November from 10 am to 12 noon we will be holding a Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Gangama Babies Home in Mbale, Uganda, a hospital for orphan babies founded by the family of Chris Scanlan, the Head Teacher at Bliss Charity School.

Finally a reminder of our OPEN DOOR venture, a Coffee Morning with a difference on Thursday 25th November from 9 am to 11 am when we invite you to pop in for a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or just to talk with friends and neighbours. The tea or coffee will be free regardless of the number of cups you consume. Just come along and relax.
P Thackray

At the First Wednesday Group meeting in September, Dorothy Tyler gave us an interesting insight into the life and works of Joyce Grenfell who is best remembered for her monologues, songs and comic writings and interspersed her talk with some of Joyce’s works, particularly her monologues and songs. Joyce Phipps was born in 1910, the niece of Nancy Astor and spent a lot of her early years at the Astor family home. She married in 1929 and first performed her work in public some ten years later. Like many entertainers of her time she worked for ENSA during the war, performing in military hospitals and in 1942 toured the UK followed by tours of India and the Middle East. She died in 1979 but her monologues and comic writings live on through the reading of these works by Maureen Lipman on Radio 3.

Our next meeting will be on 6th October at 2.00 pm when Val Knowles will be speaking to us with a subject title “In Miniature”. We look forward to seeing how this talk develops. Why not come and join us? There will be a warm welcome to everyone with light refreshments and a sales table for the Group funds.

P Thackray

At the June First Wednesday Group meeting in July Mrs Eleanor McMahon told us about her love for animals, particularly collie dogs.  As far back as she could remember there were always animals or birds in their house or garden.  She looked after injured birds and would adopt any pets that her school friends weren’t able to look after.

When not working at the Hospital she works part time at the Border collie and Sheepdog Rescue Centre in Wellingborough and finds it so rewarding when the dogs are able to be fostered: she has to interview and check the premises of anyone wishing to adopt a collie.  At the moment she is kept busy looking after six collie puppies so we were grateful that she was able to spare the time to come and talk to us.

Our next meeting will be on 1^st September at 2.00 pm when Dorothy Tyler will be talking about the life and poems of Joyce Grenfell.  This promises to be an interesting afternoon so please come along.  Light refreshments will be served and there will be a warm welcome to everyone.

“Open Door”. Thursday 23^rd September from 9.00 am to 11.00 am will see our first get-together for you to pop in to the Baptist Chapel Rooms either before or after shopping or dropping off children, or merely for a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or just to talk to your friends and neighbours.  There will be no charge regardless of the number of cups you can consume.  Just come along and relax.

On Sunday 26^th September churches throughout the country will be celebrating ‘Back to Church Sunday’ with The Big Welcome and we invite all who have worshipped with us at any time in the past, or even never felt the urge to attend a service, to come along for a service of thanksgiving with hymns you will be bound to know.  Why not come and join us?  Come and sing.  Come and see.

P Thackray

Sunday Services:  10.30 am and 6.00 pm

July 4
10.30 Mr C Leakey
18.00 Revd Sue Litchfield (Communion) – United Service with Parish Church

July 11
10.30 Mr J Perkins

July 18
10.30 Mr J Brenner

July 25
10.30 Mrs J Wainwright (Communion)

August 1
10.30 Mr C Leakey
18.00 Mr J Levell (Communion)

August 8
10.30 Miss M Smith

August15
10.30 Mr R Chapman

August22
10.30 The Gospel Messengers
18.00 United Service at Parish Church

August 29
10.30 Mr M Buckby (Communion)

At the June First Wednesday Group meeting, we had a very interesting insight into
Revd Sue Litchfield’s “Seven Magnificent Men”. They were not what we expected.
She had first met seven lads when they were in the local Cub Scout Group and she was asked to help with the cooking at their yearly camp. She followed them into the Scout Group where she became a leader and some years later was with them at Towcester Race Course when they each collected their Chief Scout Award. She told us that she was privileged to know these chaps and hoped that over the years her guidance and influence would help them throughout their adult lives.

The next meeting will be on 7th July at 2.00 pm in the Chapel Rooms, when Mrs
Eleanor McMahon will be telling us about “Collie Rescue”. There will be a sales table for Group funds and a warm welcome to everyone.

There will be no meeting in August but on 1st September Dorothy Tyler will be
speaking about the life and poems of Joyce Grenfell. All are welcome to come along and enjoy an interesting afternoon.

“Open Door” will be a new concept for us as we invite anyone, young or old, to pop into the Chapel Rooms for an opportunity to relax before or after shopping, after dropping off children, or merely just to talk with friends and neighbours. Tea or coffee will be provided free of charge. This will start on Thursday 23rd September from 9.00 am to 11.00 am and will continue on the fourth Thursday of each month.

P Thackray

At the First Wednesday Group meeting in May Clive Leakey took us on a very interesting cruise to Norway, the Faroe Islands and Nova Scotia by way of a selection of beautiful photographs taken during his holiday. One of the most interesting times was when the ship crossed the Arctic Circle and he was able to take photographs of the spectacular Northern Lights.

The next meeting will be on June 2^nd at 2.00 pm when Reverend Sue Litchfield the United Reform Minister at Paulerspury will be describing her “Seven Magnificent Men”. All this sounds very fascinating, so please do come along. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a warm welcome to everyone.

Thanks to all who helped contribute to the success of our Plant Sale, Flower Festival and Gift Day on May 8^th when, despite the cold weather, we raised just over £1500 which will help to replace some of the funds used last year on the alterations to our premises.

Clive Leakey

At the First Wednesday Group meeting in April, Annie Boys gave us a very interesting account of her “Walk with God”.  She told us about her Christian life and recounted the outcome of numerous significant and difficult situations throughout her life which convinced her that God really does answer our prayers.

The next meeting will be on 5^th May when Mr Clive Leakey will be talking about his visits to Iceland, Greenland and Canada Continue reading →