As good as it gets
A shipwrecked man spent five years on a deserted island. One day he was overjoyed to see a ship drop anchor in the bay. A dinghy approached, and a ship’s officer handed the sailor The Times, The Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph. “The captain suggests,” said the officer, “that you read what’s going on in the world before you decide if you wish to be rescued.
HOLY GROUND – LASTINGHAM
In the small village of Lastingham, a monastery was founded in 654 by St Cedd, who chose the site amid some steep and remote hills which seemed better fitted for the haunts of robbers and the dens of wild beasts than for human habitation; so that, as Isaiah says, ‘In the habitations where once dragons lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes’, that is, the fruit of good works spring up where once beasts dwelt or where men lived after the manner of beasts. The man of God was anxious first of all to cleanse the site which he had received for the monastery from the stain of former crimes by prayer and fasting, before laying the foundations.
The monastery flourished until the Danes destroyed it in the ninth century. In 1078, Stephen, the Abbot of Whitby, persuaded William I to restore Lastingham, and he set to work on the abbey. William built the crypt, which can still be seen down the stairs. However Stephen and his monks left abruptly to set up a new monastery in York, leaving only the crypt and the apse of the church complete. Amazingly, the crypt has survived unaltered over the centuries
Lastingham was also famous for the curate who played his violin in the village pub. In the eighteenth century underpaid curates were often employed by absentee vicars to do the work of the parish as best they could. One such curate was the Revd Jeremiah Carter, who had a wife and thirteen children, and was paid £20 a year by Smelt, the vicar. Carter supplemented the family diet by fishing, and his wife kept the public house (the Blacksmith’s Arms), where Carter sometimes played his violin to entertain his parishioners.
Replying to the queries of his archdeacon, Carter reminded him that some of his parishioners, coming ten or fifteen miles to church, needed refreshment before returning home.
FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS
BAPTISM Sunday 13th April William Jack Johnson of Cliffe
HELP NEEDED PLEASE.
We are collecting raffle prizes for the Fun Day and also books for the Book Sale. If you have anything that is suitable that you would like to donate please contact Carol Perry 638471, Susan Sellers 630530, Sondra Bird 638405 or Mary Todd 638527 or bring them along to the church. We will be most grateful.
OPEN HOUSE RETURNS!
Now that the worst of the winter cold is past St Mary’s is open again on Wednesday mornings from 10,00am to 12 noon so that you can drop in for a coffee and a chat. You may be surprised who you meet. Last year we had visitors from many parts of the world as well as residents of the villages.
An inscription over a church door in Cheshire: ‘This is the house of God. This is the gate of heaven. (This door is locked in winter months.)’
And finally… Hymns for the over 60’s
Precious Lord take my hand….and help me up
It is well with my soul…….but my knees hurt
Nobody knows the trouble I have seeing
Just a slower walk with thee
Go tell it on the mountain ,,,but speak up
Give me the Old Timers religion
Blessed Insurance
Guide me O thou great Jehovah…..I’ve forgotten where I parked the car
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