1st Sunday 9.30am Holy Communion
(said)
2nd Sunday 9.30am Parish Communion
3rd Sunday 9.30am Parish Communion
4th Sunday 9.30am Parish Communion
Thursdays
1st Sunday
2nd Sunday
3rd Sunday
4th Sunday
9am
Holy Communion
11am
11am
11am
11am
Family Service
Parish Communion
Matins
Holy Communion
BIGHTON CHURCH
We have in our midst the most lovely
building. Norman-built, with a Saxon
window, and a screen from 1904, given by
the Christian family, then of Bighton House.
(You remember Fletcher Christian who
played Marlon Brando in Mutiny on the Twin
Bounty? The same.)
Bighton's church services have a gentle
flexibility, a sense of tolerance and inclusion
that is really special. The Organist is
frightful. Best described as a Light Pianist,
with no Easy Listening. My heart belongs to
Daddy on Mothering Sunday, Pedro the
Fisherman for St Peter's day, We Three for
Trinity Sunday, and endless repeats of
White Christmas. And, of course, Mr
Wonderful for Bob Ellis.
We have a particularly attractive Clergy
team. Gigantic (and devout) Bryce with a
heart to match his frame, Canon Norman
from Old A. with very relevant and erudite
sermons, Ian Waring Green, the kindest and
most self-effacing of men, Dr John Hurley
who occasionally catches me out midsermon with...John and I will remember this
diagnosis..., and the Head Honcho himself,
Phil Collins, a tireless natural leader who
leads by example. We are very lucky.
Over the years we have had a rich tapestry
of Rectors. In my time after Angus
MacFarlane, there was Missionary Canon
Banks, the field sportsman Mervyn Griffiths,
(Toad McCowen swore he shot from the
hip), and one Rector who famously
announced that it was incompatible to vote
Tory and be a Christian. (That went down
well in Old Alresford).
More recently still Raymond Tomkinson,
with a very dry wit. He told the story of the
child drawing the figures round the crib. Lots
of small triangles. Sheep perhaps, or Wise
Men? Shepherds then? No, was the cross
reply, they are Baby Jesus (Cheeses). He
also married one of a spectacularly nice
village family. Lots of children, lots related,
some not. Very sensibly he Christened
some of the children at the Sunday service
the next morning and began by saying.......it
seems only yesterday we were having a
marriage.....!
It's a really special place, it belongs to us all
and is part of our heritage. Do come on
occasion; noone will brow-beat you,
everyone will be pleased to see you, and it's
a great place for quiet thought, (difficult in
my case I hear you cry, dear reader), and I
worry for us all, that we must Use it or Lose
it.
John Sargent
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