Welcome to Jo

The Rev'd Jo Davis and The Ven. Stephen Waine (Archdeacon)

Jo Davis was licensed as chaplain to the Milton Abbey School on Tuesday Morning.

Thought for the week from our Primary School

Our Dunbury Church of England Academy children were given a great Thought for the Week as they started the new school year (thank you Mrs Culy):-

 

Do not panic about today or tomorrow remember who is holding you tight.

 

 

'That's right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.

I'm telling you 'Don't panic, I'm right here to help you.'

Isaiah 41 v 13 (The Message)

Church Welcome Video For A Sunday Service HD

World War One Commemorative Flower Festival at St James Church, Milton Abbas

Visual images can say so much more than words sometimes and the WW1 commemorative flower festival at St James church, Milton Abbas, left a lasting impression on the many visitors that saw it. There were so many beautiful and moving displays. It was one part of a very busy commemorative weekend in the village that was enjoyed by so many people.

A Very Happy Baptism

Amelia's Baptism at St James Milton Abbas on Sunday 7th September

Well that’s it - summer is over! – The fetes and summer shows are over, cream teas are ending, the trees are getting ready for their autumnal display of colours, lights have to be turned on in the evening and we are greeted by mist and fog first thing in the morning. Officially we won’t be in that season ‘of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, as described by John Keats, until the 23^rd September – the day of the autumnal equinox but we all can feel the change in temperature. I have had a wonderful summer season of weddings and celebrating new beginnings for young couples.  It would be very easy to think that that’s it for the year, - the best is over. However, this is not the case because, as I head into September, I am excited for the school children as they return to school for the new school year or for their first ever school year! The Dunbury Church of England Academy has a new Head Teacher – Mr Ben Barker, and I bet he is as excited about the new school year as all the new children. And I am excited because for the first three Sundays in September, there are young children being brought to church to be baptised. Their baptisms mark the beginning of their Christian life.

As autumn approaches, we need to stay alert to all the new opportunities around us.

Blessings  Alan

Bell Ringing at Milton Abbey

These are the bells at Milton Abbey. Our intrepid bell ringers from the Benefice, were ringing at an Abbey wedding on Saturday, officiated by our Rector Alan. What a tremendous job they all did!
Bell ringing at the Abbey is not for the faint hearted as you have to to climb nearly one hundred steps to reach the roof and then clamber along the gully to the bell tower. You must then climb higher if you want to see the actual bells.


The Abbey bells are very heavy and ringing them certainly gives our bell ringers a good work out!

There are names scratched into the stones of the turrets - I wonder if anyone recognises these names today?

More importantly - the wedding is about to begin the bride arrives...

and the bells ring out across the valley!

Setting the eggsample

Every event has to have one.....a raffle!

What a super afternoon at Winterborne Stickland on Saturday. The first summer fete for many years was held on the village green. A fantastic £1728 was raised  for St Mary's Church. There were teas and toys, books and bric-a-brac, skittles and counting sweets competitions and so much more. There was a wonderful selection of fun games, races and competitions. Kevin held the afternoon together as the roving MC and organising the egg catching challenge - which was great fun to watch. Well done the brave competitors!