Dear Friends,

I have just received a telephone call from a friend with whom I trained for ordination. She works now as a hospital chaplain, but when we were training, she worked as a librarian in a large theological college in Oxford. Her relief from the routine of a demanding life was to celebrate obscure Saints Days; to arrange a lunch party or afternoon tea to celebrate the feast day of someone like Edith of Polesworth, or Boris and Gleb, whose feast day, 24^th July, was last Saturday. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints lists all these feasts and festivals in date order – and there are very few dates missed. Of course, many of these saints are really only significant in their own locality, but even now local tradition often ensures feasting and celebration on their special day.

Our Church is dedicated to All Saints – I have not lived here long enough to discover whether we have another local ‘saint’ tucked away! All Saints Day is one of the major Festivals, or Holy Days, of the Church’s year and in many continental countries is still a national holiday. In France, there are often public processions through the streets, with bands playing, particularly in the smaller towns, and people meet together for a community meal before taking their chrysanthemum pots to place on the graves of their loved ones. It sounds a bit odd, but there is a wonderful holiday atmosphere, for that is what a Holy Day, a Saints Day or Festival Day really is – it is a holiday. A day set apart from the ordinary routine of life and work.

My social history is a bit rusty now, but it is a remarkably short time since workers were entitled to any statutory holidays other than Holy Days. Apart from days like Christmas and Easter, St Albans Day was one of the first to be declared a public holiday in England, in the fourth century. Now we have detailed legislation about how many days leave from work we should be allowed, and these days are shortly to be increased as ‘Bank Holidays’, most of them associated with religious festivals, become separate from our annual holiday entitlement.

The holiday season is now upon us – and how will we mark it? I hope that most people will be able to take a break from their routine work – if not to visit new places, at least to relax and have time for new experiences. For holidays are about being and not doing – about having time to look and really see, about having time to contemplate new ideas – or no ideas at all. They are about rest and recuperation, about a physical and spiritual recharging. They are about renewing relationships with family, with friends, with ourselves and with God. As you take your holiday, I hope it will truly be a Holy Day – a day or days set apart that will enrich and strengthen you for the routine of everyday life.

God bless you and grant you rest and refreshment,

Jo Spray

All on holiday and all who work in the holiday industry

Our young people as they await examination results

All whose lives are dominated by war, violence and injustice – and for whom there can be no holiday.

There is no coffee morning in August, they will resume as normal in September.

Last month's coffee morning raised £296 towards church funds. Very many thanks to Joan and Lee Partridge for hosting the event and to everyone who helped with and supported it.

No meeting in August.

It is expected that work will begin on the much needed repairs to the church roof in the middle of August. Sunday services should continue in church as usual.

On Monday 2^nd August Little Lights meet for swimming and a picnic. Please contact Polly Gough for details, ( 881507. The following meeting on Monday September 6^th will be in church, if work to the roof permits, at 2:30 pm as usual.

I would like to thank you all for so many "Get Well" cards and kind messages, flowers and gifts sent during my recent spell in hospital. Your care and kindness has been quite overwhelming. My special thanks to the Choir and to Tim Brewster and Justine Dalton for playing the organ so brilliantly.

Thank you all,

Enid.