Open Studios, garden teas and coffees at No. 4 Luddington in the Brook.
Plus an exhibition of Dragons in the Church.
11.00am – 5.00pm Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July
Draw, paint or make a dragon of your own invention to add to our Big Dragon Exhibition in St Margaret’s Church in Luddington in the Brook.
Dragons should get to Luddington by Saturday 19th June 2021.
Which is quite soon. So get working on your dragon, and send to Carry at Number 4 Luddington, or give it to someone in Luddingon to pass it on.
This is free to enter for anyone of any age, and all dragons will be exhibited in the church over the Summer, starting on Saturday 26th June 2021.
SEND CARRY YOUR DRAGONS!
As restrictions ease, we are delighted to be able to re-instate our Tuesday weekday service of Morning Prayer. This is an informal service, lasting around 25 minutes, taken by our churchwarden John De Val.
The first service is on Tuesday 8th June at 8am in St Michael’s Church, and everyone is very welcome. If you would like any more information, please contact John (293417).
From the Parish Clerk – an email has been received this afternoon (26th March 2021) from Highways Dept. of Cambridgeshire County Council regarding the proposed road closure:
I am writing to advise you of a Road Closure that will be happening very shortly, in order to facilitate essential carriageway maintenance.
At the time of this letter, currently scheduled Friday 9th April 2021 for approximately two days (Dependent on Weather) – Carriageway Surface Dressing Treatment.
Whilst the work is in progress, during operational hours, the road will be closed from approximately 7.30am to 6pm, and vehicular access will be restricted. A signed diversion route will be in place for through traffic.
In order for the contractor to complete the work with minimum disruption, it is essential that no vehicles are parked on the road. If you have particular access requirements, please speak to a member of the crew onsite who will be able to assist.
Access to properties within the closure area will be possible, but are subject to working conditions, and delays are to be expected. Crews will be working in accordance with Covid 19 guidelines.
These works are weather dependent and changes are possible at short notice. As there will be no further letters regarding these works, please look out for the advanced notices on site, as these will give the most up to date information; or contact our call centre or email as above.
Robin’s funeral service will be held on Monday, 15 March, 2021 at 2.00p.m. at St. Michael’s Church, Great Gidding.
Covid restrictions
Sadly, Covid regulations restrict numbers attending the service to 30.
Around the village
However, if you would like to show your appreciation for one of Gidding’s great characters, you will be able to do so on the day as Robin’s journey to the church will be preceded by a final circuit of the village he so loved and where he spent his entire life.
Starting at approximately 1.40p.m., first passing Flittermere Gate, the hearse will travel from the Glatton end of the village, down Main Street, then up Chapel End, Mill Road and back to Main Street before arriving at St. Michael’s.
Kind words
Gill wants to thank everyone for their very kind words, emails and notes of support. She is extremely grateful for your kindness and hopes that as many people as possible will take a moment to pause and pay their respects, either standing by your gate or at the roadside, as the hearse passes by.
Donations
If you would like to make a donation in Robin’s memory you can do so through Crowson’s Funeral Directors or direct to the charity.
All donations received will go to support the work of The Air Ambulance Service
In response to the current lockdown, Great Gidding Parochial Church Council has unanimously agreed to suspend public worship for the months of January and February. This means there will be no services of Holy Communion or Evensong at either St Michael’s or St John’s Church for the next two months.
Services continue online
However, services will be continued to be streamed on line. Details of services, and how to access them, can be found on the North Leightonstone website at www.norleigh.org.uk
This coming Sunday (17th January) there will be a service of Morning Prayer, starting at 9.30am, led by our Lay Reader, Jim Hogg. This will be via a ZOOM link. If you would like to join this service, then contact Jim. He, in turn, will email you a link you can click on, and thereby, you can take part in this service. His email address is: james.hogg@norleigh.org.uk
St Michael’s still open twice a week for private prayer
Whilst public worship is suspended, St Michael’s Church, Great Gidding will continue to be open twice a week for private prayer i.e. Thursday (9.30am – 1pm) and Sunday (1pm – 4pm).
St John’s Church, Little Gidding remains closed until further notice.
If you have any questions, then please contact the churchwarden, John De Val (tel: 01832/2934170)
Need a chat or help?
Finally, if you are aware of anyone who would welcome a phone call for a chat, or needs any help, then once again please contact John.
A Service of Holy Communion will be held at St Michael’s Church, Great Gidding
If you wish to come to this service, can you please help us by informing John De Val of your intention to attend – this will be much appreciated.
You may either telephone him on 01832/293417 or email him
COVID requirements of masks, sanitizations, self distancing etc. will be followed.
Christmas this year will be unlike any previous Christmas. This also applies to Christmas celebrations in both our churches in the Giddings.
St Michael’s Church, Great Gidding
The Parochial Church Council explored the viability of a short Carol Service at St Michael’s, accepting the congregation would not be able to sing etc. We even found four people from outside the village to sing, socially distanced in the chancel. However, with the new COVID rules and Tier regulations, it was felt there were too many associated problems to ensure compliance with COVID rules, and keeping everyone (congregation and singers) safe.
There will be a Benefice Carol Service ‘online’ at 7pm on Christmas Eve. To join online please click on the benefice website: www.norleigh.org.uk
There will be no Midnight Communion on Christmas Eve this year. However there will be a short service of Holy Communion (no longer than thirty minutes) on Christmas Eve, to which you are all invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This service will start at the earlier time of 6.00pm.
If you wish to come to this service, can you please help us by informing John De Val of your intention to attend – this will be much appreciated.
You may either telephone him on 01832/293417 or email him
COVID requirements of masks, sanitizations, self distancing etc. will be followed.
Finally, the church will be CLOSED on Thursday morning (24th December) in order to meet the necessary safety regulations for our Christmas Eve service later in the day.
St John’s Church, Little Gidding
There will be no Carol Service at Little Gidding this year.
However it is planned to hold a service of Holy Communion on Sunday 27th December at 11am. However this is subject to completion of restoration work, and the appropriate Risk Assessment being carried out. Please check with the Gidding website nearer the time. Alternatively you can contact the churchwarden, John De Val (tel: 01832/293417).
Owing to the recently announced COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to hold our usual Remembrance Service at St. Michael’s Church this coming Sunday. The Royal British Legion have suggested that one way of remembering together those who have lost their lives in war, would be to step outside our front doors at 11.00 on Sunday and keep a 2 minute silence together.
We think this is a good idea and we will ring the Church bell to mark the beginning and end of the 2 minutes.
We hope you will join with us in this act of gratitude for those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.
John De Val
Churchwarden
Time again for a community effort to trim, plant, shape and prune
Two dates Saturday 28th November and Saturday 5th December (if needed) have been set a side to carry out the usual Jub wood maintenance. Jobs to be done include the trimming of the hedge between the wood and the allotments (partially done) pruning the fruit trees that are scattered through out the wood, some strimming especially the are to be planted up this autumn. Planting around 100 shrub and ground cover plants if conditions allow – this includes mats, tubes, ties and stakes.
Obviously we will have to adhere to the covid rules that will be in force at the time of this proposed event.
Time 9.00am to 12.30pm on both days.