Our special musical service of Evensong for Music Sunday on 6th June was a great success. It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed a number of special pieces of music played by our very talented organist, Jean Routley. We also had visitors, Dudley and Ruth Shellard. Dudley was Churchwarden here for 27 years, immediately preceding me. Sadly I’ve long since beaten his record of years of service and, soon, I’ll have been Churchwarden of Stowey Church for more than half my life. I’m not sure this is a record which I should place in print, but it’s a fact! Dudley read our 2nd Lesson, chapter 4 from the Book of Revelation, a wonderful, dramatic passage; it was a joy to welcome him and Ruth back to our little Church.

We’re continuing with our usual pattern of services during the pandemic for now, but are keeping this under review. As usual, you’ll be very welcome to attend any of our services. However, because of reduced capacity, please contact me in advance to ensure you can be allocated a seat. My contact details are at the back of this magazine and on our website, stoweychurch.com

Finally, please remember that on Sunday 18th July, 4 gardens in Stowey will be open under the National Garden Scheme. There is an article about this elsewhere in this magazine. We aren’t providing teas, but we are selling plants at Dormers and cakes and other goodies at Stowey Mead, all in aid of Stowey Church. If you have any plants you’d like to give, please bring them along to Dormers in the week leading up to the opening. And if you would like to make a cake, or traybake, or scones, please let me know, by email or phone. All items must be wrapped, so they can be sold in the most hygienic way possible. We shall be very grateful for any contributions. This will be our 1st fund-raising event for 18 months, so we hope you can come and support us, as well as supporting some wonderful charities which receive significant donations from the NGS as a result of the opening of the gardens.

Jill Nicol
Churchwarden