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John Wesley
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Circuit Away Day
The Challenge of 21st Century Church
Saturday 12th April 2008
Over
50 key people from the Ashby and Coalville Circuit travelled to Melbourne
Methodist Church to attend the circuit away day. As the coach travelled
around the Circuit picking people up along the way, the buzz of expectant
chatter filled the air by people looking forward to a productive day.
After some worship songs to start the day off, Roger Johnston, District Evangelism Enabler, showed a video clip of the well known character, Mr Bean, attending church for the first time. The gist of the clip was that Mr Bean didn’t know what to do whilst in church – he didn’t know where to find a hymn book, he didn’t know when to stand up and sit down, he found the sermon boring and fidgeted with sweet papers and he nearly fell to sleep. However, the clip showed that no one had welcomed Mr Bean and explained to him what to do and certainly no one was prepared to help him out during the service. The experience was completely alien to someone from outside the church environment! This was a good start to set the scene for the day.
For a more in-depth report click here
With great Sadness...
Following the sad death of Mr Ray Fisher, his funeral and a service of thanksgiving took place at Marlborough Square Methodist Church on Monday 28th January 2008. Over 200 people attended the service to pay their respects to Ray and to support Jo at this sad time.
The message from the
service was and is for everyone that has been touched in some way by the
work that Ray carried out in the name of Jesus – if Ray made a
difference in your life, make sure that you make a difference in someone
else’s life and continue that work on.
A life well lived
The
Frost family and Share Jesus International are sad to announce the death of
a great author, presenter, visionary, leader, evangelist, and preacher.
Rob Frost, founder of Share Jesus International, passed away peacefully in hospital on Sunday 11 November at 11.40pm with his family around him.
He was diagnosed with skin cancer in June and underwent treatment. In the past few days, Rob became very tired and was taken into hospital on Wednesday 7th November. He was in no pain but gradually drifted into eternity with liver failure as a result of secondary melanoma.
Rob set up the mission agency in 1986 with the sole purpose of sharing Jesus in many different contexts and countries.
Rob Frost was in great demand as a preacher, the International Director of the International Leadership Institute based in Atlanta and the author of over 25 books.
He presented Premier Radio's flagship current affairs programme called Frost on Sunday and his weekly TV show on the God Channel is broadcast under the title the Frost Debate.
He lectured in mission and evangelism at London School of Theology and was a regular teacher at theological institutions throughout the UK.
As the Director and then President Emeritus of Share Jesus International, an ecumenical mission agency which he founded 25 years ago, he initiated scores of projects including Easter People, a conference which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year; led missions in hundreds of cities, towns and villages in the UK and across the globe and campaigned on global and national issues. He served as President of Release International, an agency which cares for persecuted Christians throughout the world. Rob also produced and toured with many musicals including Hopes and Dreams which had the number one hit of the Lord's Prayer.
One of the last projects Rob has been working on is the Pentecost Festival which will take place May 9-11, 2008. Andy Frost and the office team will continue to make this dream become a reality and Rob's vision will continue to have an impact across this nation.
Rob will be fondly remembered not just for what he did, but his sense of humour, his stories, his love for people, depth of compassion and his zest for life.
He leaves behind his wife Jacqui, his two sons Andy & Chris and his father Ronald. They will miss him greatly but are thankful for his life and pleased that he is now with his heavenly father.
His family request no flowers but if you wish to make a gift, this should be for Pentecost Festival.
There will be a funeral service in Raynes Park for close friends and family in the next 10 days. We are also holding a celebration service in January and all will be welcome to this.
Charles Wesley Evening
Everyone enjoyed the evening and the retiring collection, amounting to £75 was donated towards the Alternative Market held earlier in the day at Hall Lane.
Alternative Gift Market
The
Ashby and Coalville Methodist Circuit’s first Alternative Market took place
at Hall Lane Methodist Church on Saturday 10th November.
Over one hundred people came to buy gifts
for needy people around the world, making a difference to hundreds of
families.
Instead of
struggling to buy a gift for a friend or loved one at Christmas – or instead
of giving chocolates or socks - gifts will now be sent to people who need
basic items that we often take for granted. Medicines, cooking pots and
baby blankets, amongst other items, will now be sent to those in need in the
name of friends and family.
The biggest selling gifts were crayons that will now be distributed by NCH, hotly followed by fruit trees and chickens to be distributed by MRDF and Leprosy Mission respectively. These agencies will ensure that the gifts will be received by those in greatest need to make the biggest difference.
Over £4,000 was taken on the day of the market and it is hoped that almost £1,000 will be claimed back through the gift aid system to make a final total of over £5,000.
In
addition, ‘bricks’ were sold to buy a low cost home for a family
susceptible to diseases like leprosy. A
safe, dry house can mean the difference between life and death and raises
the status of people stigmatised by leprosy.
Profits from the refreshments served throughout the day and also the proceeds from a Wesley Evening, that took place the same evening as the market, will go towards the low cost home.
Thank you to everyone who came along and bought gifts from the market and to everyone who helped organize the event.
If you didn’t have time to come along to the event but would still like to purchase gifts, give Sister Barbara Crockett a call for a copy of the catalogue – Coalville 832411. Our deadline is 15th November.
The Belvoirdale Community Primary School in Coalville will be buying goats on a special day at school on 29th November to add to the final total. The school has been taking an active interest in the project over the past few weeks and will be learning more about people around the world who have few possessions.With Sadness ...
The funeral of Mr Eric Redfern was held at Ashby Methodist Church on October 12th 2007 after passing away peacefully on October 2nd aged 95 years. Eric was formerly the Deputy Headmaster of Ashby Boys Grammar School and had been a Methodist local preacher since 1935.
Welcome
The
Chairman of the District, Rev Wesley Blakey was invited to speak at a
Circuit Service at Ashby Methodist Church on Sunday 2nd
September.
During the service an official welcome was offered to Rev Lynda Coates who has just joined the Circuit and has pastoral oversight of Donisthorpe, Measham, Moira, Oakthorpe and Packington.
Also during the service, certificates were presented to the five people who have recently attended a Worship Leader’s Course run by Sister Barbara Crockett. The five receiving certificates were Aubrey Spouge, Sue Alldread, Ellen Beard, Natalie Missenden and Steve Johnson.
Step Out for Children
The Reverend Dr Thomas Bowman Stephenson, a Methodist minister, founded NCH in 1869 in response to the plight of homeless children on the streets of London. Stephenson was a pioneer and set up the first small-group homes in Britain at a time when most children who could not stay with their families lived in big institutions. NCH was founded in 1869 and known for many years as the National Children’s Home, it is now known as NCH, the children’s charity.
An annual fund raising event takes place all over the country called Step Out for Children and a group from the Ashby and Coalville Circuit got together to take part. A grand total of £1506.25 was raised between the group which was sent off to NCH to help pay for vital work to help vulnerable children.
Many thanks to those who had the energy to take part and to those who dug deep into their pockets to help raise this fantastic sum of money.
Local Preachers Discussion Group.
By Ian Irwin
The first of the spring series of discussion groups was held at Moira Centenary on the 17th April 2007.
Ruth opened the discussion on ‘the use of drama in worship’ with an outline of the types of dramatic presentation that can be used. These covered prepared sketches Monologues Duologues Dramatised Readings and Improvisations.
Barbara gave us a dramatic illustration of a Pentecost address and also commented on the way the Worship Leaders had produced dramatic presentations of Mary at the cross for Good Friday services.
It was felt by all that drama was useful but not as something to be used every service. The problems of rehearsal and the time for preparation only to find that someone did not turn up were also discussed.
Over all it was a very useful evening.
The next meeting is on May 16th at Ashby on the topic ‘Should lay preachers be allowed to lead communion as a matter of right rather than special dispensation?’
Easter People 2007
Click on the logo below to
view a Hall Lane Easter people special!
Fund Raising Event
Lots of people turned up to support the event and ate their way through dozens of cakes and cups of coffee. Thanks to everyone who helped raise a total of £295, much needed money.
A presentation to Dave
Andrews of Radio Leicester will be made on Wednesday 21st March
at 7.30pm as part of the Ladies Fellowship programme. Everyone is
welcome to come along.
A barn dance, led by Eddie Henderson, took place at Hall Lane on 10th March at Hall Lane Methodist Church. Toe tapping tunes were played whilst people dosy doed around the floor. Over 60 people attended and once again helped contribute £180 to the Cancer Backup charity.
New Member at Hall Lane
Following the recent membership classes led by Deacon Barbara Crockett, Marcus Garratt decided to become a member at Hall Lane Methodist Church. The occasion was marked during a service led by Barbara on Sunday 4th March. Marcus was presented with a bible and was officially welcomed into the church.
Labyrinth
A prayer labyrinth was held at Whitwick Methodist Church during March. The church hall was set out with different ‘stations’ where individuals were challenged to take a look at themselves and their position on their spiritual journey. Images from God’s creation shone out on screens – where do you fit in, in God’s Creation?; a mirror was set up with chains surrounding it – an opportunity to take a look at yourself and to visualise if there was anything chaining you down in your journey; a wooden cross was laying on the floor with the opportunity to add a stone on the cairn as you said a prayer; a paper shredder and note pad was available to shred away doubts and obstacles in your life. It was a wonderful, peaceful and symbolic experience for those who attended.
Line Dance at Hall Lane
A line dance was held at Hall Lane Methodist Church on Friday 20th February in aid of the charity Cancer Backup.
Over 50 ladies turned up to dance to well known tunes and get fit at the same time. Pam Goodenough led everyone in step and the evening ended with a supper and raffle.
Over £300 was raised for the charity and a good time was had by all.
Mince Pie Circuit Walk on the
Charnwood Forest Canal
By
Information relating to the sites visited on this circular walk, which began at Thringstone Methodist Church. We followed tracks to Calcutta Colliery and onto tramways that went to the Swannington Inclined Plane, and to the Charnwood Forest Canal at its head or terminus at Thringstone Bridge, which is to be found at the foot of Cinder Hill, at the farm on the A512. Here the actual towpath and canal bed can be followed to the remains of the Junction house, where the canal branched off to run alongside the lane that goes in to Osgathorpe. The route followed the 300 foot contour which took the canal meandering around the outskirts of Osgathorpe through fields to cross the Snarrows road on its way to the rear of Gracedieu Priory, crossing the A512 again, 150 yards from the ruins to the north of the Bulls Head public house. Here the canal bed can be clearly seen as it is now being used as the official entrance to the planned visitor centre at the Priory. It disappears under the Charnwood Forest Railway Line whose embankment, which was constructed some ninety years later, is to be seen running 30 foot above canal bed and the Priory ruins as it proceeds to Loughborough.
Calcutta Colliery
This Colliery was sunk in 1853 by the Swannington Colliery Company on the site of previous mining operations going back to the 17th Century. John Wilkins, Squire of Ravenstone, leased mines in Swannington from 1687. He is reputed to have used water wheels to drain the pits in the area. His enterprise was continued by Gabriel Holland, who made many improvements, including the installation of a Newcombe Engine to reach new deeper seams at 150 feet, but then he became involved in a complicated legal deal dispute which led to threats of bankruptcy in 1761. The dispute continued for several years after his death and mining did not resume until 1778 when Raper and Fenton and partners took over the lease. They supported both the local Turnpike Trusts and the proposed Charnwood Forest Canal but when this proved to be an operational liability they sold out in 1798. Mining appears to have ceased until 1853 when Calcutta shaft was sunk to new coal at a depth of 474 feet.
When the mine ceased production in 1877 a joint pumping company was set up to drain the Snibston, Whitwick, Coleorton and Swannington workings. A massive steam engine, built by Robert Stephenson and Co., was installed in the present building at a cost of £13,600. This engine a rotative horizontal tandem compound condensing Engine, had a 72” diameter cylinder, a 9 foot stroke and a 32 foot diameter flywheel. Its average pumping rate was 54,000 gallons per hour through twin pumps in the shaft. The engine was in continuous use until it was scrapped after being replaced by an electric pump in 1947. Pumping continued to 1986 when the shaft was finally filled.
Calcutta Tram road
Swannington Incline Plane
The Inclined Plane (now owned by the Swannington Heritage Trust) was operated by a stationary engine and drew coal from the local mines up to a locomotive hauled section of the track. The Inclined Plane had a single track running down its length of 726 yards at a gradient of 1 in 17. A rope attached to the descending wagons was laid into pulleys installed on the centre line of the track. Detailed illustration interpretation boards are to be found along the Incline.
Charnwood Forest Canal Tram road
A Tram road, from the terminus of the Charnwood Forest Canal at Thringstone Bridge crosses Church Hill Road to connect with The Swannington Mines of the 18th Century. In the fields adjacent to Jeffcoats Lane you can see the remains of a tram road embankment leading to the site of the Raper and Fenton Mines. The buildings where the Coleorton tramway crossed the later Incline housed the manager of the Coleorton railway and was equipped with a weighbridge to record the coal passing from the Mines at Coleorton , Peggs Green and Newbold to the Leicester and Swannington Railway.
Charnwood Forest Canal
The Canal was built between 1790 and 1797 to carry lime, stone and coal from nearby quarries and mines to the Soar Navigation at Loughborough. In February 1799, during a terrible winter, the feeder reservoir dam at Blackbrook burst and 500 million gallons of water flooded out of the reservoir in 11 minutes, causing death and destruction. This disaster, together with financial problems resulted in the termination of the project. In fact it became the first canal to be closed on the Inland Waterway System!! A fuller and more detailed history can be researched in the local libraries under the title “The Forest Line” an exploration of the lost Charnwood Forest Canal.
Gracedieu Priory
The priory for
Augustian nuns was founded 700 years ago by Lady Roesia de Verdun, who now
lies in Belton Church. 300 years later it suffered at the hands of Henry
V111 during the Reformation. It was given to John Beaumont of Thringstone.
The Beaumonts built their own Tudor Manor at Gracedieu and in 1582 Sir John
Beaumont was born there. He became a poet and friend of Shakespeare. All
that remains of the priory are fragments of two towers, the chapel and the
walls. These have recently been restored and a Trust group formed, and in
conjunction with local and county councils a visitor centre has been
proposed. Wordsworth saw the ruins and wrote:
“Beneath
yon eastern ridge, the graggy bound, Rugged and high, of Charnwood’s forest
round, Stand yet, but, stranger, hidden from thy view The ivied ruins of
forlorn Grace Dieu.”
CIRCUIT SERVICE NOVEMBER 2006
Rev
Wes Blakey, Chairman of the Notts and Derby District led our quarterly
circuit service in November. The service was held at Marlborough
Square Methodist Church and was well attended.
It was an interactive service with members of the congregation offering reasons to be thankful for things happening at individual churches and within the circuit. A drama, led by members from Hall Lane, was both amusing and poignant outlining how being stuck in the past can hinder the church moving forward with the times.
The
Methodist Church of Great Britain
We have been contacted by Alice Lambert, the Public Life & Social Justice Intern for the Methodist Church of Great Britain asking us to highlight two Methodist websites. The Interface website (http://www.theinterface.org.uk) offers visitors the opportunity to explore contemporary issues from a faith-based perspective. At the moment the Church is trying to attract more people to the site in order to enable proper discussions to take place.
The second website which may be of interest is http://www.lostinwonder.org.uk, an on-line labyrinth that leads the traveller along a meditative path. Through images, words and actions the site allows people to consider their spiritual journeys and be inspired and challenged.
Meeting of local preachers at
Hall Lane
Tuesday 17th September.
By
Ian Irwin
The topic was "
Silence in Worship."The discussion was opened by John Broughton who drew our attention to the biblical references: be still and know that I am God, Peace be still and the Still small voice. He then pointed out that silence could be a problem as well as a blessing when it takes place in worship as some people feel uncomfortable with the silence not least because they do not know how long it will last. He also made the point that those who live alone may spend the majority of their time in silence and do not want that to continue when they come to church.
Young people are more used to noise than silence and a worship service with shouts of Hallelujah His main point being that silence as a time to listen to God could be practised when you are in personal worship at home or outside Isaac went into the fields to meditate, and Jesus sought the silence of the wilderness not the synagogue.
Rev Roy Pape then used further references Job being silent in reply to God, and, from Revelation, there was silence in heaven for half an hour He then told about the time he has been asked to lead a Quaker epilogue service and had found the half hour silence one of the most moving experiences of his career.
Discussion then went on for over an hour with the following points being made:
Can you ever in the modern world get silence.
Silence during a service is often interrupted by people dropping hymnbooks or coughing
Silence on your own and silence in a worshipping group are different experiences.
We have a short silence if there is a reader while the reader returns to their seat, but if the preacher reads it is followed immediately by the next part of the service.
Background music can enable people to quiet their minds – not strictly silence but it can evoke worship.
Silence on remembrance Sunday is a time when no direction needs given, as individuals will have their own thoughts directed by the theme of the service itself
While no conclusions were reached it was a useful discussion and gave us all material for reflection.
The next meeting is on Technology in worship and will be led by David Evans. It will be held at 7.30 on Thursday 16th November at Ashby church.
Meeting of local preachers at
Hall Lane
Wednesday 13th September.
By
Ian Irwin
The topic was "Worship Ancient or Modern."
The Rev John Withington opened the discussion with a useful paper on the subject. He started by illustrating the different types of music with reference to our hymn book and from Praise and Celebration music. He then went on to look at why we worship and at what we are trying to achieve. This was followed by highlights on aspects of modern worship and the problems they can cause for preachers.
The discussion was then opened to the ten people present and ranged through the purpose of worship into evangelism and outreach.
Daniel gave a brief summary of how he became a Christian and has been kind enough to email me the text as we all felt that it pointed out a need that we as the church should be facing. His talk in summary was;
I think that from personal experience, to have a drop in group like that of f.r.o.g. is very helpful in reaching young people, some of which who have not encountered Christian worship before. Before someone can worship God they need to know who they are worshipping. I myself attended a similar type of meeting to that of f.r.o.g. before I was a Christian. This type of meeting was designed to explain questions young people might have about Christianity and Christian worship so that they can be informed and able to make their own decision as to whether they themselves wish to follow Christ.
Considering the great lack of knowledge that is present in our society of what Christianity is about, this type of group must take nothing for granted and explain the very basics of our faith. This group is like a net which people get caught in. If they want to go further in exploring Christianity it is extremely useful for them to have a mentor, someone willing to spend greater amounts of time with them (the older the better), showing them what the Christian faith is about at a deeper level. This could work in a similar way to the local preacher mentor system where a new preacher 'on note' is put with an experienced preacher to 'learn the ropes' of leading a service. The same idea easily translates into helping people with a new found faith to understand what they have gotten themselves into. This is particularly important in a society where many young people face issues about identity and purpose which are simply not answered by computer games, binge drinking etc...
The church has so many people who can provide wisdom, love, support and structure to many in our society who come from broken homes etc... This needs to be translated in to practical ways. When someone has been mentored they then settle much more easily into the life of the church and are more rooted in it.
Although it is clear this meeting was about worship, for young people to make the transition from their understanding of reality (of mass media, pop music, and computer games etc) to that of a reality where they worship God and serve him, there needs to be a lot of work done, the church needs to build a bridge out to them and be a loving community, acceptant and tolerant of the differences between young people today and their understanding of the expectancy on young people of the past.
This, as well as
directing our thoughts presented both us and all the members of our circuit
with a challenge. What are we prepared to do to reach the younger
generation?
Contributed by Mr Ian Irwin
Church
Circuit Walk September 9th
2006
By
John
Peace
Information relating
to the sites visited during this circular walk that began at the New Lount
Nature Reserve. We then followed tracks, foot paths and village lanes
to the rear of Coleorton Hall, Farm Town, Hough Mill, Swannington and
Coleorton Village.
New Lount Nature Reserve
There have been a coal pits at Lount since before 1600.
In 1778 records show that Earl Ferrers owned pits at Lount and Staunton Harold. Coal mined was diverted for use at Earl Ferrers’ house at Staunton and in his lead mine, lime works and brickworks nearby.
The Beaumonts also owned a mine at Lount and Sir George Beaumont (1753-1827), of Coleorton Hall, inherited it after his father died in 1762. Joseph Boultbee had been appointed agent in 1758.
New
Lount was one of the most important coalfields in Leicestershire, averaging
36,000 tons a month in 1948. However, it was the most short lived
colliery – opening in 1924 and closing in 1968. In 1997 Leicestershire
County Council completed restoration of the nature reserve. Three
wetland pools near the top of the pit were created in 1986 to safeguard
plants threatened by nearby open cast mining. Marshland, grassland and
waterside plants are now well established.
The old tarmac areas of the sidings remain in tact as a reminder of the site’s past. It was the last deep mine in Coleorton parish, which, when it closed, ended 500 years of deep mining in the parish.
Coleorton Hall
Coleorton was the seat of the Leicestershire Beaumonts (they also had links with Gracedieu) for over 500 years but no Beaumont now lives there.
George Beaumont had spent most of his childhood with his parents in Essex but in 1802 decided to rebuild the dilapidated old mansion at Coleorton. In 1808 he and his wife moved into the newly restored Coleorton Hall.
The
Hall was carefully sighted for the best prospect of the sweeping Charnwood
Forest. The present Hall is the third that has stood on the high ground
alongside the church. It is surrounded by beautiful grounds. The
Winter Garden in these grounds was laid out by William Wordsworth. In
this garden is the stone seat where Sir Walter Scott planned the tournament
scenes in “Ivanhoe” and where he also wrote a large part of that book.
Wordsworth also wrote a poem, in 1808, describing the ruins at Gracedieu, the lines of which can still be deciphered on a stonewall tablet in the grounds of the Hall. Sir George had a memorial to Sir Joshua Reynolds constructed in the garden and this was inscribed with lines of poetry also by Wordsworth. John Constable painted the memorial after visiting Coleorton Hall in 1823. It is entitled “The Cenotaph”.
As well as being an artist himself, Sir George Beaumont was a generous patron of the arts and other friends,visitors and protégés included Byron, Coleridge, Southey, David Wilkie, Shelley, Haydon, Dorothy Wordsworth and Joshua Reynolds.
The Hall has, or had, its ghost. A Dame Margaret is said to walk the corridors and haunt the rooms as well as the grounds, on the Ides of March (12th). It is claimed that she rattles chains!
After Beaumont’s death, the Hall passed to a cousin – Sir G.H. Willoughby It then passed from father to son until it was sold to the National Coal Board in 1948.
In 1997 the Hall and surrounding land was sold to a development consortium.
It is interesting that, apparently, at one time a Moody and Sankey evangelist used to hold religious services in the wood shed near the shaft of the old Cole Orton pit before the men went down the mine. Wesley, too, visited and preached at Coleorton in or about 1780. According to his diary, he was ill received and almost stoned during this visit!
Hough Windmill
This
tower mill was built in the 18th century and was sold to John
Hough in 1877. It was worked successfully until the beginning of the
20th
century. It fell into decay but was eventually restored and reopened
in 2000. Visitors can learn about mill construction and the milling
process.
A trail leads to the
nearby Gorse field where you can see landscape evidence of coal mining
activity. Volunteers have built a full size replica of a Horse Gin.
This machine would have been worked in the 18th century.
Further information can be found in the “Swannington Village Trail” booklet and leaflet produced by the Swannington Heritage Trust.
Step Out for Children 2006
Earlier
this year a number of members of the Ashby and Coalville Circuit took part
in the annual NCH sponsored walk. The NCH helps children who need it
most and is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities.
A Service of Admission July 9th 2006
A Circuit Service was held at Moira Centenary Methodist
Church on Sunday 9th July. It was a service of admission
for Ian Irwin and Jane Rutter to be accepted as local preachers into the
Methodist Church. A letter from the President of the Methodist
Conference was read out and each was presented with a gift from the
Circuit.
A gift was also presented to Ray Fisher who has completed 60 years as a local preacher, 33 of which have been in the Coalville Circuit which more recently has been the Ashby and Coalville Circuit.
Thanks were also offered to Derek Horsman, who has acted as tutor to numerous local preachers in the Circuit, including Ian and Jane over a number of years. Derek will be standing down from this role as from the end of August.
Circuit Walk
April 2006By
John Peace
Report
on the walk held in April entitled "Stoke Golding and the birth of the Tudor
Dynasty after the Battle of Bosworth". Most people are aware of the action
that took place at the battle and the group of sixteen walkers engaged in
this history as they began their ramble from the site of Henry's camp at
Whitemoors, Shenton. However as the walk progressed from the Battlefield
camps of Henry of the House of Lancaster and Richard, the King, from
the House of York, the walkers began to feel how the villagers of Dadlington
and Stoke Golding felt on the days before, during and after the engagement
in August 1485.
Approaching Dadlington via the Ashby Canal and Sutton Cheney Wharf, the group came upon some of what are thought to be the burial grounds of the 1,000 soldiers killed violently in the ninety minute battle. In the Church of this village Henry viii dedicated a chapel to the memory to all the fallen in the conflict.
The group heard of how prior to the engagement the country folk round about found that their meagre crops and animals were raided to supply food for both sides, and the village blacksmith was kept busy, re-shoeing the horses, which the army farriers could not cope with.
The Watchers with the sharpest eyes could see the various sections of the armies as they closed or fell back. One shouted that he could see the King on his white courser. He even claimed to see the sun sparkle on his golden crown. An hour or so passed as Knight fought Knight and fell and soldier followed suit, and the screams of the dying came faintly over the fields.
They could see Henry Earl of Richmond, as he was only 1 mile away, and then they saw a band of perhaps eighty mounted men, separate from the main army of the King, and with Richard at its head on his white charger, make for the flag of Henry, "The King has won" shouted the Watchers, as they saw through the dust of battle, the King himself strike down Henry's standard bearer, his flag disappearing with him beneath the flailing hooves. But then the tide turned and the Watchers saw the King engulfed by the Stanley armies, and the struggle was over, as Richard's army started to flee towards the village.
In
the rout that followed, the vanquished were pursued by Henry's men. The
object was to prevent any recovery so no quarter was given, The Watchers
could see the dead and hear the screams of the dying in the carnage that
followed, as Richard's men scattered far and wide fleeing for their lives.
Lord William Stanley and his army stayed on to scour the fields for weapons,
valuables and clothing. The Watchers were recruited to gather the dead from
the fields of Redemoor plain for burial at Dadlington and in the
common burial pits around Stoke Golding.
The crown of Richard III of England was found in one of Stoke Golding's fields, by Sir Stanley Bray and delivered to Thomas, Lord Stanley who crowned his stepson the Earl of Richmond, the most noble King Henry vii.
The walk continued down the main Street of Stoke Golding to the site of the Coronation of King Henry at the top of Crown Hill.Happy Birthday Bill! January 16th 2006
Many
happy returns go to Rev Bill Wathes who celebrated his 80th birthday on the
16th of January. All friends across the circuit join to wish him a happy
birthday.
Day of Prayer in the Circuit November 19th
2005
Circuit prayer week Ashby and Coalville
On
Saturday 19th November a coach arrived at Hall Lane Methodist
Church to collect around 25 people from the circuit to take a trip around
north west Leicestershire to visit all the churches in the Ashby and
Coalville Circuit. Some people met at their own local church and some
met at Ashby Methodist Church where a lovely lunch had been organised.
The aim of the day was to offer prayers at each church for the people who regularly worship there and for each of the churches? futures. The week following was also set aside by the circuit in response to a challenge set by the Methodist Youth Conference of the Methodist Church when they challenged the whole of Methodism to turn to prayer. The Nottingham and Derby District rose to the challenge and has committed itself to pray for a whole year.
However,
although it has been good to put aside a week in the year specifically for
prayer in the circuit, it is our responsibility to pray for our circuit and
district at all times.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim 5: 17 & 18
Pray
Without Ceasing
The Methodist Church is encouraging
churches and individuals to focus on prayer over the coming months.
Pray Without Ceasing
is an initiative of the Church’s young people, who have called on the whole
church to promote a year of non-stop prayer.
A programme of continuous prayer was launched at the Methodist Conference at
the end of June 2005 and will run until the end of August 2006. Methodist
Districts (33 in Great Britain) are being encouraged to organise continuous
prayer events for a week or fortnight within that 14-month period so that at
any time of day or night, somewhere in a Methodist church, there will be
people praying.
The Ashby and Coalville Circuit has risen to the challenge and has committed itself to pray for the whole year but has allocated the week from Friday 18th until Thursday 24th November this year to pray for our Circuit and District, and for the whole of Methodism during this week.
See the prayer sheet prepared by one of our Ministers, Rev David Haywood for help during this week.
Chairman of Nottingham &
Derby District Speaks at Circuit Service
October 30th 2005
Rev Drummond Gillespie welcomed a full church of over 100 people to the service and readings and prayers were led by members of the congregation.
Rev Wesley Blakey, Chairman of the Nottingham and Derby District, was the guest preacher at the service and had travelled from Nottingham.
A bible was presented to Julie by Rev Harry Jones and a letter from the President was read out by Derek Horsman who is the Local Preacher's Tutor. The service ended with a blessing given by Rev David Haywood.
A Tribute to Griffydam Methodist Chapel
October 16th 2005
The final service to be held at Griffydam Methodist Chapel was held on Sunday 16th October at 3pm. The preacher for the service was Rev Harry Jones and readings were given by members of the congregation. Members from all around the circuit attended the service and Mrs Hilda Hutchinson gave a tribute to the church and its members.
