WHITCHURCH
Correspondent: Jenny Sparkes jandjsparkes@btinternet.com
St Dubricius Carol Service will be on December 16th at 11.00am. The Christingles Service is on December23rd at 11.00am and the Christmas Eve Communion service will be on the 24th at 11.00pm.
Aisle Community Christmas Lunch will be on December 10th at 12 noon at St Dubricius. In January the lunches are on the 14th and 28th. The meals are cooked by Woods of Whitchurch. Come and join us. To book, ring 01600 890397.
Good Neighbour Coffee morning will be in the Memorial Hall on December 5th from 10.30 to 12noon. On December 19th we will have a Community Christmas Tea at 3.00pm. In January the GN Coffee mornings will be on the 2nd and 16th.
‘Tea and Chat’ is held in the Aisle at St Dubricius on Thursdays from 2 – 4pm. This is open to all and a warm welcome awaits you.
Bingo at the Old Court is on Tuesday 4th December at 7 for 7.30pm.
Successful Commemoration Weekend Raises over £260 for “Help for Heroes”. The Whitchurch and Ganarew Local History Society took the lead in commemorating the end of World War 1. Every part of the community became involved from the very youngest at Whitchurch Primary School to many of the seniors of the parish. A wonderful “Fall of Poppies” and two amazing wreaths were knitted and crocheted by ladies of the knit and natter group. Jen Hazel and Heather Foulkes designed and constructed them. The Home Front exhibition which took a lot of research was well presented and was enhanced by loaned items which supported the written material. Thank you to all those who lent things. Thank you also to the children and staff of Whitchurch Primary School for your poetry, art work and the lanterns which lit up the Memorial Hall garden after dark.
On Saturday afternoon “Beaujoladies” entertained us with songs from both world wars. In the evening a play about Dorothy Peel’s life was well received (Dorothy Peel born in Ganarew 1868 can be found on Wikipedia). On both days a World War 1 style café was open with a perfectly attired rota of ladies from St Dubricius. The cakes made to WW1 recipes weren’t bad either.
Sunday completed the weekend with the laying of wreaths and special Remembrance service. This was followed by a lantern procession to the beacon at The Maze where the last post faultlessly sounded in the early evening air. Hot soup and rolls were provided by Izzy’s café.
Thank you to our sponsors and to all those involved or who came in support, for contributing to a brilliant weekend.
Should you wish to know more about the history society please visit the website at wagshistory.com or come along to our next meeting December 1st Old Court Hotel 10.30am.
MEMORIAL HALL ACTIVITIES Jazz Saturday 1st December, Jazz Night with John Maddox. £15 including light supper. Contact Colin on 01600 890640. NB limited availability.
Flicks in the Sticks Friday 18th January. We open our Spring programme with a classic 1953 French comedy, M. Hulot’s Holiday, starring Jacques Tati. The hapless M. Hulot holidays at a beautiful seaside resort but rest and relaxation are not on the menu! While simply trying to enjoy himself the well-meaning Hulot stumbles into many misadventures as he encounters fellow holidaymakers and foreign tourists. Doors open at 7pm for a licensed bar and snacks. Film begins at 7.30pm. £5 entry.
History of St. Dubricius Church
The parish church is one of the oldest in the Deanery of Ross and Archenfield; Its foundations date from the 9th century and the oldest part goes back to the 13th century.
The church is in the Decorated style of architecture with walls of local sandstone rubble and ashlar and the roof of stone slates.
The bowl of the font is Norman in origin, the lower edge being cut away to octagonal form to fit a 14th or 15th century stem with a square base. The church was enlarged in Victorian times.
Outstanding examples of locally-produced needlecraft and tapestries decorate the church.
St. Dubricius lived in Herefordshire in 6th century and founded monasteries which were centres of learning. Legend has it he had a miraculous birth.
The tulip tree near the south porch is reputed to be over 300 years old and blooms every year in June and July.
Useful Links
The Aisle, St. Dubricius church
A History from the Celtic e-Library
A History from A Celtic Collective
Whitchurch CE Primary School Herefordshire
Kingfisher River Cruises Symonds Yat East
norton-house.com B&B Whitchurch
Amazing Hedge Puzzle, Whitchurch
Wyenot.com, A Photographic tour of news and views in the Wye Valley
Gwillim Grave Enclosure
The west side of the churchyard contains the Gwillim tomb. The Gwillims, who owned the Old Court, Whitchurch from 1600 to 1868, were benefactors of the church. Thomas Gwillim, who built the grave enclosure, had from his family of six only one grandchild, Elizabeth Posthuma, who was the daughter of his son Colonel Thomas Gwillim. Elizabeth was a remarkable woman who at 19 years old married John G. Simcoe, future first Governor of Upper Canada and founder of Toronto.
More information on
www.gwillim-simcoe-story.co.uk