WHITCHURCH
Unfortunately, due to the flooding we experienced in February 2020 , St Dubricius church is still in the process of being restored
We are not allowed to enter the building until it is safe to do so
Please contact Sue (890981),Mandy (890791)or Geoff (01989 730405) or the clergy if you are uncertain.
We would like to thank everyone who has sent messages of help and support after the devastating floods, the worst since 1793 we are told, reaching over 5ft high in the church.
Everything in the church has been tossed around and most things were destroyed because of breakages and contaminated water, as you can see in the photos
The news from church is going to be slow for the next months. The builders finished Tuesday 24th June
On Wednesday 1st July carpet fitter measures up and then we have to wait for delivery
We have to order the kitchen appliances but I’ve been warned of long deliveries dates because of lack of stock.
Other engineers need to check and inspect in coming weeks.
The organ delivery should be mid July.
As the dust settles literally it’s clean, clean, clean.
Tile cleaning started could be a long job.
A newsletter entitled Tulip Tree News will be available every Sunday on this website. There will also be daily prayer suggestions provided. If you would like a copy and have difficulty in accessing it, please get in touch with one of the Churchwardens as above
FOOD BANK- Woods of Whitchurch are collecting food all through the Corona Virus Crisis for the Ross Food bank.
Aisle Community Lunches are cancelled for the time being The meals are cooked by Woods of Whitchurch.
Good Neighbour Coffee morning is at the Memorial Hall but has had to be cancelled for the time being.
Tea and Chat for Knitters and Natterers is held on Thursdays from 2 – 4pm. This is open to all and a warm welcome awaits you. Cancelled at the moment
Whitchurch Floral Society.
The Floral Society usually meets on the second Wednesday of the month in The Old Court. Annual Membership is £30 , Guests £5 per meeting. Open evenings: Guests £8. All are very welcome when we reconvene and see our varied and interesting programme. Details from Pauline Curtis 01989 768400.
Sticky Little Fingers, a morning for parents and pre-school children, usually each Tuesday at the Memorial Hall from 10.00am- 12. More details from Sue 890981. Unfortunately cnacelled for the time being. Please keep in touch by sending your news
BINGO
Bingo The next eyes down has been cancelled.
MEMORIAL HALL ACTIVITIES
The memorial Hall hope to re open on 5th July
Flicks in The Sticks has been cancelled
Judo and Ballet cancelled
Jazz
Unfortunatley is now cancelled for 2020
Whitchurch and Ganarew LHS
The main meeting of the month the Annual General Meeting has been cancelled . We would love to welcome a few new members at that meeting, subscription £10 for the year. Members get the benefit of reduced costs at talks, first offer of places on visits and a chance to get involved as much or as little as you wish on projects such as refurbishment of telephone boxes, research for exhibitions -this year “1960’s Whitchurch and Ganarew “.
Introduction to 2020 Scrapbook: ‘A Slice of Life in Whitchurch & Ganarew’
Despite the lockdown, for the last few months WAG Local History Society has not been idle, but members have been working from home to compile a Scrapbook describing life in the Whitchurch & Ganarew parish in 2020 (coronavirus notwithstanding).
The idea came from a document from 1965, when the (then) Whitchurch Women’s Institute compiled a scrapbook of local life as part of a national competition, inspired by the W.I. jubilee celebrations. This is now stored and available for public viewing at Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre (HARC), but you can see a copy of it on the WAG website (www.wagshistory.com), courtesy of Peter Hunt. The 1965 version focussed on the lifestyles of the inhabitants and provided a very local record of life and events.
Among WAG’s objectives are the aims to encourage interest in local history and to create and preserve historical records for posterity. It seemed that to prepare a comparable but up-to-date version of the Scrapbook would fall under these objectives. So, the intention of this 2020 digital version, 55 years on from the original Scrapbook, is to follow and extend some of the original themes using 2020 technology and format.
We are hoping to mount an exhibition of the 1965 scrapbook at the Memorial Hall when circumstances allow. In the meantime, in July we will be launching online our 2020 scrapbook. So please look out for the posters and leaflets about the scrapbook or keep checking our website. Then you can see if your view of village life matches our descriptions
STOP PRESS NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE
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