WHITCHURCH
Correspondent: Jenny Sparkes jandjsparkes@btinternet.com
Aisle Community lunchs are on June 11th and 25th at 12 noon at St Dubricius. The meals are cooked by Woods of Whitchurch. Come and join us. To book ring 01600 890397.
Good Neighbour Coffee mornings
Are held in the Memorial Hall. There will be one on June 6th at 10.30. On June 20th
we are having a lunch at 12noon. To book
for lunch contact Sue Morris 01600 890981. We look forward to you joining us.
‘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.
Whitchurch Floral Society
Summer party will start with a visit to Church Cottage, Hentland on Wednesday 13th June. The garden is open under the NGS scheme and entry is £3. Following this we will go on to the home of Dr and Mrs Smith in Peterstow for afternoon tea.
BNG IOBingo at the Old Court is on Tuesday June 5th at 7.30pm.
MEMORIAL HALL ACTIVITIES Comedy On Friday June 1st we present an evening of live drama fromMonmouth’s Off Centre Theatre. This will be OCT’s third visit to the Hall and they never fail to delight our audiences. They will perform “Secretarial Skills” a comedy by Peter Quilter which won Best Actor and Best Production runner up in the recent Herefordshire Drama Festival Competition. There will also be three small playlets entitled Shoppers: Carrots: Peas and two small sketches, again very funny. Pay on the door or reserve places by phone Ring 890943 or 890640. Entry £10 to include a hot drink or squash.
The fun begins at 7.30pm, Doors open from 7pm. Licensed Bar.
Date for your Diary
Saturday July 14th sees the welcome return of New Orleans Jazz. Ring Colin for more info.890640.
Tickets £15 to include a light supper.
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