Horningsea

St Peter’s Church Horningsea
Services for December 2016

Sunday 11 December at 6pm: Candlelit Carol Service – arrive early!

Sunday 18 December –
at 9am: Holy Communion
at 11am: Nativity with games, songs and prayers, followed by lunch
at 11.30am: Bring and share lunch – all welcome

Sunday 25 December at 9.30am: Christmas Day Communion with Carols

Sunday 1 January 2017 at 9am: Joint Three Parishes communion
NB at Fen Ditton (no service in Horningsea)
Followed by a hearty walk!

Remembrance Sunday in Horningsea 13 November: 10.15 in Church and 10.45 at the war Memorial in the Jubilee Gardens

This is always a very special service as the community gathers together to remember those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and in all the subsequent conflicts.

After a short service in the church the congregation picks up the poppy wreaths from the altar and walks in silence to the Jubilee Gardens. Other people from the community may already be gathered there.

After a short prayer and the reading of the names, the last post is played and the wreaths are laid around the memorial sculpture. John Wilson has researched all those from the village who died in both world wars and he gives some family details. Our war memorial is a modern sculpture, based around a rifle and helmet found at the Somme where the battle raged 100 years ago this year.

The poppy wreaths are laid on behalf of all village groups – the Parish Council, the PCC, the HRA, 7.30 Girls, the Friends of Horningsea Church and the “veterans” – those who served during the War. Sadly Oswald, one of our last true veterans died in September, however we hope that Margaret Dorrington who worked in Downing Street for most of the war years will be able to place the wreath on behalf of the “veterans” this year. If you have never come to the Service please make an effort this year – the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

After the Service everyone is invited back to the church to warm up over a hot drink!

Heritage Open Day in St Peter’s Church – September 2016

The two themes were Horningsea in Shakespeare’s Day and Horningsea in 1766. A map of the village identified the houses that would have been standing in both those years. Visitors were surprised to see how old some of the houses were – we know that St Johns farm house was built before 1599, we know that the Bishop of Ely had given 100 shillings to build a vicarage in 1267! It was very interesting to hear from those who live in the old houses about their history. It was also fun to hear the chosen readings from Shakespeare.

The children searched the churchyard for teddies (pretending to be hedgehogs and polecats!). The bellringers demonstrated to potential recruits and quantities of tea and cakes were consumed! The afternoon concluded with Bishop David coming to present an award for the community use of the church.

A big thanks to everyone who took part.

Next year’s theme will be the Coprolite Miners’ March. Speak to Lindsay or Dave if you would like to take part – the more the merrier!