What a glorious few days we have just had!  As it becomes warmer, we also seem to get busier – and hotter!

There is a lot going on in the church – as usual.  We are preparing for the Bishop’s visit on the 1st June.  We are delighted that he can stay for lunch after the service and hope that many of you will be able to do so too.  I know the Bishop is keen to meet parishioners wherever he goes – he can see the clergy any time!  So, if you would like to come and meet him over lunch then please give your name to Stephen Starr (01249 821325).

And then we move towards the end of the month and the Open Gardens and Flower Festival commemorating World War 1.  At 6pm on the Sunday (29th) there will be a special Songs of Praise evening service.  If you have any favourite hymns then do let me know.  If I receive lots of suggestions then I will narrow the choices down to the ones most requested.

One of the projects at the moment is to assess the support of the community for a set of 8 bells to be hung in Christ Church.  Again, just in case you don’t know, the sound from bell practices will be muted by technical controls that will be built into the tower when the bells are hung.

As it stands at the moment we have three bells assured – one by the Keltek Trust, one by our own Derry Hill School and Rub-a-Dub, and one by the Calne Area Board.  If you would like to sponsor a bell or have a share in one then do get in touch with Ian Willox (01249 811653) or Ken Webb (01249 760682) to find out how!

One of the ways the community can help is also through providing carpentry skills.  We are hoping to have a number of carpenters who may be able to work together on the tower.  The money saved would be counted in the 10% of the cost of the bells project that the villagers need to raise in order to secure 90% from elsewhere.  So, if you can, please talk to Ian or Ken about how to help on this community project.

Lastly, whilst you are relaxing, hopefully in the summer sun, there is a question for you!  We would like to know whether you support the project, don’t mind one way or the other, or are excited by the prospect of bells ringing!  Please let us know!

With love
Reverend Ann