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Could you write A Poem for Farnham?

Enter our poetry competition which is being run in conjunction with the inaugural Farnham Literary Festival which is being held across Farnham between March 5th and 13th.

Take part in the competition and you could find yourself reading your poem at a poetry evening on Saturday, March 12th at St Mark’s Church.

There is a children’s competition, open to under-16s, and an adult one, and all you have to do is write a poem about Farnham – what it means to you, what you like or dislike, what the town feels like to you, its history, its people… anything you want to write which means Farnham to you.

Then send it in to us to reach us by 5pm on Monday, February 14th. Send your entries by email to poetry@badshotleaandhale.org or by post to Poetry Competition, St Mark’s Church and Community Centre, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT.

There is no word limit, but entries should be typed, double-spaced.

The children’s poetry competition is being judged by poet Coral Rumble and the adult one by poet Ellora Sutton.

Coral Rumble is an award-winning poet specialising in writing and performing for children. She has had four poetry collections published, with Things that Should be in a Poem out soon. Her verse novel Little Light was published last year and she has also written picture books and for children’s TV. You can find her at www.coralrumble.co.uk and she tweets @RumbleCoral.

Coral Rumble

Ellora Sutton, she/her, is a queer poet, museum professional, and critic. Her work has been published in the Poetry Review, Interpreter’s House, Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, fourteen poems and Poetry News, amongst others. She reviews poetry for Mslexia. She tweets @ellora_sutton, or you can find her at ellorasutton.com.

Ellora Sutton

New Year, New Craft Market

Come to the craft market at St Mark’s this Saturday

Join us this Saturday, January 15, at St Mark’s between 10am and 2pm, for the first of this year’s monthly craft markets.

There will be pottery, soaps, glass, cards, jewellery, textiles and all manner of gifts for sale, made by local craftspeople. Browse and buy while you listen to live music, then take a look at the Kitty Milroy murals which featured on BBC TV last month. Then stop off for a hot drink, a savoury roll, cakes and biscuits.

Come and support small businesses as you shop and eat.

Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is on November 14th this year and there will be services at each of the churches in the Parish – 9.30am at St John’s, 10am at St George’s and 11.10am at St Mark’s. There will also be an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Badshot Lea following the St George’s service. Anyone wishing to attend that who has not been at the service is asked to arrive for around 10.50am.

The St Mark’s service will follow the Act of Remembrance at the Hale War Memorial at 10.45am, where there will be a two-minute silence at 11am. This will be attended by Farnham Brass Band, the Scouts and Upper Hale councillor Cllr Pat Evans, and Cllr Evans and the Scouts will then continue on to St Mark’s for a service.

Lesley Crawley will also lead an Act of Remembrance at Weybourne Village Hall at 4pm.

The Farnham Festival of Remembrance

The third Farnham Festival of Remembrance will take place this year on Saturday, November 13. Once again, because of Covid, it will be online here on the website and on Facebook from 6pm.

Among those taking part are faith leaders, the Mayor of Farnham; Alder Valley Brass; Princess of Wales Royal Regiment; Army and Air Cadets; Farnham Heath End School, Potters Gate School and the Parish Choir, and they will present a moving evening of music, poetry, reflections, prayers, hymns and readings which will pay tribute to all those who have served in times of conflict and peace.

Simon Alexander has organised the event and reminds us that while we understand that Remembrance is a time to pay tribute to all those who serve and have served to protect and defend us, that “War comes in many forms and, as such, the public service of our Armed Forces comes in many forms too. This year we have leant on the help of our military again in our time of need here at home to help us deliver essential services during the pandemic. Dedicated, agile and responsive as ever, the men and women of our Armed Forces have responded to our nation’s call.”

Our thanks go to everyone who has taken part. Please join us online for this year’s Farnham Festival of Remembrance from 6pm on November 13 here on www.badshotleaandhale.org and Facebook.

The November magazine is out!

Our November magazine is now here.

This month is reflective as we head into the season of remembrance with the Farnham Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday itself.

But there is also celebration with Kitty Milroy’s birthday communion and concert on November 7th, and exciting news of a new youth centre in Hale. There are reports from across the community, plenty of local groups and services, and information about local events.

There are also pictures of cute dogs. What more could you want?

Find it below, or pick up your copy in church. If you want it delivered let us know. Email editor@badshotleaandhale.org or call 07842761919.

Churches ring out for climate action

On the eve of #cop26🌍 the bells at St John’s, Hale, will be ringing out at 6pm tonight as part of a national church call for action on the climate emergency.

Church bells have traditionally been rung to mark significant moments, both in times of celebration, such as victory in war, and as a warning of impending danger, such as invasion. The climate crisis is one of great impending danger and the bells on the eve of the COP26 are a warning symbol, but also one of hope that the conference will lead to action.

Bishop Jo, Bishop of Dorking, explains more here:

All Souls’ services remember those we have lost

Anyone who has been bereaved in recent years is invited to join one of the special All Souls’ services on Sunday, October 31, in the churches of St John’s, Hale, St Mark’s, Upper Hale, and St George’s, Badshot Lea. The service times will be 11am at St Mark’s, 3pm at St John’s, and 6pm at St George’s.

All Souls’ Day is on Tuesday, November 2, so the churches are holding their services on the nearest Sunday to enable more people to attend.  All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, is a day of remembrance of people who have died, and the services are designed to honour them and bring comfort to the bereaved.

Anyone who would like to attend is welcome to do so and anyone who would like support following the death of a loved one is invited to contact Rev’d Lesley Crawley on 01252 820537 or revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org

Make a gnome for your home this Christmas

Move over elves on shelves, have a gnome at home this Christmas – and a home-made one at that.

There will be a gnome-making workshop at St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, Farnham, on Friday, November 12 at 7pm-9.30pm. Everything needed to make the gnomes will be provided, including instructions. The gnomes are then ideal for Christmas presents or decorations.

Bring drinks and nibbles if you wish. Tickets are £25 from Maxine.everitt@badshotleaandhale.org.

A Kitty Birthday Celebration

Come and celebrate the Kitty Milroy murals and Kitty herself at St Mark’s on November 7th at a special communion service at 11am, with the Bishop of Dorking and the mural restorers Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede, and a concert and talk at 7pm.

The now-famous murals were restored earlier this year and new lighting has been installed so that they can be seen in their full glory. They are now recognised as being of national importance and a jewel in Surrey’s crown. So, on the day before the anniversary of Kitty’s birth in 1885 and, coincidentally, her death in 1966, we want to invite everyone to St Mark’s for a celebration.

The morning celebration will be a communion service at which the Rt Rev’d Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of Dorking, will preach, and there will be a chance to hear from Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede who spent 10 weeks painstakingly restoring the murals between April and June this year. In the evening there will be music, talks on the murals and Kitty, along with refreshments and, of course, the chance to see the murals.

Everyone is welcome at both the service and the evening celebration and there will be no charge, but to keep numbers manageable, particularly in the face of Covid, the evening event will be by ticket only. To book your tickets, click here.

The murals were painted between 1911 and 1920 and depict the Annunciation – the meeting between Mary and the Angel Gabriel when Mary is told she will be the mother of Jesus – as well as scenes from the Benedicite, an ancient hymn of praise to God about the wonders of the natural world, and local views. There are figures depicting the natural elements and seasons, and the models for these figures are known to be local people. The whole is a stunning creation by a hugely talented artist and the murals and Kitty herself are finally being given the recognition they deserve.

Come and celebrate this amazingly talented artist and her work.