Come to our fete on Saturday, June 8th, 12-3pm, at St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, for an afternoon of games, stalls, tea, cake, prosecco, tombolas, a raffle and entertainment.
Farnham’s Town Crier will open the fete at noon, and visitors can browse the craft stalls, try their luck at the three tombolas (chocolate, bottle and household goods), play Splat the Rat, search for the hidden treasure, have a game of table football, guess the weight of the cake, raise a glass at the bar, and enjoy a barbecue lunch followed by a cream tea. There’s lots more on too, including a lucky dip for children, a craft area for little ones, a grand raffle with a first prize of £100, live music and displays by Farnham and Aldershot Karate Club, Badshot Lea Village Infant School and the Paris School of Dancing.
Welcome to the April magazine from the Parish. Inside you will find poetry, an obituary of Rev’d John Innes, news about St George’s Day and St Mark’s Day, St Gertrude, prayer, what’s on, the Church Cat, and much more, including our advertisers without whom it would be hard to publish the magazine. Please do check them out and use their services.
Sunday, March 10th is Mothering Sunday and there will be special services in all of the churches:
9.30am: St John’s, Hale; 10am: St George’s, Badshot Lea; 11am: St Mark’s, Upper Hale.
Everyone is welcome as we give thanks for all those who care and protect us. There will be refreshments and posies for everyone.
The day dates back to medieval England, and was once the time when people returned to their ‘mother church’ in their hometown during Lent. This allowed people to reconnect with their families and take a break from their daily routines. The idea was to encourage family connections and encourage them to focus on God during this time. Over time, Mothering Sunday became intertwined with the Christian liturgical calendar, and it was seen as a day to honour the Virgin Mary, often referred to as the ‘Mother of the Church’, recognising her role as Christ’s mother and a symbol of divine compassion and grace.
In modern times, Mothering Sunday in the Church of England is a time for congregations to express gratitude for the love and care provided by mothers and others who care and to recognise that God is both mother and father.
We’ve not seen much of the snow, but you can still create a snowman or two at our Snowman Drive at St George’s on Saturday, 24th February at 5.30pm.
This is a seasonal variation on a beetle drive and is a fun way to cheer up a dark winter evening. Create your snowman by rolling a die, then move move from table to table.
It’s £5 to enter, £2.50 children. Bring your own snacks and drinks. If you want a fish and chip supper this will be available for £10 but you must book ahead for this. Please also let us know if you are coming even if you don’t want supper as this will help us judge numbers. To book and/or order food, contact Kris by Wednesday, 21st February: warden.stgeorges@badshotleaandhale.org
There have been carols galore across the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale this Christmas, with more to come in the next few days.
So far, there have been three carols services, one at each church, and two outside gatherings at which carols were sung with gusto. One was on Monday, 18th, in the grounds of St George’s, under the lit trees, and the second in the new Hale Chapels Garden in the cemetery opposite St Mark’s.
The garden was opened in July this year and blessed by Bishop Christopher Herbert, and has been created using stone and many original features from the old chapels of rest in the cemetery which had fallen into disrepair. The flower beds have been planted with varieties of trees and plants which appear in the Bible and the end result is a peaceful garden which invites reflection and calm.
It was less peaceful on Wednesday, 20th, as around 70 people from across the community, including the Mayor and others from the council, sang with gusto as Rev’d Lesley Crawley led the singing, accompanied by Bob and Lesley Shatwell on violin and recorder, and Margaret Emberson on keyboard. Those three also played at St George’s on Monday.
Afterwards most people headed for St Mark’s for mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies provided by Jeanne Sanders.
It was agreed that, like the St George’s outside carol evening, this should become a regular event.
The next chance to sing carols will be at our crib services at all three churches on Christmas Eve: 3pm at St John’s; 5.30pm at St George’s; 5.30pm at St Mark’s; Plus a special Toddler Crib Service at 3pm at St George’s.
There will then be Midnight Mass at St John’s and St George’s at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning communion services at all three churches: 9.30am at St John’s; 10am at St George’s; 11am at St Mark’s.
We can never have enough carol singing! After Christmas there will be a chance to enjoy carols you may have missed at Christmas.
What are your favourite carols? Would you like to hear them sung? Vote for them and the favourites will be sung at St George’s on January 13th from 2pm.
To vote, download the form below, or pick one up at the back of church, or put the name or names of the carols on a piece of paper with your name and £1 per vote per carol, in a sealed envelope and give to your church warden by Sunday, January 7th.Â
You can vote multiple time for one carol or vote for as many carols as you want. Cheques can be made payable to Badshot Lea and Hale PCC. Even if you don’t vote just come and join the singing on 13th. It will be followed by tea, cake and a raffle.
Come and sing your favourite Christmas carols around the tree outside St George’s on Monday, December 18th, at 6pm.
Join in with all the familiar Christmas carols – Hark the Herald, O Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched and many more – to celebrate the coming of God to earth in human form in Jesus Christ.
The December/January parish magazine is now out with the usual mix of news and what is on, plus prayer and reflection. There are all our Christmas services, news of the Farnham poetry competition 2024, and events going into the new year. Please do have a read and send us your own comments, articles and reflections, and share the magazine with friends and family too.
Don’t forget our wonderful advertisers as well. If you use their services, please let them know that you saw their advert in our magazine.
To send us a comment, article, piece of news, reflection or poem, click here.
To download the magazine, click on the button below:
Remembrance Sunday is on November 12th this year and there will be services at each of the churches in the Parish – 9.30am at St John’s and 10am at St George’s. There will be an Act of Remembrance at the Hale War Memorial at 10.45am, where there will be a two-minute silence at 11am. Councillors Tony Fairclough and Sally Dickson will be attending to lay a wreath on behalf of Farnham Town Council. This will be followed by a service at St Mark’s itself.
There will also be an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Badshot Lea following the St George’s service which Councillors Mark Merryweather and Chris Jackman will be attending. Anyone wishing to attend that who has not been at the service is asked to arrive for around 10.50am.
There will also be an Act of Remembrance at Weybourne Village Hall at 4pm which Councillor Matthew Brown will be attending. This will be followed by tea in the hall.
Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 