It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Rev'd Canon Bruce Wakeling passed away peacefully on the evening of 11th October. This news was not unexpected but is still very sad for us all. Please remember Sue, Geoff, Laura and all Bruce’s family in your prayers over the forthcoming days and weeks. We thank God for Rev Bruce’s wonderful Ministry in our Benefice since his retirement from Rushmere St Andrew - he will be greatly missed. Rev'd Bruce and Sue moved to Barham when he retired and very soon became an integral part of our Church Family in this Benefice. For the best part of 5 years of this time the Claydon Benefice has been in vacancy and Rev'd Bruce's experience and willingness to continue his ministry in retirement has been a major contributor to ongoing ministry in our Churches during those vacancies. Over recent months he has also stood in playing the organ at Barham whenever he was available. He was much loved by us all.Message to the Benefice from Bruce's wife SueThank you all more than I can say for your cards, offers of help and all the prayer support. It has been overwhelming and humbling. Bruce's funeral will be at Barham Church on Monday November 9th at 12.00 and afterwards at the Sorrel Horse to which you are all welcome. Without you it would have been much harder.With love, Sue, Geoff and Laura xxx
Late on the afternoon of 13th August a group of about 20 very hot, tired but satisfied adults were busy returning Barham Church, hall, and surrounding grounds to some semblance of normality after 70 children had left the premises to return home with their parents following a celebration service. The service marked the the end of our 38th Annual J-Team Holiday Club for Primary School aged children It was an opportunity for parents, grandparents etc to hear what their children had been doing for the past 3 days. The ear-bursting sound of 70 children shouting JESUS at the end of the the celebration service was really uplifting, if a bit of a shock to their mums and dads. It was a real achievement and a tribute to all involved that this major outreach to young people was delivered not only during a vacancy but also whilst an amber heat warning was in place. Our Church is extremely grateful to all involved for taking on this important work on behalf of us all. Thanks to their efforts and the time they gave, not only over the 3 days but during several months of preparation, 70 children went home happy, with positive thoughts about the church and a little more awareness of the Christian faith!! We are also grateful to a couple of kind benefactors from the local community whose gift of £200 enabled us to buy a range of additional outdoor games for break times and to provide much-appreciated ice creams for all children and leaders on the last afternoon. With lots of volunteer hours and a small charge per child of £16 to cover craft materials, additional portable loos etc, the holiday club is self financing. Thanks to the above gift, we were able to offer to subsidise children who would otherwise have been unable to attend due to family finances. Whilst the majority of the children come from the Parish of Claydon and Barham, J-Team attracts children from across the Claydon Benefice and from other surrounding parishes. The children are organised in three groups in separate areas of the Church and attached Church hall according to their school years and we also erect two large gala tents in the Churchyard for outside activities and shelter for lunch and break times. As the Church has been running J-Team since 1987 the longer term impact is evident as some of the parents of the children were themselves attendees when they were children and memories of J-Team often arise at both weddings and funerals.
Dear All It is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I announce I will be leaving the Claydon Benefice at the end of May to take up a new post in Norfolk. Joy at what the future holds and sadness that I must leave you all behind. My last working day will be Sunday 31st May. There will be a Benefice service at Barham Church at 10:00 am to which you are all warmly invited. I would like to stress that my leaving is absolutely nothing to do with anyone or any thing in the Benefice. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and never thought I would be leaving after only two years. My move is due to my husband, David, having a change of career which is taking us to Norfolk. I hope you will understand and forgive me for leaving so soon. I will miss you all very much. You are a great bunch of people and it’s been a privilege and a pleasure working with you. Be assured of my prayers for you all and I hope you will pray for David and I in our new home. God bless you. Revd Tracey
