It was a bright sunny Spring morning. The Church looked sparkling after its spring clean and the Charlton Flower Ladies surpassed themselves with multiple beautiful flower arrangements, mostly with flowers from our own gardens. Some of the congregation dressed in bonnets and top hats, which gave a Victorian feel to the proceedings.Bishop Andrew led the Communion Service, assisted by our Rector, Revd Ruth. John Glen MP and Col James Arkell, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, read the lessons, and Shelagh Lamb played the organ perfectly. One of the hymns we sang, For All Thy Saints Still Striving, was written by Horatio, 3rd Earl Nelson, who was the main benefactor of All Saints’ Church and comes from the Sarum Hymnal, which he compiled.Our anniversary service was also the last service in the Diocese at which Bishop Andrew presided, before moving on to become Bishop of St Albans. We presented him with gifts of local milk and local honey from the Chalke Valley.After the service, Bishop Andrew cut the birthday cake, and then tea, coffee and cake were served to everyone in the marquee in the churchyard. Our three dignitaries stayed to talk to villagers, and to look over the small display in the Church, which aimed to give a flavour of life in the Salisbury area in 1851, and to outline the history of the creation of All Saints’.It was a splendid occasion, as you can see from the photographs ably taken and donated by Mike Couchman, to whom we are very grateful.
In common with many villages in the South West, Charlton All Saints "has some flooding issues". The image above shows the Church and Churchyard from the Lychgate in the early morning sunshine, on a rare day when it didn't rain.Despite the wet, the Church is open every day from 9am - 5pm, and we will have our last Evensong on Sunday 8 February at 4.30pm regardless! Please use the vestry entrance or the kissing gate on Church Lane. We look forward to welcoming you.
The Lover & Downton Repair Cafe continues to go from strength to strength. Download this month's newsletter to see what the members have been up to and to see their mended items for sale.#ecochurch
A Christmassy All Saints' Church provided the backdrop for the annual Downton Band Christmas Concert. Villagers gathered to enjoy Christmas music old and new, including the medieval "Gaudete", "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" from the 1950s and from 1989 was "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Medley". The Band took requests for Christmas carols from the audience, and everyone joined in these well loved tunes. There was even some lively participation in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"!During the interval, there was the traditional raffle, along with mulled wine and mince pies. A retiring collection was shared between the Band and the upkeep of the Church, and gifts were collected for the women and children at the Women's Refuge.A great time was had by all! We're already looking forward to next year's concert.
