| Chimes July August

News From Halstock Church

St Juthware Festival Concert
Many weeks of hard work and preparation culminated in the wonderful summery evening concert on Saturday 22nd July in aid of the Church roof. Early arrivals to the Churchyard were greeted by the lovely sight of the Toller Down Stave Dancers in traditional attire and graceful movement - very well done, see you again sometime!

In the Church, the first half of the evening was given over to a specially written play based on a passage from Hardy's "Under the Greenwood Tree" concerning the introduction of the organ, which brought about the demise of the west gallery quire (see poem). Special thanks for this must go to John Dearlove and Gini Astley for writing and producing the play, and to all who took part (some reluctantly!) - especially the children, who read the pieces of poetry so beautifully. The costumes and characters all looked great, and can I shave off my Victorian whiskers now? Incidentally, our old organ really does date from this period.

The July weather was such that in the interval, everyone moved outside to the Churchyard again for wine, strawberries and cream, and a good natter. It was almost a shame to go back in!

The second half of the concert exposed yet more local talent, this time of the musical sort, with Gini and Florence Astley performing a Bach sonata on flute and harp (the most beautiful sound many of us had ever heard!), then a flute/recorder quartet performed Playford's "All in a Garden Green", followed by Dave and Prima Wright with Gershwin's "Summertime". Eloise and Adele Jakeman joined forces with Sharon Bowditch for three trio pieces - Faure's "Pavane", the "Dance of the Hours", and a jazzy interlude, before the "House Band" - the Halstock Church music group - closed the concert with Lennon & McCartney's timeless ballad "Here, There and Everywhere" and the lively Caribbean jazzer, Sonny Rollins' "St Thomas".

All in all a wonderful evening, and most special thanks goes to Yvonne Stephenson for coordinating the event, to those who helped with the food and wine, and to the flower arrangers, who made the Church look such a picture!

St Juthware Festival Service
By contrast with the packed church for the concert, the Sunday evening service was poorly attended, but Graham delivered a fine sermon linking the legend of St Juthware with the hardships faced by the disciples, reminding us that life in Christ is not always an easy path.

The Serpent and the Organ
(as told by Dick Dewey)
(Based on the play by John Dearlove and Gini Astley...
...based on "Under the Greenwood Tree" by Thomas Hardy)

I sit in the panelled pew,
For scribbling and for scribing,
While all around the seats fill up -
The masses are arriving.

The candle's lit, the play begins,
And I am all down-hearted.
My book, whilst good, was also harsh.
The publishers rejected.

Wise words now from Kipling's pen
From father and from son.
"A Psalm is what he needs" they said,
So it's the "Old One-Hun"

We sing to Lord with cheerful voice,
But Vicar has a plan
To introduce new teacher
To a wealthy farming man.

Rehearsal's over, so we sing
A popular old rant.
The pretty teacher's shown around
And shakes my trembling hand.

And then, outside, the sweetest thing -
A scene you all did miss -
The children tagging in the churchyard,
Innocent as bliss.

Back now for the next rehearsal,
Organ gets a blow;
Rebellion is in the air
And we all make it known!

The pretty teacher's dainty fingers
Dance across the keys,
But wait - the quire has its turn;
Blake's words we sing with ease.

The congregation must decide -
The organ or the band?
All must choose - Churchwarden counts
Each and every hand.

The quire wins, but organ stays,
The vote the Vicar spurned.
Old music, fiddles and traditions,
Sadly overturned.