Have you heard what's happening?

• A time for me, a time to reflect and to re-focus
• There were no expectations of me although I had no idea what to expect
• It was the first time in a while that I had really connected with what spirituality is for me
• I just somehow felt calmer...There's something about the simplicity of this time that clarified things for me

Over the last two or three years we have been fortunate at St. John's in being able to keep the number of Trebles 'on the books' at about the twenty mark. This has been largely due to relatively large intakes during 2008 and 2009 with very few losses.

We are now facing a situation where we shall be losing members because of a multitude of reasons including families moving from Knaresborough, boys changing voices and some older members devoting more time to other interests and studies.

The choir has for a long time been known for the excellence of its front line and this has been particularly true during the last three or four years.

Although both George and Lauren have been splendidadditions to the choir they are the only two recruits from the last academic year, whereas experience dictates that we ought toaim for eight to maintain numbers, never mind standards. We therefore have to regain some ground here.

I am hoping to make my usual round of the Primary Schools in the next few weeks but would be grateful for help. If you have children, grand-children, nephews, neices or know any youngsters between the ages of 7 and 11 (although any candidates may well be considered) please would you kindly encourage them and point them in my direction via my contact numbers 01423 864626 or 07761501819

 

Richard Darke.

For more information about the Choir, please visit our web-site www.stjohnschoir.org.uk

 

 

Things Past

The Big Coffee Morning

 

Losing lbs for £'s

Between 1st of February and 1st August 2011 our curate Rev'd Darryl Hall decided to loose weight in order to raise money for Holy Trinity's heating fund. On the 1st of February Darryl weighed in at 16st 7lbs on the 1st of August he weighed in at 14 stone exactly. He was hoping to reach 13 stone by the 1st August but maintains that he will carry on with his weight loss until he reaches his goal.

Before

After

'Many thanks to everyone who sponsored me, because of your generosity Holy Trinity now have over £1'500 to put in their heating fund.'

 

Holy Trinity's Summer Strawberries

17th July 2011

 

Thanks to everyone who supported our 'Summer Strawberries'. Even the rain couldn't dampen our spirits! A fabulous time was had by all... watch out Betty's! Special thanks to Brian and Dot for their kind hospitality and fabulous eats. We made £348 for our heating fund. Well done everyone!

Cheers,
Esther

 

Click on this link to see the Great Knaresborough Bed Race

http://www.knaresboroughanglicanteam.org.uk/a-look-back-at-2010/bed-race-training.php

On this page there is a video clip of the Bed Race from about 1968

and a video clip of the 2011 Bed Race

as well as memoirs of actually training and running the race myself in 2010

 

 

Knaresborough also enjoyed being filmed by Songs of Praise in 2010

Click on this link to see the videos

http://www.knaresboroughanglicanteam.org.uk/songs-of-praise-comes-to-knaresborough/

 

Holy Trinity Garden Party 5^th June

 

Holy Trinity was the place to be on Sunday 5^thof June as friends old and new sampled the delights of our annual Garden Party. We were blessed with sunshine for the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, with prizes awarded by our Mayor and Mayoress, Andrew and Christine Willoughby. Congratulations to the favoured teddies! No one went hungry thanks to a wonderful array of cakes and savouries created by the bakers and confectioners of our congregation and pals. Prizes galore were to be had from the raffle, tombola and bottle tombola; well done to the lucky winners. The bric a brac, books and preserves almost flew off the stalls, whilst the wonderful aroma from handmade lavender bags and sleep pillows added a touch of relaxation to the proceedings. Outside fun was to be had with the Hearing Dogs (and their people!), Ralph’s plant stall, the outdoor games and, last but never least, the bouncy castle! Together we raised the grand total of £1,013 and had a lot of laughs. Thank you to everyone who came and supported this event, and looking forward to seeing you next year!

Esther x

 

 

The Parish Ladies

 

The Parish Ladies are a group of ladies from local Anglican churches who meet once a month. Our usual meetings include a speaker - the subjects vary from travel, interesting people and places to Egyptian and oriental dancing. In December we have a Christmnas Party which is held in St John's Church Hall, but we have outside catering. In the summer there is an outing, always with an eye to our variable summer weather, to a place of interest. The Annual General Meeting, in July, when we have a DIY supper(usually brilliant) is the last meeting until September. We welcome visitors on a single visit and I can be contacted on 01423 864662.

 

Mona Lunn.

 

2011 Parish Ladies Summer Outing

 

 

 

 

It didn’t rain all the time!   We left Knaresborough on time, and being asked by our driver, Harry, we opted to go via Sutton Bank. (We actually met an illegal caravan coming down).   Arriving in good time, our party of 31 was split into two parties to tour the Hall.   Although the Worsley family have owned the estate since 1563, the present Hall was built  by Thomas Worsley, the sixth Thomas, called Thomas the Builder.   He began work in 1750, building to his own design.   Besides architecture, his other passion was horses, and  he was described as one of the finest horsemen in Europe.    He trained horses in the style of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.   His idea was to build a grand stable block and then a new house.   However he could not afford both, so Hovingham Hall is the only House in England designed as a house and as a stable.   That this was not the best idea in the world soon became apparent and it was not long before new stables were built further away from the Hall.

He became a close friend of George III and was appointed Surveyor-general of the Office of Works, responsible for all royal building.  Many of the picture frames in the Hall have the extended corners and are know as furniture frames, and these were gifts from George III.   (Was he clearing out his attic?)   But even the handsome salary from this appointment was not enough to allow him to complete the Hall.   A South wing was added, but not a North wing. a;Hall. Due to the death of his eldest son before him, his second son Edward, succeeded him and little was done to the Hall.   His son William who inherited in 1830 overhauled the house, refurbishing some of the rooms, without substantially altering the work of his Grandfather, Thomas.   He was created baronet in 1838, and it was during his lifetime that cricket was first played at Hovingham, certainly since 1858.   The village team still plays there on Saturday afternoons.  His great grandson, another William, captained the Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1928 and 1929 and was for many  years President of the Club.   Some cricket memorabilia were on show together with a photograph, dating from before World War II, showing many well-known cricketers. 

On our tour of the Hall there were reminders of the connections with Oliver Cromwell, whose great-granddaughter married the fifth Thomas Worsley.   The day of our visit was the Golden Anniversary of the  Wedding of  Sir William’s only daughter, Katherine to HRH the Duke of Kent in 1961.   This wedding was great occasion for Yorkshire as it took place at York Minster.

While we were having our lunch, ham salad with new potatos and apple pie and cream, there was a heavy shower, but it cleared off and the sun came out for us to enjoy a visit to the church, or the Hall gardens.   These are not extensive, but very pleasant, and the great yew hedge of truly remarkable proportions,  planted by Thomas the Builder, still shelters the cricket pitch.

We scrambled into our bus just in time to avoid another shower and returned to Knaresborough via Ampleforth and Coxwold.

The next meeting of the Parish Ladies is on Wednesday 6^thJuly, in St. John’s Hall at 7.30p.m   this is our Annual General Meeting  and we will have our usual shared supper and raffle.   This is the last meeting before our new season in September.