Author: Pauline

St Giles Services February 2023 (and Christmas report)

Church services in February

  • Sunday 5th         11am             Service of The Word
  • Sunday 12th       6.30pm         Evensong
  • Sunday 19th      11am.              Holy Communion
  • Sunday 26th    9.30am           Holy Communion

Christmas Report

Christmas was a busy and happy time for all involved in the church. It started with our festival of Christmas Trees, a project devised and driven by Wendy Miers. As we have on our doorsteps an ancient woodland, Wendy named the exhibition, ‘The Magic of Dallington Forest’. The idea was that those in the village who cared to join in would decorate a tree in whichever way they chose and the enthusiastic response delighted Wendy and all those fortunate to enjoy the display. So on Friday, December 16th the church was a hive of industry and before our eyes a forest of trees appeared, decorated with diverse themes and all lit up with twinkling lights.
The next day, December 17th, there was a coffee morning and an opportunity for visitors to come and enjoy the sight.
The final glory was a tall and beautiful tree very kindly given to the church by Jon Avery.
Now the scene was set for the Carol Service on December 18th. This as always took the form of the old, old story being told in the reading of Nine Lessons and carols. One could never tire of hearing these words.
Afterwards wine and mince pies and much looking at the trees.
December 24th, and in the wind and pouring rain, we made our way to the church to celebrate Midnight Mass. The service was led by the Rector, the Reverend Marc Lloyd, to whom we give grateful thanks for starting a busy Christmas  marathon with us.
On the first of January we had the pleasure of welcoming the Reverend Tony Cannon. We thanked him for leading a service of Holy Communion to start our year.
Lastly, and to wind up our Christmas celebrations, on January 6th Marc held a short service for Epiphany. Coffee and cakes beforehand and decorations down afterwards, but in a brief interlude Marc read the wonderful story by T.S. Eliot of ‘The journey of The Magi’ and now everyone had arrived in Bethlehem.

posted on behalf of Bobbie Steel

Events in Dallington over the next few days

(Posted on behalf of Jane Messer)

Are you feeling at a loose end after the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Grey skies getting you down? All the more reason to come and join your fellow villagers for this week’s events (and if you know someone who’s on their own or doesn’t see online alerts, do encourage them to come along too.)  There will be plenty more going on in Dallington in 2023 so keep an eye out for future announcements.

  • On Friday 6th January: 
    It’s your last chance to see our lovely Christmas tree festival in St Giles Church. Join us for coffee and home made cake or other refreshments from 10am, followed by a short service celebrating Epiphany – the visit of the wise men to Jesus. (And afterwards, any volunteers to help dismantle the Christmas decorations in the church would be gratefully received).

Please note that the date given in the parish magazine and Messenger (Thursday 5th January) is incorrect. Our apologies if this causes you a diary clash but we hope to see you on Friday.

  • On Saturday 7th January: 
    Library Café from 10am to 12 noon in the Old School Village Hall. Do bring any books that you no longer wish to keep and browse our bookshelves for replacements, or just have a chat with neighbours over tea, coffee and homemade cake or other refreshments.

It’s the 150th anniversary this month of the opening of the hall extension, now the Billiard Room, so you can also  take part in a free competition to see how many balls you can pot in 10 minutes (no previous experience needed!)

  • Sunday 9th January:
    6.30pm Evensong in St Giles Church
  • Monday 11th January (and every Monday)
    Art Club 10-12, Old School Village Hall
    Library Café 2-4pm, Old School Village Hall

Book now for the Wild About Dark Skies Festival February 2023

(Posted on behalf of Doug Edworthy) December 2022

Poster showing two people pointing up at night sky. Text in blog postBookings are now open for the Wild About Dark Skies Festival

Wild About Dark Skies Festival events – 18 – 26 February 2023 – across the High Weald are free to attend. These include planetarium shows, astronomy demonstrations, special guest speakers, dark skies walks, light pollution workshops, dark skies storytelling for children, and much more. But to make sure we can accommodate you all, it is important you book in advance to secure your place, for you and your family.

So, check out the Wild About Dark Skies events in your local area and book your place on Eventbrite – see the High Weald AONB website (www.highweald.org/wildaboutdarkskies)

If you would like to print off and display this newsletter  please download via this link wild_about_dark_skies_festival#2

Wild About Dark Skies Festival 2023 – in association with High Weald AONB and kindly supported by Sussex Lund.

The Wild About Dark Skies Festival is a collaboration between local Wild About groups in Battle, Burwash, Crowhurst, Ticehurst and Wadhurst; East Sussex and Wadhurst Astronomical Societies; High Weald AONB Partnership; International Dark Skies and Dark Sky Lighting. It is kindly supported by Sussex Lund.

The Beacon is loaded….

Snowy field showing beacon in background The Beacon is loaded and rain protected ready for next Wednesday’s Winter Solstice event.

This will take place at the Dallington Recreation Ground  (Sugar Loaf Field) on the Battle Road, 21st December 7.00 onwards, mulled wine and food before we light the beacon (full details in our earlier post).

Thanks to Nick Harding for the loading and the photos . Hope to see many of you there.

Dallington Village Christmas Lunch 15th December

Image of poster - all text in webpageYou are invited to join other local friends and neighbours at the

Dallington Village
Christmas Lunch
Thursday 15th December 2022
12 noon for 12:30(ish)
At Dallington Old School Village Hall

  • Tickets £10 for a 3 course Christmas lunch, including soft drinks & coffee
  • Please bring a Secret Santa gift costing under £2 & your own alcohol if wanted
  • There will be a post box available for your village Christmas cards
  • For tickets and further information (and to specify any dietary requirements or to offer any assistance) please contact Jane Messer before 8th December on 07766 434847 or janepalma2015@gmail.com

If you would like to print out a copy of the flyer to share, please use this link Village Christmas Lunch 2022 flier

New Survey of Plants in Dallington Forest SSSI finds two species missing

(Posted on behalf of Doug Edworthy)

During 2022 a survey of vascular plants was conducted in the beautiful Dallington Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which straddles the parishes of Brightling and Dallington.

Originally surveyed and designated a SSSI way back in 1953 when regionally and nationally rare species: Wood Fescue, Hay-scented Buckler-fern, Cornish Moneywort, and Ivy-leaved Bellflower were found, there had been no systematic survey or recording since then.

So, funded by the Peter Smith Charitable Trust, this last Spring and Summer three separate surveys were undertaken to discover how many species were still present. The results were interesting in that a total of 48 ancient woodland indicator species were found, but disappointing in that two of the rare species now appear to be extinct in the SSSI.

Visit the Dallington Forest Project website to learn more. The survey report and data can be found at https://dallingtonforest.uk/plants/

“Tree-hugger”

St Giles Services December 2022

(Posted on behalf of Bobbie Steel)

Services and other events in St Giles in December 2022

Sunday December 4th.           11am.              Service of The Word
11th.           6.30pm.        Evensong
18th.         6.30 pm.       Carol Service
Christmas Eve         24th.          11.30pm.      Midnight Mass
Sunday January.       1st.             11am.            Service of The Word

There is to be a celebration of Christmas Trees in the church. Local groups and individuals are invited to decorate a tree in any way they choose, to remember loved ones, celebrate a special occasion or simply for the joy of taking part. Wendy Miers will be able to give more information. On Saturday December 17th there will be a coffee morning and it is hoped that lots of visitors will come and enjoy seeing the decorations in the church.
The next day, Sunday December 18th, there will be more hospitality after the Carol Service with mince pies and wine.
The Reverend Marc Lloyd will officiate at the Midnight Service starting at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.
On January 5th Twelth  Night will be marked with coffee and cakes, followed by a short service after which the Christmas decorations will be taken down.

St Giles November 2022

November

Sunday.  6th.      11am.                             Service of The Word
13th.    10.50 am for 11am.   Remembrance
20th.   11am.                             Holy Communion
27th.   9.30am.                       Holy Communion

On October 2nd we celebrated Harvest Festival. The Rector, Reverend Marc Lloyd led the service and the church was beautifully dressed with flowers and harvest produce. A good congregation were ready to give thanks and sing the lovely, well-known hymns. And then the music computer started to make the most alarming noise and had to be turned off. Fortunately there were enough voices to sing unaccompanied, “Come, ye thankful people” and
“We plough the fields”.
After the service we shared Harvest supper with neighbours and friends. It was very much enjoyed and I have been asked by a number of those present to thank the cooks. Donations for the Hailsham Food Bank raised a good sum and this has been sent with our love and best wishes.

The hon. Treasurer, Douglas Sewell, having looked after the church finances for a number of years, has given notice of his retirement. We now need to look for someone to fill this post. If anyone would like to know more perhaps they could talk to Douglas who can outline what is involved. 01435 830304.
Bobbie Steel.

Friday’s Messenger Party (&AGM) starts at 7pm

Cover of Messenger MagazinePlease note that the Messenger Magazine Party will start at 7:00 pm this Friday 30 September 2022. This is a correction to the start time in the previous announcement on this web site. The meeting is in Brightling Village Hall. 

ALL readers of the Messenger Magazine are warmly invited. There will be FREE DRINKS (alcoholic and soft) and nibbles. This is primarily a social occasion – an opportunity to have a relaxing chat with neighbours and others in Brighling, Dallington, Mountfield, Netherfield. It is also our AGM (annual General Meeting) so there will be some brief formalities (very brief, we promise!) including electing the committee that runs the magazine between parties (sorry, AGMs), and an opportunity to discuss the magazine if you want, and perhaps make suggestions for making it even better.The committee hopes that as many people as possible will come. It’s an opportunity to show your support for the magazine (if you like it) or tell us what’s wrong (if you dont like it!) – or just a relaxing evening with a glass of wine or something. See you on Friday.