ChadNet – no 330

ChadNet – no 330 – Sunday 19th July 2026

ChadNet - the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull

Welcome to this week’s edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.

In this week’s ChadNet:

View from the Pews

Clive Pendrell

Life as Churchwarden

I became Churchwarden in 2020 when the Covid restrictions were still in place, and the Church was preparing for the retirement of Revd. Maureen Hobbs the following year. I shared the Churchwarden role for the first year with Gena Richards and I was very fortunate in that she was always very helpful and patient when I kept asking questions!

Around the time that Revd. Maureen retired, and the Covid restrictions were lifted, Dorothy Steel took over from Gena as my fellow Churchwarden. At that time, I remember thinking it was important to demonstrate that the church was open, and visitors were welcome again, so Dorothy and I started standing outside the main door on a Sunday morning to greet people as they arrived. It proved to be a great way of getting to know people and their families and is something that we continue to do to this day.

Dorothy and I shared the various Churchwarden duties between us and one of my responsibilities was arranging cover for services during the interregnum. I suddenly found myself speaking to Vicars, Rural Deans and even Archdeacons on occasions, and they were all very helpful. I recall we relied heavily on Revd. James Makepeace during the early months of the interregnum, and the church will always be eternally grateful for the work that he did as well as his experience and advice.

Another person who assisted me in the role was our then Reader – Ken Scott. I remember one Sunday when we had a baptism booked and the Vicar didn’t turn up as they had been double booked. With 5 minutes to go I found Ken, and doing my best Corporal Jones impression said, ‘We’ve got a baptism with 60 guests in attendance, and the vicar hasn’t turned up – don’t panic!’

Ken said his Reader licence allowed him to do baptisms in an emergency so with no notice or preparation he put on his robes and took the service including the baptism. Afterwards, when the parents said it had all been lovely I just said, ‘You’re welcome’ and looked heavenward.

Another day, when I was working from home, I answered the phone to hear someone say that they were standing in church and rainwater was cascading in through the roof! It transpired that thieves had stolen the lead from the roof the night before and rain was pouring in so there were a lot of buckets and mops in use that weekend until a temporary repair could be arranged.

The interregnum meant that we didn’t have a Vicar but there were still things like weddings, baptisms and funerals to be arranged. These events are obviously very important to people, and I always felt privileged in conjunction with Gena Richards, to be able to reassure people in these circumstances and help ensure that things went smoothly.

Another part of my role as Churchwarden was helping to arrange the Familiarisation Day as part of the interview process for a new vicar. I wanted to emphasise to the candidates that our PCC and congregation would be looking to support them in their plans for our church, rather than offering stubborn resistance as sometimes happens, and I feel we achieved this on the day.

One prayer that we say during communion includes the words ‘when we still far off’ and at that moment I often think back to when it looked as though we wouldn’t get a vicar and how concerning it was. Fortunately, we all persevered and our efforts were rewarded when Revd, Merry Smith was appointed in 2025. She has been a real inspiration since she started, and the church continues to grow and prosper as a result.

It has been a privilege to be a Churchwarden of St. Chad’s, and I feel as though I’ve had encouragement and support from everyone connected to the church at different times, including some people who have sadly passed away since 2020. I would like to express my gratitude to you all.

My replacement as Churchwarden is Barbara Dias and I’m now looking forward to working with her and mirror the help that I received from people such as Dorothy Steel and Gena Richards when I started.

Clive Pendrell

(As always this View is the personal view of the author.)

Would you like to write a View from the Pews?

We welcome contributions for View from the Pews from anyone who would like to write one. It does not need to be on any particular subject. If you would like to write one please send it to or contact Henry Ibberson ( / 01902 701136).

.Contacts

The Vicar’s post is half time so Merry will not be working every day. Her usual working days are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday but this is subject to change. Her phone number is 07486 066065 and her email address is  When she is not working she will not normally answer the phone, listen to messages or respond to emails. 

Calls to  the old phone number (01902 700257) are forwarded to Merry’s phone.

Emails to will be received by the churchwardens.

Contact details for church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website. You can use if you are nore sure who to contact and the churchwardens will be able to forward it to the correct person.

Notices, which should be received by Friday afternoon for inclusion in that week’s ChadNet, and other communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to

Articles for the magazine should be sent to 

Sunday 19th July – Seventh Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a service led by the Youth Group in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Lin Vawer, to which you are all most welcome. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be a service of Evensong, led by Iain Coleman, in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who are in residential care.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Paul, Pendeford.

This week

The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.

On Tuesday the Prayers for Peace Group meets in church at 6 pm. Please do join us and if you would like more information please contact Mary Hayward ().

On Tuesday evening there is a PCC meeting in church.

On Wednesday at 10.00 am there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer, led by Revd Paul Brown, in church which will be followed by tea, coffee and cake.

After the service the church will be open from 10.30 am until at least 11.00 am as a Place of Welcome when anyone who wants to will be welcome to share in the coffee, cake and chat, whether they have been to the service or not. Those attending will receive a warm welcome.

On Wednesday at 12 noon Who’s for Lunch? is held in the Village Hall.

There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week. They are taking their summer break and will next meet in September. For more information contact Alix at .

At 7 pm on Wednesday Choir Practice takes place in church. Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact Martin Fox or any member of the choir.

Sunday 26th July – Eighth Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be an All Age Communion Service, led by the Vicar. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who work in care homes or care for people in their own homes.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Anne, Lower Penn.

Wednesday morning coffee and cake

Due to unforeseen circumstances we are short of people to do coffee and cake after Communion on Wednesday mornings. July is covered but if anyone could help during August and September there is a rota up in the kitchen to which you can add your name.

We are a small but regular Congregation and coffee and chat after the Service is such an important part of fellowship and is open to all, whether they have been to the service or not.

Thank you
Mary Hayward

Part Time Administrator

St Chad’s Church, Pattingham requires an administrator to support the Church and the Parochial Church Council in their mission.

We are looking for someone; with good communication skills; who is proficient in using computer office applications, Social Media, Google calendar and can interact well in person and on the phone.

Part time: 10 hours per week (Competitive rate of pay)

Closing date for applications: 24th July 2026

Interviews: Taking place in the second week in August 2026

More information and an application form are on this page of the church website.

Poppy Participants – Coffee/Tea & Cake

An Invitation to all Poppy participants to Coffee/Tea & Cake in Church on Saturday 8th August from 10 am to midday. A chance to meet up and have a get together and a little thank you for all your hard work. (Please let Tracey know if you can make it).

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well

All donations are welcome but, in particular, our top needs are:

  • Meat soup
  • Tinned tomatoes
  • Tinned peas
  • Jam/marmalade
  • Sugar

Thank you for your continued support.

If you wish to know more about the work of The Well, or would like to know how you can support it in other ways, do connect via their website, where you can sign up to the newsletter and link to their Social Media pages: <www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk>

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer 

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church

Lord, as doubt and the perplexity of daily life
become even more confusing and uncertain,
thank you for being always present and gently
guiding and protecting me.
Thank you for family and friends who continue to
Love, support and encourage me without judgement
or disdain.
I pray that I may always be aware of your loving, guiding
Presence in this life and that I will come to meet with you in the next.
Amen

(This prayer was taken from “Share a Prayer” for Dementia Awareness week 2023. Prayer written by Ann Shepherd, a Deacon in the Methodist Church who lives with dementia.)

If you would like to suggest (or write) a prayer for inclusion in this series please let Tracey Williams, our Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator, know.

From the Memorial Book

Those whose  anniversaries occur between 12th and 26th July.

Jennifer Anne Baxter – 14th July 2007
Henry Charles Peever – 15th July 1991
Charles Herbert James Gosling – 16th July 1989
Florence Gladys Roberts – 17th July 1998
George Derek Thomason – 21st July 1990
Agnes Victoria Louise Fellows – 23rd July 1992
John Walker – 23rd July 2023

You can see all the pages of the Memorial Book on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.

Giving to the church

Details of the various ways in which you can give can be found on the Giving page of the website.

You can make a bank transfer to our bank account (Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 Account No: 50655023).

If you are paying by cheque please make the cheque payable to “Pattingham PCC” or “Pattingham Parochial Church Council“.

JustGiving

We have a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at <https://www.justgiving.com/page/pattingham-church-jg>. You will be asked if you want to make a contribution on top of your donation. If you do it will go to JustGiving and not to charity. If you do not want to make such a contribution select “other”. If you are a taxpayer please consider gift aiding your donation.

ChadNet

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 162 subscribers but there may still  be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive it. The weekly bulletin for each Sunday will normally be sent on the preceding Friday or Saturday. Additional bulletins may be sent if required. It is only being sent to those who have requested it.

If you know of anyone who might be interested please tell them about it and ask them to sign up using the form on the website (www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/sign-up-to-chadnet/) or by email to

St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604