ChadNet – no 212 – Sunday 14th April 2024
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 – Helen Wallington
- Sunday 14th April – Third Sunday of Easter
- This week
- Sunday 21st April – Fourth Sunday of Easter
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
Patchwork: ‘a diverse mixed collection’. The name ‘Patchwork’ doesn’t immediately seem to fit with our village drama group for children, and yet this is the name which was chosen by the late Ray Perks when he started Patchwork in the early 1990s. A retired drama teacher, Ray ran drama sessions for children in the village hall on Saturday mornings. When he sadly passed away in 1996, volunteers from Pattingham Drama Group came together to keep the group going. An avenue of trees was planted in memory of Ray, “Patchwork Avenue” in the second playing field, together with a commemorative plaque.
Fast forward almost 30 years and Patchwork is still going strong, now meeting on Thursday evenings in the village hall. The group is currently run by myself and Heidi Glazier, a professional drama, dance and performance coach with over 15 year’s experience of working with young people. Our Patchworkers are a lively group of children, aged 8-16, so there is never a dull moment in the sessions! Our aim is to encourage children to feel confident speaking or appearing in public, to provide them with opportunities to experience theatre, be involved in amateur productions and above all to have fun!
Over the years many children in the village and surrounding areas have benefitted from attending Patchwork, my own daughters included! One of our former members has even gone on to become involved in professional acting and directing. However, our aim is not to create ‘stars’ for the stage, but to encourage children better to understand drama and what we can learn from performance. Taking part in a production is very much a team activity, as it involves a high degree of discipline and concentration and the ability to work with others, all beneficial life skills. In our increasingly digital world of smart phones, gadgets and gaming, Patchwork gives children the opportunity to express themselves, socialise and be creative. These opportunities feel even more important for children post-COVID. So many of the clubs and activities which used to be available for young people in the village have folded over the last 10-15 years, primarily due to a lack of volunteers, that it feels ever more important Patchwork should continue to thrive.
I have been a Patchwork leader for over 10 years. During that time Patchwork has staged a production almost every year for friends and family to enjoy. Productions include “Peter Pan”, “Alice in Wonderland” and more recently “Matilda the Musical.” We have arranged workshops for the children, including a Circus skills workshop, Magic Workshop and a workshop run by Vamos Theatre who specialise in performing with masks. There have been trips to the theatre to see professional performances, visits backstage and cinema trips. Most recently we took a group of children to see the Panto “Treasure Island”. This was partly in preparation for Patchwork children to take part in our own Pattingham Village Panto “Cinderella” which will be performed 5th-8th December this year.
As with our previous two village Pantos, this will give the children the opportunity to perform alongside adults, accompanied by a live band! Our village Panto is open to all and I would encourage anyone who is interested in taking part or helping backstage to come along to the Panto launch on 18 June in the village hall at 7.30 to find out how they can be involved.
Patchwork – Workshops? Theatre trips? Performances? Drama games?…sounds a diverse, mixed collection of activities to me…. Perhaps Ray got the name right after all!
Helen Wallington
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
We do not have a Vicar at the moment. For matters which would normally be dealt with by the Vicar the churchwardens are the first point of contact. The Vicarage phone (01902 700257) is redirected to the churchwardens. When they are not available a message can be left on the voicemail and they will return the call when they are available. 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 (note – this is different to the address used before November 2020 which no longer works).
Sunday 14th April – Third Sunday of Easter
At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.
At 6.30 pm there will be a Service in the Iona style, led by Iain Coleman, in church.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who live and work in: Patshull Park, Farm Road, Rushey Lane, Patshull Gardens, Patshull Lane.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Holy Cross, Bobbington.
This week
The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.
Contractors are continuing work on various repairs and work to the church this week. The contractors will be working in and around the church. The church and churchyard will remain open but please take care while using them. Access to the toilets will be kept unlocked.
Monday is the copy date for the May magazine. Send articles to Mike Moss at
On Tuesday Prayers for Peace will be said in church at 6 pm. Please do join us and if you would like more information or are willing to lead a session, please contact Mary Hayward ().
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.
At 6 pm the Pattingham Shower Singers meet in church. All are welcome – just come and sing and have fun! If you need more information, contact Alix at .
At 7 pm on Wednesday Choir Practice takes place in church. Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact any member of the choir.
Sunday 21st April – Fourth Sunday of Easter
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 Roberta Maxwell, to which you are all most welcome. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who live and work in: Westbeech Road, College Farm Close, Patshull Road.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Clergy & Lay Ministers in the Deanery.
Home swap
The following notice is included as it may be of help to one or more people who would not otherwise see it. The church is not responsible for it.
Yvette Askwith asks of there is anyone in a 2 bed house in Pattingham with Homes Plus (formerly South Staffordshire Housing Association) who is looking to exchange into a lovely 2 bed bungalow in Orchard Close, Pattingham maybe due to mobility/ health issues – must be 55+ or registered disabled for this property. Call and leave a message on 07544895963 or email
The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank
The Well continues to need our donations and prayers.
The box remains at the rear of the church for donations of food and toiletries and the wishing well for donations of cash. Foreign coins can be put into the wishing well (in a separate bag please) and they will also go to help the needy in Wolverhampton.
Thank you
Dementia Friendly Church
Weekly Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Grant me the gift of profound insight and understanding as I navigate the labyrinth journey of dementia caregiving. This path is fraught with the unexpected and the unknown and I humbly seek your guidance. Help me see beyond the fog of confusion that envelops my loved one, allowing me to glimpse the person they once were.
May I find strength to cherish the fleeting moments of clarity and to recognise the beauty within their unique journey. I offer my heartfelt gratitude for this sacred privilege and for the wisdom you bestow upon me, my refuge and source of unwavering strength in these moments of vulnerability.
Amen
(Strengthinprayer.com)
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 7th and 21st April.
Stanley Medlicott – 7th April 1982
Dorothy Vera Perks – 7th April 2013
Margaret Lesley Slater – 7th April 2018
Ida Sarah Bentley – 9th April 2008
Joanna Freeman Morgan – 9th April 2018
Albert Edward Bentley – 11th April 1982
Douglas Edwin Shelton – 12th April 2003
Sally Anne James – 13th April 2018
Christine Ann Trubshaw – 16th April 2000
Stuart Hammersley – 19th April 1991
Keith Campbell Harris – 19th April 2012
Elizabeth Anne Thomason – 20th April 2008
Graham Sheldon – 21st April 1996
Alan Coverley Robinson – 21st April 2003
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.
We have a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/pattingham-church. 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.
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“.
ChadNet
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604