ChadNet – no 257

ChadNet – no 257 – Sunday 23rd February 2025

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

Henry Ibberson

She lived at 5 Cambridge Road, Kings Heath, in a large stone-built house – the house where she grew up in the early 1900’s and which she inherited, unchanged, sharing with a ‘companion’, who was really her housekeeper, since our spinster Great Aunt Ida was not disposed to housework and cooking. And that is where some of my  boyhood memories of her take me; to our family visits in the 1950’s – memories of the musty, dark, cold flag-stone floored kitchen with its beige iron-stone sink, running cold water and an ancient, cast iron gas stove; my three elder brothers and me climbing the plum trees to garner the annual crop, for the housekeeper ( and my mother ) to make copious jars of mouth-watering jam. She would come to Sheffield for Christmas and Easter, joining us on occasions for a family holiday, always heavily dressed, draped with scarves and furs, but deliciously perfumed, warm and welcoming, with her plumptious arms and ample bosom, within which to envelope us on her arrival. She was known by us as A I ( Aunt Ida ), or GNR ( Great North Road, which, as those of us old enough to remember pre-motorway days will recall, was the name given to the A1, the main arterial route from London to the North of England ).

So when I see or hear the initials A I, that is to where my mind first travels, before alighting on its meaning for us in Pattingham as members of a historic farming community; that method of safely nurturing and improving the success rate of cattle breeding.

But now those initials have come to signify something utterly different and, to my mind, altogether more troublesome. Rather by stealth, we have been introduced to artificial intelligence, known universally now by the initials A I; whenever we pose questions to SIRI, on our phones, i-pads and computers, we receive instant answers; we have smart speakers with which to converse and select our listening choices; Google is now an easy substitute for the Encyclopaedia Brittannica; we have SATNAV to guide us to wherever we wish to go and to correct us when we go wrong – and so much more besides. The latest developments, however, so dramatically illustrated by President Macron at the recent A I Conference in Paris, move the technology into an altogether more controlling space, leaving one questioning where reality and truth now reside. “The camera never lies “, a belief relied upon for generations, no longer holds good. So where, we ask, is all this leading? How is this Genie to be controlled? How can this ‘machine-learning’ be regulated to stop it from taking us over? One earnestly hopes that greater minds than ours, already wrestling with these questions, soon emerge with some convincing and reliable answers.

A fascinating and timely take on this A I phenomenon is examined in the play, now in rehearsal, to be performed in May by Pattingham Drama, entitled Electric Rosary. Written by northern writer Tim Foley, award-winning and showcased at the Royal Exchange Manchester in 2022, it is set between Shrove Tuesday and Easter Day, sometime in the future and examines the life of an exhausted group of nuns in a crumbling convent, struggling to survive. Their Mother Superior accepts “Mary”, a council-funded offer of a novice, or a postulant as a new candidate for the convent is often called; but this novice is in fact a robot. How can a robot possibly be of value in a convent? How are the sisters ever to adjust to living alongside a robot? Or could this be the revelation and salvation they have all been praying for? What follows is a sharp, timely and gloriously funny play, at times moving and particularly poignant, asking what faith really means in the age of artificial intelligence and what it is to be human in tomorrow’s world. I suspect this is one play which will certainly harness our imagination but which will also challenge us in ways we don’t expect.

But isn’t challenge exactly what is happening to us today?  Instant 24 hour news, the demands from clever and constant communication, ( much of which may be, or actually is, false, though it’s often impossible to determine ), exhorting us to respond or think in a certain way. How many of us inwardly groan at the weight of daily emails and at the time it takes us to sort the wheat from the chaff? There are certainly some benefits from it all but it surely absorbs and maybe distracts us too much from the more important things in life.

So we have to make new choices – challenge ourselves to take time away from our machines. Make time for reflection and a little peace from all the hustle and bustle. Walking helps, in our privileged surroundings, assuming we are able, as indeed does coming to St Chad’s. If you’ve never done it, try walking into Church, alone, when it’s empty, maybe after dark, if it’s still open, and just sit, look and listen. That’s when I find sanity returns, alongside faith that after all, all will be well. 

Henry Ibberson

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 23rd February – Second Sunday before Lent – Sexagesima

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Roberta Maxfield, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be a Service of Evensong, led by Ken Scott, 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 Aidan Penn Fields.

This week

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

The Century Club draw takes place on Monday. For an annual subscription of £60 there is a chance every month to win £150, £100 or £50.  If you would like to join the Century Club or for more details, please contact Alan Smith on 07757 688518 or or see the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/century-club>.

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 Sue Watson, 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.

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 Martin Fox or any member of the choir.

Sunday 2nd March – St Chad’s Day – First Sunday before Lent – Quinquagesima

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Ken Scott, in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion by extension, also led by Ken Scott, 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:
Village organisations.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
All Saints Trysull.

Lent

On Ash Wednesday, which is on 5th March, there will be services of Holy Communion at 10 am and at 7.30 pm at both of which Imposition of Ashes will be available for those who want it.

There will be a Lent Lunch at Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church on Mount Road on Saturday 8th March from 12 to 2 pm.

A Lent Lunch will be held at the home of Sue Riches at 12.30 pm on Thursday 27th March.

If anyone else would like to volunteer to host a Lent lunch please contact the churchwardens.

Easter cards

The closing date for the Easter Art Competition to create the St Chad’s Church Easter Card Front cover is next Sunday – 2nd March.

Full details are on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/easter-card-competition-2025/> from which the entry form can be downloaded.

Flyers with details and entry forms are at the back of the church and can also be downloaded from the website.

The competition is open to anyone. Please spread the word to anyone you may feel would be interested.

Should you have any queries about this competition, please contact Alan Smith – Phone: 07757 688518 (leave message, if no answer) – Email:

Pattingham Past & Present – Saturday 15th March

We are organising our final action for this year’s Dementia Friendly Church Certificate. 

On Saturday 15th March 2025 at 3 pm at St. Chad’s Church all are welcome to attend “Pattingham Past & Present”, a presentation of photos and facts/stories together with light refreshments to chat and reminisce.

If you have any items or photos that you think would be of interest, I would be most grateful.  

Tracey Williams
Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator
07804039330 or

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well

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.

Thank you for your generosity. 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 look at their website <www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk>

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2024-25

Dear God,
I come before you today seeking patience beyond measure.  As I walk this path of dementia caregiving, I am acutely aware of the challenges that test my patience.  In those moments when frustration knocks at my heart`s door, I ask for your divine guidance.  Help me comprehend the intricate world in which my loved one resides, where time and memories intertwine, creating a tapestry of confusion.  
I pray for the strength to be patient, for withing that patience lies the essence of compassion.  Thank you for being  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 16th February and 2nd March.

Alan Sadler – 16th February 1998
Florence Irene Steele – 16th February 2003
Pauline Jones – 18th February 2011
Mary Stubbs – 19th February 2019
Clive Brough – 20th February 1979
Lillian (Marg) Nicholls – 20th February 2007
Joseph Ernest Penny – 20th February 2009
Thomas James Heath – 20th February 2017
Muriel Noreen Swift – 21st February 1999
Victor James Jordan – 22nd February 2009
Tom Knight – 23rd February 1997
Kathleen Simpson – 23rd February 1999
Teresa Margaret Richards – 23rd February 2002
Iris Freda Thomas – 25th February 2004
Thomas Lockley – 26th February 1974
John Barry Hebditch – 26th February 1998
Simon Andrew Mackriel – 27th February 2019
Lily Bates – 28th February 1997
Jocelyn Ida Alice Mayne – 28th February 1999
James Andrew Potts – 28th February 2007
Andrew Woodroffe – 1st March 1976
Edith Margery Whitty – 2nd March 1999

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

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 139 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