ChadNet – no 258 – Sunday 2nd March 2025
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 – Iain Coleman
- Sunday 2nd March – St Chad’s Day – Sunday next before Lent
- This week – Wednesday is Ash Wednesday
- Sunday 9th March – First Sunday of Lent
- Century Club – result of February draw
- Pattingham Past and Present – Saturday 15th March at 2pm
- Church Electoral Roll
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
Statues: Angels, Jesus and a Shepherd Boy
Approaching the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the south, an immense figure 66ft high with a wingspan of 177ft dominates the landscape. The Angel of the North.
The Angel doesn’t relate to any one person or people, viewers attach their own meaning to the sculpture, optimism associated with the millennium, a connection with the miners who worked beneath where the Angel stands, personal or religious experiences. Why an angel? The sculptor, Anthony Gormley, has said that it was a reminder of the industrial history of the site, a reference to the future, symbolising the transition from the industrial to the information age, and as a focus for human hopes and fears. “People are always asking, why an angel? The only response I can give is that no-one has ever seen one and we need to keep imagining them.” Comparing the modernity of the sculpture to historic concepts of angels, Gail-Nina Anderson remarked that the Angel of the North “is also an angel for the 1990s, a high-tech tribute to modern engineering in a period busy with amusing itself with fairies and angels, spirit-guides and reincarnations.” When I see the Angel of the North, my take is of a towering guardian. How do you see it?
It makes me wonder about modern representations of angels and other figures. I moved to Coventry in the 1960s, a visit to the newly built Cathedral, and I saw the statue of St Michael’s victory over the devil, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. An appropriate choice remembering the background to the new cathedral in the city. Probably the first time I’d seen a statue that wasn’t in some sort of “classical” style, and I wasn’t sure I liked it, it was different and disturbing. But it certainly made me think. Apparently the cathedral reconstruction committee objected to the choice of the sculptor Epstein because he was Jewish, to which the cathedral architect Basil Spence responded, “so was Jesus Christ”.
An angel statue can send a powerful message. The Knife Angel (National Monument Against Violence & Aggression) is a sculpture made from 100,000 knives by Bradley at the British Ironworks Centre, in Oswestry. To create the 27ft high sculpture, amnesties were held for individuals to anonymously donate their knives. Knives seized by police were also included (sadly some still bore traces of body fluids. The sculpture was created in order to highlight knife crime in the United Kingdom and educate young people on the harmful effect violent behaviour can have on their communities. My interest was piqued by the choice of an angelic form for such a statue, perhaps the depiction of a force for good arising from evil.
The statue Homeless Jesus depicts Jesus as a homeless person, sleeping on a park bench. His face and hands are obscured, concealed beneath a blanket, but the wounds of crucifixion on his feet reveal his identity. The statue has been described as a “visual translation” of the passage from Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me”. The sculpture was intended to be provocative, its sculptor, Schmalz commenting, “That’s essentially what the sculpture is there to do. It’s meant to challenge people.” Unsurprisingly, reaction to the statue has been mixed. Some love it; some don’t.” Some felt it was an “insulting depiction” of Jesus that “demeaned” the neighbourhood. Others are often seen sitting on the bench alongside the statue, resting their hands on Jesus and praying. And for me? Well…. am I a Priest, a Levite or a Samaritan?
A statue from the past can give still us a message of hope. Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, the shepherd boy. In Florence, an enormous block of ruined marble stood in the works department of Santa María del Fiore church, once a magnificent piece of raw stone, it gathers dust in the darkness of the church. Michelangelo arrives, examines the stone, starts work, depicting a young David, sling in hand despite the doubts of everyone in Florence. The rest as they say, is history. Our life in Christ may be seen in the same light. No matter how flawed we may perceive ourselves, how ruined we think things are, in the hands of our creator we are able to move forward in his service.
Iain Coleman
(For those who cannot see the images in this email they can be viewed in the version on the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/chadnet-no-258/>.)
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 2nd March – St Chad’s Day – Sunday next 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.
This is closing date for the Easter Art Competition to create the St Chad’s Church Easter Card Front cover. Full details are on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/easter-card-competition-2025/>.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Village organisations.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
All Saints Trysull.
This week
The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.
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 ().
Wednesday is Ash 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, which will include Imposition of Ashes for those who wish it, 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 7.30 pm there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, which will include Imposition of Ashes for those who wish it, in church.
On Saturday from 12 to 2 pm there will be a Lent Lunch at Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church on Mount Road. All are welcome.
Sunday 9th March – First Sunday of Lent
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 Iain Coleman, in church.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Letchmere Close.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Chad, Pattingham.
Century Club
The winners of the February Century Club draw were:
- 1st Prize – £150
- Doreen Hill – ball 63
- 2nd Prize – £100
- Hugh MacDonald – ball 47
- 3rd Prize – £50
- Graham Walker – ball 54
Congratulations to all of them.
There are currently four vacancies for the Century Club. For an annual subscription is £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>.
Pattingham Past & Present – Saturday 15th March at 2 pm
Pattingham Past and Present is taking place on Saturday 15th March 2025 at 2 pm (not 3 pm as previously mentioned) in church.
It will be a presentation of photos and facts/stories together with light refreshments to chat and reminisce and is our final action for this year’s Dementia Friendly Church Certificate.
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
Church Electoral Roll
Every six years a completely new Church Electoral Roll has to be prepared and this is one of those years. The process will start on Thursday 6th March when the formal notice will be put up.
Everyone who wishes to be on the roll will need to complete a form which needs to be returned by the deadline of Monday 21st April. Forms are available at the back of the church and can be downloaded from the website.
More information is on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/church-electoral-roll/> and in the March Parish News magazine.
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.
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
Faithful God
My memory is not what it used to be. I forget things. I forget people. But they do not forget me.
I give you heartfelt thanks that I have people around me who love me and care for me. They understand what is happening to me.
Always I have you beside me.
You show me that it does not really matter if I forget things. I`m allowed to.
Give me the grace to see that the present is enough for me.
I still enjoy my favourite food. I have not lost the gift of laughter.
I have someone to guide me where I need to go.
And I have my memories of the past, which seem to grow more vivid day by day.
Let me meet the days ahead with trust and serenity. Bless all those who walk beside me.
Hold my Hand.
Amen
(Prayers for Dementia and how to live well with it. Fay Sampson)
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 23rd February and 9th March.
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
Gordon Frederick Roberts – 3rd March 2010
Roy Meredith Wilcox – 5th March 2016
Valerie Ann Edwards – 6th March 2024
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