ChadNet – no 264 – Sunday 13th April 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 – Philip Sims
- Sunday 13th April – Palm Sunday
- This week – Holy Week
- Sunday 20th April – Easter Day
- Church Electoral Roll
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
We are all aware of the declining trend of candidates seeking ordination in the Church of England and, whilst this means fewer Priests available to serve in our local parishes, this is exacerbated by what seems like a concentration of resource in central roles. As a consequence we see more parishes merging and more churches without a dedicated Priest.
When faced with interregnum each Church has a question to answer. Do we accept inevitable decline or do we garner whatever resource we have and focus on at least maintaining the effectiveness of the Church’s presence? The PCC here at Pattingham obviously opted for the latter and we have enjoyed an eventful, but I believe positive, journey over the last four years. We restructured ourselves into three working groups. This enabled us to cover those vital areas of administration, our spiritual activities and our outreach and growth responsibilities and aspirations. We briefly considered merger but decided that was not for us. This structure has therefore sustained us whilst we are enormously indebted to our Wardens, Dorothy and Clive, who have served with incredible dedication throughout this period, to Ken, our peerless Reader who came out of retirement to continue his support, and to Iain, who has qualified as a Reader during this period. I must also express my appreciation to other members of the PCC who have illustrated their unswerving commitment to our Church throughout, as well as all those visiting clergy who have brought variety and constancy to our worship.
Additionally, I want to thank our congregation which has added tremendously to our overall experience. During this interregnum we have seen more involvement in leading worship, more members undertaking either official or unofficial roles and, simply, more people prepared to roll up their sleeves and get involved. I have always found our congregation to be open and friendly, indeed that has been our experience ever since Debbie and I joined this Church, but I do feel that we have all got to know each other better through the experience of the last few years.
But now to the good news. I am delighted to confirm that Rev. Merewyn (known as Merry) Smith has been appointed as our new Vicar. Since 2018 Merry has been the Rector of Newport with Longford and Chetwynd and she will join us as soon as she has served her three months notice period in those parishes.
It was a joy and a privilege for Dorothy and me to interview Merry for the role and we are both in no doubt that she will add tremendously to our experience here in Pattingham. She will be joining us with her husband Lee, and young daughter Beatrice, and moving into the Vicarage as soon as we have completed some up-dating.
After attending Bangor University Merry was Head of Religious Education at schools in Shrewsbury and Willenhall. After offering herself for ordination and training at Cranmer Hall, Durham, her early years in the Church were spent in Stoke on Trent before she moved to Newport. She is an accomplished musician and is so brimful of qualities that I would do her an injustice if I were to attempt to outline them here. I can only commend her to you all!
One thing I have said is that I now understand why we have been in interregnum for four years. I am convinced the Lord had this post earmarked for Merry. She describes herself as being called to be a Priest and a Mother and the time has come for her to devote more time to her family. That is her reason for wanting a 0.5 post and I am thrilled that she has chosen Pattingham in which to undertake those twin roles.
Philip Sims
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 13th April – Palm Sunday
At 10 am there will be aservice of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, in church. It will include the distribution of palm crosses and a dramatised reading of the Passion from St Luke’s gospel. 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 Week Services across the Deanery.
This week – Holy week
The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.
Details of services in Holy Week and Easter are in the Easter Card which has been delivered to all homes in the parish. A copy is also on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/services/holy-week-and-easter-2025/>.
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 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.
There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week. They are taking a break over Easter and will next meet on 30th April.
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.
Maundy Thursday
At 7.30 pm on Thursday the Maundy Thursday Service of Holy Communion and stripping of the altars, led by Revd Paul Brown, takes place in church.
Good Friday
At 10.00 am on Good Friday the Building of the Easter Garden service for children and families, led by Philip Sims, takes place at church. It will be followed by an Egg Hunt.
On Friday from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm the Good Friday devotional service, led by Revd. Roberta Maxfield, takes place in church.
Sunday 20th April – Easter Day
At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion for Easter Day, led by Revd Sue Watson with contributions from the Youth Group, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.
At 6.30 pm there will be a Songs of Praise Service, led by Ken Scott, in church. This will be Ken Scott’s last service as a Reader and everyone is welcome to come to mark this occasion. Celebratory refreshments 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:
Easter Sunday services.
Church Electoral Roll
The deadline for the receipt of completed electoral roll forms is Easter Monday (21st April). Only those whose forms are received by the deadline will be eligible for election to the PCC or to vote at the annual meeting.
Forms are available at the back of the church and can be downloaded from the website. Please ensure that you complete the form fully, including your name and address and ticking the correct boxes, and sign it.
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
Dear Lord,
Please give me help and understanding as we
journey through the unknown face of
Dementia.
As a carer, guide me always to find the best
way to see through the confusion and delight
In holding the hand of the person I love;
and may the smile on his face shine through.
Amen
(Dementia Action Week Prayers 2024 – prayer written by Geraldine Somerton)
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 6th and 20th April.
Margaret Rogers – 6th April 2012
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
Andrew Charles Day – 9th April 2024
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
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