ChadNet – no 279

ChadNet – no 279 – Sunday 27th July 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

Alan Smith

We have enjoyed two big events at St Chad’s in recent weeks.

On 5 July the annual village fete took place on the field. We were blessed with the weather, it being just right compared to the weekends before and after when it was over 30 degrees. There was a brief moment of panic when there was a power cut half an hour before the opening and the inflatable assault course deflated but fortunately it didn’t last long and, by 12 noon, we were set to go.

Henry with Merry, Lee and Beatrice

We were delighted that Rev Merry officiated at the official opening and it was a pleasure to meet with her, Lee and Beatrice. Major attractions included the aforementioned assault course, bottle stall, Pimm’s & Prosecco and, again, the football competition was very successful. In addition, the smaller stalls such as the coconut shy, hook a duck and guess the name of the teddy attracted the younger audience, not least my granddaughter Ophelia who was delighted to win a jar of 222 sweets!

The final net proceeds are £6,291, up almost £500 on last year. We are extremely grateful to all the sponsors, stall holders, volunteers, 2078 (Boscobel ) squadron air cadets, everyone who turned out on the day and, in particular, Keith and Alix who have worked indefatigably to ensure the fete’s success.

The concert

On Saturday 12 July St Chad’s played host to Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir with Richard Fox as Musical Director and our own Martin Fox as accompanist. Due to the hot weather the chairman proposed they should dress down to speedos and sombreros but fortunately that was not the case! They performed a wide repertoire including The Pirates of Penzance, An American Trilogy and The Lake Isle of Innisfree; they closed with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as a tribute to Diogo Jota. I did point out to Richard that Jota started his English football career at Wolves so ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ might have been more appropriate but fear his knowledge of football is not great, particularly hearing him refer to Liverpool United.

Again, many thanks to all those who helped on the night, along with the 81 members of the audience. Through ticket sales and the raffle, the concert raised £1,092 to be split between the church, the Well food bank and the Ukrainian Refugee Centre.

Look out for more information shortly about Hymns & Pimm’s on Saturday 6 September and the Staffordshire brass band concert on Saturday 27 September.

Alan Smith

(As always this View from the Pews 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

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 27th July – Sixth Sunday after Trinity

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 Philip Sims, in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Windsor Road, Greenway Gardens, Sandringham Road, Braemar Road.

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

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.

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.

There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week. They are taking their summer break and will next meet on 3rd September.

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.

On Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm ChadART takes place in church. For more information contact Jo Bramall on 07977 007537.

Sunday 3rd August – Seventh Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by the Philip Sims, in church. It will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion by extension, led by Iain Coleman, 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:
Letchmere Lane, St Chads Close, Yew Tree Road, Retreat Gardens.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Rural Dean and Lay Chair.

Service of Collation and Induction of Merry as our Vicar – Sunday 10th August

Merry Smith

Everyone is invited to a
Service of Eucharist with 
Collation by the BISHOP OF WOLVERHAMPTON
and Induction by the Archdeacon of Walsall
of The Reverend Merry Smith as
Vicar of the Parish of St. Chad’s, Pattingham with Patshull
at St. Chad’s Church on
Sunday 10 August 2025 at 4pm

Refreshments afterwards in the Village Hall


Communion Services

It has become clear that there is sometimes a problem with congestion around the chancel step as people go up to and come back from communion. To help to improve the situation the PCC has decided to make a change to the way that those in the side aisles go up to communion. Instead of going from their seat to the front of the church and then across to the chancel they should in future go from their seat to the back and then go to the centre aisle to go forward to the chancel. We hope this will avoid some of the congestion by the chancel step.

This system started last week and will be kept under review.

Fire Policy and Procedures

The PCC has recently revised the previous Fire Policy and Procedures. These, and the other Health and Safety Policies, are available on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/pcc-news-and-reports/policies/>.

An email has been sent to all sidespersons to ensure that they are all aware of the new Fire Procedures but all members of the congregation should be aware of these policies as we all have a shared responsibility to ensure each other’s health and safety.

Hymns and PIMM’S – Saturday 6th September

Hymns and PIMM'S

Coming Soon

Hymns and PIMM’S
St Chad’s Church, Pattingham
4 pm on Saturday 6th September
Save the date and look out for details.

Request you favourite hymns by emailing


Ukraine Refugee Centre

Mary Hayward sent this message after she took donations to the Ukraine Refugee Centre on Friday:

I have just dropped off all the donations to the Ukraine Centre in Pennfields.
My boot was full of toiletries , household items , raffle prizes , ladies clothes and items for the children.
Oh and I took a huge Teddy as a passenger! They absolutely loved him and said so would the children.
A second Mum and her children have been rehoused at Perton.
Thank you to the generosity of our Church family and Village Community they are so grateful for all your donations.
My next visit will be on 22nd August 
God Bless
Mary Hayward 

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well

Everyone at the Well is extremely grateful for the gifts of cash and goods which are donated regularly. 

The current 6 top needs are:

  • Tinned vegetables
  • Tinned tomatoes
  • UHT milk
  • Male toiletries
  • Noodles
  • Finance to run two vans

Again many thanks for your support.

Alan Smith

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

Lord help us accept with grace
that this journey of life
is limited both by time 
and the process of growing old.
May we leave the path
a little easier to follow, 
Less overgrown with weeds
or thorns likely to cause pain,
an encouragement for others
to step out in faith with you.
Amen

(Faith & Worship)

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 20th July and 3rd August.

George Derek Thomason – 21st July 1990
Agnes Victoria Louise Fellows – 23rd July 1992
John Walker – 23rd July 2023
Matthew Robinson – 30th July 2008
Colin George Hartley – 1st August 2008
Ellen Hayhurst – 2nd August 2007
Pauline Ann Moore – 2nd August 2011

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 145 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