ChadNet – no 284

ChadNet – no 284 – Sunday 31st August 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 Vicarage

Rev Merry Smith

As I write this, I’m sat on the sofa after a lovely dinner, topped off with a delicious apple crumble for pudding. My family and I moved to Pattingham just over a month ago, and we’ve been truly touched by how welcoming and friendly everyone has been. We’ve enjoyed exploring the village, soaking up the sunshine, and getting to know our new surroundings.

One of the things that has really delighted me is seeing people share the gifts from their gardens; apples, damsons, and pears, often left out with signs inviting others to help themselves. It brings me joy on so many levels: I love homegrown produce, I care deeply about reducing food waste, and I find real pleasure in cooking. Making a couple of crumbles from these shared fruits has been a treat.

But more than that, it’s made me reflect on the gifts we all have to share. Not everyone can grow fruit or vegetables, but we each have something valuable to offer, whether it’s time, compassion, wisdom, or expertise. These small acts of generosity remind me of the words in Psalm 116: “What can I offer the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will bring a wine offering to the LORD, to thank him for saving me.”

If you want to raise a glass and praise the Lord – why not come to our Hymns and Pimm’s event on Saturday 6th September – or just join us as we gather together to share friendship and song.

Merry 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

The Vicar’s post is half time so Merry will not be working every day. This week she will be working on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Her phone number is 07486 066065 and her email address is  When she is not working she will not normally answer the phone, listen to messages or respond to emails. 

Calls to  the old phone number (01902 700257) will go to voicemail and a message can be left and the Vicar will return the call when she is available on a working day.

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 31st August – Eleventh 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, led by the Vicar, 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:
Businesses in the parish.

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 Vicar’s working days this week will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.

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 the Vicar, 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 on Wednesday 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.

There is NO  ChadART art club this week. It should resume on 12th September. For more information about ChadART contact Jo Bramall on 07977 007537.

At 4 pm on Saturday Hymns and Pimm’s takes place in church. All are welcome to join us for an hour of singing your favourite hymns along with drinking a glass of Pimm’s. Music will be provided by Martin Fox and friends. This is a free event – donations will be accepted for “The Haven”. Request you favourite hymns by emailing

Sunday 7th September – Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by the Barbara Dias, in church. It will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by the Vicar, 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 are in residential care.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Schools and Young People in the Deanery.

Century Club

The winners of the August Century Club draw were: 

  • 1st Prize – £150
    • Chris Comport – ball 56
  • 2nd Prize – £100
    • Tim Hadley – ball 57
  • 3rd Prize – £50
    • Paul Lawson – ball 48

Congratulations to all of them.

Scarecrow Festival – 26th to 28th September 2025

The Pattingham Scarecrow Festival is taking place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September.

Registration for those making scarecrows closed on Friday 22nd August.

At 7.30 pm on Friday 26th September there will be a Barn Dance in the Village Hall. Tickets are just £15 each which includes a Hog Roast as well as a fantastic night of country music and dance. For tickets call Anna on 07968 891927 or email

At 7.30 pm on Saturday 27th September there will be a Sounds of Brass Concert in the church. The Staffordshire Brand will be performing a wonderful variety of brass band tunes. Tickets are £15 per adult, which includes a glass of prosecco or something softer, and are available from Alan Smith on 07757 688518 or email

Harvest Festival – 28th September 2025

This year’s Harvest Festival will be on Sunday 28th September and, once again, donations will go the Well food bank. This year some will also go to the Ukraine Refugee Centre. A list of produce which would be particularly welcome will be published in the near future.

In the meantime please make a note of the date in your diary and be as generous as you are able.

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

God of countless years,  every moment of our lives is still fresh and precious in your heart.  Help me too to treasure our pasts.
Let the need for care in the present day not blind me to the person they once were.
May I be the one to unlock treasured memories.
Help me to take the trouble to think what would enrich the recollections of the one I love.
May their present situation not lead me to treat them condescendingly.
Inspire me to celebrate what has gone before and welcome them to relive what gives them pleasure and self-worth.
Give me the grace that I too may lay down a store of memories that will light the twilight of my old age.
May walking in your way make mine a life richly lived and worth remembering.Amen

(Prayers for Dementia, and how to live it well.  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 24th August and 7th September.

Ethel May Haden – 24th August 1979
Joseph Caddick – 28th August 1979
Norah Patricia Chaplin – 28th August 2017
Dorothy Winifred James – 29th August 2010
Ida Margaret Burton – 30th August 1980
Irene Painting – 31st August 2017
Gladys Thornton – 2nd September 1997
Brian Woolley – 2nd September 2023
Elizabeth Ann Sampson  – 5th September 2022
Margaret Mary Bartlett – 6th September 2004
Ian Smart – 7th September 2006

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 150 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