ChadNet – no 287

ChadNet – no 287 – Sunday 21st September 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

Harvest festivals date back to ancient times. These rituals involve showing thanks to the gods for a successful crop growing season. How this is done and what season it takes place depends on which part of the world you live in. There are different harvest rites and rituals in almost every part of the globe. In eastern Ghana, the Millet Festival began as a celebration of harvest. Millet was a staple of the agricultural community’s diet centuries ago. When crops were harvested, farmers would relax and socialise, local rulers would gather to discuss politics and priests would shower millet upon the people as a gesture of prosperity.

Harvest time involves a whole array of crops. For families living in polluted parts of London in the first half of the 20th century, an annual September trip to the hop fields of Kent provided a breath of fresh air. It was hardly Butlins, these were working holidays and accommodation was cramped and unhygienic but for many children it was a rare chance to see the countryside, encountering their first cows and running free around woods and fields. How blessed we are to live in Pattingham where we can do this every day just stepping out of the door.

An old harvest

Once again, we give thanks to God for our harvest and to our farmers for their hard work. Last year it wouldn’t stop raining, this year it wouldn’t start but the produce still comes in.

Traditionally, there has been a display of fresh fruit and vegetables donated by the village. In more recent years parishioners, and particularly the local school, have given packaged and tinned food, along with toiletries, which may be of greater value to the needy. All donations are welcome.

This year, in addition to the produce going to the Well food bank, some will go to the Ukranian Centre in Wolverhampton. The shopping list is below.

Please give as generously as you are able.

Alan Smith

(As always this View 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. Her usual working days are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday but this is subject to change. 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) are forwarded to Merry’s phone.

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 21st September – St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

At 10 am there will be a service led by the Youth Group in church. This 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 live and work in:
Letchmere Close.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Holy Cross, Bilbrook.

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 ().

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.

On Wednesday at 12 noon Who’s for Lunch? is held in the Village Hall.

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.

On Thursday at 9.30 am the School Harvest Service is being held in church.

There is NO  ChadART art club this week or next week. It should resume on 10th October. For more information about ChadART contact Jo Bramall on 07977 007537.

Scarecrow Festival

Mike Coope  has made a promotional video which is on YouTube at <https://youtu.be/3GYcD6V8F30> More information can be found on the Festival website <https://www.pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org/> and on Social Media.

The Scarecrow Festival starts on Friday. It is open from 12 noon to 5 pm. 

As part of the Scarecrow Festival on Friday at 7.30 pm there is a Barn Dance in the Village Hall. Tickets are sold out.

The Scarecrow Festival continues on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

As part of the Scarecrow Festival on Saturday at 7.30 pm there will be a Sounds of Brass Concert in the church. The Staffordshire Band 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

Sunday 28th September – Harvest Thanksgiving

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

The Scarecrow Festival continues and is open from 11 am to 5 pm.

At 6.30 pm there will be an Evening service for Harvest, led by the Vicar, in church.

Those attending either service are encouraged to bring harvest gifts which will be presented for blessing during the service and will then be donated to The Well foodbank and to the Ukraine Refugee Centre. See below for the list of items which The Well are requesting. There will also be an opportunity to make a monetary donation to The Farming Community Network.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Farmers and those who are involved in producing food.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Michael & All Angels, Himley.

The Farming Community Network

In recent years the profit from the Harvest Supper has been donated to The Farming Community Network which is a voluntary organisation and charity that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in farming and provide support at times of difficulty and change. We are not able to hold a Harvest Supper this year so there will be an opportunity to make monetary donations for the charity at the Harvest services on 28th. This charity does important work for the farming community and as a rural parish it is good to be able to support them.

Christmas card competition

This year we are again holding a competition for the cover of the Christmas card from the church. This time it will be open to all children and young people up to school year 8 (that is those who are under 14 years old on 1st September 2025) who live in the parish or attend St Chad’s School. Details are on the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/christmas-card-competition-2025/>. The closing date is Monday 20th October.

Please spread the word to the children and young people you know.

Ukraine Refugee Centre – thanks for donations

Mary Hayward has received the following letter from the Ukraine Refugee Centre after her latest visit taking items which had been donated.

RAZOM AUGB WOLVERHAMPTON
Ukrainian Welcome Centre
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)

7th September 2025

Dear Mary & Parishioners of St Chad’s Church

On behalf of the Razom Ukrainian Welcome Centre, I would like to thank you once again for your generous donations of items to our shop last Friday, 5th September 2025). 

I had a look at what you brought in, (after I finished repairing the fence) and everything is greatly appreciated.

The items you donated will help to continue the support offered by RAZOM (the Welcome centre for displaced Ukrainians in Wolverhampton and surrounding areas). 

Our prayers are for this invasion to end now, but whilst it continues, we will, with your help, support the people of Ukraine who are enduring the extreme effects of this terrible war. 

We have a dedicated bank account for RAZOM Wolverhampton, (account details below) if anyone you know would like to make a monetary donation.

With warmest wishes and thank you for your most generous support.

Yours sincerely

Hryhorij Greg Kowalczuk and Anna Karpynec  
Joint Chairs – RAZOM AUGB Wolverhampton

DONATE TO RAZOM:  AUGB WOLVERHAMPTON BRANCH     
Sort code – 20-97-90      Account no – 33297012

Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal

Link to Hope

The time is upon us to prepare our shoe boxes for the Link to Hope appeal.

The charity asks us to prepare a shoebox of items suitable to help a poor family or an elderly couple in Eastern Europe.

Last year we collected 49 boxes in Pattingham. I wonder if we can beat that this year. We will need to collect them by 26th October, a little earlier than usual, but I do hope that we can do something to help these people, for whom life really is a struggle, especially in these difficult times.

There are leaflets at the back of church (and on the church website) which give greater details and make suggestions about what they would like us to include in the boxes. It is important to read the instructions on the leaflet which clearly define what you can put in the boxes. Due to customs and import regulations, you cannot just put anything in but there are loads of items to choose from.

More details can be found on the Link to Hope website at <https://linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-appeal-2025/> and on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/news-and-events/shoe-box-appeal-2025/>.

I ask that boxes are brought to me, or left at the back of church, by Sunday 26th October – to allow me time to take them to the collection point.

Barbara Tritton
17 High Street, Pattingham
(01902 700065)
email –

A Night with the Silent Stars – Saturday 15th November at 7 pm – Church Church, Tettenhall Wood

Come and see great comedy stars of the silver screen at the pop-up cinema event at Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood on Saturday 15th November at 7 pm.

  • Charlie Chaplin – Easy Street
  • Buster Keaton – Sherlock Junior
  • Laurel & Hardy – Do Detectives Think

with thrilling live music performed by organist Donald MacKenzie from London’s Odeon Leicester Square.

Licensed Bar – Raffle – Refreshments
Tickets priced: £14 adults – £7 accompanied under 16s
Book your tickets at <www.christchurchgoodshepherd.org>.
For further enquiries call 01902 238988

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. 

Harvest produce from the church and school will again be donated to the Well this year. The following “shopping list” shows the items which are particularly needed.

Harvest Shopping List

  • Milk (UHT)
  • Cereal
  • Tea/coffee
  • Sugar
  • Jam/spreads
  • Squash/fruit juice (UHT)
  • Meat/fish (tinned)
  • Rice/noodles (dried)
  • Pulses/couscous
  • Soup (tinned)
  • Vegetables (tinned)
  • Pasta/cooking sauce (jar)
  • Fruit (tinned)/puddings/custard
  • Snacks/biscuits
  • Nappies (sealed packs size 4, 5, 6)
  • Baby wipes/toiletries
  • Baby food (long use by date)
  • Ladies/men’s toiletries
  • Household cleaning products

No baked beans / tinned pasta please.
Only food within its Use by/Best Before dates please.

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

Loving God
I pray for those facing
cognitive challenges due to
dementia.  May they find hope 
and strength in You, even
when their minds feel lost and 
confused.  Help them embrace
each day with hopeful spirit,
knowing that You are with
them every step of the way.
Amen

(Prayerslife.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 14th and 28th September.

Reginald John Henshaw – 14th September 2006
Jan Zdanowski – 14th September 2011
George Price – 15th September 1961
Peter John Curtis – 15th September 2005
Dorothy Caddick – 17th September 2007
Dorothy Lavender – 18th September 2016
Harry Colin Robinson – 18th September 2021
Jack Bennett – 19th September 1990
A. H. Norman Harris – 20th September 2004
Barbara Agnes Roberts – 20th September 2021
Malcolm Harris – 21st September 2003
Thomas Henry Ray – 23rd September 2016
Kenelm Henry Forshaw Rose – 24th September 2000
Mollie Lucy Mallett – 26th September 1996
Reginald Oswald Dearn – 27th September 1993
Ivy Evans – 27th September 2001
Edna Elizabeth Bristow – 28th September 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

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 152 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