ChadNet – no 288

ChadNet – no 288 – Sunday 28th 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

Ken Scott

The view from my window in Autumn 2025

This piece was originally written about 14 years ago for the Parish News and I thought it would be interesting to re-visit it and see how much is the same and what has changed with time.

When we were contemplating buying a house in Pattingham, which is now 16 years ago, we found one in Westbeech Road.It was hidden behind trees and could have been truthfully described as “a development opportunity”.

However, when we raised any issues with the agent such as the inadequate, outdated kitchen or the lack of a bathroom upstairs he just replied, “but look at the view”. And we did see the view and the view sold the house to us. As a result, I have acquired a study with a magnificent view across to Shropshire which gives endless pleasure to a lifelong” townie”. I always wanted a vista and now I have one.

So, what can I see from my window?

Well firstly the garden. This has gradually been transformed into something simple yet attractive which takes the eye out to what lies beyond it. We inherited it as an overgrown mini forest that obscured the view rather than enhancing it. The pleasure has been seeing new plants; shrubs and small trees grow and develop as seasons change. I freely admit that this is Anne’s work not mine! The bird life in the garden has changed significantly over time. The flocks of goldfinches no longer appear and although we do see small birds the majority are now blackbirds, robins, pigeons, magpies and crows. I think this is a fairly widespread change in the countryside.

Beyond the hedge lies Pool Meadow. When we came it was farmed by John Roberts but following the sale of the Crown Estate it is now owned by the Mercers. The crops are still sown tended and harvested but the techniques now used are almost industrial. The whole field of the most recent crop of maize was harvested, by contract farmers, in about seven hours using about 10 tractors and trailers. Still, it is great to see the growth of a crop through the months of the year and then the result when harvest comes.

The walkers on the Millennium path, with their dogs, are next in the line of sight. They do add human interest to the scene but recently there seem to be fewer in number than before as the path is somewhat spoiled.

Beyond the next field the land falls away out of sight down to Patshull Park. Here again, of course, there has been major change with the loss of the Hotel and its amenities along with the golf course. No more celebratory firework displays!

There are two electricity pylons in the distance which are a common sight in our area, and it would be good if the supply could have been underground, but it is a reminder that we need power to live and nothing in this world is completely perfect.

Then the crowning glory, the Shropshire hills. From the Wrekin at the north end to Titterstone Clee in the south with Brown Clee and Wenlock Edge in between. We can also see the Stretton hills in the distance. They all come in and out of the view depending on the ever-changing weather conditions and sometimes they are indeed “blue” as A E Houseman said.

Above it all the sky. Never the same from hour to hour and as the view is due west it is best in the evenings. The first night we spent in the house there was a most magnificent sunset and there have been many since then. All slightly different as the setting sun moves on its arc throughout the year.

So, this is a view that I could never tire of and am constantly thankful for.  Whether in deep snow or baked dry with summer heat it is always a reminder that the seasons follow a pattern which is not an accident, it is evidence of a creators’ plan.

Timothy Dudley-Smith, that great modern hymn writer, wrote a version of Psalm 121 which sums it up.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills
in the press of a busy day,
As green hills stand in a dusty land
So, God is my strength and stay.

Ken Scott

(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 28th September – Harvest Thanksgiving

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion for Harvest, led by the Vicar, in church. There will not be the usual refreshments after the service as the church will be open for the Scarecrow Festival.

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.

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.

At 3 pm on Tuesday there is an International Day of Peace Service at St Bart’s Church, Penn. All are welcome; tea and coffee will be served following the service.

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 next week. For more information about ChadART contact Jo Bramall on 07977 007537.

Sunday 5th October – Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by 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 those who live and work in:
Dartmouth Avenue, Marlbrook Lane, Chesterton Road, West End Gardens, Copley Lane.

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

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.

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 –

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

The Prayer of St Columba

Be thou a bright flame before us;
Be thou a guiding star above us;
Be thou a smooth path below us;
Be thou kindly shepherd behind us
Today, tonight and forever.
Amen

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 21st September and 5th October.

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
David Simpson – 1st October 2002
John Edward Lavender – 1st October 2018
George Weaver – 3rd October 1930
Stephen Young – 3rd October 2018
M.G. Stuart Jones – 5th October 2017

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