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‘Merry’s miscellany’
The Vicar’s monthly letter for the Parish News
October 2025
Since moving to Pattingham, my family and I have been struck by the genuine warmth and welcome we’ve received. Both in the church and the wider village, people have been friendly, supportive, and quick to include us in community life.
As I write during the Scarecrow Festival weekend, it’s clear that this is a place where people actively participate and take pride in their village.
On Thursday evening, as I walked through the village in the fading light, I saw people out working on their scarecrows, adding the final touches. There was a real sense of anticipation and excitement in the air.
By midday Friday, with our own scarecrow in place and . time to admire the creativity and effort of so many others, I felt genuinely part of something special. This is a community not just raising money but coming together to create something joyful, meaningful and shared – through fun, hard work and collaboration.
This weekend has been filled with moments of joy, walking through our beautiful village, chatting with neighbours, dancing at the wonderful barn dance, enjoying delicious food from local vendors and seeing the tireless efforts of so many people working together to make it all happen.
The scarecrow committee has done an outstanding job. A festival of this scale and spirit takes months of preparation and it’s been inspiring to see so many volunteers giving their time and talents, from organising road closures and helping at church and stalls, to co-ordinating the funfair, the food court, the evening events; the sister events of the Macmillan Coffee Morning and St Chad’s School Country Fayre. And of course, heartfelt thanks to the 123 households whose creative scarecrows were truly the stars of the show.
It is a wonderful thing to be part of a community where people freely share their gifts, skills and time, where each of us contributes something unique and valuable. In the first letter of Peter, we read: “Use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4: 10).
Whoever we are, we have something positive to share. And as we continue on from the Harvest weekend in Pattingham, gathering God’s gifts from the fields and from our own lives, we are reminded of the joy and purpose that comes from, giving back and sharing those gifts in community.
This October there are many opportunities to use the gifts we have been given and enjoy the gifts of others: in singing at the Pattingham Shower Singers, each Wednesday at 6pm or join us for choir practice at 7pm: both of these take place in St Chad’s.
Our popular Who’s for Lunch? will be taking place on Wednesday 22nd October – in the Village Hall at 12 noon. And our annual All Souls’ Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, 2nd November at 6.30 pm. More information about this will be available in church and on the website as we prepare to remember and celebrate our loved ones who have died and trust in God’s unfailing love for us and for them.
Merry Smith