I am delighted to see so many people coming to St Martin’s. For me, it is a joy that children from our school participate so actively in our Family Service once a month – strengthening the vital link between the church school and the church. It’s a great pleasure to pay tribute to Inneke the head and Monika Dye and the other teachers who encourage this link.

It is also very rewarding to have a class or year group come to the church on a school day to see what’s there and to understand a bit about the Christian faith.

At the end of this month, we shall express our gratitude to Malcolm Lowle as he retires as our church warden at St Martin’s. His has been a formidable stint in this role. I have been particularly grateful to him since my arrival in late 2019. His care for the church and its services has been exemplary. Above all he will always be associated with the recent extension to the church with the addition of the kitchen and WC. Our warmest thanks go to Malcolm and to his wife Ann who has been such a tower of strength in supporting him.  He will be succeeded by Weronika Duffin to whom I am exceptionally grateful.

Do please note that we have another of our coffee mornings in aid of charity after the family service – this time on 17th July. We will be supporting the Sue Ryder home at Stagenhoe; and St Luke’s Healthcare for clergy, a national charity of which I am a trustee. Do come and join us!

With every blessing,
Stephen