- ursulafg
- 4 days ago
Service held each Sunday at 11am.
We have been delighted that so many of the village have shared the enjoyment of Christmas with us at St Leonard’s church. Many families with two generations and quite a few with three generations came to the different services held throughout December experiencing the Christmas story. Yes, there may have been chocolate on Christmas Day - I had managed not to eat it all for breakfast so I could be like the wise men and bring gifts, although the church was rather grander than Baby Jesus’s manger! Thank you to Mavis Eastwood for her floral skills for the Advent Wreath and candle arrangement and all of those who created a window floral arrangement for a verse of the carol “The Holly and the Ivy” which, with the Christmas tree, kindly loaned to us by Michael from Sherville, meant we were decorated in spectacular fashion. It is always a relief when the candles get packed away and they have not set fire to any decorations, and the choir have not set fire to each other! The same joy in any church?!
2026 has burst upon us with all the new experiences that will bring. For St Leonard’s we head towards our main event on Saturday 4th July when, as part of Romsey Festival, we host “One Hundred Years in The Hundred Acre Wood” as our knitted and craft displays will celebrate 100 years since A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was published. I am sure you will come across some very talented people in the local community over the next few months discussing if their yellow wool is the right shade, is that in inches or centimetres or simply I cannot find piglet. Do not worry, it will come clear on the day and hopefully with a pooh stick or two too!
For now, we edge towards Candlemas as on Sunday 1st February our Rector, James
Pitkin will bless the candles we use during the year so everyone who has a baby baptised, a wedding or a thanksgiving service in St Leonard’s will know that we have thought about them as we start the year. As an interesting fact, Queen Elizabeth II didn’t take her Christmas decorations down on Twelfth Night but kept them on display until Candlemas and
indeed until 6th February which was the anniversary of her father’s death to honour his memory.
We restart our Coffee Mornings on Saturday 7th February 10.30am – 12pm, and you will be able to listen a bell peal by a visiting ringing group during the morning as a special treat. We start the Lent season on Ash Wednesday, 18th February, when in addition to taking communion, you can also “enjoy” burnt palm crosses mixed with oil being etched as a cross on your forehead by the Rector, this year at East Dean church. I can tell you from experience that it does smart if it runs into your eye so have a tissue handy and, as small bit of advice, best not
forget you have it because you do get funny looks when you meet people in the pub later! And then we are supposed to give something up for Lent – chocolate? Me? Please see first paragraph!
Julia Noble, Churchwarden
St Leonard’s Church Services
Feb 1st 11am Communion “Candlemas”
Feb 7th 10.30am – 12pm Coffee Morning
Feb 8th 11am Morning Prayer
Feb 15th 11am Family Service
Feb 22nd 11am Morning Prayer
