Tilford's Parish Magazine
The September edition is now ready - click here for flipbook version
The Choir is off to The Netherlands 27-31 August
This year the Choir will visit The Netherlands on tour, possibly for the first time!
With nearly 40 singers, the Choir will be singing in three of the finest medieval churches in The Netherlands.
The music programme comprises concerts in Sint Joriskerk in Amersfoort at 5 pm on 28 August, and Sint Walburgiskerk in Zutphen at 5 pm on 29 August; and we will sing at the Eucharist at 1030 and Evensong at 5.30 in the Cathedral in Utrecht on 30 August.
There will also be a short open-air recital outside the Cloth Hall in Ypres at 2 pm on 31 August, on the journey home. And there will be free time to enjoy some of the sights. Visitors will be welcome to come and support us by attending any the events.
The musical highlights from the tour will feature in a post-tour concert at St Thomas’ in early September.
He made it!
Will Spencer has made it to Barcelona after a gruelling ride in incredible heat, often +40 degrees.
He has already raised £1,825, 92% of his goal, for our lunch bags programme at Brambleton.
Well done and thank you, Will, and a big thanks to everyone who has supported him.
Find out more at https://gofund.me/d4362656a
Tilford's Parish Magazine
The August edition is now ready - click here for flipbook version
Bourne Parish Giving Day - Saturday 11th July, 9.30-11.00
We are part of a parish that is doing amazing things. We help people to worship, learn and grow in faith. We support our friends and neighbours in the community through outreach programmes such as The Community Fridge & Warehouse, Lunch Bags for Chlldren, Babes & Tots, and several other worship and support activities. We help during key life events and are there to support people during life’s ups and downs. These things would not be possible without the generous giving of our faithful and committed parishioners.
To meet our current plans and to provide for the additional pastoral support of a part-time priest in 2027, we need to increase our overall giving by at least 20%. This is a challenging target.
Click here for our Giving day leaflet which has more information
Franciscan Pilgrimage in Guildford, Sat 18th July
2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. Some Anglican Franciscans are undertaking a Peace Pilgrimage from July 17th in Northumberland to October 2nd in London. Groups across the country are organising their own local events during this time. All are welcome to join a Family Pilgrimage in Guildford to celebrate the life of St Francis of Assisi, from 10.30 and finishing with a service in the cathedral at 3pm. Starting place for the Family Pilgrimage, 10.30am, 18 July: St Francis' Church, 63 Beckingham Road, Guildford GU2 8BU. Revd Andrew Tuck is planning to participate in the Pilgrimage walk, if anyone from the parish would like to join him, or wants more information, please contact Andrew at aandatuck@gmail.com.
For more information about the pilgrimage click here
Christian Aid Thank You
Christian Aid Venezuela Earthquake Appeal : Thank you to everyone who responded to the Christian Aid Appeal for Emergency Funds to assist the rescue efforts in Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes on 24th June. We raised between us a magnificent sum of £473 including the Gift Aided donations. I have informed Christian Aid head office of these monies and have received the following message :
Thank you for sharing this joyful news. We're so grateful for the generosity and care shown by you and your church congregation towards the affected communities in Venezuela. Your kindness brings hope and strength as we stand together with communities in Venezuela, thank you once again!
More Lunch bags for Children
Will Spencer is at it again, fundraising for our children who need lunches over the school holidays, with another epic journey...on his bicycle.
'I am planning to cycle solo this year from Bordon to Barcelona, leaving on 28th June. I am taking the night ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham and from there, have planned a 1,330km route through France staying at 18 camp sites along the way. Hopefully, I will make the night train back to Paris and ferry back to UK on the 24th' - Will
Click here to get involved
Tilford parish dinner success
Christine Pointer and a wonderful team from All Saints Tilford raised over £3,000 for Lunch Bags for Children, our Brambleton initiative to help families during the school holidays.
Christine and her team prepared a delicious parish dinner with the largest pudding buffet I have ever seen. Geoff Quick organised a fiendish quiz, and for once I was sitting on the winning table...sadly no help from me. Ben hosted and made us all feel so welcome.
Thank you All Saints! That should supply 300 children's lunch fixings just when we need it. Sandy
Giving to our parish
At our recent APCM our treasurer Nigel gave a presentation on the current state of the parish finances and the need for a significant increase in giving. He highlighted the importance of giving through the Parish Giving Scheme, which many parishioners already use, and which automatically processes the Gift Aid. He also encouraged everyone to leave a legacy to the parish in their will. To see Nigel's presentation, click here.
Wine Tasting Evening - Thank you!
Against the backdrop of a Spring garden theme, many parishioners and friends enjoyed tasting and learning about a variety of wines at our parish's Wine Tasting fundraiser on Saturday.
The event raised over £1000 for the Lunch Bags for Children programme, and helped to raise awareness of this activity to friends in the community. Many thanks to our helpers on the day and all who participated and donated.
If you would like to read a description of the wines featured during the evening, click here. And for more information about our Lunch Bags for Children Programme, click here.
If you were unable to attend, but would like to support this important community initiative, you can donate here: Donate · ChurchSuite Donate (Click on General Funds and choose "Lunch Bags for Children" from the drop down menu).
Thank you for your support!
Stained glass windows restoration
The restoration of the stained glass windows adjacent to the font in the south transept with commence on Thursday 7th May. The stained glass windows will be removed by Corley Studios on the Thursday and Friday and taken to their workshop in Deal for a complete restoration prior to their re-installation early next year. In the meantime the windows will be blanked off. The existing stained glass will be re-used and the leadwork replaced. This work is required due significant sagging in both windows and will return both to a good state of repair.
These two lancet shaped lights originate from the studio of Archibald Keightley Nicholson and date from 1933.
Window S3 depicts an angel holding the scales of justice under the sun. Various angels, noble and saintly figures are stood in descending order below. The inscriptions are in scroll form above each figure and read from top to bottom: Saint Thomas, Saint Barbara, William of Wykeham, Christopher Wren, Caedmon, Saint Gregory and Alfred the Great.
Window S4 depicts an angel holding a lily (the symbol of sacrifice) under the moon. Various angels, noble and saintly figures are stood in descending order below. The inscriptions are in scroll form above each figure and read from top to bottom: Saint Luke, Michelangelo, Saint James of Ulm, Saint Cecilia, Handel, Saint Birinus, and St Catherine.
Update on Parish Fundraising
As part of our church life we want to be a Giving Church, helping others who need support and, in many ways we are. Just look at the work done from Brambleton every week and see the lives that are touched by the giving and dedication of the volunteer team there.
Look at the annual outreach to Christian Aid via the concerts and lunches that run through Lent. Look at the outreach to the Hospice from the Christmas Market and various charity organisations use our premises to run events. Look at the upcoming events: A Wine Tasting on May 9th for the Brambleton lunch boxes and a Quiz on June 27th for choir activities.
There is a strong history of fundraising in our Parish and over the years we have contributed to many external, internal, repair and upgrade projects. Most recently, we raised nearly £30,000 for the stained-glass window repair fund. Phase 1 has been completed and phase 2 is due to begin imminently.
Whereas there is allocation in the Parish’s annual finance budget for routine maintenance of our churches, unplanned repairs too often present themselves, imposing impossible demands on the church finances. When this happens, we raise our game and set fundraising objectives for unexpected expenditure.
Today, this unplanned work is comprehensive gutter repair and the Buildings & Grounds group is currently scoping and costing this work. Watch this space for the launch of the Go Gutter project. Fund raising initiatives are needed so, if you think you can help, please get in touch with Sandy vicar@thebourne.org.uk or Mo mo@thebourne.org.uk Thank you.
Our Lent Concert Series
A Heartfelt Thank You: We are thrilled to share that this year’s Lent Concert series was a wonderful success, raising an incredible £2,612. This will provide essential support for the Christian Aid mission in South Sudan.
A warm thank you goes out to our talented musicians and choristers who so generously shared their talent and expertise with us.
We also want to express our gratitude to everyone who attended and supported us which made for really happy and meaningful occasions. Thank You.
RIP Bishop Andrew
On Monday, 23 March, we gathered at the Cathedral and across satellite services to remember and give thanks for the life of Bishop Andrew.
Many of the hymns and readings had been chosen by Bishop Andrew before his death, including All Creatures of Our God and King, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and In Christ Alone. The Cathedral Choir also led moving mass settings, among them Kyrie eleison and Agnus Dei—the latter composed by Bishop Andrew himself.
Dean Bob opened the service by reminding everyone that we gathered “not only in grief, but in the faith that Andrew proclaimed and embodied: that life is stronger than death, and love is stronger than the grave.”
Bishop Paul presided at the service, which included heartfelt tributes from members of Bishop Andrew’s family, offering a touching and humorous glimpse into his childhood and home life, including his competitive card playing, his love of bargains, and his passion for wildlife photography. The sermon, delivered by his long‑time friend and fellow bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, spoke movingly of Bishop Andrew’s unwavering and joyful faith, and the inspiration he offered to so many—especially in the face of his illness and untimely death.
At the Commendation, symbols of Bishop Andrew’s priestly and episcopal ministry were reverently removed from his coffin, before the diocesan crozier was used by Bishop Paul to commend him to God before being laid upon the high altar.
The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, gave the final blessing before the coffin was led out of the Cathedral for a private committal.
A recording of the funeral remains available online for those who were unable to join us.
Our Easter Parish Magazine
Our parish magazine for Easter will be delivered to all homes in the parish.
If you wish to send it to friends and family, here is the link to the flipbook version, with optional music from our choir. Click here.
Bishop Chris sets the stage for our Lent Groups
On Sunday Bishop Chris Herbert gave a talk on the Old Testament with particular reference to the Book of Amos, which will be the focus of our Parish Lent Groups this year.
If you were not able to get to the talk, or if you simply want to hear it again, here is the link to it on YouTube
Brambleton stages a lively concert
The charity concert to raise funds for our Community Fridge project brightened up a dull February last Saturday. The 70 attendees were treated to Vic Cracknell as the opening act. Vic is well known on the local music scene. He volunteers at Oxfam Books & Music in Farnham and also organises a jazz 'open mike' event at The Wheatsheaf every Sunday. His rendition of "Enjoy Yourself" went down particularly well.
After Vic's set, Sandy said a few words about the Community Fridge for the benefit for those who were not familiar with its work.
We then had Brobed Stils as our second act, led by the ex-mayor of Farnham Brodie Mauluka. Brodie played a solo acoustic set at St Thomas-on-The-Bourne church to start Christian Aid week last year. This time he was playing with his five piece band, which includes a brass section.
The dance floor became steadily fuller during their set and was packed by the time Brobed Stils finished by playing Bob Marley's "One Love" segueing into "Three Little Birds".
Delicious pizzas were available throughout the evening from The Eden Garden Kitchen pizza van in the car park. We were grateful that the proprietor, Poonam, made a contribution to our event. There was also a well stocked bar which helped to boost the funds raised. The event committee were very pleased when a profit of about £950 was announced to support The Community Fridge.