We had to purchase a Hymnal Plus box

Dear All.

I would like to put you all up to date as we have had a very busy summer at Monks this year, due to the lack of a organist we had to purchase a Hymnal Plus  box. This is a wonderful piece of equipment it has nearly every hymn ever written and every tune as well.   We had it installed with Complete Mission Praise and it was duly fitted in July. After some teething troubles including a mouse attacking it! we are now getting used to it.  It seems strange not to see anyone playing the organ but with Nick or Pat at the controls we manage quite well;

We also had a new p.a.system with a loop system for people with hearing difficulties. The next big task is to get some of the plaster in the Chapel replaced and the walls repainted, but has this has to be done in lime plaster and paint it is hard to find men who know how to do the job and of course we will need to find the money to pay for it.

We could be looking at a total cost of £10,000!

Two people has left us recently,  the Rev Roy Fowler  who is mentioned in another part of this site. The other persons are Andrew & Audrey Pye  who have been coming to take services for us for many years. Andrew had a health scare and was advised to cut back on his preaching dates. We shall miss them all a  thank the Lord for their service to us and send our prayers with them in their future  walk with God.

Well as one door shuts another opens and we give a warm welcome  to our new minister the Revd Cathy Arscott.

Cathy and her husband Frank comes to us after serving ten years in the Launceston Methodist circuit in Cornwall. Where she looked after six country chapels in West Devon and Cornwall. Before her call to the ministry Cathy worked as a school secretary and before that as a music tutor in a primary school. Cathy and Frank have four married  children and ten grandchildren and a dog. They enjoy ballroom dancing classes at the Manor School in Melkshamand spend a lot of time exploring the Wiltshire countryside and taking Sam on walks. Well thats all my new for the moment.

richard-2God bless

Richard and Jan Smith.
(+44) (0) 1249 653897.

Richard.smith753@btinternet.com