APRIL 1882

KALENDAR NOTES

April...3rd...School Managers Meeting 4.30
April...3rd...Juv: Temp: Meeting.6.
April...6th...Mothers Meeting 2.45
April...6th...Nat: School Holidays begin
April..10th...Schoolroom Club 6.30
April..11th...Juv: Temp: Meeting.6.
April..11th...Mens' Temp: Meeting 8.
April..13th...Easter Vestry Meeting 11 o'clock.
April..13th...Mothers Meeting 2.45
April..14th...Choir Practice 7.30
April..17th...Juv: Temp: Meeting.6.
April..17th...Nat: School Holidays End
April..20th...Mothers Meeting 2.45
April..21st...Choir Practice 7.30
April..24th...Juv: Temp: Meeting.6.
April..24th...Mens' Temp: Meeting 8.
April..27th...Mothers Meeting 2.45
April..27th...Annual Meeting of Bible Society, Town Hall, 7. o'clock
April..28st...Choir Practice 7.30

LENTEN SERVICES

We are thankful to say that on the whole the Wednesday Evening Services have been well attended during Lent. On March 1st, the Rev C.H. Minchin, son of the late Vicar of S. Mary-de-Lode, Gloucester, preached for the first time in this Church, from Eph: vi.16 on the Christian Soldier's 'armour and weapons.' On the 8th, the Rev. W. Arnold -- well-known to the congregation of this parish, occupied the pulpit, and preached from the texts Eph: vi.12 and Rom: vii.23,24, on 'His open and secret foes.' On the 15th, the Rev. W. Barker preached his first sermon in this Church to a good congregation from 1 Kings xx.11,on 'His hindrances and disappointments.' The Rev.H.Dombrain was, with much regret, unable through illness to be with us on the 22nd, and his place was taken by the Vicar, who preached from Acts111.19, on 'His aids and refreshments.' On the 29th the Rev. Basil Edwards brought the series to a close, with a sermon from 1 Cor.ix.24, on 'His victory and reward.' We cannot but express a hope that large numbers will assemble themselves together for worship during the solemn services of Holy Week. In the afternoon of Good Friday the usual service of meditation on our Lord's 'Words from the Cross.' will be held.

EASTER

The Church directs that every parishioner shall communicate at Easter, and surely no good Christian would willingly be absent from the Holy Feast on the great Festival of our Lord's Resurrection. It will be seen in the Kalendar that, there will be three celebrations of the Holy Communion on Easter Day, at 6.30.a.m., 8. o'clock (partly choral), and at mid-day.

FLOWERS
'RELICS YE ARE OF EDEN'S BOWERS.'
Flowers in the Churchyard are never out of place, and we welcome them with thankfulness and joy, for they are tokens of Love, and emblems of Hope. In Wales and in this neighbourhood a recognized custom of specially adorning the graves with flowers on Palm Sun day prevails, in memory of our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem amid the waving of palms and the shouting of Hosannas.
In other parts the Churchyards are made bright with flowers on Easter Day, in memory of the Resurrection. Nothing could be more beautiful or appropriate than this. Flowers are living emblems of the Resurrection. The bodies of the faithful are seeds sown in GOD'S Acre, to blossom hereafter into glorified forms, like the Form of Him who is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. We should be very glad to see the flowers placed on the graves in our Churchyard on Palm Sunday, renewed and brightened up for Easter Day.

BAPTISM
" ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM.2

Maurice Frederic. . . . . . Son of Maurice Frederic and Elizabeth Carter.

BURIAL

"BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD"

Elizabeth Wood. . . . . . . March 9th. . . . . .Aged 41 years
Mary Jane Holmes. . . . . . March 18th . . . . .Aged 69 years

WEEKLY OFFERTORIES

"UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK LET EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM."

February 28th. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . :12 : 8
2nd Sunday in Lent . . . . . . . . . .£ 3 : 1 : 4
3rd Sunday in Lent . . . . . . . . . .£ 5 :16 : 6½
Thursday, March 16th . . . . . . . . . . .: 2 : 6
4th Sunday in Lent. . . . . . . . . ..£ 3 :10 : 3
Annunciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .: 3 : 6
Passion Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . .£ 3 :13 :0½
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____________

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£16 :10 :10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____________

CONFIRMATION

The Lord Bishop of the Diocese held a Confirmation in this Church on Saturday, March 11th at 3 o'clock. As it has so often happened before on a Confirmation Day, the weather was by no means favourable. But the rain did not prevent the presence of a good congregation, to witness the Apolostic rite of Laying on of Hands, and to join in the always interesting and solemn service, The Rev, C.J. Jones, Rural Dean, acted as Chaplain to the Bishop, and after the singing of the 'Veni Creator,' read the opening Preface. The candidates were led up in order to the Altar rails by the Churchwardens, while soft notes on the organ helped to cover the sound of the going and returning footsteps. There were 67 in all confirmed, of whom 59 -25 men and boys and 34 women and girls, belong to this parish; the Rev. A.D. Pringle brought 7 from Blakeney - 1 boy and 6 girls; and the Rev. W Lockett - 1 boy from Littledean.

Here follow the names, in alphabetical order, of our own parishioners who were confirmed.
Isaac Ballinger. Joseph Charles Bluett. William John Burford. Charles Percy Camm. Charles Carlisle. Thomas Draysey. William Arthur Dunkley. George Alonzo Dunkley. Henry Ferris.
William Henry Gray. Charles James Gray. William Thomas Heaven. Elijah Frederick Hooper.
Samuel Jaynes. Thomas Jennings. William Joseph Jones. Edwin Lane. William Nash. James Philpotts Playsted. Charles John Probert. Albert Edward Runicles. Henry James Smith.
George Frederick Smith. Ernest Wooles. Edgar Frederick Wrenn. Martha Sarah Beard. Alice Caroline Brown. Elizabeth Brobyn. Ann Margrett Carefield. Alice Elizabeth Cole. Charlotte Crawshay. Alice Elizabeth Crocker. Agnes Kate Davis. Pricsilla Ferris. Alice French. Emma Sophia Hatton. Mary Hirom. Florence Hobbs Morse. Sarah Ann Sophia Hooper. Julia Jane Jones. Alice Jones. Martha Elizabeth King. Sarah King. Matilda Knight. Priscilla Mary Knight. Elizabeth Lewis. Mary Malson. Elizabeth Ann Martin. Lilian Alice Maule. Charlotte Moss.
Elizabeth Neale. Alice Rosa Plaisted. Edwina Elizabeth Plaisted. Mary Ann Pugh. Sarah Mary Pyle. Harriett Roberts. Anna Matilda Sheen. Ada Thorpe. Mary Wellington.

After the Laying on of Hands, and when the beautiful hymn 'O JESU I have promised' had been sung, the Bishop earnestly and plainly addressed the newly-confirmed. He dwelt much upon the blessings of the three great days in every good Churchman's life - the day of Holy Baptism, of Confirmation, and of first Communion. The day of Holy Baptism, was indeed a great day, for then they were admitted into the fold and flock of CHRIST, and received the first gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. In Confirmation they received an increase of the HOLY SPIRIT'S gifts and were strengthened to fight the battle of life with Hope. In Holy Communion (and he trusted they would all soon become regular communicants), they would find CHRIST very near to cheer and refresh them by the way. The Bishop concluded by exhorting them all to pray earnestly, regularly, and humbly, that the HOLY SPIRIT might abide with them for ever. On the following day there were two celebrations of the Holy Communion, and the 'third great day' in their lives came to many of the newly-confirmed.

PAROCHIALIA

The Rev. C.H.Awdry, Diocesan Inspector, examined both schools in religious knowledge on the 14th. The children throughout seemed to answer well, and Mr. Awdry expressed himself well satisfied with their knowledge and conduct. We hope to give his report in our next number.

The Night School closed with the last Thursday in March. The attendance of late has not been encouraging. The teachers never failed, and to them our gratitude is due; but the pupils, we regret to say soon fell off, and at last ceased to come altogether.

NOTWITHSTANDING repeated applications, Mr. Waller has been unable until this week to furnish a final statement of the Restoration accounts, owing to the very serious illness of Mr. Carrington - the Surveyor. At last they are in the hands of the Building Committee, and will be made public as soon as possible. We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of a grant of £20 from the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association.