with All Saints Saxtead
For more photographs of SAXTEAD CHURCH please look on the A church Near You website for All Saints Saxtead
News of Saxtead Church’s Proposed Memorial Wildlife Garden
Since long before The Rev Mark Sanders left we have been discussing cheering up the Memorial Plot, and since lockdown we have forged ahead with plans. I attach a photograph of the present state of the plot (invisible) and the proposed herbal planting. At our last meeting of the PCC in 2019 it was again remarked upon that people were finding it difficult to find the plot, and then bleak when they did. Magnificent proposals were considered from a professional garden planning company but the cost would have been prohibitive until we have completed the works for a water supply, toilet and kitchenette, at present with the DAC for approval. So we have come up with this plan as a cheap and attractive alternative, which would not preclude doing something more ambitious later. Moreover we have plans to designate our graveyard as an ECO friendly area and the plants chosen will attract butterflies. We also have plans for bird boxes. Best wishes,Christina
Read more on Sept News and Proposed Memorial Wildlife Garden Plans
The Wardens and Ministers in the benefice have met and for July and possibly for the duration of the Vacancy before Chris Davey arrives we hope to be able to offer the following services – open to everyone. A chance to worship in each other’s churches.
July 2020 News from Saxtead
The slow pace imposed on us by the lockdown
has seemed to make each glorious phase this
spring far more memorable than before. The
whole length of Saxtead Green has been a
carpet of celandine dotted with cowslips, giving
way to a sea of buttercups, followed by a
hundred thousand oxeye daisies together with
the delicate lacework of the cow parsley swaying
in the wind. Our beautiful ancient church, All
Saints, Saxtead, is now open again, but for the
time being only for private prayer. In order to
follow government Covid-19 safety guidelines we
ask that only four visitors enter the church at any
one time, and that they wipe the door catches on
leaving with the wipes provided.
Percolation tests in Saxtead!
No this is not some strange coffee test in the
village. Rather some holes in the Churchyard
with proper permission. The PCC at Saxtead is
considering moving onto the long hoped for
Phase 2 which means considering a simple
‘kitchen’ facility and the possibility of a toilet at
the back of the Church. Part of this means
checking the soil capacity for drainage.
The PCC thank Bill Roberts and John Speight for
digging 3 holes and testing how the water
seeped (percolated) away. To the best of my
knowledge they didn’t even have a cup of coffee
while doing so! The PCC will learn about the
results at the meeting next week. Christina
On Monday afternoon June 15th 2020 All Saints, Saxtead, opened it’s enormous medieval door to the public for the first time for nearly four months. A notice invites to followself-distancing and disinfectant rules, using gel from a dispenser on entry and wiping the door handles on leaving, and to wear a mask if vulnerable.
Read more on All Saints, Saxtead now open daily for private prayer
At All Saints, Saxtead, the glorious Mount Fuji cherry tree has shed its blossom which now forms a pink silk carpet up to the locked medieval door of the silent church. It has not been possible for the PCC to meet due to the isolation and distancing guidelines, and Sarah Rimmer has sadly notified us that our annual Church Fete has had to be cancelled. She is hoping that something can be arranged, if allowed, in the autumn.
The Loo Committee and Bill Roberts were unable to meet in the garden at Trust Farm due to distancing numbers, however the budget has been accepted and the architect will be asked to go ahead with the preparation of tender documents to be sent to a number of contractors.
The Saxtead PCC sewing group have sent more than 2 dozen masks, 5 sets of scrubs and 10 laundry bags to Foxearth so far. Sandra, the Housekeeper at Foxearth, rang to say how grateful they are for them and please could they have more masks and scrubs. So many village houses were swathed in bunting for VE Day. Everyone in the village over 70 will have been very much aware of VE Day all their lives as we were surrounded by people who had fought in the war. Very few families had no member who had died in action, paying the price for our freedom. Christina
News from Saxtead We have tremendous help in the village for the vulnerable isolated households, many kind people running errands for their neighbours, and in particular Sarah and Bill Rimmer’s son who brings wonderfully fresh fruit and veg to Saxtead weekly from a wholesaler near Ipswich. Our retired postman Andrew Walne fetches prescriptions from the Framlingham surgery weekly, and our post lady Sally Anna delivered a box of children’s cards as an Easter present from All Saints Church to 9 village households with small children and said they were thrilled with them!
