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Yes,It's AGM season again and this year's one for the Oat Street Chapel will take place on Sunday 11th March at 11:45, after the regular service.   All are welcome, although only Members of the chapel will be able to vote on resolutions. 

This year's Valentine's Supper, organised by Chris and Sally, will take place at the Chapel on Monday 13 February, 7.00pm for 7.30pm.   Tickets £8.  All welcome!!

The local madrigal group, Musyck Anon, will once again hold a Christmas concert at Oat Street Chapel, at 7.30pm on Friday 18 December,  with refreshments available afterwards. All welcome!  

There will be no admission charge, but a retiring collection will be taken in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. 

All are welcome at Oat Street Chapel  at 11am on Sunday 18 December for the 2011 Cotswold Group Christmas Service.  This is a service created jointly by members of the Cotswold Worship Leaders' Support Group.  Rumour has it that gold, frankincense and myrrh will be making an appearance!  Hot refreshments will be served afterwards.  Please do join us.

The last wishes of long-term Chapel Member, Committee Chair and Trustee, Mrs Sylvia Slocombe, were honoured on the afternoon of 29th May when her ashes were interred in the Remembrance Garden at Oat Street Chapel. The brief ceremony was conducted by Kath Forder in the presence of close members of Sylvia’s family. A memorial plaque will be installed on the Wall of Remembrance in due course. The Chapel is grateful to the family for a generous donation in memory of Sylvia which will be used to finance a number of improvements to the Remembrance Garden.

Readers of the Evesham Journal (19th May), or any of its sister publications, will have noted with interest the report of the Vale of Evesham Historical Society’s project to replace the memorial to George May in the grounds of Oat Street Chapel. Echoing a similar project at the turn of the 20th century, the Historical Society is inviting donations from both its members and the public to meet the four-figure cost of a replacement. As Chapel members may be aware, the existing memorial dates from 1903, when the then incumbent, Rev Rudolph Davis, called upon 32 members of the public to donate 5 shillings each towards the cost of replacing the original memorial that had been erected at the time of George May’s death in 1871 and which, by then, had become badly eroded. Both the Chapel Trustees and Committee are providing support and encouragement to the Historical Society for the new project and a number of events, jointly hosted by the Chapel and the Historical Society are currently under consideration.

Further information regarding George May and his memorial are to be found in the articles on the Chapel website, written by Chapel member Mrs Maureen Butler: (Available on the Internet at http://www.eveshamunitarians.org.uk/article-george_may.php and http://www.eveshamunitarians.org.uk/article-obliterated.php )

Peter Forder

“Churches ready to throw open doors. Lots planned for celebration of historic sites” - or so announced the banner headline on the inner pages of the Evesham Journal and its sister publications some weeks ago. Heralding the start of the Cotswold Churches Festival on 14th May, the newspaper article noted that whilst the 9-day event originated from the Diocese of Oxford it was nevertheless intended to give churches of any denomination within the Cotswolds an opportunity to open their doors and welcome visitors. Church registration was duly invited at the Festival website: http://www.cotswoldchurchesfestival.org/

As a late registration, Oat Street Chapel achieved unexpected publicity as the 100th place of worship to register its intent to participate. Open mornings on Saturday 14th and 21st May were duly included in the list of events and thanks go to John & Eileen Green, Don & Sheila Taylor and Lesley Harris for providing a welcome and refreshments for visitors on these occasions. Special thanks also go to Don Taylor for providing the scones for which he has achieved some renown. Despite the few visitors who were received, those concerned in the hosting considered their efforts worthwhile, particularly since the only other places of worship which had registered in Evesham were the Anglican churches of All Saints’ and St Lawrence adjoining Abbey Park. The Festival is intended to become an annual event so perhaps next year we can look forward to better things.

Peter Forder

Evesham's Oat Street Chapel was humming on Wednesday 11th May...

Forty-one people from nine Midlands Unitarian Association congregations continued the tradition of meeting during Evesham's asparagus season for an 'Asparagus Lunch'. After the company had gathered for coffee and greeted old friends and new in the chapel's gatehouse, the Rev. Dr Peter Godfrey treated us to an inspiring service on the subject of 'happiness', including a reading by Kath Forder of the Jerusalem Bible's version of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-10), which replaced the usual 'Blessed are...' with 'Happy are' . Rev. Ant Howe accompanied us on the organ with his usual flair; his joyous postlude had feet tapping, and we went back to the gatehouse for lunch smiling.

After a welcome by Oat Street Chair Dr Peter Forder, and grace by Rev Don Phillips, we tucked into a choice of chicken princess with white wine and asparagus sauce or an asparagus and mushroom risotto, followed by fruit salad or cheese and biscuits. Lunch, provided by Evesham caterers 'Cobwebs', was delicious and plentiful; one person, on being served with cheese, was heard to observe 'It's a ploughman's lunch!', before offering portions of cheese to the rest of the table.

In making the traditional toast 'To civil and religious liberty the world over', GA President Ann Peart reminded us of the origins of the meeting, which began in 1782 as 'cover' for a then illegal get- together of non-conformist ministers. The 'Warwickshire and Neighbouring Counties Monthly Meeting of Protestant Dissenting Ministers (1782)' - affectionately known as 'Ministers' Meeting' - now consists of current and retired ministers and lay leaders of MUA congregations (currently with a couple of ministry students, too!), and still hosts the event at Oat Street, with the willing cooperation of the Chapel's congregation. All involved were thanked, and coffee and mints served, before the hum of conversation faded and a replete, happy group said its goodbyes and wended its way home.

Evesham Unitarians held their AGM on Sunday, 13th March following the usual morning service of worship, led by Chapel member Jane Couper. The current Chairman Peter Forder thanked all for coming and invited the meeting to observe a few moments of silence in memory of the three Members who had passed away in 2010 and 2011: Basil Shufflebotham, Brenda Staines and most recently, Sylvia Slocombe.

Annual General Meetings are an important opportunity for Members to take stock of the year just gone and, through the discussion of the Annual Reports and Accounts, to satisfy themselves that, apart from the ever present concern over gradually declining membership, the Congregation remains in good health. The meeting also allows Members to express thanks to all who have made contributions to the life of the Chapel in the past year and to vote in (or out) those who are to serve on the Congregational Committee in the year to come. In the event, however, such a vote proved unnecessary and the existing Committee and Officers were re-elected unopposed.

The routine business having been completed satisfactorily, the meeting then turned its attention to the far from routine item on the agenda: the proposal that the Congregation adopt a more modern constitution as a first step towards applying for Registered Charity Status. The ensuing lengthy discussion, however, raised a number of points which indicated that Members were not yet ready to vote on the proposal and that a further consultation period was required.

The date of the next AGM was fixed for Sunday, 11th March 2012.

The funeral service for Sylvia Slocombe was conducted by Kath Forder at Cheltenham Crematorium at 12.00 noon on Monday, 14th March (Eulogy on page 13). Those who came to pay their respects included seven Members from Oat Street Chapel, some of whom were able to join the family for lunch after the service.

Peter Forder

This year the annual St Valentine’s Supper at Oat Street Chapel took place on the day itself, Monday 14th February. Whilst the lovers of love numbered only about 30, somewhat fewer than in past years, it was unclear as to whether the reduced number was as a result of competing events elsewhere or the effects of seasonal fatigue brought on by what has been, by general agreement, a somewhat trying winter. Spring is, presumably however, on its way and those who gathered in romantic mood in the Upper Gatehouse Room could in the meantime savour Sally’s home-cooked steak and ale pie (or a vegetarian variant) and the tempting array of Don Taylor’s desserts. Many thanks, as always, go to Sally, Chris and all their helpers for the hard work that the preparation and serving of such a meal entails.

Several of Chris’ imaginative quizzes followed. Of particular originality was the “Money Quiz” in which all answers were sums of pre-decimal money. Whilst the connection between the clue “An old bicycle” and 11⁄4d was straightforward, to connect “A part of an ape’s leg” with the answer of 1⁄2d required a less logical approach (and perhaps a particular manner of speech)...

Nevertheless, a good time was had by all and £291 was raised for Chapel funds. Thank you again, Chris and Sally.

The season of the Annual General Meeting is again upon us with Oat Street Chapel’s own AGM scheduled for 13th March, immediately after the Sunday service. The meeting this year proves to be somewhat out of the ordinary since Members will be asked to vote on the proposal that the Congregation should adopt a more modern constitution. Kindly drawn up by Sandy Ellis and subsequently scrutinised by a Congregational sub-committee, the new constitution, if adopted, would pave the way towards a possibility that the Chapel may, in the future, apply for registered charity status in its own right. The meeting will, of course, also elect the Officers and Members who will serve on the Congregational Committee during the coming year. Those with an interest in doing so should contact our Secretary, Lesley Harris.

At the most recent meeting of the EIFF, Evesham Unitarians were represented by Kath Forder. The forum organises events which, it is hoped, will encourage and support inter-faith relationships in the Vale of Evesham. The next events are a Devotional Evening of readings and music at Holland House, similar to that held in July last year, and a visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Leamington Spa. Further details will be publicised in due course. Please contact Kath if you require information about the EIFF.

The last of the evening social events in 2010, the traditional Christmas Party, took place on Monday 6th December in the Upper Gatehouse Room at Oat Street Chapel. The generosity and hard work of Chris and Sally and their many helpers was much appreciated by all present. The seasonal roast dinner and trimmings (with a selection of tempting desserts to follow) was consumed with much satisfaction, especially so in view of the decidedly wintry weather. Those who eagerly awaited the annual visit from Father Christmas were not disappointed; presents were distributed to all with the customary festive cheer. At a signal from Chris, the room underwent a dramatic rearrangement prior to the traditional game of Pass-the-Parcel or, to be more precise, Pass-the-Parcel-and-perhaps-Win-a-Bear. £387.50 was raised for Chapel funds. Thank you Chris and Sally for another memorably festive eveing.

The Playhouse Pre-School group also celebrated Christmas, by presenting the nativity story to parents and friends assembled in the Chapel. Rather than expect each child to learn a speaking part, they held dolls (Mary, a baby, a shepherd, a wise man, etc.) and as their teacher read the story, at the appropriate point each child took its doll and put it in the nativity scene which had been set up on a table. It was very effective, and all present enjoyed it.

Local madrigal group, Musyck Anon provided an enjoyable musical evening at Oat Street Chapel on the 17th December. Despite inclement weather, forty or so people attended the concert and the reception hosted by Chapel members. The retiring collection raised £150 for the Evesham Talking Newspaper for the Blind.

The snow and subsequent icy weather in December disrupted many scheduled activities across the Cotswold Group of Congregations. One Sunday without a service at Oat Street Chapel is unusual but the absence of one on two successive Sundays is probably a first! Whilst the decision not to have a service on 26th December had been taken in November, the service would have had to be cancelled anyway because of the weather, as was the one in the preceding week. As testament to the exceptionally low temperatures over the Christmas period, both the Vestry and the Gatehouse suffered burst pipes, possibly for the first and, hopefully, only time. Thanks to the hard work of John & Eileen Green and Anne & Barrie Wheeler (and an accommodating plumber and electrician) however, the Service on 2nd January was unaffected, as was the return of the Playhouse Pre-School later in the week.

The weekend of 11th and 12th of September once again saw the doors of Oat Street Chapel open to visitors for the annual Heritage Open Days: Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12noon to 4pm.

Many thanks to John Green for coordinating the event and to all Members and Friends who gave up part of their weekend to provide a welcoming presence and refreshments. Despite our best efforts, however, visitor numbers showed only a small increase over last year and hence we were significantly down from the high numbers of the year before. We had 40 visitors on the Saturday and 38 on the Sunday, the respective figures being 48 & 26 (2009) and 72 & 35 (2008).

Peter Forder

Meetings next month will be on November 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. If you would like to lead a Friday Light - maybe there's a subject that you find particularly inspiring - please let Don or Kath know.

Our Wednesday Inquirer Group will be meeting in the vestry at Oat Street Chapel, on 3rd and 17th November. We will be discussing articles and letters in the most recent issue of the fortnightly Inquirer magazine.

The traditional Harvest Supper at Oat Street Chapel took place in the Upper Gatehouse Room on the evening of Monday 27th September, only a few days after the autumnal equinox, when the hours of daylight are decreasing at their maximum rate.

Whilst the arrival of autumn was therefore in no doubt, the approach of winter did nothing to dampen the conviviality of the forty or so who came to sup. The selection of main courses and desserts provided by Sally and her helpers having been consumed with some relish, the traditional raffle was drawn, to be followed by a decidedly un-traditional round of community singing. Whilst passers-by may well have recognised the tune, ably played by Humphrey Bright at the keyboard, as that of a well-known, not to say well-loved, hymn*, the words actually being voiced with some gusto would no doubt have caused them puzzlement and, we hope, amusement.

Further entertainment was provided by Chris in the form of a musical quiz - easy for those with the ability to match their recognition of a tune with its name, and vexing to those who struggle with its name on the tip of their tongue.

Thank you, Chris and Sally, for another evening of good company and good fun. A total of £426 was raised for Chapel funds.

*All things bright and beautiful

Evesham Unitarian's new web-site was launched today. It incorporates a new design, new photography by Syd Mathews, a Monthly Calendar and News page.