The bells at St. John the Baptist church in Broadwindsor will be heard this afternoon (Tuesday, 6th) at 15.45 hrs. when a band from Milverton will ring a Quarter Peal.
A second group from the University of Cambridge Guild of Ringers will be ringing on Monday, 19th August from 10.30am – 11.30am.
Enjoy the bells 🙂
Photo credit: Annie Collins Photography
This morning (8th July) at 10am a visiting band will attempt to ring a Quarter Peal which will last approximately 20 mimutes 🙂
On Thursday, 11th July, there is a wedding in St. John the Baptist church at 2pm. A team will raise the bells some time in the morning ready to ring as the happy couple leave the church following the ceremony.
Our congratulations to them both.
Photo credit: Annie Collins
With thousands of visitors to the village website each month from all around the world, Broadwindsor.Org celebrates 4 years! 🙂
Local business’ support is invaluable as Broadwindsor.Org (affectionally referred to as ‘The Org‘ by many) is a not-for-profit organisation. £300 was donated to the Comrades Hall following a successful music promotion in September ’23.
The QR code above is for a £20 payment.
If you are a visitor and would like to donate a different amount, please use the QR code below.
St. George’s Day is also known as the Feast of Saint George. As well as England, St. George is a Patron Saint of several countries: Portugal; Cyprus; Georgia; Serbia; Bulgaria; Bosnia & Herzegovin, and the Republic of Macedonia, all of who fly the red cross flag on the day.
St. George is also the patron saint of The Scout Movement, which has held St. George’s Day parades by Scouts (and now Girl Guides) since its first years.
Not much is known about Saint George’s early life, and what is known has been argued for centuries. It is believed that he was probably born to noble birth, around 280 AD in Cappodocia (Turkey) and died on 23rd April in Lydda, Syria Palaestina, an area which is now in modern-day Israel.
The Legend:The myth of St. George & the Dragon became popularised around the time of the Crusades who brought back tales of a dragon-slaying Christian who saved a princess and her village from the flesh eating monster. It is said that the local villagers had offered up sheep everyday to appease the monster, but when that failed they tried feeding it their children, chosen by lottery! Until, on one occasion, it happened that the lot fell on the king’s daughter. Distraught with grief, the King told the people they could have all his gold and silver and half of his kingdom if his daughter was spared. His people refused and the daughter was sent out to the lake, decked out as a bride, to be fed to the dragon…
By chance, George rode past the lake. Noticing him, the dragon charged for George, who fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross and charged on horseback delivering a grievous wound. With the dragon harnessed, George rode the princess back to the village, subsequently telling the villagers that he would only kill the dragon if they all became Christians. Unwilling to subject themselves back to the terror of the dragon, the king and his people agreed to convert to Christianity and George slew the dragon. On the site where the dragon died, the king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. George, and from its altar a spring arose whose waters cured all disease.
George became a solider, and ultimately an officer, in the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian. When the Emperor ordered the systematic persecution of Christians. George refused to take part, which resulted in his torture and subsequent death on 23rd April 303 AD. The Emperor’s wife was so inspired by George’s bravery and loyalty to his religion, that she too became a Christian and was subsequently executed for her faith.
The earliest documented mention of St. George in England comes from the Catholic monk the venerable Bede (c. 673–735). His feast day is also mentioned in the Durham Collectar, a ninth-century liturgical work. The will of Alfred the Great is said to refer to the saint, in a reference to the church of Fordington, Dorset. At Fordington a stone over the south door records the miraculous appearance of to lead crusaders into battle. Early (c. 10th century) dedications of churches to St. George are noted in England, for example as well as Fordingham, Dorset, at Thetford, Southwark and Doncaster.
St. George’s Chapel at Windsor castle was established by Edward III in 1348. The chapel, which is in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, had a big refurbishment started on it by Edward IV in 1475 that wasn’t finished until his grandson Henry VIII was on the throne in 1528.
It is both a Royal Peculiar, that is a Church of England parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the Diocese and the province in which it lies and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch. It was where the funeral of H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh took place in 2021.
The chapel also serves as the Chapel of the Order of the Garter. The Garter Service takes place at St George’s chapel every year because St George is the patron saint of the Order of the Garter. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. It is granted by the Sovereign to people who have either served her well or contributed something special to the nation – such as Sir Winston Churchill. The annual ceremony takes place in June.
The motto in gold lettering ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ translates as “Shame on him who thinks evil of it.
St. George’s Day was a major feast and national holiday in England on a par with Christmas from the early 15th century. The tradition of celebration St. George’s Day had waned by the end of the 18th century after the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
A traditional custom on St. George’s Day is to fly or adorn the St. George’s Cross flag in some way: Pubs in particular can be seen on 23rd April with garlands of St. George’s crosses adorning them inside and out.
It is customary for the hymn “Jerusalem” to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels on St. George’s Day, or on the Sunday closest to it. Traditional English food and drink is likely to be be consumed.
Do go along to our lovely village church and join in the Christmas carols service – the more voices – the merrier 🙂
The Broadwindsor Carol service will take place in church at 6pm on Tuesday 19th December. Come and join in this community event, back in church for the first time since Covid. Hear the story, sing familiar carols and put the Nativity figures in the crib.
There is no midnight mass in Broadwindsor this year, we don’t have the volunteers to host the event late in the evening. However, you are welcome to join in with a service at Stoke Abbott at 10pm on Christmas Eve or 11.30pm at Beaminster. Broadwindsor will host a Christmas Day Family service with communion at 10.30am on Christmas Day.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas, every blessing, Jo.
Rev Jo Neary
Pioneer Priest
Beaminster Area Team
01308 867816
(N.B.: Rev. Jo’s usual parish working days are Saturday – Tuesday.)
A fantastic memorial concert is being held for the exceptional musician, a village resident and friend to many, Simon Emmerson who peacefully passed away on Monday, 13th March this year after living with cancer for several years.
Taking place at The Roundhouse, in Camden, London, this is a special one-off concert, with very special guests, that will showcase music from all of Simon’s bands and projects. It will raise funds for palliative care at home and abroad, including the Weldmar Hospice who looked after Simon at the end of his life.
For those able to travel, it is on Friday, 15th December at 7pm. Tickets start are from £37.50 (standing) and from £45 (seated) – you can book online HERE. Under-16s to be accompanied by an adult, Under-14s to be accompanied by an adult and in seated areas only. The event is digitally ticketed. Read more HERE.
Follow the Afro Celt Sound System
on Facebook for regular updates 🙂
Simon Daniel Emmerson, 12.03.1956 – 13.03.2023 Our congratulations to His Majesty who will be crowned King, alongside his Queen Consort by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, 6th May 2023.
The White Lion will be open from 10am on Saturday with the Coronation Ceremony being screened from 11am.
Weather permitting, you are also invited to a picnic in Bernards’ Place at 1.30pm – 4.30pm, more details HERE.
On Sunday, 7th The White Lion will be open from 12 noon and will be screening the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle from 8pm in the evening.
Across the country, many events are taking place to mark Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort’s Coronation celebrations. Last week, the Department for Culture Media and Sport commissioned a short film for primary school-aged children, explaining the history and significance of the Coronation….
Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are gifting all children of the Parish aged 16 years and under with a souvenir coronation mug. For those children attending Broadwindsor School, Councillor Rowland Hibbard, Chairman of the Parish Council will be presenting mugs at school on Friday 5th May.
For children who do not attend Broadwindsor School, mugs will be available to be collected at two Coronation Events:
• Sunday 7 May, from 2.00 pm – Blackdown House will be hosting a Coronation Event for Blackdown and Burstock residents.
• Sunday 7 May, 3.00 pm-5.00 pm – Drimpton Village Hall will be hosting a Coronation Cream Tea. (Please note that it is a booking only event as seating is limited, contact Viv on 01308 868005)
In addition, a small number of mugs will be available from Broadwindsor Community Stores from the week commencing 8th May for those who have not been able to collect from the above. Please do get in contact with the Clerk if you have any questions: hello@broadwindsorgroup.gov.uk
Imbolc (or Imbolg) is also called St. Brigid’s Day and is celebrated on 1st February each year and is one of the four traditional Gaelic seasonal festivals, marking the beginning of Spring. It is approximately halfway between the Winter Solstice (21st December) and the Spring Equinox (21st March). Imbolc is also associated with the onset of the lambing season and the blossoming of blackthorn. Time to celebrate the lengthening days and the early signs of spring – the snowdrops are up 🙂
Saint Brigid, who died in 525 AD, was a Christianization of the goddess of fertility, Brigid. Born Brigit, there is much debate over her birthparents, but it is widely believed her mother was Brocca, a Christian baptized by Saint Patrick, and her father was Dubthach, a Leinster chieftain. Brocca was a slave, therefore Brigid was born into slavery.
St. Brigid was also invoked to protect homes and livestock. The holiday was a festival of the hearth and home. It is time to ‘spring clean’.
To receive the blessings of St. Brigid:
Brigid of Ireland, also known as Saint Brigid of Kildare, is the patroness Saint of Ireland, and one of its three national Saints along with Patrick and Columba. For Christians, particularly in Ireland, it is a time to feast! Although many of its customs died out in the 20th century, it is still observed and in some places it has been revived as a cultural event.
Photo credit: Annie Collins Photography
England’s Lionesses have won the Euro 2022 championship after beating Germany 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley.
It is England’s first major trophy since the men’s side won the World Cup in 1966.
A remarkable achievement in so many ways and marvellous role models for our young girls – our heartfelt congratulations to them all 🙂
The final slideshows of Broadwindsor Fun Group’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations…
To view the others, please click on the links below –
(Clicking on a photo will open it in a new window and be a larger image)
(Clicking on a photo will open it in a new window and be a larger image)
These and more photos of our Platinum Jubilee Celebrations can be viewed at Annie Collins Photography‘s Facebook page HERE. They are terrific. Thank you so much Annie!
