Rector - Revd. Teresa Townsend

Dear Friends,

May is upon us already and it seems to have happened so quickly, but it has actually been quite steady, with the spring flowers bursting through the earth to let us know they are bringing the warmth and the sunshine. The aconites and snowdrops of February were replaced by glorious daffodils, bluebells and primroses, and now the front lawn of the Rectory Garden has an increasing number of cowslips making their presence known. Nic has started mowing the lawn again – but goes around the cowslips! Seeds have been sown and tiny shoots nurtured in the hope of good growth ready for planting out.

This year, we celebrated a late Easter – Easter Day not being until 20th April, whereas last year it was at the end of March. In our churches, the events of Holy Week, bringing darkness and sorrow into the otherwise summer-bound Hampshire countryside, helped us understand why Easter is truly such a glorious time – a time when those who believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour give thanks for his sacrifice on the cross.

For those who didn’t celebrate Easter in the same way, it may still have been a time of celebration with family, friends, or simply time off over the long weekend. Whatever we did, we were able to do because we live in a place where we are free to believe as we choose, where we can hold different opinions on religion, faith, politics, and family life. Whilst we may not agree with everything going on around us, we know that speaking up – if done in the right way – will not result in persecution or oppression. Around the world, many will have wanted to celebrate Easter for its Christian meaning but couldn’t, because they are not free to do so.

This May marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Known as VE Day, it was a day of great joy and celebration in 1945, although it was marred by the continuing war in Japan and surrounding countries. Some feel we don’t need to think of that time anymore – that it’s in the past and should be forgotten. They are free to think that, just as those who want to remember are free to do so. The end of the war gave us that right – the right to our thoughts. How we share them matters too.

In the three churches of the Benefice – Abbotts Ann, Upper Clatford and Goodworth Clatford – there will be a small display and a place to write names of those to be remembered, should anyone wish to visit the churches for a quiet time during the anniversary week. On the Saturday before Remembrance Day, we hope to share more about the end of the war from a village point of view – do look out for more information nearer the time.

My grandfathers had very different wars. One came over from Galway to join the RAF and met my grandmother. The other was an auxiliary fireman, fighting the London fires during the Blitz. Nic’s dad fought in Egypt, but never spoke of his service.

Remembering is not glorifying war. War is devastating. We see on the news and in the papers daily how wars continue to damage innocent lives, and it’s hard to understand why they go on. Remembering is about recognising the huge cost to life – not just of those who fought or lived through it, but also of the generations that followed, and who will follow.

Within our villages, we can step out and see the good that is here – the people who are friends and neighbours, those who listen and care. And we can do it because of the time we live in and where we live. We can be thankful.

I hope that as the month of May brings summer ever closer, we may take comfort in all that we have and find peace with those around us.

As always, please get in touch if you’d like to catch up over a cup of tea.

Every blessing,
Teresa