Centenary Celebrations at The Good Shepherd
The Church of the Good Shepherd is reputedly one of the finest ‘Arts and Crafts’ buildings in Surrey, and now celebrating its Centenary. We are very lucky to have such a lovely building in our village and to mark its milestone the PCC have organised a few events and invite everyone to join in the celebrations!
Parish Supper
These celebrations started with a Centenary Supper in March, attended by 80 members of the parish and entertained by two of our young Dockenfield singers, Hannah Poulsom and Mared Evans. The food was delicious, we were well entertained and altogether it was a lovely evening, thank you!
Spring Clean – Saturday, 22nd May at 9.30am
If you have even a little time to spare during the morning of 22nd May we are having a Spring Clean of the church and would love some help! Refreshments provided!
Talk on History of the Church – John Chuter, Friday 28th May, at 7.00pm
Exactly 100 years to the day since the Good Shepherd Foundation Stone was laid, John Chuter has kindly agreed to give a talk on the history of the church, on Friday, 28th May, at 7.00 pm and it will be followed by a glass of wine. Entrance and refreshments are free but donations to the Centenary Fund are welcome. John is the Chairman and founder member of the Frensham and Dockenfield History Group and a nephew of the original builder so has more knowledge than most of the church and village. The same evening there will be a display of items showing photographs of the original buildings and the interior through the years as well as some of the documents relating to the building. Anthony Clayton has also written a short history of the church, which can be bought on the evening.
Church and Village Display – 28th May to 7th June
The Frensham and Dockenfield History Group, Jack Bessant and the Church archives have all produced some lovely items, which will be on display in the church from 28th May to 7th June. They give a fascinating insight into how people lived in the village 100 years ago as well as some of the details of who was involved in the building of the church, how the funds were raised and how the plans had to be changed. Entrance is free but donations to the Centenary Fund would be appreciated.
Dockenfield Day – 5th June 2pm – 6pm
The Good Shepherd and garden will be open form 2pmm to 6pm while Dockenfield Day is taking place on the playing field at Abbotts Cottages. There is to be a film show and puppets in a marquee in the churchyard. There will also be an opportunity to take a look at the display in the church as detailed above.
Celebration Service – Bishop Ian at the Good Shepherd on 6th June at 10.30am
The Rt Revd Ian Brackley, the suffragan Bishop of Dorking, will lead us in a Celebration Eucharist with St Mary’s Choir. It will be followed by a Village Picnic. In order to save everyone having to go home between the church service and the Picnic there will be a glass of wine, juice or coffee after the service plus storage for picnic lunches so it will be possible to bring picnics to church before the service. The Bishop has kindly written a Forward to the leaflet on the Good Shepherd, which will be available after the service and it will be another opportunity to look at the display in the church.
Village Picnic – 6th June from 12 noon onwards
For those not able to attend the service it is still possible to join in the Village Picnic from 12 noon onwards. Bring your own picnic and rug or chairs and tables and enjoy the company of others from the Parish while you eat your lunch in the churchyard (or shelter of a marquee!). In addition there will be entertainment for the children and a raffle. Now all that is needed is perfect weather!
Good Shepherd Centenary Leaflet
The Centenary Leaflet, written by Anthony Clayton, will be available to buy at each event and is a lovely record of the beautiful Arts and Crafts building designed by Mr W Curtis Green and built by the Frensham firm of builders, Andrew Chuter.
Centenary Fund
All events are free but donations towards the Centenary Fund are invited! Already enough funds have been raised to enhance the external lighting of the church and the lighting of the interior carving of ‘the good shepherd’ in the beams of the church and will be in place by 28th May. It is hoped to raise enough to have something in the church to mark the Centenary and replace the gate. We would like to produce a centenary banner and anyone wishing to help sew a section (as many volunteers as possible, young or old) please contact one of the Churchwardens (details in the Parish Magazine). Contributions to the fund should be made out to “Frensham PCC” – there are Gift Aid envelopes in the church which should be marked ‘Centenary Fund’ – and handed to any church representative.
Other Events
More details will follow nearer the time but on Saturday, 18th September, at 7.30pm Lorraine Marshall and Kevin Jacot, again local talent, will be giving a concert, “A Journey Through Song” in the Good Shepherd. Then the final organised event is to be Beating the Bounds on Saturday, 2nd October. This was traditionally done to take in the whole parish but it is proposed just to walk the section that surrounds Dockenfield.
Morag James and Pat Telfer