THE PARISH CHURCH OF STOKE                
DAMEREL (ST. ANDREW & ST. LUKE)

Email:   info@stokedamerel.church                                          
www.Stokedamerel.church
www.facebook.com/StokeDamerelChurch

Please note: Stoke Damerel Church does not divulge
personal information to third parties.

Sunday 26 October               Bible Sunday

  Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms
are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them,
and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:-
The sick:-
Maureen, John and Shirley, Margaret, Graham, John, Kathy, Mo.
The long term sick and infirm:-
George, Peter, Diana, Liz, Keith, Rob.
The recently departed:-
We give thanks for the life of Liz Rook and
we pray for her family and
friends at this sad time.
The Ministry Team:-
Wendy, Ruth, Marilyn and Rhona.

BLESSED SACRAMENT CANDLE

If you would like to have the candle lit for a week
for a particular prayer / thanksgiving /
commemoration, etc., please send a £5 donation to
Debbie Smith, clearly marking your donation as
being for the candle. Details of your intention can
be emailed to:- sarah.lundstrom@virginmedia.com
so that a mention of the commemoration, etc., can
appear in the Sunday Sheet.

SERVICES THIS WEEK
Stoke Damerel Parish Church is a hybrid church
open for public worship and private prayer and all
services will be live streamed.
By attending a live streamed service, you give
implied permission to have your image captured
on CCTV and to be broadcast as participant in the
liturgy.

Watch our livestreamed services
Please follow the link to make your way to our YouTube page: 

 STOKE DAMEREL YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

Sunday 26 October        Bible Sunday
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas

Wednesday 29 October
1000 Morning Prayer

Sunday 2 November        All Saints’ Day
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Trevor Filtness
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Trevor Filtness
1130 PCC meeting

WELCOME BACK
To Rev’d Sue.

CONFIRMATION
After checking it out with Archdeacon Jane
and both PCCs, I am currently gathering together
the names of those who would like to explore
becoming confirmed from Stoke Damerel and
St. Aubyn churches.
So far, I have four folk, of mixed ages, two from
each church. Please get in touch with me if you are
interested in finding out more:
sue.nicholas@hotmail.co.uk or 07434393286
or come and chat with me after one of the services
this Sunday.
More information can also be found on the Church
of England website:
https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/
confirmation
Rev. Sue

RUTH’S REFLECTIONS
Bible Sunday
When I was probably about 14, I won the Form
Prize for RE. Perhaps you might say that was not
too much of a surprise. Not many in my class liked
RE even though we had a lively young teacher
who did her best to keep us focused. But the real
reason I was nominated for the prize was that I
could say all the books of the Bible in
chronological order. What a showoff, you might
remark!!! Probably not that much of a “holy”
activity but coming from a Christian family where
most of Sunday was taken up with chapel and
Sunday School, learning the books of the Bible
was something that we just had to do. If pushed
I can probably still remember them. Genisis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers............Can you
finish the list? I am sure you may agree, those
things we learnt in childhood so often stick in our
minds or our subconscious.
This week we are celebrating Bible Sunday. When
I had finished my training to go overseas, I was
given a Bible. It was a dual translation with Arabic
on one side of the page and English on the other.
It was rather large for someone who had a
restricted luggage allowance, but it did come with
me. It was special because I was going to the
Middle East and could be useful, but I am not sure
that was the point. Arabic is a hard language and
despite translation challenges, those Middle
Eastern people understood that language of the
Scripture much more than perhaps I did, as it was
originally written for their communities and as we
know Jesus was Middle Eastern. I never found
anyone I could give my pristine Arabic/English
bible to as most Christians had Bibles in their own
language.
I think what I am trying to say, is that the Bible
speaks in whatever language we know. The
imagery may need explanation but the message
that is given through Scripture is universal. “The
Word”, or Jesus/God has used the inspiration his
Holy Spirit to convey to the world the message of
the gospel and the truth about God. Religious texts
have always featured in society offering a way of
living, a “rule” to follow and yet the Bible has a
different truth to offer. The truth of the Bible
reflects the way of Christ even from way back in
the historical accounts of the people of Israel.
Gods plan has been revealed through Scripture and
is still being worked out in our lives, both from a
personal level and from a world view. We may see
that world view is under challenge at this present
time, but I was reminded the other day that despite
everything, God is in control. It may not feel as
though God is involved but Scripture tells us that
God has promised to “never leave or forsake us”.
Paul writes to Timothy” from a childhood you
have known the sacred writings that are able to
instruct you for salvation through faith in Jesus
Christ”. Those sacred writings are for us too. The
Holy Scriptures are not just for Sunday worship,
they should be the basis for our guidance in living
as Christ would live. See beyond the page and ask
the Holy Spirit to show you the truth.
Ruth

MARILYN'S MEMOS

The St Luke’s Healing service
On Sunday, we celebrated the Patronal Festival
of St. Luke, which was previously called Hospital
Sunday. Tony Barnard and Rosie Chapman were
instrumental in organising the guest list and
welcome duties. Our worship was designated
Morning Prayer instead of a communion service.
The attached photo includes the Plymouth Lord
Mayor, Cllr Kathy Watkin, along with her consort,
Dr John Mahony retired local GP, Mayor of
Okehampton, and council members: Jemima
Laing, Sally Cresswell and Tom Briars-Delve.
We were most grateful to Rev'd Mike Harman,
Rural Dean of Ivybridge, leading our act of
worship, together with Rev'd Dr Sacha Pearce,
Team Chaplain at Derriford giving the address and
the Deputy CEO from St. Lukes's Hospice, Sue
Cannon, spoke about the work of the hospice.
She emphasised that, contrary to expectations, the
hospice is a very joyful place to work. Our Lord
Mayor responded to Sue's address.

The photograph shows them all seated on the
Mayoral Pew.


Sue Cannon, Deputy CEO of St. Luke's Hospice with
Rosie Chapman.


John and Julia Steer are with Darius and his mum
who is over from Romania. It was great to see
them back for a visit. He used to come with his son
David.
We were delighted to see John after his post
operative absence and we wish him all blessings
for his continuing treatment and recovery.

Apologies for no sound on last week's live streaming
It would be great if we could set up a training
session for using the live streaming.
At the moment only two people are able to do so:
Ian, who was absent last week, and Jenny, who
most unfortunately had an accident on a training
course and suffered concussion: if I understand
correctly! Fiona was our ace operator when
around! We can talk about this at the weekend.
A few switches had been turned off which should
be left on: ie the iPad which controls the sound
(maybe) and another on an orange lead which is
connected to the computer controls.
Thank you to Jim for helping!
Jenny: we sincerely hope you are feeling much
better and look forward to seeing you soon.

Names to be remembered next Sunday:
All Saints and All Souls
Please don’t forget to add to the list of departed
loved ones, which is read out next Sunday. If you
are unable to attend this week, then please email
me: marilyngoldsbrough@hotmail.com and I will
add them for you.

Helen Chadwick:
Concert Friday 31st October: 4.30 – 8.30pm
Helen is running a workshop in church before the
concert which will take place following a break:
so please consult the poster with all the
instructions.

Storm Force
The scaffolding is scheduled to go up next week,
probably the organ loft first then the bell tower.
The bells will not be affected, as far as we know.
Please keep your eyes peeled for any unwanted
visitors who might be up to no good!!!

Our organ
The organ is to be protected from dust which could
fall from the roof! This will also happen next week
as Michael Farley, the organ guru will be coming
down from far away Budleigh Salterton to veil the
pipes with plastic sheeting. This should not affect
the performance and Robin will be able to play for
the choir and treat us to a mini recital at the end of
the service (which we much appreciate).

Christmas Fair 21 and 22 November
Please start bringing in your contributions:
unwanted gifts and good quality Bric-a-brac,
festive edible items for our hamper and raffle
please. The time is racing by: only
4 or 5 weekends before the event.
Your support will make the two
days a fund raising bonanza!

The Wednesday Worshippers at Amigos

We will be sorry to lose Clara who has been
staying with Judy for a while, as she will soon be
returning to Coventry and then back home to
Zimbabwe for Christmas. We wish her God speed!
We are already missing Pam from our group as she
is preparing for a leg operation.

Laundry: help please!
Not yours but ours! The t-towels and dish cloths
which are used on Sundays are left in a bowl in the
kitchen. Could A.N.OTHER kindly take them
home and add them to the machine load?
Similarly, the various cloths used during the
celebration of communion need to be laundered
each week. Pam has made a special request for this
to be done, as she is about to undergo an operation
and may not be in church for a while. The cloths
have particular purposes and are starched and
folded in a particular way. This is usually evident
as the folds remain after ironing. Examples can be
seen in the storage boxes in the cupboard on the
right side of the clergy vestry.

Message from afar!

We have recently had a message from Elaine,
who writes:
“Worshipping at Singapore Cathedral this
morning. Lovely lady in the picture is a bell ringer
in the 12 bell tower here. The only bell tower in
Asia!! She has rung in towers around the world.
Nearest to us is Bristol. And trained yearly for a
while in Alderney.
Hi to everyone, Elaine and Jerry.”

Spring forward. Fall backwards
Don’t forget to change your clocks one hour back
on Saturday night!
Marilyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN OCTOBER
John Mitchelmore, Wendy Pezzey, Craig Miles,
William Brown, Kelly Collins, Robin Tugwell.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN NOVEMBER
Bevan Wilson, Julia Steere, Matilda Burgess,
Rhona Prichard, Marilyn Goldsborough.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Oct 31 Concert: Helen Chadwick    4.30pm - 8.30pm
Nov 9 Remembrance Sunday 10.30 Eucharist
Nov 21 Christmas Fair                11am - 3pm
Nov 22 Christmas Fair                11am - 3pm
Nov 28 St Andrew’s Night Supper 6.30pm
Nov 30 World Aids Day Celebration 12.00pm

CLAYTON AND BELL
As I noted last week, the stained-glass window at
the east end of the chancel was created by one of
the most important stained-glass firms in this
country. The company of Clayton and Bell was
founded in 1855 and was still in existence right up
until 1993. They produced a huge amount of work
in this country, as well as abroad, particularly in
the United States, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand. The two partners were John Richard
Clayton (1827 to 1913) and Alfred Bell (1832 to
1895). The only photograph I could find,
reproduced below, is of Clayton. There may be
images of Bell, but I have yet to find one.

JOHN RICHARD CLAYTON
When they first started trading, large amounts of
stained-glass were needed in this country because
of the number of medieval churches being restored
and the many new Victorian churches being built,
due to the revival of the Church of England.
Several new firms emerged, but this company’s
success can be attributed to their development of a
very efficient factory production line, quality
designs, and their use of the best quality of glass
available.
Clayton was from London. Trained by Sir Charles
Barry as a sculptor and an illustrator, he was a
friend of the painter, Dante Rosetti, who founded
the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Bell was a farm
worker’s son from Devon. Sir George Gilbert
Scott, who was at the forefront of the Victorian
‘Gothic Revival’ had sight of some of his drawings
and was so impressed he employed him in his
architectural practice. Bell’s first collaboration was
with Nathaniel Lavers (later to be responsible for
the St. Aubyn window in the north-east corner of
Stoke Damerel church). Bell and Clayton were
already friends when they joined forces, and were
reputed to only have ever argued once, when
deciding whose name should be first in the name
of the new company. Had Clayton won, the
company would have been called “Bell and
Clayton”.
They initially shared premises in London with
Heaton and Butler, who produced stained-glass
to their designs. Although a new company, they
received a number of important orders from Sir
George Gilbert Scott.
After three years they branched out by themselves
and moved to Regent Street. They had so many
commissions that they started with a workforce
of 300 and they became one of the largest
manufacturers. They soon had staff working night
shifts as well. With the massive growth of the
company there was criticism from some that
quality was reduced. Even Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
was quoted as saying “No real art can stand
against a constant high-pressure and working
against time”.
Both partners retired in the 1880’s and the
company was then run by Alfred’s family
descendants – John Clement Bell; followed by
Reginald Otto Bell; and finally Michael Farrar-
Bell, who moved the firm to Buckinghamshire
after World War II. He died in 1993, and the
company then ceased trading.
Apart from the window at Stoke church, windows
were designed for King’s College Chapel in
Cambridge; Westminster Abbey; Exeter Cathedral;
and the whole of Truro Cathedral. However, their
most famous work is not stained-glass, but the
mosaic panels at the top of the Albert Memorial,
opposite the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Tony Barnard