Newsletter Number 228 - January 2026

I want to start my first letter of 2026 by wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year but I will continue with a brief look back at 2025.

It was another busy year for the FRIENDS. During the year we have enjoyed a number of events including Soup and Sandwiches, Quiz evening, Beetle Drive, and, of course, a very successful Open Day in June, followed by our Summer Tea Party, Stubbington Fayre, and Derek's Coffee morning. Since my last Newsletter we have celebrated Harvest Festival at St. Edmund's and the next day Harvest Soup and Sandwiches at the Rotary Wheelhouse in Hill Head. At the end of November, even though it was a very wet and windy day, our Yuletide Fayre was well attended and raised a good sum. The following day was Advent Sunday when we were again entertained by the Solent Community Choir with an Advent Concert; the Church was bursting at the seams and it was a wonderful start to the Festive Season. December was another busy month during which my husband, Doug and I welcomed Friends to our home for Wine and Mince Pies and later in the month the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols followed by the very popular Nativity Service on Christmas Eve (attended by over 150 adults and children) were held at St. Edmund's Church.

The Quinquennial Inspection (QI) by Tim Sage took place on 5^th and 12^th November. Tim is the Chartered Architect appointed to look after St Edmund's and Holy Rood accredited by the Portsmouth Diocese. Following the QI Tim emailed the following to Gary:

“I am pleased that St Edmund's does not have any serious decay or deterioration, but as time passes there are the usual needs of redecoration and ‘lubrication’ and these will be the most significant projects for the next five years. As I mentioned, I will be recommending that the carpet on the altar step is removed as it is infested with a family of woodlice.”

Gary also reports that in talking with Tim during the inspection, it became apparent that damp is getting into the west end wall. Looking at the external pointing areas, it looks as if the whole wall may need repointing. The ingress of damp is affecting the internal plaster, particularly the north side of the west window. Also, the plaster at the bottom half of the internal west end wall from the door to the utility round to behind the bible table on the south side needs addressing.
We now await the formal QI report for the full list of matters arising.

Now it's 2026 and we will continue our fellowship whilst continuing to raise funds, which as you will see from the QI, are still much needed. Our first event this year is a new venture - “Tea, Cake and Rummikub” which I hope many of you will enjoy. It's at 2pm on Wednesday 18^th February at Holy Rood Church Centre. Tickets at £5 each will be available soon from the Church Office and from me (01329 665164). I'm sure many of you are familiar with the game of Rummikub but if you are not, it's very easy to pick up, you don't need a partner and most importantly, it's fun!

Further events for the year are:-

Wednesday 25^th March at 12 noon - Soup and Sandwiches at the Rotary Wheelhouse at Hill Head, tickets at £7.00, will be available later.

Saturday 18^th April at 10.30 - FOCOC Annual General Meeting, held in St. Edmund's Church (Tea/Coffee will be available from 10.00).

Saturday 9^th May at 19.00 - a Quiz Evening at Holy Rood Church Centre, - more details to follow.

Saturday 6^th June 10.00 - 14.00 St.Edmund's Open Day. Once again there will be the very popular Plant Stall, Jewellery, Games and, of course, a Grand Draw. Crofton Anne Dale School Choir and The Odd Wednesday Morning Men will be there to entertain us and Gary Willcocks will be presenting the History of St. Edmund's Church.

Saturday 25^th July at 3pm - Summer Tea Party at Holy Rood Church Centre, - more details later.

Monday 31^st August 10.00 - Stubbington Fayre, we hope to again have a stall selling Jigsaws, Preserves and, this year, Jewellery too.

More events will be announced later.

Just a reminder that St. Edmund's is open on the 18^th of every month from 10 to 12 noon for visitors and private prayer. Services are held at 09.30 every Sunday; BCP Holy Communion on the 1^stand 3^rd weeks, Morning Service on the 2^nd and 4^th weeks, and Common Worship Holy Communion when there is a fifth Sunday. Tea and coffee are served after the Services on the 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th Sundays.

I will end this letter as I started by wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

All good wishes

Sue Johnson

Chairman