Little Canfield News

ALL SAINTS' LITTLE CANFIELD NEWS Our Easter Sunday service was well attended, with the Easter Egg hunt held in the church rather than outside in the snow! Thanks to all those who contributed flowers and greenery and helped to arrange the Easter flower displays. Future Provisional dates for Village meals at the Lion and Lamb are lunches on Friday 16th May and Friday 4th July and an evening meal on Wednesday 11th June. Please check the dates and notify Sue Gowlett or Eira Scott on 01279 871 345 if you are able to come to any of the meals. Anybody living in the village or attending All Saints, Little Canfield is eligible and welcome to come to any or all of the meals. The Vestry Meeting and Annual Parochial Church Meetings were held on Sunday 30th March. Reports were presented and thanks given for all the voluntary work carried out in 2007. Churchwardens for the year ahead were elected. Ken Wooding, having served for six years, did not stand for re-election. “Stretch” Fulcher stood for a further term and was re-elected and Beth Evans was also elected as churchwarden. Barry Halliwell was elected for a further term as our Representative on the Deanery Synod and he and the wardens are ex officio members of the PCC. The following were then elected to serve on the PCC: - Maret Fulcher, Sue Gowlett, Eira Scott, Duncan Stafford & Ken Wooding. The accounts for 2007 were adopted, subject to independent examination. The next PCC meeting is on Tuesday 3rd June. Our annual Line Dance and Barbecue in July is an occasion for the whole family. The experts will be there to show us how it should be done, but there will also be some dances with instruction for beginners so everyone can take part at their own level or just sit and watch – and of course there is no great skill required to enjoy the barbecue! The event is to be held as usual in a barn at Little Canfield Hall and will be signposted from the B1256. If you would like to attend a church service, meal or other event and need transport, PLEASE ask Laurie or one of the wardens to enquire. There is usually somebody willing and able to offer a lift. Diary Dates Friday 16th May - Village lunch at the Lion & Lamb 12.45 for 1.00pm Sunday 1st June – Deanery Confirmation Service in Dunmow Tuesday 3rd June – PCC meeting in church at 8pm Wednesday 11th June – Village evening meal at the Lion & Lamb 7.30 Sunday 22nd June – Teresa’s priesting at Coggeshall – no service at Little Canfield as we all want to support her there. Friday 4th July – Village lunch at the Lion & Lamb 12.45 for 1.00pm Saturday 12th July - Line Dance & Barbecue at Little Canfield Hall 24th & 25th August – Countess of Warwick’s Country Show Saturday 13th September – Sponsored “Ride or Stride” organised by the Friends of Essex Churches Coffee after Every Service – Coffee, tea, squash, and biscuits are served at the back of the Church after our services. There are child-sized tables and chairs and also some soft toys for children to play with and books to borrow as well as sheets to colour during all services. Please continue to save used Printer Cartridges – laser, inkjet or whatever – for recycling. Please continue to deliver them to me so Little Canfield Church can benefit from the refunds. If distance precludes hand-delivery, please send small parcels by freepost direct to Promax rather than use postage to get them to me. I can let you have the full address and details. Many thanks to those who have sent them to me. Sue Gowlett LITTLE CANFIELD CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS We are planning to make a number of improvements to All Saints’ Church this year and have recently received permission to install a toilet, kitchen unit, a new bell ringing balcony, disabled access, new porch doors, and a new communion table. In addition we are renovating the old communion rails, which will be made free standing and stained a lighter colour. The organ will also be moved to the back of the church. The total project is likely to cost just over 80,000 including fees, and we are currently seeking grants towards this. The church has raised funds over the past few years, particularly from the Countess of Warwick Show, which will be used towards this. However, we would welcome further donations from anyone in the community who would like to see these improvements carried out. With the local population growing rapidly, the church is going to play a more important role in the future, as one of the few public buildings in the area. If you would like to know more about the plans, do contact me. Laurie Bond LITTLE CANFIELD PARISH COUNCIL NEWS Please note that the ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY will take place at the Village Hall on Monday, 19th May at 8 p.m. This is an opportunity for parishioners to make their views known and bring their concerns to the Council, and everybody is welcome to attend. We are working in conjunction with Takeley Parish Council to persuade the local Health Trust to sanction the provision of medical facilities in the community centre in the Priors Green development. We consider this is a must in view of the present lack of such amenities in the area and the considerable increase in population that will arise when Priors Green and other developments are fully occupied. It is hoped to provide a notice board in the Little Canfield section of Priors Green, and we would welcome suggestions from new residents as to where they think it would be best located for maximum effect. In view of the continued vandalism to the telephone box in High Cross Lane, we are thinking of asking BT to remove it. If you have any views on this, please let us know as soon as possible. Mrs. Lesley Gillman is planning another walk in the local area on Saturday, 24th May. The last one was very successful, so she hopes that more parishioners will don their walking boots and join her on that day. Our website, which is linked to the Uttlesford District Council site, is still encountering difficulties, and we are investigating the possibility of ‘doing our own thing’. In the interim we regret that it is impossible to update the current site. With regard to the possible redevelopment of the Village Hall site, we understand that Land Securities are preparing to submit a planning application to Uttlesford District Council. If you have any views or comments to make, please contact the Clerk, Rosemary Shelley, at 6, Long Croft, Takeley (01279 870735 or e-mail rosemary@rshelley.plus.com) or any councillor. LITTLE CANFIELD PARISH COUNCIL GUIDED WALK SATURDAY 24th May 2008 Following the success of the last walk we have planned another free guided walk in the Little Canfield area. This time we will go north of the A120 and take in some of the lovely countryside towards Little Easton. Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to be super fit; you just need to be up to a gentle 4 mile walk in the countryside. Starting at 10.00am from Little Canfield Parish Church car park, Church Road, and then on afterwards to the Lion and Lamb pub for some well earned refreshment. No booking required just turn up and join us. Please wear sensible walking footwear and clothing. For further information please call Lesley on 07768 103910. We look forward to meeting you.