Par Parish News:

The highlight of this year has been the fitting of a new glass panel in one of the inside porch doors of St Mary’s. The panel commemorates the renovation work begun in 2019 to make the tower and steeple safe.

Patricia Hilton-Robinson, an extremely talented artist, has etched St Mary’s onto a clear pane of glass, and it is an absolute work of art. It was a huge relief to all who have been involved in the evolution of the project when the panel was at last in-situ, having been treated with such care on its journey to Patricia’s studio and then to St Austell Glass for the toughening procedure and believe it or not, finally carried up the steps from the car park into St Mary’s. We are very fortunate to have such a beautiful work of art within our church building and if you have not seen it, do go into St Mary’s and have a look. The church is drawn in such detail and looks amazing. The panel will be dedicated at a later date.

Candlemass, celebrating the Presentation of Christ in the Temple was not quite the same as the years it is held at the Good Shepherd with all the candelabra alight but we did try to create an atmosphere of light at St Mary’s by putting tea lights in the windows, unfortunately the battery operated ones we also used were not that visible due to the sunlight. The heating system fans lighted candles and reduces then to molten wax in a very short time, so are not viable, There was a lot of light in the service with Fr Dereks sermon and singing and the words of the hymns and the beautiful sunlight, all reminding us that Jesus is the Light of the World.

The family of Fr Derek held a celebration of his 80th birthday in the Gott Hall where he was the star of the show with his usual sense of humour and musical talent. The Gott Hall Music Group joined him in an afternoon of song and dance, yes there was even dancing by one of the group, suitably dressed in flamboyant Spanish style who did a Flamenco dance with castanets. No one really expected that. The room was full to capacity with relatives and friends of Fr Derek, A display of photographs of a very young Derek (handsome with his dark locks!), with Penny and the young family, through the years to the present day drew everyone’s attention. The food was plentiful and good and it a time for reminiscing and listening to music covering nostalgic years. Congratulations on joining the 80’s Club Fr Derek.

AW