Dear Friends, 

Our Harvest Festival is on Sunday 4th October 10.15 a.m. service and any gifts would be most welcome at that service. The produce will go to Ellesmere House and goods to the Autumn Market.

 Harvest Supper is on Friday 2nd October at 7.30 p.m. when Rodney Stokes and his helpers will feed us the usual excellent fayre.

 I have just started Bible Study again on Tuesdays at 7.30 p.m. (except on second Tuesdays when there is PCC). We are continuing with the Book of the Prophet Isaiah who is the most important of the Old Testament Prophets most frequently quoted in the New Testament. He was going through turbulent times. Anyone and everyone are most welcome to come to this study in S. John's Room in Church.

 We are planning a new Alpha Course for next year which will be in the Town Hall on Thursdays starting at 6.30 p.m. on 21st January 2010. This is open to anyone and is especially aimed at those who would like to know more about Christianity and those who don't often go to Church.

 The new Bishop of Shrewsbury has been appointed. He is Mark Rylands whose father was Vicar at Malpas and who went locally to Packwood Haugh and Shrewsbury Schools. There is a welcome for him at the Abbey Church, Shrewsbury on Monday 2nd November.

 We have had Dry Rot in the beams between the chancel and S. Anne's chapel which was caused by a leaking gulley above the chancel. While this has temporarily been repaired we are having to retile the chancel and renew the gulley which will be done in the spring of next year. This will cost over £80,000 of which English Heritage will give us about a third. We will obviously apply for other grants but this will put a strain on our limited finances. There is also a leak in the North Transept which has caused some damage to the organ which will also have to be repaired.

 My prayers and best wishes,

 Fr. Philip Edge - Vicar.