Category: Uncategorized

 

I expect most of us could produce a list of Heroes.  On my list would be a number of well known names but at least one hero would evoke the response ‘Who’s he?’ if the reader didn’t live in Timsbury or the surrounding area.  Indeed the person might not have been known to some in Timsbury as I think he was a quiet hero.  Who am I talking about?  I am talking about our former organist, Albert Bridges, known to most of us as Bert…. even though he didn’t like that short name.

I have chosen him for two reasons.  One, for his commitment.  He played the organ for well over 50 years.  That was his priority on a Sunday and for many years he played at both morning and evening service.  Secondly, I have chosen him becasue even when his sight became very limited he was still prepared to play the organ from memory as long as he was nudged in the back during the last verse!  What could have prevented him from his Christian service didn’t fully stop him.

Another hero of mine is much better known….. Martin Luther King.  Apart from his work in the Civil Rights movement and being prepared to do and say things that put him at risk he was also a great orator.  His ‘I have a dream’ speech is possibly one of the best known speeches in history but I also take much from his ‘What is your blueprint’ speech.  In it he is trying to impress that we should be the best of what we are…. I quote:

‘If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry.

So from thinking about my heroes I would ask us to reflect on our commitment to the Lord especially when life gets more difficult for us…. is there still somethihng we can do?  Are we risk takers?  Are we being the best of what we are as Christians?

I think these questions are pertinent as once again we have to give serious thought to the future of our Church.  If we are to ‘go forward’ we will need more commitment and people being the ‘best of what we are.  People who are prepared to take risks for Jesus.

A special meeting will be held on 12th June at 7:15 to discuss this and we hope all members will attend and share their thoughts and ideas.

Meanwhile as the prophet Micah wrote ‘let us do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God’.

We must continue to pray and Blessings to you all.

Margaret

 

Dear Friends

At this time of the year, most of us have had enough of short days and long winter nights and we are looking forward to the start of Spring. The good news is that Spring is not far away now.

Behind us are the cold dark damp days of the Winter season and the early sign of Springtime are in evidence.  Hazel catkins in the hedgerows, bright yellow daffodils and the new green leaves and greenery on display in the woods and trees. Overhead the noisy rooks are busy sorting out their nesting spots!

I always look forward to St David’s day each year (1st March) with its links with the daffodils and for the fact that the Winter months of January and February are behind again by then!

Mothering Sunday is always a very special time for all of us (26th March this year) and our booked preacher for this time is Mrs Jean Auckland.

We all look forward too, in anticipation, to the Easter Season, I’m sure, and to all the things we associate with Easter time. Our morning service on Easter Day this year (16th April 11:00 a.m.) is to be lead by Mr Ken Milwood of Bristol.

Two weeks later, on Sunday 30th April, we celebrate once again our chapel anniversary. This year at Tabor we mark 156 years as a Church and 87 years as a free (independent) Church – facts well worth celebrating! Please share in these special occasions if you are able.

Meanwhile… greetings to you all, – and Best Wishes, especially to those who are feeling a bit under the weather at the presen.

A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL!

GOD BLESS

Regards

Eric

I expect many readers are watching “The Great British Bake-Off”.

Although the bakers have access to a number of appliances, it is mainly their hands that they use, and what creations we see, especially when it comes the the “showstopper” part. Amazing end products! Perhaps we would wish to be there to sample!

Hands are used in many creative ways.  We only have to think of the work of artists and sculptors and the work of surgeons to name but a few.

Some of you will be familiar with the story of a sculpture that was damaged in a German church in World War 2. The church was rebuilt after the war and the sculpture of Christ was placed back at the front but minus its hands, which had been damaged in the air raid. One day a visitor, an American sculptor, came to the church and offered to sculpt some new hands. The church thanked the man for his offer but declined. Their reason was that when they looked at the image without hands they were reminded that they were the “hands of Christ” in the world.

Years ago when I attended Sunday School we used to sing a hymn “Jesus hands were kind hands doing good to all”. Jesus used his hands in many amazing ways, e.g. he used his hands to heal and to welcome outcasts, and finally his hands were nailed to the cross in an amazing act of sacrificial love, taking upon himself the sins of the world.

Whether we are people of a faith or people of no faith we can all use our hands to be creative, to touch lives and to make a difference. I recall how Princess Diana made a difference when she shook the hand of an Aids sufferer and touched lepers. A former Japanese prisoner of war shook the hand of the soldier who had cruelly treated him, thus offering the hand of forgiveness.

As we seek to use our hands creatively, to make a difference and to show gestures of friendship may we all be blessed.

Margaret

Autumn and Harvest

Dear Friends

“Time and Tide wait for no man” is a quotation familiar to all of us – and a saying we all know to be true!

Way back in history it was King Canute who tried to sort out ways of holding back the tide.  For each and every person, of every generation, sorting out ways of holding back the “March of Time” has been a considerable challenge.

As I write these notes, we have reached the middle of August and the Summer holidays are well under way.  However, it won’t be long before September arrives and with it the start of the Season of Autumn – the “Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness”!  It’s a lovely time of year,  with the changing colours of the leaves and all the other changes we see around us in nature.

One of the “Highlights” of the Season is Harvest Festival time, and Tabor’s Harvest Festival, this year on Sunday 2nd October. Our morning service will be taken by Liz Richardson, and in the evening at 6:00 p.m. we welcome as our guests the Paulton Concert Band, and the congregations of the Timsbury churches, for our United Harvest “Songs of Praise”.

I am quite sure we are all looking forward to sharing together in our Annual Celebrations – “Come, Ye Thankful People Come!”

As in recent years, we will conclude the day with a Harvest Supper in the schoolroom downstairs.  Arrangements and fuller details will be available in the near future.

At this time, we send greetings to everyone … especially to those who are feeling in need of a “lift” at the moment.

Regards

Eric

TABOR RINGERS

After a break for Summer Holidays The Tabor Ringers are back in action and what a fantastic welcome they received when they recently played at Pine Lea Day Care Centre in Midsomer Norton.  Under the leadership of Miss Angie Poole the bells and chimes played well known tunes which the audience sang along to with gusto.  Not only sang but when the Can Can was played arms and legs were being twirled around and flung in the air

 

The Community singing led by Mrs Lynda Lye also brought a practical demonstration when The Music Man was sung.  Make believe pianos, trombones, drums etc were being played.  Lambeth Walk was well remembered as were the other songs.

Humorous recitations/anecdotes, which brought forth laughter and amusement, were recounted by Mrs Dianne Carter.   All in all a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

 

The Tabor Ringers have been booked again to return at the end of November and this is the start of a very busy season.  Bookings for the remainder of the year include Keynsham Day Centre, Manor Farm Care Home at Radstock, Whitehaven Care Home Midsomer Norton, a Concert at Kilmersdon, The Laurels Care Home Timsbury, culminating in taking part in The Carol Service at our own Church – Tabor Independent Methodist in Timsbury.

A couple of engagements have been booked for 2017.

If you would like us to visit your group please contact Mrs Brimble on (01761) 470891.

Dianne Carter

Playing Member.

 

Tabor Ringers, based at Tabor Independent Methodist Church Timsbury. have begun a new year of engagements.

The first engagement this year was a sad occasion, when the group played at the funeral of a former founder and playing member.  Eric Brimble resigned from the group in January 2017 due to illness.  Both Eric and his wife, Freda, were founder members and Freda was secretary for many years.  Freda decided to retire at the same time as Eric and they were presented with an engraved crystal glass bell and a framed photograph of the group.

The week following Eric’s funeral the group had a return trip to The Good Companions club based at St Philips and St James Church in Bath.

The Concert planned at Pine Lea Midsomer Norton had to be cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.  A couple of the ringers were snowed in, in their village and another one was stuck in Minehead.  It is hoped a later date can be arranged.

The group are taking the advantage of a gap, for a few weeks, in engagements to learn new music, which we are planning to roll out for our Spring/Summer Season.

The diary is beginning to fill for the rest of the year and especially during December, our busiest season.

Further information, either about how to join the group or for bookings please contact our Secretary Mrs Ruth Bailey (01761) 752049

Dianne Carter

Playing Member.

Tabor Church is built of white lias stone which was obtained from the local quarry in Lippiatt Lane at the back of Bloomfield which is now allotments. A seam of this white lias stone “The Silver Line” is found between Timsbury and surrounding district towards Bath. There is a story that the stone was hauled by a grey pony that went up and down Lippiatt Lane transporting the stone to the site – just that sturdy grey pony to do all the heavy work.

A large part of the labouring work and the carrying at the quarry was carried out by miners after their normal day’s work in the coal mines. There must have been many workers assisting in the

manual work but we have only been able to name a few who helped quarry the stone: Sidney Knight, a miner, Edmund Hayward, a miner, Jacob Sperring, a miner and Mark Kite.

The building work was carried out by the Smith firm, a local firm in Timsbury. Thomas Smith started in a modest way as a builder doing small jobs of work and he was later joined by his Son Alfred Smith. Tabor Chapel was their first big assignment and the cost was estimated at £400. So for four years the work continued and the Chapel was opened for worship in May 1869.

Based on “The History of Tabor” by Wilf Bridges

 

More on Tabor’s History

The beginnings of Tabor Church

History of Tabor’s organs

History of Tabor Hand Bells

 

It would seem that it all began in a very small way. A few Christian friends gathered together in little cottage meetings for prayer, the reading of God’s word and singing together. Others came and joined the meetings and numbers increased so they began to hold their meetings in the Temperance Hall.

God had begun a great work in Timsbury. The group were brought to the notice of the United Methodist Free Church at Radstock and a Minister came to the Temperance Hall and commenced special Evangelical Services. The Hall was filled each night and a deep influence rested upon all. During that week, forty eight are reported to have joined the church. Soon after this the group decided they would have a building of their own. The foundation stone of Tabor was laid on Thursday 4th May 1865 by a Mr Milsom of Reading who delivered an excellent address and closed with a £10 donation for himself and £10 for his wife. Afterwards, tea was enjoyed by about three hundred and fifty people.

At a subsequent public meeting held in a field believed to be adjacent to the Temperance Hall there were seven hundred people present and a collection of £45.14.4d was taken towards the building fund.

At around this time Moody and Sankey came to England from America. With Moody’s preaching and Sankey’s gospel singing they turned things upside down spiritually. The Moody-Sankey hymns were used and greatly loved by those Tabor converts especially in the Thursday evening preaching and prayer meetings.

Based on “The History of Tabor” by Wilf Bridges

 

More on Tabor’s History

History of the Church building

History of Tabor’s organs

History of Tabor Hand Bells

Tabor Ringers was formed in January 1993 by Joan Chivers, the wife of the Pastor of Timsbury Tabor Church at that time, John Chivers.

Twelve handbells had been given to the village of Timsbury more than 70 years ago, but had not been used for some time. The then Rector of St Mary’s Church, the Rev John Reed, was happy for Joan to have them to form a handbell group.

The original idea was to develop the interest of the young people of the church, but, as this failed to happen, Joan decided to try to interest the adults. 10 people (some of whom still play today) came forward and with Joan conducting was eventually able to make their debut appearance at Tabor’s Spring Fayre in June 1993. This was held in Wilf Bridges garden – but the only tune which was good enough to be played in public was “Good King Wenceslas”. ,

As confidence grew, the ringers started to undertake outside engagements. In 1994 the Thursday Club at Midsomer Norton was the venue for their first venture away from Tabor Church.

Early in 1995, a set of hand chimes was purchased to complement the bells, thanks to a sizeable donation from one of the members Jeanne Shute in memory of her late husband Len, and to contributions from others in the group

Since then the group has gone from strength to strength and now regularly appears at residential homes, nursing homes and over-60s clubs in the area.

With the formation of a singing group, Tabor Singers, and several members who give recitations it is now possible to provide a more varied programme at engagements.

 

More on Tabor’s History

The beginnings of Tabor Church

History of the Church building

History of Tabor’s organs