Whatlington

HELLO: Back by popular demand is a quick update and comment on current rural pursuits. The late beautiful autumn weather has this week given way to a biting cold north easterly and warns of a cold winter to come. There are bushels of chestnuts on the ground ripe for picking and this year's walnuts are in plentiful supply so I hope you have had the opportunity to get out, enjoy the autumn colours and gather some in ready for the winter's evenings in front of the fire.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Nov 2016, 12:50 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2016, 17:14 BST

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Whaltington newsWhaltington news
Whaltington news

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS: Confirmation of the parish road naming consultation has been notified by Rother District Council – the results are as follows

Maddomswood and Hoath Farm· - Hoath Lane

A21 between Stream Lane/Riccards Lane Junction and Whatlington Parish Boundary· - Hastings Road

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A21 between B2089 and Stream Lane/Riccards Lane Junctions· - Woodmans Green Road

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: Remembrance Sunday at Whatlington

Our service for Remembrance will be our 10.30am Family service, incorporating the Act of Remembrance for Whatlington. The village War Memorial is inside the church and we will lay poppy wreaths at 11am to remember those who gave their lives in two world wars and the conflicts following.

There will be car parking available at the Village Hall and also near the church in the small private car park.

The service will be followed by tea/coffee and biscuits

Harold Memorial Service: on 27th October, Whatlington Church hosted a special service of commemoration for King Harold. It is believed that Harold heard mass at a chapel on the site of the existing church the night before the Battle of Hastings, so the Guild of St Edmund chose St Mary Magdalene as the best place to hold a service according to the rites of the orthodox church, which is closest to the format Harold would have known. The date was chosen as closer to the “real” date of the battle- the calendar having been changed from Julian to Gregorian in 1752, dates were shifted by 11 days.

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People came from all over the country to attend. Everyone stood holding lighted candles as the priest in his magnificent embroidered cape chanted the liturgy and swung a censer. Icons of Alfred the Great and grouped saints were venerated, and prayers were said for Harold, his brothers and all the fallen Saxons. Our visitors had hoped to say prayers beneath the yew tree that had been growing in the churchyard since before 1066; they had not realised that the tree blew down in the hurricane of 1987! However, they could say prayers near its replacement, and Ken Jones brought out a box of small crucifixes made by Ian Cheveralls from the wood of the fallen tree.

The service was an interesting and memorable experience, and an unusual addition to the 1066 commemorations. Thanks to Charlotte Moore for this update – don’t forget if you have anything you would like included in Village Voices please email it to me.

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