Cirriphyllum piliferum - Hair-pointed Feather-moss - Ingleton churchyard

The Cirriphyllum piliferum grows on the grass below the Ash tree on the north side of Ingleton Church

The Hair-pointed Feather-moss  Cirriphyllum piliferum  is a carpet moss (a Pleurocarp) and looks a bit like Brachythecium and a lot of other pleurocarps: but:
The side branches come off very much at right angles -  well maybe 85 degrees
AND
close inspection show the top of each leaf ends in a hair point.
Cirriphyllum piliferum page in BBS Field Guide

I took some home and photographed it in the bright sunlight.

 See more mosses pages

Methodist President of Conference visits Burton-in-Lonsdale 2013

Pictures from the day we went to Burton-in-Lonsdale to take part in a service with the president of conference. Videos will be put at end

On the Bibby's bus  (meanwhile J.A. gives geology/history commentary over loudspeaker)

Burton-in-Lonsdale Chapel

See snow-capped Ingleborough in the distance

Before the service the kitchen team are preparing the cups for the coffee

It's a tad cold outside

But warm inside

Mr Robinson, (Rev Wakelin's father-in-law) is welcomed

Upstairs in the gallery

Rev Roger Walton (left) and Rev Mark Wakeln (right)
 present Martha Bainbridge and Maurice Walters
with Long Service Certificates

After the service we go out of the church and into ..

into...

the schoolroom

Margaret has a word with John...

Martha is wearing her red hat

 I get the opportunity to go back to the church to take some photos:

Holding the long service certificates for 50 years and 70 years

Judith shows Rev Wakelin some Blue Moor-grass - a speciality of  N Yorks/Lancs/Cumbria

..and a copy of Green-Christian
See the letter I gave Rev Wakelin about
"Green" Activities at St John's, Settle

On the way home we notice some of the snow drifts

More drifts - some people along farm tracks had had to walk to get in to the Service



 Video of President of Conference presenting
70 and 50 year certificates for local preaching -
at Burton-in-Lonsdale

 

The President gives final words and the blessing 

A memorable day.

Dementia and Alzheimer's - Settle - 18 April 2013 - Questions And Answers Talk

Do you want to learn more about

• how to understand and help people with dementia, 
• how to help their carers, and 
• cope ourselves if we get it?  

1 in 3 people over 65 will eventually develop dementia

TALK, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

led by  Diane Armstrong of Skipton Alzheimer's Society

Thu 18 April

St John's Church Hall Settle, BD24 9JH. 7.10pm: tea - 7.30pm: start

Organised for Everyone in Settle by DAN (Disability And Needs Awareness project of Churches Together in Settle and District): Lifts  offered:  01729 822138 http://www.ctisad.org.uk

NOTES FROM DIANE ARMSTRONG:

* One in three people over 65 will develop dementia

* Alzheimer's Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia; more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051

* Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them 

The Alzheimer's Society in Craven offers support to anyone who is concerned or has been diagnosed with any form of dementia and their carers. Our experienced support workers offer practical support and information. We offer a range of services including singing group, food and fun groups, carers education programme and to celebrate Dementia Awareness (May 19th - 25th May) week we will be launching a new dementia café. For further information on any of our services please contact 01756 799971 or email craven@alzheimers.org.uk 

Good Friday Passion Play Settle 2013

Settle Passion Play 2013. - photos by Judith Allinson

See also  pictures from 2013 (this page), - 2012 - 2011 -  2009 and videos from 2013 (at foot of his page)

On the way to the Garden of Gethsemane (Pen y Ghent in background)

Further on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane
Judas (in brown) lurks at Settle Cricket Club
 (Pen y Ghent in background)

Jesus has now been arrested, and is being taken to trial

Jesus has now been arrested, and is being taken to trial -
(On Kirkgate, Settle -they have just walked under the Settle Carlisle Line)

Almost at the trial

Peter (in green) is asked if he knows Jesus.

Jesus is sentenced to death and has to carry his cross

Crucifixion scene - in the field opposite Settle Parish Church. In the foreground are disciple John and  Mary  mother of Jesus

Thanks especially due to -- the sound man

and the producer

See Article in Craven Herald 2013

See also  pictures from  2012 - 2011 -  2009 

Can Yorkshire Methodists be Green?

On Sunday the President of the Methodist Conference (2012/13), Rev Mark Wakelin, will be coming to preach in Burton-in-Lonsdale Methodist church near where I live. (That is if snow does not interrupt things..)   I have written him (a version of) this letter:-

Dear Rev Wakelin

I am looking forward to your visit to Burton-in-Lonsdale Methodist Church on Sunday morning, 24 March.

I would like to tell you about some green activities in this part of Yorkshire (and Lancs).

People will be coming from around the Settle Methodist Circuit. 

Including one bus from St ­John’s Methodist Church, Settle, 12 miles to the east where I am a member. Burton-in-Lonsdale must be North Yorkshire's most westerly Methodist Church. – It is only  13 miles as the crow flies to the sea at Morecambe Bay.

I am very concerned about green issues. I am a botanist and teacher.  I would like to use this letter to tell you about:-
a) Green initiatives and issues in this part of the world
b) Green projects I am involved with through Christian Ecology Link

I hope we can all share more in Caring for God’s Creation.

First, though, I would like to say how much our  house group at St John's, Settle, has been enjoying using your project Step Forward  which we started in January, and look forward to continuing after Easter..

***************************************************************************

a) Green initiatives and issues in this part of the world  

A1. Christian Ecology Link’s Conference at Leeds last Saturday
A2. Faith & Environment Events at Lancaster Methodist Church on 19-22 April
A3. Eco-House in Burton in Lonsdale
A4. Green Events at St John’s Methodist Church Settle
A5. Farming

b) Green projects I am involved with through Christian Ecology Link

B1. CEL Rainforest Fund Project – 100 churches.
B2. ECEN Church Wildlife Survey
B3. CEL’s website and What’s-on Page

***************************************************************************

a) Green initiatives & issues in this part of the world  

A1. Christian Ecology Link’s Conference at Leeds on Sat 16 March.

Leeds is 55 miles from Burton in Lonsdale. – but Leeds is the biggest city in Yorkshire

70 people attended, including several Methodists, and we had some excellent workshops
http://rainforest-save.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/christian-ecology-link-conference-leeds.html

Whilst there I met a Methodist from Scotforth Methodist Church, Lancaster, Gordon Blair. He is organising a weekend "Faith and the Environment" at Scotforth Methodist Church. on 19-22 April:  which leads us to:-

***************************************************************************

A2. Faith & Environment Events at Lancaster Methodist Church on 19-22 April

Scotforth Methodist Church, Lancaster is only 16 miles from Burton in Lonsdale so may be of more interest to people in Burton. http://faithandenvironment.info/
It would be great if we could publicise that to the people who come to the service at Burton on Sunday. They have some very good speakers on the Saturday

***************************************************************************

A3. Eco-House in Burton in Lonsdale

I have some (Anglican) friends who have a very "green" house in Burton in Lonsdale. He is an engineer so interested in technical things. (with lots of meters so he can read and record the heat he is saving etc) They have a turf roof, a straw bale extra room, air cycling/heat exchange in the house; much of the house was renovated using recycled wood

***************************************************************************

A4. Green Events at St John’s Methodist Church Settle

Over the last 15 years we have had several green events at St John’s including
1) Several Wildflower Walks:,
2) A Day of Prayer about Climate Change (2009);
3) In 2001 Settle Circuit Hymn Festival had the theme “Christianity and the Environment”, and I have produced a draft book “Environment Praise” using these hymns and put several of them on CEL’s website;
4) We have had several coffee mornings to raise money for “The Rainforest Fund;
5) We have a display of CEL leaflets in the Church Foyer, and I sometimes put up displays on a board in the church hall.
6) On 2 March 2013 we had a “Fair Trade Fortnight Fun Night" in the church hall and the £110 raised was put to the Rainforest Fund”

(During this period of time the world population has increased by almost a quarter (by 1.3 billion) The population of  Yorkshire has increased by over 10%; On average about 5 native plant species will have disappeared from individual UK county wildlife lists)

A5. Farming

I haven’t mentioned anything much about farming here. The farmers need our prayers – the average age of farmers (now 59) is increasing and they often have to work alone.

This amazing website I found just now show 13 different graphs showing the crisis in British Farming

The winning hymn in the local category in the Settle Methodist Hymn competition in 2001 was about farming, by Mary Whitfield of Low Gill. http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/5147

I used to have a "Wayside Pulpit" poster once which said "Farmers are Stewards of God's Creation"

***************************************************************************

b) Green projects with Christian Ecology Link

B1. CEL Rainforest Fund Project – 100 churches.

What is this Rainforest Fund I keep talking about?

As the population increases and as our demands for a higher lifestyle increase, habitats for wild animals and plants are being lost.
It is important to save what we have now for future generations.  (Inter-generational justice it can be called)
Most of us want to leave the world a better place. But haven’t you read about the pressure on whales, orang-utans, black rhino, fish?   . If we can save some wild habitat for future generations no then it will be worth it.

So at St John’s we have had “The Rainforest Fund” since 2008 and chose three charities to support – two secular charities which can “buy an acre of wildlife habitat” for £100; and the third, a Christian charity: A Rocha Ghana, which works with environmental education and with villages next to the Mole National Park Nature Reserve with sustainable projects such as bee keeping.

In 2012 CEL made this project into the “CEL 100 churches project” – We are hoping to get 100 different churches to raise (at least) £100 for the Rainforest Fund Project.

So far 12 churches have contributed – but this includes 3 repeats and Settle Spinning club – so maybe I should say so far 8 churches have contributed.  This includes one other Methodist Church (Clun) and 2 URC churches, and one Methodist Church which helped an Anglican Church

If you know of any churches that might like to take part, please do tell them. www.greenchristian.org.uk/100churches


***************************************************************************

B2: ECEN Churchyard wildlife questionnaire/ survey:  UK launch

In August 2012 I attended the European Christian Environment Network Assembly in Holland. There were 98 people from 22 different countries. I was in the Biodiversity Group. We wrote a simple questionnaire for church congregations/groups to carry out in their church.  Now we are encouraging British churches to take part: http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/4999 Do have a go. They are simple questions, fun for anyone to answer,  and encourage awareness and discussion.

***************************************************************************
At the CEL Conference at Leeds last week one person had waxed lyrical about his efforts to campaign to keep open the Settle Carlisle Railway Line. I realised that it was due to campaigners like him that the line had been kept open: Without the line my wheelchair using friend and I, and also two people from Appleby would not have been able to get to the conference.

By chance you see my friend and I on Settle platform the following day - me in yellow waistcoat, along with another member from St John's Church) - Enjoy!


and again in Settle Square http://youtu.be/8SmVBZs0rrM

Well, that's what we're up to in this part of Yorkshire.

And in the UK?  Here's a link from July to the question

What are UK Methodists Doing to be Greener? (July 2012)

Finally - And I've found this out since I started writing this letter - 
 both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury mentioned protecting the environment in their inaugural sermons  !!!!! 

Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday.

Letter to President of Methodist Conference

On Sunday the President of the Methodist Conference (2012/13), Rev Mark Wakelin, will be coming to preach in Burton-in-Lonsdale Methodist church near where I live. (That is if snow does not interrupt things..)   I have written him (a version of) this letter:-

Dear Rev Wakelin

I am looking forward to your visit to Burton-in-Lonsdale Methodist Church on Sunday morning, 24 March.

People will be coming from around the Settle Methodist Circuit.  including one bus from St ­John’s Methodist Church, Settle, 12 miles to the east where I am a member. (Burton-in-Lonsdale must be North Yorkshire's most westerly Methodist Church. – It is only  13 miles as the crow flies to the sea at Morecambe Bay.

I am very concerned about green issues. I would like to use this letter to tell you about
a) Green initiatives and issues in this part of the world
b) Green projects I am involved with through Christian Ecology Link

I hope we can all share more in Caring for God’s Creation.

First, though, I would like to say how much our  house group at St John's, Settle, has been enjoying using your project Step Forward  which we started in January, and look forward to continuing after Easter..

***************************************************************************

a) Green initiatives and issues in this part of the world  

A1. Christian Ecology Link’s Conference at Leeds last Saturday
A2. Faith & Environment Events at Lancaster Methodist Church on 19-22 April
A3. Eco-House in Burton in Lonsdale
A4. Green Events at St John’s Methodist Church Settle
A5. Farming

b) Green projects I am involved with through Christian Ecology Link

B1. CEL Rainforest Fund Project – 100 churches.
B2. ECEN Church Wildlife Survey
B3. CEL’s website and What’s-on Page

***************************************************************************

a) Green initiatives & issues in this part of the world  

A1. Christian Ecology Link’s Conference at Leeds on Sat 16 March.

Leeds is 55 miles from Burton in Lonsdale. – but Leeds is the biggest city in Yorkshire

70 people attended, including several Methodists, and we had some excellent workshops
http://rainforest-save.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/christian-ecology-link-conference-leeds.html

Whilst there I met a Methodist from Scotforth Methodist Church, Lancaster, Gordon Blair. He is organising a weekend "Faith and the Environment" at Scotforth Methodist Church. on 19-22 April:  which leads us to:-

***************************************************************************

A2. Faith & Environment Events at Lancaster Methodist Church on 19-22 April

Scotforth Methodist Church, Lancaster is only 16 miles from Burton in Lonsdale so may be of more interest to people in Burton. http://faithandenvironment.info/
It would be great if we could publicise that to the people who come to the service at Burton on Sunday. They have some very good speakers on the Saturday

***************************************************************************

A3. Eco-House in Burton in Lonsdale

I have some (Anglican) friends who have a very "green" house in Burton in Lonsdale. He is an engineer so interested in technical things. (with lots of meters so he can read and record the heat he is saving etc) They have a turf roof, a straw bale extra room, air cycling/heat exchange in the house; much of the house was renovated using recycled wood

***************************************************************************

A4. Green Events at St John’s Methodist Church Settle

Over the last 15 years we have had several green events at St John’s including
1) Several Wildflower Walks:,
2) A Day of Prayer about Climate Change (2009);
3) In 2001 Settle Circuit Hymn Festival had the theme “Christianity and the Environment”, and I have produced a draft book “Environment Praise” using these hymns and put several of them on CEL’s website;
4) We have had several coffee mornings to raise money for “The Rainforest Fund;
5) We have a display of CEL leaflets in the Church Foyer, and I sometimes put up displays on a board in the church hall.
6) On 2 March 2013 we had a “Fair Trade Fortnight Fun Night" in the church hall and the £110 raised was put to the Rainforest Fund”

(During this period of time the world population has increased by almost a quarter (by 1.3 billion) The population of  Yorkshire has increased by over 10%; On average about 5 native plant species will have disappeared from individual UK county wildlife lists)

A5. Farming

I haven’t mentioned anything much about farming here. The farmers need our prayers – the average age of farmers (now 59) is increasing and they often have to work alone.

This amazing website I found just now show 13 different graphs showing the crisis in British Farming

The winning hymn in the local category in the Settle Methodist Hymn competition in 2001 was about farming, by Mary Whitfield of Low Gill. http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/5147

I used to have a "Wayside Pulpit" poster once which said "Farmers are Stewards of God's Creation"

***************************************************************************

b) Green projects with Christian Ecology Link

B1. CEL Rainforest Fund Project – 100 churches.

What is this Rainforest Fund I keep talking about?

As the population increases and as our demands for a higher lifestyle increase, habitats for wild animals and plants are being lost.
It is important to save what we have now for future generations.  (Inter-generational justice it can be called)
Most of us want to leave the world a better place. But haven’t you read about the pressure on whales, orang-utans, black rhino, fish?   . If we can save some wild habitat for future generations no then it will be worth it.

So at St John’s we have had “The Rainforest Fund” since 2008 and chose three charities to support – two secular charities which can “buy an acre of wildlife habitat” for £100; and the third, a Christian charity: A Rocha Ghana, which works with environmental education and with villages next to the Mole National Park Nature Reserve with sustainable projects such as bee keeping.

In 2012 CEL made this project into the “CEL 100 churches project” – We are hoping to get 100 different churches to raise (at least) £100 for the Rainforest Fund Project.

So far 12 churches have contributed – but this includes 3 repeats and Settle Spinning club – so maybe I should say so far 8 churches have contributed.  This includes one other Methodist Church (Clun) and 2 URC churches, and one Methodist Church which helped an Anglican Church

If you know of any churches that might like to take part, please do tell them. www.greenchristian.org.uk/100churches


***************************************************************************

B2: ECEN Churchyard wildlife questionnaire/ survey:  UK launch

In August 2012 I attended the European Christian Environment Network Assembly in Holland. There were 98 people from 22 different countries. I was in the Biodiversity Group. We wrote a simple questionnaire for church congregations/groups to carry out in their church.  Now we are encouraging British churches to take part: http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/4999 Do have a go. They are simple questions, fun for anyone to answer,  and encourage awareness and discussion.

***************************************************************************

To lighten things up - you can see three people from our church on the right hand of this Youtube video filmed on Sunday 17 March
(me in yellow waistcoat)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=f3kiMl2OeN0

and again http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=8SmVBZs0rrM&feature=endscreen

Well, that's what we're up to in this part of Yorkshire.

And in the UK?  Here's a link from July to the question

What are UK Methodists Doing to be Greener? (July 2012)

Finally - And I've found this out since I started writing this letter -

I note both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury mentioned protecting the environment in their inaugural sermons.

Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday.

Christian Ecology Link Conference Leeds 16 March 2013

Christian Ecology Link held their annual conference in Leeds this year on 16 March. It meant that Althea and I were able to travel there by train, on the Settle Carlisle Line starting at 7.30am from Settle Station.

Paul Bodenham, the Chairman of CEL,
 introduces the day.

Philip Roderick demonstrates the hangdrum

He tells us about body prayer He leads a workshop on nourishing our Christian environmental witness in prayer, contemplation and intercession. Philip is percussionist, educator and Anglican priest. He is Founder-Director of The Quiet Garden Movement (www.quietgarden.org), Community Leader of Contemplative Fire (www.contemplativefire.org) and Adviser in Spirituality to the Bishop of Sheffield (http://www.whirlowgrange.co.uk/spirituality-centre)

The long lunch hour give opportunity for networking (and lunch).. and ..

And looking at material on display

It's an opportunity to promote other events
such as the Faith and the Environment Weekend
at Lancaster Methodist Church 19-22 April -
a Weekend of Discussion, Action and Reflection
leading up to Earth Day

or chat

or have a go playing the hang drum

After lunch there is half an hour of Open forum - People can raise issues or publicise events.

One participant holds up a little thermometer that shows temperature -
and indicates that the temperature of our room
 is much higher than necessary.  (A CEL miniprojct)
Fortunately the chairman is able to point out that the radiators
were actually switched off in the morning - it is the heat produced
by the 70 plus participants (7KW) that is now heating the room..

In the afternoon there are six workshops running simultaneously, then repeated after the tea break

Bill Cross talks about the many problems facing farmers. This slide illustrates just some of the many organisations that send representatives, often unannounced to inspect the farms, or which request the farmers to fill in forms online .. when they may even live in a place where there is no internet connection.
He explained what all these different organisations are
(which in itself was educational to the audience)
The major form of accident and death is to older farmers working alone.

He explained the high animal welfare and environment standards we have in the UK....

But that every hour vast amounts of farm produce is
imported illegally  from abroad where there are lower standards
making it cheaper for meat to be produced abroad

Here a group led by Lindsey Pearson of 
Christian Aid discusses development 
and environment issues

Chris Walton led the service at the end of the day.
Chris is raising money for Ringsfield Hall Christian Eco-Centre
(where CEL holds its autumn retreats). He will be running the London Marathon to raise money for this centre. Would you like to sponsor him?