Now that the weather is a little improved and the days are lengthening (Anglo-Saxon lencten from which we get out word Lent – meaning lengthening days), the St Andrew’s tower is starting to rise again up through the scaffolding – thanks everyone.

Today at St Andrew’s, the wise men came bearing gifts and singing their solos. We were fortunate to have three excellent male voices to sing verses 2-4 of “We three Kings“, wearing crowns and presenting their gifts and also to have a very helpful young person to welcome them to the stable, put them in position and their gifts at the foot of the Incarnated God. Well done Seumas, Alex, Jamie and Carly, we all loved it.

This afternoon we had a splendid Service of Readings and Carols enjoyed by a fairly full church drawn from right across the area. There were readers from several local churches and fellowships and a selection of traditional and other favourite carols. Afterwards there was a collection for the Samaritans which raised almost £140.

The service was followed by seasonal refreshments – mince pies, Christmas cake, shortbread washed down with mulled wine or spiced apple juice. It was wonderful to see so many people on a wet, slippery, slushy afternoon – well done everyone.

A huge thanks to all those who helped to make it the wonderful afternoon that it was and those who have helped to decorate the Church in the last couple of days and of course to Campbell for accompanying the carols on the organ..

Although we haven’t quite reached our funding target of £160,000, we’re almost there thanks to the generosity of many individuals and grants from organisations, including the Benefact Trust, the Edderton Community Council the National Churches Trust and an SEC Provincial Buildings Grant and the proceeds from Jamie’s wonderful organ recital. Two thirds of the money raised has come from members of the congregation and other supporters (which is awesome), whilst the remaining third has come from the four organisations listed.

The old tower has been taken down and an identical replacement is nearing completion in Peter’s steading. When that has been finished (by the end of December), it will be disassembled and brought down to St Andrew’s for reassembly starting w/b 9th January.

Note that the tower is being built on it’s side because it‘s too tall to fit vertically in the steading, the bottom of the tower is at the same end as the joiner with the orange jacket. The annotated photo has been rotated to show what it will be like!

The weather vain and bell are at the workshop off site being repaired at the moment. The bearings on the bell will need slight attention and also new bolting arrangements as the original ones were all rotten. A new central rod will need replaced for the weather vane and re-threaded along with some welding of the cast parts on the top. 

We all look forward to the day when the scaffolding is taken away and we have the whole church back. Perhaps in February.