NEWS FROM ST. ANDREW'S

  My goodness, haven't we been lucky with the weather lately? Let's hope it continues a while longer!! June has been a busy month with Bishop Bob visiting our area over the last week or so. He seemed to move seamlessly from one meal to the next but when we heard how many different events he'd attended, he would have needed a lot of sustenance to keep him going!! Having been zigzagging across the county for 45 days, ending on June 21^st at the Confirmation Service in Ottery, I expect he's now ready for a day or two's rest to catch his breath before the Archbishop's visit to Exeter.

  June started for us with a very interesting talk by Rev. Cate about her Armenian Experiences. She gave us all a good insight into life in Armenia and the evening ended with refreshments made to Armenian recipes. As none of us had ever been, we could only hope that they were as they should have been but we enjoyed them nonetheless!! I was particularly intrigued by their alphabet but then I would be, wouldn't I?!

  On July 3rd, there is a course at Torrington for the Churchwardens to attend about the maintenance of churches and so on. No doubt they'll have a good day out as well! On the 12^th, there is the String Quartet concert at Escot Church in aid of their Roof Fund and our Flood Fund. This starts at 7.00p.m I think so look forward to seeing you there.

  As ever, July is an important month at the School, with Year 6 students going off to their new schools. The Leavers' Service is on July 20^th and it will be especially important this year as, of course, Graham Rowlands will also be a "Leaver". We wish all the students well in their new schools and wish Graham a very long and happy retirement.

  As you know, we have been holding a Parish Communion Service in the School for the past few months. There will be building work going on in the School over the summer so in July and August, there will be a Parish Communion Service in the Churchyard instead. If it's wet, we'll move somewhere dry, possibly the Church but that would depend on what's happening in there at the time! The first of these services is on July 26^th so we'll look forward to seeing some of you there.

 Finally for this month, very best wishes from us all to Mary Gibbins!!

           See you next month; enjoy the summer!!

                                             Gill Walker 850711