Navenby Central Branch Meeting, 9th July 2011

We arrived at Navenby, just after 3:00pm and made our way up to the ringing room. There weren't many of us to start with but as the afternoon wore on, it got more and more crowded.

Ringing ranged from Rounds & Call Changes to Surprise Minor methods, catering for all abilities of ringing.

Ringing at St. Peter's, Navenby
Ringing at St. Peter's, Navenby

Shortly before 4:30pm we rang the bells down and made our way down into the church for the service. This was led by the local Lay-Reader, Mike Turner, with the Conacher organ being capably played by Mr. Les Townsend.

The service followed the familiar format laid out in the LDGCB "Forms of Service". The lesson (1 Corinthians 12:12) was beautifully read by Miss Bridget Jones-Crabtree and is the lesson of how the Body of Christ is made up of many parts.

Mike Turner delivered a sermon on this theme, likening bellringers to a body of many different parts, each with its own part to play. I am constantly in awe of the quality of the sermons that we receive from our Lay-Readers and I think they do a fantastic job within the church community.

The service was concluded with prayers and afterwards we moved swiftly up the road to the home of Robert and Janet Harvey who have purchased the old pub in Navenby.

In the garden at Robert & Janet's
The sun shall shine on the righteous!

Hot and cold buffet refreshments were served from the kitchen, along with copious quantities of London Pride beer (it was a pub after all!) plus tea, coffee and soft drinks for our younger members. It being such a lovely evening, we sat outside in the garden to eat and socialise.

Once we were suitably refreshed, the meeting took place in Robert's capacious lounge, which easily accomodated the members present. The meeting proceeded smoothly and afterwards many of the members continued to socialise in the garden, until the sun eventually set.

Dessert is consumed
The meeting concludes

Many thanks to Robert and Janet for their excellent hospitality, and to all the others who made this an enjoyable and extremely sociable evening.

Jonathan Clark (webmaster)