Thanks to Brian who help construct the ‘Wombel’ and for showing how the computer part work. To Danny and his help in taking the construction down.

Between 10am and 2pm on Sat 18th, during the Coffee Morning Plus, various bell-ringers came and tried this mock bell. With the computer programme taking pulses from the sensors on the ‘bell’ part,  different methods were possible on any number of bells. Not as easy as it seems as there are no realistic visual aids as you ring.

Some came and tried a single stroke and a few just rang in rounds. A couple hinted they may try a real bell in the future.

Next day the congregation were welcomed to the 10am Eucharist by the Wombel ringing – thankyou Peter for your efforts.

We are hoping to have the ‘Wombel’ at the Spring Fayre – meantime see it in action as Gemma gets to grips with a method (coming soon) and both Peter and Stephanie in freeze frame above.

‘O taste and See….’

Click on the pics below to view the photos in the gallery.

Click here to view the video and read the report!

After cooking up some ashes at the beginning of the day (See Impressions from St. Petes) a long day ensued.

‘Say One for Me, Vicar’ had a reasonable response but was not as successful as envisioned. We received 50 or so prayers and the Huddersfield Examiner recorded the event.

The weather cut down on foot fall because the rain at times was horizontal and the wind constant. The prayer lilies as they opened were driven ashore to one end of the pool and beyond.

(Note to self – consider going inside next year – may be the ‘Kingsgate’ or ‘Packhorse’ shopping centres.)

Still the massive church doors were open, the sign clear and the uptake realistic for the venue and weather. Perhaps this ‘Say One for Me! Might be deployed at the Spring Fayre.

At the 12.35pm Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes – 50+ gathered and as usual a fair number wandered in and out as the service commenced. This regular worship – timed to coincide with those taking a lunch break at 12.30pm – was a ‘special’ – hymns, organ and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Pie Jesu’. Leaving St Peter’s I wonder how many kept their ash crosses on display? More importantly how many committed to an observance of a Holy Lent in some way? (See Ash Wednesday Sermon)

The evening service had the same format as lunch time but with full music and choir. A broader experience then, with two anthems and a sung setting, gave a somewhat fuller and expansive atmosphere –more space for contemplation.

The first was a copy of ‘Memory Lane’ from the Huddersfield Examiner and showed the side chapel screen being erected. Having trouble finding the link on the web, your attention is drawn to the notice board level with the hymn books in church where the cutting is displayed.

The second offering is a photograph of the Parish Church in times long gone. It must be pre-war, as the railings around the church are clearly visible. From the cobbles, and deposits thereon, it looks like a horse drawn vehicle era. Other people have pointed out the lamps outside the west door.

Any other comments may be posted.

Coffee Morning Plus                                                       Saturday 18^th February

Tomorrow there is another Coffee Morning Plus at Huddersfield Parish Church from 10am-2pm. What is the “plus” I hear you cry – it’s a wombel get it one-bell! It is a mock up weighted bell simulator linked to a computer and hence the sound is made, a real bell ringing. You can be in a band of up to twelve and try and fit your bell into the right place.

The proper tower will be ringing sometime during the morning when enough ringers appear!

So – come for coffee; come for the wombel; come for a ring; come for a look.

Over the Lenten period there will be a number of articles in the ‘Impressions from St. Pete’s’ blog. Including in the next few weeks – ‘thought from a travelling priest’ .

There will also be regular updates on events and services during Lent and onward into Holy Week and Easter – so keep logged on and aware of the worship opportunities on offer.

Let’s not forget the parish magazine which is being produced ‘as we speak’ and will arrive soon.

Finally look on the sermon page for Anna’s sermon from the Sunday past. Relevant and inspiring!

Huddersfield Parish Church takes their lead from the Bishop of Wakefield in the call to ‘Say one for me Vicar..!’

Rev’d Canon Simon Moor would tell you : “You’d be surprised how many times a week someone stops a parish priest in the street or calls to them:

“Say one for me…! ”.

Well the Bishop of Wakefield and now St Peter’s has taken this to heart. This Ash Wednesday people are being given the opportunity to have their prayers offered by leaving a prayer outside St Peter’s Church Huddersfield.

‘Prayer Lilies’ – folded squares of paper, on to which words of prayer have been written, will be placed in a large tray filled with water. After a few seconds the fold open and the prayer is revealed and ‘offered’. Each message will be prayed again during that week.

This is a simple way to reach out to people and we are linking in with a national
Church House initiative for Ash Wednesday, inspired by the Bishop of Worcester collecting prayers in a job centre last year.  Indeed, on Ash Wednesday the Bishop of Wakefield Stephen Platten will be in the Ridings Shopping Centre Wakefield, where it is expected to match hundreds of prayers left in the first week of Lent in 2011.

“It is quite astonishing and sometimes very moving,” says the Rev’d Canon Simon Moor: “Of those ‘Say one for me Vicar… some are very simple and some more complex. – most stirring and heart felt.”

The Prayer station will be outside St. Peter’s Church on Ash Wednesday 22nd February between the hours of 11.30am and 1.30pm