In July 2022 we bid farewell to Fr James Robinson, after 4 years as rector and, latterly, rural dean.
Fr James' final service and presentation of gifts, including this besautiful image of the benefice by a local artist.
Easter 2022:Egg hunt at Legbourne
Good Friday in St Martin's, Withcall, at the end of our stations of the Cross.
Stations of the Cross on Good Friday 2022 at Withcall.
Maundy Thursday foot washing
We did manage some carols, sung in compliance with government rules in Raithby church yard on the Sunday before Christmas.
Our annual Carol service at St Peter's Raithby went ahead. Instead of congregational singing we were lucky to have some local musical talent to call upon!
The Christmas crib has made a welcome return at Legbourne. Christmas cannot be cancelled!
After the second lockdown we were able to return to public worship in Advent.
8th November 2020: An act of Remembrance was held at Legbourne Churchyard, where we have both a war memoria and a war grave. Pictured are Hank Green, who laid the wreathes, and cadet Toby Precious.
With churches closed during lockdown 2020 we have been able to catch up on repairs, here at Legbourne and (above) at Strubby
8th May 2020 saw the nation celebrate the 75th anninversary of VE Day. Lockdown restricted what could be done, but didn't prevent bunting, bell-ringing and prayers of thanksgiving from being offered.
Easter Day 2020 and the Eucharist was celebrated for but not with a congregation due to the lock-down. Fr James celebrated in his garden as the sun rose and held you all before God in his prayers. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
Sunday 9th Feb 2020 - Raising a glass in St Vedast's, Tathwell to celebrate St Vedast's Day. In a special service we also remembered a former incumbant of Tathwell, the Rev'd Bertie Hibbett, whose war letters were the subject for a deeply moving talk by his daughter Elizabeth. For more information visit her website:
https://istworldwarhibbettletters.com/2014/07/04/parcels-to-the-front-letters-home-the-story-of-private-bertie-hibbett-1914-1918/
To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we joined our brothers and sisters at Withern Methodist Chapel for their Covenant Service. The service was taken by Rev'd Phil Greetham, and the sermon preached by Fr James.
Christmas Eve Crib service 2019
Another packed house at St Peter's, Raithby for our Christmas carol service.
We were so blessed this year to welcome to St Oswald's Strubby this wonderful group of young singers, who led us in carol singing and performed seasonal treats of their own. Thank you to Emma Morris for organising.
Fr James delivered the Christmas address to both Louth Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs. Thank you to them for their hospitality and congratulations on all their good work. Here Fr James is pictured with Rotary Club President Richard Jones.
A joy to welcome Red Hen Nursery to All Saints', Legbourne, for a Christmas adventure!
Our well-earned meal after carol singing in the Waggon and Horses.
Our annual carol singing evening in the Waggon and Horses at South Reston was a great success. Here Fr James is photographed holding John's pint for him.
Advent carols by candlelight at St Nicholas, Swaby to celebrate their patronal festival on St Nicholas' Day (6th December)
Advent Sunday 2019: Fr James blessed the new Advent candle stand, beautifully crafted and donated by Louth Men's Shed.
17th November 2019: Another successful Autumn Craft Fair at St Andrew's, South Thoresby
Remembrance Sunday 2019: one of the beautiful window displays to mark the Armsitice at St Peter's, Raithby.
9th October 2019: We welcomed the children of East Wold Primary to All Saints' for Harvest. Excellent performances and a wonderful collection of harvest gifts! Well done everyone!
Harvest Festival 2019 - As well as collecting food for the Community Larder, we raised £500 for our harvest appeal, given tuhis year to the charity Seed for Life, who work with struggling communities in Malawi. The money given goes directly towards providing seed and other sources of food to farmers, and school meals for children. Thank you!
It was a great joy to welcome Brother Sam of the Society of St Francis (Anglican Franciscan Friars) to the Rectory. Br Sam gave a stirring talk to the deanery on theology, ecology and spirituality, which was greatly appreciated.
15th September 2019: On the 75th anniversary of the plane crash that killed two polish airmen at Withcall, we gathered by the memorial for prayer. Flight Lieutenant Stanislaw Roman Madej (27) and Flying Officer Jozef Stanislaw Gasecki (25) collided flying back from operations over Arnheim.
11th September 2019: The Greenaway team, a local company who specialise in organic compost, address a fascinated audience at another 'Speaker and Spud Supper' at St Oswald's, Strubby. http://www.greenawaycomposting.co.uk/
7th September 2019: The famous and unique barrell organ at St Peter's, Raithby- recently renovated - is put to work as part of the Lincolnshire Coast and Wolds Churches Festival.
7th September 2019: Rebecca serves up delicious lunches as we welcomed visitors to St Nicholas, Swaby as part of the Lincolnshire Coast and Wolds Churches Festival. Inside the church a wonderful display of flowers was hugely appreciated by visitors and locals alike.
31st August 2019: Great fun at the annual Swaby Village Show. Pictured is the auction in full flow, raising money for the village hall.
29th August 2019: Congratulations to Ken and Jean, who joined us at St John the Baptist, Belleau, for our Patronal Festival on the day of their diamond wedding anniversary.
17th August 2019: Craft Fair at St Andrew's, South Thoresby
17th August 2019: Gayton le Marsh summer fete - Fr James has a go at organ grinding!
June 30th 2019: Arabella (Fr James' wife) celebrated her first Mass today, at St James', Louth, with Fr James looking and learning!
30th June: Summer cream teas served at All Saints', Legbourne
Louth Male Voice Choir during their wonderful performance at St John's, Belleau on Midsummer night.
May bank holiday and raising money for All Saints', Legbourne with our annual car boot sale. Thank you to all volunteers.
Another wonderful Arts Festival at Tathwell.
Sunday 26th May 2019: Taking tea at St Vedast's, Tathwell Arts Festival.
Pentecost 2019: celebrating 'the birthday of the Church' in customary fashion - and Aubrey summoning up a 'rushing wind.' (Acts 2.2)
At ther launch of the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival, which this year (2019) took place in Legbourne.
Coffee morning in Holy Week at All Saints', Legbourne, raising money and awareness for the combating of dementia.
Easter Garden making at Legbourne on Holy Saturday
Good Friday: our stations of the cross procession from Home Farm to St Martin's Church in Withcall.
Palm Sunday 2019: we recreated Christ's entrance into Jerusalem at Swaby, and set out on our walk with Christ through Holy Week.
7th April - Fr James was honoured to take the annual lambing service at St John the Baptist, Great Carlton. He blessed the 4 lambs who formed part of the congregation and preached on Jesus as our Good Shepherd.
7th April 2019 - We held our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, where we reviewed the past year and elected Church Wardens for the coming year. Thanks to all who took part. Pictured are parishioners enjoying the bring and share lunch once business was done.
1 April 2019 - a very special visit from the children of Red Hen nursery in Legbourne to All Saints' Church, to learn about the Easter story (and ring the bells!!!).
Mothering Sunday 2019 at St Andrew's, South Thoresby - and thank you to Frankie for handing out the posies!
10th February 2019: Fr James was in attendance for a special service for the legal profession at Lincoln Cathedral, in his role as Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Ian Walter (also pictured).
On 30th January Fr James visited the Lincolnshire Rural Activites Centre, which is in the parish of Legbourne, to help support its bid for funding from the Bishop of Lincoln's Social Justice Fund. Here he is trying out their state of the art horse riding simulator, which is mainly used by the local Riding for the Disabled group. Thanks to Sarah Moss for the tour and our organist Liz for her electronic horse riding expertise! For more information about the centre see their webside: http://www.lincsruralactivitiescentre.co.uk/
The blessing of chalk for Epiphany house blessings (6 Jan 2019)
Our Christmas Day Eucharist at Strubby was greatly assisted by the backing of Wild Berry Mix.
'Saint Nick' pays a visit to the Holy Family at St Nicholas', Swaby.
More angels! These were made by pupils at St Margaret's Primary School, Withern, to decorate St Oswald's, Strubby for Christmas Day.
Huge thanks to Hank for cutting down and donating this huge Christmas tree at All Saints', Legbourne. Congratulations also to the wonderful pupils of East Wold Primary School for helping to decorate the Church this Christmas with their hand-made angels (some of which can be seen on the tree).
Carol singing in the Waggon and Horses, South Reston - with some help from the Community Singers, and a jolly good feast after! Cheers! (19 Dec 2018)
The December meeting of 'Celebrate God' children's church at South Thoresby put together gift bags for the residents of a local residential home for Christmas.
Dave Temple was our special guest at Strubby Christmas Show (St Oswald's, Strubby 9 December 2018). Fr Christmas also made an appearance! Thanks to all for organising and supporting.
Bargain hunting at the annual Christmas craft fair at St Andrew's South Thoresby (1-2 Dec 2018). This year we added a Eucharist service for our Patronal Festival (St Andrew's Day being the Friday before the fair began).
Huge thanks to Don and the wonderful chaps at Louth Men's Shed, for designing, making and installing the Rectory's new chicken house! For more informnation about their work, and how to get involved, see http://louthmensshed.org/
'Ringing in the peace' (not very peacefully!) 11 Nov 2018: joining the nation in communal bell ringing after a special Remembrance Day service of Evensong at St John the Baptist, Belleau.
The act of remembrance by the war memoral in Legbourne Churchyard, on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
Happy All Saints' Day!!! More patronal celebrations.
The merry throng tucking into pear cake and fizz after the patronal Eucharist, All Saints', Legbourne (1 Nov 2018)
A great joy to welcome mother and daughter folk duo Jean and Julie, to perform some traditional country folk songs as part of our harvest festival at St Nicholas Swaby (28 Oct 2018).
28th October 2018 ~ For Bible Sunday we blessed a new and beautiful Gospel book, from which God's most holy word will be read each Sunday.
"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11.28
Tea for two! Rizzo stops by for a cuppa at Swaby.
Carriages at Withcall
14th July 2018 ~ Congratulations Matt and Helen (St John the Baptist, Belleau)
3rd September 2018 - The Bishop of Lincoln and Archdeacon of Lincoln 'institute and induct' Fr James, to mark the beginning of his ministry among us. The service - well attended - was followed by a very jolly party in Legbourne Community Hall. Thank you to all who contributed to giving such a wonderful welcome.