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June 1995             Issue 58

CHURCH NEWS

Loyalties

Some countries still think foundations important. In Germany most of the population pay their 'church tax' to maintain Catholic and Protestant churches, and insist on the highest standards of religious education in state schools. The tax is voluntary but surprisingly few dodge it (by getting buried on their wife's membership). Most children get confirmed by their local vicar or bishop as a 'rite of passage', bribed to take two years of confirmation classes by families who want them to be taught the basics even if they never practice a religion. In Britain we leave it to individuals, and most don't bother. It will take time to tell whether casualness about religion leads to moral casualties.

Religious loyalties are a matter of individual character and link us to wider communities and a historic past and hope for the world. However weak or strong our faith in God we stand in a tradition and most of us were dipped into it when brought to baptism. Some learn to swim in it and live in it, others get out quick, finding it too cold (or too hot). Some learn the language, others have different priorities. It takes time, and time is in short supply, and commitment even harder to find.

Last month four couples made the biggest human commitment possible - to spend their lives caring for each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. I wondered how anyone dares to say such things without being rooted in something bigger, and promised the help of a Power beyond ourselves, and attracted to a goal that gives our lives their pattern. Seeing them do it was a chance to ask myself again what I can live by and how much I wanted to share it. Watch this space. And expect a visit from an old or a new vicar.

Saturday 8th July FLOWER FESTIVAL in St Andrew's Church Open from 10.0 - 6.0 PARISH FETE Opening at 2.0 Lots of fun things to do Children's sports at 2.45 (egg and spoon, sack, running etc.) weather permitting Sunday 9th July FLOWER FESTIVAL Open from 11.0 - 6.0 with CHORAL EVENSONG and the Green sermon at 6.30 p.m. in St Andrew's Church.

SANDFORD PLAY SCHEME SPONSORED BY THE YOUTH CLUB, ADMINISTERED BY SUE BOWEN, WILL MEET IN THE VILLAGE HALL AT 10 AM ON MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS FROM 31ST JULY TO 16TH AUGUST.
TRIPS ETC. WILL BE ARRANGED. SIGN UP IN ADVANCE AT 10B HEYFORD HILL LANE AND OFFERS OF PARENTAL HELP WELCOME.

SANDFORD RIVER RUN RUN, JOG, WALK OR CRAWL THREE OR FIVE MILES ALONG THE RIVER SATURDAY 24TH JUNE AT 4.30 P.M. PLEASE BRING YOUR SUPPORTERS ALONG TO CHEER YOU ON. SPONSORSHIP FORMS AVAILABLE FROM THE VICAR.

On December 1829 Hansel was still pursuing his intent of bringing a permanent and substantial school to the village, with an application for a grant from the National Schools Society* towards the building of a Sunday school which he hoped would lead to a weekday school. A site had already been granted by the Duke of Marlborough, the lord of the manor, at a quit rent of 2/6 per annum. It was also proposed that the building was to be built of sandstone dug in the parish, floored with square brick and roofed with common blue slates. There also was a hope of attaching a small cottage or room for the mistress to sleep in.

In the event it appears that the local stone was found unsuitable, or that suitable sand stone had been worked out. The local building stone was in the main coral rag stone and examples of its use in building can be seen in the church wall and the two cottages opposite, known as Allins cottages. A ready alternative was still to be found in the parish in

What follows may be pure speculation, but what was eventually built as the first school is probably the small brick building at the rear of the present and later building, built of hand made bricks probably dug and fired locally (see Kiln piece). A date stone recording 1868 was, I suggest, to record some modification of this building - 1860 has been suggested as the actual building date, followed by further extensions in 1868 and 1905. These later buildings were built of a dressed lime stone found outside the parish.

The accommodation in 1887 was for 70 children, which by July 1910 had risen to 110.

SANDFORD-ON-THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 6th March at 7 p.m. in the Village Hall, at which six members were present.
The minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read and passed.
There were no matters arising and no correspondence.
Location of skips 1995/6. List of dates and location in Link and on Parish Council Notice Boards for information.

Matters for consideration
Village Hall extension. The project has been put on hold for this financial year as there are no County Council grants available. However fundraising etc. will continue.
Burial Ground. The Clerk was instructed to proceed with the purchase of the land from Magdalen College for use as a burial ground. Local Council Administration. Deferred.
VE Day arrangements/celebrations/events. It was agreed that the Parish Council would mark this occasion with a service, bonfire/beacon and refreshments in the Village Hall. A sub-committee was formed (Mr Leary, Mr Norton, Mrs Hutton) to organize the event.
Unauthorised mooring. The Chairman reported that a boat had been moored on the wharf site and that he had asked the owner to remove it immediately. This had now been done.
Environmental Protection Act 1990 - licensing waste disposal and treatment facilities. For information.
Highway Maintenance - weed control. No action to be taken by the Parish Council.
South Oxfordshire Spring Clean. Noted. Notice to be put in Link.
National Lottery Funding from the Sports Council and the Millennium Commission Paper I. Deferred. Chairman asked Councillors to consider projects which would benefit from this fund.
Bus Service 105 - Oxford, Wallingford, Reading. Paper II. Noted. Notice to be put in Link.
Kings Arms Sign Post in Recreation Field. Clerk was instructed to write to Herbert Smith. Parish Council unwilling to enter into any agreement