Letters to the Editors
Amazing Advent
Dear Editors.
Hurrah for Swaffham Prior. When visiting family in the village recently I was delighted to find that the latest edition of the Swaffham Crier had just been delivered - always a good read. I was even more delighted to note that the village had taken the decision to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent in a Scottish vein, it falling on St Andrew's Day.
As an 'adopted' Scot, to see St Andrew's Day being marked in this way in an English village filled me with pride. However, I was less than sure about the choice of Amazing Grace as a key hymn. So I did a small bit of research to confirm my suspicions.
The words to Amazing Grace were written in the late C18th by John Newtown of Wapping in collaboration with William Cowper of Olney. The song later became a favourite in the United States during the civil war. As far as I have been able to find out the connection with Scotland didn't start until the 1960s when it became popular with Highland bagpipe bands. So rather than being one of Scotland's most wellknown folk-hymns it is indeed one of England's, with a long history in America.
I am happy to be corrected as I have relied on the internet and Scottish friends for my information, but, Swaffham Prior it is 10/10 for effort and 5/10 for accuracy!
Open Churches
Dear Editors,
Simply to thank all the kind people who make time to keep the churches open every day. There is a rota of eleven people. Weekly, each person opens and shuts the churches daily.
It would be lovely if more people could join in, to lessen the load. You would be very welcome. Easy to fit with dog walks!
Ah, is this a hint? But we'd always be forgetting.. . Eds
...and there's more.. .
Dear Editors,
Visitors often comment on how nice it is to find a church open throughout the day. We very much hope to keep it that way. We have become aware of a few small incidents of vandalism, and suspect that children are going into church on the way home from school.
We have mentioned it to the Community Police Officer, but do not want to be heavy-handed. If we are all vigilant the problem will go away. So, please, if you are passing, do pop into the church to see all is well. Thank you.
The Information we Informed you with.. .
Dear Editors,
We were informed that the late night journeys at 21.00 and 23.00 from Cambridge to Soham operate as service 10 journeys. Consequently we forwarded this information to you.
We have been informed that this information has now changed. The 21.00 and 23.00 journeys will now operate on the service 12, and not the 10.
Please update your parishioners with this latest information. Copies of the new service 10 and 12 timetables can be obtained by calling Stagecoach on 01223 423578 or going to www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge
Oh, so that's another 360 timetables for us to hand out then! Eds