Which bin is it?
Dear Friends,
One of the first things our neighbour, Rod, did after Pandy and I moved into Spring Cottage was knock on the door with a welcome card. Along with it came what was, in truth, the most valuable information a newcomer could receive: the bin collection days!
It was a wonderfully practical act of kindness, and it summed up the sort of welcome we were to receive.
Three years ago, we arrived in Colwall knowing almost nobody. We had a house to unpack, new jobs and routines to establish, and a village to discover. As curates do, we arrived knowing that one day we would move on again. That is part of the nature of curacy. But knowing something is temporary doesn't stop it becoming home.
As I prepare to leave, people have asked what I'll remember most. There have certainly been memorable occasions. I suspect nowhere else in the country could have introduced me so enthusiastically to the ancient tradition of wassailing as the Colwall Orchard Group. There have been Christmas carols with Rotary outside Café Morso, productions such as Warhorses of Letters at the Village Hall, and more visits to the Yew Tree Quiz than I can remember. I'm pleased to report that my team, Waverley Spring, has enjoyed a modest amount of success over the years, although I appreciate others may remember the results rather differently!
Those occasions have been great fun, but they are not what I shall treasure most. It is the people behind them.
One of the things that attracted me to Colwall in the first place was the church profile – a document that usually focuses on the buildings, worship or the statistics. Colwall's talked about people. It described a church woven into the life of the village, rather than existing alongside it. Reading it now, I realise it wasn't an aspiration. It was simply an accurate description.
That has been my experience from the beginning.
As a Foundation Governor at Colwall Church of England Primary School, I have had the privilege of seeing the dedication of governors, staff and volunteers who invest so much in the lives of local children. My regular visits to The Elms each term have been equally rewarding. Schools have a remarkable way of keeping you optimistic about the future. And the Youth Project continue that optimism.
Beyond the schools, it has been a joy to become part of village life, stopping to chat with people I'd bumped into, attending events, and hearing some amazing stories. The same has been true in Coddington. Although a smaller community, it possesses the same generosity of spirit and warmth of welcome. It has been a delight to get to know so many people there, and to discover that faithful communities don't need to be large to have a significant impact.
Men’s Breakfast with Bishop Richard (May 2025)
If there is one thing I hope I leave behind, it is the Men's Breakfast. It was never really about Anna’s excellent breakfast. It was about creating an excuse for people to sit around a table together, meet someone they hadn't met before, and leave knowing each other a little better. Friendships have begun there. Conversations have continued long after breakfast ended. My sincere hope is that it will continue to flourish for many years to come.
Hospitality is one of the great Christian virtues, although we often underestimate what the Bible means by it. We tend to think hospitality is about making tea, putting out biscuits or inviting people round for supper. Those things matter, of course, but Scripture points to something deeper.
The Letter to the Hebrews says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
Three years ago, Pandy and I were the strangers.
We arrived not knowing where we fitted, or who we would come to know. Somewhere along the way we stopped being "the new curate and his partner". We simply became part of village life. Hospitality has a remarkable way of changing everyone involved. The stranger becomes a neighbour; the newcomer becomes a friend.
As Pandy and I prepare to begin a new chapter, we do so with enormous gratitude. To Revd Melanie and the two wonderful churches, and also the two communities. We leave richer than when we arrived, taking with us friendships that will endure and memories that we shall treasure for many years.
And thanks to Rod, as we move to a new church and village community, we'll always remember that one of the greatest acts of Christian hospitality is making sure the newcomers know which bin to put out.
Colwall, you will be missed.
Revd Andrew & Pandy
