Two people  where baptised at South Luffenham Church during the Sunday Service

Congratulations to Len and Harvey

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It’s me, Harvey and Oliver, after the service at South Luffenham church on Sunday in which they were baptised.

Welcome to the church family

The Easter cross this year was decorated with lovely Spring flowers given by many people from the village as a special tribute to Les .

           The cross was placed in the church yard on Easter Saturday by Len and Pru.  Looking Southwest across

the Welland valley.

Christ the Lord is risen today

A Happy and Holy Easter to all in the village.

Tixover church is dedicated to St Luke. It is the  spiritual heart of Tixover in Rutland, and can be opened every day to welcome villagers, visitors and tourists. The key is on the front door jamb of Manor Farm, Tixover.

SERVICES are held at 9.30am on the third Sunday of every month, following  the Book of Common Prayer.

We also have additional services including Candlemas, Easter, Rogation,Harvest,and a Candlelit Carol Service and Christmas.

Whatever your faith background or tradition, you’re very welcome.

If you have any questions about Tixover church, the Churchwardens are your first point of contact Percy Gilman 01780  444331 or David Gandy 01780  440867.

The History of St Luke’s Church, Tixover

The Church of St Luke’s stands some 3⁄4 mile from the village of Tixover on the bank of the river Welland in the south of the parish.

The approach to the Church is from the north along a farm track through the fields of Manor Farm. While approaching, one is struck by the remoteness of this ancient building from its village. Those who have researched the Church elsewhere will also be aware of the other conundrum concerning its dedication.

On the latter point there is historical evidence that the Church was at some point, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. Indeed Sir Nicolas Pevsner refers to it by that name in his book, ‘The Buildings of England’. Scholars suggest that it is more likely that a medieval church would have been dedicated to St Mary rather than St Luke; however the Village has looked on St Luke as a patron of its church for many generations now and reversion is very unlikely.

With respect to the isolated position of St Luke’s, there is evidence that an earlier church existed in wooded country immediately to the north of the church. Many theories have been offered to explain why the modern village moved to it’s present position. Often put forward is a move made necessary by plague; but there is no compelling evidence to support this. More likely is the theory that the move was an evolutionary matter to take advantage of the substantial East/West lines of communication becoming established to the north east of the old Village.

Sunday June 19th the first Sunday after Trinity

3.00pm   Barrowden Church

BENEFICE SERVICE FOR THE LICENSING AND INSTITUTION OF REV. STEPHEN GAMBLE

We give thanks for our new vicar.

ST LUKE’S CHURCH TIXOVER

Every 5 years a Quinquennial Report is done on our historic church. The last report highlighted several faults. We went out to tender and selected Messenger Construction Ltd to carry out the repairs. They were not the cheapest, but they have proved to be the most reliable and efficient team and a pleasure to work with. Our kind stewards of the parish both past and present had contributed to our fabric fund over the years. This did not give us enough to undertake the work and so we are most grateful to the Mick George Community Fund who have contributed £96595. We have paid from our fabric fund as our contribution £10825.

The work required:

Hundreds of little repairs to the pointing of the exterior walls of the church,

Remaking of the leaded light windows.

Investigating the roof of the north aisle which has been leaking for some years over window no 10.

Levelling the floor tiles.

Repairing the font.

Removing the asbestos gutters and downpipes and replacing with cast iron.

Re- decorating the whole of the chancel and nave

We had to remove five courses of Collyweston slates to find the rotten wall plate and lintel over window no 10. This was found to be serious and has been an extra cost. Outside it was fascinating to watch a professional Collyweston slater laying the slates over an uneven roof. Fortunately for him the weather behaved beautifully.

Inside, the scaffolding was erected for 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd floor stages from which you could comfortably touch the top ridge with a paint brush. Unfortunately, the plaster is still drying over the damaged window and the scaffolding is still in place, awaiting 3 coats lime wash to be painted over the new plaster. It was this area which caused our Harvest festival to be cancelled.

We would like to thank the Mick George Community Fund, Tom Murie and Robert Wood for their expertise in grant matters, Percy Gilman for always being available to sort out the queries with me and our stewards who regularly contribute to the fabric fund and our congregation for your patience.

Our Harvest Festival this year will be shared with Duddington in their church on October 13^th at 5.00pm with a supper afterwards.

Our next service will be on October 20^th at 9.30 AM

David Gandy Church Warden and Secretary

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Please come to the Tixover Communion service this Sunday  20th October, to see our Church all repaired and renovated ready for our Monthly Communion services, and Traditional Christmas and Candlemas candlelit services.