Friends of Holland House

Spring Newsletter 2016

News of Friends….. Farewell to Peter and Celia Chapman Our Joint Secretaries to the Friends Committee have moved on. Their names came to the top of the Church of England Pensions Board list for supported housing and in March they depart Evesham for Manormead at Hindhead in Surrey. Peter and Celia came to know Holland House through bringing parish groups here when they served as priests in Bilston. Recruited as Joint Secretaries to the Friends Committee by the late Peter Middlemiss in 2002, they have recorded our meetings and prepared our agendas ever since. But as happens for so many of us at Holland House, one thing led to another! They took over when Peter Middlemiss retired from leading the monthly Book Group, and they have been co-ordinators for the House’s Quiet Garden Days. Fellow members of all the groups held a special lunch to celebrate Peter’s and Celia’s service in these several roles on 8th February, and were joined for it by the Chairman of Trustees, Paul West. On behalf of the Friends, David Rogers made the presentation of a Holland House token for the subsequent visits Peter and Celia hope and expect to make here later in the year. In praising their contribution to the flourishing of the House, David proposed a toast to their future, recalling words of the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold: ‘For everything that has been, thanks; to everything that will be, yes.’

NEWS—New Secretary! After co-option to the Committee and election as Secretary at the Friends Committee meeting on 10th March, our new secretary will be Mrs Cynthia Wardle, who has asked us to make the appointment on a trial basis, subject to satisfaction on both sides. Cynthia comes from Clows Top near Kidderminster and is an experienced clerk, having formerly recorded the business of Mamble and Bayton Parish Councils.

Pauline Crewe - our last direct contact with Mrs Holland! Friends were sad to hear of the death of Pauline Crewe on 27th February. Pauline measured her involvement with the House in decades rather than years. Soon after Mrs. Holland made her wonderful gift to the church, the then Diocesan Advisor for Children’s Work organised a prayer weekend for the Sunday School teachers. Pauline, attending from her home church of St. Thomas’s Dudley, was one of them. She loved the place and its special atmosphere and from the late 1940s supported regular events led by Miss Jean Harcombe for fellow teachers with their lovely mix of training and prayer with relaxing walks and picnics. Only between 1959 and 1963 was Pauline not a regular visitor. During those years she served with the Church Missionary Society in Nigeria where she trained future teachers before she returned to teach in Droitwich and then to lecture at Dudley College. Her work for Holland House was central to her life. Being one of the original Friends of Holland House she helped organise the 24 hour vigil when the diocese was thinking of selling the House and for some years she was chairman of the committee. Sadly she was in hospital and unable to attend the lunch which celebrated 70 years of the House and 40 years of the Trust in January. Pauline was an amazing person. She worked out her priorities early in life and persevered to the end. Her prayer life was pivotal to her daily life and yearly routine. She worked for her church, the Brake residents association, the Woodland Trust, the RSPB and many other environmental organisations. She was still concerned about state education and happy to write letters on the subject. She only resigned from the Friends of Holland House committee at the last AGM but was still coming to meetings as an observer and on the planning committee for the coming ‘Country House Weekend’. From that ‘love at first sight’ impression when she first visited in 1940s, Pauline has been a generous supporter and faithful worker for the good of the House. Perhaps to no other person does Holland House owe so much. But Pauline preferred to speak of what she owed to the House, in the spiritual refreshment, love, understanding and acceptance she found under its roof. Pat Smart and David Rogers

The Late Barbara Inge News of Barbara’s death on 27th December shocked and saddened staff and Friends of Holland House where she has been such a frequent and recent visitor. Known to staff as “BNC” (Barbara No Cheese), she had set herself the one woman mission of increasing bed-nights at the House, and timed her visits for a few days at a time to coincide with Tuesday Talks and Quiet Garden Days she wanted to support. The Chairman of Trustees, Chairman of Friends, Warden and several members of staff attended Barbara’s funeral on 21st January, held at her home church, St Mark’s Bilton. Twice widowed, both Barbara’s husbands had been masters at Rugby School. The funeral order of service included a poem (opposite) Barbara wrote whilst staying at Holland House in her favourite Room 21. A copy will be framed to hang in the room to preserve her memory. She was held in great affection and did much to promote the House.

Quiet days @ Holland House 2016 Quiet Garden days Thursdays—21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September

Holy Days with Bishop Michael Hooper Tuesday 22nd March—Holy week Thursday 5th May—Ascension Monday 28th November—Advent—’The fulfilment of things’

Holland House Days for Reflection with Brenda Morton Wednesday 22nd June—John the Baptist Wednesday 14th September—Holy Wisdom Thursday 3rd November—All Saints

OPEN DOORS Annual day of action and prayer for persecuted Christians worldwide Saturday May 7th 10am—3pm

.

The Light Outside my bedroom window a cedar tree grows facing East. The early morning sun steals through the branches and slowly lights my room. At noon the sky is filled with thin white cloud, but light is there. It shines on the snowdrops and new daisies that sprinkle the grass. As dusk comes the sun sinks slowly, filling the dying sky with jewels of ruby light. I know that the one who is Light has been with me all day, is with me now and will be throughout the coming night. And all the days and nights to come. B. M. Inge

Holland House held a very special lunch on Monday 25 January. 2016 marks 70 years since the house was given to the Diocese by Mrs. Holland and 40 years since it became an independent trust and began to be turned into the centre it is today. The Archdeacon of Worcester, Robert Jones, said: “I was delighted to be able to help celebrate these two special anniversaries. Holland House is a place of great hospitality and also a place where people can come to think widely, deeply and safely together.”

Diana Beswick was one of the Community which founded the House in 1976. She said: “It’s wonderful that 40 years on Holland House is thriving as it is. I was one of four people who came to try to help save the house from being sold. It was hard work, but we really felt that something special was happening and we were just serving it for a little while. We wanted to encourage young people to come and explore their spirituality and think about the beauty of creation in the House’s amazing gardens. We were a small Christian community, but were open to everybody, regardless of their beliefs. It’s fantastic that the spirit goes on and Holland House continues to be a place of Christian devotion for all.”

Current Chair of the Trustees, Paul West said: “This has been a great opportunity to reflect on the past 40 years of Holland House, but it’s also a chance to look at where we’re going in the future. In the next 12 months we’ve got some exciting plans to update the Chapel, which has itself just had its 50th anniversary and continue to improve the facilities at Holland House, to ensure it remains a place for rest, refreshment and discussion, welcoming people from all faiths and none.”

Maintaining and nurturing the fabric of the House Featuring the Friends of Holland House……

There is always work to do to maintain and improve the House and the grounds at Holland House. Although no major work was undertaken in 2015 Friends may be interested to know that:  The jetty area by the river was improved so that the new rowing boat could be launched safely.  We've been steadily redecorating and improving the bathrooms and some of the bedrooms in the old house .  We converted an old bathroom into a laundry room  The small bathroom next to the Library Loft was rarely used and in need of redecorating. Rather than use it as a bathroom we fitted it out to be a small meeting room.  We redesigned the kitchen around ideas from Lead Chef Darren that should help us provide a better and more efficient service.  We have tidied up and redecorated the upstairs rooms of The Den. The facility is now available for guests to use in place of The Study room, which is now being used as the Bookings Office.  We converted room 4 into a meeting / bedroom space. It makes for a very good small meeting room which allows us to book small groups in for the day when the other rooms are full and it can easily be converted back to a twin or single bedroom.  The Friends helped us purchase a new electric cooker just before Christmas

And for the future…. " Following the very welcome expression of support from the Friends for the chapel project, the detail of the scheme has been worked up further and an application for listed building consent has been made. It is now planned to launch a wider appeal, for a minimum of £100,000. Roughly two thirds of this will cover the chapel works, with the additional funds being deployed in restoring parts of the fabric of the old section of Holland House to protect it for the longer term. It is also hoped to start a programme of renewals of the older facilities to bring them into the state required for future years. We hope to get listed building consent in April which would allow the appeal to be launched in May. If this gets the response we would hope then the bulk of the planned work could be completed this year.” Anthony Glossop, Trustee

A vision of welcome for all…. In celebration of Peter Middlemiss' time as Warden of Holland House, a ministry that spanned 25 years until his retirement in 2008, his family have placed a memorial in the Rose Garden.

Made by local artist James Connelly, the sculpture was unveiled during the Peter’s family stay at Holland House at Christmas 2015. The faces in the sculpture are looking in different directions, and vary in size and shape, reflecting Peter's vision that Holland House offered a welcome for all.

This is a tradition that still informs every aspect of the life and work of Holland House and for that legacy we continue to give great thanks. Revd Ian Spencer, Warden

Friends of Holland House Annual General Meeting and Quiet Day 2016 MONDAY 10th OCTOBER 2016

Holland House Country House Party for Friends and Friends of Friends

— able ook l i a v b till a se to s s u Ho lace w p olland e f A ne H pho

From Friday evening 29th April - Monday afternoon, 2nd May 2016. The Friends of Holland House are planning a social highlight to make the 2016 anniversary special (70 years since Mrs Holland gave the house to the diocese, and 40 years since the House became an independent trust). Weekend Programme of Activities to include: * Welcome talk - 'The Holland House story'. * Guided walk around local villages * Holland House garden tour and croquet on the lawn * Boating on the River Avon. * After dinner musical entertainment and table games * Sunday morning at Pershore Abbey - eucharist and tower tour  Late evening reflective services in Holland House Chapel 

Plus the Cropthorne Village Walkabout with many gardens open, Church Flower Festival, entertainment and displays. This is a residential weekend but day guests will also be welcome. All meals provided, plus the programme of events detailed above. Residential cost - £77.50 per day, including room and meals. To make a reservation please request a booking form

.

Could you be a local ambassador for Holland House? As a Friend of Holland House you could help to spread the word about our beautiful house and gardens and the range of interesting, stimulating and spiritual activities which take place here. Every two or three months we produce a poster highlighting events which are coming up in the next three months and we send these out by email to Friends who print them and display them in their churches and community venues. If you could do this please email [email protected]

Did you know that you can find out more about what is happening at Holland House on its website : http://www.hollandhouse.org/ And you can book and pay for events online at the online shop: http://www.hollandhouseshop.org/ And on Facebook: - if you are on Facebook already just search for Holland House and like the page! If you do not have a Facebook account you can still look at the Holland House page by going to: www.facebook.com/pages/HollandHouse/133242333410798

Spring at Holland House March 22nd Tuesday Holy Days with Bishop Michael Holy Week Reflection, 10am—4pm £20 24th Thursday Quiet Day - Spirituality in Literature with Marianne Rankin, 10am—4pm £30 24th—27th Easter Retreat The liberation of the Cross, led by Alistair McIntosh and Ian Spencer £340 29th Tuesday Talk and Lunch Making Loveliness from the garden, with Penny Thompson, £15

April 5th-7th Residential Retreat Experiencing Spirituality with Marianne Rankin and Ian Spencer, Residential—£170, non-residential—£90 21st Thursday Quiet Garden Day Gardeners and gardens—£10 (with lunch £20) 26th Tuesday Talk and Lunch Women of RAF Defford £15 28th Thursday Quiet Day—Spirituality in Music with Marianne Rankin

May 5th Thursday Holy Days with Bishop Michael, Ascension 10am—4pm £20

29th April—2nd May Friends Country House Weekend and the Cropthorne Walkabout 7th Saturday Open Doors -annual day of action and prayer for persecuted Christians worldwide 10am—3pm £15 15th Sunday Labyrinth Day with Sarah Colloby 10am—4pm £37 19th Thursday Quiet Garden Day, Gardeners and gardens £10 (with lunch £20) 23rd Monday Holland House Gardens Open National Gardens Scheme 10am—4pm 24th Tuesday Talk and Lunch Holy George Herbert, David Rogers, £15 28th Saturday Exploring Near Death Experiences with Marianne Rankin, 10am—4pm £30

Holland House Cropthorne Nr Pershore Worcestershire WR10 3NB Phone 01386 860330 Email: [email protected]