A Happy Place

Dear friends,

What makes a place “happy?” What makes somewhere good to live? Do you have a “happy place” in your life? Unsuprisingly, there are a number of common factors which promote “contented living” in a given location. Neighbours who are friendly, and who will hold onto your parcel when it has been misdelivered, or even pop it round. Access to the countryside, green spaces, parks, rivers or coastline is a real lifter of the spirit. Good communications – road, rail, bus, or air, that are reliable and efficient. Opportunities for meaningful employment or community building through volunteer networks. And good value for your money, whether that be in living costs, or leisure ones.

As you might have expected, Reading came “in the middle” (77/200) of a recent UK survey of “happy places to live”, and Oxford, perhaps surprisingly, lower at 111/200. Reading does well because of its transport links and the career opportunities it offers, but has very little community spirit or access to green space. Oxford scores because of its culture, history and employment opportunities, but both centres have high or very high housing costs and the urban pressures of road congestion, air quality and community cohesion. It is probably true to say that whether you are “happy” living in Reading or Oxford therefore is probably a function of your age, and whether your wealth is able to meet your needs at that particular time in your life.

It was not a surprise to me that Skipton, in North Yorkshire, was rated the “happiest” place to live in the UK this year. A busy market town, still small enough to be a “community”, with good transport links by road, rail or bus, easy access to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and property prices still below the national average. What the bald numbers of the survey don’t mention is that at the top of the market place there sits Holy Trinity church, welcoming and warm, with its parish centre at the rear. The church has a generous and friendly ministry with an offering of history for the tourists, and a multifaceted community for the locals. I was fortunate enough to sojourn there for nine months whilst waiting for the academic year to turn prior to the start of my ordination training. The then Rector, Revd Donald Aldred, found me some digs in Belgrave Street and I found a job at David Lightfoot Design. The congregation took me in, and their kindness and hospitality (behind the obligatory gruff Yorkshire exteriors) has remained with me. Skipton was a happy place then, and I’m pleased to hear that it is still regarded as such. Also, the real pork pie shop is still there, with the queues in the street at baking times. Gentlemen, take note!

Returning south again, our villages here in the Langtree Team have much that we should be thankful for; plenty of easy access to green space, reasonable transport links (as long as you have a car, or can get a friend to drive you to the bus stop), employment opportunities that are growing, the positives of Reading and Oxford (combined with the benefits of not having to live in either), and, for all our communities our churches offer a focus and a spiritual hub with regular worship and a number of different ways to meet one another that add to a real sense of community buzz, whether you are in Checkendon, Stoke Row, Ipsden, North Stoke, Woodcote or Whitchurch. Because, of course, the real answer to the question “what makes a community a happy place to live in?” is “you do”.

Worship Services for Sunday 14th December

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies

11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies.

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Carol Services ahead!

Carols and other Christmassy services commence in Woodcote and Whitchurch this coming weekend! You can find details of all the Carol and Christmas services across the Team area here. Checkendonians are warmly welcome to attend the Checkendon School Carol Service, in Checkendon Church, at 2.30pm on Wednesday 17th December.

The Stoke Row Carols round the Well is on Friday 19th at 6pm, by the Maharajah’s Well. Revd Kevin and Revd Mark reprise their annual double act to bring some festive cheer to the Main Street. Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards in the village hall brought to you by St John’s Church, and Stoke Row Chapel.

The community Carols by Candlelight services are in Stoke Row Church at 4pm and in Checkendon Church at 6pm, on Sunday 21st December. Everyone is welcome, and please, invite a friend.

In your prayers do remember those for whom this Christmas will be the first without a loved one, or will be close to the anniversary of a bereavement. Some will be alone this Christmas by choice, and are comfortable with that. There are others for whom the absence of companionship will be very hard indeed. Remember the ministry of the Team’s monthly “Bereavement Cafe” and give thanks for the support and fellowship that is offered. Pray for Sue Endacott, Vanessa Potter, and Mary Daniels as they lead the group. “God is our strength and refuge, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change..” Ps 46:v1-2a

with Advent greetings to you all

Canon Kevin Davies

PS A special bonus; anyone remember this Advent hymn, out of favour now, but a classic from my childhood at least. Hills of the North rejoice was sung last week at St Leonard’s Advent Carol service, and sparked many good memories.