A Rocha Jubilee Celebrations

Last Saturday we went over to the hamlet of Lewknor (S Oxfordshire). We gathered in the Victorian church and were greeted by the Vicar (Rev Simon Brignall). The day was fine; a marquee had been erected in the grounds. These included the village Primary school grounds, in an attractive rural setting. This had play equipment, seats around a large tree, and a large grassy area. Peter & Miranda Harris (A Rocha founders) gave short talks. There were even staff from the original site in the Algarve, Portugal, present. A Rocha (meaning "The Rock", in Portuguese) is a charity working to show God's love for all creation through education, and practical projects. The first UK project is at Southall; the second at Lewknor - the Chiltern Gateway project.


You may recognise the church from the opening credits of "The Vicar of Dibley"!

Later some of the schoolchildren put on a little play about the danger of polluting the environment with plastic bags, etc.

We had our packed lunches in the grounds. Hot drinks were provided all day by a team of volunteers.

In the afternoon we went up to the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on the Chiltern Hills, on the

View from Aston Rowant NR over Oxfordshire (and M40)


other side of the M40. There were beech woods on top of the hills; we (about 350-400) gathered on top of a nearby field for a service. The field was a 30 minute walk away up a hill through beech woods; some of us drove to the reserve. There were local people walking through, some with their dogs. Singing was accompanied by a keyboard. A small canvas shelter had been brought up in case of rain but the sun shone brightly. The talk was given by Rev Dave Bookless, A Rocha UK National Director.

After, as Pat had a cold, we decided to drive back to Worthing via the M40 and M25. A quick trouble-free journey - the major holiday traffic had gone (it was the first weekend of the schools holiday season).