Mary Slessor and John Bosco

Mary Slessor - Presbyterian- Lay woman and Missionary ( 2nd December 1848- 13th January 1915)

Mary was born in Aberdeen and moved to Dundee at the age of 11 when her family was looking for work. Her father was an alcoholic who had to stop his work as a shoemaker and eventually became a mill labourer. Mary's mother ensured that she attended church and made her a half time worker at a jute mill, working for half the day and attending the mill school for the other half.


She developed a strong interest in religion and joined a local mission teaching the poor. One famous story from this time is that of the Red Headed Lady: Mary dared a gang of boys that she would not flinch as they swung a metal weight closer and closer to her face; she successfully stayed still, and the boys had to attend her Sunday School as forfeit.

Mary Slessor went to live among the efik people in Calabar in present day Nigeria. There she successfully fought against the killing of twins at infancy. she died there in 1915 and was given a state burial

John Bosco - Roman Catholic - Priest and Founder ( 16th August 1815 -January 31st 1888 )

John Bosco was born in Becchi, Piedmont. His father died two years later and Giovanni, together with his two brothers Antonio and Giuseppe, was brought up by his mother. She was to support him in his work until her death in 1856.


When he was young, he would put on shows of his skills as a juggler, magician and acrobat.The price of admission to these shows was a prayer that was never enforced, but always asked.

Early in his childhood he had a vision or dream in which he learned what his life would be dedicated to and in the dream he heard a voice which said, "Not with blows, but with charity and gentleness must you draw these friends to the path of virtue."It was this statement which was instilled in oratory and preventive system he was yet to found.

Don Bosco began as the chaplain of the Rifugio ("Refuge"), a girls' boarding school founded in Turin by the Marchioness Giulia di Barolo, but he had many ministries on the side such as visiting prisoners, teaching catechism and helping out at country parishes.


A growing group of boys would come to the Rifugio on Sundays and feast days to play and learn their catechism. They were too old to join the younger children in regular catechism classes in the parishes, which mostly chased them away. This was the beginning of the "Oratory of St. Francis de Sales." Don Bosco and his oratory wandered around town for a few years and were turned out of several places in succession. Finally, he was able to rent a shed from a Mr. Pinardi. His mother moved in with him. The oratory had a home, then, in 1846, in the new Valdocco neighborhood on the north end of town. The next year, he and "Mamma Margherita" began taking in orphans.

Don Bosco's capability to attract numerous boys and adult helpers was connected to his "Preventive System of Education." He believed education to be a "matter of the heart" and said that the boys must not only be loved, but know that they are loved. He also pointed to three components of the Preventive System: reason, religion and kindness. Music and games also went into the mix.


Don Bosco gained a reputation early on of being a saint and miracle worker. For this reason, Rua, Buzzetti, Cagliero and several others began to keep chronicles of his sayings and doings. Don Bosco was obsessed by the needs of the poor in his own Turin and the missions ( including sending young priests to England at the request of the Duke of Norfolk ) and he worked tirelessly for his whole life for the poor, especially the young. His work is carried on by the Salesians of Don Bosco who he founded. He died on January 31st 1888.  He was canonized in 1943

Shoe Box Appeals

Many of our churches and schools are involved in the Christmas Shoe Box appeals to bring presents to children in poorer countries. If your church isn't involved you might consider making up a gift shoebox and taking it along to one of churches which is.

Two that I know are collecting are Wesley ( contact Jean Fraser ) and St John's ( contact Janet Caudwell )

There are rules on what can and can't be included and they do vary from appeal to appeal so best check.

It is worthwhile, and all the more needed in our current economic climate when charities are being pushed to the limit and general donations are down.

True Halloween Party

For many years, FACT through the Holiday Bible Club has held "An Alternative to Halloween" party for children. At a recent exec meeting it was decided that the word alternative was wrong. After all Halloween is from All Hallows Eve and is therefore a Christian Festival ( albeit with links to earlier druidical ones ), so using the word alternative is belittling a Christian festival which has been hijacked. Before the witches and goblins and gore became what it was all about ( and I even saw a poster at our Leisure Centre today saying "Celebrate Halloween with a £1 Gym membership ) the festival was and still is, a celebration of the Light of Christ overcoming the darkness of evil. The pumpkin lantern with its light drives away the evil spirits its doesn't need the gruesome face.

So we are now calling it a True Halloween Party, where children will be exposed to the Light of Christ and His message rather than to the darkness portrayed and encouraged by the shops ! And as a sign of how well things are going for us as Churches at the moment in Frome and how our co-operation knows now boundaries, It will be held on two consecutive nights !

Friday 30th 5-7pm at Holy Trinity Hall - Party
Saturday 31st 5-7pm at St Catharine's Hall - Puppet making workshop

Do encourage all children ( not just church families ) to attend, these are for ALL children from 5-10years of age.

Lets pray for our hard working Holiday Bible Club team as they ( and indeed us ) attempt to get the true meaning of Halloween across.

St Catharine's Roman Catholic Church, Frome

Today we look at the newest of our Church buildings. Built in 1968 to replace the 1928 church which now serves as the church hall. It is hexangonal in shape ( as were all ancient churches named after martyrs ) with a conical roof. This roof was originally see through ( and there were no other windows ) but it leaked terribly and had to be made solid. Further extention work was done in 1991, allowing for more seating and the much needed addition of windows for natural light. The present church seats around 200 and is made of breeze block, which is neither rendered on the outside or plastered on the inside.  It needs to be remembered that historically this church was one of the first to be built following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council and its architecture reflects this.

The altar has two crosses carved into the pillars. One is smooth and one is rough, and they represent the good and bad thieves crucified either side of Christ. The Stations of the Cross are unique. Created by a Trowbridge artist they are Oriental in style. The motif of the Rising Sun is visible in each other apart from the last two, when of course the "Sun" has gone out.

The Blessed Sacrament chapel is built in memorial to Monsgnieur Ronald Knox, who completed his famous translation of the Bible while resident in the parish.

There are three almost life-sized statues, one of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the Sacred Heart and one of St Therese of Liseux.

Address : 4 Park Road, Frome BA11 1EU

A Quiet Time

After a hectic 6 weeks in FACT's life, the last couple have been relatively quiet with not much going on. Of course that's not true, FACT is like a swan, our joint public events are just the top part above the water, underneath are many sets of legs paddling away like mad. Plans are already in hand for events as far ahead as Lent 2010 ( and my particular brain is thinking about Pentecost 2010 and formulating an idea. You have been warned ! ) This quiet time allows us to reflect on what we've done before ( remember written reports needed for next exec on 23rd November ) and to get the ground work done for our next projects before we get so bogged down in actually doing them.
Keep a look out for opportunities to volunteer, and get involved in a variety of ways. Over the next few days I will flag up some of the things which are happening between now and the end of the year. Please pray for all those who are hard at work behind the scenes planning and organising.

Frome's Very Own Christian Heroes

Each Saturday this blog brings you the lives of Christian Heroes from around the world. Today I want to celebrate 166 of Frome's own heroes - those who read in the Bible Reading Marathon : -

Ann Burgess Christ Church CE


David Brinn St Catharine’s RC

Neil Maxted Christ Church CE

Ross Frooms Christ Church CE

Mandy Hulme St Katherine’s CE

Alan Hawker Beckington CE

Peter Price Bishop of Taunton

Paul Stoddart St Catharine’s RC

Sally White Christ Church CE

Derek Gill Christ Church CE

Jean Gill Christ Church CE

John Eyles Christ Church CE

Beryl Eyles Christ Church CE

Colin Alysbury St John’s CE

Marian Alysbury St John’s CE

Ronal Jarret Holy Trinity CE

Patsy Stephenson Christ Church CE

Gwyneth Philips Wesley Methodist

Ward Jones Bristol Methodist District Chairman

David Clarke Holy Trinity CE

Richard Loveless Holy Trinity CE

Frances Loveless Holy Trinity CE

Cynthia Smith Christ Church CE

Tony Sermon St Catharine’s RC

Teresa Sermon St Catharine’s RC

Colm Hand St Catharine’s RC

Shelia Hand St Catharine’s RC

David Hannant Christ Church

Maggie Hannant Christ Church

Joan Pippet St Catharine’s RC

Elizabeth Feltoe St Catharine’s RC

Christina Philimore Beckington CE

Edmund Philimore Beckington CE

Jo Perkins St Catharine’s RC

Diane Ellis St Mary’s CE

Adrian West Holy Trinity CE

Sarah Baker Holy Trinity CE

Liz Neame St Catharine’s RC

Nina Paulin St Catharine’s RC

Jeff Day St Catharine’s RC

Leanne Edwards St Catharine’s RC

John Scott St Catharine’s RC

Sarah Jocelyn St Dominic’s RC

Simon McKie Beckington CE

Mike Mori Holy Trinity CE

Pat Siderfin St Katherine’s CE

Stephen Siderfin St Katherine’s CE

Dorothy-Ann Bryant Holy Trinity CE

Anna Vickers-Barber St Catharine’s RC

Janet Caudwell St John’s

David Barge St Mary’s CE

Anne Steele Frome URC

Ashley Elliot Frome URC

Damon Hooton Mayor of Frome

Catherine Jones St Catharine’s RC

Gary Lee Holy Trinity CE

Chris Kowalik St Catharine’s RC

Alicia Kowalik St Catharine’s RC

Peter Baker St Catharine’s RC

Patricia Baker St Catharine’s RC

Joe Parkmanis St Mary’s CE

Hilary Parkmanis St Mary’s CE

Alan Burgess St John’s CE

Di Burroughs Frome URC

Martin King St Catharine’s RC

Barbara Robbins St Mary’s CE

Jill Warren Wesley Methodist

Richard Philips Wesley Methodist

Jean Fraser Wesley Methodist

Christine Milne Wesley Methodist

Christine Milns Wesley Methodist

Margaret Abel Wesley Methodist

Molly Butler Wesley Methodist

Veronica Price St Catharine’s RC

Richard Pinnock Christ Church CE

Ann Febrey St Catharine’s RC

Brendan Balhatchet St Catharine’s RC

Gudula Balhatchet St Catharine’s RC

Carol Ellis St John’s CE

Lyn Vranch St John’s CE

Patrick Williamson St Catharine’s RC

Lisa Gauntlett St Catharine’s RC

David Revell Holy Trinity CE

Val Baker Portway Methodist

Val Payne St John’s CE


G Massey St John’s CE

Tim Samler Beckington CE

Ann Samler Beckington CE

Rosemary McCormick St John’s CE

Vera Crossman St John’s CE

Valerie Wheeler St John’s CE

Mary Heritage St John’s CE

George Pritchard Postlebury CE

Margaret Pritchard Postlebury CE

Tallulah St John’s First

Joe St John’s First

James St John’s First

Evie St John’s First

Emily St John’s First

Oliver St John’s First

Harry St John’s First

Lottie St John’s First

Henry St John’s First

Pam Dukes St John’s First

Ryan St John’s First

Kaitlin St John’s First

Lily St John’s First

Michael Bellman St John’s CE

Margaret Shelton St John’s CE

Win Webber St John’s CE

Morag Smitherman St John’s CE

John Henderson St John’s CE

Marian Webb Postlebury CE

Iris Fletcher St John’s CE

Carey Barlow St John’s CE

Judith Millican St Catharine’s CE

Monica Sandy Wesley Methodist

John Winterbourne St John’s CE

Simon Cox St Mary’s CE

E Gilbert St John’s CE

Debbie Godwin St Catharine’s RC

Paul Godwin St Catharine’s RC

Teresa Reynolds St Catharine’s RC

Claire Ibbotson St Catharine’s RC

Terry Bushell St John’s CE

Lois Bushell St John’s CE

Jen Culliford St John’s CE

Jim Culliford St John’s CE

Gerry James St Catharine’s RC

Geraldine James St Catharine’s RC

Isaac Rhodes St Catharine’s RC

Kay Rhodes St Catharine’s RC

Jacinta Rhodes St Catharine’s RC

Patricia Netley St Catharine’s RC

Maggie Lawton St Catharine’s RC

Chris Lawton St Catharine’s RC

Deborah Littlewood St Catharine’s RC

Natasha Littlewood St Catharine’s RC

Sarah James Wesley Methodist

Shirley Smith Wesley Methodist

Neil McCormick St John’s CE

Diana McDonald St Catharine’s RC

Coral Jones-Williams St Mary’s CE

Isobel George Beckington CE

Martin Weymont Mells CE

Molly Haydon Holy Trinity CE

Maggie Hancocks Holy Trinity CE

Graham Owen Holy Trinity CE

Alan Somerville Holy Trinity CE

Elizabeth Langdon St Catharine’s RC

Freda Davies Postlebury CE

Joe Krige St Catharine’s RC

Frances Krige St Catharine’s RC

Clare Krige St Catharine’s RC

Seph Krige St Catharine’s RC

Lesley Owen Holy Trinity CE

David Groesch-Miller Moderator URC SW

Sam Brinn St Catharine’s RC

David Wakefield Holy Trinity CE

Elizabeth Wakefield Holy Trinity CE

Clare Asquith St Dominic’s RC

David Heath MP for Somerton and Frome

John Chappell Holy Trinity CE

Nick Cooper Frome Baptist

Benjamin Taylor Frome Christian Fellowship

Gina Parsons Rook Lane Congregational

Yvonne Ellis Wesley Methodist

Each is a hero beacuse together they acheived something remarkable last week.

St Andrews Anglican Church, Mells

St Andrew's Mells has many things to recommend it to anyone interested in art and architecture. Dating from the late 15th Century with mid 19th century restoration, its tower is mid 16th Century. The tower ( 104ft high) contains a 17th Century clock and a peal of 8 bells. The earliest of these bells is from 1717 and they can be heard chiming out familiar hymn tunes.


The church owes a lot of the art etc inside to its connections with the manor house, which is next door. Originally owned by the Horner family, and later the Asquiths ( Kathrine Horner married Raymond Asquith, the son of the Prime Minister ) their connections with members of the arts and crafts movement and their successors meant that there are many beautiful features in the church.

There is a most unusual equestrian memorial to Edward Horner, killed like his brother in law Raymond in the First World War. Created by Alfred Mullings ( noted for his horse paintings, this being a rare sculpture ) and sitting on a base reminiscent of the Cenotaph. This shouldn't be a surprise because both were created by Edwin Lutyens.


Other notable works in the church include items a tapestry and peacock memorial plaque designed by Burne-Jones.

The church seats 230 but perhaps of the most interest to many visitors to the church is the churchyard. This is because of the graves there, which include members of the Horner and Asquith families ( they continue to be buried there, though they are now Roman Catholics, ) war poet Siegfried Sassoon and Catholic scholar and writer Mgr Ronald Knox.

Address : Church Street, Mells, BA11 3PW