CC2020: refurbishing the church for 21st century worship and community activity

All Saints Church's CC2020 architects have now nearly finished turning the brief for CC2020 into plans for the building. 

These will be on display in the church during November: there will be an information desk after every service (Sunday and weekday) from 6th to 20th November. Members of the CC2020 team will be on hand to answer your questions and explain why we need these changes. 

Anne King CC2020 project leader for All Saints said: 

" Come and join us at the drop-in desk any time. There will then be a more formal consultation during January with all the congregation before the PCC meet on February to decide on their preferences."

Changes coming to the way cremated remains interred

All Saints Wokingham Churchyard: Location of new Garden of Remembrance (blue circle)
Existing Quiet Area (yellow circle)

A new Garden of Remembrance is to be laid out at All Saints Churchyard.

The Rector of All Saints Wokingham,  Canon David Hodgson explains:

For over 150 years parishioners have been able to be buried in All Saints churchyard; and the Parochial Church Council wish to continue to offer this now and into the future. However space is running out.

In 2009 new burials were permitted in the existing historic area of the churchyard where burials were over 100 years old, as the

churchyard no longer had any more unused ground for new burials.

We now find ourselves in the same position for burials of ashes. Rather than closing the churchyard to all new burials of ashes , we looked at

other options, just as we did for full graves. 

From early 2017 we will be changing from our current scheme of individual graves with flat memorial stones, to a Garden of Remembrance where there will be no individual graves with markers. The ashes will be strewn.

If a family have an existing grave, either an ashes grave or a full grave in the churchyard in which they wish to have their loved one’s ashes

interred, this will still be possible, provided they have a right to bury and there is room within the grave.

How will the garden look?

It will be a lawn area within the churchyard with no individual markers or graves. A memorial stone will be at one end of the area on the grass with words from Scripture on it and a bench on some hardstanding.

We will be extending the block pathway to create easier access for all. The bench will be where the bereaved may sit and reflect near their loved one and will be carved with the words “All Saints Church, Wokingham Garden of Remembrance”. The area will be surrounded by planted borders.

How will this be different from the current method of interment (burial) of ashes?

Rather than a family placing a memorial on the ground after the burial, there will be a Book of Remembrance in the entrance to the Lady Chapel in the Church. If the family wishes they can have a simple entry with the deceased’s name, date of birth and date of death (this will be at an extra charge). The book will be open on the relevant page for the month of the year. The burial of ashes will still be recorded in the Church’s Burial Register.

It will not be possible to place anything on the area where the ashes have been strewed as there will be no distinguishable graves for individuals. Cut, unwrapped flowers may be placed on the memorial stone at the entrance to the Garden.

Has the permission of the Diocese of Oxford been granted for this scheme?

A faculty has already been approved by the Oxford Diocese for both the Garden of Remembrance and the Cabinet with Book of Remembrance in the entrance to the Lady Chapel.

Is the scheme fully funded?

PCC has approved the use of a reserve fund restricted for churchyard work, and this will meet the cost of the work.

When will this happen?

Construction of connecting paths will take place in November 2016. The stone is due in December 2016.

When will we cease to use individual plots and start using the Garden of

Remembrance?

Currently the plan is to start strewing ashes in the Garden of Remembrance from May 2017

Talking about death

A group of people met in The Cornerstone recently to talk about death and dying. It was the second of the Church of England's GraveTalk sessions run by All Saints Church after a Sunday morning service.

Claire Jones, All Saints' GraveTalk facilitator said:

"Our culture puts a taboo around the subject of death. Lots of us avoid the subject and then struggle when we are bereaved or dying. Lots of us have no idea what sort of funeral our loved one would really like. We then have to deal with these decisions when we are most vulnerable. It doesn’t have to be like this if we are more open and start to break down the taboo.

The Church of England has initiated a project called Grave Talk. It’s ‘a simple way to help people get together and talk about death, dying and funerals in a relaxed, easy social context’. Tea and cake is an essential part!

Despite the name, it isn’t about graves and it isn’t a grave subject either – we have fun!"

More sessions are planned for 2017 with an evening option to become available.

Talking about God - Partnership for Missional Church

Berkshire Partnership for Missional Church cluster gathering at Bughfield Parish Church  15th October 2016

The Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) Steering team at All Saints reports:

"We were advised that to have a good meeting food had to be involved!  With that in mind, the PMC Steering team organised Space to Talk About God with a bring and share lunch in the Cornerstone  in September.  The team brought those present up to speed about what had been happening.  During the first PMC year we learned to listen and also to discover who our partners were (eg schools, other churches).  Listening involved interviews, All Saints timeline and Dwelling in the Word – all trying to discern what God is calling us to do at All Saints.

A few weeks later more food was involved.  The Steering Team (all 4 of us) and members of the PCC joined with All Saints Boyne Hill to try and discern what God wanted us to do in our various churches.  The focus had to be outward looking and would probably look very fuzzy.  By the end of the session we had a few ideas of where God was leading us at All Saints (still to be determined).

What happens next?

·         We are now looking for an adventure leader and team to carry these ‘fuzzy’ ideas forward.  This project will last about 10 months and it doesn’t matter whether it succeeds or fails.  All that matters, is that we will be working together as a church towards something that God is calling us to do.

·         We need more members to join us on the steering team.

·         We need a very enthusiastic congregation who will venture with us with the ‘fuzzy’ project."

For more information please speak to either Peter Barrett, Clive Charlton, John Boylan or Jo Robinson

Flower Guild News

All Saints Flower Guild had an enjoyable and rewarding time on 1st October arranging for Harvest. Assistance was given by over 20 enthusiastic members during Friday and Saturday morning (see below). 

Flower Guild Chairman Mrs Hazel Matthews writes:
As we progress through October with some glorious sunshine giving us the gift of beautiful colours, our thoughts turn to All Saints Day, Remembrance, Memorial Sunday and especially Advent with winter foliage arrangements and candles for that beautiful Advent Candlelit Service on Sunday 27th at 6.30. 

Now it is time to ask for volunteers for Advent to help with arranging on Saturday 26th November.  The list is open and we would love to see you – come and see what we do, try an arrangement, or position candles.  All are welcome and you just might get a cup of tea and a bun! To find out more, have a chat to either Sarah Boylan, Hazel Matthews or other Flower Guild members after 9.30 or before 11am service or call on 0118 9786700.

Yes, it is coming, the Christmas Workshop. Open to all, it will take place on Saturday 10th December in the Cornerstone, commencing at 09.30.  Two talented members will be demonstrating two options, a) a circular wreath which can be used either as a centrepiece with church candle, or adapted with ribbon as a door hanging, or b) a short oblong arrangement with amaryllis, seasonal foliage and trimmings.   Spaces are limited - last booking - Monday 28th November.Forms are at the back of the church, or obtainable by e-mail ha.matthews@ntlworld.com . Cost is £15.00 to include mechanics, materials/flowers and guidance, also refreshments!  (cheques payable to All Saints Flower Guild).  Do come along and beginners are welcome.  The morning is always enjoyable and you will certainly be taking home a very special arrangement, in preparation for Christmas.

Forthcoming Events: 
Advent Arranging Saturday 26th November – 9.30am
Christmas Workshop Saturday 10th December - 9.30am – the Cornerstone
Christmas Arranging Thursday 22nd December – 9.30 Flower Guild Communion followed by arranging.

Church community lunch event

Forty-six parishioners of All Saints Wokingham came to lunch in the Cornerstone on Sunday 9th October. The event was hosted by the Home Communion team who prepared everything from the cooked meal, to the invitations and place settings and, of course, the clearing up! Mrs Jo Robinson, co-ordinator of the Pastoral Care Team said: " It was enjoyed by everyone who attended and ‘when are we going to do it again?’ A brilliant success."

Creation Time Day 33

A photo and thought for Creation Time Day 33 from Canon David Hodgson

Rivers have shaped the landscape of the earth, carving out valleys and creating floodplains and deltas. They exercise huge influence on human development. Rivers have provided water and fertile soil to support large concentrations of population. They have acted as vital transport channels for the expansion of human settlement into continental interiors and for the movement of people and goods for trade. 

In more recent human history the energy of rivers has been harnessed first to drive flour grinding mills and today to generate electricity. This has involved controversial schemes of dams and channel diversions in several area of the world.

Rivers are vital in the hydrological cycle which ensures the drainage of water from the land back into the sea becoming available once again to fall as rain.

This photograph depicts the Orange River near Upington in South Africa. At 1400 miles it is the longest river in South Africa flowing from east to west into the Atlantic Ocean, passing through the arid regions on the southern edge of the Kalahari Desert. Although Upington is the only major settlement through which it flows the river is important to the South African economy for hydroelectricity and irrigation.

As well as their material and economic benefits rivers provide a rich stimulus to the human imagination. Rivers are a symbolic resource for reflection on the paradox in human experience of the co-existence of endless change and constant presence; provoking thought on time and mortality. 


"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." Heraclitus

Creation Time Day 32

Today's photo and thought for Creation Time from Canon David Hodgson

Creation Time Day 32
No celebration of the creation would be complete without paying homage to the glory of green. Large swathes of the landmass of the Earth appear green because of its vegetation cover. The colour green has come to symbolise nature and the natural in human culture. There is plenty of anecdotal, and some scientific, evidence that spending time with, or even having regular sight of, plants or woodland environments can relieve stress. Green is good.

There remains some mystery nonetheless about why plants are green. Yes it is because plant tissue is full of the green pigment chlorophyll. The presence of chlorophyll is vital for photosynthesis which is the process whereby plants absorb energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll absorbs light in the red and blue sections of the spectrum but it reflects green; making plants appear green to the human eye.

The question which I understand has yet to be answered fully to the satisfaction of all scientists is why plants evolved with chlorophyll predominant, since it does not absorb a significant section of the light spectrum, namely the green. Why would plants not maximise absorption of the full range of light from which to convert to energy? There are several theories still under discussion.

If another pigment which absorbed the full  light spectrum had evolved in plants all that is now green would appear black to the human eye. Who knows what that would have done to the evolution of vision in humans and other creatures. 

Mystery or not, green is worth celebrating: a gift in creation which calms the human spirit.


"Our response to the world is essentially one of wonder, of confronting the mysterious with a sense, not of being small, or insignificant, but of being part of a rich and complex narrative." John Burnside, poet (1955 - )

Creation Time Day 31

Today's photo and thought for Creation Time from Canon David Hodgson

Creation Time Day 31
Today's photo of a cardoon approaching the end of the growing season introduces the theme of the seed. The diversity and resilience of plant life on earth is a result of the evolution of the humble seed. It allows for plants to await the right growing conditions before coming to life.

The myriad ways in which human life is dependent upon plants would be impossible without the seed. Today scientists are collecting and banking seeds to prevent species from complete extinction.

The wonder of the seed is recognised in the sayings of many wise teachers in human history. In the Christian gospels the power of the seed to generate abundance of life from tiny beginnings is used by Jesus to illustrate the capacity of faith in God to transform human existence.


 ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ Mark 4:30 - 32