The choir of St Mary Magdalene, under its choirmaster Dr Sean Sweeney, sang a service of choral evensong on Sunday led by the vicar, Rev Dr Mike Dobson who acted as cantor in the Responses and also preached.

The anthem was “Drop, drop, slow tears “ by Orlando Gibbons and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to a setting by Aston in F. The choir also sang Psalm 35. The lessons were read by Sharron Wormald.

At the end of the service Dr Sweeney played a Postlude by William Mathias.

Next Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday, at the usual time of 5.30pm, the choir and specially invited guests will sing a service entitled “Requiem” which will have all the usual movements of a requiem selected by Dr Sweeney from the requiems of Duruflé, Fauré, Mozart and Rutter.

The organist will be Josh Hughes and the augmented choir will be conducted by Dr Sweeney.

Mothering Sunday was observed at St Mary's Church, with special prayers and the distribution of flowers during the service. Fr Dobson conducted the service, with Dr Sweeney as organist with the choir singing the anthem 'All things bright and beautiful' by J Rutter (1945). The flowers were taken up for blessing by Callum, Cally and Cherry Newton, assisted by their sister Demelza.

Lessons were read by Kate Hancock and the prayers of intercession by Andrew Dunning. For the Eucharist, Fr Dobson was assisted by Rob Tremain with the chalice and who also acted as crucifer. Judy Longman had organised the flowers, which were given by Robert Andrew of St Gennys, in memory of his late mother, Vera, who was a regular worshipper at St Mary's and who did until her death keep the churchyard tidy. As the congregation left the church, the organist played the voluntary 'F (Sym1) by L Vierne (1870 - 1937).

Thirty members of the Egloskerry Friendly Club travelled to Totnes for the first of their summer outings on Friday.

Totnes was extremely busy with people shopping and going about their business. Lunch was taken in the town and the afternoon was spent by visiting the museum and places of interest within the main street, while others took the opportunity of sitting by the River Dart in very beautiful weather.

The day had been organised by Vera and John Ellacott. For the May outing members will travel to Penzance. A get well card was signed and was sent to a founder member of the club Jackie Robbins.

Information about the club 01566 776142.

The audience at Bude Choral Society’s recent concert in St Michael’s Church was treated to performances of less familiar works by Mozart, his Organ Mass in C and Haydn, his Maria Theresa Mass – discoveries for choir and listeners alike.

Conducted by Bude Choral Society’s long-standing musical director, John Hobbs and accompanied on the organ by local musician, Stephen Tyrrell who also plays for the society’s rehearsals, the evening began with Mozart’s much more well known Solemn Vespers. This masterpiece dates from Mozart’s time spent in Salzburg. A setting of 5 psalms and the Magnificat, the work combines thrilling chorus work with solo passages, the most famous being the celebrated Laudate Dominum in which soprano, Lisa Moffat, soared sublimely over the hushed tones of the choir.

Together with Lisa, contralto Rebecca Squire making a return visit to Bude, tenor Mark Hounsell and bass Christopher Painter all made the interspersed passages for the soloists all sound effortless in all three works. Mozart’s Organ Mass in C is quite short as it had to comply with the edict from the then Archbishop of Salzburg, that all settings of the Mass be as short as possible. Haydn’s Maria Theresa Mass is one of his later symphonic masses but has been rather overshadowed by the more often performed Nelson Mass. In all this was once again an evening of local music making at its best.

Members of Bude Choral Society will be contributing to Bude’s VE Day 80th Anniversary celebrations on 8 May at Bude Castle as well as collaborating with the Bridge Mill at Bridgerule when it opens on Sunday 11 May for National Mills Day. Its next concert for 2025 will be on 29 November and will feature works by Charpentier, Handel and Gounod.

Rev Joy Wilson led the service at the Methodist Chapel at Shop on Sunday 23, with the theme of the service being: 'The Journey to Jerusalem begins'.

Colin Tape was the organist for the singing of the hymns.

The lesson was read by Terence Olde and the Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'Love can build a bridge'.

The service was followed by coffee and a chance to chat in The Wesley Room.

The Mothering Sunday service at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop was led by Richard Painter and as it was the first service he has led at the Chapel he was given words of welcome and an introduction from Bill Cleave.

Colin Tape was the organist for the hymns: ‘For the beauty of the earth’, ‘Jesus good above all other’, ‘God forgave my sin in Jesus name’ and ‘The Spirit lives to set us free’.

The lesson was read by Freda Olde and the Gospel reading was read by Richard Painter.

The Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'Mother of mine'.

At the close of the service, John Cleave presented all ladies present with daffodils, as is the tradition on Mothering Sunday each year. Daffodils were also later taken to ladies unable to be with us on Mothering Sunday. The service was followed by coffee and a chance to chat in The Wesley Room and Richard was thanked for leading a traditional service for Mothering Sunday.

Clive Smale of Bradworthy led the service on Mothering Sunday at Woodford Methodist Chapel. At the end of the service and before the time of coffee being served, posies of flowers were presented to the ladies. These had been put together by Women of Woodford (WOW) and Woodford Community Gardening Club. Posies were also taken after the service and presented to residents in Woodford Village.

Bradworthy Methodist Church held a Sankey Evening on the evening of Mothering Sunday.

Rev Shirley Henderson of Woolsery chaired the evening and the guest organist was Colin Tape of Morwenstow. The Chapel was full for the evening and had been tastefully decorated with camellias.

No less than 17 Sankey and favourite hymns were sung in twos, with Rev Shirley giving us some thoughtfully thought out poems and thoughts, some about Mothering Sunday and some about other things, which certainly moved us and made us think, in-between each two hymns.

Rev Shirley thanked all who had travelled from far and wide for the occasion, with special thanks to Colin for playing the organ in his usual fine style, Clive Smale for operating the technical equipment and to Shirley Davis for organising the evening. The usual sumptuous supper followed in the Sunday School Room.

The offerings were taken up by Marion Pomeroy and Lynda Smale, the total of which was £438 which was for chapel funds.

A Muddy Church Craft Afternoon with a Mothering Sunday theme for children and young people was held at the Methodist Chapel on Sunday, March 23.

The Mothering Sunday service at the Methodist Chapel was led by Mark Shepherd.

We worshipped the Lord by singing: ‘I Stand Amazed in the Presence’, ‘The Goodness of God’, ‘Our God is a great big God’, ‘When I Was Lost You Came and Rescued Me’, ‘When I Survey’ and ‘He Will Hold Me Fast’.

The singing was led by Christine Tratt and Sandra Shepherd on keyboards with Marlene Heard and Pam Newton as vocalists.

Symbols pertaining to the Easter Story continue to be added to the Lenten Cross each Sunday throughout Lent.

There was a 'Question Time' slot, followed by Prayers for 'Mums on Hearts'.

Readings were by Maxine Whenmouth, Julie and Vicki Bluett.

There was an introduction to the Prodigal Son and still pictures from 'Finding Nemo'.

There was a response time on 'Broken Pottery' with Prayers of response by Ruth Bealing.

Posies of spring flowers were presented to ladies in the congregation by Marlene Heard with help from the children with us.

Coffee and biscuits were served after the service.

The Village Coffee Morning for April was held in the Millard Room in Charlotte's Bar of the Social Club in the Village Hall on Thursday, April 3.

Thank your to Lesley Coxon and John Cleave for hosting this month. Proceeds were for Hall funds this month.

The trustees of Callington Youth Project Group are appealing for donations to help buy the building they currently lease.

The group which was established in late 2021 is running out of time and has just until the end of April to find the funding needed.