Magheragall Parish Church

This is the story of how the war affected one family; in particular two sisters, Mima and Nellie, and their husbands Eric and Jimmy.

Mima and Nellie were raised in a large rambling farmhouse in Gortaclare Co. Tyrone, where they lived with their two sisters, a brother and their parents. Mima had met Eric when she was visiting her Uncle, who was a Doctor in London, and after they were married they lived in Harpenden where Eric was a civil servant. Nellie and Jimmy lived in Derry where Jimmy was an Architect. On 14th February 1914 Eric and Mima’s first child was born, a little girl whom they named Alison. Not many months later war was declared, and both Eric and Jimmy volunteered to serve their country. It was agreed that Mima and baby Alison, and Nellie would return to the family home to be with their parents while their husbands were away, for what they thought would be a matter of months.

Four long years later on the 11th November 1918 the Armistice was signed at 11am. By a miracle, in a war in which millions of men had died, both Eric and Jimmy had survived, and should be coming home in the near future.

It is a sunny day in early December 1918; Jimmy is due home but Nellie is ill in bed with flu, and Alison, nearing her fifth birthday, is playing in the garden; she decides to go upstairs to see her Auntie Nellie, and manages to do so without her Mother and Grandparents seeing her. She finds she cannot waken her Auntie, she even tries to open her eyes by pushing up her eyelids: frightened, she runs downstairs where her Mummy tells her that her Auntie Nellie has died. Later that same day Jimmy returns home to find that his beloved Nellie has died of the flu, which killed so many young people after the war. Alison heard him sobbing in his room for many days after. For the rest of her long life the memories of that day remained with Alison. Jimmy returned to his work, but died in 1924 as a result of being gassed during the war. He and his Nellie are buried together in Clogherny Presbyterian graveyard.

Eric returned home in 1919 just before Alison’s 5th birthday. He tried, unsuccessfully, to find a job in Ireland, so the family returned to Harpenden and he rejoined the Civil Service. All appeared to be well, but Eric never escaped from the terrible sights and sounds he had witnessed during the war; what we would now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was never again the man who volunteered in 1914 with such high ideals.

The names of these young men are not on any war memorial to be remembered on 11th November, and I am only able to tell their story because Mima and Nellie were my Grandmother’s sisters and Alison was my Mother’s cousin. There will be many thousands of families with similar stories, known only to them; so on Remembrance Sunday, as you remember those who were killed in war, please also remember those who suffered, or are still suffering, and those who died, as a result of their service, and also their families.

“At 25, Ionel thinks like a nine-year old. When he was younger his parents were never able to obtain the specialist care that someone with his learning difficulties needs and they had four other children to look after too. Now they struggle to provide for their grown-up son … his mother appreciated the sweets and warm socks. She doesn’t have money to buy such things for him”

“A book and pencils caught the attention of Ana, aged four when she opened her shoebox. Having been abandoned by her husband, Ana’s mother struggles to provide for her and her six-year old brother who has learning difficulties. Their home in a small town in Western Romania is described as very poor and infested with rats.”

“Misi (7) and Tomi (6) are members of a large extended family, with several generations occupying one small house … both he [Misi] and Tomi were delighted with toy cars. Older members of the family appreciated woolly hats. The window in their little house lacks glass and winters on the Hungarian plain can be bitter with January temperatures reaching as low as -29°C.”

These are just a few of the stories of people who have been helped by the Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal. Last year, almost 120,000 shoeboxes were flown around the globe to those less fortunate than ourselves, some of the countries include Moldova, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Romania, India, Pakistan, Hungry, Ukraine and Bulgaria. What we in the Western world take for granted such as toothpaste or a warm scarf in winter are valued by those receiving shoeboxes as precious treasures. We really cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to live the way so many people in this world do.

Last year Magheragall Parish was responsible for around 300 shoeboxes of those that were sent out. This was a fantastic amount and this year we hope to send out a large number again. There are many ways in which to help;
*       you can fill a shoebox individually or with your family,
*       you can donate items for the boxes, wrapping paper, shoeboxes themselves or
*       you can give a financial donation to aid the shoeboxes being sent overseas.

Leaflets will be available in the Church porch with instructions on how to fill the box. The most important items to include are a hat/scarf, gloves, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Young children are always thrilled to get a small toy and a woolly knitted scarf makes all the difference.

If you wish to make any sort of donation or have any queries please speak to Bronwen Dark, Sarah Nettleship or myself (Alison Dark) before 13th October.

The deadline for boxes will be 4th November. Please leave them at the Rectory.

(Quotes above taken from Blythswood Care magazine,
Number 44, Autumn 2012)

God Bless.

For the Rector and the new Select Vestry that they may be blessed with wisdom as they work through the business affairs of the Parish on your behalf.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him.” James 1 v 5 NIV

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1 v 19 NIV

* For those who have lost a loved one that God may comfort and strengthen them in their time of loss.

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth: I will see him with my own eyes.” Job 19 v 25,27

* For the work among our children and young people that Leaders may reflect God’s love in their own loves and be an effective witness to the children in their care.

* For those who have medical appointments this month that they may find peace and assurance that they do not walk this way alone.

Pastoral needs,

please note:

You may have heard me say at one time or another that it is very difficult to remember everything that is said at the door of church on a Sunday morning. If there is a pressing pastoral matter you need to bring to my attention, please give me a wee note if it is at the Church door or phone me through the week.

Thanks for your help

Nicholas

Hospital Visits

Whilst the hospital chaplains are always very good at informing me about parishioners who are in hospital, sometimes the information doesn't’t always get through in time. The Hospital Chaplain does his/her rounds and then notifies the relevant parish minister. Often the individual could be home before the relevant minister is even aware that they are in hospital. To help me visit everyone in hospital it would be very helpful if you could let me know of anyone who is in hospital or is going into hospital.

I have also found that when people are in need of a visit they are reluctant to ask, that is what I am here for so please get the message to me.

Nicholas

We do hope that there will be something to interest everyone on our programme so this month we look forward to seeing you there on Wednesday afternoons from 1.45 pm until 3.45 pm.

                        7th                   Craft - Christmas Card
                        14th                 Tesco - Healthy Eating            Anne Broome
                        21st                 Craft - Decorating a Cup Cake
                        28th                 Bring & Buy Sale followed by a Carol Service

The Lunch Club has been hit this year by falling numbers due to ill health. Currently there are nineteen members on the role and six of these folks are off on long term sick leave thus giving us an average attendance of twelve. We pray for a speedy recovery for those members who are sick and warmly invite new members to come along and join us for lunch.

This year we have welcomed Elsie to your ‘lunching friends’ so if dropping in for lunch is your ‘thing’ do give me a ring and you too can become one of our ‘lunching friends’. We’d love you to join us.

November Event
On Thursday, 22 November, 2012 we are planning to make a return visit to the Ulster Museum. Please meet at the Sprucefield Park and Ride for the 10.30 a.m. bus to Glengall Street, Belfast. We will take a second bus from Glengall Street to the Ulster Museum. Please let the Event Leaders, George and Joan, Tel: 92107147, know if you intend to go.

December Event
On Tuesday, 11 December 2012, we are visiting Coco Cola Visitors Experience in Lisburn. Please do let the Event Leaders, Geoffrey and Margaret, Tel: 92622622, know if you intend to join us and meet at their home, 78 Ballinderry Road, at 10 a.m.

Did you know about the nature reserve on the Kilcorig Road? The land was kindly donated to the Woodland Trust in April 2000 by her late husband, Dr. Hill Balmer and the Wood was named after his wife Dorothy.

It was grazing land and after fencing off half the field it was planted in spring 2000 with alder, oak, wild cherry and rowan. Although small, this 2 acre wood enhances the rural landscape by linking and buffering the old hedgerows which act as wildlife corridors. A path delves into the planting and goes to a small pond and wetland with a wooden seat to enjoy the peace and quiet. Dog violets and bog plants are found here.

Our local community, Magheragall Parish Church and our Sunday School under Canon Alex Cheevers, planted many trees on a very cold blustery Saturday morning in 2000. Sunday School Teachers Margaret Nelson, Bertha Clarke, Elizabeth Park and Richard Nelson and parishioners Philip and Ruth Nelson and Sharon Hendron well remember taking part in the planting and the Sunday School children included in the picture above are Vaughn Hendron, Laura Hendron and Kerrie Nelson. Now there are 1800 native trees planted.

Dorothy remembers seeing so many butterflies, wild flowers and birds in the woodland and recalls that the pond which was once a flax dam is now covered with weeds but still home to frogs and toads. Dorothy says, “It is a credit to the parishioners of our church that they have helped to preserve nature in our environment.”

You are welcome to walk in Dorothy’s Wood at any time. It is there for all to enjoy and will be kept in perpetuity by the Woodland Trust as one of its 50 community woods in Northern Ireland.

Information supplied by Dorothy Balmer, Woodland Trust and parishioners named above.