Community Spirit – and some!
Peter hoskyn
I agreed to write this article in January. How times were different! We shook hands during the Peace, we hugged, we kissed, we took Communion together at the altar, we could go to all manner of gatherings in the churches, we could leave our houses for more than an hour. We could look forward to holidays, parties, family get-togethers, theatre, cinema, children at school, Adult Education classes, drives in the country, long walks, pub visits. You fill in the blanks – there are so many things we cannot now do.
If you had described this virus pandemic and the consequences of it, deserted city centres across the world, I would have thought you were in the throes of writing a plot for a disaster movie with the chief hero to lead us out being played by Daniel Craig. I was going to say Harrison Ford but that would date me! Actually I think it is only our faith in God that will lead us out of this.
As I write we have just entered the second three week period of social isolation with the depressing news that it may well have to go on until the New Year. Perhaps by the time you read this things will be a little better but I imagine that we will still not be able to talk to each other without deploying a broomstick held by an outstretched arm. I have never come across a situation where it is socially acceptable, and preferable, to cross to the other side of the road to avoid people. That does not seem like community spirit!
This is a very difficult period for us all. I can only reflect that Penny and I are so blest. Although we have been unwell, we are now recovered and able to enjoy our garden, our relatively spacious house, our daily walks in this lovely parish with our dog Poppy (who is thoroughly enjoying our permanent presence and the walks) and the fact that our close family are well and financially secure. We often think of the many people across the land who are struggling with loneliness or relationship difficulties, are trapped in small flats without gardens and have worries of about health, finances and employment.
The power of the community pulling together in this crisis has of course been highlighted over these last few weeks in so many selfless examples. This spirit seems to be some sort of latent power in the community which mostly lies just below the surface but when triggered it has tremendous, almost unbelievable power. The amazing efforts and the community response to Captain Tom Moore’s 100 garden lap walk is witness to this. I believe that God has a strong hand in inspiring this remarkable individual and the community response.
The Thursday night clapping for our nurses and other key workers shows that we are compassionate, appreciative and caring people as did the call for volunteers resulted in 750,000 people coming forward against an expectation of 250,000. Just terrific.
Everything shows, as recently stated in the Guardian, that “when the going gets really tough, British people come together to support each other. And, when local public services and communities join forces, action becomes all the more powerful.”
Drawing on the evidence of two World Wars we all knew that British communities are capable of this compassionate response to a crisis and we have not been disappointed. It is something which God must have a hand in and we must be thankful to him for it. It is one of the bright shafts of light coming out of this horrible situation. As Bishop Andrew suggested in his recent letter, maybe at the end of all this there will be a new togetherness as a nation after the divisions caused by the Brexit debate and a new connection between the church and the people will emerge. Some more bright shafts of light.
There are many heart-warming examples in our parish of the community taking on a caring responsibility with many of the roads setting up their own local care schemes assisted by the wonders of internet applications. Even today I read in the local paper, just delivered, of a support What’sApp group in Hayes Barton, initiated by our very own Myra Clarke, which has now evolved into a social communication tool with regular projects and events.
It can be seen from the parish website that there are groups such as God’s Girls, Tots Praise, Men’s Bible Study, EXP who have always met and now continue to do so through Zoom. The dedication of the teams who have spent so many hours each week putting together the wonderful online Sunday and other worship services is such a demonstration of our community spirit. Unfortunately the church gatherings, with the social engagement we are so good at, the services, the coffee mornings, the curry evenings, Down Memory Lane and so on have had to be deferred until …. perhaps God only knows when!?
I volunteer for Besom and, although we are unable to visit people in need, the team are pulling together to make phone calls to them and some are turning their hand to sewing “scrubs” PPE equipment. I regret that sewing is not one of my skill sets!
I cannot cover all the many other examples of community spirit just happening outside our front doors but each of you will be able to recall at least one or two. A peek at the Residents Association Website will show a whole range of volunteer groups in our area. In Pyrford it lists 19 roads where schemes have been set up. The list is still growing.
We must rejoice and thank God that he has moved amongst us and inspired so many people to help at this testing time and for us all to retain a sense of humour. I look forward to our wonderful churches and halls being full of the noise and hub-bub of our community worship again. I do not pray to Daniel Craig (or Harrison Ford) to deliver that, but to God.
In the meantime Keep Well.
-Peter Hoskyn