St Georges Parish Boundary Walk 2010
First published in Parish magazine in October 2010
In sunshine with only a few scudding white clouds to break up the blue sky, fourteen of us gathered on Saturday 18th September to commence a boundary walk. We started with a prayer,
“….At the end of our day out
May we know the satisfaction of time well spent
with you and with one another…”
then wound our way through the streets of Kingshill to Dursley Police Station. We waited for a little while and gradually, from every direction, we were joined by more and more people until we numbered twenty-seven. Before we set off again we prayed for the community,
“We thank you for those who, day and night, maintain the public services; for the police, the fire service, the ambulance drivers and all those who respond to emergencies and for the doctors and nurses and all those who work in health or healing and social care…”
It was then time to ascend Stinchcombe Hill, by one of the steepest routes possible, but everyone did it with enthusiasm and in good spirits. The boundary then led us around the edge of the golf course, which gave us a chance to walk at our own pace, one of many opportunities to talk and chat. Throughout the day, it felt wonderful to be able to wander along and just be alone with your thoughts or with God, then shortly afterwards, to be chatting with a someone you may have seen many times but not had the chance to really talk to.
We were blessed with fine clear weather and wonderful views over to the two Severn bridges and also over to Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains in South Wales. At the triangulation pillar we stopped for lunch, watching as the only remaining Vulcan Bomber flew past. After lunch we sang Happy Birthday to Issy and we were all encouraged to each pick up a piece of litter each on the way down, along with the prayer,
“This is your garden, Creator GodA thing of beautyBeyond understanding…”
The route took us around more of the golf course, down Lister Drive and along to the Yew Tree, where we thanked God,
“…for this community of which we are part;
For those who share with us in its activities…”
Some took the opportunity to scoff an ice-cream from the local shop on this most summery of days, then we continued down Delkin Road and The Crescent, through to Spouthouse Lane, past the Railway Inn then up over the fields towards Upthorpe, where the magic of Jelly Babies started to work on the children to keep them going as the hours passed by. At the end of Green Street, we prayed again,
“Praise the Lord!
Praise him, sun and moon:
praise him, all you shining stars,
Praise him, you highest heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, …”
Across more fields, stiles and streams. The group became smaller at a fork in the path near Ashmead Lane, then we approached the road where an excitable herd of calves approached quickly, assuming we had buckets of feed for them. A few flapped arms saw them retreat, still watching closely – although the jelly babies were kept safely hidden at all times.
We turned right off Ashmead Lane just before the Coaley Road, crossing an impressive iron bridge over the tallest waterfall in the parish. We stopped by a pond for a much needed break, watching ripples as fish broke the surface, then as a Heron took flight from some trees on our right. Praying,
“…Our walk with God is never a lonely walkfor he walks with us on a track that leads to a glorious destination.”
It was now the final leg. We met the Cotswold Way below Cam Long Down, and meandered along field boundaries, streams and lanes until we finally came to the end of Long Street. It was then a direct, but tired, walk through Lister’s then over fields, where we once again saw St George’s tower calling us home. Those final yards passed quickly and then the ten who finished gathered once again in the drive for a photo and a final prayer,
“May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face;the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand. “
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day, offers of help or to those who helped in the walk’s preparation. Special mention must go to Isobel’s parent’s golden retriever, Lara, who walked the whole way, and also to all the fantastic children, Issy, Jasmine, James and Alex Foskett, Hannah, Charlotte and James Hill. Well done to everyone.
In sunshine with only a few scudding white clouds to break up the blue sky, fourteen of us gathered on Saturday 18th September to commence a boundary walk. We started with a prayer,
“….At the end of our day out
May we know the satisfaction of time well spent
with you and with one another…”
then wound our way through the streets of Kingshill to Dursley Police Station. We waited for a little while and gradually, from every direction, we were joined by more and more people until we numbered twenty-seven. Before we set off again we prayed for the community,
“We thank you for those who, day and night, maintain the public services; for the police, the fire service, the ambulance drivers and all those who respond to emergencies and for the doctors and nurses and all those who work in health or healing and social care…”
It was then time to ascend Stinchcombe Hill, by one of the steepest routes possible, but everyone did it with enthusiasm and in good spirits. The boundary then led us around the edge of the golf course, which gave us a chance to walk at our own pace, one of many opportunities to talk and chat. Throughout the day, it felt wonderful to be able to wander along and just be alone with your thoughts or with God, then shortly afterwards, to be chatting with a someone you may have seen many times but not had the chance to really talk to.
We were blessed with fine clear weather and wonderful views over to the two Severn bridges and also over to Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains in South Wales. At the triangulation pillar we stopped for lunch, watching as the only remaining Vulcan Bomber flew past. After lunch we sang Happy Birthday to Issy and we were all encouraged to each pick up a piece of litter each on the way down, along with the prayer,
“This is your garden, Creator GodA thing of beautyBeyond understanding…”
The route took us around more of the golf course, down Lister Drive and along to the Yew Tree, where we thanked God,
“…for this community of which we are part;
For those who share with us in its activities…”
Some took the opportunity to scoff an ice-cream from the local shop on this most summery of days, then we continued down Delkin Road and The Crescent, through to Spouthouse Lane, past the Railway Inn then up over the fields towards Upthorpe, where the magic of Jelly Babies started to work on the children to keep them going as the hours passed by. At the end of Green Street, we prayed again,
“Praise the Lord!
Praise him, sun and moon:
praise him, all you shining stars,
Praise him, you highest heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, …”
Across more fields, stiles and streams. The group became smaller at a fork in the path near Ashmead Lane, then we approached the road where an excitable herd of calves approached quickly, assuming we had buckets of feed for them. A few flapped arms saw them retreat, still watching closely – although the jelly babies were kept safely hidden at all times.
We turned right off Ashmead Lane just before the Coaley Road, crossing an impressive iron bridge over the tallest waterfall in the parish. We stopped by a pond for a much needed break, watching ripples as fish broke the surface, then as a Heron took flight from some trees on our right. Praying,
“…Our walk with God is never a lonely walkfor he walks with us on a track that leads to a glorious destination.”
It was now the final leg. We met the Cotswold Way below Cam Long Down, and meandered along field boundaries, streams and lanes until we finally came to the end of Long Street. It was then a direct, but tired, walk through Lister’s then over fields, where we once again saw St George’s tower calling us home. Those final yards passed quickly and then the ten who finished gathered once again in the drive for a photo and a final prayer,
“May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face;the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand. “
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day, offers of help or to those who helped in the walk’s preparation. Special mention must go to Isobel’s parent’s golden retriever, Lara, who walked the whole way, and also to all the fantastic children, Issy, Jasmine, James and Alex Foskett, Hannah, Charlotte and James Hill. Well done to everyone.
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