For many years, our parishes (Beaulieu, Exbury, East Boldre) have been linked together into one Benefice, led by a Rector. Recent years have seen a decline in the numbers attending the parish churches of Exbury and East Boldre. After consultation within the Benefice, it has been decided to create a single parish, named Beaulieu, Exbury and East Boldre. This organisational move is planned to come into effect on 1 January 2025. For most parishioners, this change will make little if any difference to their patterns of worship. However, there are a number of significant changes, and some are listed here:
Instead of three PCCs, there will be just one; and instead of six Church Wardens, there will be just two.
Lay members of the PCC and the two Church Wardens will be elected at a Special Annual Parochial General Meeting (SPAGM) towards the end of January ‘25.
Committees throughout the existing Benefice will cease to operate on 31 December ‘24, and ‘Single Parish’ committees will be reconvened as soon as practicable after the SAPGM.
There will be only one Parish Church, which will be Beaulieu Abbey Church. Both St Katharine’s Exbury, and St Paul's East Boldre will become ‘Chapels of Ease’. All three churches, plus the Chapel in Bucklers Hard will continue to hold services, at times determined by the Rector, after discussions with wardens and parishioners.
Q: What do the different colours of vestments, altars and other hangings in a church mean?
A: These are known as liturgical colours and you will see them change throughout the year.
White symbolises celebration. It is used for joyful occasions like Christmas and Easter, when gold can also be used. White is also used for special events like baptisms, weddings and confirmations.
Red represents the Holy Spirit (the Fire of Pentecost) and martyrdom (blood), so you will see it used at Pentecost, on the feast days of martyred saints and as we recall Jesus’ suffering and death in Holy Week.
Purple represents repentance and preparation, which is why you see it during Advent and Lent. Purple is often also worn at funerals.
Green symbolises growth and hope. It is the colour for Ordinary Time – the period between Epiphany and Lent and between Easter and Advent.
Our new Rector told BBC Radio Solent on October 21 that she thought those who had chosen her were “courageous and brave” to appoint a “youngish” woman to the important role.
The Rev Catherine Cowie was appearing on the radio station’s “Tomorrow’s news today” programme to give the answer to a quiz question – how many times is the word love mentioned in the Bible? Well, she said, the number was anything between 300 and 800 depending on the translation and sometimes the perceived meaning of the word. In her first interview since she arrived at the end of September, she said her husband Alexander had first spotted the obligatory vacancy advert in the Church Times - and suggested to her “that sounds absolutely right for you.” After the interviews took place she said she would wait until she had a sign from God that He wanted her in the Beaulieu Benefice. “That sign came,” she said, “as I sat under an oak tree by the Beaulieu River. And here I am.”
The Rector said she was grateful for the support she had received not just from the congregation, but also from everyone she had already met in the area. She was keen to build on the enthusiasm for the future she had encountered at every turn.
You can listen to the interview on BBC Sounds. The reference is bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jtp2pt the piece starts about 1hr 14 min from the beginning and lasts about six minutes. It is available until about 19th November.
The new Rector of Beaulieu, the Rev Catherine Cowie, conducted the first services of her incumbency on Sunday September 29th, just four days after she had been handed the keys of the ancient Abbey Church when she was instituted by the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen.
Her first services were at Buckler’s Hard and at the Abbey Church.
During the packed service to mark her appointment, - a service which has changed little in many generations - she was introduced to the Bishop by the patron, Lord Montagu, who told him: “After prayerful consideration and due consultation, Catherine Anne Cowie has been nominated and accepted to be Rector of this Benefice.”
After the Bishop had handed the new Rector the deed of institution, the Archdeacon of Bournemouth, the Ven Jean Burgess, placed Catherine’s hand on the Abbey church door handle and she was presented by their respective wardens with the keys of the three churches for which she has responsibility.
As well as the Abbey Church, she also takes under her wing the churches at Exbury and East Boldre, and the chapel at Buckler’s Hard, all of which form part of the current wider Beaulieu benefice. It is intended that all the churches will ultimately form a single parish of Beaulieu.
The congregation at her institution included parishioners from all three churches, local dignitaries and a large contingent who had travelled from her previous multi-parish Benefice in the north Cotswolds.
The Rev Catherine will move into the Rectory with her husband and two young children, when current remedial work is completed..
History has been made as the Rev Catherine becomes the first female rector in the church’s 495-year history.
:: After her first services the Rector, Catherine, was presented by verger Derek Hewitt with a framed drawing of the original Exbury church – dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria. When the church was replaced in the 19th century the name changed to St Katharine. She told the congregation it would be the first item to be hung when the family moved into the Rectory.
Pictures courtesy of Linda Dunham, Beaulieu Camera Group.
Beaulieu Abbey Church should be open to the public by these approx times below:
Monday 10am
Tuesday 9am
Wednesday 10am
Thursday 10am
Friday 9am
Saturday 10am
Sunday Open ready for morning service.
Please note: The main door of the church will be closed at approx 1pm, therefore gaining entry to the Church (approx 1pm - 3pm) will then be via the National Motor Museum.
The Gospel speaks of welcome for all. Being faithful to this compels us to take with the utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening and responding well where it has.
For information, guidance & resources, please visit www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding. Further information is displayed on the notice boards in the Church porch.
