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St. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH NEWSLETTER
Summer 2008 No 70
FURNISH'D AND BURNISH'D BY ALDERSHOT SUN
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The words of Betjeman's poem 'a subaltern's love song' addressed to Miss J.
Hunter Dunn, conjure up a bygone era when Aldershot and its environs was a place
of 'wood landed ways and cool verandas', an idealised world where the sun always
shone. May be the world has moved on but as I contemplated those words during
one of our recent short bursts of summer when the sun was really shining, J
found myself thinking that Aldershot, and more particularly North Town, isn't a
bad place to live. If you haven't noticed Aldershot itself is undergoing
something of a renaissance. Indeed a recent survey described our 'garrison town
once better known for its rough pubs and paras’ as one of Britain's most popular
places to live, 'offering the best quality of life’.
As we look forward to the opening of the new Health Centre, the Westgate
development in the town centre and the urban extension Aldershot certainly seems
to be heading towards a brighter future. A renaissance for North Town too, the
village at its heart having recently undergone a complete transformation- the
rather tired looking 60's style street scene giving way to some new and exciting
urban space, creating a resident friendly environment with trees and planters
and benches for people to sit on, better parking for local shoppers and there is
even talk of some street sculpture!
Of course creating a good place to live is not just about new architecture and
infra structure, it’s about people. As a parish priest I am concerned about the
local environment because I am concerned about people, both as individuals and
as a community. The church's mission is about engaging, on God's behalf, with
everyone, whether they come to church or not.
Proclaiming the kingdom of God begins with showing a concern for people's
wellbeing here and now, rather than promising a better life in the hereafter.
Being church isn't about being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good;
being church is about proclaiming a kingdom in which all can enjoy a good
quality of life. We have our new street furniture, wouldn't it be good to see
people sitting there and talking to each other. We have more parking spaces but
what we really need to see is the community base made into something really
useful - a place for small groups, old and young and in between to meet,
internet access for those who don't have it at home, a place to come and talk
over problems and see a friendly face. AND while we are at it, with summer here,
Jets keep pressing for a start on the Ivy Field recreational facilities for
young people that we were promised, and what about some safe space for our
children to play in, especially those who don't have gardens? Burnish'd by
Aldershot sun, may be I'm suffering from a touch of summer madness, thinking
North Town is a good place to live; working together, especially through the
North Town Partnership, we can make it even better!
Your friend and priest,
Father Keith
LOOKING BACK
LOOKING FORWARD
COMMUNITY NEWS
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