Faith

A JAM packed Christmas Fayre is to take place next Saturday, to galvanise the festive mood.

The Fayre will be held at the United Reformed Church, in Swakeley's Road, Ickenham, from 10am to 2pm. (21/11)

Admission will cost as little as 50 pence with under 12s going free, while there will be several stalls including jewellery, CDs and DVDs, Christmas decorations and cards, as well as books.

Children's activities and refreshments will also be available, and there will also be a grand raffle with prizes of up to £100.

The Inner Wheel Club of Elthorne Hillingdon invites you to their Annual Craft Fair on Thursday 5th November 12 noon - 2.30pm at Ickenham Village Hall.

A variety of stalls, refreshment are available proceeds to various children's charities.

A CHURCH has recommended the welcoming handshake on the door be banned for fear of the spread of swine flu.

St Giles Church, in Swakeley's Road, Ickenham, have issued a notice on their weekly newsheet to the congregation explaining that physical contact is to be avoided.

The notice states: "In order to reduce the spread of flu, we have been advised to avoid hand contact and therefore services containing the sharing of the peace will do so as a corporate verbal response.

"Additionally, handshaking on the door is to be postponed for the timebeing."

Many churches across the country, including St John's Church in Royal Lane, Hillingdon, have taken the steps not to administer wine at communion, but this is the first known case that a church has taken the steps to ban shaking hands.

Even during the Black Death in the 15th century the sharing of communion wine was not stopped in England, so the recommendation that the practice be suspended is unprecedented.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of London said: "Guidelines have been sent out to all churches based on NHS advice.

"They have left individual clergy to interpret them in their own way, there are no central rules.

"It seems in this case the church are taking their own steps to minimise any threat to the congregation.

"St Giles have explained to us that the advice is for the welcomers discretion, it is merely so they feel comfortable in the present environment, as they come into contact with such a great number of people."

Ickenham girl Louise Philpott has married Joseph Pettitt, the assistant minister of Hayes Town Chapel and the happy couple are pictured above.

THE first of a series of evening get togethers for young women is to be held on Wednesday, September 24.

It will be held at St Giles Church, Swakeley's Road, Ickenham, and will be a chance for younger women to chat and socialise.

The meeting is part of the Essence programme for younger women at St. Giles, with coffee mornings running at the church once a month through until December and monthly evening get togethers.

For more information contact Juliette Guthrie on jp.guthrie@virgin.net or 01895 622970.