To post an item on this page you must live in Middle Rasen or nearby.

You can email details to info@middlerasen.org.uk.

You may already be aware that West Torrington, St Mary is now officially closed as a Parish Church with effect from 29 th October 2011. It is always a sad occasion when a much loved church ceases to be used and also a time of anxiety for those families who have relatives buried in the church yard.

The Diocese will be doing it's very best to find an appropriate new use for St Mary's which will give it a sustainable future and I will do my best to keep you informed of any proposals that come forward. It is very rare that anyone interested in acquiring a closed church wants just the building. Normally they are also offered a section of the church yard.

The Diocese has discussed this with members of the local parish and an agreement has been reached which will leave part of the church yard being sold with the church and part being retained by the parish.

Above is a map which roughly shows the proposed division of the church yard. The area shown by the dotted line is the area that will be offered with the church, the rest is the area to be retained. Access to the retained area will be via the pathway up to the church and a pathway from the gate alongside the southern boundary to the retained part. This will give unrestricted access to the graves in the retained area.

If anyone wishes to visit a grave in the area of the churchyard to be sold that too will be protected in law. When any closed church is sold a covenant is attached to the contract of sale by the Church of England which allows relatives to visit graves in the privately owned area of the churchyard so long as they contact the owner of the land to arrange a mutually convenient time. The land owner is required to put up a notice board giving their contact details. The covenant which protects the right of access remains in place in perpetuity so even if the former church is sold again in the future the covenant is still binding.

If anyone has any concerns please feel free to contact me. My telephone number is 01522 504063 and my email address is judy.crowe@lincoln.anglican.org Judy Crowe, Secretary, Closed Churches Uses Committee, Diocese of Lincoln

Go on Give an Hour

During November , libraries across Lincolnshire are supporting Go on Give an Hour - a campaign encouraging people to have a go at using the Internet. There are several sessions running across libraries, where staff and volunteers will show you how to use the Internet. 

There is a total of 84 'Internet Beginners' sessions scheduled between 17 October and 15 November with a minimum of one event in 46 of our 47 libraries. Individual staff are delivering the sessions with help from volunteers in some libraries: a total of 50 digital champions getting 259 people online for the first time.

To find a session running near you, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/goongiveanhour  .

Ethan Thorpe e: ethan.thorpe@lincolnshire.gov.uk

ICT for the Terrified 

Do you have little or no previous knowledge of computers?

Computer or Laptop sat at home gathering dust?

Feel nervous about getting started?

Phone the Community Education Team for help

Tel 01522 876258

communityeducation@lincoln.ac.uk

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