All Saints, St John the Baptist, St Denys and St Mark's

Background

The North Baddesley Link with the Diocese of South Rwenzori, Uganda, started in 1991 when Sally Kerson arranged for the collection of various items to be passed to Jayne and Derek Buckles of King's Sombourne for delivery during their forthcoming visit. The North Baddesley Parochial Church Council was also encouraged to give regularly to projects as part of mission and financial support was raised for the benefit of their church. At about this time Sally became a member of the Romsey Deanery Overseas Mission Committee and in 1992 Emmanuel Maate came from South Rwenzori and addressed a service at All Saints' church describing life in his home country particularly enthralling the children in our Junior Church. We are still in contact with Emmanuel who is now the deputy head of the regional teachers’ training college. The link with schools began at this time as Sally arranged for cubs and beavers to write to the children in South Rwenzori schools. Meanwhile she was busy supporting schools and the then proposed tailoring workshop. How wonderful that from this little acorn has grown the healthy oak we now have !

In 1997, Elisabeth and Tony Hale were able to visit there with Jayne and Derek Buckles. They returned full of enthusiasm and with lots of stories to tell of the welcome they had received, the friendliness of the people,their astonishing faith in spite of severe hardships and the beauty of the area. North Baddesley's interest and committment then became a major part of our Mission. The Mission Committee had already started an Orphan Sponsorship Scheme and set up workshops in carpentry and tailoring for orphans, widows and disabled people in Kasese and Kilembe.

"The Mountains of the Moon"

Exchange visits take place annually under the auspices of the Deanery Committee, and we have been fortunate in being able to entertain visitors from South Rwenzort on a number of occasions, including their current Bishop, Jackson Nzerebende Tembo. In 2006 we were able to entertain Rev. James Tumweslgye, the then Vicar of Kllembe and also Rev. Ezra Mukonzo-Yongezl. Those of us who were able to meet and hear them preach will understand the enthusiasm shown by visitors returning from South Rwenrort. five other adult members of the congregation have been out on self funded trips and 6 members of our Youth Group; they all had experiences they will never forget including helping with the repair of a dangerous bridge used by the children to reach their school; and adults to access their homes in the mountains.

Suspension Bridge - before repair

Suspension Bridge at Kilembe

It was the result of a previous visit that a programme of school links was set up and both of our local schools now have links with schools in South Rwenzori. North Baddesley Infants' school is linked with Road Barrier Primary School and North Baddesley Junior School with Mbarakasaka Primary school. Both these links are very active and exchanges of letters take place as well as financial help to support the Ugandan schools.

Track to Mbarakasaka Primary School

Road Barrier School

Marian Pike has been doing sterling work with the Chick-cow project, in conjunction with Bishop Jackson's wife Dorothy, to support clergy families who are suffering because of very low salaries which are often many months behind .
A new initiative to link Sunday Schools is being rolled out by the Deanery Committee and hopefully our Junior Church in North Baddesley will be able to link with All Saint's church in Kilembe.

Kilembe Tailoring Workshop

Kilembe Carpentry Workshop

The success of the Chickow Project launched in 2005, to supplement the very uncertain income received by the clergy In South Rewenzorl, was evident and many clergy families have a more certain financial future as a result of this initiative. Marion Pike would be delighted to receive donations to help spread this scheme further.

We were also grateful to the donation given for use by the Kllembe workshop. This enabled funds for the carpenters to make benches for use in the tailoring workshop. These will provide work surfaces for some of the re-furbished sewing machines donated to the tailors. Also two large rolls of white cloth were bought and screen printed with the blue Mothers Union symbols so that new dresses could be made by the tailoring students and used for Mothers Union choir and other functions.

SPONSORSHIP
Have you thought about sponsoring our link with the Diocese of South Rwenzori ? Forms are available from each of the deanery churches or you can download the Sponsorship Form below :-