Broad Chalke Church

All Saints' Church : Broad Chalke

Church on 1st March 2012

Church in South Street on 1st March 2012 from Church Bottom

Church Services

Services in the Chalke Valley Benefice - March 2023
BCP = Book of Common Prayer (Traditional Language), CW = Common Worship Service (Contemporary Language)
Every Wednesday at 12.00pm, there will be a short benefice service of Holy Communion. In Lent, they will be: March 1st at Alvediston, 8th at Fifield Bavant, 15th at Bishopstone, 22nd at Homington, 29th at Odstock
5th March
2nd Sunday of Lent
 
9.30am
 
Family Communion (CW)
 
Broad Chalke
 
Kate Woolven
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Britford Jenny Taylor
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Ebbesbourne Wake Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Jenny Taylor
11.00am Family Service (CW) Odstock Adrian Taylor
11.00am
 
Morning Prayer (BCP) Berwick St John Lay Led
12th March
3rd Sunday of Lent
 
9.30am
 
Parish Communion (CW) followed by Annual Meetings
 
Bowerchalke
 
Jenny Taylor
9.30am Family Communion (CW) Nunton Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Ruth H-S
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Charlton All Saints Rhoderck Voremberg
11.00am All Age Service Alvediston Biddy Trahair
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Berwick St John Lay Led
3.00pm
 
Evening Prayer (BCP) Fifield Bavant Biddy Trahair
19th March
MOTHERING SUNDAY
 
9.30am
 
Mothering Sunday Service
 
Bowerchalke
 
Lay Led
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Odstock Ruth H-S
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Ebbesbourne Wake Biddy Trahair
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Homington Ruth H-S
11.00am
 
Parish Communion (CW) Berwick St John Jenny Taylor
26th March
5th Sunday of Lent

Clocks go forward
 
9.00am
 
Holy Communion (BCP)
 
Berwick St John
 
Kate Rosslyn Smith
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Charlton All Saints Archdeacon of Sarum
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Broad Chalke Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Service Nunton Adrian Taylor
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Tony Monds
11.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Alvediston Ruth H-S
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Homington Jenny Taylor
6.00pm
 
Evening Prayer (BCP) CANCELLED Bowerchalke Lay Led
Services in the Chalke Valley Benefice - April 2023
BCP = Book of Common Prayer (Traditional Language), CW = Common Worship Service (Contemporary Language)
2nd April
PALM SUNDAY
 
9.30am
 
Family Communion (CW)
 
Broad Chalke
 
Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Britford Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Ebbesbourne Wake Jenny Taylor
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Service (CW) Odstock Adrian Taylor
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Berwick St John Lay Led
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Bishopstone Sally Leaver
5.00pm
 
Compline Fifield Bavant Ruth H-S
3th, 4th, 5th April  
8.00pm
 
 
Compline
 
Fifield Bavant
 
Ruth H-S
6th April
MAUNDY THURSDAY
 
6.00pm
 
 
Commemoration of the Last Supper (CW)
 
Bishopstone
 
Jenny T / Ruth H-S
7th April
GOOD FRIDAY
 
11.00am
 
St John's Vigil
 
Alvediston
 
Lay Led
12 noon Way of the Cross Berwick St John Ruth H-S
12 noon Reflections of The Passion Broad Chalke Jenny Taylor
1.00pm Reading and Music Coombe Bissett Sally Leaver
2.00pm
 
Way of the Cross Odstock Ruth H-S
8th April
EASTER EVE
 
6.00pm
 
 
Easter Fire & Communion
 
Charlton All Saints
 
Ruth H-S
6.00pm
 
Easter Fire & Communion Homington Jenny Taylor
9th April
EASTER DAY
 
9.30am
 
Parish Communion (CW)
 
Broad Chalke
 
Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Bowerchalke Archdeacon Alan Jeans
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Anthony Hawley
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Britford Ruth H-S
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Jenny Taylor
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Berwick St John Archdeacon Alan Jeans
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Ebbesbourne Wake Tony Monds
2.00pm
 
Family Communion (CW) Nunton Ruth H-S
16th April
2nd Sunday of Easter
 
10.00am
 
 
Benefice Communion (CW)
 
Odstock
 
Jenny Taylor
23rd April
3rd Sunday of Easter
 
9.00am
 
Holy Communion (BCP)
 
Berwick St John
 
Kate Rosslyn Smith
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Charlton All Saints Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Broad Chalke Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Service Nunton Adrian Taylor
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Jenny Taylor
11.00am Holy Communion (CW) Alvediston Ruth H-S
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Homington Rhoderick Voremberg
6.00pm
 
Evening Prayer (BCP) Bowerchalke Lay Led
30th April
4th Sunday of Easter
 
10.00am
 
 
Benefice Communion (CW)
 
Berwick St John
 
Ruth H-S
10.00am
 
Benefice Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Dean of Salisbury
Very Rev'd Nicholas Papadopulos
Services in the Chalke Valley Benefice - May 2023
BCP = Book of Common Prayer (Traditional Language), CW = Common Worship Service (Contemporary Language)
Every Wednesday at 12.00pm, there will be a short benefice service of Holy Communion. In Lent, they will be: March 1st at Alvediston, 8th at Fifield Bavant, 15th at Bishopstone, 22nd at Homington, 29th at Odstock
7th May
5th Sunday of Easter

"Coronation Celebration Weeend"
 
10.00am
 
Benefice Communion (CW)
 
Ebbesbourne Wake
 
Ruth H-S
10.00am
 
Benefice Communion (CW) Britford Jenny Taylor
14th May
6th Sunday of Easter
 
9.30am
 
Parish Communion (CW)
 
Bowerchalke
 
Jenny Taylor
9.30am Family Communion (CW) Nunton Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Ruth H-S
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Charlton All Saints Rhoderick Voremberg
11.00am All Age Service Alvediston Biddy Trahair
3.00pm
 
Evening Prayer (BCP) Fifield Bavant Biddy Trahair
18th May
ASCENSION DAY
 
12 noon
 
 
Parish Communion
 
Fifield Bavant
 
Ruth H-S
21st May
Sunday after Ascension
 
9.30am
 
Holy Communion (BCP)
 
Bowerchalke
 
Ruth H-S
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Odstock Vernon White
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Ebbesbourne Wake Biddy Trahair
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Homington Jenny Taylor
11.00am
 
Parish Communion (CW) Berwick St John Ruth H-S
28th May
PENTECOST
 
9.00am
 
Holy Communion (BCP)
 
Berwick St John
 
Kate Rosslyn Smith
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Charlton All Saints Jenny Taylor
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Broad Chalke Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Service Nunton Adrian Taylor
11.00am Parish Communion (CW) Bishopstone Jenny Taylor
11.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Alvediston Ruth H-S
6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Bowerchalke Lay Led
6.00pm
 
Evening Prayer (BCP) Homington Ruth H-S
Services in the Chalke Valley Benefice - June 2023
BCP = Book of Common Prayer (Traditional Language), CW = Common Worship Service (Contemporary Language)
Every Wednesday at 12.00pm, there will be a short benefice service of Holy Communion. In Lent, they will be: March 1st at Alvediston, 8th at Fifield Bavant, 15th at Bishopstone, 22nd at Homington, 29th at Odstock
4th June
TRINITY SUNDAY
 
9.30am
 
Family Communion (CW)
 
Broad Chalke
 
Kate Woolven
9.30am Parish Communion (CW) Britford Jenny Taylor
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Ebbesbourne Wake Ruth H-S
11.00am Family Communion (CW) Coombe Bissett Jenny Taylor
11.00am Family Service (CW) Odstock Adrian Taylor
11.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Berwick St John Lay Led
11.00am
 
Morning Service Bishopstone Sally Leaver
Church Services 2023/01 footer

Church Websites and Bulletin

NAME

TITLE

TELEPHONE

ADDRESS

Chalke Valley Churches

Administrator

07890 262376

Chalke Valley Churches Broad Chalke page with online calendar.

Church Times Archive

 

 

Church Times Archive 1863 to today

Chalke Valley Bulletin and other messages

This is the Chalke Valley Bulletin for March 23rd 2023 (PDF document, may take a little time to download).

This is the 2023 Lent Project (PDF document, may take a little time to download).

Message from Rev'd Catherine Blundell

Dear All,
After 7 ½ years as Team Rector I will be leaving the Benefice in January 2023 when David and I will be moving to our cottage in Devon.
Bishop Andrew has written:
The Revd Catherine Blundell has decided to retire as the Team Rector, with effect from 31st January 2023. Catherine’s last Sunday will be the 8th January 2023.
These last 7 years have been fabulous, sometimes fraught, but full of laughter and joy. I will never forget them, and I will certainly never live in such a beautiful place again. Yes, Devon is lovely, but the Chalke Valley is very special indeed.
I do not know what work I will be doing next, I am not going to another Benefice, instead I will take some time off and listen to God’s call.
This will be unsettling news for some people but there are plans in place to make sure all parishes receive pastoral care and cover on Sunday’s. Jenny and Ruth (who knew about this before she was interviewed), will both lead you all through the vacancy.
This will be a long goodbye and I will get to speak to most of you before we leave.
In the meantime, my sincere thanks, and we will carry on with our plans for the autumn.
Catherine Blundell
Revd Catherine Blundell
Team Rector for the Chalke Valley Churches
---------------

For Churchwardens etc who might have missed it, the new arrangements agreed by the clergy for services beginning on Sunday 19th September are:
* Orders of Service: We will return to using the Orders of Service that we used before the pandemic.
* Singing: We will include 4 hymns and those churches that sing the liturgy will recommence doing so.
* Masks will still be advisory especially in the smaller churches when it is busy and when we can no longer keep the doors open.
* We will keep offering hand gel.
* We no longer need to take names of people who attend.
* The chalice. The clergy have discussed this at length and have decided to review offering the chalice at the end of October. Infection rates in Wiltshire are still very high and we want to keep people as safe as possible as long as possible.
With Best Wishes
Geoff
Geoffrey Taylor
01722 503081

This is the Chalke/Cueibet Partnership Newsletter 8 (PDF document, may take a little time to download).

This is the Fellowship Study Group (PDF document, may take a little time to download).

CHALKE TALK

You can read about local Church news, events, coffee mornings, sales and auctions, etc. on Chalke Talk on Chalke Talk which is also available in the Church or Chalke Valley Stores Coffee Shop.

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Some of the content on this page has been reproduced with the kind permission of the CHALKE TALK management.

Local Events

See also events in the Chapel.
DATE PLACE TELEPHONE EVENT
Every Tuesday Village Hall &
Old School
01722 780789
01722 781200
Parenting Course; five to fifteen year olds; 10.15am; contact Caroline Lamb or Jayne Jennings
Every Tuesday Wake House, Ebbesbourne Wake 01722 780285
01722 780008
Fellowship Study Group; Jane's Group meets weekly on Tuesdays, 10.00am until noon; contact Jane Pelly or Jackie Lowe
Tuesday evenings All Saints' Church   Team Prayers; 5.00pm
Tuesdays and
Thursdays
URC Chapel   Benefice Resource Centre; Library of Faith inspiring books and Traidcraft goods for sale; Tuesdays 10.00am to 12 noon and Thursdays 12.30pm to 4.00pm
Every 2nd Wednesday Lodge Farmhouse 01725 519242
01722 780028
Meditation usually 2.30pm; contact Janet Roe or Anna Watson
Various dates & times All Saints' Church 01722 780654
01725 519242
Church rotas contact Jane Gilbert or Janet Roe
4th March 2023 Knighton Manor   Musical Fund Raising; in aid of Cress; 7.00pm - 9.00pm; £30 tickets from Cress Musical Evening; contact Caroline Lamb
10th March 2023 Village Hall   Gathering with Bishop Joseph; Lent Project; 6.30pm - 8.00pm
8th April 2023 All Saints' Church   Easter Church Flowers; 9.30am; Contact Jane Gilbert or Sue Gooden
----------------
The Parish Council update states that repositioning of the Church flagpole is being considered.
Improvements All Saints' Church   Parish Questionnaire: Friends of All Saints' Church have discussed improvements for the Church. Contact Chris Littlemore on chris @ cplarchitecture.com (no spaces) or by hand to Meadow House, High Lane. See the 2008 proposals below which are now largely out of date.
Phased work
2008 plans
All Saints' Church  

Broad Chalke Church Development Project 2008, now subject to review

Phase 1 - An improved lighting system, now complete

Phase 2 - Improvements to the hearing loop system, upgrading the sound system and the integration of an audio-visual system, all now in hand including finance

Phase 3 - New heating system; fundraising will be required

Project details displayed in the porch in 2008 now seem to be a long-term plan, only partly implemented in the three phases described above. The plans included replacing central pews with seats; a new square centre altar; new vestry; additional storage; other relocations; improved lighting and heating using ground heat reclamation; inner glass doors to South Porch and an extension with kitchen and toilet through the North door. These were the three 2008 proposals: Church Upgrade 2008 (Potential Changes); Church Upgrade 2008 (Flexibility 1) and Church Upgrade 2008 (Flexibility 2);

ongoing St Martin's
Fifield Bavant
01722 417900 Fifield Bavant Church Restoration Appeal; contact William Hillary,

The Ministry Team

NAME TITLE TELEPHONE ADDRESS
All Saints' Church     South Street, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, SP5
(Car park in The Causeway)
Rev'd Dr Ruth Howlett-Shipley Team Vicar 01722 697022  
Rev'd Jenny Taylor Team Vicar 01722 503081 27 Viking Way, Salisbury, SP2 8TA
Rev'ds Ana & Tod Gobledale URC Ministers 01722 330980 URC Website & contact form
Rev'd Jackie Lowe Assisting URC Minister 01722 780008 Church Bottom, Broad Chalke
Emily Broomhead Benefice Office Team Administrator 07890 262376

Church Office, Byworth, Meadow Close, Dinton, Salisbury SP3 5HY
or URC Chapel, High Road, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, SP5 5EH

Chalke Talk Chalke Talk
News Editor
 
Chris Littlemore Churchwarden  
Rev'd Catherine Blundell & David Blundell (from 7th July 2015 to 8th January 2023) Team Rector & Licensed Lay Minister   Devon
Rev'd Canon David Henley (retired February 2014; died 10/12/2018) Team Rector Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6SD
Rev'd Roger Redding (retired 8th July 2012) Team Vicar   Tintinhull, BA22 8PQ
Rev'd Alison Williams (retired 30th November 2012) Team Vicar   Nunton, Salisbury, SP5 4HP
Rev'd Julian Thomas (retired 2013) URC Minister   United Reformed Church
Rev'd Tom Grant (retired) URC Minister   URC Website & contact form
Rev'd Rick Williams (moved 30th April 2017) Team Vicar   Charfield, one of the team villages, just off the M5 north of Bristol, close to Chipping Sodbury and Wotton-under-Edge.
Rev'd Roger Leake (left 26th June 2022) Curate 07947 149146  

Assisting Ministers

NAME TITLE TELEPHONE ADDRESS
Rev'd Canon Anthony Hawley Assisting Minister 01794 390607  
Rev'd Canon Tony Monds Assisting Minister 01722 420942  
Rev'd Canon Ann Philp Assisting Minister 01722 555178  
Rev'd Kate Rosslyn Smith Assisting Minister 01722 780011  

Lay Worship Leaders

NAME TITLE TELEPHONE ADDRESS
Yvonne & Kevin Follett Lay Worship Leader 01747 828785  
Caroline Lamb Lay Worship Leader 01722 780789 Knighton Manor, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, SP5 5EB
Sally Leaver Lay Worship Leader 01722 780447  
Naomi Martin Lay Worship Leader 0771 3031774  
Donald Morgan Lay Worship Leader 01722 718557  
Adrian Taylor Lay Worship Leader 01722 325862 Florida, Nunton Drove, Nunton, Salisbury, SP5 4HZ
Gill Riley Lay Worship Leader 01722 780538  
Janet Roe Lay Worship Leader 01725 519242  
Biddy Trahair Lay Worship Leader 01722 780666 Yew Tree House, Lower Road, Charlton All Saints, Salisbury, SP5 5HQ
Roderick Voremberg Lay Worship Leader 07785 304142  
James Wardroper Lay Worship Leader 01722 718152  

Records, graves plans and old deeds

You can see some Church records and old deeds on the Church Records page.

You can see graves plans for the South West, West and North West and South and North and South East areas.

Church History & Photos

The Church History is shown on Church History and on the Chalke Valley Churches website.

Church Photos: Church, list of Vicars, Saxon Cross, names on bells, pulpit & font, crib, war memorial, bellringers and Church model

Sunday School 1909 & 1914

An extract from South Wilts Church Magazine February 1909:-

"The Sunday School Winter treat took place at the school on Wednesday, January 6th. After tea, to which the mothers of the children were also invited, games were indulged in, at the close of which presents were distributed to each child. Before giving away these presents the Vicar announced that next Christmas prizes would be given to those deserving of merit, and that to secure a prize a child would have to put in at least 45 attendances during the year."

An extract from South Wilts Church Magazine March 1909:-

"The Countess of Pembroke again very kindly presented three books as prizes for attendance and needlework in the school, these were supplemented by prizes most generously given by Mr Eastham. The following were the recipients of Lady Pembrokes's and Mr Eastham's prizes: Reginald Hitchings (for attendance), Lily Dimmer (for needlework) and Harry Poole, William Gurd, Ada Emm, Edith White (for attendance and conduct)."

An extract from South Wilts Church Magazine January 1914:-

"PRIZE GIVING. - At the closing of the school for the Christmas holidays the three special prizes so kindly given by the Lady Pembroke were awarded to Mollie Martin, Stanley Dowsett and James Emm. George Hargreave also received a prize for good attendance. Two other boys who had made a perfect attendance generously volunteered to waive their claim to these special prizes as they had previously won one. This is a kind of spirit we love to see and admire in the rising generation."

First World War History

You can see entries for The First World War concerning enlisting and the Armistice in the South Wilts Church Magazine 1914-1918 and the Peace Treaty and the War Memorial in the South Wilts Church Magazine 1919-1921.

Those who returned from the war (PDF file, download may be slow).

Church display at the Chalke Valley History Festival on 2nd July 2017

Janet Roe's Church display at the Chalke Valley History Festival on 2nd July 2017 with Caroline & John Dutson

Tom H and Church History on 4th October 2008

Careful, Tom, he might pop out at you
Tom H and his magic trick for Church History on 4th October 2008

Church and old school on 7th May 2008

Church and old school on 7th May 2008
after one large tree had been cut down (earlier photos on Photos and School pages)

Gospel of Peter c. AD 150

[1] ... but of the Jews none washed his hands, neither Herod nor one of his judges. And since they did not desire to wash, Pilate stood up.
[2] And then Herod the king orders the Lord to be taken away, having said to them, "What I ordered you to do, do."
[3] But Joseph, the friend of Pilate and of the Lord, had been standing there; and knowing they were about to crucify him, he came before Pilate and requested the body of the Lord for burial.
[4] And Pilate, having sent to Herod, requested his body.
[5] And Herod said: "Brother Pilate, even if no one had requested him, we would have buried him, since indeed Sabbath is dawning. For in the Law it has been written: The sun is not to set on one put to death." And he gave him over to the people before the first day of their feast of the Unleavened Bread.
[6] But having taken the Lord, running, they were pushing him and saying, "Let us drag along the Son of God now that we have power over him."
[7] And they clothed him with purple and sat him on a chair of judgment, saying: "Judge justly, King of Israel."
[8] And a certain one of them, having brought a thorny crown, put it on the head of the Lord.
[9] And others who were standing there were spitting in his face, and others slapped his cheeks. Others were jabbing him with a reed; and some scourged him, saying, "With such honor let us honor the Son of God."
[10] And they brought two wrongdoers and crucified the Lord in the middle of them. But he was silent as having no pain.
[11] And when they had set the cross upright, they inscribed that THIS IS THE KING OF ISRAEL.
[12] And having put his garments before him, they divided them up and threw as a gamble for them.
[13] But a certain one of those wrongdoers reviled them, saying: "We have been made suffer thus because of the wrong that we have done; but this one, having become Savior of men, what injustice had he done to you?"
[14] And having become irritated at him, they ordered that there be no leg-breaking, so that he might die tormented.
[15] But is was midday, and darkness held fast all Judea; and they were distressed and anxious lest the sun had set, since he was still living. [For] it is written for them: Let not the sun set on one put to death.
[16] And someone of them said: "Give him to drink gall with vinegary wine." And having made a mixture, they gave to drink.
[17] And they fulfilled all things and completed the sins on their own head.
[18] But many went around with lamps, thinking that it was night, and they fell.
[19] And the Lord screamed out, saying: "My power, O power, you have forsaken me." And having said this, he was taken up.
[20] And at the same hour the veil of the Jerusalem sanctuary was torn into two.
[21] And they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord and placed him on the earth; and all the earth was shaken, and a great fear came about.
[22] Then the sun shone, and it was found to be the ninth hour.
[23] And the Jews rejoiced and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it, since he was one who had seen the many good things he did.
[24] And having taken the Lord, he washed and tied him with a linen cloth and brought him into his own sepulcher, called the Garden of Joseph.
[25] Then the Jews and the elders and the priests, having come to know how much wrong they had done themselves, began to beat themselves and say: "Woe to our sins. The judgment has approached and the end of Jerusalem."
[26] But I with the companions was sorrowful; and having been wounded in spirit, we were in hiding, for we were sought after by them as wrongdoers and as wishing to set fire to the sanctuary.
[27] In addition to all these things we were fasting; and we were sitting mourning and weeping night and day until the Sabbath.
[28] But the scribes and Pharisees and elders, having gathered together with one another, having heard that all the people were murmuring and beating their breasts, saying that "If at his death these very great signs happened, behold how just he was,"
[29] feared (especially the elders) and came before Pilate, begging him and saying,
[30] "Give over soldiers to us in order that we may safeguard his burial place for three days, lest, having come, his disciples steal him, and the people accept that he is risen from the death, and they do us wrong."
[31] But Pilate gave over to them Petronius the centurion with soldiers to safeguard the sepulcher. And with these the elders and scribes came to the burial place.
[32] And having rolled a large stone, all who were there, together with the centurion and the soldiers, placed it against the door of the burial place.
[33] And they marked it with seven wax seals; and having pitched a tent there, they safeguarded it.
[34] But early when the Sabbath was dawning, a crowd came from Jerusalem and the surrounding area in order that they might see the sealed tomb.
[35] But in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were safeguarding it two by two in every watch, there was a loud voice in heaven;
[36] and they saw that the heavens were opened and that two males who had much radiance had come down from there and come near the sepulcher.
[37] But that stone which had been thrust against the door, having rolled by itself, went a distance off the side; and the sepulcher opened, and both the young men entered.
[38] And so those soldiers, having seen, awakened the centurion and the elders (for they too were present, safeguarding).
[39] And while they were relating what they had seen, again they see three males who have come out from the sepulcher, with the two supporting the other one, and a cross following them,
[40] and the head of the two reaching unto heaven, but that of the one being led out by a hand by them going beyond the heavens.
[41] And they were hearing a voice from the heavens saying, 'Have you made proclamation to the fallen-asleep?'
[42] And an obeisance was heard from the cross, 'Yes.'
[43]And so those people were seeking a common perspective to go off and make these things clear to Pilate;
[44] and while they were still considering it through, there appear again the opened heavens and a certain man having come down and entered into the burial place.
[45] Having seen these things, those around the centurion hastened at night before Pilate (having left the sepulcher which they were safeguarding) and described all the things that they indeed had seen, agonizing greatly and saying: 'Truly he was God's Son.'
[46] In answer Pilate said: 'I am clean of the blood of the Son of God, but it was to you that this seemed [the thing to do].'
[47] Then all, having come forward, were begging and exhorting him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say to no one what they had seen.
[48] 'For,' they said, 'it is better for us to owe the debt of the greatest sin in the sight of God than to fall into the hands of the Jewish people and be stoned.'
[49] And so Pilate ordered the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing.
[50] Now at the dawn of the Lord's Day Mary Magdalene, a female disciple of the Lord (who, afraid because of the Jews since they were inflamed with anger, had not done at the tomb of the Lord what women were accustomed to do for the dead beloved by them),
[51] having taken with her women friends, came to the tomb where he had been placed.
[52] And they were afraid lest the Jews should see them and were saying, 'If indeed on that day on which he was crucified we could not weep and beat ourselves, yet now at his tomb we may do these things.
[53] But who will roll away for us even the stone placed against the door of the tomb in order that, having entered, we may sit beside him and do the expected things?
[54] For the stone was large, and we were afraid lest anyone see us. And if we are unable, let is throw against the door what we bring in memory of him; let us weep and beat ourselves until we come to our homes.'
[55] And having gone off, they found the sepulcher opened. And having come forward, they bent down there and saw there a certain young man seated in the middle of the sepulcher, comely and clothed with a splendid robe, who said to them:
[56] 'Why have you come? Whom do you seek? Not that one who was crucified? He is risen and gone away. But if you do not believe, bend down and see the place where he lay, because he is not here. For HE IS RISEN and gone away to there whence he was sent.'
[57] Then the women fled frightened.
[58] Now it was the final day of the Unleavened Bread; and many went out returning to their home since the feast was over.
[59] But we twelve [perhaps Judas hadn't yet committed suicide or does it mean eleven plus Mary Magdalene?] disciples of the Lord were weeping and sorrowful; and each one, sorrowful because of what had come to pass, departed to his home.
[60] But I, Simon Peter, and my brother Andrew, having taken our nets, went off to the sea. And there was with us Levi of Alphaeus whom the Lord ...

 

The above text is part of the Gospel of Peter c. AD 150 which states that Jesus was alive when taken from the tomb in about AD 30-33. He did not have nails in his feet and was therefore able to walk out of the tomb, aided by two men. "head of the two reaching unto heaven" means tall and Jesus "going beyond the heavens" means taller than the two men. He recovered to meet Mary Magdalene and his disciples several times including "Doubting Thomas" and then disappeared. (The Ascension in the four main gospels is either not described or a bit vague and Peter's account is missing). Another translation is shown below.

The Gospel of Peter was excluded in Bishop Athanasius' list in AD 367 and Pope Damasus I, the Bishop of Rome in AD 382, promulgated a list of books which contained a New Testament canon identical to that of Athanasius. The gospel is included in the Ethiopian Christian Bible together with many others excluded by the Pope.

There is a plausible sequence of events that supports the Gospel of Peter and satisfies sceptics of the four main New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This is based on historical accounts of Roman law and practice and the diaries of the first-century Romano-Jewish historian Titus Flavius Josephus AD 37 - c. 100 who was born in Jerusalem and whose writings seem to be written earlier than the four main gospels and may therefore be more accurate. He mentions John the Baptist and Jesus although authenticity of parts of his references are debated.

Joseph of Arimathea is reported as a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus and to have taken responsibility for Jesus' body. He was a rich man with his own tomb available and he would have been well known to Pilate. He may have suggested to Pilate that Jesus wasn't a criminal but just a loud-mouthed preacher and if Pilate would take Jesus down from the cross before he was dead, Joseph would see that Jesus went into exile which would satisfy the Romans and the Jewish high priests. Other factors about the crucifixion are unusual. The crowd was kept well away from the cross and only friends and relatives were near. Jesus did not have nails through his feet according to Peter's gospel and Jesus was only on the cross for a shorter time than usual and removed before the two criminals. The centurion's stab in the side may have just been a surface wound and not a fatal stab. It seems that Pilate ordered his soldiers to do as little as possible to satisfy Herod and the high priests but to remove Jesus from the cross as soon as he was unconscious which was determined by a prick in his side. The men who removed Jesus from the tomb were probably servants of Joseph and Jesus was hidden while recovering.

There were many different ways that Romans crucified men: 2, 3 or 4 nails, one nail through both feet from the front, one nail through each foot from the front, one nail through both heel bones from the side, one nail through each heel bone from each side of the cross, nails through each palm from the front, one nail through the back of each hand after folding the arms over the back of the crossbar, cords to support the man in various ways, a block under the feet and many other ways.
Men nailed through the front of their palms would fall forward and put pressure on the lungs causing them to suffocate quickly while folding arms over the back of the crossbar and nailing the back of the hands would delay death. Archaeologists have found a hand bone that shows nail entry from the back and also a heel bone showing one nail through the side. Breaking legs would also speed death as a man would be unable to support his body and not breaking legs would prolong agony which was what Romans wanted. If Jesus had no nails through his feet and was taken down early, the soldiers must have known which method would keep him alive for a fairly long time but not so long as to kill him. John's gospel says that he showed his disciples his hands and side but no mention is made of his feet. The Turin Shroud shows a man with foot injuries so it probably isn't Jesus.

Pilate is reported to have had an estate in southern France where there was a small Jewish colony to which Jesus would go with Pilate's permission and authorisation. Joseph would have provided the travel finance.

Many churches in southern France like Rennes-le-Chateau are dedicated to Mary Magdalene and stories state that she died there, so perhaps she left Jerusalem with Jesus either dead or alive. If she or they left shortly after Jesus had recovered and shown his wounds to Mary Magdalene and his disciples, they would have avoided the Jewish insurrection in AD 67 which caused the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and steal treasures. Other stories tell of Joseph of Arimathea also going to France and on to southern Britain where he planted a thorn bush at Glastonbury (I've used modern place names).

Shortly after Jesus disappeared there was no Christian religion as the disciples had all gone back to their previous lifestyles, but Paul (Saul of Tarsus), a Jewish Roman citizen who did not know Jesus and was not one of the twelve disciples, was converted on the road to Damascus and started the Christian religion after about AD 34-37. It seems that Paul was blinded by a light and did not actually see Jesus, he just heard a voice.

Christians in the western world believe that Jesus ascended bodily to heaven and the gospel of Peter doesn't contradict that as Jesus' death isn't mentioned, but it makes it more likely that he died a normal death either in Jerusalem or in exile and only his spirit ascended to heaven.

[The above comments may not be the view of the Chalke Valley Benefice.]