GOOD Friday was observed at St James Church, Staunton by a service of matins and meditation conducted by Canon John Evans and the Reverend Penny Hamer, curate. It attended by a small congregation which included members from churches within the benefice of Hartpury, Corse, Staunton and Maisemore and in particular by one, a mother who with her baby son in a pram had walked from Newent, a distance of at least seven miles - she was given a very warm welcome. The organist Margaret Riley accompanied the singing of the hymns and Prim Goldring took the offertory.

Ladies of the flower rota decorated the church for the Easter Sunday services with lovely arrangements, including lilies given in memory of loved ones together with white carnations, white and yellow chrysanthemums, daffodils, cowslips and spring blossom.

On Easter Sunday the bells were rung by a small team of visiting ringers to welcome worshippers to the Easter morning service at St James' church. There was a large congregation of all ages and the service was started by the Reverend Penny Hamer, curate, and later Canon John Evans joined the service of Holy Communion and was the celebrant, with Ursula Groves-Smith administering the chalice. The offertory was taken by Stan Cotton, churchwarden and June Fardon. During the service, as is traditional in Staunton church, baby chicks were shown to the children to illustrate new life.

Over the Easter period attendance had been good at all the four churches within the united benefice of Hartpury, Corse, Staunton and Maisemore and, with careful preparation beforehand, both Canon Evans and the Rev Penny Hamer had taken some part in each service at each church.