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News for genealogists and amateur
family history researchers.
There
are now available records of births, marriages and deaths for Germansweek
and the surrounding area dating back to the early 1600s.
To request information please email
and your request will be forwarded. The information is on microfiche
and can be accessed personally by appointment if you are in the
area. There is a small charge for this service which will be donated
to the church funds.
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Germansweek takes its name from St
Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, who came to these shores in AD 429. Did St
Germanus visit our village? No detailed records survive, we think it was
possible, which would make Germansweek one of the earliest a Christian sites in
this part of the world. The oldest parts of the present church were built not
long after the Norman Conquest with additions dating from the 14th
and 15th centuries. There is Tudor stained glass in the North aisle
showing the arms of Frithelstock Priory plus the Kelly and Rolle families.
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Our name has
undergone variations over the years - 1086 Wica, 1242 Wyk, 1458 Wyke Germyn. At
other times it has been Wyke Langford and Week St German.
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The
village grew until the mid eighteen hundreds,
when the population reached 450. Today we are Just over 100, which makes
survival of the church exceedingly difficult The loss of our farming community
has been devastating and we have to find new ways to restore the social
awareness
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Many visitors to
the church say we have a unique and special sensitivity about the building and
grounds -perhaps the Lord is showing us a new holistic healing ministry as a
way forward. Early in the new year we have plans to hold a few 'Healing and
Wholeness' services at Germansweek. Watch for more on this.
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Alan Smithers |

Copyright (c) GB 2004 GillyBromilow@aol.com
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