Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

Welcome the homepage of Henry's Goat

 

Those of you who check in to this site regularly will know that at Christmas 2005 our PCC Secretary Henry was given a goat from World Vision’s Alternative Gift Catalogue.  Well, he got a bit confused to begin with and if you haven't already done so you can read of his

 experience by clicking the index link to the right.

After reading the original poem, written by Henry as a 'thank you note' to Sarah and Dave, some members of St. Andrew's felt that Henry's life would, indeed, be improved by the presence of a goat. In late 2006 they presented him with one during a meal at a local hostelry. Henry's goat is, it must be said, very cute.  It is also rather small, doesn't move about much, and has a label with washing instructions.

However it seems to have rather a lot to say for itself and over the past few months has been prolific in producing pieces for this website and the Parish Magazine. Henry's goat also regularly attends Bible study and other social events in the parish.

The goat also seems to be developing a bit of a following amongst visitors to this site so we thought it was about time the animal had its own homepage. This probably makes it unique amongst goats who are not generally renowned for either their poetry or blogging skills.

So welcome to St. Andrew's Church Taunton.  To our knowledge, there are no other churches that have a goat as a resident blogger/ Poet Laureate.  They are, we feel, the poorer for it.

The latest (and final?) blog from Henry's goat - part 26

A gift from a goat

NOTE: if you are new to the Goat's blog you may wish to read them in order to best appreciate them.

5 August 2007

I’ve something to tell you, I’ve news to convey:

I’m writing this blog, then I’m going away.

My days here are over. I’m leaving tonight,

And this is the last ever blog I shall write.

So why am I leaving? And where shall I go?

The future is hazy, but one thing I know:

It’s time to move on; I must follow my star

Wherever it leads – and it may lead me far.

I’m starting in Europe, the sights for to see.

I’ll do the Grand Tour. I’ll be having a spree!

I’ll see all the cities, like Paris and Rome;

Then head for the hills, where a goat feels at home.

A goat, in his youth, should the Matterhorn climb,

To stand on the top of that summit sublime.

The Eiger, as well, is a peak to ascend;

You start from the north, and you go with a friend.

I’ll walk through the pastures and meet all the goats;

We’ll talk about puppies and rabbits and stoats.

Then one final visit, as destiny calls:

He wants me to go to the Reichenbach Falls.

I won’t finish there. I’ve a long way to go;

I’m searching the world for a goat I don’t know –

The goat that was his, but was not his at all,

The goat that’s in Laos, or perhaps in Nepal,

Or perhaps somewhere else, for I really don’t know,

But one day I’ll find him, in sun or in snow.

And when I have found him, in snow or in sun,

I’ll stop, for I’ll know that my journey is done.

And then we shall talk: we shall talk of the past,

Of how I went searching, and found him at last;

We’ll talk of the moat, and my friends left behind;

We’ll talk of the future, and what we shall find.

We’ll talk and we’ll rest. At the turn of the year,

As Christmas comes round, in that season of cheer,

The greeting of old will remain the same still,

The message to everyone, ‘Peace and goodwill’.

And then we shall know it is time we should start

On the work that is ours; we shall each play our part.

Our task is to seek out each piece of goodwill,

To plant it, to grow it, to nurture it, till

There’s more than enough for the whole of the earth;

We’ll mix it and stir it with mountains of mirth;

We’ll give it away, and with plenty to spare;

Just look, and you’ll see there’s goodwill in the air –

There’s lots of goodwill, and there’s merriment too,

A gift from a goat, it is my gift to you.

Read more blogs by Henry's Goat