1944 WW2 - More about Church Life

This snapshot of how Lacey Green Church was coping in 1944, written by Doug Tilbury..

AWAY IN RAF

At this time Harold Williams, who played the organ, was a Navigator in the Royal Air Force flying Mosquitoes.   In the winter evensong was held at 3.00 p.m. due to the “blackout”, which was strictly enforced here, as Bomber Command was only a mile away.

THE CHOIR

The choir vestry consisted of a heavy curtain, partitioning off an area, where the curtain was later replaced with wood.   Boisterous boys were frequently hushed by the vicar, Reverend Steward, prior to services.   Choir pay was sixpence and a bag of sour apples from the vicarage garden at Harvest time.

SCHOOL SERVICES

The church school had services in the church on Saints Days.   Ash Wednesday and Ascension were always popular as the school had the rest of the day off

BY BIKE & CORI SCOOTER The vicar frequently rode his bicycle and later his Corgi Scooter around the parish of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen.    The Corgi was not very powerful, and had to have “foot power” assistance around “Devil’s Elbow”, when he went to Speen School to take the Communion Service at 8.45 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month.

MISSIONARY'S PIANO

He was unmarried and had a house keeper “Miss Varney”.   Earlier in his career he had been a missionary in Africa.   The piano which he donated to the church, (and is still in use) was built to withstand the African climate.

CHOIRBOYS PARTY

A party for choirboys was held on the Vicarage lawn during the summer.   If you were lucky the vicar would allow you to push his new Motor-sythe lawn mower across the lawn!    The senior choir party was in the vicarage during the winter months.   As it was wartime refreshments tended to be bread and jam and a cup of tea.

AIRCRAFT NOISE. During the morning services, aircraft could be heard taking off from the airfield behind Lacey Green school, as the prevailing wind normally blew from over the church.  There were very high conifers around the vicarage, and it was a steep climb to get over them.

CHOIRBOYS LEAVE

At the age of fourteen, after their voices had broken, most boys left the choir for various reasons.  Those that stayed within the church became servers or acolytes, until they had to start National Service at the age of 18.    Fred Harbour joining the army, joining the Coldstream Guards.   I joined the Royal Air Force and became an aircraft mechanic, serving the 56^th squadron.   On demob many returning young men were asked to serve on the PCC (Parochial Church Council).