1975 Church 150 years

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The Festival Service is at 10 a.m. on Sunday 6th July, with the Bishop of Grantham, who will dedicate the new doors, and the closing service is at 6 p.m. that day. Announcement by St John's PCC published in 'Hallmark'. click Celebrations for similar events

In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the dedication of the church we have various functions planned and a programme will be available shortly, while posters will be put up over a fairly wide area. Meantime these are some of the events proposed :-

A special service will open the Festival Week at 10 a.m. on 29th June when G/Capt. Rev. Desmond Sheppard, Assistant Chaplain-in-Chief, R.A.F. Strike Command, will be preaching and will dedicate gifts to the church

On Tuesday afternoon there will be a special service, followed by a tea party for the 81st Club.

A concert is being arranged for Wednesday evening, in the church, with the Chinnor Singers and also handbell ringers.

Thursday 3rd July is the actual Anniversary Day and there will be a short evening service in the church, with the Rev. Hugh Jones of Princes Risborough.

The school is staging an exhibition which will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Flower Festival in the church will open at 5 p.m. on the Friday, 4th, and in the evening there will be a concert of sacred music in the church, given by Raymond Isaacson and the Hampden Singers.

Mrs June Bedford is arranging an Exhibition of paintings and arts and crafts in the school for Saturday and this may also be open on Sunday.

In the evening of Saturday there will be a Birthday Dance with supper, in the Village Hall.

During early evening Friday and at intervals Saturday, when people will be visiting the church and viewing the flowers, we shall have organ music.

The Festival Service is at 10 a.m. on Sunday 6th July, with the Bishop of Grantham, who will dedicate the new doors, and the closing service is at 6 p.m. that day. Various organisations, including the Baptist and Methodist Churches are taking part in the Flower Festival and their members joining the St. John's congregation at the services and of course everyone will be very welcome.

It is a lovely thought that we can unite in such a celebration both in praisegiving at church and in the other functions organised and we hope that this unique opportunity will be enjoyed by many.

Choir. report added by Madeline Cleaver

The choir will be singing at all the services and will include modern as well as traditional music. Although we are not at present well balanced in that we have no tenor section and only two bass and we are still relatively inexperienced, we hope with hard work to make our efforts worth listening to but we would welcome men, especially tenors, both on a regular basis and even just for the Festival. The choir members and organist were officially invested with badges of the Royal School of Church Music on Whitsunday and with the help of that organisation we hope we shall improve our standards.

Fortified with soup and barbecued sausages the choir members had an afternoon with them appealing for donations towards the cost of the new doors and so far we have just under £300, with promises for more. We are extending the appeal by letter to the whole parish so that everyone who wishes can subscribe and however small the donation maid it will be very welcomed by the treasurer: Mr.M.P. Beaumont, c/o The Vicarage. The prints of the drawing of the doors, which are costing £585, are nearly ready and with the newly decorated porch the entrance will, we hope, give an attractive reception to all our friends joining us in the services and other events.