Church Reports in Hallmark August 1983 to March 1996 inc

Hallmark August 1983. Letter to the Editor from Joan West. Dear Ted, May I use the pages of Hallmark to ask for public opinion.

Some time ago I was given the task of organising a roster of people to arrange flowers in the church. Doing this has made me all the more aware, both of their beauty and their cost.

It grieves me after a funeral to see bunches of flowers laid out to die. Surely at least those coming locally could be sent before the service and arranged in the church. In fact many come already in oasis, so it should not be too difficult a task. In this way would they not convey their messages of respect and remembrance not only after the event, but during the servce also?

Maybe I am treading on some sacred tradition in suggesting this - I don't know. I would appreciate any comments people may have on the subject.

Hallmark October 1988. report by Lillian Curnow. Church News.

The sponsored hymn singing held during choir practice at the end of July raised £150 towards the organ fund. 32 hymns were sung non-stop for 90 minutes (what a relief for the Mums when they got home - no voice left!).

In early August instead of processing into the choir stalls they took to the woods! Where many of the youngsters and grown ups spent an enlightening (?) evening creeping around in the pitch dark and long grass looking for the elusive glow-worm with its blue-green light that can be seen from a distance of several metres. You can imagine the fun they had - the younsters creeping in the dark, I think six were found.

On September 4th after Evensong choir members, their families and friends descended on Rosemary Oliver's garden for a barbeque and party games, organised by Rosemary and Stuart King the organist and I can tell you we had great fun - the food was excellent.

Hallmark December 1988. The Vicar of Lacey Green.

Her Majesty the Queen, with the advice of her Privy Council, made an order that with effect from 1st November 1988 a Group Ministry shall be established for the benefice of Princes Risborough with Ilmer and the benefice of Lacey Green in the Diocese of Oxford. This means that into the foreseeable future a priest is assured for our parish

Churchwardens Mollie Ward and John Tate offer congratulations to Raymond Maynard on his translation from Priest-in-Charge to Vicar of Lacey Green, a sentiment we feel sure most of our readers would wish to be associated with. (click George & Mollie Ward and John & Madeline Tate for more about Mollie and John).

Hallmark December 1989. Goodbye to the Vicar, Raymond Maynard, leaving at the end of the year after six years, we wish him and Aylsa all the very best for the future.

July 1925. Centenary Celebrations at Lacey Green. Report in the Bucks Free Press

The Church of St.John the Evangelist, Lacey Green was consecrated by the Bishop of Lincoln on Sunday, July 3rd 1825, as a Chapel of Ease to Princes Risborough.

The Centenary was observed last week and the following Sunday. On the evening of July 2nd, there was a Preparation Service at which the Rev.A.M. Berry preached. On July 3rd there were three celebrations of Holy Communion at 6, 8 and 10.30 am; the third of these was choral (Merbecke being sung); and the sermon was preached by the Rev.F.C.Burgess, son of the first Vicar of the Parish, after it was constituted a separate church from Princes Risborough in 1851. Several neighbourhood clergy took part in the service.

At evensong the Bishop of Buckingham preached in place of the late Bishop of Oxford. Festival services were continued on Sunday. At Sunday evensong Bishop E.A.Copleston, formerly Bishop of Colombo, was the preacher. The choir, trained by Miss Hawes (the organist) sang Jackson's "Te Deum" at the two evening services as a special act of praise and thanksgiving.

Hallmark May 1983 Concert review by Madeline Cleaver

An audience of more than 100 was in St. John's Church on 7th May for a choral and orchestral concert. The orchestra was made up of local musicians and students from the Bulmershe College of Further Education, with Alan Roberts, organist at St. John's, on harpsichord. The choirs were: the St. John's Church Choir, the Local Community Choir and the Bulmershe Madrigal Choir.

Each choir sang as a group and the Community and Bulmershe Choirs joined for a performance of Vivaldi'’s "Gloria", with soloists Shirley Wort and Zanthe Sturt, Sopranos and Graham Vocking, Alto. The soloist in the Viavldi ‘Cello Concerto in E Minor was Philippa Neale.

The audience was appreciative of every item and the solist in the Concerto was warmly applauded for her sensitive, adept performance. Some sixty voices produced a suitable climax to an enjoyable evening of music. Julia Beaumont conducted the Church Choir and Denis Gilbert the Bulmershe Madrigal Choir. Will McBurnie conducted very ably the Community Choir, the Concerto and the “Gloria".

Before then there will be more "Music at St. John's” when the Horsenden Singers will be performing a programme of early and modern music and John White, A.R.C.O. will be playing music by J.S. Bach, Haydn, Viern, etc. This will be at 8 p.m. on Saturday IIth June, after which refreshments will be served. Proceeds to go to the Church Fabric Fund. There is a great deal of work to be done to the church building and we must raise money to meet the cost.

Hallmark June 1983. A letter was published in Hallmark from Irene Tinsley, September Cottage. Little Lane, as follows :-"I am writing to say how much I enjoyed 'Worship with Mother' services at St John's Church. The services are simple, in a relaxed atmosphere which appeals to children.

We owe a great deal to Jean Gabbitas for all the hard wok and organisation she puts into this. Her 'quiet time' meditations for mothers, gives me strength and resolve. click John & Jean Gabbitas for more about Jean

A thank you also to Pam Thomas, who plays the piano, and Linda Ashby who looks after refreshments. It would be lovely to see lots of new members during the summer term. click Rick & Pam Thomas for more about Pam

Hallmark July 1986. Report by George Ward St. John's Parish Church

Services every Sunday

8am Holy Communion 1662 (except 5th Sunday)

10am Parish Eucharist – 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday

10am Family Communion Service – 3rd Sunday

6pm Evensong – 1st Sunday and Festivals

Midweek Service: Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion

The recent major event was the Confirmation Service when the Bishop of Buckingham confirmed 12 local candidates together with others from St. Mary's, Princes Risborough, All Saints, High Wycombe and R.A.F. Strike Command. Over 250 people attended the service which was followed by a "set-together" in the School Hall with refreshments, to enable the Bishop to meet and chat informally with those present.

Our Youth Group meets regularly, guided by Rosemary Oliver and Heather Eastham though the young members are encouraged to suggest and organised their own activities which have recently included competing in the Sports Club Sports Day and taking their turn in cleaning the church. A treasure hunt is planned for August 10th. Most of the group members are secondary school age and new members are always welcome. Are you interested?

The interior of the church has been transformed in recent months due to the sustained effort of a small group of people, some of them members of the congregation, some of them not, but nevertheless interested in the care of their village church. Their work has revealed attractive woodwork previously hidden under dingy, dark brown paint.

For some considerable time the churchyard has been the special concern of Ted Mines and George Cowell who work to make this a pleasant, tidy and peaceful area of the village.

We are grateful to all those who have given their time to help make the church and its surrounding area beautiful.

Music is a vital contribution to the church and to the community and our thanks are given to Mrs Jennifer Cowan and her team for the Baroque music concert which raised over £100 for the Organ Fund.

St. John's Instrumental Group and School Choir - an extract from our magazine "Viewpoint" says it all: "The Concert, as well as raising £121.25 for Christian Aid was a tribute not only to the young talent available in the parish but also to those adults whose dedication has developed it."

Hallmark Februay 1988. A letter to the Editor was published from Prof. M.S.P. Eastman and Mollie Ward, Churchwardens of St. John's Church, as follows :- "We ave read your last editorial with interest and some concern. You refer to the "old, dark coloured pews" as oing on the bonfire. We think it is important that we set the record straight. These pews were in fact sold at a nominal sum of £10 each resulting in a welcome and much appreciated contributon of £210 towards the costof replacements. Many of the old pews are now to be found in private gardens in the parish and in the school. We think it necessary for this to be known as wedo not wish the purchasers to feel tha their contributions are being "written off".

Hallmark August 1988. "Songs of Praise"

Since the first yearly "Songs of Praise" held in St. John's Church in 1986 the four churches in the Parish have been able to unite in an informal service.

This is the great thing, we are able to join in as one Church - one Fellowship - to sing praises together.

This years service was held at the Methodist Church, being the 250th Anniversary of John Wesley's conversion and the 200th Anniversary of the death of his younger brother the great hymn writer Charles Wesley.

To those who worked so hard in providing the refreshments, and for the beautiful floral arrangements that adorned the Church. Our grateful thanks.

The collection in aid of the MacMillan Nurses Fund raised £71.55. (Charity Events for other events.)

Hallmark December 1988. Vicar of Lacey Green. Her Majesty the Queen, with the advice of her Privy Councillor, made an order that with effect from 1st November 1988 a Group Ministry shall be estabished for the benefice of Monks Risborough, the benefice of Princes Risborough with Ilmer and the benefice of Lacey Green in the Diocese of Oxford. This means that into the foreseeable future a priest is assured for our parish.

Churchwardens Mollie Ward and John Tate offer congratulations to Raymond Maynard on his translation from Priest-in-Charge to Vicar of Lacey Green.

Hallmark September 1989. Musings on Previous Church Activities by Madeline Cleaver

It was lovely to read in the last issue of someone taking an interest in the churchyard and being prepared to work hard in it, like Dick Williams has been doing.

Before him we had Ted Mines - not that other people were and are not doing work there sometimes - but he was the one who spent a great deal of his spare time for many years in the churchyard. Ted used to go down after a hard day at work as well as weekends and if it was hot and he went hard at it as he used to, I used to wonder about his blood pressure!

My husband, Bill, put in much work over many years too, and was mistaken for the Sexton by a newcomer. It takes time, but there is satisfaction in it and it can be peaceful there. Bill was able to go several days in a week and spend hours because of the type of duties he used to do as a meteorologist. No doubt people thought he didn't go to work at all, seeing him around so much when probably he had just come off a night duty or was going on one that night or it was a day off because he would be working at the weekend.

When we first came here to live it has to be admitted the churchyard did look uncared for, although Harry Barefoot still cut the hedge and did some jobs, old and bent as he was. He also used to put Bill right about what he should be doing! (Well, these 'boys' aren't what they were!). A contractor used to come and cut the grass where it was accessible to their machines and then just leave it. It was not very pleasant, to rake up grass and find a dog had been there. The year before the 150th Anniversary of the church was when more began to be done and when Bill first became involved, that was 1974. Other people might go down occasionally to do some cutting of grass but it is regularly working several days a week which makes such a difference and not just cutting in the obvious areas – pruning, cutting back on brambles and weeds and all sorts of things in less obvious places, clearing up rubbish and old wreaths and flowers – the broken glass from continual use of glass jars and vases which the frost broke. Bill bought a Mountfield motor mower and the contractor's work was discontinued and other mowers were bought eventually, although some took their own.

In the run up to the Festival more and more people became involved and there were at least two choir working parties organised by Julia Beaumont, we even had a barbecue at one, to encourage the children. I can remember sausage being so well cooked I broke a tooth on it! We also did more cleaning and clearing out in the church, particularly in the balcony, and that included painting the porch walls. Even some gravestones were scrubbed and I well remember the blisters from continual clipping round graves. There is nothing like a festival for concentrating the mind and efforts on something! By then there was a cleaning rota, before that it was mainly the Vicar's wife who did the cleaning inside the church at the time, that included sometimes scrubbing the stone floor near the doors. For someone brought up in a home where there were servants, Mrs. Houghton was amazing in what she took on. She also cleaned a great deal of the brass and always mowed her own bit of the churchyard, as well as coping with the old and inconvenient Vicarage where she had brought up a big family; she did much of the work in the very large garden too. What a good thing that all that has changed now. As organiser for the church flowers, she filled in many weeks when there was no-one on the list; it was just as well others eventually took over some of these jobs and more people became involved in the church. The Festival always seemed the turning point. The choir was reformed for that and was very successful in the Festival services and after; it makes such a difference to a service to have a good choir leading it and it helped bring in people. It was Julia Beaumont who started the choir and ran it for ten years and was very active in organising the social side of choir activities too, as well as other things in the village. I hope she will have happy memories of that when she leaves the village as she will be doing to live abroad. It was Julia and others who came here at the same time as we did with some older members who generated the interest and enthusiasm which resulted in the stewardship scheme, the growing congregations and schemes for raising money for the restoration and repairs which were always needed.

I was much involved with Julia in training and running the choir and it took some commitment. Julia's husband, Mike, was often home late in the evening and she would have to take Julian, at 3 and 4 years old, while my younger son, Jeffrey, had to be in the choir and stay for the adult practice after, whether he wanted to or no Bill worked unsocial hours and our other boy would be coming home at a different time so Julia and I found life complicated. Julia, as an anaesthetist also worked part time and was often called out at night and with using her home for social events, she was very committed. Children left the area or became very busy with secondary school work, went off to college or whatever, but we always had a fair-sized choir.

Restoration work has continued at the church, new people work in the churchyard, there is still a choir with some original members, but what Julia did make a foundation and I hope it will be remembered.

Editor's Note. Dare I, as a non-churchgoer, as one who cowardly admits to being a Baptist before going onto the operating table, offer a rider to this?

Why not? When I visited the church on Village Day I was struck by its spick and span appearance, and since that day I have heard so many people say "what a beautifully kept church" that is a credit to everyone concerned.

Churches, and all village organisations generally, have high and low troughs. Madeline and Bill Cleaver came to this village in 1971 at a time when the church was in a low, and with others set about putting it on a high, and they are to be congratulated for that, but I am sure they would admit that there have been other high periods, after all the church has been here since 1825. There must be many old inhabitants and people buried in the now beautifully kept churchyard who worked their fingers to the bone for the church, we mustn't forget them.

In my school days in the 30's at the Speen C of E School I vividly remember the Thursday mornings when the Rev. Eric Steward drummed into us "church dogma" that clashed with my Baptist Sunday School upbringing. I vaguely remember that the vicar was a good musician, and with our head mistress, Miss Hopton, at that time the church had a very good choir.

Hallmark October 1990. Extract from the Editor's Diary - "The new vicar inaugurated a pram service on Tuesday mornings.

Hallmark November 1990. Church News by The Rev. Peter Hale

Most Tuesday mornings sees a growing number of prams wending their way into the churchyard and church with mothers and toddlers coming to share in a very informal activity of action songs and stories. As the weeks have passed since this was started it is obvious to us that this is filling a need and is much appreciated by the young mothers who come along.

Every Thursday evening at 6.15 pm a group of older children meets in church, at the moment about 14 of them, called Explorers. Bible-based, this is meant to be fun and includes games, activity sheets and model-making and is thoroughly enjoyed by those who come along to it.

Each Sunday morning at 10 am Junior Church meets in the church at the same time as Parish Eucharist and children of all ages are welcome to come along and share in teaching at their own level, before joining their parents for a blessing at the altar.

More recently a group of teenagers – 11 – met after Evensong on Sunday evening in the Vicarage and they are to continue meeting on the first Sunday of every month in the Vicarage. Other teenagers would be welcome to come along and join them.

Such is the Outreach activity taking shape at St. John's, a Ministry of serving the community and we are encouraged by the response so far. Here is the facility – do use it!

Hallmark June 1991. Report by Elizabeth Hale. TEDDY BEARS PICNIC

The Bank Holiday was cold and grey but the welcome was warm, activities were lively and the Teddies who culdn't dash about were comfortable in their fur coats!

More than 50 families streamed through the the balloon-decked gates of the Vicarage garden and soon the lawns were covered by rugs and picnics and the stalls were patronised. Hot drinks were particularly welcome, and we also sold a large container of ice cream!

A group of mothers from the Pram Service - Julie Brant, Janet Prince, Tina Richards, Annie Landon, Jennie King, worked hard to plan the occasion and husbands were 'roped in' to help set up the stalls and man the gates, so it was very much a family affair. Members of the 'Explorers' group helped with background music and the toddlers play area and the very small children found it wasn't so difficult to spell 'Paddington' after all. Aidan Manktelow made a very good Paddington and joined the Landon granparents, visiting for the day, who were persuaded to judge the competitions. Bears' costumes were many and various and the oldest bear attending (looking it must be said 'much loved') admitted to being 57 years old

Even without the snshine it was a very successful occasion and worth repeating in some form on future 'May Days'.

Hallmark February 1994. Letter to the editor from Stuart King, Holly Tree Cottage, Kiln Lane :-

Dear Sir,

You asked in the last edition, "What became of Naka Rafju Swayamvarapu?" As Organist and Choir Director at St. John's Church I am probably the best qualified to give a reply to this question. When I took over the post in 1988 our sponsorship of Nuka Raju continued for a further 5 years. We received regular letters from him and the children and adults in the Choir followed his progress with interest. At the end of 1992 we were advised by The Save The Children Fund that as he was 18 years old and was seeking full time employment, we should end the relationship. In his place, however, the Church Choir now sponsors a young girl in Kenya called Jane Wambui Muthoka who is one of a family of eight. Our annual contribution helps her family pay towards the cost of her secondary education.

Incidentally, Lacey Green can be proud of the fact that unlike many villages of its size it has a flourishing Church Choir, a village tradition and institution I have been most honoured to be entrusted with. With a current membership of 20 we work hard week in week out come rain, snow or plagues of locusts assisting Sunday and Holy Day worship. Apart from singing which we love, we have been known to have the occasional party with silly games, the odd barbeque, outing and our carol singing round the pub at Christmas; 1993 raised over £300 for less fortunate children. Our doors are always open to new members. At present we would particularly welcome more youngsters (minimum age 7 with a good reading skill, some basic musical knowledge and an ability to submit to firm but fair discipline) and we require urgently an assistant choir director and organist.

Stuart king

Hallmark March 1995. VE Day Commemoration and Celebration By Peter Hale

There are probably many in our community who remember the day in 1945 – I recall it as a teenager in Lincolnshire. Fifty years is a long time and generations are now growing up which have no knowledge of the events which preceded that day. The horrors of the war in Europe, the bombing of our country, and the tremendous loss of life, both military and civilian. When we come to such an anniversary it is good that we pause to do two things – to celebrate and commemorate.

In our community, together with Speen, there will be a Thanksgiving & Commemoration Service in St. John's on Sunday May 7^th at 10.00am. I hope that many in our community will come along that morning and share in that worship. I shall be sending out letters to various organisations but please take this as An Omnibus Invitation to say 'Thank You' to God for our deliverance on that day and the 50 years that have followed.

This is our Commemoration so my wife and I would like very much to extend that to a Celebration on the next day which is going to be a Bank Holiday. We would like to have a Parash Picnic in the Vicarage grounds. Every one bring their own picnic, and drinks, and games for the children we will provide. No charge for admission to the ground. Come and celebrate and have fun. We would like to suggest that everyone coming wears or carries something in our national colours to make it all bright and jolly (I daren't say gay!)

Let us make good use of this Commemoration, for most of us will not see the Centenary!

Hallmark September 1995. Peter Hale

Peter Lathom Hale, Vicar of St John's Church, Lacey Green, formally retired on 30th September 1995 after 39 years in the Ministry. Peter was born in 1930 in Croydon and came to us in June 1990, where he combined his ministerial duties with the exacting role of Chairman of Governors of both Lacey Green and Speen village schools.

He was ordained in Lincoln in 1956 and his very active career commenced as a curate in Scunthorpe. This was followed by a term in Gibraltar, as precentor. On Peter's return, he was appointed vicar at St Adeans, Cleethorpes, where he met and married Elizabeth; then a spell as Chaplain at a Public School in Kidderminster. The next appointment took him to Crowthorne for 10 years – and he was appointed Rural Dean of Sonning. Thence to Cookham and, finally, to St John's, Lacey Green.

Peter and Elizabeth are blessed with one son Francis.

We are sad to lose Peter but grateful for the few years he has spent with us. We wish both Peter and Elizabeth a long and happy retirement, in the knowledge that they have both contributed much to our community.

Hallmark March 1996. Report by Father Richard

Following recommendation by the Bishop of Buckingham, an - initial meeting with the Wardens and then with the Parochial Church Council, our new Priest-in-Charge has been chosen. He is the Reverend Richard Caink, at present vicar of St Paul and St Mary the Virgin, Wooburn. His formal acceptance was sent to the Bishop and the Licensing Service will be in St John's Church at 7.30 pm on 11th July 1996.

Richard Caink and his wife are looking forward very much to coming to this parish and may look forward with confidence to a warm welcome. Reproduced below is Richard Caink's open letter of introduction to the parish, recently published in the parish magazine – "Viewpoint"

“Dear People of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen,

Having been invited by Colin, Bishop of Buckingham, to become your new priest-in-charge, I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to write something about myself in Viewpoint.

What a joy if was meeting the wardens and the church council members. I have 2 (adult) children and 2.5 grandchildren and am in my 60^th year.

Having lived for a decade in the depths of Wooburn's Wye Valley, upon seeing the high ground of your Ridge, my first reaction was "Oh boy, at last I might get decent FM Radio 3 reception!" My second reaction was to quail at the size of the vicarage lawn. I shall need those beguilingly attractive parish pubs to slake my thirst after a mowing session. My final reaction was to drink in the beauty of your parish and to wonder why God had been so good to give me the chance to live and work in such a lovely place.

Jenny, my wife, and | truly look forward to becoming ever better acquainted with as many of you as possible in order that we might together grow to love one another in holiness.