Kathleen Church

Kath Church rode her bike to work at Downley School

Harry and 'Kath' Church

Kathleen Ellen Brown born 1908 at The Crown was the daughter of Lawrence & Sarah Brown.

She married Harry Church in 1937. They lived at 'Linden Lea', Westlands Road.

'Kath' Church wrote about her schooldays. click Lacey Green School recalled by Kathleen Church

'Kath' Church wrote her memories of The Crown, which were published in 'Hallmark'. For these click 1924 The Crown Inn, and 1935 The Crown, Cricket Teas.

Hallmark June 1983. Parish Council Election. Kathleen Church returned unopposed.

Kathleen wrote the report on behalf of the Methodist Chapel, Lacey Green, for Hallmark twice in the 1980's

Hallmark 2001. The Methodist Church closed. Spanning over three quarters of a century as organist at the Methodist Church in Lacey Green Mrs Kathleen Church has finally played her last notes – because the church has closed.

Kathleen has lived in Lacey Green all her 93 years and barely missed a service since she took up playing at the age of 11. She can still vividly remember being taught to play the organ.   She said “I went to school in the village at the age of three”   “My infant teacher Nancy played the organ in St. John’s Church and when I was a bit older I used to help her.   Eventually she taught me to play”

As well as the Sunday services Mrs Church has also spent the majority of the last century playing at weddings, funerals and at Sunday school. But, due to reorganisation of the High Wycombe Methodist Church circuit and a shortage of local preachers the 146 year old church has closed.

Pre-war, Lacey Green was a far cry from the village Mrs. Church knows today.   She has seen hundreds of Sunday school children grow up, marry and bring their own children to hear her play.   She explained “In those days there were no cars of course and not so many people.  Families were larger and there were a lot of children.   Church was the place where we all met friends and it was somewhere we belonged”

At the final service in Lacey Green Mrs Church was joined by 110 former Sunday school pupils and villagers, who thanked her for her outstanding service.   Mrs Church added “I have played here because I enjoy it, for all my life I have not indulged in anything other than what it is my pleasure to do”

Obituary

Kathleen (Kath) Ellen Church died in 2005. The following obituary was published in 'Hallmark'

Lacey Green mourns the passing of Kathleen Church, one of the fast declining number of people born in the village and remaining resident here for the whole of their lives. Kathleen was the oldest member of Lacey Green Methodist Church before its closure in 2001, and her life was devoted to children and activities within the Church.

Born Kathleen Ellen Brown, her early home was at 'The Crown' (where Crown Cottages now stand) in Church Lane. Attending Lacey Green School her day school teacher also taught her to play the piano and the organ. Her love of music and singing led to her appointment as organist at Lacey Green Methodist Church, at the tender age of eleven. This was an appointment she continued to fulfil for eighty two years until the Church closed in 2001, for more click 2001 Methodist Organist, Kathleen Church. For other presentations click 2001 Methodist Church Closes. As the years progressed this was a commitment to three services every Sunday, playing for the Sunday School in the morning, followed by afternoon and evening worship.

In 1919 Kathleen was awarded a scholarship to High Wycombe Girls High School. On leaving the High School and completing teacher training, she took a post at Downley (Chapel Street) School, teaching there until her retirement.

In 1937 Kathleen married Harry Church at Lacey Green Methodist Church. They set up home at 'Linden Lea' in the Bitfield, now renamed Westlands Road, where they remained all their married life.

Her love of teaching children in the week also extended to Sundays, with work as a teacher in the Methodist Sunday School. Her ability to make every child, either in School or Sunday School, feel very important was the secret of her success. In 1976 Kathleen was presented with a silver rose bowl, in appreciation of fifty years service to the Sunday School. However her work was to continue for another twenty-five years, making seventy-five years in all

Condolences are extended to sister Nancy, nephews and their families.

NOTE. Dennis Claydon was a good organist player. It was Kathleen Church who had taught him on the chapel organ.