Methodist Chapel, Lacey Green
From Lacey Green History
click Properties for list of others
In the photo to the right of the Chapel outing in 1953 the people are from l - r :-
Colin Macey on step. Jean Janes with Carol Janes in front. Ivy Janes with Leslie Janes in front. Kath Church with Vivienne Janes in front. Barbara Janes in arms of Ted Janes. Roger Janes at front. Barry Macey next to Roger. Harold Janes at back with Barry Macey in front. Brian Kirby at front. Dennis Claydon at end by Barry.
Reported in Hallmark 1978 by Mrs E Claydon
Mr Basil Rixon conducted the Children's Carol Service and his wife received the traditional gifts for the Leonard West Home at Aylesbury.
The Christmas Nativity Tableau arranged by Mrs K Church and conducted by Mrs E Jarvis was attended by many parents and friends.
During the festive period a party of children from the Sunday School, with teachers and friends, sang carols round the village, and on Christmas Eve the party was received in the traditional manner by Mr and Mrs Plowman and their family at Lane Farm.
On New Year's Eve the Sunday School annual party was held in the Village Hall. Mr Gordon May, Sunday School Superintendent, welcomed children, parents and friends, presented attendance prizes, and expressed to the ladies for preparing such an excellent tea. Party games were led by Mrs K Church, Mr E Cummins, Mr Gordon May and Mr A Randall. Later in the evening each child received a present from Miss D Parslow.
Reported in Hallmark June 1982 by Mrs E Claydon. "Sunday School Anniversary Services were conducted by Rev. Roy Jackson. Children who contributed special items were Claire Jackson, Angela Butler, Annette Buter, Sally May, Caroline Oakford, Kelly Carter, Matthew and Gemma Kirby, James and Giles Edwards, Elizabeth McCleish, Peter and Pauline Dell, Sally And David Pomeroy, Georgina Parslow. Caroline Oakford also gave a violin solo.
Those in the photo to the left are - at the back Mrs Kathleen Church, the taller boys at the back from l-r, are Ron Janes, Douglas Parslow and Barry Macey. 3 slightly taller girls are l-r, Phyllis Janes, Carol Janes,and Daphne Boorman. The front row l-r. are Dorothy Parslow, Anne Thompson, Ian Thomson, Keith Janes, Colin Macey, Kay Saunders, Roger Janes, boy ?, boy ?, Richard Stallwood
METHODIST CHAPEL at LACEY GREEN local extracts from research of 'Methodism' by Dennis Claydon
LAND PURCHASED
May 25th 1855. Conveyance. John Janes of Loosley Row, labourer, sold two pieces of land in Lacey Green for £5 to the trustees of a new Methodist chapel. See John & Elizabeth Janes.
BUILD COST The chapel was 33 feet by 23 feet, and built for £182-3s-1¾d (£182-16p). It had a ‘Tortoise’ stove for warmth and was lit by candlelight.
OPENED The first service was September 23rd 1855.
OIL LAMPS In 1869 oil lamps enhanced the candlelight
MORE LAND August 7th 1870 Conveyance.
Mrs. Elizabeth Janes, widow of the late John Janes of Highwood Bottom, sold to the trustees of the Methodist Chapel at Lacey Green. -- A small piece of ground adjoining the chapel, 6 feet wide and 60 feet long for £2. See John Janes & Mary, nee Randall.
COPPER HOUSE & CLOSET On this land was erected a new copper house with a copper for convenience at the tea meetings and a closet in which to store chapel property, at the cost of £21. It was built by Alfred Ward of Lower Road, Loosley Row. click Alfred & Betsy Ward for more about Alfred.
MORE LAND FOR SCHOOLROOM November 19th 1880 Conveyance. Miss Caroline Janes, daughter of John & Elizabeth Janes of Highwood Bottom sold to Moses Tomkins, as trustee of the chapel, land on which to build a schoolroom. This was opened in 1886.
GIFT FROM WISCONSIN August 7th 1889 Conveyance of gift. William Mawby Tomkins, born Loosley Row, now of Wisconsin, USA, gave to Alfred Ward and Others (chapel trustees), land adjacent to the chapel, to be an investment for the chapel to let out in 1894 to Mrs A Ward for 23/- shillings p.a.
STRANGE OCCURRENCE FOR TENANT
Whilst in the 1920s, let to Mr Edwin Rixon and Sons, chair bodgers, for 15/- p.a.(75p), there was a strange occurrence. They had erected a workshop on the site. On arriving one morning they found a subsidence had occurred during the night and their chopping block had disappeared into a shaft some eight to ten feet in diameter and several feet deep. At the bottom of the shaft a tunnel extended in a westerly direction for a considerable distance. It was concluded that at some time in the past, chalk had been extracted for agricultural purposes, as was the custom. The shaft was refilled. This is now in the garden of the next door property called ‘Dry Hillocks’.
NEW PORCH. On New Year‘s Day 1911 After many setbacks a newly renovated Porch to the chapel was opened at a cost of £25.
NEW 2nd HAND ORGAN for METHODIST CHURCH. In the 1920s a second-hand American organ was purchased for the Methodist Church at Lacey Green. This replaced the harmonium of 1895, which itself had replaced an earlier one. This new instrument, pumped by hand, faithfully served the church for forty years.
ELECTRICITY. In 1930 electricity was connected and replaced the oil lamp lighting.
Women' Meeting. In 1932 the lady members of the Methodists formed a Women's Meeting or Women's Own, sometimes referred to as the Women's Fellowship. Under the Presidency of Mrs Clara Rixon, this took the form of fortnightly meetings, conducted either by a Minister or by an invited guest speaker. These meetings were open to both Church members and friends from the villages. (click Edwin & Clara Rixon for more about Clara.)
CEMETERY. In 1934 Permission was granted for their land behind the chapel to be used as a cemetery. The first internment was in 1937.
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. In 1955 the schoolroom was enlarged, the kitchen reconstructed and refurbished and other improvements made to celebrate the centenary of the chapel.
MAINS WATER. The chapel had an underground water tank to collect roof water and in 1955 mains water was installed.
WAR MEMORIAL. Following WW1 it was decided to make new entrance gates which would display a memorial to the fallen from the chapel members. More names were added after WW2.
25th Anniversary. 1957. Press Report. Members of Lacey Green Meeting Club of Women's Fellowship celebrated the 25th anniversary on saturday, with a tea and social evening. Secretary Mrs F Claydon preseted a pot plant and decorative bowl on behalf of the members to Mrs Clara Rixon, ho has been President of the Women's Meeting since its inception. Friends from other churches entertained during the event and seeches paid tribute to the 25 years of devoted service hich Mrs Rixon has given to the Women's Organisation.. The Women's Meetings remained operational until the closure of the church in 2001.
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.
A verse from one of Charles Wesley's hymns reads:
Gladly may we all agree, bound in one community;Kindly for each other came, all our joys and sorrows share.
This is the great thing, we are able to join in as one Church - one Fellowship - to sing praises together.
It was most appropriate that 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 Charles Wesley the great hymn writer of the 18th century.
Many thanks to those who enriched the service by giving us an insight, not only about the writer of the hymn but also of their own personal feelings of why they had chosen it.
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
It's lovely to know that the Parish Church of St. John's is used not only for Sunday Services but quite extensively by the people of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen for Christenings, Weddings and the sad occasion of a funeral.
CLOSURE. In 2001 the chapel was closed, due to reduction of the High Wycombe circuit.
CHAPEL SOLD. The chapel was sold and permission obtained to build a house.
CEMETERY SOLD. In 2006 the cemetery was acquired by the Parish Council, renaming it ‘The Garden of Rest' . No longer a gateway the four brick piers of the original memorial were replicated in Portland stone with the pier caps reused and are now situated within the garden of rest with a seat incorporated to replace the gates. New plaques record the fallen.
DEDICATION. June 8TH 2014. The new memorial was dedicated in the garden of rest.