Difference between revisions of "Lacey Green Church"

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click [[Church Hallmark Reports]] for these
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2005 [[Celebrations]]
  
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click [[Flower Festival in 1980s photos]] for all the photos
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'''2025 [[Reports for Lacey Green Church from March 2025]]'''
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'''[[The Time Line of Lacey Green Church to 2025]].'''
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'''click [[Church Reports in Hallmark August 2020 to February 2025 inc]]'''
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click [[Church Reports in Hallmark August 1983 to March 1996 inc]]
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click [[Flower Festival in 1980s photos]] for all the photos.
  
 
click [[2015 Exhibition of Wedding Dresses]] held in the church.
 
click [[2015 Exhibition of Wedding Dresses]] held in the church.
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click [[Reverend Steward]] for report in the Parish magazine in November 1955.
 
click [[Reverend Steward]] for report in the Parish magazine in November 1955.
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[[File:Parish Church.jpg|alt=|thumb]]
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[[File:St. Johns Church.jpg|alt=|thumb]]
 
[[File:Parish Church.jpg|left|thumb]]
 
[[File:Parish Church.jpg|left|thumb]]
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'''1980 Gift of £9,300''' given by Mrs Waite (click [[Arthur & Joyce Waite]] for their life story) to re-roof the church in Arthur's memory.
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In 1903 a report in St John's Church magazine of their Cricket Club concert read as follows: -
  
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'''"A very successful concert was given on behalf of our Cricket Club''' on Wednesday, November 18th, in the Lacey Green Schoolroom.  The programme was as follows: -
  
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'''Hallmark August 1988. "Songs of Praise"'''
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Pianoforte solo, Miss. M. Watson.    Song, "True till death", Mr. Redding.   Song, "Just a little bit of string", Miss. Arnold.    Song, "Farmer Giles", Mr. H Bloss.    Sketch, "The Geese", Misses Arnold and Davies.  Song, "The Bandoliers", Mr Roebuck.    Pianoforte duet, The Misses Tighe.  Song, "The Kerry Dance", Miss Baldwin.  Duet, "LIfe's Dream is o'er", Miss Arnold and Mr Roebuck.    Song. "The Cork Lee", Mr Baker.     Recitation, "The Road to Heaven", Miss Watson.  Pianoforte solo, Miss M Watson.  Duet, "Excelsior", Miss Arnold and Mr Roebuck.  Song, "The Tin Ge-gee", Miss Arnold.    Farce, "Sloey", Risborough Minstrels.  Song, "Santa Claus", Mr Henley.
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[[File:Church Roof 01.jpg|thumb]]
 
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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.
 
  
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This is the great thing, we are able to join in as one Church - one Fellowship - to sing praises together.
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We have to thank very kindly all those who took part in the programme, and especially Mr Roebuck, to whom we owe the success of the concert.
  
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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.
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We have also to thank Mrs Tighe for kindly lending plants, etc. for the platform, and Mr J W Saunders for kindly putting up the same, and Mr Arnold for kindly coming and acting as accompanist.  '''The proceeds amounted to £4-7 shillings'''."
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[[File:Lacey Green Parish Magazine Oct 1905.jpg|left|thumb|Parish Magazine 1905]]
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'''1905.   Letter in the Parish Magazine.'''  To “Dear Parishioners and Friends” from the [[Reverend William Robson]].
  
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To those who worked so hard in providing the refreshments, and for the beautiful floral arrangements that adorned the Church. Our grateful thanks.
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'''The new stained glass window in memory of Mrs Eveline Forrest''', which is so much admired by all, is a beautiful piece of work, and the colouring harmonises perfectly with that of the chancel.   The figures depicted are “Faith” and "Charity.   Superb in themselves as they are, no figures could be more suitable for our church which is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, which sums up the Christian religion as "Faith and Love".  The window Is illustrated from one of the finest chapters of the New Testament, 1 Corinthians xiii, every clause of which throbs with inspiration.   May the teaching of the window be a source of blessing to generation after generation of worshippers to Lacey Green Church.
  
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The collection in aid of the MacMillan Nurses Fund raised £71.55.   ([[Charity Events]] for other events.)
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On Saturday, June 3<sup>rd</sup>, by the desire of Mr. Forrest himself, I undertook the touching and yet pleasing duty of dedication the window to the memory of Mrs. Eveline Forrest   There, quite quietly, in our church on that Saturday morning assembled Mr. Forrest, Mr. Frank Forrest, Mr. Guy Forrest, the servants at [[Grymsdyke]] and very few others, and we held a quiet service, befitting the solemn and pathetic occasion, a service in which praise and thanksgiving and the glory of God were joined with a loving desire and purpose to perpetuate the memory of His servant, Eveline Forrest.
  
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'''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.
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The full inscription on the window is “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Eveline, wife of John Forrest, who died January 27<sup>th</sup>, 1905.  This window is erected by her husband and their children."  The work of Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Baynes,14, Garrick Street, London.1925.
  
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Churchwardens Mollie Ward and John Tate offer congratulations to Raymond Maynard on his translation from Priest-in-Charge to Vicar of Lacey Green.
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'''Tuesday September 19th 1905'''   The adult members of the Church Choir spent the afternoon at the Vicarage, and before and after tea enjoyed '''tennis and other games.'''
  
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'''Hallmark September 1989.  Musings on Previous Church Activities''' by Madeline Cleaver
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'''The Bucks Free Press published the following report''' -'''The Centenary Celebrations of St John's Church, Lacey Green,''' commenced in the evening of July 2nd 1925 when '''t'''here was a Preparation Service at which the Rev. A M Berry preached.
  
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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.
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On July 3rd there were three celebrations of the Holy Communion at 6,8 and 10.20 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.  Several neighbourhood clergy took part in the service.
  
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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!
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At evensong the Bishop of Buckingham preached in place of the late Bishop of Oxford.
  
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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.
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Festival services were continued on Sunday.  At Sunday evensong Bishop of E.A. Copleston, formerly 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.
  
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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.
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On Saturday afternoon there was a cricket match (played in the field kindly lent by Mr. F Floyd), between the boys of Speen and Lacey Green with Loosley Row.   The former were no match for the latter, suffering defeat by an innings, but played a sporting game.
  
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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.
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At 3.30 tea was given to 137 children of the parish.
  
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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.
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The tea for adults followed, for which 8d tickets had been sold.  There were two sittings for 205 persons.   The tea, shared in by the Church and Chapel-folk alike was a veritable love-feast.
  
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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.
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Miss Tighe and her band of helpers deserve hearty congratulations for the admirable arrangements.
  
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'''''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?''
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Sports for the children followed, from 5.30 to 8.30; Mr H E Carter being the President and Referee.
  
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''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.''
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Mr W Plumridge brought the Speen String and Brass Band without charge, and they played during all three teas in the Village Hall and during the Sports, the music greatly added to the enjoyment of the afternoon, and the spirit of brotherly co-operation which led them to come, was highly appreciated.
  
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''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.''
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'''1931 In his report of living in Lacey Green''' Douglas Brett said "The absence of cars meant that the main traffic was from horses and carts.   I remember when someone was very ill near the school, straw was spread across the road to muffle the sound of cart wheels.   Although no one had private telephones news spread quickly when someone died.   The Church was notified and the bell tolled slowly once for every year of the dead person’s life.
  
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''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.''
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'''1931 Report'''
  
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'''Hallmark October 1990. Extract from the Editor's Diary''' - "The new vicar inaugurated a pram service on Tuesday mornings.
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Churchwardens ---- Mr. George Adams and Mr Arthur Alldridge
  
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'''Hallmark November 1990.'''  '''Church News''' by The Rev. Peter Hale
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Secretary of the Parochial Church Council ----Miss Eleanor Tyler.
  
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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.
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Treasurer ---- Mr. Herbert Tanner.
  
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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.
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Vicar --- Rev.C. Oscar Moreton
  
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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.
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'''The Vestry and Annual Church Meeting''' was held at the Village Hall, Lacey Green, on Friday, Jan. 23rd. at 8 p.m., and was preceded by a social and light refreshments.  We are glad to be able to report that there was a larger attendance than in the last few years.
  
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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.
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'''At the Meeting of the Vestry''' the Vicar stated that it was with much pleasure that he received Mr. George Adams' consent to stand as Vicar's Warden for another year. The meeting then proceeded to the election of the People's Warden and it was with very keen regret that we learnt that Mr. F H Middleton would no longer be able to allow his name to stand for nomination.  He and his family will shortly be removing to the parish of Hughenden.  Mr. and Mrs. Middleton will be greatly missed in the life and work of this parish and of its church.  our good wishes go with them to their new home and we hope sometimes they will return to worship in the Church which they have served so faithfully for many years.
  
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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!
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The meeting then elected Mr. A  Alldridge as People's Warden and we give him a hearty welcome to his new office.
  
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'''Hallmark February 1994.'''  Letter to the editor from Stuart King, [[Holly Tree Cottage]], Kiln Lane :-
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The following gentlemen were elected as sidesmen :---Messrs. F. Adams, G. Baker, J. Baker, C. Gregory, S. Janes, Jnr., F. Martin, W.H. Millward, H G Rand,Jnr., W.Redrup, J.H.Riley & R. Tilbury.
  
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Dear Sir,
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'''At the Annual Meeting''' the Vicar thanked the retiring members of the Church Council for their loyal co-operation and support during the past year.
  
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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.
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A copy of the revised Electoral Roll was presented to the meeting, the total number of names on the roll now being 146 as compared with 118 last year.
  
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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.
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The Secretary then read an interesting and very carefully prepared report of the Church and Parish affairs which was adopted by the meeting, as also was the statement of accounts presented by the Treasurer Mr. Herbert Tanner.   The total expenditure on Church Expenses is £226-17s-10&1/2d, on work overseas £42-13s-6d on Home Church £40-16s-7d, and on Charities £22-2s-&1/2d.  It is a very satisfactory feature that there is a balance in hand of over £43.
  
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Stuart king
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The Summary of Accounts has been printed and a copy will be sent to any parishioner on application to the Treasurer.
  
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'''Hallmark March 1995.'''  '''VE Day Commemoration and Celebration'''  By Peter Hale
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The following were elected by the meeting as Parochial Church Councillors for 1931 ---Mr F Adams, Mrs Alldridge, Mr J Baker, Mrs A Hickman, Miss Jarvis, Mr Martin, Mr Millward, Mr W Redrup, Mr H Tanner, Miss E Tyler.
  
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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.
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'''Scholarships'''  It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that two scholars from our Schools have gained Scholarships in the recent examinations held at High Wycombe.
  
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In our community, together with Speen, there will be a Thanksgiving & Commemoration Service in St. John's on Sunday May 7<sup>th</sup> 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.
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Nancy Brown from Lacey Green School has gained a Scholarship at the Girls High School at High Wycombe.----and
  
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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!)
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Irene Kingaby from Speen School has obtained a Scholarship at the Wycombe Technical Institute.
  
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Let us make good use of this Commemoration, for most of us will not see the Centenary!
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We heartily congratulate both scholars, and though we have to part with them we hope they will ever remember with affection their old schools and those who have been responsible for training them in their work.
  
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'''Hallmark September 1995'''.   Peter Hale
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'''1944. Report by Doug Tilbury.'''  When I joined the church choir in 1944 aged 10, it consisted mainly of men and boys.  The '''Choir leader''' was [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Reverend_J._Steward Reverend Steward].
  
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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.
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'''Basses''' sat in the back pew on the right.   '''Boys''' in front of them.   '''Ladies''' sat in the back left pew.
  
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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.
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'''but Revd. Steward preferred''' a choir of men and boys.   During war time, a few ladies were permitted.
  
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Peter and Elizabeth are blessed with one son Francis.
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'''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.
  
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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.
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'''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.
  
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'''Hallmark March 1996.'''   Report by Father Richard
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'''Choir pay''' was sixpence and a bag of sour apples from the vicarage garden at Harvest time 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    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.
  
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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.
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'''Reverend Steward 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 clima
  
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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"
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'''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.
  
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“Dear People of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen,
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'''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 even though their hight had been reduced. click [[1944 Stocken Farm Airfield]]  for the story of the airfield and photos.
  
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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.
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'''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<sup>th</sup> squadron.   On demob many returning young men were asked to serve on the PCC (Parochial Church Council).
  
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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<sup>th</sup> year.
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'''1975  150th Centenary of St John's Curch.'''  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
  
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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.
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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 :-
  
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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.
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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
  
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'''Hallmark August 2020.'''  '''Welcome Back to St Johns Church'''
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On Tuesday afternoon there will be a special service, followed by a tea party for the 81st Club.
  
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By Pat Rushmere
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A concert is being arranged for Wednesday evening, in the church, with the Chinnor Singers and also handbell ringers.
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[[File:Church Roof 02.jpg|thumb|The ceiling]]
 
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We had our first service on Tuesday 14th July at 9:30am and the first Sunday service will be held on the 19th July at 10:00am.
 
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[[File:Inside Vicarage.jpg|left|thumb]]
 
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We are operating under the Diocesan guidelines and therefore there will only be these 2 services each week as the Church has to be sanitized between services or alternatively, we have to leave a 72 hours gap between services.
 
  
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No singing is permitted and face masks should be worn. Social distancing is 2m and hand sanitizers will be available. A disposable service sheet will be handed out at each service as prayer books cannot be used. You can of course bring your own if you wish.
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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.
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[[File:St. Johns Church.jpg|left|thumb]]
 
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[[File:St Johns Church 03.jpg|thumb|The Christmas crib. ]]
 
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Holy Communion will take place in a different format but. advice will be given on the procedure on the day.
 
  
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The Pewsheet will continue to be distributed by email and the Zoom service will continue for the foreseeable future, but at a later time of 11:00am.
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The school is staging an exhibition which will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  
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Both Schools have had services in Church this week. St John’s School leavers had their service on the 16th July and Speen School on 17th July. There were approximately 45 leavers from St John’s School - as always, some sadness but many happy memories!
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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.
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[[File:St Johns Church 02.jpg|alt=/|thumb|The altar]]
 
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[[File:St Johns Church Flower Cross.jpg|left|thumb|Easter Cross outside the St. John's Church ]]
 
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'''Hallmark February 2021.  St. John's Church'''  by Pat Rushmore.  Like most others, we have had a very uncertain time since the last issue of Hallmark.  Whilst the church was open, services continued as usual and in  addition we had zoom services on Sundays at 11 am as many people felt safer, or indeed needed to shield.  The Zoom service still has good numbers and we have seen some new faces, and some people who have returned to Church, during these services.
 
  
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Christmas services were a challenge as the number of congregation were limited and the Church had to be sanitised between services.  Nevertheless, on Christmas Eve we had a zoomed service which was led from the  Church and other places (two live donkeys included), a zoomed Carol Service with lessons being read from different homes and all the services included the excellent singing from the Mole family. The music and singing were fantastic!
+
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.
  
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On Christmas morning a service was held in the Church and this service was zoomed to those who could not attend.
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In the evening of Saturday there will be a Birthday Dance with supper, in the Village Hall.
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[[File:St Johns Church 01.jpg|thumb|The pulpit]]
 
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Now of course, as we are in lockdown once more, we are back to Zoom services only at 10am on Sundays and 9.30am on Tuesdays.
 
  
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The Church is also open  for Private Prayer on two days during the week (Tuesday morning from 10am to 10.30am and Thursday evening from 7pm to 7.30pm).  If you would like to join in the Zoom services you can contact Canon Tony or one of the Churchwardens for details.   You will be most welcome
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During early evening Friday and at intervals Saturday, when people will be visiting the church and viewing the flowers, we shall have organ music.
  
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The pictures were taken in the Church at Christmas - not our usual display but the important things were there!  Here is hoping that in 2021 life will return to normal.
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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. 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.
  
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'''Hallmark June 2020.  The Church of Saint John The Evangelist —A Brief History.'''    By Tony Bundock
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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.
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Did you know that five years from now the Church of St. John the Evangelist which serves the Parish of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen, will be 200 years old?
 
  
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It was built during the period from May 1823 to May 1825, originally as a Chapel of Ease attached to the Parish Church of St. Mary’s, Princes Risborough, and constructed in traditional Chiltern flint. The Church was consecrated by the Right Reverend George Pelham, Bishop of Lincoln, at a morning service on 3rd July 1825 in the sixth year of the reign of the then young Queen Victoria.
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Choir.   report added by Madeline Cleaver
  
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The preacher was the Archdeacon of Bedford, the Venerable Henry Kay Bonney. There was also an evening service that day at which the preacher was the Reverend Richard London, Prebendary of St. Paul’s Cathedral; and a service at which 19 baptisms took place!
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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.
  
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Victorian Anglicans, whether from the Evangelical or Catholic tradition, actively engaged in a campaign to restore the Church of England to the heart of national life. Something like a third of our Church buildings were constructed in the 19<sup>th</sup> Century and St. John’s can therefore be said to have been part of this major national initiative.
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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.
  
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The Victorians, and notably the Church, also sought to promote education for the wider population with many church schools being built including St. John’s School in Lacey Green, dating from 1842, and Speen School dating back to 1874.
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'''1980 Gift of £9,300''' given by Mrs Waite (click [[Arthur & Joyce Waite]] for their life story) to re-roof the church in Arthur's memory.
  
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St. John’s Church was originally configured as a simple cruciform building consisting only of the present nave and two transepts. Extensive alterations took place in 1871 when the polygonal chancel was added with its very fine painted ceiling. Two galleries were removed as being considered to be “obstructing the architectural proportions of the church”, The pulpit was also added at this time.
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'''Hallmark October 1990. Extract from the Editor's Diary''' - "The new vicar inaugurated a pram service on Tuesday mornings
  
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In 1993, the floor was renewed with a time capsule being placed underneath; the floor tiles were made in Staffordshire. In 1994, the west gallery was converted into the Upper Room which is used for meetings, social gatherings, and children’s activities.
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'''Hallmark November 1990.'''  '''Church News''' by The Rev. Peter Hale
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[[File:Church Roof 02.jpg|thumb|Church ceiling]]
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[[File:Inside Vicarage.jpg|left|thumb|church interior. note lamps!]]
 +
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.
  
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The south transept was first set up in 1927 as what is now the Lady Chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, having previously contained inward facing pews. By 1980 “the chapel and its furnishings had fallen into some disrepair”. Since then the Lady Chapel has been completely redecorated and refurnished with chairs made locally in Stokenchurch.
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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.
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[[File:Church Roof 01.jpg|thumb]]
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[[File:St Johns Church Flower Cross.jpg|left|thumb|Easter Sunday Cross. The service started at the cross.]]
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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.
  
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The pipe organ at St. John’s is a 1792 example of the work of the well-known 18th Century organ builder Samuel Green, who was also responsible for the 1783 organ in High Wycombe Parish Church, and the 1790 organ in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.
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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!
  
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In 1944, a bequest was received from a Lacey Green resident, Mrs. Carter of “[[Gracefield]]”, and this provided the opportunity for major works to the organ which was at the time in poor condition. These works were Carried out by Kingsgate Davidson of London. The renovation works to the organ which have recently been proposed involve a degree of restoration of the organ partially to its original Georgian condition.
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'''Hallmark February 1994.'''  Letter to the editor from Stuart King, [[Holly Tree Cottage]], Kiln Lane :-
  
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The original pews were of stained pine with raked backs and one of these pews remains in situ at the back of the church. The present light oak pews were acquired from a school chapel in London.
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Dear Sir,
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[[File:St Johns Church 03.jpg|left|thumb|The Christmas crib comes out every year]]
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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.
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[[File:St Johns Church 02.jpg|thumb|Not much Christmas decoration due to [[Covid]]]]
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[[File:St Johns Church 01.jpg|left|thumb|Not much Christmas decoration due to [[Covid]]]]
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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.
  
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The pastoral area of the Parish of Lacey Green, Loosely Row & Speen was formed in August 1851, out of part of the Parish of Princes Risborough. St. John’s continued to be known as a Parochial Chapel until 1868 when it officially became a Parish Church under the direction of the Bishop of Oxford.
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Stuart king
  
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At the same time, the title of the minister-in-charge was changed from Perpetual Curate to Vicar. In 1998 the Risborough Team Ministry came into existence and comprises the Parishes of Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough, and Bledlow; together with St. John’s, Lacey Green, Loosley Row & Speen. The Team Ministry exists to promote across the wider benefice the following aims:
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'''Hallmark March 1995.'''  '''VE Day Commemoration and Celebration'''  By Peter Hale
  
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- Mutual support
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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
  
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- Collaboration in Christian training and development
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In our community, together with Speen, there will be a Thanksgiving & Commemoration Service in St. John's on Sunday May 7<sup>th</sup> 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
  
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- Joint ventures in worship and mission
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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!)
  
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- Clergy and other ministerial cover.
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Let us make good use of this Commemoration, for most of us will not see the Centenary!
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More detailed information about St. John’s Church can be found on our website: www.stjohnschurchlaceygreen.co.uk
 
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'''Hallmark February 2024'''.  '''Christmas Service at St Johns.'''  Report by Tony Bundock
 
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It was a very successful Christmas at Saint John’s, as it was for the Church of England as a whole. Each year the Dioceses of the Church of England collect attendance data from each Parish and our experience seems to match the national picture that weekly numbers suggest that we are gradually moving back to where we were before the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown.
 
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In fact, the Bishop of Oxford has advised his clergy that attendances at Christmas services for 2023 were higher than they were in 2019.
 
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So far as Saint John’s is concerned, our most popular Christmas services now seem to be the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on the evening of the Sunday before Christmas and which follows the traditional King’s College Cambridge pattern; and our Crib Service on the afternoon of Christmas Eve which attracts a great number of younger families and children.
 
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The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols featured our talented and enthusiastic choir, and a number of guest readers from the wider community including our two parish schools. The Crib Service for 2023 included the story “Little Old Donkey” which involved fifteen glove puppets held by children from the congregation, as well as four young lesson readers, and a moving performance of “Away in a Manger” with Makaton sign language.
 
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Midnight Mass continues to have a distinctive appeal although the indications are that it is not as popular as was once the case, with adverse weather that night possibly a factor for 2023.
 
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There was a good attendance at our Christmas morning service which felt very relaxing after the very busy period leading up to it: and we were pleased to mark saint John’s festival day on the 27th December with a special patronal service and cake and wine to follow.
 

Latest revision as of 12:38, 27 November 2025

2005 Celebrations

2025 Reports for Lacey Green Church from March 2025

The Time Line of Lacey Green Church to 2025.

click Church Reports in Hallmark August 2020 to February 2025 inc

click Church Reports in Hallmark August 1983 to March 1996 inc

click Flower Festival in 1980s photos for all the photos.

click 2015 Exhibition of Wedding Dresses held in the church.

click 2015 Visitors to the Wedding Dresses Exhibition

click RAF Local Residents. Part of 2018 centenary exhibition in the church.

click Reverend Steward for report in the Parish magazine in November 1955.

Parish Church.jpg

In 1903 a report in St John's Church magazine of their Cricket Club concert read as follows: -

"A very successful concert was given on behalf of our Cricket Club on Wednesday, November 18th, in the Lacey Green Schoolroom. The programme was as follows: -

Pianoforte solo, Miss. M. Watson. Song, "True till death", Mr. Redding. Song, "Just a little bit of string", Miss. Arnold. Song, "Farmer Giles", Mr. H Bloss. Sketch, "The Geese", Misses Arnold and Davies. Song, "The Bandoliers", Mr Roebuck. Pianoforte duet, The Misses Tighe. Song, "The Kerry Dance", Miss Baldwin. Duet, "LIfe's Dream is o'er", Miss Arnold and Mr Roebuck. Song. "The Cork Lee", Mr Baker. Recitation, "The Road to Heaven", Miss Watson. Pianoforte solo, Miss M Watson. Duet, "Excelsior", Miss Arnold and Mr Roebuck. Song, "The Tin Ge-gee", Miss Arnold. Farce, "Sloey", Risborough Minstrels. Song, "Santa Claus", Mr Henley.

We have to thank very kindly all those who took part in the programme, and especially Mr Roebuck, to whom we owe the success of the concert.

We have also to thank Mrs Tighe for kindly lending plants, etc. for the platform, and Mr J W Saunders for kindly putting up the same, and Mr Arnold for kindly coming and acting as accompanist. The proceeds amounted to £4-7 shillings."

Parish Magazine 1905

1905.   Letter in the Parish Magazine. To “Dear Parishioners and Friends” from the Reverend William Robson.

The new stained glass window in memory of Mrs Eveline Forrest, which is so much admired by all, is a beautiful piece of work, and the colouring harmonises perfectly with that of the chancel.   The figures depicted are “Faith” and "Charity.   Superb in themselves as they are, no figures could be more suitable for our church which is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, which sums up the Christian religion as "Faith and Love".  The window Is illustrated from one of the finest chapters of the New Testament, 1 Corinthians xiii, every clause of which throbs with inspiration.   May the teaching of the window be a source of blessing to generation after generation of worshippers to Lacey Green Church.

On Saturday, June 3rd, by the desire of Mr. Forrest himself, I undertook the touching and yet pleasing duty of dedication the window to the memory of Mrs. Eveline Forrest   There, quite quietly, in our church on that Saturday morning assembled Mr. Forrest, Mr. Frank Forrest, Mr. Guy Forrest, the servants at Grymsdyke and very few others, and we held a quiet service, befitting the solemn and pathetic occasion, a service in which praise and thanksgiving and the glory of God were joined with a loving desire and purpose to perpetuate the memory of His servant, Eveline Forrest.

The full inscription on the window is “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Eveline, wife of John Forrest, who died January 27th, 1905.  This window is erected by her husband and their children." The work of Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Baynes,14, Garrick Street, London.1925.

Tuesday September 19th 1905  The adult members of the Church Choir spent the afternoon at the Vicarage, and before and after tea enjoyed tennis and other games.

The Bucks Free Press published the following report -The Centenary Celebrations of St John's Church, Lacey Green, commenced in the evening of July 2nd 1925 when there was a Preparation Service at which the Rev. A M Berry preached.

On July 3rd there were three celebrations of the Holy Communion at 6,8 and 10.20 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. 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 of E.A. Copleston, formerly 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.

On Saturday afternoon there was a cricket match (played in the field kindly lent by Mr. F Floyd), between the boys of Speen and Lacey Green with Loosley Row. The former were no match for the latter, suffering defeat by an innings, but played a sporting game.

At 3.30 tea was given to 137 children of the parish.

The tea for adults followed, for which 8d tickets had been sold. There were two sittings for 205 persons. The tea, shared in by the Church and Chapel-folk alike was a veritable love-feast.

Miss Tighe and her band of helpers deserve hearty congratulations for the admirable arrangements.

Sports for the children followed, from 5.30 to 8.30; Mr H E Carter being the President and Referee.

Mr W Plumridge brought the Speen String and Brass Band without charge, and they played during all three teas in the Village Hall and during the Sports, the music greatly added to the enjoyment of the afternoon, and the spirit of brotherly co-operation which led them to come, was highly appreciated.

1931 In his report of living in Lacey Green Douglas Brett said "The absence of cars meant that the main traffic was from horses and carts.   I remember when someone was very ill near the school, straw was spread across the road to muffle the sound of cart wheels.   Although no one had private telephones news spread quickly when someone died.   The Church was notified and the bell tolled slowly once for every year of the dead person’s life.

1931 Report

Churchwardens ---- Mr. George Adams and Mr Arthur Alldridge

Secretary of the Parochial Church Council ----Miss Eleanor Tyler.

Treasurer ---- Mr. Herbert Tanner.

Vicar --- Rev.C. Oscar Moreton

The Vestry and Annual Church Meeting was held at the Village Hall, Lacey Green, on Friday, Jan. 23rd. at 8 p.m., and was preceded by a social and light refreshments. We are glad to be able to report that there was a larger attendance than in the last few years.

At the Meeting of the Vestry the Vicar stated that it was with much pleasure that he received Mr. George Adams' consent to stand as Vicar's Warden for another year. The meeting then proceeded to the election of the People's Warden and it was with very keen regret that we learnt that Mr. F H Middleton would no longer be able to allow his name to stand for nomination. He and his family will shortly be removing to the parish of Hughenden. Mr. and Mrs. Middleton will be greatly missed in the life and work of this parish and of its church. our good wishes go with them to their new home and we hope sometimes they will return to worship in the Church which they have served so faithfully for many years.

The meeting then elected Mr. A Alldridge as People's Warden and we give him a hearty welcome to his new office.

The following gentlemen were elected as sidesmen :---Messrs. F. Adams, G. Baker, J. Baker, C. Gregory, S. Janes, Jnr., F. Martin, W.H. Millward, H G Rand,Jnr., W.Redrup, J.H.Riley & R. Tilbury.

At the Annual Meeting the Vicar thanked the retiring members of the Church Council for their loyal co-operation and support during the past year.

A copy of the revised Electoral Roll was presented to the meeting, the total number of names on the roll now being 146 as compared with 118 last year.

The Secretary then read an interesting and very carefully prepared report of the Church and Parish affairs which was adopted by the meeting, as also was the statement of accounts presented by the Treasurer Mr. Herbert Tanner. The total expenditure on Church Expenses is £226-17s-10&1/2d, on work overseas £42-13s-6d on Home Church £40-16s-7d, and on Charities £22-2s-&1/2d. It is a very satisfactory feature that there is a balance in hand of over £43.

The Summary of Accounts has been printed and a copy will be sent to any parishioner on application to the Treasurer.

The following were elected by the meeting as Parochial Church Councillors for 1931 ---Mr F Adams, Mrs Alldridge, Mr J Baker, Mrs A Hickman, Miss Jarvis, Mr Martin, Mr Millward, Mr W Redrup, Mr H Tanner, Miss E Tyler.

Scholarships It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that two scholars from our Schools have gained Scholarships in the recent examinations held at High Wycombe.

Nancy Brown from Lacey Green School has gained a Scholarship at the Girls High School at High Wycombe.----and

Irene Kingaby from Speen School has obtained a Scholarship at the Wycombe Technical Institute.

We heartily congratulate both scholars, and though we have to part with them we hope they will ever remember with affection their old schools and those who have been responsible for training them in their work.

1944. Report by Doug Tilbury. When I joined the church choir in 1944 aged 10, it consisted mainly of men and boys. The Choir leader was Reverend Steward.

Basses sat in the back pew on the right. Boys in front of them.   Ladies sat in the back left pew.

but Revd. Steward preferred a choir of men and boys.   During war time, a few ladies were permitted.

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 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 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 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.

Reverend Steward 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 clima

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.

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 even though their hight had been reduced. click 1944 Stocken Farm Airfield for the story of the airfield and photos.

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 56th squadron.   On demob many returning young men were asked to serve on the PCC (Parochial Church Council).

1975 150th Centenary of St John's Curch. 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.

1980 Gift of £9,300 given by Mrs Waite (click Arthur & Joyce Waite for their life story) to re-roof the church in Arthur's memory.

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

Church ceiling
church interior. note lamps!

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.

Church Roof 01.jpg
Easter Sunday Cross. The service started at the cross.

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

Dear Sir,

The Christmas crib comes out every year

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.

Not much Christmas decoration due to Covid
Not much Christmas decoration due to Covid

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 7th 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!

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