Text-only
Online Edition of
September
2006
Letter from the Vicarage:
No laughing matter.
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llah akbar. God is great. These words were uttered by the lone gunman in a popular tourist sight in Turkey toward the end of the summer as he shot dead one person and wounded several others. God is great, but apparently does not have a sense of humour. This event, and the fanaticism which blights our humanity, is of course no laughing matter. Indeed it is something which increasingly we cannot but take seriously, for a sense of the global village of which one reads much in the modern age was brought home in July with the arrest of several individuals suspected of planning to blow up transatlantic airliners, a number of them in High Wycombe, and throughout most of August the police have continued to search for evidence in woodland not a million miles, not even two or three, from our own villages.
Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that
the destructive intent of the religious terrorist is committed in the name of
God, for any right-minded Christian, Muslim or Jew would agree that to make
such a claim is an aberration of the very idea of God, and a perversion of the
tenets of faith. Jesus himself spent much time and energy (indeed gave his
life) trying to enlighten the dulled minds of the religious, for whom the
tenets of faith – the law – which were meant to lead to life, instead led to
death. Where the law – fulfilled by love -
was meant to be inscribed upon hearts of flesh and blood, a living
dynamic experience, it had remained inscribed upon tablets of stone, cold,
detached and lifeless. Religion had become a very serious thing. God was no laughing matter.
It might not be an exaggeration to suggest
that most of the problems of religion are the result of taking God, in fact
taking ourselves, far too seriously. Earlier in the summer I again spent a week
at ‘Lighthouse’ in Great Missenden (the Christian holiday week attended by some
1,200 local children), helping to teach and compere a marquee full of some 200
10 and 11 year olds. While the idea may be enough to wipe the smile off many a
grown man’s face, the experience of working with young people challenges one to
‘lighten up’, be a little less complicated, have some fun (didn’t Jesus say
that unless we became as a child, we could not begin to understand the kingdom
of God?). As last year, I was asked to give the address at the opening
dedication service, and attempted some self-deprecating humour based upon my
theory that within our own denominations and traditions, we need to take
ourselves a little less seriously. Unfortunately, one or two people didn’t get
the joke. Nevertheless, I’m quite sure that God has a sense of humour, and we
do well to hone our own.
A sense of humour, that is, in the true, Hippocratic sense of the word. Greek and Roman physicians, starting with Hippocrates, believed that the human body and personality was governed by four so-called ‘humours’, which for health and happiness must be in balance – an excess or deficiency in one or other of the humours would lead to disease. Terms such as ‘phlegmatic’ (without emotion, dull, indifferent), ‘sanguine’ (optimistic, happy) and melancholic (depressed) are all derived from this theory of humours. Having a sense of humour then means having a sense of balance, of perspective. God, who we say is ‘omniscient’ and ‘omnipresent’ (all-knowing and in all paces), must therefore have the ultimate sense of perspective, of humour. With children like us, he would need to.
With every blessing,
Bon Voyage, Sheila!
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chool broke for the last time for Sheila Keatinge this July, as a series of events marked her retirement after 17 years as Headteacher of Little Missenden School. The Parent’s Association (PSALMS)organised a surprise party at the village hall for pupils and parents past and present and numerous village friends; presentations made, Charles Padley paid tribute to Sheila’s long and happy career in Little Missenden; Sheila’s last Leaver’s Service in Church assumed a special significance, while the final Assembly in School provided opportunity for the teachers and staff to pay a warm tribute to their colleague. At the end of the Village Party, Sheila paid her own inimitable tribute to Little Missenden (hence her purple hair!):
When I am an old woman, I shall wear
purple, with a red hat that doesn’t go,
and doesn’t suit me, and I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit on the pavement when I am
tired and gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells. And run my stick along the public railings and make up
for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall add to my family, until once again
we are two four footers and one two footer. I shall have a splendid new caravan
with solar panels and a ‘mover’.
I shall get up and go whenever I feel like
it and ALWAYS in term time! I’ll pause outside schools, noting teachers on duty and children playing I
shall think, for forty years, that was me.
Then I shall remember Little Missenden, my
colleagues, friends and the many families from school, church and village, and
I shall be thankful for seventeen years of knowing you all.
But finally I shall think, now I am free,
now I can wear purple.
(with apologies to poet Jenny Joseph!)
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ut don’t worry, Fr John is not leaving the
Parish just yet! The new ‘vicar’ in question is actor Charles Dance, who with a
star-studded cast was in Little Missenden for some ten days during August
filming scenes for a new ‘mini-series’ of three films to be shown early next
year. For three of those days, St John
the Baptist, Little Missenden played the part of the fictional St Mary Magdalene, Roth.
The production’s Press Release reads:
“Charles Dance and Emilia Fox head the cast of FALLEN ANGEL, an epic new
trilogy of dramas for ITV. Part family saga, part crime drama, this is an
investigation without policemen based
on the Roth Trilogy of novels by
award-winning crime writer Andrew Taylor. It is the story of the making of a
murderer, told in reverse starting with the modern day. Like an archaeological
dig, each of the psychological thrillers strips away the layers of a
sociopath’s history, hurtling backwards
to show us how and when her mind became
twisted, and the soul sick.
FALLEN ANGEL reunites Emilia Fox
(London, Silent Witness,) as the
beautiful, murderer Rosemary, with Charles Dance (Bleak House, Fingersmith),
first seen together in 1997 in ITV’s
Rebecca. It also stars Clare Holman (Lewis, Marple: By the Pricking of my
Thumbs) as Wendy, a woman whose granddaughter Lucy is abducted in the
present by a woman known only as Angel. By rewinding back in time, we
ultimately discover that Wendy is motivated by guilt to help unmask the killer,
her real identity and her motives. Also starring Sheila Hancock (After Thomas,
Bleak House), Mark Benton (Booze Cruise, Northern Lights), Niamh Cusack (Too
Good to be True, Loving You) Emma Fielding (Ghost Squad, Beneath the Skin),
James D’Arcy (Poirot: Mystery of the
Blue Train, Master and Commander) and Claudie Blakely (Vital Signs, Dirty,
Filthy Love).
ITV
Controller of Network Drama, Nick Elliott says: “It is a very exciting
idea with a totally original format. I cannot remember many, if any, dramas
that have told a story backwards over 25 years uncovering truth and secrets as
we go. In many ways, not least with its three 90 minute episodes, it’s a very
big piece of drama.”
The Lion will roar again
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ollowing the tragic fire at the end of July, work has begun to restore the popular Red Lion in Little Missenden, which may take up to a year to complete. Here, Cynthia Hopkins writes of the morning after the drama:
The somewhat three hundred years old well
known Red Lion Public House of Little Missenden suddenly became very badly
damaged by fire at 1.00 am on Monday July 31st. The whole village is
so shocked and finding it almost
unbelievable. Fortunately the adjoining little shop doesn’t appear to have been
damaged but both properties are screened off at the present time.
Today the village community in the centre
of the village is quiet and subdued and we are thinking of Alan and Marita who
have worked so hard over the past years giving such a friendly service seven
days a week that without them one can’t even imagine the time until both the
pub and shop open again.
The regular customers were all driving up
at the usual lunch times but finding the village centre closed off and five
large fire engines still fighting off the fire which appeared to be almost
under control by that time. Fortunately
no one was injured, that was the most important thing. Already we are missing
‘the pop along to the shop’, seeing people collecting their papers, customers sitting outside drinking under the
large umbrellas, Alan’s four by four collecting stock etc. All the various
trades people coming and going as well as Nancy on her own transport.
I will never forget the flashing lights which I thought were lightening at 3.00 am, then drawing the curtains and seeing what looked like Amersham Fair with all the five fire engines’ lights. Also a large bus transporting more firemen with many, many green red and blue lights. At least the shell of the building appears to be saved.
Alan, Marita and staff, thank you for all
you do and we are so sorry this has happened. You need all the support
possible.
Cynthia Hopkins
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arely a week after the highly successful
Patronal Festival at Little Missenden, a quantity of lead was stolen from the
south ailse roof of the church during the night. Thankfully, the damage was
mostly covered by insurance, and the lead was re-instated, seen here, just a
few weeks later. The last time there had been a major theft of lead, during the
1950’s, the church was not so lucky, and had to raise thousands of pounds to
make the repair.
Hugh Connor, Captain of the Little
Missenden Cricket Team ’The Misfits’,
reports:
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ne of the more keenly anticipated fixtures
of the season, against well-liked local opponents, occasioned the latest in a
long series of hard-fought and well-played games between these two sides. The
seasoned veterans of the home side eventually won out against the sprightly
striplings from up the valley, but not without a scare or two.
Having lost the toss and been inserted,
Penn Street were a wicket down at the end of the first over as key man Jupp was
well caught above his head by Ben
Phillips at cover point. The left arm tandem of Hateley and Mayne kept
things tight and claimed a further wicket apiece before Mayne was replaced by
John Brown in the 12th over. Having already made a sensational catch
at first slip, Brown claimed his 500th wicket for the club early in
his spell of cunningly-disguised slow, straight ones. He was to claim three
more wickets in a lengthy and economical bowl typical of his resolute efforts
for the Misfits over the last 300 years.
At the other end, Hateley had put in a
worthy spell of 10 overs, taking three for not many. He was replaced after drinks
by Phillips, whose medium pace maintained the pressure on opponents struggling
to put together both partnerships and a respectable score. Wickets fell at
fairly regular intervals, the bowlers being helped by fielding and, especially,
catching of a standard far above the Misfit norm – even mongrels have their day
occasionally! 116 all out represented a good effort by the fielding team but
was not a significantly below par score on a wicket offering bounce and lateral
movement, even with a fast outfield.
After a splendid tea was digested, Connor
and Hateley opened against the pacy Penn Street attack. Dropped off a hard chance to gully from the first
ball, Connor made the most of the let-off and attacked anything off line in
characteristically reckless fashion. Hateley followed suit and 60 runs were on
the board before the first bowling change, after 45 minutes.
A sensible mid-wicket discussion by the
batsmen about the need to maintain watchfulness and discipline inevitably led, five balls later, to the loss of
Hateley, who rashly decided to start moving his feet and was promptly given
LBW. A mini-collapse did not, thankfully, ensue. Instead, a full-blown
collapse, of the sort familiar to watchers of the Misfits, took place. Crawford
threw away his wicket, as usual; Mayne failed to get his gloves out of the way
of a lifter; Francis played on, a trifle unluckily; Hartmann and Young,
obdurate triers both, gave way in differing fashions. When Hinds, having been
dropped from a sitter earlier in the over and immediately after acknowledging
his skipper’s call for caution, launched himself at a slow wide one and was
caught in the gully, the Misfits were seven down still needing nine for
victory. Having failed adequately to protect the tail (which evidently started
at three) thusfar, Connor, for once this season, finally did his job and took
the necessary runs from the next over.
An exciting game, then, well-enjoyed by
both teams and by a healthy number of spectators.
Match Report
Misfits v Penn Street
Sunday 23rd July
Penn Street 116 all out
Misfits 117 for 7
Misfits won by 3 wickets
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ur PCC met on 18 July, after one of the
hottest days of the year with temperatures reaching 100F. There were
eleven of us present to concentrate on a lengthy Agenda and at one point to
wander in the Churchyard to discuss a possible Memorial garden in which ashes
could be scattered. We are running out of space for headstones so a
really carefully designed garden area with a wall to put plaques might be the
answer.
We had previously agreed that the Patronal
Festival had gone well so we stopped to think how it could have been
better. Some people in Little Kingshill had been unaware of the
event. A shame! We had so hoped that the word had been spread
everywhere in the Parish, and will try harder next time. We agreed that
John’s party to thank the many people involved was much appreciated. Then there
were the beautifully presented and
detailed quarterly accounts. It seems that we have done reasonably well, but will have to do even
better. There had been a warning from the Deanery Synod that finances at
that level were looking tight.
We heard a report on other items at the
Deanery Synod. There had been an interesting talk about the ‘Stop the Traffik’
campaign. Apparently a horrifying number of 100 people a day pass through
Heathrow alone, sent by organised criminals
exploiting desperate people through deception or coercion. So now,
approaching the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave
Trade, something has to be done. As a PCC we registered moral support for
the ‘Stop the Traffik’ movement. We have also signed on to the related
Fair Trade Campaign, which promotes proper rewards for deserving producers and
action against labour abuses.
We will make sure that we serve Fair Trade
products in our Church. We are still discussing possible improvements to St Andrew’s, Hyde Heath and
the Vestry in Little Missenden. Watch this space! Meanwhile John
explained exciting plans for a Music Academy, to operate in Hyde Heath as well
as Little Missenden. Children will be able to benefit from first class
singing instruction and we will all benefit from an enhanced choir.
Our discussion was animated and views were
expressed robustly. The meeting, which was never dull, went on longer
than intended, eventually closing just before 11pm. We are left with many
challenges as well as much to look forward to.
Earlier this year, Anthony & Ines de
Tufo travelled to the Kerala region of southern India. This is the final
instalment of their tavelogue:
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he city of Cochin, located between the
Arabian Sea and the Backwaters, spreads across islands and promontories, the
main sections – modern Ernakulam and the old peninsular districts of Fort
Cochin, where we were staying, and Mattancherry – being linked by ferries and
bridges. It was established after a flood in the 14th. century
created a natural safe harbour, and when the royal family moved there some
years later from a port further north the city grew rapidly, attracting Moslem,
Jewish and Christian settlers from the Middle East. The European involvement
began in the early 16th. century with colonisation by first the
Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British. The chequered history is
reflected in a variety of architectural styles.
Next day we toured part of the district
with Clyde, a local Keralan historian, visiting first the Church of St.
Francis, the first church built by Europeans in India, on land which was a gift
from the local Raja. Vasco da Gama’s
tombstone of 1524 remains here but his body was later removed to Portugal.
Under the Dutch the church became United Reform, then Anglican with the advent
of the British, and is now attached to the Church of South India. The nearby R.C. Santa Cruz Cathedral, built
in the early 20th. C., has a
handsome exterior, while the interior is decorated in a merrily
flamboyant Indo-Romano-Rococo style.
Nestling happily beside it within its grounds is a brightly-painted
Hindu temple. We then visited the area
known as Jew Town, now occupied by a large population of Kashmiri traders but
until recently a busy Jewish community of which little remains, most of its
number having decamped to Israel after its
borders were opened 50 years ago.
The synagogue is still lovingly cared for, though, and its interior is a
charming hotchpotch: the floor paved with Chinese tiles, crystal chandeliers
from Belgium, and ancient artefacts donated by local Rajas.
The old Palace, built by the Portuguese for
the Rajas, is now a museum displaying their palanquins and ceremonial
robes. Many of the walls are decorated
with exquisite 16th. C. murals depicting stories from the Ramayan.
Clyde explained some of these and commented that quite often the narratives of
different religions bear similarities.
He gave as an example the legend of Vishnu taking on the form of a fish
and appearing to a Hindu priest, warning him of a mighty flood and exhorting him
to build a great ship, and to gather into it a pair of every species of beast
and bird for safety until the waters subsided.
Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of
Kerala to an accompaniment of drums, cymbals and some sung narrative, enacting legends of gods and demons. It is performed only by men who play both
male and female roles, the stylised gestures and facial movements taking 10
years of training to perfect . That evening we went to the Kathakali Centre
where we saw the performers applying their elaborate make-up, which in some cases
included prosthetic mask-like pieces, before they put on their spectacular
costumes. We then watched a
performance, abridged to one hour for tourists
although traditionally Kathakali is played throughout the night with the
climax at dawn.
We spent our remaining two days exploring
more of Cochin. The schools had just
closed, before the rising temperatures brought the suffocating heat of April,
until the relief afforded later by the monsoon season, so on every part of the
town park – by then a great expanse of dry red earth almost bereft of its
lalang grass until the rains restore it – enthusiastic young cricketers were
playing with improvised bats and wickets.
Numerous stalls straggled along the waterfront beyond, some selling
lurid drinks, sweets and trinkets, others serving snacks of fish fresh from the
sea. Here we watched the teams of men
working the Chinese fishing nets. These
huge nets, looped between gracefully arching poles of bamboo and teak and
dipped in and out of the sea by means of counterweights, are a legacy of
Chinese traders centuries ago, some of the first visitors to the Malabar
coast. We walked around the residential
area with its tree-lined roads of gently decaying but still charming old
colonial houses, some of which are being renovated to become small hotels or
guest houses, and wandered through the commercial streets with their variety of
small shops.
Throughout all our perambulations we were
constantly importuned by drivers of the myriad tuk-tuks (motorised rickshaws)
who were not only touting for business but also genuinely surprised that
western (elderly!) visitors were happy to walk in the heat and dust, rather
than ride “in my nice Ferrari, Ma’am, with natural air-conditioning, ha-ha!”.
At one stage we succumbed to the blandishments of Johnson (a favourite
name of Christians there) who proved to be, like so many of our Keralan
friends, a delightful and entertaining companion. We rattled off to the beautiful temple of the Jain sect where we
were just in time to witness the pigeon-feeding ceremony before prayers: the
birds encouraged to fly in circular fashion above the compound before
descending to feed upon the rice scattered in a ritual circle of global
love. Johnson then transported us to
the Spice Market area where in open courtyards different spices were laid out
to dry in the sun and mounds of dried ginger root were being dunked in alkali
solution, all then bagged and stored in big go-downs with majestically-beamed
high ceilings. The market itself was a
huge go-down warehouse, its floor covered in great sacks of every type of
spice, used for medicinal as well as culinary purposes, and dried plants also
used for Ayurvedic practice, and to one side a pharmacist dispensed mixtures of these.
Feeling that we should visit the modern
commercial part of the city, we took the ferry across to Ernakulam but, daunted
by the noise and intense heat of the crowded streets and chaotic traffic, we
soon returned across the water to spend our remaining hours in the more peaceful
charms of old Cochin. An evening boat
ride took us on a longer trip, past huge container ships at berth in the port
area then along the waterfronts of Ernakulam and the other peninsulas and
islands surrounding the great harbour, while birds and dolphins busily made
their last forays before nightfall. As
we chugged gently back towards the jetty of Fort Cochin the Chinese fishing
nets with their pole frames looked spectacular silhouetted against the flaming
sunset, like enormous spiders at rest in their webs. Walking back to our beds that night after a last delicious meal
in one of the seafood restaurants, our progress was again slow due to passers-by introducing themselves for some
friendly conversation.
Cochin was still in darkness when,
bleary-eyed, we were picked up at 5.30 next morning, but during our journey the
sky came alive with the beautiful colours of a tropical dawn. By the time we reached the out-lying airport
the sun was already up and blazing for another day in Kerala: sadly, one that
we could not stay to enjoy.
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ith four weeks of football behind us and the shrieks, groans and cheers of Wimbledon a fading memory, our July meeting was a welcome break from such excitements.
Chairing the meeting, President Jean Lishman
brought us up to date with general W.I. news and then gave details of the
Annual Garden Party to be held in her garden on August 10th. As
usual, a draw will take place during the afternoon for £150 Bursary, enabling the winner to take up the educational
course of her choice.
Several members have been making small knitted comfort dolls' for
distribution amomg child Aids victims in South Africa. They are proving very popular with the children who have
received them and members were encouraged to 'Carry on Knitting'.
Sally Clark, our Speaker for the afternoon
spoke of Doodles as a way to develop drawing skills. Jollied along by her
comment 'If you can write you can draw' some of the mysteries of changing a
flat shape to a rounded one with the use of shading, were revealed. Members
were then encouraged to 'doodle' and with shading watch their efforts become three dimensional. The results
ranged from interesting to bizarre but the experience was enjoyed by all.
The afternoon ended with tea and the
drawing of the raffle, after which members left for home where the 'Test Match
at Lords' awaited them.
Our next meeting on September 14th
should be fun when Mr D Hewitt will speak of 'Ageing with Attittide'.
Edith Langrish
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t the July meeting our speakers were two intrepid members from Flackwell Heath WI who are cycling Cuba to raise money for the WI college at Denman.They have raised money themselves for the trip my making bags and cards and marmalade, together with some very pretty jewellery all of which were on sale that evening. We wish them well on their trip and are hoping that they will come back and tell us all aboaut it in 2007.
At the next meeting on September 14th we
will be having a make-up demonstration from Mia Make Up of Old Amersham, so why
not come along and find out how to make the best of yourself? We are always happy to welcome visitors to our
meetings, who knows they may turn out to be new members!
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here is no formal meeting in August, so members and friends got together for tea in the garden at Ridgewell House.Unfortunately the weather made it impossible to have tea outside, although a few hardy souls ventured out for a walk round the garden! The tea was delicious, and the bring and buy stall and the raffle were well patronised. The September meeting will be on the21st when our speaker will be Mrs. Dark - her subject "Foxes and Badgers in our environment". As usual we always welcome guests at our meetings!
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hanks to all of you who helped with the Christian Aid effort this year. The very worthwhile figure of over £7,200 was raised in the Great Missenden and Prestwood area. Thanks to you all.
For some time there have been rumblings
that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find people to organise and do the house to house collection for
Christian Aid. The idea of staging a big event on Buryfield instead has been
put forward. The June meeting of
Churches Together rejected this and for 2007 the house to house
collection will continue together with church staged events.
Joan Craig
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ood to see a few Little Missenden faces at the Pentecost Praise Service on Bury Field at Pentecost 2006. Thanks to those who attended. The different churches have agreed to participate in a Back to Church Sunday on Sunday 10 September. This is for 'lapsed' church goers to attend their local church.
Joan Craig
Harvest Supper:
16th September
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his year we visit Little Kingshill for our Harvest Supper which will take place in Little Kingshill Village Hall on the evening of Saturday, 16 September.Please come and join us to celebrate the harvest having being gathered in and also to enjoy a meal which this year will use recipes from our own cook book “Recipes from a Country Parish”.
We look forward to seeing you at 7.30pm and
please bring your own chosen bottle, whether it be red, white, rose or
non-alcoholic.
Tickets available from The Parish Office at
a cost of £8.00 each.
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t our Annual Parish Lunch and Meeting back
in April we revealed proposals to refurbish and upgrade our little Church of St
Andrew, Hyde Heath. These proposals were first floated last autumn, and the
plans have been taking shape over the last year, the subject of much discussion
within the PCC. The plans were displayed during the Hyde Heath Fete in May, and
comments invited from within the
community and Parish.
The proposals which have been arrived at are shown here. They consist of a two-stage plan: phase one consisting of a small extension to the rear of the building to accommodate a disabled toilet and new back door / lobby; the provision of a small kitchenette within the existing vestry; the removal of the pews, refinishing of the wooden floor, and general re-decoration within; complete electrical re-wiring and the installation of new, low-profile, energy-efficient heaters; new lighting; new furnishings; repair of the existing oak west doors, and the installation of new glazed doors within (with a view to providing a permanent aspect to the altar from the outside); re-roofing of the entire building; and the construction of a small bell-cote with tolling bell, in place of the oak cross presently on the roof, which will be retained elsewhere in the building; the retention and repair of the east end mural by Joy Brand (who is going to advise on its repair); the removal of the hedge at the front of the site in order to open up the approach to the church to the common. Phase 2, the building of an extension to the north side of the church, will be considered at a later stage.
The opportunity to make these improvements has been made possible by two generous bequests to the church, from Bill Williamson (who also gave money to the Village Hall, the School, and the Cricket Club) and Francis Clark. The rationale for them is straightforward: Hyde Heath Mission Church (re-dedicated in the 1980’s to St Andrew) was first within the Parish of Chesham, and in 1953 was transferred into the care of the Parish of Little Missenden. While the then Incumbent, Francis Roberts, carried out some improvements and re-ordering of the church interior, the building has never since had any major investment in it, and to a real extent suffers from its inconspicuous position in the corner of the Heath behind a hedge; it is also a relatively domestic-looking building, the additions and improvements to which will hopefully result in a more recognisable ‘church-like’ building, which might then draw a little more attention to itself. We are bound inevitably to some considerable expenditure on the building, as our last ‘Quinquennial’ architect’s inspection advised that within five years the roof would need to be replaced - that was nearly five years ago.
Improved facilities here will also allow
for use of the building more widely within the Parish (though it is not in any
way intended to compete with the Village Hall, which in any case is much
larger), as well as by Hyde Heath School, which already has strong ties with
the church and Parish.
If you have any comments, questions, or
suggestions, please get in touch: telephone or write to the Parish Office. We
value your support.