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St Mary’s Quarterly News

KEEPING YOU INFORMED!

December 2017

When they saw the star, they rejoiced

exceedingly with great joy.

Matthew 2:10

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Contents

In this month’s edition:

Letter from the Curate 4

A Prayer for Christmas 9

A Little Light Humour 10

‘New Church Services!’ 12

MAF Report 14

Book Review 18

The Curate’s Welcoming Food Basket 20

A Favourite Christmas Prayer 21

Children’s Pages 22

Welcome Parents and Children! 24

St Mary’s Choir 26

St Mary’s Financial Report 30

Hadlow- Kibakwe Community Link – Visit of the Rev Canon Captain

Agrippa Ndatila 32

People Remembered 36

Events and Dates for your Diary 42

Weekly / Monthly Events / Church Services 43

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Letter from the curate

As I sit down to write this article for the QN, I cannot quite believe what

has happened over the last few months. Back in March, I was writing an

article to introduce myself to you all as your new ‘potential’ curate. Now

I am writing to you ‘as’ your new curate, in post for only a few months. I

also reflect that it is a year ago since I finished my placement with you

at St Mary’s. What a lot has happened since then, in such a relatively

short time.

It was lovely to come to Hadlow in July and be with you before my

ordination. A chance to begin to get to know everyone a little better and

to familiarise ourselves with the village. These months were a real time

of transition for us all. While we have moved to a new house on several

occasions, we had never really left a community before. Our lives had

revolved around our life in Seal and all the connections we have with

that community, made, in my case, over a lifetime. It felt a little daunting

at times, especially as we drove along the Shipbourne Road several times

a day, returning to sleep in Seal at night! It was like having a foot in two

camps whilst waiting to put both feet in one. That day came around in

September when we moved to Hadlow.

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Three months on, I wonder what it was that worried us. We all feel like

we have lived in Hadlow forever as we feel so at home here. The

kindness of those who invited us for tea and cake while we decorated

the house or, when I knocked on the door, gave me a cup of flour when

I realised I had left all those cooking items at Seal. Thank you to everyone

that contributed to the wonderful hamper that was delivered to us the

day we moved in and sent us cards and flowers too. The welcome we

have received has at times been overwhelming, but has helped us to feel

so settled.

The move to Hadlow in September, also marked the final weeks before

my ordination. I have never known weeks disappear so quickly! The

ordination retreat was held at The Emmaus centre in West Wickham,

and was led by The Venerable Jo Kelly-Moore, Archdeacon of Canterbury

Cathedral. She provided us with some thought-provoking sessions on

the ‘I Am’ sayings found in John’s Gospel, as well as encouraging and

guiding us to use the silence and space to dwell in God’s presence

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reflecting on our calling to ordained ministry. Those few days before

ordination, away from the busyness of normal life, were, looking back,

very affirming and very necessary. It is so easy to miss God’s voice when

we are rushing around from one thing to another and don’t take time to

be still and to listen.

It was lovely to see so many people in Rochester Cathedral for the

ordination service. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me or

supported me that day. It was an extremely emotional and special day

and one that I will never forget. I feel truly blessed to have been

ordained a Deacon and to be serving my curacy in Hadlow. It was

particularly nice that so many people joined my family and friends from

Seal in the evening to celebrate and mark the occasion back at St Mary’s.

So, my ordination marked the start of my ordained ministry here in

Hadlow. It has been a busy time. If I was asked to describe my first few

months I would have to say it has been a time of firsts! First services as

a Deacon, Harvest, school assemblies, governors’ meetings, home

communions, Remembrance services, funerals and Hadlow College

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chaplaincy, to name but a few. I have a lot to learn, a lot to observe and

lots to do, but it has been a huge privilege to be part of everything that

is going on. Everyone has gently steered me in the right direction and

encouraged me as I take my first steps in ministry. This again has made

me feel so at home and welcomed.

Each new season in the church’s year with its special services is a first

for me in Hadlow, and I am looking forward very much to my first

Christmas here. The Christmas season is always a busy one wherever you

are. I am sure we all look forward at some point to the familiar carols

that are sung, Christingle services, Nativity plays, Carol services and

readings telling of Jesus’ birth. I wonder though that if we are not

careful, these things can almost become second nature to us year on

year. They are so familiar that there is a danger that we just let them

wash over us, while we think of all the other things that might need

doing. Have we forgotten what it feels like to experience the Christmas

story for the first time? To experience it through fresh eyes and, in all

that is familiar, to find something new.

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This Christmas, as we walk together on the road to Bethlehem with Mary

and Joseph, I encourage us all to enter that familiar stable in quiet and

stillness. To receive the welcome given to the outcast shepherds and the

foreigner Wise Men and to listen for what it is God wants to say to us

through the Christ child in the manger.

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A Little Light Humour

A woman takes her 16-year-old daughter to the doctor. The doctor says, "Okay, Mrs. Jones, what's the problem?" The mother says, "It's my daughter, Debbie. She keeps getting these cravings, she's putting on weight, and is sick most mornings." The doctor gives Debbie a good examination, then turns to the mother and says, "Well, I don't know how to tell you this, but your Debbie is pregnant - about 4 months, would be my guess." The mother says, "Pregnant?! She can't be, she has never ever been left alone with a man! Have you, Debbie?" Debbie says, "No mother! I've never even kissed a man!" The doctor walked over to the window and just stares out it. About five minutes pass and finally the mother says, "Is there something wrong out there doctor?" The doctor replies, "No, not really, it's just that the last time anything like this happened, a star appeared in the east and three wise men came over the hill. I'll be darned if I'm going to miss it this time!"

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New Church Services!!

PASTOR: “Praise the Lord!”

CONGREGATION: “Hallelujah!”

PASTOR: “Will everyone please turn on their tablet, PC,

iPad, smart phone, and Kindle Bibles to 1

Cor.13.13. And please switch on your

Bluetooth to download the sermon.”

P-a-u-s-e…….

“Now, Let us pray committing this week into

God’s hands.

Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook,

and chat with God”

S-i-l-e-n-c-e

“As we take our Sunday tithes and offerings,

please have your credit and debit cards ready.”

“You can log on to the church Wi-fi using the

password ’Lord909887.’

The ushers will circulate mobile card swipe

machines among the worshippers.

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A. Those who prefer to make electronic fund

transfers are directed to computers and

laptops at the rear of the church.

B. Those who prefer to use iPads can open

them.

C. Those who prefer telephone banking, take

out your cell phones to transfer your

contributions to the church account.”

The holy atmosphere of the Church becomes

truly electrified as ALL the smart phones, iPads,

PCs and laptops beep and flicker!

“Final Blessing and Closing Announcements.

A. This week’s ministry cell meetings will be

held on the various Facebook group pages

where the usual group chatting takes place.

Please log in and don’t miss out.

B. Thursday’s Bible study will be held live on

Skype at 1900 hrs GMT. Please don’t miss

out.

C. You can follow your Pastor on Twitter this

weekend for counselling and prayer.

God bless you and have a nice day!

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News to Share

Hope is rising

On a recent visit to Bidi Bidi — the world’s largest refugee settlement —

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Communications Officer Jill Vine sees

first-hand how our flights are bringing hope and transformation.

With more than 65 years of humanitarian flying in South Sudan, MAF

personnel have witnessed waves of war, poverty and tragedy in one of

Africa’s most vulnerable nations. Since violence devastated the country

in 2013, we rarely hear reports other than atrocity, famine and death.

Yet in Bidi Bidi, a vast refugee settlement in north-western Uganda

which spans almost 90 square miles, hope is beginning to rise. Since it

opened in 2016, over 280,000 South Sudanese people have found refuge

here — making it the largest refugee camp in the world.

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Bidi Bidi refugee settlement

MAF aircraft fly 475 partners to Bidi Bidi, bringing medics, teachers and

other humanitarian workers dedicated to helping people rebuild their

lives. NGOs, UN agencies and the Ugandan Government are working

together to avoid aid-dependency, and offer displaced people a piece of

land where they can build a home, plant crops and access clean water.

In Bidi Bidi, people aren’t surviving in the squalid, cramped conditions

often depicted by mainstream media, but are being offered dignity,

freedom and hope.

One of MAF’s regular partners is Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian

organisation working to alleviate suffering in desperate, war-stricken

disaster zones. When the influx of refugees first arrived in Bidi Bidi,

Samarian’s Purse began distributing latrine kits and establishing water,

sanitation and hygiene projects. Just one year on, almost 70% of Bidi

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Bidi’s refugees now have their own toilets, and illnesses like cholera and

dysentery have declined, with no major outbreaks or related deaths.

Speaking to MAF’s Jill Vine, David Minjo describes his journey to Bidi Bidi

with his wife and four children. ‘In Yei, soldiers would just come in the

night and kill. We saw people slaughtered like goats. It took us seven

days to walk here by foot with our small children, but I thank God for

this day – that I am alive. Samaritan’s Purse helped us with a starting kit

for a latrine. I’m feeling comfortable here now because I feel safe. We

are sleeping well at night.’

Charpman Magagula, Regional Manager for Samaritan’s Purse, is so

appreciative of MAF’s partnership. He says, ‘The service that MAF gives

is having a direct impact for the refugees because they are bringing the

people to get the job done. If we didn’t have MAF, it would reduce the

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help that would be able to come here. When the pilot committed the

flight to God before the journey, it really blessed and comforted me. It

gave me this special reminder that whether you’re on the ground or in

the air, the Lord is there!’ Reflecting on her moving visit, Jill says, ‘Every

refugee I met mostly spoke with praise for the help they had been given.

I felt the need to brace myself before this visit, pre-empting for tragic

stories. But in fact, I came away with a positive, and overall hopeful

reality.’

Uganda has been praised for its willingness and efficiency in responding

to the refugee crisis, welcoming on average 2,800 refugees every day

into camps up and down the border. As we begin our festive

preparations for the coming of Christ, we can rejoice that light is shining

in the darkest places, and that, thanks to MAF and our many partners,

hope is rising from the ashes.

To find out more about MAF’s work and the people we serve in remote,

hard-to-reach or isolated areas, visit our website www.maf-uk.org

Book Review

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My Journey So Far

By Cannon Andrew White

‘I can truly say that I have sat across the table from the Devil! He was evil

personified.’ In the broad nave of St Charles the Martyr, Tunbridge

Wells, the eyes in Cannon Andrew White’s round face looked through

his glasses and scanned the congregation and the quietness dropped to

a new hush as people took in the enormity of the comment. He didn’t

enlarge on who exactly his companion was, but an Iraqi jihadist was the

most likely. This larger than life priest was visiting the Church at the

invitation of the then vicar, Revd Richard Coombs, who had been best

man at Andrew White’s wedding.

An anaesthetist at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, Andrew received a

clearly defined calling from God to work as an Anglican minister in the

Middle East, centred in particular on Iraq. His mission has been one of

reconciliation between Christian and Jew and leaders from both Sunni

and Shi’ite Muslim sects during which he gained the soubriquet ‘The

Vicar of Baghdad’ following his work to rebuild the ruins of St Georges

Church in the Iraqi capital. Dogged by ill-health and continuing bouts of

Multiple Sclerosis, he appears an almost tireless worker and world

traveller as he campaigns for donations from far and wide for his charity

the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME).

He has been threatened with death by nearly all the warring factions in

that troubled area of the world, but his complete faith in God gives him

strength to ignore such intimidation and he continues the peace process

between Israel and the Palestinians. Church leaders, prime ministers and

presidents from both sides of the various divides give Cannon White

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their support, knowing his determination to keep dialogue going

towards a lasting peace.

This is the sixth and most recent book written by Cannon White and true

to its title records his life up to 2016. It is very readable through the 240

pages and relates his continuing faith in the face of difficulties and

setbacks, but God’s help has resolutely maintained his calling and his

role in this world. His strength of purpose and the large number of close

friends who have journeyed with him are uplifting aspects of his story to

date, reinforcing the Christian message of love and hope. A copy is

available on St Mary’s Bookstall, price £8.99, or contact Sue Wheeler.

- BCW

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The Curate’s Welcoming Food Basket

An apology from the editor: This article was accidentally omitted from the September

edition of the QN.

This lovely food basket was presented to Nicky as she moved into the

curate’s house. Thank you to all those who kindly contributed, and thank

you to Jenny Hopkins and Judy Gater who organised this.

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A FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS PRAYER

I first saw this prayer in Worcester Cathedral in 1993, by a beautiful

crib scene. Since then I have kept coming across it, and heard a

sermon preached on it one Christmas, some years ago.

Blessed are thou, O Christmas Christ

That thy cradle was so low

That shepherds, poorest and simplest earthly folk

Could kneel beside it

And look level-eyed into the face of God

What a simple and beautiful image. We too can be in the place of

those shepherds at Christmas, overcome with wonder at the mystery

of the incarnation. God made man, for us.

Judy Gater

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Children’s Pages

Colour in this lovely picture of the three wise men!

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Complete this Christmas crossword.

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A rather interesting notice seen at the entrance to St Mary's Church,

West Malling by one member of our congregation

welcome

parents and children

If you have come to St Mary’s today as a parent with young children,

then may we suggest…

Relax! God put the wiggle in your children and he gave them the ability

to communicate and the curiosity to explore. Don’t feel you have to

suppress any of those things in God’s house.

Sit towards the front where it is easier for your little one to see and

hear what’s going on. They will tend to tire of seeing the backs of

grown-ups’ heads.

Feel free to quietly explain to your children the parts of the service and

the actions of the Minister, the ushers, the Choir or whoever the

children seem interested in.

Sing the hymns, pray aloud and voice the responses. The children will

learn liturgical behaviour in worship by copying you and other people

around them.

If the children are having a bit of a moment and you feel you have to

leave the service to calm them down, please feel free to do so. Let’s

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face it, we can all have ‘a bit of a moment’ from time to time. But

please do come back! As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Do

not stop them.”

Remember that the way we welcome children in church directly affects

the way they respond to the church, to God, and to one another. Let

them know that they ought to feel at home in this house of God.

If you have come to St Mary’s today without children and as a regular

member of our congregation, may we suggest…..

the presence of children is a gift from God to us as a congregation and

they are a reminder that our congregation is growing and full of life.

Please make the children feel welcome and give a smile of

encouragement to their parents. It means a lot.

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St Mary’s Choir

We are very blessed with a good choir. Some of our number have

recently had success in Royal School of Church Music exams.

Roi and Sharon have gained their Bronze award and Ben has got his

Silver. In addition we have just heard that Katerina has passed her Gold

award – the highest award for choristers internationally! This means

that our choir has two Gold - as Sarah Buxton already has hers - five

Silver (six if you count Nicky) and four Bronze award holders with

hopefully next spring another two or three bronze and two silver…..

These are the requirements for each award:

BRONZE

Candidates are required to sing:

A Hymn (one verse unaccompanied)

A Psalm

An Anthem

all chosen from given lists.

They must also prepare music for a service on one of the given festivals,

for example Easter, Christmas, Pentecost.

They are also required to be prepared to do a bible reading for a chosen

service.

They need to answer questions on the music, composers of their music,

their church services, parts of the church, and their contribution to the

life of church.

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There is also an aural test and sight reading as well as a testimonial from

their choir and vicar.

The exam lasts about 20 minutes and is examined by the cathedral

organist in the cathedral.

SILVER

As for Bronze award but two verses of psalm must be sung

unaccompanied, also a setting of the Magnificat must be sung.

The church festivals list includes Maundy Thursday, Ash Wednesday and

so on.

It is a necessity to prepare a comparison of two pieces of music (can be

two they sing or different) and be ready to answer questions on this.

There are questions, aural and sight reading as for Bronze but obviously

in more depth.

There is a testimonial as for the Bronze.

The exam lasts about 40 minutes and again is in the cathedral.

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GOLD

(All music must be taken from given lists.)

Candidates are required to sing:

Hymn – one verse unaccompanied

Psalm – two verses unaccompanied

Solo item for your voice

Anthem

Liturgical setting

These must be sung to performance standard.

They must also perform five other pieces of music from given lists and

covering different musical periods. Of these the examiner chooses three

to rehearse the candidate so they must be well prepared.

An 800 word progamme notes must be submitted on any of the first five

items.

A service for one of the given festivals must be prepared to include five

pieces of music, a bible reading and a prayer written by the candidate

who must be prepared to read either or both of these. The programme

notes and the service details must be submitted with the entry form

together with two testimonials, one obviously from your church.

There is also aural, sight reading and questions in much greater depth

than for Silver.

The exam lasts about 50 minutes and is examined by an RSCM examiner

at a given venue.

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These are the three highest chorister awards internationally.

These follow on from the ribbons that the youngsters work towards.

Usually the Bronze fits in after the Red ribbon, the Silver after the Yellow

and Gold after that. While all the youngsters do the Light blue, dark blue

and red ribbons not all do the yellow and the three exams are only for

some folk either adult or youngster.

Sue Mason

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St Mary’s Financial Situation in October 2017

In the St Mary’s Quarterly News issued in September this year I

mentioned that at the end of July 2017 (the current financial year) St

Mary’s was ‘just about breaking even’ in terms of income and

expenditure; whereas the final out-turn figure for the previous year

(2016) had been an overspend on the year of £1872.

Now, a further three months on from the end of July, the position in

October 2017 – and continuing through the current month – is that the

breaking even position continues, though it must be understood this is

due solely to the Gift Aid payment we will receive from HMG for the

period January – October 2017 (approx. £10,000 expected shortly).

Without that payment a deficit of approx. £6800 on the year would exist.

The Gift Aid payment transforms the deficit situation, which has been

slowly building up, into an overall ‘surplus’ of income of approx. £3000

over all unrestricted general expenditure, with two months to go to

year-end.

Obviously the utmost effort will be taken to maintain as much of that

surplus as possible through to the end of the year.

As has been mentioned before, the gift aid amount shortly to be

received (plus a subsequent amount received in early 2018, for the last

quarter of 2017) and the impact of such payments on our deficit /surplus

situation emphasises the vital importance of this source of income to

the state of the parish’s finances.

I would urge anyone who pays tax but has not signed a gift aid form in

respect of their donations to St Mary’s to speak with John Speed (our

Gift Aid Secretary) without delay, and thereafter hopefully to

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authorise the allowable gift aid from their donations to come to St

Mary’s.

I confirm also that at the end of October, £50,000 of the £60,000

pledged to be paid over to the diocese in 2017 has been paid.

Many thanks to the whole congregation for their magnificent financial

support throughout the year – not only in respect of general

housekeeping funds, (as above) but also in respect of the many appeals

made during the year in aid of various charities.

David Gater (Hon Treasurer)

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Hadlow-Kibakwe Community Link

Visit by the Rev Canon Captain Agripa Ndatila to St Mary’s Church, Hadlow

A lot of preparation goes into a Hadlow-Kibakwe Trip to ensure that it is

successful. It not only requires organisation in the UK but also a lot of

organisation in Tanzania. A lot of the necessary communication is done

through the Mpwapwa Diocese Partnership Coordinator, the Rev Canon

Captain Agripa Ndatila. Amongst his roles, he is also the Principal of St

Philip’s Theological College, Kongwa in the Diocese of Mpwapwa and, on

previous trips to Tanzania including the two latest trips to Kibakwe, the

Link Team from Hadlow has been hosted at St Philip’s. It is a lovely,

peaceful spot in Tanzania which makes the troubles of the world seem

far away.

So it was a great pleasure to be able to return the compliment in a small

way. On 9 to 11 October 2017, St Mary’s hosted Rev Agripa Nadatila for

part of his visit to the Rochester Diocese. His visit had a number of

purposes not least of which was to renew and strengthen links between

parishes in Mpwapwa Diocese and parishes in Rochester Diocese. His

visit in Hadlow started with a tour of Hadlow before meeting the

Ministry Team and their spouses over dinner at the Two Brewers. It was

a delightful occasion that allowed Paul and Vivienne, Nicky and Mike,

and Christopher and Julia to get to know Agripa and get an appreciation

from him how the Community Link benefits the Mpwapwa parishes

involved.

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The following day, Tuesday, Agripa visited Hadlow Primary School and

spent time visiting classrooms and talking to pupils and staff before

talking to the school at morning assembly. He thanked them for the

support they have given to the primary school pupils of Kibakwe Primary

School and at Idunda Primary School. The sports equipment and

stationery paid for by funds raised by the Hadlow School pupils has made

a difference to the Kibakwe primary school pupils of both schools. To

have pencils and paper makes learning a little easier and having proper

footballs makes playing a little more fun.

Visiting Hadlow Primary School

The rest of his day was taken up with a trip to London with Paul showing

him a few of the sights, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral. In the

evening, he visited Hadlow Scouts participating in their activities and to

thank them for all the help and assistance they have given to the Scouts

of Kibakwe. Hadlow Scouts have raised funds that have enabled the

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Kibakwe Scouts to add a Goat Project to their chicken project. The funds

raised have enabled the building of a goat “cottage” and the purchase

of 5 female goats. It will enable the Scouts to raise funds from the

rearing and selling of goats for their own Scouting activities.

Horse Guards At Hadlow Scouts

Agripa’s time on Wednesday was taken up with visits in the morning and

evening to St Augustines Theological College at West Malling to discuss

a possible link between St Augustine’s and St Philip’s and to see

in some detail the courses run by St Augustine’s.

St Augustine’s College of Theology with Bishop Given

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Agripa’s visit to us was completed when he was able to join us for

Chorale Communion on 22 October. He extended his UK stay so he could

join us then: he left for Tanzania the following day. The Service was

followed by lunch with a number of St Mary’s members including those

involved in St Mary’s Outreach and World Mission Committees. Again it

was very useful to be able to discuss the Hadlow - Kibakwe Link with

Agripa.

St Mary’s has heard, first hand, how beneficial the Parish Link is for the

people of Kibakwe but it would be good to be able to do more with it.

As a next step, to raise funds, it is proposed to hold a sponsored

pilgrimage from St Mary’s to Canterbury Cathedral during the Spring

Half Term Holiday, 12 February 2018 to 16 February 2018. All are

welcome to join it. For more information please contact either Sharon

Vanns or Jim May.

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People Remembered

Whenever I show people around St Mary’s Church, or just walk around, I am

reminded of those who are commemorated with plaques or other forms of

memorials. Some I knew personally, others just their names.

The wonderful old west door, dated 1637, bears the initials of the

Churchwardens of that time – Esau Simmons and Walter Barton – both family

names that occur frequently in village history. The inner glass door is in

memory of Ken and Helen Garner. Both were active members of St Mary’s.

Ken was the first principal of Hadlow College while Helen, a teacher, was

involved with the WI and several choirs. I remember how bravely she carried

on in spite of suffering from Parkinson’s in her later years. One of Ken’s duties

was winding the church clock, which stopped a week or so after his death as

nobody else had wound it. In the bell-ringing chamber is a plaque marking the

peal rung in memory of Peter Romney, Tower Captain for 30 years.

Just inside the church a cover over the font was given in memory of Ray

Mitchell who held many roles in the church through his life and once said he

had served under eight Vicars. The baptistry wall hangings, designed by Julia

Hemingray, are in memory of Mary Knowles, wife of Alan, who many of us

remember well. Two brass plaques nearby bear the names of Henry Snowden

Ward, a photographer and author who lived at Falklands, now Leigh Place,

Golden Green and was a supporter of the bell ringers, and Thomas Mitchell MD

’beloved physician, wise councillor and trusted friend’. There are also plaques

in memory of members of the Monypenny family – Hadlow had four Vicars of

that name from 1797 – 1851. The pulpit was given in memory of Sinclair

Howard Monypenny who served from 1908-1951.

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Two of the stained glass windows list those who died in WWI and WWII. many

bearing familiar village surnames. I remember one lady in her nineties looking

up at the WWI window and saying ‘David was my brother, he was 19’. The

original design and names of contributors may be found on the wall in the

occasional vestry. The local newspaper report tells that the WWII window was

unveiled by the widow of Sgt S W J Collins and dedicated by Bishop C M

Chevasse.

The middle window depicting St Frances is in memory of John Philip Somer

Hervey who lived at Faulkners. His obituary states that he was known as

‘Master Jack’ and was born in Australia, coming to Hadlow in the 1870s. He

was a JP, Chairman of the parish council, School Governor and Vicar’s Warden.

He was also a great supporter of sport and was Master of the Hadlow Harriers

hound pack for many years.

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Another man who gave many years of service to the village was George Barton

‘who held the appointment of Parish Clerk for upwards of 50 years. The brass

plaque on the wall near the lectern was ‘erected by the parishioners in

estimation of his character’. The brass lectern was given in memory of Sir

William Yardley of Hadlow Park, a retired judge who served in India. The

wooden crucifix and figures of the Virgin Mary and St John by the high altar are

in memory of his wife, Amelia.

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I thought the inscription on the organ slightly odd ‘Presented to St Mary’s

Church through Rev Phillip Howard Monypenny by Ernest Hargreaves Esq

August 1880’ until I found that Ernest had married the Vicar’s 17 year old

daughter! The Clavinova piano was given to St Mary’s in memory of John

Macnamara, who served twice as a Churchwarden.

The oldest monument in the chancel dating back to the 1580s is to the Ryvers

family of Fish Hall. It shows a man and woman kneeling over a prayer desk. Sir

John Ryvers had been lay rector of St Mary’s and earlier a citizen of London,

serving as Lord Mayor. An American descendant of the Ryvers family visited St

Mary’s a year or so ago and asked for a photograph of the coat of arms, which

she planned to have reproduced in embroidery. There are several memorials

in the chancel to the Martin family including a plaque over the vestry door

stating ‘This Chancel was rebuilt by the Lay Rector Thomas Martin of Hextle

House, East Peckham, Anno Domini 1839’ and one stating he was buried in a

vault under the chancel and listing the names of his wife and children. There

are also several memorials to the Simmons family of Stilstead House, East

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Peckham, including the names of several children who sadly died young.

Another plaque, rather high up and difficult to read, records that Robert White

who died on Easter Day, 1619, left £100 to St Mary’s, also £100 to Christchurch

in Hampshire. The Hadlow money was used to buy two plots of land south of

the Medway, known as Poor Meads, and the annual rent was used to buy

clothing for the poor.

The elaborately carved Coverdale chair was presented to St Mary’s by T.E.

Foster MacGeagh of Hadlow Castle in 1919 in memory of his parents. His wife,

Fanny Davis MacGeagh, and her twin sister Betty Davies Warfield, are

commemorated on a plaque by the Lady Chapel which was originally restored

by the MacGeagh family in 1927. The sisters were born in the USA and I was

told the Warfield connection was to the Duchess of Windsor, who is said to

have once visited Hadlow Castle. Another connection to Hadlow Castle is the

memorial to Mary Susanna Barton May, widow of Walter Barton May.

Behind the choir stalls is a brass plaque to Ernest Collis aged 11 years, a

chorister who died in 1925, with the words ‘His song shall rise to thee’. The

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parish magazine reports that Miss Adelaide Jenner placed the plaque there,

together with a crucifix over the pulpit, and they were unveiled and dedicated

at Evensong on 2 June 1926 ‘in the presence of a good congregation’. Does

anyone know more about Ernest?

The wording of a memorial to Barbara, only daughter of James and Barbara

Gordon of Hadlow House, conveys their grief at the loss of the 18 year old in

1860. Their memorial close by contains several biblical quotations. Nearby is

a memorial to Captain Harold Golding of Leavers (now a hotel) who served for

four years of WWI, only to die within a few days of the Armistice. He is also on

the Tonbridge School memorial.

The motifs on the ceiling of the chancel were given in memory of various

people and marriages and ‘in gratitude for many blessings received through St

Mary’s Church and Parish’. Many other gifts have been made in the form of

silver and altar frontals, etc. A group of people worked for many years on the

kneelers, including Mary Jackson who was responsible for over twenty. My

younger daughter made one to mark her wedding in 1996, others are in

memory of close friends.

I would be pleased to answer any queries, if I am able, and would welcome any

further information, particularly from older members of the congregation.

Anne Hughes

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Upcoming Events / Dates for your Diary

Event Date(s) Where Contact / Details Wednesday Study Group

Wednesday 13th December 7.45pm

Spa Close Christopher Miles

Men’s Christmas Dinner

Thursday 14th December 7pm

Two Brewers

Price around £25, deposit £10. Martin Massy

Children’s Christmas Fun

Sunday 24th December 2pm

St Mary’s Upper Room

Fun and Activities for Children including Santa Tracking, Lucky Dip and refreshments. Eve Griffiths

Coffee & Mince Pies

Saturday 16th December 10am-12

St Mary’s Upper Room

Come along for coffee, mince pies and a chat.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sunday 17 December Golden Green Carol Service 4pm in Golden Green Hall; 8am Holy Communion, 10am Parish Eucharist, 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, all at St Mary’s Sunday 24 December, Christmas Eve St Mary’s 10 am Holy Communion (BCP), 4pm Crib and Christingle Service, 6.30pm Carols in the Square, 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11pm) Monday 25th December, Christmas Day St Mary’s 10am Family Eucharist

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Weekly / Monthly Events / Church Services

(In St Mary’s unless otherwise stated)

Holy Communion Sundays 8am

Holy Communion Wednesdays 9.30am

Parish Eucharist Sundays 10am Vicar’s Surgery Most Thursdays

Coffee Pots and Tiny Tots Wednesdays 10am - 12pm

Beacon Service Second Sunday of every month (unless otherwise arranged) 5.30pm. A service devised by and for young people. Activities, worship and refreshments

St Mary’s Market Stall Third Saturday of every month 10am-12pm in St Mary’s Upper Room

Friends Together Second Monday of every month 12.45pm (For those who have been bereaved. Two course lunch provided.)

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All articles published in this Quarterly Newsletter represent the personal views

of the author and are not to be taken as the official position of St Mary's Church

or the Church of England. If you disagree with anything printed in these pages

please write your own letter or article in response setting out why you

disagree. The Church encompasses a wide range of views on many issues

and we would be more than happy to see a healthy debate on those issues

flourish in this publication.