Cream Teas at

the Parish

Church

Every Sunday

afternoon from

May 6th

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Not so much ‘going up,’ as ‘growing up’! In the way that children so often manage to do, it was the occasion of our School

& Parish Ascension Day Service last year that led to a moment of clarity in a grown

up world of confusion. How to explain the Ascension of Jesus into heaven 40 days after his resurrection, when adult minds can barely begin to make rational sense of it all? ‘Little children’, says Jesus, ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them all now’ (John,13&16). Remember the heavenly messengers who appear alongside the disciples as they are gazing up at the sky, trying to make sense of Jesus’ departure, as though to say, ‘why are looking up there? You cannot bear these things now.’ The key text in the story of the Ascension, indeed, it seems to me, the point of it all, is Jesus words to his disciples that ‘unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come’. For 40 days he has been gently encouraging and teaching and equipping his friends to learn and to apply for themselves the wonderful works of God. They have become accustomed once again to his

presence, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who, arriving at their home, urge Jesus to stay, but as unexpectedly as he appeared, he is gone again. The disciples cannot begin to imagine a world without Jesus, let alone the awesome task he has called them to. The analogy then was clear. Which of the children had learned / were learning to ride a bike. Did they remember the fear and anxiety of those first wobbly

attempts to cycle alone, afraid that they would, and probably did a few times, fall flat on their face trying? But did they remember that all-important hand of mum or dad on the saddle, or gently on their shoulder, steadying them, perhaps

pushing a little, until one day they looked around and discovered they had finally learned to do it for themselves? The thrill, and the satisfaction! The story of the Ascension, indeed of the whole period from Easter to Pentecost, is about learning to ride that ‘apostolic bike’. Jesus has come to the point of removing his hand from the disciples’ shoulders, in spite of their pleas ‘no, don’t let go, I’m not ready, I’ll fall!’ ‘Unless I go away’ he says, ‘the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the ‘steadying hand’, cannot come’, in other words, unless I let go, you will never learn to do this for yourself, indeed, he says, ‘greater things than these will you

do in my name, if you have but faith’. And more than this, he promises ‘I will not leave you comfortless’, but by his Spirit he will abide with us forever. The Ascension then, not so much about ‘going up’, as ‘growing up’, and to know what is the ‘length and breadth and height and depth’ of the love of God, ‘till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.’ (Ephesians 4.13). With every blessing, Fr John

Parish Ascension Day Service in Little Missenden, Thursday 17th May, 9.15am

Letter from the Vicarage May / Ascensiontide 2012

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I t has been an interesting and rewarding life. Materially it has brought everything we wanted, creatively I should have liked some times to have been more stretched. But we have been blessed with marvellous friends, on and off stage, and have kept in work. Statistics are sometimes surprising. Looking back through our engagement books over the years, I find I have to date done 106 plays (over forty in the West End) and twenty films (starring in eight), plus hundreds of radio broadcasts (395 in Front Line Family alone), and what can best be described as numerous television shows. Michael has done more plays than I but fewer films and broadcasts. He was on the Equity Council for twenty-seven years, and Vice-President three times. We have had the good fortune to work hard in the profession we love. As a writer, my other profession, this is my twenty-fourth published book; there have also been two plays, six broadcast radio plays adapted from my books, many short horror stories, and short stories and articles in many magazines and newspapers. I am a compulsive writer and feel empty and itchy if I’m not writing something. I’m often asked why I work so hard. I like to, and perhaps boarding school at three and a half set an unconscious pattern. Now we are old, I am not afraid of death. Why should I be? No-one has returned to say that the other life is really hell, but I am afraid of the manner of dying. I dread the thought of dependence, incontinence,

blindness, deafness, paralysis and strokes. Old age is not for weaklings or for the queasy either. Just as we are too young when we are young to realise what a gift from the gods youth is, we’re really too old when we’re old to undergo the trials of old age! Like marriage, they come to us without proper training. Still, survival is what all nature is striving for and, so far, we have survived. I am not reconciled to old age yet. I’ve had little to grumble at so far, but aesthetically I dislike my physical dilapidations. Other people’s attitude to old age is also depressing. Many of the young find the effort to communicate too much, others are too reverent. The young are also frightened of a glimpse into their own future, so real old age disgusts them. I’m afraid I shan’t grow old gracefully, but warily and critically. On the other hand, there is no denying that it is a passionately interesting time. And if new little hazards manifest themselves yearly, so do new small luxuries. Lovely not to be shy any more, and lovely to be more concerned whether I like my companions than whether they like me. I have the sat-isfaction of being a self-made woman, and many of my particular pleasures intensify - watching butterflies, walking among wild flowers, browsing in antique shops, looking at pictures, reading books, and naturally, going to the theatre. Memories don’t dim - or haven’t yet. The future of the planet bothers me, as it does most other people! Victorian clergy-men pursued butterflies whose beauty intensified their belief in God. However,

Looking forward, looking back Friends & colleagues gathered toward the end of 2011 to remember writer & actress Dulcie Gray, starlet of the British stage & silver screen, who with her husband, actor Michael Denison, formed a famously long acting partnership. Living for many years at Shardeloes on the edge of the Parish, the Denisons were regulars at the Little Missenden Church, where Michael would often read the lesson at Christmas. Fr John presided at a service to celebrate Dulcie’s life at Ruislip, where her friend, actor Anthony Andrews, read an extract from Dulcie’s autobiography, Looking forward, looking back, which is reprinted here.

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they caught and killed them and impaled them on setting boards. Humans are the cruellest creatures on earth. We are nature’s pollutants. My favourite book is The Parable of the Beast by John N. Bleibtreu. His description of the life cycle of the cattle tick is for me totally riveting. The Dean of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, the Rev. John Polkinghorne, is quoted as saying, ‘There is a quality about the best ideas which is self-authenticating. The fact that the world is shot through with so much that is mathematically beautiful is, in a sense, the physical evidence of the working of a Mind.’ Right on the nose for me. As a child I was told that all diseases were caused by the tiny red and white corpuscles in our bodies, fighting, and I came to the conclusion that humans might be corpuscles in an enormous being which incorporates the sun, moon and stars, and that its mind was God. I still have a misty feeling that there is something in that idea. A sense of awe went out with the eclipse of candlelight, and its passing has diminished our feeling of kinship with nature, and our need, acknowledged or not, of a faith by which to steer ourselves. I believe that art, poetry and architecture, not to mention our develop�ment as human beings, have all suffered in this spiritual vacuum. For forty years, too, I have had a vivid sense that we are, in reality, watching a film of our lives, past, present and to come. Whether or not what we are watching can be edited or changed, I don’t know. I love actors as a species. They are larger than life and can be egotistical, I know, but so can businessmen, politicians, clergymen and greengrocers. At least most actors are generous and entertaining, and if when they are together they talk about their work, why shouldn't they? Other people do. In all my career I have only detested five actors. Not bad in fifty years. That fate should have nudged a plain, rather lost but determined little girl from Kuala Lumpur in the direction it did, has been surprising but much appreciated. The terror of losing my memory and not working again, which is the fear of all actors, the passionate excitement of reading a good play or seeing the first

butterfly in the spring, the hope of writing a good book, and the joy of Michael's company, are still with me. And I find that stimulating. After the magnificent service for Laurence Olivier in Westminster Abbey, someone said to us, ‘Wonderful, of course, but a bit much, don’t you think? After all, he was only an actor. Only an actor indeed! Dubedat in Shaw’s The Doctor's Dilemma says, ‘I believe in Michelangelo, Velazquez and Rembrandt; in the might of design, the mystery of colour, the redemption of all things by beauty everlasting, and the message of Art... ’ He is talking about painting, but great acting, great music and great writing all signal their fanfare of glory, too. For myself, however, I will settle happily for ‘only an actress’.

Dulcie Gray’s Autobiography, ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back’ was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1991, and is available from Amazon.

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Looking back Some of last year’s highlights

Below: Several intrepid cyclists (three of whom pictured below) plus other volunteers succeeded in raising some £1,400 through the Bucks Historic Churches Trust Sponsored Ride or Stride in September (the largest amount collected in the Deanery). One of our number needed reminding that it was churches we were visiting, not hostelries!

The Little Missenden Festival enjoyed its 52nd season in October. Among the more colourful highlights was an evening of flamenco dancing and guitar (below).

Below: The children (some of 150 or so!) don the statutory nativity-shepherds’ tea towels & join Fr John in blessing the Crib scene on Christmas Eve. Our special guest Santa Claus popped in to tell the children the real meaning of Christmas.

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Making Friends: Last September’s Harvest Supper brought together friends old and new

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E ach Sunday as we gather for worship we are reminded about what it means to be ‘the Body of Christ’ in the world, a community or family that gathers around God’s Table to tell our stories and to re-tell His, the Author of life, the Word, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and ending of all our stories. It is in this gathering or ‘communion’ that we participate in the eternal story of life and of love—as we say in the Eucharistic Prayer, that we might be ‘partakers of [Christ’s] body and his blood’. There is an ancient Chinese proverb: ‘Tell me and I may hear; show me and I may see; involve me, and I may understand’. No less than the Eucharist in which we share as the children of God, the dramatic events of Holy Week and Easter provide opportunities to be deeply involved in the story—the extended Passion Narratives, the theatrical reading of the Passion Gospel at Palm Sunday, in which congregation and ministers read parts, and together we exclaim

April Fool The traditional Palm Sunday Procession through Little Missenden village, this year on April 1st, marked the beginning of Holy Week

‘Crucify Him!’ and feel the shame of Judas,; the joyful procession with palms; our desertion and betrayal with the disciples at Maundy Thursday, the stark emptiness of a church stripped and forsaken at Good Friday. On this day last year’s Church Christmas Tree is roughly fashioned into a cross to provide a focus for our meditation. On Easter Day the congregation are invited to place daffodils on the Cross, so that what was months earlier a symbol of Christ’s birth, become the symbol of His death on Good Friday, is transformed into the Tree of Life. St Paul reminds us that the sacrificial love at the heart of Easter was a stumbling block for some and foolishness to others, and yet in a world marred by the in-humanity of man, what appeared to make no sense at all on the cross, makes the most sense of all. The Cross is the place where ‘God’s foolishness is wiser than men’, where life is remade and the story begins.

God’s foolishness is wiser than men

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The theatre and drama of Holy Week & Easter: Above: the Easter scene beneath the altar; lilies adorn the church in memory of loved ones; the Cross fashioned from last year’s Christmas Tree, transformed into the Tree of Life. Right: the new Easter (Paschal) Candle is lit from a newly kindled fire.

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In place of the traditional ‘Pancakes at the Vicarage’ on Shrove Tuesday, 21st February, this year, some 50 or more parishioners instead enjoyed a ‘Wine and Cheese Tasting for Mardi Gras, a fundraiser (with the emphasis on ‘fun’) for the church presented by Mark Hughes of The Real Wine Company. We reprint below an article which first appeared in the Telegraph.

M ark Hughes isn’t keen to meet me at the Real Wine Company’s HQ. “It’s just a Portakabin … perhaps we could have a coffee somewhere else?” It’s true that this doesn’t sound promising but when I turn up in Stoke Poges, near Slough, I discover the Portakabin is actually in the middle of a garden nursery, surrounded by piles of logs, bags of compost and a big greenhouse that a few weeks ago was home to several thousand poinsettias. Mark, a former head of wine, beers and spirits at Safeway, is sitting inside it, wearing an air of focused enthusiasm. I’m here here because Mark kept sending me bottles of wine and the wine kept on being surprisingly good. More than that, it was wine you wanted to go back to, like an old friend whose company is always easy, but always pleasing too . “It’s interesting you should say that,” Mark says. “Because we started off, about six years ago, as a company called Wine for

Friends. It wasn’t so much a business as a co-operative. I was working for a larger company at the time and I’d been to the Vinexpo fair in France. You know what it’s like, you taste hundreds and there was one that shone out. It was a Costières de Nîmes.” The wine was called Château d’Or et de Gueules Les Cimels. It’s an unoaked blend of syrah, carignan and grenache. Mark describes it as his “Desert Island Disc wine” and the 2007, which he now sells (at £8.99) is indeed delicious; it smells of dried garrigue herbs and tastes of wild thyme and old leather. In 2005, Mark and nine of his friends clubbed together and bought a pallet (600 bottles, and the minimum quantity you can ship commercially). “The pallet came off the lorry and into the garage – and we distributed it.” Very quickly, one pallet became two, then three, and four. “People would have a bottle at a friend’s house over dinner and call to ask if they could come in on the next order.” Mark began to wonder if he couldn’t turn Wine for Friends into a proper business. “I’d gone into wine because I loved it, but realised I wasn’t that happy just selling increasingly large volumes of cheaper and cheaper wines.” So he resigned from the day job and registered the Real Wine Company – “I kept on talking about real wine instead of all this industrial stuff so the name was easy” – and went off on the hunt. He started in the south of France, his comfort zone. “I tasted 1,000 wines at the Vinisud trade fair and of those made a shortlist of seven. I visited the domaines, and ended up buying from two of them. My philosophy was that we had to offer a point of difference, and I wanted that to be that all our wines were gems.” I don’t like all of Mark’s wines, but his hit rate is high. One of his gems is Marc Chauvet, the champagne grower he found by asking for recommendations from his wine contacts in the Languedoc. It’s a lovely story. “They’d been badly hit by floods a few years earlier and as an act of

An old friend, whose company is always easy

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solidarity several hundred champagne producers had come down to offer help – mending fences, draining, workmanlike stuff. As a result my friends knew their wines really well and sent me off to visit a handful of them that I’d simply never have heard of otherwise.” Another producer – Verus – was added when an old mentor made him try the wines blind over lunch. “I thought it was New Zealand pinot gris. She said, 'Ha! Slovenian’.” Shortly after Mark was on his way out there, on a £30 easyJet flight to Graz, just over the Austrian border. “I was nervous about doing 1,200 bottles of a screw-cap Slovenian wine at £8.99 but thought we’d have a punt. And it worked. The furmint was written up as a wine of the week and we sold half of it straight away.” The list is still a work in progress but has been built up to over 100 wines from about 20 different producers. Some of my favourites are listed above – I reckon you could happily get through a case of any of them, and if you do place an order, you can think of the wine being packed up and sent out from its store room in the middle of a greenhouse in Stoke Poges.

www.therealwineco.co.uk

Red Roses Too

I n March Little Missenden Church played host to Philip and Elen Mon Wayne, who presented a charming and eclectic mix of songs from the shows and other ballads, as well as one or two pieces performed by Philip at the organ. A meditation upon the nature of love.

How much?!

A nother thoroughly enjoyable fundraiser for the church was presented by Pretty & Ellis Auctioneers of Amersham at Little Missenden Village Hall on April 25th. Some 65 folk took a keen interest, after a delicious supper, in the stories and valuations (some of them a pleasant surprise) offered by auctioneers Hugo and Simon.

And Looking Forward...

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The Parish of St John the Baptist

Little Missenden, Hyde Heath & Little Kingshill

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENT Of the Parochial Church Council for the Year to December 31st 2011

PARISH OF LITTLE MISSENDEN

VESTRY AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Sunday 29th April 2012

AGENDA

**VESTRY MEETING Election of Churchwardens

**ANNUAL MEETING 1. Prayers

2. Lunch

3. Apologies for absence

4. Minutes of the meeting held on 27th March 2011 to be read, confirmed and signed.

5. Matters arising not dealt with elsewhere.

6. Parish report and comments/questions.

7. Other reports: Please read these pre-circulated reports; they are taken to be accepted unless there are

questions or points for clarification:

Electoral Roll, Churchwardens Reports, Deanery Synod, St Andrew’s Hyde Heath,

Bell ringers, Flower Arrangers, Churches Together, Little Missenden School

8. Presentation of Accounts; adoption

9. Appointment of Independent Examiner

10. Elections for 2012/2013

PCC

Sidesmen and women!

11. AOB

CHURCH ANNUAL MEETINGS 2011

Saint Andrew’s Church, Hyde Heath

Annual Vestry Meeting 27th April 2011

Revd John Simpson thanked Marian Dickinson and John Lamb for their work and support as Churchwardens

over the past year. He also thanked St Andrew’s and their congregation for providing the lunch.

The Minutes of the Vestry meeting held on 18th April 2010 were agreed and signed as an accurate record.

Nominations for Churchwarden to appoint Marian Dickinson and John Lamb had been received duly

nominated and seconded. There were no other nominations; Marian and John were elected for a further year.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting 27th April 2011

The meeting opened with the collect for Lent by the Revd. John Simpson.

The Attendance and Apologies sheet was circulated. There were 43 people present and apologies were

received from 9. The Minutes of the meeting held on 18th April 2011 were agreed and signed as an accurate

record. There were no Matters Arising that were not dealt with elsewhere.

In his opening remarks, the Revd. John Simpson thanked everyone for their contribution to the life of the

parish and enabling the financial commitment to be met. He noted the fact that the Parish Share had increased

and that it is the biggest part of our expenditure. The Parish Share derives from the Deanery Share which is

~£0.5M and is calculated taking into account the Electoral Roll and the median attendance. The attendance at

services is ~76 and compares with 2009. The Cream Teas had been a first class effort and everyone involved

was to be thanked, especially Margaret Dunn for the supply of scones and John Lamb for his organisation.

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Barbara and Terry Cann had arranged a special Old Time Music Hall show for the parish. Margaret

Washington has organised the flower rota for 14 years; she was thanked for this, her own commitment and the

special effort for the Patronal Festival. She wishes to hand over the task from June 2011. Veronica Hartley was

thanked for the cleaning rota; to be organised by Alison Mackey shortly. John thanked Marilyn Davies, Marian

Dickinson, John Lamb and Barbara Cann for keeping the accounts in order. The accounting was now on an

actual rather than accrual basis. He thanked Gareth Beynon for his support as the Lay Minister.

Reg Cobham pointed out that the Parish Share had increased because of an increase from the Diocese, the

catching up process within the Deanery and the rebalancing. LM is now paying more than the ‘ministry cost’.

Larry Haig asked if the number on the Electoral Roll can be limited to those who attend church. This is not

possible because of the rules. Those on the ER should recognise their financial responsibility to the parish.

NB increase in non statuary fees for weddings. Brian Hilton noted that there is no longer a requirement to be

on the ER to be married in the parish.

The various reports were pre-circulated.

*Churchwardens report

*Hospitality Committee thanks for their work

*Music thanks to Alan Morris, Dorothy Hilton, Joshua, David Stowe and Bob Thompson

*PCC thanks to the 3 retiring members; Ann Crook, Avril Cobham and Judith Butt and also to Estelle Johns

and Reg Cobham who retire from Deanery Synod.

Dorothy Hilton asked about the progress on the Memorial Wall. JS replied that the process was long and

frustrating; an alternative proposal was being followed that would not require a faculty.

Thyra Harrison asked about a Book of Remembrance. There is one and it can be used but the original criteria

for its use needs to be checked.

*St John’s Guild unfortunately no longer viable on a regular basis. Dorothy Hilton was thanked for her 20

years of leadership.

*Churches Together thank you to Joan Craig for flying the flag.

*Electoral Roll Officer Barbara Cann The ER stood at 237

Presentation of Accounts for 2010 John Lamb

The full accounts are available for inspection.

It had been a brilliant year as there had been an increase in costs but the deficit had been lower than budgeted.

A number of adjustments had been made to change the basis from Accruals to Actuals. There had been a good

effort on fund raising realising £8k. Collections were reduced having peaked after the last appeal. The tax

rebate in 2011 will be reduced because of the tax rebate reduction from 25 to 22%. The expected deficit in

2011 is £12k. John regretted the attention given to finances as it should not be what the church is about. He

thanked Marilyn Davies and Ian Mackey for their work.

Avril Cobham queried the Messenger income-----the 2010 income was as a result of invoices send in 2009 and

received in 2010. Adverts have been included for 2011 and the Messenger is expected to come out in the 2nd

half of the year and invoices for adverts will be sent for a 12 month period once the Messenger is re-

established. The adoption of the Accounts was proposed by John Lamb, seconded by Brian Hilton and Agreed

by the meeting. Ian Mackey was asked to be the Independent Examiner for 2011, he agreed and was appointed.

The following remarks were made

Pauline Webster: can services be advertised on the 10.30am Oder of Service each week? Joy Locke : would

Barbara appreciate a small editorial team to help with the Messenger? It is essential to have contributions.

Brian Hilton: the website is in dire need of updating. Larry Haig said that there was a simpler way of doing

things and that he would liaise with JS. Stephanie Whitehead: Friends of Little Missenden. Faltered over the

appointment of Chair/secretary. Still looking. Larry Haig : suggested a separate fund raising sub-committee.

Joan Craig : can there be advanced notice of what to read at services?

Elections to the PCC

The following nominations were received

Colin Clark 1 year

Larry Haig 3 years

Alan Morris 3 years

all proposed by John Lamb and seconded by Revd John Simpson. Agreed and appointed. Appointment of

Sidesmen and women as per the list. Agreed.

The meeting closed with The Grace.

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REPORT ON ELECTORAL ROLL

At Sunday April 29th 2012, the roll totals 211, which includes some additions and deletions from 2011/12.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 2011/12

The PCC has met 7 times since the last Annual Meeting. There are 9 elected members who serve for a period

not exceeding 3 years and a rotational system has been introduced so that a third of the elected members retire

each year. They may seek re-election after a period of a year. Other members of the PCC are ex officio and

comprise the incumbent, the church wardens, the lay minister and the Deanery Synod Representatives

(normally elected for the duration of the Synod; 3 years.) The treasurer is appointed by the PCC, usually from

the members, and may serve for a 6 year period in order to ensure continuity. The PCC is charged with

supporting the incumbent with the smooth running of the parish including having an overview of the income

and expenditure.

Meetings invariably therefore are consumed by practical matters although occasionally it is possible to discuss

spiritual topics. Over the past year the Council have deliberated on various fund raising activities and have

established a pattern of events which broadly follow a 2 year cycle and should ensure a good mix of interesting

activities that should attract the congregation and those in the parish over that period of time. It was very

pleasing to be able to approve the Memorial stones that form the centre piece for the remembrance of those

whose ashes have been placed in the churchyard. Fortunately there has been little need to discuss major work

on the fabric of the churches in the parish although this is an area that is closely monitored by the church-

wardens and will require significant expenditure in the not too distant future. (There is nothing specific

currently but a building that is centuries old will always need maintenance to ensure that we leave it in the state

we would wish to inherit it.)

Gary Beynon, PCC Secretary

CHURCHWARDENS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2011

John Lamb and Marian Dickinson have continued in their roles as churchwardens during 2011. The structure

of church services has been the same as previous years. There has been an overall increase in attendance at

services compared to 2010.

During 2011 there were 9 weddings, the same as the previous year. There was also one blessing of a marriage.

There were 11 funeral services against 10 in 2010. Twelve babies were baptised (2010: 11) as well as 4 adults.

We thank everyone who helps to keep our two churches functioning, whether by cleaning, assisting at

weddings and funerals, arranging flowers, making coffee, serving cream teas, tidying the churchyards and all

the other tasks that arise every week of the year. Their help and support is vital for Father John and the mission

of the Church.

CHURCHWARDENS’ FABRIC REPORT FOR 2011

We have the gutters cleaned several times a year but in spite of this during 2011 a blocked downpipe caused

water to flood onto the ceiling of the vestry. The pipes were cleared and flooding has not reoccurred. The

gutters around the vestry roof have also been cleaned, resealed and painted. The boiler room roof has been

rebattened, lined and retiled, as recommended in our last Quinquennial Report. We had moss removed from

the north nave roof in case this contributed to blocked pipes. The fragility of the roof tiles prevented total moss

removal. The Quinquennial Report has warned that roof work will be required at some point. The contractor

removed the rotten walkboards from the valley roof. Our architect had confirmed that the boards were not

essential as any contractor would have the appropriate ladders for access.

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Once again we have felt the impact of high metal prices and the consequent thefts from churches. Our insurer,

who had already limited claims for metal theft, announced that cover would be withdrawn from churches that

had not applied “Smartwater” to metal roofs. We had investigated this product after the last theft from our roof

but we had decided to install sensors and alarms. Faced with the lack of insurance cover we had no choice but

to apply “Smartwater” to our external metal. “Smartwater” is a liquid that can be applied to metal to identify

where is has come from, rather like a form of DNA. It is widely used on buildings and in the security

industry .

We have had the timbers in the church inspected during 2011. We are pleased to report that no insect

infestations, or wet or dry rot were found. We had an anti-surge device fitted on the lightning conductor. We

have also had a new extractor fan installed in the toilet. This switches on at the light switch. We also had the

broken microphone cable replaced in the north aisle. We regularly had complaints that the toilet cistern took a

long time to refill. This problem has been resolved and the plumber has also replaced valves in loft tank. We

give a big thank you to members of the congregation who have donated a new computer for the parish office,

some new signs advertising the cream teas and a full sized fridge for the kitchen. The organ had its annual

service in September.

During the year we looked at the installation of solar panels on the roof of St Andrews church in Hyde Heath.

However the tariffs payable for electricity generation were reduced earlier than expected and the scheme was

no longer viable. We are considering the installation of secondary double glazing at St Andrews to try to

improve the insulation of the building.

We used contractors to trim trees in the churchyards damaged in the harsh winter. We had a churchyard work

day during the year and our thanks go to those volunteers who came out to help. Scott Davies deserves a

special mention for his work in the Lychgate and Vicarage churchyards. They are kept neat and tidy through-

out the year and are a credit to the parish. Mr and Mrs Cuff have had ivy removed from the wall between the

manor and the church and we thank them for arranging this.

Last year we were aware that we had some mason bees living in the porch. Our research suggests that these

bees do not cause damage to the building.

Marian Dickinson & John Lamb, Churchwardens

WENDOVER DEANERY SYNOD 2011

We’ve had another busy year at the Deanery Synod, with four meetings during 2011. The Deanery has done

well in achieving its Parish Share in full and on time, and that is much appreciated. Many thanks to all who

have made this possible, particularly in these difficult economic times. I am very grateful to Allan Whittow

who has worked throughout the year with PCC treasurers and the deanery synod to keep everyone informed

and coordinated on this challenging part of church life.

Our meetings started on 26th January in Wendover (at the Christian Centre) with a debate on the appointment

of women to the episcopate (ie women bishops) led by Rosie Harper and Elizabeth Moxley. To be fair, it was

not so much a debate as a consensus, as no-one was interested in opposing women bishops and there was very

limited support for making special provisions for those who would not accept the change.

On 10th May we had a presentation from Rev Dr Michael Beasley, the Diocesan Director of Mission, at All

Saints’ Church in Buckland on ‘Ministry for Mission in the Diocese of Oxford’. It was a useful discussion on

strategy and some of the challenges we face in keeping local ministry supplied, with a comparatively small

proportion of younger people coming forward for ordination. We posed some direct questions about lay train-

ing which have yet to be fully answered.

Our meeting on 6th September in the newly re-furbished St Mary’s Wendover was an invigorating review of

Social Networking and the Church of England, led by our own Bishop Alan of Buckingham: probably the most

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knowledgeable person on this subject throughout the episcopate. Of course we like to think of the Church as

‘grass roots driven’ but compared to viral networking on the internet and with mobile technology we haven’t

even started ..

Finally on 11th November we met in Great Kimble for a discussion of welcome and hospitality led by Mark

Dearnley: much we can learn from each other in this area.

We were also delighted to welcome Bishop John of Oxford for a day in the Deanery on 1st December. This

included a meeting of the small churches’ forum at St Leonards, a trip over the Deanery in a powered glider

from Halton (our own ‘Flying Bishop’, rather different and a lot more literal from what is normally understood

by that term!), and a gathering at the Oldham Hall in Great Missenden.

So, many thanks to all who have taken part in our Deanery Synod evenings - although we have formal Parish

representatives, all are welcome to attend. We've started 2012 with a discussion on ‘the Olympics and the

Church’ at Stoke Mandeville on 26th January in a joint meeting with Aylesbury Deanery Synod, and dates for

forward planning are Wednesday 9th May (I’ll be leading an explanation of how money flows work in the

Church of England), Tuesday 11th September and Wednesday 21st November.

With best wishes from the Deanery Standing Committee: that is, Mark Dearnley, Gareth Beynon, Allan

Whittow, Elizabeth Moxley, Rosie Harper, James Adam and myself

Gavin Oldham, Lay Chair

SAINT ANDREW’S CHURCH REPORT 2011/12

The congregation attending St Andrew’s has remained consistent through the year. There have been no perma-

nent new faces but the regulars have come more often. It is now disappointing if there are less than 12 in

church and we quite often have 16. The service pattern has not changed with Holy Communion on the first and

third Sundays and Morning Prayer on the other Sundays, unless a Sunday falls on a festival in which case there

is a Communion service. Services start at 9.15 am which may be somewhat early for some people but fits in

with the overall pattern within the parish. The Flower Festival, an annual event that takes place on the village

fête weekend was well supported by the village (and parish) organisations, who provided the glorious

arrangements, and by the visitors to the fête who came in great and appreciative numbers.

There are 3 separate groups who use the church building for meetings. The building is thus playing its part in

the community at large and hopefully presenting a witness to those who attend the meetings. Our village school

use the church for various meetings when they need the extra space and it is pleasing that the relationship be-

tween school and church is close. The groups using the building help in a small way to defray the running costs

but much of their payments is eaten up by the heating and lighting that they use. Despite the modern heating

system, the building is very energy inefficient and we are investigating potentially more effective forms of

heating. The congregation have played a full part in supporting the wider activities of the parish including the

cream teas (not just eating them!) and the parish Flower Festival.

As always I would like to record my thanks to everyone who cleans, maintains the garden, plays the organ,

makes the tea and coffee, reads lessons and all the other tasks without which the church could not function.

Especially I would again like to thank our neighbours, the Franklins, for keeping the grass so tidy.

Gary Beynon

LITTLE MISSENDEN BELLRINGERS 2011

Throughout the year the ringers maintained their regular ringing for all Sunday services, weddings and their

Monday evening practices. We are grateful to those members of other local towers who have willingly come to

our aid in making sufficiently strong bands to ring for weddings when enough of our own ringers were not

available, particularly for weekday weddings.

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We have welcomed back to ringing one member who has returned after many years of not ringing and who will

be very useful to us in the future, whilst we have another past ringer who is keen to progress with us. At the

same time I remain most grateful to those committed ringers who regularly come to make up our team,

although, sadly, we do not always have enough people to ring all six bells, especially on Sunday evenings,

when, in fact, there is often only a very small congregation. In contrast, we shall be very sad to lose the

services of one of our regular band, who is moving away from this area in April.

We look forward to a busy year to come, with special ringing on a number of occasions to mark in particular St

George’s Day on 23rd April, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in early June, and the start of the Olympic Games in

July. All these events will be celebrated with bells being rung nationwide.

Barry Cowper, Tower Captain, March 2012

FLOWER ARRANGERS REPORT

After 14 years of leading the Flower Arranging team, Margaret Washington decided it was time to stand down

and I agreed to take the reins. On behalf of all of us I do want to thank Margaret for all her dedicated service

and for her own beautiful arrangements. However we have not lost Margaret completely for she continues to

help me and is in fact holding my hand as I do everything for the first time.

Altar flowers continue to be changed weekly and are kindly donated by the person arranging them. Whilst we

have a very willing team – to all of whom I must offer sincere thanks – augmented by others who help on

special occasions i.e. Flower Festival, Harvest, Christmas and Easter including the occasional wedding or

funeral, our numbers are becoming quite depleted due to people retiring or moving away. We really could do

with a few more helping hands – so if anyone knows of someone with a few flower arranging skills please do

let me know.

We are working now towards the Flower Festival in June the theme being the Diamond Jubilee. There are still

a few slots to fill but we are sure that all will eventually fall into place and the Church will look beautiful on

the weekend of the Festival.

Pauline Lamb

CHURCHES TOGETHER PRESTWOOD AND GREAT MISSENDEN

Under the official banner of Churches Together comes the responsibility of organising Christian Aid Week

which goes to a different church each year and in 2011 this fell to our parish. Chris Seagrave headed this up

and I gave him some help. At Hyde Heath Church we held a soup supper to launch the local effort (collection

is made in 18 areas covering Prestwood, Great Missenden, Little Missenden, Little Kingshill, The Lee, South

Heath and Ballinger).

As its Christian Aid effort the parish also put on a South African evening where the speaker, Peter Biles,

former BBC Correspondent in South Africa talked about Nelson Mandela. Avril Cobham and the Hospitality

team and others produced a splendid South African meal. The evening was a sell out and made over £700. In

total Christian Aid week locally raised over £10,800. Thanks to Chris for his valiant work, and all in the parish

who collected/contributed to this hugely worthwhile figure for a very worthy cause. Though we have not met

since September 2011 some of us have come together to put on the annual Christmas Day Lunch (in the

Baptist Hall, Great Missenden) for those who would otherwise be on their own that very special day; also for

the January 2012 Covenant Service at Prestwood Methodist Church.

In early March 2012 some 80 folk (very largely women) came together for the Women's World Day of Prayer,

prepared by the women of Malaysia ''Let Justice Prevail'' (Thanks to those of Little Missenden and Hyde

Heath Churches who read). Our speaker was Debbie Beadle, one of five women who recently rowed across the

Atlantic to publicise the worldwide(incuding the UK) abuse of people through human trafficking(Debbie works

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for ecpat, END child prostitution, pornography & trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Please may this

be considered by the Parish in its charity giving?) All local churches were represented and there was a soup

lunch to follow. As for many years previously there will be 2012 Holy Week Prayers at 7.00am , 2 - 5 April,

in the Roman Catholic Church, Great Missenden. These are led by a member/minister of our different churches

and are a meaningful way to start the day. Good Friday will again see the annual Walk of Witness from St

Peter & St Paul, Great Missenden to the Prestwood Village Hall, via the Roman Catholic Church and the

Green Man (where many of the Prestwood contingent meet us). At the Village Hall there is a short appropriate

service. Activity is provided for the children.

Joan Craig

LITTLE MISSENDEN C.E. INFANT SCHOOL 2011-12

Once again 2011/12 has been a very busy and enjoyable year. We said goodbye to 9 Year 2 children in July

and welcomed 8 children into Reception in September. Our numbers are 31 at present.

We were visited by Ofsted in March 2011. They judged our school to be a good school with many outstanding

elements. SIAS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) visited in April and judged the school to be out-

standing in all areas which was an improvement on our last one. We are very pleased with both reports but

still continue our endeavours to improve our school for all the children who attend.

At the end of each term the children and parents enjoy a service in church. At the end of each half term a

simple communion service is held for the school community. Services are prepared by the children for the end

of each full term. We managed to hold our first carol service since I arrived at the school (in both 2009 and

2010 we had to cancel due to snow).

The children participated in the observance of the two minutes silence on Remembrance Day. Each Monday

the children benefit from Father John visiting school to lead our daily act of worship. The children have

particularly enjoyed participating in a number of Sunday Services including Mothers Day and Harvest Festival

after which the children distributed harvest gifts to villagers.

Our year has been punctuated with events for all the community to enjoy. Our Christmas performance of

‘Prickly Hay’ was enjoyed by members of the local community at a performance in the school and then by

parents at the Village hall. Being part of the Little Missenden Festival was exciting and educational for the

children as they had a number of workshops with Kuljit Bhamra and Jan Davey. We held a sports week in the

summer term which culminated in our Sports Day and fete on a very showery Saturday. Fortunately the

weather did not dampen anyone’s spirit! It was also great to see so many people attend our Christmas Bazaar

which we held in the Village Hall.

We have enjoyed many visits out and visitors into school. In the Summer term the children enjoyed a trip to

the London Aquarium. We also had a visitor who led an RE day. Year 2 children enjoyed the Year 2 games

at The Misbourne School. We continue to work with the other small schools in the area and participate in a

country dancing festival. In December we enjoyed a trip to the Pantomime in Aylesbury. Dick Whittington

was fantastic and made even more interesting for us as one of the parents played the part of Alderman

Fitzwarren. In March this year we have visited the Natural History Museum. We regularly have visits from

PCSO Chris Ging. We are very grateful to PSALMS who help to fund many of the things that we do.

Improvements in the school continue. We had a large building project completed in October which improved

the office areas and the entrance to the school. A shelter was also put at the front of the school which offers

parents a dry place to wait for their children at the end of the day. Another project that we have had completed

is the Reception Class play area. A cycle track was put in so they are now able to use their trikes in all weath-

ers. We have developed a new website – www.littlemissendenschool.co.uk – which offers more up to date

information about the school in an easy to access and interesting format do visit it.

Julianna Hall, Headteacher

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Summary of Accounts Page 1

20 Summary of Accounts Page 2

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TT he Anglican Parish of St John the Baptist,

Little Missenden remains one of England’s treasures: the unspoilt charm of the ancient village sits comfortably at the heart of the

Parish alongside the newer and growing communities of Hyde Heath and Little Kingshill. Our ancient Parish Church, which has touched the lives of generations of families for more than 1037 years, lies at the heart of the community, with community at its heart.

For more information visit www.lmchurch.org or telephone 01494 862008.

Across 2. Person who mends shoes (7) 7. Prison (4) 8. From a distance (4) 9. 4th letter of the Greek alphabet (5) 10. Tizzy (6) 11. City in SW Poland (6) 12. Island of Denmark (3) 14. Grind together (5) 16. Gush forth (5) 18. Welsh valley (3) 21. To affix (6) 23. Copyist (6) 24. Moor (3,2) 25. Crown of the head (4) 26. Insignificant (4) 27. Fragmentary (7) Down 1. Skipper (7) 2. Tree (5) 3. Conviction (6) 4. Heavy (6) 5. Ecstatic joy (7) 6. Tied (5) 13. Exclamation of dismay (3) 15. Hits (7) 17. Approve (7) 18. 39th president of the U.S. (6) 19. Concocted (4-2) 20. Mineral used as a gem (5) 22. Young dog (5)

Crossword

‘Bounder’, the Parish mascot.

Sudoku

Sundays at St John the Baptist, Little Missenden: 8am BCP Communion, 1662 (Said);

10.30am Parish Communion (except 3rd Sunday, Morning Prayer);

6pm Choral Evensong. St Andrew’s Church, Hyde Heath:

9.15am Holy Communion (1st and 3rd Sundays)

Morning Prayer (2nd & 4th Sundays).

PARISH PRIEST The Revd John Simpson, The Vicarage, Little Missenden HP7 0RA.

office@lmchurch.org THE PARISH OFFICE

office@lmchurch.org TEL: 01494 862008 Website: www.lmchurch.org

The Parish of St John the Baptist Little Missenden, Hyde Heath and Little Kingshill

Patron: The Earl Howe

LICENSED LAY MINISTER &LICENSED LAY MINISTER &LICENSED LAY MINISTER &LICENSED LAY MINISTER & SEC. TO PCCSEC. TO PCCSEC. TO PCCSEC. TO PCC::::

Mr. Gary Beynon, , , , 20 Westfield,

Hyde Heath HP6 5RE TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 774111

CHURCHWARDENS:CHURCHWARDENS:CHURCHWARDENS:CHURCHWARDENS: Mrs Marian Dickinson

The Pippins, Brays Close, Hyde Heath HP6 5RZ TELTELTELTEL: 01494 792694

Mr John Lamb Little Maple Tree, Chartridge

Chesham HP5 2TF TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 784889

TREASURERTREASURERTREASURERTREASURER Mr Andrew Patch

STEWARDSHIP OFFICERSTEWARDSHIP OFFICERSTEWARDSHIP OFFICERSTEWARDSHIP OFFICER:::: Mr John Lamb

Little Maple Tree, Chartridge Chesham HP5 2TF

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 784889

BELL RINGERSBELL RINGERSBELL RINGERSBELL RINGERS Mr Barry Cowper ,

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 725566 Practice -Monday 7.45-9.15 pm Sunday ringing-10.00 & 5.30pm

FLOWERS:FLOWERS:FLOWERS:FLOWERS: Mrs. Pauline Lamb

Little Maple Tree, Chartridge Chesham HP5 2TF

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 784889

CHURCHES TOGETHERCHURCHES TOGETHERCHURCHES TOGETHERCHURCHES TOGETHER Mrs Joan Craig,

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 01494 864651

LITTLE MISSENDEN C OF E LITTLE MISSENDEN C OF E LITTLE MISSENDEN C OF E LITTLE MISSENDEN C OF E INFANT SCHOOLINFANT SCHOOLINFANT SCHOOLINFANT SCHOOL

Headmistress Miss Julianna Hall

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 862021

HYDE HEATH INFANT SCHOOLHYDE HEATH INFANT SCHOOLHYDE HEATH INFANT SCHOOLHYDE HEATH INFANT SCHOOL Head Teacher

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 783835

LITTLE KINGSHILL SCHOOLLITTLE KINGSHILL SCHOOLLITTLE KINGSHILL SCHOOLLITTLE KINGSHILL SCHOOL Headteacher:

Mrs G Sutaria-Cassidy Tel 863744

MAGAZINEMAGAZINEMAGAZINEMAGAZINE ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION

Mrs Barbara Cann 18 Brays Close Hyde Heath

HP6 5RZ TEL:TEL:TEL:TEL: 783254

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGVILLAGE HALL BOOKINGVILLAGE HALL BOOKINGVILLAGE HALL BOOKING: Little Missenden: Mr John Pulsford TEL:TEL:TEL:TEL: 868572

Hyde Heath: TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 773988

Lt. Kingshill: Tel 01494 865976

HYDE HEATH WEBSITE HYDE HEATH WEBSITE HYDE HEATH WEBSITE HYDE HEATH WEBSITE www.HydeHeath.com

HYDE HEATH COMMUNITY HYDE HEATH COMMUNITY HYDE HEATH COMMUNITY HYDE HEATH COMMUNITY PREPREPREPRE----SCHOOL GROUPSCHOOL GROUPSCHOOL GROUPSCHOOL GROUP

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 782845 Hyde Heath Infant School –

9.15 am -11.45 am Mon-Fri

Toddlers’ Session Toddlers’ Session Toddlers’ Session Toddlers’ Session 10.00 am - 11.30 am

Wednesday Hyde Heath Village Hall A registered provider of A registered provider of A registered provider of A registered provider of Early Years EducationEarly Years EducationEarly Years EducationEarly Years Education

BROWNIE GUIDES: BROWNIE GUIDES: BROWNIE GUIDES: BROWNIE GUIDES: Hyde Heath School Monday 6 pm

01494 722674

HYDE HEATH SCOUT GROUP:HYDE HEATH SCOUT GROUP:HYDE HEATH SCOUT GROUP:HYDE HEATH SCOUT GROUP: BEAVER SCOUTS BEAVER SCOUTS BEAVER SCOUTS BEAVER SCOUTS ---- Hyde Heath

School Tues 6.15pm TEL:TEL:TEL:TEL: 792387

TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: CUB SCOUTS CUB SCOUTS CUB SCOUTS CUB SCOUTS HH Village Hall Tues

WOMEN’S INSTITUTESWOMEN’S INSTITUTESWOMEN’S INSTITUTESWOMEN’S INSTITUTES: LM Village Hall 3

rd Thurs 2.30 pm

Mrs Stephanie Whitehead TELTELTELTEL 862631

LM Evenings -Village Hall 2nd Wed 8.00pm

TEL:TEL:TEL:TEL: 714493

HH Eves. Village Halll 2nd

Thur 8pm TEL: TEL: TEL: TEL: 864677

LK Village Hall 2

nd Thurs 2.00 pm

TEL 01494 865976

Parish Contacts Index

St John the Baptist, Little Missenden

St Andrew’s Hyde Heath

SERVIC

ES