ALL SAINTS, CpLESjLL
December 1966
or Beaumont, Hervines Rd, Amershamll35
The Parish Office, Amershaml712
My Dear Friends,
On behalf of Mr. Holder and myself I would like to wish you a
very happy Christmas. I hope you will all make absolutely sure of
being at Church on Christinas Day, particularly at one of the Holy
Communion Services, to give thanks for G-oc's wonderful gift to us.
You will find a list of the services at the Parish Church and All
Saints' underneath this letter.
I want you all to continue to i^menber Mr. Holder daily in
your prayers. He has now been moved from Amersham Hospital to
Mount Vernon Hospital so that the bladder Specialist may carry
out a major operation. By the tine you receive this letter, the
operation will be over and our sincere hopes are that Mr. Holder
will then be on the way to complete recovery.
4 ™ O I s I
Yours sincerely,
Allan Campbell. Rector.
ST.. JLMtrS^the Parish Church
Dec 4 3.00p.m. Sunday School
6.00p.m. Evensong
9.30a.m. Parish Communion
3.00p.m. Sunday School
3.00p.m. Carol Service
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
8.00a.m. Holy Conmunion
11.60a.m. Matins
12noon Holy Communion
11
18
Dec. 24- CHRISTMAS EVE
11.30p.m. Sung Eucharist
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
8.00a.m. Holy Communion
10.00a.m. Children's Church
11.00a.m. Matins and Carols
It is hoped to arrange a fuller range of services for January
and in any case parishioners are asked to keep a close watch on
the Church Notice Board. The Church will be decorated for Christmas
on Friday, December 23rd at 2.3Cp.m., when the help of as many
people as possible will be appreciated. 3t will also be appreciated
if gifts of flowers and evergreens can be taken to the
Church on the Friday morning.
The entire village is sadcened by the cruel crine which robbed
us of Dr. Helen Davidson, beloved by all her patients at Coleshill
and elsewhere. Deep sympathy is extended to those whom she has
left behind.
In the absence of Mr. Holder, the beautiful service on the
evening of November 1st, .'ill Saints Day - our Patronal Festival -
was conducted by the Rector, the Revd. Allan Campbell, Afterwards}
the congregation assembled for light refreshments in the Village
Hall, where Mr. Creber showed the splendid coloured slides taken
by Mr. 0-iles Howard at the Church Fete in July.
In Coleshill there was spontaneous reaction, particularly on
the part of young people, to the appalling disaster at Aberfan,
when over 100 people, mostly youn;j- children, lost their lives when
a dump of coal mining refuse slid down a mountain and engulfed a
school and other buildings.
The Baptist Church S uiday School donated their Sunday morning
collection on October 30ta of 6 guineas, and pupils and their parents
of Coleshill School contributed £46. 5. 9d.
After five years as proprietor of the Coleshill Village Stores,
Mr. Pollard is returning to Sheffield to enter his family's business
there, "whilst here, Mr. .'ollard has helped enormously with village
activities, and the Youth Club is deeply indebted to hia for his
help. He and Mrs. Pollard take with them our very best wishes and
a farewell gift from the village, and leave behind a memory of
kindly and conscientious service.
We are pleased to learn that Mrs. Raymond Pusey is now helping
with All Saints' Sunday School.
Mr. Riley, the staff and scholars of the Baptist Church Sunday
School wish to thank all those who contributed so generously to
the "Bring and Buy" Sale on Saturday November 12th. The proceeds,
.Od., will be used towards a slide projector for the Sunday
COLESHILL CHURCH
Coleshill (All Saints) is a thoughtful little mid-Victorian
Church whose exterior fits in with the local materials of the district,
"brick and flint. It is built on Tractarian principles - that is to
say, the plan emphasises the two chief sacraments., Baptism and Holy
Communion. The fact is prominent as you enter. The nave and handsome
chancel arch lead your eyes naturally to the altar. The nave is
deliberately lighter than the chancel and the chancel is dark and
rich. I like the way the roof over the chancel also is a deliberate
contrast with that over the nave and the way the chancel windows are
smaller than the nave and higher up the walls. The building is designed
from the altar backwards.
The change in light and decoration from chancel to nave is designed
to do away with the necessity for a screen. Screens were
popular in the previous phase of the Tractarian Gothic Revival, i.e.
with the late 184-01 s and of course In medieval Bngland. G-eorge
Ednund Street (I822f - 1881) the architect or, the Law Courts in London,
was a great supporter of the "open plan" screenless church and he
designed Coleshill Church. As in all his country churches he nade
great use of local materials and took trouble over joinery and ironwork.
He taught hinself these other prafts when he started practice"
in Wantage, Berkshire.
Street was the inspiration of the arts and crafts movement and
¥illian Morris was one of his many distinguished pupils.
John Betjenan.
W H Y ?
¥hy do we have candles on the Altar?
The lighted candles on the Altar signify that Christ is the Light
of the World. They are also a sign of worship. For this reason they
are lighted at Evensong and in some churches they are extinguished
before the sermon. This is because the act of worship is finished
and the congregation are now going to listen to instruction.
Why are the colours of the hangings in Church changed from time to time?
The colours are changed to suit the seasons of the Church's year.
The top of the Altar is always covered with a long white cloth called
the "fair linen" as a reminder of the table laid for the Last Supper,
which Our Lord shared with His disciples. The Aljbar is adorned with
a frontal and it is this which varies fron tine to time. At the
great festivals like Christmas ard Easter, the frontal is white and
gold - the colours of joy and majesty. The red frontal is used at
Yvliitsun as a reminder of the tongues of fire which lighted on the
Apostles' heads on the Day of Pentecost. It may also be used for
festivals of Martyrs. During Advent and Lent, on the other hand, the
colour is changed to purple as the penetential seasons in preparation
for the great Feasts. Finally, for the rest of the year the colour
of the frontal is usually green. Some say this is so because green
is the prevailing colour in nature and signifies the quiet time of
growth through the long season of Trinity. Book markers and any other
hangings in the Church are always the same colour as the frontal.
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
At the Annual &eneral Meeting of the Coleshill Women's Institute
on November 10th, the retiring President, Mrs, Ovington, refuted the
popular misconception that members were little more than glorified
exploiters of home-made jam, and referred as an example to the fact
that the N.F.W.I, had set out to collect £24,000 for the Freedom from
Hunger Campaign, whereas in actuel fact the Federation had raised
£183,000 and contributions ware still coming in. The money was being
spant upon such projects as a farm Institute in Uganda, a University
farm in Trinidad, a Nutritional centre in Fiji and the provision of
two bulls and a rotovator fvr Tristan da Cunha.
The speaker said that her blood had boiled when she read that
Lenin had had the temerity to refer to the "idiocy of village life".
The W.I. were set to preserve and foster the ideals and traditions
of village life, and to encourage individuality to save England from
monotonous uniformity.
She was indebted to Miss Williams for digging up the information
that a W.I.had been formed ia Coleshill in 1919 (the present one
having been founded in 1949). The first officers were: President,
Miss Dendy; Vice-President, Mrs. Helps and Mis s Taylorj Secretary
and Treasurer, Miss Stevens. There were 80 members. They net monthly
and when speakers failed totujsiup as happened quite often, members
provided their own entertainnent. Later Miss Taylor was elected
President and Miss Jane Fawcatt Vice-President. Some time after
that, the Institute appears to have closed down, largely due to
transport difficulties.
With deep sincerity, Mrs. Ovington then thanked all the people,
the Officers, Committee and noiabers who had helped her so much. The
W.I. was a powerful force for good and members oust never let up in
their ideals. She commended, however, the importance of not being
too earnest.
The following were then elected:
*
President, Mrs. John Harrisson; Vice-Presidents, Miss S. Boston and
Mrs. Ovington; Hon. Secretary, Mrs. Collier; Hon. Treasurer, Mrs.
Browne; New Committee member, Mrs. Antosiewicz.
In conclusion, members endorsed all that Mrs. Redding said
in a moving little speech thanking and appreciating all the services
rendered so efficiently and lightheartedly by Mrs. Ovington, to whom
they presented a most tasteful bowl of flowers.
COLESHILL HORTICULTURAL SOCI5TY
An Extraordinary G-eneral Meeting of this Society was held on
November 4th with Mr, J, Cossey in the Chair, when the Hon. Treasurer
Mrs. Cousins reported that after allowing for the expenses in connection
with the Show in September there was a satisfactory balance
in hand. The Hon. Secretary} Mr. C. A. Jerram said that the Show
had been a record both as regards the number and standard of entries
and he was intensely sorry that he had to obey his doctor and relinquish
the secretaryship.
At the time of writing this report, there have been no nominations
to fill the post so ably carried out by Mr. Jerram since the
foundation of the Society. The Committee pledged itself to do
everything in its power to keep the Society in being but could not
fail to appreciate that this would only be possible if more people
were prepared to take a more active interest in it.
AMERSHAM MOBILE LIBRARY
From November 14th, the Lubrary Van will call at Goleshill on
alternate Thursdays instead of Tuesdays according to the
timetable at the top of the next page -
9.45 - 10.05a.n. Rushynead )
* °USe \ Tinetable of Mobile Library
f fOW Parish Roon )Van on alternate THURSDAYS
11.50 - 12.15p.m. Old Parsonage )
FORTHCOMING- BVENTS
Nov. 26 (Sat.) ¥.1. Christmas Bazaar
Dec. 3 (Sat.) Christnas Concert at Dr. Challonar's Grammar School at
7.30p.n. by Anersham & Cheshan Bois Choral Society
Dec. 6 (Tue.) Sisterhood. Speaker, Mrs. M. Wood
8 (Thu/) Mobile library Van, Coleshill
8 " W.I. Drama Group Production
14 (V/ed.) Coleshill School Carols. 7?.£i. in the Church
15 (Thu.) Mothers' Union. Parish Roon, Coleshill
19 (Mon.) Dr. Challoner's G-rannar School - Carol Concert
20 (Tue.) Sisterhood. Open meeting. Carols.
21 (\7ed.) Baptist Church Sunday School Play. "The Message of
Christmas" at 7.15p.n. A warm welcome is extended to all.
21 (Wed.) Carol Concert (Soloist: Roger Stalman) St. Mary's Church
by Amershan & Cheshaa Bois Choral Society at 7«30p.n.
22 (Thu) Mobile Library Van - Coleshill
25 (Sun) CHRISTMAS DAY
EDITORIAL
For some years owing to the generosity of an anonymous donor,
a Christmas card has been sent to all householders in Coleshill
with tines of the various services. This year, as an alternative,
a copy of this Newsletter is being sent to every house in the village.
The object of the Newsletter is to encourage interest in the
village and in the Church. It is issued gratuitously each month to
people whose nanes are on the Church register and others who have
asked for it. The Committee will be happy to send copies to others
who would like to be on the distribution list if they will send their
names to either of the Churchwardens.
The Editor craves copy, which should reach him as long as possible
before the 20th of each month. He warns readers that' the January
nunbcr nay be issued somewhat late and nay be thinner than usual.
PRIEST-IN-CHARGE: Revd. ¥.L.Holder, The Parsonage, Coleshill.
(Tel. Amersham 722)
PRO-CHURCHWARDEN: C. Saunders, Chapel Cottage, Coleshill.
PRO-CHURCHWARDEN & HON. SECRETARY: N.N.Nicholls, Orchard House,
Coleshill. (Tel. Anershara 1834)
HON. TREASURER: &. Creber, Applecroft, Meadovroot Lane,
Coleshill. (Tel. Aoershan 3350)
Published by A3.1 Saints Local Church Conmittee, Coleshill.
This letter is issued as a supplement as it arrived
after the Newsletter had been printed.
Ward 15
Mount Vernon Hospital,
Northwood, Middx.
My Dear People,
During the months I have been unable to serve as your
Priest I have become increasingly aware of the deep attachment
I have formed for you and our Church. I am proud to be your
Priest at All Saints, Coleshill, and God willing, I hope to
have mutually happy years working with you again. But whatever
lies ahead I want you to know that I an grateful for your
friendship and can read only good ao I look back over the four
years since I was appointed to serve you all. G-od has been
very good to me, and I have not one cause for complaint.
I was moved to this hospital about ten days ago from
Amershani, and Mr. Griffiths, a well known surgeon, will be
performing another major operation which I trust will really
restore me to health and strength. I ask you all to support
me in your prayers and know that every endeavour will be made
to arrange a full range of services in my absence.
I am graceful for the way in which the,R§otor has shouldered
the work at Coleshill and the hospital,^id to all who
are meeting the needs of our Sunday school.
The operation, which necessitates a conditioning of my
system beforehand if it is to be successful, ought to be done
on Friday, 21st November, when the well knovm summons as a
Church "Stir Up We beseech Thee., 0 Lord, the wills of Thy
faithful people" will be heard as we enter the season of
Advent - and then Christmas, which always fills my heart with
thanksgiving to God for His condescension in coming to us in
great humility.
Pray that G-od1 s will for my health and future as His
servant may be done. &od bless you all.
Very affectionately yours,
William L. Holder.
Visiting hours: Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays: 2.30 - 3.30p.m.
Other days: 7.30 - 8.30p.m.
