| |
| |
Site Guide
|
|
|
 |
| |
Families and Young People |
|
|
|
| |
Sunday 30th October 2011 - Back to St Mary's - the Sacristan's View |
What a joy to return to our newly refurbished church and what a fantastic building it now is: light, bright and airy. I decided that I would attend all the services on 30th October because I wanted to be there to participate in the joy and happiness of the congregations of all three services. I am so glad I did. There were smiling faces all around me.
The first thing that struck me at the 8am service was hearing the church bells ringing once again and to see the smile on Peter Clark’s face as he pulled on the bell rope for the first time in nine months. What he didn’t know was that the rope had broken, but at the eleventh hour Jim Cadwallader using the skills taught him in his scouting days, had managed to splice the broken bell rope together so we could hear those bells ringing again and not have to wait for months for a replacement bell rope. There were 30 communicants at this service. |
Then the congregation started to arrive for the 9.30am service. At first, they arrived slowly and it did not look as if the congregation would be any more than the average attendance at St. Peter’s, Ilmer, during the past few months. Then they started to pour through those beautiful glass doors and all of a sudden it appeared that there would not be enough chairs. More were brought in from the Chapter House and the Church was beginning to looking very much like it does at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I was now wondering if there were enough wafers and wine at the Altar for Communion. I would have to collect a larger Chalice from the Vestry, which I did during the Peace. One sharp eyed person asked me after the service if I was carrying a bottle of wine hidden in the sleeve of my Cassock. All I shall say was we did not run short of wine! During the Communion I was counting the number of communicants. As my count reached 50 I knew we were running short of wafers and I was prepared for David when he held out the Ciborium for more to be consecrated. More wine was also required. 140 people received their communion that morning and I am told that there were nearly 150 people in church for this service. What I didn’t know until after the service was that the television camera and screens in the north isle were switched on so that those people with an obstructed view were able to participate fully in the service. Not only could they hear what was being said but now they could see as well. Fantastic! |
|
 |
Then I smelt the fresh ground coffee! Before the church refurbishment I was usually unable to grab a coffee because I was clearing away after the service. But now it was available in church and on this first Sunday back in the new building it was fresh coffee and cup cakes as well. Yes, I did manage to participate. I am told that some Sundays donuts are available!
During Coffee people were arriving for the next service - Thank God its Sunday. TGIS has been held in Princes Risborough Primary School during the church closure and has grown to a gathering of some 60 or more people. There was quite a chatter as people of both services mingled and talked and children
were back in church again. There were 73 adults and 22 children at TGIS. It was wonderful to see so many children in St. Mary’s once again. TGIS is led by laity but David was there playing guitar and giving the talk. He must have been exhausted when all the services were over.
|
TGIS congregation |
The Worship Band |
I would like to share a conversation I had with Frances Goodchild. She told me I may quote her. I asked her what she thought of the refurbished church. She replied, ‘It feels as if I have been given a glorious present’. My sentiments indeed.
Tony Kerwood |
Of course, not all the services take place on Sunday and the pictures below show the first Project Prayers, Wednesday Communion and Nursery Service back in Church. |
Project Prayers |
Wednesday Communion |
Nursery Service |
|
|
