ST FRANCIS CHURCH, HEADLEY DOWN
It has been a full and exciting year at St Francis Church on Headley Down. It was our Jubilee Year, celebrating 25 years since the completion of the permanent brick building erected in 1982, as an extension of the original small wooden church dating back to 1921.
Many celebratory events took place throughout the year, starting with all the members of the church, and their families, gathering for a New Year Fellowship lunch on the first Sunday of the New Year. Plans were put together to make 2007 a special year to encourage new members, to make a difference, and to be of help to those in the local community.
In the early summer a special weekend featured both a flower festival with beautiful arrangements by many talented local individuals, together with an evening concert of 18th Century music provided by the Dolmetsch Ensemble. Unlike most of the year the weather for this weekend was fine and dry, and all who came along were able to enjoy a bright June evening, filled with classical music to remember.
The main Jubilee celebration weekend however, had to wait
until the patronal festival of St Francis on the first Saturday and
Sunday in October. Saturday was busy making various
arrangements including the KraftiKids preparing and baking a
Harvest Sheaf. On the Sunday morning, gifts of food and
produce were collected during the Harvest Festival, including
the children’s Harvest Sheaf, all of which were later taken to
Vaughan House, a shelter for the homeless, in Guildford.
St Francis Church in 1921
Mrs Johnson, who is now a sprightly 94 year old, recalled with amazing detail how she joined the church choir as a teenager in the 1920s and went on to worship at the church for a further 78 years. After Mrs Johnson had captivated the congregation with her stories, Mrs Vi Dowse went on to explain how back in the late 1970s the church was so full every Sunday that they had to raise funds by “selling bricks” to secure the funding for the extension which was finally completed in 1982.
Many past ministers to the church attended the ceremony
including Canon Rev Derek Head, who was Rector in charge of
St Francis back in 1982, and now looks after churches in the
Christchurch area. Slides were shown during the service
including many old photographs of the church back in the 1920s.
The church remains very active still, and in the autumn ran an
Alpha Course designed to encourage new people into the
Christian faith. Mr Paul Grant who organised the Alpha Course
was encouraged to see newcomers attend the course and these
have since joined the church worship each Sunday.
Another new enterprise was the development of St Francis Newsletters, which have been printed and distributed to all 1,250 homes on Headley Down. Each quarter the Newsletter presents valuable information of the various events and services being held at St Francis. It is hoped that these Newsletters will reach out to local residents letting them know that their local church team is always available to help, as and when needed.
Many past ministers to the church attended the ceremony
including Canon Rev Derek Head, who was Rector in charge of
St Francis back in 1982, and now looks after churches in the
Christchurch area. Slides were shown during the service
including many old photographs of the church back in the 1920s.
The church remains very active still, and in the autumn ran an
Alpha Course designed to encourage new people into the
Christian faith. Mr Paul Grant who organised the Alpha Course
was encouraged to see newcomers attend the course and these
have since joined the church worship each Sunday.
Another new enterprise was the development of St Francis Newsletters, which have been printed and distributed to all 1,250 homes on Headley Down. Each quarter the Newsletter presents valuable information of the various events and services being held at St Francis. It is hoped that these Newsletters will reach out to local residents letting them know that their local church team is always available to help, as and when needed.
St Francis Church today
2008 will be both challenging and exciting as St Francis joins
other churches across the UK in an initiative known as HOPE
2008 designed to motivate and enable every church, local
authority, and person to do more to reach people where they
live, in securing community action to help transform their local
neighbourhood.