Articles

Articles Archive

 

THE BIKE ’N HIKE 2025

This is a major fund-raising event for the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust. The aim is to raise lots of money which the Trust grants to churches who need building repairs. The word “historic” is a bit misleading: most churches need building repairs at some time, and the Trust, which is non-denominational, receives applications from churches built in the 1960’s and 1970’s and well as very ancient ones.

The idea is for individuals (or groups) to seek sponsorship from their supporters for walking or cycling to as many churches as they can. The churches will have a signing-in sheet displayed and may offer refreshments. People who “church-sit” to greet visitors can also seek sponsorship. If your riding and walking days are over, you can drive around your chosen route of churches and sign in, and if you are “church-sitting” it’s an opportunity to smarten the place up, by polishing brasses, for instance.

Some 14 churches in the Barnet Deanery will be taking part, but if you are away from home, you could walk round churches in any area, and claim your sponsorship. There are no set routes: it’s not like the Tour de France!

The main point is to raise funds. Half the money raised for a church is returned to it afterwards, and the rest is used by the Trust to allocate for churches who need repairs. If you want to take part, do get in touch with me, and I can give you more information. And note the date: September 13th 9.00 to 5.00.

William Marsterson

AN OLD CHURCH YEAR BOOK

Many thanks to Mike Allen, of the Potters Bar and District Historical Society, who has donated a copy of the Church Year Book for 1948/49 to Maria Dixon. As far as we know this is one-off, not part of a series of Yearbooks, as there are no copies left in St. Giles. It contains a number of fascinating pieces of information.

The central pages are left blank, for some reason. There are several advertisements: for Chas A. Nethercott & Son Ltd of Arlingham House, South Mymms, Builders, Decorators and Sanitary Engineers; Dartling & Co., Estate Agents; B & H Motors of Bignell’s Corner; The White House Cafe, Cranborne Parade; B. G. Bakery  of 63 Black Horse Lane, South Mymms; Sparrow Farm, South Mymms for Dairy Produce; W. C. Winter & Sons, Cycle and Motor Engineers, St. Albans Road, South Mymms; South Mymms Stores, 62 Blanche Lane, South Mymms (no mention of the Post Office); Webbs, Provisions and General Stores of 91 Blanche Lane, South Mymms, and finally, Chas. A Nethercott & Son Ltd, Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons. What a lively place South Mymms was some 80 years ago!

The Yearbook has a number of illustrations of holy subjects, and other items common to church magazines, including the Church’s Message; some historical notes including a list of Vicars; a note on Church Seasons from Advent to Trinity; a note on Bible reading; one on regular giving and another on why attend church. There’s a piece about the PCC and the Mothers’ Union.

There’s mention of Alfred Bruce Robinson and his Trust Fund. He is described as an old friend of the Vicar, Fr. Allen Hay. That explains why Mr. Bruce Robinson chose St. Giles as the beneficiary of his Will, when he lived in Chelsea, nowhere near South Mymms. His daughter, Joan, aged only 12 and a half, died in 1919 of the Spanish Flu epidemic, and is buried in St. Giles Churchyard. The Trust Fund’s purpose is to maintain the grave and the churchyard, and also bell ringing, and repairs to the church itself, along with general charitable purposes. It is a healthy fund, and a great benefit to St. Giles and its neighbours.

Finally there’s a note about our daughter church, King Charles the Martyr, then just about to become a parish in its own right. So because all these things happened in 1948, when Fr. Hay had been Vicar for fifty years, they decided to produce this Yearbook. Clearly a very special year.

William Marsterson, with thanks to Maria and Mike