Dear Friends,
Some of you may have seen a series of books written by Christopher Winn. They are books which present a reader with facts that either may not be known or where facts are sketchy and surrounded with a fog of confusing proportions. Each title begins with ‘I never knew that about…’ and the most recent edition is ‘I never knew that about England’s Country Churches’. Working through England county by county, Mr Winn describes some of the most unusual churches and explains which features are most noticeable.
Flicking through – and this is exactly the sort of book one picks up for a quick read rather than a serious hour’s enlightenment – reveals highly interesting points. Did you know that in Castor, Huntingdonshire there is the only church dedicated to St Kyneburgha, that St Nicholas’s Church in Moreton, Dorset has every window designed by Laurence Whistler or that St Andrew’s Church in Aldborough near Boroughbridge has a clock with the longest pendulum in England – a remarkable 30 feet and 7 inches in length?
Some churches have long histories dating back to Saxon times where timbers used in construction had been growing at the time of Alfred the Great. Other churches claim Norman origins and a huge number date from the medieval period. It is hard to imagine all the things that have taken place in and around them over centuries but here they are nevertheless.
We do not have to look back far in some cases. One Herefordshire church at Stoke Lacy has a particular interest for me. It was where the Reverend Henry Morgan was vicar in the 19th century and whose family have remained in the area. Henry’s grandson went on to found the Morgan Motor Company which is still producing excellent sports cars, some of which have recently been pictured in stained glass in a couple of the church windows.
For all these facts about some ecclesiastical buildings, I can recommend the book. There is something very important missing, however, which may not have fitted in with the author’s intentions but would be interesting to reveal to the reader. Though we learn a great deal about the past, nothing is said about the current activities in any church. This is such a pity. Regardless of how attractive a church may appear, it could be mistaken for a museum.
Let nobody come to such a conclusion about Harrogate’s many churches! Each is active and fulfilsmany roles within our community, West Park Church doing its bitin and around the town. As well as receiving this edition of The Messenger you will also have a copy of the Church Review which charts progress during 2014. Read through it – pray through it! We have done a lot and we can see there are many more things to do. Please speak with your Elder or me if you feel you can offer time, talent or treasure which can be put to good purpose in God’s Kingdom.
Your Minister and friend,
John.