St. John's Magazine- November 2021

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PETER D HANNABY
Painter & Decorator
Interior and Exterior work
Undertaken
For competitive quotations
Please call
Mobile: 07765 250092
Home: 01442 288956
MAGAZINE ADVERTISING COSTS
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are eleven issues per year with double issue in December/January.
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To discuss your requirements or for further information, please
contact Sally Bates, 01442 266912 or 07792 768236
or email: magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk

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THE VICAR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
We do a lot of Remembering in the month of November. As
the days shorten and darkness seems to be a greater feature
than sunshine over our British world, we think back and
remember. We remember Guy Fawkes and his attempt to destroy Parliament,
in the fun of bonfires and fireworks! We also remember those who have died
and were close to us as family or in friendship at our Annual Memorial and All
Souls’ services. We remember those who have fallen (and are still falling) in
war zones, with a renewed determination to bring an end to death, maiming,
and mental health problems that come from war, with a special Act of
Remembrance in Church. But added to these remembrances, we also remem-
ber those we continue to love and care for as we prepare for Christmas – who
will we send a card to? or prepare a present for? so we remember the living as
well, the physically close and those living away from us, maybe not seen for a
long time.
We treasure our memories of people – both the living and those who are no
longer with us physically. November is definitely a time for Remembrance in
more ways than one! For the past and for the future, we determine not to take
our family and friends for granted, but to treasure them. To remember them.
As we also ‘gear up’ in Church to begin the season of Advent let us also
remember Jesus in the same way, by not taking Him for granted or all that He
did for us. Take a moment in this month of darkness to remember that in
December we will sing of Jesus being the light that came into the world to
bring us love, forgiveness, and direct access to God the Father through the
work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s not take all that or Him for granted, and include
Jesus in our remembrance this month, with gratitude, realising that in Him, we
have something to treasure too.
In Christ,

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A prayer for Remembrance:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all those who we have loved and see no longer
and for the part they played in our lives. Thank you for all those we love and
care for and who are still a part of our lives. Thank you for your love and care for
us. Please help us in the busyness of our lives, but also in the dusk of winter-
time, to remember with love and gratitude, both them and you. Please bless us
in our endeavours to treasure. Amen.

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PARISH DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 2021
Enquiries regarding baptisms weddings or marriage blessings are
always welcome.
Please contact the Vicar.
Morning Prayer is said Daily at St John’s at 9.00am.
You are most welcome to join the clergy in prayer.
Evening Prayer is said privately for the life of the Parish unless details are below.
St John’s is open daily 9.30am-5.00pm for private prayer
(10.30am-5.00pm on Saturdays)
The Parish Eucharist and worship resources will continue to be recorded and
made available at www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/suspended-services-resources
Mon 1 All Saints’ Day
10.00am Burial of Ashes St John’s
2.00pm Funeral St John’s
7.45pm Together on Monday Club St John’s
Volunteering at Lourdes: Speaker: Carole Lewis
St. John’s Hall
Tue 2 All Souls’ - Commemoration of the faithful departed
9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play and Service St John’s Hall
8.00pm Requiem Mass for the departed St Francis’
during which names of departed
loved ones are remembered
Wed 3 All Souls’ - Commemoration of the faithful departed
10.00am BCP Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
during which names of departed
loved ones are remembered
12noon Funeral St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Fri 5 12.30pm MASJ Lunchtime Concert St John’s
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 6 3.00pm Memorial Service for Sylvia Shaw St John’s

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Sun 7 Third Sunday before Advent
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am All-Age Eucharist with Holy Baptism St John’s
sung by the Junior Choir
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis’
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
12noon Holy Baptism St John’s
4.00pm Annual Memorial Service for the departed
St John’s
No Evening Service
Mon 8 11.30am Holy Communion Mountbatten Lodge
Tue 9 9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play and Service St John’s Hall
11.30am Hall Committee St John’s Hall
8.00pm Open Meeting of the PCC St John’s
Wed 10 10.00am BCP Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
12noon Funeral St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Fri 12 5.30pm Junior Choir St John’s Hall
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sun 14 Remembrance Sunday
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
9.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
11.30am Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance
St John’s
No Evening Service
Mon 15 7.45pm Together on Monday Club
Fun Quiz - Speaker: Alan Munford St John’s Hall
Tue 16 9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play and Service St John’s Hall
Wed 17 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
3.30pm Friendship Teas St John’s Hall
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Fri 19 7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 20 10-2 Countdown to Christmas Fayre St John’s

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Sun 21 CHRIST THE KING
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am Combined Parish Eucharist followed
by drinks reception St John’s
Guest Preacher: The Reverend Canon Dr Ruth Goatly
No Service at St Francis this week
No Service at St Stephen’s this week
11.30am PCC meeting St John’s
6.30pm Deanery Confirmation Service Holy Trinity,
Leverstock Green
Mon 22 8.00pm Church Meeting: Fundraising Committee Zoom
Tues 23 9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play and Service St John’s Hall
8.00pm Church Meeting: Comms Committee Zoom
Wed 24 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Fri 26 5.30pm Junior Choir St John’s Hall
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sun 28 ADVENT SUNDAY
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Holy Communion St Stephen's
3.30pm Messy Church St John’s Hall
6.30pm Advent Meditation Website
Tues 30 St Andrew the Apostle
9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play and Service St John’s Hall

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You are invited to join us for a time of
Tea & Fellowship at our
Friendship Tea Afternoon
Venue: St John’s Church Boxmoor
Date: Wednesday 17th
November 2021
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Tea and light refreshments will be served
Make a new friend over a cuppa tea
Friendship Tea is held on the 3rd
Wednesday of every month
All are Welcome
For more information, or if you want to
assist and be a part this ministry
please contact:
Sandy Cutts : cuttssandycutts@gmail.com

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Friendship Teas
It was delightful to be back with sharing tea and conversation at Friendship Teas
in October. If you would like to come and share laughter, a safe environment, and
afternoon tea you will be made most welcome. Next Teas are on Wednesday, 17
November, 3.30-5.00pm
Canon Ruth Goatly returns to preach
When Ruth’s ministry among us came to a close last November the Covid
restrictions in place at the time meant it was impossible to give her a farewell
reception. Her time with us deserves to be celebrated and we should have a time
to say ‘farewell’ properly. With this in mind, Ruth will be returning as guest
preacher on Sunday 21 November, to a combined Parish Eucharist at St John’s at
10.00am. This will be followed by drinks. I hope you will be able to come and wish
Ruth well.
Choir Stalls PCC Meeting
You will no doubt have noticed that the Choir Stalls at St John’s have been moved
into the Lady Chapel during the pandemic. This was for practical reasons - to max-
imise the space available for choir members for various services, whilst complying
with social distancing guidelines. The stalls, however, will need to be returned so
that we can once again use the Lady Chapel, but I would like to propose that some
alterations are made to the Stalls so that they are easier to use and enable that
sense of space and openness we have enjoyed more recently. To discuss these
plans, you are invited to an open meeting of the PCC on Tuesday 9 November,
8.00pm, in St John’s.
Reverend Vanessa returns to preside
It was a pleasure to welcome the Reverend Vanessa Hadley-Spencer back to St
John’s in her new capacity as a priest in the Church. On Sunday 17 October she
presided at the Parish Eucharist with confidence and ease, and as if she had been
at the Altar for many years. During the service we were able to present her with
her Ordination Gift from the Parish – a red stole. Thank you to those who contrib-
uted to this gift (and a gift for her wedding to Mark taken place on Saturday 23
October).
Fr Ben welcomes new member into the world
In the early hours of Monday 27 September, Fr Ben and Liz, welcomed Baby
Rosina Weitzmann into the world. Cont’d….

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After a traumatic birth all are doing well and have been seen in Boxmoor over
the last month. We wish them well as they all adjust to life as a young family.
All Souls’ Services: Tuesday 2 November and Wednesday 3 November
There are many in the Parish who have lost loved ones, both in recent years and
in years gone by. Although they have died, our prayer and certain hope is that
they live on with Christ in his eternal Kingdom. Names of departed loved ones
will be read out at both a Requiem Mass for the Departed at St Francis on
Tuesday 2 November, 8.00pm and at the Service of Holy Communion at St
John’s on Wednesday 3 November, 10.00am. You are invited to light candles in
memory of departed loved ones and, should you wish for names to be read out,
do please provide these on the relevant form at the back of our churches.
Annual Service of Remembrance
Over the past year the Ministry Team has taken, or assisted with, many Funerals
and Memorial Services of parishioners. At our Annual Service of Remembrance,
to be held this year on Sunday 7 November at 4.00pm, we shall be inviting
friends and families of those who have died to remember their loved ones
before God and to give thanks for their lives. If you have lost someone this year
but we weren’t involved in their funeral, or would like to attend and remember
loved ones who have died in previous years, you will be more than welcome.
Countdown to Christmas Fayre
Our annual Christmas fundraiser will soon be upon us. Please do come along and
support our Fayre on Saturday 20 November, 10.00am-2.00pm. Donations of
things to sell will be greatly appreciated. For more details please see the Weekly
Newsletter.
St Francis Patronal Festival
During a moving and uplifting celebration of High Mass and Benediction it was
good to be able to give thanks for, and pray for the life of St Francis’ Church
within the life of the Parish. Over 30 people attended and Fr Ben returned to
preach. We are very fortunate to have 3 churches of different styles within the
Parish and it was great to be able to celebrate this diversity.
Sunday 28 November – Advent Sunday
Once again a new ecclesiastical year beckons. During the past year when much
has been different, not possible, or moved online – including services for those
unable to attend church physically, we have taken this opportunity to think out-
side the box and redesign our Advent Carol Service. Cont’d….

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This year Covid restrictions make our annual service from darkness to light nigh-
on impossible as it would be impossible to properly socially distance, so instead
we have devised an online Advent Reflection comprising readings, prayers, and
music. This will be premiered, as if live, at 6.30pm on Sunday 28 November.
During the service our choir will sing some well-known advent hymns and
anthems and readings will turn our attention to the coming Saviour whose birth
we will celebrate at Christmas. More details will be published in the Newsletter
nearer the time.
APCM round-up
Remembrance Sunday
The Council and local branch of the Royal British Legion are once again organising
the Civic Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday for
this year. A Parade involving veterans, local uniformed organisations, and a
detachment from RAF Halton, and Civic dignitaries will take place along with the
usual wreath laying. Acts of Remembrance will take place at all our churches.
Timings at St John’s will be:
9.30am Parish Eucharist
10.50am War Memorial for Civic Act of Remembrance
11.30am RBL Service of Remembrance
Christmas Plans
There has been a lot of talk recently in the media that Christmas is cancelled. It’s
not! It will be different, but not cancelled. Like last year, we all need to find alter-
native ways to celebrate the birth of Jesus – God incarnate – which may
involve smaller gatherings and less excess, but this should not stop us from
celebrating Christmas, from sharing the message of love, light, life and hope
Christ brings to us, our community, and all people.
Plans are well under way to enable you to join us for various services and events.
Many of these will need to be ticketed so as to ensure we can accommodate as
many people, socially distanced, as would wish to celebrate Christmas with us in
a safe and responsible way. Free Tickets will be available for booking from the
beginning of December. Further details in next month’s edition and in the News-
letter.
Christmas Tree Festival
In line with doing things differently, but still wanting to bring Christ’s light, life,
hope, and joy to our community we will be holding a Christmas Tree Festival with
a difference. Half our trees this year will be outside to bring some light and fes-
tive cheer to all who pass by. We will not be charging admission to the festival
this year but asking for donations. If you would like to sponsor a tree (or part
thereof) please speak to me or Jean Garner.

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On the Saturday (18 December) when we would usually host Carols round the
Trees inside church, we intend to proceed as last year and sing Carols outside.
We also intend to have a few stalls at the festival including a Hot Dog stall and
Mulled Wine. As always we will need some stewards on duty to oversee the
festival and welcome folk and some muscle to help erect the trees.
Christmas Services
As noted above, our Christmas Services this year at St John’s will be ticketed to
try to ensure all who wish to join us in praise of the birth of Christ may do so
safely. One of the challenges we face is that our Christmas services are very
popular. Ordinarily there is barely room to stand but this year we must enforce
social distancing and potentially mask wearing. To ensure we have enough capac-
ity we are proposing the following services:
Sunday 20: 4.30pm Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols 1
6.30pm Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols 2
(Both of these will be sung by our choir, with
congregational carols, and supported by the St John’s
Ensemble)
Wednesday 23: 2.30pm Christingle Service 1
4.30pm Christingle Service 2
Christmas Eve: 2.30pm Christingle Service 3
4.30pm Christingle Service 4
6.30pm Carols at the Crib
11.30pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day: 10.00am Parish Christmas Eucharist
The ticketing process is very simple and should mean that we have capacity for
up to 200 people at each service, but that assumes everyone will attend in a
“bubble of 6” which is not realistic.
Worshipping online
At a recent meeting of the PCC and PCC Standing Committee it was agreed to go-
ahead with installing new audio-visual equipment in St John’s to enable live
streaming and recording of services and events held at St John’s. This is a consid-
erable investment – but one we feel will serve the mission and people of this
community (and further afield). Thank you to all who have given so generously to
this project and to all who are making it happen. The proposed timeline is for the
system to be operational by Christmas.
Sincere thanks go to those who are enabling our online presence at the moment
and we hope those who are joining us for worship are finding this way of
connecting helpful.

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HARVEST FLOWERS: The Harvest Festival Wheatsheaf and Altar Flowers
have been kindly sponsored by David Doyle Estate Agents. The Wheat-
sheaf was made by Steven Mansbridge, the fourth generation of Mans-
bridge Bakers and is based at Redbournbury Watermill & Bakery.
Photos by kind permission of Janet Packe

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HALLS FOR HIRE
ST JOHN’S HALL - Well equipped hall suitable for use by special interest
groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and special occasions.
Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary on 07939 226977 or email:
hallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and availabil-
ity.
ST STEPHEN’S HALL, CHAULDEN - (opposite Tudor Rose) - Sunny Hall with
tiled floor suitable for dancing and exercise groups as well as being ideal for
children’s parties. Please contact Jean on 01442 257023 for further
information and availability.
ST FRANCIS HALL, HAMMERFIELD - Well equipped hall suitable for use by
special interest groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and
special occasions. Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary by email: stfran-
cishallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and
availability. More urgent queries can be handled by leaving a message on Paul
Davies mobile phone: 07802 442908
Prayer for November
Father,
In these short, dark days of November, with all the
uncertainties and complications in our new Covid 19
landscape, help us to feel the reassurance of Your pres-
ence in the gift of each new day. Help us to be guided
through the darkness by Your light – by Jesus, who will
never leave us or forsake us.
In His name – the name above pandemics and shortages and rising bills
and all anxieties – we pray.
Amen.
By Daphne Kitching

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Please Note: St. John's Church PCC cannot accept any responsibility for goods or services

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Christmas Tree Festival
Friday, 17th – Tuesday, 21st
December 2021
Yes, we will be having a Christmas Tree Festival this year. You may
remember that it was very difficult last year to celebrate Christmas in the
usual way because of COVID and so the theme this year is:
“COME, CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!”
There will be decorated trees in church and trees with lights outside
church.
The cost of sponsoring a tree remains the same as last year:
£45 for a medium tree and £60 for a large tree inside church.
£80 for a large tree and £120 for an extra large tree outside
church.
We are asking schools, church groups and businesses to sponsor and
decorate the trees in church, and we are asking members of the congre-
gation and other friends of St. John’s to sponsor the outside trees.
All money raised will go towards the upkeep of St. John’s Church.
Trees will arrive on Monday, 13th
December and will be decorated on
Wednesday, 15th
December.
Put all these dates in your diaries and put your thinking caps on.
Photos from Christmas Tree Festival 2020 by kind permission of Geoff Bates

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‘Hurrah’ – we are up and ‘running’ again
MASJ Annual ‘New Year’s Eve’ 10k Run & 4k Walk
Friday 31st
December
We are very pleased to say that following last year’s cancellation, due to
the pandemic, our Annual ‘New Year’s Eve’ 10k Run & 4k Walk will take
place on 31st
December this year.
Local athletes have gathered in St John’s Church for registration from
11.00am each New Year’s Eve since 2013 ready for the ‘Off’. The walkers
leave the church first at 11.30am followed by the runners 30 minutes
later at 12noon. The route, which is mainly ‘off-road’ encompasses
Boxmoor, Bourne End, Potten End, Warners End and back through
Boxmoor to St John’s Church. Although this event is not a race, we do
have ‘marshals’ at strategic points, and there are also ‘signs’ positioned
along the route to guide the athletes.
When the athletes return to St John’s they are welcomed with light
refreshments which provide a time to socialise with other participants.
Taking part in this social event is a very good way to rid yourself of the
surplus weight you may have attracted over the Christmas period and to
prepare for the New Year ahead.
Entrance fees, payable on the day, at registration, are £10 for runners and
£5 for walkers.
All money raised on the day goes towards the work of our charity Music at
St John’s, (Registered Charity Number; 1119580)
Come and join us, and we look forward to welcoming you this coming
New Year’s Eve.

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Carole would like to thank everyone who had a hand in the celebrations
for her 30th anniversary of licensing as a Church of England lay reader.
She would also like to thank all the members of our congregations who
have supported her and continue to support and encourage her in her
ministry.
Photos by kind permission of Carole Lewis

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Countdown to Christmas Fayre
Saturday 20 November 2021, 10 am – 2 pm
Last year the pandemic situation made everything seem so uncertain.
After a brief summer and autumn respite came Lockdown 2.0, and all
tentatively planned events had to be cancelled. This year, we still have
the pandemic, but we are mostly vaccinated and are having to learn to
live in the new normality.
The good news is that this year, with the now usual precautions in place,
we WILL be able to hold our customary events, though perhaps in a
slightly different way. We are very aware that Covid has not gone away,
so the Countdown to Christmas Fayre, for example, is likely to have a
different layout, so that people do not have to congregate in a narrow
space, and people will be invited to wear masks. But it WILL GO AHEAD,
and the Fundraising Committee are busy making preparations for it. If
you are able to help in any way, please let Cathy Shaw, the Vicar, or any
member of the Committee know. You may indeed have already been
asked for your help. We are planning to run all the usual stalls and to
offer refreshments in the customary way.
So put the date in your diary and come along!

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'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to the winners of the September Music
Percentage Club draw:
Gina Harbour 1st £15
Carole Lewis 2nd £8
Richard Lyne 3rd £4
If you know of someone who would be interested in joining the Music
Percentage Club and supporting Music at St John’s in this way there are
forms in church or please contact Mark Harbour on 01582 841019 or see
him in church. Mark Harbour - on behalf of MASJ
*************
Bike 'n Hike 2021 - 11 September
Another year under COVID restrictions meant not all
the churches were open to greet us but we all
managed to get around and thanks to your support
made c £350 across St John’s (Andy and Mark) and St
Francis (Paul and Job). Many, many thanks to all who
supported us, and to those who managed our church-
es. Thank you.
SMILE-LINES
The congregation
A minister was considering a move to a busy town-centre church, and
wanted to know what the congregation were like, and especially the
church council. So, he rang the minister who had just retired from that
church.
The retiring minister hesitated a moment and then replied: “Some of them
are wise; some are otherwise.”

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DECEMBER 21/JANUARY 22 JOINT EDITION - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the December 21/January 22 edition of
the magazine is Sunday, 7th November.
You can e-mail direct to magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk or leave articles in
magazine pigeonhole or deliver direct to 27 Beechfield Road. Please note any
articles sent by email should be in A5 format (MS Word or MS Publisher
preferred). Thank you. Sally Bates, Editor, Tel No. 266912 or Mobile 07792
768236.
PLEASE NOTE
Website for St John’s Boxmoor is:
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
E-mail: office@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Website for Music at St John’s is http://masj.org.uk
Facebook Page: St Johns Church, Boxmoor
NEWSLETTER: If you would like to receive a copy of the weekly Newsletter by
e-mail, please contact Alan Munford - alan.munford@btinternet.com with your
e-mail address and he will arrange to send it to you.
Please send any items for inclusion in the Newsletter to the Parish Office at the
email address: newsletter@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
SUBSCRIPTION TO MAGAZINE
If you would like to receive a copy of St John’s Parish Magazine on a regular
monthly basis, please email alan.munford@btinternet.com or telephone him on
01442 242543 or complete your details below and return tear-off slip to:
Mr. Alan Munford, 16 St Nicholas Mount, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2BB
Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2021
The PCC met in St John’s Hall on 27 September 2021, chaired by the Vicar. He felt
the parish was in very good heart post-pandemic, reflected in attendance
numbers which included some new faces. The choir and junior choir had started
up again and Friendship Teas were soon to do so. The parish continued to observe
social distancing which the Vicar felt was right, with the unoccupied pews giving
people reassurance. Mask-wearing was down to the individual, but still widely
practiced.
Social distancing prevented the return of the choir stalls to their usual place. The
Vicar felt that in several ways they were not user friendly, and some in the
congregation liked the new open space in front of the High Altar. He thought that
there was an opportunity here to improve the choir stalls by widening them and
making the front of the forward choir stalls portable, which would retain much of
the new open space. He knew this proposal would be controversial, but there was
plenty of time for discussion because the choir stalls could not yet go back in any
form due to the social distancing rules. He would consult the PCC further before
any alterations were made.
The Vicar had been reflecting on services at Christmas. The likely attendance was
very difficult to judge, but his guess was that it would be high. He
proposed to hold 4 Christingle services spread over 2 days, 1 crib service on
Christmas Eve, 1 Midnight Mass and 1 Christmas Morning service, all with tick-
eting. If it turned out that demand was actually low, then we could drop the tick-
eting and perhaps merge services. He confirmed that he planned to repeat the
out-door carol service, as part of the Christmas Tree Festival.
Job Rombout tabled a paper discussing the merits of two bids to provide St John’s
with new live streaming equipment. There was concern about recurring costs to
the parish from the project and a technical discussion about the need for expen-
sive flexible view cameras rather than much less expensive fixed/static view
cameras. In discussion it was said that the current size of our audience for
streamed services was around 20 viewers each week, but it was emphasised that
the new equipment would provide an income stream from weddings and funer-
als. The PCC delegated the final go-ahead decision on the project to the Standing
Committee in the hope that the new streaming equipment could be in place by
Christmas.
The Vicar stressed the importance of the new Mission Action Plan, which formed
a framework for us to work to, and created a mechanism for us to hold ourselves
to account and to measure progress. Cont’d…...

27. - 25 -
The new MAP was agreed unanimously, and the PCC Secretary authorised to
formally submit it to the diocese. Our new goals are as follows:
• To ensure that within two years the parish will have arrived back at the
“new normal” with activities on a broad front in better shape than they
were before the pandemic.
• To have by June 2022 an enhanced ability with new equipment to stream
services online with people fully trained to operate it.
• To create by June 2022 a parish contingency plan of actions that need tak-
ing in the face of another pandemic.
• The creation by end-2022 of a church-based Youth Club, meeting
regularly, with a dependable attendance of more than ten.
• The Director of Music invited to present to the PCC a strategy for the fu-
ture of the choir. This strategy to be in place and underway by June 2022.
• To restart, regrow, and nurture our Junior Choir, including a recruitment
drive in our local primary schools, to begin by September 2021.
• To arrange and conduct a Discipleship course for existing members of the
church, an Enquirers course for new people, and a Bible study course, be-
fore June 2022.
• To set a measurable target to reduce our carbon footprint by end-2022, to
be achieved by end-2024, and to take part in the Eco-Church Initiative.
Chris Angell reported on the PCC accounts, noting that his projections for the year
-end left us low on reserves for the first few weeks of 2022. The Stewardship
Campaign has only resulted in increased giving enough to cover inflation, but,
alas, nowhere near enough to meet our target of covering the parish share. To
questions, Chris said that the parish had some eighty planned givers, but was very
dependent on a dozen significant givers.
In the Churchwardens’ report, Marian Davies said the St John’s gutters had been
cleaned, the Hall kitchen ceiling repaired and the room repainted. The Hall parti-
tions had been greased. A screen is to be erected around the rubbish bins. Eccle-
siastical Insurance had asked us to write a fire evacuation plan.
Job Rombout confirmed that all the work required by the Quinquennial
Inspection Report had been ticked off. There had been no progress on the parking
project.
Reports on PCC committees and the daughter churches were received. The Vicar
and Carole Lewis would be working on converting the Parish Buddy Scheme to a
voluntary one. Cont’d…..

28. - 26 -
The Vicar hoped for progress soon on the proposed St John’s Youth Club.
The picture by Graham Cutts of the Canon Hamilton window in the Lady Chapel,
which he had kindly donated to the parish, would be raffled, with tickets at £10
each. The Vicar expected us to sell enough tickets to well exceed its sale value of
£900 (insurance estimate £1,700).
In any other business, the Vicar confirmed that the candlesticks that had been
borrowed from St Stephen’s would soon be returned. Lorraine Ioannou would
write an options paper on the project to plant trees to mark the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee. She would also research the installation of defibrillators in St John’s
church and in the Hall, with a view to this being the subject for the Easter Appeal
next year.
As an experiment, the next meeting of the PCC would be on Sunday 21
November following the Sunday morning service at St John’s. The service at St
Stephen’s that week had been cancelled.
This is necessarily a brief summary of the meeting, but if anyone on the Parish
electoral roll would like to see the full minutes of this PCC meeting, then the PCC
Secretary would be very glad to provide them.
Richard Lyne
PCC Secretary
01442 260998
pccsecretary@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk

29. - 27 -
THE NICHOLSON ORGAN
It is Sunday 30th October 2011. The organ is being played, as usual, before the
9.30 Eucharist. The usual background chatter subsides; there is something very
different from the anonymous mush of sound heard in the past few months from
the electronic substitute, or the limited range of its pipe predecessor, which had
expired terminally earlier in the year. Yes, the new organ is being heard for the
first time by the congregation, its many colours are being demonstrated, and this
is being noticed.
This is its first Sunday in use, following formal hand-over on the previous Thurs-
day, and we’re now in the bedding-down period before formal dedication by the
Bishop of Hertford three weeks later and the inaugural recital by our project
consultant, Paul Hale, on St. Cecilia’s day, 22nd November.
The project had come home after almost eight years of detailed, and often
difficult, planning. It was, and still is, a testament, to the act of faith undertaken
by the parish at a time of financial stringency (not that that was anything new).
We had a ten-year loan from the Charity Bank to pay off, which was achieved
three years ahead of schedule in 2018. The choir was in particularly fine form,
about to secure the first three of six RSCM Gold Awards (a national record at the
time) amongst its younger members, and was preparing for a booking to sing for
the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Queen’s Chapel of St. James in London.
There had doubtless been other such golden periods in the musical history of the
church, but this was certainly a moment to remember.
Music at St. John’s will be marking this anni-
versary with a special celebrity recital at
7.30pm on Saturday 27th November by Tom
Winpenny, Assistant Master of the Music at
St. Alban’s Cathedral (pictured here at the
Cathedral console).
Tom has a strong profile as a recitalist, with
several highly-acclaimed recordings to his
name, and his programme includes several
popular accessible works.
We hope for a good attend-
ance at this event, which
will include interval refresh-
ments. Admission at the
door is £10.

30. - 28 -
THE CENTENARY OF HEMEL HEMPSTEAD WAR MEMORIAL
Last year the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions forced the cancellation of the cere-
mony at the town war memorial and the service in church on Remembrance
Sunday. A short service with wreath laying at the war memorial did, however,
take place on Armistice Day, 11 November. At the time of writing (early Octo-
ber) it is planned that the usual commemorations will be held on Remembrance
Sunday, 14 November. It is highly appropriate that it should do so as it is not
only the centenary of the Royal British Legion, but also Hemel Hempstead War
Memorial was dedicated and unveiled one hundred years ago.
As soon as the fighting had finished, thoughts turned to the question as to the
way in which the local dead should be remembered, and there was many discus-
sions about the form any memorial should take. The nearby town of Tring was
well prepared, and their war memorial was unveiled on 27 November 1918,
when the "Gazette" reported that out of over 900 men who had enlisted (about
20% of the population) 93 had given their life in the service of their country. In
Apsley a wartime army hut was erected in memory of those who had died. It
was in Orchard Street and opened on 27 September 1919. Many of the churches
erected memorials. One of the first was at the "old" St. Paul's Church in
Queensway where a chapel was dedicated on 2 November 1919.
In Hemel Hempstead two other proposals for memorials had been put forward,
one for an extension to West Herts Hospital (now Hemel Hempstead Hospital)
and one for a Technical Institute, before it was decided that a Memorial Cross
would be the only commemoration of the town's fallen in the First World War.
One of the major problems associated with such a memorial was in drawing up
the list of those whose names should be remembered, as there was no suitable
register of former inhabitants, and casualties, on which the list could be based.
The "Gazette" had published details of casualties throughout the war, but in
many cases it is not clear how strong the connection was with Hemel Hemp-
stead, if any. and there is no evidence that these records were systematically
used. In July 1917 the Council prepared a form inviting the inhabitants of the
town to record details of casualties and honours, but if any were returned they
have not survived. What did happen is that on 12 July 1919 the "Gazette" pub-
lished a list of names, ranks and addresses of about 250 of the fallen to be
engraved on the memorial. It points out the final list will be in alphabetical
order, without rank, and that it would be impossible to enter missing names
once the stone had been engraved. The "completed" roll was available for
inspection at the Town Hall in February, 1920, to allow further opportunity for
corrections and additions. Cont’d…..

31. - 29 -
Appeals such as this resulted in many more names being submitted as the stone
was eventually carved with 387 names, which makes me wonder how many were
omitted in error.
The omission of those who died after the war from wounds or disease contracted
on active service was of concern at the time. For example in October 1920, 23
year old Sidney R. George of Bury Road died as a result of having been wounded
three times, gassed twice and buried alive for three days while serving in the Bed-
fordshire Regiment. At about the same time, Harry Wiseman of Puller Road died
of illness brought on by active service. In June, 1921, the "Gazette" reported the
death of John Burns, who joined the Beds Regiment the day following the out-
break of war had returned to Hemel Hempstead a wreck - minus a leg, an eye and
suffering from wounds to the face. "The paper concludes "We wonder if it is not
possible to include such names as Wiseman, Beckwith and now Burns on the
memorial cross - what is the difference in their sacrifice! We wonder also that
still more is not done for those who are similarly left to suffer from the vile effects
of war service."
Surrounded by a cross, the words Sacrifice, Honour, Valour and Victory are
inscribed on each side of the memorial above the names of those commemorat-
ed. At the front under the word Sacrifice are the dates 1914 - 1919, which
reminds us that although the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918 the
formal conclusion of the First World War did not occur until the signing of the
Treaty of Versailles at the end of the Peace Conference on 28 June 1919. The
dedication of the War Memorial took place on 26 June 1921 and was unveiled by
Lieutenant Colonel Lovell F. Smeathman. His two elder brothers, Cecil died of
wounds and Julian was killed in battle in October 1914 within 24 hours of each
other.
The War Memorial was originally placed at what was then considered the
entrance of the town at the junction of Station Road and Two Waters Road oppo-
site the "Plough" public house. It moved to its present site near to St John's
Church on Box Moor Trust land leased to Dacorum Borough Council when the
original Plough or Moor End roundabout was constructed in about 1954. (The
present larger "magic" roundabout came about in the late 1960s).
As well as the names of those who lost their lives in the Second World War, the
names of the fallen in the Falklands War and the conflicts in Malaya, Aden and
Afghanistan have also been added to the War Memorial.
Cont’d on Page 32 …….

32. - 30 -
at St John’s
in the month of September 2021
HOLY BAPTISM
26 September Henry Duncan Brian Franklin Cotterells Hill
May the Lord of his great mercy bless this child and give him
understanding of his wisdom and grace.
HOLY MATRIMONY
No weddings took place in September
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
9 September Gary Anthony Walker Stuarts Close
9 September Caroline Mary Walker Stuarts Close
9 September Katie Elizabeth Rose Walker Stuarts Close
May these souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
20 September Mary Primrose Willis Cowper Road
30 September Kenneth Warby Vaughan Mead

33. - 31 -
PARISH DIRECTORY
Parish Administrator Hilary Kemp, Parish Office, Station Road, 260299
Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JY
Email: office@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
(Tuesday & Thursday 10.30am-1.30pm)
Churchwardens Marian Davies, 16 Varney Close 259447
Job Rombout, 57 Glenview Road 256659
Deputy Churchwardens Jo Fisher, The Cottage, Cross Oak Rd, Berkhamsted 874740
Rosie Shaw, 15 Park Road 07885 905777
PCC Secretary Richard Lyne, 12 Campion Road 260998
Email: pccsecretary@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
PCC Treasurer Chris Angell, Iddesleigh House, 61 Alexandra Rd 244158
Email: pcctreasurer@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Weekly Envelopes Garth Bridgwood, 9 Mount Close 214441
Covenant Secretary Garth Bridgwood, 9 Mount Close 214441
Electoral Roll Ian Packe, 2 The Driveway, Anchor Lane 214126
Email: electoralroll@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Director of Music Keith Beniston, 10 Belham Road, Kings Langley 01923 400559
Email: directorofmusic@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Senior Server Graham Gibbs, 3 Charles Street 258841
Parish Magazine:
Editor Sally Bates, 27 Beechfield Road 266912
Email: magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Advertising Sally Bates, 27 Beechfield Road 266912
Distribution Alan Munford, 16 St. Nicholas Mount 242543
Women's Fellowship Jean Garner, 34 Moorland Road 257023
3rd
Friday in month 2.30 pm
Together on Monday Di Tovey, 46 Cedar Walk 263669
1st
& 3rd
Mondays in the month 7.45 pm
Tiny Tots Annie Mitchell, 35 Gravel Lane 254480
Junior Church Rosie Shaw, 15 Park Road 07885 905777
Youth Meets Jo Fisher, The Cottage, Cross Oak Rd, Berkhamsted 874740
Baptism Preparation Annie Mitchell, 35 Gravel Lane 254480
Bible Reading Notes Jane Prew-Bridgwood, 9 Mount Close 214441
Poetry Group Ken Farmborough, 9 Farmery Court, Berkhamsted 874230
Sunday Lunch at St. John’s Marian Davies, 16 Varney Close 259447
Church Flowers Julie Boyce, 11 Northridge Way 249629
Wedding Flowers Catherine Holness, 71 Belmont Road 246289
Rainbows, Brownies and Guides - contact girlguiding.org.uk
St John's Hall Bookings Please telephone “Hall Bookings Secretary” 07939 226977
or email: hallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk (Graham Liddle)
St Francis Hall Bookings stfrancishallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
or more urgent enquiries - telephone Paul Davies 07802 442908
St Stephen’s Hall Bookings Jean Garner, 34 Moorland Road 257023
Music at St John’s Paul Davies - Email: masj@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Newsletter Parish Office - Email: newsletter@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Service Helpers Rotas Paul Davies - Email: servicehelpersadmin@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Webteam Email: webteam@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk

34. - 32 -
The wreath laying at the War Memorial was first held in the afternoon and I can
clearly remember when I was a child Canon Hamilton leading the procession on
Remembrance Sunday from St John's to the ceremony when the memorial was at
Moor End. It was during Derek Jackson's time as Vicar that the timing of the
event was transferred to the morning so the Two Minutes' Silence could be held
at 11.00 am. It was also thought it would be more beneficial to the veterans who
attended.
As a footnote it must be mentioned that two of our churches in the parish have
their own war memorials. The one at St John's recording 108 names, was not
completed until 1924 as fund raising took longer than expected, while St Francis
Church has a distinctively crafted memorial.
Graham Gibbs
Photo by kind permission of Geoff Bates

35. - 33 -

36. Produced and printed by the Parish of Boxmoor