Reflections Blog

ST IPPOLYTS CHURCH NATIVITY CRIB FESTIVAL 2^nd AND 3^rd   DECEMBER 

We will be holding our wonderful Nativity Crib festival again this year. Could you help?

Do you have a crib that we could borrow for the weekend? It doesn’t need to be grand, or even complete (the old and tatty ones often have the best “story”) the more different cribs of all shapes and sizes the better the festival is. If so, please contact Barbara This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 07443 228468.

Could you make a cake or help for a couple of hours over the weekend? There will be sign-up sheets at the back of the church or contact Barbara.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UNWANTED JIGSAW PUZZLES?

St Ippolyts Church will be holding a Jigsaw Puzzle Stall at the Parish Hall Christmas Fair on Saturday 25^th November. If you are a jigsaw puzzler and have any unwanted puzzles, please consider donating them to help raise funds to maintain our beautiful church. Jane Veasey (434254) or Mary Hooper (457350) are collecting the puzzles in advance of the fair at any time from 1^st October Puzzles may also be deposited at the back of the church.

Thank you!

A NEW BEGINNING - L - PLATES AND MINISTRY

It’s been a roller coaster of a summer for me. 

God called me into ordained ministry over four years ago, and after eighteen months of supervised discernment and assessment, and a further two years of academic study, I was ordained as Deacon on 1^st July 2023. 

After the years of study, the ordination day was extraordinarily special. Family and friends all joined me and other curates to be to pray for our future ministry as the bishop prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide us. The whole world receded in that moment! I have been utterly blessed to be given a curacy (trainee vicar placement) for the next three years or so under the care and leadership of Revd Ginni Dear who is incumbent for St Ippolyts, Little Wymondley and Great Wymondley churches. 

The congregations have been welcoming and encouraging for which I am so very grateful. Thank you! This placement is not without its challenges, but I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the people in the local communities, and I look forward to meeting more of you and hearing about you, your faith, and your lives in this place. I look forward to serving you and these communities too!

As I am sure you are all aware, a church community is made up of people who are exploring or developing a relationship with Jesus. Christians are varied in age, culture, tradition, language, and background, but we all have one thing in common; we are loved by and forgiven by God, through his son, Jesus Christ. It brings us a sense of peace and often profound joy. Most churches have a building, and our local parishioners are caring for church buildings that are ancient, listed, and desperately impractical for contemporary life. An increasingly small number of volunteers look after the churchyards, the buildings inside and out, and try to keep on top of bats, cobwebs, and damp. 

I have been struck by and am in awe of the amount of time and effort given by so few to enable anyone within the parishes to worship, get married, baptise a child, or say goodbye to a loved one. We owe all those who love and care for our church buildings, who give generously to fund their upkeep, a huge debt of gratitude, for without them, there would be no church building!

Revd Tricia Reed

Dear Friends,

As a local historian, family trees have always interested me. I was occasionally asked as the vicar to help people investigate their ancestors and this involved a lot of detective work (being a priest involves more than taking services and being pious!) and I loved doing it. My own tree (such as it is) vanishes in the mists of time as farm labourers in East Anglia in the 18^th century, albeit with the odd member being born on the wrong side of the blanket (I have never told the rest of the Lanhams so please keep this to yourself, they might not be as open minded about it as I am!). But it is a bit vague.

By contrast there is Judy's much bigger one and I was recently given a copy of it. Like my own tree hers begins in the 18^th century, in this case in Central Wales (Davis is after all a Welsh name!). Two won the Victoria Cross, in the Crimean and Boer Wars. There are a large number of military officers as it runs in the family (my father-in-law was a colonel, as my nephew in law is - not a vicar in sight!). There was an Admiral (who incidentally attended our wedding and whose son is a good friend of mine). And for many years a genuine Hollywood Oscar was kept in (of all places) the downstairs toilet of the family home until it was kept in a safer place. It was awarded to the legendary actress Dame Margaret Rutherford who married into the family - I used to hold it with awe. And so on, just a few of the many hundreds of members of them. I can read about these figures and see the fading pictures, and they come alive. Local history is fascinating if you are made that way, and investigating ancient records and fading grave stones throw new light on who we are and where we came from.

At the end of October we look ahead to All Saints and All Souls Day, on November 1 and 2 respectively. Family trees remind us of our roots, and these two festivals remind us that we are linked to more than just our present and past relatives. They set us in the context of humanity. All Saints Day speaks of our being part of God's people, past present and future. In the Book of Revelation we read of 'that whole multitude which no man could number' worshipping before the throne of God; I find this both inspiring and comforting. As members of our local church, as members of our family we become united in spirit as one. Then on All Souls Day we especially remember loved ones and people who have especially touched our lives - and we commend them to God's care and keeping. Here on these two days the present and the past meet and we are enriched by them. Perhaps as we think of them we may also think of ourselves as part of all humanity, widening our thoughts still further, for God reaches out to the world, not just to those who believe in Him in the accepted sense but as something or someone cosmic. 

We mark one other day this month. On October 10 there is the (secular) World Mental Health Day. Regular readers of Pax will know of my total commitment to this cause, as a campaigner and a former sufferer. Mental health is becoming more and more recognised for what it is and how important it is but so much more is needed, both in terms of improved treatment but also in removing stigma associated with it. May I commend it to your thoughts and prayers, not only on this day but at other times as well?

With my love,

Paul

Quiz Night with ploughman's supper at our Parish Hall

Tickets £12.50 from Jane Veasey 01462 434254

MY CYCLE FROM LONDON TO PARIS 

Some of you know me, I cycle to church on a bike with a wicker basket, and my mother, Margaret Dines, who used to live next to the vicarage in St Ippolyts before she moved to the centre of Hitchin. I usually live and work in London but since the pandemic have spent a lot of time working remotely at my mother’s so haven’t been doing my usual city cycle commute. But when a friend said she wanted to cycle to Paris and knew someone who had done it before, following the route called the Avenue Verte and would act as our leader I agreed to join her. I then had to do some rapid training cycling round the Wymondleys and out to Whitwell and Offley to make up for several years of inactivity!

Four of us started near our homes in Islington on Wednesday 26^th April and were wondering why one of the group hadn’t appeared, only to find that she had had a puncture cycling to our meeting place! Puncture fixed we negotiated London and made our way south, heartened to see Avenue Verte signs appearing. We had a picnic lunch on Farthing Downs in Coulsdon, crossed the M25 and could finally enjoy the countryside, apart from several hills, until we arrived in Lewes at about 7.45pm. The next morning, we had a short ride to Newhaven for the 11am ferry and found at least a dozen other cyclists on the boat. Four hours later we arrived in Dieppe and cycled through the town to a wonderful flat, tarmacked cycle route on a disused railway line. It was a delight to ride along and we had a quick stop to look through the gates at the chateau at Mesnieres-en-Bray. But then a light drizzle started to get heavier and we spent the last two hours of our four hour cycle getting soaked so we arrived at our hotel in Forge les Eaux feeling utterly miserable! However, they were still serving food and agreed to tumble dry our clothes which was a great help.

The next morning was still damp but we set off and had lunch outside the old abbey at Saint-Germer-de-Fly in the sunshine! We continued through undulating countryside on quiet lanes, through equally quiet villages and just to prove it was spring heard a cuckoo. We had afternoon tea in Gisors before finally arriving at about 6pm in the tiny village of Omerville where we were staying with a French couple who rented out rooms in their pretty cottage. After drinks in the garden we had a delicious supper but as the church clock chimed hourly my companions had a slightly disturbed night (using earplugs I was fine!). The next morning, after breakfast of bread with homemade jams and yogurt we set off for Paris. It was exciting to cross the Seine at Triel-sur-Seine, even though we were still miles from our destination. We had lunch at Villennes-sur-Seine, cycled through the Bois de Boulogne, and finally got to view the Eiffel Tower from the Palais de Chaillot at about 6pm - we felt such a sense of achievement and relief that nothing had gone wrong! We had averaged about 55 miles a day and weren’t too exhausted or saddle sore. It then took us over an hour to get through the centre of Paris to our hostel near Gard du Nord. There is some good cycle infrastructure and loads of cyclists using it but having never been to Paris on a bike before I found all the traffic pretty overwhelming and was very pleased to just follow our leader. The following day was wonderfully warm and sunny and we were having a rest day in the city so cycled along one side of the Seine and then had a picnic lunch on the other side, went to the Jardin des Plantes and ended with supper in a restaurant by the Canal Saint-Martin. We had an early start on Monday 1^st May taking the train to Rouen as we were unable to get one directly to Dieppe. But on arrival at Rouen it was grey, breezy and damp and we had another puncture so instead of cycling to Dieppe with the anxiety of the ferry deadline, once the puncture was fixed we decided to take the train instead. And what a great move that was as we could have a leisurely time before getting the boat back to Newhaven and then the train to Finsbury Park. 

It was such a fun experience and France is a great place to cycle in – I would love to do the trip again but would take my bike on the train to the ferry and do about 35 miles a day with more stops at places of interest as our leader had certainly kept us moving!

Alison Dines

ARTICLE FROM NEW ZEALAND 

I was Susan Veasey.  I lived in the parish from age 3, attending St. Ippolyts school from 1961-7.  I was married in St. Ippolyts Church and both my children were baptised there.  Soon after this we moved to New Zealand where I still live but my daughter and her family now live in Hitchin. 

St. James’ Church, Kerikeri 

The first Anglican service in New Zealand was held on Christmas Day, 1814, at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands. It was conducted by Samuel Marsden, a Yorkshireman, who as a member of the Church Missionary Society was originally based in New South Wales. The site is now in the Rangihoua Heritage Park and is marked by a stone cross. 

Marsden moved to New Zealand in 1814 with some others to engage in missionary work with the Māori people. Their first mission station was established in Rangihoua Bay, and then moved to Kerikeri where the first mission house and the Stone Store can still be seen. For the first decade the mission was in competition with the Wesleyan and Catholic missionaries, but they converted some Māori chiefs and began to establish the Anglican Church there. 

The first chapel was built close to the Stone Store in 1823, and a second replaced it on the current site in 1829. This later fell into disrepair and a new church was built of kauri weatherboards in 1878, with a vestry extension added in 1963. The Church is dedicated to St. James the Greater of Compostela, whose symbol is the scallop shell, and who is associated with the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. 

The Church is a grade 1 heritage listed building and the graveyard is a listed heritage site as well. The Church is kept open during the day and boasts some interesting stained-glass windows and a pipe organ. There are several weekly services, including a family service, and other groups that meet regularly. Music is a feature of the services, there are currently 5 organists and a church choir that sings at Christmas, Easter, and the Patronal festival in July. 

The Kerikeri basin is a tourist site, and many people travel here to see where the European settlement of New Zealand began. Visitors are always welcome at St. James’, there is a booklet about the Church and a graveyard tour available at a small cost for those who are interested.

Sue Hunt 

We are trying to add more to our PAX magazine – it is a great way to connect with one another and to find out what is going on in our parishes. If anyone has anything they would like to share with our communities, perhaps a short write up on a local event you have attended or an interesting historical or amusing story or tradition that you know about, please do feel free to email it to me.  Thank you.

Pam Skeggs

CHURCH CHOIR

We would welcome more people to join us on a Sunday morning twice a month to sing in the church choir. No previous music experience is required. There are a regular few who attend these services, and we would welcome more to join us. It is great to sing together. If you are interested, then please do contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and your details will be forwarded to John Edwards our St Ippolyts Church organist. 

Dear Friends,

While clearing out a filing cabinet during August I discovered my school reports that my parents had given to me before they died. The earliest was (mind bogglingly) 71 years ago where the matron noted that I was four stone nine pounds wringing wet (a third of what I am now). The Headmaster commented quaintly of me in 1955 that 'he is a most acceptable member of the school'. One year I am recorded as being a first class shot. This was rather surprising as I was short sighted and had not yet begun to wear spectacles; when the relevant test took place I remember that I was blazing away at a blur and amazingly hit the target several times (more appropriately I once shattered a bottle with my first shot using my brother's air pistol, only to discover that I had aimed with my left eye and fired with my right hand). But the most memorable remark came from my history master. He was a retired colonel of ferocious mien, and if my memory is right he had a faint physical resemblance to the Gestapo supremo Heinrich Himmler. I can still hear his slightly stuttering voice in my head as he wrote of me 'He s-s-seems teachable'. Since my university degree is in ancient and modern history (and theology) he must have succeeded - unlike the master who told me I would never learn Greek, only for me to pass a university exam six years later. 

From this you can grasp that in spite of the belief that school days are the happiest ones of your life, mine weren't. In a school (which I shall not name) that had its fair share of high achievers my only success was as scorer for the First, Second and Colts school cricket teams. For the rest it was a case of being a total nonentity, except that being in a deeply Christian school I ended as a priest. But it was fascinating to look back at these reports, seeing what I was like and how I developed as I am now. Lanham R, (as opposed to my younger brother Lanham P), is rightly forgotten as a former pupil. 

Thank heavens that Jesus did not choose the twelve disciples on the basis of worldly merit and status but looked for something more than that. At school I feel I would have been more comfortable with Andrew than the others; he would have hovered quietly in the background than the more gifted in the school. Or perhaps Thomas who was always asking questions and being honest without being a prize winner. Both would have been very 'acceptable members of the school' rather than anything special. I love the ordinariness of the Twelve. Not an intellectual, nobody of high rank, just twelve highly idealistic young men who were prepared with Jesus to turn the world upside down and believed in Him so much that they were prepared to die for Him. I love their vulnerability, their confusion, their innocence and their courage. Jesus could have chosen almost anyone to be His closest circle but He chose them. A reassurance that God calls all of us, in all our ordinariness to serve Him as we are, not to be special. My thought for the month!

A personal note. I have been unable to minister in the parish since my stroke last year and then losing Judy. I have missed you all very much but my voice needs to be strengthened before I can resume, while life has had to be reassessed. However, we have been helped enormously by your thoughts and prayers, with special thanks to Ginni (not least for being Ginni!). Hopefully I will be back soon; you can't get rid of me that easily! 

With my love,

Paul

Howell Davies, our late and very much missed reader and friend preached a sermon about St Hippolytus on 15th August 2021. As it ius now the festival of our patron saint it is appropriate we remember Howell's sermon.

Our annual horse blessing service will take place at 10:00 am on 19th August. We have changed the time to suit the horses!!

A congregation of 27 enjoyed an al fresco service in the Revd Ginni's garden inspite of some distant hedge cutting. We were joined by a variety of wildlife including painted lady, peacock and large white butterflies plus a solitary raven a pair of buzzards and a red kite. (well they actually flew over and did not drop in!!) After the service everyone tucked into sausage and bacon rolls for breakfast.

In the Consistory Court of the Diocese of St Albans

In the parish of St Ippolyts

Church of St Ippolyts Churchyard

NOTICE IS GIVEN that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the diocese

for permission to carry out the following:

(Describe the works or other proposals in the same way as in the faculty petition)

To build a new footpath from the existing footpath to the church to the external

toilet in the churchyard. The Footpath to match the existing footpath.

Copies of the relevant plans and documents may be examined at St Ippolyts

Church Notice Board and on a publicly accessible website at http://www.

stippolytschurch.org.uk

(If changes to a church are proposed, a copy of the petition and of any designs,

plans, photographs and other documents that were submitted with it must be

displayed in the church or at another place where they may be conveniently

inspected by the public. If the petition is submitted through an online system,

those documents must also be publicly available for inspection online.)

Petitioners:

1. MR MICHAEL HOOPER - TREASURER

2. REVD GINNI DEAR - MINISTER

3. MS JANE VEASEY - CHURCHWARDEN

Date 30/07/2023

If you wish to object to any of the works or proposals you should

send a letter or email stating the grounds of your objection to

The Diocesan Registrar at Winckworth Sherwood LLP, Minerva House, 5

Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

so that your letter reaches the registrar not later than Tuesday 29

August 2023 A letter of objection must include your name and

address and state whether you live in the parish and/or your

name is entered on the church electoral roll of the parish or any

other basis on which you have an interest in the matter.

ST IPPOLYTS CHURCH TOILET FOOTPATH STATEMENT OF NEED

EXISTING SITUATION

The church and parish

The church is within the Diocese of St. Albans, Hitchin archdeaconry and St Ippolyts has its own parish. It is available to all parishioners, members of the congregation and the wider community for baptisms, weddings, funerals and various social and fund-raising activities that are held from time to time. 

The church in its environment

Located in the village of St Ippolyts, 1 mile to the south of Hitchin, St. Ippolyts church stands on the crown of the north-south ridge, with the valley of the park sloping down from the churchyard to the valley below and the settlement and school established on the plateau behind to the east.

The church lies at the north edge of the village at the junction of the village road (north-to-south) and the lane leading down the steep valley slope across the stream and foundry to the main Hitchin to Welwyn Road at the west. 

The small infants school lies directly across from the north churchyard with the small village green to the east. The main entrance into the churchyard is from the east boundary, opposite the Green, with a path sweeping around to the south, past a stone War Memorial Cross to the South Porch. There is also a north gated entrance to the North Porch which rises in steps from the road below, near the junction and opposite the school. The tarmac path with a resin bonded stone finish rises through a gate directly from the road, up a flight of steps and then with ramps to a sloping area in front of the North Porch. A path then leads east to the Vestry entrance and west around the tower and upslope to the South Porch.

The churchyard to the east and north is set on a high grass bank sloping down to the roads, which diminishing to level along the east boundary at the Lychgate entrance, where hedges contain the churchyard from the road. All is grassed, very-well maintained and with a romantic setting of the churchyard to the west over the sloping valley of the adjoining parkland.

There is no toilet within the church but there is a well maintained and up to date toilet within the churchyard, opposite and slightly south of the Lychgate. Currently there is no footpath to the toilet users having to traverse the mown grass from the existing footpath.

The church is normally open during daylight hours and the church has internal CC TV cameras above the South and North porch entrance doors. 

Regular 09:15 services are held every Sunday with a breakfast Service targeting families held on the first Sunday of the Month. In addition, there are two 08:00 Holy Communion (said) services each month plus one Evensong each month. 

There is a Parish Hall within the Village but this is not managed by the church and is part of the general community of St Ippolyts. This Parish Hall is approx. 500 yards from the church and is not convenient for church use.

The last church quinquennial inspection was carried out in 2018 and a few minor issues were highlighted, the majority, if not all of which, have been addressed. 

PERCEIVED NEED 

Worship and Mission

The church is set in a small, dispersed village set along the top plateau behind the ridge and with widely dispersed farmhouses and houses in the agricultural landscape with time required to travel to church. The lower part of the village towards Gosmore has a mix of residential properties. There are plans to expand the community and discussions are underway concerning the construction of a large number of new properties.

Moving forward, there is a desire within the community, PCC and clergy for the church to be able to provide facilities for everyone including those less able 

Facilities. 

St Ippolyts Church has a toilet which is wheelchair friendly and has the necessary internal facilities to cater for wheel chairs including an external opening door, grab handles and a low sink. Unfortunately, the route to the toilet from the church requires users to cross grassed uneven ground and to make the toilet available to all there is a requirement for a proper footpath access.

We would welcome more people to join us on a Sunday morning twice a month to sing in the church choir. No previous music ability is required. There are a regular few who attend these services, and we would welcome more to join us. It is great to sing together. If you are interested, then please do contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and your details will be forwarded to John Edwards our St Ippolyts Church organist. Thank you.

Come along and explore our lovely gardens from 12 noon until 5pm. Sandwiches, cakes, and coffee are available at the Parish Hall and ice creams in one of the gardens. Entry is £5 (children are free) tickets are available at the Parish Hall, Gosmore Village Green, and the car park off Maydencroft Lane where there will also be a plant stall.

Barbara Thomas

You may have noticed that small areas of the churchyard have been left to grow wild. This is particularly noticeable near the South Porch where the yellow flower "Ladies Bed Straw" has popped up in profusion. Legend has it that Mary gave birth to Jesus on a bed made from this plant.  Hence its name.

FRIENDS 
Once again, we held a successful Community Coffee Morning in the Committee Room at the Parish Hall and enjoyed a relaxed time with coffee, cake, and company.  One of our local friends came with their hearing dog which was wonderful to see the companionship between them. The Hearing Dog charity and training of the dogs was explained to us and also the cost of up to £40,000 to train the Labradors over a period of perhaps four years. 

We hope you can join us for the next Coffee Morning on Wednesday 5^th July 10.00 am till Noon. There will not be a coffee morning in August but will resume on the first Wednesday in September.

We would welcome more people to join us on a Sunday morning twice a month to sing in the church choir. No previous music ability is required. There are a regular few who attend these services, and we would welcome more to join us. It is great to sing together. If you are interested, then please do contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and your details will be forwarded to John Edwards our St Ippolyts Church organist. Thank you.

Frances Williams, Carol Scott, and Joan Pinkstone

Dear Friends,

Two wheeled sports fascinate me at the height of the summer – both of them mad in their very different ways. June brought the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races, where people hurl their machines around a 37-mile circuit of country roads at speeds that approach 200 mph in places. As one of the probably few clergy to have reached 80 mph on both two wheels and four (in both cases many years ago on deserted motorways when the police were mercifully absent) I know how exhilarating both experiences were but also how conscious one is of the narrow line between life and (at best) serious illness so how anyone can make a living doing that speed is beyond me.

In July there is the month long Tour de France cycle race. Not because I am a cyclist, because I'm not. Incidentally it is a myth that you never forget how to ride a bicycle. I learned how to do so on a narrow lane bordered by ditches full of stinging nettles and have had 70 years with a scarred knee as evidence that at least I tried, but I don't now. I love the race for many reasons. One is that it is fascinating, like chess on wheels – teams working together for their leaders to try to win. A second is the scenery which varies from the mundane to the sensational. But the madness for me lies in the amount of suffering the riders are prepared to endure when all but a tiny few have the slightest chance of being noticed, still less winning. Why anyone would do this willingly is beyond me – but in a very different way people think we clergy are mad to be ordained.

So many lessons for this column to ponder about. The first is the importance of teamwork. There is no such thing as an isolated cyclist in the Tour. Each belongs to a team with a particular role to play. Each relies on the others and is important. Fine, if that isn't a picture of the Church as the Body of Christ, I don't know what is. We each have a part to play, the Church and each individual congregation is composed of people with different skills, different roles, each valuing the others and working together to extend God's Kingdom in the area – and none is more important than the other. We have value in the sight of God because we are ourselves, not necessarily by doing important things.

I'll byepass the second because it is so obvious. It is the sheer beauty of the country, particularly the mountains.  Watching the Tour day by day is a reminder of the wonder of God's creation as it gradually unfolds hour by hour.  Not much fun for the participants but a pageant of nature at the height of the summer.

But the real thing is that in a sense the Tour is a journey. As the last rider crosses the line it must give them a sense of achievement that they have gone all this way and endured so many things but they have endured to the end. I always think of Christianity in terms of a pilgrimage, a progression. It's not something static, it is moving. Like that ride there are obstacles in the way, there is sometimes pain, there are joys but there are also sorrows. We move onwards towards God, reaching out, upwards and onwards towards Him. Some of us find it easier than others, but we need one another, we need the support and encouragement of God. We may find ourselves having to take spiritual risks but that is how our pilgrimage will go. Nothing can be achieved by being a passive Christian; it's a contradiction in terms.

So, enjoy the summer. As for me, my cycling and motorcycling days are long over. But don't telephone me when the Tour is on television; I won't answer it!

Very best wishes.