CHURCH NOTICES

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st john's parish church 

  St.John's Choir news.  

A VERY SPECIAL TREE IN THE CHURCHYARD

Photo taken by Mike Head

The Fabric of St John’s Church, Tisbury

‘Shortage of money due to insufficient giving’!

No, this is not a report by the current Treasurer of St John’s, but an extract from the minutes of the Tisbury Church Vestry Book dated 1896.

Extracts from these minutes covering the period from 1876, when the first Vestry meeting was held, until 1922, and of the minutes of Tisbury Parish Church Council from 1920, when the first PCC was held, to 1950, make interesting reading as they show the love, care and concerns of the people of Tisbury, and their Rectors and Vicars, with regard to the fabric of the building. 

Improvements and Enhancements

In 1876 gaslight was installed in the church and in 1884 a gaslight was installed on the intersection of paths outside the North door – this must have been a great boon not only for those entering church but also people walking through the churchyard.  Tisbury had to wait until 1922 before electric light was installed in the church.  In 1939 the lighting in the church was completely overhauled nevertheless in 1940 a request was made to the PCC for complete rewiring!

Between 1881 and 1886 a new vestry and an organ chamber were constructed, an organ, built by Mr Willis, was installed (the old organ to be sold)  and at the same time repairs were effected to the South Transept and South aisle. The total cost was in excess of £1,250 (£93,600 today).

In October 1939 the PCC agreed to move the Arundell Grave slabs from beneath the choir stalls to the central aisle of the Chancel and a new reredos was erected in St John’s chapel

Shortages of Money

There are frequent mentions of the shortage of money!  There was the comment in 1896 referred to above. In 1898 the Vicar (Reverend FE Hutchinson) was thanked for paying for the cost of repairing both the walls of the church and the Churchyard walls.  In 1901 the bell-ringers were asked to contribute to the cost of bell ropes.  In 1904 the Vicar ( Reverend Hutchinson) paid £22-2-3 (£1,840 today) for the repair of the wall to the gulley around the church . In 1907 the accounts were again in deficit and the Vicar made up the difference. In 1909 a faculty was applied for a Stained Glass Window to be installed to commemorate The Reverend FE Hutchinson’s 50 years (1858-1908) and, presumably, for bailing out the church finances.  The window was paid for by parishioners and is installed in the South wall.

During 1911, sermons were preached on ‘giving’.

In 1949 the Diocesan quota was raised to £58 per year (£1,500 in today’s currency)   This was considered too much!  (Our current quota is £44,000)

Repairs

Between 1871-76 the Chancel was restored at a cost of £1,662-5-4 (£106.105 today). In 1904 an estimate of £5,000 (£370,300 today) for the restoration of the church was made. There is no evidence that this was accepted or if the work was carried out!

In 1907 an estimate of £45 (£3,270 today) was made for an overhaul of the organ by Messrs Willis.  These repairs were finally instructed in 1910 and cost £49-4-0) (£3,450 today). 1935 saw the installation of an electric blower for the organ.  The organ was repaired again in 1943 and in 1949 wood rot was discovered in the casing.

There were constant complaints about draughts and poor heating, in particular in minutes for 1903. During 1918 church heating repairs cost £479-17-7 (£16,060 today).  In 1926 a new North door was fitted at a cost of £35-7-6 (£1,410 today) while the double doors were fitted in 1927.  In 1927 a new heating system was approved but no mention is made of its installation or cost.  During 1944 the boiler again needed repairs.

In 1918 the construction of the Newtown Chapel cost £1,402-11-2  while in the same year dry rot repairs to NW corner and North aisle cost £32-0-2. A total cost of £48,000 at today’s prices.

In 1920 the PCC authorised repairs to the priest’s chamber and the coping in the Lady Chapel at a total cost of £64 -6-0 (£1,770 today)

During May 1923 a meeting was held to discuss repairs to Tower and new bells. There was a further meeting in January 1926 and in April 1926 it was agreed to carry out repairs to the tower and at the same time replace the clock with two extra faces.  The bells were re-hung in 1927 and the 4^th bell was recast in 1984.

In 1931 the vestry floor was repaired following dry rot and had to be repaired again in 1950.

An estimate of £1,000 for the repairs to the Nave roof was received in 1936, approval was given by the PCC and work started in 1937; the final bill paid in 1938 was for £1,158-5-9 (£50,820 today)

War damage in 1944 caused broken windows following a nearby aeroplane crash.

In 1948 the yew tree was made safe, death-watch beetle eradicated and repairs were carried out to the East and West windows.

Tisbury, in the years 1999 to 2006,  also has achieved a great deal – beetles have been eradicated (£7,000), St Andrews Chapel was re-ordered and the stone altar moved (£24,500), the altar rail repaired (£4,000) the South transept roof repaired (£1,500) lighting has been improved, the tower repaired (£43,000), the boiler repaired (£1,500), the oil tank replaced  and the  boiler house roof repaired (£4,653); while at the same time minor works and repair on the fabric of the church and maintenance of the  churchyard has continued.

As we ponder the report on our latest quinquennial  inspection  and a possible total bill of over £100,000 we should remember what our predecessors achieved.

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BROWNIES

Tisbury Brownies is open to girls aged between 7 – 11 and meets on Thursdays (during term time) in the Methodist Church Hall from 5.00pm – 6.30pm. New members are always welcome.

Last term the Brownies went on a pack holiday to Berwick St James. The weather was good and the girls were able to spend a lot of time out of doors, they specially enjoyed the play equipment, and there was also a firework party. The term ended with a “Pampered Chef” party based on ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’, with every Brownie having a chance to make something.

Highlights for this term will include a ‘Movie Night’, a pancake evening  and a disco for Valentines Day.

For further details contact Sarah Street ( 01747 870045

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, TISBURY 

HONOUR THE COVENANT 

Hundreds of column inches were devoted to the Legion's call for support of their 'Honour the Covenant' campaign.  In brief the Legion believe there should be:

*  A just compensation scheme that recognises the commitment and sacrifices made when serving the nation. 

*  A greater commitment to supporting the physical and mental health of service people and their families. 

*  More support for bereaved service families.

If you feel strongly about these issues the Legion would welcome you making your views felt either by letter or e-mail to our MP, Robert Key, who can be contacted by e-mail on rob@robertkey.com or written to at 12, Brown treet, Salisbury, SP1 1HE.

Congratulations to the Ladies

At the recent AGM of Wiltshire County, the Women's Branch of Tisbury Royal British Legion were presented with two cups.  Firstly for being adjudged the most efficient branch in the County and, secondly, for recruiting the most new members.  Any who have had dealings with the ladies will not be at all surprised by their efficiency award - they are really very good indeed - the other cup reflects the first.

Women's New Standard

 The Women's Branch have just taken delivery of a brand new standard.  This will be blessed and the old one laid up in the Parish Church later in the year.

VISIT BY ROBERT KEY MP 

Welfare of local ex-Servicemen and Women
There are a number of ex Service personnel living in the Tisbury area who may be in need but whose entitlement to support is not known to The Royal British Legion.  Some there are who feel too proud to ask for help.  If any cases are known to readers we would be grateful if their needs could be brought to the attention of either the Legion or Mrs Debbie Carter (01747-871311) who does a wonderful job as our SSAFA Caseworker.

Joining the Royal British Legion
To fulfil our duty of care locally to ex-Service personnel the Tisbury Branch needs to keep its membership numbers up.  If you have spent time in the armed services and would like to help please contact our Membership Secretary, Gerry Quirke, on 01747-871306.

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*  Years with 6 days of 1 inch (24mm) or more 2006, 2002, 2000, 1997, 1996 
*  Rainfall in 2005 was boosted by two heavy downfalls in the autumn when over 40 mm fell on 2nd/3rd November and 1st/2nd December (the latter flooded the Wallmead raingauge!)

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News from St John’s Primary School, Tisbury  

Many thanks to the Carnival Committee for their donation of £150 towards our outdoor play equipment.