The Parish Magazine December 2024

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24 The Parish Magazine — December 2024 around FEATURE the — 5villages — 1 Never forgotten by their old church . . . Writing in the January 1919 issue of this magazine, the then vicar of Sonning, Rev Gibbs Payne Crawford, reflected on how St Andrew's Church supported the 1914-18 war effort. The following is a slightly edited version of his account . . . One of the best things we had was certainly the Friday War Communion. It was begun at the request of a family staying in the village. The first took place on Friday 28 August 1914 and it was continued every Friday, with very few exceptions — mainly when it broke down for want of communicants — till Friday 15 November, when it became a Eucharist service for the conclusion of war. It was, week by week, the great prayer of the parish about the war, and though attended by fewer people than we hoped, we felt that throughout our fellowship in Christ it was the prayer offered by the few in the name of all. Often it was made deeply real, by the presence of some who sought it in their day of trial. For many months we had a young wife pleading in it for her husband who eventually fell in battle; at another time we had a mother committing her young son in it to the care of God; now and then a husband and wife made it their parting service, or they made it their thanksgiving when they met again after the perils of the war. THE SOLDIERS BELL All through the war we had a mother making it her prayer for the safety of her dear boys in soul and body during the perils of campaigning. Sometimes lads and maidens made it their pledge of love to be kept faithful during their parting, and always the celebrant reading out one by one the names of those of the parish who were in the perils of war, while those who had made the great sacrifice gave a solemn reality to the pleading. Collections were always given to the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem. From the beginning of the war a bell was rung every day at noon. It was a call for the prayers of those at home on behalf of those absent on service, and whenever one of our men fell, the same bell tolled at noon to let everyone know that a soldier had died. It is now called the 'soldiers’ bell'. The Great War memorial plaque in St Andrew's Church Sonning At every Sunday service there was remembrance made of the war and of the men in it. At Evensong the second part of the usual prayers gave place, by permission of the Bishop, to the special prayers issued for the war. This praying varied according to the circumstances of the war and was always very real. Each prayer was introduced by a war related thought and the hush that filled the church while the prayer was said spoke of itself for the reality with which it was offered. There were sermons about the war — not so many as some wished, but more than others did. Everywhere that was a point in people’s minds. Some were only too glad to leave thoughts of war outside the church, while others felt that war was for the time the national life, and therefore that preaching should be directed upon it. In our church there was a middle course; war was not dragged into the preaching, rather it was used to voice people’s minds when thought of the war was specially prominent. REMEMBRANCE At each daily service remembrance was made of it in prayer, and at the end of Evensong, first the sailors and then the soldiers of our parish, each in a separate prayer, were committed to God’s care for the coming night. Our men will never be able to say that while absent they were forgotten in their old church. Perhaps a grateful remembrance of this will bring them back to using their church. Each time when news reached us of the death of one of our men, we held a short memorial service for him on the following Sunday evening, at which his family was present. When the man was well known in Sonning it was attended by a large number of people in the village. Whether common action will place in the church any memorial of those who have fallen in their country’s cause remains to be seen. COMMUNION Peter Rennie We have a church rich in its beauty, but it would not be difficult to find points at which it could be made still more beautiful. This is something of what was done in our church during the war. It is impossible to record everything. It is hard to say whether the war entered deeply into the spiritual consciousness of the people; whether it taught any to pray better, or to use their Communion better; and whether it is leaving behind it any spiritual fruit. Only God knows this for certain. LIFTED TO GOD No doubt it brought neighbours together: mutual interests in common war work, the sharing of each others anxieties and sorrows, and the one great cause of the Empire in which we were all united have undoubtedly made people know each other better and learn their mutual worth. And from the church we cannot help thinking that there went out into the parish through those who attended it some power to endure, some faith that lifted the war up to God. 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 24 13/11/2024 10:15:39
around the villages — 1 arounD the villages — 1 Happy 60th birthday for Sonning Glebe WI October for Sonning Glebe WI marked a major landmark in its history and, as you would expect, they celebrated it in style. It was 60 years ago in October 1964 when a small group of Sonning ladies formed the village evening WI. Over the last 60 years, Sonning Glebe WI has been a stalwart in the village, planting trees, organising entertainment, participating in village events such as the 1976 Sonning Festival and the 1977 Silver Jubilee festivities. TEA, CAKES . . . During this time they have served villagers and visitors with endless cups of tea and slices of cake at village events, as well as organising monthly meetings, coffee mornings, suppers, Scrabble, Rummikub, Rounders and supporting several charities. The WI drama group even performed at the Royal Shakespeare theatre in Stratford! . . . AND TRIFLE To mark the occasion they held a 1960's theme party in Pearson Hall with, as you would expect, vol au vents, pineapple and cheese on sticks, celery and cream cheese, Ritz crackers and of course trifle while being serenaded by Geraint Thomas! The following week the members celebrated in style with a splendid evening meal at Sonning Golf Club. Remarkably, they still have one of its founder members, Enid Harvey, who was at the first meeting 60 years ago. Appropriately, Enid's daughter, Carole Collier, is the current president of Sonning Glebe WI, and so together they were able to cut the delicious anniversary cake! The Parish Magazine — December 2024 25 Christmas sacks for Cowshed Members of Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh are pictured above holding some of the many Christmas sacks that they have sewn for the Cowshed charity. These will be filled with toys and Christmas goodies and distributed to children from families who are struggling at the moment. You can find out more about Inner Wheel by visiting their website at: https://innerwheel.co.uk/ on Facebook at: innerwheelclubofreadingmaidenerlegh or by emailing iwcrme@gmail.com The Cowshed is a charity which gives support to people of all backgrounds in a time of personal crisis by providing good quality cleaned and ironed clothes and other essentials free to anyone in need. https://www.thecowshed.org/ Pumpkins and Halloween On Sunday 27 October, The Sonning Club, which meets in Pearson Hall, held a pumpkin carving and Halloween event for local children. It was really well attended and over 15 pumpkins were carved — and a lot of fun was had, especially by the parents! For forthcoming event details visit: https://www.sonningclub.co.uk Young footballers wanted for AFC Charvil AFC (Association Football Club) Charvil is looking for young players to train. They meet on a Tuesday evening on the new state-of-the-art 3 G pitch at Berkshire County Sports Club in Sonning and are on the lookout for new players join their primary school age groups U6 (Year 1) — U11 (Year 6). https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/afccharvil 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 25 13/11/2024 10:15:40
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Page 7 and 8: the parish noticeboard — 1 Advent
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The Parish Magazine December 2024

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