FROM THE URC ELDERS
At Ickenham URC we have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of our current church building. Foundation stones were laid either side of the church door on 9th May 1936, by Mr W Wonnacott JP, G Ansell and the Revd L Bouch, on behalf of the London Congregational Union, Providence Congregational Church Uxbridge, and the Old Meeting Church Uxbridge respectively, while others laying stones included David Brickett’s daughter and our then Church Secretary Percival Moon.
The building works and most internal decoration were then completed within just five months, ahead of the opening and dedication which took place on 7th October 1936. What an amazing feat by the builders! As current chairman of the Property Committee, I find this particularly impressive!
Looking back through church records, I was also impressed to discover our predecessors were at the cutting edge of technology. We may think our Powerpoint Slide Shows are the latest thing, but in 1937 at the URC they used cine film as part of the first anniversary service. This made it into the local paper.
A lot of sermons have been preached over the last 75 years, and there have been times both happy and sad. The six years of World War II brought worries about relatives in our armed services. These times, and those of other conflicts will be foremost in our thoughts during the Remembrance Day Service in the church on 13th November. (See the notice on page 4, for details of this and the Armistice Day Ceremony in St Giles’ Churchyard.)
Mostly happier times were to follow after the war when the country slowly got back to normality, and when food rationing ended. And Christmas of course, is a joyful occasion. Advent begins this year on Sunday 27th November, with the lighting of the first Advent Candle at our 11am service. The first extra service takes place that evening – a joint Advent Carol Service with combined choirs at 6.30pm at St Giles’. Details of all the other December Christmas events will appear in next month’s ICN.
Another happy event for us this month is the return of our minister Bernie Collins from his three month Sabbatical, which was mostly spent in Papua New Guinea. We very much look forward to welcoming him back, and to hearing all about his travels and experiences.
JOHN DAVIES
DROP-IN FOR THE BEREAVED. Third Monday of each month. St Giles’ Church Hall, 2pm to 3.30pm. A friendly, informal opportunity for a chat, over a cup of tea, with other bereaved people and bereavement visitors. The next meeting is on Monday 21st November (then Monday 19th December). Just come along, or ring the Rectory (622970) if you would like to talk to someone first.
