Hyde Heath Church Rededication

Hyde Heath Church Rededication Service

Friday 30th November 2007 6pm

My Dad and I went to the rededication of St. Andrew's Church, Hyde Heath on Friday 30th November 2007 at 6pm. (St. Andrew's Day) The Church was built in 1910 and has an interesting history.

Over 200 members of the community were there, it was a special service to mark the completion of a major programme of refurbishments to the little Church. The work included the complete re-roofing of the Church, and the construction of a bell-cote, complete re-wiring, re-heating, re-flooring, re-lighting, and of course at the end of all that re-painting.

Our Vicar Fr. John and Mr. Gary Beynon, Licensed Lay Minister, were pleased to see so many people attend the service, in fact the tiny Church wasn’t big enough to seat everybody, so a huge marquee was needed, which was soon nicknamed “the Cathedral”, and because of the torrential downpour it was renamed “the Ark”

After the service I had a chance to chat with the Bishop of Oxford, The Rt. Revd. John Pritchard, he was very friendly, and was interested to hear what I had to say.

Afterwards there was an Olde English Christmas Fayre outside the Church, which was a lot of fun. There was even a Victorian Carousel and we all had rides, the Bishop who told me he came from Blackpool originally, and Fr. John were among the first to ride the Carousel horses, it wasn’t the same as riding a real horse, but was nice all the same.

We had the Hyde Heath Olde Tyme Music Hall group, and the Amersham Town Band performing so it was a great evening despite all the rain we had that evening. There was a pig roast and lots of festive food and hot chestnuts and things to eat and also mulled wine for the grown ups too.

I think most of Hyde Heath were there enjoying themselves. It was raining so hard that the water began to flood into the back of the tent, but it didn't stop us from enjoying a very good evening, and got us all in the mood for Christmas.

£850 was raised to provide relief for the flood-stricken people of Bangladesh