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SAINT
AUGUSTINE'S
CHURCH
ALDERSHOT.
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60TH BIRTHDAY
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November 1st 1967
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O Word of God above,
Who f111es all in all,
Hallow this house with the sure love,
And bless our festival.
SIXTY YEA
R S AGO
From the Parish Magazine. November. 1907.
In view of the passing to another use of the
little iron Church, which has for twenty-seven
years borne the name of St. Augustine's, a
special interest attaches to the following
account of its early days, kindly sent us by one
who took a leading part in founding it:-
"On November 4th 1880, the little building was
opened by the Rev. J.C. Edghill, afterwards
Chaplain-General, almost free from debt. The
fittings were nearly all gifts from townsfolk,
and from the first we had not the least
difficulty in obtaining workers. Not only did
Dr. Edghill give his valuable assistance
whenever he was able, but the curate-in-charge
of Ash (the Rev. T. Slodden) celebrated Holy
Communion for me once a month. I was in Deacon's
orders at the time, and Mr. Hadow, the Vicar of
Holy Trinity, came across occasionally and
addressed the little congregation. Before the
iron church was opened, services were carried on
in the Board School, but these were hardly
successful. But with the opening of the little
church the work went steadily forward, the
Sacraments were administered, and Sunday school,
Choir, Bible Classes and Mothers' Union took
regular shape; Confirmation Candidates met for
instruction in the church, and the Communicants'
Roll was steadily increased. Amongst the laity
who came every week and gave much time and
labour to the work of visitation, mothers
meetings, etc., Mrs. Rouse and her two daughters
were foremost; Miss Alden, Miss Bailey and Miss
Greenwood were also my helpers in those days.
That was the time of the Zulu War, and the
distress in North Town amongst soldiers'
families "not on the strength" was terrible. A
soup kitchen was started by Mrs. Ingram, and
special funds raised for meat, groceries, etc. I
remember an alarming accident which took place
soon after the Mission Church was opened. A gale
of wind nearly unroofed the little building and
but for the courage and promptitude of the late
Mr. Ingram, the local grocer, not a sheet of
iron would have remained in its place. He saved
the situation with the aid of a ladder and a
handful of nails. Sheets of corrugated iron were
already flying into the• road. He stopped the
further exodus by fastening down the .escaping
sheets, and then going after the truants and
restoring them to their places. Our greatest
difficulty was to find a suitable heating
apparatus. In the winter and early spring our
heads were too warm and our feet in danger of
freezing, for our only means of warming the
place was by lighting the gas long before
service time. But the-little flock was a most
enthusiastic one, and we were all warm enough
long before the service was over."
R.J. PLATER.
From the Parish Magazine. December, 1907.
The service at North Town on All Saints' Day
marks the completion of the first stage of a
great work. When the Church Extension Scheme was
first inaugurated, it was decided that the
erection of a permanent church of St. Augustine
was, for several reasons, the first thing to be
undertaken. The district was growing rapidly; a
courageous beginning had already been made on
the spot, and the little iron building which had
done duty for over 20 years was inadequate to
the last degree. The result of this decision was
seen by all who attended the service on November
1st. It has given to North Town in less than two
years a permanent church of dignified yet simple
design, exactly adapted to its needs and capable
of holding 300 people in its present form
without a chancel. Those who were present at the
opening service must indeed have felt that the
Bishop of Winchester) was right in calling the
occasion "a day of gladness and thanksgiving".
The week which preceded the opening was busily
occupied, not only by the builders’ men in
putting their finishing touches to the building,
but also by a body of voluntary workers who were
engaged, by the precarious light of lamps and
candles, in transferring the fittings of the old
church to the new. It had been decided that, in
order to save all possible charges upon the
fund, the interior fittings should be adapted
until such time as they could be replaced by
something more worthy of the building. The work
of removing, fitting and re-fixing such things
as choir desks, altar curtains, chairs, etc.,
was zealously under taken by members of St.
Augustine’s congregation.
The service was timed to begin at 8 o'clock.
Through the kindness of the builders and other
local firms, the committee had been able to
provide a large marquee opposite the west door
of the church, as a robing room for the visiting
clergy and combined choirs, so that all the
available space inside the church could be used
for accommodating the congregation. The
approaches also, had been lighted with hurricane
lamps, and where necessary, planks had been laid
over the puddles. Before the procession was
formed to proceed to the church, a brief
ceremony took place in the marquee. On the
arrival of the Bishop, accompanied by his
chaplain carrying the crosier, the Vicar came
forward to make his formal request for the
dedication of the church. The Bishop having
expressed his willingness to do so, the
procession at once started, entering by the west
door. It included - besides the Bishop of the
Diocese, his Chaplain (the Rev. M.H. Fitzgerald)
and the clergy and wardens of the parish - the
Senior Chaplain to the Forcos, the Warden of the
Soldiers' Institute, a former vicar of Aldershot
(the Rev. R.J.S. Gill) a former curate-in-charge
of St. Augustine's (the Rev. M.S. Parry) the
clergy of Holy Trinity and the Vicar of St.
Mark's, Farnborough, as well as three
lay-readers holding the Bishop's licence in
Aldershot.
The service began with Psalm cxxii "I was glad…
" sung as the procession passed up the nave.
When all were in their places, the Bishop,
standing before the holy table, said the
dedicatory prayers, asking God's blessing upon
the various means of grace to be hereafter
dispensed in the Church. Evening prayer was then
proceeded with, the special lessons being read
by the Rev. M.S. Parry and the Rev. R.J.S. Gill.
The Canticles were sung to a special festal
setting by Clarke Whitfield, by the combined
choirs of the Parish Church and St. Augustine's.
The service ended, during the singing of "The
Church's One Foundation", the Bishop,
accompanied by his Chaplain, the Vicar and the
Churchwardens proceeded down the church to
unveil the Memorial Stone which had been placed
close to the south door. Underneath had been
deposited a copy of the church extension
pamphlet, with a written statement of the
stone's own history, its intended use as a
foundation stone laid by B.R.H. Princess
Christian and its actual purpose as a record of
the dedication. Then followed the sermon by the
Bishop, which was based on Rev. xix.5. from the
second lesson for the evening of All Saints'
Day. The first note struck was that of
thanksgiving for the successful accomplishment
of a great work. The Bishop went on to allude to
the history of church extension in Aldershot,
our great needs and our special difficulties,
pointing out how clear was the duty of the
church to bring her message within the reach of
the large population which the nation itself has
gathered here. In alluding to the many
disappointments and discouragements that had
been met with, he spoke some strong words of
encouragement and approval to those who had
carried the scheme through so far by their
patient work and self-denying gifts. The gifts
which had gone to build up the church had
combined in a very real way "the small and the
great". The sermon concluded with a reference to
the fitness of All Saints' Day to be the
occasion of such a service and to the help to
men's lives which the Church was meant to give.
After the singing of the hymn "For all the
Saints" (during which a collection was taken for
the building fund, amounting to £2. 2. 6d.) the
Bishop gave the blessing, and a very memorable
service was brought to a fitting conclusion by
the singing of the hymn "Now thank we all our
God".
From the
Parish Magazine. January. 1908.
The Editor desires to correct an error which
unfortunately crept into the last issue. The
collection at the Dedication Service at St.
Augustine's Church amounted to £22. O. 6d. - not
£2. 2. 6d. as was stated last month.
From the
Parish Magazine. March, 1908.
On Monday, February 24th at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, St. Augustine's Church was
consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester. The
legal ceremony which was witnessed by the
clergy, the Churchwardens representing the
parish, and the senior sides man of St.
Augustine's representing the congregation of
that church, was exceedingly brief. After
prayer, the Bishop directed the Registrar to
read the Sentence or Deed of Consecration, which
set forth that owing to growth of population the
church had been built "to serve as a
chapel-of-ease to the Parish Church of St.
Michael, and was now to be consecrated in the
name of St. Augustine's, Aldershot". The
Sentence was then signed by the Bishop, who
formally directed that it should be preserved
among the muniments of the Diocese. That
formality duly performed, the little service
concluded with the Bishop's Blessing.
NOTES AND REMEMBRANCES FROM SOME WHO HAVE
MINISTERED AND WORSHIPPED HERE.
Oakhurst,
Grayshott
My dear Friends,
Your Vicar has kindly given me the opportunity
of sharing with you in the Diamond Jubilee of
your Church. I am grateful to him for so doing
because St. Augustine's is especially dear to
me. It was in Holly Road that my wife and I made
our first home together. Here too our first-born
son was given to us. The Church was then about
twelve years old and in it I was privileged to
worship with you for seven years. Much has
happened since then. I was particularly glad to
know that the Daughter Church of S. Michael's,
as it was then, has grown up and become a
separate parish with all the privileges and
responsibilities attached to it. The completion
of the building of the Church was a very worthy
undertaking. It shows the love and affection
that you all have for it. So I rejoice with you
in your Festival and I pray that with God's
Blessing you may go from strength to strength in
the• years that lie ahead.
With all good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
J.H. Partridge. (Canon Partridge was
priest-in-charge of St. Augustine's 1920-26).
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FROM MR. WALTER GILMOURE, 57, SOUTHBOURNE GROVE,
BOURNEMOUTH
Reverend
E.G.S. Wickham. I joined the boys' choir when
the Reverend J.W. Partridge was
Priest-in¬-charge, and Frank Varney was organist
and I recollect the choir going to Wyke Church
to sing at his wedding. The biggest impact on me
personally was made with the coming of the
Reverend A. Hamilton Douglas. His Tractarian
teaching opened up new visions and inspiration
in Sacramental worship, and to teach us he had
some of the best preachers of the day. A look
through the Parish Register with its long list
of• signatures will testify to that. Fr. Harold
Ellis, C.R., who took the Mission; Fr. Paul
Bull, C.R., Bro. Douglas of the Franciscans; Fr.
Andrew, S.J.E. (poet and author); Fr. Nottage
who took a teaching convention, and so many
more, not forgetting the Vicar, Canon H. Le
Fleming who supported Fr. Douglas through all.
And look at the list of servers - a good crowd.
They are now scattered over the country but many
would agree that the experiences of those days
has helped in the ups and downs of life since.
Fr. Roger Francis carried on the work, including
the war years and he put S.A.C.C.A. on a firm
footing.
Becoming a separate parish under Fr. Long, and
the completion of the church later on (I missed
this) must of course be high-lights in North
Town history.
But through all the years there has been that
faithful band of the laity who have worked so
hard and whose loyalty and service have been
second to none. We have yet to produce our first
priest from the parish and then our joy will be
full.
So, Happy Birthday. God bless you. The best is
yet to come.
* * * * * *
Editor's Note: The first priest from the parish
is indeed doing well in his training and we look
forward to David Bazen's ordination in a year or
two.
* * * * * *
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FROM THE
REVEREND ROGER FRANCIS Areley King’s Rectory,
Stourport-on-Severn Worcs. (Priest-in-Charge
1937-47)
My first visit to Aldershot in November 1937 was
accompanied by heavy rain as Fr. Rowsell and I
walked to St. Augustine's from St. Michael's
Vicarage. As soon as I saw the Church, I knew
that this was where I hoped I should be allowed
to minister, and so it was to be for the next
ten very happy years.
In those days there were no buildings to the
east of North Lane, except the old streets in
North Town, and one could walk across the fields
of Herretts Farm to the bottom of Roberts Road;
there were many other open spaces now built
upon. Rogers, Pools and Ricketts were well
established and Don Pearce was quite a power in
North Town.
Fr. Douglas had left behind a devoted band of
worshippers and servers, some of whom I can
count as personal friends to this day - Alec
Hoare and Joe Smith, to mention no others.
When the war came, our hall was the only one in
town not requisitioned by the military, thanks
to the intervention of Mr. George Talbot, the
brother of Miss Talbot who was at H.Q. So we
became the social centre for troops and for over
five years we ran three dances a week, the one
on Wednesdays being our own special
responsibility with volunteers to work the
radiogram and staff the canteen - sixpence
entrance and over 200 soldiers every week
without fail. Looking back I wonder how we
survived and did not have any serious trouble at
all. We made many friends amongst the troops.
Perhaps we were a little alarmed by the first
Canadian contingent; we were certainly charmed
by a small group of Poles with their
delightfully old¬ fashioned manners.
The life of the Church continued as usual, as we
were able to blackout the windows with screens.
One way and another as men were called-up they
were replaced by younger ones and the Women's
Fellowship and Mothers' Union etc., continued to
flourish. When the Scout Troop was revived in
1942 I remember we went to camp at Mr. Tice's
Farm at Badshot Lea on the day of the Dieppe
Raid. On another occasion we had a visit from
Mr. Martin Browne and a company of actors to
present T.S. Elliot's "Thomas a Becket". As the
chorus of women were repeating their lines about
"doom and destruction", German bombers were
passing overhead on their way to Coventry.
Now I have started on this article I find it
difficult to finish as so many memories, happy
and otherwise, come back to me. I shall never
forget my time at the "Saints" and the many
kindnesses which my mother and I received and
the good friends we made. May God bless you all
and may the "Saints" long continue to flourish
and prosper as a strong outpost of God's Church.
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FROM THE REVEREND RICHARD L. COMPTON , Vicar of
Nocton with Dunston, Lincoln. (Priest-in-charge
1947-50)
My period of ministry at St. Augustine's was a
short one, I moved there from a well-to-do
parish at Weybridge where one had only to ask
and the wish was granted. Whereas I hardly moved
into 161, Holly Road before I was told that the
church expenditure was far ahead of income, and
“What was I going to do about it?" As a first
step, I sat in the church porch throughout a
chilly November day to receive the gifts of the
faithful, which amounted to about £30, enough to
plug the leak for a while, but not for long. I
was soon to learn that the boilers which had
been purchased second-hand had expired
completely and it now being winter, I became the
target for complaints about a cold church and a
cold hall. I can't remember how the money was
raised to put that trouble right, but eventually
we enjoyed warmth in both buildings.
Associations and Organisations which used the
hall regularly, several of which expected a
building fully lighted and heated, with the use
of the canteen, for two or three hours, for
rents of 1/- to 5/- a night. My suggestions that
payments be upgraded wore not appreciated!
Though my time at St. Augustine's was short, we
did manage to get going one or two hopeful
efforts. One evening each month, about 12-18
folk would gather in church for intercessions
for the work of the Church overseas, and then a
speaker from one of the Missionary Societies, or
someone with overseas experience, would give us
a talk.
Money was never mentioned, but I noticed that
during one year the giving for overseas work
went up from £9 to £38, not very much, but at
least we quadrupled the amount. A branch of the
C. of E. Men’s Society was formed, which not
only had some useful discussions of interest to
churchmen, but combined to, deal with wooden
furniture in the church then under attack from
some destructive termite, and also to trim the
hedge and tidy up the church grounds. I was
sorry to learn that the branch came to an end
not long after my departure.
Frequently when I went to open the church in the
mornings, I came across evidence of nocturnal
visitors in the shape of empty beer bottles, fag
ends, greasy paper which had once contained fish
and chips. So, I had erected a sliding gate
(similar to the type used in lifts) and wonder
if it is still there. About the same time, we
had an iron gate; with brick posts, put in
opposite the church porch.
Owing to distance, I have only been able to make
three visits since my departure, but always I
have discovered old friends and received a
wonderful welcome. Also I have happy memories of
some Augustinians whoso earthly pilgrimage is
over, among them - Mr. Varney, for many years a
Lay Reader. Mr. Hensman, deprived of so much
companionship by his deafness but always so
regular in performing his duties as
Churchwarden. Mr. Malone, always present at the
Sung Eucharist. Mrs. Southon who came in to give
us a warm welcome whilst our furniture was still
being moved in, and Alan Mapp with his interest
in youth work. Each did much for the church they
loved. May their souls rest in peace.
A 60th Anniversary is a great occasion and I
would like to add my congratulations and best
wishes for the future to the congregation in
North Town, Aldershot.
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FROM THE REVEREND G. ROBERT WELLS. The Rectory,
Mawgan, Nr. Helston. Cornwall. Priest-in-Charge.
1950-53.
No spectacular advance, or even incident, comes
to mind as I look back on the three years when I
was privileged to serve St. Augustine's as
Priest-¬in-Charge. Rather it was a time of
expectancy, of building further upon foundations
already laid in hope of achieving parochial
status.
So long as the part of the Church then built was
more than enough to accommodate normal
congregations, we did not regard the completion
of the Church as a priority claim. . So we got
on with more mundane things, like increasing the
endowment and enlarging the parsonage house,
whilst the Town Council was busily making
provision for the increase in population of the
area by erecting many blocks of flats.
There was a strong social life, and one
remembers especially the Old Time dances. Then,
as always, St. Augustine's Hall was in constant
use and I think we learnt to realise that its
door was not in fact in opposition to the Church
door although opposite in position, but that
people should make use of both in sustaining a
vital parochial life.
One remembers the mission to Aldershot and the
Church Army team who came to us, and of course
many, many faithful worshippers and workers. Mr.
Varney so many years a Diocesan Lay Reader, was,
in his old age, still serving faithfully and
preaching occasionally. During my time, three
Churchwardens served, Mr. Morley, Mr. Long and
Mr. Coles; Mr. Blackman was Treasurer and Mrs.
Christie Secretary throughout; Mr. Knight and
the Misses Chrissel were Sunday School
Superintendents; and so one could go on
recalling friends far too many to mention by
name.
In personal affairs St. Augustine's was my first
sale charge, and so it was a time of valuable
experience for me – I trust at not too great a
cost to other people Stephen, our son, had the
distinction of being the first child to be born
in St. Augustine's House (as the present
Vicarage was then called).
New life, consolidation, expectancy - that was
St. Augustine’s a decade and a half ago. Much
has happened since that time, some of it the
fulfilment of our hopes. Now may St. Augustine's
go on from strength to strength!
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FROM MRS. S.L. HOPPER. 111. Holly Rand.
Aldershot. Treasurer of P.C.C.
My earliest recollections of St. Augustine's? A
bit hazy I'm afraid. The first thing I remember
as a very young child is going to Sunday School,
which was hold in Denmark Street, and on the
way, jumping over the chain link fence in front
of the old tin church which was situated
opposite the entrance to Canning Road. A friend
and I used to attend Evensong and I can still
remember how new everything looked and so
severe. The Reverend H.T.C. Swingler, the first
Priest-in-Charge taking the service and Mr.
Varney reading the lessons and the choir boys
looking so angelic in their celluloid Eton
collars and bow ties. I wonder if any of them
are still around. We were very scared of Mr.
Stewart - the first caretaker. The highlight of
our year was a Wednesday afternoon in July when
we assembled outside the Church and marched up
Holly Road behind a gorgeous red banner, with
"St. Augustine's, North Town" done in gold. We
met the other churches at the top of Church Hill
and all formed up to make our way to Simond's
Meadow (where St. Michael's School now stands)
for our Sunday School treat. When I brought my
son to church to be christened 47 years ago, by
the Reverend Adam Kerr - then Priest-in-Charge -
I little thought that I would eventually settle
in this parish and be here to celebrate its 60th
birthday. St. Augustine's holds many memories
for me, some sad, some happy. For these and all
the many blessings I have received there, I
thank God from the bottom of my heart.
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FROM THE
REVEREND E. WYNN-JONES Rector of Redenhall,
Harleston, Norfolk. (Priest-in-Charge 1953 – 56)
It is a privilege to have this opportunity of
sending warmest birthday greetings to St.
Augustine's and all its people, and to recall my
own days there. Looking back, the abiding
impression is one of liveliness and activity -
something always seemed to be afoot, either in
church or in the hall. Lots and lots of young
people, and all those others who were not quite
so young in years but very young in heart.
St. Augustine's, in my time, was preparing
itself for full parochial status (which it
achieved not long afterwards) and had built up a
community with great pride in, and love for, its
church, expressed both in its worship and social
life. Perhaps on occasion, we were apt to crowd
into the hall more freely than we crowded into
church, but there always remains the picture of
the number of young people at the 10.15 Mass -
often dressed and equipped to go on afterwards
to other activities, but they had their
priorities right. I thought then and I still
think now, that our services were inspiring and
beautiful to the eye and to the spirit. Who
could forget those Holy Week devotions, with the
Maundy Thursday Eucharist that attracted a full
choir and nearly a hundred people at seven
o'clock in the morning, followed by the day and
night vigil before the glowing altar until Good
Friday, with some worshippers in prayer during
every moment of those long hours. Much water has
passed under the bridge in the meantime, and of
course it was not all sunshine - it never can be
- but the greyer days pass into forgetfulness
and the brighter ones remain in the memory. St.
Augustine's, I am sure, has gone from strength
to strength since then, and from my present
church, which celebrated its 700th birthday
three years ago, I send every good wish. I have
no doubt at all that at your celebrations it
will be a very lively and youthful sexagenarian
which wil1 blow out the candles on the birthday
cake with plenty of breath to spare!
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FROM THE REVEREND GARTH LONG. Hawley Vicarage,
Blackwater, Camberley. Priest-in-Charge
1956¬-58, First Vicar. 1958-60
You are •now looking forward to the 60th
Anniversary of St. Augustine's and it is only
natural that I should be thinking of your 50th
Anniversary when I was serving you.
I well remember the Parish Meeting on the 8th
January 1957 when the seventy people present
decided that it was time to make an effort to
complete the Church building, and the launching
of the appeal at Evensong on the 24th February
1957 in the presence of the Mayor, Mayoress and
other dignitaries. So SACCA was born and is, I
believe, still continuing. But how beautiful the
Church is now that she is complete! I share your
joy.
Then there was my Induction in 1958 as your
first Vicar. Do you recall the visit then of
Bishop Ivor? How he encouraged us at the
beginning of a new chapter!
Fetes and efforts - one outstanding one
organised by the "Friends" on Northfields
playground when 2000 - 3000 people attended and
the profit was £130.
Finally amongst my many memories the 50 years'
celebration at Evensong on All Saints 1957 in
the presence of Priests who had served you in
former years, and the marvellous supper
afterwards which 200 people enjoyed.
So many recollections - so little space to
detail events and personalities but everyone
remembered.
May God bless you in the joy you' are
experiencing now.
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From the “ALDERSHOT NEWS", July 10th. 1964. £6
.000 DREAM COMES TRUE
After years of fund raising, a dream came true
for parishioners of St. Augustine's Church,
Aldershot last week, when a £6,000 extension to
the church was dedicated by Bishop B.N. Dale,
Assistant Bishop of Guildford.
A large congregation attended the special
service during which Bishop B.M. Dale dedicated
the new sanctuary, vestry, sacristy and window.
The stained ¬glass window was given by a
parishioner in memory of her husband, Mr. Henry
Broadhurst.
The Rev. Roger Francis, former priest-in-charge
and the Rev. Garth Long, first vicar of the
parish, joined the present vicar, the Rev.
A.R.T. Rose for the dedication service. The Rev.
T. Dart, Vicar of Aldershot, was also present.
St. Augustine's Church was full again on Sunday
for a thanksgiving service attended by the
Mayor, Alderman T. Wickenden, members of the
Borough Council, and representatives of other
denominations. The service took the same form as
the dedication, and the Vicar preached on the
guidance of the Holy Spirit and its application
in the new window.
The service was sung by the Rev. Robin Taylor,
curate of St. Michael's Parish Church, and
lessons were read by the Mayor, and the Rev.
Robert Pearson, a retired Methodist minister,
from Ash Vale. The choir was specially augmented
by girls from Aldershot County High School, and
other music was provided by Guildford Silver
Band. There was an anthem sung by Mr. David
Bonner, with Mr. Bob Nicholson providing trumpet
accompaniment.
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