Welcome to the Gallery!
Below are a few photos to illustrate
the kind of activities which go on at
the Parish Church.
Church Clock renovation January 2020
At the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Buckingham, on Thursday 30th January, the clock hands were set to show 12 o’clock, to help to recognise that it’s not operating. Just as churches seek to bring new life to those who attend, it is time (!) to bring new life to an ageing clock.
Since the clock was a new installation as far back as 1807, it was indeed high time. Though designed to ring the quarters all through the day, this one sadly hasn’t been heard for over 25 years. Mercifully for local residents, the chimes can be (and will be) silenced during the night.
Experts arrived from Cumbria to dismantle the mechanism and transport it to their workshops in the Lake District for major overhaul. Stuart and Jacob were very workmanlike, having many years of experience between them.
You can see from the pictures the task before them, as well as the sheer number of component parts. Stuart was pleased to observe that parts were well-marked in order to make re-assembly easier. How very far-sighted of Handley & Moore, well-known London clockmakers, who designed and built it all those years ago!
The work – among other things - will involve de-greasing and re-greasing lots of moving parts, and re-bushing some spindles, which have worn from round to oval. Some moving parts will need mending or replacing. Well, 213 years is a long time!
The local bell-ringing community are pleased to learn that they can continue their campanology while the clock is on holiday. The clock, which rings the Westminster chimes, uses the same bells, though unlike the ringers the clock uses clappers to sound stationary bells.
The work is expected to take two or three months. I will return when the disassembled clock returns, and report on how the work progresses. We at St Peter and St Paul are really looking forward to that day!
Community Christmas lunch
We held the Community Christmas lunch in church on Tuesday 17th December 2019.
Danny's licencing at Loudwater
Danny Rodgers, late of this parish, was instituted as Vicar of St Peter's, Loudwater, on Wednesday 13th November 2019. The Bishop of Buckingham, Bishop Alan, presided. We took a coachload down to cheer him on, and the local congregation greeted Danny, Ali, Peter and Emily very warmly. We were even given party poppers to use at the right moment, as you can see!
Remembrance 2019
Major Revd Will Pearson-Gee led the traditional service of Remembrance round the War Memorial on Sunday.
A few photos capture the occasion, where the weather was dry and bright, if not warm.
Wow, what a weekend that was!! Superb teaching from Paul and Christine Perkin, wonderful food throughout, and hilarious entertainment on Saturday night. All in all, an unforgettable experience.
All kinds of leaders gathered for a social at BPC on Monday 8th July 2019. Will welcomed and thanked all those who lead in various areas of church life. Special thanks to Jacqui and Alex for a superb supper!
Beachampton hosted a Benefice Lunch on Sunday 23rd June 2019. There was the added celebration of Cyril's birthday, so we all sang 'Happy Birthday' at the tops of our voices!
Easter Alive! took place on Easter Sunday at 6pm and the service included several baptisms by total immersion. When Danny Rodgers (curate) invited anyone who wanted to be baptised to come forward, Leonie made the decision to go to the front and was duly immersed!
On Good Friday, St Peter and St Paul's church held a half-hour service in church before processing to the Old Gaol following the Cross. We were addressed by a Roman Centurion and Rev Tim Edworthy. After the gathering, we descended on The Centre in Verney Close for hot cross buns.
Ali and Danny Rodgers spoke very movingly at the men's and women's breakfast on April 6th. They recently adopted two young children, Emily and Peter, and they related their experience. The breakfast was excellent too!
Jacqui Cooke organised a Sparkles evening to raise money for the kitchen.
A few of the sparkling people who attended. Alex and Jacqui Cooke above left.
We sadly said farewell to Revd. Gussie on October 28th. She will be much missed, not least in the villages.
Gussie is the one on the right...
Typically exuberant Gussie, presiding at her last communion in Buckingham.
TopPaul Mileham, 25/04/2019