|
|
St Peter's Mission Church |
| CONTENTS | |
|
Home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAGE INDEX |
|
|
|
|
|
ST. PETER'S MISSION CHURCH The writer's article on the National School which appeared in the April/May issue of The Meridian mentioned that the school bell still calls parishioners to worship ..... in Australia! Well, in fact TWO bells were taken to Australia by Swavesey resident, the Rev. Eddie Williams, and installed in his church in the outback of Australia - which leads me to write a brief 'history' of the small mission church from which the second bell originally tolled. Today it is difficult to imagine that at one time this small church (depicted on the cover) stood on the site where a new house is presently being constructed in Boxworth End. The church stood opposite and overlooking 'Pine Grove Park'. This fine church was a 'mission post' for the Parish Church (hence its title) and served the residents of the Boxworth End of the village for 30 years from the late 1800's. I am indebited to Meridian contributor "Fen Boy" for further details of the church which were published in the December 1992 issue. Built in 1893 of wooden construction people living in Boxworth End worshipped there instead of making the long trek to St. Andrew's at the other end of the village. On close inspection the church was of an attractive design and my sketch (from an early post card) shows the lengths to which the constructors went to include some fine details. On a personal note my family would have attended the Mission Church and my father and Aunts Min and Mary attended Sunday School there. My grandmother, "Granny Bull" served as mission church caretaker. The story goes that a heifer managed somehow to make its way into the church and was chased out by Granny Bull. The local newspaper reported the incident under the heading: "Bull chases heifer in Church". I suspect that this is an apocryphal story - but if it is fact I would like to see a newspaper cutting! Continuing the personal theme: A fine "Valentines" post card depicting the Mission Church came to light in a recent Antiques Fair, written by my Aunt Nellie (Coulson), a resident of Boxworth End, and posted to her brother and son (Fred) on holiday in Wisbech. Postmarked "Cambridge 10pm April 16 (19)06" it reads:- "Dear C (Charlie Kester - her brother)
So, it looks as if these pictorial post cards of local views, very much collectors items these days, were actually used by local people. Regrettably (and no doubt for the Boxworth End residents) the church was closed in 1923 and eventually sold to a Mr Symonds of Surrey, who had it moved to his son's back garden at the top of Over hill. The building was sold for £85. Most of the furniture was transferred to the main church along with the harmonium, valued at 157- (fifteen shillings/ 75p). The stove unable to fetch any bids, went with the building to Over. The bell in the tower used to call Mr Symonds from his orchard at lunchtime and in the early 1930's was given to the Rev. Eddie Williams, a local man, who was ordained and went to Australia to live. The small church served as Mr Symonds' workshop for many years. Mr Symonds was a brilliant electronics engineer and dabbled in early television engineering. (I can distinctly remember Mr Symonds delivering our first television set - from "Hephers" of St Ives - in the mid 50's and erecting the tall TV aeriel in the back garden. Dad wouldn't have an aeriel fixed to the chimney. During the first evening we were entertained by "Mr Pastry" for a whole hour and a half- after which our sides ached from laughing so much!)
With change of occupants the mission church/workshop presumably became derelict and was dismantled (date not known). Again, a piece of Swavesey's history was lost but, coincidentally, one other part of the church has survived! The fine leaded glass window, depicted on the cover under the bell tower, has survived the ravages of time ..... having been installed in a garage wall at number "77" on the top of Over hill. |
