Church Matters
There are three churches in our area corresponding to three of our four villages and they are all part of the Hill Top benefice. At this time we are in interregnum and are seeking a new Rector.
- St Mary’s in Hawridge — Victorian brick interior and Norman Font. St Mary’s Parish Church is a little flint-and-brick building rebuilt in 1856. It has a Norman font preserved from the earlier building. There is a stained glass window by Tony Griffen, a village artist with international fame.
- St Laurence in Cholesbury — A flint built church situated in an Iron Age Fort. This is on an ancient foundation but the church fell down in 1870 and was almost entirely rebuilt. The stained glass dates from 1873 and is by William Pepper. There is a delightful Bates organ benefitting from the building’s good acoustics. Our small country church is favoured for small weddings.
- St Leonard’s in St Leonards — Whitewashed church and with modern churchroom. The parish church of St Leonards was erected in the 15th century on the site of a cell of Missenden Abbey. It was rebuilt by General Cornelius Wood in Queen Victoria’s reign. Restored in 1845. It contains two 18th century wall monuments carved in chalk. The bell in the spired bell turret records “chandler made me 1702“.
Services
The three churches offer modern and traditional styles of worship and services are frequently shared.
| Week in month | Church | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Sunday | 9:30 am Hawridge | Family Service |
| 9:30 am Cholesbury | Holy Communion using BCP |
|
| 11 am St Leonards | Parish Communion using CW | |
| 2nd Sunday | 10 am Cholesbury | Morning Worship based on CW A three parish shared service hosted every month at Cholesbury |
| 3rd Sunday | 10 am | Parish Communion using CW A three parish shared service hosted at each church by rotation |
| 4th Sunday | 9 am St Leonards | Breakfast Service Breakfast in the Churchroom followed by a short informal service with hymns in the church |
| 11 am Hawridge | Parish Communion using CW | |
| 5th Sunday | 10 am | Parish Communion using CW This service four times a year rotates round the three Hill Top churches plus St John the Baptist in The Lee |
Occasions such as the Good Friday “Walk of Witness” and Ascension Day are also shared but before Christmas each church has individual Carol celebrations with packed churches.
Family and Children
The churches welcome children at the Family Service and the popular Breakfast Service. Throughout the year we hold special events such as Mother’s Day, Pets Service and Shoebox Sunday with emphasis on children. Children are particularly appreciated at the Harvest Auction when they act as runners taking produce to buyers! Baptisms are held either during regular worship or privately.
Social Occasions
Cholesbury and Hawridge share an annual Fete on August Bank Holiday Monday. The three churches hold Harvest Festivals with Supper and Auction. During the year we hold Concerts, Quizzes, Cream teas and Visits and a Treasure Hunt to raise funds.
The newly built Churchroom at St Leonards is used for a range of church and village events. There is a monthly Tea Party and occasional films; the Toddlers meet regularly and the churchroom is the venue for the Breakfast service and children’s events. Occasional Deanery events come to St Leonards and our Rector is based here for church business.
Refer to your copy of the Hilltop News for details of when and where the services take place.