From Diane's Desk

July is a funny month - for many of us it is the time we look forward to having a holiday, either going away somewhere different or just being at home but doing different things; for others especially our young people it is a time of change perhaps saying goodbye to one school and thinking about starting another, or saying goodbye to school altogether and looking forward to college or going to work. But there always seems to be large quantities of hope around at this time of year.

It may be that we are simply hoping for good weather so that we are able to enjoy to the full a time of rest and relaxation. And we all do need to recharge our batteries from time to time so I hope that all of you will be able to stop and do nothing (or nothing very much) and simply enjoy the wonder of God's creation and know that your part in it is uniquely important.

Or we may be pinning our hopes on good exam marks so that we can move on in the direction we want. Or hoping that we will be able to do our best in some important interview.

Whatever it is we are hoping for it seems to me that hope is always concerned with wanting the best, either for ourselves, someone else or the world in general. Maybe it is as we hope that we experience something of God's passionate longing for his creation.

Hoping is I think stronger than wishing, and often seems to energise us so that we act in ways that make what we are hoping for more likely to come about. So whether it is in connection with global problems or personal circumstance I would encourage you to take your hopes to God in prayer, and as St. Paul said:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God bless,

Diane

View From The Pew

Recent giving via the friends of St Nicholas has been very vibrant, thankful and uplifting. To those people who have donated any sum at all sincere thanks. People do not always like to be named for their charity and so I will just give a list of amounts and sources and if you recognise yourself as the giver then please give yourself a large pat on the back and know that you have done our Lord's will.
As mentioned above Lottery 8 is due to start very soon. Please get involved. It appears we all have the same lucky numbers and so these contests (which are a 'subtle' cross between Lottery and Bingo) do go on for some time. It's a bit of fun and helps church funds enormously.
Players get a bit dismayed at the gaps between games but I have to give everyone the opportunity to join in and the only way the game is declared 'finished' and 'restarted again' is via the church magazine and the church porch notice board.

Do please join in the fun soon.
A recommended Read

Is there anyone who has NOT heard of C. S. Lewis? The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (Narnia) stories are universal favourites for both adults and children alike. Thanks to the blockbuster film last year and a Prince Caspian yet to come. 'Jack' Lewis (he did not like his birth certificate Clive Staples Lewis much) is having a big resurgence in popularity. This is good news for Christians everywhere as his Narnia novels all have Biblical allegory contained within them.

The Screwtape Letters is a bit different. Screwtape is a senior Demon working directly under the command of Lucifer. The letters in this book are ones that he writes to his nephew Wormwood who is a trainee Demon about to be allocated to tempt and keep from the faith a young man who is referred to throughout as the patient. When Screwtape says things are going well he means that the patient is losing faith or is likely to convert over to Lucifer's side. The individual letters are quite short but incredibly well thought out and are very challenging (you very often believe the patient is yourself). They cover (brief descriptions only)
· The familiar world and faith in the unseen
· Boring, staid churches and church goers
· Forgiveness & forbearance (or the lack of it)
· War and how the Devil hates how men about to die realise the truth
· The traps of wealth
· The misconception of Joy
· Charitable limits
· The 7 Deadly or Great (Screwtape's view) Sins
· Scapegoats and blame

To name but a few issues.

When the book first came out it was serialised in a newspaper. After it achieved enormous popularity the 'Letters' were collected together and published as a single volume. The book was dedicated to C. S. Lewis's life long friend JRR Tolkien (who wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit - amongst other popular mythical books). This friendship had highs and lows over the years and the two men did not speak for many years BUT their friendship seemed to overcome almost every difficulty.

What did I get out of reading this book? Well it reminded me that us humans live amidst a spiritual battle that goes on second by second, hour by hour, day by day and year by year between the forces of good and evil. Our Bible starts with the Garden of Eden and the loss of fellowship with God because the Devil gets hold of the woman's mind and she chooses to disobey God. If you examine every story in the book you will find an instance of Man choosing to disobey God because Lucifer puts an idea into the mind. The theology of the great St Paul says in Eph 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places". Throughout the Bible the Devil does not force man to go against God. He works on the minds of men but ultimately it is man's choice to obey God or to choose not to. How subtle is the Devil? Read this book and you will discover many of his tricks, traps and deceptions.

Lewis took a lot of stick from the church about this book. They saw it as the 'anti Bible' because it looks at the failures of humanity and claims it as their glories. Lewis's aim however is just to allow us to hold the other side's standards up to scrutiny and see how shallow and frail their plans, policies and agendas are. Preachers of yesteryear used to dwell a lot in sermons about the temptations and how easy it is to fall for them. This little book will do this for you now.

The Screwtape Letters is surprisingly C. S. Lewis's most popular book; its sales have been enormously more than anything else he ever wrote. 'Jack' gave all the income from it to charity right from the very first article that appeared in the newspaper.

Be warned this is a very challenging little book that will at times make you squirm in your seat. You will identify with all the characters in the book and see yourself as the other side truly see you. You might not like what is revealed.

The book I recently bought cost a mere £7.99 and is ISBN 978-0-00-628060-6 and is part of 'The Signature Collection'

Do you see life as a battle between you choosing to follow God or choosing to do something, anything other than what your heart tells you would really please Him? … Well, what do you think

Paul-comments always welcome by email to paul.clueless@gmail.com

Contact Paul for more details

To join FOSN, please contact Paul
http://www.friendsofsnc.co.uk

Our Search for the Baker Family

At the end of May, an intriguing email popped into the church website inbox. It was from Lawrence McGlynn and reads as follows:
I hope you don't mind me contacting you, but I found your email address on the St Nicholas Church website.
A while ago I found an old photo album containing photos taken between 1938- 1940.
The photos are of a family who lived in a house called "The Anchorage" which was close to the Church (the album also had a photo of the church taken at the time).
Most of the photos have Christian names underneath, but the only mention of a surname is under a photo of 2 small boys (Reggie and Ronnie Baker) taken in July 1938, who might be in their early 70's now.
I'd love to be able to return the album to the family if they are still in
the area, therefore, I thought I'd contact you in the first instance in case
you or anyone you know might know of the family.
I've attached a few photos of the album in case they might jog some
memories.
Some wonderful photographs accompanied the email and I circulated them to as many people as I could think of, who have links with Laindon from the 1930s and 1940s. I contacted Basildon Council, to find out if they kept records of house names but sadly, they couldn't help me.
Stuart Popplewell thought that he might have a lead, as he used to work with a Ron Baker and he tried to get the contact details for me.
Additionally, I contacted Angela Lodge at Radio BBC Essex's help line.

Lawrence very kindly brought the album to my house, so that I could take it to church on Sunday to show but no one recognised any of the family.
However, on Monday 12th June, I was surprised to receive an email from Angela Lodge, from the radio help line, informing me that Ron Baker had been found!
I phoned him and it was arranged that he would come to the church on Sunday 18th June to collect the album and when I contacted Lawrence to tell him the good news, he decided that he would come to meet Ron at the church.

How lovely it was to meet Lawrence and wife, Helen as well as Ron and his wife, Marilyn and to reunite the album with the Baker family.
It also transpires that Stewart had been correct in his suggestion that the Ron Baker that he used to work with was the one that we were seeking.
How's this for a coincidence? Ron told us that he had only tuned his car radio in to BBC Essex, the day before he heard the appeal, so it looks as though it was really meant to be!

See the photos of the album

Dawn

Histories, Memories...

Reverend Edward Cecil Telford was curate of Laindon from 1949 to 1952 and Rector of Langdon Hills, 1959 to 1970. During these ministries he researched the history of both parishes. Although he never published his manuscript a copy can be found in the Essex Record Office. The local paper however did publish weekly excerpts from his manuscript.

Like the majority of us he appeared to be fascinated by the generosity of the farmer John Puckle and therefore the origins of the Puckle charity which is still in operation today.

This is Rev. Telford's version of the Puckle's story. I have not been able to substantiate it, so I will leave it up to you to decide what part of it is fact or fiction, but it is a good story: -

'Christmas on Puckle's Farm was always a gay time. The yule log burned merrily in the open hearth and the wine flowed freely for all at the house.

For Richard Puckle was a generous man, well-disposed to all and ever hospitable. His house was often visited by the gentry for the yeoman-farmer had a reputation for honest dealing and was not the Puckle apples as good as any in the country?

But in 1554, in the Puckle household there had not been the usual Christmas cheers. True the log still burned brightly and the wine flowed freely and there was no food shortage. But there was an air of anxiety over it all.

Richard Puckle was worried. To begin with his wife Margaret was expecting her first child and her time was near. Then there was the sad plight of Bishop Hodgkin'.

The good Bishop had been Rector of Laindon for ten years and now with the return of the Romish faith under Queen Mary he had been ejected from the living. Puckle was worried because the reason given had been Hodgkin's marriage; Puckle had been present when his sister Helena had married the Bishop in St Nicholas' Church, Laindon.

The farmer had felt it a great honour to his family when the Bishop, high in the councils of the boy King, Edward V1, had asked his sister's hand in marriage.

For Laindon, Puckle thought, the future black. The high handed lawyer - priest Nicholas Harpesfylde, had only visited Laindon once and had appointed a curate to carry out his ministrations. He was likely to prove a hard rector.

Already his minions had been round to collect in the tythe and Puckle thought with anger of the way in which they had bullied the small landowners. He himself had supplied the needs of some from whom over extortion had been made.

He thought of his wife lying upstairs on this cold St John's Day and he vowed he would do all he could to see the people of Laindon should suffer as little as possible. He would also see that his son (for he was sure it would be a boy) was brought up to be courteous and gentle and honest. He was also determined to do something toward education.

It was high time the common people could read for themselves. Were they to do so, he was sure they would see sense of fair dealings and would work for the removal of tyrants like Harpesfylde.

His reveries were disturbed by the rush of feet and the door flung open and his wife's woman stood in the doorway. "Oh sir," she cried, "Oh sir, you have a bonny son." And through the open door Richard heard the wail of a child.

"And your mistress, girl how fares she,?" he asked. "Well sir," replied the maid. "Thank God and the Blessed John," said Richard.

***********

It was St John's Day,, 1617, and in the pulpit of St Nicholas Church, Rector Denham was preaching," … and in his will, the good John Puckle has left copyhold lands to pay for the maintenance of a school master in this place, so that a competent number of poor children may have some education."

As he preached, in the Puckle family pew, William Puckle thought about his father John. He remembered his later father telling him of the plan to further the education of the poor and how the idea had been the will of his grandfather Richard.

And he was glad to think that his father's memory was to be hallowed each year by this memorial sermon on his birthday. Then a thought struck him.

He would ensure his father was remembered not once a year but every time anybody entered the church. He would have a board erected to commemorate his father's generosity.

In his mind he worked out the wording. Then he wondered how to finish the inscription. Why of course. The text from which this first Puckle sermon had been preached - "The memory of the just and blessed."

Great little story, it would be interesting to know how old the current tablet that hangs in front of the organ gallery is. It has hung in this position since 1971, previous to that it been situated next to the Vestry door. Then prior to June 1969 it had been fixed on the South Wall of the Church.

I covered the story of Reverend Nicholas Harpsfield and his brother John in the September 2005 magazine. I will endeavour to cover Bishop John Hodgkin's in next month's magazine.

Ken Porter

PS: Dawn's St. Nicholas recipe book has now been published which I am sure will be a success. So how about another book, 'Poems on Laindon and St Nicholas'. We already have the two above, I have another eight.

There may be people around who still remember either the Longstaffe family, the bungalow 'High View' or Basildon Rise. If you are aware of anybody who may have information please get in touch.

contact Ken

I am also currently researching the following 19th and 20th century rectors of Laindon, if there is anybody who is aware of any of their descendents I would be please to hear from you. Beaumaurice Stracey Clarke, Herbert Carpenter, Michael Nevill Lake, Frederick W J Winfield, Arthur J Dunlop, Peter Stuart Grimwood

Mothers' Union Report

Our meeting commenced with prayers and notices. We decided to have our July meeting at Chelmsford cathedral for an evening with Adrian and Bridget Plass (which had been recommended by Diane) and all members present were in favour of having an evening out together and lifts were arranged.

This will be on the 2 July at 8 pm and £3.50 will be payable at the door. This is open to everyone so we hope members of the congregation will be able to join us. Some of us are also going to Bradwell for the annual pilgrimage. Further information is on the Church notice board.

Look forward to seeing you all.

God Bless - Edna

The Friends of St Nicholas

Paul Hickman has been very busy reviving the Friends of St Nicholas (FOSN). He has designed a
badge for members. Additionally, Angela Smith, M.P. for Basildon, has kindly accepted his
invitation to become the honorary chairperson.
What does it involve?
As little or as much as you are prepared to offer.
In his information leaflet, Paul suggests the following but if you feel that you have
something different to offer, please contact Paul (01268 459124)
• Visiting the church grounds every now and again just to make sure that all is well
• Helping the conservation team with the nature reserve aspect
• Gardening
• Litter picking, confetti clearing, etc
• Giving feedback on church activities
• Offering specialist help at discount rates
• Showing others that the values of the church are worthwhile and appreciated
• Small leaflet drops
• Generating ideas for events
• Aiding the understanding of our local history
• Sharing concern for local people, children, issues so that the church can effectively pray for those involved
So many ways that people can help without being regular church goers. All the above add greatly to the church’s value in the parish. The Friends of St Nicholas enables people to get involved in whatever part of church life
appeals to them.
There is a suggested charge of £5.00 or a minimum, one-off charge of £2.50, which will cover the cost of a badge but if you feel that you are unable to offer any help, as listed above, you are still invited to join as a St Nicholas Church wellwisher with no special commitments.
http://www.friendsofsnc.co.uk

Search for Elizabeth King - (Search is over!)

I have been contacted by Lawrence Pullen, who lives in USA. He would like to trace the relatives of Elizabeth King, who lives or lived in Laindon. This is the email that I received from Lawrence:

Lawrence H. Pullen
Contact Lawrence

I hope you can help me. I am trying to contact the relatives of Elizabeth King whose last known address was 19 Gulverdown, Basildon. That was in 1981. I'm sure Mrs. King has passed away because of her age at that time. We do have another address which we cannot date since all the players are deceased. The address was: 85 Helmares Court, Durham Road, Laindon. Sometime in 1981 Elizabeth was confined to St. Andrews Hospital after having an operation on her arm. I have a wedding photo which indicates that Elizabeth's daughter, Betty was married on September 29, 1956. I have no information about Betty's married name. The wedding photographer was Hamlet Court Studios, Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex. Betty at that time was "a tailoress in the town of Laindon Essex" and would probably be about 76. It is conceivable that Betty was married at St. Nicholas Church. Any information or help that you can provide in my quest to contact Elizabeth's relatives would be greatly appreciated. I assume that that they are my relatives who, like me, are descendants of my great grandfather, Benjamin Davenport who was born in Shortige Parish, London on April 2, 1837.

Sincerely, Lawrence H. Pullen.

Betty had a brother, James King who was about three years younger and who worked on a farm in Laindon. She was also the eldest of three sisters. Betty's grandmother, Frances Fordree came to live with the family in Laindon in approximately 1948. Their address at the time was 'Haystack', Lower Dunton Road, Bulphan, Essex

Found! Relatives of Lawrence have been found!!

Belief in the Journey

Know
In our souls our hearts our minds
That we thirst for large
Spoonfuls of knowledge,
As is the case
With Love, with Friendship.
Only through our life's
Quest for knowledge,
May we balance
A beautiful
Sense of purpose, of the real, of truth.
Our limits
Measured only by our
Capacity
To count the stars

This poem is by Dominic Mason and has been published in a collection of poems, entitled 'Still Life' , published by United Press.

Here is another poem by Dominic Mason

Light, Love and Other Attractions

Morning light sits
Upright
Like an elephant
Flexing his muscles
From the memory of a heavy sleep.
Sunlight
Splashes
Across
Our faces with
Delightful warmth.
In the days, weeks, months,
Years which lie ahead
We know
Know
Our love, our friendship,
Our warmth of understanding
Shall grow stronger.
Sometimes, harder words
Learned during the longer hours
Shall ease Us through
The troubled rhythm of the rains.
How beautiful,
How wonderful,
Our love,
Our lives,
Our smiles,
As in this dark, deep overcoat
Of complete silence,
I, light a candle for you,
You,
With delicate touch,
Light a candle for me.