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The Chelsea Anchor

The Chelsea Anchor was the Parish Magazine of Chelsea Old Church. It was in print for 36 years and was a quarterly publication, featuring articles of local historical, charitable, religious and cultural interest.

The Anchor symbol is the traditional mark of the famous Chelsea Pottery Manufactory, which was situated in Lawrence Street, at the heart of the parish, from 1745 to 1784.

As many of you know, The Anchor has always been a much loved publication and a source of continuity and communication at Chelsea Old Church. It is being launched again by popular demand.

The Anchor reflects the unique character of Chelsea--its artistic, literary and historical importance. As always, it will serve the Chelsea Old Church community by providing relevent parish news, information and articles of interest.

For further information, please contact Hallie Swanson on 020 7352 6513.


Here is the first edition, after a lapse of some years, of The Chelsea Anchor. We aim to put each edition on line in the future.  However, we have removed the illustrations from the magazine to prevent lengthy download times, but they can be seen in all their glory in the magazine itself - available at the Church.

CHELSEA OLD CHURCH MAGAZINE

THE CHELSEA ANCHOR

SUMMER 2008

 

T HE CHELSEA ANCHOR

A note from the vicar

'CHELSEA MAN MADE SAINT'

Thus ran the headline of the local paper when Thomas More was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church, demonstrating wonderfully how to catch the eye in a headline by making a national and historic figure both local and personal.

The headline could be said to encapsulate the purpose of a parish magazine: to make saints of us all, have an eye on both national and local life and an eye on history -- and yet to be personal and contemporary, remembering that to strive for sainthood means being well aware that we are all sinners!

The Chelsea Anchor makes a welcome return. It could be said that this is a turbulent time in history. We are on the edge, some say in the midst, of the biggest financial recession in history. The Church is in disarray. But, bearing in mind the history of our church, it was ever thus.

The Anchor is your magazine; it is what we make it, your contributions will fashion it.

I take comfort when showing off Chelsea Old Church, which I love to do, bearing in mind its history, its near destruction, its survival and present thriving two things: The first is that if Sir Thomas More were to make a present day visit to our church, he might be surprised by the traffic and the helicopters, but it is still recognisably the church he knew and loved and in which he made his devotions. The second is that in a thousand years, in a yet more changed world, it will still be here, pointing us to God and making us sinners into

saints.

David Reindorp

CHELSEA OLD CHURCH

SUNDAY SERVICES

8am Holy Communion

10am     Children's Service (not during August)

11am     Mattins

12.15pm   Holy Communion

6pm     Evensong

On the first Sunday in the month, 11am Parish Communion replaces 11am

Mattins and 12.15pm Holy Communion.

Services follow the Book of Common Prayer

(The monthly Parish Communion follows the traditional

language option in the 2001 Service Book)

WEEKDAY HOLY COMMUNIONS

Thursday at 8am

Friday at 12noon

CHURCH OPENING TIMES (Sundays)

The Church is open for services on Sunday

Church Guides are on duty between 1.30pm – 5.30pm

CHURCH OPENING TIMES (Weekdays)

The Church is open on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday From 2.00pm – 4.00pm

For visits at other times, please make an appointment through the Parish Office,

Telephone: 020 7795 1019

Email: chelsea.oldchurch@virgin.net

Web address: www.chelseaoldchurch.org.uk

CHELSEA OLD CHURCH DIRECTORY

MEMBERS OF THE PCC 2008/09

Chairman: The Reverend Canon David Reindorp T.D.

2 Old Church Street, SW3 5DQ.  Tel. 7352 5627

Churchwardens: Mr John Griffith-Jones, Mr Robert Gwyn Palmer

Deputy Churchwardens: Viscount Chelsea, Mrs Linda de May

Children's Warden & Deputy Warden: Mrs Susan Gaskell 42 Chelsea Park Gardens, SW3 6AB Tel. 7352 9878 or 07770411225

Readers: Mr David Royce, Mr John Watherston

Hon Treasurer: Mr Simon Metcalf

Gift Aid Secretary: Mr Robert Beale

Colonel Dick Bland

Mr Ian de Leschery OBE

Mr Anthony de Winton

Mrs Angela Feather

Mrs Agnes Osei-Kissi

Mrs Penny Pocock

Mr George Powers

Mrs Carla Muñoz Slaughter

Mrs Jenefer Tatham

Mr Mark White

Mrs Priscilla White

Co-opted Member: Mr Keith Hood

Parish Administrator & PCC Secretary: Mrs Trish Coleridge

Petyt Hall, 64 Cheyne Walk , SW3 5LT

Email: chelsea.oldchurch@virgin.net

Tel: 020 7795 1019

Director of Music: Ms Andrea Watson

Flower Co-Ordinator: Mrs Sarah Phillipps

Tower Captain: Mr Keith Hood

Caretaker: Mr Kwabena Poku

The Chelsea Anchor Editor: Mrs Hallie Swanson

27 Cheyne Walk , SW3 5HH

Email: Halliecreative@aol.com

Tel. 0207 352 6513

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

RECONSECRATION OF

CHELSEA OLD CHURCH

A conversation

with former Chelsea Old Church Vicar, the

Reverend Prebendary Leighton Thomson, on the

rebuilding of the church after its bombing in WW2.

Many of you know Leighton Thompson, who was Vicar at the church from 1950 to 1992. His great love for the parish and his deep faith helped him complete the Herculean task of rebuilding the church after its near destruction. In his book, The Rebuilding of Chelsea Old Church, he describes in detail the challenges, triumphs and close calls that led finally to the longed-for day in May 1958, when Chelsea Old Church was made whole again and reconsecrated, by the Bishop of London, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Leighton Thomson kindly offered to share his reminiscences with The Chelsea Anchor on this half-century anniversary.

With his stately bearing, silver white hair and piercing blue grey eyes, Leighton looks more like an Old Testament prophet than a retired vicar. At nearly ninety, he has lost none of his passion for Chelsea or the Church. According to Leighton, ‘when I arrived in this parish as a new, young vicar I was immediately struck by the devotion of the congregation. They loved Chelsea and they were determined that their church would be rebuilt, so I committed myself to the project. Right from the start there was a quiet sense of the Holy Spirit being our guide.'

The task was daunting: ‘On the night of April 16 1941 , 450 German bombers rained terror from the skies for eight hours in south and central London . More than 1,000 civilians were killed, and 2,000 seriously wounded. Eighteen hospitals and thirteen churches were hit, among them Chelsea Old Church . All five local volunteer fire watchers who were on duty up in the church tower were killed.' As soon as it was light, Reverend Ralph Sadleir, Incumbent of Chelsea Old Church since 1934, surveyed the damage and realised the situation was desperate. He immediately called Walter Godfrey, the church architect. As Godfrey later wrote, ‘When I came to inspect the Church I found it in ruins.' The tower had been blasted to oblivion and its rubble was strewn across Cheyne Walk and Old Church Street . Only the Thomas More chapel remained recognisable.

According to Leighton, it was the combined efforts of Sadleir, Godfrey, Ralph West

the Verger, and Mr Reader (whose firm Fenning & Co had for years looked after the care and maintenance of the precious monuments) that made it possible to restore the church. Within a few days they had organised a salvage team and began the backbreaking, painstaking task of sifting through tons of rubble to save what they could. Pressure was intense because the Borough Engineers were keen to clear the streets as soon as possible in keeping with wartime regulations.

The situation became a race against time to save the fragile alabaster monuments

for which the church is famous, such as Dacre tomb of 1595, the Sir Robert Stanley

altar tomb and that of Lady Jane Cheyne. Reverend Stadleir quickly rallied volunteers to help. As he recounts in his church newsletter of 1941, ‘One of the first things that was brought out of the ruins was the tattered remains of one of the hatchments that used to hang on the walls. Under the coat of arms it bore the motto ‘Resurgum'-I will rise again'. It was to prove a good omen.

According to Leighton, ‘If it hadn't been for their quick response, much of Chelsea Old Church 's architectural heritage might have literally been swept away. It was considered nothing short of miraculous that beneath the debris, so many monuments survived. However there was no safe place to put the salvaged pieces, and they were in danger from the elements, looting (although this was rare) or further enemy action'.

As Leighton describes, ‘Rescue came in the form of Prebendary Gordon Arrowsmith, Rector of St Luke's, who let us store the recovered fragments. It was a continuous journey between the cruelly bombed church and warm, welcoming St Luke's, where space was made in the crypt vaults to keep the monuments until they could be pieced together and restored. Without that essential aid, many artefacts would have been irreparably damaged by exposure.'

The kindness and generosity of spirit of the Governors of the nearby Cheyne Children's Hospital made it possible for services to keep going close to the church. This was hugely valuable. A mere ten days after the bombing, the first service was held. As Leighton states in his book, ‘ This will be recognised forever as a key factor and a sign of the quiet, firm determination of the people of God to stand shoulder to shoulder in spite of all that had happened. In the truest sense the rebuilding had already begun because the continuity was never lost'. Little did the congregation know that day they would be having services held in the hospital for another nine years, but they never gave up the hope that the day would come when the doors of Chelsea Old Church would open again.

As the Blitz raged, the people of Chelsea got on with life as usual. However, another

battle was being fought that was all about the future of the church. As Leighton makes clear, the wartime damage to London 's churches had been devastating: ‘Out of 701 churches, 614 were damaged and of these 91 were completely destroyed.

There wasn't enough money to rebuild them all and so in 1944 the Ecclesiastical

Commissioners of the Diocese of London were given the powers of parochial reorganisation.' A priority was the building of new churches in new parishes, as a result of population shifts during the war evacuations. In an alarming article in The Times by the Bishop of London, Chelsea Old Church was not on the list of churches to be rebuilt.

An outcry ensued, with letters to The Times , impassioned arguments from the Chelsea Society, distinguished historians and architects like Reginald Blunt and Sir Alfred Munnings all helped sway public opinion. Chelsea Old Church may have been a small church in a small parish, but it was one of the most historic and muchloved churches in London . At last the Bishop of Kensington had the pleasure of announcing that the initial decision had been reversed. Chelsea Old Church had been saved. Now the hard work of rebuilding, under the auspices of renowned architect Walter Godfrey, could begin.

As the years passed, the church gradually rose from the rubble to regain its former stature. There were always struggles with finances, and fund raising was an ongoing effort. Fetes, fairs, jumble sales, concerts, lectures and even the highly imaginative ‘buy a brick' scheme all helped. Even the children of the parish helped laying bricks. In 1950 the More Chapel was reopened, followed by the chancel and Lawrence Chapel in May 1954. The Church had been restored in its entirety on its old foundations, with its historic monuments gradually put back in place after their sojourn at St Luke's. With characteristic understatement, Leighton remarked, ‘Those concerned with the rebuilding of Chelsea Old Church had simply one end in view and that was to finish the job. From the congregation's point of view, it was a period of maximum chaos mollified by the ultimate vision.'

On a bright May 13 1958 , the dream at last came true. Accompanied by the sound of royal trumpeters and a roar from the crowd, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother entered Chelsea Old Church for the Service of Reconsecration.

For a more detailed account of the bombing and rebuilding of COC, please read ‘The Church that Wouldn't Die' by Tom Pocock Alan Russett, available from the parish office for £25. Sadly Leighton Thomson's book, ‘The Rebuilding of Chelsea Old Church ' is currently out of print.

 

WHY THE CHELSEA OLD CHURCH

CHILDREN'S SERVICE MATTERS

Let's be honest here: the most brilliant of all the many brilliant things about the Chelsea Old Church children's service is the length. Half an hour – bosh – and you're out.

Soul saved. Kids not too discontent. A good chunk of your morning still ahead of you.

Mars bar, if you're lucky. It's a lesson I think a lot of churches could learn.

The church nearest where I live in South London , for example, is a complete nightmare. The

Sunday service goes on for about an hour and half; the Christmas one lasts more like two.

There's a Sunday school below where you can dump your kids for the duration but I don't

see the point. If we're expecting our children to become reasonably regular churchgoers when they get to our age, then we've got to give them the habit when they're young.

Some churches – a lot of churches, unfortunately – think the way to do this is to try to get

“down with the kids.” They change the archaic words in the hymn book (even Chelsea Old

Church is guilty of this, I'm sorry to say), they strip out the pews, they modernise the prayers, they have groovy sound and light shows with overhead projectors, they play rave music… All in the idiot belief that the only thing stopping young people flocking to church in their droves is that they don't consider it sufficiently “relevant” to their lives.

This is nonsense. If I were still young, the very last thing I'd want to go to is a church that

thought it was a club. I could go to a proper club for that and have much more fun. Also, I

would find myself thoroughly despising an institution that had so little faith in its traditions

and core values that it felt it needed constantly to reinvent itself if anyone were to remain

remotely interested in it. That smacks to me of desperation. And as anyone who has ever been chased by someone they don't particularly fancy knows, there's no greater turn-off than desperation.

So what should the Church of England be doing to bring a new generation of punters in? I'd

suggest something very much like what Chelsea Old Church does now at its marvellous

children's service. All the basic ingredients of the traditional service are there: the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, three hymns (at least two of which are proper old ones with original tunes), the reading, and so on – but served up in such a way that no child (or grown up) ever has the chance to get seriously bored. I think its handling of the reading (or “the story” as we call it) is especially inspired – and not just because I'm the bloke who sometimes ponces about with the microphone when David's away. What I think is pure genius is the way children are given a vested interest in both listening to the bible story as well as comprehending it. Play their cards right and they might win a Mars bar in the quiz.

Then, of course, there's the bit where children get to act out the story. It means a lucky few get to show off and dress up, which almost all children enjoy. It also means that the details of the week's bible story are reinforced in their brains, ensuring they're never likely to forget them.

This is important because the Bible is – or at least was, and I would maintain still very much ought to be – a vital part of our cultural and literary heritage. Of course, like all the world's most sophisticated democracies, we understand the importance of separating church and state. But we are still essentially an Anglican country, not a Muslim, Catholic, Jedai or anything else, and if we let that tradition die, than we are killing one of the things that makes us British. I could rant a lot more in this vein, about the great clash of civilisations and so on,

but I think I'm probably preaching to the converted. I don't sense a great deal of wishy-washy liberalism in the Chelsea Old Church congregation. Even in the bit in the prayers where it says, “teach us to love peace and hate war”, I know a lot of us add the silent codicil “but not to the extent that it in any way jeopardises the ability of our gallant armed forces to put Johnny Jihadist in his place.”

Anyway, look, I'm not being paid for this, I've got a novel that badly needs writing, so at this point I'm going to bail. But can I just, before I go, express on behalf of all of us, how boundlessly grateful we are to the delightful and indomitable Susan Gaskell for the work she does in making the children's service go smoothly. And also, can I add how utterly brilliant I think it is, that we still teach our children to say “Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” etc. Hurrah for Chelsea Old Church ! Hurrah for the Children's Service! Hurrah for Susan! Hurrah for David! (And hurrah for Peter Elvy too!)

James Delingpole contributes to a variety of magazines and newspapers, including the Spectator and the Sunday Telegraph. He is also the author of How To Be Right, a, politically incorrect A to Z, and Coward On The Beach, a WW2 comedy adventure.

CHELSEA ANCHOR NOTICEBOARD

Friends of Royal Hospital launched: One of Chelsea 's most beautiful buildings, Sir Chrisopher Wren's Royal Hospital Chelsea, has a distinguished history as home of the famous, redcoated Chelsea Pensioners. For more than 300 years these retired soldiers have found comfort, friendship and support within the red brick halls. The Royal Hospital Chelsea is not owned by the State and depends on its own efforts and those of supporters for the maintenance of one of the world's most admired veterans' institutions. In order to maintain the highest standards into the 21st century, The Royal Hospital has launched an appeal in order to build a new infirmary and refurbish the living quarters.

By becoming a Friend you not only help contribute financially, you become part of

this unique community.

Benefits include a guided tour of the hospital, hire of the sumptuous State Apartments, Great Hall and Chapel, invitations to events like the Governor's Review, concerts, events like the annual cocktail and garden parties, and access to the nearby Burton Court Tennis Club and dog-walking facilities. Membership rates start from £35. For further details please call Colonel Michael Barneby 020 7881 5514 or visit www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk

Petyt Hall can be hired for a variety of occasions, from anniversary dinners to

wedding receptions. For details please call Trish Coleridge on 020 7795 1019.

Part Time Helper Available: Jennifer Roberts is available for help with driving,

cooking (Cordon Bleu), errands and all round assistance. Excellent references.

Please contact her directly at Jennifer.Roberts@virgin.net

Room wanted: Our wonderful former tenant is currently looking for a room or bedsit. Excellent references, very responsible and reliable. Can pay up to £100 per week. If interested please call Hallie Swanson on 0207 352 6513 for further details.

Secretary/companion available. Kind, capable woman in 40s, is happy to help with

correspondence, accounts, shopping, errands, household organisation, pet care, outings, and more. Excellent references. Ring 07796 057 812.

Museum of London features excavation of Chelsea Old Church : During the Second World War Chelsea Old Church was completely destroyed by bombing, and was rebuilt in the 1950s. In 2000, excavations carried out by The Museum of

London Archaeological Services. These revealed a number of coffin plates attached to the burials of 25 people. For further details of this fascinating chapter in the church's history visit www.museumoflondon.org.

Learn the ancient art of bell ringing at Chelsea Old Church .

For details please call Mr Keith Hood on 7622 7658.

Young voices wanted: Any children aged 7 and over who are interested in joining the Children's Choir, please contact the Director of Music, Andrea Watson, on alwandms@aol.com, or call 07976 589 212.

The Children's Choir sings at the 10:00 o'clock service and also joins the adult choir once a month and for major services. Ability to read music is not essential, as this will be taught.

Advertise in The Chelsea Anchor. If you have a business you wish to promote, do

please consider placing an ad in the upcoming Autumn edition. For details contact

Advertising Director: David Maddocks on 07860 545 362.

 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Through the founding of Chiks charity,

one British couple

is helping to save orphaned and abandoned children in Southern India .

The family, frail and hungry, face each day with uncertainty at best, more usually with despair. They are beggars, living under a plastic sheet on a foul road in a small and insignificant corner of poor India . Until recently, this desperate family in Kerala, southwest India , had eleven mouths to feed. Then a children's home, funded by the UK charity Chiks, took in the four youngest. We expect that others in the family will one day be welcomed into The Little Flower Mercy Home, set up many years ago by a couple, driven by the example of Mother Teresa, to provide for destitute adults. Meanwhile, Chiks created its own home for children, not far from the coastal town of Cochin . When the Little Flower Mercy Home occasionally found abandoned or runaway children in their mountain region – the victims of cruelty or neglect, or simply poverty - they would be transferred to Sister Mary Matthews's Home of Mercy (Karunanilayam), some three hours away.

Today, with Chiks' help, Little Flower has in place provision for children as well as adults, and 70 boys and girls are being supported. Both homes offer total care and education, plus the prospect of further education and training. Karunanilayam was refurbished after monsoon damage and expanded to more than twice its original size in 2005 when Chiks bought neighbouring land, ensuring selfsufficiency in years to come. The Home's 60 children can now enjoy safe recreation, but it this was no more than the start of a new phase in its life. Our targets now include a separate house for the older boys, and the development of a vocational training centre to provide for young people's independence, in-house and within the wider community.

As those two Kerala homes for children were established, yet another was developing, also with Chiks' help, in the northern mountain region of Kerala state. The Carmel Matha Santhi Bhavan was established to rehabilitate street children, of which 40 are being financed by Chiks, who also rebuilt the poorly made home and provided farmland.

Given that our first children were aged 5, the oldest are now only 17. Several whose

life had been in total poverty, and who were often subjected to cruelty from a drunkard father, are now involved in courses that will set them up confidently for independence - nurses to secretaries to engineers. Two or three are seeking priesthood. In December 2004, we took in our first casualty of the dreadful tsunami - 6-year-old Sam, now nine, has thrived on loving care, regular good meals and three years of regular schooling. Sam's father was lost in 2004 and his mother needed psychiatric care, but while we keep him in touch with her, he so loves his new life that we have great hopes for his future. Sister Mary has had many youngsters move on when I'd have liked to have nurtured them with continuing influence as they faced the future. But she quotes Mother Teresa to me, saying that 'life is like a flowing river', and that's how it should be. Each year, Mary is told that hers are generally among the best-disciplined and most successful students (at the government schools).

Following what, for most, were years of poverty, sadness, and often abuse, today the children enjoy love and security. This is home; a base in every child's life. Last winter saw

Chiks celebrate the twelfth anniversary of this exhilarating work - much done, lots still to do.

“We would be delighted to hear from anyone interested to know more about our work. I have to say that it provides us with every bit as much pleasure as it does challenges!” says Robin, who welcomes enquiries to 13 Lickfolds Road, Rowledge, Farnham GU10 4AF tel 01252 794212 or email robin.radley@tiscali.co.uk, or visit

www.chikschildrenshomes.org for information.

BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES AND MEMORIALS

Baptisms

January

6   Theodore Frederick Bond McCULLOCH

13 Daniel Jacques GERMOND

27 Flora Isabella WATSON

Olivia Charlotte NICHOLSON

February

3 Maximillian James McLENNAN

10 Jemima Elizabeth Rose LETHBRIDGE

March

30 Milo Charles George HOFFMAN

Olivia Alison Audrey MANSON-BAHR

Giacomo David Lucky STEVENS

Tabitha Constance Lola SMYTH

Magnus Frederick Angus McLEOD

April

6 Flora Louise Sarah STEELE

Thomas William Byron HILL

13 Catherine Anne TOTHILL

20 Iris Mary Constance SMITHER

Robert Casper Archie MOSS

Agatha Heather Allegra JONES

Frederick Arthur Richard ELWORTHY

27 Camilla Alice Martha HORNIMAN

Henry Alexander William HORNIMAN

Florence Grace TEMPLE

Alexander Thomas Campbell HOLMES

Alice Florence de LASZLO

May

11 Isla May REID

Olivia Rose SLADE

Orlando GIBBS

Felix GIBBS

18 Beatrix Rose Coleridge WILLIAMS

25 Austen OSEI-KISSI

Cyrus OSEI-KISSI

June

8 Maximus CROSSLEY-WRIGHT

Katherine Isabella India ARCHER

George Anthony James MURRAY

Tatiana Sophia Ann OSBORNE

15 Sophie July Joan JUHASZ

Georgiana Emily MACLEAN

Weddings

February

9 Duncan James MILLS & Emma Carolyn Wyatt TILBY

29 Peter Jonathan DENYER & Francisca Harriet de BRAUW

March

1 Mark Broke LEVERSON-GOWER & Naomi Jane HANCOCK

April

5 Peter Claydon STOKES & Rebecca Marie KOURI

19 Paul Sebastian ROSE & Sarah Kate ALLEN

26 James Hamilton LOW & Flora Eileen Gian COX

May

2 Lloyd Jeffrey TAMLYN & Birgitta Sarah Gruce MEYER

10 James JEEVES & Nicola Jane OGILVY

17 Jan Michael PERRY & Amanda Jane Gaisford Wilson-Barrett

31 Michael William GIFFIN & Jane Barbara INGRAM

June

6 Charles Anthony HOFFMAN & Georgina Alice ORSSICH

13 David Hector Craig Creswell & Valerie Wylde WILKINSON

20 Maximillian John Marcus de CHAPPUIS-KONIG & Juliet Margot FETHERSTONHAUGH

21 Paul William DUNBAR & Lara Claire de QUINCEY

28 Patrick David Charles KING & Helen Victoria FIELDING

Memorials

January

10 Alison MCMILLAN

15 Paul HART

18 Robine REED

February

19 Adrian Edgar Mark COOPER

20 Frances Mildred LENEY

A GARDENER'S TALE

For the last 35 years Penny

Pocock has cared for the gardens

at Chelsea Old Church

My first connection with Chelsea Old Church garden was in about 1973. In those days, the garden was divided into four areas, looked after by different people. We all did our own thing under the watchful eye of Leighton Thomson. He and his wife Prue had created it after the church had been rebuilt. He used to have big bonfires on the north side, which occasionally so alarmed the neighbours that the Fire Brigade was called!

My mother and I looked after the section to the north of the Church round to the Philip Miller monument. Over time gardeners left and changed and my mother and I took over the bed under the east window and the triangular bed running from the Philip Miller monument to the gate. During this time, as members of the Chelsea Gardens Guild we competed in the Summer Competition against Christchurch , St. Andrew's, Park Walk and St. Mary the Boltons. There has always been a friendly rivalry between Christchurch and us.

The great change came when the Hall and the Vicarage were redeveloped from 2000 onwards. Virtually the whole of the north side and round to the Cadogan Gate was destroyed. A few trees remained and we managed to save some plants, which now flourish on the south side. We also took cuttings particularly of the lovely white Hydrangea, which Prue Thomson had grown and often used in her flower arrangements for the Church. Two of them have been returned to almost exactly the same spot and look as splendid as ever.

Another happy survival from the past is the rose Compassion. It was transplanted from my mother's garden over 20 years ago and never did very well as it was shaded by a Weeping Holly – a tree I never liked and which I persuaded Leighton to encourage not to weep! Thankfully we finally managed to cut it down. The rose disappeared during the building works. However, the first Spring after the new bed had been created, I noticed a strong rose shoot coming up. I smothered it in manure, blood, fish and bone and lots of water and it is now the magnificent specimen that you can see at the entrance to Petyt Hall.

Nearly all the plants in this part of the garden have been donated by kind parishioners and mostly they are plants which the donors wanted to see growing in the garden sometimes with gentle persuasion from me! It is not a designed garden but rather a product of many people taking an interest and lots of hard work from a host of volunteers. We are down to a hard core of three now – Primrose Metcalf, Jane Watherston and me, plus Suzy Reindorp who diligently waters all the containers in the courtyard.

Some of the special plants in the garden are the rosemary bush in the south west corner which was grown from a cutting brought back from the Holy Land by Susan Gaskell in her toilet bag. The rose beside it is Crimson Bengal grown from a cutting from the Physic Garden by Una Brass. Moving eastwards there is an Amelanchier tree in memory of Edna Cook who gardened for over 30 years in that patch, and the flowering cherry was given by Frances Leney in memory of her friend. The Wisteria was planted by Leighton Thomson – there are two different ones on the buttress on the south side. One purple and one white, which lengthens the flowering period. The lovely fuchsia Versicolor by the tomb at the Cadogan Gate came from Powys Castle , the Myrtle came from friends returning to Australia and the Elvys contributed a collection of Phlox and the Wineberry under the east window from their garden in Suffolk . I could go on for pages – almost everything has some sort

of history or memory attached to it.

Chelsea Old Church wins the 2007 ‘ Best Church Garden ' cup at the Brighter Kensington & Chelsea Awards

 

POET'S CORNER

Holy Sonnet X by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which yet thy pictures be,

Much pleasure, then from thee much more, must low

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones and soul's delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men

And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then ?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

 

John Donne was the greatest of the metaphysical poets who wrote in England during the Jacobean period.

The Holy Sonnet X was written after the poet's beloved wife Anne's death after giving birth to their 12th child. He mourned her deeply and never remarried. John Donne was also a preacher and he once held a sermon at Chelsea Old Church .

 

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WE CARE

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J.H. K ENYON

74 Rochester Row, Westminster , London

020 7834 4624

Member of the Funeral Standards Council

 

THE CROSS KEYS C1765

Bar & Restaurant with Private Party Rooms

Ideal for Weddings, Christenings, Ushers' Lunches, Wakes & other Special Occasions

No hire charge for private rooms

Sunday Lunch - 12 - 4pm

2 Courses £16.90 / 3 Courses £19.90

Children's Menu £7

Open 7 days a week

12pm-12am Mon-Sat / Sun 12pm-11.30pm

1 Lawrence Street , Chelsea , SW3 5NB

Tel: 020 7349 9111

Email: xkeys.nicole@hotmail.co.uk

www.thexkeys.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHELSEA ANCHOR DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY

Total design and print solutions

Full colour brochures, Business stationery,

Digital Printing, Poster & Exhibition Graphics

and lots more...

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS ? FAST TURNAROUND ? TOTAL COMMITMENT

376 King's Road Chelsea London SW3 5UZ T. 020 7351 3133 F. 020 7352 5858

info@chelsea.kallkwik.co.uk www.chelsea.kallkwik.co.uk

 

 

 

The Chelsea Anchor is the parish magazine of Chelsea Old Church . It has been

part of the community for nearly 40 years and is now a quarterly featuring articles

of local, historical, charitable, cultural and religious interests.