St Mary's Ballinger 150th Anniversary Service 

The service took place on Sunday Evening, 4th June

Bishop Alan Wilson and the Reverend Sally Moring, led the service which was attended by a Church-full of members of the community. The service was followed by bubbles and canapes in the garden, on a wonderful sunny evening.

Graeme made a recording of the service which can be heard here.

Photos of the evening

Some History of St. Mary’s Church Ballinger: 1873-2023

An extract from a newspaper article (Bucks Herald of 1873) reports ‘At Ballinger there has recently been erected and opened a school and lecture-room at the sole cost of A Watson, Esq of Lee House. Mr Watson, renowned for his kindness and philanthropy, has also purchased two adjacent cottages for the use of the staff.’ A picture in the church shows Abraham Watson in 1873 with his teachers and pupils. 
 
The ceiling was made by Jim Terry, a local carpenter. Unfortunately, the original porch developed a dangerous list and was replaced in 1986, thanks to a large donation from Brian & Barbara Wilson.  Many items inside the building have been commissioned in memory of loved ones and if you look around carefully, a history of those who treasured this building is reflected in them.
 
In 1920 when Dorothy Evans lived in the Watson Cottages the building was shared between the CofE and the Free Church on Sundays. During the week it was also a Dames School run by Miss Beeson. Dorothy, her step mother Hepzibah and her brother Percy looked after the church for 50 years. Dorothy put out the school slates and stoked the huge black stove, stains from which can still be seen on the chimney breast.
 
Even in those early days the building was used imaginatively, adapting to local needs; a mission room, village hall (until 1924 when the War Memorial Hall was opened) church, meeting room and community hub. The same holds true today and it is no surprise to find that St Mary’s hosts weddings, baptisms, renewal of vows, lectures, parties, harvest suppers, flower festivals, coffee mornings, language lessons and as a welfare centre for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, to name but a few. Abraham Watson would be delighted to know how much his generous gift to the community is valued 150 years later.

Refurbishment of St. Mary’s 
For the past 150 years St Mary’s has been blessed with help, both financial in the form of donations large and small and  practical from those who have laboured long and hard to maintain the fabric of the building and its environs.

We have also been lucky in that the BHCT and Sweet Charity have given us grants for the more costly projects. Most recently the restoration of the south side has been achieved using the expertise of Jon Suttle (stonemason) Alasdair Cunningham and Matthew Reading (joiners) and Bryony Dilworth (stained glass). The windows frames have been repaired and repainted by Becky Bazzard. 

Great Missenden Parish PCC would like to express their grateful thanks to everyone who helps us to keep this precious community asset in good condition. Of course there are always tasks in the pipeline but that’s another story….