L

ooking back over my 13 years (1981 – 1994) as Churchwarden of St Michael’s I realise how much routine work always went on plus a lot of extra work at the time of the restoration, on the tower reinforcing and the stripping of the chancel roof and the re-leading of the windows etc, nothing however really newsworthy.

One of the things that always interested me was the old Registers. Being able to trace family connections and to help people from all over England, USA, Canada and Australia to find some of their roots, I still get cards from many of them. It was a great thrill to share in their pleasure when they found the records of marriages etc and to see the actual certificates signed on the day of their ancestors wedding or whatever.

One of the old Rectors increased the interest of the Death Register by entering in the side column the cause of death. It was sad to be able to follow a reduction in the family as one by one the children died young or Mum passing away after “decline after childbirth” leaving Dad with several small children to cope with.

For me the most evocative of all is the entry “died after a fall from a wagon” I could always visualise the scene of an old man standing on the top of a loaded wagon, the horses being startled and lurching forward toppling him to the ground. He is carried home in another wagon or on a gate a favoured instant stretcher. Later in his village-made coffin he is carried to the church followed by a handful of neighbours and workmates carrying buckets of flowers from their gardens. Finally he is laid to rest in the churchyard, the grieving widow wondering when she would be evicted from her tied cottage, at best to be looked after by her sons or daughters, at worst to end up in the workhouse in Docking.

Now that all the records, after having been kept in excellent condition in a tin box in our vestry for hundreds of years, have been taken to Norwich to be kept in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, could anyone think up such a rustic scenario like that in the high tech sterile atmosphere, all in the name of progress.

As you carry out the routine tasks at church and particularly changing the altar frontals to the appropriate liturgical colours one is constantly reminded of the steady changing of the seasons. This is also reflected in the change of fundraising activities, starting with Lent Lunches, strawberry teas, garden parties or summer fetes then harvest suppers and Christmas Fayres. Coffee mornings, of course, go on all the time.

I will always remember one Christmas Fayre when Santa was to arrive in a pony and trap and we had prepared a splendid grotto for him. As the time of his arrival drew near everyone crowded at the door to catch the first glimpse of him. We heard him clip-clopping up hill road but were amazed to see him fly by without stopping. Apparently the pony took exception to a large red-robed man in his trap, took the bit between his teeth and took off. Thankfully “The Hill” took the wind out of its sails as it does to all of us these days and at last it was under control and came back down the hill at a more sedate pace to deliver Santa as promised. He emerged from the trap both shaken and stirred and after a rather faint “Ho, Ho” he retired to the grotto to recover. For some years after this he always appeared from the kitchen door with a much more robust “Ho, Ho, Ho”

Alas the modern trend of starting Christmas in October – November has reduced the enjoyment of homespun entertainment so our Christmas activities have had to be re-adjusted. How comforting for us it is to know that the continuity of Church life is still there for us to enjoy.

My best wishes to you all

Eric Bocking