A year ago we lost Frances Whewell, a dearly loved member of our parish who organised the music for us and played the organ, with an especial love for Emily, the Edwardian organ at St Mark’s. She was not just a musician, but a poet, a thinker, a member of Amnesty International, a devoted wife and mother, and a dear friend to many.
Frances died in July 2023 after being diagnosed with cancer in the spring and, a year on, we are planning a musical tribute to her on the afternoon of September 7th at St John’s. The parish choir will be joined by soloist Olivia Jasper and other musicians for a concert which will begin at 2.30pm. The concert will be followed by a cream tea.
Admission will be free but there will be the opportunity to make donations to help with parish funds.
To book your tickets, email June Jasper, or call her on 07807 881311.
Pictured top is Frances playing the organ at home.
Frances reading a poem at the 2023 Literary Festival
Frances (far left), her husband Paul, and Dave and Helena Walter, taking part in the 2018 Hale Carnival with their model of Emily the organ.
Sunday, February 4th was a bittersweet day – a day to reflect with joy and gratitude on all that Lesley and Alan Crawley had given to the parish over the past 12 years, and a day to say a sad farewell to them as they embarked on their retirement.
That morning, St Mark’s Church was full of people from the parish and beyond, some of whom had known Lesley and Alan from the beginning of their ministry in Badshot Lea and Hale in November 2011, others who had met them more recently, but all keen to wish them well in the next stage of their lives.
Among the well-wishers was Rt Rev’d Paul Davies, Bishop of Dorking, who presided at the service and spoke about how blessed the parish had been to have had ‘two for the price of one’ with Lesley and Alan, who have their own different gifts.
Alan, who has the sort of mind that Bishop Paul said he would “give (his) right arm for”, is a tech expert who set up systems to ensure that the large parish with three churches – St Mark’s, St John’s and St George’s – could be run smoothly, while also having “a gentle patience which enables others to flourish”.
The bishop described Lesley as bringing to the parish “remarkable” leadership and having “levels of ambition and energy that are just not normal”. He said “The worse thing you can ever say to her is ‘I just don’t think that’s possible’ because she’ll prove to you that it is.”
Among the projects which Lesley has turned her energy and ambition to have been restoring ‘Emily’ the Edwardian organ and the Kitty Milroy murals – works of national significance – at St Mark’s, transforming the finances so that the parish is sustainable, as well as ministering in a populous community where life is not always easy.
Bishop Paul said: “If you have been incumbent of Badshot Lea and Hale you have credibility. It’s a large parish with a significant population and it has a good deal of suffering it. (Lesley and Alan) have managed ministry in some difficult situations. Some of the suffering has pulled on their heartstrings enormously and yet they have been faithful in season and out, in times of joy and in sorrow.” Bishop Paul described them as, “two priests who are deeply servants”.
You can watch a video of Bishop Paul’s speech here:
Lesley and Alan recalled many of their own favourite stories from the parish, including the little boy who said ‘cheers’ when Lesley raised the communion chalice, the yodelling song at a funeral, the chocolate brioche for communion, the email from Emily Mangles even though she had been dead for years, and the time Alan was found lying in the churchyard (he was checking to see if there was space for a grave). Then there were the two princesses, and the time Special Branch had to be involved when Jeremy Hunt MP was invited to speak at a meeting.
Dave Walter, who has taken on the role of PCC Lay Vice-Chair and is overseeing the operational side of the parish during the vacancy before we have a new incumbent, spoke on behalf of the parish and reiterated Bishop Paul’s feelings that the parish had been “blessed to have got two for one”. He recounted some memories including the time he had responded to a call for the choir and volunteers to join Lesley at one of the new housing estates while they had a Christmas street party with carol singing. “I enjoy singing carols so I went along. To my horror no other singers arrived so Lesley and I were left to lead the community singing.” Another time Lesley duetted was at the Harvest Supper when she and Bob Shatwell launched into Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.
Dave also recounted a baptism at St Mark’s where the baptism party included 15 godparents. “The church was heaving with people, the regulars in two rows at the back and the baptism party filling the rest of the church. Looking at the congregation, Lesley duly filled the chalice generously. When it came time for communion few, if any, of the baptism party took communion and despite the regulars taking a hearty gulp Lesley was left a significant amount of wine to consume. Some of the regulars were convinced that they could see the moment when the alcohol hit her and had to plan how to get her home safely.”
He added: “One of the significant legacies that Lesley and Alan will leave us is the number of the people from the parish who they have encouraged and supported to start their own ministry journey.” This is something that will stand the parish in good stead as we move to the next stage here in Badshot Lea and Hale.
The parish is now ‘in vacancy’ which means that there is no incumbent. The post will be advertised shortly and it is hoped that a new rector will be appointed this summer. We are looking for someone who is inclusive and keen to walk with us as we continue to grow in our faith and commitment to God and to our community.
Join us at St Mark’s, Upper Hale, on the evening of Friday, July 14th, for a barn dance to celebrate the 140th birthday of the church. The doors will open at 6.30pm and the music will start at around 7pm.
Admission is free (donations welcome) and please bring your own refreshments, though tea, coffee, squash and cake will be on sale.
St Mark’s was opened in July 1883 as the daughter church of St John’s in Hale, to enable the residents of Upper Hale to get to church as many of them struggled to get down to St John’s. It was built by local residents using flint from the Common on land given by Bishop Sumner, Bishop of Winchester.
The church, now a Grade II listed building, is home to the Kitty Milroy murals, now recognised as key in the development of mural art in the 20th century, and the work of an unsung major talent. The murals were restored in 2021 and were shortlisted for a Surrey Heritage Award. It also houses ‘Emily‘, a fine Edwardian pipe organ.
St Mark’s is a working church and services are held every Sunday at 11am and Wednesday at 12noon.
The March issue of the parish magazine is out with plenty to read inside: Lent, Easter, Mothering Sunday, school news, our new florist who moves into St Mark’s at the start of the month, exciting news about the Kitty Milroy murals and Emily the organ, prayer, news from the parish and the local MP, the Church Cat and lots more.
You can find the magazine below. But if you would like a paper copy, please let us know by emailing Anne Young: ah_young33@hotmail.com
The cover price of the magazine is £10 for the year which pays for the editorial costs. We would be grateful if those accessing it online would pay £1 an issue. You can pay by clicking on the button below:
Come and join our Christmas Carol Extravaganza on Saturday (December 8) at St Mark’s, any time from 10.30am.
The day starts with coffee at 10.30am followed by carols from 11am and a light lunch at 12.30pm.
There are plenty of favourite carols to join in with – O come, O come Emmanuel; Silent Night; Hark! the herald-angels sing; Good King Wenceslas; The Holly and the ivy; O come, all ye faithful, and many, many more. There will also be ‘Christmas Rhythm’, a piece by Geoff Willis with eight Christmas carols hidden within. The audience can have some fun identifying them.
All the pieces and carols will be played on ‘Emily’, our treasured Edwardian organ, with other instruments sometimes to help her out. Bob Shatwell is MC, and he’s leading ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ at the end, so anything could happen! Donations welcome in aid of Emily. There will also be a raffle.
Emily is 106, and has a few tricks! You’ll hear surprising sounds you wouldn’t expect. A short demo will reveal her eccentricities, and the need to raise funds.
Hale Carnival was a joyful community affair with a happy, celebratory atmosphere which England’s win in the World Cup quarter-finals certainly enhanced. St Mark’s had its bunting up as well as a large rainbow banner as a reminder of God’s welcoming, inclusive love which is far greater than we can imagine. And we also had Emily!
Emily the replica organ was the St Mark’s entry into the carnival procession, created by Dave and Helena Walker and Frances and Paul Whewell. They also entered her into the Farnham Castle the previous Saturday where they won silver in the adults and individuals category. In the Hale Carnival they not only took home second prize they also won ‘Most Original Entry’.
Thank-you Dave, Helena, Frances and Paul for your creativity and dedication!
‘ROCK AGAIN, EMILY’! This is the title of St Mark’s ‘Emily Float’ – a replica of Emily the Organ ingeniously constructed by Dave Walker and Paul Whewell, to be borne along on a trailer at TWO Carnivals :
FARNHAM CARNIVAL PARADE and FAYRE – Saturday 30th June.
The Fayre is in Gostry Meadow – 2-9pm – live entertainment and refreshments.
The Parade starts in the Upper Hart Car Park (just above Waitrose) at 6pm, and winds round the town through the crowds, returning to the Hart at 7.30pm.
The theme of Farnham Carnival is Rock and Pop Legends, hence ‘Rock Again, Emily!’ We hope to have wacky organ music coursing through her ‘pipes’!
The Emily float will make another appearance at the –
HALE CARNIVAL on Saturday 7th July. The judging will start at the Hale School Field at 5.15pm. The Procession begins at 6pm, and proceeds down the hill on to the green. It does just one lap of the green. This is a smaller event than the Farnham Carnival, but just as important, and it is our ‘local’ Carnival.
The money collected in the Carnival buckets will be distributed among many good causes. And one is the beautiful Edwardian Emily who so deserves a thorough restoration. Then she will fill St Mark’s with glorious sound again.
That’s the title of St Mark’s entry for the Hale Carnival on Saturday 7th July. The float will be a replica Emily Organ.
Chrissy has been busy collecting long thin and short fat cardboard tubes from ‘Freelance Fabrics’ and other curtain shops. Yes, you guessed it: these tubes will be transformed into organ pipes. Some will be vertical, and painted silver, and others will be brightly coloured, and at rakish angles.
Dave Walker is the Master Mind behind this project. He is constructing the base to support the 5′ high pipes. Please come to that hub of creativity – the St Mark’s coffee morning each Thursday – if you’re a keen Pipe Painter, and help us make this float as attractive as possible.
The organ look-a-like will be mounted on a trailer, and recorded organ music will, we hope, sound as though it’s issuing from the pipes. The keys of the instrument, not necessarily black and white, will be mounted on the long sides of the trailer, so that the cheering crowds can see them.
Details of the time and place of the procession will appear in the July magazine. Please support this crazy venture. You never know, we might be in with a chance of winning the ‘Most Original Entry’!
Frances Whewell
Frances
Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 