St Giles Magazine March 2025 : simplebooklet.com

The Calendar - March 2025 2 Sunday next before Lent 9 amSt Giles’, Great HallingburySt John, Bush EndHoly CommunionMatins (1662)11 amHoly Trinity, Hateld HeathSt Mary, SheeringHoly CommunionMorning Worship 6 pm St Mary, Hateld Bd Oak Holy Communion 5 ASH WEDNESDAY 9 am Holy Trinity, Hateld HeathHoly Communion with Ashing 7 World Day of Prayer 2 pm St Mary, Little HallingburySix Villages World Day of Prayer Service 9 First Sunday in Lent 9 am St John, Bush EndHoly Communion 166211 amSt Mary, Little HallingburySt Mary, SheeringHoly Trinity, Hateld HeathMorning WorshipHoly Communion Morning Worship 6 pm St Mary, Little Hallingbury Café Church16 Second Sunday in Lent 9 am St Giles’, Great Hallingbury Holy Communion11 amSt. Mary, Hateld Bd OakSt Mary, SheeringHoly CommunionMorning Worship 6 pm Holy Trinity, Hateld Heath Evensong (1662) continued overleaf

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The Apostles of JesusJudas IscariotIn the January Magazine we introduced the theme of Jesus’ Apostles. The Twelve Apostles were his closest disciples and they left an indelible mark on the early Christian church. Personally chosen by Christ himself, the apostles spent three years with Jesus, learning from him and helping him carry out his mission.During the course of the year it is intended to focus on each of these apostles, as close as we can to the month in which they are remembered in the Church of England. There is an immediate diculty because in March none of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus is celebrated.There is one apostle who, of course, is not commemorated as a saint: Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.Judas Iscariot was one of the original Twelve Apostles and is mentioned in all four gospels of the New Testament. He made a deal with the Jewish authorities to betray Jesus into their custody. In return for 30 pieces of silver, Judas brought an armed guard to the Garden of Gethsemane and identied Jesus with a kiss. Judas later regretted his deed and committed suicide. According to Matthew (Chapter 27: verses 3 -8), he returned the money to the priests before hanging himself. From the moment Judas plants a kiss on Jesus of Nazareth in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot sealed his own fate: to be remembered as history’s most famous traitor. Given how little we actually know about him from the Bible, Judas Iscariot remains one of the most enigmatic gures in Jesus’ story. Why did Judas betray Jesus? It has been suggested that Judas betrayed Jesus, because of his love of money. St John in his gospel (Chapter 12: verses 4-6) makes the point that Judas was dishonest and a thief, stealing the money put into the common purse for which he was responsible. A more political motive for his act of treachery has also been suggested. According to this

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theory, Judas might have become disillusioned when Jesus showed little interest in fomenting a rebellion against the Romans and re-establishing an independent kingdom of Israel.No one can be sure why Judas betrayed Jesus. It must always be remembered, however, that without Judas’ betrayal Jesus would not have been handed over to the Romans and the Crucixion would not have taken place. There would have been no Resurrection and the founding events of Christianity would not have occurredHeather and Philip HaysIn this painting of the Last Supper, created on wood by Ugolino da Siena, c. 1325-1330, Judas Iscariot (seated at front left) is the only apostle without a halo.

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Edward Bear Club, a baby / toddler group, has re-started for the Spring Term. It meets on Tuesdays in term time in St. Mary’s Church, Little Hallingbury from 10 am to 11.30 am.Nursery rhyme time, stories and craft corner.Most importantly, this is a time for children to play together and for parents and carers to enjoy a cuppa and a chat.We are a friendly welcoming bunch, so please come along and join us.There is no charge, although any contributions

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Visit to our Church by Pupils from Howe Green House SchoolOn 13th February we were very pleased to welcome to our beautiful and historic village church Year 5 and Year 3 pupils and members of sta from Howe Green House School. The pupils walked to our church from their school and kindly took o their wellington boots outside, before they entered. Fortunately, they did not seem to mind walking in their socks on the church oor!As soon as they arrived, Heather served them refreshments before Revd. Sophie began to talk about what they would see and hear if they attended a Holy Communion Service in the church. The pretend service began when Heather lit the candles on the altar and Philip played some organ music before the rst hymn was announced. Revd. Sophie outlined the dierent parts of the service, including the reading of the bible from the lectern and the giving of a talk or sermon from the pulpit to explain the bible reading. Revd. Sophie then proceeded to the altar to show the pupils the bread and wine used at a Communion Service to help people remember and commemorate the meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his death. The children then had the opportunity to ask questions about the church service and also about the history of the church. Revd. Sophie and Philip managed to answer most of the questions between them, although Philip needs to do a little more research about the symbols of the evangelists, or gospel writers, which are behind the altar! The pupils seemed to enjoy the morning, listening intently to Revd. Sophie’s vivid and lively description of a typical church service and asking some searching and sensible questions. After the visit Ellie Brown, one of the members of sta, kindly sent the following email: “I hope you are all well! I just wanted to say a massive thank you for our lovely church visit a few weeks ago! All the children really enjoyed the morning, and we all learnt a lot! Thank you for the refreshments too! Heather and Philip Hays

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St. Giles’ Church 100 ClubJanuary 2025The draw took place on 28th FebruaryThe winners were:No. 3 Marion Sco £30No. 51 Ann Fuller £20No. 28 Pat Larby £16The prize money is 50% of the membership fees taken in January. The remaining 50% will be used to help maintain the fabric of our beauful and historic village church.We had 132 tickets in the 100 Club Draw for January. Thank you for your support.If you are interested in joining The 100 Club, please contact Heather Hays or Philip Hays for further details.Tel: 01279 651851e-mail: philipandheatherhays@googlemail.com

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St. Giles’ Church 100 ClubFebruary 2025The draw took place on 28th FebruaryThe winners were:No. 23 Jo Bloomeld £30No. 125 Gillian Thompson £20No. 44 Rex Baldwin £16The prize money is 50% of the membership fees taken in February. The remaining 50% will be used to help maintain the fabric of our beauful and historic village church.We had 132 tickets in the 100 Club Draw for February. Thank you for your support.If you are interested in joining The 100 Club, please contact Heather Hays or Philip Hays for further details.Tel: 01279 651851e-mail: philipandheatherhays@googlemail.com

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Church Letter - March 2025As I am writing this letter I have a good view of our garden. At this point I must confess that I am no gardener and I truly admire those who understand about what to do and when to do it with all the dierent plants: those who know when to plant and when to prune, those who can name all the dierent varieties of ower, shrub, or tree and those who spend time in a greenhouse, nurturing seeds into shoots before planting them outside. My stepmother used to despair of my lack of gardening knowledge as she herself would be lost in her greenhouse from early spring until late summer and whenever I visited I would be sent home with an array of fresh produce, all organic you know darling!But my lack of knowledge doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy looking out at our garden and in particular seeing the rst green shoots push their way through the soil, to

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be followed by a heady explosion of colour; the white of snowdrops, the yellow of daodils and the purple of crocuses.It is a scene that lls me with gratitude and with hope. Gratitude to God for giving us dierent plants in each season to help us mark the passage of time, for giving us enough plants for food as long as we learn to share the world’s natural resources, for giving us plants to provide medicines and remedies so that we can live healthier lives.And hope that without us humans having to micromanage everything, these plants nd a way through. The owers spring forth in the garden without me telling them to do so. It rebuilds trust in a God we cannot see but we know is there. A God in whom we have faith because, if he cares about all the plants that He has created, how much more does he care for us, who in the act of Creation he calls very good.So this Spring, enjoy the open spaces that we have in abundance in our villages, and be reminded of God’s love for us all.Caroline Harding LLM.

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Visit to St Giles’ Church by Pat and Will SharpSt Giles’ Church has many visitors who have a particular interest in its history. They all seem to enjoy their visit to our church but very few volunteer to write an article for the Parish Magazine following their visit. The exception is Pat and Will Sharp, who recently visited St Giles’ Church. This is their article.It was a real pleasure to visit your lovely church and be shown round by Philip in February. We came to see a specic pair of graves and, thanks to Philip, we found them. You might be wondering which graves we wanted to see and why. We are Pat and Will Sharp, brother and sister, both living in East London at the southern end of the M11. We were brought up in Wigan, Lancashire. We are researching churches in Wigan, a very dierent area to leafy Essex, and one family who looms large in that history is the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres.Just outside Wigan, in the village of Haigh, is Haigh Hall, once owned by the Earls. Lady Alice Lindsay, eldest daughter of Alexander, 25th Earl (1812-1880), was born at Haigh Hall in 1849 and baptised at the church in the grounds, St. David’s. Growing up she moved between the family homes in Haigh, Dunecht in Scotland and Grosvenor Square in London. Her dad, often accompanied by her mum, travelled widely and compiled a world famous library and art collection. The couple had seven children, the oldest being James Ludovic who would become the 26th Earl, followed by six daughters (no spare!). Alice, as the eldest daughter, was destined to marry well. And marry well she did. Her husband was your George Bramston Archer Houblon and he and Alice enjoyed life at Hallingbury Place

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and another property, Welford Park in Berkshire. The local paper gave an account of the wedding, as was the case in those days. We are told that the sta at the hall gave Alice a ‘handsome circular gold brooch with a cross in the centre, set with diamonds’ as a wedding gift.The couple had nine children.Like all the Houblons before them, they were buried in the churchyard. George had given land to extend the churchyard and it was here that he, and later Alice, chose to be laid to rest. It was then a peaceful and quiet spot, undisturbed by speeding trac on the M11 and aircraft ying in and out of Stansted.Filling in the gaps in Alice’s story was, for us, a real thrill especially to see her name and title, Alice daughter of 25th Earl of Crawford, carved on to her gravestone and to imagine her joyous baptism at St David’s church, the Earl and his family occupying their family pew no doubt.To read more about St. David’s church in Haigh where Alice was baptised, and other churches in Wigan, please take a look at our website: www.whobuiltwiganschurches.co.ukPat and Will SharpGraves of George and Alice Bramston Archer Houblon

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Great Hallingbury: 100 Years ago as recorded in local newspapers. Read all about it! In April 1925 Winston Churchill, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the return to the gold standard. The pound sterling was restored to its pre-war exchange rate of $4.86 to one pound. On 2nd October 1925, John Logie Baird transmitted the rst television pictures in London. In Italy the fascist leader Benito Mussolini declared himself dictator. In Germany Adolf Hitler published his memoir / manifesto Mein Kampf. In Missouri, United States, Dick Van Dyke was born.But what was happening in Great Hallingbury 100 years ago? At a time of economic hardness and high unemployment following the Great War, most of the news items were of a melancholy nature.100 years agoThe Essex Chronicle: 30th January 1925: reported that at the Harlow Petty Sessions, Pharaoh Tant, a hay tier from Manuden, had been summoned by his wife, Florence Alice Tant of Woodside Green, Great Hallingbury, for alleged persistent cruelty. Mrs Tant said she was married to the defendant on 13th November, 1920, at Great Hallingbury. She was now living with her parents in Great Hallingbury. Her husband began to be cruel to her three months after the marriage. He knocked her about and tried to strangle her. When once she screamed, he put a brick over her mouth. On several occasion he had threatened to shoot her. They had had to leave Lewis Farm six months ago and they had agreed to live at their respective parents’ homes because they could not get another house, but she used to visit her husband in Manuden at weekends. Once, after she had gone to bed, her husband knocked her about and nearly choked her. After legal arguments, the Chairman said the evidence from the last six months referred to acts outside the jurisdiction of the Harlow Bench, as Manuden was in the Stansted district. The summons was therefore dismissed. Mr Floyd, acting for the wife,

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asked for an application of a summons alleging desertion by the husband. Mr Gee, acting for the husband, argued that it seemed to him that the wife had deserted the husband. 100 years ago The Saron Walden Weekly News: 13th March 1925: reported that Sydney Taylor, a 16 year old youth from the Farm Colony in Great Hallingbury, had been summoned to the Stansted Police Court for stealing 1s 9d from the Village Institute, Ugley. The defendant answered the description of a boy seen about the Institute on the day the money was stolen. A witness said the defendant had admitted taking the money. In reply to the Chairman, the witness said that most boys at the farm were homeless and had nowhere else to go. The boys came and went as they pleased. Mr W Shaw, Superintendant of the Farm Colony at Great Hallingbury which was organised by Revd. Hugh Embling, said the defendant gave them no trouble and his character was good. The Chairman of the Court, addressing the defendant, said they wanted to give him a chance and he would be bound over. If he came before them again, he would be punished.(In 1913, Revd. Hugh John Embling was the Missioner at the Charterhouse Mission in Southwark. The Charterhouse Mission was a charity founded in 1885 by Old Carthusians. St Hugh’s Church was built in the 1890s and the Missioner was helped in his parish work, especially in running clubs for men and boys, by volunteers from the school. Presumably, after the First World War, the charity founded a Farm Colony in Great Halllingbury for young homeless boys, organised by Revd. Hugh Embling. Charterhouse has links with the Hallingburys. Since 1929, all deceased Brothers of the Charterhouse have been buried in a special section of the churchyard of St Mary’s, Little Hallingbury. Hugh Embling was a Royal Naval Chaplain on board HMS Agincourt during the Battle of Jutland). Revd Hugh John Embling 1886-1965

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100 years agoThe Essex Chronicle: 17th April 1925 reported under the headline Dog in a deep well that, during a meet of the Essex Hounds, a fox went to earth at Harps Farm, Great Hallingbury. A terrier belonging to the Master, Colonel F Gosling DSO, was put in and the fox jumped out over the open mouth of a well. The terrier followed and fell into the well which was 80 foot deep. A Bishop’s Stortford builder had to rig up his well tackle to rescue the dog.100 years agoThe Essex Newsman Herald: 25th July 1925: reported two men were walking by the side of the road in Writtle when a motor car, driven by Leslie Judd from Great Hallingbury, ran into them. Fortunately they were not seriously injured. The driver was apparently dazzled by the lights of a stationary car and did not see the men. The men were conveyed back to their homes in the motor car.(Leslie Judd was the second son of Charles and Bessie Judd. Charles married Bessie Ruse on 17th August, 1903, in St Giles’ Church. In the1911 Census Charles’ occupation was recorded as a shopkeeper and grocer. In 1921 his occupation was a coal merchant. Charles’ sons ran transport businesses in the neighbourhood. The Judd family ran the village shop until 1939. It closed because of the onset of food rationing, owing to the war. In the publication: Great Hallingbury: The Years of Change, there is a photograph of the Judd’s Shop in 1913 and 1927 and a photograph of a transport lorry owned by Leslie Judd.) Les Judd was obviously an early fan of motor transport as he is here pictured with an early motor cycle in the 1900’s.

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150 years agoThe Essex Chronicle: 23rd October 1925: reported under the heading 50 years ago on how the wedding in Great Hallingbury of Mr and Mrs Tom Belcham came near to being postponed. As Mr Belcham, a painter and paper-hanger, was working at the time on the new Rectory at Great Hallingbury, the wedding was xed to take place at St Giles’ Church at 12 noon on 12th October, 1875. The prospective bride had travelled from her home in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, a few days previously and was staying at the nearby post oce . In those days no wedding could be solemnised after noon. It had been arranged that the best man and bridesmaid and other friends should come to Hallingbury by train on the day of the wedding. Fifteen minutes before the wedding, everything was ready with one important exception – the best man and bridesmaid had not turned up. At 11. 55 am things began to look desperate and the vicar, Revd. Henry M Oswald, was very perturbed. Something had to be done if the wedding was to take place that day and so the mistress at the Post Oce and a fellow worker of Mr Belcham were hustled into church on the stroke of 12 noon, with only the brush up that a moment’s preparation could give them, to legally witness the wedding. The law was thus satised. The wedding ceremony had barely ended when the much-delayed relations were seen hurrying towards the church. Thereafter the festivities proceeded as planned. (This story was told at the celebrations in 1925 of the Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Tom Belcham, long-tem residents of Kelvedon).(Revd. Henry Murray Oswald was Rector of St Giles’ Church from 1873 until 1903. His half-sister was Georgina Oswald, the second wife of John Archer-Houblon, our Victorian Lord of the Manor. On the south wall of the nave in St. Giles’ Church there is a rectangular brass plaque in memory of Revd. Henry Murray Oswald.The post mistress in 1875 was Mrs Clara Mingey, according to the Post Oce Directories for 1874 and 1878. The 1881 Census records Sarah Hubbard as the Post Mistress, living in Church End Cottages near the school). Philip Hays

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Great Hallingbury Litter PickSunday 16th March 2025 - 10am-12 noonCome along and join us for the ﬁrst of the annual litter picks. Meeting points will be Hop Poles and the layby opposite the church.St Giles’ Church has extended an invitation to join them in the church for refreshments afterwards at 12 noonGreat Hallingbury Village Hall Pop Up CaféCome and join us for a drink with biscuits or home made cake and a chat.Next dates for the coffee mornings Saturdays 10am-12 noon 8th March 10 May 7th JuneAll proceeds to Village Hall

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PARISH DIARY - March 20254 Library Van - Bedlars Green 13.45 - 14.153 Great Hallingbury Parish Council meeting - Village Hall at 8 pm4 District Councillors’ Surgery - Village Hall 2 - 4 pm8 GHVH Coee Morning 10 am - noon12 History Society - Family Memories through Precious Items - Great Hallingbury Village Hall at 8 pm15 GHVH Charity Quiz Night - Village Hall 7 for 7.30 pm16 Great Hallingbury Litter Pick (see previous page for details)17 Great Hallingbury Annual Parish Meeting - Village Hall at 8 pm22 Library Van - Bedlars Green 13.45 - 14.1526 Hallingbury Ladies - Chair Based Yoga - Village Hall at 7.30 pmFuture Events1 Apr District Councillor’s Surgery - Village Hall 2 - 4 pm5 Apr GHVH Social Evening 7 - 10 pm9 Apr History Society - A History of the Ocial War Artists in the 20th Century - Great Hallingbury Village Hall at 8 pm23 AprHallingbury Ladies - In the Garden with William Morris - Great Hallingbury Village Hall at 7.30 pm

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Some Useful AddressesPriest-in-ChargeRev’d Sophie WellerContact viaSix Villages AdministratorTuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10 am to 1 pm. Tel: 07394 260978Messages are checked daily Email: administrator@thesixvillages.orgLicensed Lay MinisterMrs. Caroline Harding, Shouldersticks, Latchmore Bank, Little Hallingbury CM22 7PJ Tel: 07814 380768Churchwardens VacancySt. Giles’ Parish News Publisher: Mrs. Heather Hays, 3 Haycroft, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 5JL Tel: 651851Printer: Mrs. Christine Coultrup, Pantiles, Bedlars Green, Tel: 655144Great Hallingbury, CM22 7TL Email: cj@coultruponline.comGreat Hallingbury Village Hall Bookings: Tel: 07544 921459 Email: gthallvillagehall@gmail.com Caretaker and Key Holder: Tel: 651757Great Hallingbury Parish Council Chairman: Mr. Alan Townsend, 7 The Grove, Great Hallingbury, CM22 7TT Tel: 465790Clerk: Mrs Urška Sydee, 48 The Forest, Tel: 07432 297142Hateld Broad Oak, CM22 7BT Email: greathallingburypc@outlook.comHallingbury Ladies (HALS)Secretary: Mrs Gill Sewell, Street Farmhouse, The Street Great Hallingbury, CM22 7TR Tel: 504990 Great Hallingbury History SocietySecretary: Mrs Claire Layer Email: gthallhistory@gmail.comPoppy Appeal CoordinatorMrs Gill Sewell, Street Farmhouse, The Street Great Hallingbury, CM22 7TR Tel: 504990

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Published by Mrs H HaysPrinted by C J Coultrupe&oe Please continue to send your contributions for the magazine to Mrs. Christine Coultrup, Pantiles, Bedlars Green, Great Hallingbury or email to cj@coultruponline.com before the 20th of month previous to publicationGreat Hallingbury Annual Parish Meetingwill be held in the Village Hall onMonday, 17th March, 2025, at 8 p.m.All residents are welcome to attend to hear what has been happening over the past year with the Parish Council and our local societies.Then join us afterwardsfor ‘Cheese & Wine’

St Giles Magazine March 2025

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