My father’s association with Ham Evangelical Free Church – by Mildred Howes

My father was sent to St Paul’s School but was rather a lonely boy, taking long walks on his own. When he was in his teens he walked along the river to Petersham meadows and sat in a field, reading his Bible. He was spotted by the local farmer, from Secrett’s farm, and after some conversation was asked if he would like to come to the small church in Lock […]

Checking the sermon at St Elizabeth’s – by CL

St Elizabeth’s in Richmond and if you weren’t wise enough to get in the playground before you went into school that day the teacher would ask you what sermon was given and what they did they used to sometimes change the sermon, the priest, and deliver another one, so if you hadn’t been at the church you wouldn’t know and if you didn’t get in the playground earlier enough to […]

Playing in and around All Saints – by CL

All Saints in Petersham for the same religion so we used to be in there all the time, a lovely church [All Saints]. We used to be in there and we used to play outings in there and of course it echoed all over the place when you were in there we would get up by the organ that was up there, playing. We used to get in the church […]

The Vicars at St Peter’s – by LGT

How many vicars have I known there? Quite a few. The Reverend Mills, who did the stories, had just gone and Archdeacon Robb was the first vicar that we knew very well. He was there for quite a long time and then there was the Reverend Brownrigg, he was the next one I think. Archdeacon Robb, he was allowed to have a curate. We had one or two curates there. […]

Alter boy at St Richard’s – by TH

Cos my parents were quite religious, being born on Easter Sunday, I had no chance and I was an altar boy and, you know, at St Richards Church and all that sort of thing, until I was about 15, 16 whatever and they used to let my friends and I, cos we formed a band, and were trying to write our own stuff and we made a helluva din.  I […]

There at the opening of St Richard’s – by JB

I’ve been at St Richards – first started worshipping at St Richards, not on a regular basis because the family were younger and it wasn’t quite as easy but whilst it was being built there was a hut built and we used to use the hut for worship and the workmen’s hut was used for Sunday school – that’s how I came to go to St Richards.  My son was […]

Mr Beard and the St Andrew’s Guild – by JP

I had to go to church, my mother and father, I don’t think they ever went to church except for my wedding, and my sister, of course, went to church.  We had dear Mr Beard, he was a wonderful man you know, he was great.  He thought for the children and got activities for the boys going, he was quite a modern man and we had our – after you […]