8:15am Wednesday 16th August 2006
One of Wycombe's long standing churches is celebrating its 150th birthday in 2007 - as the Free Press marks the same milestone this year. Reporter Lucy Clapham explains how £60 was used to start up Wycombe Marsh Baptist Church A CHURCH which is celebrating its 150th year of worship was originally started by a man holding a Sunday school in his own home.
Charles Moxham founded the Wycombe Marsh Baptist Church in the 1800s after forming the school, although the exact start date is not known.
However, in 1857 the Sunday group had become so popular with youngsters that an extension was needed to accommodate them all.
A plot of land on London Road was bought and the original flint church was built, all for the princely sum of £60.
The end result is the church we see today, but since then more extensions have been added.
After the first world war the Sunday school, which still runs today, needed more room and so in 1934 more land was acquired at the back of the original church building.
But work did not begin until after the Second World War, and it was 26 years later that the Sunday group finally got its new hall.
One of the congregation's longest standing members, and church secretary of eight years, Christine Stevens, first attended the church as a baby and can remember the new hall being built.
She said: "It's really my spiritual home. It holds a special place in my heart.
"I have always been involved in the church some way or another.
"My mother was the church organist here and she brought me here as a babe in arms.
"I personally have had very happy memories here. It's a very friendly, very caring church."
As a member of the Sunday school, Christine along with other youngsters, collected half pennies to go towards the building costs of the new hall which opened in October 1956.
The church often holds activities during the holidays and last week 47 children attended the Connect 5 holiday camp where they learnt about communication through the five senses.
At the end of the week they held a presentation for parents which raised £44 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Christine, from Loudwater, added: "I think there's a desire that Wycombe Marsh Baptist should continue for another 150 years, people want to come.
"I think that people sending children last week speaks of the value that we offer the community."
As church secretary, Christine is in charge of organising the 150th celebrations in the first week of July next year, and is asking anyone with memories of the church to get in contact.
A weekend of celebrations is planned and a remembrance book is also being put together featuring people's stories and photos from the church's past 50 years.
l Anyone with memories of Wycombe Marsh Baptist should contact us at the BFP by September 30 on the details below.
And while the church hits 150 next year, 2006 is our landmark birthday and we're asking any readers with a history at the BFP to get in touch and share their stories.Email us at bfpnews@london.newsquest. co.uk or call us on 01494 755081.
Alternatively you can write to us at: Bucks Free Press, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY
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