Church reopens after redecoration with candlelit service

A CANDLELIT service of lessons and carols was held in St Margaret’s Church in Mapledurham to mark its reopening following redecoration.

The church had been closed since September while the work took place.

Churchwarden Peter Stratton said the redecoration was among the issues raised during the church’s quinquennial inspection in 2020.

“I could also see this with my own eyes,” he said. “The plaster, which should be white, had black specks from mould and some of it had turned black, bubbled up and come away.

“It really needed doing and I was very keen to have the church made brighter and to have a better atmosphere to worship and have visitors.”

He secured the permission of the parochial church council and the diocese advisory committee. Mr Stratton said: “This is a Grade I listed building and you have to get permission to do work.”

The walls were repainted using white lime wash rather than modern paint. The work was carried out by J G Restorations under architect Robin Nugent and took 10 weeks.

Mr Stratton said he was pleased with the result, adding: “It is a much brighter finish and the plaster is now sound.”

While the work was carried out, members of the congregation went to other local churches to worship.

Mr Stratton said: “I kind of sent the people out to look around and come back with notes. I went to a very interesting harvest service at John the Baptist in Kidmore End.” For the reopening service, the choir was a mix of St Margaret’s members and recruits from other choirs.

Mr Stratton said: “It was quite a big choir. The congregation totalled 70 people, which was a really nice number for St Mary’s. It was fantastic to see people and chat again. I think the main part of a church is the fellowship you get with your members.”

A new oak noticeboard dedicated to former churchwarden Alfred Martyn-Johns was also unveiled.

Mr Stratton said: “Alfred was a churchwarden for 38 years and a local farmer and magistrate and just put so much into the church and the people.

“He very much responded to people’s needs and I very much liked the man. I miss him a lot.”