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The
Period 1962-1980
The
next Rector was the Rev. C. E. Bolsin, He had been ordained in
this diocese, had served as a missionary of S.P.G. in India for
nine years, and had latterly been Vicar of Heybridge with
Langford, Essex. He was instituted on Monday, 30th
April, 1962 by the newly-consecrated Bishop of Chelmsford, the
Rt. Revd. J. G. Tiarks (incidentally his first Institution), and
inducted by the Archdeacon of Colchester, the Venerable A. V. C.
Cleall. The new Rector, with his wife Dr. Betty Bolsin, a
medical practitioner, and their three schoolboy sons, quickly
settled into the parish.
The
last two decades have been interesting and exciting for the
whole Church, and the parish of Myland has participated in the
new movements. Modern translations of the Bible have appeared,
notably the ecumenical New English Bible published in 1961, and
this has been the main version read at our church services since
1962. The introduction of the Parish Communion as the central
act of worship brought new vitality and depth of Sunday worship
and a notable increase in the number of communicants. During
this time the old Prayer Book services were being revised, and
the new forms are regularly used in the Church.
The
Christian Stewardship movement was gaining impetus and in 1964
the principle was adopted in the parish: it is that members are
asked to assess their Christian commitment in terms of the time,
abilities and money they are able to give for the work of God in
the parish and beyond; this has meant a change of outlook and
has also resulted in an improvement of the financial situation.
The
Church building also needed attention: in 1964 the interior was
redecorated, the clock repaired, and the open area of the
baptistery created around the font. In the same year consideration
was given to the condition of the organ: it had been intended to
replace it with a new one, but after expert advice it was
decided, since it is a well-constructed instrument, to have it
restored and enlarged, and the work was carried out by the
organ-building firm of Cedric Arnold. Two years later the old
coke-fired boiler with its hot water radiator system was
replaced by the present electric tubular heaters.
The
1967 Church inspection revealed that there was considerable
infestation of the roof timbers by wood-boring beetles, which
necessitated the chemical treatment of all the woodwork in the
Church including the pews and the timbers of the spire.
Meanwhile
the Men’s Working Party had continued their work by
constructing a credence table for the Sanctuary. They then began
making a set of six new Choir Stalls in English oak, well
designed and matching the woodwork of the Sanctuary, which were
dedicated by the Bishop of Colchester. the Rt. Revd. R. N. Coote,
at a special service in 1968. Two of the Choir Stalls, one
bearing the carving of a lily and the other a Tudor rose, were
given in memory of Mrs. Cecil Cant, who died in 1959; she had
been Superintendent of the Sunday School in the time of the
Revd. M. C. Dickenson, and had also presented the Mothers Union
with its banner. All the woodwork is of fine craftsmanship and
owes much to the inspiration of Mr. F. G. Nunn, People’s
Warden for 21 years until his resignation in 1965. His last task
before his death in 1972 was to make the oak cross and candlesticks
for use on the altar.
During
this period, as a practical result of Christian Stewardship in
the parish. the condition of the Churchyard was greatly improved
through the work of a voluntary band of helpers under the
leadership of Mr. H. R. R. Whitehorn. The gravel paths were also
re-surfaced with tar macadam, and a flowering tree - similar to
one planted nearby by the Scouts to mark the Queen’s
Coronation - was planted in memory of Mrs. H. Simmons, a
faithful Church worker who died in 1973. The flowering tree
planted by the Scouts in 1957 was to mark the centenary of the
birth of their Founder, Lord Baden-Powell.
The
Church Hall also underwent renovation during this period.
Between 1965 and 1969 the roof was completely re-tiled, new
toilets and kitchen constructed, the floors concreted and tiled
and the interior modernised. It is now an attractive building
which is fully used by the Church and the local community. Along
the road frontage outside are rose-bushes presented by a
parishioner, and two silver birch trees planted as a memorial to
Mr. Bert Harman, Assistant District Commissioner for Senior
Scouts in Colchester, who took particular care and interest in
the formative years of the Myland Scout Troop.
During
these years there were changes in the Officers of the Church Mr.
Richardson relinquished his position as Rector’s Warden in
1963 and was succeeded in turn by Mr. H. G. Lord and Mr. P. J.
Long: the present Rector’s Warden, Mr. B. J. Slack, has held
office since 1968. Mr. J. W. Dougherty succeeded Mr. Nunn as
People’s Warden in 1965 and was followed in 1970 by Mr. H. R.
R. Whitehorn, who still continues in office.
From
1971 until his death in 1977 Mr. H. W. Lewington was a Reader in
the Parish, and Mr. David Preddy has just been licensed by the
Bishop for the same office. Mr. John Mann, a member of the
choir, was accept ed as an ordination candidate for the
Auxiliary Pastoral Ministry while still in the parish he has
since moved to the Blackburn diocese and is continuing his
training there. Other members of the choir have given long and
faithful service, notably Mr. Harold Beattv for sixty years, and
Miss R. V. Mace who has devoted more than fifty years to both
the choir and Sunday School. It is of course impossible to
mention by name all the people who have given so freely of their
time and talents to the Church, many of them over a long period
of years their contribution is invaluable and is evident in the
world of the Church and the impact of its congregation on the
life of the local community.
The
renovation of the Church Hall had made it possible for meetings
to be held in good conditions, but much still needed to be done
with regard to the Rectory. By 1962 it had become increasingly
evident that in spite Of repairs which had been carried out over
past years, the Rectory would have to be replaced by a more
modern building. Plans were drawn up, and by the autumn of 1970
the work had begun. The new Rectory was built to the south of
the old building on part of the former garden and was completed
in 1972. The old Rectory and about half the land was sold to the
Borough Council who demolished the building and developed the
area in an attractive scheme to provide flats for elderly
people, in five separate buildings. At the same time the old
churchyard containing the foundations of the mediaeval parish
church was landscaped to furnish an amenity for the residents.
During
this time, some interesting discoveries were made when the
Colchester Archaeological Group under the auspices of the
Colchester and Essex Museum revealed the foundations of the old
church. The Font was found to be buried in the ruins of the
south porch. It is now in the Museum, where it will eventually
be re-assembled: it is of brick and dates from the early 19th
century. The original old church was evidently much larger than
that shown in existing records
and pictures. There was a nave 32’ 9” long and 18’ 9”
wide, with walls 2’ to 2’ 6” thick. From this extended a
chancel with a width of 15’ 9”: the south wall was traced
for 23’ of its length and the east end of the original church
lay at some point beyond. It is thought that the later church,
which existed in Morant’s time and is recorded in his “
History and Antiquities of the most ancient Town and Borough of
Colchester “, was built in the 17th century from
materials of the former church. Its chancel was only 6’ 10”
long, and this is the building depicted in old drawings, and by
a model made by Miss A. P. Strong which is in the Hollytrees
Museum.
With
regard to recent bequests in 1962 the Communion plate of the
church consisted only of the beautiful 17th century
chalice and paten already mentioned, and a pewter flagon and
dish of the 19th century, but with the growing need
for additional vessels at Holy Communion, more have been added
in the intervening years. In 1970, from a generous legacy under
the will of the late Miss Kathleen Rogers, a small percentage of
the gift was used to purchase a silver box for altar breads.
This was followed by a gift by Mrs. Ivy Heath of a silver salver
for the offertory procession. A smaller chalice and paten were
presented by Mr. Jack Child in memory of his parents, Leslie and
Grace Child, who died in 1969. A pyx for the Communion of the
sick was given by Mrs. Mary Beaurain in memory of her husband
Eric, who died in 1971. The latest addition, in 1973, was the
ciborium used at the Parish Communion, which is a memorial to
Mrs. Hilda Simmons.
In
1976 the Rector was appointed an Honorary Canon of Chelmsford
Cathedral. It was the first time in the history of the parish
that a Rector had been honoured in this way and it is an event
in which the parish takes pride. The service of Collation and
Installation of seven Honorary Canons from the Diocese took
place in Chelmsford Cathedral on October 23rd of that
year, and the Rector was placed in the stall in the chancel
which bears the name of the Venerable Bede. A large congregation
attended the service, including many members from St.
Michael’s.
With
regard to other structural matters in the Parish Church the
condition of the easternmost two-light window on the south side
of the nave had been deteriorating and in 1977 was in need of
extensive repair. It was replaced by a plain glass window in
which the central pictorial medallions
of the former window were retained. The new window, like
the old one, is a memorial, and commemorates
four former parishioners William and Grace Newnham, John Ayden
and Edna Beatty. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Colchester in
1978.
The
Church inspection in 1977 had emphasised some urgent repairs
which needed to be undertaken without delay. These were the
re-roofing of the two small vestries, the re-shingling of the
church spire, and replacement of corner-stones in the tower. In
addition, there was the necessity to re-concrete a portion of
the nave floor on the south side where the wooden floor had
deteriorated, and the repainting of the clock-face The first two
items had been expected and some provision had been made towards
the expense; then in 1978 the parishioners set to work to raise
the remainder of the money required and all the repairs were
completed in that year. The new cedar shingles much enhance the
beauty of the- spire and it is hoped they will
provide a weatherproof covering for many years to come.
The
story ceases at this point with the retirement of Canon Bolsin
after eighteen years of faithful service and active leadership.
All his parishioners wish him a long and happy retirement, and
are glad to know that he and his wife will not be far away, but
residing still in Essex in the village of Fordham.
This
account of St. Michael’s, Myland, has been written to record
the history of its development over past years in the hope that
it may prove of some value to all those who care for their
Parish Church, for, in the words of the late Dean Inge “ Our
chief interest in the past is as a guide to the future “.
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