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The early 1930s: two undergraduates at Reading converted at a University Mission, Bea and I both began to wonder how we could serve. The idea of a holiday home for mothers and children from deprived areas began to emerge, with Guest House near by to raise cash to cover all costs.
Exhaustive search finally led to Sussex Farmhouse, buildings and 20 acres, an open cart-shed catching the eye for conversion into a chapel. With support of family and friends, including financial, the big decision was made and the property bought on St. Francis' Day 1935.
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| | I had been working at the Islington Medical Mission to gain experience for the venture that lay ahead. Coming from the bad slums to Micklepage, with its peace and beauty, in the Spring of 1936, made a profound impression. First we had to earn money catering for guests at the Farmhouse, teas with scones and cakes etc. in those days. But Joan and my sights were on the hostel we planned for country holidays for mums and children from the slums. [ more] |
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In a Leaflet issued just before 1939, George Gibson wrote of his Experience in Camberwell and Hopes for Micklepage.
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"What time do we start milking?", I asked anxiously. "Six o'clock prompt", replied Ken. It was as I had feared. I have never found it easy to leave my bed, and I was committed to this terribly early hour! I had just been accepted as a Probationer in the Community, and, on the strength of my rather transparent experience in farming and teaching, had been told I could help Ken with the cows, and possibly be of use in the community-run school, at Gaveston.
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The Trust Deed was signed the day after my birth. Nearly 50 years on, I am able to evaluate, condone, criticise, be resentful about, be grateful for, be exhilarated by, and perhaps understand much that went on in those early years. But where does childhood end....? I will confine my memories to "innocence of childhood" days.
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We first came to Micklepage on a private visit to Godfrey and Gertrude Pain, who were then living, with their two small daughters, in the cottage. We had known them for over ten years, first meeting when Godfrey became Youth Leader at Carrs Lane Congregational Church in Birmingham; he and Gertrude started the `70 Club', of which we were both members. In addition to many practical activities, discussion groups flourished and `Community' was always a live issue.
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If anyone asked me now how to convert a run-down barn into weekend accommodation for groups, using unskilled labour, I would seriously advise them that it is impossible. We didn't know it was impossible when we started, so we went ahead and did it anyway. Something like 80% of the Barn conversion was done on odd weekends by a stream of students from Imperial College, Queen Elizabeth College, and the Royal College of Music.
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It was about 1965 that Sheila and I first became aware of Micklepage. We were establishing the Lee Abbey International Students Club in London and receiving invaluable help and encouragement from Lt Col George Grimshaw, the Overseas Secretary of CMS. His concern was to help the Church face up to its responsibilities to the crowds of young students from all over the world, flooding into London.
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Who is this
Housed in a stable, in wooden manger laid?
Is this the Lord by whom the worlds were made?
And can my faith prove sure and undismayed?
Jesus cradled in the wood,
Jesus my incarnate God.
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Towards the end of the Open Day on 12 October 1991, there took place a little ceremony that became, as I felt, lifted out of the ordinary into that realm from which "signs" are given.
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Grant us O Lord
A vision of Micklepage
Fair as she might be
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The Community of St. Hilda celebrated Christmas together on Boxing Day. For me, as a child, there was not the flatness of that ‘day after’ feeling but rather the excitement of anticipation as we made the wintry drive from Graffham, where my father was the parish priest. Turning into Micklepage...
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