Monday Group

At the Group AGM held on July 2nd it was decided that with dwindling elderly membership, no one of whom felt able to take on the essential but demanding role of Secretary after Margaret Deakin’s death, the Group could no longer continue.  The decision was taken with much regret.
Monday Group President, Mrs Daphne Thompson, presenting a cheque for £1100 to last year's charity, the "Blood Bikers"		Formed as a social gathering, from 1980 the Group has also collected money to donate to charity.  It has sent sums ranging from £3.88 to £1,130 (the effect of inflation!) to more than 50 different organisations, including PMC, local, national and international. At the AGM it was decided, after discussion, that, once all financial obligations are settled, the sum remaining in the Group’s bank account should be added to this year’s charity collection.  It will be sent one third to Thomas Ball Children’s Cancer Trust and two thirds to Rennie Grove Hospice Care, the difference reflecting the Group’s appreciation of the assistance Margaret received from Rennie Grove. The Group thanks PMC for its generous hospitality through the years. May God go with you. Daphne Thompson, President

Friendship Club

Colin Veysey and Philippa Wallin entertain

The Friendship Club meets once a month from 2.00pm in the Church , on the third Wednesday.

The Club enjoys a varied programme of favourite hymns, prayer, music, quizzes, and poems.  We welcome a wide range of speakers, often talking about mission work they are involved in.  We also have regular visits from  choirs from the Prestwood Schools, and other talented local musicians.

Transport can be arranged for those who have difficulty getting to the church under their own steam.

There is no charge for the Friendship Club, but donations are always welcomed and are periodically sent to selected charities or deserving causes.

Further information from Mary Spooner

150th church anniversary

This year Prestwood Methodist Chapel is 150 years old.  The chapel was built in 1863, and prior to its construction, Methodists in the village met in a room in "The Traveller's Rest" pub.

We held a weekend of celebrations just after Easter, and welcomed many guests from near and far to the occasion.  You can view a copy of the weekend programme <here>.

The preface to the 1933 edition of the Methodist Hymn Book states that ‘Methodism was born in song’.  By contrast in Prestwood, Methodism was nurtured in a pub.  Its members once used to meet in a room at the (now closed) Traveller’s Rest.

That all changed 150 years ago.  The Methodist Church which now stands in the High Street was built following the purchase of land for £12 on 15th April 1863, and it has stood there ever since.

To celebrate our 150^th anniversary, the church members held a full programme of events for the weekend of 13th and 14th April 2013. The church was open to all throughout the entire weekend with a Flower Festival, photographic exhibition and concerts by the children of Prestwood Infant School, “Singspiration”, and dancers of the Chiltern Academy.

The theme for the anniversary was ‘Looking Back; Moving Forward’ and guest preachers on Sunday were the past President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd. Alison Tomlin, and her husband the Revd Dave Tomlin.  Dave Tomlin attended Prestwood Methodist Church with his family during the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Trusting that God still has a role for Methodism in Prestwood, the church decided to ‘move forward’ by embarking upon a major refurbishment involving the re-alignment of the main entrance and the installation of glass entrance doors. The new entrance was dedicated during the weekend by the Revd. Nigel Coke-Woods, our Minister from 2008 until 2012.  See details of the new entrance <here>.