Tercentenary Celebrations
We started planning for our 300th Anniversary four years before the event. Even for the hard working committee, it was not too early. It was decided to celebrate all the way through 2007, with a series of events and activities, partly to suit differing tastes, but also to demonstrate that our Church is a diverse organisation. We are united in our love of God and our desire to live out our Mission Statement but the ways in which we can do that are diverse indeed. We enjoy fun and friendship as well as the serious side of caring for others. We made plenty of opportunities for anyone and everyone to come and join us. It was our hope and aim that, by the end of 2007, everyone in Princes Risborough would know where the Baptist Church was, that it was 300 years old and what it was for. In the first week of January, a new banner went up over our Bell Street gateway:
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
Established 1707
It’s Our 300th Birthday!
Come and join us
Here's how the rest of the year went:
Children's Events:
The very youngest helped us to plant 300 Daffodils (in 2006), which brightened up the Church Grounds. We had Fundays, using our Bouncy Castle and joined in with the Churches Together in Risborough for Pentecost Party in the Park. In June, we held a Children's Celebration Weekend, led by Rev. David Gardner. Then there was the launch of 300 balloons on Pentecost Sunday - well, that was for the grown-ups as well!
Drama:
We actually started our Tercentenary in December 2006, with a performance by the Viz-à-viz Drama Group: "More to Christmas". By February we were ready to dress up ourselves for a re-enactment of an Historic Dinner and a dramatised version of our eventful 300-year history. There was more dressing up for the Town Festival in July and, in December, for an all-age dramatised nativity, "Come to Bethlehem".
Music:
In January, evangelist and pianist, Peter Jackson led us for a weekend focus on prayer. In November, the Wycombe Male Voice Orpheus Choir gave a superb concert.
The Church Seasons:
Easter, Harvest and Christmas are always special occasions. In 2007, we ensured that they were all especially memorable. In June, it was a privilege for us to host the Princes Risborough Civic Service. In his address, Rev Adrian Redfearn spoke of the place of the Church in its service to the Community.
Special Guest Speakers:
We were privileged to welcome many guest speakers throughout the year. Old friends, Rev. John Rackley and former Pastor, Rev. David Hughes, led special services. From the Headquarters of our Baptist Denomination, we were blessed by visits from Rev. Alistair Brown (Director General of BMS World Mission), Rev. Jonathan Edwards (General Secretary of the Baptist Union) and Rev. Paul Goodliffe (Head of Ministry Department, Baptist Union). From the Central Baptist Association, of which we are a part, came Rev. Geoff Colmer (Senior Regional Minister), Rev. John Smith (Area Coordinator BMS World Mission), Rev. Colin Pye (Regional Minister), Rev. Helen Wordsworth (Regional Minister and Mission Enabler), Rev. Stephen Copson (General Secretary) and Rev. Jonathan Bishop (Children and Youth Development Worker). All these visitors gave us welcome encouragement and inspiration.
Lectures:
"The Importance of History" was clearly a very relevant topic during this special year and Mr. Kenrick Jones and Rev. Adrian Redfearn each gave excellent lectures on this theme.
Book Launches:
At our Foundation Day Celebrations on 25th February, we launched a new Book: "As Witness This Day". Many members of the Church contributed to this book. It contains a new history of the Church (The last history was written in 1957.) It also contains an account of the activities of today's Church and our vision of where we are going in the future. Copies are still available.
In March, at our World Mission Weekend, another book launch was achieved. "This Is My Story" by Joy Larkin tells of the life of her husband, Frank Larkin, a former member of the Church, who's life's ministry encompassed service in many different places both at home and abroad. Copies of this book are also still available.
A New Banner:
We had a great year of celebration. We looked back with some amazement at our colourful past and drew inspiration from it. Yet we looked forward too, searching for ways in which this Church may move forward into the years to come with a determination to serve our Community. Central to everything is Jesus and our love for him. Our new Tercentenary Banner says it all:
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