The Vicarage,
29th April, 1924.

My Dear Friends,

It is with pleasure and thankfulness that I write about the observance of the solemn season of Lent and the Great Festival of Easter in our Church. In Lent the the attendance at the Special Week-day Services and at Evensong on the Sundays was generally very good, especially considering how much illness there was in the village.

On Good Friday evening the large congregation entered reverently into the thoughts of Our Lord's Passion end were helped, I am sure, by the Sacred Pictures and Music. Then on Easter Day it was good to see so many of our people at the early Services. Thirty-six made their Easter Communion at the 7 a.m. Service so, evidently, many found a celebration at that hour convenient for them. Altogether at the Festival there were 86 Communicants. The Easter Offerings to the Vicar for the Dilapidations Fund amounted to £8/16/7 and I wish to express my appreciation of and thanks for this generous eontribution towards the £10 which I have to pay each year. The rendering of the Easter Anthem "They have taken away my Lord" was, I think, one of the best things I have heard our Choir do. It was the result of very thorough practice, and we owe much to our Organist and to the Members of the Choir for the time and attention they give to make the music at our Services so good. We appreciate a special effort by the Choir but far more important and valuable is the help they give in making all the singing bright and hearty and so leading the congregation in worship.

Many of our Sunday School children had Lent-Savings Boxes for the Waifs and Strays Society and a few were taken also by others. The total amount collected was £3/0/9/¼ - a very nice sum.

I remain,

Your sincere Friend and Vicar,
D. H. CREATON.

The Day School.

For thirty years past the children of Hartlip have been under the tuition of Mr. John Labrum. Some who are now grown up and have children of their own look back to the days when he taught them. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this thirty years' work in and for the village, and it may be said truly that it has been done conscientiously, thoroughly and effectively.

The time has come when Mr. Labrum has thought it wise to retire from the post he has held so long, and on Thursday, April 17th, he and Mrs. Labrum (who has all through ably taught the needlework in the School) were asked to accept a handsome Corner Cupboard and an Illuminated Address in token of the appreciation by the people of Hartlip of their valuable work. We wish them every happiness and blessing in their new home and we hope that they will sometimes visit the village that has known and respected them for so many years.

The Bibles which are given to children who complete their School Course in our School have not been presented during the past two or three years and we found that up

to the end of 1923 there were 22 young people who should receive them. Most of these were able to be present in the School on April 17th, to be presented with the beautifully bound copies of the Holy Scriptures. The Managers have appointed Mr. R. J. Southgate as the new Headmaster. He is to begin his work here when the School re-opens on Monday, May 5th. We shall give him and Mrs. Southgate a hearty welcome amongst us.

The Church Bells.

We were honoured on Saturday, April 26th, by having here a Meeting of the Kent Bellringers' Association. After some ringing, a Service was held at 5 o'clock and this was followed by a tea in the Schoolroom to which about 40 sat down. Mrs. Rainey and other ladies kindly arranged a very nice tea for us. A pleasant surprise came after the tea when Col. Locke presented to the Vicar, to be hung in the Church, a most interesting and beautifully written account of the Hartlip bells mounted in an oak frame. It will be seen on the wall near the font and parishioners should look at it.

The combined Meeting of the Easter Vestry and the Church Council was held on April 28th, The Vicar nominated Lt.-Col. R. G. E. Locke as his Warden for the year and in doing so spoke of his long and valued services to the Church and to successive Vicars in this office. Sir William Haggard was re-elected as People's Warden.

A number of our G.F.S. Candidates entered for the Diocesan competitions and we are glad to say that two of them have gained the distinction of being first in Diocese for their work - Louie Hollands for her illuminated design of the G.F.S. Motto "Bear ye one anothers burdens" and Mollie Hales for her original design and work for a feeder. We congratulate them both and Hartlip takes a high place in these competitions by their success.

Collections in Church.

£s.d.
Mar.30th-Organ and Choir Fund181
Apr.6th-Church Expenses1116
"13th-Quota to Diocesan Funds1171
"17th-Vicar's Fund116
"18th-C.E.T.S Police Court Mission0176
"20th & 22nd - Easter Offerings867
"27th-Church Expenses1310

EXTRACTS FROM THE REGISTERS.

Baptisms.

March 30th - Dora Joan, daughter of Henry Edwin and Alice Emily Godden.

April 12th - Mary Annette, daughter of Donald Humphrey and Marjorie Ruth Creaton.