VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,-

Christmas has come and gone. The Church was nicely decorated, the Services were well attended, and I think this year the Carol singing was much appreciated.

Mrs. Noble and the members of the Women's Fellowship together with Mrs. Mutter and G.F.S. are much to be congratulated on the splendid entertainment they gave us in the Parish Hall. The proceeds go to starting a fund for obtaining the services of a District Nurse for this Village, and Stockbury, and Bredhurst.

The need has long been felt and if all rally round the project we shall carry it through.

More will be heard of the scheme very soon.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER.

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS.

The Sunday School and the G.F.S. had their annual treat on January 3rd in the School room. After tea games followed and then came the prize giving. Mrs. T. G. Denson kindly made the presentations. The following received prizes:- Ernest Philpot, Bettie Harris, G. Whitehead, R. Twort, R. Dixon, Gordon Read, E. Basedon, J. Basedon, Lily Dixon, Winifred Kitchingham, Kathleen Read, Betty Twort, and Doris Skinner. Every child and G.F.S. member also received a present and an orange and sweets to take home. Our thanks go to those who so kindly contributed towards the expenses, also to Miss Faussett Osborne who bought the presents, and to Mrs. Rainey for her usual gift of oranges.

The adult members of the Choir, the Bell-ringers, and the Churchwardens were entertained at the Vicarage on the lawn. After supper the time was spent in music and chat and a happy evening went all too quickly.

DIOCESAN GIFT DAY.

On January 19th the Vicar, Wardens, Treasurer, and Mesdames Denson and Mutter journeyed to Canterbury Cathedral to take part in the great Gift Day. It was hoped the final £10,000 to complete the £50,000 asked for by the Archbishop for needful Church extension in the Diocese, would be presented. The sum aimed at has not been reached. £4,643 was the sum received. But the Service was a memorable one. The Archbishop sat at the Nave altar and received the gifts. Colonel Locke took the Hartlip Offering which amounted to about £13 0s. 0d. The men and women going up in a long line was a striking

reminder of what the Diocese really stands for and a witness to Diocesan Unity. The service ended with the solemn procession round the Nave, a symbol of the Church alert and alive to the duty of extending Christ's Kingdom in the Diocese.

Sincere thanks go to those who helped by their contributions on this occasion.

Lent and Easter are late this year. We shall have a week day service on Wednesdays and the preacher will be the Rev. S. R. Griggs, Rural Dean of Canterbury. On some of the Sunday nights there will be a special preacher from St. John's staff at Chatham.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FOR 1935.

Easter. - 18th April, re-opens 29th.
Whitsun. - 10th June, re-opens 11th.
June 17th, re-opens July 1st.
August Bank Holiday.
Summer. - August 28th re-opens September 30th.
Christmas. - December 23rd, re-opens Jan. 6th, 1936.

MISSIONARY BOXES.

£s.d.s.d.
The late Mrs. Ongley(231)36
Mrs. R. Ongley (9100)86
Mrs. Kitchingham(1156)311
Vicar(0151)41
Bellringers(1911)57

This £1 5s. 7d. was sent to S.P.G. The amounts bracketed show the total collected from their start by boxholders. Who will take one? The Vicar will be glad to supply anyone with one.

TABLEAUX VIVANTS.

January l6th saw the Hall packed with an expectant audience, which was not disappointed. The curtain rose for a play by the G.F.S. girls, and the performers acquitted themselves well. A Scotch eightsome reel, taught by Mrs. Mutter, was introduced and received great applause.

Then came the Tableaux. First came a little acting by Mrs. Philpot. She was seen in a home doing her spring-cleaning, and, tired out, went to sleep on a sofa to dream of a trip to the Far East. The series of pictures was her dream. We saw the departure of the ship from Southampton, them a call at Marseilles with the tourists mixing with French dames. Port Said followed with Arab scenes. Palestine came next and we saw the first camel introduced on a Hartlip stage. India and tiger-hunting followed on. The life-like elephant and tigers made the audience gasp. Scenes in Persia were wonderfully and beautifully shown after this, whilst the tableaux concluded with Chinese scenes. The dresses and make-up were excellent and aroused great applause. For this village entertainment, done entirely by the Women's Fellowship, there can be nothing but praise. Captain Bayley sang sea shanties and songs between the scenes, whilst Mr. Lilwall, at the piano, kept us busy in the short intervals, with community singing. At the end Mrs. Noble appeared, on a call for the producer, and received a bouquet of carnations. She suitably responded, and we had a glimpse of the scene-shifters, who had worked so efficiently behind the curtain.

Hartlip is wondering what the next entertainment of the Fellowship will be like.