VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,

This month was saddened be the death of Mr. Lilwall, which is fully referred to below. I was grateful to Miss Fausett-Osborne for playing at such short notice. We have since had the help of Mr. Horace Grensted at the organ. He is well known to many of you as a keen organist and choirmaster, and I hope he will see his way to accepting the permanent position. We badly need more choirboys, but at present I do not know where to find them. The number of children in the village seems to be lessening. The school roll does not increase.

I am grateful to Archdeacon Sopwith and the Rector of Upchurch for coming to preach at the Harvest and Dedication Festivals. The Services were well attended, and £5 18s. 8d. was given for St. Bartholomew's Hospital at Rochester. The offerings in kind were also given to the Hospital. A splendid collection of 92 eggs were brought at the Children's Service - always a most acceptable gift for the sick. Thanks go to all who contributed gifts for the Harvest Festival.

October 6th means we enter again on ordinary time. Harvesting and hop-picking are over for another year, and it will mean some of my readers will not be so tired as they must have been after the strenuous work in the orchards and fields. I hope the Church attendance will improve.

Winter activities will begin. The Women's Fellowship, the Mothers' Union, and the Girls' Friendly Society make a fresh start. At the Parish Hall work is in hand to provide a new billiard room and club. This should be a real boon for our young men especially.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER

BAPTISMS.

Sept. 1st  - Brian Walter, son of Harold Geoffrey and Maria Kitchingliam.
Sept. 8th  - Joyce Elizabeth, daughter of Horace Osborne Robert and Ellen Louise Taylor,

DEATH.

Hamilton George Lilwall, died September 8th, 1935, aged 66 years.

It came as a shock to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of our friend and organist. For over fifteen years the late Mr. Lilwall held his position here. Born in London, he came to

Chatham about thirty years ago and worked in the Dockyard in the Civil Engineers' Department. He retired on pension in 1929. He was devoted to Hartlip, and was always generous in the time he gave to helping us, not only in the Church, but also at village social functions, and he will be very much missed. He was naturally musical and loved to help in this way. Had he been able to devote his whole time to music he would have been a brilliant player, for he was endowed with the gift. He composed a tuneful Benedicite which we sing and set music to other verse. He had a kindly, obliging disposition, and never bore resentment, being friendly to all and he strove to please everyone. His last call came on a Sunday morning just as he prepared to come over to us. At night, though we did not know of his decease, we sang the Evensong unaccompanied, the organ was silent. It seemed a fitting tribute to his labours, as was later realised. The funeral took place at Gillingham, and the Vicar took the last rites at the graveside. Mrs. Mutter and Mr. W. A. Miles were amongst the mourners to represent Hartlip. The parish sent a large and beautiful wreath as a token of affection, and other Hartlip friends sent floral tributes.

On the Sunday following a Memorial Service was held in our Church, and the Vicar referred in feeling words to the loss of our esteemed friend. His widow was present, and desires to thank all for their expressions of sympathy at her great loss. May he rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.

SCHOOL.

The School Trustees have purchased a set of new oak gates, which vastly improve the appearance of the School property. Repairs and painting have been effected at the School House, and the Playground has been top-dressed with asphalte tar and gravel.

THE CHURCH.

The Lych-gate has been thoroughly repaired and all the Church paths and Church surroundings have been top-dressed with tar and gravel. The Church doors, spouting, and window frames have been painted, and the clock is being done and repair to the masonry of the Tower. The Churchyard is being graded and re-turfed where necessary. The Notice Board has been moved under the protection of a yew tree, so we hope rain will not wash the notices away, and that it will catch the eyes of the people more effectually than previously. Altogether the Church surroundings are greatly improved, and, as Archdeacon Sopwith remarked "It gladdens the heart of an Archdeacon to a Church manifestly so well cared for."