VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,-

A good deal has been done in the way of repairs, painting, and renewal at the Church. The louvre boards in the Tower needed repair and in some cases renewal. The spouting and ironwork has been painted, repairs to the masonry is being done, and the Lych Gate has been put into thorough repair and oiled. Some of the wood was badly decayed with dry rot. All is now in splendid order. A new flag-pole on the Tower was necessary, and the vane is improved with its re-gilding. The face of the clock is yet to be done, and it is hoped our paths will he repaired and top-dressed this autumn. Then all should be in good order for some time to come.

A beautiful frontal and hangings made of rich gold silk brocade and green velvet has been added to the Sanctuary furniture for use at what is termed ferial seasons, that is, times when no festivals or penitential periods are being observed,

One constantly hears appreciation expressed by visitors of the way in which the Hartlip Church and Churchyard are cared for.

The School closed for the Autumn Holiday on the 23rd August, and will re-open on September 30th. I was pleased to welcome Mrs. Thomas, who has helped here previously. She came for the last week whilst the Head Teacher attended a Summer School at Ramsgate. These Summer Schools provide Teachers with means of gaining fresh experience in various educational ways, by which the scholars profit later on. Six children have left this term, having passed their eleventh birthday. We need an influx of fresh ones if we are to keep up our numbers.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER

MOTHERS' UNION.

Our Summer Meeting was held on the 14th of August. A Service was held in the Church at 3 p.m., when an interesting address was given by the Rev. W. J. Jillings, the Chaplain of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He told the history of this ancient foundation, dating from the time of the Norman Conquest. It is a wonderful story, stretching down the centuries. For some time it was a leper hospital. The old Hospital Chapel near High Street, Chatham, was once converted into private dwellings and afterwards restored to its original purpose once again. The Vicar suggests that one afternoon the members might go on pilgrimage to this old place of worship and ask the Chaplain to point out the ancient work, which is worth a visit for those who revere antiquities. The Vicar and Mrs. Mutter entertained the members to tea on the Vicarage lawn. Mrs. R. G. E. Locke, after years of faithful service which all have valued, felt she must resign her post as Hon. Secretary, and Mrs. W. Kitchingham was elected as her successor. The Committee are meeting to formulate plans for the winter session, and these will be made known at the Meeting in October.

HARVEST AND DEDICATION FESTIVALS.

These will be kept on Friday, the 27th, and on the following Sunday, the 29th, which is St. Michael's Day.

Service on Friday night at 7 p.m. Preacher, the Venerable Archdeacon Sopwith.

Sunday, Holy Communion at 7, 8, and following Matins at 11 a.m.

Children's Gift Service at 3 p.m.

Evensong at 6.30 p.m.

The collections will be given to St. Bartholomew's Hospital at Rochester.

Gifts of fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc., will be welcomed and should reach the Church on Friday Morning, when the lady decorators are asked to attend.

The Matron of the Eye and Ear Hospital at Maidstone has sent a letter of thanks to Mrs. Locke for organising a collection of produce on August 15th. Much appreciation is expressed to those donors who kindly contributed in this way.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

"Henry III. in the ninth year of his reign gave the Church of Hartlepe to the Prior of St. Andrew's in Rochester." This means that the appointment to the Cure of Souls was in the gift of the Benedictine Monks who were in charge of the Cathedral at Rochester. The Prior of the Monastery corresponded to the Dean, who since the Reformation is at the head of the Cathedral Chapter, or governing body. The Prior of the Cathedral retained the gift of Hartlip until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. This King settled it on the newly-elected Dean and Chapter. Although the Living is now in the gift of the Archbishop of Canturbury, yet our Chancel is still kept in repair by the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, who receive share of the Hartlip Tithes.

In 1511, where the present Chancel Screen is erected there stood a painted Rood Loft, from which the Gospel (or Passion) was read on Palm Sunday. This was probably destroyed within the next fifty years, and there is no trace of the steps which led to it.

An altar tomb stood outside the East end of the Church in 1680, with the following inscription:- "Here lyeth interred the Body of Mary, one of the daughters of Robert Osborne, a gent, a virtuous wife, to three husbands, all of this parish, viz., Ambrose Wilson, gent (by whom she had only one sonne who lyes hereby buried); Gabriell Salisbury, clerk; and Thomas Gibbon, gent, whose relict she died the 22nd October, 1678, in the 88th year of her age."

This is the Mary Gibbon who endowed the School, which is her more lasting memorial. Her second husband was Vicar of Hartlip 1622 to 1638, and the name was sometimes spelt Salesbury.

Paradise was a good old Mansion in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the property of a Rowland Searle.

Yaugher in those days was known as the Croft.