The document provides information about upcoming events at Hayes Free Church in October 2017, including a Christmas fair, card sale, quiz evening, holiday at home program, and antiques fair. It also summarizes changes to the church's pastoral linkage and notes various preachers for Sunday services. Details are given about the recent closure of Pickhurst Lodge Pre-School after 66 years of operation by the church.

1. Catalyst
THE MAGAZINE OF HAYES
FREE CHURCH (U.R.C.)
October 2017

2. HAYES FREE CHURCH
111, Pickhurst Lane, Hayes, Kent BR2 7HU
Sunday Services. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.
We are a member of the United Reformed
Church. We believe in Justice and Peace.
Principal Contacts
Interim Moderator: Mrs Hilary Miles
Church Secretary: Mrs Mavis Righini Tel: 020 8462 1168
Treasurer: Mr. Simon Narracott Tel: 020 8462 2004
Lettings Secretary: Mrs Undine Connolly Tel: 020 8776 0108
Church Website www.hayesfreechurch.com
Church Magazine Catalyst
Editor: Miss Christine Rees catalysthfc
@btinternet.com
Contents :
Church Secretary’s Letter 1 Christmas Tree Festival 9
News/ Sunday Services 2 Cancer Research Fair 10
Church Notices 3,4,13 Antiques Fair 11
Quiz Evening 5 Salvation Army concert 12
Pickhurst Pre-School 6-7 Food Bank latest needs 12
Holiday at Home 7 October dates/ Stop Press 14
Christmas Fair/ Card Sale 8 Martin Luther / Calendar 15-16
HFC Organisations inside back cover Final Thought - back cover
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy for the October 2017 edition is needed by Sunday 15th
October –
the editor is very grateful if you would submit items in good time.
You can leave copy in the "R" Pigeon Hole for Christine to collect; hand it
directly to her, or e-mail it to catalysthfc@btinternet.com Thank you.
Editor’s note: throughout this magazine, the following abbreviations are standardly used:
URC (United Reformed Church); HFC (Hayes Free Church);
CTiH (Churches Together in Hayes).

3. - 1 -
Letter from the Church Secretary
Dear All,
Do you like change? Most people don't, preferring to stay in a
comfortable rut.
Our Church is going through change and we can rejoice that it is all
to help our future. Our joint pastorate has changed but God is still
with us all.
We have decided to join Trinity Church, Freelands Road, a new
Christian family, to link with. We haven't lost our friends at
Beckenham, they are still just a little step away.
Our Beckenham friends will be joining us for our Harvest Lunch.
We are looking forward to a new Minister, whom we can share with
Trinity, Bromley. God knows who will answer a call to come and we
must be patient and trust God.
So let us look forward with faith that this new chapter in our
church’s life will be a blessing for us all.
With Christian love
Mavis

4. - 2 -
Church News: Hayes links with Trinity URC, Bromley
Hayes Free Church has been seeking a Minister to undertake a
joint pastorate with Beckenham URC, a link which goes back some
20 years. This arrangement, however, can no longer offer an
applicant a fulltime position, but only 75%. In order to deal with this
problem, a reconfiguration has been proposed by the Synod
Moderator, and after the agreement of both churches was secured,
Hayes is now embarking upon plans for a joint pastorate with
Trinity URC, Bromley. Beckenham meanwhile will be linked with
another church. This arrangement should enable both Hayes and
Beckenham to be part of fulltime pastorates.
Sunday Services in October 2017
1st
10.30 am - Morning Service – Hayes Free Church Elders
6.30 pm - Holy Communion – Judy Davies
8th
10.30 am – Harvest Festival and Parade Service – Rev. Geoff
Larcombe
6.30 pm – Evening Service – TBA
15th
10.30 am - Morning Service – David Lemmon
6.30 pm –Evening Service – Brenda Cordingley
22nd
10.30 am - Morning Service – TBA
6.30 pm – Evening Service -TBA
29th
10.30 am - Morning Service – Tony Russell
6.30pm – Evening Service - TBA
Evening services will take place in the Elders’ Vestry, which is accessed
from the side door in Hilldown Road.
Notes on Preachers
 Judy Davies is a Synod Recognized Lay Preacher from Bromley URC
(Widmore Road), where she is also Church Secretary.
 Rev. Geoff Larcombe is a retired Baptist Minister, who has worked in
India with the Leprosy Mission.
 David Lemmon is a Local Preacher from Bromley Methodist Church,
and a retired Youth Worker.
 Brenda Cordingley is a longstanding member of our congregation.
 Tony Russell is a non-serving Elder of Hayes Free Church. He was
Church Secretary for some years, and later was Church Treasurer.

5. - 3 -
Church Meetings
NB The meeting of Sunday 24th
September has
been moved to Sunday 1st
October at 12.00 noon.
After that, the next regular Church meeting will be at
12.00 noon on Sunday 26th
November, in the church
following the morning service.
The next two Elders’ meetings (which continue on a
monthly basis) will be at 7.00 pm in the small hall on
Tuesdays 3rd
October and 7th
November.
News of the Church Family
Muriel Stone: We have received the news that Muriel Stone, whom many
from this church will remember, died peacefully in August, shortly before her
92nd
birthday. She was born in Southend-on-Sea, and first came to the
church with her husband Alan when they moved to Beckenham in 1963. She
became a longstanding member here at Hayes, leaving only in 2012 when
she moved to Cardiff to be near to her daughter Judith.
Muriel’s son Andrew writes:
Her faith was strong and vital for her and this was significantly due to the
warmth of the congregation and wider community at Hayes Free Church
through which many lifelong friendships were formed and with whom she
participated joyfully for many years.
Muriel’s funeral will have taken place in Cardiff by the time this issue of
Catalyst is published, but her family have asked that any donations in her
memory should be made to The Alzheimer's Society.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Muriel’s son Andrew and daughter Judith,
and their families.
Jan Moren: Jan wishes to send a message to everyone who has held her in
their thoughts and prayers over recent months, and to those who have sent
cards and good wishes, and given practical help. She is very grateful, and
sends her thanks to everyone, and would like you to know that she is
progressing, albeit slowly.
Women's Contact Group: 2nd October
We will be meeting for our monthly meal at the Warren Sports Ground,
Hayes, at 12.30 pm on Monday 2nd
October. The Warren is accessed by car
from Croydon Road (address: Croydon Road, Hayes, BR2 7AL) or on foot
from the junction of Warren Road and Holland Way. All ladies are welcome.
Sylvia Mack

6. - 4 -
Men's Group: 19th October NB CHANGE OF PLAN
The Men’s Group will meet for a meal at the New Inn, Hayes at 8pm on
Thursday 19th
October. Please contact Bruce by 12th
Oct if you wish to go.
The Tuesday Friendship Group:
As explained last month, the former Women’s Fellowship has now expanded
to form this newly titled group, open to both men and women. As before
meetings will be held in the small hall at 2.00pm on Tuesdays, finishing at
about 3.30pm. Members of the group will be notified direct if there are any
additional arrangements for 24th
October. The October programme is:
3rd
Oct Bring a favourite poem
10th
Oct Anniversary service with Judy Davies
17th
Oct Memorabilia: Bring something old that means a lot
24th
Oct Service at Coney Hill Baptist Church
31st
Oct Beetle Drive
Members who use the Mini-Ambulance service are asked to phone Sylvia
Mack on 8462 1938 by 9.00 am on any Tuesday that they are unable to
come to a meeting. Please come along for a pleasant afternoon. We have a
very varied programme with plenty to interest everyone. Sylvia Mack
Hayes Mothers' & Toddlers' Club: Fridays (except 27th Oct)
We welcome all babies and children under school age, accompanied by their
parents, grandparents or carers, to our club on Friday afternoons between 2
and 4pm in term time. The fee is £1 per family - tea, squash and biscuits are
provided. This is a time when adults can meet up, while the children in their
care are busy playing with toys and activities in the company of other
children. Please note we will NOT meet on Friday 27th
October, which is half
term. Wendy Smith
Messy Church: 25th October
This meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the church from 3.30 -
4.30 pm, and children from 2 to 12 years are welcome.
Book Club: 4th October
We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 2.00pm in the Small Hall.
This month’s meeting will be on Wednesday 4th
October.
Harvest Lunch: 21st October
This will take place on Saturday 21st
October at 12.30pm in the Small Hall, at
a cost of £5 per head. Please have a word with Barbara (8325 5619) or
Daphne (8777 2487) as soon as possible if you wish to go.
For other regular Church notices please see page 13

7. - 5 -

8. - 6 -
Pickhurst Lodge Pre School 1951-2017
Some 66 years ago the Pickhurst Lodge Nursery School was started by a
member of the then Hayes Free Church (Congregational) known as HFC.
Mrs Grist ran this from her home as there was no Church as we know it now.
In 1937 Pickhurst Lodge on the old Pickhurst Manor Estate became
available to use by HFC and later in 1955 this was demolished to make way
for the current Church Hall followed by the Church building we now have.
In 1972 the Church became Hayes Free Church (URC) after the
amalgamation of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches.
So you will see that the Pickhurst Lodge Nursery School retained its early
roots in its name. From very humble beginnings it grew to 66 children each
morning from 9.15am to 12.15pm providing a service to the Community with
the staff largely made up of Church Members.
The children were divided into 4 Classes, each with a teacher and helper.
The time was divided between play, music and movement and children were
helped with early learning skills in preparation for Primary School. Each child
had their own marked chair and peg to hang their coats.
You may remember some of those who taught the children: The first being
Mrs Margaret Grist, followed by Mrs Hilda Warwick, Mrs Pat Dodsworth, Mrs
Joan Davidson, Mrs Glen Robson, Mrs Connie Russell, Mrs Elizabeth Wilson,
Mrs Winnie Hodgson, Mrs Teresa Cheyne, Mrs Vicky Lymer, and Mrs Penny
Drew up to the most recent Mrs Jane Carvell and Mrs Celia Jardine. We owe
a great debt of gratitude to all these ladies who will always be remembered
for their care and understanding.
Following the introduction of the Education (Schools) Act 1992 which was
monitored by OFSTED there were a number changes. Vouchers had been
introduced to help with child care costs and a great deal more paperwork was
involved and around that time the name changed to Pickhurst Lodge Pre
School.
Times change and both parents were often working and required more
childcare hours to suit their life style which we could not provide. It was not
going to improve with the implementation of the increased Government
payments to 30 hours per week for children 3 years and over, encouraging
parents back into work. Our numbers had been steadily reducing until on 24
March 2017 the PLPS closed its doors for the last time. Numbers were then
13 and it was no longer possible to continue the service which had so loyally
been given.
On that day some of the past teachers were able to attend for Coffee and
Cakes whist the children enjoyed an early party lunch.

9. - 7 -
The following day was a sad one too when we had to sell all the games and
toys that had accumulated over the years so that we could pay our
outstanding debts and the remainder of toys etc were given to similar
Children’s Charitable Pre School Groups in the area.
I’m happy to say that we were able to help the parents find places for all the
children who had to leave us.
Please excuse any inaccuracies regarding the history of Pickhurst Lodge
which goes back a long way and some of the facts were therefore difficult to
authenticate.
Margaret Tannock
Chair Pickhurst Lodge Pre School
******
Holiday at Home 2017
Once again our “holiday at home” was a great
success. It is enjoyed by many each year, building
fond memories and friendships.
This year it was held on Tuesday August 8th
and
Wednesday August 9th
. The two days were
crammed with entertainment, activities, and time to
chat. As always food plays an important part, with a
delicious hot meal each day with plenty of coffee,
tea and cake on hand.
Thank you to all the volunteers and behind-the-scenes helpers who
generously give their time to serve this event each year.
Pat and Joan

10. - 8 -

11. - 9 -
HAYES FREE CHURCH
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
2nd
– 10th
December 2017
in aid of BROMLEY Y
Bromley Y is a long established local charity offering
free therapeutic support to young people between the
ages of 0 -18 years, and to their families.
The church will be open for services at 10.30am and 6.30pm on both Sundays.
During the festival it will also be open daily to view the trees as shown below.
NB The church will NOT be open on Sat 2nd December until 7.00pm.
Saturday 2nd December 7.30pm – OPENING CONCERT:
Croydon Guitar Club Entertains
Sunday 3rd December 6.30pm – Evening Service with Pickhurst Junior Academy
Tree viewing 1.00 – 2.45pm
Monday 4th December 7.30pm - Bishop Justus School Concert
Tree viewing from 2.30pm to start of concert
Tues 5th December NO EVENING EVENT Tree viewing 2.30 – 4.30pm
Wednesday 6th December 7.30pm – Concert: The Wandle Ringers
Tree viewing from 2.30pm to start of concert
Thurs 7th December 7.30pm – Chamber Concert: Bromley Youth Music Trust
(featuring string quartets and Cello Massif)
Tree viewing from 2.30pm to start of concert
Fri 8th December 7.00 for 7.20pm – Film: The Shop around the Corner (1940)
(relive the cinema experience of the 1940s in the company of James Stewart and
Margaret Sullavan)
Tree viewing from 2.30pm to start of film evening
Sat 9th December 7.45pm – Concert: Beckenham Concert Band
Tree viewing from 2.30pm to start of concert
Sun 10th December 6.30pm – Evening Service: Churches Together in Hayes
with musicians from Hayes School Tree viewing 1.00 – 2.45pm
All the money raised will go to Bromley Y:
www.bromleywellbeingcyp.org
www.hayesfreechurch.com

12. - 10 -

13. - 11 -

14. - 12 -
Bromley Food Bank: continuing urgent request!!
Last month the Food Bank made an urgent request for certain items, and the
website shows that they still need more of them. They are:
Custard; tinned cold meat (eg ham, spam, corned beef); tinned fruit; biscuits;
pasta sauce; tinned vegetables; tinned meat that can form the basis of a hot
meal; rice pudding; tinned tomatoes; small bottles of squash; UHT milk.
As ever, they do not need beans, pasta, soup and cereal, and there is
uptodate information available at:
https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/

15. - 13 -
Church notices continued:
Singles’ Lunches
Anyone living alone is welcome to our Singles Lunches, which
will be held at the Warren (for details of the location see the
Women’s Contact Group notice above). The next two lunches will
take place on Sundays 1st
October at 1.00pm and 29th
October at
12.30pm (please note the two different times). More information
from Joan Smith.
The Fairtrade Stall
The Fairtrade stall is held twice each month, usually on the 2nd
and 4th
Sunday, just after the morning service. The stall is near the refreshments
trolley. Do pop by to see what we have for sale. The items range from snacks
and breakfast foods through to greetings cards. We look forward to seeing
you. Richard and Barbara
Notice Sheets
If you have an item for inclusion on the Notice Sheet on a particular Sunday
in October, please contact the relevant person below, by the date shown.
By Tuesday 3rd
Oct for Sunday 8th
Oct: Pamela Collison 8658 0748
By Tuesday 10th
Oct for Sunday 15th
Oct: Brenda Cordingley 8462 3867
By Tuesday 17th
Oct for Sunday 22nd
Oct: Brenda Cordingley 8462 3867
By Tuesday 24th
Oct for Sunday 29th
Oct: Joan Smith 8462 3920
By Tuesday 31st
Oct for Sunday 5th
Nov: Joan Smith 8462 3920
Ministry of Flowers
Thank you to Mavis and her helpers for their weekly choice and arrangement
of flowers in the church. Thanks go also to those who provide for these
displays week by week. For this month, they are:
1st
– Maggie Greenwood 8th
– TBC 15th
– David & Undine Connolly
22nd
– Malcolm & Teresa Cheyne 29th
– Alistair and Elizabeth Wilson
After the service on Sunday morning, the flowers are distributed in order to
celebrate, or thank, or support, and in all cases to bring further enjoyment.
Saturday Fellowship
There will be no meeting this month because of clashing commitments, but
we hope to resume our usual pattern of meeting in November.

16. - 14 -
Dates to remember in October:
Sunday 8th
: Harvest Festival
Sunday 15th
: This is the LAST day for spending round pound coins, which will
cease to be legal tender at midnight.
Saturday 21st
: Harvest Lunch
Sunday 29th
: Clocks go back in the small hours!!!
Tuesday 31st
: “Reformation Day” (see next page)
!!!Stop press!!!
AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM BRUCE: The flat roofs have recently all
been repaired. The roofer advised me that they are all very fragile and if they
split again it will mean a complete re-covering. Therefore I would ask that
none of the flat roofs are walked on for any reason or it could end up costing
us a lot of money.
ALSO URGENT: Bromley have withdrawn the funding which they give to
Carers Bromley, whom we supported at the Christmas Tree Festival last year.
This means that most of their activities will cease and instead be the
responsibility of an umbrella organisation covering several charities. The
expertise of Carers Bromley will be largely lost and carers will suffer. There is
still time to protest to Bromley if you so wish, as follows:
Please send a letter, email or on-line form to the council (copying Carers Bromley into any
correspondence) using one of these addresses or contacts:
London Borough of Bromley, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH
LBB Complaints Tel: 020 8461 7644 Email: corporate.complaints@bromley.gov.uk
LBB Complaints form -
https://www.bromley.gov.uk/site/xfp/scripts/xforms_form.aspx?formID=178&language=en
Council contacts: Mr Douglas Patterson, Chief Executive - Tel: 020 8313 4060, Email:
doug.patterson@bromley.gov.uk
Cllr. Mary Cooke, Chairman, Care Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee
and Chairman, Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee, Email: Mary.Cooke@bromley.gov.uk
There is also a petition which can be completed by anyone living, working or studying in
the Borough. This is the link: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/carers-bromley
And lastly, please remember that if you buy your Christmas Tree from
Layhams Road Farm Shop using a voucher which will shortly be available,
they will donate a sum to help the cause of the 2017 Christmas Tree Festival
(Bromley Y – see page 9). So please hold back from making other plans for
your tree until the voucher is produced (hopefully in next month’s Catalyst).

17. - 15 -
Martin Luther and The Reformation
2017 is being celebrated as the 500th
anniversary of the
Reformation. Although the Reformation itself was
(perhaps still is) a huge and complex movement
covering a long period of time, the date often chosen to
mark its beginning is 31st
October 2017. On that date, it
is said, Martin Luther pinned his 95 theses to the door of
the church in Wittenberg (see July/August Catalyst). His
“theses” (not as long as we would expect an academic
thesis to be nowadays) were a series of arguments for
church reform and it is thought that he presented them to
the Archbishop of Mainz on that same date (now sometimes known as
“Reformation Day”). They quickly sparked both support and adverse reactions
across Europe, as many other reformers took up his ideas or adapted them,
and those in authority responded in different ways. It is a date for us to
remember, with sadness for the ensuing conflicts, but thanksgiving for the
development of faith, theology and ideas – and there will be a special service
in West Wickham to mark the occasion – see below.
500 YEARS OF REFORMATION
At Emmanuel West Wickham our worship on
SUNDAY 22nd
OCTOBER 2017 at 6.30pm
will celebrate Martin Luther’s momentous
kick-start to a movement that changed Europe.
Do join us for hymns reflecting Reformation
through the ages, short talks bringing Martin Luther
into focus and prayer for continued renewal.
Calendar for October
Sun 1 10.30am
12.00noon
1.00pm
6.30pm
Morning Service: the Elders (p2)
Church Meeting (p3)
Singles’ Lunch (p13)
Holy Communion: Judy Davies (p2)
Mon 2 12.30pm Women’s Contact Group: Lunch (p3)
Tue 3 2.00pm
7.00pm
Friendship Group: Bring a Favourite Poem (p4)
Elders’ Meeting (p3)
Wed 4 2.00pm Book Club (p4)
Fri 6 2.00pm Mothers and Toddlers (p4)

18. - 16 -
Sat 7 2.30pm
7.30pm
Saturday Fellowship NO MEETING (p13)
CTiH Quiz Night for St Christopher’s (p5)
Sun 8 10.30am
6.30pm
Morning Service: Rev Geoff Larcombe, Harvest
Festival (p2)
Evening Service: TBA (p2)
Tue 10 2.00pm Friendship Group: Anniversary service with
Judy Davies (p4)
Fri 13 2.00pm Mothers and Toddlers (p4)
Sat 14 7.30pm “Singcronise” Choir (Salvation Army)
Emmanuel Church West Wickham (p12)
Sun 15 10.30am
6.30pm
Morning Service: David Lemmon (p2)
Evening Service: Brenda Cordingley (p2)
Round pounds: last day of legal tender!! (p14)
Tue 17 2.00pm Friendship Group: Memorabilia (p4)
Thur 19 8.00pm Men’s Group: Meal out (p4)
Fri 20 2.00pm Mothers and Toddlers (p4)
Sat 21 12.30pm Harvest Lunch (p4)
Sun 22 10.30am
6.30pm
Morning Service: TBA (p2)
Evening Service: TBA (p2)
Special Service at Emmanuel (p15)
Tue 24 2.00pm Friendship Group: service at Coney Hill Baptist
Church (p4)
Wed 25 3.30pm Messy Church (p4)
Sat 28 10.00am
10.00am
Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair (p11)
Autumn Fair for Cancer Research (p10)
Sun 29 2.00am
10.30am
12,30pm
6.30pm
CLOCKS GO BACK!!! (p14)
Morning Service: Tony Russell (p2)
Singles’ Lunch (p13)
Evening Service: TBA (p2)
Tue 31 2.00pm Friendship Group: Beetle Drive (p4)
Reformation Day (p15)
And looking ahead to November 2017:
Sat 11 10.30am Christmas Fair and Charity Card Sale (p8)

19. CHURCH ORGANISATIONS – please advise the Editor of updates as they arise
Day Organisation Contact Phone
Sunday
Monday
5.45pm Brownies Sarah Humphrey 020 3539 8113
6.30pm Cubs Brenda Petts 020 8325 3956
12.30pm - 1st
Mon only
Women's Contact Group Sylvia Mack 020 8462 1938
Tuesday
2.00pm Tuesday Friendship
Group
Wendy Smith 020 8462 1779
7.15pm Scouts - 1st troop Paul Hasling 020 3236 0083
Wednesday
2.00pm - 1st
Weds only
HFC Book Club Wendy Smith 020 8462 1779
3.30pm - 4th
Weds only
Messy Church Mavis Righini 020 8462 1168
5.30pm Rainbows Jenny Longman 07730 574962
6.00pm Beavers Brenda Petts 020 8325 3956
6.30pm Guides – 4th Hayes Teresa Cheyne 020 8777 6042
8.00pm Explorers Tom Strachan 07745 813 295
Thursday
5.30pm Brownies Stevie Blair. 020 8325 3469
7.15 - 8.45pm Rangers Please use this email
contact:
Hayesdistrict@
yahoo.com
7.15pm Scouts - 2nd troop Paul Hasling 020 3236 0083
8.00pm - 3rd
Thurs only
Men's Group Bruce Tannock 020 8325 6264
Friday
2.00pm Mothers & Toddlers Wendy Smith 020 8462 1779
6.30pm Guides – 3rd Hayes Teresa Cheyne 020 8777 6042
Saturday
2.30pm - 1st Sat
only
Saturday Fellowship Martin Nunn 020 8462 5918

20. Final Thought:
Bright robes of gold the fields adorn,
The hills with joy are ringing,
The valleys stand so thick with corn
That even they are singing.
And now, on this our festal day,
Thy bounteous hand confessing,
Before thee thankfully we lay
The first-fruits of thy blessing.
The strains of all thy holy throng
With ours today are blending;
Thrice blessed is that harvest song
Which never has an ending.
William Chatterton Dix (1837-98)