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ST ANDREW’S STORY – A CHURCH WITH A MISSION
In the late 1800s High Wycombe was expanding rapidly from small country market town to becoming a centre of industry. The Parish Church of All Saint’s was stretched beyond its ability to cope with the pastoral needs of such an influx of population and there was special concern that it was too far for smaller children to walk from the new housing area ‘North Town’ to the Parish Church. In 1898 a building in Gordon Road, called at first St Andrew’s School, had its grand opening.
The priest-in-charge of St Andrew’s later declared his vision and passion: “..to bring Jesus Christ nearer to the hearts and minds of the people of the district”. St Andrew’s soon became a going concern, the Sunday School flourished with up to 300 children on the books. As well as Sunday services weekday organisations began with 100 people actively contributing in one way or another to the work of the church. Located where the people were, St Andrew’s served the local community as well as having a concern and support for overseas mission.
By 1949 further residential expansion was occurring on the hillsides on the northeast edge of Wycombe: these were principally homes for young families, leaving the Victorian terraces of North Town to the elderly. It would not be long before many of these houses were to be demolished as ‘North Town’ was re-zoned as an industrial area. In 1947 a visionary statement appears unobtrusively in the minutes of the Annual Church Meeting. “..we have to think of building a new St Andrew’s in view of the big housing changes in the Bowerdean and Totteridge Hill area”. However it was not until 1960 that the foundation stone was laid … and the new church of St Andrew was dedicateded in 1961, the whole church transferring from the original Gordon Road site to its new location at the junction of Hatters Lane and Windrush Drive.
The original church was built on prayer and visiting; the new church also gave this due emphasis. Once again it was where the people were, worshipping God and welcoming all. This new church, with a clergy house next door and a larger district to look after was allocated a full-time Priest-in-Charge, but the post was still a junior one and clergy were only expected to stay a short time which was far from ideal.
After an excellent start various problems arose and the church went through a lean time. In response a very small group of people started to meet in one of their houses and prayed for The Holy Spirit to work. And He did!! The 1970’s began the next great period of growth for St Andrew’s.
In 1971 High Wycombe parish became a team ministry, headed by a Rector, with Team Vicars appointed to the District churches for a minimum five-year term. We now had a very energetic, evangelistic vicar, many more came to the weekly prayer meeting, often having to sit on the floor as we ran out of chairs. The emphasis was on worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship and reaching out into the community as well as support for mission overseas – and we grew. On Sundays the church building was full.
In 1974 a large wooden builder’s site hut was donated by Lovells and was erected at the bottom of the vicarage garden by voluntary effort. It was used for children’s groups on Sunday mornings and Guide and Scout groups during the week. This was always only going to be a temporary measure and we still needed more space for services on Sundays. Again after much prayer and waiting on the Lord a major extension was approved. Building started in 1984 and was completed and dedicated in 1986. Although costing in excess of £700,000 it opened debt free. Praise the Lord.
The world has changed beyond recognition since the first St Andrew’s was built. It has been blessed by many gifted leaders, both ordained and lay, over the years. St Andrew’s has moved, extended and patterns of worship have changed but many things have not changed. The church is still where the people are, our vision today is not so different to that of the first St Andrew’s, as we seek to worship God, to pray and to be a transforming presence in our community.