HIGHLIGHTS OVER 21 YEARS

1982

11th May. Induction and Institution of Fr Malcolm Ferrier as Vicar of Waterlooville.

Daily Mass started.

July. New By-pass road opened.

December. Christmas Bazaar: £900 raised.

1983

January. Farewell to Fr Michael Gover (Curate 1975/83).

April. Patronal Festival: Preacher Fr. Trevor Lynn R.N. Statue of St George blessed.

May. Diocesan Pilgrimage to Canterbury by train.

June. Fr Michael Sheffield arrives as Curate.

July. The Oxford Movement 150th Celebration.

1984

February. Christian Response Campaign begins.

March. Sunday School meet in the Hall 9.45.am. (Formerly they met at 11.30.am.)

May. Fr Peter Stanway arrives as Curate.

May. Christian Response Campaign Service. Preacher: Bishop Ronald Gordon of Portsmouth. Confirmation by Bishop Warren Hunt (30 presented).

July. Statue of Our Lady blessed (Chapel)

August. Christian Response Envelopes started.

1985

February. Bishop Timothy Bavin Enthroned at Portsmouth.

May. New Shopping Precinct opened.

July. Wedding of Fr Peter Stanway and Helena Mitchell.

November. Church Hall extension soil blessed by Bishop Timothy Bavin.

1986

January. Parish Pantomime "The Sleeping Beauty".

March. Play Reading: "Man Born To Be King".

May. Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. (28 pilgrims) led by the Vicar and Fr Graham Holcombe.

June. Summer Fête opened by Bishop Timothy Bavin.

November. Icon of Christ the Redeemer blessed.

1987

April. Patronal Festival: Preacher Fr Harry Gibson.

May. Scratch Messiah.

May. First Parish Walsingham Pilgrimage (20 pilgrims).

August. Statue of Our Lady and Child blessed.

November. Farewell to Fr Peter and Helena Stanway. Induction to Ripe and Laughton, East Sussex.

1988

April. New chapel kneelers blessed.

May. Scratch Messiah.

May. Parish Outing to Ripe and Laughton.

May. Deacon Jane Hedges arrives as Hon. assistant Curate (Diocesan Stewardship Advisor).

August. Preacher on Sunday, Fr Thomas from our link parish of St Mary Axim Ghana.

September. Open Air Diocesan Eucharist at Portsmouth Guildhall. A Year of Mission (7,000 present).

September. Hall Extensions opened by the Chairman of the Hampshire County Council.

November. New picture of the Precinct by Geoffrey Tompkins.

1989

March. First joint pilgrimage with St Alban's West Leigh to Walsingham.

April. Sponsored "Sing In" with the Portsmouth Choral Union.

April. Funeral Eucharist of Doug Shepherd (RIP) former Churchwarden.

May. Hottest weather since 1940.

June. Surrexit Conference Eucharist on Governors Green, Portsmouth. Preacher: Archbishop Robert Runcie.

July. Summer Fête and Flower Festival in Church and Churchyard for the first time.

August. Stone Holy Water Font from East Grinstead, blessed.

October. Parish Mission - "Good News For You", conducted by Fr Richard Oakley, C.R. and Sisters from Oxford and East Grinstead. Commissioning by Bishop Timothy Bavin.

October. Fr Ron Bowles arrives as Hon. Asst. Priest.

December. Christmas Midnight Mass, incense used for first time.

1990

February. Church Re-decoration begins.

March. Stations of the Cross installed and blessed.

August. Church windows cleaned!

September. Dedication of new R.N.A. Standard.

December. Christmas Bazaar opened by the Mayor of Havant (Cllr Penny Moss.)

1991

January. Blessing of the new statue of St Joseph in chapel.

January. A son (Jonathan) is born to Deacon Jane and Chris Hedges.

April. First team of women servers.

June. Parish Debate on the issue of women as priests. (80 present).

November. Diocesan Synod votes against allowing women to be priests.

November. Consecration of the extension nave to the Cathedral.

1992

January. Margaret Symonds appointed as Mothers' Union Diocesan President.

March. First monthly Family Eucharist started.

March. "Songs of Praise" recorded for BBC Radio Solent.

March. Consecration of the extended Waterlooville Cemetery.

June. Recorded Pentecost Pastoral Message from Bishop Timothy.

June. Christopher Powell begins as new organist.

October. Parish Visitation by Bishop Timothy Bavin. (16 children baptised).

November. General Synod of the C of E approve of the Ordination of women as priests.

1993

February. Deacon Jane Hedges appointed as Residentary Canon of Portsmouth Cathedral.

March. Fr Arthur Green arrives as an Honorary Assistant Priest.

June. Summer Fête raised £1,279.

July. 80th anniversary of the opening of the Church Hall.

November. Diocesan Forward in Faith Mass (80 present).

1994

March. First women priests ordained at Bristol Cathedral.

May. 40th Anniversary of ordination of Fr Ron Bowles.

November. Pastoral Visit by Timothy Bavin ("The Way Ahead").

1995

February. Concert by the Portsmouth Chorus.

March. New grand piano purchased with donations.

May. Silver Jubilee Celebration of St George's and the Vicar's Ordination. Preacher at the Eucharist: Fr Harry Gibson. At Evensong: Bishop Timothy Bavin.

June. Sponsored Walk by David Palmer from Petersfield to Eastbourne for the Grand Piano Fund.

July. Christopher Powell leaves as organist to begin studies for the priesthood at Mirfield.

September. The Vicar on a parish exchange with Fr Brett Ward in Australia.

October. Mark Dancer appointed as organist.

November. Enthronement of Bishop Kenneth Stevenson at the Cathedral.

1996

October. Blessing of three sets of vestments as memorials.

November. Organ Restoration begins. (£7,572.88).

November. New sound system installed.

December. "Songs of Praise" for completed organ restoration.

1997

May. First Parish Visitation by Bishop Kenneth Stevenson.

August. Presentation to Mark Dancer (Organist) on leaving for Petersfield.

November. Flagpole erected in memory of Florence Shotter (RIP).

November. Fr Colin Towner appointed as organist.

1998

July. Concert by the Oaklands RC School Choral Society.

August. Vicar's 60th birthday party in the Vicarage Garden.

November. Cantamus Choir sing "The Creation".

1999

February. Concert by the Portsmouth High School for Girls.

April. Blessing of Churchyard fence and gates in memory of Derick Gasser (RIP).

July. Parish outing to Cardiff and Evensong at Pentyrch.

November. Blessing of Remembrance display-case in memory of Sarah Plummer (RIP).

December. Christmas - the Holy Year begins.

2000

January. New Year's Day: Millennium Service (100 present).

January. "The Old St George's. A history of the Church and Parish of Waterlooville, 1831-1970", by John Symonds, published by the Parochial Church Council.

February. Digital Bell System installed.

May. Second visit by Bishop Kenneth Stevenson.

June. Millennium Jubilee Mass in London for Catholic Societies (10,000 people; 36 bishops, 800 priests).

June. Photographic Exhibition: "St George's Past & Present".

September. Parish Pilgrimage to Canterbury.

September. Walsingham Festival at the Cathedral.

November. St George's Mothers' Union 90th anniversary.

December. Advent Sunday: New Common Worship liturgy begins.

2001

February. Parish weekend in Rouen: Mass at the Cathedral.

April. Presentation to Fr Colin Towner (organist) who was appointed a Priest to St Peter's, Southsea.

June. Presentation by Hulbert Middle School at the Family Eucharist.

2002

April. Blessing of an eagle lectern in memory of Ben Larcombe (RIP).

May. Diocesan 75th Jubilee Service at Winchester Cathedral.

June. Presentation to Fr Arthur Green who moved to Southsea.

June. Jubilee Fun Day Celebration, opened by the Mayor of Havant.

December. Millennium Tower Cross blessed by Bishop Kenneth Stevenson.

2003

February. Parish Weekend in Bayeux.

May. Organ Recital and Parish Concert.

May. Patronal Festival: Preacher Canon Graham Holcombe of Llandaff Cathedral, followed by Parish Lunch.

June. Concert by the Sunday School for Children with Cancer.

July. Vicarage Garden Party.

July 27th. Fr Malcolm Ferrier's final Sunday at St. George's.