From Focus, the parish newsletter for Bishopstrow and Boreham, July/August 1996:
Ferris Morton, Churchwarden, St. Aldhelm’s Church, writes –
Thanksgiving Service, St. Aldhelm’s Church, Bishopstrow
A Service of Thanksgiving for the restoration of St. Aldhelm’s Church was held on the Feast of St. Aldhelm, Sunday 26th May 1996 at 6.00 p.m. We were particularly blessed in being able to invite Canon Jeremy Davies, Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral to conduct the service and to preach the sermon.
The service began in the churchyard in view of the recently renewed south roof of the Chancel and of the new finial cross, carved by Mr. Ashley Baxter, a stonemason who lives in the village, from stone he donated. The masonry work and cost of erecting the cross was donated by Brigadier Geoffrey Proudman in memory of his wife, Pamela, to whom it was dedicated by the Rev.d Denis Brett. A procession into the church was accompanied by Canon Davies singing the Introit Chant in his lovely rich tenor voice.
Before the opening hymn. the new organ stool cushion. with upholstery and a tapestry cover made in the village and given by Mrs. Alford, was blessed and dedicated in memory of her husband James.
A splendid congregation of over eighty people, many from St. John’s, sang heartily through the hymns and listened entranced to the finest performance St. John’s Choir has presented this year.
Special thanksgiving prayers were said for the fellowship, dedication and generosity of the many people who have given their time and money over the last fifteen years to restore the historic church and keep both the building and the churchyard so well. We prayed that they may still serve it with love. We were especially pleased to have Canon Davies take St. Aldhelm as his subject for the sermon, instructing us in some of his history and in the meaning of the Bishop’s mitre, the only ‘hat’ acceptable to be worn by a – inside an Anglican church.
Afterwards Canon Jeremy Davies was entertained to supper at the Old Rectory beside the church with the kind permission and generosity of Antony and Clare Pinsent and the Friends of St. Aldhelm’s.