The Flowers

"Stepping Back in Time" (2006)

In May, the Church was decorated by a display of floral arrangements on the theme "Stepping Back in Time". 

(Click pictures below for larger image)

PORCH St. John's Church was converted from a school on this site.
CHILDREN'S CORNER BEHIND DOOR Stonehouse School was endowed by Sarah Hopkins and later transferred from the church site to a new building on Slitting Mill Road, now demolished.
WALL Old 1840 Map of Slitting Mill and Fair Oak
OLD ORGAN The Victory Hall was built with money collected by villagers who organised Dances and Whist Drives etc.
NEW ORGAN Fair Oak was a settlement adjoining Slitting Mill where a colliery, iron works, slitting mill and forge were situated. It was named after one of the last remaining trees of the old Forest owned by the Norman Kings, now referred to as Cannock Chase.
WINDOW Lord Paget owned most of the land in the area and was made Marquis of Anglesey after the Battle of Waterloo. His house, Beaudesert Hall was demolished in the 1930s.
WINDOW Fishing is a traditional pastime and takes place in the Horns pool as well as the two pools on the Chase.
WINDOW The Forestry Commission leased Cannock Chase in the 1920s for tree planting and recreational use. The Chase and surrounding area was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958.
WINDOW Wildlife habitats on the Chase have been carefully preserved to encourage birds and animals.
BEAM Pre-historic Slitting Mill: artefacts discovered show that a settlement has existed in Slitting Mill and Fair Oak since the Stone Age.
STANDING Farming: the Taylors purchased Sheep Wash Farm from the Marquis of Anglesey in 1934 and have carried on traditional farming from father to son ever since.
LEFT OF ALTAR Slitting Mills and the Iron Industry gave the village its present name.
RIGHT OF ALTAR Glass was manufactured in the forest near Slitting Mill in the 14th Century but a Royal Proclamation of 1615 banned the use of wood as a fuel for furnaces, bringing an end to the industry.
STANDING Mining: evidence exists of mines in 1298. 'Fair Oak Colliery' was opened in 1871 and closed in 1884. Miners came from Chesterfield and Derbyshire to work there.
WINDOW 'The Stone House' is situated at the entrance to the village and was built in the 16th Century. It has been added to and refurbished several times. The village of Slitting Mill was previously named after this house.
WINDOW Sarah Hopkins was the sister of the Iron Master residing at 'The Stone House'. She left many endowments to Slitting Mill and Alms Houses to Rugeley in the 19th Century.
WINDOW The Camps were situated on Cannock Chase and were used in both world wars as training and transit camps.
WINDOW Several forges existed in Fair Oak and Slitting Mill where iron ore was heated to make iron rods which were eventually sold on to the nail makers of Birmingham.

FLOWER ARRANGER'S PRAYER
May God grant that our hearts, our eyes and our hands may receive His inspiration enabling us to glorify His house with the beauty of the leaves and blossoms which He has created.

With many thanks to all those who contributed to this beautiful and moving display.

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