Stylish tribute to 75th anniversary

The hall was decorated in green and gold and the meal was prepared by two members of the congregation, retired restaurateurs Christopher Goff and Bryan Chaffer.

Among the 75 diners, symbolically representing the years of the church's existence, were two who were present at the outset.

The principal guest was Richard Mosse, son of the Rev Charles Mosse, the first vicar of Aldwick from 1931 until 1957. The other was Dck Holden, a choirboy in 1934 who recalls 'buying a brick' for a farthing, a quarter of his penny-a-week pocket money.

Kate Mosse, the novelist and granddaughter of the Rev Charles Mosse, responded to a toast to the guests proposed by Dr Spencer Thomas on behalf of the parochial church council.

Dr Thomas emphasised the incalculable debt owed by the parish to the Mosse family. Kate's great-grandparents had given more than a third of the 12,300 total cost of building the church in 1934, and they also later bequeathed their own house to be the present vicarage.

The transformation of the interior of the church from a plain, austere

structure into something of beauty with magnificent stained glass windows, a painted reredos, impressive rood screen and other adornments was due to the generosity of the Rev Mosse and his wife Katherine.

Kate Mosse acknowledged the contribution of her ancestors to St Richard's as well as the literary genes she had inherited from her father, who was so proud to be present with his wife and daughters.

She concluded with a nostalgic poem from a collection of Mosse Musings composed by her grandmother on childhood family holidays in the Lake District.

The host, the Rev Canon Dr Lawson Nagel, vicar of Aldwick since 1991, responded to a toast to the parish on behalf of his wife and hostess, Mary Nagel.

He made a surprise announcement of the publication of the first-ever History and Guide of the Parish which he had edited and produced. He invited the author, Eric Redstone, to present complimentary copies to Richard Mosse and his daughters in recognition of their links with the parish.

Fr Nagel called on the waitresses, young members of the congregation and the kitchen staff to accept the heartfelt gratitude of the gathering for the exceptional quality of the food and professional service.

Peter Overton, one of the churchwardens, presented Christopher Goff and Bryan Chaffer with an autographed copy of Kate Mosse's novella The Winter Ghosts, released last week.

Finally, Fr Nagel sent the diners out to face the future with the Latin motto 'Ad multos annos' (many years) and concluded the congenial evening with a blessing.

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