Harrow Church
Sril,—On a recent Saturday afternoon a gioup of people watching a game on Harrow School cricket fields approached me with the warning that the parish church steeple was on fire. There, sure enough, were puffs of apparent smoke issuing from the swathed summit of the spire, above the scaffolding which was being used to re-erect the cross and newly re-gilded weather vane. I informed the police sergeant on duty at the police station opposite: he saw the smoke, and telephoned to the fire brigade. By the time I had reached the lych gate, on my way to switch off the red warning lights on the top of the spire, which, having been temporarily moved, might have been the cause of the smoke, the whole fire brigade was there. The smiling officer gave me a re-assuring report. The apparent smoke was a swarm of countless flying ants.
But why was the scaffolding there Here is the cause of my appeal. After the war the Norman tower of the church needed extensive repairs. It was then found that the top of the spire was unsafe and various other parts of the church needed attention ; the whole cost of repairs has proved to be about L5,000. The total is beyond the means of the now small parish of St. Mary's. But many all over the county may have an interest in this beautiful church, which St. Anselm dedicated in 1094. It is a landmark all down the Thames Valley ; visitors to London from the north see the wooded hill from their train and know that in a quarter of an hour they will be at their destination. Old Harrovians rejoice to see the church of John Lyon, their founder, and go inside to see the brass of yeoman John and his wife. During the last war thousands of our fighter pilots used Harrow spire as a guide back to Northolt aerodrome.
A swarm of tiny ants drew attention to the church spire ; if the thou- sands of good people who have reason to venerate Harrow Church would each send their good will in the token of a mite, the parishioners on the famous hill can sec to it that this treasure of beauty and worship is preserved and properly maintained. Contributions may be sent to the Rev. G. H. Woolley, V.C., St. Mary's Vicarage, Harrow-on-the-Hill.— Yours truly, G. H. WOOLLEY. St. Mary's Vicarage, Church Hill, Harrow.
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