Churches in the Longnor Benefice

Words from a Sabath poem by Wendell Berry
There is a day
When the road neither
Comes nor goes
And the way is not a way
But a place

Father John has arrived at that place. These are a few of the experiences and memories he created on the way…

The Reverend Prebendary John Charles Baines was born in 1968 in the small village of Combs. After leaving Chapel school he studied and worked at Harpur Hill College. From there he went on to work at Buxton Police Station, before beginning his training at Cuddston Theological College. After his training he became a curate at Morton, Shirland and Stonebroom near Clay Cross and thoroughly enjoyed his time there. After completing his curacy, he moved to become Vicar of St George’s here in New Mills and in his words, “Felt he had come home”.

This was followed by his ministry in the Staffordshire
Moorlands (another place where he felt at home) and here he became Rural Dean for the Alstonefield Deanery. At a service in Lichfield Cathedral in 2022 John was very proud to become a Cannon being
installed to The Preband of Pipa Minor and he was looking forward to leading the Lichfield Diocesan Retreat later this month and to preaching at the Petertide Ordination of Deacons in the Cathederal.

John was a truly special person and had a positive impact on so many people. Always ready to listen he gave considered, sound advice and became a dear friend to so many. I do not think he knew how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. He never liked to be away from home for long, but he did enjoy short breaks to places like Durham and Edinburgh and thoroughly enjoyed a day in Manchester riding the trams.

He was an avid reader and for lighter reading especially enjoyed Agatha Christie novels- perhaps he had ideas of becoming another Father Brown! Although he did watch much television, he loved Star Trek and Murder She Wrote. John was also an avid collector and hoarder as many of you know. He could never pass a charity shop or a second hand book shop without popping in to see what treasures were on offer and he seldom came out empty handed. He collected 100s of telephones, telephone consoles and parts for repairs and had several
working telephones in each room. He said he had installed an intercom system so he could ring from one room to another, but I’m not sure who he expected to answer his call.

Typewriters, gestetners, clocks,1930s memorabilia, tins of food, Lego and 1000s of books filled every nook and cranny and he never did find time to set up his model railway in the garden. It was extremely difficult to get him to part with anything. These are a few of our memories:
John’s love of cake was quite well known ~perhaps his love of jelly babies not so much.
John always planned an activity for the children’s Christmas service. An angel and Baby Jesus always
featured in this. For the angel 2 pipe cleaners and a chocolate in a shiny wrapper were put into the
bag (the chocolate to be eaten) A jelly baby went into the bag to represent baby Jesus. When doing this Johns policy was always 1 for the bag 1 for me,1 for the bag 1 for me! It was reported that a jelly baby set in a mouse trap under one of the altars disappeared ~with no mouse in sight.
Still on the subject of food, although John deserted New Mills for Staffordshire he always maintained that Derbyshire Oatcakes were better than Staffordshire Oatcakes.
Perhaps all this is gossip, so this is where I will include one of his often repeated statements:
Rather than gossip “it’s an item for prayer”.

At lunch club singing Love divine, all love excelling ~ without any music John started singing one tune and I started with a different tune. Both of us persevered to the end of the first verse- amidst much laughter when John dryly said ‘I think we’d better leave it there’.
Our gardening team were often rewarded with a mug of tea and hot ginger cake which John had just made quite delicious.
On our pilgrimage to the Holy Land John always disappeared rapidly after the evening meal- frightened he might become involved in or embarrassed by the entertainment – belly dancing!!
Once when John was on a retreat at a nunnery, during the night he was experiencing persistent excruciating pain. Not liking to disturb the Nuns he dialled 111 and was told to get himself to hospital immediately-but under no circumstances must he drive himself. So a taxi was called for. John made his almost silent exit from building only to find the gate had been locked. So
pain or no pain he had to scale the large gates to get to the taxi. I’m not sure what the taxi driver must have thought about a Vicar escaping from a nunnery-but I bet he had a good tale to tell for quite a long time!

John always said he couldn’t sing, and I don’t think he could in public, but when he thought he was alone he would often sing. I especially remember him tucked away in the Vestry singing ’O holy night ‘. It was quite lovely.
When John and I were out and about people who did not know me often assumed I was his mother and would say, Oh is this your mother lovely to meet you. Rarely did he enlighten them.
The loss of Father John is incomprehensible, and he will be truly mourned and missed. He was a kind, considerate and caring person, warm and gentle with all he met. Very approachable. His quiet manner, his sense of humour and his faith were an inspiration. He was a good friend and a wonderful priest.
So many people have offered these, or similar words and he will be remembered for all these attributes. To quote from Father Owain’s service last Sunday, “The essence of our faith is that we love much.” John certainly loved much.

He often quoted Galatian’s 5v22: The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Johns spirit certainly embraced all these qualities.

St Paul says that whatever the past holds, good or bad, it’s nothing to what God has planned for our future.
Some lines from An Upper Room did our Lord Prepare.
No end there is! We depart in peace.
He loves beyond our uttermost.
In every room in our Fathers house
Christ will be there as Lord and Host

May John be at peace now with the Lord he loved