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My first recollection is not of a building but of small stones — stones for the mosaic pavement of the Sanctuary and Chancel — somehow, strange to say, a number of these came into the possession of the infant school children — what an ideal set of five-stones?

The Day School was used for the Sunday Schools. A normal Sunday consisted of meeting in the school before Mattins. Above infant age one was expected to recite a verse of a hymn and the collect for the day — learned (?) during the week before.

In church the children sat in the side aisles. The afternoon was a normal Sunday School although I can recall being in church for a baptism. The Red Letter Day in the year was the annual Sunday School Treat. This began with a service in church attended by all the Sunday School children of the parish. Each child had to provide a cup or a mug and one can imagine the noise of crashes and bangs which went on during the service resulting in not a few broken cups as well! After the service all formed up for THE GRAND PARADE! When all were in an orderly formation we all marched with flags flying to the Marine Field, now St. Vincent School Playing Field.

On arrival tea was served and a great time was had playing cricket or running races.

The great attraction on Sunday mornings was the Parade of the Royal Marines who marched to church for their parade service. Many people made this their normal Sunday morning activity and were joined by others to watch the return march to Barracks and to enjoy the music of the band on the parade ground. If the weather was inclement buglers were sent to various parts of the town to inform the marines due to parade that greatcoats were to be worn.

In 1910 Canon Stephenson left the parish to become Rector of Droxford. He was succeeded by the Rev. C.S. Carey who was inducted to the Living in July 1910.

In 1911 a Teaching Mission was held — conducted by Father Gerard Samson of the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield. This was the beginning of our long association with that Community. It was at this time that the 'Kensit' crowd arrived — a body of men lead by a Mr. J.A. Kensit, a London Bookseller. Their object, so they declared, was to maintain the 'Protestant Faith of the Church of England'. They tried to interfere with outdoor processions and carried banners with the words 'Roman Catholic Monk preaches in St. John's Church' written on them. However, they faded away gradually and seem to have had little, if any, influence on the life of our church here.

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