At a Sunday service recently, Henry Wallace, his sisters and other members of his family, descendants of the Pemberton family of Hawthorn Towers who built St Michael's, the old rectory and the old village school (now the Community Centre) presented the parish with a family tree. Henry spoke during the service about family history, how the church came to be built, and the Pemberton connection over the earlier years of the parish and Hawthorn Village. Although the Pemberton name has become defunct, the passion for the little church at Hawthorn still exists within this family. Parishioners were highly appreciative of Henry's talk, and the presentation of the Pemberton Family Tree, which is now displayed above the organ. 

Following the service, a buffet lunch provided plenty of opportunity for parishioners of St Michael's, one of the village historians and the Wallace family to get to know one another better. 

As part of the Wallace involvement, Henry has worked with Warden Mike Sawyers to get the Pemberton churchyard plot restored, paying the cost of this himself. This work has greatly improved the appearance of the churchyard. 

We are delighted to have this restored connection to the Pemberton family via Henry, and hope that it will continue.