June 1999

Reverend Nick MacNeill, vicar of St John’s Church, together with the Parochial Church Council formulate a plan for making more use of the church building by opening it as a meeting place with a small shop. 31 people attend a meeting open to everyone from Moggerhanger and Chalton.

July 1999

A second open meeting is held at which a committee is formed and plans made to open the shop in the vestry.

August 1999

First Committee meeting at which such things as insurance, staffing and stocking the shop are discussed.

September 1999

Publicity begins.  Arrangements are made to decorate the vestry and obtain shelving.

Tony Mooney attends meeting held by Mid Beds District Council resulting in opportunity to apply for a grant under the Millennium Festival Awards for All Project.

October 1999

Bank account is set up.

November 1999

Public meeting is held at which a constitution is adopted.  Jo Hollington is appointed Shop Manager.

February 2000

Millennium Fund Grant application is unsuccessful. Betty Barrance makes another grant application under the Anglia News/Scarman Trust ‘Can Do’ Awards for new community projects which successfully gains funding of £2000.

May 2000

Shelving arrives.  Publicity round village that shop is to open in June.

6 June 2000

Moggerhanger Meeting Place & Shop opens - six days a week for 2 hours each morning.

July 2000

Decision is taken to open for an additional hour on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

2001

Social events and a Christmas Draw are instituted.

2002

Frozen goods are added to stock list.

2003

Weekly shopping is delegated to a team of five shoppers. Reverend Nick MacNeill leaves Moggerhanger.

2004

Free library is set up at back of the church with donated books and videos.

2005

Jo Hollington steps down as shop manager though she remains involved. A small team of committee members takes over the running of the shop.

2006

MMPS is mentioned in the Church Times and even brought to the attention of the Church Synod – the first project of its kind in the country!

2007

Opening hours are changed to mornings only.  David Williams retires from committee.

2008

MMPS features in Biggleswade Chronicle.  See photos below (by M Stewart).

2010

Moggerhanger Meeting Place & Shop celebrates its 10th Anniversary.