Books by Douglas Bond help boys and girls
become men and women of God
"Your Mr. Pipes books are wonderful! I have all three of them, and all of them are great! Reading your Mr. Pipes books
charms me. Please write more Mr. Pipes books!" Kylie S. (12)
Mr. Pipes Series
Visit Olney
The Inspiring Village Setting for the Series
After reading all four Mr. Pipes books, including the last, The
Accidental Voyage released, August 2005, George Grant
wrote: "Just what kind of books are the Mr.
Pipes stories? Are they lessons in church history? Are they guides to family
devotions? Are they unit studies on hymnody and classic ecclesiastical music?
Are they basic theological primers? The answer is yes, they are all these. But
what is more, they are also delightful tales with memorable characters and
intriguing plot twists. In other words, these are the kind of books every family
is going to want to have and read--and reread again and again."
George Grant, Author of Going Somewhere and The
Christian Almanac
Welcome to Olney, Mr. Pipes' village in England! 
The author, Douglas Bond, has visited the market village of Olney (pronounced O-nee) a number of times in recent years. From 1764-1779, Olney was the home of John Newton, curate of the Anglican parish church of St. Peter's and St. Paul's. His friend and parishioner, and renowned poet, William Cowper, lived behind the vicarage across Guinea Orchard (named for the guinea Newton paid the owner to allow him to cross through the orchard). John and Mary Wallace, current owners of the Old Vicarage (on right) with the author, April, 2008, again graciously invited the author to come in and see Newton's study where he prepared sermons and wrote Amazing Grace and most of the Olney hymns. Brittany Bond stands in front of the Old Vicarage at left. NEW HYMNS
Mr. Pipe's cottage does not actually exist,
but the author envisioned it on the left bank of the river just across from the
church. The 185 foot spire of St. Peter's and St. Paul's (built in 1350)
rises 
above the placid waters of The River Great Ouse (pronounced ooze... no kidding!), that carried Annie and Drew and Mr. Pipes twelve miles away to
John Bunyan's town of Bedford. The river runs along the edge of the village and
through the surrounding farm country. Do you
remember the name of Mr. Pipes' little sail boat? Hint: think the last name of the
hymn writer who wrote "Rock of Ages."
Below right, some of the Bond family enjoy jelly-filled donuts in front of the Bakehouse. You will remember that it was at Beccles' Bakehouse that Annie and Drew and Mr. Pipes ate jelly-filled donuts. This building is the prototype of the bakery in the books, though, alas, it is no longer one today. NEW HYMNS
"Children will read or listen gladly to Mr.
Pipes Comes to America because the book is fun and tells such a lively
story. But no one can accuse it of being a dumbed-down book for
children. I call it a thinking book. There is so much to learn in it about
hymns and worship, about ships and sailing, about American history, and then
there is Lord Underfoot the cat and a new pet named Monochrome. This is an
enchanting book that will be read and reread many times." -- Mrs. Robert G.
Rayburn, grandmother
Highlights from Mr. Pipes
Above left, the author in July, 2004, at Princeton between the graves of Jonathan Edwards and Samuel Davies (the latter featured in Mr. Pipes Comes to America). Readers will remember the great bronze tigers that guard the entrance to Nassau Hall, the building where Edwards, Davies, Witherspoon would have preached and taught, and where British and American troops struggled during the Battle of Princeton in the American War for Independence. Third picture from left, the author sits at the grave of Isaac Watts, Bunhill Fields, London, April, 2004, and some of the author's students gather a few yards away around John Bunyan's grave to sing the Pilgrim Hymn. Immediately to the right of Bunyan is the grave and effigy of Daniel Defoe, author of the first English novel, Robinson Crusoe. NEW HYMNS
Who is Mr. Pipes?
I get asked this from time to time. Well, below find a fun email exchange from Mr. Pipes--his real name!
Dear Mr Bond,
I was fascinated to discover recently that you have written a series of books
about Mr Pipes of Olney. Several members of my family either have - or do - live
there including my mother. I currently live a mere two miles away and am an
organist.. and yes, I have actually played for services at SS Peter & Paul once
or twice in the past. What a coincidence!
Best Wishes,
Robert Pipes
21
Filgrave
Newport Pagnell
Bucks MK16 9ET
(My reply)
Dear Mr. Pipes (it feels odd to address a note this way!),
Remarkable! I had no
idea that there was a "real" Mr. Pipes when I first got the idea for the books,
what's more, that he would be an organist, and live so near Olney. It's almost
too coincidental (so coincidental, I've even wondered if this was a prank email!
Forgive me if it's not!). I regularly bring a group of American high school
students to the UK for church and literary history study tours. We always stop
in Olney and visit Newton and Cowper sites there--and sing their hymns along
with the "Battleship Binns" organ in that wonderful place. Would you object to
me posting your email on my web site as a point of interest for my readers?
Thank you for writing!
God be with you,
Douglas Bond
(Mr. Pipes' reply)
Dear Mr Bond,
Thanks for your e-mail; I do assure you I actually exist with this peculiar name
- but I can quite understand your anxiety aout spoof e-mails. Every time I used
to take a piano exam when I was a boy, some witty examiner would always say,
"You ought to be playing the organ!". It was always my ambition to do so as soon
as I'd spent a short while in the church choir (at Sherington).
I am currently one of the duty organists at St Mary the Virgin, Wellingborough,
where you will find me listed on the website under 'whos who', organists.
www.stmarywellingborough.org.uk
For my real work, I am lay Chaplain at a boys school in north London.
www.hallschool.co.uk
It was my brother-in-law (an immigration officer with too much time on his hands
on night duty!) who first discovered mention of your books on the Internet - he
was looking into the family tree I think.
By all means post my e-mail if you wish. One of these days I must read your
books!
With all good wishes,
Robert Pipes
21
Filgrave
Newport Pagnell
Bucks MK16 9ET
01234 711531
01536 726852 (Isham)
0207 586 3764 (London)
Unsolicited Reader comments
January, 07
Dear Mr Bond,
my name is hannah, i wrote to you last year with the question of whether abdul
became a christian or not in The Accidental Voyage (you probably get alot of
questions like that but oh well!). well, i have another question for you. in the
middle of the year i will be going to england and am most deffinately going to
see olney and bedford. my question is, is the Fighting Pike Inn real? (from the
first Mr. Pipes story). if it is, then i was considering staying there.
i woud just like to encourage you again. i learning very much from these books
and will take little peices of information about all the hymn writers that lived
in olney and bedford over to england so that i can remember them as i see where
they lived. thank you so much again!
Hannah Bradshaw (sorry, Hannah, I made it up! There is an old mill there that
gave me the idea for the Fighting Pike Inn, db)
Received May, 2005
Mr. Bond,
Thank you very much for the Mr. Pipes books and the Crown and Covenant series.
Our family has enjoyed both very much and are looking forward to the next books
in each series. We read the books together as a family and are on our second
time through the Mr. Pipes books. I appreciate the way you give insight into the
history of the hymns and the hymn writers, but especially appreciate your
instruction on the nature and importance of the quality of hymns and the way you
present the gospel, the truths of Scripture and the glory of God through the
hymns. And we also appreciate the added information on the culture and history
of the locations where you take us in the books (see question for author).
Thank you.
Gary Voelkers
Received June 9, 2004
Dear Mr. Bond,
Your Mr. Pipes books are wonderful! I have all three of them, and all of them are great! I do hope you will continue writing them!!! Reading your Mr. Pipes books charms me. I'm asking you this simple question: "Will you please write more Mr. Pipes books?"
Sincerely, Miss K. Savard, 12, Arizona
The Accidental Voyage
Discovering Hymns of the Early Centuries
The story begins with Annie and Drew and Mr. Pipes buzzing through the streets of Rome on mopeds when Drew encounters difficulty controlling his bike and, much to the rage of an Italian flower peddler, gets entangled in a bucket of carnations. Embedded in adventures (lots of good food and fishing) at the ruins of the coliseum and deep in the labyrinth of the catacombs, and throughout Italy, Mr. Pipes tells the stories of hymn writers such as Clement of Alexandria (Shepherd of Tender Youth), Gregory Nazianzus (O Light That Knew No Dawn), Prudentius (Of the Father’s Love Begotten), Ambrose (O Trinity, Most Blessed Light), and others.
Through a series of hair-raising adventures that wind up landing the threesome on board a schooner sailing along the Mediterranean coast of France, Mr. Pipes tells the stories of Medieval hymn writers such as Bernard of Clairvaux (Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee), St. Francis of Asissi (All Creatures of Our God and King), and Anatolius (Fierce was the Wild Billow).
After a fierce, wild, billowing storm, they find themselves in the open Atlantic bound for the Irish Sea and the west coast of England. Mr. Pipes tells the story of St. Patrick (St. Patrick’s Breastplate), the anonymous favorite, Be Thou My Vision, and finally, Venerable Bede’s fine hymn, A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing. Through all, Drew has been learning how to write his own hymn, and the story concludes with his finished efforts and a grand feast back in Olney at Mr. Pipes’ cottage along the tranquil banks of The River Great Ouse, Mrs. Beccles and the children’s parents attending. The series ends where it began, Annie and Drew huddled around Mr. Pipes and his organ singing hymns with the old man at John Newton’s parish church of St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s.
The book is full of good Italian food,
fishing, sailing--and intrigue. Mary Jane Bond (the author's mother and critic)
insists that this is the best of the Pipes books. See Buy the Books! Comments? douglas@bondbooks.net
Sailing in the Pipes books.
The author and his family are avid sailors in the Puget Sound and
adjacent
waters. Many of the ideas for the sailing episodes in the books come from
the years of voyages the Bond family have enjoyed on board a succession of old
sailboats (a recent Bond boat restoration was featured in the November/December,
2005 issue of WoodenBoat magazine). At left, with Old Glory waving in the breeze, all
five Bond kids sail their1959, Eldredge-McInnis, wooden sloop, Rhodri Bond
at the helm. They
occasionally sail alongside Lady Washington, replica of the ship that
Robert Gray sailed in his exploration of the Columbia River and Washington coast
in 1792. Some readers will recognize the ship as the vessel used as the
Interceptor in the popular movie Pirates of the Caribbean. Mr. Pipes book
four, The Accidental Voyage, has a hair-raising adventure on the high seas aboard a schooner about this size.
Comments or questions? douglas@bondbooks.net To read a sample chapter of a new book by Douglas Bond, click FATHERS AND SONS