Social History - Chapel People |
Our schoolroom has a busy life both in the past an today. In modern times we have a range of events currently using the room. Bible study group meets on the first Wednesday of each month and encourages lively and relevant discussions. Our Methodist schoolroom currently hosts weekly Choir practices, various keep fit classes, playgroup and a band practice. We must also be one of the only chapels in the country who can boast having a hairdressing salon next door in the vestry. We wonder what the attendees of "Bright Hour" would have thought of that way back in 1924! Below is just a little of what people remember about yesteryear's happenings.
1924 Bright hour meeting at Heath House
|
Bright Hour meeting 1924This photograph was taken in 1924 at Heath House in Birmingham Road. It shows a tea party or similar social gathering of village ladies who attended the Bright Hour meetings at the Chapel.
Source - late Mrs Freda Barnett who is the toddler on her mother lap (Mrs Cotterill) seated on the front right of the photograph. |
The last of the Trustees
|
This historic picture of our congregation in 1996 shows the last two trustees. Maurice Barnet was married in this church in 1940 and Ellen Dryden was in the village from before the second world war in the 1930's. Robert was our organist for many years taking up the role from Freda Barnet who in turn took over from Mrs Victoria Redfern. Maurice and Robert are both now commemorated on the ribbon of initial stones that run across the rear of the chapel (find out more here) and Alex Selby used to design and paint posters for carol services and pantomines.
   |
8th September 1996 congregation (left to right)
Maurice Barnet, Alex Selby, Violet Sharrard, Ellen Dryden, Mavis Coggins, Eileen Davis, Alice Eastman, Jill Howell, Robert Addison
|
Sunday School
|
Mavis Coggins remembers a time back in the 1950's when she helped run the Sunday School with Mr. and Mrs. Dryden. Up to 40 local children would attend each Sunday afternoon, meeting in the schoolroom and singing to the piano played by Mr. Dryden. Later the older girls, Valerie Coggins, Susan Dryden and Gillian Archer helped with the youngest children.
Sunday School anniversary celebrations were held each year at Whitsun, when the children of the Sunday School would give readings and sing to the chapel congregation. This was an important occasion for all the children who would, of course. be attired in their "Sunday Best"; a brand new dress or shirt would be called for. Find out more here The annual prize giving Sunday was also an exciting time when the children would be rewarded for their good attendance at Sunday School. Each child would be presented with a book to take home and keep. |
Sunday School outing used to be big affairs - late 1950's
|
1994
|
By the early 1980's, a new team were at the helm. Anne Pointer, Pauline Sheward, Jill Howell and Tina Mason were running the Sunday School and continued to do so until 1993 when declining numbers of children lead to a disbanding of Sunday School but the formation of the Methodist Youth Club. This group of youngsters aged between 8 and 13 years met on alternate Wednesday evenings and enjoyed a whole range of activities and trips as well as entertaining many of us in the village with their memorable plays and pantomimes. Find out more about the Sunday School in 1980's period Find out more about the Methodist Youth Group During both Sunday school and the Youth group the Scripture Exam was entered by many of the members with some excellent success. |
|
Womens Social Hour
|
From the 1920's onwards the ladies of the chapel congregation and indeed from around the villages, would enjoy meeting together on a weekday in the Methodist Schoolroom for their "Women's Social Hour." Formerly known as "Bright Hour" the women would gather together under the spiritual guidance of the minster, would enjoy singing a hymn, listening to a sermon - probably shorter than the Sunday version - and join together in prayer. This would be followed by a cup of tea and no doubt some social chatting. Women's Social Hour continued into the 1980's
Social Activities have developed in a slightly different format since. We now hold charity coffee mornings on the first Thursday of each month still in the school room and they are always busy and friendly occasions - men can also attend! Each year we raise a healthy sum of money for local and national charities and we are always delighted to welcome new faces. |
Womens Social Hour Outing 1945
|
