Our Centenary - A New Hobby
Transcription of article in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by H. Ralph
To those who have had the organisation of the much decried, but still necessary bazaar, it is often a problem how to provide some special attraction, which will prove both novel and satisfactory.
In connection with a recent sale of work at our Reading Friar Street Church, such a puzzle confronted us, and as the result proved to be satisfactory as an attraction, and most pleasing to our patrons, it has been suggested that I should give others the benefit of the idea.
What is man without a hobby? may be books or garden, postage stamps or coins. Sure it is a man cannot live on the tread mill for ever, and if he is worth a grain of salt, some particular hobby will appeal to him. Like other mortals I have been bitten, and for some time have found relaxation in the study of the history of our Church, especially in all that pertains to the County of Berkshire, and in the collection of all kinds of material which in any way illustrates or describes the various phases of its complex and wonderful story. Hence I have gathered plans, prints, magazines, pamphlets, letters and books to this end. My search has also revealed much valuable information in the hands of many personal friends. It occurred to me that if in connection with our annual sale I could so arrange these materials as to form a graphic narrative, illustrating the planting and development of the Berkshire and Reading Missions, it would prove both interesting and profitable. Nothing try, nothing have; and I began to get my hobby into shape some weeks prior to the date. Beginning with the Berkshire Mission I procured a copy of the earliest known plan of “The Berkshire Mission” of the famous
Brinkworth Circuit, then followed pictures of Brinkworth and Wootton Bassett Chapels, and portraits of the pioneers, Messrs. Ride, Petty, Jukes, and Russell. Following these came books and pamphlets in order, which tell the story of that greatly daring enterprise, with prints, photographs, and the ubiquitous picture postcard illustrating many of the places enumerated in the narrative. In like manner the development of many of our village chapels was shown by pictures of varying dates.
Local historical data was pressed into the service, e.g., to illustrate the struggles of Russell and. his contemporaries in the “Vale of the White Horse,” a number of pictures of the Vale, and also of the Horse, were shown; followed by the late Judge Hughes’ ‘Scouring of the White Horse,” with Doyle’s famous illustrations of the Scouring. This book reveals in a most illuminating manner the kind of raw material our pioneers of the vale had to work upon. Bishopstone and Ashdown, reminiscent of Ride anit Russell’s prevailing prayer; Lambourne and the formation of the first Berkshire Society, Ramsbury, Aldbourne, and Shefford with its justly famous “Preachers House,” each were amply illustrated. After these came plans showing the rapid development of the Mission, and the formation and progress of the Shefford Circuit.
Looking at the modest cottage which served as the head of the Shefford Circuit, one involuntarily exclaimed, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts”; for just under it was shown the report for March, 1836.
Number of places on the plan; 267
Members; 2,280
Chapels; 22
Travelling Preachers; 23
Local Preachers; 167
Exhorters; 48
Prayer Leaders; 56
Increase of Members last year; 521
The ballad has a distinct place in the history of Berkshire, and many specimens were to be seen; it was therefore quite in keeping that some local bard should celebrate so noteworthy an achievement, and so, here was to be seen “A Hymn” from which I extract three verses:
“In Shefford, Berks, the Ranters came
About six years ago,
And sounded Jesus’ precious name,
That souls His grace might know.
Chorus —
They say we were a noisy crew,
Discouragements we met with too,
Yet still we kept the prize in view;
Sing glory, Hallelujah.
In various counties souls are saved
And shout His praise below;
And many who’ve in Christ believed
Are washed as white as snow.
Chorus —
And now we’ve got a noisy crew,
And that’s not all, we’re happy too,
For we have got the prize in view,
Sing glory, Hallelujah.
Yet thousands still in darkness lie,
O Lord, remove the veil;
Drive doubt and darkness riche away,
And save poor souls from hell.
Chorus—
That they may join our noisy crew,
Believe, pray, and sing praises too,
And get the heavenly prize in view;
Sing glory, Hallelujah.”
Turning from Shefford Circuit to its “Reading Mission,” here were pictures showing the villages that supplied the men of war “all dressed and armed in uniform” for the capture of Reading on April 12th, 1835. Then followed portraits of the pioneers, and many of the local stalwarts. Many contemporary views of Reading were given with others showing the subsequent changes in some of the time-honoured spots.
In 1835 Miss Mitford published her “Belford Regis or Sketches of a Country Town,” which gives a series of striking pictures of Reading contemporary with the opening of our mission, while her “Country Sketches,” and best known of all her works, “Our Village,” each give charming descriptions of the adjacent rural life of that period. Early and illustrated editions of these were shown.
Plans showing the growth of the mission followed, one for each quarter until it became a Circuit in 1837, and after that in periods of one year to show the development of the station.
What a splendid record they bear. In 1843 seventeen travelling preachers were stationed with “Branches” at High Wycombe and Windsor, and Missions at St. Albans, Hertford, Henley, Brentford, and in Essex.
In 1841 and 1885 Reading was greatly honoured by being “the Conference town.” The plans for those years contrasted with that for 1908, were striking illustrations of the remarkable progress made by the Connexion.
Room was found for many interesting items not. strictly local, e.g. several portraits at different ages, of Sir W. P., and Lady Hartley. Copies of all the Centenary pamphlets and District or Circuit Histories, known to the writer, were also included. The “show” served to awaken many memories of the days long since, but it is then devout hope of the hobbyist that it may lead to a fuller local knowledge of our heroic past. We greatly need a baptism of holy daring, and there is in the history of almost every village chapel a story of heroic faith, of noble purpose, and of such glorious service, which if known and given its full value, should stir the blood, and fire the zeal of our young men and maidens to such splendid purpose that the glory and achievement of these latter days would far exceed that of the golden days of the past.
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909/206
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