Church & Regal Clubs Alan Payne March 2016
Photograph of 1933 Mothers' Union dedication (courtesy Eric Callaway)
We finalise our overview of clubs and societies in Box with the groups that concerned the churches and those with royal patronage. Many of these related to women who had often missed out on formal education. It was through their role in the house that Victorians hoped to influence moral welfare in the family and the servants they employed.
Mothers' Union
September 1933 was an important time for St Thomas à Becket Church. The Mothers' Union held a special Evensong Service on the Tuesday after Harvest Festival to enable the Bishop of Bristol to dedicate a new Mothers' Union banner hand sewn by Mrs Shaw Mellor (seen to the left of the banner).[1] It was a huge event attended by six hundred members of the Mothers' Union from the Chippenham Deanery who afterwards enjoyed tea in a huge marquee on the cricket field. In fact it was the second visit by the bishop that year especially to commemorate the banner, a lovely addition to the already beautiful adornments which are in the church.
The event was an incredible success and featured in the local press, seen above.[2] Visitors had assembled in Box by train and charabanc, with ladies wearing light blue sashes. As well as Rev George Foster, nine other local vicars attended to listen to the bishop urging women to mould their lives upon the pattern of that perfect mother portrayed upon the banner.[3]
In fact, this was only one of several success stories that year. As an aside, the Harvest Service was a great event for us in Box and a real honour to have been asked by the BBC to broadcast our evening Harvest Worship.[4] The number of listeners was estimated at four million people. It was reckoned to be a typical West Country service (whatever that means). Praise poured in: We have had wireless since 1928 and never enjoyed anything so much before; It was wonderful, this means of grace by wireless. Although I am an ardent Methodist, I am still serving the same God as you; some people even sent a postal order for the collection.
September 1933 was an important time for St Thomas à Becket Church. The Mothers' Union held a special Evensong Service on the Tuesday after Harvest Festival to enable the Bishop of Bristol to dedicate a new Mothers' Union banner hand sewn by Mrs Shaw Mellor (seen to the left of the banner).[1] It was a huge event attended by six hundred members of the Mothers' Union from the Chippenham Deanery who afterwards enjoyed tea in a huge marquee on the cricket field. In fact it was the second visit by the bishop that year especially to commemorate the banner, a lovely addition to the already beautiful adornments which are in the church.
The event was an incredible success and featured in the local press, seen above.[2] Visitors had assembled in Box by train and charabanc, with ladies wearing light blue sashes. As well as Rev George Foster, nine other local vicars attended to listen to the bishop urging women to mould their lives upon the pattern of that perfect mother portrayed upon the banner.[3]
In fact, this was only one of several success stories that year. As an aside, the Harvest Service was a great event for us in Box and a real honour to have been asked by the BBC to broadcast our evening Harvest Worship.[4] The number of listeners was estimated at four million people. It was reckoned to be a typical West Country service (whatever that means). Praise poured in: We have had wireless since 1928 and never enjoyed anything so much before; It was wonderful, this means of grace by wireless. Although I am an ardent Methodist, I am still serving the same God as you; some people even sent a postal order for the collection.
The Mothers' Union was founded by Mrs Mary Sumner in the late 1800s and in 1897 Queen Victoria became patron. It came to Box in the early 1900s and the meetings were organised by Miss Vezey at the Old Schools (the Poorhouse) and Susanna Spencer was another founder member.[5] By the 1920s meetings were in the vicarage and its gardens.[6]
The function of the Union was the same throughout its history. In modern times vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith described its work as primarily a union of mothers who pray and try to pray effectively for the family life of our parish and beyond it. A similar philosophy was expressed in 1927 when the agenda for the season comprised: sewing meetings, talks on the Moral Welfare Association, a meeting called Quiet Day, another meeting entitled Corporate Communion, and a film in Chippenham.[7]
Lest we should depict the Union as always serious, there are several highly frivolous events recorded in their history. In June 1912 Mrs Browning and Mrs Goulstone presided over the annual outing which went by motor bus to Cheddar and Wells.[8] The party numbering about forty left Box at 9 am, when near Cheddar an unfortunate incident occurred, the motor bus breaking down. It was away from houses and there was a delay caused by lack of communication to get an alternative motor. Eventually Cheddar was visited but at 4.30pm it was too late for lunch, Wells rushed through and the party finally got back home after a day of exciting adventures about midnight.
Perhaps even those mishaps were better than the 1934 visit to London by train to see the tombs of Nelson and Wellington at
St Paul's Cathedral which only got back to Box at 2.30am.[9] Mrs Shaw Mellor retired in February 1938 due to ill-health and Box lost one of its most imposing representatives in local affairs.
The function of the Union was the same throughout its history. In modern times vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith described its work as primarily a union of mothers who pray and try to pray effectively for the family life of our parish and beyond it. A similar philosophy was expressed in 1927 when the agenda for the season comprised: sewing meetings, talks on the Moral Welfare Association, a meeting called Quiet Day, another meeting entitled Corporate Communion, and a film in Chippenham.[7]
Lest we should depict the Union as always serious, there are several highly frivolous events recorded in their history. In June 1912 Mrs Browning and Mrs Goulstone presided over the annual outing which went by motor bus to Cheddar and Wells.[8] The party numbering about forty left Box at 9 am, when near Cheddar an unfortunate incident occurred, the motor bus breaking down. It was away from houses and there was a delay caused by lack of communication to get an alternative motor. Eventually Cheddar was visited but at 4.30pm it was too late for lunch, Wells rushed through and the party finally got back home after a day of exciting adventures about midnight.
Perhaps even those mishaps were better than the 1934 visit to London by train to see the tombs of Nelson and Wellington at
St Paul's Cathedral which only got back to Box at 2.30am.[9] Mrs Shaw Mellor retired in February 1938 due to ill-health and Box lost one of its most imposing representatives in local affairs.
Needlework Guild
The Needlework Guild was a society sponsored by royalty, first Queen Mary and afterwards Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
It started in the 1880s and its purpose was to provide clothing (usually socks and jumpers) to the poor and needy, often in the local hospital.[10] It quickly became a country-wide organisation with branches in many towns and villages in Wiltshire.
In 1899 the Box group was run by Mrs Northey.[11] Even local groups sometimes obtained royal patronage and in 1902 HRH Princess of Wales was president of the Somerset Group.[12]
During World War 1 the need for clothing for servicemen gave an added impetus to the guild and initiatives to make socks for soldiers was a common rallying cry.[13]
The guild lasted from the late Victorian period up until the nationalisation of the health service, when their role in supplying clothing and bedding was taken over by the state: Concern is being expressed that when the hospitals are taken over on July 5 (1948) there will be no purpose in continuing those voluntary societies such as Needlework Guilds.[14]
The Needlework Guild was a society sponsored by royalty, first Queen Mary and afterwards Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
It started in the 1880s and its purpose was to provide clothing (usually socks and jumpers) to the poor and needy, often in the local hospital.[10] It quickly became a country-wide organisation with branches in many towns and villages in Wiltshire.
In 1899 the Box group was run by Mrs Northey.[11] Even local groups sometimes obtained royal patronage and in 1902 HRH Princess of Wales was president of the Somerset Group.[12]
During World War 1 the need for clothing for servicemen gave an added impetus to the guild and initiatives to make socks for soldiers was a common rallying cry.[13]
The guild lasted from the late Victorian period up until the nationalisation of the health service, when their role in supplying clothing and bedding was taken over by the state: Concern is being expressed that when the hospitals are taken over on July 5 (1948) there will be no purpose in continuing those voluntary societies such as Needlework Guilds.[14]
Church Temperance Societies
The movement to sign the pledge of abstinence was taken up by the dissenting churches as well as the Church of England. In 1862 Box Methodists were holding fortnightly meetings in the chapel under the chairmanship of James Oatley and assistance of Mr G Aust.[15] In that year they presented a silver cruet frame to Mr Line who had been for nearly three years an earnest voluntary temperance and Christian labourer for the benefit of the working men (of Box).
The Church of England Temperance Society was very active, a noble sentiment although some of the language used is no longer acceptable. In 1897 they put on Variety Entertainment by the Dusky Duffers including a twice-encored mock love song Pepita and an imitation of London street calls including the cabman, omnibus and paper boy all rendered faithfully, the effect being electrical. The following year Mr Gandy came over from Bath and gave an address to the children assembled in the Schools to impress upon them the advantages of total abstinence, keeping their attention apt with interesting illustrations. I bet the children enjoyed that!
The movement to sign the pledge of abstinence was taken up by the dissenting churches as well as the Church of England. In 1862 Box Methodists were holding fortnightly meetings in the chapel under the chairmanship of James Oatley and assistance of Mr G Aust.[15] In that year they presented a silver cruet frame to Mr Line who had been for nearly three years an earnest voluntary temperance and Christian labourer for the benefit of the working men (of Box).
The Church of England Temperance Society was very active, a noble sentiment although some of the language used is no longer acceptable. In 1897 they put on Variety Entertainment by the Dusky Duffers including a twice-encored mock love song Pepita and an imitation of London street calls including the cabman, omnibus and paper boy all rendered faithfully, the effect being electrical. The following year Mr Gandy came over from Bath and gave an address to the children assembled in the Schools to impress upon them the advantages of total abstinence, keeping their attention apt with interesting illustrations. I bet the children enjoyed that!
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Toc H
At Ypres in 1915 during the worst years of World War 1, an army chaplain, Rev Phillip (Tubby) Clayton, had a Damascus moment on being instructed by his superior, Neville Talbot, to set up a house for wounded and battle-wearied soldiers. Instead of making it a religious establishment, Tubby decided to make it available for Everyman. The house was named Talbot House (soon abbreviated in soldiers' slang to Toc H) and it became a model as a meeting point for servicemen and women, a place of rest, renowned for providing Fellowship and Service, symbolised by a welcoming lamp outside the door. By the 1930s there were many thousands of members throughout the world. In Britain the movement was closely associated with the National Blood Transfusion service and overseas with leprosy homes in Africa. |
Representation of Toc H lamp (jumpei-mitsui.com)
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The Box group helped in many areas: in 1934 they started a Sunday afternoon Club for lads from 13 to 16 years of age to replace the Bible Class which was not functioning very efficiently.[16] And they helped to re-invigorate the Scout Troop with Scoutmaster Frank Rogers and Philip Lambert.[17] The vicar, Rev George Foster, promoted their work and allowed them to establish their headquarters in an upstairs room in the Vicarage which he called the Toc H Upper Room.[18] But it was interdenominational and sometimes meetings were at the Methodist Hall.[19] In the years leading to the Second World War, the philosophy of friendship, tolerance and integration were in dramatic contradiction to the hardening of military views. The people who tried to keep the lamp of lightness alive included Fred Sheppard, Jack Ford, Albert Ball and Arthur Wootten.[20]
During the war years Rev Arthur Maltin was padre to the movement and involved in most of its weekly meetings. He had experience of the movement's effectiveness having seen it at first hand in the Dardanelles in the Great War. Some of the most active members in 1940 were S Mays (Chairman), Arthur Wootten (Pilot), Clement Dyke (Secretary), T Bence (Treasurer), J Ford (Job Master), E Oliver (Log Master). Speakers were not easy to obtain during the Second World War, so vicar Arthur Maltin filled in with lantern slides of The Life of Nelson, Somerset, Devon and the Home of the Sea Kings.[21] But the mood was rapidly changing with transport restrictions and black-outs in the evenings.
During the war years Rev Arthur Maltin was padre to the movement and involved in most of its weekly meetings. He had experience of the movement's effectiveness having seen it at first hand in the Dardanelles in the Great War. Some of the most active members in 1940 were S Mays (Chairman), Arthur Wootten (Pilot), Clement Dyke (Secretary), T Bence (Treasurer), J Ford (Job Master), E Oliver (Log Master). Speakers were not easy to obtain during the Second World War, so vicar Arthur Maltin filled in with lantern slides of The Life of Nelson, Somerset, Devon and the Home of the Sea Kings.[21] But the mood was rapidly changing with transport restrictions and black-outs in the evenings.
Box Choir
Of course the choir in Box has origins from the early days of the church, long before any recorded history, and it is not possible to give a full description of its activities. So, instead, a few unusual facts are recorded.
In 1899 the Bath Stone Firms Limited organised a train outing to Plymouth for all of its 1,800 employees (of whom 450 from Box), leaving Box station before 5am.[22] Some enjoyed a tour of the dockyards, others went to Devonport. Box choir was invited along to make the night merry with song although they must have flagged, arriving back to Bath after 2am on Sunday morning.
In 1926 the choir won a shield for sight-singing and the folk-dance team won a first-class certificate with two gold stars and the sword-dance teams certificates with one gold star at the County Festival held in Devizes.[23]
In 1929 Walter John Bradfield (1862 - 1933) of Fairfield gave his memories of fifty years of service in Box Choir, dating back to the time of Dr Horlock.[24] He recalled the high-back pews in the church, at the end of each was a candle stuck down in a sconce. He talked about Rev GE Gardner and his wife who started the Sunday School and how the church was restored by Rev W White in 1896 sweeping away all the high-backed pews, the organ and the galleries, one of which was on the west side and another on the north side for the girls in the choir. After this the choir stalls were placed in the chancel.
Of course the choir in Box has origins from the early days of the church, long before any recorded history, and it is not possible to give a full description of its activities. So, instead, a few unusual facts are recorded.
In 1899 the Bath Stone Firms Limited organised a train outing to Plymouth for all of its 1,800 employees (of whom 450 from Box), leaving Box station before 5am.[22] Some enjoyed a tour of the dockyards, others went to Devonport. Box choir was invited along to make the night merry with song although they must have flagged, arriving back to Bath after 2am on Sunday morning.
In 1926 the choir won a shield for sight-singing and the folk-dance team won a first-class certificate with two gold stars and the sword-dance teams certificates with one gold star at the County Festival held in Devizes.[23]
In 1929 Walter John Bradfield (1862 - 1933) of Fairfield gave his memories of fifty years of service in Box Choir, dating back to the time of Dr Horlock.[24] He recalled the high-back pews in the church, at the end of each was a candle stuck down in a sconce. He talked about Rev GE Gardner and his wife who started the Sunday School and how the church was restored by Rev W White in 1896 sweeping away all the high-backed pews, the organ and the galleries, one of which was on the west side and another on the north side for the girls in the choir. After this the choir stalls were placed in the chancel.
Courtesy Box Parish Council
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Of equal importance was the removal of the three-decker Jacobean-style pulpit, which he thought was installed in 1716. It was replaced by a fine pulpit of local stone, the work of male members of the choir who were engaged in the stone trade. In 1913 Mr Bradfield became choirmaster on the death of Mr Burrows, who had been a schoolmaster.
In the centre of the old church was a round stove which the sexton, Mr Nowell, used to stoke up before services, filling the church with sulphurous fumes. You can read more about Box Choir elsewhere on the website. |
We would love to hear from you if you can give further details about any of the clubs or societies mentioned on the website, particularly if you can bring the history up to the present date.
References
[1] Parish Magazine, October 1933
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 September 1933
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 September 1933
[4] Parish Magazine, October 1933
[5] Courtesy Philip Martin
[6] Parish Magazine, November 1903 and ????
[7] Parish Magazine, February 1927
[8] Parish Magazine, June 1912
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 18 August 1934
[10] http://qmcg.org.uk/history/
[11] The Bath Chronicle, 23 November 1899
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 30 January 1902
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 1 May 1915
[14] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 July 1948
[15] The Bath Chronicle, 13 November 1862
[16] Parish Magazine, April 1935
[17] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[18] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[19] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 22 December 1934
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 12 February 1938
[21] Parish Magazine January 1940
[22] The Bath Chronicle, 7 September 1899
[23] Parish Magazine, April 1926
[24] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 28 December 1929
[1] Parish Magazine, October 1933
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 September 1933
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 September 1933
[4] Parish Magazine, October 1933
[5] Courtesy Philip Martin
[6] Parish Magazine, November 1903 and ????
[7] Parish Magazine, February 1927
[8] Parish Magazine, June 1912
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 18 August 1934
[10] http://qmcg.org.uk/history/
[11] The Bath Chronicle, 23 November 1899
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 30 January 1902
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 1 May 1915
[14] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 July 1948
[15] The Bath Chronicle, 13 November 1862
[16] Parish Magazine, April 1935
[17] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[18] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[19] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 22 December 1934
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 12 February 1938
[21] Parish Magazine January 1940
[22] The Bath Chronicle, 7 September 1899
[23] Parish Magazine, April 1926
[24] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 28 December 1929