Magazine for July 2011
Old Magazine
Recently I have been given a copy of the St Mark’s magazine – for August 1950! Its condition is not good, but I have tried to reproduce it below. It has been fascinating to read, and to realise that all the problems we have today were being felt just as strongly, over sixty years ago.
The outer cover is in colour; well, just one colour, actually, a sort of maroon, but this was well advanced for the time. The front, as can be seen, is a line drawing of the church, but the whole of the back page, and both inside cover pages, are advertisements for local shops - twelve in all, each with a quarter page. Sadly, only one (Hazell Smith in Regent Street) is still trading today.
The ‘who’s who’ records that the vicar was Basil E. Eldridge, who was at St Mark’s from 1942 to 1952. The list continues with the two churchwardens, the secretary, the treasurer, and then the next entry is somewhat mysterious:‘For seats, apply to the Verger, Mr Peach.’
Every Sunday there are four services, usually Communion at 8.00 am and 12.15 pm, with Matins at 11.00 am and Evensong at 6.30 pm. Services are also held in the Church every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
The Mothers’ Union is obviously very strong, and there is also a separate Younger Mothers’ Union, with a report that ‘Mrs Pierrepont very kindly conducted our July meeting in the absence of Mrs Comberbach. We are most grateful to Mrs Bolton, who nobly took Mrs Wright’s place at the piano. Our cake stall at the fête made over £8. Thanks to all our members for this splendid result.’
There is a report of the PCC meeting on 29th June 1950, with twenty members attending. The Treasurer said that ‘the Gift day receipts were £195 lower than the previous year’. He read out the new regulations for the Diocesan Scheme of Finance; the size of St Mark’s quota would be advised when all the parish returns had been received, but ’an assurance has been given that this will be on a fair basis’.
‘Further damage has occurred at St Saviour’s Hall, and preventative measures have been taken’. St Saviour’s (in Heath Terrace and now Emmanuel Church) was the Church Hall at that time; the nature of the damage is not mentioned – I wonder if it was the lead on the roof?
Some of the use of language in 1950 is from a different world, but the matters being discussed are very familiar. None more so than this: ‘The variable amplifier was discussed in the light of complaints. Suggestions for improvement were offered, and will receive further consideration’ .
Some things just never change!
Peter Took