Missionary position

An accidental discovery about my grandparents.

Lichfield Mercury 27 June 1952, p8 col1.

METHODISTS MEET AT CHASETOWN

Missionary work in Eastern Nigeria where she had spent a number of years was discussed by Mrs. A. P. Saunders (Hednesford) at the monthly meeting of women’s work for overseas missions in connection with the Chasetown section of the Cannock Chase Methodist circuit.

The meeting was held on Thursday of last week at Mount Calvary Methodist Church. A representative attendance was presided over by Mrs. H. V. Smith (Lichfield).

A silence was held for the late Mrs. J. Deakin (an old member) and the late Mr. Samuel Dennis (an old member’s husband). The missionary letter was read by Mrs. Wright, junr. A solo was rendered by Mrs. Wright, senr. Mrs. R. Martin was the organist.

Correspondence and the financial report of the previous meeting held at Park View Methodist Church, Watling Street, were given by Mrs. M. Short, in which she stated that £5 9s. 9d. was realised. She also thanked the speaker and chairman. The Rev. J. Heath Burgess was responsible for prayers.

Tea was served in the school-room by Mount Cavalry ladies and a collection was taken for missionary work.

The late Mrs J Deakin would have been Jane (nee Shingler), widow of Jonah Deakin (snr), stalwart of Park View Methodist Church.

The late Samuel “Sam” Dennis was my father’s father, another stalwart of Park View.  Therefore, Nan had once been a member of the group.

I know that others were engaged in collecting for missionary work at least into my twenties – into the 1980s.  They meant well, but I never liked it, and never contributed.  To my mind, they were simply the outer, fading ripples of the cataclysmic, meteor-like strike that was the descent of English Victorian values upon much older, more environmentally-attuned cultures.  A disaster from which many indigenous African people are still trying to recover.

Mount Calvary

I believe Mount Calvary Methodist Church stood on Princess Street, Chase Terrace (1).

Chase Terrace (part), Mount Calvary Methodist Church ringed. Ordnance Survey. Surveyed 1938-39, published 1949. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.

 

(1) British History Online – Burntwood: Churches, education and charities.