|
1900-1960 - A RETURN TO NEW TESTAMENT LIFE AND
PRACTISE
Robert Lloyd and the early members were fired
by the ideals of the Churches of Christ, a reform movement which
originated in Scotland early in the 19th Century and spread to
England, and more extensively to America. They were not simply
opposed to what they saw as the clericalism, ritualism and state
connection of the Church of England. They wanted to return to the
teaching and practise of Christ and his Apostles as seen in the
New Testament. They practised the baptism of believers by
immersion, and the weekly remembrance of their Lord in the
'breaking of bread'. They stressed the priesthood of all
believers, which meant the right and duty of every member to share
in the public life and witness of the local church.
The ministry of the church over the
years reflects this concern. Leadership was provided by Elders,
Deacons and Deaconesses, who were ordained after being elected by
the congregation. In 1954, for instance, Mr. A. Forrest and Mr. A.
W. Scott came from their London Churches and conducted an
ordination service at which 'Bros. W. Probert, J. H. Tucker and E.
F. Lloyd were ordained Elders; Bros. E. Turner, J. Hargreaves and
D. Whittingstall were ordained Deacons; and Sisters Amy Tucker---
K. Turner and E. Batt were ordained Deaconesses'.
Within this, there was also a natural
succession at work, in the three generations of the Lloyd family,
Robert, John and Ernest, who between them cover the whole
life-span of the church. All three worked in Brookwood hospital,
the first two as head gardeners, from 1867 - 1927; the last
working his way up to become Group Secretary in 1958. All three
gave leadership in the church, which was still continued right
into the 1980s with Mr. E. F. Lloyd serving as church treasurer.
The life of the church was centred upon
the Sunday services; morning Communion led by the Elders,
after-noon Sunday School, and an evening Gospel service. At times
Communion also followed the evening service for those unable to
make the morning. Life was spartan in many ways. No musical
instrument was allowed for many years except for a tuning fork.
When change did come it took the form of a grand piano given by
Mr. Cawdron and used for the Sunday School anniversary in 1928.
From 1931 a harmonium brought the music into the modern era! The
water in the baptistry was unheated until recent times. The pool
was difficult to fill and even more difficult to empty. There was
little concession to time, and the proposal as early as 1903 to
purchase and install a clock was judged to be 'inopportune'!
The warmth of the fellowship was
however un-mistakable. The Sunday School flourished from the start
and attracted children from many families. The annual outings stay
in the memory; first by horse and cart to fields in Bisley, then
for many years by open-top bus to Hampton Court, and later still
by charabanc to Bognor. There was a close connection with the
wider fellowship of the Churches of Christ, through its Birmingham
headquarters, and especially with the London Association of
Churches. The church was served over many years by preachers from
this Association. The notable connection of the Black family was
maintained in this way. Robert Black came to preach and to cherish
his friendship with Robert Lloyd in the latter part of the 19th
century. His son, Robert Wilson Black followed, and he in turn by
Sir Cyril Black, who still remembers the journey, as a young man,
to Brookwood by train; the walk up to the High Street, and the
return journey in the late evening. More recent service has been
given by such friends as G. Fletcher, A. Forrest, W. Harrop, T.
Ormandy and C. W. V. Robinson.
The church was served by a succession of
Evangelists, supported by the central Council of the Churches of
Christ, but working in local congregations for periods of a month
or more. R. K. Francis came as one of the first in 1889, and began
a life-long relationship, which included a period of residence in
Knaphill. There was regular giving out of limited income to other
new causes, and to missionary work, with special interest in India
and Malawi.
The building has stood the test of time
well, and has gradually been updated to meet changing times. The
changes include: from oil lamps to neon lighting; from greenhouse
boiler to gas-fired central heating; from hard wooden forms to
modern stacking chairs! Much of the change has been achieved by
the skilled hands and unflagging energy of Mr. A. Turner, but with
many other helping hands as well. TOP
|
