Archived Extracts

The Sherwood Street Methodist Women's Own held a concert on Saturday. In the afternoon a meat tea was held, followed in the evening by the concert. The Brook Street Women's Own (Sutton) gave a sketch, and Mrs. Oakley (elocutionist) also contributed to the concert. The chairlady was Mrs. Saxton, of Sutton. On Sunday afternoon, the Women's Own contributed a service of song entitled "The Guiding Light." The connective readings were given by Miss I. Brown, and Miss Burden, of Bulwell, presided. In the evening, Miss Burden conducted the service, and there were anthems by the Women's Own Choir. The collections at each service were devoted to the Women's Own Fund.

The union which has taken place between the three Methodist Churches - Wesleyan, Primitive and United Methodists - was celebrated in Sutton on Monday evening, when an inspiring public meeting was held in the Outram Street Methodist Church. Representatives were present from all the local churches, in addition to members of the Sutton Urban District Council, and the largely-attended meeting was one which will be remembered for many years to come as marking a new era in the Methodist Church work in the town and district.
  The meeting was provided over by Mr. A. Pickard, and amongst those supporting him were the Rev. R.P. Tinsley (Vicar of St. Mary's, Sutton), Rev. A.G. Smith (Pastor of the Victorian Street Baptist Church), Rev. P.C. Clay (Pastor of the Outram Street Methodist Church), Rev. E. Sellers (Pastor Brook Street Methodist Church), and Mrs. A. Daffin (Wesleyan Church). The members of the Sutton Council present were Councillors H.C. Wright (chairman), C. Brown, M.P., A. Pepper, T. Barnes, A. Walton, C.A. Morley, J. Percival, J.H. Brailsford, A. Spencer, W. Limb and J.E. Scott, together with Mr. Luther Pepper (Clerk).

  The singing was led by a combined choir, conducted by Mr. A. Bowen (organist) and during the service, they rendered with great chorus. A number of addresses were delivered, congratulating the church on the union which has been effected, and hymns sung during the evening included ...
  The Rev. R.P. Tinsley said it was with the greatest pleasure and with rejoicing in his heart that he expressed on behalf of the members of the Church of England congratulations to the Methodist Churches on the union which had taken place. They knew it was the will of their Lord and Master that all His followers should be united, and he (the speaker) was certain they all deplored the many divisions that were amongst them. He could assure them Church people everywhere followed with the deepest interest the events at the great meeting where the union was made an accomplished fact.
  As an instance of this the Vicar quoted an extract from a letter received by him from his mother, in the course of which she observed "May God bless the movement and make it very catching. Oh, how lovely it would be to be all together again as we used to be. Oh, my son, help with all your love and zeal to find out God's plan for us all. I wished and wished as I read that I was young again and could take a real active part in drawing the churches together."

  "That letter" observed the Vicar, "opens up a further question which must be of even greater interest to us who are members of the Church of England. Is the movement towards the re-union of Christians going to stop here, or are the members of the Church of England and the Nonconformist bodies going to have the will for union on a much larger scale? You Methodists who have just united are not going to find it altogether easy at first. There will have to be give and take amongst the local congregations and the local ministers and leaders which will often go against the grain, but with the spirit of God to guide you, you will not fail, and your success must pave the way to this greater union which the world is crying out for to-day."
  The question for members of the Church of England was whether this re-union was really only a domestic and denominational concern, proceeded the Vicar, or whether it was the beginning of a much wider thing, the greater re-union in which the Church of England would have a prominent place and part.
  One could not held feeling that the day would come when they would get far closer together than they were to-day. After such a long period of separation the approach to each other was not going to be easily or quickly accomplished, but if they had the will to overcome the difficulties then reward would come in the end.

  Each one of them could begin by realising there were other points of view than their own, and that others could be just as sincere as themselves though they might differ from them, but let them go further an try not only to see that there was another point of view but also to try and understand that point of view. "I feel we have gone a long way," added the Vicar, "as the welcome I have always received in the Nonconformist Churches in Sutton could not have been possible 30, 40 or 50 years ago in this place. It does show that we are beginning to understand each other better. May that understanding grow fuller and wider!"
  The Chairman was next spoke, referred to the message which His Majesty the King forwarded to the Conference at which the union of the three Churches took place, and also gave extracts from speeches at the Nottingham Synod last week by representatives of other churches. He proceeded to speak of church work and attendance at divine worship, and appealed to the younger generation to join the church and take a part in the activities of church life. he got tired of bearing that common phrase "I am not going to do anything. I am only going to look after myself." To him, that was too ugly for 1932. There was something very beautiful in service and sacrifice, sacrifice for the betterment of the coming generation, the moulding of character and the equipment all round for future life. ...

  He noticed, continued Mr. Smith, that Methodist Union had had its effect, and that Baptists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians were beginning to explore the possibilities of a united church. Some of their leaders were discussing the possibility and believed the day was not far distant when it would be an accomplished fact. "I do not believe it a bit," exclaimed the speaker, "and I even go so far as to say I do not share in that hope, nor do I consider such to be desirable." He felt about the whole question some differences were vital, and that those differences which did exist in the Christian Church had arisen out of the fearless recognition of the application of the right of private interpretation of the Scriptures. He did not mind differences in denominationalism providing these did not prevent co-operation in progressive evangelism and a sympathetic understanding of one another's point of view. Provided they had that, he did not think these differences mattered. There was room in the world for variety and diversity. .....