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St Peters Magazine, June 1901
The
summer months saw an explosion of excursions and trips, some of which are
chronicled this month and some next. This month focuses on Sunday school
treats and related trips.
Temporary pilot
Discreetly hidden amongst the items of the calendar for this month are two entries that mark the beginning of a sea change in the life of St Peters church. On 9th June, the first Sunday after Trinity, the preachers are listed: a Rev. J. Pyper MA and a Rev. E.L. Bond MA, one-time curate at St Nicholas. This listing is unusual in the parish magazines for 1901/02 for normal, rather than festival services. Towards the end of the calendar it is noted that during this month notices as to the Rectors Bible class will be announced in church (SPM 06/1901) rather than having a set time as was usually announced. The explanation is given in the advert for the Sunday School treat to East Leake, published in this issue of the parish magazine. By the time this issue is in circulation, our Rector will have gone away for a few weeks much needed rest... we trust that he will return much benefited by the rest and change of scene. During his absence the Rev. E. L. Bond... will officiate. At the meeting of the church vestry in April 1901, the Rev. Geo. Edgcome had reflected on his nearly 30 years in office and on the increasing burden that seemed to feel (SPM 05/1901). The problem was addressed more permanently in December 1901 (SPM 12/1901).
However the homily for June 1901, drawing on the motto I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (John, 14.18) was written by the Rector. He pointed out that by the month of June we shall have passed through the doctrinal teaching of the Churchs year and seen how we must walk and serve God before going to the home which He had left for us (SPM 06/1901). The rest of the homily focuses on the continued imminence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, described as first appearing at Whitsuntide, bringing comfort to us whatever may be the trials of [our] wilderness journey (SPM 06/1901). There is not a sorrow which we can experience but the Lord Jesus, in the treasury of His grace, has a corresponding solace which we can read about in our Bibles, concluded the Rev. Geo. Edgcome.
Of a more enjoyable nature, outings were advertised for the Sunday Schools: boys and girls going to East Leake, the advert for which took up half a page in the June 1901 issue, and infants going to Wilford. The choir men too, held their annual excursion this month.
Petticoat power
Two important items in the June 1901 issue of the magazine indicate the strongly gendered nature of life and work in early Edwardian English society. One is an early announcement of the sale of work to be held at the Circus Street Hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 10th-12th (SPM 06/1901). This was the churchs major fund raising event of the year. It seems that Miss Evans of South Road, The Park, was organising the event, since people willing to offer help or set up additional stalls were directed to contact her. The simple notice lists the main stalls already promised with the names of the stallholders, 19-20 of whom were women. Only one man, the redoubtable Mr E.C. Smith, was a stallholder with his wife. Even the magazine, edited by Mr. E.C. Smith, was moved to comment on this gendered imbalance in the congregations commitment to fund raising. It has been suggested that perhaps some of the men of the congregation would be willing to help, either in organising the entertainments for the three days, or in having a stall in which they could co-operate... (SPM 06/1901).
However in other aspects of the work of the parish, it was lack of support by women that caused comment. An item in heavy type in the magazine remarked that several districts [of the parish] are without Lady Visitors, and the dearth of teachers in our Sunday schools causes a heavy pressure on those who are at present carrying out the work (especially in the Girls school). It is earnestly hoped that some ladies in our congregation will kindly volunteer for one branch of the above (SPM 06/1901).
The Sunday School Treats
In 1901 and 1902 the children of the Sunday schools were taken for an annual treat in June. In 1901 the Boys and Girls schools went to East Leake. Unfortunately the weather was not so favourable as we would have wished, several showers of rain falling during the afternoon, which tended to make the grass damp and unpleasant (SPM 07/1901). Some 190 children and 24 adults sat down to an excellent tea provided by Mr Williamson of The Nook. In addition to the superintendents and the teachers of the Sunday schools who went we had the pleasure of the company of the Rev. E.L. Bond, Mr J.W Curtin (Churchwarden), and one or two ladies of our congregation... All the arrangements were exceedingly well carried out by Mr. E.C. Smith, who is acting for Mr. Lee during his enforced absence (SPM 07/1901).
In 1902 the Boys and Girls Sunday school annual treat went further afield. The parish magazine editor wrote ...glad if parents will kindly let the children go and so for one year give them the opportunity of enjoying a day at the seaside (SPM 03/1902). Parents were also encouraged to join the outing. In May 1902 the new Superintendent of the Boys School, Mr. E.C. Smith, appealed to parishioners for additional funds for the Treat, and promised to list them in a later issue of the magazine. This appeal raised £16-2s-0d and the people who donated it were listed in the July 1902 issue.
Some 180 scholars and 25 adults, including the Rector, the Curate and Mr. J.W. Curtin (churchwarden)... went by special train to Mablethorpe (SPM 07/1902). People met at the [St Peters] schools, Broad Marsh, at 8.00am. Friends wishing to go by the same train [could] obtain tickets from Mr. E.C. Smith... at the usual railway special fares. Tickets for tea: Adults 1s, Children, 10d. The train [left] the Victoria Station, GNR platform at 8.39am and London Road High Level 8.45am (SPM 06/1902). There were reserved compartments for the party. The weather was not what we would have desired... being rather showery... [but] the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves... young and old playing all kinds of games... including the evergreen donkey rides(SPM 07/1902). At about 3pm the party sat down to an excellent Meat Tea, provided by Messrs. Duffin and Co. of the Pie in Hand Restaurant (SPM 07/1902). The train home left Mablethorpe at 6.10pm.
The Infants Annual Treat took place in July in 1901 and 1902. After an early tea in the schoolroom they were taken on drays (horse-drawn wagons) to Mr. Grays field at Wilford, where they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the day being beautifully fine and warm (SPM 08/1901). They started for home at 7pm, when it was said the young children were beginning to tire. In July 1902 77 children joined in (SPM 08/1902).
St Peters Ramblers
This club was formed in April 1902 for the choirmen and the senior class of boys from the Sunday school (SPM 10/1902). Its first secretary was Mr. C. Riley, one of the boys Sunday school teachers. In November 1902 he was thanked in the parish magazine for his energy in organising the seasons rambles.
The sexist nature of the clubs activities was highlighted during a brief business meeting held on 26th April 1902 after its first ramble. Here, members decided to invite ladies [only] to join in two or three special excursions during a season, and made it clear that membership of the club was intended to form the nucleus of a Mens Institute to be inaugurated in the Autumn [of 1902] (SPM 05/1902). Since the one special excursion, alongside the five rambles organised from April to October 1902, was a visit to look over the Midlands Railway works at Derby, on Saturday 25th October (SPM 10/1902) it would seem that female involvement was neither encouraged nor, perhaps, expected.
The number of walkers on the rambles during the first season varied from 14-17 except during August when, because of the season and holidays only a very small number turned out (SPM 09/1902) and for the visit to the Derby railway works in October, when 31 members and friends turned out (SPM 11/1902).
The rambles were either visits to country houses grounds (Shipley Hall, Ilkeston, in April 1902; Ruddington Hall in May) to look around and see interesting plants (orchids, palms and carnations at Shipley Hall) or prize cattle (Ruddington Hall), or extensive walks, taking in some points of interest. The walks were to Lambley (July 1902); from Radcliffe via Shelford and the Stoke Bardolph ferry to Colwick (and home was reached about 8.30pm after a delightful expedition (SPM 09/1902)) in August; and to Clifton and Barton in Fabis (returning home via the Beeston ferry and train by about 8.30pm again) in September. All the outings included a stop for tea, and at Shelford the walkers were reported as playing skittles, too.
Next month, in the July/August 2001 issue of the parish magazine, the extensive activities of the choir will be explored
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Last revised 2nd June 2001