Rodborough Church Council Minute Book 1927-1947

1927

The Whitsuntide treat was an eagerly anticipated event. Stinchcombe Band was booked for a charge of £7. The usual order of service was agreed; Service in church at 1.40 and sing two hymns “The Church’s Own Foundation” and “Brightly Gleams our Banner” and to sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” at The Butts coming back. A committee was to arrange the boys’ sports and there would be a maypole and swings. Later years mention a sweet stall at at the Rectory and teas.

The funds of the garden fete were to be divided between the choir outing and the Rectory dilapidation fund.

1928

Alongside the routine business were concerns about the choir. The choir was in a very bad state and a lot of complaints had been made from the congregation … since the girls had left it was a difficult matter to get boys to fill the place. The outcome was that the choirmaster was changed. Mr Clutterbuck was appointed, new robes were ordered, and improvement was expected.

The unhealthy state of the Sunday School lavatories also caused concern and it was agreed that urgent action was needed.

1929

The choir and members of the Church would be going on the tower on Whit-Sunday morning to sing a few hymns after the 8 O’Clock Communion.

1931

It was proposed to have a fancy dress parade with prizes at the Sunday School treat. The conditions were that no dresses should cost more that a shilling.

Bad weather on Whit-Sunday meant that Stinchcombe Band  was cancelled at the last minute and had to be reimbursed £1 and 5 shillings for the hire of a car that was too late to cancel. Five shillings was paid for the use of the wireless which was fixed by Arthur & Jack Pritchard.

The church clock was in need of expensive repair and as it was of use to everybody in the parish an appeal made to the Rodborough people and the money was quickly raised.

1932

Rev. Walter Waring was absent from the meetings owing to ill health. Mr W.G. Browne Vice- Chairman presided. By May it was decided to write to the Bishop’s secretary regarding the supply of a minister. In August it was reported that Rev. Waring had resigned. The Council wrote again to the Diocesan registry stating what kind of minister would suit the parish; “The parish is in urgent need of a good minister a broad churchman and a man of moderate views and a good peaceful and social worker and if possible between the age of 30 & 40.”

Very quickly it was confirmed that the Rev. L.V Miller had been appointed and that he is exactly the man who will fulfil the terms of our resolution.

Rev. Waring had officiated for 36 years at Rodborough and preparations were made for a presentation fund.

At the Whit-Sunday parade it was agreed to sing one hymn outside the church and one outside the Prince Albert – the same hymns being used each year.

Talking in 2009, Rene Connor who was born in 1917 described Whit-Sunday:

Well, we had  …  every year we had the procession at Whitsuntide and we had a band and we had the big procession and their band (the Church) used to come and go up and they would go into the Rectory Gardens for their party.  Our band (the Tab) used to follow them up and we would stop at the pub and sing a hymn and then we would go on round and then we would go to one of the fields, one of the kind farmers had let us have  …. the men had put big swings up, you know – scaffolding poles with big swings and that was what we had and the band playing.  It was such innocent time, really, and we loved it.  We looked forward to it so much.  But it was quite a rivalry between the church and the chapel.  As we were doing our procession, all the children from their church were all lining the wall on their side “Chapel kids”  – you know “He, he, he”   (Laughter)”

1933

The newly appointed Rev. Miller presided over the first meeting.

Allocated seating was still in place in the church; “… the names of the seat holders to be placed at the end of the seats in the place provided and if seat holders were not in that place by 6.20 it would be filled.” “The Chairman stated that all seats would be free in the church …”

A monthly parish leaflet was to be delivered around the parish. it would be sponsored by advertising and very quickly became a magazine. The rector also produced a booklet on Rodborough to be sold for 6d.

Electric lighting was to installed in the church. The contract was to be given to Mr F. Harper at an estimated cost of £76. 15s. A churchyard water supply was installed at a cost of £5, and the choir stalls were repaired.

A churchyard seat – presumably the first, was purchased and it was noted the benefit and convenience it afforded.

1934

Reference was made by the rector to providing a a district nurse for the parish but it was left for future discussion.

An offer of a “right of way” over an adjoining property from the north gate of the churchyard to the Bath Rd was received from Mr North, but it was decided that the Church Council was not in position to accept the offer and the resulting responsibilities.

The choirboys were to be given a gratuity of 5 shillings per quarter.

1935

It was noted that recordings of the the positions and numbers of graves had been seriously neglected, showing some discrepancies in numbering and omissions of entries. It was resolved to purchase number plates for the identification of green graves.

The system of placing names on pew ends was removed.

1936

The annual Rodborough Fair took place at the Rectory. There are wonderful photos  Click here – with thanks to Angus Townley

1937

A new stained glass window given by Mr & the late Mrs Steel was to be installed in the Vestry which would become the Lady Chapel. It was proposed to move the war memorial to the same location (This did not happen).

1938

Insurance against damage from aircraft was to investigated.

The vestry was to be moved to its current (2019) location in the NW corner of the church and Mr Payne of Amberley was preparing sketches for the new window in the new Lady Chapel. Plans for the furnishing of the Lady Chapel were submitted by Mr Burke-Downing FSA.

A fire at the New Year’s Eve social event at the Endowed School damaged the clothing of nine people, thankfully there is no suggestion that anyone was hurt. “Len Stone and his Americanos with Billy Rogers at the piano” played.

Rodborough Social Committee plans 1938

1939

In February a request for help was received from Stroud Urban Committee regarding the problem of refugee Jewish children from the continent. Further information was deemed to be required.

In May a representative was requested to serve on the local committee of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Assistance whose work was most important in wartime.

September: “As the blackout has become an integral part of our daily life, the Rector announced that something must be done at once as regards evensong on Sundays: they could either black out the church windows or change the time of the service: he suggested the latter alternative as more convenient from the point of view of the congregation, as walking in pitch darkness was not pleasant …” After some discussion agreed to hold evening service at 3.30pm .

The new Lady Chapel was dedicated on 3rd December.

December –“A letter was read from Miss Taylor asking if something could be done to occupy the leisure time of our new evacuees: the question was thoroughly discussed and finally the Rector offered to discuss the matter with the Headmaster of the B’ham school as so many difficulties presented themselves

1940

A knitting sqaud was to provide comforts for the Navy and marine services.

A special afternoon Armistice Sunday service was held for all the volunteer war personnel of the parish.

The Evacuees Rest Room in Stroud was staffed on alternate Saturdays) provoked a good deal of helpful criticism.”

“The (Endowed) School blackout having been reported as not being good enough for the altered conditions of the war … The Hon. Sec. said he could provide some back-out window paint.”

1941

The church made arrangement to have its own fire-watching squad.

“The fire-watching squad met … outside the church and Capt. Forster attended and a practical demonstration was given of the working of the hose and the stirrup pumps: a ladder had been borrowed from Mr Shaylor and squad by this means explored the danger points of the church roof and how to tackle the various problems involved.”

In December the rector announced that he felt it his duty to try and get some real war time occupation and he had been accepted for a Naval Chaplaincy.

1942

Rev. Arthur C. Elliott was the Priest-in-charge.

The problem of the churchyard becoming a playground for children led to the north gate leading to Spillmans Rd at 4pm.

It was decided to discontinue the children’s procession on Whit-Sunday afternoon, but to revive the singing on the tower.

1944

In February the imminent transfer of Rev. Elliott to a living at Saul & Whitminster provoked a crisis whereby unless a successor was appointed both churchwardens would not seek re-election and services would have to suspended.

In April Rev. G.E Hubbard agreed to undertake the charge of the parish, but by October had been replaced by Rev. J Nankivell, who commented on the sorry condition of the churchyard and promised to see the Labour Exchange to try to get a suitable man to do the cleaning up.

1945

Rev. Nankivell’s duties ended in April and the Rev. Miller caused some surprise by his presence at the AGM in April.

This minute book ends in April 1945. Continuing from the next volume.

Rev. Miller returned to the Naval services after one month’s leave and he finally released from the Navy at the beginning of August.

Remembrance Sunday – Mr Forster proposed and it was agreed that there should be no official parade but the heads of the various Civil Defense Services in the Parish should be informed so that their members could attend the service as ordinary members of the congregation

1947

The planned date for the unveiling of the war memorial was 1st June.

1954

The Rev L.V Miller tendered his resignation after 21 years in the parish.