Here's an extract from the centenary booklet prepared for our Churhc in 1967.
I'm so keen to work up an arcHive:
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In the lower part of Priory Road, almost opposite the Hard by the river, is a corrugated iron building which used to be the St. Denys Mission Room, though its presen tuse for commercial purposes gives no indication of that fact. It was dedicated “To the Glory of God and the Poor of the Parish” when the Rev. B. G. Hoskyns was the vicar; but the stone tablet recording this has long since been removed.
Sunday evening services conducted usually by laymen were well attended by folk from the roads nearby. Sometimes the Vicar, the Rev. L. S. Etheridge, or the assistant curate, would take the evening services. There was a monthly celebrationof Holy Communion.
Evening services and Sunday Schools were taken by Mr. reginald Hooley, a very sincere and inspiring man. His mother and sisters helped the mission, and the large Christmas tree was an annual excitement, laden with presents for all, which they had accumulated during the year. On Monday afternoons there was a Mothers’ Meeting, run by Mr. Hooley’s mother, who read beautifully.
Once a month on Monday evenings (this was about 1907) there were “Penny Readings”. The name probably originated from the days when few people could read and would pay a penny to have books read to them; but in the days I could remember, though still known by that name, they were concerts. The room would be crowded with adults and children, very orderly and appreciative, and among those who entertained us were the brothers Walter and Arthur Lewer with their songs and humourous duets, Miss Bellamy with the almost inevitable rendition of “Scissors”, and the Misses Springett on violins.
There were flourishing Sunday Schools, eight classes in the morning, at which one had to learn a sert Bible text as well as the Collect for the Day in order to gain full marks; also an afternoon open session.
The Hard opposite was undeveloped and very different from its present state. There was a rickety slatted jetty to enable small boats to land at low water. that was all. No, not quite all. In the mud, under the stones, Sunday School boys found very tiny crabs, and would bring them into school to tease the girls.
In those days Mrs. Brunditt and I were children in the Sunday School. Once a month the children walked from the Mission in twos to the Church, to join with the Church Sunday School children in a service there. The summer treat was held in Perkins’s park, where now stand all the shops from Brookvale Road to Highfield Lane and the new residences of Abbots Way and Russell Place. In later years we were taken to the New Forest.
Subesquent leaders at the Mission were Mr. edward Thomas (whose son took Holy Orders) and, after him, Mr. Reginald Currell. Under them the servcies and Sunday Schools and many other activities were continued. Later, our friend Reg. Currell, responding to the appeal of Bishop Etheridge of Kaffraria, brother of the Vicar, went out as a missionary teacher to South Africa where his wife Freida had to suffer the tragedy, first of their only son Ivor meeting accidental death, and later the loss of Reg.
When Mr. and Mrs. Currell went to South Africa the leadership fell to me and Mrs. Bruditt, ably helped by my brother Harold.
Miss Stephanie Cotton and Miss Dorothy Oldham used to run a Girls’ Club on Wednesday evenings, much enjoyed by the members, but not by the infuriated occupant of the house adjoining, who complained of the noise and did his utmost to interfere with our worship on Sundays. The lectern from which I read the Lessons and preached was by a window on the neighbour’s side. he would put down planks in the garden near the window, put on clogs and dance to the music of the gramophone! It was rather disturbing for both preacher and congregation!
One very sunny Sunday afternoon the corrugated iron room was intolerably hot, so we moved the School to the Hard by the river-side; but the children’s interest in my Sea of Galilee story was somewhat distracted when some of the absentee boys came swimming along in the river!