W B
Harris – This your life – Part Two
About eight years
after moving to Stony Stratford, you entered Spurgeon’s College in September
1932 and took up rooms with Ernest Ford, Stanley Dewhurst and Cyril Bentley. In
December of that year (1932) you were elected Poet Laureate of the College.
1933 saw you involved in a Students’ campaign which took place from 28th
October to 6th November at
Gilbert H. Brown, a college contemporary of yours and one time minister
of
8,
I remember, with thankfulness, “Dad Harris” as a good
friend respected in College for his steadiness and calm, as well as for his
application to his studies.
Perhaps where college “Rags” were concerned “Dad” was
not as much in the forefront as some, but was not missing. Though not involved
in our sporting activities he stood on the sidelines and cheered when some of
the rest of us were winning football matches, and he was always willing and
eager to back us up in everything.
We had many experiences together, three of us, for
instance going on evangelistic campaigns together and sharing lodgings. In all
things a good friend and companion. It is in such ways that the real value of
character is appreciated, something which remains firmly in mind and spirit
despite infrequent meetings.
G Hedley Brown
In August 1934, you spent that holiday month as a student pastor at
Bromham, Calne, Wiltshire, and again in 1935 you were involved in a mission at
Altrincham and Macclesfield.
By 1936 your College course was coming to an end, and no doubt you were
seriously and prayerfully thinking about your first pastorate, a step which, as
we shall see, was to be of the greatest significance in your life. You go “with
a view” to
On 31st January, 1937 you are ordained as a minister, at which ceremony
the speaker is your College Principal, Rev. P. W. Evans, and on 1st February
inducted to the pastorate at Soham.
You go to live in the Manse with a housekeeper called Mrs. Murfet. (A
fact which sent your daughter Rosalie and Church Secretary, Mr. Horwood, into
hoots of laughter when they read of it!)
My housekeeper was
Mrs. Palmer. Her daughter Una married John Murfet[1].
Romance in Soham
On the 16th May a certain attractive young lady called Phyllis Cook was
baptised in your Church.
Phyllis’s family were very much involved in Church life at Soham as you
know, and her father was the Church Secretary there. Your sister-in-law, Miss
Winifred Cook remembers your arrival in Soham and those early years of your
first pastorate.
“Walter came to Soham as a young man straight from
College in 1937. Phyllis was away at
“He was rather lonely so he came here sometimes after
evening service for an hour or so, and had supper. I can’t remember much about
his recognition but I believe the Principal of the College came. Rev. Evans.
People here grew very fond of him and he was invited out to different homes for
tea. He went to the home of Mr. C.J.R. Fyson each Monday to play chess. Mr.
Fyson was Sunday School Superintendent then.
“Walter did a lot of visiting and was always welcomed.
He was President of the Sunday School Union Newmarket District in 1939 and an
examiner for senior papers for the Scripture exam for several years. He was
given time off to study for his M.Th. exam which he passed with credit. He cycled
about to meetings in other villages and was a great help to other churches.
“He became more and more friendly with everyone and
used to come to see Dad for advice on Church matters. I suppose it was then
that he became close to us and visited us more often, and the love between him
and Phyllis grew. One Christmas, I guess it was 1940. Phyllis was writing cards
when he came in but she did not look up. May was here, so after he had gone she
said “you didn’t take any notice of Mr. Harris tonight, don’t you like him?”.
“Of course I do”, Phyllis said. Anyway, she did ask Mother if Walter could come
to tea on her birthday which was a Sunday. Then he asked Dad if he would
consent to their engagement. We were all very happy about it. At the next
Church meeting Walter told the members of their love and they were married on
10th September, 1941. They stayed here until 1942 and moved to Wollaston the
Christmas after Bernard was born.
“Donald stayed with us quite a lot in those early
years and he used to come home from meetings and say “I’m tired of waiting for
Auntie Phyllis, she stops in the vestry with Mr. Harris”. Phyllis was Guide
Captain for several years and the girls formed a guard of honour outside the
Church at the wedding.”
In 1938 you held a first Anniversary service at which the speaker was
the well known Rev. T. R. Glover, and on the 2nd July a garden fete was held
which was opened by your mother.
In 1939 you passed your examinations for the degree of Master of
Theology, study for which you had been doing at home during previous years,
despite various distractions (or attractions). In that year you also became
President of the local Bible Society and Newmarket S.S.U.
War was declared in September 1939 and a number of evacuees came to
Soham, one of whom, a teacher called Mr. Sherne, came to stay at the manse.
1941 - This really is a red letter day in your life, for in January you
became engaged to Phyllis Cook!
1941 - The marriage is announced of Miss Phyllis L. Cook and the Rev.
Walter B. Harris (Minister Rev. L.W.S. Curwood of Stony Stratford).
Your wedding took place on 10th September at 2.30 p.m. in
In November 1941 an evacuee named Nora Collins comes to stay with you.
1942 - April of this year brought the good news that a new member for
your family was on the way and in July and August you went to preach “with a
view” at Wollaston in Northamptonshire, a sign that the whole family would also
soon be “on the way”.
In November 1942 your wife enters Newmarket Nursing home where she gives
birth to a son, Bernard John, on the 26th of that month.
[photo – removed] The photo that was here
was not of Bernard, as suggested.
On 30th December 1942 you move to
Wollaston after six years at Soham, and so take up this new pastorate for three
and a half years until April 1946 when we hear of your visiting Rawdon and
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return to cover page of “This is your life”.