W B
Harris – This your life – Part Four
As early as September 1961 this account of the “New Minister”
appeared in the local paper the “
New minister for Coleford Baptist
Church
Succeeding the Rev. G. W. Yaxley, the newly-appointed minister of
Mr. Harris, who is 51 years of age, is a Londoner by birth, but has
spent most of his life in country districts. He was trained for the Baptist
Ministry in Spurgeon’s College,
After leaving College, Mr. Harris was for six years minister of the
He has also had a hospital chaplaincy for three vears, and has been a
committee member of the Yorkshire Baptist Association and of
The new ministers wife has been actively engaged in the Girl Guide
movement, and they have a son, who has just left school, and two daughters of
school age.
Mr. Harris believes that in the present critical times the message of
the Gospel is still relevant; that the Church makes its finest contribution to
the community and to the world by applying the unchanging truth to changing
conditions, and that the effective work of the Church is the patient and
consistent setting forth of Christian values by precept and example. He is
looking forward to sharing in the life of his people and of the community.
Then in November your arrival is heralded in a flurry of publicity some of which is included here:-
·
Your induction and recognition service leaflet,
·
A poster advertising the occasion,
·
An advert taken from the Guardian and
·
a report of the event in that paper.
COLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH
(FOUNDED
1799)
INDUCTION TO
THE
PASTORATE
AND RECOGNITION
OF
Rev. WALTER
B. HARRIS, M.Th.
THURSDAY,
30TH NOVEMBER, 1961
YOU AND YOUR
FRIENDS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO THE TEA,
ORGAN RECITAL AND EVENING SERVICE
[page 2]
PUBLIC TEA
4.45 p.m.
IN THE
BAPTIST SCHOOL ROOM
CHAIRMAN
REV. DENNIS HORWOOD
SPEECHES
COMMENDATION BY
REV. D. S. RUSSELL, of
MRS. L. YOUNG, of
GREETINGS FROM
ALDERMAN S. J. HAWKINS,
J.P., Chairman of the Bench.
REV. A. H. TEBBET,M.A.,
B.D.,Minister Congregational Church.
REV. V. M. VIDAMOUR,
PASTOR R. CHAMBERS,
ORGAN
RECITAL 6 p.m.
H. R. HARVEY, ESQ., Church
Organist
INDUCTION
AND RECOGNITION
SERVICE 6.30
p.m.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. D. S. RUSSELL, M.A., B.D.,
B.LITT.,
Principal of
Baptist Association.
INDUCTION AND CHARGE TO
MINISTER
REV. CHARLES HARDIMAN,
General Superintendent.
CALL TO WORSHIP.
PRAYER OF INVOCATION.
HYMN 72.
SCRIPTURE.
STATEMENT BY CHURCH SECRETARY.
RESPONSE BY THE REV. WALTER B.
HARRIS.
ACT OF INDUCTION.
INDUCTION PRAYER.
HYMN 57.
CHARGE TO THE MINISTER.
ANTHEM.
OFFERING.
CHARGE TO THE CHURCH—REV. D. S.
RUSSELL
HYMN 725.
BENEDICTION.
[poster enclosed]
Induction to the Pastorate and
Recognition of
REV. WALTER B. HARRIS, M.Th.
THURSDAY NEXT, NOV. 30, 1961
Conducted by REV. D. S. RUSSELL, M.A., B.D., B.LITT.
(Principal of
Induction by REV. CHARLES HARDIMAN
(General Superintendent)
4.45 p.m. Public Tea.
6.00 p.m. Organ Recital.
(6.30 p.m. Induction and Recognition Service.
YOU and your friends will receive a warm welcome at
the
tea, the recital and the service.
[Local paper report follows]
COLEFORD BAPTIST
PASTOR INDUCTED
THE
importance of their ministry and their influence on the community was made clear
to the large congregation at
ONLY A YEAR
In a statement, Mr. M. G. Dawbarn, the church secretary,
said that circumstances beyond their control had led to the pastorate becoming
vacant after a ministry of only 12 months. Mr. Harris had been invited to
Coleford to preach in July and he wrote accepting the pastorate in August. “I
am confident we can look forward to great days, and much glory to God here in
this place.”, he said. He expressed thanks to Mr. H. S. Jacques for his work
during the interregnum.
“When I
came to visit this Church I was impressed by the friendliness of the people.”
said Mr. Harris responding. “You genuinely made me welcome and I was impressed
by the efficient way in which the arrangements for my visit had been made.” He
looked forward to their working together for the furtherance of the Gospel.
PASTORAL
CARE
The
pastor was inducted by the Rev Charles Hardiman (General Superintendent). “If
one is going to be a faithful minister there is a great deal to which one has
to pay attention,” he said. He spoke of the importance of pastoral care and in that way the faithful
minister could meet a real need in the hearts and minds of the people. He
realised visitation was a real problem and they were up against difficulties:
television had played a large part in creating difficulties as the minister
went about his pastoral visitation. He hoped Mr. Harris’s ministry would be
exceedingly fruitful and happy.
Giving
his charge to the church, Mr. Russell said their new pastor’s work consisted of
three things - responsibility for the conduct of public worship and preaching
of the word, responsibility for pastoral visitation, and responsibility for the
leadership of the church. In each of these ways, he said, he needed the help of
the congregation. “Without your love and help, so much he attempts to do will
be done in vain; encourage him in every way possible.”
PREACHING
he spoke
of the arduous task of preaching. It was easy for the congregation to go to
church without any spiritual preparation at all, to go out of custom, or to
hear a man preach and to listen to approve or disapprove. “Come prepared to
listen to your minister as the voice of God himself, he said.
Turning
to pastoral visitation, Mr. Russell said “Don’t welcome him just as a social
visitor; welcome him as a man of God. Share your joys and sorrows with him. He will
probably come and knock at your door when there is a good play on television
and he will be embarrassed in the same proportion as you are annoyed.” He went
on to speak of the importance of their ministry in the church. If they were
Christians and members of the church they, too, had a ministry to perform even
though of a different kind to that of their pastor; they had an even greater
influence on the community than him. There was a need, he said, for members to
take the church out to the people more. They should let it be known they were
Christians; it meant inconveniencing themselves, discipline in prayer and the
willingness to be thought the odd man out. This ministry was vital in its own
way.
NOT A CLUB
“No
minister can sustain his work without the Spirit of God,” he said in
conclusion. “The church is not a social club, it is the dwelling place of the
Holy Spirit of God. However prosperous it may appear to be, if a church lacks
the power of the Spirit of God it fails and fails miserably. I pray that God
will seal this new ministry with His Divine blessing, and that the people will
also seal it with their loyal service and devoted lives.”
Our
picture shows the Rev. W. B. Harris, and his wife.
The
chairman at the afternoon service was the Rev. Dennis H. Horwood. After the
speeches of commendation by the Rev. D. S. Russell (principal of Rawdon College
and president of the Yorkshire Baptist Association) and Mrs. L. Young (Guiseley
Baptist Church), greetings were expressed by Alderman S. J. Hawkins (chairman
of the Bench), the Rev. A. H. Tebbet (Coleford Congregational Church), the Rev.
T. N. M. Vidamour (Methodist Church) and Pastor R. Chambers (Coleford
Pentecostal Church).
The
service was preceded by tea in the Baptist Schoolroom served by lady members of
the church and members of the Girls’ Life Brigade. Mr. H. R. Harvey was
organist for both services, and before the evening service he gave an organ
recital. At the evening service, which was conducted by Mr. Russell, the choir
conducted by Mrs. M. Jones sang an anthem.
Rosalie starts
school at
[Photo showing black balcony
and organ]
Your ministry in Coleford is to he a highly significant one for the
Church with many important changes and developments taking place. In the Autumn
of 1962 the Church, under your guidance, adopts the New Baptist Hymn
Book, and in 1963 plays host to the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Association of Baptist Churches. 1963 is also a year of joy and sadness in your
own family life. In January, sadly, your wife’s father dies, but in September
there must have been great joy in your heart as Rosalie and Bernard together
with
Still in 1963 two other important developments take place within the
life of the Church. Firstly the Almshouses are modernised, and secondly a
screen is installed at the back of the Church cutting off the seats underneath
the gallery creating a front vestibule which, as your daughter Rosalie
suggests, had the “double effect of making it less possible to run away from
the minister and more possible to natter afterwards”.
On the 16th July, 1964, there is great joy in the Church as
Averil Couper is commissioned for service with the Baptist Missionary Society
in
[Full order of service – the cover only is reproduced here]
COMMISSIONING
SERVICE
OF
Miss Averil Couper
S.R.N., S.C.M.
for the
service of God with the
Baptist
Missionary Society in
. THURSDAY
16th JULY,
1964
at 7 p.m.
On a more personal note, your Aunt Edie died
in October.
On the 26th May, 1965, again
under your guidance, the Church accepts a resolution for widening the basis of
Church membership. Also in that year Rosalie leaves home to read Mathematics at
1968 -
Students’ Campaign. During this year plans were made by Rosalie and Jackie
Virgo for a visit from a team of fourteen students. The aim of the campaign was
evangelism through contact with people of all ages, and this involved house
groups, coffee bars, a children’s club, factory meetings and other activities.
Jackis Virgo finished her university career, and later went for a number of
years to
Again on a more personal note, your
wife’s mother died in March of 1968 1969
but on Easter Day 1969 there must have been great joy amongst your
family as Marguerite is baptised. In January of that year Bernard changes his
job and moves to
Do you remember this photograph?
It was taken just after you moved to
Coleford at the
Happy too was the Carol singing by
the young people on Christmas eve starting and returning to the Manse, which
had an excitement and a mystery all its own and which has enriched the
Christmas season for many.
1969 - Operation
This
development must surely be one of the high points of your ministry at Coleford and
indeed one of the high points in the history of the
Let us take a last look at the “old church” as it was decorated for
Harvest time.
1970 - a personal note. Rosalie takes up her first teaching appointment
at Epsom, and Marguerite leaves home to read Psychology at
1971 - 3rd July - Opening of Reconstructed Church
This was a great day in the life of the Church and for your ministry at Coleford. Below we try to recapture the occasion with documents and photographs.
[Order of Service - front cover reproduced here]
THE OPENING
AND DEDICATION OF THE
RECONSTRUCTED
CHURCH
Saturday, July 3rd, 1971
at 6 p.m.
|
|
|
|
young
people opening the front doors |
the
crowds outside the church |
|
|
|
|
looking
to the back of the upstairs, showing the organ] |
the
front of the church, from the top of the stairs |
[Report from local paper, reproduced
here]
FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1971
“
A great day in the history
of
FAMILY
The
occasion brought together a congregation from church membership throughout the
The
service of dedication was led by the Rev. A. Ellis Mold, the general
superintendent of the West .Midland area of Baptist churches, who in
congratulating the minister, officers and deacons, said that this was one of
the most effective and beautiful transformations of church premises he had
seen. The scripture lesson was read by Sister Beryl Bradbury, president of the
HAPPY ASSOCIATION
“Our
association with them has been a really happy one, and it is a great pleasure
to see them well represented, here today”, said Mr. Horwood. Describing the
.financing of the project, the secretary said £6,000 had been mustered by the
church, against a total cost of about £14,500, inclusive of architect’s fees,
and 18 months ago the
OTHER
DATES TO REMEMBER
Two
important dates are quoted in “The Story of
The
book opens with the words “The date 1799 appears on the notice-board
of
the
for
since this time its worship has been continued without a break”.
And
on page 8 . . . . ‘The need for larger premises prompted the building
of
our present Church, which was opened in 1858.”
church
had set about the task of finding the balance of £8,500. Mr. Horwood said it
was a remarkable tribute to the generosity of people within the church, and
their many friends living locally and away from the district, that the
magnificent sum of £4,000 had been contributed. Other income would be derived
from the sale of their schoolroom.
“Let us
say straight away that this was a gesture of faith”, added Mr. Horwood. He said
that at the outset they had taken the risk of burdening the church with a
crippling debt, but emerging from this was the satisfaction that their
objective had been achieved.
Mr-
Horwood spoke of the tremendous help given by the contractors, Messrs. Collier
and Brain, and in particular to their great friend the late Mr. John Brain, who
had advised, inspired and encouraged them in the project. He said that the
contractors had taken over the project completely, and their trust in them had
been justified in the quality of the workmanship.
The
offering (about £200) was for the reconstruction fund.
An
anthem was rendered by the choir, conducted by Mr. H. L. Williams (Cinderford),
and then the sermon was preached by Mr. Mold. Mrs. D. M. Morse was the
organist.
GREETINGS
Among the
greetings received were those from visiting friends: Miss Joan E. Davies
(chairman of West Dean Rural District Council), Mr F. F. Beckett (president of
The Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Association of Baptist Churches), the
Rev. G. D. Cordy (vicar of Coleford), Father J. Halpin (Roman Catholic Church,
Coleford), Pastor R. E. Chambers (minister of the Assembly of God Church,
Coleford), and the Rev. T. H. Summers (Methodist minister), all of whom spoke
of the Coleford Baptist Church’s wonderful achievement.
Following
refreshments, friends took the opportunity of looking around the modernised
premises; the upper room is beautifully decorated, and the classrooms, kitchen
and cloakrooms on the ground floor built as a compact unit. Group singing by
the church’s young people and The Ambassadors (Ellwood), brought to an end a
memorable evening.
Sunday services and picture on Page Five.
Also in 1971, you become President of the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Association of Baptist Churches and at the time of the opening of the reconstructed church you produce a History of Coleford Baptist Church, based on earlier research by the Rev. F. J. Hearn.
More happy news is announced on the 6th November 1972 with the birth of Bernard and Katie’s first
son, Adrian Michael. Here he is pictured at the piano running through a Chopin
nocturne!
Another of your responsibilities for a large period of your ministry in
Coleford was that of Librarian for the Baptist Ministers Fellowship. This of
course meant days out in
One further high spot in your career, which according to your
mischievous daughters we ought to record, is that of your being made an
honorary member of the Women’s Sunshine Hour for services rendered, but we somehow
think that isn’t true.
In about April 1971 you graduate once again; this time from two wheels
to three, and take possession of a Reliant van - colour Caribbean Blue!
Later, of course, you are to become the proud owners of a “Super Robin”,
and join that happy band who watch for leaks, listen for noises, and stoically
pay the price of “happy motoring”!!
1972 brings another great event in the life of you and your family when
your daughter Rosalie is accepted by the Baptist Missionary Society for service
on the mission field. In 1973 she goes to Selly Oak,
Sadly, in 1973 your father dies and in July 1974 you suffer the
loss of your mother, which involves you in the necessary work of settling your
parents’ affairs.
On 9th December 1974 you announce your intention to retire from the
ministry at Coleford after fourteen happy and eventful years in the district.
1975 - The last year of your ministry has seen a
large growth in the membership at Coleford, with no less than nineteen friends
being admitted to Church membership and a strong desire for spiritual renewal
exemplified by the formation of a fortnightly study group and a prayer
fellowship.
All these things, coupled with visitors’ compliments about the
friendliness of our fellowship, lead us to believe that the spirit is moving
and working among us. It must be very pleasing you, Mr. Harris, to have been
instrumental in all these developments. Under your guidance we have also set
about the task of building a new Manse in preparation for the work in years to
come; many good foundations for the continuance of Christian witness in
Coleford have been firmly laid during the time of your ministry.
On 25th June 1975, you have a second grandson, Christopher James, born
to Bernard and Katie, and the 2nd July must have been a time of great rejoicing
as Rosalie comes home to “see you off the premises” as she puts it.
Our story is nearly at an end, and there are many events which
unfortunately for the sake of brevity we have had to leave out. There are, however,
still one or two things which need to be mentioned. One in particular is the
way in which you have opened your home to all who needed company or help in any
way. We know that you have a visitors’ book for all those who stay at the
Manse, and that to date the number of entries stands at 273, a good reflection
of your generosity and open-heartedness. Marguerite remembers in particular the
stay of “Uncle Cy”, Cyril Petch, your wife’s cousin who was one time secretary
of the Baptist Men’s Movement, she relates:-
“Uncle Cy liked a laugh, would you believe it, but the
story goes like this. A chicken was placed in the oven. Half an hour later the
oven door opened and the chicken poked his head out and said “will you please
light the gas or give me back my feathers”!!! Poor ole chick! The moral is of
course ‘get warmed up’.”
Sunday nights at the Manse have also been a great feature of your work
here, with the motto around ten o’clock being “kick us out softly”.
Supposedly, an
unwitting translation of “Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing”!
******************
Well, Mr. Harris, this has been your life (or some of it) to date, but
we feel sure that a great deal of the story is as yet unwritten. We give thanks
to God for your life which has been a blessing to many, and wish you and Mrs.
Harris all happiness in the next chapter of your life which begins at Little
Kimble (or should we say Little Grimble!).
***********
*******
***
*
Link to the tributes, or
return to cover page of “This is your life”.