Church Connections

For many years nearly everyone in the north of Worksop was christened, married, and had their funeral at St John’s. Many have brought in Baptism Certificates, Wedding Photos and newspaper reports of funerals.

A wartime wedding photo – no wedding dress for this St John’s bride.

These events were a big part of the church’s ministry and real community occasions. Pat describes helping the verger, Mrs. Shreve, put out the books for baptism services and staying to see the babies. When Mrs. Shreve’s daughter, who was the Brown Owl, was married everyone turned out. Pat was a bridesmaid.

There was a very special wedding when the curate, Rev Howell, married the vicar’s sister Miss Kerruish. He later moved to become the priest of charge of the little Nissen hut church of St Paul’s Manton.

Lynn remembers loving Saturdays as she lived in Colbeck House opposite the church and had a front row seat for the arrival of the bride and the photos at the church door.

Living on John Street Ben could see the church clock from his yard. His Dad would say “Just nip out and see the time”. Ben can still see the clock from his bedroom window and for many years he has faithfully climbed the tower steps and wound it twice a week.

Lots of people have very happy memories of being members of groups at the church. They have enjoyed the fun and challenge of the uniformed groups, the badminton club, the church children and young people’s groups, holiday and after school clubs.

Margaret writes:

“I was a member of a big Brownie pack in the fifties, I was so excited when I was made a “sixer” of the Fairies. I had to check my Six for smartness and if anything wasn’t up to standard out of our Six’s box came the shoe polish and brushes and the Brasso and duster for the belts and badges. Each six took turns to sing their song round the big toadstool in the middle of the hall.”

All appreciate the dedication and kindness of the leaders, and many will remember with great gratitude the leadership over several decades of Mick and Mavis Taylor. Camps feature in many memories – the midnight feasts, the games and fun. Many parents remember collecting happy, exhausted children with rucksacks full of dirty clothes, grass, and a pristine bar of soap!

It is amusing how many memories focus on the trips to the chip shop on the way home or the sweet shop on the way to church groups. Sue recalls spending half her collection money on sweets and Rosemary had a supply of sweets to help her through Parade Services. She would watch the grandfather clock by the choir vestry door and allow herself a sweet every five minutes.

Zoe enjoyed attending Pathfinders – the church group for 11–15-year-olds. She loved the camps and particularly enjoyed taking part of the performances like Kids Praise – “singing my little heart out”.

Hannah remembers growing up in the church, being in Brownies and Guides:

“I loved playing games, particularly the memory games with Marion Flint (Brown Owl). I rather grumpily worked towards what I saw as ‘girls’ badges” such as House Orderly and Hostess. I remember making loads of cups of tea, perhaps that’s why I can’t stand it now. It was a proud occasion to be chosen as the flag carrier on church parade Sundays. The ministers always looked a bit scared of having to accept the massive Venture Scouts flag. I also remember very warmly happy times in the church lounge, until the memory paints it in fact a little more coldly. We Pathfinders did a sponsored 24 hour fast for World Vision’s support for the Ethiopian famine and decided to do a sleep over for mutual moral support. When the heating went off at night no one wanted to get out of their sleeping bags to go to the loos, even though we’d all drunk our own body weight of Lucozade to keep us going. BIC club of the late eighties/early nineties was brilliant, a youth club social on Friday nights, then a meeting in the lounge on Sunday. I remember a conversation with an older member of the congregation who was thinking about the name. “Hmm - BIC Club. Does that stand for Believers in Christ?”. ‘No,” I replied - “it’s related to the massive amounts of different biscuits we manage to consume at the meetings!” Many people volunteered a great amount of time and kindness to the young people of Worksop as leaders of St John’s uniformed and discipleship groups. Thanks to them all’.

Ann recalls how her children took part in church musicals and later played instruments in the Young People’s ‘Holy Disorder.

Ann describes it:

‘The church used to run this during the Autumn half term at the Green Gables Hotel. It also included folk from Christ Church - cementing our close links. Everyone loved the mineral swimming pool, and we held sports and a gala in it. Snooker and table tennis competitions went on all week. Mealtimes were very noisy. In the evening there were meetings for young people and adults. These were lively and people came to faith in a setting where they could talk through things and experience the reality of Christian love and fellowship.”

Scarbrough scenes. Right – Peter Moorhouse regaling the audience with one of his party pieces.

Many of those who grew up with church connections have come back with their own children. Zoe, Pat, Amy, and Dawn are some who have said how much they really appreciated the toddler group.

Margaret recalls a toddler group outing in 1983 to Pets Corner – now Sundown.

“Two coaches went with the little ones sitting on our knees or between us - no health and safety or seat belts then. The children had a wonderful day playing with the animals and in the tiny houses. Children stayed longer in Toddlers in those day as school nurseries were only just starting. The mums seemed younger as well - 28 was considered old!”.

Here are some further memories from our Tuesdays @ 10 cafe.

Maureen and Sue remember the pleasure of singing in the girls’ choir for the 10:30 Children’s Service on Sunday mornings. Maureen also remembers, as many did, one of the curates leading the Youth Club:

“Rev Howell directing members of the youth club to paint the church hall walls one summer holiday and then taking us by train and bus into Derbyshire for a day’s hiking.”

Many remember the splendid Summer Garden parties held on the big front lawn of the old Vicarage on Carlton Road.

Sylvia brought in her wedding dress – nearly 60 years old – and her black and white wedding photos. She and Ben were married at St John’s in 1966, buying a wedding dress involved a special trip to Sheffield. Most shopping was done in Worksop then.

Betty has interesting recollections of going to the Mission church on Gateford Road,

“I went with my two sisters to the Mission every Sunday morning. Occasionally we would all be walked down to St John’s by the Sunday school Teacher, Miss Cross. She would exchange the coins we brought for collection - either half pence or one penny for a blue or pink ticket depending on the value of our contribution, but I can’t remember which was which!

We had to cut through a field then up Hamilton Street. One week I was running to get to the gap at the edge of the field and cut my forehead on some rusty barbed wire. I became very ill and had to go to hospital for quite a while. The headmistress of St John’s Girls’ School sent me some flowers!”

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