Took Roger to dentist in am. Guild at night – Malcolm Carter. Took a special Communion Service “Everybody Gap” – very good. He came in aft about some duplicating – find I can talk to him better than Ken in a way. He (MC) is more like Mr Dowson. 1T 1S.
Notes
Dentist
Roger refers to me. Mum took me to the dentist in the morning (am), see Chapter 116.
St Peter’s Guild
Guild refers to St Peter’s Guild which was a fellowship group associated with St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. It was taken by Rev Malcolm Carter who led a communion service. Mum thought it was very good.
“Everybody Gap”
The communion service appears to have been titled “Everybody Gap“. I am not sure the significance of this. So, I asked Google AI and this is what was suggested. I slightly edited it to take out references to COVID-19 as these would not have been relevant to 1976! I don’t know if this is what the title was really about but it seems plausible.
Based on Methodist theological traditions and the emphasis on inclusive, open worship, the title “Everybody Gap“ for a communion service likely represents the following, focused on breaking down barriers and filling the void of separation:
- The “Open Table” Philosophy: Methodists believe in an “Open Table,” meaning all are welcome to receive communion, regardless of age, baptismal status, or membership. “Everybody” emphasises this complete inclusion—no one is left behind.
- Bridging Social/Spiritual Distances: Communion serves as a reconciliatory act that connects individuals across differences (social, economic, racial) and binds them together in Christ. The “Gap” signifies filling the distance between people, or between humanity and God, through grace.
- Reaching the Marginalised: It implies a focus on welcoming those who feel distant from the church or marginalised by society, ensuring they have a place at the table.
- Addressing Isolation Context: The “gap” may specifically refer to the profound isolation experienced by those unable to gather in person, with the service aiming to bridge that.
- An Invitation to All: It strongly echoes the words of Charles Wesley: “Come, sinners to the Gospel feast; / Let every soul be Jesu’s guest; / Ye need not one be left behind, / For God hath bidden all mankind“.
In summary, it is a service designed to be radically inclusive, filling the gap of isolation or separation with the grace of God and the fellowship of the community.
Duplicating
According to mum’s CV, see Chapter 105, she ran a typing and duplicating business from home until 1975, see Chapter 121. However, she clearly continued doing typing and duplicating after that, possibly mainly for church. On this occasion, she noted that Malcolm Carter came round in the afternoon (aft) about some duplicating.
Malcolm Carter
Rev Malcolm Carter was a Methodist Minister who became mum’s friend and confidant, see Chapter 114. From Merseyside, he served in the ministry there and in Darlington and East Anglia. He was Minister at Court Hey Methodist Church from 1978 to 1986. He was the Methodist chaplain to Walton Prison, now HM Prison Liverpool, for 20 years. I found a YouTube video of him taking a service at Wonford Methodist Church in Exeter in July 2024. When he was in Norwich, I believe he was mainly based at Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church. Mum noted that she found she could talk to him better than to her own Minister, Rev Ken Elworthy. She found he was more like Rev Dowson in that regard.
Antidepressants
During this period, mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She was on antidepressants. On this occasion, she took one tablet of amitryptilline (Tryptizol, T).
Senokot
Mum noted taking one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
Leave a Reply