New organist first service in am. KFE preaching. One or two bad moments. Drayton for tea. Pratt Green “Hymns for Today” at night. Good. FR rang in evening. Nice. Jack Howard told me they’re moving to Felixstowe – depressed me. Wrote a letter to Mr R telling him (or trying to) how I feel. 1T. 2S.
Notes
New Organist
Mum went to the morning service at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. She referred to a new organist. His name was Ralph Cupper and he had also taken over as choir master. Mum noted that it was his first service in the morning (am). I think she meant that this was the first time he had played for an entire morning service as he had previously, in January, played for the last hymn in the morning and the entire evening service. He did not stay long in the role. Initially, he told mum and Tricia that he might only be there until September. However, he resigned on Easter Sunday, in April 1976, see Chapter 124.
Rev Elworthy
KFE refers to Rev Ken Elworthy who was the junior Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church at this time. Mum noted that he was the preacher at the morning service, see Chapter 124.
Bad Moments
Mum noted that there were one or two bad moments but she did not say what they were or whether they related to the organist, the preacher or something else, see Chapter 124.
Drayton for Tea
Mum noted that we went to Drayton for tea, that is to grandma’s. This was our usual practice on Sundays, see Chapter 122.
Rev Pratt Green
Mum also went to the evening service at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. She noted that it was Rev Pratt Green on the topic of “Hymns for Today“. Mum thought it was good, see Chapter 124.
Rev Fred Pratt Green was a fairly well-known, relatively modern, Methodist Minister and hymnwriter. He was born in September 1903 and died in October 2000. He served as a Methodist Minister from 1928 to 1968. I am not entirely sure where he was living at this time but it seems he spent the last ten years of his life in a care home in Norwich.
Rev Dowson
FR refers to Rev F R Dowson. Frederick Rodham Dowson entered the Methodist ministry in 1936. He was born in Haxby, York on 5 August 1912 and he died in Selsey on 4 September 2011, aged 99. I believe he was superintendent Minister for the Park Lane circuit from 1968 to 1974. He and mum were close and they spoke and corresponded frequently, see Chapter 114. On this occasion, he rang in the evening. Mum commented that this was nice.
The Howards
Jack and Janet Howard were friends of mum’s from St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. They are mentioned a number of times in mum’s diaries, see Chapter 124. On this occasion, Jack Howard told mum that they were moving to Felixstowe and she noted that this depressed her.
Letter to Rev Ream
Mum decided to write a letter to the church’s senior Minister, Rev Ream (Mr R). In this she said she told him (or tried to tell him) how she felt. I am not sure of the entire content of the letter but she was struggling with anxiety and depression at the time and was quite critical in her diaries of the church, in general, and of Rev Ream, in particular, see Chapter 124.
Antidepressants
Mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. On this occasion, she noted that she was depressed because the Howards were moving to Felixstowe. Mum was on antidepressants. She took one tablet of amitryptilline (Tryptizol, T) at night.
Senokot
Mum noted taking two Senokot (S) presumably for constipation. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
Leave a Reply