Poor service in am – Mr R. Forum at night KFE – good. Elworthys expecting baby in Aug – everyone (& them) delighted. I am pleased but envious! Went to Drayton for tea. 1S. Organist (not Mr Cupper) gave us the wrong notes in am so I started wrong.
Notes
Morning Service
The morning (am) service that mum was referring to was at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, the church that mum was attending at this time, see Chapter 124. She thought it was “poor” but did not say why. She did say that it was led by Rev Ream (Mr R) who was the senior Minister at the church at that time.
Forum
Mum noted that it was Forum at church at night, see Chapter 124. This was led by the junior Minister Rev Elworthy (KFE). She thought this was “good” but did not give any details.
Initially, I did not really know what the Sunday Forum was. It seemed to be something which had started in 1975 and which continued into 1977.
I am grateful to Barry Ferguson for explaining a little about these activities which he attended. He says, “I think they began as an idea that might boost the dwindling evening service attendances. They took place, not in the body of the church, but in the Epworth Room, situated between the church and the church hall. It could seat about 60 at a pinch, there was a piano, and each forum was led by whichever Minister had not taken the day’s morning service.”
Barry also explained that, “fundamentally, the idea was to get dialogue going between the attendees and the minister on Methodist topics he would choose. They were a failure because most attendees, like my mother and I, wanted to say nothing. My father could be relied on to chip in with comments, but he was one of the few. “
Apparently, they also sang a couple of hymns in these meetings. He recalled that, on one occasion, the senior Minister Rev Ream had failed to ensure that there was someone there who could play the piano. So, he started a hymn without the piano but, apparently, he chose the wrong tune so the words did not fit. Barry’s father said loudly “it’s the wrong tune” and the hymn collapsed. Barry had to dash out as “it was so funny and I was in stitches“. It was very embarrassing for Mr Ream who had presumably sung that hymn many times before.
I think the Sunday Forum might have been held monthly.
Expecting a Baby
Mum noted that the Elworthys were expecting a baby in August, see Chapter 115. They were delighted as was everyone. Mum said she was pleased but envious. I confess I am not sure why.
Drayton for Tea
Mum noted going to grandma’s in Drayton for tea. This was our usual practice on a Sunday afternoon, see Chapter 122.
Senokot
Mum noted taking one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation, see Chapter 116. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
Wrong Notes
Mum had been due to sing a duet with Vera Wyatt at the morning service at church, see Chapter 124. It seems it may not have gone as well as mum hoped. She blamed the organist who she said gave them the wrong notes so she started wrong. She did not note who the organist was except to say it was not Ralph Cupper.