3rd Feb 1928 - Congregational Church Sunday School

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Congregational Church Sunday School

On Sunday afternoon, January 29ths, a very happy little service was held in the Buntingford Congregational Church, the occasion being the annual prize distribution in connection with its Sunday School.

The meeting was in the nature of an open service, which means that the parents of the scholars and any interested in the Sunday School and its work are invited to be present.

There was a good gathering, therefore, of other adults to join the scholars and their officers and teachers. The hymns chosen were very beautiful, and the whole service was very reverently gone through.

The special part of this service was the distribution of prizes to those scholars who had mdae the requisite number of attendances in 1927, and who had deserved commendation for good conduct.

Capt. Gloyns, of the Buntingford branch of the Salvation Army, was present and kindly presented the books to the successful scholars.

Mr R.F. Dellow, S.S. Superintendent, introducted Capt. Gloyns and acknowledged her kindly interest in the school, and later offered her the warmest thanks for coming.

Though the number of book prizes was small, the Captain made a pleasing little ceremony of it, and, in a happy little speech to the scholars, urged them to "keep clear of mud." This they could do in the strength of the saviour.

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On Wednesday evening last the Congregational Church scholars met with their officers and teachers in the schoolroom for a social evening. They all enjoyed a very happy time together, and entered with great pleasure into the games and competitions, &c., which had been arranged for them. They also had refreshments served to them during the evening and, as they left at the close, an orange.

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A weekly sewing class for girls is held in the Buntingford Congregational Schoolroom under Miss Edith Careless, and on Thursday evening, January 12th, the class met in the schoolroom for a social evening. A very pleasant time was spent by those who came, and after the tea which was provided for them the evening's programme consisted of games, recitations, &c.

26th Oct 1928 - Cottered Congregational Church Harvest Festival

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Cottered

Congregational Church Harvest Festival

The Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held on Sunday and Monday last at 6 and 7.15 p.m. respectively. As usual, the Church was prettily decorated, and each service was exceedingly well attended. The ample display of flowers, fruit, vegetables, &c., was proof of the great interest shown in this annual event in the village.

Mr Rogers, of Hay Street, Braughing, conducted the Sunday service, and was assisted by Mr Leader, who gave a very stirring address. God, said Mr Leader, has not broken His promises, and He deserves our praise and thanks not once a year or once a month or once a week, but daily. Harvest time, he continued, should be a stocktaking time for each one of us - a time for examining the fruits of our last sowing and for choosing the seeds for our next.

Mr Rogers spoke on similar lines, and the service closed with the hymn "Sow in the morn thy seed." Mrs Grundy kindly presided at the organ. The collection amounted to 14s. 3 1/2d.

On Monday, Mr Andrew Miller, of Barnet, delivered the address, and was supported by Revd John Cole, of Buntingford, and Mr Harper, of Therfield. Unlike so many earthly promises; said Mr Miller, God's promises were made without repentance and they still stood after 4,000 years as the display of produce before him proved.

Mrs Miller gave two very delightful solos, with autoharp accompaniment, entitled "In the Garden" and "The Love of God." The Buntingford Town Silver Band (under the direction of Mr E.J. Smith) very kindly provided the music for the hymns.

The collection amounted to £2 0s. 3 1/2d. and the sale of produce after the service realised £2 5s. 6d.

The collections and proceeds of sale will be equally divided between the Royston and District Hospital and the Church Funds.

26th Oct 1928 - Buntingford Congregational Church

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Silver Tree & Entertainment

On Tuesday evening, October 16th, a large company assembled in the Buntingford Congregational Schoolroom for a social evening, the chief features of which were a "Silver Tree" and an entertainment by members of the Buntingford Women's Institute.

In his opening remarks the Minister said that whilst the idea of a Silver Tree was by no means new in itself, having been carried out with marked success in neighbouring Churches, it was certainly an innovation where the question of raising funds for the Buntingford Congregational Church was concerned.

He explained the idea, which briefly was as follows: Fancy paper bags having been made, they are distributed to the friends, who, by contributions of silver, &c. (notes not being unwelcome) from themselves, their own friends and relatives, do their best to fill them. These are returned on the day when the "tree" is to be held, each containing a quotation, either from the Bible, or from a hymn, prose or poetry (sometimes the sender's favourite text or motto), and hung on a tree or trees. The bags are opened, the verses, &c., read out together with the individual amounts, the whole constituting a very interesting item in an evening's social programme or a pleasing part of an afternoon's outdoor event.

The Minister remarked also that they had now installed the electric light in the Church, vestry and schoolroom, at a cost of some £30 to £36. A certain number of subscriptions had in the summer been forthcoming in connection with that part of the Special Appeal Fund, and he was hoping that the proceeds of this social evening, which was in aid of this fund, would result in the balance of the money being obtained. The bags had been taken not only by the friends at the Congregational Church, but also by others in the town and country who were interested in its work; and for this wider response to the appeals also he expressed his warm thanks.

The bags were then opened by Mr H. Cutts and Mr R.F. Dellow, and the reading of the amounts of the contributions and the quotations, &c., by the Minister was proceeded with. Though this item took some time, it was nevertheless followed with much interest by all who were present, many Biblical texts referring to the "light." The tree was kindly loaned by Mrs Squires.

During a short interval refreshments were served, Mrs Camp and Mrs Blaxill being in charge of this stall, they and their helpers being kept quite busy satisfying their customers' hunger and thirst.

The Minister then welcomed Mrs Ralph Scott and Mrs B.E. Thody, who, together with a number of fellow members of the Women's Institute, had in response to his request, very willingly come along to help in the evening's entertainment. Their contribution to the programme was the acting of a charade, the word taken being "Institute" in its three syllables. This was provocative of much amusement, was exceedingly well done, and included, on a minor scale, an admirable representation of Madame Tussaud's Exhibition. A number of miscellaneous items of entertainment by the same ladies followed, their entire programme being very much appreciated.

During the evening there was also a Jumble and Work Stall, Mrs Benstead and Mrs Cornwell being in charge, and they and their assistants did very good business. Mr Anderson did duty at the door, exacting toll of all comers.

The Minister, at the close, expressed his thanks to the members of the Women's Institute; to all who had sent along gifts towards the refreshments; and to one and all who had in any way, by time, service, &c., before and during the evening, helped to make it so successful.

The results of such an occasion are always two-fold - a social: it was "a very enjoyable evening"; and a financial: this too was very satisfactory, for the tree proved to be of a very productive nature, and has continued to yield "fruit" to the value now of £16 4s. The total proceeds from the evening's effort to date amount to £20 19s. 8d., and it is expected that by the end of the present week they will amount to £22 10s (approximately). It is gratifying to note that the electric light account has been settled, and is now a thing of the past.

The singing of the Doxology brought to a close a very pleasant and very delightful evening.

13th May 1910 - Buntingford, Resignation of the Rev. G. Fraser Elliott

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Buntingford

Resignation of the Rev. G. Fraser Elliott

We understand that the Rev. G. Fraser Elliott has resigned the pastorate of the Buntingford Congregational Church, and concludes his ministry at the end of June. 

For nearly 13 years he has actively and faithfully discharged his duties as Pastor. It is generally hoped that he will not be leaving the neighbourhood. Only recently the Layston Parish Council re-appointed him one of the Layston School Managers, and he is also a representative trustee of the Buntingford Charities.

During his pastorate in the town Mrs Elliott has been of the greatest help to him in varied and useful work as a minister's wife. She has conducted during the past ten years a Coal Club for the benefit of the working classes, which has been much appreciated, and has had an average of 50 members. Other useful institutions which she established in connection with the Congregational Church, and which have flourished under her special care, have been the Girls' Guild and Magazine Society. 

The Rev. G. Fraser Elliott has had a lengthy experience in the ministry, and can look back to no less than 36 years' strenuous work as a Congregational minister.