21st May 1926 - Buntingford Congregational Church

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Sunday School Anniversary

Last Sunday a very happy time was spent in the Congregational Church, the occasion being the Sunday School Anniversary.

The visiting preacher was Mr C.V. Skipp, of London, E.C., who delivered very helpful and encouraging addresses, and whose visit was very much appreciated by the congregations that gathered during the day. 

There was special singing by the scholars, who had been admirably trained by Mr Herbert Cutts. A word of appreciation must be given to Mr Cutts for the preliminary care he bestowed on the training; to the scholars for the excellent way in which they responded; to Mrs Peacock for her services with the violin throughout the day, and to the many parents and friends, who, by their presence, showed their practical interest in the work of the school. The funds of the school were considerably augmented by the offerings taken during the day.

In the morning the Minister conducted the first part of the service, and welcomed our visitor. Mr Skipp's address was to the scholars. He spoke on birthdays. The Anniversary was a birthday, and just as on the occasion of our individual birthdays we look forward, so we can do on this.

As the years go by we must look forward, and strive that they may find us advancing in kindness, goodness, character, and in all that Jesus wants us to be; so that even as others who had looked forawrd have made the world a better place to live in, e.g., Livingstone, Capt. Cook, Florence Nightingale, Grace Darling, we too shall follow their example and be worthy citizens and at last win the "Well done" of the Master.

In the afternoon, Mr Skipp gave the scholars another earnest and thoughtful address. Basing his remarks on the Parable of the Sower, he said there were many kinds of hearts in the world e.g., the stony heart, where the seed of the Word of God could not penetrate because it was turned against holiness and mercy; the heart openly receptive to the Word of God, which it views as a beautiful thing, but there is no depth of character to bring the resolution to a head; the heart that wants God, and that gives a ready response to the Word, but it wants other things as well, things which cannot live with the good seed; there are hearts here in the springtime of life, with wonderful possibilities, tomorrow they will be a power in the world, and the preacher urged his young hearers to accept the Master, to take the seed of His kindenss, love and self-sacrifice unto themselves and to let the word He wants to speak to them abide with them all their days, then the good seed will grow, and they will become men and women after His own heart.

Mr Skipp conducted the evening service, and address the parents and teachers. Telling the story of the conflict between David and Goliath of Gath, he said that each child has a Goliath to fight, and that giant is his own self. The child must learn to conquer self and self-interest, so that it falls with a thud to the ground. This can only be done with the stone of Love, slung from the sling of the Spirit of God.

Since every man and woman, whether he or she turns out good or bad, comes into the world first a little child, and with clasping hands, pattering feet, and sparkling eyes, he appealed to his hearers to realize [sic] the great responsibility that was laid upon them as they looked into the face of the child.

19th Nov 1926 - Buntingford Congregational Church Armistice Sunday

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Armistice Sunday

On Sunday evening last a special Armistice Remembrance Service was held at the Buntingford Congregational Church, and was attended by a large congregation.

The Town Silver Band (under the able direction of the Bandmaster, Mr E.J. Smith), the members of which are always willing to give their assistance, was present, and preceded the Remembrance Service with the following musical items: Handel's "Hosanna," "Jerusalem, my glorious home," and "a hymn of the homeland."

The Remembrance Service following. At the organ, Mrss Blanche Langham played for the singing of the hymns, "Oh Lord of heaven, and earth, and sea," "My God, my Father, while I stray," and "O God, our help in ages past"; the offertory voluntary and for the vesper following the Benediction; whilst the Band led the singing of John S. Arkwright's hymn, "The Supreme Sacrifice."

A large Union Jack covered the pulpit desk and the communion table below. The Lesson was from Deut. vi., and the Litany of Commemoration from "The Book of Congregational Worship," as also were the remaining prayers and appropriate invocatory sentences. The offerings were on behalf of the Church and the British Legion.

The Minister based his remarks on Deut. vi. 6-7 "And these words...thou shalt teach...diligently unto thy children." Memory in the individual life was one of the possessions of us all. There was also such a thing as a national memory. The Israelites, e.g., had been brought by God out of Egypt, and in those early days of the Hebrew race there were frequent appeals made to them keep fresh the memory of the Divine providence towards them, to "teach diligently (i.e., with constant repeptition) thy children" the history of their wonderful preservation. The stones set up after the crossing of Jordan were to be "for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

The communion service - "This do in remembrance of Me" - is also an act of commemmoration. With the occurance of Remembrance Day our own national memory is touched, and as a nation we call to mind once more the years of the Great War, especially remembering those who laid down their lives in a great cause. The two minutes' silence have been set apart that in the midst of our work in the world we might remember such men (and not suffer their memory to perish from the earth), give renewed thanks for the end of the conflict, and (leaving not their work unfinished) reconsecrate ourselves in service to our fellowmen and to God.

The motto to be writ large upon our hearts is "Lest we forget, lest we forget" (Kipling).

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them." (Laurence Binyon).

A generation is growing up to whom the war is but a name; they will ask, "What meaneth this Day, this service at the Cenotaph, at the memorial on the gill?" Remembering the injunction to "teach diligently," it must be ours to give the explanation, and to foster a spirit which will never cease is agitations until war as a means of settling international disputes is abolished from off the face of the earth."

After the service the Band again played selections, viz - the anthems "I will arise," "Lead, kindly light," and "The mighty Lord"; "The lost chord," "Sweet and low," Handel's "Largo in G" and "Abide with me," the latter including the "echo".

The Minister expressed thanks to Miss Langham and to the Band thanks and warm appreciation for their very helpful services, and the National Anthem, led by the Band, brought the whole exercises of observance and remembrance to a close.

12th Nov 1926 - Salvation Army Anniversary

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S.A. Anniversary

The local corps of the Salvation Army celebrated their 34th anniversary by a successfil tea, which was admirably arranged by the local officer, and took place on Saturday afternoon October 30th at the S.A. Hall.

In the evening Col. Zealley from headquarters gave an address, and he also conducted two services the next day at the S.A. Hall. By kind permission of the Minister and Deacons, Col. Zealley on Sunday gave an address in the Congregational Church on "The Romance of the S.A."

There was a full congregation, and the address dealing with incidents connected with the Salvation Army from its start, was most interesting. Mr H. Cutts kindly presided at the organ, and the hymns, from the hymn sheets distributed, were sung with great heartiness. All enjoyed the service.

At the close Capt. Winifred Green, senior local officer, thanked the Minister and Deacons for permitting them to hold the service in the Congregational Church.

24th Feb 1928 - Congregational Social

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Congregational Social

A very enjoyable evening was spent on Thursday, September 16th, in the Buntingford Congregational Schoolroom, the occasion being a church social. 

A good number of friends gathered in the schoolroom, which had been very attractively decorated during the afternoon by Mr H. Cutts, assisted by Miss Norris, the members of Miss Careless's sewing class also having been busy to the same end.

The Rev. Tom Warren, Congregational Minister of Cheshunt, was present, and he retained the interest of his hearers for fully an hour in lecturing, in his own racy manner, on "People I have met in the Workhouse."

The Minister, in thanking Mr Warren for his kindness in coming and in lecturing, asked him to convey the greetings of the Buntingford Church to that at Cheshunt, and this suggestion was warmly endorsed in the usual manner.

During an interval refreshments were served, these having been donated by the friends in the usual very generous manner, the ladies of the Church again carrying through the necessary arrangements for the dispensing of the same.

The followed a programme of entertainment, consisting of songs, pianforte items, readings and recitations, competitions, &c., the latter causing very much merriment, prizes being awarded to the successful competitors.

The financial proceeds of the social were on behalf of Church funds, and the best thanks are due to all who in so many ways, refreshments, assistance preparatory to and during the social, &c., rendered possible such a pleasant evening.