Published: 04/02/2010 00:00

A snapshot of the Thirties at a Dudley church

DEB BROWNLEE from the St John’s Church Preservation Group in Kates Hill, Dudley, has been in touch to remind Bugle readers about a book launch taking place at Dudley Market Place this coming Saturday, 6th February, at 2.00pm.

Deb told us, “Chris Smith has written ‘Tales from a churchyard’, and all proceeds from the sales of the book will help boost the funds currently being raised to save St John’s Church for future generations.

I have to say even people who have no connection with this area of Dudley will find this manuscript a thoroughly delightful and enthralling read, a snapshot into some of the lives which helped shape the way we live today. We hope to see a bevy of Bugle readers at the Market Place, Dudley, on Saturday for the launch, and on behalf of the rest of the preservation group we welcome you one and all.” Magazine To coincide with the book launch, the Bugle is issuing its own snapshot from history of this Dudley parish and presents the St John’s Parish Magazine for February 1936.

The incumbent clergy at the time were the Rev. Bertram H. Green, A.K.C., and the Rev. P. J. Martin, M.A., and they were clearly encouraging parishioners from further afield to attend services on a Sunday, because the message on the front page of the magazine read, “Parking Ground For Motor Cars at Parish Hall available all day Sunday”.

The likes of William Bradley, Alfred Spratt and Florence Mary Hunt (nee Jones) were being remembered, having died in February 1917, 1926 and 1935 respectively; the burial of John Williams Wilkes (84) of Pitfield Street had just taken place; and the wedding of John Burns and Dorothy Hughes had filled the church with happiness and music a few weeks before.

It would be interesting to know whether those christened at St John’s in January 1936 are reading this article and perhaps have their own thoughts on this wonderful old church. The roll call is as follows: Mary Maureen Horton (St John’s Road), June Morton (Wren’s Nest Road), Cyril Leslie Stanley (New Rowley Road), Jean Robinson (Bluebell Road), Barbara Naylor (George Street), Margaret Daisy Wedge (Cromwell Street), Charles Barry Skelton (Haig Road), and Brian Perks (Price Street).

At the start of 1936 the nation suffered a sad loss and the vicar, Rev. Bertram Green, posted the following words in his letter to the congregation: “My dear friends, the latter part of January, 1936, will stand out in our memories for many years as the sad time of mourning for our beloved late Monarch, King George V. In company with mourners throughout the world, we at St John’s, Dudley, have given evidence of our sorrow ...” On a more down to earth subject, the church collections for the month of January 1936 amounted to £29 and 18 shillings, of which £17 and 4 shillings were for church expenses.