Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
The pastorate did not remain vacant for long. Mr Dawe, active as ever, met the Rev R.J.Evans, and reported to the February 1934 Church Meeting “that the Rev H. Allen Job was coming to London from Manchester and was taking up an appointment in London. He also gave particulars of his interview with Mr Job”. A unanimous invitation to take part—time charge of the Church was sent to Mr Job, a stipend of £3 p.w. being offered. In April 1934 he began his ministry; his other post was as the first secretary of the Churches Committee on Gambling.
Those who remembered him when I was writing CNG regarded this as one of the great pastorates of the Church. Mr Job was not a notable preacher but his outstanding personality drew many into the Church – during his nine years 76 new members were enrolled. Brought up in the Australian outback, Mr Job left home at the age of 19 and came to study at Harley College, London. He then spent six years working amongst Inca descendants in the Andes followed by a five year ministry in Christchurch N.Z. After eight years temperance work in New Zealand, Australia and Manchester he accepted the charge of Oldham Street Church, Manchester in 1927. During his ministry many were to be enthralled by tales of adventure in these far-flung places.
Mr Job quickly made an impact on the area. Mr Parker had left a small but stable fellowship, and now it began to flourish. Work with children and young people was particularly successful. The League of Youth with its programme of serious, social and practical activities attracted many young people, particularly after its reorganisation in 1938. The Boys Brigade was re-started in 1935 and together with the Life Boys provided a balance for the existing girls activities. Later a Ranger group was started. For the older members, the choir (under the leadership of Mr W.J.Lightman, who had commenced a second term as organist in 1931) grew from 12 to 23. Mr Job’s sympathy with temperance causes led to the appointment of a Temperance Secretary in 1936.
Meanwhile the buildings, which had deteriorated during the ‘low years’, were being put in order, much work being done by volunteers. Then the boiler failed; as a plaque on the boiler house recalled for many decades a collection for its replacement was made at a Sunday evening social. Gas radiators were installed in the schoolroom “purchased from the gas company under the hire purchase system”. In 1935, at long last, electric lighting was installed in the schoolroom by two volunteers, Mr Dawe donating the materials. The following year the Church was similarly equipped at a cost of £17, the special collections being encouraged by the discovery that “the gas pipes embedded in the church walls were virtually eaten right through”. Gas heating for the church was investigated but not pursued.
In 1938 Mr Dawe resigned ‘as Treasurer, seeking more tine for his duties as Sunday School Superintendent. At the end of that year Mr Purchase died and in honour of her family’s service to the church Miss Purchase was made a Life deacon. Mr William Gould died the same winter. He had been a member for 57 years and had seen ten pastorates and many changes since the re-formation meeting in 1882.
In July 1939 Mr Job tendered his resignation: “I find myself in an impossible situation occupying two posts which both demand full-time service”. The Rev R.J .Evans, now Moderator, was approached and suggested a possible candidate, but before the resignation could take effect other events intervened.
The Second World War
From the Church minutes it appears that WW2 affected church life far more than the First War. Certainly it had more effect on civilian life generally, with blackouts, evacuation, bombing and rationing all disturbing life in once peaceful suburbs.
An early hint of trouble ahead had come in May 1939 when:
“As a result of a suggestion made by the Rangers, they had been allowed to make themselves responsible for looking after some dozen (Czech) women and children refugees and the church officers had allowed them the use of the schoolroom as a hostel for nearly a week. Mr Wilfred Dawe had collected a sufficient number of beds by means of an army lorry. All the arrangements for the care of the refugees were well received and gave credit to the church. In fact, the whole thing was a very happy improvisation”.
The happiness was not to last. Mr Job opened the church meeting on August 30th (the last for seven months) “with a prayer that the shadow of war might be lifted and for those separated from their friends by reason of additional duty“. The hall was offered for use as a refuge by or feeding centre, seven members volunteering as canteen workers.
On September 3rd 1939 one young member, Ernest Burgess, was late for church – at Mr Job’s request. He slipped in and passed Mr Job a note confirming, as all had feared, that war had been declared at l1a.m. For the duration of the war Church life had to continue as best it could. Monthly meetings had to be suspended, and were held only when absolutely necessary, often on Saturday afternoons or after Sunday services. After some delay the schoolroom was provided with blackouts. Choir practices and the afternoon Sunday School were suspended because of the risk of air-raids. “It was agreed that in the event of an alert the service should start a little late”. The Ladies Working Party whose task in life was to make items for sale at Bazaars had to suspend operations when clothing coupons were introduced. Collections were made towards the £500,000 Reconstruction Fund launched by the CUEW in October 1941.
Many of course saw none of this for they were away in the forces. They were not forgotten however — Mr Job went to great lengths to correspond with members, wherever they might be, and his letters were greatly treasured.
As the war progressed people adapted to its adversities. In April 1943 Mr Job tendered his resignation for the second time as the Churches Committee on Gambling now felt able to offer him a full-time position, and the Moderator (Rev Alan Green) “had agreed that the change would be better now than at the close of the war. It would be easier to fix up the church”. At the same meeting Mr Job announced with much pleasure that Mr Arthur Stops, a younger member serving in the RAF, had been accepted for ministerial training at the end of the war.
At the end of June 1943 Mr Job’s pastorate cane to an end. Had he been a full-time minister he would have had cause to feel satisfied with the results of his labours; for a part-time minister the results were outstanding. His continued work with the Committee was brought to a close by illness, leading to his death on March 29th 1947. His two daughters, Monica, Lady Prescott, and Mrs Hope Hay both followed in the missionary footsteps of their father.
← Arthur Parker, 1930-1933 – – – W. Maurice Holland, 1944-1949 →
From the Dundee Evening Telegraph – Tuesday 01 April 1947
Missionary Who Became Tribal Chief
The death in London of Rev. H. Allen Job, secretary of the Churches Committee on Gambling since 1934, is announced in London to-day. One of the most colourful adventurers, this cheery, bushy-haired pastor had lived with the world’s last civilised race. He had been appointed tribal chief, fought notorious white bullies on the Amazon, lodged in mountain holes, and existed on monkey flesh for weeks. The son of a bullock driver, Job was born 66 years ago in the Australian bush. He became rough-rider, gold prospector, printer’s devil, reporter—and missionary. His adventures began 14, when he crossed the Blue Mountains to seek his fortune at Sydney.
Thought Matches Black Magic
He became a missionary, travelled several times round the world, and finally found himself the upper reaches of the Amazon living with the Chuncha Indians. “I found them charming people,” he once said … though ignorant of anything beyond their tropical forests … To them a knife and box of matches were black magic. I showed them what I could do with them and they marvelled. But they thought me a poor, ignorant savage when they took me swimming and found that I was no good at spearing fish.” In England, Job later worked at Oldham Road, Manchester, and at Twickenham, and declared “There is just as much work and adventure found in the jungle of England—some of it of the most tragic kind.” In 1944 he predicted a boom in all forms of gambling at the end of the war.