Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
With a declining membership and parlous finances this was not an easy time for the Church to face an interregnum. In October 1916, for financial reasons, it was resolved “that no invitation be given for six months with a view to filling the pulpit vacancy“, in the meantime every member being pledged to maintain their support. The following February three alternative strategies were discussed: continuing without a pastor, a student pastorate, or a regular pastor. The latter was felt to be impractical for financial reasons. Instead it was agreed that Mr Peebles and Mr Purchase should approach Hackney & New College (part of London University) with a view to arranging a student pastorate. They were instructed to enquire specially as to the possibility of securing the services of Mr H.Bickley who preached in the church the previous Sunday week.
The delegation was received by Dr P.T.Forsyth, College Principal and eminent theologian, and with his permission they interviewed Mr Bickley. The outcome was a letter to Dr Forsyth inviting “Mr Bickley to take the pastoral charge of the Twickenham Congregational Church from now till the end of the end of the war.” This wording did not find favour with Dr Forsyth who was naturally anxious to secure permanent settlements for his students, but the church was anxious to do nothing that would have even the appearance of unduly enabling Mr Bickley to escape the provisions of the Military Service Act. The Church would support Mr Bickley’s appeal to the Military Tribunal by every legitimate means”. Still anxious to secure Mr Bickley the period of the call was changed to “for a period of one year”, which in the circumstances was evidently acceptable.
After these negotiations, which had taken place largely without his knowledge, Mr Bickley commenced his first pastorate in July 1917 and was ordained on October 17th . The new minister brought with him a great love of literature; he was born in Stratford upon Avon and educated at Shakespeare’s school, King Edward VI Grammar School. He drew on this during his time in Twickenham by serving as Secretary of the local Literary and Scientific Society and also inspired the setting up of a church ‘Dramatic Circle’ which continued long after his departure.
Mr Bickley quickly endeared himself to the members and in February 1918 the call was made permanent; the stipend was raised from £120 to £160 + 5/8 of offerings in excess of £240. In May, following the mood of the times, it was agreed:
“That two Lady Deacons or Deaconesses be appointed or coopted by the newly appointed Diaconate, such ladies to be members of the Church, the wives of Deacons to be ineligible. Names of ladies suggested by the Church to be favourably considered”.
The July Deacons’ meeting duly resolved “that Mrs Lewis and Miss Ethel Purchase be co-optative menbers of the Diaconate“.
1918 also saw problems with the neighbours: the Acre Steel Co. fixed their buildings to the Church walls without consent, necessitating legal action. At the same time the Secretary was instructed to write to the butcher “complaining of driving of cattle and lowing of same during worship on Sunday morning to the great annoyance of the congregation” – at the time CNG was published, morning worship had to pause as Concorde flew over!
The effects of the war were still being felt. Permission was given for a memorial tablet to Stanley Mann, a former Sunday who was shot down over France. The Sunday School arranged a tea and entertainment for wounded soldiers from Hampton Court. The membership roll was revised in May 1918, leaving 69 active members, only eight of whom had joined during the war. One was these was Mrs Emily Cumber (nee Potterill), who was still an active member 66 years later when CNG was published.
About this time it was realised that of the eleven trustees appointed in 1866 only one, Alfred Deayton, survived and he was now living in Bristol. With his consent, and after considerable formalities the trusteeship was transferred to LCU Inc. in July 1919, subsequently passing to the URC Southern Province in 1982.
The finances, never strong, had also suffered from the war; in October 1919 the stipend was raised to £208, which before the war would have been acceptable, but was now quite frankly inadequate (During WW1 prices more than doubled). By way of compensation it was resolved:
“unanimously and enthusiastically that the Church records its high appreciation of, and gratification with, the pulpit and pastoral ministrations of its minister and hopes that the harmony and mutual esteem of the past will characterise the years to come”.
In the late 1970’s whilst researching CNG I visited an elderly Mr Bickley at his Somerset home. One story he told me was of how, having gone on holiday and come back with a wife, most members were delighted. However Mr Peebles, Secretary, called on him and told him that he had no business getting married on the stipend he was receiving. Mr Bickley bit his lip, thinking that if so, the church had no business paying such a low stipend! Instead, with the Deacons’ consent, in 1920 he took up the post of Latin master at Richmond Grammar School to supplement the inadequate stipend.
With the end of the war attention turned to the buildings. In 1919, Mrs Lloyd George was secured to open the Bazaar and the next summer the church was closed for substantial redecoration. The installation of electric lighting was investigated but not pursued.
In 1921 new officers took over – Mr T.A.Webb became Church Secretary, though Mr Peebles remained as Secretary to the deacons for a further eighteen months. On Mr Webb’s inspiration monthly Church and Deacons meetings were reinstated. That June Mr Purchase retired from his second term as Treasurer “amidst universal regret that the lengthening shadows had deprived the Church of such an able and genial treasurer”.
Great happiness was felt by the whole Church when Mr and Mrs Purchase celebrated their Golden Wedding in July 1922. That same month, upon Mr Webb’s removal from the district, Mr A.P.Butcher (not present) was elected Church Secretary, “Mrs Butcher alone dissenting”. He did not accept the post and a newer member, Mr Robert Jones, was elected.
Given Mr Bickley’s undoubted ability, and the inability of the Church to properly reward him, It Came as no great Surprise when, in November 1922, he announced that he had accepted a call to Doddridge Memorial Church Northampton, which had 252 members and 608 children.
Mr Bickley’s subsequent career is a testimony to those abilities first recognised by our members in 1917. From Northampton he went on to Boulevard Church, Weston super Mare. The Church was bombed out in the war but Mr Bickley held the fellowship together. Then after four years in Plymouth, he was appointed as Moderator of the Western Province of the Congregational Union, a post he held from 1950 to 1960. After two further years at Bovey Tracey (Dartmoor) he retired to Somerset, where he lives today, still smoking his pipe and reciting Shakespeare.
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