Chapel Next the Green (the history of Twickenham Congregational Church) index page
In 1919, despite some opposition, the Congregational Union had introduced Moderators to facilitate ministerial settlements and removals, and so it was to the London Moderator, the Rev William Lee, that the deacons turned for advice. It was evident to all that the church could not support another full-time minister. Several candidates were suggested by the Moderator, but before they could be approached events took another course. At the Church Meeting on May 10th 1923 the Secretary (Robert Jones) explained that:
“On the advice of a former minister of the Church (the Rev Jenkyn James) he had submitted to the Deacons the name of the Rev J .T.Rhys as a gentleman likely to fill the position of minister of the Church. Mr Rhys, he was informed, was an able organiser – and the Church needed one – a pastor, and an acceptable preacher.”
Mr Rhys studied theology at Brecon Independent College, intending to offer himself for foreign missions. Before he had finished his studies he received a pressing invitation to the pastorate of the English Congregational Church at Pontycymmer. During his ten years there a new church was built. In 1906, he removed to Godreaman, Aberdare, where he stayed four years, followed by a six-year ministry at Rhyddings Congregational Church, Swansea.
From 1917 he was Secretary of the British & Foreign Sailors Society and Private Secretary to Dame Margaret Lloyd George. Indeed some said that he had an uncanny resemblance to Lloyd George, and a casual visitor might have thought the latter was in the pulpit. For his war-time efforts in raising money for London hospitals he was made a governor of the Middlesex and St. Bartholomew’s Hospitals.
In August 1923 the Church invited Mr Rhys to take charge of the Church for six months, on a part—time basis, at a stipend of four guineas per week, and soon afterwards he began his work. During the pastorate some tensions were to arise between deacons, minister and people. To understand these events, the non-Free church reader is reminded that a Congregational church is run on democratic principles, each member having a vote at the Church Meeting, which is (in theory at least) the only body entitled to make decisions (though delegated powers may be given to certain people or committees, subject to the church retaining overall control).
In November 1923, in Mr Rhys’ absence, the Church members decided to suspend the regular monthly Church meeting. In future, meetings “were to be called upon the recommendation of the deacons when they considered there was sufficient business to discuss”. For the next ten years the deacons meetings were to be the principal influence on Church life.
Three Church meetings only were held in 1924. At the first, in February, “several members spoke expressing great appreciation of Mr Rhys’ work and the deacons were asked to make his engagement permanent”. Subsequently the deacons wrote to Mr Rhys “to notify you officially that they recognise you as the permanent minister of the church“. Here perhaps they acted unconstitutionally; under the terms of the Trust Deed a valid call to a Minister could only be given from a Church Meeting specially convened for the purpose and announced on two preceding Sundays.
The premises again came under consideration. The Sunday School asked the deacons to consider improving their accommodation. In due course a committee reported to the deacons in April 1925 that they “considered it quite impracticable to embark on a scheme of rebuilding as it would cost about £3000 to give better accommodation than was at present available”,
The Superintendent, Mr Caywood, was unimpressed, “One wouldn’t mind the present premises if a decent schoolroom etc were only projected”. At the same meeting “the question of electric light was again raised and again opposed for reasons of Church heating”. However later that year the schoolroom was renovated, and the organ was rebuilt.
From this time on a certain mistrust seems to have grown up between the members and deacons/minister. In April 1926 the deacons decided that new deacons should be elected by the same method as in 1925: by asking for nominations on two successive Sundays. The Church Meeting dismissed this recommendation and resolved that ballot papers should be distributed to all members, despite Robert Jones’ protestation that as many no longer attended, the ballot would be a futile exercise.
A Church Council
The deacons, in defiance of Congregational principles, then confirmed their original decision and :
“A discussion took place at some length on the action of the Church in practically declining to adopt the considered recommendation of its executive on more than one occasion. Mr Rhys then suggested that possibly a way of obviating difficulty of this sort would be the election of a Church Council with full powers to act without the Church.”
It is surprising that the Deacons were even willing to discuss a proposition incorporating the last phrase but Mr Rhys was asked to produce a draft constitution which was duly circulated to each deacon. The draft included the sentence: “The decisions of the Council to be valid without reference to the Church Meeting”. One copy of this draft came into the possession of a lady who was not a deacon, and during the summer of 1926 she was quietly organising opposition to the scheme and its originator.
On October 15th the deacons discussed the draft scheme. They were not unanimous, but after amending the offending sentence, decided to recommend the scheme to the Church. A Special Church Meeting was held on October 29th, to discuss the proposals. Most members, especially the younger ones, were in favour of the general principles of the scheme and appreciated that the object was to strengthen the work of the church. Some however, “were of the opinion that an attempt was on foot to deprive them of their privileges as Congregationalists“.
To the astonishment of many, the disaffected lady launched into a personal attack on Mr Rhys, which was heard in stunned silence. After a further amendment requiring ratification of the extent of delegation by a future Church Meeting, the proposals were then passed.
Now the storm broke. On Sunday morning Dr Jones presented his immediate resignation as Secretary, as a protest against the way in which the church had listened to the charges against their Minister without complaint. In this difficult situation, Mr F.W.Pearce gallantly agreed to act until a successor could be found. Two weeks later the members passed a vote of confidence in Mr Rhys. Mr Pearce chairing:
“requested the members to very carefully consider the importance of arriving at an amicable settlement of the difficulties that had arisen largely due to a mistaken impression“.
On February 11th 1927 the Church Council held its first meeting, the Deacons being joined by representatives of the Choir, Sunday School, Boys Club, Junior Girls Club, Green Club, Ladies Working Party and Badminton Club.
Some members were still trying to cause dissent within the church and at the request of the Deacons, Mr Pearce ( Acting Secretary) wrote to the R.J.Evans, LCU Secretary, “The deacons have patiently endeavoured to remove the difficulties which have arisen but matters have now reached a crisis which will probably result in the resignation of the Minister and may probably lead to the closing of the church.”
In February 1928 Mr Evans and Mr Lee were invited to a further meeting in an effort to resolve the divisions, but without apparent success.
That year church life continued, but without enthusiasm. One sad event in October brought all members to agree:
“That this church expresses its profound sorrow at the death of Mr F.W.Pearce, Senior Church Secretary and Deacon, and places on record its appreciation of his sterling Christian character.“
In his capacity as Surveyor Mr Pearce had served the Borough since 1899, and was once described as “Twickenham Council’s greatest public asset” He had taken on the duties of Secretary at a very difficult time, and it had been a heavy burden on top of his municipal duties.
In January 1929 Mr William Gould and Mr Purchase both resigned from active service on the Diaconate; Mr Purchase in particular was anxious that his absence from meetings should not be taken as a lessening of interest in the Church. It came as no surprise when Mr Rhys resigned from the pastorate in March. The church seemed set on decline and he could do no more. Until his death in 1938 aged seventy he continued to live in Udney Park Road, Teddington, writing many articles on religion, politics and social problems.
More on J.T..Rhys here
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