“Forty years on”
Forty years ago this November, Trinity URC joined with Palm Grove Methodist Church to form a Local
Ecumenical Partnership. I thought, therefore, that it might be interesting to look through the TRINITY
NEWS magazines, as they were then called, to see what life was like at Trinity in 1977. The editor at the
time was Holly Graham, the minister the Rev David Gardner and the church secretary Tom Hamilton.
David Gardner’s letter which opened the January edition contained some words which were both
optimistic and wise: ‘1977 should be an exciting year for us at Trinity, for we have the glorious God-given
opportunity – as I see it – to share in a partnership of life and work with the people of Palm Grove
Methodist Church, and so advance the cause of Christ in this neighbourhood and play our part locally in
forwarding Christian unity. Of course, if this comes to fruition, it will mean some changes. Yet I urge you
most strongly to guard against getting so concerned about possible changes and difficulties that you lose
sight of the advantages in terms of enriched worship, increased strength, and a greater impact on the
neighbourhood.’
The January edition also recorded that the previous month three new elders had been ordained: Shelah
Jones, Mary Williams and Allan Brame. Birthdays during the year included: Campbell Craig 10; Marian
Craig 14; Andrew Smith 14; Barry Wilding 2; Andrew Peace 4; Alastair Williams 7; Diana Blease 7; Pauline
Jones 9; Graham Jones 13; Simon Dodd 5; and Tim Humphreys 9. Congratulations were given to John
Gardner and to Suzanne Jones for passing the entrance exams to Birkenhead School and to Birkenhead
High School respectively.
There were several personnel changes in 1977. In February Sue Berry was welcomed to the staff of the
Junior Church ‘to help Mrs Craig with the leadership of the Primary Dept.’ Likewise, in June Carole
Wilding was welcomed on to the staff of Junior Church in place of Valerie Edwards. ‘She will be leading
the Junior Dept with Mrs Ann Gardner.’
Sadly, in that year the church lost a distinguished former minister, the Rev Andrew Prentice, and two
long-standing members, George Newton and Geoffrey Tillotson. On a happier note, Hugh and Elsie Meikle
celebrated their ruby wedding.
With Marie Jones in the chair, Tuesday Circle had a successful year. (In those days it usually met at the
manse in Kylemore Road.) Activities included a demonstration by Jan Humphreys on how to make lovely
Christmas decorations, a sponsored ‘Knit-In’, and a ‘Beetle Bite’ in the Session Room (cost 20p).
Perhaps the most disturbing feature of 1977 at Trinity was financial. Rob Wood and Bill Ewing warned the
church that it faced the prospect of a heavy deficit owing to a steep increase in the assessment for the
Maintenance of the Ministry Fund, the installation of new heating in the church hall, and general inflation,
which in the early months of 1977 was running at a frightening 21%. The interest from investments
normally covered any deficits, but that year the interest would only cover half the estimated deficit,
leaving a gap of about £2,000. The Church meeting agreed to hold a Gift Day so that members could have
the opportunity to give donations and, if they wished, to record a promise to increase their regular
offerings. The minister was to make himself available in the church vestry between the hours of 10 am
and 4.00 pm on 24
th
September to receive contributions. In the event the sum of £1,238 was raised in
donations.
The November and December editions were the first to be called LINK and the first to include articles by
former Palm Grove members - Ken Wilson wrote about the prospect of joining the two Junior Churches
together and Ken Tasker wrote about housing local homeless people. Finally, referring to the new
partnership, a contributor who signed him/herself E. B. wrote: ‘We must mingle like those two little
rivers at Lynton in Devon – East Lyn and West Lyn – at a place called Watersmeet, and thence flow happily
together into the sea.’
(John Blease)