Extracts from the Bunbury Section of the Malpas Deanery Magazine of April, 1900
1 Vicar's Letter: "The Vicarage, Bunbury. March 20th, 1900. My dear Friends, I do indeed thank you all on behalf of Mrs. Townend and myself for the very kind and warm reception you gave us on our return from Weston-Super-Mare. Also especially for the kind thought of the Bell-ringers ringing us into the Parish. We have met with nothing but kindness on all sides, and it has touched our hearts, and also encouraged us to hope our work amongst you will be abundantly blessed.
I should like to draw attention to the classes that I have arranged for preparing candidates for Confirmation. Every Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Ridley Chapel. Tuesdays at 7.30 p.m. for young women and girls, Fridays at 7.30 p.m. for young men and boys, at the Vicarage.
During Lent, on Thursday Evenings, at the close of the service, a Collecting Box is held to receive Lenten offerings. The box will be opened at the Vicarage, on Saturday, Easter Eve, when the amount collected will be published. I ask all who have the welfare of the Parish at heart to pray earnestly that God will bless the work of the Church in our midst, and that, in His own good time, He will raise up amongst us `A people zealous of good works.' Let this Lent be one of prayer and self-examination, daily taking up the Cross and following Christ. Knowing that if we are to become His disciples, we are to take up our Cross daily to follow Him `in His Steps'.
In answer to my appeal for additional help in the Sunday School, Mrs. Hitchin and Mrs. Lee have kindly volunteered their services. I should like to thank two members of the Congregation for kindly working book markers for the Church. I want all parishioners who are Church members to call to mind the words of the Rubric at the close of the Holy Communion: `That every Parishioner shall ' communicate at least three times in the year, of which Easter to be one.'
I remain, Your affectionate friend and Vicar, Sydney Powell Townend."
2 Easter Services: "During Passion Week and Holy Week, daily Matins at 11 a.m. and Evensong at 5.30. Celebration of Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday, at 11 a.m. Good Friday, 8. Easter day, 7, 8 and 10.30 a.m. Children's Service at 3, with short Address. The Offerings on Easter Day will be given to the Vicar as an Easter Offering, as was the case last Easter."
[This Vicar's traditional Easter Gift remained at Bunbury until very recently when the standardisation of incumbents' stipends made a nonsense of the tradition. It became a case of giving it with one hand and taking it away with the other!]
3 The War: "Miss Royds wishes to thank those who so kindly sent various necessary articles for the men of the 2nd Cheshire. Shirts were sent by Mrs. Aspinall; shirts and socks by Miss Beckett, and two unknown friends also sent socks. Mrs. P. Webb gave up a very large portion of her time towards the sewing that was necessary."
4 The Magazine: "There is a debt upon the Magazine for the year 1899 of thirteen shillings. Will our readers please subscribe towards the deficit? Subscriptions may be given to those who distribute the magazines, who will doubtless know to whom the money must be sent."
[Of interest, and from estimates based on the Phelps Brown and Hopkins Index (1900 to 1915) and The Retail Price Index (1915 to 2000), it would appear that 13s would be equivalent to about £22.50 at the present day.
Of further interest, the projected deficit, in the year 2000, on the free issue (to Bunbury) Parish Link will be about £l, 000. ]
5 Nurse's Report: " February 9th to March 9th. Cases on books, 21; maternity, 1; death, 3; convalescent, 7; cases still on books, 11; visits paid during the month, 132."
John Elsworth
Churchwarden in 2000
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