Survey of Belford 1995  

CHURCHES

Belford Methodist Church

Richard Teal was Minister until September 1995 when he left the district, to be replaced by Henry Dubois. John Crawford was a local pastor until 1992 when he moved to Eyemouth.

Itinerant organists from other churches in the Circuit helped in the absence of a resident musician.

Summer meetings were held in the evenings but between October and March, in order to economise on heating, the following members met downstairs in the afternoon: Miss Betty Anderson, Mrs Ivy Brown, Dr Gladys Morrison, Mrs Edna Shanks, Mrs and Mrs Harold Sleight.

Gladys Morrison is Secretary and Betty Anderson Treasurer, succeeding Tommy Mathewson in 1994 who had held the post for 24 years.

A coffee morning is held annually - in 1995, at Welcome House. Assistance from members of other local churches was gratefully accepted.

St. Mary's Church

Vicars of Belford 1970-1995:

1962-1978:	Revd. W.M.C. Hardy
1978-1981:	Revd. R.B. Chell (died 12.4.81)
1981-1989:	Revd. T. Husband
1989-1994:	Revd. P. Heywood
1994-	Revd. A.J. Hughes

The six coastal parishes were re-organised in 1995. Revd. E. Zachau became Vicar of the joint benefice of Bamburgh and Beadnell. Revd. A.J.Hughes became Vicar of Belford and Lucker, held in plurality with Ellingham. Revd. D. Rogerson became both Vicar of North Sunderland, and priest in charge of the Diocesan Youth Hostel run jointly by Durham and Newcastle. Pattern of Worship at St Mary's: Morning and evening prayers daily.

Parish Communion 9.00am Sundays

Readers in December 1995:
Miss H. Aynsley, R. Dodds, Mrs M. Harrison, Mrs H. Hughes, D. Pirt, Mrs F. Richardson, Miss L. Robertson, Mrs M. Sim, Miss S. Smith, J. Sprot

Servers in December 1995:
Miss C. Johnston, S. McLevy, Miss C. Sim, Miss S. Smith, L. Taylor, Miss L. Taylor, S. Williamson, R. Young

Churchwardens 1995:
C. Upjohn, J. Sprot, Mrs M. Young, Mrs M. Young

Sidespeople in December 1995:
F. Allen, A. Buck, W. McLaren, Miss L. Robertson, D. Pirt, J. Sim, Mrs G. Sprot, Mrs A. Upjohn

Flowers in Church through 1995 were arranged by:
Miss H. Aynsley, Mrs E. Brown, Mrs P. Carruthers, Mrs S. Cordingley, Mrs H. Dodds, Mrs J. Hutchinson, Mrs M. McDonald, Mrs J. Murray, Miss I. Robertson, Mrs J. Taylor, Mrs E. M. Mark and Mrs M. Young.

Altar linen was cared for by Miss H. Aynsley with Miss J. Wright as her Deputy.

Special Services were held in 1995 as follows:
Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Harvest Festival, Advent and Christmas.

Combined services in 1995:

(a) with other parishes:
A programme of Lent services was held in each of the six coastal parishes (see Re-organisation above). Holy Communion was celebrated at 7.00pm each Wednesday in a different parish church.

(b) with other churches in Belford:
Women's World Day of Prayer, Harvest Festival, Christingle.

Bellringing:
One bell was removed in about 1965 due to fears about the safety of the church tower. A remaining bell is now linked to the mechanism of the clock. The two tolling bells were rung in 1995, by Mrs F. Hardy and Mrs J. Taylor.

Organists:
Miss Maureen Jordan 1975-84
Mrs K. Chell left in 1992
Mr Ian Sim of Belford
Mr Paul Toward of Alnwick
Mr Scott Weightman of Berwick
(the last three play on a rota basis)

Choir in 1995: Regular singers were:
Miss H. Aynsley, Mr J. Mark, Mrs M. Byers, Mrs J. Murray, Mrs G. Lee, Mr R. Dodds, Mrs E. Mark

Parochial Church Council 1995:

Vicar:	Revd. A.J. Hughes
Churchwardens:	J. Sprot, Mrs M. Young
Secretary:	Mrs P. Allen
Treasurer:	Mrs M. Young
Other Members:	J. Baker-Cresswell, R. Dodds, Mrs J. Hutchinson, Mrs G. Lee, W. McLaren, D. Pirt, Mrs A. Upjohn, C. Upjohn.
Monthly Parish Magazine (now produced on a word-processor)	Editor: Mrs A. Upjohn Secretary: Mrs E. Greshon Distribution Organizer: W. McLaren Number Sold. 200

The Churchyard has been maintained commercially since 1993 after many years of voluntary work by parishioners.

The Sunday School was closed in early 1994.

The Vicar visits Ellingham School weekly, Belford First School fortnightly and Belford Middle School every 3rd week.

The Mothers' Union was disbanded in June 1990 and the banner returned to the Church for safe keeping in September.

A new non-denominational Women's Group now meets monthly at the Vicarage.

The Mother and Toddler group formed by the Church in 1980 later became St Mary's Playgroup at Belford First School and is run by Mrs Ruth Williamson.

An older children's group, the "13 Club", closed in 1972 but a recently formed Youth Group meets fortnightly at the Vicarage.

Special events in 1995:
Summer Fair on 1st July
Christmas Fair on 25th November
(All proceeds to charities)
"Jars of Grace", organised by Mrs Upjohn, collect household donations to UNICEF

Stewardship Campaigns: Secretary: Mr R. Dodds

After considerable discussion the Parochial Church Council decided to hold a funding campaign in the Autumn of 1992. Church maintenance and running costs, which had exceeded income from collections, covenants, bequests and donations for some years, made the decision urgent and inevitable. In October of that year, parishioners were invited to buffet suppers in the Church Gallery when the scheme was explained and the Church's budget for the next four years discussed.

Immediately following those meetings church members and families were visited and encouraged to make pledges and, where possible covenants to enable St Mary's to meet its commitments for the future. As a result of this campaign income was increased by approximately £7,000 to £18,800 per year.

Statistics for the year:

Baptisms: boys 8, girls 7

Confirmations: 0

Weddings: 7 Burials: 5 males, 5 females, 2 burials of ashes and 1 cremation service.

An average of 54 communicants on Sundays, with 95 on Easter Day.

In 1982 a bronze sculpture of St Luke, the beloved physician was placed in the church in memory of Dr Denys W. A. Byers who was a doctor in this district from 1957 - 1981. He was loved and held in high esteem by many people both as a doctor and a friend and he was a notable personality of the medical profession in a wide area.

United Reformed Church
(formed in 1972 from the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches)

Officials:	Revd. Kate McIlhagga James McDonald (Church Secretary) J. Burn (Church Treasurer)
Elders:	Mrs K.Burn, Miss S. Fairbairn, Mrs E, Falla (organist), Mrs H. France, Mrs H. Nixon, Mrs A. Thompson. N.B: Mr J. Newton resigned in August 1995

Elders meetings are normally held monthly. Every quarter there is a joint meeting with North Sunderland and Embleton U.R.C. These meetings usually deal with both pastoral and financial matters.

Morning Service is held every Sunday morning at 9.45 except where there is a 5th Sunday in the month when there is a united service of all the three churches at 5.00pm. At Christmas there is a family service with the Pilots (see below) who are given parcels provided by funds raised at Coffee Fellowships after Morning Services. Church membership was approximately 45 during 1995.

Youth Organisations:
"Pilots" founded in 1990. In 1995 there were approximately 15 members between 4 and 11 years of age. Non-uniformed and meet weekly during term time.

Captain: The Minister
Officers: Mrs Joy Davidson, Miss Sheila Fairbairn
N.B. Mrs Helen France resigned in April 1995.

Special Events:

Summer Garden Party which, in 1995 was held at Elwick Farm, was opened by the Vicar of St Mary's, and raised £439.

A Christmas Fayre in 1995 raised £357.

A Jumble sale, and a Coffee morning were held in Belford's Carnival week. A Whist Drive is held annually for church funds.

A Whist Drive organised by Mrs Nisbet during 1995 produced £432 for new curtains for the Ferguson Hall.

With other churches the following were held-

Burns Supper (in Belford)

Midsummer Special (in Embleton)

Harvest Supper (in North Sunderland)

Womens' Guild: meets fourth Monday of September, October, November, January, February, March and April. Average 25 members.
President: Mrs H. Nixon
Secretary: Mrs J. Clarke
Treasurer: Mrs E. Falla.