The History of The Christadelphians in Clowne
On June 29th 1924, John Greaves, a prior member of the United Methodist Free Church was baptised as a Christadelphian at Skegness Ecclesia. He was in Skegness for health reasons, and had left the Methodist's six years before as he was unhappy with their beliefs and felt he had to search for the truth. John's home was in Clowne.
A few years later, in April 1931, there was rejoicing in the North Wingfield Ecclesia at three baptisms. The announcement stated as follows:-
It is with great pleasure we report the baptism of William Clement Blakemore and Ann Elizabeth Blakemore, his wife; also of Albert Allfree. (All of Clowne, a few miles from here) The first two on April 4th and the last on the 18th, with the kind help of the Sheffield Ecclesia, for which we are grateful. All are relatives of brother John Greaves, in isolation at Clowne, who thus sees some of the results of his faithful labours. They are now all meeting together and we - and they, too - hope shortly that some public proclamation of the Truth may be possible. We are receiving the assistance of the Sheffield brethren in ministering the needs of the Truth in Clowne.
In May, 1931, at 100 Broughton Lane, Clowne; the Clowne Christadelphian Ecclesia was established. The following is an extract from the announcement made in the Christadelphian magazine at the time:-
It is with pleasure we report that a meeting of the brethren and sister(s) in Clowne (four in number) was held on May 30th, there being present also brethren from Sheffield and North Wingfield ecclesias. the following resolutions were made: " That we constitute ourselves an ecclesia, to be known as the Clowne Christadelphian Ecclesia..."
January 7th 1932. The numbers began to grow. there were two more baptisms - William A Godley and Miss Hannah Greaves. The time had come to look for better premises to hold the meetings. In February 1932 a room was rented in the Co-operative Hall, but over the next few years there were delays and difficulties. The record shows times when the Co-op was unavailable and the little ecclesia had to meet in each others homes again. Eventually in the front room of John Greaves home, 48 Broughton Lane.
The photograph is of the Old Co-operative grocery
In 1933 William Godley and Hannah Greaves were married. Two years later, in early 1935 William and Ann Blakemore moved to Skegness. early that same year William Godley left the christadelphians. The numbers of the little ecclesia were now down to three. There were fears their time in Clowne was over.
Then, on June 29th 1935, there was another baptism - Miss Annie Whiteley, from nearby North Wingfield. Obviously Albert Alfree had been courting her, as soon after they were married. The numbers were back to four.
Announcement in the Christadelphian magazine November 1939.
North Wingfield. With pleasure we record the baptism of Mr Alfred Allfree (18) the grandson of our aged brother Greaves of Clowne. At the request of the brethren at Clowne, we conducted the interview and on September 23 the Sheffield ecclesia baptized him. may he long walk in Truth. In future he will meet in Clowne.
The following year, 1940, the ecclesia in Clowne was joined by Elsie Randall. Owing to bereavement she had returned to her home in nearby Bolsover. And two years later a Mr and Mrs S. Chapman joined them too. In July 1941 premises were finally found for the ecclesia at 86 North road.
Photograph looking up North road
The next few years show a steady increase in numbers at Clowne Ecclesia, tempered in 1944 with the falling asleep (death) of Hannah Godley (nee Greaves) at a mere 46 years old, and John Greaves at the age of 77. By now there was a thriving Sunday School at Clowne. The war years were also a test of faith of Christadelphians up and down the country, as Concientious Objection forbade the brethren from fighting in the war. Many worked on the land instead, or were sent to work in the coal mines.
In May 1950 the sunday school at Clowne joined with several other local ecclesial sunday schools for an outing to Codnor park.
The weather was cold and wet, but the children enjoyed the games and refreshments in the spacious Memorial Hall. after a good tea, adults and children were addressed by Brother C Latham of Sheffield.
Finally in 1951. A room was hired for the ecclesia to hold their meetings.
We have changed our place of meeting to the Co-operative Hall, opposite the Mansfield-Sheffield bus stops. Our meeting times are still the same. (Breaking of bread 2.30pm, Public Lecture 3.45pm)
Another image of the Co-operative Hall.
By 1953 the membership was eleven, with eighteen in the sunday school. The sunday school itself was starting to show returns, with the older sunday school scholars choosing to be baptised, and join the Ecclesia. There were also a flurry of marriages. In 1954 the membership rose to fourteen, and the following year to sixteen.
The Preaching work within the ecclesia also showed encouraging signs.
Sept 1959. During a recent campaign held at Staveley, Poolsbrook and Barlborough we had a total of 15 friends. At Staveley we have a Bible Class well attended by friends, the results being very promising. we have also been uplifted by friends attending our own Sunday Lectures.
Nov 1959. At our National effort held in Clowne, 24 people were present at the lecture. Four were sunday school scholars and nine interested friends.
The time had come to consider building their own Ecclesial Hall.
After a search, a plot of land was found on Creswell Road. Some second hand bricks were bought at a discount and a member spent his days cleaning the old mortar off them ready for re-use. Second hand railway sleepers were found for use in the construction. A local man was hired to do the bricklaying. The foundations were dug and the new room began construction.
The picture shows the building partially constructed.
On November 26th 1960, after many hours and a lot of hard labour the new ecclesial hall was opened.
A special service was held, inviting the local community to see the new home of the Christadelphians in Clowne.
Our new hall was opened on November 26 1960. In the afternoon a meeting of devotion was held for out own members. In the evening we held a service of praise attended by 67 brethren, sisters and friends. we now look forward to a more effective witness to the truth. We thank all who have contributed help.
An image of the christadelphian hall in its early days. You can see a garden planted to the front of the hall.
The following two years witnessed a number of baptisms, which, together with other members joining from other ecclesias over those years brought the numbers to 30. And the first Fraternal Gathering was held. The co-operative hall being hired for the occasion in order to accomodate the numbers.
The first fraternal gathering of the Clowne ecclesia was held on April 14th 1962. Approximately 150 brethren and sisters joined us. We thank brethren Herbert Adams and Jim Stott for the ministered word from Daniel. These two addresses ending our youth gathering, who had during the day made detailed studies of the book.
This fraternal gathering was the first of many to be held annually over the coming years. There was sadness, too, in those years, at the falling asleep of sister Edith Siddons at age 82, and later another sister who left the faith.
Travel was becoming more available in those years, which enabled preaching work to be more easily carried out in far off countries.
Entry in the Christadelphian magazine. June 1962
We are sorry to report that in July Bro and Sis John and Maureen Allfree go abroad to Newfoundland for one year. We shall miss them very much but realise that it will mean the word being preached in other fields. We shall pray for a blessing on their work.
An entry in the Christadelphian magazine on January 1967 makes mention of an evening spent finding out more about the preaching work in other countries.
On November 19th the Bible Mission publicity committee, through young brethren from Leicester, told us of the work being done abroad. Bro T Hemingray talked about the work in Holland and Bro P Richardson told us of the work in Guyana. Both talks were illustrated with slides. A collection for the Bible Mission realised £15
A photograph taken from inside the meeting room. Services were held
from the back of the room, keeping the doors clear at the front. The
door to the right of the picture led to a small kitchen.
Due to their baptismal facilities, Clowne ecclesia was also able to assist with a number of baptisms on behalf of the local Chesterfield, Mansfield and Worksop ecclesias. And in 1971 there was another wedding, making use of the ecclesial hall at Sheffield of a young couple who had been baptised, both on the same day, earlier that year at Clowne ecclesial hall.
Another photograph of the hall from the front. The garden had now
been turned to lawn. The extention had been built to the side enabling
the old front door to be converted into a noticeboard.
The 1980's saw many moves and changes. There were various baptisms. A number joined the ecclesia from a different fellowship, including five members of the Turner family. Some moved away, mainly in pursuit of work.
Towards the end of the 80's the need arose to extend the hall, generous financial support was given from surrounding ecclesias and work began in 1990. Two toilets were added and a small entrance area making the room much more practical. In 1995 the area to the front was converted into a carpark.
Sadly, during the 1990's the ecclesia diminished in numbers. Some fell asleep. Others moved away to other parts of the country as work demanded. The closure of the local coalmines had meant a reduction of jobs in the area. Which subsequently meant people had to move to where there was work. By the end of 2002 there were only seven members of the small ecclesia.
Then in 2009 a decision was made by a small group in the Sheffield Ecclesia. The ecclesia in Sheffield was much larger, and a few decided they would transfer to Clowne in order to support the small ecclesia. Sadly the local Worksop ecclesia closed around this time, too. So the few members there transfered to other ecclesias in the area. Including some to Clowne. This gave a great boost to us here in Clowne, and we now number nineteen.
We pray that God will continue to bless our ecclesia here in Clowne and for many years to come. And that we will honour and glorify God ourselves in all we do.
