St Andrews Church Newspapers 1934

Churches - Bevendean History Project

Newspaper Articles for St Andrews Church 1934

MOULSECOMBE’S NEW CHURCH
Tonight’s Consecration by the Bishop

Moulsecombe people will (writes a correspondent) muster in full force for the consecration of their new church of Saint Andrew by the Bishop of Chichester tonight (Saturday), at 8, which is incidentally the seventh anniversary of another outstanding event in the history of Church extension in the Brighton district – the consecration of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Dyke Road.
Whatever the future may have in store for Moulsecombe, its future historians will certainly have no doubt about giving a prominent place in its roll of early benefactors to Mr and Mrs Hett, of Ardingly, to whose munificent help is mainly due the fact that Moulsecombe is now provided with a permanent church admirably fitted to serve as the spiritual home of a growing community.
The parish is also indebted to the son of these generous “Church builders” – Mr Keir Hett, F.R.I.B.A. – who in his capacity as architect of the new church, which has been built by a Sussex firm (Messrs. E. H. Munnion, Ltd, of Ardingly), has spared no effort to make the building in every way worthy of its purpose, and one of which those who worship in it may feel proud.
It is not every growing suburb that is fortunate enough to evoke such generous help from public spirited benefactors, and Moulsecombe folk will no doubt show their appreciation of benefits received by themselves lending a helping hand to the efforts being made by means of the Bishop’s Call to Sussex to provide the churches so badly needed in other newly developed districts.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 30 June 1934

MOULSECOMBE’S NEW CHURCH
St Andrews Church

CONSECRATED BY BISHOP OF CHICHESTER
Impressive Midsummer Eve Ceremony

When the Bishop of Chichester (Dr. G. K. A. Bell) consecrated the fine new church, dedicated to St. Andrew, at Moulsecombe on Saturday evening—the Eve of Midsummer—he charged the Church people of Moulsecombe to be “fishers of men.”
His Lordship made a lofty and inspiring appeal to his hearers to fetch their friends into “the congregation and fellowship” of Moulsecombe Parish Church.
“We are only at the very, beginning of our task. We have not fulfilled our aim, which is to bring people to Jesus.”
To one who was present when Sir Kingsley Wood, M.P., then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, turned the first sod of the first Moulsecombe housing, estate of the Brighton Corporation, more than fourteen years ago, the consecration on this quiet, peaceful Midsummer Eve of the simple yet beautiful Parish Church of Moulsecombe seemed a wonderful illustration of what earnest men and women, determined to serve the public weal, may accomplish under modern conditions.
First, the Brighton Corporation, under the lead of Sir Herbert Carden, sought to relieve the congestion of Brighton by embarking on the first housing estate. Then, as the people came, the Church of England sought to minister to their spiritual needs.

Hut as a Church

In the early days of Moulsecombe the Church had a hut. Then it had a temporary church, which is still standing. The next important development was the erection of a church hall for North Moulsecombe, where lies the Corporation’s second big housing estate in that part of Brighton. Now the original church site at Moulsecombe has upon it the permanent church, a vicarage, and the temporary church.
When the Brighton Corporation commenced its beneficent operations in Moulsecombe, it was almost exclusively an agricultural district. Fortunately, there are still farms and great spaces of Downland in this garden village, which has evoked the admiration of some of the most eminent folk associated with national and local government. But, in the countryside, there has arisen a big satellite town, with an individuality of its own, and in some respects a separate entity, creating and developing new traditions which are having far-reaching results, particularly in regard to the big population of children and young people.
Even men of the vision of Sir Kingsley Wood and Sir Herbert Carden would have been surprised could they have looked into the future that afternoon when Moulsecombe was inaugurated, and foreseen the stately ceremony on Saturday evening when the new church, so bright and clean, so airy and so spacious, was consecrated for its great mission.

Message for Future Generations

Everyone felt the Inspiration of seeing a new era in Church life opening. One noted the children, who had been specially selected to represent the young life of Moulsecombe on this auspicious occasion. Among those happy, youthful witnesses were doubtless some who, in years to come, will have the task of shaping Church life in a Moulsecombe grown larger and even more important than the Moulsecombe we know to-day.
They will look back on that Midsummer Eve when Dr. Bell, of Chichester, the leader of the Sussex Church Builders, and a most fervent and successful worker for Church extension, came to ask a blessing upon the new church. They will be proud of their share in an occasion of rejoicing, and their reminiscences will be messages of encouragement to those who, in future generations, carry on the work for Church extension.
“What, we need to-day,” said the Bishop in the course of his address, “is a sense of unity between men and women, between different classes, between different races and different nations.”
Dr. Bell pointed out that the church only provides accommodation for 500 of the big population of Moulsecombe. But it is upon the spiritual life of those who come regularly to this church that, in many ways, the spiritual’ life of the whole of Moulsecombe really depends.

Architectural Features

Although the building is not of great size, the architect, Mr L. Keir Hett, F.R.I.B.A., could hardly have designed one better suited to Moulsecombe. Occupying a commanding position on a hill, it harmonizes well with the buildings and the countryside. Not for one moment does one get an impression of something aggressively modern, and yet all the best developments of modern architecture and building have been included so far as financial resources would allow.
The claim is made that a “country” rather than a “town” church has been erected, and this claim is well founded. There is a bell chamber in the tower above the choir gallery, and one bell, the gift of the parish of Burpham, has already been installed. Mural decorations include, on the parapet to the gallery, a picture of St. Andrew.
The Bishop recalled that it was largely due to a generous gift from Mr and Mrs H. H. Hett, of Ardingly, that the erection of the church had been rendered possible.
“We are proud,” continued the Bishop, “of this House of God, and greatly admire its design and structure, the work of Mr Keir Hett, who has thrown his whole soul into perfecting it.” The Bishop also paid tribute to the general contractor, Mr E. H. Munnion, his foreman, Mr J. Pearce, the whole staff of workmen, and the various experts who had contributed to the building of the church.

Bishop’s Tribute

Dr. Bell also commended the work which clergy and laity have done in the cause of Church extension at Moulsecombe. He expressed the sorrow of all present that the Vicar (the Rev. Leslie G. Berrington) was unable to be present through illness, and the hope that he would soon recover to resume his work.
The Chancellor of the Diocese (Mr Kenneth Macmorran, K.C.) and the Registrar (Mr T. Macdonald Eggar), both wigged and gowned, took part in the solemn ceremony.
The Bishop of Lewes (the Right Rev. Hugh Hordern) and the Archdeacon of Lewes (the Ven. F. H. D. Smythe) were present, and the clergy attending included “the Vicar of Brighton (Canon A. C. W. Rose) and the Rev. S. G. Blaikie, assistant priest of Moulsecombe, who took the place, of the Vicar on this important occasion.
Both churchwardens, Mr P. W. A. Cavell .and Mr W. E. Collins, were in attendance, and Mr A. Barber was at the organ.
Detachments of the Church Lads’ Brigade attended, and the congregation included Mrs Bell (wife of the Bishop), Mrs Hordern (wife of the Bishop of Lewes), Mrs H. H. Hett, Mr Keir Hett, Mrs Berrington (sister-in-law of the Vicar), Councillor Miss Mabel Crookenden, M.A., Councillor and Mrs C. G. Manton, Councillor and Mrs A. V. Nicholls, and Mr and Mrs B. W. Batchelor (formerly of Moulsecombe, and now of Bolney).
Brighton & Hove Herald – 30 June 1934

MOULSECOMBES NEW VICAR
The Rev. Bransby Jones, M.A.

When the Rev, Bransby Albert Hussey Jones takes over his duties as Vicar of Moulsecombe in February next, he will be operating in a district particularly suited to his own character as a minister and spiritual adviser.
No one realizes more clearly than he the need for work by the church in the new working class areas and suburbs that are springing up in and around Brighton. As Vicar of St Andrew’s, Portslade, he has had three years’ experience of church work in such a district, and it must be said that he has made a success of his job in a neighbourhood where church work can never be considered easy. He has turned apathy into enthusiasm, ignorance into knowledge. He has, in fact, made St Andrew’s Church a vital rallying point in the church life of Sussex.
He will succeed the Rev. L. G. Berrington, who is retiring from the office of Vicar of Moulsecombe. The patron of the living is the Bishop of Chichester.
Mr Jones is a native of North Wales, and he was educated at Llandovery College and Wadham College, Oxford. He was at Wadham in 1914, when he enlisted at Aldershot under his college porter. He served in the war as a “Tommy.” He was in France for twelve months, and in Bulgaria for eighteen months. He was one of three to return to his college at Oxford after the war, and took his B.A. and M.A. degrees together.
After this he went to Lincoln Theological College, where Canon Rose, Bishop-Designate of Dover, was sub-warden. About this time Mr Jones was in close personal contact with the ex-Archbishop of Wales, and it was the Archbishop who ordained him in 1920.
Ministered at Gresford
For two years Mr Jones went to a mining area outside Mold, Flintshire, where he first had experience of church work in a working class district. In 1928 he became curate-in-charge at Gresford and Llay, during which time he made some very warm friendships with the miners, some of whom lost their lives in the terrible disaster of this autumn.
When he left Gresford Mr Jones moved to Brighton Parish Church, where he was for three years as a curate. This was followed by three years at Portslade, in which time he has carried out much reconstruction work in the church, has helped to promote the St. Richard’s Housing Society scheme in the area, has fostered the Workers’ Educational Association movement, and has rendered services on behalf of the Industrial Christian Fellowship. Mr Jones has played cricket for Portslade, and when in North Wales he was in the Denbighshire eleven.
Besides being a member of the British Legion, Mr Jones is chaplain to the Brighton and Hove Old Contemptibles.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 8 December 1934

THE VICAR OF MOULECOMBE

The Rev L. Berrington, who has resigned his office as Vicar of Moulsecombe on account of ill-health, is concluding his ministry at Moulsecombe at the end of the month.
Much sympathy will be felt for Mr Berrington in the circumstances in which he has had to relinquish a task in which he took the keenest interest. Some little time ago he went away for a holiday, hoping that on his return his strength would be equal to the duties of a large and growing parish. But when he came back, although he was much improved in health, his doctor counselled him to resign.
Mr Berrington has made no definite plans for the future, but there can be no doubt that, as soon as his health is restored, some opening will present itself for a continuance of the earnest services he has already rendered to the Church.
As previously announced in the “Herald,” Mr Berrington is being succeeded by the Rev Bransby A. H. Jones, now Vicar of St Andrews, Portslade.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 22 December 1934

The following story is about the Rev Bransby A. H. Jones who moved to St Andrews in 1935.

“THE MINERS’ FRIEND”
Portslade Clergyman was once at Gresford

The past week has been a sad one for the Rev. Bransby Jones, Vicar St Andrew's Church, Portslade.
For he not only knew many of the victims of the terrible pit disaster at Gresford, but he was their friend.
Formerly he was curate of Gresford, and priest-in-charge of Llay, two typical North Wales mining villages.
On Monday morning when a “Herald” reporter called to see him, Mr Jones had just finished writing a batch of letters to people he knew in Gresford and Llay—people who had been bereaved by the tragedy of last Saturday.
“I feel I ought to go up there and do something,” he said, “but it is very hard to know what to do for the best, I loved these men; they were my friends.”
Mr Jones recalled his stay in the mining district, and paid tribute to the sterling quality of the miners.
“They were fine fellows, and the spirit of comradeship is very highly developed in them. Being in danger so much and working in a body, they have a high sense of duty to their mates. They are particularly good to the weaklings in the mines.”
Mr Jones mentioned the services he had conducted at the pit head. On one occasion, marching with his choir to the pit head as the miners were changing shifts, he was encircled by some hundreds of these men, who joined in the singing of “There is a green hill”—a most touching and impressive night at the squalid, colourless, bleak pit head, these rough, mud-bedraggled miners with their lamps singing with genuine sincerity.
“Once their friend, you are their friend for always,” Mr Jones affirmed. “They act in a body in everything, of course, and that can, on occasions, be rather disconcerting. Once they were annoyed with me because I would not postpone a Sunday morning service in order to let them fly their pigeon. They boycotted me entirely for three Sundays. But when they came back, they came back as a body.”
Mr Jones took an interest in most of the miners’ hobbies and pursuits. He encouraged their love of learning through the Workers’ Educational Association classes, and one of his miner friends is now doing well at Ruskin College, Oxford.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 29 August 1934