Churches - Bevendean History Project
Newspaper Articles for St Andrews Church 1950
A former Lutheran pastor in Berlin, Mr Oelsner fled from Nazi persecution in 1939. He was ordained in the Church of' England, and about two years ago became a naturalised British subject. He was persecuted by the Nazis because his father was a Jew, although his mother was a German.
The
Rev. W. Oelsner, with Deaconess Jean Littlebury and Verger A. J.
Quenault, at the porch of Holy Trinity Church, Hove, after the Holy
Communion service on Wednesday morning.
Mrs Oelsner, who was formerly a German countess, occupied a seat in a front pew.
In his address, Dr. Bell said: “We know too well that some—only a very few—of those who found a port on these hospitable shores have abused that hospitality, but the majority, of those we have welcomed, true to the British tradition as well as to the principles of the Christian Church, have returned with great gratitude the hospitality we gave them.”
“Certainly Mr Oelsner is one of those who have responded in a quite remarkable way, and in a very humble way, together with his wife, to the welcome he received ten years ago.”
Mr Oelsner, said Dr. Bell, had experienced suffering before the war in his Fatherland, and had known what it was to be unpopular there,
“To-night,” he said, “we have a new minister, and the largeness of this congregation is a great testimony to the sympathy and interest of the lay people and the appreciation of brother clergy.”
He added: “The world is so much divided to-day by race, ideology, class struggle and culture, and only the Church can ease those antagonisms and divisions. In this act of introduction and sharing of worship you are helping to lay another stone in the temple of Christian unity. I ask your prayers for Mr Oelsner and his wife and thank you for your co-operation with him.”
Dr. Bell was assisted in the service by Bishop H. Crotty, Vicar of Hove.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 11 March 1950
Note. The Rev Oelsner joined St. Andrews, Moulsecombe, as their curate in February 1941.
The young Swiss people will be received by the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman S Davey) In the Royal Pavilion on Wednesday, and previously will have been received by the Bishop of Chichester, the Rt. Rev. Dr. G. K. A. Bell.
Next year a party from the Dutch Church will visit the fellowship, and a party will go from Moulsecombe to Switzerland.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 22 July 1950
During their fortnight's stay, they have been entertained in the homes of those who hope to visit Switzerland next year. Highlight of their holiday was an international evening in Moulsecombe Hall, when ten nations were represented. This was made possible through collaboration between the fellowship and the Brighton and Hove branch of the International Friendship League.
The party were received by the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman S. Davey) at the Royal Pavilion, and by the Bishop of Chichester (the Rt. Rev. Dr G, K. A. Bell).
"A charming town," was the description applied to Brighton by a member of the party, Dr. Pierre Bertrand, Professor of Economics at Geneva University.
"There is so much in so small a space,” he told a Herald representative. "The flowers and the lights at night are very fine."
Of the interchange between the Churches, Dr. Bertrand said: "Understanding between Churches will make for better relations between countries. I think you have a fine spirit in your Church."
In their spare time the party went swimming and shopping. They found prices, especially the prices of clothes, much lower here than in Switzerland.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 5 August 1950
Next week the group will visit Amsterdam, Haarlem, The Hague, and will end their tour in Rotterdam on Friday.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 19 August 1950
Mr C. J. Witten, general organiser of the fellowship, who with Mrs Witten planned the visit, told the Herald that everyone had been very touched by the warm welcome received.
"Perhaps one of the most satisfying impressions that we formed," Mr Witten said, "was the real spirit of determination with which the Dutch people were pushing ahead with their plans of reconstruction; new roads and bridges were being built and flats and blocks of offices were being erected in the badly bombed areas in the cities."
Two river vessels were chartered from a firm in Rotterdam and used throughout the trip as camp ships; altogether two hundred miles of inland waterways were covered. Meals were served below decks and at night the boats were moored and beds prepared above and below decks.
The visit to the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeck on the site of the battlefield of Arnhem provided a memorable occasion. Mr Witten said that the graves were beautifully kept and the English oaks planted there three years ago were now beginning to grow. “It was indeed very much a corner of England," he said.
Members of the party were surprised to notice how quickly the work of restoration was progressing in this area; new roads have been built and a fleet of fast-moving trolley-buses carried passengers into the large town of Arnhem.
During the second week the party used Ymulden as their base and from there visits were paid to Amsterdam and Haarlem, and the visit finished with a shopping tour of Rotterdam.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 2 September 1950
Councillor Miss Simmons said that the thriving community spirit in Moulsecombe is an example to other parts of Brighton. "People are forgetting how to make their own activities," she said, "and the activity in Moulsecombe is all the more pleasing for being centred around the church."
The opening ceremony of the bazaar was performed by Lady Swabey, who praised the efforts of the various church organisations and helpers in making the hall so attractive. At one end stood a tall Christmas tree, with Father Christmas in attendance.
Lady Swabey and Councillor Miss Simmons were thanked by the Vicar of St. Andrew's (the Rev. E. L. Phillips) and Mr C. J. Witten.
Bouquets were presented by three-year-old Bridget Phillips — the vicar's daughter—and three-year-old Timothy Marsh.
A distribution of prizes was made on Thursday—the second day of the bazaar—by Councillor Mrs E. M. Hider.
The proceeds amounted to more than £240.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 9 December 1950
“A Stone In Temple Of Christian Unity”
BISHOP LICENSES EX-GERMAN PASTOR
St.
Paul’s exhortation to the people of Colossae to “ put on,
as the elect of God, mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and
long-suffering, forbearing one. another and forgiving one
another,” was quoted by the Bishop of Chichester (Dr. G. K. A.
Bell) after he had licensed the Rev. Willy Oelsner as curate-in-charge
of Holy Trinity Church, Hove, on Tuesday.BISHOP LICENSES EX-GERMAN PASTOR
A former Lutheran pastor in Berlin, Mr Oelsner fled from Nazi persecution in 1939. He was ordained in the Church of' England, and about two years ago became a naturalised British subject. He was persecuted by the Nazis because his father was a Jew, although his mother was a German.
The
Rev. W. Oelsner, with Deaconess Jean Littlebury and Verger A. J.
Quenault, at the porch of Holy Trinity Church, Hove, after the Holy
Communion service on Wednesday morning.Crowded Congregation
When
Dr. Bell chose him as the new incumbent of Holy Trinity there was some
opposition among the congregation, but this dispersed, and Tuesday's
impressive ceremony was witnessed by a crowded congregation, including
many clergy from parishes far and wide.Mrs Oelsner, who was formerly a German countess, occupied a seat in a front pew.
In his address, Dr. Bell said: “We know too well that some—only a very few—of those who found a port on these hospitable shores have abused that hospitality, but the majority, of those we have welcomed, true to the British tradition as well as to the principles of the Christian Church, have returned with great gratitude the hospitality we gave them.”
“Certainly Mr Oelsner is one of those who have responded in a quite remarkable way, and in a very humble way, together with his wife, to the welcome he received ten years ago.”
Mr Oelsner, said Dr. Bell, had experienced suffering before the war in his Fatherland, and had known what it was to be unpopular there,
“To-night,” he said, “we have a new minister, and the largeness of this congregation is a great testimony to the sympathy and interest of the lay people and the appreciation of brother clergy.”
Tribute to Former Vicar
Dr.
Bell spoke of the great work of the Rev. E. E. J. Martin, who recently
resigned because of ill health, and of the “loyal and
devoted” church members, and said: “The co-operation of
this large body of lay people and this brotherhood of clergy speaks
well for the future.”He added: “The world is so much divided to-day by race, ideology, class struggle and culture, and only the Church can ease those antagonisms and divisions. In this act of introduction and sharing of worship you are helping to lay another stone in the temple of Christian unity. I ask your prayers for Mr Oelsner and his wife and thank you for your co-operation with him.”
Dr. Bell was assisted in the service by Bishop H. Crotty, Vicar of Hove.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 11 March 1950
Note. The Rev Oelsner joined St. Andrews, Moulsecombe, as their curate in February 1941.
Young Swiss at Moulsecombe
As
part of a triple Interchange between an English, a Dutch and a Swiss
church, a party of Young Swiss Christian Catholics will be visiting the
Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship from tomorrow (Sunday) until August 4, and
a party of thirty from the fellowship will go to Holland from August 12
to 26.The young Swiss people will be received by the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman S Davey) In the Royal Pavilion on Wednesday, and previously will have been received by the Bishop of Chichester, the Rt. Rev. Dr. G. K. A. Bell.
Next year a party from the Dutch Church will visit the fellowship, and a party will go from Moulsecombe to Switzerland.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 22 July 1950
“BRIGHTON IS A CHARMING TOWN”
Swiss Visitors' Tribute
Ten
young Swiss Christian Catholics who have been the guests of the
Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship as part of the good relations existing
between the Swiss and English Churches, left Brighton last night
(Friday) for their home country.Swiss Visitors' Tribute
During their fortnight's stay, they have been entertained in the homes of those who hope to visit Switzerland next year. Highlight of their holiday was an international evening in Moulsecombe Hall, when ten nations were represented. This was made possible through collaboration between the fellowship and the Brighton and Hove branch of the International Friendship League.
The party were received by the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman S. Davey) at the Royal Pavilion, and by the Bishop of Chichester (the Rt. Rev. Dr G, K. A. Bell).
"A charming town," was the description applied to Brighton by a member of the party, Dr. Pierre Bertrand, Professor of Economics at Geneva University.
"There is so much in so small a space,” he told a Herald representative. "The flowers and the lights at night are very fine."
Of the interchange between the Churches, Dr. Bertrand said: "Understanding between Churches will make for better relations between countries. I think you have a fine spirit in your Church."
In their spare time the party went swimming and shopping. They found prices, especially the prices of clothes, much lower here than in Switzerland.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 5 August 1950
Moulsecombe Fellowship at Arnhem
Members
of the Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship will be travelling today (Saturday)
down Holland's famous North Sea Canal to Ymuiden, where they will
commence the second week of their fortnight's tour of Holland. During
this week they have visited the battlefield of .Arnhem and the cemetery
of the Airborne Division at Oosterbeek.Next week the group will visit Amsterdam, Haarlem, The Hague, and will end their tour in Rotterdam on Friday.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 19 August 1950
GOODWILL TOUR OF HOLLAND
Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship Return
Members
of the Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship who completed a fortnight's
goodwill tour of Holland on Saturday arrived back In Brighton looking
sunburnt and with many reminiscences of an interesting visit.Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship Return
Mr C. J. Witten, general organiser of the fellowship, who with Mrs Witten planned the visit, told the Herald that everyone had been very touched by the warm welcome received.
Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship members are seen stowing
away their belongings on board one of the river craft
that they chartered for the trip.
away their belongings on board one of the river craft
that they chartered for the trip.
"Perhaps one of the most satisfying impressions that we formed," Mr Witten said, "was the real spirit of determination with which the Dutch people were pushing ahead with their plans of reconstruction; new roads and bridges were being built and flats and blocks of offices were being erected in the badly bombed areas in the cities."
Two river vessels were chartered from a firm in Rotterdam and used throughout the trip as camp ships; altogether two hundred miles of inland waterways were covered. Meals were served below decks and at night the boats were moored and beds prepared above and below decks.
The visit to the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeck on the site of the battlefield of Arnhem provided a memorable occasion. Mr Witten said that the graves were beautifully kept and the English oaks planted there three years ago were now beginning to grow. “It was indeed very much a corner of England," he said.
Members of the party were surprised to notice how quickly the work of restoration was progressing in this area; new roads have been built and a fleet of fast-moving trolley-buses carried passengers into the large town of Arnhem.
During the second week the party used Ymulden as their base and from there visits were paid to Amsterdam and Haarlem, and the visit finished with a shopping tour of Rotterdam.
One of the vessels proceeding to its moorings.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 2 September 1950
Community Spirit at Moulsecombe
CHAIRMAN'S PRAISE
A
tribute to Moulsecombe's community spirit was paid by Councillor Miss
J. M. K. Simmons, acting as chairman at the opening of the St. Andrew's
Church bazaar on Wednesday.CHAIRMAN'S PRAISE
Councillor Miss Simmons said that the thriving community spirit in Moulsecombe is an example to other parts of Brighton. "People are forgetting how to make their own activities," she said, "and the activity in Moulsecombe is all the more pleasing for being centred around the church."
The opening ceremony of the bazaar was performed by Lady Swabey, who praised the efforts of the various church organisations and helpers in making the hall so attractive. At one end stood a tall Christmas tree, with Father Christmas in attendance.
Lady Swabey and Councillor Miss Simmons were thanked by the Vicar of St. Andrew's (the Rev. E. L. Phillips) and Mr C. J. Witten.
Bouquets were presented by three-year-old Bridget Phillips — the vicar's daughter—and three-year-old Timothy Marsh.
A distribution of prizes was made on Thursday—the second day of the bazaar—by Councillor Mrs E. M. Hider.
The proceeds amounted to more than £240.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 9 December 1950
