Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 133, 25 July 1941, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

BRITAIN'S CHURCHES UNDER FIRE This article, written by Hugh Martin, the editor of the Student Christian Movement Press, discusses the pioblems which face the Christian Church in Britain to-day. I expect you have seen photos of some of our bombed churches: —that one, for example, of St. Paul's with the light streaming down upon thv remains of the high altar through the hole in the roof. So without 'my telling you I am sure you realise that the churches of Britain are in tho front line. Alnong the noMfi buildings and humble homes that have been destroyed are many places 'of worship, some of them hallowed by the prayers of centuries. Indeed, so many churches have been hit different parts of our country thai it almost looks as if they had beeji made a deliberate target by the Nazi airmen. It would not surprise me in the least. But destruction is not the onlv thing that has happened to our churches. They have been called to play their Dart in the national suffering and struggle, to be in tbn front, fine of human service. They have had to face as severe test as could well be imagined, and. with few exceptions, they have stood up to it magnificently. One of my friends has cuite unique opportunities for knowing what is going on, and I asked him the other day what his verdict was:. "Sixty per cent of the churches," was the reply, "hive come through with flying colour'-:, one! the g'*eat majority of the others have done quite crclitably." I want to rlive you a vc r y few exam'pies of ways in wh!eh the churches havs mobilised to meet the emergency. By "the Churches" I mean organised Christianity of whatever denomination — Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalism and the rest. T am Avriting about the new and the unusual, but I want to make it clear that I believe the greatest service the churches have rendered these days, as at all times, has just been to carry on —though in face of greatly increased difficulties—rWith the normal work of calling men to j worship, training young people ancT children in the Christian life, comforting folk in, trouble and generally witnessing to the Christian message The most obvious and immediate result of the war was the calling of hundreds of thousands of young men and women (thousands' of women are in the auxiliary noncombatant service) for the navy; army and air force. The regular chaplains were at once supplemented by others from all the churches. The chaplain's wnrk is of worth in proportion asi he identifies himself with the hardships and dangeis cf the men and bears his witness in his life, as wel'l as his words. Mam' of them have risen to the call magnificently. Not a few played a heroic part in the Dunkerque retreat. Tlie work of the chaplains hasi reivealed with startling clearness the great ignorance of the Christian

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE (Supplied by the Whakatane Ministers' Association).

Faith on the part of large numbers -if our young people and their vow slender conncetion with organised religion. The chaplains, are presentrd with an overwhelming opportunity in the contact with youth now open to them. Such voluntary bodies •is the Y.M.C.A., the Church Army and the Salvation Army also came into action with canteens, rest huts and tents, libraries, lectures and entertainments. And an invaluable piece of work for the forces they have done. Another effect of the war upon Hie churches has' been to bring them together. The bombs have destroyed many old barriers. Not only h*;vo the churches co-operated much more thoroughly in all this work of human service, thejr have offered each 'other the fullest hospitality. I know of a Baptist Church which, was destroyed and which now freely occupies, at the Vicar's' invitation, the hall of the neighbouring Anglican Church. I know of a Methodist Church which offered its premises to its Anglican neighbour in. distress

When a Roman Catholic Church vag destroyed the Anglican Vic'a: provided 250 chairs and another neighbouring Protestant lent a harmonium. while a ffccal Jewish frm offered them the Sunday use of a hall for a shilling a week —26 cents. (The annual commercial rent of the hall was, £6000 or about 30,000 dollars). Such intcr-church hospitality is probably more surprising in England than it would be in the United States. Often Churches have joined together for services, sometimes iu hotel lounges. I,n some areas; services are being held in private houses, just as in the days of the early church. Much more might be mentioned if space allowed. I think of a Religion and Life Week in Bristol—a campaign conducted .by teams of visiting speakers of all the churches: an enterprise that would have nee p. noteworthy even in peace time. I think of the continuance of missionary interest and missionary giving. [ think of work for the hosts of 10fuge aliens. I think of the important step forward in the re-organisation of our Free Church Federal Council. [ think of the concern of the chur- 1 ebes about the building of a bettor Britain and a better world after the war. The story of Coventry Cathedral is a good summary. The lofty spire still stands erect over the ancient city laid in ruins by ruthless barbarism, but of its once magnificent nave and choir only the waOs remain,. Yet on the Sunday* after the bombing, the Holy Communion was celebrated in the Provost's drawing room, that the practice of centuries might be unbroken. Afterwards the congregation gathered in the ruins and jpined in prayer, as the clock. Still surprisingly in action, struck the hour of morning worship. "They fnay have destroyed our Cathedral," | said the Provost, "but they have not destroyed the spirit it represents. When tlie war is over Ave wiM build another where that spirit Avill dwell" That is the voice of the British Church. When the Avar isi 0A 7 er, avc will rebuild—better, stronger dmnobler—not onHy buildings but the fabric of our national and international life.