CHURCH AND CINEMA.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 300, 3 December 1936, Page 3

CHURCH AND CINEMA.

PEEP INTO THE FUTURE,

METJIODIST CLERIC’S VIEW.

LONDON, October 9. Cinema equipment will be as essential a part of church architecture in the future as the organ is to-day. These are the exact words of Dr. Benjamin Gregory, fifth generation of Wesleyan Methodist ministers, editor of the Methodist Times, organiser of communal kitchens in London, and now the driving power behind the religious film movement, says Hie News Chronicle. For four years Dr. Gregory, encouraged by his friend, Mr J. Arthur Rank, big City merchant, lias worked early and late on plans for church (Ums. He visited all the' great cities of the United States showing his first religious film, “Mastership,” and it was admitted to be the best thing of its sort ever seen in America. 2000 Demonstrations. Now the religious world is seething with activity on the subject. Arrangements are being made to give 2000 demonstration services at Free and Anglican churches all over the country to show how the' Him can help religion, Dr. Gregory told me in an interview last night. “Canterbury,” a film record of England’s oldest cathedral, and “The Common Round,” the story of a missionary who fights the plague singlehanded at, a remote African station until the arrival of a relief party, will be shown. A “worship” film will also be included, with prayers, scripture reading and hymns. Projectors In 200 churches. Already 20,0 churches have installed projectors, and six silent and eight sound films are available. Recently a co-operative plan was devised whereby the Christian Cinema Council, under the Presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Missionary Film Committee and the Religious Film Society will work together to encourage the use of films in churches. The Scottish Church Film Committee is deeply interested in the project of introducing church films north of the Tweed. Two other bodies, the Educational and General Services and GaumontBritish Instructional, are co-operating to produce an adequate supply.

. “Not Pernicious.” “Already various social organisations and citizenship movements have discovered what valuable service the film can give them,” declared Dr. Gregory. “Thei film is not the pernicious influence some believe. In itself it is quite non-moral and can be put to the best uses by its vivid appeal to eye and ear. “We hope in due course to have our own producers, actors, scenario writers and staff of artists.” These Rims. Dr. Gregory explained, would not take the place of ordinary worship, but would constilule an additional service. In cases where Sunday films were objected to they would be shown on week days. Increased Congregations. “It has been proved" he said, “that they attract people who are unreachable by ordinary means. At Reading and other places the weekday film has popularised church services. It has resulted in greatly increased congregations on Sunday." Educational entertainment films also had their value in churches ami Sunday schools, he added. Pictures like “The Silent Voice,” and nature, travel, geographical and historical pictures were definitely suitable. The' aim was to produce religious films which would have their place not. only in “down-town” churches and missions, but in the finest churches in the country. L. M.