CHURCH BROADCASTS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 49, 29 June 1928, Page 4

CHURCH BROADCASTS

Referring. to. the broadeast of the evening service at St. Mary’s, Merivale, the vicar, Ven, P. B. Haggitt, M.A.,. in addressing his parishioners, said :- "Evensong on June 24 will be broadcast, There is a difference of ‘opinion regarding the broadeasting of services, some being of the opinion that it militates against church attendance. There are probably some people who stay away from church in order to listen-in at home; but we believe this will not become a habit. For a while they may substitute listening-in for church attendance; but they will soon come to the conclusion that the former is not enough. They will miss the fellowship of the Church, and they wilt want to take their part in the services, Again, there are some who have given up church-going, We believe that many. of these will hear things through the wireless which will-make them think and perhaps realise that the preacher of.today is not always so far "behind the times" ag they imagined. Some too will be influenced by the singing of the old hymns. Old memories will reviye and make them feel they might have been hetter and stronger and happier if they had not cent themselves off from the Church. And so, it may be, some will be led back to the Church through the wireless. As a matter of fact many have been thus led back. "Another and the most obvious wireelss blessing is the fact that many people who are prevented by illness or infirmity, or distance from a church, from attending services, are able to listen-in and to join in. Quite a number in Merivale are in this case, and will be very glad to have the opportunity on June 24, at 6.30 p.m., and we too shall be glad to have them ,ith us: .. "The broadcasting of services has tts dangers; but we believe that ‘its advantages are far greater than its digsadvantages. It ig an innovation, and as such it cannot escape the suspicions of the conservatives; but. we believe it is ‘of God,’ and so we are thankful to the Broadcasting Station for giving us the opportunity of ‘enlarging our tent,’ "