Oldham Unitarians

NEWSLETTER

April – June 2008

Dates for your Diary …

Sunday Services 11.00 - 12.00

April
06. Service conducted by Rev Dr David Doel
13. Service conducted by Hilary Ellis
20. Service conducted by Chrissie Wilkie
27. Service conducted by Bob Pounder

May
04. Service conducted by Rev Dr David Doel
11. Whit Walks: Meet at Chapel at 09.45.
18. Service conducted by Dawn Buckle
25. Service conducted by Hilary Ellis

June
01. Service conducted by Rev Dr David Doel
08. Service conducted by Danny Crossby
15. Service conducted by Chrissie Wilkie (see box >>>)
22. Service conducted by Bob Pounder
29. Service conducted by Mike Cuerden

Traidcraft Lunches & Shop, Thursdays 12.00-14.00
Please note, there will be no Traidcraft lunch or shop
available on the Thursday 29th May.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Special Service
Oldham Unitarian Chapel
Sunday 15 June 11-12 am

Led by Chrissie Wilkie

BRING A PACKED LUNCH
Tea and Coffee Available
Afternoon Session begins at 13.15

How to Manage Stress
Stress - What is it and how can we protect ourselves? A discussion about the causes and effects of stress and some easy ways of taking care of ourselves before and after we become stressed.

Chrissie Wilkie
Vision Consultancy
vision@ukideas.com

Vision without action is a dream.
Action without Vision is merely passing the time.
Action with Vision is making a positive difference.

All are Welcome

A Reflection

Marian Nuttall
Lifelong member of Oldham Unitarian Chapel Committee Member and Manchester District Association
President (2007 – 2008)

My parents did not attend Chapel they just despatched us children off. I was the youngest of five, so one of my older brothers or sisters would take me from the age of about three years of age and I have been going ever since.

My earliest memories of Sunday School were not just of the Sunday School but of walking to the Sunday School because in those days we didn't just get buses. We always used to walk it. Lord Street Chapel was a mile away from where we lived in Glodwick.

As I got older I found that I could be attending two or three times a day on Sunday: morning service, afternoon Sunday School and the evening service.

The first minister I remember there was the Reverend Ewbank. His manse was in Waterloo Street, number 272, which was not far from where I lived. So if we were very crafty and timed it right, we could just be passing as he was getting into his car and he would give us a lift.

His wife was a very tall, upstanding lady - she very much took charge. She must have been a great help to him because she did all sorts of things, she used to put on the nativity play in the church every Christmas. There was one particular year when all five of us were in the play.

Later, I remember being involved in the Oldham Whit Walks and after they were over a hired bus would take us out for a field day, there would be lots of races and games, things like that.

There was something on every week at Lord Street Chapel, without fail, and an event on a Saturday night, so we were always there.

Of course the pantomime rehearsals started in the September and reached a climax, an absolute crescendo by about January. We would be there every night in January getting ready for the performance in February. It would run for about a week running from Saturday to Saturday. I started in the chorus as little one but eventually became principal girl, whilst Betty Collier would become the 'principal boy'.

One particular man, Harold Crossley, was the organist. He would write the pantomime, and direct it. He would have played every part in it if he could!

During the war years, (1939-1945) everything was blacked out, I think we had black-out curtains at the chapel and perhaps some of the windows were painted black as well. It was drab and miserable. We didn't have a lot of men from the chapel on active service actually, there were only a handful.

I was only seven when the war started. I know that the ladies in the chapel used to make parcels up and knit for the war effort.

The war was over by the time I had left school and I went to work for a dentist. I trained to be a dental nurse and by the time I was sixteen I had met Colin, my future husband, at Hucklow. We were married in 1956.Colin died in May 1998, ten years ago. Colin was was the son of the Rev T. E. Nuttall, who was appointed as minister for Oldham in 1948

The Rev Nuttall would be what you would now view as being at the Christian end of the denomination. He held special services and did a lot of pastoral work and encouraged the formation of Scouts and Guides, something we had not been involved in before.

In 1960 Colin's father left Oldham for Kendal so it was a nice place for us to visit and I used to spend some time there, walking along the river with my daughter Cath, in her pram.

The Sunday School that had been the original chapel finally closed in 1961. But I remember the Arts & Crafts we were involved in. It seems strange that the Sunday School was in the East Cheshire District but the chapel was in the Manchester District. It never made sense to me! One year the Arts & Crafts event was held at our Sunday School. It was a vast undertaking as there were so many more children and so many more entries.

The end of Lord Street Chapel was a very desperate affair. In1962 the Council informed us that they were going to make us subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order. They told us not to do any improvement work to the building, "It won't be worth it because we will demolish it in no time". In the end, it took seven years.

Unfortunately we took their advice, the roof began to leak and water got in and because of the damage and neglect, we got a fraction of what we should have had. In the interim time, because the chapel had become unsafe we went to the end of Lord Street, there was a Sunday School building there, that belonged to Oldham Parish Church and we went there for twelve months; I think this was in about 1968 to 1969. By this time the new chapel was being built.

The designer of the new building was Eric Nuttall; they were family friends but we were not related. Eric drew all the plans and he oversaw the construction of the chapel after he had consulted all the chapel members on the prefered design.

We had little money and the whole project was completed "on a shoe string". The minister at the time was the Rev John Roberts but he also had the Rochdale congregation as well and just as our new chapel was completed Rochdale Unitarian Church underwent demolition and again, the construction of a new church.

It was a difficult period for Oldham during the rebuild because some people wanted to close the chapel but we took a vote and it was passed that we rebuild. And when we did rebuild we sent out letters and an appeal to everybody. This is why I always feel we should be inclined to respond to building appeals, because if we hadn't had a response to our appeal we wouldn't have been able to rebuild. We did sponsored walks and all sorts of things, we even did a 'shilling appeal' outside the church asking passers by to donate a shilling to the fund the garden, or five pence as it was soon to become.

Looking back I can say that I have been involved in many different ways with the life of the chapel and the denomination. I started on the Sunday School committee as rep for the Young People's League when I was about sixteen, and I have been on and off the committee ever since. Of course when my children were born I couldn't go so I had to give up that sort of activity for a while. I have never been the secretary but I have done a few stints as treasurer, so I have always been on the committee and always there - just doing really!

At 10.45 on Wednesday 23rd January, weighing in at 3.89kg (8lb 12 oz in old money), Caleb Emrys Potter-Williams took his place as the third child of Justine and Alan Willams. Alan wonders exactly what percentage point Caleb's, now regular, attendance at chapel has increased the youth membership by. The Treasurer (the person who can do sums) is still working on the calculation, but the chapel committee are sure to pass a vote of thanks for the efforts of the Williams family in bringing down the average age of the congregation.

Big brother and sister, Eden (5½) and Iris (4) are absolutely delighted with their new addition "They love him and regularly fight about whose turn it is to have him on their knee. They love to remind us that there are no longer two children but three!" said Alan. "I like moving him around, like a doll," added Iris.

Caleb is named after a character in a novel by William Godwin, "A stalwart person who won't take no for an answer," said Alan. Sounds like Caleb will be right at home at Oldham Chapel!

On Tuesday 12 February the Oldham Evening Chronicle reported that: "A world-class science centre could be built on the site of the Pennine Way Hotel within the next two years."

"The multi-storey facility, costing between £15 and £20 million will have the backing of a local university and would provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) tuition for pupils from 13 years old, right up to degree level."

This newspaper report is significant. Following recent discussions with the Council it seems that the site of our Chapel is no longer within the main area of focus for re-development as far as plans for Oldham sixth form college is concerned.

Although we are not yet entirely out of the firing line it seems that we can afford to relax a little and to consider the long-term future of the present chapel building as a viable option. This will mean, should we get reasonable confirmation of our 'stay of execution' that we may be able to go ahead and plan the outstanding roof replacement and refurbishment that we were looking forward to over twelve months ago. If this proves to be the case, it will be very good news indeed since the financial viability of our existing site and convenient size of our current premises would have been difficult to improve upon.

On a lighter note we are continuing to make some improvements to the chapel in spite of all the uncertainty. Significantly and in light of the burgalry that resulted in the loss of our safe and chapel records, CCTV security has now been installed. The vestry door has been replaced and will shortly be secured and locked and will be for chapel use only. This kind of work flows from our holding regular chapel committee meetings. Such meetings are essential to progress since we do need to have continuity and organisation.

As we continue with our ecumenical activities with Oldham Town Centre Churches Together we will be joining the Whitsuntide Walks on Sunday 11 May together with the Rev Csaba Todor, Eva and their daughter Estzer. Csaba and Eva serve the Unitarian Church, Homorodszentpai, Romania.

Bob Pounder

We had a right good night on Saturday 15 March when John Readett (centre) and friends turned up to entertain with music and humour (the old ones are the best!). We enjoyed Lancashire songs, Irish, Bluegrass, American folk songs, Blues and contemporary songs in the folk idiom. It was too early for a St Pat's night celebration but John certainly brought the house down with a well delivered performance of 'Paddy's Sicknote'.

Other artistes included 16 year old Elliot Moore (fiddle) - what a musician! Peter Moore (guitar & vocals), Geoff Millins (guitar and vocals) Terry Bailey (guitar & banjo); it was a solidly professional line-up.

John Readett has been involved with the organisation and running of folk song and music clubs especially at Leigh in Lancashire, as well as singing and playing with local bands Palatine Folk and later Turnpike, mainly acoustic guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran and harmonica. John has played and sung with many top names on the folk scene including Martin Carthy, Mike Harding, The Houghton Weavers plus many more and featured on radio folk programmes , concerts and festivals.

During the interval the audience and artistes alike were able to enjoy the gourmet delights of Marian Nuttall's exquisitely cooked potato pie with red cabbage and Sue Pounder's vegetarian red pepper and butternut squash stew.

Marian was born in 1921 and brought up in the Methodist tradition.

Her father died when she was a little girl. She married Roy Smith at the end of the second world war. He was a committed Anglican and she supported him throughout their marriage by attending the Anglican Church with him. On Roy's tragic and untimely death, he was only thirty three years old, she left the Anglican Church.

However, living between two staunch Unitarian families, Clarice and Eric, and Colin and myself, she started to become involved with the Chapel. She helped a lot with our various fund raising activities. For many years she didn't attend services but gradually she startet to come along and became a valued member. She gave her help and support over a very long period.

Marian also became much involved with our Unitarian Church in Rochdale. As founder and director of the Stroke Club at Birch Hill Hospital she struck up an affinity with Ann Latham who was at that time in the nursing profession. The Unit 33 Men's Club was founded at Rochdale Church and a long standing association started. The men from the Church became drivers to ferry stroke club members to and from club meetings. They also raised funds and organised an annual day out, usually to the seaside. These continued for many years and were a great source of joy to Marian and she relished many happy memories.

Her other great interest was the Family Service Unit which she served for many years. Add to that her interest and love of animals and she had a busy life.

Unfortuately this last two or three years have been a real toil for Marian as she suffered more and more ill health.

She will be greatly missed by her family, her adopted Nuttall families
and all of us at Chapel.

So, where were you on Thursday 14th February?

Ruthlessly resisting the lure of red roses and romance, those in the know made their way to deepest, darkest Dukinfield, for an evening of music, laughter, glitz and glamour (the perennial and ever-gorgeous Ken Howard greeted, quite rightly, by wolfwhistles).

Enthusiastic hissing, booing and general singing along was led by Chapel stalwart Marian, with the youngsters (i.e. under 45's) eagerly joining in. Initial confusion amongst the very youngest about gender roles was quickly resolved, and there was general enjoyment of the fantastic sets, costumes and lighting - quite magical.

We also liked the sweetie throwing (thought that was banned due to Health and Safety, but hey, let's live dangerously).

Yes, we all knew the plot, but could still cheer when brave Prince Richard finally won the hand of Princess Beauty (a strong performance by Zoe Nathaniel), having overcome all manner of unpleasantness brewed up by evil Carabosse. Will they really live happily ever after? Who knows, but life won't be easy with Ken as your mother-in-law.

As usual, the Pantomime Society came up trumps with this year's offering, with a strong all-agecast and full back-stage support. All the months of hard work really paid off with a really excellent and polished performance. A real mid-winter treat for all ages

Contribution to the 2008 Lenten discussion.
Held at Oldham Unitarian Chapel on Thursday 6 March 2008 in
conjunction with Oldham Town Centre Churches Together.

By Mike Cuerden

Welcome to Oldham Unitarian Chapel, an assembly of liberal faith, founded in Christianity, where women and men are free to seek and share their spiritual pathways through the wisdom of all faiths.

It is our custom in the Unitarian community to light a chalice candle at the beginning of worship and meetings to symbolise our quest for truth. This evening, as Marian lights the candle, we hear some words of Mahatma Gandhi. When he was asked why there was a picture of Jesus on the wall of his hut, bearing the inscription 'He is our peace', Gandhi replied:

"I am a Christian   a Christian, and a Hindu, and a Muslim and a Jew. All faiths constitute a revelation of the Truth, but all are imperfect and liable to error. Reverence of other faiths need not blind us to their faults. We must be keenly alive to the defects of our own faith also, yet not leave it on that account, but try to overcome those defects."

This evening, as the Lenten period rushes towards its crisis of the crucifixion, I suggest that we might reflect on a line from Paul's first letter to Timothy, a line that is indicative of Unitarian thinking:

"For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

It also happens to be painted on the gallery at the chapel where Wendy and I worship.

I invite us all to think about the man Christ Jesus.

The Rabbi Jesus and his disciples had walked for days across the rugged hills to the place where they would celebrate Passover. From a distance, the city shimmered in the sun, every building, then as now, constructed in the crisp, white local limestone.

Jerusalem, city of peace: but their joy became increasingly stained by fear and uncertainty and for each of them in the coming days it was to be anything but a place of harmony.

This element of foreboding as we approach the dreadful events of Good Friday has always made me unsettled, even fearful. How much more so for them? It embraces a fundamental dilemma, which I hope we will discuss: the humanity and divinity of Jesus.

After the euphoria of the entry to Jerusalem, with people cheering and throwing palm fronds in their path, the disciples must have found the mystery of the Last Supper deeply disturbing as Jesus tried to explain the meaning of his life.

And if the disciples were apprehensive of what lay ahead, for Jesus himself the fear was tangible. He was, after all, flesh and blood.

So, the disciples followed him from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane   not a garden in our terms, but a working place with a press to obtain the precious oil from the ancient olive trees that threw nightmare shadows in the gathering dark.

In the hours that followed, Jesus showed himself most of all as a man who realised that the purpose of his short, extraordinary, dramatic life was about to be unravelled in an excruciating death. He begged them: "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and help watch with me."

But tired and bewildered they fell into fitful sleep while he prayed alone   not witnessing his fear, nor his own exhaustion from the time he had spent in the desert, wrestling with the inexorable duty drawing him to his fate.

They did not witness his anguish; they did not see his "sweat like drops of blood, dropping to the ground." He was experiencing a medical condition we now call haematidrosis, in which small blood vessels in the face and forehead ooze blood under enormous emotional stress. Thus we talk today of "sweating blood" when we have been working hard.

They did not hear him cry: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me." They did not hear him add, knowing his destiny: "Yet not my will, but yours be done."

And when the soldiers came to arrest him, they fled in fear of their own lives. How much more remarkable, then, that this small band of simple men were able later to buckle their belief to them like a breastplate and take the message Jesus had given them to a hostile world in the days and years to come.

So that night of all nights, that we call Maundy Thursday, is a time I set aside especially to pray for those who, throughout the world, are denied the right to worship the God of their conscience.

Reading.

This is an extract from a small book called Beliefs of a Unitarian by the Rev Alfred Hall, second president of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. It was published in the 1930s.

"Unitarians believe that in regarding Jesus as a man they pay him the loftiest tribute possible. If he had been God there would have been nothing to wonder at either in his life or his words, for all things are possible with God.

"But when we say he met temptation to evil and conquered it with the strength of a man; when we say that, by the diligence of his search and the purity of his heart, he discovered truth which has helped millions of his fellows, we render him the highest praise.

"Jesus began life, as we all begin it, as a helpless babe, and he grew in stature and favour with God and man. He probably had to be a bread-winner in the family at an early age. His affection for his mother was most tender. We are told that while he was expiring on the cross he committed her to the care of his beloved disciple. "He belonged to a brave and spirited race, but in his time they were not free, but a subject people.

"Despite many difficulties, he grew to be the noblest, truest and best of the sons of God   a man who saw God, with unclouded vision, revealed as the Universal Father. "Because Jesus was a man, we love humanity the more and have faith in its possibilities. He was a brother man; he mingled with the degraded and perceived dignity beneath their degradation.

"It is easy to recognise divinity in a saint or a hero; it was the practice to deify the Roman emperor   but only a man with a large soul can see God in a slave. "Born of the human race, he is our great example. How could he ever be our example if he possessed a nature wholly different from that of a man?

"But when we say he is our example we do not mean that any one of us can become as good as he was. We mean that we have similar capacities for progress in all that is good, though we may not attain his spiritual stature on earth: Jesus has shown what spiritual heights are possible to man when he is faithful to the noblest ideals. "Jesus was evidently aware that he needed sustaining in hours of moral conflict and therefore sought God frequently in prayer." We have only brief records of a short period of his life. It has been calculated that not more than 35 days of his life are mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels; yet the spirit he manifested in those days was such that we are justified in holding that he was the greatest and the noblest of the sons of God. The Rev Alfred Hall concludes this section of his book by quoting John Stuart Mill:

'Endeavour so to live that Jesus would approve your life.'

Let us draw our evening to a close by joining in prayer and a time of silence, when we may bring our own private thoughts to God.

Loving Lord, in the kindness of this gathering we seek you.

You are the flow of spiritual energy coursing through our bodies and souls. You are the imagination, the creativity, the source of all our energy.

Throughout the days of our lives you have nurtured us. It has not always been the kind of life we anticipated and we have barely perceived your hand in the harshest experience of our days. We know, however, that you are a God of freedom; we cannot avoid the consequences of our own carelessness; we cannot escape the pains of existence created by human choice.

But we know that we do not face these pains alone: when we suffer, you suffer with us. When we falter before a challenge, you agonise with us. When we share the joy of recovery, you rejoice with us.

Help us now to find you in the deepest niches of our own beings, and in the hearts of those with whom we have shared this evening.

It is our prayer that this time may lead to an unfolding of the fullness of your divinity as we come to you in silence.

Closing words:

We have shared this time as we share our membership of this living earth and her human family. As we part, let us remember the ties that hold humanity close, the divine unity in which we exist and the path of loving faith that leads us through our lives.

Amen.

Mike Cuerden is the Secretary of Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow.

Oldham Unitarian Chapel founded in 1813

is open to all who wish to worship with an open mind,
in a spirit of freedom, reason and tolerance.

We do not all hold the same beliefs, rather each person is encouraged
'to develop his or her faith in a continuing search for truth.'

Unitarian Chapel
Connaught Street / King Street
Oldham
OL8 1 EB
Tel: 0161 620 1810

Lettings Officer: Mrs M. Nuttall – Tel: 0161 287 3371

Registered Charity No. 1111295