Life at Christ Church: 1958 to 1968
King's Own
Kings Own Bible Class continued to thrive during these years under the leadership of Douglas and Barbara Hill, who led its young people from 1957 to the end of 1972. A number of photographs of King’s Own during this era show it vast numbers, and the fun that was especially had on its annual Houseparty at Herne Bay Court, the first of which was held after Easter in 1959.
Christ Church curates usually took a leadership role within King’s Own and in the photo below Colin Jee (Curate 1962-1966) and Pat Dearnley (Curate 1964-1968) can be seen.
Pathfinders
Pathfinders was a group for 11-14s which began at Christ Church in 1959. Originally the boys and girls groups met separately; the photo below, taken in 1962, shows the Pathfinder Girls group outside the Parish Halls.
Another photo shows the Pathfinder Boys Group with Brian Underwood, curate at Christ Church from 1961-1964. Born without the lower part of his left arm, Brian Underwood had a prosthetic replacement and enjoyed literally ‘giving people a hand’ by detaching it when he met them.
Pathfinders met on a Sunday afternoon until 1975, when it transferred to the morning. In 2008 it became our current group for early teens – Encounter.
Campaigners, Brownies and Guides
It was in 1962 that Campaigners started at Christ Church lasting until 2008. Llewellyn Roberts was instrumental in this decision, being concerned that there was no uniformed organisation for boys.
The 1st A New Malden Brownie Pack had started at Christ Church in 1928 and a second pack was established in 1973. The 1st A New Malden, Christ Church Guide Company was also formed from 1924. Church Parade later became a regular part of the activities of these groups with this finishing at Christ Church in 2007.
Centenary
In 1966, Christ Church celebrated its centenary. Unlike our 150th anniversary, this celebration marked the time since the original foundation stone was laid at Christ Church rather than the completion of the original building, and so took place in June 1966. Preachers invited for the occasion included the Bishop of Southwark, Mervyn Stockwood, Willoughby Habershon, Frank Colquhoun and Canon T.G. Mohan representing the patrons, CPAS.
A Centenary Brochure was produced including an exhortation by Llewellyn Roberts and the Churchwardens David Burton and Reg Ellis to maintain and build upon the spiritual foundation passed on by the earlier pioneering years of Christ Church.
We are living at a time when our country has exhausted the spritual capital of the great Evangelical Revival of the 18th centrury; we are heading for spiritual bankruptcy and moral decay; thus all the greater is the challenge for a renewed and more vital faith in God and in the sovereignty of His purpuses. It means for every believer a deeper sacrificial obedience to the command of our Risen, Living and Ascended Lord, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me".
A small exhibition of the earlier history of Christ Church with pictures and prints also took place.
Weddings
Weddings at Christ Church during this period include those of John Henson and Jo Nunn in 1964.
The photo below is from the wedding of Roger Parham and Jean Hutchings in 1965.
If you look carefully you can see the Tin Tab in the background.
Another wedding is that of John Seare and Elizabeth Johnson (daughter of Robert Johnson) in 1967.
The photo below is of the wedding of her sister Rosemary to Graham Birbridge, also in 1967.
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Life at CCNM 1944-58 | Building CCNM 1958-68 | Life at CCNM 1968-75 |  |