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Going through the church magazine,
The Recorder, for the years 1948-1957, the first nine of Mr Sims'
ministry, one is struck by the variety and the ingenuity of the
methods used to collect money for the Reconstruction Fund.
The Church was
solidly behind Mr Sims in this and he frequently gave praise and thanks to
individuals and organisations for all they were doing.
To try listing everything which was done would be tedious. Suffice to say that,
in addition to straightforward giving of money, which was often "on a
sacrificial scale" (his words), every possible way of getting money out of
people was used, short of robbery or armed compulsion! There were fairs, bring
and buy sales, concerts, pantomimes and plays, coffee mornings, sponsored
activities, buy a brick schemes, quizzes, collecting soap powder coupons and
many other ingenious ideas.
Practically everybody in the church and some friends from outside used their
talents and time in amassing the needed money. If one were to name all one would
have to copy out the list of members from the church handbook. Two groups must
be mentioned however :
1, Miss Peggie Barnes and her pupils gave several concerts and dancing displays
bringing in useful totals for the fund. Over the years and still today she
organises shows in aid of one or another good cause.
2, The Redland Park Youth Fellowship, led by Mr Sidney Coy, produced at least
four pantomimes, Ali Baba and the Thrifty Thieves in February, 1952, Cinderella
in 1954, Babes in the Wood in 1955, and Aladdin in 1959. In each of them the
minister took part under a thinly disguised pseudonym, and perhaps one of the
most enjoyed and remembered of all the many memorable scenes was Mr Sims, Mr
Sidney Coy and the organist Mr Stanley Parker doing a ballet dance in white
satin bodices and short frilly tutus.
The Youth Fellowship also acted two one-act plays in 1958, and two religious
plays in 1954, which shows that they could be serious!
In 1953 it was decided to have one big Gift Day, when Mr Sims would spend the
day in the vestry and people would bring their money, gifts and promises.
This took place in October and the staggering result was £3235.
What with all the other efforts the hoped-for target was reached. However, by
the time the church was at last under construction and approaching the opening
date in 1957, costs had escalated so much by then that there had to be a further
appeal, which was called The Last Lap and people had to start again on their
money raising efforts. In six months The Last Lap Fund reached £2776.12
shillings. But even so, more was needed, so in December a two-day Christmas Fair
was held to complete the Reconstruction Fund. £1,000 was the target and
amazingly this was exceeded.
After this the constant concern with money matters could be eased, though the
church still kept up its gifts to the London Missionary Society, The Shaftesbury
Crusade and many other causes.
At the end of the war, in 1945, everybody had believed that the church would
soon be rebuilt. But it was not until June, 1954, that permission was given for
the go ahead. Mr Sims announced triumphantly : "Today, 2nd June, 1954, we have
received the licence to re-build our church". The September Recorder states that
the demolition of the ruins had commenced.
At the October Church Meeting members were called upon to study and discuss the
architect's plans for the new building. The size and shape was dictated by the
foundations of the old church. The insurance company said they could only cover
a building on the same foundations, though what form it took was for the church
to decide. It was made clear that there could not be a spire on the new church
as there had been on the old. The details to be discussed were mainly concerned
with doors and windows, and whether there should be a single stone cross on the
apex of the west elevation.
Suffice it to say that when eventually the architect's plans had been studied
and accepted by the Church Meeting, the site cleared, and the foundations marked
out, it was decided to ask Mr Sims to lay the foundation stone. This he did on
Easter Day, 10th April, 1955, with a typical modesty, saying that he was doing
it not for himself but on behalf of the whole church. The stone can be seen
today with its inscription clearly carved and gilded, to the right of the main
doors of the church, it reads :
"This stone was laid by The Reverend Basil H Sims, MA, BLitt on behalf of the
members of the church and congregation on Easter Day, 10th April, 1955."
The stone laying was a most moving ceremony, taking place at 12.15, after the
morning service which was held as usual, in the Hall, when Mr Sims took as his
text for the sermon, "Christ the Living Stone". Then the whole congregation
processed over the road to the site of the new building. Under a specially
erected canopy the simple ceremony was held, presided over by Mr Croxton Smith
the Church Secretary. After introducing the architect, Mr Ralph Brentnall, and
representatives of the contractors, he called on Mr Sims to lay the stone. The
trowel which he used, instead of being a shiny new one was an old, somewhat
battered specimen, which had been found embedded in the stone work of the tower,
no doubt lost by some stone mason in 1861, used in 1955 to link the past and the
present. The mallet with which he tapped the four corners was a new one,
suitably inscribed. These two are treasured exhibits in the church archives
today.
After this the rebuilding was watched with interest. At one time it was hoped
that it would be ready for opening in 1956, but as usually happens there were
delays, the actual opening service and dedication being on Saturday, 1st June,
1957, at 3 pm.
As so many visitors had been invited, church members who wished to be present
were advised to apply for tickets of admission to the Church Secretary. Ticket
holders entered by the side doors in Redland Park, (church members and friends
by the door nearer to Whiteladies Road, officiating Ministers and Choir by the
vestry door from the lane behind the church).
Mr Sims went on to detail the order of service, when the architect would present
him with the key, and the Moderator of the West Midland Province, the Rev W B
Coggan MA, would conduct the Act of Dedication. Taking part in the service also
were the President of the Bristol Free Church Federation Council, the Rev L G
Champion, the Bishop of Bristol, Dr F A Cockin and the Rev Dr Sidney Berry, for
many years secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and at
that time the Honorary Consultant of the International Congregational Council.
The service was followed by tea in the Church Hall, and brief speeches were made
by a number of people, including the architect and local representatives.
The church was open for viewing in the evening for those who were unable to
attend the service. There was organ music, but not a full recital as had been
planned, as there had been unforeseen difficulties with the installation of the
organ. This was completed and the organ dedicated on 3rd October, 1957, when Dr
Eric Thiman, organist of the City Temple, London, gave a recital on this
wonderful instrument.
Mr Sims composed a hymn especially for the re-opening of the church to be sung
to the tune Stracathro. The last verse is especially poignant as there are
today, five or his grandchildren attending Redland Park Junior Church, Mr Sims
himself returned to christen all his grandchildren in turn.
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