ABSTRACT
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Elsie Chamberlain came to enjoy a KLJKSXEOLFSURÀOHERWKZLWKRXWDQGZLWKLQWKHFKXUFKHVDQGQRW PHUHO\DPRQJKHUIHOORZ&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVWV$WWKLVWLPHVKHEHFDPH LQYROYHGZLWKWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&RXQFLODQGZLWKWKH :RUOG&RXQFLORI&KXUFKHV6LPXOWDQHRXVO\KHUZRUNIRUWKH%%& 5HOLJLRXV%URDGFDVWLQJGHSDUWPHQWEURXJKWKHU LQWR FRQWDFWZLWK PDQ\RIWKHOHDGLQJFOHUJ\LQ%ULWDLQ·VGHQRPLQDWLRQV,QGHHGWKDW ZRUNPD\KDYHUHLQIRUFHGKHUGHVLUHWRDWWHQGWKHVHPDMRUHYHQWVDQG PD\DOVRFRUUHVSRQGLQJO\KDYHEHQHÀWHGIURPVXFKDWWHQGDQFH7KLV UDSLGULVHIURPWKHUHODWLYHREVFXULW\RIDORZO\VXEXUEDQPLQLVWHUWR an ecclesiastical celebrity, culminated in her election to the chair of the &RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV7KHVHIHZ\HDUVZHUH XQGRXEWHGO\WKRVHRIKHUJUHDWHVWLQÁXHQFH6KHKDGFRPHIDUIURP the streets of Liverpool 8 and the unusual training for the ministry VKHKDGUHFHLYHGWKHUHLQZDUWLPH
The International Congregational Council at Wellesley
,Q -XQH (OVLH&KDPEHUODLQZDV DPRQJ WKHGHOHJDWHV IURP %ULWDLQZKRJDWKHUHGDW:DWHUORR5DLOZD\6WDWLRQLQ/RQGRQDQG ZKR MRXUQH\HGE\ WUDLQ DQGE\ VHD RQERDUG WKH OLQHU ¶4XHHQ (OL]DEHWK·WRWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVRI$PHULFDIRUWKHVL[WK,QWHUQDWLRQDO Congregational Council meetings at Wellesley College, Wellesley, 0DVVDFKXVHWWV7KHVXSHUEKRVSLWDOLW\DIIRUGHGE\WKH$PHULFDQVWR WKHLUYLVLWRUVLQ1HZ<RUNDQGHOVHZKHUHZDVDWWLPHVLQWKHZRUGV RI RQH%ULWRQ ¶DOPRVW RYHUZKHOPLQJ· DQG ¶DPD]LQJ·+RZHYHU JLYHQWKHWKHQFXUUHQWSRVWZDU¶%ULWLVKDXVWHULW\·VXFKJHQHURVLW\ ZRXOGKDYHEHHQLPSRVVLEOHWRPDWFKLQWKLVFRXQWU\2QH%ULWLVK SDUWLFLSDQW/+HFWRU5HDGUHPDUNHGXSRQWKHKLJKTXDOLW\RIWKH ¶SUHSDUHGVSHHFKHV·DQGVXPPDUL]HGWKHH[SHULHQFHE\VWDWLQJWKDW LWZDV¶JRRGWREHDW:HOOHVOH\·<HWLQKLVUHSRUWKHDOVRTXHVWLRQHG WKHFRQWHPSRUDU\ZLVGRPRIWU\LQJWRDOWHU&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVPWKDW
LWPD\ÀWEHWWHULQWR¶DSODQQHGVRFLHW\ZLWKDOOLWVGDQJHUVWRWKH IUHHGRPRI WKH LQGLYLGXDO·5DWKHU5HDGHPSKDVL]HG WKHYDOXHRI IUHHGRP¶DVH[HPSOLÀHGLQ&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVPDQGSUDFWLVHGE\RXU IRUHIDWKHUV·,IWKLVZHUHGRQHKHPDLQWDLQHGWKHUHDOL]DWLRQPLJKW GDZQWKDW¶LQVWULYLQJIRUFRPSOHWHXQLRQPRUHKDUPWKDQJRRGPD\ HQVXHWRWKHFKXUFK·1 7KHSKUDVH ¶DSODQQHGVRFLHW\·HFKRHVWKH ODQJXDJHRISROLWLFV
LQWKHODWHVZKHQWKH/DERXUJRYHUQPHQWZDVUHIRUPLQJWKH %ULWLVKHFRQRP\QDWLRQDOL]LQJNH\LQGXVWULHVDQGVHWWLQJXSODUJH SXEOLFFRUSRUDWLRQV5HDGDSSHDUVWRKDYHVXVSHFWHGWKDWWKRVHZLWKLQ WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVZKRDUJXHGWKDW it should become more of a single body, that is a national Church, rather than remain a union of separate, local, gathered churches, ZHUHGHYDOXLQJWKHVWUHQJWKVRI&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVPDQGIROORZLQJ WRRFORVHO\WKHGRPLQDQWVRFLDOWKHRULHVRIWKHGD\1RHYLGHQFHH[LVWV WRVXSSRUWWKHYLHZWKDW(OVLHWKHQVKDUHGVXFKIHDUV +RZHYHUVKHGLGDJUHHDERXWWKHZDUPUHFHSWLRQJLYHQWRWKH
YLVLWRUVZKRDUULYHGDW WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&RXQFLO PHHWLQJV LQ WKH8QLWHG6WDWHVRI$PHULFD LQKHURZQZRUGV ¶DV DJRJDVDFKDUDEDQFRIWULSSHUV·6KHUHFDOOHGJLYLQJDQDVVXUDQFH WRDJURXSRI$PHULFDQZRPHQWKDWVKHZRXOGWHOOKHUIULHQGVDW KRPH WKDW ¶WKH\ZHUH VRPXFKQLFHU· WKDQ VKHKDGH[SHFWHG6KH ZDVHVSHFLDOO\VWUXFNE\WKHIDFWWKDW$PHULFDQ&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVP LQ DQGDURXQG1HZ<RUNZKHUH H[LVWHG ¶ZHDOWK\ FKXUFKHVZLWK FRORVVDOPHPEHUVKLSVKLJKO\SDLGVWDIIDQGPDUYHOORXVHTXLSPHQW WKRVHNLWFKHQV²OLNHLGHDOKRPHH[KLELWLRQVRQDODUJHVFDOH·ZDV ¶YHU\GLIIHUHQW·IURPWKH(QJOLVKXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKDWWUDGLWLRQ7KH FKXUFKDW5LYHUVLGH1HZ<RUNVKHFRPPHQWHGZLWK LQFUHGXORXV ZRQGHUKDGDVPDQ\DV¶QDPHVRQLWVSD\UROO·DQGVKHVWDWHG UHDOLVWLFDOO\ WKDWFKXUFKPHHWLQJVDUHVLPSO\QRW ¶SUDFWLFDO·ZKHQ WKHPHPEHUVKLSVWDQGVDWWZRRUWKUHHWKRXVDQG6KHZURWHRIKHU SDUWLFLSDWLRQLQZRUVKLSDWVRPH$PHULFDQFKXUFKHV¶7KHFHQWUDO DOWDUZLWK&URVVDQGWZRFDQGOHVDQGWKHOLWXUJLFDOSDUWRIWKH6HUYLFH ZRXOGKDYHPDGHPDQ\DQ$QJOLFDQIHHODWKRPH·1HYHUWKHOHVVVKH KDGIRXQGLW¶WKHJUHDWHVWSRVVLEOHHQFRXUDJHPHQWLQHFXPHQLFLW\· WDNLQJDGLIIHUHQWYLHZIURPKHUIHOORZGHOHJDWH+HFWRU5HDG2
At these International Congregational Council meetings, Elsie JDYHDQDGGUHVVWRWKHZRPHQ·VGLYLVLRQDOPHHWLQJRQWKH¶/LIHDQG :RUNRI:RPHQLQWKH:RUOG&KXUFK·6KHDOVRLQLWLDWHGDOHQJWK\ GLVFXVVLRQ RQ WKH QXPEHU RIZRPHQ WR EH QRPLQDWHG IRU WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&RXQFLOH[HFXWLYHFRPPLWWHHZKLFK UHVXOWHGLQDQRIÀFLDOXQGHUWDNLQJEHLQJJLYHQWKDWLQIXWXUH¶FRQVLGHUDWLRQVKRXOGEHJLYHQWRPRUHFRPSOHWHUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIZRPHQ· from the different national unions in membership of the International &RQJUHJDWLRQDO&RXQFLO$IWHU WKHPHHWLQJV DW:HOOHVOH\ (OVLH UHSRUWHGWKDWWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDOZRPHQSODQQHGWRVHQGRXW¶WZLFH D\HDU DEXOOHWLQRI LQWHUQDWLRQDOQHZV·$PRQJ WKHGHOHJDWHV LQ :HOOHVOH\ZDVKHUIULHQGDQGPHQWRUIURP/LYHUSRRO0XULHO3DXOGHQ IRUZKRPVKHUHWDLQHGDOLIHORQJUHVSHFWDQGDIIHFWLRQ
The World Council of Churches
(OVLH·VXQEULGOHGHQWKXVLDVP IRUHFFOHVLDVWLFDOHFXPHQLVP OHGKHU in August 1948 to attend the inaugural meetings of the World &RXQFLORI&KXUFKHVDW$PVWHUGDPQRWDVDQRIÀFLDOGHOHJDWHRI the Congregational Union of England and Wales, but rather as an ¶DFFUHGLWHGYLVLWRU·46KHZDVVLPSO\YHU\NHHQDVZDVKHUIULHQG 9LVFRXQWHVV6WDQVJDWHDQGERWKZDQWHGWREHSUHVHQWWROHQGWKHLU support to the assembled church representatives and be part of this KLVWRULFRFFDVLRQ+HUSUHVHQFHGLGQRWJRXQQRWLFHG 6L[\HDUV ODWHU(OVLH DWWHQGHG IURP WR $XJXVW WKH
second assembly of the World Council of Churches at North Western 8QLYHUVLW\(YDQVWRQ,OOLQRLVLQWKH86$2QWKLVRFFDVLRQVKHZDV RQHRIÀYHRIÀFLDOUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVIURPWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQ RI(QJODQG DQG:DOHV DPRQJ WKHGHOHJDWHV IURP&KULVWLDQ GHQRPLQDWLRQVZRUOGZLGH$FFRPSDQ\LQJKHU RQ WKLV RFFDVLRQ ZHUH'U/HVOLH&RRNH WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG :DOHV· JHQHUDO VHFUHWDU\ ²ZKRKDG UHSODFHG 6LGQH\ %HUU\LQWKDWRIÀFH'U-7UHYRU'DYLHVWKHPLQLVWHURI5LFKPRQG
+LOO&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&KXUFK%RXUQHPRXWK ²ZKRZDV WREHFRPH FKDLUPDQ ²RI WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI (QJODQGDQG:DOHV%-+DUWZHOODOD\PDQZKREHFDPHFKDLUPDQ ²RIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVDQG 'U-RKQ0DUVKWKHSULQFLSDORI0DQVÀHOG&ROOHJH2[IRUG6LGQH\ %HUU\ZDV DOVRSUHVHQW DV D UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RQJUHJDWLRQDO&RXQFLO (OVLH·V VWDU FRQWLQXHG WR ULVH+RZHYHU JLYHQWKDWHDUOLHUWKDWVDPH\HDUVKHKDGUHVLJQHGIURP9LQH\DUG·V ministry, ostensibly because of the unrelenting pressure of pastoral ZRUNRQHLVOHGWRDVNLIWKHGHPDQGVRIWKH%%&WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO 8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVDQGRWKHUPRUHHOHYDWHGWDVNVZHUH WDNLQJSUHFHGHQFHRYHU WKHKXPEOHDQGPRUHPXQGDQHGXWLHVRI WKHPLQLVWHU·VZRUNDW5LFKPRQG":DVVKHLQGDQJHURIKDYLQJKHU KHDGWXUQHGE\ZRUOGO\VWDWXVDQGÁDWWHU\" 2QWKHIRXUWKGD\RIWKH:RUOG&RXQFLORI&KXUFKHV·DVVHPEO\DW
(YDQVWRQ$XJXVW(OVLHZDVERWKWKHOHDGHUDQGSUHDFKHUDWWKH PRUQLQJVHUYLFHWKHRQO\ZRPDQGHOHJDWHFKRVHQWROHDGZRUVKLSDW WKHVH:RUOG&RXQFLORI&KXUFKHVPHHWLQJV6KHPXVWKDYHSUHDFKHG RQWKDWRFFDVLRQWRDPLQLPXPRISHRSOH²KXQGUHGVRIWKHP GHQRPLQDWLRQDORIÀFLDOVDQGGLVWLQJXLVKHGWKHRORJLDQVLQWKHLURZQ FRXQWULHV²DQLQWLPLGDWLQJFRQJUHJDWLRQIRUDQ\SUHDFKHUEXWIRUD ZRPDQVSHDNLQJWRPDQ\ZKRGLVDSSURYHGRIZRPHQSUHDFKHUVDQ HYHQPRUHGDXQWLQJSURVSHFW6KHQHHGHGDOOKHUVHOIEHOLHI2QUHWXUQ WR/RQGRQ(OVLHFRQÀGHGWRDIHPDOHFROOHDJXHDWWKH%%&WKDWRQ RQHVZHOWHULQJKRWGD\DWWKH:RUOG&RXQFLORI&KXUFKHV·DVVHPEO\ the chairman had given permission to the delegates to remove their JRZQV&OHDUO\WKLVZDV LQWHQGHGDVDKHOSIXOFRQFHVVLRQDQGQR GRXEWKHOSHGWKHPHQHVSHFLDOO\EXW(OVLHZDVQRWDEOHWRFRPSO\ ZLWKWKLVDGYLFHDVVKHKDGQRWKLQJRQEHQHDWKKHUJRZQ5
A Festival of Congregationalism
6LGQH\%HUU\·VVXFFHVVRUDVJHQHUDOVHFUHWDU\RIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO 8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV/HVOLH&RRNH VDZ LW DVKLV WDVN WR
SURYLGHDQGGLVFRYHUDPHDVXUHRIFRQÀGHQFHIRUWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO FKXUFKHVDIWHU WKH6HFRQG:RUOG:DU$VD UHVXOWKHSURPRWHGD VRFDOOHG)RUZDUG0RYHPHQWLQWKHHDUO\V7KLVFRQFOXGHGLQ ¶$)HVWLYDORI&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVPHQWLWOHG&ORXGRI:LWQHVVHV·RQ Thursday, 21st0D\DWWKH5R\DO$OEHUW+DOO7KXVWKH\HDURIWKH FRURQDWLRQRI4XHHQ(OL]DEHWK,,V\PEROLFRIDQHZDJHZDVPDUNHG E\WKLVIHVWLYDOHFKRLQJWKHQRPHQFODWXUHRIWKHVXFFHVVIXO)HVWLYDORI %ULWDLQRI0D\7KH)HVWLYDORI&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVPHQGHG¶WKUHH \HDUVRISUHSDUDWLRQIRUWKH)RUZDUG0RYHPHQW·DQGGHGLFDWHG¶WKH FRPLQJ\HDUVWRFRQWLQXLQJDGYDQFH·²DYDLQKRSHDVLWWXUQHGRXW $PRQJWKRVHLQYROYHGLQWKHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIWKHIHVWLYDOZHUHWKHWZR FRPSHUHVDVWKH\ZHUHFDOOHG(OVLH&KDPEHUODLQDQG&HFLO1RUWKFRWW ²7KHODWWHUZDVWKHQWKHHGLWRULDOVHFUHWDU\RIWKH8QLWHG 6RFLHW\IRU&KULVWLDQ/LWHUDWXUHDQGWKHHGLWRURI/XWWHUZRUWK3UHVV (OVLH·V LQYROYHPHQW LQ WKLV IHVWLYDO WHVWLILHG WR KHU JURZLQJ
SURPLQHQFHLQWKHGHQRPLQDWLRQ6KHEURXJKWGLJQLW\VHOIDVVXUDQFH IULHQGOLQHVVDQGJUDFHWRDQRFFDVLRQ$ERYHDOOVKHKDGDQLQIHFWLRXV VHQVHRIIXQZKLFKUHDGLO\FRPPXQLFDWHGLWVHOIWRDQDXGLHQFH2I FRXUVHEHLQJDQREYLRXVO\ZDUPDQGQDWXUDOZRPDQDWHDVHZLWK KHUVHOIDQGRWKHUVZKDWHYHUWKHLUVWDWXVDQGRIWHQEHLQJWKHRQO\ ZRPDQRQWKHSODWIRUPPHDQWWKDWVKHVWRRGLQPDUNHGFRQWUDVWWR WKHFRPSDUDWLYHO\VWDLGPHQDURXQGKHU6KHZDVIDVWEHFRPLQJDQ HVVHQWLDOHOHPHQWWRVXFKFHUHPRQLHV
Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales
(OVLH 'RURWKHD &KDPEHUODLQ ZDV HOHFWHG FKDLUPDQ RI WKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV²6KHVXFFHHGHG the eminent William Gordon Robinson, the principal of Lancashire ,QGHSHQGHQW&ROOHJHVLQFHDQGVKHZDVLQWXUQWREHIROORZHGE\ +XEHUW&XQOLIIH-RQHVVLQFHSULQFLSDORI<RUNVKLUH,QGHSHQGHQW &ROOHJH %UDGIRUG 6KHZDV DQXQXVXDO DQGGDULQJ FKRLFH 6KH could not claim the scholarly credentials of these colleagues IRU XQOLNH5RELQVRQ DQG&XQOLIIH-RQHV VKHKDGQRWSXEOLVKHG ERRNVRI WKHRORJLFDORU OLWHUDU\PHULW1HLWKHUKDGVKHVHUYHG WKH Congregational Union of England and Wales as a moderator of any of LWVQLQHSURYLQFHVQRUJLYHQ\HDUVRIVHUYLFHWRFRPPLWWHHZRUN7KH
WZRFKXUFKHVWRZKLFKVKHKDGPLQLVWHUHGZHUHRIQRJUHDWVL]HQRU KLVWRULFLPSRUWDQFHDQGERWKZHUHVLWXDWHGDPRQJWKHXQDVVXPLQJ RXWHUVXEXUEVRI/RQGRQ$GPLWWHGO\VKHKDGJDLQHGVRPHIDPHDV WKHÀUVWZRPDQFKDSODLQLQWKHDUPHGIRUFHVEXWVXFKIDPHLVÁHHWLQJ DQGVKHKDGOHIWWKDWSRVWVRPHWHQ\HDUVSUHYLRXVO\0RVWXQXVXDO RIDOOIRUD&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV·FKDLUPDQ VKHZDVRIFRXUVHDZRPDQDQGDWWKDWWLPH¶WKHGHFLVLRQPDNLQJ SURFHVVHVRI WKHGHQRPLQDWLRQZHUH VWLOO LQSUDFWLFH LQ WKHKDQGV RIPHQ·DQGZRPHQ·VUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRQ&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI (QJODQGDQG:DOHV·FRPPLWWHHVZDVPLQLPDO7KHUHIRUHKHUHOHFWLRQ WRWKHFKDLUZDVDUHPDUNDEOHSHUVRQDOWULEXWHWRKHUDQGUHYHDOHGWKH FRQÀGHQFHIHOWE\RUGLQDU\FKXUFKPHPEHUVPLQLVWHUVDQGRIÀFLDOV RI WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV DOLNH LQ WKLV FRPPDQGLQJEXWVWLOO\RXWKIXOZRPDQRI\HDUV 7KHRQO\FRQYHQWLRQDOHOHPHQWZKLFKVKHEURXJKWWRWKHFKDLUZDV
WKDWVKHZDVDPLQLVWHU+DGVKHEHHQDOD\ZRPDQKHUHOHFWLRQZRXOG KDYHEHHQHYHQPRUHDVWRXQGLQJ<HWKHUDSSRLQWPHQWZDVQRWRQO\ VHHQDVDSHUVRQDOWULEXWHEXWDVDQH[WUDRUGLQDU\EUHDNWKURXJKIRU ZRPHQLQJHQHUDO$PDMRU%ULWLVKGHQRPLQDWLRQZDVJLYLQJSXEOLF UHFRJQLWLRQZLWKLWVRZQKLJKHVWKRQRXUWRDZRPDQPLQLVWHUDQG WKXVFHOHEUDWLQJKHUXQLTXHVXFFHVV'HVSLWHKHUHOHFWLRQWRWKLVKLJK VWDWXV-RKQ0DUVKKHUFRPSDQLRQDW(YDQVWRQGHVFULEHG(OVLHDV¶DQ HQWLUHO\QRUPDOSHUVRQ·DOWKRXJKKHDGPLWWHGLQWKHVDPHEUHDWK WKDWVKHKDG¶TXLWHXQXVXDOJLIWV·DQGZDV¶DUDGLDQWSHUVRQZLWKD MR\IXOIDLWK·1RUPDOEXWXQXVXDO²DQXQFRPPRQFRPELQDWLRQ\HW WKHVHSDUWLFXODUDWWULEXWHVZHUHVHHQDVVXIÀFLHQWWRTXDOLI\KHUWR EHWKHFKDLUPDQ 6KHZDV WKHÀUVWZRPDQ DQG WKH RQO\ZRPDQ WR FKDLU WKH
Congregational Union of England and Wales, serving almost 40 \HDUVDIWHU&RQVWDQFH&ROWPDQWKHÀUVWZRPDQWREHRUGDLQHGWRWKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDOPLQLVWU\KDGEHJXQKHUSDVWRUDWHDWWKH.LQJ·V:HLJK +RXVH/RQGRQLQ(OVLHVWDWHGWKDWVKHZRXOGQRWKDYHVWRRGIRU HOHFWLRQDJDLQVWKHUROGIULHQG0XULHO3DXOGHQKDGWKHODWWHUEHHQ nominated and had she accepted that nomination, revealing not only (OVLH·VUHJDUGIRU0LVV3DXOGHQEXWDOVR(OVLH·VDFFHSWDQFHWKDWKHU RZQQRPLQDWLRQUHSUHVHQWHGDODQGPDUNERWKIRUZRPHQPLQLVWHUV DQGIRUZRPHQLQJHQHUDO(OVLHZDVWKHÀUVWZRPDQWRSUHVLGHRYHU
WKHDVVHPEO\RIDQ\RIWKHPDLQ)UHH&KXUFKHVLQ(QJODQGZKLFK SUREDEO\PHDQVWKDWVKHZDVWKHÀUVWZRPDQWRSUHVLGHRYHUDQ\ PDMRU&KULVWLDQGHQRPLQDWLRQDQ\ZKHUHDWDOO8 $VKDVEHHQVWDWHG(OVLHZDVLQPDQ\ZD\VDQXQOLNHO\FKRLFH
IRU WKHFKDLURI WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV 3UREDEO\PRUHWKDQPRVWLIQRWDOOKHUSUHGHFHVVRUVDQGVXFFHVVRUV LQWKDWSRVWVKHZDVDWUXO\SRSXODUFKRLFH$V0DUVKLPSOLHGVKH KDGQRXQLTXHO\ RXWVWDQGLQJTXDOLÀFDWLRQVQRU ORQJ OLVW RI ÀQH DFKLHYHPHQWVDSDUWIURPVLPSO\EHLQJKHUVHOIDQGLQVWLQFWLYHO\ÀOOHG ZLWKOLIH7KH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVFKDLUIRU (OVLHZDVQRWDUHZDUGIRUDOLIHRIVHUYLFHDVDFROOHJHSULQFLSDORU DFDGHPLFRUGHQRPLQDWLRQDORIÀFLDOQRUZDVVKHLQWUXWKDJUHDW SUHDFKHU6KHKDGSURYHGKHUVHOIWREHDEUDYHWHQDFLRXVZRPDQ DQGKHUVWUXJJOHVKDGLQVRPHZD\VEHFRPHWKRVHRIRWKHUVLQWKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDOFKXUFKHVZKRLGHQWLÀHGZLWKWKHSHUFHLYHGLQMXVWLFHV VKHKDGRYHUFRPH,QDGGLWLRQKHUVZDVDQDWWUDFWLYHSHUVRQDOLW\DQG VKHKDGVHL]HGWKH LPDJLQDWLRQRIRUGLQDU\FKXUFKPHPEHUVZKR VDZKHUDVRQHRIWKHLURZQ 8QGRXEWHGO\E\ZKHQ(OVLHZDVFKRVHQWREHWKHFKDLUPDQ
elect of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, she had EHFRPHYHU\ZHOONQRZQ1RWRQO\KHUORQJEDWWOHZLWKWKH&KXUFK of England hierarchy, in order to marry John Garrington, but also her VWUXJJOHWRJDLQUHFRJQLWLRQDVWKHÀUVWZRPDQFKDSODLQLQWKH5$) KDGEURXJKWKHUWRSXEOLFDWWHQWLRQ0RVWLPSRUWDQWO\KHUZRUNDV DEURDGFDVWHUIRUWKH%%&WRRNKHUYRLFHLQWRDOPRVWHYHU\KRPHLQ WKHFRXQWU\PDNLQJKHUVDIDPLOLDUQDPHWRFRXQWOHVVQXPEHUVZKR ZRXOGQHYHUHQWHUD&RQJUHJDWLRQDOFKXUFK$VDJHQXLQHO\SRSXODU PLQLVWHUZLWKWKHSRZHUWRUHDFKPDQ\EH\RQGWKHFKXUFKHVVKH PXVWKDYHEHHQDQRXWVWDQGLQJEXWXQLTXHFDQGLGDWHIRUWKHFKDLUPDQVKLSRIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV
Elsie’s Distinctive Service
:KLOH VKHZDV UHFRYHULQJ IURP WKH DUWKULWLVZKLFKKDG ODLGKHU ORZLQWKH5$)6LGQH\%HUU\KDGSUHGLFWHGWKDW¶DQRWKHUELJMRE· DZDLWHGKHU+HSUHVXPDEO\KDGQRWVHHQKHUDVDIXWXUHFKDLUPDQ of the Congregational Union of England and Wales at that stage, or
PLJKWKHMXVWKDYHZRQGHUHGHYHQWKHQ"/HVOLH&RRNHZURWHWR(OVLH WRLQIRUPKHURIKHUHOHFWLRQWRWKHFKDLULQ0D\+HDVVXUHG KHU WKDW LWZDV LQ ¶UHFRJQLWLRQRI WKHGLVWLQFWLYH VHUYLFH· WKDW VKH KDG¶JLYHQRYHUWKH\HDUV·:KDWZDVWKDWGLVWLQFWLYHVHUYLFHZKLFK PDGH(OVLH VRGLIIHUHQW IURPRWKHUKDUGZRUNLQJPLQLVWHUV LQ WKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV"7KDWXQLTXHGLVWLQFWLRQ FRXOGRQO\KDYH ODLQ LQ WKH H[WUDRUGLQDU\XSVDQGGRZQVRIKHU PLQLVWU\²KHUXQSUHFHGHQWHG5$)FKDSODLQF\KHUGHÀDQWO\FOLQJLQJ WRKHUORYHRIDKLJK$QJOLFDQSULHVWDQGKHU%%&SRVW$ERYHDOOKHU UHDOGLVWLQFWLRQOD\LQKHUPDNLQJVXFKDVXFFHVVRIEHLQJDZRPDQ PLQLVWHU7KH&RQJUHJDWLRQDOZRPHQPLQLVWHUVEHIRUHKHUKDGWHQGHG WRSOD\VHFRQGÀGGOHWRPDOHFROOHDJXHVZLWKFKXUFKHVDSRORJHWLFDOO\SODFLQJWKHPDVDVVLVWDQWVDQGDVVRFLDWHV(OVLHKDGQRWSOD\HG VHFRQGÀGGOHWRDPDQ,QGHHGZKHUHVKHKDGFRPELQHGZLWKDPDOH colleague at Richmond, he had supported her, rather than the other ZD\URXQGDOWKRXJKODWHUDW7KH&LW\7HPSOHVKHZRXOGVXSSRUW .HQQHWK6ODFNZKRZDVWKHFKLHIPLQLVWHU%\WKHPLGV(OVLH KDGEURXJKWZRPHQPLQLVWHUVWRWKHFHQWUHRIWKHVWDJH$IWHUKHU WKH\ZHUHQRORQJHUNHSWLQWKHVKDGRZV1RZWKH\ZHUHWRUHFHLYH WKHLUGXHVWDWXVDQGZHUHQRWWREHDFFHSWHGRQO\XQGHUVXIIHUDQFH 6KHZDVE\WHPSHUDPHQWDQLQGLYLGXDOLVWDOZD\VJRLQJKHURZQ
ZD\UDWKHUWKDQIROORZLQJDQ\ZHOOSORXJKHGIXUURZVEXWLQWUXWK VKHKDGEHHQIRUFHGWREOD]HKHURZQSDWKE\FLUFXPVWDQFHVEH\RQG KHU FRQWURO+HU UHIXVDO WR FRPSURPLVH RQPDWWHUV RI SULQFLSOH both personally and professionally, had brought her trials and pain EHIRUHLW\LHOGHGKHUHYHQWXDOWULXPSK7KLVLQFRPSULVHGKHU ¶GLVWLQFWLYHVHUYLFH·WR&RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVP9
Elsie did not use her position as chairman of the Congregational 8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVWRFDPSDLJQIRUWKHPLQLVWU\RIZRPHQ 5DWKHUVKHVRXJKWWRUHDVVXUHWKRVHZKRIHDUHGVKHPLJKWVRDFW6KH VWDWHG¶,EHOLHYHWKDWDPLQLVWHULVDPLQLVWHUUHJDUGOHVVRIZKHWKHUWKDW SHUVRQLVDKHRUDVKH$QGLWLVDVDPLQLVWHUWKDW,VKDOOEHVHUYLQJ WKH8QLRQ·10<HWKHUHOHFWLRQWRWKHFKDLUGLGLQGLFDWHPXFKPRUH &HUWDLQO\LWZDVDQLPPHGLDWHYRWHRIFRQÀGHQFHLQ(OVLH&KDPEHUODLQ as an individual, but it also said very clearly that the Congregational FKXUFKHVZHUHQRWDVKDPHGRIWKHLUZRPHQPLQLVWHUVQRPDWWHUWKH
DWWLWXGHVRIRWKHUGHQRPLQDWLRQV,QWKHSULQFLSOHRIZRPHQ·V ordination had been conceded by the Congregational Union of England and Wales but this had not led to overnight acceptance in WKHFKXUFKHVDQGGLVDSSURYDODQGVXVSLFLRQKDGWDNHQDJHQHUDWLRQ DQGPRUHWREUHDNGRZQ(OVLHKHUVHOIDVD\RXQJSURVSHFWLYHZRPDQ minister, had contemplated being snubbed in the future by some Congregationalists and, indeed, had later suffered some prejudicial WUHDWPHQWEHFDXVHRIKHUVH[EXWLQWKLVHOHFWLRQWRWKHFKDLU revealed that the Congregational Union of England and Wales had FROOHFWLYHO\WXUQHGLWVEDFNRQWKLVEHKDYLRXU,IDZRPDQPLQLVWHU FRXOGEHHOHFWHGWRWKHFKDLURIWKHXQLRQWKHQZRPHQPLQLVWHUVZHUH VXUHO\UHFNRQHGWKHHTXDORIPHQDQGDVDFFHSWDEOHDVPHQLQHYHU\ UHVSHFW"%\ WKHPLGV WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQG DQG:DOHVKDGOHDUQHGWREHSURXGRIWKHFRQWULEXWLRQRILWVZRPHQ PLQLVWHUV&HUWDLQO\LWZDVSURXGRI(OVLH&KDPEHUODLQDQGVKHLQ UHVSRQVHZDVSURXGWREHFKRVHQ
A ‘Disastrous’ Chairman
-RKQ0DUVK UHFRJQL]HG LQ(OVLH ¶D UHDG\RSHQQHVV RIPLQG WKDW VHOGRPLIHYHUOHIWKHU·+HFRQWLQXHG¶6KHSRVVHVVHGDJUHDWJRRG KXPRXUZKLFKPDGHKHU FRQYHUVDWLRQ²DQGSXEOLF VSHDNLQJ²D OLYHO\DQGHQMR\DEOHH[SHULHQFH·11 Against this encouraging comment PXVWEHSODFHGWKHZLGHO\KHOGYLHZWKDWKHUFKDLUPDQVKLSRIWKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVZDVQRW FRQVLGHUHG WRKDYHEHHQDVXFFHVVQHLWKHUE\(OVLHKHUVHOIQRUE\RWKHUV6KH MXGJHGKHURZQSHUIRUPDQFHVHYHUHO\FRQFOXGLQJWKDWVKHKDGEHHQ D¶GLVDVWURXV·FKDLUPDQDOWKRXJKVKHKDGORYHGYLVLWLQJWKHFKXUFKHV attending the Cenotaph service on Remembrance Sunday, and being DWDJDUGHQSDUW\DW%XFNLQJKDP3DODFH127KHWHUP¶GLVDVWURXV·LV YHU\VWURQJ(OVLHZDVXVXDOO\DEOHWRUHODWHWRSHRSOHRIDOO W\SHV DQGEDFNJURXQGVZLWKKHUQDWXUDOZDUPWK VRZK\ VKRXOGKHU FKDLUPDQVKLSKDYHJRQHVREDGO\" +HU UHODWLYH LQH[SHULHQFHZLWK WKH LQQHUZRUNLQJV RI WKH
Congregational Union of England and Wales may have placed her DWDGLVDGYDQWDJHDVLWVFKDLUDQGVKHKDGIHZGLSORPDWLFVNLOOV6KH ZDVE\QDWXUHLPSDWLHQWDQGKDYLQJFRQYLQFHGKHUVHOIWKDWFKDQJH
ZDVQHFHVVDU\VKHH[SHFWHGWKDWFKDQJHWREHHIIHFWHGLPPHGLDWHO\ DQGZRXOGEURRNQRGHOD\,QWKLVKHUFKDUDFWHULVWLFGHFLVLYHQHVV FRXOGZRUNDJDLQVWKHU2IFRXUVHVKHFRXOGQRWVHHWKDWRWKHUVPLJKW QHHGSHUVXDGLQJ WKDW VKHKDGGLDJQRVHG WKHSUREOHPV FRUUHFWO\ 6KHZDVLQHVVHQFHDQDFWLYLVWDQGQRWDFRPPLWWHHDQLPDO,QVWLQFW DQGLQWXLWLRQUDWKHUWKDQUHDVRQLQJZHUHYLWDO WR(OVLH·VGHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ7HPSHUHGE\&KULVWLDQ IDLWK WKH\ FKDUJHGKHUZLWK WKH LQQDWHLPSXOVHDQGHQHUJ\ZKLFKFRQYHUWHGKHURSLQLRQVDQGSODQV LQWRDFWLRQ :HVKRXOGUHFRUGWKDWLQ$SULORQHPRQWKEHIRUHVKHEHJDQ
KHU\HDUDVFKDLUPDQ(OVLH·V IDWKHU -LP&KDPEHUODLQGLHGDW WKH DJH RI +HKDGEHHQ D FRQVWDQW VXSSRUW WRKLVGDXJKWHU DQG XQGRXEWHGO\VKHIHOWKLVORVVGHHSO\,IQRWWKHGRPLQDQWLQÁXHQFH XSRQKHUZKLFKKHUKHDGVWURQJPRWKHU$QQLHFOHDUO\ZDV-LPKDG EHHQDTXLHW UHDVVXULQJSUHVHQFH+HKDG H[HUFLVHGD VWHDG\LQJ OHYHUDJHRYHUKLVZLIH·VH[FHVVHVDQG$QQLHZDVWRVXUYLYHKLPE\ VRPH\HDUVHYHQWXDOO\G\LQJLQ+LVGHDWKFDPHDWDGLIÀFXOW MXQFWXUHLQKLVGDXJKWHU·VOLIH <HW LIKHU\HDUDVFKDLUPDQZDVDUHODWLYHIDLOXUH LQPLWLJDWLRQ
ZHFDQVD\WKDWVKHFDPHWRWKHFKDLUDWDPRVWDZNZDUGWLPHLQ WKHKLVWRU\RIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQ/HVOLH&RRNHKDGUHVLJQHG XQH[SHFWHGO\ LQ DVJHQHUDO VHFUHWDU\RI WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO Union of England and Wales, perhaps frustrated at not being able WRHIIHFWWKHSRVLWLYHFKDQJHVKHKDGZRUNHGDQGSUD\HGIRUDQG KHKDGPRYHGWRDSHUPDQHQWSRVLWLRQZLWKWKH:RUOG&RXQFLORI &KXUFKHV LQ*HQHYD ,Q WKRVH FLUFXPVWDQFHV WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO 8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV·FRXQFLOKDGEHHQH[SHFWHGWRQRPLQDWH WKHVHFUHWDU\RIWKH/DQFDVKLUH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQZKRZDVDOVR the moderator of the Lancashire province of the Congregational 8QLRQ RI (QJODQG DQG:DOHV WKH LUDVFLEOH+RZDUG 6WDQOH\ DV &RRNH·VVXFFHVVRUDW0HPRULDO+DOOLQ/RQGRQ%XWWKHFRXQFLOZDV GLYLGHGDERXW6WDQOH\DQGYRWHGIRUDQGDJDLQVW6WDQOH\IHOW WKDWWKLVZDVDQLQVXIÀFLHQWPDMRULW\WRFRQVWLWXWHDFDOOWRVXFKKLJK RIÀFHDQGWKHUHIRUHKHGHFOLQHGWRDFFHSWWKHSRVW$VDUHVXOWWKH &RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVZDVWKURZQLQWRVRPH GLVRUGHUZLWKRXWLWVOHDGLQJRIÀFLDODQHYHQWXDOLW\IRUZKLFKLWZDV TXLWHXQSUHSDUHG&RQVHTXHQWO\WKHYHWHUDQ6LGQH\%HUU\ZKRKDG
VNLOIXOO\JXLGHGWKH&8(:IURP²KDGEHHQUHFDOOHGIURP UHWLUHPHQWXQDQLPRXVO\E\ WKH0D\DVVHPEO\ LQ WRÀOO WKH EUHDFKDOEHLWWHPSRUDULO\
Sidney Berry 1955-1956
/HVOLH&RRNHKDG EHHQ%HUU\·V SUHIHUUHG VXFFHVVRU DQGKHZDV SDUWLFXODUO\GLVDSSRLQWHGDW&RRNH·VXQH[SHFWHGGHSDUWXUH DIWHU only seven years as secretary and at a time of reconstruction for WKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHV%HUU\ WKH OR\DO VHUYDQW LQZKRPHYHU\RQHKDGXQERXQGHGEHOLHIGXWLIXOO\ÀOOHG WKHEUHDFKEHWZHHQ²XQWLO+RZDUG6WDQOH\ZDVDSSRLQWHG WRWKHSRVWRQH\HDUODWHUWKDQH[SHFWHG6WDQOH\KDGEHHQDQRWDEOH VXFFHVVLQ/DQFDVKLUHEXWKHKDGDFTXLUHGDUHSXWDWLRQDV¶DUXIÁHU RIIHDWKHUV·DQGKLVEOXIIPDQQHUGLGQRWZLQKLPIULHQGVLQHYHU\ TXDUWHU7KHDJHG%HUU\ZLWKKLVDELOLW\¶WRZLQSHRSOH·VFRQÀGHQFH DQGGLVSHOWKHLUVXVSLFLRQV·ZDVVXSUHPHO\FRPSHWHQWEXWKHZDV SHUVXDGHGRQO\UHOXFWDQWO\WRUHWXUQWRRIÀFHIRUDQLQWHULPSHULRG 7KH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVZDV WKHUHIRUH H[SHULHQFLQJ D VLQJXODU FULVLV DQGZDV FRQVLGHULQJ LWV IXWXUH OHDGHUVKLS MXVWDWWKHWLPHZKHQ(OVLHZDVFDOOHGWREHFKDLUPDQ HOHFW)XOO\DZDUHRIWKHVHWHQVLRQVEHWZHHQOHDGLQJPHPEHUVRIWKH GHQRPLQDWLRQ(OVLHPXVWKDYHÀHOGHGPDQ\DZNZDUGTXHVWLRQVDV VKHWUDYHOOHGWKHFRXQWU\VSHDNLQJWRFKXUFKJDWKHULQJVDWWHQGLQJ and chairing meetings, and trying to inspire ministers and members DOLNH$OOZDVQRWZHOOLQWKHKLJKHUFRXQFLOVRIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO Union of England and Wales and she could not easily convey the RSSRVLWHLPSUHVVLRQQRUZDYHDPDJLFZDQGDQGPDNHLWEHWWHU14 ,Q0D\DWWKH0D\DVVHPEO\RIWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQ
of England and Wales, Elsie, as chairman, presided at Westminster &KDSHODW WKHVHUYLFHRIGHGLFDWLRQRI WKHQHZO\HOHFWHGVHFUHWDU\ RIWKHXQLRQ$WWKHFHQWUDOSDUWRIWKHVHUYLFHVKHSXWWKHUHTXLUHG TXHVWLRQVWRERWK+RZDUG6WDQOH\DQGWRWKHDVVHPEO\GHOHJDWHV $ZDUHRIWKHVHQVLWLYLWLHVDQGRIWKHPL[WXUHRIIHHOLQJVDPRQJWKH delegates present in the chapel, Elsie needed a steady nerve and great VWUHQJWKRIPLQG15
In addition to these tensions in the Congregational Union of (QJODQG DQG:DOHV (OVLH EURXJKW WR WKH FKDLUPDQ·V UROH VRPH DZNZDUGQHVVRIKHURZQ+HUJLIWIRUFODULW\DQGIRUFXWWLQJWKURXJK QHHGOHVVO\ORQJDQGWHGLRXVSHURUDWLRQVDQDVVHWDWWKH%%&FRXOG be seen, in different settings, as sheer curtness and intolerance and, during her year as chairman of the Congregational Union of England DQG:DOHVVKHLQMXUHGWKHSULGHRIVRPHH[SHULHQFHGEXWVHQVLWLYH FROOHDJXHVZKRIHOWWKDWVKH¶ZDVWHDFKLQJWKHPWKHLUMRE· She is UHFDOOHGDVEOXQWO\SXWWLQJSHRSOHLQZKDWVKHIHOWZDVWKHLUSODFH (YHQKHUIULHQGVUHDOL]HGWKDWVKHZDVFRQIURQWLQJORQJHVWDEOLVKHG SUDFWLFHWRRPXFKWKHUHE\ULGLQJURXJKVKRGRYHUWKRVHZKR¶KDG DOZD\VGRQHLWWKLVZD\·$VFKDLUPDQDWWKLVFULWLFDOWLPHVKHPLJKW KDYHDFKLHYHGPRUHZLWKWDFWDQGFKDUPWKDQZLWKWKHVZRUG
Elsie’s Chairman’s Address
,QKHU FKDLUPDQ·V DGGUHVV LQ0D\(OVLH VSRNHPRGHVWO\RI KHUDFKLHYHPHQWV¶,KDYHQROHDUQHGWKHRU\WRH[SRXQG·DQG¶FDQ ² DQGZLOO ² RQO\ VSHDNRI NQRZOHGJHJDLQHG WKURXJKSUDFWLFDO H[SHULHQFHV·6KHVWUHVVHGKHUXSEULQJLQJLQZKDWVKHWHUPHGKHU ¶HFXPHQLFDOKRPH·WKDWLVKDYLQJD&KXUFKRI(QJODQGIDWKHUDQG D&RQJUHJDWLRQDOPRWKHU DV KHU ¶WUDLQLQJ IRU IXWXUHZRUN· DQG IRUKHURZQHYHQWXDOPDUULDJH6KHUHFDOOHG,VOLQJWRQ&KDSHO¶WKH GRZQWRZQ/RQGRQFKXUFKWRZKLFKZHEHORQJHG·DV¶QRWDEOHIRUWKH FRQVHFXWLYHPLQLVWULHVRIWZREURWKHUV²-RVHSKDQG5REHUW6KHSKHUG· DQGUHIHUUHGWRQJXHLQFKHHNWRKHUWLPHDW.LQJ·V&ROOHJH/RQGRQ ZKHUHDOOKHUIHOORZVWXGHQWV¶ZHUHRXWRIVWHS·H[FHSWKHUDVWKHVROH &RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVW6KHSDLGWULEXWHWRKHUIRUPDWLYHZRUNLQZDUWLPH /LYHUSRROZKHUH VKHKDG ¶GLVFRYHUHG WKDW WKHRORJ\ LV SUDFWLFDO DQGNQRZOHGJHRIWKH%LEOHUHOHYDQWWRGDLO\OLIH·DQGVSRNHRIKHU OHDUQLQJSDVWRUDOLDIURP0XULHO3DXOGHQZKRE\WKHQKDGEHHQWKH PLQLVWHUDW%HUNOH\6WUHHW&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&KXUFKIRU\HDUVDQG ZKRZDVSUHVHQWWRKHDUKHUIRUPHUprotégée’VDGGUHVV6KHEULHÁ\ PHQWLRQHGKHURZQPLQLVWU\WRWZRFKXUFKHVLQWKH/RQGRQVXEXUEV DQGKHUVHUYLFHLQWKH5R\DO$LU)RUFHGHVFULELQJWKHVHDVSHFWVRI KHUOLIHDVEHLQJ¶PRVWO\TXLWHRUGLQDU\H[SHULHQFHVRIWKH0LQLVWU\·
6KHH[SODLQHGWKHWLWOHRIKHUDGGUHVVWhite to Harvest, believing WKDW&KULVWKLPVHOIZRXOGVD\WRWKLVJHQHUDWLRQ¶6D\QRW\H7KHUH DUH\HWIRXUPRQWKVDQGWKHQFRPHWKKDUYHVW"%HKROG,VD\XQWR\RX OLIWXS\RXUH\HVDQGORRNRQWKHÀHOGVIRUWKH\DUHZKLWHDOUHDG\ WRKDUYHVW·6KHFRQWLQXHGDVZHKDYHIRUJRWWHQRXUFDOOLQJWREH ¶IHOORZODERXUHUVZLWK&KULVW·DQGKDYHGRQH¶QRWKLQJWRGHVHUYH VXFKDKDUYHVW«ZHKDYHIDLOHGWRQRWLFHÀHOGVLQVLGHDQGRXWVLGH WKH&KXUFKWKDWDUHZKLWHWRKDUYHVW· (OVLHZHQWRQWRGHFU\WKHGLYLVLRQVRIWKH&KULVWLDQGHQRPLQD-
WLRQVDULVLQJIURPWKH5HIRUPDWLRQDQGUHDFKHGDVIDUEDFNDVWKH VSOLW EHWZHHQ WKH(DVWHUQDQG:HVWHUQ FKXUFKHVRI EXW VKH SUDLVHG WKH:RUOG&RXQFLO RI&KXUFKHVZKLFK VKH LGHQWLÀHGDV ¶WKHJUHDWHVWPRYHPHQWWKDWWKH&KXUFKKDVNQRZQ·&XULRXVO\IRU VXFKDVHOIUHOLDQWZRPDQVKHGHQRXQFHG WKRVHZKR WRRNUHIXJH in independence, both economic and spiritual, and she cast doubt XSRQWKHDFFHSWHGLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKHWHUPLQGHSHQGHQW6KHKHOG WKDW¶WKHÀUVWDQGODVWTXDOLW\RIUHDOIDLWKLVGHSHQGHQFHXWWHUVHOI DEDQGRQLQJGHSHQGHQFHRQ&KULVW·6KHQRWHGWKDWWKH%ULWLVK&RXQFLO RI&KXUFKHVZDVQRWPHUHO\$QJOLFDQ LQ FKDUDFWHU IRU LW KDGDQ (QJOLVK3UHVE\WHULDQ.HQQHWK6ODFNDVLWVJHQHUDOVHFUHWDU\DQGKHU FROOHDJXHIURP9LQH\DUG7HG6WDQIRUGDVLWVHGXFDWLRQVHFUHWDU\ &RQWLQXLQJZLWKKHUHFXPHQLFDOWKHPHVKHVWDWHGKHUEHOLHIWKDW
¶LWLVWLPHWKH)UHH&KXUFK&RXQFLOVWDUWHGWRSODQLWVRZQGHPLVH that out of its ashes might rise in every place a council of churches, DV LQWHUGHQRPLQDWLRQDO DV WKH:RUOG&RXQFLO RI&KXUFKHV· 6KH ZRQGHUHGZKHWKHUDQ\RQHZDV¶ZRUNLQJDJDLQVWWKHXQLW\WKDW&KULVW SODQQHGIRUKLVIROORZHUVEHFDXVHKHZRXOGUDWKHUEHDELJÀVKLQD OLWWOHSXGGOHWKDQDOLWWOHÀVKLQDELJSXGGOH·ZKLFKLVH[DFWO\WKH DFFXVDWLRQZKLFKVRPHFULWLFVZRXOGOHYHODWKHU\HDUVODWHU6KH UHFDOOHGWKDWLVVXHVRIFKXUFKXQLW\FDOOHGIRUUHPHGLHVHYHQZLWKLQ &RQJUHJDWLRQDOLVP DQG WKDW ¶FORVHU UHODWLRQVKLSV·ZHUH QHHGHG EHWZHHQWKH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO8QLRQRI(QJODQGDQG:DOHVWKH/RQGRQ 0LVVLRQDU\6RFLHW\DQGWKH&RPPRQZHDOWK0LVVLRQDU\6RFLHW\ 6KHFULWLFL]HGWKRVHFKXUFKHVZKLFKVRXJKWWRFRQGXFWWKHLUDIIDLUV
DV LIQRWKLQJKDGFKDQJHGIRURUPRUH\HDUVVD\LQJWKDW ¶LIDOO WKHZRUOGPLOOVURXQG\RXUFKXUFKIURP²0RQGD\WR)ULGD\D ORFNHGEXLOGLQJLVQRWPXFKZLWQHVVWRDOLYLQJIDLWK$QGDPLQLVWHU PLJKWPRUHXVHIXOO\SUHDFKRQWKHVWHSVRIKLVFKXUFKRQZHHNGD\V WKDQVKRXWLQHIIHFWXDOO\WRWKHKDQGIXORISHRSOHZKRFRPHPLOHV RQ6XQGD\WRVLWDWWKHYHU\EDFNRIWKHFKXUFKSUHVXPDEO\WRDYRLG
KHDULQJZKDWKHKDVWRVD\·7KLVDGYLFHVKHWRRNVHULRXVO\ERWKDW 5LFKPRQGDQG\HDUVODWHUDW7DXQWRQ (OVLH UHIHUUHG WRKHUVHOI LQKHU FKDLUPDQ·V DGGUHVV LQ DV
DQ ¶HFXPDQLDF· 6KHDOVR VSRNHRIKHUEURDGFDVWLQJZRUN IRU WKH %%&ZKLFK VKH WHUPHG ¶DELJJHUPLVVLRQDU\YHQWXUH WKDQ , HYHU GUHDPHGRIVKDULQJ·6KHZDV¶SURXG·WREHSDUWRIVXFKDYHQWXUH ZLWKSURJUDPPHVZKLFKUHJXODUO\QXPEHUHGWKHLUDXGLHQFHVLQWKH PLOOLRQV7RKHUWKDWDJDLQVXJJHVWHG¶DÀHOGWKDWLVZKLWHWRKDUYHVW· She believed that ministers certainly needed more encouragement but VKHDGPLWWHGWKDWKDYLQJOLYHG¶LQDFKXUFKFLUFOH·DOOKHUOLIHVKHIHOW WKDWVKHDQGRWKHUPLQLVWHUVKDGWHQGHG¶WRORVHWRXFKZLWKRUGLQDU\ SHRSOH·<HWVKHZDV¶QRWSHVVLPLVWLF·EXWVDZUHDVRQVIRU¶KRSHIRU WKH&KXUFK·VIXWXUH·LQ\RXQJSHRSOHWUDLQLQJIRUWKHPLQLVWU\DQG LQWKRVHWDNLQJFRXUVHVWREHFRPHOD\SUHDFKHUVDQGLQWKHLQWHUHVWV RIPDQ\RXWVLGHWKHFKXUFKHVLQPRUDODQGVSLULWXDOTXHVWLRQV
