The Life And Ministry Of Harold Emanuel Griffiths. Part 6 - The Opening Of Milton Hall

If this is the first post you are reading about Harold Griffiths, or if you want to remind yourself about his life and ministry up to and through World War 2, then please take the time to read these older blogs. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
An earlier post also provides a music sheet for hymn music he re wrote and published.

In mid 1950 Harold is found ministering as a guest speaker in Scarborough. His son David was now the pastor of the Assemblies of God church there. (1)

It's a Whitsuntide service, which means it was often used as an occasion to invite other ministers. I love that it gives an address to write to David. I don't know if it was his actual parsonage, or a church office, but it would not surprise me if it was his actual abode. 1950 was a different time and place. I also find the phone number quite quaint. 33, that was it. There were obviously not many people with phones at the time.

Later, for the summer, Harold is speaking at another Christian camp in the Staffordshire area.(2)

There's not a lot to add to this, but as the latter part of 1950 was entered it became a very big year for Harold Griffiths and his family.

Harold had been working on building a church in Milton for quite some time. It seems they had been renting out rooms and using unused space since the church began in 1931. On Saturday, September 16th, the new church building was officially opened.

In December of that year, the A.O.G. published a short article about the opening of the hall, but the picture from the event made the front cover.

Redemption Tidings Vol 26, Dec 1950 Front Cover.
Far left opening the door is Rhys Davies.
Front center is Harold Griffiths, Front second from right is David Griffiths.

 The caption at the bottom of the picture reads, "Bro. Rhys Griffiths opening new hall at Milton, supported by local and visiting ministers."

Inside the short piece appears.

There's just a couple of points I want to make about the article. Firstly, the "local labour" reference here doesn't go into much detail, but Harold's daughter Ruth explained it. Harold, the family and church members would 'sell' bricks to the public. So any member of the public was able to buy a portion of the wall that built the church. Harold and others would do the actual building. £1,090 was quite a bit of money in the 1950's and it was a great effort to raise the amount.

Secondly, I don't know who many of the visiting speakers were but David and Rhys were invited because they were both ministers and family members.

Thirdly, Ruth also supplied an additional 'leaflet' or 'booklet' that was produced by Harold at the time of the opening. It provides a great many more details.

Page 1 has a picture of the pastor, Harold Griffiths, begins to explain more about how the church was built, what the opening day was like and how the church came into existence. It continues for another two pages. Here is the transcription of page 1.

"This little book marks the end of a chapter - a chapter in the lives of a group of people whose church was situated in an old dilapidated building. Trusting in God and the goodness of their friends, and fired by their own enthusiasm they built a church with their own hands. Now it is finished at a cost of over two years in time and over £900 in money, but their work goes on...."

The transcription for page 2 and 3 is as follows:

   "Saturday, September 16th, 1950, will ever remain a memorable day-the day on which the new building, officially opened by Pastor Rhys Griffiths (Brother of the resident Pastor), became another House of God. 
   What inspiring scenes there were...nearly 200 people singing their hymns of praise... a cold, cheerless day transformed into one of sunshine by the fervour of the Milton adherents...a fruitful and enriching climax to long months of earnest endeavour.
   Unmindful of the restless wind and the occasional showers of rain, the congregation gathered outside the main door for prayers offered by Mrs. Adams. Then there were hymns; hymns of adoration and thanksgiving sung from the heart by young and old. One hundred and eighty voices, some as sweet as the Spring air and others mellowed by the passing years, caught the glory of those inspiring words and sent them soaring- up and over the rooftops. For were not their hearts soaring and rejoicing just as the meadow lark climbs trilling into the heavens.
   Pastor J.Phillips (Secretary of the District Council of the Assemblies of God) told them that the joint Pentecostal movement was founding a new church every fortnight and, he imagined, it was the only religious movement in the country doing anything like that. "Most of them are closing churches; thank God we are opening them."
   Referring tot he 18 churches established in the Potteries during the last few years, he said the buildings had gone up by the sacrificial giving of those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. They had no stunts or jumble sales, dances or whist drives. "We believe the church should be self supporting. We have no right to go to the people outside to keep us inside," he said. 
   It was a day of thankfulness too for Pastor Griffiths. Although his father, aged over 80, was not able to perform the opening ceremony, this long-awaited duty was admirably performed by his brother. And also taking part was his son, David, who is ministering in Scarborough.
   Extra seating had to be provided inside the church for the first service - a service that will long be remembered; a service studded with the wisdom of the speakers (including Pastor C.L. Parker, of London) and a service as beautiful as the lovely golden chrysanthemums that graced a table 'neath the platform.
  A building had become a church.

Pastor H. E. Griffiths

Pastor H.E. Griffiths was converted June 7th 1922, and from that day was characterised with a great fervour of the Gospel. Within a week of his conversion he was singing and preaching in the open-air. During those early years he and his brother Rhys were instrumental in the opening of several Assemblies in their home district (Blackwood, S. Wales). Throughout this period he was still employed as a collier.
   In the year 1928, he received an invitation to take some services in Ireland. Seeing the great need for evangelistic work, he sent for his wife and family (5 children) to join him. They made their home in Ballyclare, then using a Gospel caravan, he itinerated throughout N. Ireland, holding evangelistic services wherever possible. He lived by faith and trusted God for the support of his family, as he did not take up offerings. A box was attached to the caravan into which free-will gifts could be placed.
   In 1930 Pastor Edward Jeffreys was holding a great Revival Campaign in the Potteries. Hearing of Pastor Griffiths, and needing someone to campaign the outlying villages and towns, he sent Pastor Griffiths an invitation to join him. The invitation was accepted. He conducted his first service for Pastor Jeffreys at Silverdale on 3rd. December, when 120 souls were converted. He was a talented singer and musician. Many will remember his unique rendering of "I fell in love with the Nazarene." This proved to the the commencement of 20 years of active Gospel work in the Potteries. He established churches at Milton, Leek, Uttoxeter and Leigh. These churches are now in fellowship with Assemblies of God.
   The Milton work was first housed at 70 Market street. Of recent years they used a humble hall behind the dwelling houses, below the New Inn, Leek-road.
   Under the inspiration of Pastor Griffiths and through the voluntary gifts and labours of the people, they have now erected the new Bethal Hall. Something os his personality and character are seen in this recent achievement. His optimism, born of his faith in God's ability to meet every need, won the whole-hearted, unanimous support of the members. His eager participation in acting as labourer to the bricklayer, created a like eagerness in others to assist in the work. 
   It will be readily seen that Pastor H.E. Griffiths is a practical preacher. He teaches by example." (3)

Personally, this filled in some details I was unsure about and had previously had to guess at. I now know that he was converted June 7th 1922. I know also that it was 1928 when he left for Ireland. On top of that I can now confirm it was 1930 when he joined Edward Jeffreys. In a previous post I could only speculate on the date.

I had not realised he had been involved in planting churches in South Wales, or how instrumental he had been in planting several churches throughout the potteries. From this document I can also confirm that my earlier thoughts about where the church was housed were correct.

For those interested in the particular rendition of "I fell in love with the Nazarene" that Harold sang, I have recorded that in a previous post and provided the music sheets. If you want an image of the music that is easier to enlarge I have provided this link.

So 1950 was a good year. What would the rest of the decade hold?

_____

(1) Redemption Tidings Magazine, Vol 26, May 1950
(2) Redemption Tidings Magazine, Vol 26, June 1950
(3) A friend of my fathers provided the following information on Facebook about this church building. "The building he refers to was demolished and a replacement built. That was sold and is now a nursing home. The congregation moved to a nearby venue which was renovated and they now have a thriving AOG church."

It's good to know the church is still thriving, even if the building is unfortunately not. As for the booklet I have provided pictures of, it is impossible to say if there are many more in existence. I can't imagine more than a couple of hundred were produced, and I find it difficult to believe that anyone outside of family would have kept them. I am thankful I have the pictures and the text.