In 1923
following the growth of population in the area, and a generous gift of land
from Colonel Jervaise, a small wooden building was erected and opened as a
chapel (in September 1923) dedicated to St. Cadoc.
Continued
growth in numbers over the next 30 years eventually saw this building
re-dedicated in 1954 to St. Peter and the appointment of the first resident
priest, Fr. Joseph Adlam. Some 5 years later plans were made for a more
permanent building when on April 18th 1959 tragedy struck. A fire
engulfed the wooden church, that had served for so long, and plans for
expansion lay in ashes.
Using
firstly a small wooden hut and later, the newly built parish hall, services
were to continue for over four years before the completion of our wonderful new
building.
The
foundation stone was laid on July 14th 1962 and building eventually
completed for the official opening in 1964. Over the next two years life
reverted to normal with the parish hall being used for social and group
meetings rather than religious services. Father Adlam was unfortunately unable
to enjoy the ‘fruits of his labours’ for very long. He died suddenly on
November 4th 1966. At his funeral the Bishop of Aston, The Right
Rev. David Porter, said ‘Your new church is the finest memorial that Joseph Adlam
could possibly have. It epitomises all that he lived for, hoped for, and slaved
for and, if ever a man could die happy in the knowledge of a task fulfilled, it
was he.’
Vicars
Rev.
J Adlam 1954 – 1966
Rev.
G Fletcher 1967 – 1974
Canon
R Brookstein 1975 – 1994
Rev.
N Ball 1995 – 1997
Rev.
M Stephenson 1998 –
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A Tribute to
Canon Roy Brookstein (died October 9th 2003) by George Hodkinson
About a fortnight
before Roy died, I went along to St Mary’s Hospice, mid to late evening. I
experienced the usual, warm and helpful welcome of the devoted staff there, and
went through to Room 29, to find Roy on his own, still awake. Mary had not long
left, I’d been told, and somebody from St Peter’s had come to give her a lift
home. Roy’s warm greeting and gesture
for me to sit next to him, was the beginning of one of the most special times
that I have ever experienced in my life. We reminisced about times shared, and
especially about my three years here at St Peter’s, as Curate, which had been
so formative, directive and so enjoyable, for Linda and myself.
But on this
evening, we talked in a way that I shall never forget. Even though the three years spent together
in Ministry here had been so positive, and we’d talked and debated and even
“agreed to disagree” about certain issues, we both took the opportunity on this
occasion to say things to each other that we’d never shared before. We prayed for each other, we laughed, cried
and he even took the opportunity to tell me off about something, and to give me
some advice about something else. I
came away that night feeling renewed, inspired, re-charged for ministry. He has always been so encouraging to me and
to many others.
We used to meet
for morning prayer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7.30 in the
Church. He’d ride round on his bike,
which you could hear squeaking, almost from Paradise Lane, and I can remember
well that first Monday morning after my Ordination as Deacon, when, still
wearing his bicycle clips, he rang the Church bell “to remind the people of
Hall Green that we were praying for them”.
Then he sat down in his stall (we always sat in our stalls) and then one
of the first things Roy asked me was, “You don’t eat garlic do you?” It’s very
unpleasant, especially if your visiting someone and I don’t like it at all!”
We’ve laughed, and I’ve joked many times since about that and I’ve wondered
whether he’d ever asked Bob Gleeson, Mervyn Roberts, Ray Billingsley, Andrew
Bullock or others, the same question, even Mary and the family.
I learnt a great deal
from Roy, and about Roy, especially at those early morning devotions and
through the variety of Services. Worship was always prepared and conducted to
the highest standard. He was very
conscientious about his teaching role, and his responsibilities for my personal
and ministerial development, very hard-working and focused. But, above all, he was a loving and caring
priest, devoted family man, a person of integrity and prayer, a trusted, loyal
friend and confidante, whom I have turned to in times of illness and
difficulty. I couldn’t have wished for a better person with whom to serve my
first Curacy.
He gave me space
to develop my own projects, interests, gifts and talents, yet was always
available for advice and encouragement.
Right up until he became physically incapable, throughout my ministry to
date, whenever I was doing something important for the first time, the phone
would ring late in the evening, or the following morning, to ask me how I’d got
on. Steadfast friendship, with which so many of us have been gifted and would
witness to.
Some folks here
will know that there was one particular phrase that Roy used, when sending me
off on ministry tasks. Whether it was
to visit someone for the first time, to officiate at my first Baptism, Funeral
or Wedding, or to sing Evensong with Andrew Fletcher and the marvelous St
Peter’s choir. He would say, “It’ll all
be good experience”.
This, today, is
one experience that I didn’t contemplate all those years ago, but what a
tremendous privilege I feel. One of the
first times that I celebrated Holy Communion in the Chapel, on a Wednesday
morning, I had the experience of announcing some good news. Bill Roberts, a long-time servant of this
Church family and by this time a very elderly server at the altar, announced to
Roy and I that he had become a Great Grandfather for the first time. Roy wrote
down for me the Baby’s name, the new mother’s name but Bill couldn’t remember
the Christian name of the Father. So,
as I was presiding, before the Service started, I began immediately to
congratulate Bill and to announce the Birth (remember that this was one of my
first
celebrations of
Holy Communion). “We especially pray this morning for so-and-so, Bill’s new
grandchild, for so-and-so, the baby’s mum but I’m afraid we don’t know who the
Father is” / honestly thought that
Roy was going to burst, and I hadn’t realised what I’d said, but he never let
me forget it !!
There have been
so many rich experiences related to Roy and his ministry. Many of us here today
have much valued his preaching, teaching and oratorical gifts over the years,
shared his keen interest in Church Music and the high standards that he
encouraged and engendered, not least in the spoken word in Worship.
Publishers have
been queuing up for years to print a compilation of his Graces, which have been
a highlight at many a Special Celebration.
Lots of us will have received, from Roy and Mary, one of his lovingly
created Christmas cards, a display of flowers fashioned by one of his “Flower
girls, like Nancy or Janet”. The St
Peter’s congregation will remember with affection, even though some would
never admit it, the Christmas message from “Teenie Mouse”, in fact, I
understand, that even things like sweatshirts have been knitted for him to
wear.
As Curate, I
could never quite get the Christmas Tree right, it was a tradition that we
decorated it together but I know that he would sneak back into church, after
I’d gone, just to re-arrange the garlands or the baubles.
Many of us will
have felt uplifted, and “loads better” after one of Roy’s visits during
illness, or at a time of difficulty and experienced his gift of extempore
prayer.
Some will have
been collected regularly in his car to be taken to the Wednesday Lunch
Club.
Mary, Heather and
Anne, and the extended family, have been greatly touched by the tremendous
love, acts of care, and the many and varied expressions of support over the
past days, weeks and months. I know, they will be moved by the great numbers
gathered here today in Celebration of Roy, Our Lord’s Ministry through him, and
his life. Some people have travelled
great distances to share in this Thanksgiving Debbie Kimble, who’s here today
with her husband John, from Devon, summed up something, which will be in the
thoughts of others “Five minutes with Roy were worth days spent with other
people”
He touched and
influenced many lives, prompted many a Faith response. He so enjoyed leading Confirmation Groups
and took every opportunity to share his lively Faith. He was never afraid to speak out, even though it ruffled feathers
and challenged egos and was always relevant.
He nurtured and encouraged a number of men and women through to Reader
Ministry and Ordination and continued to mentor them on their onward journey.
We shall all miss
him very much. We have all been deeply
saddened by his passing and by the terrible illness that lead to his
death. But we’re grateful for all the
Blessings that God has given, to each one of us, through ROY. For the different, and special, parts of his
life that we were able to share. And I
know that Roy would want us to leave the Church this afternoon, with a smile on
our faces, in the knowledge that he is now at rest, and at peace, with the
Loving Father, that he loved so much and served so well.
I finish by
turning to the New English Bible, to Roy’s favourite version of a favourite
Reading. One which he commended to me
during my early days working alongside him.
The words say so much to me at this time and I hope that they will
inspire you, too. (Philippians 4 : 4
to 9)
Reverend George Hodkinson
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