Friends of Woodthorpe Grange Park 2023
Press Cutting from the Nottingham Guardian
2nd September 1935
SHERWOOD’S NEW CHURCH
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CUTTING OF THE FIRST TURF
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£6,000 NEEDED
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Impressiveness marked a simple ceremony and service in Trevose Gardens, Sherwood, Nottingham, yesterday morning, the occasion being the first cutting of the turf of the new St. Martin’s Church by Mr A. C. Adams, in the presence of surpliced clergy and choir, Girl Guides, and a large congregation.
The first portion to be built will include the chancel, chapel, two vestries, and three bays of the nave, and will cost about £12,000 (£875,434.67p today, 2021), so that a similar sum must be raised if the building is to be opened free of debt.
The Vicar (Rev. E. Lysons), in an explanatory statement, stated that some people said, “What do you want to build a church for in Sherwood, when you have a nice little church there already!” The reply was: “We have a nice little church, but it is not big enough. The evening services were uncomfortably crowded.” Mr Lysons continued: “And so they should be in a parish like this with a population of 8,000, 9,000 or 10,000.”
In the next 12 months, it should be possible to raise £6,000 (£437,717.34 today, 2021); otherwise, they would be paying the bank a very substantial sum in interest. All the money that had been raised so far had been by direct giving, not as the result of any “stunts”, such as bazaars, whist drives, and prize draws. He would be very much like to think that before many months had gone by, he could go to the architect and say: “The money is quite all alright; let us have an estimate for the rest of the church.” Mr Lysons referred to the occasion at the beginning of a great adventure.
HOPE OF A BIG CHEQUE
Mr Adams cut the first turf with the words: “In the name of God the Father, in the faith of God the Son, by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, I cut this first turf and may God prosper the work to which this day we have set our hand.”
Miss Rachel Gillam, a member of the catechism, the youngest daughter of Mr Gillam (who was described by the Vicar as the oldest official in church work in Sherwood and the first church warden), thanked Mr Adams in a charming speech.
Mr Adams expressed the sincere hope that before long the whole of the money would be raised. Perhaps some rich man or woman, on learning that £6,000 had been laboriously got together in small amounts, might be stirred to give a big cheque. This would enable the vicar to devote more time to the spiritual needs of the parish, and much worry and hard work would be avoided.
They would all like Mr Lysons to be the first vicar of the new church. He would like to think of St. Martin’s being carried on in a moderate way, not going to extremes, and that the clergy and people who worshipped there would bear aloft the great standard of the Reformation.
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