Faith group relights flame in south Shropshire
Nondenominational Christians are rekindling their activities in south Shropshire – just a short distance from the site of annual conventions which attracted hundreds in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
In recent days the Shropshire Star has told the story of how farmer Bert Rollings hosted annual gatherings for the group at his farm at Rowton Manor, near Aston-on-Clun, which drew people from across Britain and even abroad.
By coincidence, memories of those events have come at a time when the nondenominational Christians have been holding their first Bible meetings in the area for some time.
The first was on Sunday, August 26, at Aston-on-Clun village hall, and others at the same venue are being held on September 2, 9, and 30, from 5pm to 6pm.
Two Bible meetings have been organised for Wistanstow village hall, on Sunday, September 16, and 23, again from 5pm to 6pm.
Two Ministers of the faith, Sara Hickling, and Heather Davies, are currently working in the area and holding the meetings, the first of which was attended by up to 80 people.
Edward Rollings, who is the grandson of the late Bert and shares the same faith, said: "This faith exists throughout the country and throughout the world, but south Shropshire has not seen a particularly active community for quite a little while now.
"This is the nondenominational group – we don't take any name other than 'Christians,' which is exactly as the Bible tells us. That's the essence of it, following the Bible and the way Jesus set out very closely."
The meetings, which are open to all, include the singing of hymns and addresses from the Bible.
Mr Rollings, who lives in Lichfield, said the work of the Ministers carried the same message as that in those days when his grandfather held conventions for nondenominational Christians at his farm.
"The faith is very much alive in the Shropshire area."
His grandfather had held gatherings at his farm at Knucklas, near Knighton, from 1925, and they continued when he moved to Rowton Manor in 1932, with those attending staying in farm buildings and meetings being held in a large tent.
Widower Bert died in 1956 but the Rowton Manor gatherings continued for a few more years, the last there being in 1960.
