South Yorkshire Times, January 9th, 1960
New Aim At Thurnscoe
“A Church to Cater for All”
A church that caters for all is the aim of Thurnscoe’s Methodist Minister, the Rev. David Dunn Wilson who has recently introduced new ideas at the Central Hall in an attempt to provide for all sections of the congregation.
The most recent addition is the Junior Club which was started in the latter end of 1959 for young people in the church, aged from eight to thirteen, who are not yet old enough to join the Church’s Youth Club. “There has long been a need for a club of this kind,” said the Rev. Wilson this week “and last year the teachers from our Sunday School met and decided to start this one.”
There are in fact two of these clubs, one at the central hall, and one at the small Thurnscoe East Methodist Church. Forty to fifty members of the central hall club are supervised by the superintendent, Mr. Derek Needham, while at Thurnscoe East. Mr. Ken Nelson is the leader of the twenty-five strong club.
Their activities are varied. The young people play table games, have handicraft groups where they can enjoy their hobbies and once every month both clubs are given a film show.
Complete Programme
“We now have a complete programme for youth” said the Rev. Wilson “and more young people are coming into the church.” But youth is not the only section of the congregation which is catered for. Meetings are also held each week of the Sisterhood, the men’s club, the young wives’ club, the midweek fellowship and the Christian Study Group.
The position of the church as a whole is looking healthier the Rev. Wilson told the “South Yorkshire Times”. “It is far from perfect but we have made a start. Thurnscoe is a very difficult place to make an impression on. Up to now we have just been drifting along, hoping for something to turn up.”
A paragraph in the editorial column of the church magazine “Viewpoint” this month states “in our churches we need a rejuvenation that seeks to be the life blood of the church and community. Too long have we been a happy band of pilgrims wandering through the barren desert.” In a letter to the congregation the Rev. Wilson says “There are many signs that our work is going ahead slowly but surely.”
The Rev. Wilson, who has been in Thurnscoe for three years and resident Minister for almost two, said that congregations are larger and more young people are going to church, “especially at Thurnscoe East, where youth work has been non-existent.”
“We look forward to the future with confidence,” he added.