Painted in gold lettering on the wall behind the Pulpit were the words

 

"God is Love" and  "Praise Ye The Lord."

 

We used to sing Choruses such as "God is Love", "Joy, Joy, My Heart Is Full Of Joy",   "I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Down In My Heart", "I Have A Pilot To Guide Me" and, perhaps, for quite a few, the favourite would have been "We're On The Homeward Trail"!!!

 

In my early years, the Church had no Minister. Special Services, such as Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, were conducted by the Church President, George Lilley, and the former President, Jack Brown, father of Jack and Bill Brown.   We were fortunate, however, when Reg Lee, an accredited Preacher from the Methodist Church married Rene Jobling, sister of Tom, and came to join us.   Subsequently, Anty High and Brian Baldwin also became Ministers. Brian Baldwin had married Iris Davison, daughter of Church Members Ned and Ella Davison.   Olga Robinson also took the Ministerial Course of Study.

 

Church Secretary at that time was William Clark, who was married to Mary (Polly), the father and mother of Mary Wilson.   Mrs Clark was Church Caretaker and many times, as young lads, we were scolded by her for leaving our sweet papers on the floor.   This, perhaps, encouraged some  to do it all the more - including leaving chewing gum under the pews.    Even today, I can only smile when I feel under some pews and touch some chewing gum stuck rock solid - so it did happen in other Churches!!!

 

Church Treasurer was Jim Matters, who was married to Kitty. They were a wonderful couple and very encouraging for the young people and, indeed, to all at the Church.   I can remember the first occasion on which I went Carol Singing with the Church Members, possibly December 1951 or 1952.   Ryhope was a very big place to cover on foot - the Colliery, the Village and Over the Hill.   We ended up at Jim and Kitty's home 'Over the Hill', where we had a lovely early morning Christmas Breakfast!!!