I grew up knowing that my Dads brother, my Uncle Joe, had died during the war in France. As I got older we remembered every year and I heard about the lovely kind man he had been.

The family had been sent a photograph of his grave with a simple cross following the end of the war but the War Commission eventually replaced the cross with their signature head stones. His bears the Navy anchor.

Joe had been picked to play for Glasgow Rangers football team just before ‘call up’. He loved sports and was a great swimmer too.

However he felt he had to go and fight for freedom for his family. He was a Christian and although he hated fighting he felt it was his duty to go.

Joe trained in the Navy and was sent to Canada to learn how to use some big guns. He volunteered for a mission to ram the harbour at St. Nazaire. German u boats were being built there and coming out into the North Sea to fire at British ships.

The HMS Campeltown set off in February 1942 and achieved its aim of ramming the harbour. Unfortunately the Germans were able to fire at the men and many were shot in the water. My uncle actually saved two people before he disappeared. My father met one of them after the war and he praised Joe for his unselfish actions.

The body was not found for quite a while. His parents receiving a letter on his 21st birthday telling them he was presumed dead!! Eventually he was found on a small island further down the coast of Northern France. He is the only British servicemen buried there amongst Canadians and Australians. Row 3 Grave 1. L’Epine Communal Cemetery. His family never got to visit but in 2005 I went on holiday to France and searched for the graveyard. There is now a causeway to the small island and residents we asked knew about the British sailor buried there. I found the grave and laid flowers, taking photos for my mother which she treasured.

I never knew Joe but the family will continue to remember him for his bravery. Without his sacrifice and those of the others who fight for our freedom we would not be here today.

Joseph Miller.
Able Seaman. R.N.V.R.
H.M.S. Campbeltown
Died 28.03.1942 aged 20 years.
Son of Joseph and Helen Miller. Glasgow.
Buried in L’Epine Communal Cemetery. France.

Karen 

A memorable journey by Jane and Phil Coates 

I never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather, Herbert Castle, nor did my mother, as she was born a matter of days after he was killed in action in the First World War. However, last year, Phil and I had the opportunity to go to Ypres, Belgium, to visit the Menin Gate and then to find my grandfather’s war grave and to place a bouquet of poppies there, which was a very moving and valuable experience. 

Herbert Castle, born in 1894, had come from a coal mining family and background, in the Wath on Dearne area of South Yorkshire. He joined the Army as a Private in the 5th Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment. (Private 2353) enlisting at Wombwell, Barnsley. Herbert Castle was in the Artillery Unit and was killed in action at Ypres. on Saturday 14th August 1915. It is reported that he died in the trenches and had been suffocated by gas and land fall. 

The notification of his death to my grandmother from The Territorial Force Record Office was dated 25th August 1915 just a matter of eleven days before his daughter was born on the 5^th September 1915. Alice would have faced those last days of her pregnancy alone and in mourning for a young husband. Her daughter and my mother, Margaret Iris Herbert Castle, was born 05.09.1915, 4 weeks after Herbert died. Her father’s name Herbert was included in her Christian names. 

Herbert Castle was buried at Talana Farm War Cemetery, Boesinghe ( now Boezinge) Ypres, Belgium and we were able to locate his grave and to place our poppies there. 

My grandmother had also just had to grieve for the loss of her brother Clifford Boocock (1895-1914). Corporal Clifford Boocock (2413) of the Yorks and Lancs Regiment, died in action in Northern France on 30.12.1914 in the very early stages of the war. He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) G7 France-near the border with Belgium and only 14.5 km from Ypres, where Alice’s husband was killed. Phil and I were also able to travel across the border from Belgium into France and to find the war grave for Clifford and also to place poppies there. I had kept a promise to myself that I would one day travel to Ypres and to France to visit the war graves there and to find the personal graves of these two important family members. The memorials and war cemeteries are beautifully maintained and peaceful places. They carry so many people’s memories of their loved ones. 

Jane and Phil

I was inspired by Nathan’s reviews and comments on the films that he has been watching with the children to write the following piece. Sorry Nathan- I do not want to steal your thunder!

The story of The Secret Garden, by Frances Burnett, described as a ‘pastoral story of ‘self-healing’, is a children’s classic and has now just been turned into a new film version. In this story, the main character, Mary Lennox, 10 years old, is sent back to the UK from India after the death of her parents to cholera. She is cared for by her maternal uncle at Misselthwaite Manor, Yorkshire, and his young son, Colin. Mary uncovers the secret garden that belonged to the late wife of her uncle, her mother’s sister. Mary had always believed that her mother had no time for her and did not love her, until she discovered some hidden letters written by her mother to the sister and found photographs of the two sisters in the secret garden. The letters transform Mary’s understanding of her mother and make it clear to her that her mother loved her very much.

Watching the film made me consider our grandson Sam and his knowledge of his mum and dad. Richard, Sam’s dad died when Sam had just reached his 5^th birthday and had started in Reception at school. Consequently, his memories of his dad can be sometimes sketchy. At Richard’s funeral  friends and contacts from around the world were asked to contribute to a ‘Jar of Memories’ for Charlotte and Sam.

Inside the jar there must be over 150 personal letters, often with photographs which portray a very clear picture of the kind of man that Richard was. At every mealtime Sam has been selecting out three or so letters that we read out together. This has helped Sam to learn more of the character, strengths, passions, travels, Christian faith, loves, careers and sheer devotion of his dad to Charlotte and to himself and to Jesus His Lord. It has enabled Sam to see his dad more clearly. Many of the stories and memories are very funny and very personal. We have laughed and sometimes been very teary as we have read the memories.

When Charlotte died only a year after Richard, we asked for friends and contacts to do the same for Sam so that he had a jar of memories of his mum and we kept the cards that were given to us at that time. So, we have plenty of material that will keep us going for quite some time. Wonderful memories.

This made me think again about that phrase “an observable love”. Richard’s passions were obvious and clear for all to see – his family, walking, mountain biking, camping in Scotland, the Lake District and Wales, photography and his Christian family. People spoke of his enthusiastic faith and witness and his sharing of that faith naturally and openly to anyone he contacted. He spoke about Jesus to all who would listen. He gossiped the gospel.

The beautiful phrase, ‘an observable love’, comes from a book by Francis Schaeffer who wrote many books such as Escape from Reason and The Mark of a Christian. This is how we are to be known and this is how Jesus is to be known.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13.v 34

I believe that Richard and Charlotte had an ‘observable love” and they have gone to join that Hall of Faith in Heaven.

Jane Coates

Thirty minutes in which Shelley and her brilliant assistant Rowan take us on a journey from darkness to light. Song, dance, a fabulous story and more craft ideas than you could shake a pumpkin at. 

If you missed it first time round, don’t worry you can see it by clicking right HERE. 

Oh, and if you did your own craft we’d love to see it. Email a picture to mbcnewspics@gmail.com and we’ll add it to these that we’ve already received. 

At this time of year MAF tries to encourage a week of prayer linking their staff and supporters worldwide in every country they have a presence. It has come around again and begins this Sunday the 1st of November.

Those in MBC who take MAF news may already have heard about it and signed up to receive the printed copy of the Special Edition Prayer Diary through the post. If not, it’s not too late to sign up and receive the digital version straight to your E-mail inbox by visiting: MAF global Week of Prayer

On the web page you can select the Digital Version in the first box on the sign up page.

Best Wishes 

David Casson

In addition to Engage, BMS produces Mission Catalyst a magazine about the “Mission of the Mind”, taking themes such as Freedom; Worship; Islam etc. etc…and exploring them through writers of national and international reputation. Over the last decade “Catalyst Live” full-day events have been held to hear and dialogue with such writers ‘in the flesh’. In this year of lockdowns a ‘Lite’ version was held, live online, for 2 hours on the evening of 9^th October.Four speakers, two from the UK and two from the USA gave talks and took part in Q & A’s interspersed with entertaining and thought provoking songs by Harry and Chris, styling themselves “ The nation’s favourite comedy – rap – jazz duo”!!

There were a few minor tech glitches, time lags etc and Professor Hauerwas’ cat stole the show during a Q & A, but this was a stimulating, hugely challenging and enjoyable evening. Deep thinkers, with clarity and humour opened serious issues of our world and their clearly Christ inspired responses to them.

The Highlights for me were:-

1. Gale Richards – Baptist Minister in Cambridge on the Theological Imperatives for a Black Lives Matter movement. She explained how the theological truth that black lives are made in the image of God, has inspired black Baptist Christians through history. She challenged us with the question – Why do so many Christians in Britain not see that there has been, and still is systemic oppression of black people throughout our history?

Her challenging answers – a lack of education; the isolation of some Christians from world issues ; a preference for remaining in our comfort zones; unease that BLM is a secular movement – made me think that this is a movement all Christians should embrace, but fear that some never will.

2. Stanley Hauerwas US Professor of Divinity and Law in his talk and Q & A session left us with may memorable quotes:

• ‘BLM is one sign of hope in a crazy, crazy country’
• ‘Sadly, for many American Christians the ‘American’ is more important than the ‘Christian’
• If Christians are losing status in western societies, that makes us free to speak openly for Jesus’
• ‘We must free the church from nationalism and patriotism’
• ‘We must tell our history in a way that is inclusive and acceptable to all – acknowledging past injustices. History can’t be used for self- justification’

3. Makoto Fujimara Japanese/American artist and writer spoke of 2020 as a Lenten year and suggested that the Japanese tradition of wabi-sabi –“beauty in imperfection” as a way to understand pathos – reveals a hidden Christian culture in Japanese thought, as does the concept of Kontsigi – “ Mending to make New” which he linked to the Christian life as New.

     4. Helen Paynter UK Baptist Minister and director of the study of the Bible and violence at Bristol Baptist College was a stimulating and worthy concluding speaker on the theme “Land of Hope and Glory? Is it possible to be a Christian and a Nationalist?”

Helen’s talk was passionate and urgent with many memorable statements and challenges:- “In an age where the alt-right has penetrated the church in the US and parts of Europe we are in danger of having Ethnic Nationalism”

“Anti – immigration is based on White Christian ‘Normality’ – whereas in today’s world the Typical Christian is an African Woman.”

“Exceptionalism in the US has the Christian Vice President Pence urging Americans to ‘Fix our eyes on Old Glory’ (the US Flag)” [where is Fix your eyes upon Jesus?]

“Nationalism is not the same as Patriotism. Real patriotism loves good in the country, but is clear about its flaws.”

Before finally reminding us that “We (Christians) are members of the greatest trans-nationalist community ever”

All these talks were interspersed with songs by Harry and Chris on issues such as the environment; nostalgia for ‘simple Times’; and the chorus which most stuck in my mind, uniting all 7.7 billion of us humans:-

“We’ve all been in a womb….(and we’ll be in a tomb)”

A stimulating, thought provoking and gloriously Christian evening ending in heartfelt prayer “that God will give us something interesting to do …”(when so many in the west claim that they are ‘bored’)

Amen to that

Roger Robson

To learn more, a summary of Catalyst Lite is on the bmsworldmission.org website, where you can also sign up to receive Mission Catalyst and Engage magazines free by post.

If during these difficult times you are looking for a novel way to celebrate your birthday how about turning things on their head and GIVING a gift. 

The BMS Birthday Scheme is just one of BMS World Mission’s many fundraising platforms, and your birthday present to them will go directly to supporting vital health and infrastructure ministries across the world. 

Active in 35 different countries, including some which for security reason cannot even be named, the work BMS World Mission (formally the Baptist Missionary Society) does ranges from digging bore holes and building bridges to supporting doctors, nurses and speech therapists. 

To sign up to the Birthday Scheme all you need do is email your contact details to mbcnewspics@gmail.com and we will pass them through to Roger Robson who is MBC’s Mission’s co-ordinator. Then on your birthday you will receive a greetings card, an up to date News Bulletin and an envelope in which to return your donation. 

You can find out more about the Birthday Scheme and indeed about all the other activities that BMS World Mission is engaged in by clicking HERE but to give just three examples of how your birthday present could change lives here in black and white is what you see in the extract (above, right) from the 2020 bulletin.

£20 can support a Speech and Language therapist working with 7 year old Lois Ovenden in Gulu, Uganda for two days.

£29 can support a nurse at Guinebor II hospital in Chad for three days.

And £73 can support a BMS engineer like Tim Darby from Beckenham for one day on his project to provide clean water to rural communities in Uganda. 

THANK YOU AND WHENEVER IT FALLS HAPPY BIRTHDAY