1919 to 1920

Rev Canon Arthur J. Humphreys B.A. B.D. - 1919 to 1945

Before coming to Norbury Mr Humphreys had been, for a short time, the Vice Principal at St. Aidans training College of Clergy at Birkenhead.

Even before his induction on the 20th December 1919 he was already involved in the fundraising effort toward the estimated £4000 required for the memorial chancel.

However, on Easter Monday of the following year a more significant, but less spectacular, event took place when, after quickly dealing with the business under the out-dated vestry system, the Parochial Church Council was formed. (20)

From the 1529 names on the Electoral Roll 18 men and 18 ladies were elected to deal with the affairs of the Church. Two ladies and two men were appointed as ex-officio members, to represent Norbury Parish Church at the diocesan and ruridecanal conferences. The men elected to the PCC assumed the duties of sidesmen.

Four days later, on the 20th April 1920, the first meeting of the PCC took place, when they spent the evening discussing their duties and obligations and also appointed a committee to deal with the unsatisfactory state of the churchyard.

At the Vicar's suggestion it was decided that the first Sunday in May each year should be Commemoration Sunday when those who had been buried at Norbury should be remembered with a suitable service and, at the same time, those who had graves should beautify them for the occasion and tidy up a near-by plot that had no one to attend it. During Mr Humphreys ministry the churchyard was extended twice, first in 1921 and then again in 1932.

Mr Humphreys foresaw the changes that would have to be made by the Church of England if they were going to cope with the problems of the 20th century and he shocked some of his congregation by predicting some of the changes we have seen in the order of the services during the second half of the century.

He made a move in that direction when he explained to his parishioners that he was anxious to restore the Holy Communion service to the position it originally held, as the centre of religious life and worship, and it was arranged that on the first Sunday of each month Morning Prayer should commence at 10:15 am and last until 10:45am, followed by choral communion. He asked his parishioners to regard this as a congregational communion, and all of them to participate in it.

Another aspect of this new era was the active and influential part the vicar's wife and the women folk were now going to take in the life of the Parish. This was never more evident than when it was decided to form a branch of the National Women's Help Society for, on its inauguration on 16th May 1920, 300 members were enrolled, with Mrs Humphreys as their leader. At that time, although the men and young women were able to join societies affiliated to nationwide organisations, the ladies of Norbury, especially the married ones, had only the parochial sewing meetings to attend.

(20) Parochial Church Councils were formed under the Enabling Act of December 1919. There had been an Church Council since 1918 but it was not elected nor did it have any authority or legal status.