1925 to 1934

A new Reredos

On Easter Sunday of the following year a new oak reredos, the gift of the Women's Help Society, was dedicated.

A new Clock Mechanism

Whilst inside the tower a new clock, complete with Westminster chimes, was ready for use on the 24th April 1926. The old faces were still retained. To raise the £200 for the clock's purchase and installation the first of the annual Norbury rose queen (27) carnivals was held on the 26th of June that year and continued as one of the summer highlights until 1956, when it was changed to the less spectacular, but none the less colourful, harvest queen crowning ceremony. (28)

Christian Unity

An advocate of Christian unity, Mr Humphreys soon established amicable relationships with all the clergymen in the neighbourhood. When the industrial depression of the 1930s descended upon the country the local clergy, at the suggestion of the Congregational minister, (29) cooperated in the erection of a large ex-army hut at the Green Lane end of the recreation ground. This soon became known as the "Roc on the Rec". (30) There those men who found the weary years of enforced idleness almost unbearable were welcome, whilst those with families existing on what was less than the necessities of life, received what help the R.O.C. could give.

Centennary Celebrations

To mark the 100th anniversary of the church in 1934 it was decided to use the occasion to raise money to build a parish hall, for since the early 1920s it had been difficult to accommodate all the social activities and meetings into the time available when the school building was not being used for its proper purpose.

The project was opened with a grand three day bazaar in December 1933, which raised with donations approximately £3,000. At the time of the actual anniversary in July 1934 a celebration dinner and appropriate services were held during the week coinciding with the event of 100 years before.

(27) The first Rose Queen was Nellie Davies

(28) The first Harvest Queen was Pamela Taylor

(29) The Congregational minister at this period was Mr T. Hodgson Thomas

(30) Recreational and occupational centre