The Court Estate - Opening of a Mission Hall
Enthusiastic Services

The opening of a Mission Hall on the Rushden Court Estate took place on Saturday last. Mr. George Hawkins, boot manufacturer, of Wellingborough, who last autumn took up his residence at "€œChesterfield,"€ a pretty bungalow at the junction of the Court-avenue and the Newton-road, has for many years been an ardent religious worker at Wellingborough and has conducted services in many of the towns and villages in the neighbourhood. On going to live on the Court Estate he was asked by his neighbours to arrange for religious services, which he readily consented to do. The first day a congregation of about 20 assembled; on the second Sunday they were about 30; on the third 40; and afterwards as many as 50 attended. Mr. Hawkins conducted the services. Seeing that the meetings were being so greatly appreciated, Mr. Hawkins purchased an unfinished bungalow in order to convert it into a Mission Hall. He had the middle partition removed, and was thus able to get a nice room about 24 feet by 14 feet. There are two fire places. All the windows were painted, and a good pathway made up to the doors, laurels being planted on both sides of the path. A small pulpit has been placed in the room; an American harmonium has been installed, and in every respect the bungalow has been transformed into an ideal mission-room, with seating accommodation for about a hundred people. The whole of the expense has been generously borne by Mr. Hawkins, and there is thus no financial burden.

At the opening last Saturday, about 100 congregated for the first gathering, which took the form of a concert for the children. Mr. Hawkins gave an account of how the meetings started. Expressions of thankfulness were voiced by several of the residents on the Court Estate at the provision of the Mission Hall, and testimony was made of the change which had taken place in the children on the Estate and in the parents too, since the services had been started.

Afterwards a concert was given for the adults, the company numbering over 70. The singing was accompanied by a couple of stringed instruments. Those responsible for the programme were Mr. T. Richardson (violin), Mr. Chapman (bass), Miss Warrington (harmonium), Miss Whitney, Miss Dilley, Mrs. Law, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Berrill, Mrs. Ashby, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Chatter, Mr. Whitney, and Miss Green, of Wellingborough, who contributed vocal and instrumental music, recitations, etc. Miss Dunkley trained the children very efficiently. The items included an anthem, "€œOur God shall come and shall not keep silence."€ Owing to the length of the programme several of the items were held over until Sunday afternoon.

A Band of Hope or other temperance organization is to be started soon.

The Court Estate Roll of Honour has been placed in the Mission Hall.

The Rushden Court Estate
Harvest Thanksgiving

Harvest festival services were held in the Gospel Mission Hall, Rushden Court Estate, on Sunday last. The room had been decorated in a very artistic manner for the occasion. The first service began at 2.30p.m., and a very good congregation was present. The service was conducted by Mr. Geo. Hawkins, who took as his texts Hosea x.12 and Matthew xiii.20. The speaker dwelt upon the growth in the natural and in the spiritual realm, making a comparison of the two, and pointing out that, just as a farmer looks for a good harvest, so God has a right to expect a harvest of souls after all that He has done in giving His only Son to die to save men.

In the evening the text chosen was John iv.35, and an even larger company gathered, though it was raining hard, to listen to a most interesting discourse. The speaker carried back the minds of the congregation to Babylon, tracing down the ages to Medo-Persia, on to Greece, and then to Rome, continuing through the Dark Ages, down to our own time, when signs all around on land and sea lead the people to see that they are living in those very days spoken of by the Master Himself, when He spoke of these times of trouble when men’s hearts would fail; them for fear, looking for those things that were coming upon the earth, and concluding with a most earnest appeal not to put off thinking of these things saying “Oh! There is plenty of time.” They must not say this, but, believing God’s word, lift up their eyes, and look on the fields, for they were already white unto harvest. During the afternoon and evening, solos, duets, a quartette, and some recitations were given, adding greatly to the success of the meetings.

On Monday evening the fruit, vegetables, and flowers were sold, and the proceeds of these and the Sunday’s collection amounted to £6. Mr. Hawkins said he had much enjoyed his association with the people on the Court Estate, for never had he found more willing hearts and ready hands to help in any good work. This closed a very successful gathering.