The Rushden Echo and Argus, 28th September 1951, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Celebrations Mark Church’s Jubilee

Fifty years old this week, Rushden Park Road Baptist Church took on a new beauty when it was floodlit for the building Jubilee celebrations.

Notable celebrations were held over the weekend at Rushden Park Road Baptist Church in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the church.

On Saturday afternoon, events commenced with a reunion on The Manse lawn, where several people were present who attended the opening service in 1901

A buffet tea followed in the Assembly Room, where greetings were read by the Rev. A. Stuart Arnold and the only two surviving previous ministers – the Rev. T. W. Gill of Cambridge (1930-39), and the Rev. R. P. Jones of Birmingham (1939-50) – gave addresses. The evening concluded with a film show.

Memorials Unveiled
Memorials to two former church officers were unveiled at a service on Sunday morning attended by members of the Urban Council and conducted by Mr. Arnold. Placed near the principal interior entrances the tablets are inscribed to the memory of Charles Arthur Kersey Green (unveiled by a daughter-in-law, Mrs. C. W. S. Green) and to Frederick Corby (unveiled by a daughter, Mrs. Marion Smith of Cambridge).

Mr. Green was treasurer from 1913 to 1935, a member for 65 years and a deacon from 1913 until his death in 1947. Mr. Corby was secretary for 37 years and a deacon for 44 years.

On Monday, at a public tea in the Assembly Room, greetings were extended by ministers of the town and district, and afterwards, at a concluding Jubilee rally in the church addresses were given by Dr. F. Townley Lord (President, Baptist world Alliance), and Dr. S. W. Hughes.

The Rev. A. Stuart Arnold was in the chair and the singing of two hymns was recorded. Copies of discs will be sold as souvenirs together with photographs of the floodlit church in aid of the Jubilee fund of £2,000.

In conjunction with the celebrations, an exhibition was staged in the Old Chapel by Mr. Tom Sanders. Old photographs and documents associated with the church’s history were viewed by many interested visitors between Saturday and Tuesday.