In these words the Rev. E. E. Bromage explained the Wellingborough-road Mission Church’s “grand design” on Rushden’s new estate – in the Irchester-road area – on Monday evening.

Although there is a possibility of a place of worship being erected on the new estate, the Mission Church has shown enterprise in “canvassing” the area.

A brass band, a large group of men and women, a number of Church and Sunday School officers, and a well-worded folder, were the forces employed in the “mass attack.”

The pastor of the Church stated that they were not out to rob any other church, but just to have some thought for the residents from a religious stand point.

“It is an original idea, and I don’t think it has been done here before. The matter really arose at the teacher’s quarterly meeting with regard to the children, and we decided that we would get an invitation card out, and that we would personally visit every house on the estate.

“We took the band with us to play selections so as to let them know we were alive.

“We wanted to let the people know that the Christian churches felt some interest for them. In a big estate like that, where there is no facility to attend evening worship, we thought that something ought to be done.”

If in the future a church was erected it would have their blessing, Mr. Bromage said.

“The people took it very favourably and very appreciatively,” he continued.” “One or two of them had quite interesting conversations with our members. I think one or two came with arguments, but you always find that. Where you get a community you always find people who are opposed to religion. On the whole I think the move was quite justified as a piece of church propaganda.

“We have got to let the people know we are alive. The early churches did not stop at home; they went out, and their success was largely found in the highways.

“We told them we should be pleased to help them in cases of sickness or trouble. We also invited them to our social gatherings in the winter and our cricket and tennis during the summer months.”

As to the future work in connection with the estate, the minister said a definite scheme had been arranged although he was hoping that the band would be able to concentrate in that direction.

“I think,” he said. “We can certainly recommend the Free Church Council to continue open-air services there during the summer.”

The folder distributed to the people of the Westfield-road estate embodied some essentially modern ideas for church advertising. It features baptisms, marriages “solemnisation without the presence of the register, cricket and tennis, social functions, hearty singing, free seats, and the desire of the minister to know all newcomers and to be informed of cases of illness.