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The Clergy and Railways!?! ....

Discussion in 'Everything Else Heritage' started by Roger Farnworth, Nov 14, 2020.

  1. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    I was asked to give a talk in 2020 to a clergy discussion group on the subject 'Clergy and Trains'. This group had decided to have its annual outing on The East Lancs Railway and I was to be the after dinner 'entertainment'! It did not work out, for obvious reasons in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic altered everyone's plans!

    However, as a result of the request, I began to study what was available online and in the press on this subject and the place it takes in the wide range of interests available to the clergy. ... Whether my research counts as original research, I very much doubt. However, you might find what follows of interest!

    http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/11/14/clergy-and-railways

     
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  2. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

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    It's far easier to indulge in a hobby such as railway enthusiasm if one only works one day a week ;)

    Lights touchpaper and retires to a safe distance :)
     
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  3. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    I fully agree staffordian, and I wish that was the case. .... Bring on retirement!
     
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  4. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I am racking my brains, but I think in a John Betjeman film which was I think about churches, there is a scene with a vicar who had a live steam engine.

    Edit found it: at about 35 minutes in.

     
  5. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    Thank you Monkey Magic!
     
  6. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

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    Teddy Boston by any chance?
     
  7. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Thank you Roger. As a church leader within the evangelical free church wing of the wider church (albeit one who presently has to work at the NHS coalface to put food on the table) I found this fascinating reading. I found myself recognising and agreeing with much that you write here. For myself, although I have quite a wide interest in all things railway, my "hands on" involvement is mainly with model versions. Here I follow the hobby on my own. It gives me an escape from the messy side of life that we so often find ourselves dealing with. It doesn't matter if I leave a model unfinished for months on end because I don't have time, I'm not letting anyone down if it doesn't work, and if it is not perfect nobody is going to criticise it except me. And it is satisfying to make something with your hands.

    It's also a lot more wholesome than some other activities available!

    Steve B
     
  8. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I don't think it is. He looks older. I think he is just a random vicar with a very fine collection of engines.
     
  9. Robert F

    Robert F New Member

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    The commentary said it was "Father Cooling" (or something sounding similar). Anybody here with a long knowledge of model engineering recognise the name?
     
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  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well where would our movement be without a certain Rev Awdry, a certain Bishop of Wakefield and the Rev Samuel Weech of Titfield and his boss the Bishop of Wellchester? ;):)
     
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  11. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    As a teenager I did meet Rev Awdry running his layout in Bristol
     
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  12. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    This is a short Pathe feature about Teddy Boston

     
  13. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Lovely model of Hereford Barr’s Court. Back in the UK there is a part built version in OO sat in my father’s garage, we spent a long time photographing all of the area in the early 80’s. Alas virtually all photos have been lost.
    Again another good read, thank you.
     
  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Harking back to the 70's and Railway Modellers.
    Wasn't there a Reverend who modelled A Great Central layout?
    Buckingham possibly.
     
  15. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Yes, Peter Denny - quite an inspiration as a modeller. Google "Peter Denny Buckingham" for some pics. I think he also had a garden railway - Narrow Gauge on 32mm gauge using clockwork mechanisms. Brilliant!

    Steve
     
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  16. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    More recent there is Father Deinol in Blaenau Ffestiniog who is heavily involved in promoting the improvement of the Conway Valley line.

    There is also the Rev Richard Buxton who is involved with the Ffestiniog and I think it was he who blessed 'Welsh Pony' when the loco was steamed for the first time this spring.

    @2.40 in the video

     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2020
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  17. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    A bit of additional information on Eric Treacy. He visited the Severn Valley Railway in August 1971, travelling on the footplate of 'mickey mouse' 46443 to Hampton Loade which was then the southern end of the line. He became a life member of the SVR at the time and made return visits on a number of occasions before his death in 1978. When the SVR was building The Engine House in 2005, they appealed for exhibits and were offered (and gratefully accepted) one of his cameras.
     
  18. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    Father Deinol blessed the first train up the Conway Valley last year.

    https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=130018&headline=Steam train trip to mark line reopening§ionIs=news&searchyear=2019

    So this brings Eastern Orthodoxy into the fold as well. Next question is railway Rabbis and Imams...

    Are railways as a certain Father Jack Hackett would declare 'an ecumenical matter.
     
  19. Robert F

    Robert F New Member

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    Rabbi Dr. Walter Rothschild is a railway historian who posts quite frequently to some railway forums - About me (walterrothschild.de)
     
  20. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Well, it hasnt washed away so far so it seems to work.......................

    And Eastern Orthodox Church Music is magnificent
     

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