The old building and the fast forward clock!

Laura’s Story

“It is now about 1920 – The tab was very different in appearance to present day. It was painted cream and brown, lit by gas, and wooden benches for seating, with a single strip of wood for back rests. Bare wooden floors with strips of brown and fawn druggeting down the three main aisles. All woodwork, including communion table and pulpit – dark brown. No curtaining around the pulpit or gallery rails, dark wooden offertory boxes screwed to wall at each entrance and exit. No collections were ever taken. When Mr W.P. Lockhart built the Tab, his motto was ‘Souls before Sovereigns’. There was an iron grating in front of the communion table – in the floor – from which the heating arose. These gratings were a nuisance, children losing pennies, etc, down the holes – purposely, I fear. There was a large clock on the rails of the balcony – above the main aisle – with a box at the back, enclosing the works. No glass covering over the face and hands. I remember one Sunday some boys sitting behind the clock and pushing the fingers forward. The service finished early. The boys were in real trouble, but we youngsters thought it great.”