Monday, April 4, 2005

100 years ago: The Archbishop of York reminded the clergy of the valuable help which was given each year to some of the incumbents of the poorer benefices of the diocese by means of the Easter Offerings Fund. "It is greatly to be desired that wherever it is possible the offerings on Easter Day may be devoted to this excellent purpose, that the hearts and homes of many of our brethren in the ministry, less favoured than ourselves, may be gladdened, not only by some little increase of their worldly means, but also by the sympathy of their brother clergy and of many congregations in the diocese, on this great festival of the Church of Christ," he said. The special object of the fund was to revive the old custom of collecting Easter offerings to be given, either directly or indirectly to the incumbent of the parish, or to the general Diocesan Fund, called the Easter Offerings Fund. In 1904, contributions varying in amount from £15 to 3s 6d were sent in from 57 parishes; and grants were made to 32 poor parishes which had contributed fund, and also applied for assistance.

50 years ago: A link with the days when copper was so scare that certain people were allowed to make their own monetary token was found by a York man, in the wall of an old Welburn cottage which was being demolished. The copper coin, about the size of a modern halfpenny, had on one side a chained, kneeling African slave, surrounded by the words: "Am I not a man and a brother?" while on the other was a pair of clasped hands with he words: "May slavery and oppression cease throughout the world." Around the unmilled edge could be read: "Payable in Lancaster, London or Liverpool." It probably dated from the early 19th century, when the Society for the Abolition of Slavery was championing the very sentiments expressed on the token. Similar tokens, in mint condition, could be seen in the Yorkshire Museum.

25 years ago: The 12th century church at Fulford, York, would soon by back in use, having been declared redundant six years before. The church was replaced by a new parish church in 1866, and its was to become a private house. The Privy Council had given approval for the scheme, nearly six months after a prospective buyer, who thought his medieval furniture would be perfectly suited to the building, put planning application in.

Updated: 12:35 Saturday, April 02, 2005