1897
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Revd B Collins |
Rodney Ward, September 2008, writes about Berkeley Collins: It
is one hundred years ago that the Revd Berkeley G. Collins wrote his
book “The Purpose of the Cross” whilst minister at Bluntisham Meeting
House, as it was then called.
We can imagine him in his study, in the Manse next door to the
chapel, signing off the “Introductory Note” to the book, “B.G.C.
Bluntisham, June 25th 1908”. He says in his “Note” that “This little
book is a humble attempt to expound in the light and language of the
present day what I believe to be the essential message of the Gospel”.
The Chapter headings in the book give a good idea of its contents - “The
Incarnation and the Cross”, “Forgiveness in the Old Testament”, “The
Gospel of Forgiveness”, “The Necessity for the Cross”, “The Fatherhood
and Forgiveness”, “The Fruits of Forgiveness”. It is his conviction that
“The Gospels show us Christ as the incarnate forgiveness of God”.
Recently, I have re-read my copy of the book and found it fresh and
readable in spite of being 100 years old.
Berkeley Collins was something of a scholar. I have before me an article
he published in “The Expository Times”, in 1915, called “The Sacrament
of Baptism in the New Testament”, which again was whilst he was at
Bluntisham. He also published at least three other books - “The country
of the book“ published by Kingsgate Press; “The Christmas Doves and
other stories“ by Kingsgate Press; and “The island of gold and other
stories”, published by Fleming H. Revell, New York. From the titles it
would look as if the latter two books are children’s stories, perhaps
ones that he told at the chapel. These are all books that are obtainable
on the internet under “ABEbooks”.
At the time when Berkeley Collins was writing his book, Henry Sayers was
the Rector at St Mary’s Church, where he had been since 1897. His
daughter, Dorothy Sayers, is better known as a writer, particularly of
her detective stories. It was some years later in 1921 that she
completed “The Nine Tailors” partly set in Upwell. This novel was to
introduce Lord Peter Wimsey to the world. In November 1921 the novel was
being typed and she was gloomy about the chance of ever selling him! So
we are told in Barbara Reynolds’ biography “Dorothy L. Sayers - Her Life
and Soul“. The same book tells us that when the Sayers family went to
Bluntisham there were about 900 inhabitants (including Earith), mainly
farmers and farm labourers. The same was still broadly true when I was
growing up in the village in the 1940s and 50s.
I find myself wondering whether there was any contact between the
Collins’ and Sayers’ families. In those days the gap between church and
chapel was wide and my father, Dan Ward, told me that the Sayers were
elevated above the village people. I wonder what the relationship
between Berkeley Collins and the local people was like. Life in the
village is very different now, but the essential Gospel message of
divine forgiveness through the Cross, of which he was so convinced is
still as relevant as it was in 1908. |
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