Given the modern useage of building society, The Incorporated Church Building Society probably conjures up in your mind a picture of some sort of highly specialised lending institution providing funds for the building of churches. Well, yes and no. It was not a building society. It was there to provide help in what ever form was appropriate. The Incorporated Church Building Society still exists, allbeit within another organisation. National Churches Trust, click here to go to their web site, it is very interesting. (opens in new window). Here is Revd Freemans letter:
 |
letter dated September 20th 1955
To Incorporated Church Building Society From Revd Freeman Dear Sir, The Parish of West Parley in the 1931 census was put down at 300. Today it is estimated at between four and five thousand. Rapid development is due to its neighbourhood to Bournemouth, and the building of an enormous Vicker Armstrong's aircraft factory in the adjacent parish of Hurn. Hurn is no longer habitable, and comprises of the factory and its airport. West Parley is about five miles long and the parish church (now too small for the population) is at the Hampshire end. Some twenty years ago Lord Wimborne gave a site for the building of a new church somewhat in the centre of the parish and with the blessing of Bishop of Salisbury we are now prepared to go forward with the erection of a dual purpose building. This will serve the new area and provide what is now lacking, a hall for Sunday School and other purposes. We have set ourselves a target of £6000 and of this sum £1500 has already been given, the Church Commissioners and the Diocesan Board of Finance being prepared to lend £4000. You will see that must raise some £300 or so a year to repay this loan,and I am writing in the hope that your Society might be able to help. I shall be happy to answer any questions you might think desirable, and I would assure you that any help would indeed be valued. Yours sincerely Rev Freeman |
Well if you don't ask you don't get. I am not going to reproduce the exchange of correspondence with the I.C.B.S., amusing though it is. Briefly in response to the letter above they sent back a publications price list. So Revd Freeman wrote again, this time it was a booklet about the Society. Another letter, then they said an architect would need to be employed, again a letter, then they queried the type of building. The whole thing culminated two years later in a letter dated 10 June 1957 from Revd Freeman to them the text of which is set out below:
With reference to your letter M.B.F. no.1479, dated 19th July 1956, I now make application for the Grant of Fifty Pounds, the conditions set out in the said letter having been fulfilled.
The Church Officials of West Parley agree to making a contribution to the Incorporated Church Building Society annually on St Mark's Day.
Please find enclosed herewith :-
Form of Certificate of Completion M.B.B. 1479
Form of Undertaking to make a Contribution M.B.F. 1479
Planof St. Mark's Hall/Church West Parley No 6/2
Yours W J F Rector
I await news from the Treasurer as to how much we gave this financial year...... I can't help but feel that when the ICBS was integrated into the Historic Churches Trust the staff of the ICBS left and went on to train our modern call centre staff.
More to the point is the reference to the aircraft factory, evidencing the movement of population into the area with subsequent need for supporting services housing and churches.
Again bearing in mind the notes on page 14 it is now the turn of the Parishioners to be asked for contributions and a scheme was drawn up called the "Friends of West Parley" and this is covered on page 17.
Go to Page 17